Contents

Chapter 1v2

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 1

It's been said you can never go back to the past, and walking through the grounds of his old school campus, Alan had to agree. He'd been a lot of things during his time here, from troublemaker to prodigy, but the one thing he'd never expected to become was a professor at the College of Merlin at Oxvard University. He took a familiar shortcut under the trees and past the library, pausing to watch the fountain sparkle in the sunlight, surrounded by a bubble of iridescent magic that kept the moisture from evaporating during the dry end-of-summer days. He moved on along the lane between departments until he was standing in front of the most dreaded building on campus -- the Administrative Offices.

Alan paused in front of the mirrored glass doors and checked his appearance -- his short, sandy brown hair was relatively neat compared to the mop it had been in his school days, but his equally brown clothing had already taken on a rumpled look. He smoothed down the front of his corduroy trousers and adjusted his plain, earth-coloured tie, but couldn't quite achieve the professional look he'd been hoping for.

"You look like you're going to your doom, my boy," said a familiar voice behind him, and Alan turned, surprised.

"Master Hartridge! I thought you'd retired," he said, holding out his hand for a firm shake. Mark Hartridge was older now but still had the same handsome, weathered features that Alan had admired during his Apprenticeship. Mark's salt-and-pepper hair and whiskers had gone almost entirely to the salt side of the equation, and he seemed to lean a bit more heavily on his cane, but his back was straight and his eyes clear and twinkling with mischief.

Hartridge chuckled. "You're a professor and Master yourself now, you can actually call me Mark," he said, slapping Alan's shoulder and propelling them both through the double doors and toward the elevators. "We live in strange times, and even an old black sheep like me can be called back in from pasture, if the price of wool is good enough."

Alan snorted. "Got bored, did you?"

Mark entered the elevator with great dignity and waited for the doors to close before he said, "Yep," with that smug grin of his. "Research isn't as interesting without a hot young assistant."

"Riiight," said Alan, chuckling and shaking his head. "If I'm so hot, why can't I get a date?"

The doors chose that moment to ding open, and they walked out onto a floor Alan had actually never seen before, Human Resources. Even though he'd worked as Master Hartridge's classroom assistant for two years during his Apprenticeship, his pay had been handled through Financial Aid, so he'd never had a reason to come up to this level.

"You can't get a date because you never ask anyone out," said Mark, just loudly enough to embarrass Alan in front of the receptionist.

Fortunately for Alan, though she was cute, she wasn't exactly his type. "Just ignore him, he's senile," said Alan, walking up to her imposingly tall desk. "I'm Alan Harper, I'm supposed to fill out new hire paperwork today?"

"And I'm Master Hartridge," said Mark, looking imperious and mischievous at once. "I'm returning, and probably Loretta wants me to sign something agreeing not to give my new assistant a nervous breakdown, whoever he or she may be."

"You were never that bad," said Alan, rolling his eyes.

Mark shrugged, walking off toward one of the offices as though he belonged there. "Maybe not to you."

The girl laughed and shook her head. "Ah, so you're one of those," she said, handing over a clipboard fairly laden with paper. "I'm Mary, and you're to have a seat over there and I'll bring you coffee."

Alan took them obediently. "Depends on what you mean by 'those'," he replied cautiously.

She laughed again, tinkling and pleasant. "Oblivious, of course."

Alan couldn't help but laugh along with her, the sound infectious, though he also turned several shades of pink. "Ah, well. Yes, I suppose I am at that." He retreated to the sitting area she'd shown him, though it wasn't, unfortunately, out of earshot.

"Nothing wrong with that, love," she said, turning to do something in the mysterious confines of her desk. She emerged a minute later carrying a small tray on which there was not only a one-cup sized French press full of fragrant, brewing coffee, but a tiny pitcher of real cream, a bowl of heart-shaped sugars, and a mug and spoon. "It just makes them chase you harder."

He laughed and shook his head, pulling his favorite fountain pen out of his bag. "I really wouldn't know about that," he said with a shrug. "I don't get chased much."

"That you've noticed. Give it two minutes for weak, four for strong," she shot over her shoulder, looking terribly smug.

Alan nodded and started in on the top page. If the size of the stack was any indication, he'd be needing the coffee before too long.

---

"The rumors were true; you have come back with your tail between your legs," said a sarcastic voice behind him as Alan laid his briefcase down on his new desk.

Alan settled himself into the comfortable wooden rolling chair before turning to greet his visitor. "I don't recall you having much interest in what's between my legs before, Victor, do you have something to confess?"

A look of disgust twisted Victor Etrangere's elegant features before he schooled them back to false pleasantness. "You've already got designs above your station, I see. How did you end up with Levine's office?"

"It was bequeathed to me," replied Alan flippantly. "Why, did you have designs on it yourself? It does have a rather nice view."

Victor gave glance out the window, where a couple of half-naked girls were trying to summon a water sprite in the fountain. "I shouldn't have thought it was your sort of scenery," he said in an oily tone.

"It's a very nice fountain," said Alan, deliberately obtuse as he followed Victor's gaze. He remembered his own attempts to summon a sprite for Elements I, and how he'd been glad he'd chosen the middle of the night when they refused to come near until he'd stripped off completely. They'd giggled and touched him all over with their cold hands, and then one had consented to help with his class project. The next morning, he'd awoken to tiny, cold hands on a very much recovered portion of his anatomy, and he'd never viewed elementals quite the same way since. Which was, he supposed, the point of the assignment. He turned back to Victor and asked pointedly, "Did you have a reason for dropping in?"

"Just wondering if you'd discussed the curriculum with anyone yet. You're our only Ritual Mage at the moment, which leaves a rather full schedule," he said with relish.

As though summoned, Mark appeared behind Victor with a wicked grin on his wrinkled features. "Rubbish, he's got me to share the load with," said Mark, slapping Victor on the shoulder with unnecessary force. "Got any ideas on what you'd like to teach yet?" he asked Alan.

"A few. Not sex magic, obviously, though if there's a suitable candidate among the advanced students, I'm happy to take him on," replied Alan, delighting in the way Victor flinched at the pronoun.

"My own classes are full to overflowing," said Victor, taking a different tack now that Mark was here to back up the newest member of the Department of Sorcery. "I shall have to request extra tools and materials for all of them, and at least two assistants."

Mark nodded, face serious. "Magical Artisans are in high demand now that most of the old Masters are gone," he said, a tinge of sadness in his voice.

Alan's eyes flicked to the clock above the door, made by one of the school's greatest Magical Artisans, long before Alan was born. It would remind him with chimes, chirps and light displays whenever he had somewhere to be, so long as he kept his schedule up-to-date in the attuned calendar.

"A lot of talented men and women are gone now, and the knowledge they had is lost with them," said Alan bitterly. Even within the scholarly environment of Aira's oldest university, magical learning had been doled out frugally, for fear the students would surpass the Masters. "That's why I accepted the offer to teach."

"And it's why I've returned," said Mark, hand coming to rest on Alan's shoulder. "Now if you'll excuse us, I have business to discuss with Master Harper."

"Of course," said Victor darkly. He turned on his heel and left in a swirl of the absurd robes he insisted on wearing when he wasn't in the shop. Alan was pleased that they'd won this round, but he also knew this was only the first volley in what might prove to be a long siege, depending on how the other faculty reacted to having such an infamous student back, this time among their illustrious number.

"Do you know what classes are on the schedule for this year?" asked Alan, turning to Mark, mind already ranging ahead to the upcoming school year. The university was sparsely populated during the summer, but soon the fall term would start and students would suffer the lack of professors. Now that the war was over, Alan expected attendance to rise and the rosters to swell with young men and women eager to become something other than soldiers, with their futures assured.

Mark smiled and pulled up a chair, taking a pale blue page out of Alan's already-full inbox and setting it on the blotter. "I do, and now so do you," he said. "They haven't assigned us classes yet, obviously, but this is what's needed to keep the students on track."

Alan read over the list, then blinked. "No advanced courses at all?" he asked, confused.

"I'm afraid there aren't many advanced students at the moment specializing in ritual magic," replied Mark with a shake of his head. "It's not like it was when you were here; certain specializations within the College of Merlin have fallen out of favor."

And there it was again, the sting of interdepartmental politics. "I take it there's plenty of Magical Artisans wanting to do Apprentice and Journeyman work?" asked Alan.

"Aren't there always?" said Mark with a shrug. "Now, I'll take both Sex Magic courses, and we'll split the advanced students by ability. As I recall, you're quite good with Runic Circles, why don't you take both of those? Then we can split the introductory level courses between us."

Alan smiled; Mark always did know when work was the cure for what ailed him. "How about we each take a Rituals I course, and I'll do Meditation while you take Magical Materials?" He had a wicked twinkle in his eye, remembering his own first day of Meditation with Professor Hartridge up front with his cane, his lounge chair, and his grumpy declaration that old men didn't require any of that special sitting. Not to mention his tendency to fart in the middle of class just to see if it broke their concentration.

Mark laughed. "Afraid I'll stink up the room again?"

"Not so much afraid as positive," said Alan sweetly, making notes on the page. "Do you know any of the advanced students, or were they all Levine's?"

Mark peered at the list of five names, then shrugged. "We'll have to call them in for meetings, I suppose. You'd better hope the potions boys have something for me, though, or we'll have to see if you can perform with a girl after all," he said, tapping one name that had a note after it that she was hoping to become a licensed Sexual Sorceress.

"They like you better than me," said Alan with a little shudder. "Even a potion wouldn't help me, anyway. The particular limitations on my performance have been thoroughly tested, as you're perfectly well aware."

Mark laughed, and the conversation moved on to class size and room assignments, both important for a variety of reasons, the least of which was because the janitorial staff got tired of washing chalk off of the wood floors when there were perfectly good slate-floored rooms available.

---

Alan felt much more settled in a week later after having met or, in most cases, become reacquainted with many of his new colleagues in the College of Merlin. He'd also made sure his office was arranged and supplied just as he liked it. It was now decorated with items from his home and his travels, filled with books from his own library including a locked and warded case of Grimoires, and an equally protected cabinet stocked with all the tools of his trade. He stroked his fingers over the censer on his desk, the metal stained with smoke and the intricate designs worn to mere hints of their former glory; it had been his grandfather's, earned for Alan's own collection upon his admission to this very school.

He scattered a pinch of calming herbs over the hot coal inside, and got out a prosaic yellow notepad while he waited for his first advanced student interview. The clock had chirped at him twenty minutes ago to remind him of the appointment, and then chimed five minutes ago, when the hour had come. A rune representing the boy's name glowed above the door in increasingly alarming colours.

Alan couldn't help but be amused when, a few minutes later yet, a young lad with a shock of red hair careened around the corner and into his office. "Sorry I'm late!" he said breathlessly, flopping into the chair Alan had arranged for him. The rune vanished with a little pop, showering down false sparks that were nearly the same shade as the boy's hair.

Alan chuckled. "Efram Hawthorne, I presume?"

Hawthorne flushed a bit redder and nodded sheepishly. "Yes, sir, sorry, sir."

"Call me Alan," he said, and poured the boy a glass of water. "You seem a bit young for advanced studies."

Efram sipped the water gratefully, then shrugged. "I never do anything on time, I guess, early for this and late for that. I'm nineteen this October."

"And so you decided on a branch of magic that often requires precise timing," said Alan, amused. "Are you bisexual or gay?"

"What?"

Alan nearly rolled his eyes. "Are you able to perform intimate rituals with a male partner or mentor?" he rephrased.

Efram's eyes got a bit wider, and a flush crept up into his cheeks. "I, ah, I'm not sure, actually. There wasn't a sex magic instructor last year, and, um, I haven't, I mean..."

"Late rather than early on this one, I take it?" asked Alan, smiling gently. "There are courses of study we can follow that will take advantage, if you're still a virgin."

"Oh, no, I, I've managed with a girl, I just, um, haven't got 'round to the other side yet," said Efram, gaze traveling over Alan's body as if of its own accord. Efram shifted in his chair, and Alan was pleased to note that at least a part of Efram found the idea worth exploring. "How would I, er, we, figure out if we can work together?"

Alan moved deliberately, uncrossing his legs and sliding his hips forward in the chair just a little, watching as Efram's eyes widened and his breathing sped up just a touch. "I suspect we'll manage," he said, then took pity on the boy and fixed his posture. "There's a few basic rites we can try, or there's always the lager test."

"Lager test, sir?"

"We go out for lager and see if we feel like a snog after," said Alan, waggling his eyebrows. "And I told you to call me Alan, unless you want to be Mr. Hawthorne for the whole of our acquaintance."

"That might interfere with the snogging," said Efram, having quickly warmed up to the idea. "Say, tonight at seven?"

Alan chuckled. "You're a fast enough mover when you want to be, I see," he said, then flipped open his schedule book. "Meet me here at seven, and we'll go find an off-campus pub for our experimentation. Just in case it doesn't take."

Efram looked briefly disappointed, but he still added hopefully, "Shall I, er, bring an overnight bag? Just in case?"

Alan gave Efram's trim frame a once-over, and nodded. There were perks to being a sex magic instructor, even with his unique limitations, and the immunity to being fired over bedding a student was definitely one of them. "We'll talk about your focus of study more after we've determined your ability to perform," he said, making a note in the schedule so he wouldn't forget their date.

"I'm a quick study," said Efram with a grin. He gathered himself, checked the clock and downed his water. "Thanks for everything, um, Alan."

"Likewise, Efram. I'll see you at seven, or thereabouts."

Efram did a little bob and disappeared at the same pace he'd arrived, and Alan pulled his lesson plans back out.

"Ah, the energy of youth," said a familiar voice, and Alan looked up from his notes to see Mark leaning in the doorway. "I take it you find young Efram a suitable candidate?"

Alan laughed and motioned for Mark to sit. "He's definitely eager," he said, thinking back to their conversation. "I'm happy to take him on, though if he can't perform with a man, we'll have to arrange for other tutoring in the basic sex rites at least."

"Not that there aren't plenty of other rituals for you two to do together," said Mark with an amused snort. "I believe his file said he wanted to specialize in binding magics?"

"We, ah, didn't get that far in the conversation," said Alan, cheeks reddening despite himself. "But that's right up my alley, so I'll keep him either way. How'd it go with your budding Sexual Sorceress?"

"Ah, Marie. She's a sweet girl, actually, and seems quite competent in her chosen role," he said, with a leer that belied his kind words.

Alan laughed. "You old goat. So, she's happy to work under you, as it were?"

"She said she felt honored that I'd come out of retirement just in time to take her on," Mark replied, waggling his eyebrows. "And I met with that Geoffrey, too, the one that wants to study ancient runic circles. He's happy to burrow in my personal library and consult me when it's needful, so I'll take him off your hands."

"That just leaves Ronald Alpheston 'the Third', though it doesn't say third what, and Jack Wellington. Why does that name sound familiar?" said Alan, looking at his notes.

"Because he's the son of that Tory bastard, John Wellington," said Mark, a tone of disgust in his voice. "I've no idea why he ended up with us, I'd heard he wanted to do Combat Magic."

"No," said a voice from the doorway, and they both looked up, Mark craning around to get a look at the slender, dark-haired boy lurking there. "My dad wants me to do Combat Magic. I want to apprentice under Master Harper for sex magic and earth bindings."

"I guess that leaves the Third to me," said Mark with a snort. "I'll be sure to waylay him for our appointment." He made a production of standing with his cane, which Alan knew was mostly unnecessary. "Such things are for the young."

"Liar," said Alan, shaking his head. "Why don't you have a seat when he's gone, Jack, and we'll talk about your studies. An Apprenticeship is more complicated than a regular advanced degree."

"At least you're a proper Master now," said Mark dryly.

Alan made shooing motions. "It's not my fault they didn't want to convene until enough of the council had died to make it a wash," he said, referring to the troubles he'd had, trying to go from Journeyman to Master during the war. He wouldn't be eligible for this, or many other jobs in his field, if he hadn't finally been awarded a Master's status.

"They were a bit busy," said Mark reproachfully, though he'd been on the forefront of Alan's supporters, lobbying for a council meeting to ratify not only Alan but several other budding Journeyman in a variety of magical specialties. "Lunch at noon?"

"Better make it 12:30," said Alan, tucking away his lesson plans and pulling the yellow notebook back out. "Obviously, this will take a while. Have a seat, Jack."

"See you then," said Mark, shuffling his way down the corridor at a pace that suggested either advanced old age or a desire to eavesdrop.

"Yes, Master Harper," said Jack, taking the chair Mark had vacated.

"Alan, please," he said, shaking his head. "Master Harper is only for the day I present you to the council, and you'll have to be polite and respectful to contrast the rude things they'll say about me finding a young, handsome Apprentice so quickly."

Jack turned a bit pink around the ears. "I'm sure you'll hear from my dad as well," he said, slumping a bit in the chair. "I wasn't kidding that he wanted me to do Combat, but if I'm Apprenticed to you then it won't matter if he cuts off my trust fund."

Alan raised his eyebrow. "You're intending to do an old-fashioned Apprenticeship, living in my home, serving my needs and learning from my example?" he asked dubiously; he himself had done a more modern Apprenticeship under Mark, keeping his own apartment and even a part-time job to support himself. He'd learned from Mark mostly in the University environment, though they'd done a number of field trips alone and with other students to study or renew the ancient earth bindings around Aira.

"Yes, exactly. I mean, if I can," said Jack, eager as a puppy. "I'm willing to clean and I can cook a little, and I got an A in the one sex magic course I took before Madame Luminare took up her council seat and left the school."

"You are bisexual, I hope?" asked Alan, dubious about this whole prospect now that he realized Jack was hoping to use his apprenticeship as some sort of escape from his father's influence.

"Oh, yes, I love su- uh. Yes," said Jack, the pink creeping in over his cheeks and the bridge of his nose, making him look younger, but quite appealing nonetheless. "I was very happy when I learned you were coming back, Ma- Alan, I mean, Master Hartridge is obviously very skilled but I have to admit the idea of being yours has a lot more appeal."

He was practically fluttering his eyelashes, and Alan had to suppress the urge to roll his eyes. "Being my Apprentice," corrected Alan. "It's not like marriage or some sort of bizarre sexual slavery, Jack, I don't expect to be serviced."

Jack actually looked disappointed at that for a moment, but then he perked back up. "I'm sure you can find some use for me, as an Apprentice, I mean?"

Alan couldn't help but laugh. "I'm sure I can, but the council won't accept the arrangement for at least a term or two after we begin working together. Will your finances hold up until next year?"

Jack grinned. "Oh, yeah. I've been taking out the max every month from my trust fund, and putting it in other accounts. Dad thinks I found an expensive girlfriend or something, and so far he's looked the other way."

That was a relief, at any rate, and Alan made a few notes on his pad. "I'm going to have at least one other advanced student, and Mark may ask for my help at any time," he said, giving Jack a serious look. "Apprenticeship isn't like a relationship, there won't be any expectation that you're my one and only."

"Oh, of course not," said Jack, fidgeting again. "I'm sorry, I got too excited, I mean, I can afford to live on my own and everything if you don't want to go the old way, I just thought it would be the perfect solution for me. I guess I didn't really consider if it would be right for you."

"Well, we have a whole term to consider if it will be right for both of us," said Alan, making a few more notes. "There aren't any advanced ritual magic courses this term, but Mark and I have discussed a group study project for the five of you, to give you a full course credit. What other classes were you planning on?"

"I wanted to take a Runic Circles class, I took the basic but there's also intermediate this semester, right?" said Jack, obviously seeking approval. "And I hadn't decided about a third course."

"Well, give me a few days. Perhaps I can work up something for you to share with Efram, my other graduate student. And I'll need at least one TA this term, if not both of you, so you'll want to go wag your tail at Financial Aid until they assign you to me with no salary. Got it?"

"Efram Hawthorne is your other student?" asked Jack, his voice holding a note of something sharp under the good cheer.

Alan nodded. "Yes, most likely. We're going to have a compatibility test tonight, and if that works out we'll be deciding on his course of study this week." He paused, uncertain if he should ask, but he knew so little of the current gossip he plowed on. "Did you have a problem with him?"

Jack's eyes slid away, and Alan could see he was trying to decide how much to say. "He's very smart," said Jack, picking at a thread on the worn knee of his jeans. "Did you know he was Etrangere's protege until last year? Then suddenly he dumped Artefacts and became all focused on rituals and runes."

"Not everyone knows what they want to be at seventeen," said Alan warily. It couldn't really be deliberate, not even Alan had known he'd be here teaching this time last year, when Efram would have had his change of heart. Still, it was something to ask him about, definitely. "What about you?" he asked, changing the subject. "Why don't you tell me about the classes you've taken, and why you think you're suited to earth bindings?"

Jack launched into a long and rambling story about his educational career, and Alan took notes and watched the clock with one eye, letting the conversation wander where it would. If he was going to seriously consider having Jack in his home and, inevitably, his bed, then he owed it to them both to make the decision with as much information as possible.

---

"So," said Mark, settling into the familiar leather booth of the school's venerable pub, "how did it go with your starry-eyed boy?"

Alan laughed. "It went fine," he said, opening a menu, though in truth he'd learnt it by heart before his first semester had gone by, and he was fairly sure it hadn't changed in longer than he'd been alive. "He seems sincere enough, anyway, and he's got the proper background."

"Excellent," said Mark, grinning. "He was a handsome lad, too, that's got to be a bonus."

Alan was glad of the chance to think up a suitable reply while they ordered from the smirking waitress, and he handed over his menu with a smug smile of his own.

"No more so than your lovely Marie, I expect," he said. "Speaking of which, how was 'the Third'?"

Mark laughed, as he was meant to, and then sat back, looking thoughtful. "He's wanting to do moon rituals, all those timed astronomical things that neither of us was ever all that good with."

"Ah," said Alan, pulling a face to think of the endless charts and hourglasses in Mark's future. "Does he have a project already, by any chance?"

Mark shook his head. "He was supposed to work on something with Rajbandari, but then that whole group was killed during the sun ritual, and he's been adrift since."

Alan bit his lip, then shrugged. "If you need any help, we can always put our heads together, or maybe I can write off to one of the other Universities for some suggestions. I hear that's becoming more common, since the war."

"You're of an age you could get away with it, and mayhap lure us a more suitable professor here in the deal," said Mark thoughtfully. "I'll see what he comes up with on his own, but the idea has merit."

Their drinks came, a Coke for Alan and Guinness for Mark, who strongly maintained that beer with his lunch helped to centre him for afternoon classes, even when he wasn't teaching any. "There's always the Astrologers, too, or even Astronomy," said Alan, though the harder the science in question, the less likely it was that the professors would be willing to cooperate with sorcerers.

"What about a project for all five of them, have you looked into that yet?" asked Alan, changing the subject when Mark sank into pensive silence.

Mark cocked his head. "You mean for the graduate course credit idea you had," he said rhetorically, but Alan nodded anyway. "Well, let's see, we've got sex, sex, bindings, earth bindings, moon rites, and ancient runes, though that's pretty much pure research."

"That's quite a diverse group," said Alan thoughtfully. "What if we set Geoffrey and the Third to researching something. Wasn't there once some sort of binding rite to link the earth and moon, something about tides?"

"There's been a rite for everything at one time or another," said Mark cynically, but Alan could tell he liked the idea of making the students work for their credit. "Still, I'll drop a hint at Geoffrey and Ron -- that's the Third's name, and I suppose we ought to get used to using it -- and see if they come up with anything. You hint at your boys, as well, will you?"

"Of course," said Alan, though for tonight he was going to confine his hinting to strictly carnal pleasures, preferably of the utterly mundane sort.

Their food arrived and the conversation wandered as conversation is wont to do, and eventually all was eaten and drunk and it was time for them to leave the warm atmosphere of the pub and venture back into the uncertain waters of the College of Merlin. Alan let himself get lost planning the beginning and intermediate Runic Circles classes, barely noticing as the hours trickled by and seven o'clock approached.

Chapter 2

"Mas- um, Alan?" said a tentative voice from the doorway.

Alan looked up from the work he'd been doing, first noticing the red glow around his clock, and then the red hair of his new student below it. "Efram, come on in. I'll be done here in just a moment, sorry, I lost track of time."

Efram shuffled in, a backpack slung over one shoulder and his confidence from earlier somewhat diminished. "That's fine, I just didn't want to be late for this," he said with a nervous, lopsided grin.

Alan smiled back, then looked down at the page, feeling his concentration slide away when he tried to focus on the lesson plans he'd begun. He shook his head and closed the folder, shuffling all his papers away in the appropriate cubbies and then closing the enchanted roll top of his desk, sealing everything away with a word and a touch. "I'm glad to see such enthusiasm in a student," said Alan teasingly, when Efram popped back up out of his chair and hovered by the door.

He took the time to stand and stretch and grab his things, sparing a wish that he'd had the time to wash up before their evening out. Well, if things worked out, he supposed his own shower would be big enough for two anyway. "Did you drive?"

"Oh, no, I live in the dorms still," said Efram, stepping into the hallway to give Alan room to exit and set the wards, turning locks both mundane and magical with the heavy iron key.

Alan grinned and held out his arm, pocketing they key. "Well, then, I'll drive us where we're going, and make sure to stay sober enough to drive you home, should you need it," he said chivalrously, though now that he another look at Efram's trim frame and half-cocky smile, he found himself hoping for more than one reason that it wouldn't be necessary until morning.

"Yes, sir," said Efram teasingly, moving up to take the arm.

Alan walked him out to the parking lot, aware of eyes on them that were less than friendly as they traversed the halls and keeping his posture straight and smile casual. "Your chariot awaits," he said, using the remote to pop the locks on his car, a convertible Mini Cooper and his gift to himself when he turned Master. His previous car had been a much-repaired Volkswagen, and he was pleased to be able to show off his new toy. Alan hit the button to take the top down, and sent a curl of magic to open the doors, a set-spell he'd put in himself when he'd done the safety charms.

"Brilliant," said Efram, hopping in, his face and smile glowing in the late summer twilight. "I like the racing stripes."

Alan laughed and stowed his briefcase in the trunk, under the cargo netting, adding Efram's backpack when it was proffered. "I couldn't very well get racing green and then leave it plain," he replied, settling into the driver's seat and buckling his seatbelt.

"It's nice," said Efram, his voice lower. His hand wandered to Alan's knee, warm and sweaty enough to catch against the corduroy. "You're nice."

"Efram, I..." Alan paused, not sure what he was going to say. This wasn't meant to be some great romance, just a test, to see if they could perform magic together that required a sexual component. Wasn't it?

He started the car, just to give himself a moment to think, then turned to look at Efram's earnest face. "I want to give it a proper try," said Efram, moving closer. "I know it's not a real date, and you're my professor and all, but it wouldn't be magic to me if it was just a drunken fumble, either."

Alan couldn't help but smile, and he leaned in and met Efram halfway for a soft, chaste kiss. "We can pretend it's a date," he said recklessly, licking his lips as if to taste Efram on them, or wash away the lingering sensation of that mobile mouth against his own.

Efram's answering smile was worth the risk, and Alan found himself grinning as they pulled out of the parking lot and drove off into the night.

Instead of the neighborhood pub Alan had been planning to drag Efram to, he found himself heading to a restaurant he knew in the area, a little bistro with low lighting and cheerful waiters, and a good selection of wines. "I hope you like Italian?" he asked belatedly as the pulled into the parking lot.

"Of course, I mean, who doesn't love Angelino's?" said Efram, his voice just fast and nervous enough that Alan knew they both were aware of its reputation as a great place to take a date you were serious about. Or serious about getting into bed, anyway.

Alan grinned, letting just a touch of the predator into his smile as he walked around the car and opened Efram's door, offering him a hand up. "My treat," he said, the words innocent, but the implications less so.

"Um, thank you," said Efram, cheeks pink even in the last dim light of dusk. He paused awkwardly, then let Alan help him out of the car and close the door behind him. "Sorry, I'm not used to, uh, being the girl, I guess."

Alan couldn't hold the seducer persona; he laughed. "It's all right," he said, offering up his arm anyway. "I'm not used to dating at all, these days."

"I'm surprised," said Efram teasingly. "I've heard a few stories about your school days."

Alan smirked and led him inside, declining to comment, for the moment. Instead he got them seated, ordered a bottle of good red wine and a plate of antipasto, and made sure that they were conveniently arranged for a brushed hand or nudged foot, should dinner proceed as hoped. "So," said Alan, once the wine had arrived and the waiter gone with their orders, "what sent you running from Master Etrangere's arms and into mine?"

Efram tensed. "A little bird already told you about that, huh?" he said, voice more bitter than Alan had expected.

"Only that you had, not the details," said Alan casually, twirling his glass to watch the wine move inside. "I left the story for you to tell." Which wasn't exactly true, but seemed to be the right thing to say, anyway, since Efram relaxed and began to speak.

"Well, if you've looked at my transcripts, you know I spent my first two years here studying Magical Artefacts. I was trying to get one of the Apprenticeship slots, I mean, I don't want to be a Magical Mechanic for the rest of my life," he said, his tone full of disgust. "Anyway, I had already started my research for my Journeyman's Working -- I'm always early or late, like I said. I wanted to do something different, where the main power for the Artefact was instilled using a rite, like some of the enemy airships were powered."

Alan nodded. He'd heard that there was a budding branch of magic out there, to free Magical Artisans from the burden of powering their creations from their own personal magic during manufacture, but without the devastating environmental effects of those large Artefacts that drew almost entirely from their surroundings. "It's not a very popular idea, of course, because it wasn't ours," said Alan neutrally.

"That's an understatement," said Efram with a snort. "Master Etrangere found my notes and had a fit," said Efram with a sigh. "He tried to get me expelled for colluding with the enemy or something, but it didn't stick. There wasn't any proof I'd done anything other than some research into alternative power sources, which isn't illegal no matter where the original idea comes from."

"Ah," said Alan, nodding. "That explains the reaction, then, if he spread it around campus that you were a traitor to the crown."

Efram rolled his eyes, and took a big slug of his wine. "I still get men in suits coming by the dorm to ask me a few questions from time to time, though I suppose it's convenient that I got a single because no one will live with me."

"Victor always did know how to ruin a reputation," said Alan, thinking back to his own youth, though he'd done a bit more to make himself notorious than research unpopular ideas.

"Anyway," said Efram with a sigh, sitting up, "After that it was obvious I'd never get an Apprenticeship, and I found I was still pretty fascinated with the idea of rituals, even without a machine to power with them, so I switched specialties within the college, and here I am. A year since I was exiled from Master Etrangere's loving embrace, as it were, but still suffering the aftereffects."

Alan snorted. "He'd have a bit to say about your phrasing, I expect, but that does explain things." He popped an olive into his mouth and took a moment to savour the sharp saltiness of it, the result of everyday magic that turned the inedible into the divine, human intervention acting on nature in the most basic of ways. "So now you're going to let me get my hands on you, and make of you what I will?" he asked playfully, watching as Efram sampled a bit of prosciutto.

Another swallow of wine, this time to wash down his morsel, and Efram had relaxed back into his earlier flirtatiousness. "Well," he said, stroking his fingers up the fragile stem of the glass, "you are buying me dinner."

---

"And then he said, 'Apprentice Harper, your Master will hear of this.' You should have seen his face when Master Hartridge popped up and said, 'Oh, trust me, I already have!'" said Alan with a laugh.

The food was long gone, and they were nearly done with the bottle of wine, though Alan had taken care not to overindulge. "Now that," said Efram with a chuckle, "is why you two are infamous."

"That's not the only reason," said Alan, stroking his fingers over the back of Efram's hand. "Are you ready to find out why I used to get angry notes from people's girlfriends after our rituals?"

"You did not!" said Efram, still laughing, though he turned his hand over and captured Alan's fingers.

"Well, okay, it was just the once," admitted Alan. "But that was a boy worth making his girlfriend angry over."

Efram cocked his head to one side. "You weren't a Master then, why not date them both?"

It was Alan's turn to flush with more than wine, and he resolved to do a small sobering spell on them both before they went home. "I, er, can't. With women, I mean."

Efram blinked, then cocked his head. "Is it preferential, or...?"

"Well, I do prefer men, thankfully, but I have acute Hewitt's Syndrome," said Alan. "It's made my career interesting, but I never have to worry about having Neem in my system for a ritual."

Efram nodded. "I haven't taken anything like that yet, since there wasn't any sex magic offered last year. Should I start?"

Alan shook his head. "For now, no, we'll keep your system clean as well. If Master Hartridge requires help with Marie, I'll send him Jack instead, since it takes six weeks to become effective."

Efram cocked his head. "That wouldn't be Jack Wellington, would it?"

Alan raised his eyebrow. "I take it you two have a history?"

Efram shrugged, a bit too casually. "Let's just say it explains where you heard about my reputation."

"Well, he wants to become my Apprentice, and you're my other advanced student, so you two will have to work something out," said Alan, with just enough force to show he was serious before he relaxed back into his chair. "But not tonight," he added, as the waiter discreetly set the check down next to him.

Alan added his credit card to the folder without bothering to check the total, and then gave Efram the look he'd been holding inside for quite some time, running his eyes over Efram's face and chest as though they were hands, and Efram already naked and willing. "Tonight is for other things."

Efram shivered, then raised his glass. "To experimentation," he said, with a shy grin.

"To learning new things," said Alan, "about yourself, and others."

They both drained their glasses, and by the time the slip came back for Alan to sign, all thoughts of Victor, Jack or any possible future beyond the next few hours had been banished.

---

The cool night air rushing past was almost as good as the sobering charm for washing away the wine's artificial warmth, and Alan let his hand wander to Efram's thigh when it wasn't busy shifting, kindling a different sort of warmth. Efram spread his legs invitingly, eyes glinting out of the shadows of his face intent on Alan. "Are you really ready for this?" asked Alan, following the last long curve before his house.

Efram's hand caught his wrist and drew it upwards, from warm to hot, skating over the tense muscles to find something else had grown firm in the meantime. "What do you think?"

Alan gave him a squeeze and then had to downshift, pulling the car into his driveway. "I think you're nineteen, and we're home," he said. He turned off the car, unbuckled, and looked at Efram. "There's other magics, if you're not sure."

Efram shook his head and unbuckled his own seatbelt, leaning into Alan's space. "I'm sure, Alan, stop questioning it and take advantage instead," he said in a low, teasing voice. His mouth was cool at first when it touched Alan's, but the inside was hot, his tongue spiced with wine and nerves as it tangled with Alan's.

When the kiss came to an end, Alan was reassured enough to pop the boot and get out. "Come inside, then," he said, grabbing their things, then heading for the front door; the garage wards weren't set to allow anyone inside but Alan, so they had to go the long way.

"Not yet," said Efram with a teasing laugh.

Alan rolled his eyes and unlocked the door, his own house key one he'd made himself out of copper and magic. The wards opened to welcome him, and he felt a tingle as they reached out for Efram. "He's a guest, and welcome here," said Alan formally. There was an earth spirit bound to his house, a compact made willingly in exchange for certain things from Alan, not the least of which was friendship.

Lights flickered to life as he stepped inside, and Alan took a moment to be grateful for the long wait for his Mastery that had given him the chance to lay down the sort of spells on his home that most mages took years to establish. "Tour, or shower first?" asked Alan casually, motioning Efram inside.

Efram started a little when the door swung shut behind him, but he moved readily enough into Alan's arms. "Sex first," he said, leaning up for another of those toe-curling kisses. "I am nineteen, after all."

"Shower, then sex," said Alan with a low laugh. They left their shoes and bags in the entryway, and then he led Efram through the master bedroom to the bathroom, which had both a stand-up shower floored with river stones, and wide, curved tub sunk into the floor.

"Ooh, why not a bath?" asked Efram, running his stockinged toes over the marble edge.

Alan flushed. "Ah, well, it's got a plumbing problem and I haven't had a chance to get it fixed," he explained. "I inherited the house from my grandfather last year, and it's still got a few quirks."

Efram's brows knit. "But those wards..."

"I spent most of this year working on the house when I wasn't lobbying for my Mastery," said Alan with a shrug. "I wasn't a Journeyman, and I wasn't a Master, so I wasn't employable, either."

"So you had the time for the wards..."

"But not the money for a plumber, basically," said Alan.

Efram moved forward and put his hands on Alan's tie. "A shower will be just fine," he said, pulling Alan down into a kiss, "and maybe later your Apprentices can fix your plumbing."

Alan almost let it go in the heady rush of new lust, but he forced himself to pull away and ask, "Apprentices, plural?"

Efram flushed more. "Well, I was hoping, I mean, if we get along tonight and everything..."

Alan shook his head and laughed, pulling Efram close. "You're going to be the death of me, and I'm not even old enough to be saying that."

It was Efram's turn for a wicked tease as he loosened Alan's tie. "I'll be the little death," he said, licking at Alan's throat, "over and over and over again."

"I," said Alan, hands busy with Efram's clothing, "am not nineteen, so don't get your hopes up."

Efram chuckled and sank to his knees, taking the tie with him. "I'll try to be very inspirational," he said, nuzzling at Alan's crotch. He inhaled deeply, rubbing his cheek along the length of Alan's erection. "Smells good." He looked up, eyes wide and greener than Alan remembered. "I didn't know if I'd like it."

"I'm glad you do," said Alan, stroking his hands through Efram's wiry red hair and over one cheekbone.

Efram took that for encouragement and started in on Alan's trousers, while Alan pulled up his shirt and began to unbutton it from the bottom. "I thought about this all afternoon, you know," said Efram, face pressed into Alan's open fly.

"G-good thoughts?" stammered Alan. Efram's breath was warm and his willingness was as intoxicating as the wine had been, making it all seem as new to Alan as it was to Efram, if only briefly.

"Mm-hm," said Efram, nodding. His hands stroked down Alan's legs, taking his trousers with them. Alan dropped his shirt and stepped out of his trousers, gasping when Efram mouthed his length through the thin cotton of his boxers.

Alan pulled his head gently away, manfully ignoring the adorable pout he got in response. "I want to see you, too," he said, taking a step back and nearly tripping over his own clothing.

The laughter that followed seemed to clear something out of the air, and Efram stood up with a grin and a kiss. "I suppose that's fair," he said.

Alan grinned right back and bent down to retrieve his clothing, emptying his pockets into the dish he kept on the counter just for that purpose, then dumping everything in the hamper including his socks. When he t urned back, Efram was holding his own clothing in a bundle in front of his crotch, cheeks flushed and smile just a bit shy, not a stitch left on him.

Alan swallowed and really looked at him, the body that was lean and compact with just that slight unfinished quality that said more surely than the rest that he was still a teenager. "You're lovely," said Alan, stripping out of his own boxers and tossing them in the hamper, gesturing for Efram to do the same with his own clothing. It took all of Alan's willpower not to cover up as Efram had, but to let his cock bounce in the open air, hard and ready, undeniable evidence of his own enthusiasm for the rest of the evening.

Efram swallowed and stepped up, extracting his trousers from the pile and putting the rest in the hamper. "Can I put my stuff with yours?" he asked, eyes firmly fixed below Alan's waistline.

Alan suddenly knew what girls felt like when men talked to their breasts, and he reached out and tipped Efram's chin up until their eyes met. "Yes, you may," he said, then stole a kiss for good measure.

Efram put his own things in the dish until it was nearly overflowing with phones, wallets, keys and luck-charms, change and scraps of paper mingling in a way that Alan found disturbingly homey. He'd never lived with a lover, hadn't lived with anyone since he became an adult, and the sight of someone else's things mixed in with his own started an unfamiliar longing in him that he shoved away forcefully.

As soon as they were both naked and the hamper lid closed, Alan pushed Efram up against the counter for a real kiss, hot and greedy, their naked bodies pressed together, Efram's cock against his thigh and his pressed into Efram's cobbled stomach. "I'm not your professor tonight, Efram," he said, both a reminder for the moment and a warning that tomorrow, he would have to resume that role. "You have permission to have me."

Efram groaned and kissed him, rocking up into his thigh, the head of his cock leaving slick trails in the coarse hairs. "I thought you were going to h-have me," he said, his voice betraying his nervousness.

Alan chuckled; he was big enough, tall if not broad, that a lot of men assumed that he'd always want the dominant role. "Is that what you really want?" Alan asked, rocking up against Efram's body, encouraging him to lose himself in lust.

"W-want you, ohgod, however... Please," gasped Efram, coherence finally lost as he gave in and rubbed himself off against Alan's thigh in earnest. He threw his head back and Alan took advantage of the opportunity to nibble at his throat, tasting the creamy skin, imagining that the freckles added some subtle spice to the mix. He coaxed Efram toward the edge, his leg firmly pressed forward against Efram's length. Alan's hands ran over Efram's smaller body, up the sides to find and tease the peaked nipples and the sparse, crisp hairs surrounding them, then skating his fingers down over the fluttering stomach while his mouth moved along one collarbone, seeking the places that got the best reactions.

When Alan's fingers slipped over his hipbones, and Alan's tongue dipped into the hollow of his throat, it was too much and Efram came undone. He cried out and shuddered, clinging to Alan's shoulders and spurting lush fluid over Alan's hip and thigh again and again, until he was spent. "You," he said between panted breaths, "god, you..."

"Now we both need a shower," said Alan smugly. He ran his fingers through the streaks of come on his own skin and licked, tasting the fresh, clean bitterness of Efram's release.

Efram laughed breathlessly and kissed him. "Now we both need a shower," he agreed, staying slumped against the counter when Alan stepped away to start the water running. "What, um," he asked, shyness reasserting itself now that the pleasure had begun to ebb, "what was the point of that?"

Alan chuckled and turned back, looking at Efram all splayed against the marble, cock toppled against his red-furred balls, body streaked with come and sweat, face flushed and chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. "You're nineteen," Alan said with a smirk. "I'm not."

Efram laughed. "Now we're more even, I guess," he said, taking Alan's hand when it was offered and allowing himself to be led under the gentle rain of the shower. They held each other like that for long minutes, kissing and touching, learning one another with less urgency now, letting the water rinse away nerves and sweat, come and cares alike.

"Did you really mean it?" asked Efram, once they'd moved apart enough for Alan to start washing him with gentle hands.

"Mean what?" asked Alan absently, down on his knees as he rubbed lather over Efram's legs and feet.

Efram lifted his legs one at a time obediently, grabbing onto the bar on the wall when he found the footing slippery. "That you'd let me, um, have you."

Alan smiled and looked up, face open and eyes full of kindness. "Of course," he said, letting his fingertips glide up Efram's legs as he stood. "A sex mage doesn't always have the luxury of choosing his role, and I find it equally satisfying to give as take."

"Oh," said Efram, swallowing and then accepting the kiss that Alan offered. "You'll show me how?"

Alan nodded. "I'll show you how," he agreed, hands still moving over Efram's skin, washing as they talked with soothing motions, the scent of spices rising up like comfort, warm and familiar. "And if you don't wear me out too much, maybe I can have you, afterward."

Efram laughed a little nervously, and pulled Alan close. He paused a moment to bury his face against Alan's chest, emphasizing the difference in their heights, ages, stations. "Maybe I'd like that," he said, standing up straight, tilting his chin up for another kiss, which Alan gladly gave.

"I'd make sure of it," said Alan with a leer.

They both laughed that time, more freely now that it was a proper joke between them, and then Efram took the flannel and started washing Alan, and soon enough they were both clean and rinsed, and the hot water was threatening to run out.

"You're going to need a bigger water heater, with two Apprentices," said Efram teasingly, stepping out to get towels while Alan shut off the water and made sure everything was in order, no soap left on the floor to trip them or caps left open in their haste to keep the threads of touch going.

"I don't know that this house would hold the two of you, while you were still at war with one another," said Alan, shaking his head. His grandfather had been a wizard, so there was a workshop, but he'd also been a loner, and the extra rooms were given over to books and storage and the endless collection of magical paraphernalia, not to guests. Alan stepped out and into Efram's arms, and a towel warmed with a touch of Efram's magic. "I don't want to think about that right now," said Alan, allowing himself to be wrapped up in the embrace.

"Neither do I," said Efram, turning their conversation to kisses.

Alan accepted the change readily, walking them out into the bedroom still damp, only to misjudge the distance and end up sprawled on the bed in a tangle of towels, limbs and laughter. "That'll teach me to try to be smooth," said Alan, sitting up and drying off his hair, then Efram's for good measure.

"It got me where I wanted to be," said Efram, leaning in to lick a few stray droplets off of Alan's shoulder.

Alan chuckled and looked up at the pillows, which were about a foot above where their heads had ended up. He spread his legs and tilted his hips invitingly and said, "Not all the way there."

Efram moaned and melted against him, hard again in the way of youth, as he had been in the shower. They shared a kiss filled with passion and promise, wriggling their way up the bed as they did. Alan spared a moment to try to remember when he'd last changed the sheets, whether he had lube and condoms handy and what else they'd need, but his concentration kept sliding away when Efram's body would brush against him, hip to hip, thigh to thigh, chest to chest. He found himself nestled in the pillows with Efram on top of him, the towels long gone and their skin damp and warm as they slid together, undulating slowly this time instead of the frantic movements of earlier.

Efram's cock slid against his own, hard and hot, and all Alan could think about was how it would feel inside him, the size and shape of it filling him after so long empty. He hadn't participated in many rituals in the past year, nor had he dated, but it wasn't until this moment that he truly felt the lack. He leaned up and whispered into Efram's ear, "I want you inside me," his voice low and hungry, almost a growl.

Efram moaned and pulled back, nodding. "God, I want that, too, I... There's stuff I have to do first, right?"

Alan chuckled and kissed him. "Yeah, there's stuff we need to do first," he said, taking strength in his role as teacher of a sort. He slid out from under Efram's warmth and fumbled through the nightstand, finding the things he needed. When he turned back, Efram's shyness had returned and he was sitting on top of the covers, arms wrapped around his knees. "Don't worry, I'll show you," said Alan gently, rubbing his shoulder.

Efram smiled gratefully, then explained, "Sorry, I'm just... I guess I feel like this is my only chance, and if I mess it up, you won't want me again."

Alan shook his head, a wry grin on his features. "I can assure you that's not the case," he said, rubbing Efram's shoulder. "I know what I like already, after all. This is about finding out what you like, although I can already tell you like men at least a little," he added teasingly.

Efram laughed, and allowed Alan to coax him between the sheets, and back between his legs. "Get your fingers slick," said Alan, "then put them in me, one finger only at first, until I tell you it's okay to do two."

"Got it," said Efram, and Alan wondered if he'd ever been this earnest about anything himself, sex or otherwise. Efram's finger was cool as it slid back behind his balls, searching for the opening hiding in the shadows, and it drew a gasp from Alan as the tip skated over the sensitive flesh. "Just push my way inside?"

"Yeah," said Alan, canting his hips upward to give Efram a better angle. "Push gently, but firmly. One should go in no problem, ohh," he trailed off into a moan as Efram found his center and slid inside, the whole finger in one long glide that stole Alan's breath away.

"Fuck, you're tight," said Efram, his voice husky with need. He seemed to find this, at least, familiar, and his hand began to move, thrusting in and out with enough skill to draw embarrassing whimpers from Alan's lips. "So sexy," said Efram, and then he bent down unexpectedly, nuzzling against the base of Alan's erection as though to remind himself that this was different, new.

"Two, please, t-two," said Alan when he could, barely managing to string the words together as Efram's mouth moved over his stomach and chest in a series of kisses that went from nearly chaste to open-mouthed and wet, as his confidence grew.

"I love the taste of you," said Efram, a note of wonder in his voice, as though he hadn't expected to like any of this, not really. He slid a second finger into Alan alongside the first, and Alan let himself melt into the twin pleasures enough to relax his entrance, though not enough to let himself come yet.

He was saving that for the next part. "Want, now, want you," said Alan, nearly losing it when Efram started to suckle at his nipples.

Efram looked up, eyes hazel in the darkness, and pulled reluctantly away from Alan's chest. His fingers, too, were taken away, and Alan heard the crinkle of plastic, smelled the sharp, subtle scent of latex. "I need to slick my cock, too, right?" asked Efram, his voice a low growl, all traces of the shy boy gone now. Hearing the obscene words from lips that had seemed so young only added fuel to the fire burning low in Alan's belly.

"Use lots," said Alan, spreading his knees a little wider, lifting them up until just his toes were on the surface of the bed. He wanted to grab them, fold himself in half, but a part of him was still in enough control not to want to expose himself quite that way this first time. Instead he reached out and caught a curl of Efram's hair, tugging gently until Efram bent down for a kiss, hands still busy between their bodies, knuckles brushing against Alan's cock.

Alan gasped, and those slick fingers wrapped around him once, stroking the lubricant along his length before delving back downward, finding his entrance. "Tell me if I do it wrong," said Efram, his tone making the words seem less like doubt and more like a naughty tease, as though he was sure of the right way, now that they'd come this far. His cock was blunt as Efram fitted it to Alan's entrance, and Alan pressed upward, inviting, asking with his body for what they both wanted.

They traded sighs as Efram slid home, less smooth than his fingers had been, but bigger and hotter, so much better. "I think you've got it," said Alan, the humor escaping while he still had the breath for it.

"It's so hot," said Efram, voice holding the same fine tension that ran through his whole body. "Tight."

"Move," advised Alan, letting his head fall back against the pillows and giving his hips a little wiggle of encouragement.

Efram didn't have to be told twice, and he slid out and back in with excruciating slowness at first, each thrust an experiment of sorts, testing the angle and speed, and the things it did to Alan. It didn't take long for him to find what he was looking for, that place inside that set off sparks like a magic of its own, pure pleasure that made Alan cry out, and then again and again as Efram began to thrust in earnest now.

Language was the first to go, words half-spoken or lost entirely as the cries spilled from Alan's mouth. Efram reached between them to capture Alan's cock, his other hand braced against the back of one of Alan's thighs, folding him practically in half so that all Alan could do was writhe and make embarrassing noises, clutching at the sheets and Efram's shoulders with equal fervor.

It didn't take long for the pleasure to overwhelm Alan; with no rite or chant to distract him, his control frayed embarrassingly quickly. He gave one last cry and shuddered, orgasm rushing in from fingers and toes and flooding out through his cock in stuttering pleasure, wetting his stomach with hot seed and sending a flood of unchecked power into the wards beneath his bed.

"Fuck, what, ohgod," said Efram, thrusts growing erratic and fast, short and sharp with no concern for finesse, only for the rising tide of need that Alan could feel in Efram now that his senses had been opened by his own magic. The energy was there within him, waiting to be channeled, and Alan took a few deep breaths to keep it from breaking him apart again, knowing it would flood him with more power and not wanting to spend himself completely on this one union.

"Magic," he said, watching Efram's face suffused with pleasure. "It's power," Alan explained, though he knew he'd have to explain again, once Efram was of a mind to listen.

It didn't take much longer for the energies inside Efram to overwhelm him, and he moaned and went still as the magic and pleasure pulsed out of him and into Alan. Alan did as he'd been trained and channeled the magic up through his body, along his chakras and out the top, to join his own swirling energies in the wards beneath the bed, a circle of runes and charms he'd created just for this purpose. He folded himself nearly in half to claim a kiss from Efram's damp, panting mouth, whimpering when their bodies parted and Efram lay atop him, sated.

"So," said Alan, after a few moments to catch their breath and no small number of kisses as well, "do you think you'd like to do that again?"

Efram laughed, the sound joyous and open. "Yeah," he said, nuzzling at Alan's jaw. "I think I'd like to try it from your end, too."

Alan grinned. "I think that can be arranged," he said, though the words ended in a yawn. "After a nap, perhaps."

"Definitely a nap," said Efram, snuggling up and then making a face. "Er, in a second," he clarified, slipping out of the bed to clean up and dispose of the condom. He returned with a warm, wet cloth and cleaned Alan as well, laughing when Alan tossed the cloth on top of the towels and pulled him in for more kisses.

"You're going to be an excellent Apprentice, I'm sure," said Alan with another, wider yawn. "You didn't even ask me to get the washcloth."

Efram chuckled. "I'm smarter than I look," he said.

"You'd have to be," teased Alan, though he softened it with a kiss. He let the languor suffusing his veins draw him down into sleep, feeling quite satisfied on several levels, not the least of which was the simple satisfaction of having someone to hold as he slept.

Chapter 3

Whether it was the wine, the nerves or the act itself, they were both tired enough to sleep until dawn. Alan awoke warm and slightly clammy, with his arms still full of snuffling boy. Efram was sprawled across Alan and the bed, one leg sticking out of the covers altogether and the other tangled with Alan's, hand loosely gripping Alan's wrist and the other shoved up under the pillows to hold him like a big teddy bear.

Alan grinned, and kissed his hair, and tried not to feel like he was robbing the cradle. Instead, he felt the need to brush his teeth and use the bathroom, and he attempted to wriggle out of Efram's clinging embrace. Efram made a noise of protest and snuggled closer, pressing his face into Alan's chest and tugging Alan's arm down around his body. "Ssh," said Alan, nuzzling him and taking in the scent of him, sweet and a little sweaty, spiced with the lingering musk of their lovemaking. "I'll be back, promise."

"Won't," said Efram, clinging tighter, his whole body growing tense.

Alan's brows knit with worry, and he gently shook Efram. "Efram, Efram, wake up."

"No, stay," said Efram, though his voice was losing the thickness of sleep. His eyes blinked open and he went still, then he looked up into Alan's face. "Um. Hi?"

Alan chuckled and kissed his forehead. "Good morning," he said, taking the opportunity to free his wrist from Efram's grip and stroke his back and shoulder. "Let me up and I'll make you breakfast?"

Efram flushed and smiled that little-boy smile, all abashed with an undertone of wickedness. "What if I want you for breakfast?"

"I'll still make you brush your teeth," said Alan.

Efram laughed and let him up, rolling over and stretching, lean body glowing in the sunlight that filtered through the swirling stained-glass windows. Alan paused to admire him before going to take care of business, coming out thoroughly brushed, sketchily washed and feeling quite a bit more inclined toward Efram's suggestion. "Your turn," said Alan with a chuckle, curling up next to him in the bed and cuddling into his warmth. "Your bag's by the door, you can grab a robe if you're shy."

"Naah," said Efram, rolling out of bed and putting on a show of stretching again. "With a body like this, why be shy?"

Alan was still shaking his head when Efram left, and he allowed himself his own catlike wallow in the bed, stealing the warm spot and then stretching out in the varicolored sunbeam turning his white sheets green, blue and rose as well as pale gold. Efram blew him a kiss on his way to the bathroom, and emerged a few minutes later with all signs of his sleeping distress erased, and his body already starting to show enthusiasm for another round.

"You certainly are flattering to my ego," said Alan with a chuckle, cupping his hand under Efram's length when he got close enough, caressing him lightly with palm and fingers while Efram climbed into bed.

"It's not flattery," said Efram, leaning in for a minty-fresh kiss. "I just want you."

Alan moaned at that, such a bald, brash statement between them, but one with the ring of truth. "Where do you want me?" he asked, stealing another kiss before Efram could answer.

"Inside me," said Efram with a blush.

Alan felt a warm curl of affection alongside the lust that sprang up at the suggestion, that Efram trusted him enough, wanted him enough to offer. "I'd ask if you're sure," said Alan, pulling him down into the warmth of his arms, until they were tangled as close as when they'd awakened, "but I don't want you to change your mind."

Efram laughed and rolled them over so Alan was on top. "I've been waiting all night for this," he said with a smirk, though a shadow passed over his eyes that told Alan that he remembered something of what had happened earlier.

"Good," was all Alan said, running his hands over Efram's body while he had the chance, thinking how small he seemed, how fragile when Alan was on top like this, compared to the strength he'd had last night, of position and surety both.

They shared more kisses, Alan warming him up slowly, taking their time now that morning had come and only this last part of the question was left wanting an answer. The sun moved slowly across their bodies, light and color and shadow making art of their movements, lending grace to each caress, music to every sigh. Alan felt the stir of power beneath them, the magic stored safely in its circle reacting to the rise of energy between them, and he wondered if Efram could feel it, too, and knew what it was.

Alan's hands made their way down Efram's body, one wandering long enough to find the lube, grateful for the no-spill bottles that the makers of such potions always used, even when the potion they were making was utterly unmagical. Alan used the same plain, magically-neutral lubricant for everything, so his body always associated the slippery feel and faint, nutty smell of it with sex and power. Every little bit helped when there was an audience or a stopwatch involved, not to mention magic circles, esoteric chants and, sometimes, people's lives.

Alan pushed that thought away for the moment and concentrated on what mattered now, on the boy in his arms, Efram's pleasure and comfort foremost. Alan got his fingers slick and pressed a kiss to Efram's gasping pink mouth, then asked, "Have you ever?"

Efram swallowed, but shook his head. "I've thought about it, but... No."

Alan let out a long breath, then took another few calming ones just to make sure. He hadn't been with someone so young and pure in a long time, and it was exciting and frightening, to be given such a gift. "Well," said Alan, borrowing time with another kiss, "you have to tell me if there's anything you don't like."

Efram nodded, then took another kiss of his own before spreading his legs, knees drawing up and face terribly vulnerable. "I know you'll take care of me."

"I will keep your trust," said Alan formally, kissing his forehead, a gesture he'd used in a very few rituals and had used on himself even less often, when he was the one offering up his energy to be used by another mage, but one that he felt was appropriate here. He slid his slippery hand down and back and in, finding the rough skin of Efram's entrance and stroking it, massaging from the outside, getting the dry flesh slick and ready.

Efram's eyes went wide, then lowered to half-lidded pleasure, the green that glinted from beneath ginger lashes making a lovely counterpoint to the stripe of rose across one cheek from the window, the red of his mouth where white teeth caught his lower lip. "Feels good," he said, sounding surprised, though he'd seen Alan's pleasure in it only a few hours ago.

"Good," said Alan, pressing one fingertip inward gently, feeling the wrinkles stretch and part just enough, the muscles still tight as he slipped past. "Still good?" he asked, moving in and out until his finger was buried in Efram's heat up to the second knuckle.

"Strange," said Efram with a little shiver, "but n-not bad," he said, voice breathy and hitching when Alan slipped his finger in further, feeling the silken grasp of Efram's body and swallowing hard to think that he'd soon be buried in that tightness.

"Not bad," asked Alan, both teasing and earnest at once, needing for this to be more than just tolerable for Efram, "or good?" He stroked the full length of his finger in and out, caressing places no one else had touched before, caressing the same way Alan had touched other men, at other times.

Efram's body answered for him, back arching up eagerly into the touches, eyes rolling back in his head and thighs spreading even further, fingers scrabbling at Alan's skin, trying to get something to hold onto. Alan grinned and kept going, dipping his head down to kiss Efram's mouth, to lick along his collarbone and nibble at the peaks of his nipples, hand moving all the while in a steady rhythm. He felt Efram's body relaxing bit by bit, getting used the the intrusion, to the idea that this, too, could be pleasure, if only he let it.

"Better, fuck, more," said Efram, the only words Alan could make out from the string of moans and half-curses spilling from his mouth.

Alan obliged him, adding more lubricant and slipping two fingers past the tight muscle and into the heat of him. Efram moaned again, but his body opened readily enough, grasping at Alan's fingers now as though loathe to let them leave on each stroke outward, sucking him back in every time. "You're perfect," whispered Alan, licking at his sternum, remembering those places that made him sigh last night and revisiting them with tender kisses along the hollow of his throat, the curve of his ribs.

Efram's frantic fingers clutched at Alan's hair, bringing him up for a kiss and whispering against his lips, "I'm going to come if you do that." He sounded embarrassed, wanting, and so very sexy that Alan was tempted to coax him over the edge just to see him fall.

"Are you ready for me?" asked Alan instead, no more teasing between them, nothing but honest touch and pure need. He slid his fingers out, and Efram whimpered and nodded, kissing him again, pressing their foreheads together.

"I trust you," said Efram, taking a breath with him, holding onto the moment for a heartbeat, two, three.

When he let go, Alan felt calmer, but that sense of portent, of something more than just a simple shag, was back in full force. He slipped on the condom and got himself slick, then wrapped his fingers around Efram's cock and stroked a few times, spreading the extra lubricant around, watching him arch and moan.

He didn't even have to ask of Efram was ready when he got into position; Efram's hips tilted up as soon as he felt the head of Alan's cock against his entrance, the heat drawing Alan inside with a press of hips, a sudden giving way and a long, juddery slide. "Tight," said Alan, taking deep breaths and trying to remember why it was bad to come right now, to empty himself into the heat that cradled the most sensitive part of him.

"Big," said Efram, just enough of a smile on his face to make it all right, a little joke between them to lighten the moment.

Rather than voice his next, far too possessive thought, Alan leaned in, bending Efram nearly in half to press their lips together. Efram was young and flexible, and managed the move more easily than Alan had, knees up to his chest and slick cock rubbing up against Alan's belly as their hips moved. Their thrusts took on a rhythm of their own, echoing the kiss, the beat of their hearts, the pulse of magic from below, and even the slow march of the sun across their bodies.

"This is what it's like," whispered Alan, the words brushing over Efram's lips, "when it's magic." He felt the power building in them both, trust and pleasure and even affection creating a harmony that brought it to the fore without the need for ritual or ceremony, the sort of accidental magic from which all other magic sprang. Alan kissed him again, sliding his hand between their bodies to capture Efram's cock, stroking and thrusting until Efram cried out his release, spurting into the scant space.

Alan leaned up and back, drawing a rune on his stomach in the spent seed, a simple spell that he powered with Efram's magic, with their combined energy from last night, and finally the rush of his own orgasm as he thrust a last dozen times and let himself go, body arched back and power spilling into Efram's body along with his seed.

Efram looked down, stirred from his languor by curiosity. "What did you do?" he asked, finger skating across his own stomach, around the edge of the rune without touching it.

"We," Alan corrected, feeling terribly smug, "put a simple spell on you, using the energy of our union, and the stored power from last night." He swiped his finger through the rune and tasted the come. "It will last as long as there's affection, lust, and good will between us, to help bring you joy."

"That was the Wynja rune, right?" asked Efram, cocking his head as if trying to make his memory line up with the smeared mess on his stomach.

Alan nodded, smiling, and leaned in to steal a last kiss, feeling their bodies separate as he did. "Right," he said, feeling oddly proud, though of course Efram would have had to learn a variety of runes, symbols and signs to become an advanced student. Alan got up and headed to the bathroom while Efram was still contemplating the spell, cleaning up and bringing back a warm cloth for Efram as well. "All right?"

"Some people think of that as the wishing rune," said Efram, giving him a sidelong glance, though he submitted to the cleaning readily enough.

Alan laughed. "Well, I suppose so, but we didn't have nearly enough power for that. I don't let that well fill up often, I'm afraid, so there was only energy from the two of us, though," he mused, "we do raise a good bit of magic together."

Efram shook his head, laughing silently. "That's an understatement," he said, pulling Alan close for a kiss. The washcloth joined the pile of towels on the floor, and Alan gladly snuggled up Efram's smaller body, basking in his warmth and affection. "I've never had sex that raised power like that, by accident."

"Ah, well, some of that's me," said Alan, flushing. "Part of the Hewitt's, actually. That's why I have the power well under the bed," he explained, feeling a little foolish. "I can't have any kind of sex without raising power, not even, um, solo."

Efram looked thoughtful for all of half a second, and then he grinned impishly. "Is that how you broke the tub?"

Alan's blush was his only answer.

---

The phone rang just as Alan was starting to drift off back to sleep; it was Mark calling to see if he'd be in the office today, though Alan suspected he mostly wanted to hear how things had gone with Efram. That galvanized them both into action, and they took another shower, which resulted in a pair of very satisfying handjobs.

"So," asked Efram, lounging in the kitchen while Alan put together breakfast for them both, "why's the sex in the bathroom less magical?"

"Dampening wards," said Alan. "There's too much flowing water for another power well, so I used that to damp and scatter the power instead." He paused with an egg poised over a bowl. "Scrambled okay?"

Efram smiled a crooked, wry little smile and said, "Yeah, of course." He looked as bemused as Alan felt, not quite sure how to classify their relationship, or how to interact now that their clothes were back on. "I don't suppose there's fried tomatoes?" asked Efram curiously, having spotted some of this season's harvest ripening on the windowsill above the sink.

"Sure, if you wash and chop them," Alan allowed. It wasn't one of his usual morning favourites, but he didn't mind catering to Efram's tastes, in the kitchen or in bed. He poured the egg mixture into the skillet, then turned the sausages that were already cooking in their own pan.

Efram levered himself up out of the chair. "I guess I talked myself into that one."

"You're lucky I'm not making you do the dishes," said Alan teasingly.

Efram shrugged, a small tension in his body betraying some old issue Alan had inadvertently stepped into. "I wouldn't mind," he said, voice just a little too casual. "Apprentices help out around the house, right?"

"Actually," said Alan, using the spatula to break up the scrambled eggs into fluffy bites, "I wouldn't know. I wasn't a live-in Apprentice, so Master Hartridge never got the chance to make me wash his socks."

Efram put two damp tomatoes on the cutting board, then chose a knife from the block. "Would you prefer it if we didn't live here?" asked Efram, growing more tense.

Alan paused to flip the sausages, trying to keep his own voice just as nonchalant, afraid of making the conversation too serious. "I think we need to wait and see how the term goes," he said, splitting the eggs up onto two plates and adding more butter to the pan. He stepped closer to Efram, laying a hand on his arm. "Great sex aside, I just don't know you well enough, or vice versa for that matter. There's a reason the council makes people wait a few months before jumping into this sort of thing."

Alan could practically feel the constrained emotion thrumming through Efram like a plucked string, so he did the only thing he could think of to break the tension and leaned down to steal a kiss. Efram was still at first, but it only took a second for him to kiss back, relaxing under the gentle motion of Alan's hand over his back. "All right," he said, looking down at the quartered tomatoes on his board. "I won't rush you in to anything."

Alan stole away the board and dumped the tomatoes into the skillet, listening to the sizzle with satisfaction. "Don't rush yourself, either," said Alan, checking the sausages and deciding they were done. He looked up at Efram. "You've only just met me, and a little bit of sex magic won't make us perfect for each other overnight."

Efram lost the last of his tension at that. "Yes, Master," he said teasingly, going up on tiptoes for another kiss.

Soon enough the food was ready and they talked about other things, wandering from the questions left unanswered by their abortive interview, to more personal insights into their lives, both the present and skirting around the edges of the past. Alan didn't want to push Efram to talk about whatever it was that was bothering him, preferring instead to let Efram bring it to him when they'd built the right level of trust together. Efram, it seemed, was bold about a lot of things, but shy about Alan's somewhat infamous school years, so he hinted but never outright asked about some of the absurd rumours that had been flying around since Alan's hire was announced in the school paper.

Once breakfast was eaten, Alan made a point of rinsing the dishes and putting them in the dishwasher, then using a paper towel to clean the residual mess from his two cast-iron pans, one he'd been given by his mother when he got his apartment and the other inherited with the house and probably older than him. "See? No dishes," said Alan, while Efram looked on with a bemused, affectionate expression.

"You're something else, you know that?" said Efram, moving in for another kiss as soon as Alan's hands were empty.

Alan cocked his head, and then shrugged. "Today you're my guest, and guests shouldn't have to help," said Alan, a tradition that had been handed down the family just like the skillets.

Efram swallowed, then kissed him again, until both of them were slightly breathless and most definitely wanting. "I suppose I should have brought a guesting-gift, then," said Efram, moulding his body to Alan's.

Alan chuckled and kissed him again. "I think you did just fine." He couldn't imagine a greater gift than Efram had already given him, and it was one he could partake of again and again, so long as Efram continued to be willing.

"Well," said Efram with a twinkle in his eyes, "it wouldn't do to give the same gift twice."

"Oh trust me," said Alan, hands wandering down to cup Efram's pert ass. "It's the gift that keeps on giving."

Chapter 4

Eventually Efram and Alan made it out of the house, in time to catch Mark and his three new proteges coming back from lunch.

"I see you finally made it in," said Mark, giving them an amused glance that Alan suspected was reading more than just body language. "I take it your compatibility test went well?"

Efram grinned. "Very well, Master Hartridge," he said, practically glowing.

Alan blushed.

"Will you be testing all of us?" asked the lone girl, who could only be Marie Pike. She gave him a frank once-over with an expression that seemed to indicate she was neither particularly impressed nor repulsed by what she saw.

Alan coughed delicately, shaking his head. "Ah, no, sorry. I'm afraid you and I wouldn't be compatible."

"He's all for the boys," said Mark with an exaggerated leer. "You'll have to stick with me if you want a Master."

She laughed and laid a familiar hand on Mark's arm, and Alan was surprised to find himself a little jealous that she felt she could be so free with him. "You are definitely a Master," she said teasingly.

"Will I be required to pass a test?" asked a tall, lanky boy, pushing up his glasses nervously.

Mark chuckled. "Not unless you plan on performing certain rites with him," he said, making an obscene motion with his hips.

"Ah," said the young man, giving Alan an entirely different sort of scrutiny than Marie had. "I will take that under advisement, if any of my researches require a practical aspect."

Mark snorted, and Alan coughed again for a different reason. "I'm Alan Harper, by the way, the other Rituals Master. This is one of my two advanced students, Efram Hawthorne."

That shifted the conversation and introductions were made all around. The tall boy turned out to be Geoffrey Wattles, the research major, while Ron Alpheston III was nearly as short as Efram, though much stockier, and his hair was an unremarkable shade of brown. They walked back toward Alan's office, all of Mark's students understandably curious, only to find Jack Wellington waiting impatiently outside.

"There you are," said Jack, stopping short when he spotted Efram. "Hawthorne."

"Wellington," said Efram, equally coldly.

"I can see you three have things to work out," said Mark dryly. "Two o'clock for the project meeting?"

"Can you both stick around that long?" asked Alan, looking from one glaring student to the other.

"I'm free all afternoon," said Efram, his voice filled with false cheer. He stepped a little closer to Alan, putting a trembling hand at the small of Alan's back. Alan remembered his fingers as warmer, and cast him a worried look.

"I'd be happy to stay," said Jack, stepping forward aggressively, not quite bold enough yet to invade Alan's personal space.

Mark gave Alan a slap on the back, "I'll leave you to it, then," he said, waggling his eyebrows.

"Gee, thanks," said Alan dryly, though of course he knew this was a conflict best dealt with sooner rather than later, and one he had to manage on his own. He couldn't go running to Mark every time one of the boys stepped out of line, or he might as well still be a Journeyman.

Mark moved off, his students looking back with a mixture of curiosity and sympathy as they headed down the hall to Mark's office, which was just around the bend on the other side of the corridor.

"All right, you two, inside," said Alan sternly, stepping forward to unlock his office door. The wards tingled a little, not yet used to him or he them, but everything inside was pristine and ready to go.

Alan usurped the more comfortable chair that went with his desk, leaving Jack and Efram to figure out where to sit, since there was just the one straight-backed chair left empty. Efram solved it by moving a pile of books off of a folding chair that had been buried under them, and sat with them in his lap. "Now," said Alan, glancing from one to the other, "I'm not sure what the source is of the friction between you two, but we will solve it, or I'll trade one of you off with Mark and take on one of his students in your place, understand?"

"Yes, sir," said Jack resentfully, glancing over at Efram. "I suppose it would be me you'd send away?"

"It would be whichever of you is least cooperative, and so far I'd say that's you," said Alan, unperturbed. "Now, what seems to be the problem, Mr. Wellington?"

Jack's chin came up belligerently. "He's a traitor to the crown," he said, glancing over at Efram with ill-disguised contempt.

"If he were, I doubt he'd still be a student here," said Alan reasonably. "Are you going by rumour, or do you know something concrete that I don't?"

Jack looked over at Efram, who was sitting with his hands fluttering over the books nervously, but otherwise had the confidence on his face of one who has already confessed his sins and been forgiven. "If it's not true, why isn't he still with the Artisans?"

"Why aren't you still with the Combat Mages?" asked Efram, in the same snippy tone.

"That's none of your business," said Jack.

"Actually," Alan intervened, "it's both his and mine, if you plan on becoming my Apprentice, as he's asked to fill the same role."

For a moment, he thought Jack might explode and storm out, ending the whole thing right then and there, but then he slumped back against his chair. "So that's it, then, play nice with the traitor or beg Master Hartridge to take me as an Apprentice when he's already got Pike to keep him satisfied?"

Alan's eyebrows rose at that. "I think," he said carefully, "that you have the wrong idea of what duties are required of a Ritual Master's Apprentice."

"If I'm to learn sex magic, that means sex with my Master, whoever it is," said Jack. His hot glare settled on Efram again. "I can tell you've already had him, he practically glows with it."

"Efram and I needed to find out if we were compatible," said Alan carefully. "You have more experience in that area than he does, but if you want equal time, all you have to do is ask."

Jack blinked and cocked his head, as if he'd been expecting a different answer. "And if I don't want equal time?"

Alan shrugged. "Then you and I won't need to be intimate until we have a ritual that requires it." He paused to let that sink in, turning to his other, equally errant student. "Now, Efram, is there another reason why you have a problem with Jack?" asked Alan, looking from one to the other, Jack thoughtful now and Efram relaxing just a little.

Efram's eyes flicked to Jack, but he shook his head. "Everything stems from that," he said, though something about his answer made Alan sure there was more to this story.

That could wait until another time, especially since it was almost two, though the clock was silent since Alan hadn't taken the time to enter the meeting into his ledger, or even unlock his desk. "Now," said Alan, after a long minute of the two boys avoiding one another's eyes, "you're both interested in elemental bindings and sex magic." Efram had expressed an enthusiasm for learning more now that he'd had firsthand experience, which dovetailed nicely with Alan's own fields of expertise. "In accordance with the Council's guidelines and my own preferences, I don't teach or advocate the use of any kind of force or power theft."

"Yes, sir," they said in unison, which got them glaring again.

Alan cleared his throat meaningfully. "There are a number of good binding rites that three willing men can do together, or, we can stick to two-person rites and stagger them so you don't wear me out."

Efram snickered at that, and Alan shot him a quelling look, while Jack looked jealous. "What if I do want equal attention?" asked Jack.

Alan's brows knit, until he realized what Jack was referring to. "If you'd like a dinner date, which is what Efram and I had last night, then I'm free tonight," said Alan evenly. "But if it's just to compete with Efram and not out of a genuine curiosity or interest, I'd prefer to pass."

Jack flushed, but he shook his head. "I was interested before I knew about Efram, remember?"

Alan nodded. "Seven o'clock, then, and think about what you'd like to eat," he said. He wouldn't do Jack the disservice of taking him either to the pub or the same place as Efram, if he could help it, wanting to give him a fresh start, at least in this.

Jack nodded. "I'll be here," he said.

Alan glanced up at the clock. "And now, we're going to go to the meeting, and you two will pretend you kissed and made up, right?" He had a sudden image of how lovely that would look, Jack's dark head bent down and Efram's face tilted up, rose-pink freckled cheeks contrasting with cool ivory of Jack's complexion, their slender bodies straining toward each other. He shook his head and cleared his throat, grabbing a pad and pen out of his briefcase to cover the sudden flush of arousal.

When he looked back up, Jack was standing, and Efram was bent over, putting the books back on their chair and then rummaging through his own bag. Alan caught Jack looking and said quietly, "Nice view, isn't it?"

Jack flushed, then shrugged. "Not mine to appreciate," he said gruffly, and Alan got another whiff of some unpleasant history still mouldering between them.

They all made their way out into the corridor, and Alan paused long enough to lock up; he'd just be down the hall, but his reception here hadn't been friendly enough for him to trust that his things would remain unmolested. When they got to Mark's office, which was the same one he'd occupied for years, the large open floor space was filled, not with chalked runic shorthand as had so often been the case in Alan's past, but seven chairs in a circle.

"All right, boys and girls," said Mark, as Alan and his students settled into the three open chairs, "and Alan," he added with a smirk, "there aren't any advanced level courses in Ritual Magic this semester, so we're going to make one up for the five of you."

"Do we all have an area of study in common?" asked Geoffrey dubiously.

"You're all studying Ritual Magic," said Alan dryly, and Geoffrey flushed.

"There isn't a single specialization you all have in common," said Mark, giving Alan an amused look, "but there are rituals out there that cover more than one."

"So, we're going to do a practical?" asked Marie, eyes roaming around the circle.

Alan nodded, picking up the thread from Mark. "Our plan is to have you all research a ritual that will require all five of your skills, and benefit the school or country in some concrete fashion."

"Like, a moon rite that's got sex and, um, whatever Geoffrey does in it?" said Ron, sounding enthusiastic, his eyes firmly fixed on Marie's chest.

Mark gave a familiar cough, and Alan said sweetly, "Did you need some tea, Master Hartridge?"

"No thank you, Master Harper," said Mark just as falsely.

"That's basically it," said Alan, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "I believe that Geoffrey's specialty is runic circles, isn't that correct?"

"Yes, though I am much more of a historian than a practitioner," he said, looking more nervous.

"Don't worry, son, we'll make sure everyone's working within their skills," said Mark, patting him on the knee in a fatherly way.

"And Efram and Jack both are focusing on binding rites, in addition to sex magic," said Alan, trying to get through the list. "Marie, you're trying for your Sexual Sorceress license, and this could help with the required number of public works. As you pointed out, Ron, you're studying moon rites."

"I'm interested in learning to serve the moon goddess as her mortal lover," said Ron, flushing just a little at the trite but traditional phrasing, "but I haven't found a partner willing to be the moon yet."

"Well, hopefully you and Marie will hit it off," said Alan with a smile. "The rite itself will likely be performed by students only, with Mark and myself standing at hand in case anything goes wrong with the working."

"You'll be able to summon power if you're not in the circle?" asked Efram curiously.

Alan chuckled. "Yes, my version of Hewitt's only applies to physical performance, not magical," he said, parroting the phrase he'd memorized and had to repeat many times during his Journeyman's wanderings.

"Oh!" said Marie, then she blushed. "That's why you said, before."

"Yes, that would be why," said Alan. Geoffrey seemed to take it all in stride, scribbling on his notepad, while Ron looked confused and Jack surprised. "Marie, I expect you can give Ron the rundown on Hewitt's Syndrome when we're done here."

"Of course," she said, looking proud to have been called upon.

"You're all advanced students," said Mark into the pause, voice strong and compelling as ever, "and we won't mollycoddle you, so if there's something you don't know, you need to speak up, and be prepared to do some reading."

"Yes, sir," they replied in a ragged chorus, Alan chiming in with the rest out of reflex.

"Excellent," said Mark, sitting back in his chair and grinning. "Now, Geoffrey, I think you'll agree that you'd best serve this group with research, and constructing the circles when the time comes."

"Oh! Yes, sir, that sounds excellent," Geoffrey replied, obviously relieved to have been given a bye from any sexual duties.

"Marie, I'll expect you to coordinate the goings-on inside the circle, according to the needs of the ritual and everyone's preferences," said Mark, waggling his eyebrows at her.

"Of course," she said, making Alan wonder how far she was from certification, to have such confidence in her skills. Licensed Sorcerers and Sorceresses went through a different, shorter process than Masters, and tended to have much more specific areas of knowledge. Though Alan had his own specializations, he'd had to show familiarity with all areas of Ritual Magic to get his Mastery, completely aside from his Masterwork; if there hadn't been anyone to do Sex Magic last year, she might have just been biding her time until she could get the required number of classes and rituals under her belt.

"Jack, Efram, once Geoffrey here has the rite picked out, it'll be up to you two to work out the bargains with whatever spirits we'll be binding," said Mark, looking from one to the other. "I expect you can work together for that?"

"Gladly," said Efram quickly, looking from Alan to Mark and avoiding Jack.

"I'm happy to," said Jack, though he sounded anything but.

"Excellent," said Mark. "Then Ron will collect and prepare all the moon-related paraphernalia. There's always plenty of props for a moon rite."

Ron chuckled. "The goddess likes what she likes," he said, sounding amused.

"You're going to make someone a wonderful boyfriend, with that attitude," said Alan with a laugh.

They all shared in the joke, and that seemed to be the right note to end on. "Do you need any help in the archives, Geoffrey?" asked Alan solicitously, as the meeting started to break up.

"They'd only slow me down and mess up my notes," said Geoffrey with a chuckle. "I never did play well with others."

"Then you're happy with your assignment, and that's what matters," said Alan. It was practical, to let him do what he was good at and not force him into a more active role, not to mention freeing the other four from a duty they likely didn't want any more than Geoffrey wanted to service the moon goddess in the form of Marie. "Let me know if you do want someone, though, I can loan you one of mine."

Geoffrey chuckled. "Thank you, I'll keep that in mind, Master Harper."

"Alan, please. I can never get used to being called Master."

"You will," said Mark coming over to slap him on the shoulder. "When should we next meet, young Geoffrey?"

"The term officially starts next week, and I'll be busy with classes for a few days there until I can settle into a routine... How about in two weeks?"

Alan shrugged. "Why don't you come to us when you're ready to present your ideas, and we'll decide on a meeting time once we have everyone's class schedule?"

"Smart boy," said Mark with a laugh.

"He is a Master," said Geoffrey, as though it was only reasonable that one would follow the other.

Alan hoped his disillusionment would be a long time in coming.

---

Alan headed back to his office, unlocking the door and sitting down to do the same for his desk, mind already ranging ahead to his materials lists, potential class sizes, and other administrative considerations involved in his more mundane teaching. He'd already taken a stack of papers from his in box when he realized his two possible future Apprentices had followed and were waiting by the door.

"Did you need something else?" asked Alan.

"Well," said Efram, glancing over at Jack, "we, um, wanted to know what criteria you'll be using."

"To decide if we're getting along well enough," clarified Jack.

"And if you're going to really consider us both for Apprentices," added Efram, "or just one of us."

"Ah," said Alan, as the light dawned. "I will be considering you both, but you'll have to be getting along a lot better than faking civility for my benefit before I'm willing to consider living with the two of you under my roof." He gave them a thoughtful look, trying to imagine such a life. "We'd have to spend a lot of time talking about the boundaries of your service to me, and possibly remodeling the house to a certain extent. I certainly don't have enough furniture for all of us, unless you want to sleep at the foot of my bed like mismatched puppies."

"I don't mind remodeling," said Efram quickly. "I used to build sets for my theater group, so I'm pretty handy."

"I can buy my own furniture," said Jack, quick to outdo him.

Alan nodded. "Well, all those are things we'll discuss when the time comes, but for now, why don't you two go work out your differences somewhere else? I have a lot of paperwork, and I've yet to get the Administration to assign me a TA."

"Ah, about that," said Jack, flushing. "I tried to get myself assigned, but apparently there's a requisition form you have to fill out before the position officially exists."

"Why don't you two go find me all the forms that are needful, and I'll see if I can't get you both assigned to me," said Alan, amused. "That way, I can get some work done here, and you two can wrestle with Administration to gain a new appreciation for the simplicity of my other demands."

Efram laughed and stepped close, and for a moment Alan thought he was bending down for a kiss, but instead he just grabbed his backpack off the floor. "I like your demands," he said, face temptingly close.

"You like some of my demands," said Alan cynically; he wasn't dumb enough to think that Efram wanted to be friends with Jack any more than the other way around. Still, he allowed himself to be distracted from that worry by the memory of Efram's lips, and their current proximity to his own.

"Should I leave you two alone?" asked Jack, breaking into the moment.

Efram laughed, then pressed a kiss to Alan's mouth that was half smile. "No, thank you," he said tartly, straightening up.

Alan shook his head, chuckling. "Next time," he said, as Efram paused by the door, "do it without the ulterior motive."

"Maybe next time I'll have a better motive," teased Efram as Jack ushered him out.

"Thank you, Alan, I'll see you at seven," said Jack, closing the door behind him.

"You had to get the last word," said Alan at the closed door. He laughed and shook his head, wondering at the bizarre and insular world of academia. In the real world, Alan had gone months without so much as a date, and suddenly he had two young men fighting over him, not so much for access to his body as his mind, and the magic he'd Mastered.

It was, he reflected as he turned back to his paperwork, going to be a long term indeed.

---

"He needs two of the blue one, the girl at the counter told me so."

"No he doesn't, see, there's a spot for number of assistants being requested."

"That's for lab assistants, not teaching assistants."

Alan heard them long before they made it to his door, the two of them still squabbling over the papers like children over candy. "Mark knows all the secrets to getting what he wants out of Admin," said Alan, when they finally appeared in the doorway. "Just leave me the whole stack, unless there's forms that you two need to fill out with information I don't have."

A glance at the clock showed Alan that it was barely five, and he stretched in his chair, feeling something crack in his back and ease the tension running all through his spine. When he looked back down, the two were still hovering, each of them holding a colorful stack of paper. "Well?"

Efram sighed and took Jack's stack, putting it with his own and setting them on Alan's desk. "There are a few things we need to fill out, but you have to turn in yours first and wait a few days, so as long as you hold on to our forms for us it should be fine," he said. He hefted his backpack, then obviously came to some sort of decision, leaning down and presenting himself for another kiss.

Alan obliged, mostly because he could see that Efram was making a real effort not to do it because of or in spite of Jack's presence, but just because he wanted kissing, which was the best reason of all as far as Alan was concerned.

"Can I see you this weekend?" Efram asked quietly. "Just for, um, more compatibility?"

Alan swallowed; it was very, very tempting to let this fragile thing between the two of them blossom into a relationship, even if he'd never really know from what seed it had sprouted. "I'm not sure that would be a good idea, but..." Efram's face began to fall, and he relented, just a little. "Come by Friday afternoon, all right?"

He also stole another kiss, finding these small displays of affection terribly addictive, like droplets of rich red wine.

Efram grinned, though it had a certain brittleness that made Alan wish he could promise Efram the moon, true love and a life without worry, all wrapped in a golden bow. "Thanks," was all Efram said, though, and he slipped out past Jack without so much as a glance his rival's direction.

"Are you sure you don't want to eat until seven?" asked Jack, still hovering, an expression on his face that wasn't quite jealousy, and wasn't quite nerves, but was at least an improvement over the petulance he'd been showing all afternoon.

Alan looked at the time again; it was already after five, and it had been a long day in a lot of ways. "I'd like to catch a shower before dinner," he said, feeling a sudden nervousness about having Jack in his home, showing his half-repaired bathroom and half-sorted life to someone from a background like Jack's. Not to mention wanting to change the sheets. "Do you want to meet me at the restaurant?"

"Sure. I have an appointment with my accountant in the morning, so I should drive anyway," said Jack. God, Efram was a baby compared to him, compared to Alan. "How about Wakamatsu? They shouldn't be too busy on a Wednesday."

"Expensive tastes," said Alan, though he did have it to spare, his inheritance thriftily spent so that he had enough, now, to tide him over until his first paycheck, and maybe enough after that to get the bathtub fixed.

Jack shrugged. "I can treat, if you'd like," he said neutrally.

"No, it's all right," said Alan with a wry little smile. "First time's my treat, to celebrate taking you into my tender care."

Jack's cheeks got just a touch pinker at that, another curiosity in a day full of them. "How about six thirty at the restaurant? I'll get us a table."

"That sounds like a plan," said Alan. He made a note in his book, to keep his clock from having a conniption when he wasn't here for the seven o'clock appointment, and then started shuffling his papers away in the appropriate cubbies. "Was there something else?"

"I just," said Jack, swallowing, "I guess I wanted you to know that this isn't just about wanting what Hawthorne got. I wanted you before he ever met you."

Alan raised an eyebrow. "You met me after he did, so I doubt that, but the sentiment is well-taken," he said, after a moment.

Jack's gaze slid sideways, and he shrugged. "I'd heard of you, you know, before." He forced himself to look Alan in the eye. "I like you better in reality, though."

Before Alan could react to that, Jack stepped forward, two long strides across the office, and then his arms were on the chair's and his mouth was on Alan's and the world was reduced for just a moment to the hot, hard press of Jack's lips, and the heat of cinnamon that lingered, after Jack had stood back up again. "Six thirty, Wakamatsu."

Alan blinked, licking the cinnamon from his lips. "I'll be there," he promised, heart racing as he waited to see what Jack would do next.

He tried not to be disappointed when Jack turned and left without another word.

Chapter 5

Alan finally left the house after he found himself back in front of the mirror for the fourth time, checking to make sure his hair hadn't dried in some strange, unattractive way. For all that he'd been the experienced adult with Efram, something about Jack made him feel more like he was the student and Jack was going to be teaching him a thing or two about sex tonight. "You're a Master, not a first-year," he told himself sternly, making sure he had everything on him before locking up the house and heading to his car.

He spent the drive wondering how often Jack had used his money, his social connections, and his exotic tastes to lure women and men into his bed, and then tried to dismiss the thoughts as unworthy of him or Jack. He had no proof at all, other than his own nerves and a few cavalier remarks on Jack's part. Which didn't keep him from being all wound up by the time he arrived at the restaurant, glad for the size of his car as he maneuvered into the tiny parking lot.

"I'm happy you're here," said Jack, nearly startling Alan into an early grave when he appeared next to Alan's car door, holding it open solicitously.

"I thought you were going to get a table," said Alan, trying to slow the racing of his heart as he climbed out of the car.

Jack shrugged. "There's a short wait, I was a little late," he said, giving a little-boy shrug that Alan was sure worked on nearly everyone. "I wanted to look my best for you."

Alan snorted. "I'm a sure thing just this once, Jack," he said, cynicism giving him back some his steel. "You don't need to lay it on quite so thick."

Jack looked surprised, then he surprised Alan in turn by flushing. "Sorry, I guess you just make me nervous."

Alan shook his head and laughed. "I bet you say that to all the girls," he said, shutting the car door and feeling the tingle of the rune-set spells sliding back into place. "Come on, feed me raw fish and tell me about the life of a beleaguered millionaire's son."

"Is that what you and Efram talked about, your lives?" asked Jack.

Alan stopped him at the door. "I will not discuss my date with Efram with you, nor will I discuss this date with Efram," he said, in a tone that brooked no argument. "Either you go out with me tonight, or you can go back to the dorms and ask Efram out if you're so keen to talk about him."

Jack blanched. "Sorry."

Alan opened the door into the bustling restaurant, relieved to see an older Japanese couple getting up from their table, smiling and waving as they gathered themselves to leave. The hostess came up and said, "Just one more minute," in a distracted tone, while a busboy came out of the back to clear and wipe the table in the couple's wake.

Alan stepped aside, and Jack politely held the door for them as they left, showing a glimpse of the earnest young man he'd seemed that first time, hard to believe it was just yesterday he'd wandered into Alan's office. "You," said Alan as they were led to their seats, "are a confusing young man."

"I'll, ah, work on that?" said Jack, nonplussed.

Alan couldn't help but chuckle. "See that you do," he said, opening his menu. "So, what's good?"

"The nigiri is excellent, and there's a great sashimi plate, if you're feeling adventurous," said Jack, his menu flipped to the back where the sushi was listed. "Mike always makes sure the fish is fresh."

"Is there some rule that all sushi chefs must be named Mike?" asked Alan.

Jack was saved from answering when the waitress walked up, deftly setting a bowl of edamame and two steaming cups of tea on their table. "Jack, you no sit at bar tonight?"

"I'm on a date, Haruko," said Jack charmingly. "I wanted to make sure all my attention was on Alan."

She shook her head, grinning. "You take good care of him," she said, and Alan had a feeling the words were for him, thought it was Jack she was looking at as she spoke.

"Oh, don't worry," said Jack, glancing at Alan with what he would have called shyness, if it had been anyone but Jack, "I will."

"Me, too," promised Alan, making the words a tease, though he meant them wholeheartedly. He wouldn't go back on the spirit of his own words by giving Jack any less of his care and attention than he had Efram; he was just taking a little more time to figure out the sort of care Jack really needed. With Efram it had been much easier, or at least more obvious.

"I bring you sushi," she said definitively, taking both their menus and snapping them shut. "You no allergic?"

"Sushi is fine," said Alan.

Jack waved at the chef, then nodded. "I'll trust Mike's tastes."

"Good," she said with a grin, walking back into the kitchen area, only to appear behind the bar, talking with Mike in rapid Japanese.

Alan took a sip of his tea and found it too hot, but fragrant and tempting just the same. "I've let you evade long enough," he said, catching Jack's eye. "I want to know why Ritual Magic, why sex and bindings, and why me."

Jack flushed again, but he nodded. "That's fair, I suppose," he said, blowing on his own tea before taking another sip.

Alan thought it was more than fair, and waited patiently for Jack to gather his thoughts.

"I'm sure you've heard that my father wanted me to do Combat Magic," said Jack, picking up a soybean and toying with the green pod. Alan nodded, and he continued, "Well, I knew the war was coming to an end, and I also knew that a lot of magicians of all kinds had been lost in it, but Combat Mages more than most."

He paused to eat the beans out of the now-mangled pod, and Alan gave him the moment by doing the same, finding them tender and perfectly salted, still warm from the pot.

"It wasn't just that, though. I mean, I'm not afraid of dying if it's something important," continued Jack. "But the war was coming to and end, and is over completely now, and the peace looks like it's going to last this time."

"Leaving the world with little need for Combat Mages, other than to keep the knowledge alive," filled in Alan.

Jack nodded his confirmation. "I'm not like my father, eager for the next war and the next chance to be a hero."

"He rose pretty high in the military before he retired to politics, right?" asked Alan between beans.

Jack snorted. "Not as high as he'd like everyone to believe, but high enough to have connections, and a vested interest in keeping the machines of war well-funded."

"Ah," said Alan, letting the word speak volumes of understanding. He didn't want to let their conversation get embroiled in politics, but he didn't want Jack to think he was alone in his distaste for the war. For all war, really.

Jack downed some tea in a gulp, then got a bit bug-eyed as he realized how hot it had been. "Here," said Alan, unable to resist the chance to show off, "let me." He reached out a finger and sent out a little tendril of his power, running it through the set-spell in the ring on his forefinger, another thing he'd inherited from his grandfather. Cool healing magic slipped between Jack's lips and soothed the burns just forming there, guaranteeing he'd be able to enjoy the meal properly, not to mention have full use of his tongue later.

Jack surprised him by not taking advantage of the way Alan's finger had slid between his lips just a touch, instead sitting back with a rather stunned expression. "I didn't know you were a Healer, too," he said.

"I'm not," said Alan with a secret little smirk. "But my grandfather was, and he taught me what he could. I don't have his talent or compassion, but I'm good with bodies, and making them work to my advantage." He felt as though he was on the high ground now, something he didn't usually feel he needed, but got the impression Jack positively required.

Jack looked at Alan searchingly, first his face and then his hands where they cradled his teacup. Jack held out a hand of his own and asked, "May I?"

Alan smiled and put his hand in Jack's, showing off the intricate rings he wore on his right hand, one on his index finger, the other on his smallest finger. He had a third one on the left hand, on his middle finger, but that one he tended to hide with a small deflection spell until it was needed.

"So, this one is for Healing?" asked Jack, peering at the tiny, flowing Hindi script that decorated the simple copper band.

"That's right," said Alan. "It's a very minor set-spell, but because my Grandfather made it and wore it all his life, it's got a lot of oomph."

A smile quirked up one corner of Jack's mouth. "Oomph, huh? Is that a technical term?"

Alan rolled his eyes. "Yes," he said tartly, pointing to the other ring, which was gold with a single rune repeated over and over, and a diamond inset between each one. "This one's a prosperity charm, a gift from my parents upon completing my Apprenticeship to Master Hartridge."

"That's a pretty nice gift," said Jack, examining it with the eye of someone used to such riches. "Good quality."

"My parents have always been supportive, within their own ability to do so," said Alan. They'd been proud to have another wizard in the family, but less so when he ended up focusing on sex with other men as his preferred method of working. He pulled his hand back, though not without giving Jack a little caress as he did so, and added, "They've done all right by me."

"Let's hope my own father will see it that way, someday," said Jack with a painful little shrug.

Alan wasn't sure what to say to that, so he ate another soybean instead. His instinct was to say that of course Jack's father would be proud no matter what his son did, but Jack didn't seem like the kind of man who would appreciate the empty sentiment when neither of them could be certain that it held any truth.

"Do you have a lot of other talismans?" asked Jack, clearly as happy to change the subject as Alan.

"A few," said Alan. He pulled out his keys and showed Jack the simple forget-me-not charm he used as a keychain.

Jack examined it as closely as he had the rings, handing the keychain back with a little shiver. "You have some pretty powerful keys, I can see why you wouldn't want to leave them lying around."

Alan chuckled wryly. "Actually, I made this years ago during my first year of Apprenticeship. I had a real problem with losing my keys, so Mark made me take a Basic Artefacts course with a lab component, just for this charm, though of course the skills have come in handy since then in many ways."

"I noticed the spells on your car," said Jack, sipping his tea. "Very slick for someone who nominally does rituals for a living."

Alan shrugged again, pleased at both his observational skills and the praise. "That's part of being a Master, too, knowing how to do a little of everything."

Jack was saved from having to find a response -- and risking having their evening devolve into a student/teacher interaction that would spoil the mood -- by the arrival of a beautiful ceramic platter containing a bewildering and gorgeously-arrayed variety of sushi. "Thank you, Haruko," said Jack, grinning up at her with that same boyish charm he'd tried to use on Alan earlier.

She fell for it a lot more easily than Alan had, which made him feel old and cynical, but also right. "Mike take good care of you," she said with a smug look. "You need me to tell you what is?"

Alan grinned himself and replied with the favorite refrain of the sushi chef Mike that he'd known in his own student years. "It's sushi," he said, with the tone of one stating something very profound.

They both laughed. "Smart man," she said, patting him on the shoulder.

"Thanks," said Alan.

She put small plates fashioned after broad, green leaves in front of them both, and a pair of tiny dishes shaped like turquoise seashells, then sauntered off to take care of another table.

"I can't tell if she approves of me, or just wants to keep you happy," groused Alan good-naturedly, mixing together soy sauce and spicy wasabi in his dish.

Jack gave Alan a brief, impenetrable look, then grinned. "Maybe she wants to keep me happy because she approves of you?" he suggested lightly.

Alan chuckled. "Maybe so," he said, transferring a few choice pieces of sushi from the platter to his own small plate. "I appreciate it, either way."

Their conversation stayed superficial after that, about the classes Jack had taken so far, Alan's house and its history, and the minutiae of their lives, leaving the rest of their unanswered questions for another time. It seemed to pass too quickly to Alan, because the next thing he knew the sushi was eaten, the bill was paid, and they were headed outside into the sultry, late-summer air.

"I'll follow you in my car?" said Jack, and Alan tried to calm his new attack of irrational nerves.

"Of course. I live in the Breckenridge area, do you know how to get there?" asked Alan. "In case I lose you."

"Vaguely," said Jack, biting his lip. "Can I get your cell phone number?"

Alan grinned lopsidedly and nodded. "Yeah, sure. I'll want yours, too, so I know to answer it," he said, pulling out his phone and flipping it open. They exchanged numbers, then got into their respective cars and drove out of the parking lot without a single suggestive comment or gesture.

It was, Alan thought, rather the oddest approach to assignation he'd ever experienced. Outside of a ritual, anyway.

---

"Did you want the tour?" asked Alan, hoping that Jack would say yes, just to give them both a few minutes to get used to the idea that they were supposed to be ready to have sex right now.

Jack was already glancing curiously around the living room, eyes following the gracefully carved mouldings, picking out the subtle magical designs intertwined with the decorative elements. Some of them were from the original construction many decades ago, some from his grandfather's tenure here, and a few were Alan's own additions. He'd spent some time adding to the spells already there in order to imprint his own personality and his own needs on the established structure. "Your house is pretty fascinating," said Jack, his gaze meandering over and down a curved cornice to rest on Alan, waiting in the archway below, "but I'd rather explore you."

Alan swallowed, but he didn't move away when Jack stepped in close. "Are you sure?" he asked, as Jack's arms wrapped around him.

They were of a height, which made it very simple for Jack to lean in and fit his mouth to Alan's, not as aggressive as their first kiss, but demanding all the same. "I'm very sure," said Jack, when the kiss broke several long moments later. "I don't think I ever knew to hope for this," he added, then kissed Alan deeply, driving away Alan's sudden curiosity and replacing it with a different sort of curiosity, one that could only be satisfied with the experiences of desire.

"You can't get what you want unless you try for it," said Alan, nuzzling back behind Jack's ear, inhaling the scent there, of boy and cologne and wanting.

Jack pressed Alan back into the carved wood of the door frame, kissing him again more hotly, their tongues tangling, bodies twining together, chest to chest and hip to hip. "I want you," said Jack, his voice a low, possessive growl that sent a thrill of lust down to Alan's toes.

Alan slipped out of the circle of Jack arms and grabbed one hand, leading him down the hall with frequent stops for more kisses. Each time they stopped it seemed that some button came undone, some article of clothing was loosened or untucked, until they found themselves in Alan's bedroom with their clothes falling away and their breath coming in heady gasps. "It's good to be wanted," said Alan, stepping away long enough to shed the rest of his clothes and climb into the bed, slipping between the fresh sheets and holding them up invitingly for Jack.

Jack stared for a moment, drinking in the sight of Alan as though he were water and Jack had been thirsty for a long, long time. "Did you know," he said, sliding in between the sheets and fitting his body to Alan's, though pausing just shy of a kiss, "they still tell the story of your first ritual in Sex Magic I?"

Alan blinked, not quite sure what to make of that, but then Jack's mouth drove away the thought and the relevance of it, narrowing his world to naked skin and passion, mouths and hands and cocks and need. Alan let himself be drawn under by Jack's touches, not bothering to try to lead or follow, but just doing whatever felt right in the moment, whether it was a caress or a kiss, undulating hips or twining limbs. It was nothing at all like it had been with Efram, at once more intimate and less personal, two bodies in motion without regard for personality, only wanting.

"How, oh, what do you want?" asked Alan, forcing himself to take a deep breath and then another, to pull his head about this drowning need, to keep it from overwhelming him entirely.

Jack looked bewildered for a moment, as though he had all he wanted and couldn't imagine what Alan was asking, but then he blinked and a slow smile lit up his features. "What're you offering?" he asked, just a hint of the earlier smoothness nearly obliterated by the genuine eagerness in his face.

Alan chuckled. "Tonight, it's up to you," said Alan, though of course that wasn't precisely true. Still, he didn't think Jack would ask for more than Alan was willing to give tonight -- he was still young enough to find satisfaction wholly in the simpler passions.

"Such a temptation," said Jack, dipping his head down to lick and then gently bite one of Alan's nipples, then doing it again when it wrought a gasp from Alan's lips. "I want to be in you, but I want you in me, too," said Jack, a note of frustration in his voice.

Alan gave a small, good-natured laugh. "I'm not that flexible," he said, then kissed Jack again. "There's the whole night ahead of us, and tomorrow morning as well," he said. A sudden desire came over him and he gave into it readily, kissing Jack and pushing him so he rolled over onto his back. "I want to fuck you, Jack, are you ready for that?"

Jack moaned, his aggressiveness melting away at the first sign of dominance from Alan. "Yes, god, I want that so much," he said, hands tangling in Alan's hair as they kissed again and again. His legs were spread invitingly and Alan took advantage to fit their hips together, rubbing his cock against the length of Jack's until he was nearly ready to finish just like this, then pulling back and looking at Jack's needy face.

"You've done this before, right?" asked Alan, though he was fairly sure of the answer. He snagged the lube off the night stand where he'd set everything out for tonight, grabbing a condom as well, prepping his cock and slicking up fingers, the cool fluid pushing back his desire just enough for now.

Jack nodded, then got a slightly sheepish look and said, "Not often, though."

Alan held in a smirk, thinking that a man like Jack wouldn't often want to submit to such a thing, because in truth he didn't know nearly as much about Jack as he might like to think he did. "I'll take care," said Alan, and that seemed to be what Jack needed to hear, because he relaxed a little more and nodded.

Alan slipped his fingers down and back, moving by feel into the hot space behind Jack's balls, watching the look on his face as one finger slithered inside, sneaking past the tight muscle and into Jack's body. "Good?" he asked, though he could see that it was, could watch the pleasure suffuse Jack's features as Alan caressed his tender flesh.

It took Jack a moment to realize he'd been asked a question, which made Alan feel terribly smug. "Really good," said Jack, tilting his chin up just enough to ask for a kiss without having to say another word.

Alan obliged him, not only with the kiss but a second finger, feeling Jack tighter now but hotter, too. Alan coaxed him to readiness with kisses and touches, teasing his slick cock along Jack's thigh and using his thumb to press up behind Jack's heavy balls. He could feel Jack's body softening, opening to him as their kisses became more frantic, until Jack pulled away and gasped, "Now!"

Alan didn't have it in him to ask for more reassurance or even wait another second, instead pressing his cock up against the place where his fingers were buried. Jack whimpered, but tilted his hips up trustingly, and Alan moaned at the implications. He slid his fingers out completely, then pressed his cock into the space they'd just left, feeling Jack's entrance hot and greedy as it pulled him inside. "Good," said Alan, the word half moan as he sank to the hilt in Jack's willing body.

Jack's head was thrown back, and neither of them was flexible enough to kiss while in this position, so Alan pulled Jack's legs up onto his shoulders and started thrusting in earnest. He wrapped his hands around Jack's hips and just watched, his cock going in and out, Jack's erection bobbing between them, and the details of Jack's body he hadn't taken the time to notice earlier. The hair around Jack's groin was thick and black, dense as fur, and led in a trail up his stomach to his chest, where there was a softer, sparser patch of the same dark hair, stark against his pale skin. His nipples were the same dusky rose as his mouth, lips bruised with kissing and one caught between even white teeth.

"Beautiful," breathed Alan, and Jack's eyes snapped open in surprise, taking a moment to find their focus and meet Alan's gaze, the color a rich, deep brown like the finest coffee. Alan reached out to caress one flushed cheek, and Jack turned his face into the touch, kissing Alan's palm.

Their rhythm faltered, but Jack's hand snaked down to find his own cock, and the sight of him like that, suspended between tenderness and lust, was enough to spur Alan back into motion. "Perfect," whispered Jack, and Alan silently agreed, pressing a kiss to one leg and thrusting even harder, feeling the tingle of pleasure beginning to gather at the base of his spine, to pool in his groin and tug at his balls. He wouldn't be much longer, but Jack didn't look like he had much control left either, dark lashes fluttering against flushed cheeks and his whole body taut with fast-building pleasure.

The power they raised was as wild and volatile as their passion had been, heady and strange, rising in surges rather than a steady flow. Alan let the power sink drink it down, refilling itself after yesterday's spell. The energy licked at Alan's senses like an extra set of hands, driving his need even higher with its unpredictable flares and lulls.

"Soon," said Alan, barely getting the word out past a throat gone tight, mouth dry with panting. He almost changed it to 'now', but he managed to hold back by reciting runic tables in his head, though every one seemed to suggest to him a ritual to go with it, each more sexual than the last.

Jack grabbed onto one of the curving brass bars that made up the headboard and arched his back as if to draw Alan inside just that one millimeter further that would satisfy them both, and that was all it took for Alan to lose the last shreds of his control. He spilled into Jack with a shout, head going back and eyes tight shut, nothing at all in the world for those few long seconds than heat, and pleasure, and the feel of Jack's body around him. The power flowed out from Alan, through Jack and into the grounded runes, a magical rush made up of all the nervous heat and uncertain need that had been building between them all night.

Alan was vaguely aware of Jack saying something, but it took far too long for him to blink himself back to awareness, though his hips kept rocking of their own accord. "S-sorry," he stammered, letting go of Jack's legs where his hands had somehow come to be clutching. He slid one down a strong thigh and over to where Jack was still stroking himself.

Jack moaned, and their fingers tangled and slipped over one another, no rhythm left at all, turning into one continuous caress over the silken skin of Jack's needy cock. "Let me see you," said Alan, coaxing with hand and voice, wanting to watch as Jack let go of that final piece of his control.

"God, yes," said Jack, fingers tightening and hips rocking back and forth just a few more times before he went still, then came with a shudder and a low, rough groan. The energy he'd been raising went out of him with it, sparking light electricity across their skin before it, too, was swallowed up in the vortex of the rune circle.

Alan gentled him through it, watching as the waves of release washed Jack's face free of everything but pure pleasure, making him look younger in a far more appealing way than the petulance from earlier, or even the false little-boy look he'd used on their date. "Yes," breathed Alan, slipping his fingers through the streaks of seed and bringing it up to his mouth to taste, bitter and salty with an undertone that had always meant life to Alan in some primal, undeniable way, and the slight tang of ozone that meant power in the here and now.

Jack's eyes fluttered open, unfocused for long moments as reality settled in around him. He blinked a few times, then a grin split his features, one that Alan couldn't help but answer with a smile of his own. "Now that," said Jack, still panting a bit, "was an excellent showing of compatibility."

Alan laughed aloud, leaning down for a kiss and letting himself slip free of Jack's body. "An excellent showing," he agreed, enjoying the moment for what it was and nothing more, some very good sex between men who liked that sort of thing and liked it very much with each other.

"Does this mean you'll keep me?" asked Jack, batting his eyelashes.

Alan rolled his eyes and kissed Jack on the nose. "No," he said, a smile taking the sting out of the words, "but it means I won't throw you back right away, either."

Jack laughed and Alan rolled off him, heading off to the bathroom to take care of the cleanup. He was surprised a few moments later when Jack's arms wrapped around him from behind, Jack having padded in after him on silent feet. "Shouldn't the Apprentice be doing this part?" he asked, taking the cloth from Alan's hands and running it under the warming water from the tap.

"You're not my Apprentice yet," said Alan, though he allowed Jack to clean him anyway, the condom already disposed of.

Jack grinned wryly and shrugged. "Think of it as practice, then," he said, batting his eyelashes with false innocence.

"I thought that's what we were doing in there," said Alan with a smirk. He stole the cloth back from Jack and rinsed it, then ran it over Jack's belly and cock, wiping away the remaining evidence of his release.

Jack stole a kiss, then turned and braced his hands against the edge of the sink and spread his legs, arching his back to present his arse in a very enticing manner. "One might think," said Alan, using the cloth to clean away the excess lubricant from his tempting cleft, "that you wanted another go."

"Don't you?" said Jack, spreading his legs further.

Alan swallowed, and tried to remember if he had any condoms stashed in the bathroom. "I think that could be arranged," he said, though his body was slower on the uptake than his lust-addled brain. He moved in and pressed his damp, soft cock into the inviting crevice, just warming their flesh with each other, not yet ready to move right back into sex. "I thought you wanted to try it the other way around next?" he teased, letting his hands roam over Jack's front, watching in the mirror as he plucked at a nipple, ran his fingers through the surprisingly soft hair at Jack's groin.

"There's always tomorrow," said Jack, his body showing evidence of his enthusiasm for another round just like this, his cock rising up just above the edge of the sink, red and sleek and eager.

"That's very true," said Alan, stroking down Jack's back and over his hips, then back up his front. He cupped the heavy balls in one hand, rolling them, feeling the weight and the soft wisps of hair that were all that grew on the wrinkled sac. Alan rocked his hips up against Alan's, his own cock grown half-hard, enough to press at the back of Jack's balls the same way his fingers were doing from the front, enough to get a moan from Jack and a pleading look in the mirror.

Alan opened the drawer and rummaged, grateful to find both a mostly-empty bottle of lubricant and a few condoms still intact in their bright packages and thankfully not yet expired. Alan slipped one on and got himself nice and slick, using everything left in the bottle and throwing it away with the condom wrapper. When he turned his attention back to Jack, he had to stop for a moment as the sight nearly took his breath away. Jack had arched just a little more and let his head fall back, making a taut curve of his whole body that invited touching, tasting, exploration. His face held a peace that Alan hadn't known him capable of, eyelashes black smudges against his face, mouth just slightly open as though waiting for something to fill it.

Alan bent down behind Jack, kissing the base of his tailbone, then upwards, nuzzling into the hollow formed by the small of his back, mouth following the curve of his spine upward. Jack let out a soft moan but didn't move, other than the fine trembling of his hands as Alan's mouth continued its journey. Alan kissed up to the nape of his neck and then forward, ending up with his nose buried in the warmth just behind Jack's ear. "You're lovely, Jack, like a work of art," he murmured, pressing his body to Jack's, sharing the warmth of their skin and the moment where desire has risen but is not yet on its way to satisfaction, suspended in need.

"Don't just look," said Jack breathlessly, a shiver running through him. "Please!"

There was something so different, so needy and sincere in that last word that Alan couldn't tease or deny any longer. "Yes," he said, pulling his hips back just enough to find Jack's still-ready entrance and slide back inside, his way eased by Jack's desire and the slick lubricant left from earlier. "God, yes," he moaned, feeling Jack so hot around him, tighter at this angle somehow, hotter for having endured the cold air since feeling it the first time.

"Yes," echoed Jack, his voice tight and needy. The trembling ran all through him now, and Alan didn't delay them any longer, thrusting in long, languid strokes, letting them both feel every inch, every time.

Alan slid his slippery right hand around to the front and began to stroke Jack's cock in the same long, tantalizing rhythm. "Is this what you didn't know to hope for?" asked Alan, remembering the words earlier now that he was more in control, now that his focus was on Jack and not his own needs and wants.

"What, oh, please, I, please," said Jack, each word gasped out at the height of a thrust. Alan moved his hips just a little faster, going to his toes so he could angle just a little more downward, putting pressure in all the right places inside Jack.

"Please what?" teased Alan, hand and hips moving, inexorable and yet insufficient to bring either of them to the brink just yet.

Jack moaned and shuddered, biting his lip in a strangely girlish way before he opened his eyes and caught Alan's gaze in the mirror. "I didn't think I'd be allowed to touch you, outside of a circle. To want you like this, not even power between us."

Alan swallowed, then nodded; he didn't really understand Jack's fascination with him given their short acquaintance, but he knew he couldn't just go back to pretending it didn't exist. One of the tenets of sex magic was responsibility to one's partners, one's students, one's lovers. "You're allowed," said Alan, not bothering to explain that the quieting of their magic was due to the room wards rather than some other quality now present in their union. There was something new between them now, and it wouldn't do him any more good to deny it than it would to deny Jack's initial crush, Efram's naivete, or Mark's sometimes twisted sense of humor.

Jack moaned, but he kept his eyes open, kept Alan's eyes locked on his, and it was as if his will propelled Alan to move faster, thrust harder, to finally let the tension build into passion, the pleasure build towards completion. It didn't take as long as Alan had thought it would, even this second time, now that they were free to move as they would. Jack arched back against him, meeting his thrusts and then moving forward into his hand, torn between the two pleasures and intent on Alan's face in the mirror despite, or perhaps because of, his body's torment.

"Let me see you," said Alan, repeating his words from earlier, whispering them along the skin of Jack's shoulder and neck, the final word slipping warmly over his ear.

Jack swallowed, biting his lip, his whole body straining toward that pinnacle. Alan sped more, putting a little twist into his strokes, peppering kisses and licks along the parts of Jack he could reach without breaking their connection in the mirror. Finally Jack's eyes fell shut, and Alan moved his mouth to the sensitive place on the back of his neck, breathing over the skin there before biting ever so gently at the exact spot that had drawn a moan from Jack in his earlier exploration.

Jack gasped and stiffened, then came in lush spurts, spattering the creamy pink marble of the sink with pearly white. Alan kept stroking, thrusting, drawing out the pleasure and adding to it, though he waited for Jack's trembling to subside before letting go of his own control. He grasped Jack's hips and thrust a bare dozen times more before losing himself in the heat and tightness, in the inexplicable affection and the trust they were slowly building together. Heady things, and he was grateful for the dampening of the water wards that took away the magic between them before it could build into anything.

Before it could be too much.

Chapter 6

Alan wasn't sure what he expected to wake up to the next morning, but this new, shyer Jack wasn't it. Alan wasn't sure what had woken him, but when he yawned and stretched and rolled over, he found Jack watching him with a pensive expression. "Good morning," said Alan with a sleepy smile.

"Good morning," said Jack, hand twitching as though it wanted to reach out.

Alan scooted closer and gave Jack's chin a nuzzle, mindful of the state of his breath. "How're you feeling?" he asked, doing everything but put Jack's arm around him.

Jack went still. "I'm fine," he said, then swallowed. "Can I make you some breakfast?" he asked.

Alan shook his head with a gentle smile. "You're the guest," he said, scooting back and out of bed entirely. "I get to spoil you just this once. Did you want the shower first, or maybe... to share?" he asked, pausing coyly in the doorway.

Jack flushed and looked down. "I can wait," he said, then after a long moment, "Sorry, I'm not... I've always been bad at mornings after."

Alan shrugged. "I'm sure you'll get used to me," he said, shutting the door. He gave himself a sketchy wash and a thorough brushing, looking at himself in the mirror to make sure he hadn't grown horns overnight, or something else to account for Jack's nervousness, then came out still gloriously nude, only to find that Jack had found his bag and slipped into an all-encompassing light cotton robe of Far Eastern design. He'd made the bed and was sitting on top of the covers reading what looked like a textbook, or at least pretending to.

"Did you shower?" asked Jack, brows knitting.

Alan shook his head, then sat down next to Jack just as he was and laid a hand on Jack's thigh. "Are you going to tell me what's wrong, or make me guess?"

Jack blanched. "There's nothing wrong, really, I'm just bad with mornings," he repeated too quickly, as though trying to convince himself of the fact.

Alan refrained from rolling his eyes with an effort. "I'm not an idiot, and you're a very bad liar," said Alan, his voice gaining some steel. "Why are you suddenly acting like a nervous virgin?"

Jack flushed. "It's not that, it's just... I expected something different, I guess, and I don't know how to be around you now."

"Ah," said Alan, leaning in to steal a kiss and finding that Jack must have brushed when Alan was still asleep. "Why do your instincts say?" he asked, sitting back.

Jack gave a little cough, then shrugged that little-boy shrug, just enough of an edge to make it genuine this time. "I, ah, keep wanting to touch you. To claim you for my own," he said, then added quickly, "But I know you're not mine, I mean, I'm not saying I expect anything."

"Or you're trying very hard not to, which is what's making you nervous," said Alan shrewdly.

Jack laughed, rubbing his neck with one hand. "Yeah, I guess," he admitted. He finally set aside his book and leaned forward, claiming a kiss so gentle and tentative it was almost like kissing a different man entirely. "I do want to claim you, but I know that even if you keep me on as an Apprentice, I won't have any claim to you. And I can tell that it won't be like some people say it would with a Sexual Sorcerer, you taking advantage of me for sex."

Alan chuckled. "Both of you seem surprisingly disappointed about that," he said, smoothing Jack's hair out of his eyes and taking another kiss for his troubles. "I'll work you hard if you're my Apprentice, but my bed will always be a place that I only take those who are willing and eager for my company."

"Oh, trust me," said Jack earnestly, "I'm willing and eager."

Alan laughed. "Then are we fine?" he asked.

"We're fine," said Jack. "But, um, I have one more question."

"Go for it," said Alan, curiosity piqued.

Jack's eyes shifted again, as though he wasn't sure how well his inquiry would be received, then pushed ahead. "What's the spell on the bed?"

Alan couldn't quite manage to hold back his reaction this time, a snort of laughter escaping before he could stop it. "Sorry, sorry," he said, patting Jack's leg. "It's a simple power sink spell, to keep the energy we generate naturally during sex from disrupting the house's magic, and store it for future use."

Jack blinked, then cocked his head. "But then, why was the sex in the bathroom so..."

"Unmagical?" said Alan. "Different wards. There's a flowing water in the floor with the pipes, and I set wards up to ground the whole room so power can't build up."

"Oh," said Jack, looking thoughtful. "So, in bed is more like what it would be normally, or just what rituals would feel like?"

"Normally," said Alan immediately. "The power that two people create during everyday sex acts is nothing compared to the magic of a ritual, though I will admit that I tend to, um, up the ante, as it were."

"So that's why!" said Jack, obviously having reached some sort of epiphany.

Alan gave his shoulder a poke. "So that's why what?"

Jack grinned. "That's why they still tell stories about you in the dorms," he said with a teasing grin. "Did you really crack the floor during your first sex magic rite?"

It was Alan's turn to flush with embarrassment, a creeping red that felt like it went all the way to his toes, though he knew from experience only made it halfway down his chest. "That wasn't only my fault," he prevaricated. "The circle was prematurely broken."

Jack gave him a flat, disbelieving look. "Uh-huh."

Alan went for the only defense he could think of. He hit Jack with a pillow.

Jack said, "Hey!" and grabbed a pillow for himself, hitting Alan right back, and they whacked and wrestled and laughed until the bed was once again thoroughly mussed, and Jack mostly naked.

"Now," said Alan, laying beneath him in a warm sunbeam, sweaty and panting from an exertion other than sex, "feel like that morning sex I was promised?"

Jack answered him as, Alan was coming to learn, a horny Jack was wont to do -- kissing him even more breathless than he'd already been from the exercise. "Will you really let me have you?" he asked, once he'd gotten Alan's body thoroughly interested in the proceedings.

Alan chuckled and gave him a peck on the lips. "Yes, and I would have even if you hadn't kissed me breathless first," he said, giving a little wriggle that got his legs on either side of Jack, and brought their cocks together with a jolt of pleasure.

Jack groaned and hit his forehead on the pillows beside Alan. "You're taking away all my moves!" he said plaintively.

Alan laughed and rocked his hips, sending another wave of sensation tingling along his nerves. "You're complaining?" he teased, slipping his hands up Jack's chest to pluck at nipples he'd learned last night were sensitive.

Jack gave a strangled laugh and then leaned back up, shaking his head. "It's nice not to need them," he said, nuzzling Alan's cheek, "even if it leaves me not knowing what to do half the time."

Alan kissed him, then grinned. "Learn to listen to your instincts, and ignore the part of you that says you need tricks to get what you want," he murmured, advice he'd gotten from Mark a long time ago, though couched in less gentle terms.

Jack sighed, then nodded. "You'd think I'd have learned by now," he said, the comment holding the weight of a plethora of untold stories.

Alan let it lie in favor of learning about Jack on a more primal level, twining his fingers in Jack's hair and pulling him down for a kiss. This time it was Alan who put all his moves to work, tongue and lips and teeth, body undulating beneath Jack's in a subtle tease.

"God!" said Jack, when Alan let the kiss come to its natural end. "I can see why they made you a Master."

Alan smirked, then stroked his hand over Jack's cheek. "Not everything is about Mastery," he said, though in truth the ability to arouse with just a kiss was one that would come in very useful if Jack intended to make a career out of sex magic.

Jack chuckled and kissed him again, short but achingly sweet. "Sometimes it's just about lube," he said, looking around for the bottle Alan had used last night.

Alan felt around until he found it under a pillow and reminded himself to send a thank-you note to the company for going to the trouble of putting spill-not charms on their packaging. "Here you go," he said, taking another kiss as payment. "Condoms are there," he added, waving his hand in the general direction of the bowl on his night stand.

"First things first," replied Jack with a smirk. He gave Alan's thigh a light swat and said, "Roll over, please."

Alan raised an eyebrow but complied readily enough, taking a moment to stretch like a cat, arms out and back arched, offering himself to Jack in an entirely different sort of enticement than Jack's display last night. "Like this?" he asked, pillowing his head on his arms but leaving his ass in the air.

"Perfect," said Jack, hands crossed at the wrists so his fingers could glide up the insides of Alan's thighs, easing them apart with gentle touches. He sent his knuckles skating over the backs of Alan's legs, then flipped his hands over and cupped Alan's cheeks, spreading them wide.

Alan moaned, shivering; he never quite got used to being exposed like this, the sensation of vulnerability and wantonness always catching him by surprise. Jack's thumb caressed over his entrance reverently, and Alan let out another breathy moan, feeling his body twitch under the attention. "Please," he said softly, not quite begging, but needing to move away from the intensity of Jack's regard for just a moment.

Jack pressed a kiss to one cheek, then turned away, getting his fingers slick while Alan caught his breath. "I never thought you'd let me see you this way," said Jack, pouring a little of the lube onto Alan's tailbone so that it trickled into the crevice and all the way down to his balls.

Alan squirmed, he couldn't help it, but he forced himself to spread his legs even wider, too. "Mastery isn't always about who's on top," he said, proud that he managed to get even that much out with the distracting tickle of lubricant dripping over his sensitive flesh.

"That's a lesson I can get behind," said Jack, and then his finger slipped inside like a thief through an unguarded window, stealing Alan's breath away with the suddenness of it.

Alan couldn't formulate a reply to that, but it seemed his body's responses were enough for Jack. A second finger found its way inside him and he arched back like a cat in heat, letting out a low moan at the decadent pleasure of it. Jack thrust his fingers in and out, his other hand resting on Alan's cheek, feeling the shape of him without impeding the motion of his hips.

It didn't take long for Alan to be ready, and Jack timed his attentions well, stopping just short of too much. "You're going to be so tight," said Jack, and Alan whimpered at the coolness of the air after Jack's warm touch, listening to the crinkle of the condom wrapper, the wet sounds of more lubricant being spread and finally felt the cool-warm caress of Jack's covered cock against his entrance.

Alan closed his eyes and mustered up enough presence of mind to say, "I'm ready."

"I know," said Jack, his cockiness returned, though with good reason this time as he slid inside Alan in one long, smooth stroke.

Alan felt the languid pleasure stealing over him, different from when he'd topped, not demanding he do anything but receive it. He shivered as Jack's hands rubbed his hips soothingly, then let himself go entirely pliant.

"Oh, good boy," said Jack, and then he upped the ante and began to move.

Jack's hands were firm enough to encourage Alan's lassitude, and his thrusts were solid and steady, each one deliberate and just a little faster than the previous one. Alan felt as though Jack was laying claim to him from the inside out, and though he'd deny the claim later, right now with the bite of Jack's magic dancing over his skin he could only whimper his assent. Jack kept thrusting, building up to an unremitting tempo that dragged Alan's magic to the surface by sheer force of will, taming the spikes of Jack's power and letting it build as it hadn't been able to last night.

The magic added to the desire and Alan found himself keening as Jack's thrusts sped slowly, arching back into them as much as Jack's implacable grip would allow. He let himself go, trusting in the pleasure and magic entirely, no thought for dignity or Mastery but just the rush of lust and power pounding through him in waves.

Finally, one of those waves broke him open completely, and he cried out as he spurted over the sheets, spilling himself down into the spell circle as he did.

"God, Alan!" cried Jack, and Alan felt another shock of pleasure run through his trembling frame as Jack's release poured into and through him, joining his own in the swirling magic trapped beneath them.

Once the moment had passed, Jack pulled out gently and pressed a kiss to one of Alan's shoulders. Alan rolled over and kissed his mouth once, then let him go into the bathroom while Alan reveled in his well-fucked languor a little longer, though he was careful to stay away from the wet spot.

"How are you feeling?" asked Jack, coming in with a damp cloth to clean Alan's lubricant-smeared thighs.

Alan grinned. "I'm feeling like I don't want to go to work today," he said with a chuckle, letting Jack take care of him. "But I'm sure that'll pass."

Jack laughed. "I don't know, for some people that's a perpetual state of being."

Alan pulled him down for another kiss. "I work with some great people, though," he said.

Jack blushed.

---

They showered together, though neither of them had energy for more than a bit of light petting, and then Jack sat at the kitchen table in an eerie repeat of the day before, watching as Alan got ready to cook.

"Why don't we have omelets?" asked Alan, shoving the comparison away. "What would you like in yours?"

"Dunno," said Jack. "What've you got?"

Alan grinned. "Let's find out!"

They rummaged through the refrigerator together and ended up putting together a tasty omelet filled with soft goat cheese, his last ripe tomato, some herbs Jack scavenged from the garden while Alan was preparing the rest, and a sprinkling of chopped olives that had been lurking forgotten in the back of the fridge.

"Is your taste always this good?" asked Alan, once the food was polished off.

Jack put the plates in the sink and leaned against it. "If I say yes and promise to share, will you keep me?"

Alan laughed. "You two are both like stray puppies looking for a new owner," he said, standing up to transfer the plates pointedly from sink to dishwasher, which was nearly full enough to run. "And I'm not going to take either of you in until you can get along for walkies."

Jack chuckled and grabbed Alan's wrist, pulling him close "But kisses are okay?" he asked, face hovering an inch from Alan's.

"Yeah," said Alan, relaxing into Jack's embrace. "Kisses are okay."

Chapter 7

Jack managed to leave in time for his morning appointment, though Alan got the feeling he might now be regretting the impulse that caused him to make it to give himself an easy out. Alan puttered around the house a little more, looking into rooms he didn't often have cause to enter and imagining what they might be like filled with Efram's sweetness, or Jack's bright confidence. He made himself a simple lunch of leftovers from his date with Efram and contemplated the two boys, and the challenge of being not only a good Master to them, but a friend as well as Mark had been to him, and lover enough for them both.

Alan made it back to campus for the afternoon, only to find a note waiting on his door asking him to attend a faculty meeting at one, which was about five minutes ago. He dropped his things in his office, grabbed a pad and pencil, and made it to the designated room as fast as he could manage.

"Sorry I'm late," he said, as he came in and all the heads swiveled to stare at him. "I didn't get the notice until just now."

"It's all right," said Mark smoothly, motioning to the empty seat beside him. "We're just gossiping, we haven't properly gotten started."

"I can guess what you're gossiping about," said Alan wryly, watching Victor's face as he made his way down to the front. Mark always showed up early to these things for the sole purpose of sitting in the front row and heckling whoever was running the meeting.

Given that it appeared it was Gladiola Baneberry, the Dean of the College of Merlin and one of Alan's least favorite people, he could only approve.

"Well, now that you're here, we won't need to talk about you behind your back," said Gladiola testily.

Alan took his seat and rolled his eyes. "Given the lateness of the scheduling, I'm surprised you got everyone here at all."

She looked a bit guilty at that, but it passed quickly. It always did, in Alan's experience. "The meeting has been scheduled for some time, but the new staff didn't get the notice. It was an oversight," she said, with a tone that suggested someone had already gotten in trouble, "which won't be repeated."

"Is this everyone?" asked Mark, "I've got lesson plans to write, you know."

Someone behind them snorted. "Your lesson plans haven't changed since I was a student," said Harry Jameson, one of the Potions Masters and another former student at Oxvard.

"Harry!" said Alan, a grin spreading on his face. "When did they hire you?"

"When they got desperate, of course," said Harry cheerfully, "just like you, though they ran out of Potions faculty two years ago."

"Ouch," said Alan. He'd liked the three old women who ran the Potions department when he was a student, if only for their morbid sense of humor. "All three of them?"

"Apparently the other two retired when Lachesis had her accident," said Harry. "I brought a friend with me, though, this is Naida, my wife and fellow Potions Master."

Alan's grin widened and he leaned over the back of his chair to shake her hand. "I'm very pleased to meet the woman that could settle down Harry."

Naida snorted delicately, but shook his hand anyway. "You'd be surprised at how easy he was to tame, once certain influences were removed from his life."

Alan flushed and shrugged, feeling eighteen and in trouble again. "Don't let him fool you, he was an instigator. We were just easily instigated back then."

She laughed, and it was a tinkling, delicate sound that made Alan wonder if she was prettier than she seemed to him. He couldn't always tell, with women, except by the reactions of the men around him. "I will keep that in mind."

"If you're quite through?" said Gladiola from her podium.

Alan chuckled and turned back around. "Yes, Ms. Baneberry," he said in a singsong voice.

"I can't imagine what convinced me to hire you," she muttered, low enough that only the front row could hear.

Alan privately wondered the same thing, but instead he put on his very best shining attentive face, guaranteed to annoy her.

"Now if we can get under way?" she asked more loudly, and the gentle murmur of conversation subsided, followed by a rustling as everyone settled in for the meeting. "I've called you all here to introduce the new members of our faculty, and discuss the new rules and regulations we are required to comply with to keep our accreditation as a certifying magical educational institution."

There was a general murmuring at that, but she plowed on. "First, we have an old familiar face coming back to us to run the small but necessary Ritual Magics department, Master Mark Hartridge."

She gestured, and a dancing light bobbed over Mark's head, pointing him out to those few faculty members who didn't know him. Mark turned around and waved, then farted loudly, getting a laugh from some and disapproving looks from others, mostly those in the blast radius.

She cleared her throat and continued, relentless. "The second member of his department is also a familiar face to some, our own student, Master Alan Harper," she said, and the bobbing light moved over to Alan.

Alan turned and waved just as Mark had, though he forewent the gaseous discharge in favor of a slightly grimacing smile.

She went through the rest of the new faculty like that, five people in all, and then encouraged everyone to stay after the meeting and greet their fellow staff up close and personal. Alan didn't laugh at her choice of words, but it was a close thing.

"Now," she said, making another, more elaborate gesture that sent papers flying out around the room until everyone had a sheaf of them in hand, "some of you are aware that the Council of Magicians and Magics has changed a number of their educational guidelines to facilitate the renewal of this country's greatest resource, its magicians, wizards, sorceresses and witches, magical artisans, sorcerers and other practitioners of the arcane arts."

"Wow," said Mark, just loud enough to carry, "did they make you memorize that whole list just for us?"

She glared before taking a sip of her water, letting the snickers around the room die down. Alan was reminded that it wasn't just his friends that had been a bad influence on him in terms of his respect for authority, and felt oddly nostalgic.

"Keeping that in mind, if you will take a look at the packet I've provided, you will see that the most relevant of the new regulations is that all ratified Masters must take at least one Apprentice, and that the normal waiting period for Apprenticeships is being waived."

Alan blinked, then smacked his forehead. "I'm doomed," he said to Mark, while people around him stared.

Mark laughed. "You really are," he said, patting Alan on the shoulder without an ounce of real sympathy.

Another voice spoke up from the back. "What about those of us who have no students wishing to take the Path of Mastery at this time?" he asked, concerned.

"You must register yourself as available with my office, and if there are students wishing to transfer from another university, those within your discipline wishing to Apprentice will be given priority," she said, then added in a condescending tone, "just as it says on page 37."

Alan looked over the outline so helpfully provided, noting that they were required to spend a number of hours tutoring those students who might normally wash out, as well as helping to test pre-Foundation students wishing to attend the College of Merlin. It looked like it was going to be a busy term no matter what happened with Jack and Efram, and that he was going to need all the help he could get.

"In addition," she was saying when he looked back up, having tuned her out with the ease of old, bad habits, "Some of you will be asked to delve into the legacies left by your predecessors. We lost much in the war, knowledge and manpower alike, and if we are to have any hope of keeping our country safe and healthy, we must rediscover as much of that hidden lore as possible."

Alan sighed, but he knew that it was a necessary step. His field, especially, was one on which the masters often hoarded their secrets, passing on to their Apprentices only the kernels of knowledge they had to for fear of being surpassed and, as in the old days, losing their positions or even lives to rebellious and foolish youth.

"Sounds like a good Magistrale project for young Geoffrey," said Mark, and Alan couldn't help but chuckle. Young Geoffrey wouldn't know what hit him, but a thesis written on the fruits of such research would be a sure way to not only impress Baneberry and the Board, but also guarantee him his choice of positions either doing research once he got his Magistrale, or in whatever Doctorate program he might choose.

Gladiola spent the rest of the meeting fielding questions in a tone that suggested everyone ought to go read their packets first, and insisting that she had nothing whatsoever to do with the new regulations. Alan rather doubted that; she was on the Council herself, and had always felt that things like personal compatibility and magical rapport were unnecessary for a Master-Apprentice relationship.

Alan had never for one moment doubted that she was a woman who, while excellent at Charms and other such ostentatious displays of personal power, had never done well sharing of herself in a ritual circle. Or, he thought privately, in bed, but that was an entirely different sort of sharing that rather nauseated him to contemplate, in the context of Gladiola.

Finally the meeting broke up and it was near dinner time, so Mark and Alan allowed themselves to be caught up in the general group and carried along to the pub, where they took over one of the back rooms. Alan ended up at a table surrounded by his peers while Mark took a booth with several of the older Masters to discuss these new developments more seriously.

"So," said Harry with a lopsided grin, "did you ever find the right man to tie you down?"

Alan snorted. "Not likely," he said, fingers going to his prosperity ring and the empty finger next to it. "It's a rare man indeed willing to marry someone in my profession."

"So it's true!" said one of the women, Janet something, one of Gladiola's office girls. "You're really into all that sex magic stuff?"

Everyone who'd known Alan laughed, and a few of the others besides, including Naida. "Sex magic is a very serious branch of Ritual Magic," said Alan soberly, though he wasn't able to keep a straight face through the next part, "and I don't think your attitude is... Yeah, sorry, I can't do it," he said, chuckling. "It's an important source of energy, being so close to the primal energy of creation and conception, but it's also a field for the unattached or those with very understanding spouses."

"Speaking of which," said Naida, "what was all that about Apprentices?"

One of the other new professors, a Diviner Alan vaguely remembered from school as a studious and distracted young man, spoke up. "I guess they don't think enough of us have them, even though I'm only just barely a Master myself."

Harry shook his head. "I've got a new wife and a new job, how on earth are we both going to handle Apprentices as well?"

"It could be worse," said Alan dourly, reminded of his own woes. "You could have two of them yourself, neither of whom is particularly fond of the other."

Eyebrows went up around the table at that. "You've already got takers?" said Naida, sounding impressed.

"Pains in my ass is more like it," said Alan, taking a big gulp of his lager. "Jack Wellington, escaping from Daddy's dreams of Combat Magic, and Efram Hawthorne, escaping from Victor's clutches and a consequently notorious reputation," he said, watching as some of the older faculty began to comprehend his plight, "have both decided to come running into my life looking for a Master."

It was, surprisingly, Janet who spoke up first. "Well, I'm not surprised, really. I mean, who wouldn't want license to have all the sex they could want with their handsome professor who hasn't been tainted by prior expectations?"

Alan couldn't help but laugh along with the rest of them. "Trust me," he said, sipping his lager again, "there's plenty. And they both want to come live with me and, I don't know, wash my dishes or something."

"Oh, woe is me, being fought over by two attractive young men," said a voice behind Alan's head.

"Master Hartridge, how good to hear from you," said Alan dryly, glancing up to see Mark standing over him.

Mark snorted. "You," he said, "just like to feel sorry for yourself. Can the pity party and check out page 53, the second paragraph."

Everyone fumbled with their packets, which had mostly been skimmed and then forgotten in favor of new and old acquaintances. Alan turned to the relevant page and started reading, brow knitting as he got to the end of the page. "But this doesn't make any sense," he said, looking up at Mark. "I'd say it was a mistake, but that would be one hell of a typo."

"It's not a mistake," said the Diviner, Matt or Mitch or something. Mick, maybe. He set his packet down with a dire expression. "They've been talking about it for a long time, finding some way to keep the old Masters from taking their secrets with them when they die."

"But this isn't just about magical secrets," said Alan grimly. "There's something else going on here, or else they'd just tell us to keep a code key for our journals or whatever it is people to do hide their work." He looked up at Mark imploringly, "How could they do this? They're Masters, too, they'd end up facing the same thing as we would."

Mark shook his head and flipped the page. "Council secrets are too important to risk this way, so they wrote themselves an out."

"Besides," said the new Charms Master, Sadie, "you can't even track every erg of magical energy you use, or at least I can't. What about the Artefacts I already have, or the everyday charms I use to keep my life in order?"

"Not to mention the fact that most of the energy I use comes from my own power, and not anything outside myself," said the Diviner. Morgan, his name was definitely Morgan, though Alan irrelevantly.

Alan nodded. "Some weeks, I generate more power than I use," he said, though his cheeks were red, thinking of the pool of stored power from his time with Jack that was probably even now filtering out into the household charms. "And do they just mean on-campus? It doesn't say anything about not monitoring us at home."

"It doesn't say a lot of things," said Mark darkly.

"We're going to have to figure out why they want to do this first," said Alan, reading over the paragraphs again, "and then we'll be able to argue against it coherently. They snuck this in here for a reason, and it's not about secrets or dying Masters. There's something else going on here."

"That," said Victor, walking up from another knot of faculty, "is the first intelligent thing I've ever heard you say."

Chapter 8

Ominous new regulations didn't stop the work from needing to be done, and Alan went in early the next day to get caught up not only on his inbox, but the procedures for taking an Apprentice under the new, more lax guidelines. When he got to the door of his office he found that word of the new regulations must have spread, and both Efram and Jack were camped outside his door, glaring at one another in silence.

Alan sighed. "You might as well both come in. And figure out how I can requisition an extra chair," he said, unlocking the door and leading them both inside.

"Why don't I just finish putting away these books?" said Efram helpfully, gesturing to the stack occupying the third chair.

Alan forestalled whatever Jack's comment was going to be with a grateful smile. "That'd be wonderful, I just haven't had time. Jack, why don't you have a seat and we can talk while Efram works."

Jack looked smug at that, and Alan had to resist the urge to smack him. "So, I hear that they're going to make you take an Apprentice this term," said Jack, sounding annoyingly cheerful about the prospect.

"Yes, and that means I'll take both of you on, unless Ron isn't interested in Apprenticing to Mark, in which case one of you will go to fulfill his quota," said Alan, shooting down any sort of competitive spirit. "I was going to get in touch with you both then, which reminds me," he said, turning to Efram, "do you have a cell phone?"

"Hm?" said Efram, though Alan had no doubt he'd been listening intently. "Oh, yeah, in my bag. Why?"

Alan rolled his eyes. "So I can have your number if I need to call you," he said.

"You've still got mine?" asked Jack quickly, while Efram rummaged for his phone.

"Right here," said Alan, brandishing his own phone. He started a new contact for Efram. "All right, what's the number?"

Efram rattled it off, and Alan saved it and then called it, so that Efram could get his the easy way. "Thanks, Alan," said Efram cheerfully, pocketing the phone before going back to his self-appointed task.

"Eventually you'll need to trade numbers as well, but for now I'll allow you to maintain a certain level of distance," said Alan, putting as much authority into it as possible. He was going to grow heartily tired of them both in very short order, great sex or not, if they didn't learn to get along better.

He turned back to his desk and was reaching for a pen when the office phone rang and nearly startled him out of his wits. "Hello?" he said dubiously. He had never actually gotten a call to his office before; he hadn't had it long enough.

"Ron's a go," said Mark's familiar voice gruffly. It lightened up a little when he added, "Have fun with your two."

"Bite me," said Alan sweetly, hanging up. "I won't keep you two in suspense, then," said Alan pulling a thick folder out of his inbox. "That was Mark, and he said that Ron is happy to accept his offer of Apprenticeship, so you two are both mine now."

He held out the pen to Jack and pushed a thick stack of papers toward him. "Since Efram's busy with the books, you can be the first to start your paperwork."

Jack looked appropriately chagrined, but he scooted up closer to the desk and got to work without a single complaint. Alan got out his own work and started in on it; Apprentices or not, he still had Foundation-level classes to teach and only the weekend left to prepare for them.

The quiet in the room slowly calmed from tense to pleasant, punctuated by questions from Jack about the forms, from Efram about the books, and the occasional bit of swearing on Alan's part as he tried to decipher his own notes from classes past. He'd apparently had appalling handwriting before Mark took him in hand, and his old notes were proving to be less useful than he'd hoped in helping him figure out what he'd need for materials this term.

"Whose chicken scratch is that?" asked Efram a while later, and Alan looked up to find Efram peering over his shoulder, the bookshelves neatly arranged, and the clock telling him it was time for a break.

"Mine, sadly," said Alan, tossing down his pencil. "I've improved in any number of things since my youth."

Jack stretched, too, something popping in his back before he bent back to his seemingly endless papers. Alan laid his hand on top of the stack and said, "Why don't we all take a break and go grab some coffee?"

They were both agreeable, much to Alan's relief, and they gathered up what things they'd need for the trip, Jack fishing his phone out of his backpack and Efram his wallet while Alan snagged a fresh note pad and pencil. He had plans for this congenial mood, and he wasn't going to let it go to waste, even for a coffee break.

"Ready?" he asked, jangling his keys by the door.

"All yours," said Jack with a smooth smile that faltered a bit near the end when he saw that Alan was not impressed.

"As am I," said Efram cheerfully, pausing to steal a kiss on his way past. His lips were warm and soft, and Alan wondered if Jack had nearly succeeded in erasing his memory of them now that it came flooding back.

Jack followed, leaning in and then pausing. "Can I?" he asked.

"Allow me," said Alan with a crooked smile, charmed once again not by Jack's wiles but by the boy he became when they failed and he had nothing to fall back on. He brushed his lips over Jack's gently, and Jack kissed back with just enough force to serve as a different sort of reminder.

Alan locked the door without comment, and they all trooped down to the campus cafe, a tiny little coffee house with dozens of extra tables sprawled outside under the cover of a charm much like the one around the fountain, except this one provided shade as well as protection from the elements. "Latte, please," said Alan when they got to the head of the line, wanting the sweetness of milk today, softening the kick of their very fine espresso. They charged outrageous prices, but their quality was good enough that they could afford things like the protection spell around the tables, not to mention expanding past their borders without reprisal from the Administration.

He paid and went to the other line to wait for his drink, soon joined by Efram (simple coffee) and Jack (cappuccino with three shots of espresso, extra foam, and a sprinkling of cinnamon). They got their drinks in relatively companionable silence, then found a table that only required a tiny bit of power to get clean. "I'll grab another chair," said Efram, snagging one from a nearby table where two earnest students were talking science like its own language over laptops and lattes.

"Now," said Alan, getting out his pad and pencil, "we're going to talk about living arrangements."

They exchanged worried looks, but each took a pad and paper from him. "All right," said Jack dubiously.

Alan chuckled. "Well, neither of you can move in until the house is ready for you. You've both been there but neither of you took the time for a tour," he said, blushing a little to think of what else they'd chosen to do instead, "and so we're going to talk about what work needs to be done before you can move in, and who's going to be doing it."

"Like the bathtub," said Efram, taking a sip of his coffee. He made a face, then peeked inside the cup. "Damn, forgot the cream. Back in a second."

"What's wrong with the bathtub?" asked Jack, with only a small bit of resentment coloring his tone.

Alan would almost have been proud if he didn't want to beat his head against the table. "There's a plumbing problem. It doesn't affect the dampening spell, so I haven't spent the money on plumbers."

"Oh, okay. Is there anything else like that, that needs money rather than labor?" he asked astutely.

Alan started to shake his head, then stopped. "Well, furniture. I haven't really looked, but unless it's stored in some really strange ways, I don't think there's a bed besides the main one."

"And we can't just share that?" teased Efram, sitting back down and sipping his coffee with a pleased sigh.

Alan rolled his eyes. "No, you can't," he said tersely. "So furniture will have to be acquired. Efram, you live in the dorms, so you don't have any of your own, right?"

"Nope, sorry," replied Efram with a shrug. "I don't have much of anything, honestly, just some clothes and books, and a few Artefacts I made before I changed specialties."

Alan nodded. "I'll have to look those over and see how much ambient energy they take up and what they do before we decide where to put them," he said, making a note of it, then writing down the other things as well. "What about you, Jack?"

"My apartment's furnished, but I think it all came with the rent," said Jack, toying with his cappuccino. "I'll need to buy all new, I think. I've got some books that are mine, though, and clothes and stuff. And I paid for the video system out of my trust, so that's mine, too."

Alan raised an eyebrow, amused. "So I'll gain two apprentices with nowhere to sleep, and a state-of-the-art TV?"

Jack shrugged, looking sheepish. "Who buys a bed when they have a bed?"

"Me, apparently," said Alan, amused. "Look, why don't we go back to the house this afternoon and look through things? I'll have to clear all the junk out of the other two rooms and see if they're fit for human occupation, and then figure out where to set up my office things, since there is no way on earth you two are sharing a room."

"Sharing you is hard enough," said Jack crankily.

Efram didn't comment, for which Alan was grateful. "Anyway, off the top of my head I know that the cleaning needs to be done, and I think that we'll have to re-cast some of the ward spells to accept you two as residents and not guests," he said, making more notes. The earth elemental was fond of Alan, but it might not be as fond of his two Apprentices, and that could mess up a lot of things around the house if it wasn't appeased right away. "The work room is a disaster; it has its own outbuilding, but the vermin wards failed when my grandfather died, and I haven't had the heart to go turn out the family of cats that moved in."

"Cats are good luck," said Efram with a grin and a wink. "That's what my gran always said."

"So did grandfather, until they started getting into his potions ingredients and vomiting on the Works in progress," said Alan, amused. "That's when they got downgraded from 'lucky' to 'vermin'."

"Ew," said Jack, and Efram and Alan both laughed.

"The library will have to be totally reorganized," said Alan, thinking of the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that were now only half full. "And cleaned."

"I'm good at cleaning," said Efram wryly, "and organizing."

Alan chuckled. "Well, Jack will have to be good at something besides paying for things, or the work is going to be very unbalanced."

Jack glowered for a moment, then took a breath and let it out. "I'm good at organizing, too, and probably better for heavy lifting than this twig," he said, giving Efram's slender arm a gentle poke.

"Just because we're not all built like oak trees doesn't mean I can't pull my own weight," said Efram, sticking out his tongue.

Alan laughed and shook his head. "All right, all right, both of you are good for slave labor, got it." He wrote it down pointedly, "USE APPRENTICES FOR SLAVE LABOR" in big block letters so they could both see it clearly even upside-down.

Jack laughed finally, and Efram chuckled into his coffee.

"I'm going to guess Jack is better at charming the Admin staff," said Alan, thinking of all the endless forms and madness this was going to entail.

Jack shrugged, but he was grinning. "Efram's not very popular with certain sections of the faculty still," he said, the tone just a little too smug for Alan's comfort.

"Well, his reputation is now my reputation and yours, so you'd better work on fixing that as best you can," said Alan sternly.

Efram sighed. "Are you sure it's okay to take me on, then?" he asked, a hint of uncertainty creeping into his entire posture.

"I'm not the sort to refuse a student because of a misunderstanding," said Alan, patting his hand. "You want to learn, and I want to teach. The rest will fall out as it may."

"Besides," said Jack wryly, turning to address Efram directly for once, "it's not like his reputation is any better than yours, in some circles."

Efram snorted. "Is that pep talk for my benefit, or yours?"

"All of ours, I'm sure," said Alan, doodling on his paper. He took a deep breath and sighed, checking his watch. "All right, best get back to work. We'll go to my place after lunch, and Jack, you can help Efram get started on his forms right now."

Jack shook his head and echoed Alan's sigh. "Yes, Master," he said, though there was, Alan thought, less bitterness in it than before, if only a little.

---

They decided to get lunch together at a fast-food place, and Efram volunteered to sit in the back seat of the Mini, "Just this once, out of pity for the oak tree."

"So speaks the seedling, just barely beginning to sprout," Jack had intoned, and taken shotgun anyway.

They arrived at the house with fast food and a surprisingly jovial air, Alan having even remembered to buy an extra kids' meal for the house elemental. "You guys set up in the kitchen," he said, grabbing the sack, "I'll be back in a minute."

He went to the garage where the shrine was set up in the part of the house closest to the ground. "I know I'm filling our home with boys," said Alan, sitting down in front of the well of earth and dipping his fingers into the loose, moist soil, "but we brought you something."

The surface shifted and a little head poked out, smiling and dirt-smudged. "Are you going to keep making tasty magic?" asked the elemental, whom Alan privately thought of as male because of the form it usually chose, though in truth elementals were as physically fluid as the elements themselves.

Alan chuckled. "You liked that, did you? If you let them come live here, I'm sure that circle will often be filled with power," he said, handing over the sack of food.

The elemental popped all the way out of the dirt, unabashedly nude and better endowed than his size might indicate, at half a meter tall. "That is good to hear," said the elemental, munching on the greasy paper of the bag. The earth, after all, accepted all things back unto itself in good time.

Alan chuckled. "I'll still make time for you, if that's what you wish," he said, though his cheeks reddened as they always did when he considered just what the elemental preferred for Alan's regular offerings.

"Of course," said the elemental with a lascivious grin. "And perhaps your boys will wish to sport with me as well."

"They're not my boys," protested Alan feebly, "but you're welcome to offer, once they've moved in."

The elemental grinned. "They both taste like yours," it said, licking its fingers. The bag was gone now, and it had moved on to the fries; the elemental enjoyed licking off the salt as though it were a thousand tiny rocks to be reabsorbed one by one before eating the potatoes for good measure.

Alan blushed deeper. "Well, they are both going to Apprentice to me, so I suppose they are mine, in at least that sense," he prevaricated.

"You're only fooling yourself," said the elemental wisely, then went back to sucking obscenely at a french fry.

"And not even that very well," admitted Alan with a sigh. He stood up, dusting the earth on his fingers back into the bowl. "Is there anything else I can do for you right now?"

"You can have the toy," said the elemental with a grin. "I'm not fond of plastic."

Alan plucked the little cartoon character out of the dirt. "Sometimes they're good for focuses, plastic holds up better than unfired clay," he said, pocketing it. "I'll visit again this weekend?"

The elemental shook its head. "You'll be busy. Monday night, come to me and we'll sport."

Alan grinned, pleased that the elemental had become anchored in his life enough to know the days of the week and the differences between them. "Monday night is yours." He bowed formally and added, "My thanks once again for the care you take with my home and my person."

The elemental nodded solemnly, or as solemnly as it could with its mouth too stuffed with potato to reply, and Alan left it feeling a little more lighthearted, and slightly less in denial.

"Save anything for me?" he said cheerfully as he reentered the kitchen to find Jack and Efram eating at opposite sides of the table, his own lunch neatly laid out between them.

"Anything you'll take," said Efram teasingly, though he shot a wary glance at Jack when he did it, then buried his attention in his food.

"Anything at all," added Jack, and somehow he managed to keep a lighter tone this time, without descending into the smarmy false charm he'd used earlier. His burger was nearly demolished, and Alan could see why he'd ordered the larger meal, with an appetite like that.

Alan snorted and shook his head. "You two together might kill me," he said, sitting down to eat.

Efram's eyes went a little too wide at that, but it was Jack who actually protested, "I'm not sure that was on offer, anyway."

Alan chuckled. "That's awfully qualified version 'anything', then," he teased, taking a bite of his fries. "It's all right, though that will limit a lot of other things we could do together as well, if you two really don't want to have sex at all." A part of him squirmed to say it, but it was nothing more than the truth; three sex magicians could do some really interesting things together, but only if all three of them were willing to have sex with each other.

"I'm sure we'll work it out," said Efram, but it had that brittle tone to it, as though the words were a thin sheet of ice holding back a torrent of something entirely different.

"I'm sure we will," said Alan, patting Efram's hand. "So, what did you two do while I was out talking to the elemental?" he asked, biting into his burger with studied nonchalance.

They glanced at each other, then Jack said, "What makes you think we did anything?"

Alan didn't even bother to dignify that with a response, given how full his mouth was. He just looked from one to the other until Efram broke down and said, "We snooped in your cupboards."

"Mm-hmm?" said Alan around his lunch.

Jack chuckled. "For a bachelor, you're pretty well set up here."

"Most of it's inherited, though I've had to cook for myself since I was Mark's Apprentice," he said. Cooking had been big with his family, and he'd learned to enjoy good food enough to motivate him to learn to make his own.

"So, we won't be cooking?" said Efram, sounding hopeful.

Alan chuckled. "We'll talk about the household chores, but I won't make you do anything you don't have the skills for."

"But we'll have to do chores," said Jack, making it sound distasteful.

"I hate to break it to you, Jack," said Alan, sipping his coke, "but as soon as you move out of that posh apartment, you'd have to clean up after yourself regardless."

Jack swallowed, and Alan wondered for a moment if that had even occurred to him, that he'd be giving up maids and doormen and huge beds and fine things when he decided to go against his father's wishes. "Ah, yeah, I guess that's true," he said.

Efram looked far too amused, though Alan couldn't really blame him. "And someday," said Alan, "you two will have to confess your sins to me, and explain the real source of your... whatever this is." He waved his hand between them, then went back to his food.

Efram picked at the last of his fries. "It's nothing," he said dully.

"God, you're a worse liar than Jack," said Alan, shaking his head. "I know you won't tell me together like this, but eventually one of you is gonna crack."

Jack looked interestingly nervous at the prospect, and Alan tried not to smirk. There was something there, then, it wasn't just his imagination. "Anyway, finish up," he said, nodding at their mostly-demolished food. "We've got a house to examine, not to mention the work room."

They all finished their lunch in strained silence, and Alan regretted having pushed the matter when they were just starting to get along. "Come on," he said, tossing the wrappers into the trash bin for the elemental to consume when it got bored or hungry again, "I'm sure there's embarrassing things here from my childhood, just waiting to be found and used against me later."

They both laughed and something in Alan's chest eased; he'd always been good enough with people -- well, men -- when they were naked, but there was more than one reason why he had a hard time getting laid outside of a ritual. He led them into the library first, looking around the one room his Grandfather had always considered a luxury worth having. "We can do a lot of our research and schoolwork in here," he said, gesturing to the antique wooden desks and comfortable chairs. The room was big for the small cottage, but they'd soon see where space had been sacrificed elsewhere for it. There was even a computer set up in one corner, a slender laptop designed to work with either magical or electrical energy, which Alan had thus far avoided learning how to use.

"This is a great library, even with the holes," said Efram, already perusing the books. "What's missing?"

"Healing books, which aren't much use to me. Grandfather donated them to the College of Raphael in his will, though he left me the choice of which to give up," said Alan. It had been a hard choice, but in the end he knew most of the rare or advanced books on Healing would only go to waste here. "But it leaves room for your books, and Jack's, and all the books I'm sure to acquire as I grow old."

"You're planning to grow old here?" said Jack, sounding surprised.

Alan snorted. "Your wealth is showing again, Jack, you might want to tuck that back in," he said. He went to a window and stared out, though mostly his eyes followed the delicate curves of the design; all the windows in this room were long and narrow to let in light without taking up too much space that could be used for shelves, but like everything else in the house they showed the touch of an artist. "This house has been in my family for a long time, and it served my grandfather well. I don't need more."

"I think it's beautiful," said Efram, sounding shy again, as if he wasn't sure he wanted Jack to have access to this part of him. He stood beside Alan and put a hand on his shoulder. "Your grandfather obviously loved it, and so do you."

Alan smiled and looked down, then gave in to the impulse and stole a kiss. It was either that or stand there like a sap staring at the way the sunlight made Efram's hair look like red gold, and he had a feeling that would cause more trouble in the long run. "Thanks," he said quietly, then turned to Jack. "It's okay," he said, hoping that Jack would understand it for the apology it was, "we'll train you out of your rich boy habits soon enough."

"Maybe he can clean the bathrooms," said Efram wickedly.

Jack blanched, and Alan couldn't help but laugh.

"Sorry, but you will have to learn to clean something. I mean, you can't just be the lightbulb changer and bringer of objects off high shelves," said Alan teasingly. "I already manage those just fine on my own."

Jack's brows knit, but his sense of humor caught up with him and he chuckled. "I suppose I'm doomed to be the duster of cobwebs in high corners," he said, glancing to where there was already a spider set up over by the door.

"I'm afraid so," said Alan, slapping him on the back. "But the good news is, this room has the requisite furniture and isn't full of junk."

"That's the good news?" said Jack, though Alan caught a bit of falseness to his distress this time.

"You'll see," said Alan wickedly, and he led them into the hallway.

"The parlour is pretty well set up," said Efram thoughtfully, glancing back down the hall, "though it sounds like it may need to be rearranged to make room for Jack's giant penis, I mean, video system."

"That's true," said Alan dryly, choosing not to acknowledge the joke, "but the dining room is a sight to behold, so we'll save that for last."

Jack's brows knit. "You have a dining room?" he asked, and Alan got the feeling he'd poked around a bit before Alan was awake yesterday.

Alan smirked. "I'm sure you mistook it for something else," he said, and Jack flushed.

Alan stepped forward and opened the door to the first of the two rooms, this one set up as an incredibly cluttered and disused office. "This was Grandfather's office," he said unnecessarily, moving in and peeking inside one of the boxes of papers; the earth elemental kept the house dust-free, as the dust became earth again once it stopped floating, and therefore fell under his purview. "It's likely that most of the things in here will either be destroyed or donated, but it will take a lot of work to figure out what's what."

Jack groaned, and even Efram looked a little intimidated. "And we have to do that before we can move in?"

"But wait," said Alan evilly, sliding through the clutter to a door that was nearly hidden by boxes, "there's more." This door led to a tiny, disused, and dingy bathroom shared by both the smaller rooms, though the elemental had been kind enough to keep the mold at bay. "This will be your bathroom," he said, then relented when he saw their faces. "You will be allowed to share my tub once it's fixed, but only if you don't abuse the privilege. Or fight over it."

They looked at one another and then said in unison, "Yes, Master Harper."

Alan choked. "Don't do that again," he said, coughing to clear the sudden tightness from his throat.

"I take it the other room is through here?" said Jack, pushing past Alan to the far door.

"Open sesame," said Alan, and Jack turned the knob and pushed. Nothing happened, and Alan got his evil smirk back and said sweetly, "Oh, that's right, the door in that room is completely blocked with boxes."

Both students groaned, and they all filed back out of the office and into what Alan privately thought of as the junk room, though his grandfather insisted it was valuable storage. "This will also all have to be sorted and disposed of appropriately," he said. "The rooms are exactly the same size, though the other one gets a lot more sunlight, since this one has a stand of evergreens outside," he added, hoping to forestall any bickering.

That hope was fleeting, because Jack already had his mouth open to ask, "Can one of us move in as soon as one room is clear?"

"No," said Alan, and he saw Efram looking a little smug. "It's an all or nothing deal, here, you have to cooperate and help me get the place cleaned up, or you two can keep living on your own and Apprentice to me the normal way."

Efram looked puzzled. "Isn't this the normal way, to have your Apprentices come live with and serve you?"

"It was fifty years ago," said Alan with a shrug, "but now more Apprentices choose to live independently than otherwise."

"You don't mind that we want to be closer to you, do you?" asked Efram, sounding a lot more sincere than Jack had with the same question, though no less surprised at having to ask it.

"Not really, no," said Alan, surprised to find it was the truth after all. "I did at first, but now that I've had time to get used to the idea, I think it's going to be the best for all of us."

"So," said Jack, peering into an old peach crate, "what is all this stuff?"

Alan shrugged. "It's just stuff. It's the things Grandfather accumulated over his very long lifetime and didn't want to get rid of."

"So you'll be helping," said Jack dubiously.

Alan chuckled. "Yes, I'll be helping. And cooking, and you two will figure out who does the dishes while we're cleaning the house, because it won't be me."

"And we still have to go to classes, and you have to teach them," said Efram, sounding a bit daunted.

"All right," said Jack, moving back out into the hall, "what's up with the dining room?"

"Ah," said Alan, closing the door after them and then taking the lead, down the hall and into the parlour to a door off to one side, its subtle design blending into the woodwork. It slid open smoothly to reveal a fine dining set buried under an array of cardboard boxes, trash bags and even small pieces of furniture. "The dining room," he said, stepping inside with a sheepish grin, "is where I keep my stuff."

"Oh god, there's two of you," said Efram, sounding horrified.

"And we get to clean it all up," said Jack. He laughed wryly and said, "Maybe I should have gone with Master Hartridge after all."

"Mark has his own trials," said Alan mysteriously; it had taken a lot of convincing to get Mark to take him on, and much of that had been in the form of chores of one sort or the other, from picking up Mark's clothes at the cleaners to completely refinishing the floor in his work room.

Efram sighed, but he seemed not to mind as much as he pretended, poking through the bags and boxes with the curiosity of a child in a secondhand shop, wondering what treasures were just out of reach on the shelf, or around the next corner.

"All right," said Alan, clapping his hands together. "Now that you've seen the house, let's go look at the work room."

They both groaned in unison, and Alan reflected that this was the closest he'd ever seen them to thinking in concert rather than at odds. Then he dragged them outside, through the well-maintained herb and vegetable gardens, past the wild riot of the earth elemental's flower garden, and out to the little stone building half-hidden in the trees at the back of the property. Alan got out the key, an antique made of heavy steel in a simple looping design. Even the teeth had been cut by hand, and still bore faint marks of the maker's tools.

"This building is actually older than the house," said Alan, turning the key and feeling a whisper of wards, most of their power gone with his grandfather but just enough left to shiver across his skin like a ghost. "It will need to be completely renovated and re-warded, but once it's done we'll have an excellent work space."

There were no lights in here, no electricity at all, and although water had been run in at some point in the past there was no heat, so it always carried the chill of the earth it came from. Alan sent up a witchlight with a murmured word and gesture, bathing the single room with a bright yellow-white glow. He stepped inside, then turned to find Jack and Efram staring at him like he was insane.

"What, is there a psychotic killer right behind me?" said Alan, and they shook their heads, but still didn't move forward. "Well, what is it?"

"It's creepy," said Efram, reaching out a hand toward the building. "Like cobwebs against your skin, only inside my head."

"That's the old wards," said Alan with a sigh. "If I promise to dismantle them before we start the remodeling, will you come inside now?"

Jack seemed to gain courage from Efram's apprehension, and he squared his shoulders and stepped across the threshold. "It's just a little startling at first, is all," said Jack, though Alan could tell he was just as bothered as Efram.

Efram sighed and stepped in, too, shivering when he passed through the veil of wards, then sighing again in relief when he got inside. "So, what do we have to do here?"

"Well, as you can see, there's a lot of growth and animal activity," said Alan, looking around. Vines had grown in through the broken windows and cracked shutters, and brought the elements with them, so the floor was covered in dirt and leaves and even small growing weeds, their seeds blown in from outside. Cat, bird and mouse tracks crisscrossed the floor, and Alan was pretty sure an owl lived up in the rafters. "The roof is sound, I had that checked when I moved in, but all of the furniture will have to go."

Efram walked around, trailing his fingers over the old stone. "It's like something out of a fairy tale," he said, brushing leaves away from a cupboard and opening it, only to find its contents long turned to dust.

"I suppose it is," said Alan with a smile. "Anyway, this will be a project for after you two have moved in, but I wanted you to see the scope of the problem. Since it's a fully warded work room, anything that goes in here has to be made either by us, or by someone qualified to make magically null furniture."

"Expensive," said Jack, dusting off the remains of a chair. He tried to set it upright, but something had gnawed on the legs, and it just toppled back over. "It's too bad this stuff is all destroyed."

Alan shrugged. "Most of it was Grandfather's work, anyway, which means the energy imprint would be all wrong for us. I can get us access to the shop at school for the work tables and benches, but we'll need to get someone in to do the cabinetry and check the plumbing."

"The floor is solid?" asked Efram, brushing the dirt away with one toe to reveal the slate underneath.

"The earth elemental assures me that the walls, floor, and foundation are intact, even though the wards mostly failed when Grandfather died," said Alan, feeling wistful all of a sudden. He remembered when this room had been full of life, potions bubbling in cauldrons and dried herbs hanging from the rafters, a project half-finished on every work bench and his grandfather in the middle of it all, quiet and competent. In a way he was grateful to the elements for erasing that for him so he could start new. He'd given it a year of lying fallow, and now he would build his own work space, and a space for his students, on the clean slate left behind.

"If we help build things," asked Efram curiously, "won't that keep you from using it with your students in the future?"

Alan smiled; he'd asked Mark the very same question, when he'd been forced to take a pottery class to construct bowls to hold colored sand for certain rituals after he broke one of Mark's old set. "Once you're officially my Apprentices, not just through paperwork but magically as well, then your creations will always be a little bit mine until you finish your Journeyman's Work and I release you from your Apprenticeship."

"So I'll taste like you while I'm yours," said Efram, sounding quite pleased by the idea.

Jack let out a cynical snort, and Efram flushed, taking a step closer to Alan. "Does that mean you have to be present whenever we work magic?" he asked.

"Not at all," said Alan, laying a hand on Efram's arm comfortingly. "It just means that if you made something magical, then asked a third party who had created it, they'd be just as likely to say me as you going off the magical signature."

Jack looked thoughtful at that, though interestingly enough he was mostly looking at Efram rather than Alan. "Well," he said, looking around the room, "I think we can manage to get this place in shape, if only in time for your next Apprentice to enjoy it."

"Don't say that," Alan replied plaintively, not entirely joking. "You two are enough for me to handle, without thinking about what's going to come next."

They all laughed at that, and Alan locked the door to the little cottage while they trooped back up to the house, feeling a bit foolish when the windows were broken and open to the elements. But he did it anyway, and felt better for it, as though the old wards were grateful to have at least one portal left to guard.

Chapter 9

Efram hung back and let Jack enter the house first, looking up at Alan through lowered eyelashes. "Can I... Can we..." he began, then swallowed and started again. "I'd like to spend more time with you this weekend, if I can."

Alan smiled and kissed him softly. "I'd like that, but I do have a lot of work to do, so you'd have to be prepared to be drafted."

Efram's smile widened and he nodded. "I'd like that, too, I think," he said, opening the kitchen door for Alan. "It seems fitting for an Apprentice."

They went inside together to find Jack glowering at his phone. "Can I get a ride back to campus?" he asked, sounding unhappy. "I've got something I need to take care of." He looked from Alan to Efram and then said suddenly, "Sunday."

"I'm sorry?" said Alan, confused, though he'd already found his house key, ready to lock up and take them back to school.

Jack swallowed, then steeled himself. "I would like the pleasure of your company. On Sunday, I mean," he said awkwardly.

Alan smiled. "I think that can be arranged, though I have a prior engagement for Monday night, so you two will have to amuse yourselves then." Alan fumbled out his phone and looked up his schedule. "If I'm on campus by nine, will that get you to your first class on time?" he asked Jack distractedly, thinking about what needed to be done and how very unprepared he was.

When he glanced back up, Jack actually looked surprised at the offer, and a little uncomfortable. "Um, yeah, though I'll probably drive out here myself anyway," he said. "I mean, unless you don't want me to."

"That's fine," said Alan, then he stepped forward and kissed Jack, warm and sweet and, he hoped, soothing. "You're welcome here, Jack, it's all right."

Jack grinned sheepishly, then kissed him again, long arms winding around Alan's waist. "I know, thank you," said Jack, sounding both more confident and more sincere than Alan had ever heard him.

"You're welcome," said Alan again, eyes twinkling. He kissed Jack's nose and stepped back, breaking their embrace gently. "You two ready to go?"

Jack took a deep breath, then sighed and nodded. "Ready as I'll ever be," he said, and then paused for a breath before adding, "I call shotgun!"

Efram laughed. "No fair," he said, but for once it didn't sound like a real complaint, just teasing between two boys who might, someday, be friends.

Alan led them out to the car, and hoped for the best.

---

Once they dropped Jack off at his car, Efram was amazingly useful in helping Alan find everything he needed and get himself organized for Monday. "You definitely need to get that TA slot," said Alan gratefully, as they headed to Efram's dorm to get the things he'd need for the weekend.

Efram laughed "I'm pretty sure the Apprentice slot outranks it anyway," he said, giving Alan a gentle shove with his shoulder.

"Ah," said Alan, looking curiously around the dorm; he'd lived in this very building as a Foundation student, but that had been several years and a remodeling ago, and everything felt different now. "Well, I'd prefer if you were my official TA anyway, if only because it's the best way to make you grade my papers."

"I knew it wasn't for my looks and charm," said Efram mock-tragically, and Alan laughed.

It was then that he noticed all the looks they were getting, from curious to outright hostile. And the muttering that went along with them, and seemed to swell as they made their way down the long hall to the smaller single rooms. "Sorry," said Efram, unlocking his room. He reached in and did something complicated with his hand, then stepped inside and held the door. "After you, Master Harper."

For once, Alan didn't bother to correct him, he just stepped inside and let Efram close the door behind him. "Do you have to put up with that all the time?" he asked.

Efram started going through drawers and stuffing things into his backpack. "Will it be one night or two, do you think?" he asked, pausing to frown at the overfull bag.

"That's up to you, mostly," said Alan with a smile. "I'm not so much of a hermit that I'd refuse a third night with you to go with the second."

Efram blushed and went back to his packing, and Alan took the opportunity to look around the room. Efram had been right, he didn't have much, and what there was he kept scrupulously clean. Clothes were all put away in drawers or the hamper, books were organized on small bookcase in one corner, even the bed was neatly made. The desk was bare of papers and even pens, just a flat surface with a single Artefact sitting on one corner.

"What does this do?" asked Alan, smart enough to point rather than touch.

"Hmm? Oh, that's not functional. It was going to be a prototype for ritual-powered machines, but I never got a chance to power it up," said Efram, stroking his fingers over the elegant curves of copper and brass, silver and even stone.

"It's beautiful," said Alan, touching it as well now that he was allowed and finding the metal smooth and the stones flawlessly polished. "Artefacts always fascinate me, but I don't have the talent for it. I can barely operate my computer."

Efram chuckled, then said, "Oh! Right, I suppose... Do you have network access out there?" he asked. He pushed up the overlarge comforter to reveal a drawer under the bed and pulled it open to remove a bag stashed inside. "I could bring my laptop, maybe we can speed up the work a little."

Alan shrugged. "Go ahead and bring it, and we'll find out," he said easily. He could tell that Efram wasn't entirely comfortable with leaving anything valuable alone in the room for that long, and he wanted to do what he could to make that better. Alan stepped close and kissed him softly, comfort he could offer without bringing up anything unpleasant. Efram gladly reciprocated.

He was just going in for another kiss when a knock sounded at the door. "Hawthorne? I know you're in there."

Alan smirked and answered the door. "May I help you?" he said, putting on the image of a professor as much as he was capable.

"I'm looking for Hawthorne," said the older boy aggressively. He was taller even than Alan, broad and angry, a classic bully looking for a fight.

"Efram is busy putting together some books for me," said Alan. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"I don't know who you are..." began the boy.

He was interrupted by a tug on his sleeve from someone standing out of sight in the hallway, and Alan's anger grew. "Dude, that's Master Harper!" said a loud whisper.

"I am Master Harper, that's true," said Alan, "and I don't appreciate you ambushing my Apprentice."

The bully at the door looked confused, as though he didn't know how to handle this interruption in his planned sport. "I don't have a problem with you, I just want to talk to Hawthorne. Outside."

"Well," said Alan, feeling anger crackle along his nerves; it wasn't only sex that brought his power up, but sex had always worked the best, fast and smooth and warm. This was erratic and hot, sparking like static electricity, and Alan had to swallow and start again. "If you don't have a problem with me, you won't have a problem conducting your business in my presence."

He looked at Alan as if contemplating whether he could take them both, then over Alan's shoulder. "I'll catch you later, Hawthorne," he said.

"No," said Alan, hand on the door, "you won't." He shut it firmly and satisfyingly in the kid's face, then turned around to Efram. "How much of this do you put up with every day?"

Efram shrugged. "Less over the summer. More now, but they really don't hurt me. It's more about intimidation, making sure I 'know my place'," he replied, putting quotes around the last phrase with his fingers.

Alan sighed, looking around the room. Suddenly there was another, more ominous reason that Efram didn't have many mementos out. "Did you want me to add a little ward of my own to your room? I'm allowed, I think."

Efram lit up. "I'd love that. If it's one of your wards, the guys won't dare tamper."

"Good," said Alan. "Ready to go otherwise?"

Efram hefted his bulging backpack and computer bag. "Ready."

"Open the door and stand just outside while I work... Do you have any chalk?" said Alan, already measuring the shape and feel of the room in his head, thinking about what he wanted to protect and from whom.

"Top right desk drawer, the pure white's in the box," said Efram, opening the door back up. "Anything else?"

Alan checked to make sure no one was watching directly, then stole a kiss, this one hot enough to curl his toes and add an extra jolt of lust to the anger already fueling his magic. "Just that," he said with a grin, then made shooing motions.

"Yes, sir," said Efram teasingly, smiling as he stepped into the hall.

Alan tuned out everything but the room, taking a bit of chalk from the desk, the yellow of warnings and wardings. He wrote runes around the doorway, the window, and then in a few extra places, one on each wall along the baseboards, one inside the now-empty computer drawer, which he covered back up, and one above the headboard. Into each one he invested a small measure of the energy he'd been building inside him, and when he was done he could feel them all resonating together. He wrote one on the floor under the desk, then stood on the chair and chalked a final one on the ceiling, investing it with the rest of the power and smelling ozone as it jumped through the room and merged with Efram's existing wards.

Alan stepped to the door and held out his hand. "Set down the computer and take my hand," he said.

Efram did so, looking impressed. "Is that it?" he asked, placing his palm in Alan's.

"Almost," said Alan. He pulled Efram's hand through the ward and kissed it, keying the new ward to Efram and using Efram's own energy to key Alan to Efram's old wards as well. "There," he said, stepping out and closing the door, which locked automatically, though he tested the doorknob anyway, "safe and sound." He took the chalk and drew a symbol on the door itself, different from the protection ones inside -- this one was his magical signature, the unique sigil that told anyone who knew how to interpret it that he'd been the one to work some magic on the room.

"Awesome," said Efram with a grin.

Alan pocketed the chalk, amused to see the number of students casually and not-so-casually gathered in the halls to watch. "That should keep everything safe," he said, loud enough to be heard by half a dozen students.

They would, he was certain, pass along the message.

---

"So," said Alan, once they were back in the Mini and headed home, "what shall we do this evening? I'll warn you, I don't own a TV or anything."

Efram chuckled. "Movies are cozier on the laptop, anyway," he said, then blushed. "I've never had a lover I could watch movies in bed with."

Alan cocked his head, contemplating the idea of it. "Neither have I," he said, navigating the winding turns with the ease of long practice. "But then, I didn't know you could watch them on a laptop."

"You're going to make me think you're old," said Efram teasingly. "Or at least that your laptop is."

Alan blushed. "It's not, I bought it with some of the money from my inheritance. I just never quite figured out how to use it."

"How did you get through school without one?" asked Efram curiously.

Alan shrugged. "I didn't take a lot of classes with papers, and you know, it's been six years since I got my Foundation degree. Mostly I just used the computer lab to type up the few papers I had, and hoped they didn't need revision."

"Six years, really?" said Efram, sounding surprised.

"There were a lot of delays with my Mastery," explained Alan. "I did a three-year Journey instead of two, because of the war, and I still had to wait a year to get ratified by the council."

"Oh, wow, that must have sucked," said Efram.

Alan smirked. "Profoundly."

They pulled into the garage and Alan showed Efram the earth well where the elemental resided. He handed Efram the chalk, still tingling with magic, and said, "Offer it to him."

"All right," said Efram, then he squatted nervously in front of the pot. "Um, hello. I'm Efram, one of Alan's new Apprentices," he said, laying the chalk down on the dirt. "I wanted to offer this to you."

The earth roiled and the elemental rose up, lounging in one of his most seductive poses. "Hello, young Efram," it said, reaching out and picking up the chalk. It licked the stick and then commented, "This tastes like you and Alan, yum," before taking the whole thing into its mouth like a tiny cock. It fellated the chalk obscenely for a few moments, long enough for Alan to feel a tightness in his trousers, and then swallowed it whole. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," said Efram, blushing. "Do you, um. Do you like to sport with humans?" he asked.

"Oh, yes," said the elemental, looking quite pleased that Efram had asked. It lowered the knee it had held coyly bent to reveal its oversized endowment, already beginning to harden. "Will you sport with me, Efram? It's my favorite offering, even better than magical tools."

Efram's eyes went wide, and he glanced from the elemental to Alan and back. "N-now?" he stammered.

The little elemental laughed, going to its knees and putting its dirty brown little hands on Efram's cheeks. "A kiss for now?" it asked teasingly.

Alan ran his fingers gently through Efram's hair. "Only if you want to," he said soothingly, though he didn't otherwise interfere. This was between Efram and the elemental, and Alan didn't want to influence whatever bargain they were going to strike.

"Does Alan sport with you?" asked Efram slyly.

The elemental's grin widened, white teeth in its brown face slightly stained with the yellow of the chalk. "Oh, yes. Alan sports with me often."

That seemed to firm up Efram's resolve, and he leaned forward, meeting the elemental's small mouth with his own. Alan let himself remember what it felt like, the elemental's small lips warm against his own, moving over his mouth the way he might kiss along a collarbone on a human lover. When they parted Efram looked thoughtful but not displeased, which Alan thought boded well.

"Thank you for the kiss," Efram said, and then he reached out and stroked a single finger up the earth-brown curve of the elemental's cock. "We'll sport later, if that's all right," he said shyly.

The elemental's expression grew satisfied, and he glanced up at Alan with a wink. "That would please me very much," it said.

Alan took his cue and leaned down for a kiss of his own. "It will please us all, I think," he said. "Now, will you kindly let Efram in through the side door wards?"

The elemental laughed. "You're just lazy," it said, waving its hand for dramatic effect. "You'd better add him properly this weekend, or I'll make you both sport with me next time."

Alan grinned. "Who says we wouldn't enjoy that?" he said, dragging a still-flushed Efram in through the side door and into the tiny hallway that led between the library and dining room, straight to the kitchen.

"Why did I not notice this hallway before?" asked Efram, as they stepped into the kitchen and the lights came on, courtesy of the elemental.

"It's got a minor notice-me-not charm on it, to keep guests out. Back in the day I think it was a delivery entrance or something," said Alan, already looking in the cupboards. "Why don't you get your things put away and I'll see what I've got for dinner?"

Efram snuggled up to him and stole a kiss and his concentration away. "Thank you, Alan, for taking me into your life with your whole heart," said Efram. "I've never met anyone's house elemental before, but I can see why you chose the passionate earth."

Alan blushed, but turned to wrap Efram in his arms anyway. "I am what I am," he said, nuzzling at Efram's cheek, "And I don't think I could have an Apprentice that didn't fit in my life," he said, then added after another long and thoroughly enjoyable kiss, "or want to sport with my elemental."

Efram giggled, which turned swiftly into a full-bellied laugh.

"What's so funny?" asked Alan, brows knit.

"Jack," said Efram, all he could get out for his laughing. He was leaning against the counter now and nearly breathless with it, the sort of laughter that, once it got a hold of you, you just had to ride out until it let go again.

Alan didn't bother to tell Efram that seeing Jack deal with the dirty-minded earth elemental was a moment that Alan was very much looking forward to.

---

"Are you really going to cook like that for us all the time?" asked Efram, sitting back from his empty plate and rubbing his belly.

Alan laughed. "Well, maybe not like that," he prevaricated; he'd shown off a little bit, having found the right ingredients in his fridge, garden, and pantry for a shrimp and sausage paella. Efram had been excellent company, rewarding his hard work with kisses and conversation, both of which were things Alan's life had been far too sparse on this past year. "I'm going to make you do the dishes, too, don't forget."

That shadow passed over Efram's eyes, but he tried to hide it with a groan of, "I'm not sure I can move yet."

Alan wasn't fooled, however, and he reached out and laid his hand over Efram's. "Why does that bother you?"

Efram sighed, but he scooted his chair around so he could cuddle with Alan and then answered the question. "It was a punishment  chore when I was a kid, and if we broke a dish, well. There was more punishment," he said quietly.

"Is that why you pushed yourself to leave for school so young?" asked Alan gently, stroking his shoulder.

Efram nodded, sighing. "I was sixteen when I started my Foundation degree on scholarship," he explained.

Alan's brows knit. "How did you pay for school after... Everything?"

"The scholarship had pre-paid for the year, and it didn't get really bad until the end," said Efram softly. "Financial Aid has me on loans for my advanced studies."

"So if you Apprentice, that will get you out of the dorms, and lower your fees," said Alan wisely.

Efram nodded. "But that doesn't mean I won't pull my own weight," he said quickly.

"You'll do the dishes, even though it reminds you of bad things," said Alan, kissing his hair, "and you'll help remodel the work room, and you'll study really hard, and you won't get a job and try to pay for furniture or anything so silly, because I'd rather work you to the bone here." His tone was gently chiding, but the sentiment was serious enough, and Efram seemed to sense that.

Efram nodded. "Yes, Master Harper," he said in an overly sugary voice, but the kiss he followed it with held just the right amount of sweetness.

"The dishes can wait," said Alan, glad he'd thought to put the leftovers in the fridge before they sat down. "I have a dishwasher anyway."

Efram grinned, and Alan allowed himself to be led back into his bedroom. This was the other perk he got from spoiling Efram a little, though truthfully he was enough of a teacher to do it even if they hadn't been lovers, too. That Efram had taken so well to the sex was an unanticipated bonus, but one he wasn't about to forgo.

He was charmed to find that, when they got to the room, Efram had set up the laptop on a night table he'd moved to the foot of the bed, and there was a little remote control on the remaining night stand, along with the lube and condoms Alan had put there. "For later," said Efram, kissing him again. "Now, I want to make sure I really like sex with boys."

Alan chuckled and allowed himself to be pushed down onto the bed. He wrapped his arms around Efram's waist and said, "I just want to make sure you really like sex with me."

---

Two hours, a shower and some refreshing homemade lemonade later, they were back in the bed while Efram did arcane things with his laptop, and suddenly Alan was watching a movie. "I've never seen this one," said Alan, mesmerized by the slick opening graphics.

"I didn't figure you had," said Efram, snuggling up.

Alan shut up when the action started, but most of his attention was on Efram and not the movie, on the feeling of belonging it gave him to do this simple thing with a lover. He felt as though there was a whole world of intimacy he'd been missing out on, between his profession and his own social awkwardness, and here Efram was offering it to him just because they liked each other, and liked sex with each other.

"Don't look so pensive," said Efram after a while, nuzzling Alan's cheek. "The good guys win."

Alan smiled and let the thoughts go, stealing a kiss and trying to immerse himself in Efram's generosity. "Sorry," he said, pulling Efram just a little closer, "I always did have a hard time concentrating on stuff on a screen."

"What were you thinking about?" asked Efram in a low voice, as if they were in a theater and there were other people to disturb.

Alan kissed him again. "This, sort of. That I've never had it, or anything like it, really." He sighed and ran his hand over Efram's bare back, loving the softness of his skin. "Men don't ask a sex magician out to the movies. Well, women, either, I guess, but that was never my problem."

Efram paused the movie, and then pulled Alan's face down for a warm, solid kiss. "I've never had this either," he said, "not really. But I've always wanted it."

Something warm and tight burst open in Alan's chest, and he couldn't help but smile and kiss Efram again, one hand stroking the red hair. "Me, too, I think," he said, trying to be truthful, "I just didn't know to want it like this."

"That's just because you're a technophobe," said Efram with a chuckle. He reached past Alan for his lemonade and took a long draught, then put it back, deliberately rubbing their bodies together under the thin sheet. "Now sit back and watch the movie, we're just getting to the interesting part," he said, cuddling up with a smirk on his face and the remote control in hand.

Alan paid attention this time, letting the warm weight of Efram in his arms ground him so he could lose himself in the story unfolding on the tiny screen.

Efram had been right; the good guys won.

Chapter 10

The next day they ensconced themselves in the library, Efram undertaking the task of figuring out Alan's computer while Alan made sure he was prepared to teach his very first classes in the week ahead. He got his syllabi in order and ready for copying, and even tackled the equipment request forms, though he'd give those to Mark for tweaking before he tried to turn them in.

It was nearly eleven when Alan reached for his lemonade and found the glass empty, and the pitcher as well. He stretched and looked over at Efram. "How's my computer coming along?"

Efram looked up and flushed guiltily. "Oh, it's fine. I set up your university email and server logins, and then I got distracted looking around online."

Alan blinked. "I can get online?"

Efram chuckled and came over, sitting on the arm of the chair Alan was working in. "That's what those cables are for. Well, one of them's a power cable. And I checked, all the power outlets in the house are shielded for magical or electrical use, so my computer is safe here, too."

Alan grinned, then pulled Efram into his lap for a kiss. "So teaching the teacher will be one of your jobs, at least when it comes to computers," he said.

Efram wriggled until he was comfortable, then leaned his head on Alan's shoulder. "I can handle that," he said with a happy little sigh. "I think I'm really going to like it here, Alan."

Alan kissed his hair and held him loosely. "I already like having you here," he admitted. It was true, Efram had a lot of energy but he knew how to keep it contained, to be quiet when Alan needed quiet, and once he knew his affections were welcomed, he was unstinting in offering them.

"So," said Efram, after several long minutes of just sitting there and enjoying their embrace, "what's for lunch?"

Alan laughed. "It's not even eleven!" he protested.

"I'm a growing boy!" countered Efram, putting on his best puppy eyes.

Alan shook his head, chuckling. "There's leftover paella if you want a snack," he said, kissing Efram sweetly. "I'd like something with caffeine in it, if you'd be so kind?"

Efram chuckled. "Already on my own, I see how it is," he said, getting up and dropping a kiss on top of Alan's head. "Hot or cold?"

"Hot, please," said Alan, "Coffee, if you can make it." He and the elemental had worked a spell that brought the cool of the earth up into the air of the cottage in the summer, and the deeper heat from the planet's core to warm it during the winter, a tiny theft of energy that the elemental assured him the planet didn't mind one bit, and saved Alan considerably on his utility bills.

"I think I can figure out one man's coffee machine," said Efram confidently. He paused at the door and peeked back in, adding, "If I'm still getting a proper lunch later?"

Alan laughed and shook his head. "Insatiable, you are, and yes, I'll cook us both some lunch when I get these notes done for Meditation."

Efram ducked out and Alan let the notes draw him back in, thinking about his own experiences learning the very personal art of meditation in the impersonal classroom environment. He got so wrapped up in his memories that he barely noticed it when Efram set a cup of coffee next to him, though Efram's gentle fingers on his cheek drew him out. "Milk, no sugar, right?" he asked, pointing to the cup.

Alan kissed Efram and then licked his lips, tasting saffron. "Right," he said, "Thank you."

Efram gave his hair an affectionate ruffle, which made Alan wonder if it had dried a mess. "You're very welcome, professor. You'll have to show me how to work the dishwasher after lunch, it's about full."

"Sure," said Alan. He snagged Efram's hand to kiss the back, then picked up his coffee and dived back into his notes.

---

After lunch and their subsequent adventures in dishwashing, Alan declared his notes ready for Monday and let Efram decide how to spend the rest of their day. Much to his surprise, Efram voted to start in on the office, a choice that made Alan wonder just how much grief he'd been getting in the dorms that he hadn't told Alan about.

"Financial documents to you, medical case files in boxes to go back to the hospital," chanted Efram as he pulled things out of the box between his legs and began a series of piles around him like the petals of a very messy flower. "Personal documents to you, professional papers for review..."

"Why don't you hand me that pile of financial stuff?" asked Alan, amused by the singsong litany that had become as much background to him as the hum of magic that ran through the room.

"You've got it, O Great Master of the Art," said Efram teasingly, passing over the messy stack.

Alan went through them; most of the papers were old, and could be fed back to the earth, but a few seemed like they might warrant the attention of the accountant, and he made a slim folder of those. They worked tirelessly for several hours, and managed to turn three boxes of mixed papers into a box and a half of case files, a giant pile of trash, and several folders that Alan would send off to various people. "I think the ones on top are the most recent," said Alan pensively, staring at the boxes and piles surrounding them.

"Does that mean the older ones are likely to be more trash and less work?" asked Efram hopefully.

Alan leaned back in the chair and stretched, feeling his back crack. "It means it's time to stop and do something fun for a while," he said, turning and pouncing on Efram, who was still sitting in the middle of the floor.

They went down laughing and ended up kissing, Alan rolling them over so his back was against the sun-warmed floorboards, and Efram's weight was on top of him. "Did you have something in mind?" asked Efram teasingly.

"Oh," said Alan, kissing him again, hands roaming over his clothed body, "I can think of a few ideas, but it's really up to you."

"Is it safe here?" asked Efram, rocking his hips downward so that his cock pressed against Alan, already hard and ready.

"I will drink your energy, if you'll allow it," said an amused voice, and they both looked over to find the earth elemental perched on top of the pile of trash papers. "It will help me to digest this wood pulp into proper compost for the garden."

Alan ran a hand through Efram's hair. "It's up to you," he said, rubbing their noses together playfully. "He watches me all the time, but you don't have to if you're not ready."

Efram looked over at the little elemental, who waved and grinned, then stroked itself to full hardness so its cock rose up nearly as big as its arm. "I find you very exciting, young Efram, and you taste good."

Efram swallowed, then nodded and kissed Alan again. "Not, um. Just hands and mouths, all right? And then he can watch."

"Just hands and mouths," promised Alan, kissing him with the warmth of desire and pride. It took a lot to give up your privacy for the sake of a ritual, and this first step would be an important one in making Efram into a real sex magician.

And, in a way, was also the first step in making Alan a real Master to his Apprentice.

Alan slid his hands up under Efram's shirt and went back to kissing him, ignoring the elemental with the ease of long practice. Efram made adorable little noises, red-cheeked and writhing as his arousal began to override his embarrassment. "Feels so good," said Efram, his hands finding their way to Alan's shirt buttons. "Why's it so good?"

"Because you like me, and I like you," said Alan reasonably, though he couldn't resist adding in a naughty whisper, "and you like being watched."

Efram moaned, and he seemed like he might have pursued the idea further, so Alan distracted him by licking down his throat and nuzzling under the collar of his t-shirt to get to his collarbone, sliding a hand up to find and toy with his sensitive nipples. Alan would talk more about this later with Efram, but for now it was better to concentrate on what they were doing rather than why; if they both let go and enjoyed themselves, they'd raise more power to feed their voyeur.

Efram's cock rubbed against Alan's own, rough through their jeans, and Alan let all those thoughts slip away to focus on the bounty before him. Alan slipped Efram's shirt off over his head and found his nipples again, licking them this time, sucking them to eager peaks. Efram moaned gratifyingly, his hands on either side of Alan's head and his body arched up, head thrown back. Alan's hands explored the taut curve of Efram's back and, when thwarted on their downward journey by his pants, they came around front and started work on divesting him of those, too.

"Yours, too," said Efram, curling shyly inward and glancing over at the elemental, who was posing obscenely on his paper perch.

"Mine, too," agreed Alan, helping Efram get his shirt off and even wriggling out of his pants first, leaving him naked on the floor, cock hard against his stomach, ready. He felt the first frisson of power shivering over his skin along with the afternoon sun, and his hands went back to Efram's fly as soon as he could manage. "Now yours?"

Efram sat back on Alan's thighs, looking down at him all spread out, naked and ready below him, and something in his face softened, losing the edge of embarrassment. "It's strange seeing you like this, and knowing that you've been with men in front of other people, but somehow I still feel like it's just for me."

"Right now," said Alan reaching a hand up to ghost his fingers over Efram's cheekbone, down his chest and resting on one covered hip, "it is just for you."

"Even though it's for him, too?" asked Efram, glancing over at the elemental.

Alan moved his hand a little lower, thumb teasing along the crease of hip and thigh, feeling how warm the denim was there. "He benefits from our energy, and he'll enjoy watching because he's filthy-minded, but when I touch you, it's not for him," said Alan, trying to explain in a way that would make sense outside of his head. "Any time I touch you, share pleasure with you, even if there's another use for the power we raise, the pleasure is just for you."

"Because there's other ways to raise power?" asked Efram, and Alan grinned.

"And because pleasure is the one gift I can give you that's entirely personal, and no one else can steal it, feel it, or take it away once it's been given," Alan added. He let his hands drift inward, tugging on Efram's fly and finally opening the button. "You're here now because I want you and you want me, and the elemental will reap the indirect benefits, but we'll get the real prize."

Efram grinned and leaned down, kissing him, pressing the rough jeans along Alan's cock in a tease that made him gasp. "It's a pretty good prize," he said sensually, then he stood long enough to wriggle out of his remaining clothes. He stole another kiss, then grinned wickedly and stepped forward until he was standing over Alan's head. "I've always wanted to try this," he said, then turned around and knelt down until his balls hung over Alan's mouth like tempting fruit.

"Try what?" asked Alan, before leaning up to lap at the lightly furred skin, tasting a mixture of musk and sweat that was becoming familiar to him, the perfume of Efram's sensuality and need.

"This," said Efram, bending over and nuzzling along Alan's length, leaving his own tender parts within easy reach of Alan's hands and mouth.

Alan spread his legs to give Efram access, then brought his own hands up to brace Efram's hips, lapping at his sac now that he knew that he'd been given free rein. Efram's mouth glided over the contours of hip and thigh, exploring the sensitive valleys and dips there with tongue and teeth. Alan slid his fingers up Efram's legs, teasing them along the shaft of Efram's cock while he suckled at first one and then the other of Efram's balls.

"God, Alan," moaned Efram, a sound that Alan was coming to know and love. He moved his mouth inward and licked more tentatively, and Alan realized with a jolt that this would be Efram's first taste of another man.

Alan let out a moan of his own, the noise vibrating along Efram's skin along with their rising magic, making the wrinkled sac shift and move under his mouth. Efram responded by licking more surely, pressing kisses over the tender skin, sucking at one of Alan's balls just as Alan was doing to him. Alan was aware that he was being used as a kind of example, and he forced himself to concentrate on what he was doing instead of what Efram was doing to him.

He tugged Efram's cock down to his lips and licked at the tip, his other hand moving up in the tight space to massage Efram's balls. "Tastes good," he said, then wrapped his arm around Efram's hips and tugged, moving until he could lay his head down and have his mouth full of Efram's cock, keeping one hand around the base to control the depth of Efram's instinctive thrusts.

"Feels good, oh," gasped Efram, head resting against Alan's hip as he tried to catch his breath or perhaps the wits Alan was determined to suck out through his cock. He turned his head to the side and started mouthing kisses up Alan's length, returning the pleasure with what little concentration he could muster. Alan made appreciative noises when he could, his free hand stroking up and down Efram's flank before finding its way back to the tightening sac.

"Too soon, please," said Efram, sounding desperate, needy and sexy, and Alan did what he could to stem the rising tide, though the power that came with it didn't want to be denied an outlet. It was still contained within them for now, the elemental's doing no doubt, rising up inside them like water bubbling up from a spring, just waiting to overflow into a brook, or explode in a geyser. Alan gave Efram's balls a tug, tightened his hand on the boy's cock, and stilled his mouth, though the angle meant he had to keep the sweet, plum-like head inside where he couldn't resist suckling on it just a little.

That seemed to be enough for Efram, who levered himself back up and pulled Alan's cock to his lips, completing the circuit between them and sending a jolt into Alan, changing the power flow from a cup to a conduit, around and around and building on itself with each turn. He felt the change down to his toes, and he hoped Efram could hold on just a little longer, long enough for Alan to follow him swiftly down the path to ecstasy.

Efram kissed the head first, then lapped at the fluid there, fingers exploring the length of him. He braced Alan's cock at the base just as Alan was doing to him, then lowered his lips over it, sucking gently, tongue swirling over the sensitive flesh as it filled his mouth. Alan shivered at the pleasure of it, feeling his own release come rushing toward him, and he pulled Efram's hips back down and started sucking, not wanting to embarrass himself, or at least not come too much faster than his young lover.

Efram showed his appreciation and started sucking harder, bobbing his head, making up in enthusiasm what he lacked in skill, and even that was getting better as he grew more confident. Alan massaged Efram's balls and tried to keep his own hips still, fine tremors running through his body as the waves of pleasure and power grew in intensity. Efram pulled back and let out a gasping moan, then began moving his hips and mouth in unison, fucking Alan's mouth and sucking Alan's cock in the same rhythm.

The pleasure peaked, the circuit of Alan's body overloaded, and his world exploded into white-gold sparks as he found his release.

He just barely managed to swallow properly when Efram followed, no doubt propelled over the edge by the rush of Alan's power. Alan couldn't even blame him when Efram collapsed onto Alan, face covered in spatters of Alan's seed and pillowed on Alan's thigh, arse temptingly displayed a few inches from Alan's mouth, both of their cocks toppling now that they'd found satisfaction.

"Your pleasure is delicious," purred the elemental, and Alan glanced over at him where he was sprawled, looking for all the world as though he'd been the one to have glorious sex, or perhaps a very satisfying meal. "The garden will bloom well this autumn."

Efram's eyes fluttered open and he nuzzled into Alan's crotch as though he could hide behind it.

"Thank you for containing the power, and giving it back to the earth, from which all passions spring," said Alan formally, and then he grinned and winked. "Did you manage to find your own satisfaction?"

"Oh, yes," said the elemental, voice lecherous and low. He ran his small hand over the length of his own prick, lying soft over his hip. "This form provides a good outlet for such pleasures."

Efram laughed at that, and then so did Alan, and the elemental echoed it before disappearing altogether, diving into the pile of papers which subsequently vanished from the floor completely. Efram turned himself around, taking the lovely view away and replacing it with kisses, which were just as appreciated. "Do you give this kind of attention to all your sex magic partners?"

Alan bit his lip, unsure how to answer that, and Efram laughed. "I withdraw the question as rhetorical," said Efram with mock solemnity.

Alan rolled his eyes, and licked some of the come from his face, tasting himself on Efram's skin and finding it a heady combination. "I give the attention to every partner that they need and deserve," he said, hugging Efram. Then he gave a crooked smile and added, "Some people warrant more affection than others."

"This is where I shouldn't ask about Jack, huh?" said Efram, snuggling up to Alan's chest.

"Smart Apprentice," said Alan.

"I can be taught," said Efram teasingly, and the conversation devolved entirely back to kissing until the floor grew too cold and hard, and they repaired to other venues for the evening.

---

The next morning was just about the coziest Alan had ever experienced; a storm had blown in overnight and the sky outside was grey and dim, and they woke up to make love by spell-lit candles while the rain pattered against the windows. Then they shared a hot shower and Alan made porridge the old-fashioned way, and cups of tea were taken into the office for yet more sorting.

"There's still some leftover paella," said Alan, looking through the fridge at lunch time, "or I could do soup and sandwiches, there's some chicken soup in the freezer from, um. A while ago."

"Do you really make your own chicken soup?" asked Efram wonderingly, as though this were akin to grinding one's own flour for bread.

Alan turned and kissed him. "I'll teach you how sometime, it's not that hard if you have a slow-cooker."

Efram grinned and kissed back. "All right, you figure out the soup and I'll make some of my special rainy-day tea," he suggested. "I'm pretty sure you had all the ingredients when we looked the other day."

Alan laughed and conceded, giving in to the efficiencies of modern technology and putting the frozen soup in the microwave to defrost and then heat. He worked on the sandwiches, peering over to where Efram was doing something obscure with the teapot and some of his dried herbs and spices, though Efram shooed him away before he could figure it all out. The kettle and the microwave finished at nearly the same moment, and by the time Alan was done stirring the soup and setting the microwave to heat it for another round, Efram had hidden all the tins and bottles away again.

"This must be a pretty awesome secret recipe," teased Alan, inhaling the scent of spices wafting up from the teapot.

Efram looked smug. "It's my own," he said, putting the teapot on a trivet on the table and getting down bowls and plates and finding cutlery.

"It's almost like you already live here," said Alan, oddly wistful considering Efram would be moving in as soon as humanly possible.

Efram looked over and caught his mood, bringing napkins and snuggling up with a smile. "It's a nice dream, isn't it? The two of us together without all the other stuff between us."

Alan smiled softly and kissed Efram warmly, then nodded. "Yeah," he said, stroking his thumb over Efram's hip, "it's a nice dream."

"Maybe someday we'll both find that life with someone," said Efram. He kissed Alan's nose and added impishly, "Who knows, maybe you'll end up keeping me after all."

Alan smiled. "Or maybe your Journeys will bring you back to my doorstep someday."

Chapter 11

Eventually it was time for Alan to drive Efram back to campus and get ready for his date with Jack. Efram's dorm room proved unmolested, and Alan showed him how to re-invest the wards when he exited, so the room would always have the extra protection for as long as Efram still lived in it.

Alan called Jack from the parking lot. "Hey. Did you want me to come pick you up, and are we going out or staying in?" asked Alan, when Jack answered.

There was a moment of confusion and then Jack laughed and said, "Oh, Alan, sorry. I wasn't sure when we were getting together." Another pause and some rustling and he said, "How far are you from my place?"

"I don't know where you live," said Alan patiently, "but if we're going out, I probably should run home and change first, anyway."

"Oh, right, yeah," said Jack, clearly distracted; Alan could only imagine by what, and the image wasn't flattering. "If you don't mind making us dinner we could stay in? I'd like to spend some more time with just you, and I can be ready in maybe twenty minutes."

"That sounds fine," said Alan. "Where are you? I can hit a grocery store on the way, if there is one."

Jack gave Alan his address, and then directions from the school. Alan pulled out while they were still talking, glad he'd gotten the dealer to hook his phone up through the Mini's fancy sound system so he could get the rest of the directions without risking an accident.

"That's pretty near Green Foods," said Alan. "I'll stop in there, and call you if I get lost, all right?"

"Sure thing," said Jack, still sounding distracted.

"Look," said Alan, though he hated to do it, "if you're busy, we can just call it off."

"No!" said Jack quickly, and then more calmly, "No, I'm sorry, the landlord is here and we're talking about what's mine and what came with the apartment, and what I should do about the lease. I didn't want him to get screwed if Dad stopped paying, so I'm giving my notice."

"We should be able to get the house ready in a month," said Alan, nodding in the dark. "Efram and I started on the office this weekend, and it goes pretty fast."

"Yeah, we were discussing the first of next month as a possible date," said Jack. There was some murmuring, and then Jack said, "All right, that's our due date, I guess, because I've given official notice and I don't want to live in a hotel. And apparently nearly all of the things here were part of the package, so I'll have almost as little stuff as Efram."

Alan chuckled. "That's good, considering how much space there isn't," he said. "Don't worry about making up the time Efram spent, we agreed that he'd do some extra helping around the house if you can get the new furniture to come out of your budget."

Jack chuckled. "I had a feeling," he said. "We'll see what we can put on the credit cards, which are all my Dad's accounts."

"Devious," said Alan, shaking his head. "You'd better not try this stuff with me, Daddy's Boy, or you'll find yourself turned over my knee and spanked."

Jack laughed. "Promises, promises," he said, and hung up.

---

Alan found wild salmon at the grocery store, along with some extra eggs and things for breakfast. He didn't cook breakfast for himself nearly as often, usually going for something he could wolf down with his coffee, but if they were going to be generating this much magic on a steady basis then they'd all need to eat better.

A fat mage, Mark had once told him, was one who never did any magic.

He pulled up outside the high-rise that contained Jack's apartment, feeling happier than ever that he'd gotten rid of his old car. The doorman walked up to tell him that he couldn't park there, and he rolled down the window and asked politely, "I'm here to pick up Jack Wellington, where should I wait?"

"Oh, here is fine, then, sir," said the dour man. Rain glistened on his hat and coat, beading up on the expensively weather-proofed fabric and catching the lights from the street around them. "I'll just ring him and tell him you're here, Mr..."

"Harper, Alan Harper," he said with a smile, putting the car in park. "Thank you."

The doorman turned away without another word, and Alan left the window down just in case. The car was somewhat sheltered in the lee of the building, so only a little rain got in, and the fresh air felt good and smelled like water and earth and lightning, four of the five elements all together in one of nature's most common miracles.

A few minutes later Jack came down bearing a small rolling suitcase, a leather jacket that was terribly fashionable and totally unsuited to the weather, and a huge grin. He got leaned down to the window and asked, "back seat or boot?"

"It's wet, put it in the boot," said Alan, hitting the release and hearing the latch pop open.

Jack went around back of the car, and soon enough the boot was firmly closed and Jack was in the seat next to Alan, looking damp and satisfied. Alan rolled up the window and put the car in gear, asking, "You didn't squash dinner, I hope?"

Jack laughed. "Nope, I put it on the other side, away from the bags," he said. "All those cargo nets and stuff are really neat."

Alan grinned. "Thanks," he said, pulling into what traffic there was on a rainy Sunday evening. "I justified getting all the little extras because they're really useful for taking ritual components out to a site safely."

"Ah, the joy of business expenses," said Jack with a laugh.

Alan was pretty sure professors didn't get to take those sorts of tax deductions, but he let it stand. "So," he said, "I hope you like salmon."

"Oh, yeah, I'm good with almost any kind of seafood," said Jack, then he cocked his head. "Will that be a problem for you, feeding us?"

Alan chuckled. "Now he thinks of it," he said, shaking his head. "No, I'll get a stipend from the Council for your care and feeding, since you're both going to live with me."

"What about that energy counting rule? Will you have to count magic we use as yours, since we're sharing your magical signature?" asked Jack curiously.

Alan went still. "What do you know about that?"

"What, the regulation? My dad's trying to get it made into a nationwide law, so the Council is testing it out at the schools first, to see if it's a viable way to track magic usage," said Jack matter-of-factly, is if it wasn't a horrible invasion of their privacy.

"But why?" asked Alan, trying not to let his whirling thoughts distract him from the road.

Jack looked over at Alan and then cocked his head. "You really don't know?"

Alan rolled his eyes, exasperated. "I really don't know," he said, trying to keep the frustration out of his voice. "None of us know."

"Well, you know that we used a lot of those big Battle Artefacts during the war almost constantly near the end, right?" asked Jack, as if feeling out Alan's grasp of the whole idea.

"Yeah, I saw a few of them running," said Alan with a shiver. They'd been huge, magic on a scale Alan had never really contemplated, artefacts constructed and used solely to wage war and end life.

"Well, they're such a huge undertaking to make, it's really hard for the main Artisan to imbue them with much of his personal power, so they mostly run off ambient energy."

"That's why they have to be set up in places of power," said Alan, remembering the arguments that had been fought, trying to keep the machines of war out of the country's most sacred places. He'd been happy when most of those were won by the various religious sects, and what Jack said next made him a lot happier about it.

"Well, a lot of those power wells are totally dry now, and there's been problems in the surrounding areas with crops failing and stuff," explained Jack. "So now they're trying to figure out how to get the wells to refill, and rebalance the land, and avoid being crucified in the press." Jack sighed. "Anyway, the monitoring thing is part of that, which is why they tried to slip it in under the radar."

"But that's stupid," said Alan reflexively. "I mean, for every erg of magical energy I actually use in spells, I probably put three or four times that out into the area around me to support the balance."

"Well, that's true for you, but a lot of other mages aren't like that. Combat mages often draw from their surroundings, and pretty much all Artefacts need energy to keep running, either from electricity like the clock in your office, or using ambient magic like the Battle Artefacts."

Alan pulled into his garage and turned to Jack. "So you're telling me that because there was poor management of our magical resources during the war, they want to try to, what, restrict the use of magic by everyday magicians? That's..."

"Politicians," said Jack disgustedly. "I tried to tell my dad it wouldn't work, but once he's got an idea in his head, he's unstoppable."

Alan sighed. "Do you know if there's a power well near the school that needs replenishing?" he asked, thinking of their pending group project.

Jack shook his head. "Once he could tell I wasn't going to toe the party line, Dad pretty much kept all the details from me." He paused, thoughtful. "I bet Etrangere knows, though."

"Because he's got contacts?" asked Alan, sitting back in his seat.

Jack shook his head. "Because he built some of the Battle Artefacts that helped win the war."

Alan let that sink in for a moment, then shook his head. "But that doesn't make any sense. If he knew there was a problem with Artefacts overburdening the supply of ambient magic, why did he ostracize Efram for wanting to find a way to compensate for that during manufacturing?"

Jack sighed. "All those foreign airships, the ones that did the most civilian damage, were powered by rituals designed to get them here and let them crash," he said. "Suicide bombers aren't exactly the role models he wants to be seen using."

"Pilots are too hard to come by," said Alan, thinking of the drive they'd had when he was just going into the university, to get Foundation students to go into the military once they got their degrees and learn to fly airships or build and repair everything from mundane machines to Magical Artefacts. In a way, Alan had been grateful to find that his talents had lain elsewhere, though even the rituals he'd participated in were sometimes fraught with danger, should the enemy learn of them and try to interfere or send a counterstrike.

"So are crops, and big stores of magical power," said Jack, sounding bitter. "But men like my father will never see that."

Alan sighed and popped the boot. "We'll have to make them see it," he said, getting out of the car. He paused, glancing over to the earth well, and said, "I wanted to introduce you to the house elemental tonight, so you could go in through the garage wards, but..."

"But neither one of us is in the right head space for that," said Jack as he got out of the car. "I'm sorry, I guess I shouldn't have brought it up."

"No, no," said Alan. "It's good you did. Now that we know where to look, the faculty can start fighting back."

Jack went to the trunk and pulled out his suitcase. "You really think the professors are going to fight the Council?"

"If you had to keep track of it every time you lit a candle, put up your wards, or made love and sparked off an energy chain, wouldn't you fight it?" asked Alan, pulling the groceries out, including the things he'd stashed in the car's little plug-in cooler. He made sure to turn it off to conserve electricity, and then closed the hatch.

"Yeah," said Jack, moving in close to give Alan a kiss that held a little jolt of power, a tease of what they'd do later, "and I'll help you fight it so that neither of us has to."

---

Jack proved to be a much more able helper than Efram in the kitchen, and they talked more about the energy problems as they worked to put together their meal, Jack prepping while Alan did the actual cooking.

"You know," said Alan, washing off the cutting board while the salmon cooked, "Most of my electricity is converted magic, the house was designed that way to save on the power bills."

"Wow," said Jack, looking around the room.

"One of my ritual partners told me once that if I ever got a regular lover, I could power a city," said Alan, with an embarrassed laugh. Alan had taken it with a grain of salt since the man had been hoping to win his way into Alan's trousers for a more private ritual, but the man's magic had always felt off, like milk that had passed its expiration date.

Jack chuckled and kissed him, one of the rare sweet kisses that sometimes surfaced under all the aggressive passion he usually allowed to the fore. "So what you're saying is that we should just get you laid a lot in all those spots, and you'd power them back up?" he teased, taking the now-clean cutting board and drying it off.

"What I'm saying is that every magician works in a different harmony with the natural world," said Alan, leaning back against the counter.

"And your harmony is in the key of hot sex," said Jack with a wicked chuckle.

Alan slipped out from his embrace to check on the food. "This is about ready, how are the veggies?"

Jack opened the steamer carefully and poked at them with a fork. "Looks done to me."

Alan grinned. "Then let's stop talking about this and eat," he said, carefully moving the salmon from pan to plates. He turned the burner off and put the pan aside to cool, then got in the oven for the warmed bread while Jack spooned vegetables onto both both plates.

"Is that enough for you?" asked Jack, when Alan had the bread safely in its basket on the table, and the oven closed and off.

"Is there more broccoli?" asked Alan, inhaling the fresh scent. Jack fished a few more pieces out of the steamer while Alan took the dish of salt he kept out and sprinkled some over his veggies and Jack's, too, then tossed some over his shoulder for the elemental's share.

They took their plates and sat down to eat, water and crisp white wine waiting for them already at the table along with all the rest of the necessary settings. "This looks delicious," said Jack, picking up his fork and digging in.

"You helped," said Alan, though privately he agreed that it looked and, upon sampling, tasted quite good. He took a sip of his wine and looked around the candlelit room, the storm outside still raging while they sat safe and sound, surrounded by shelter both physical and magical. "Oh," said Alan, glancing outside where flashes were occasionally visible through the trees, "if the house gets struck by lightning, don't let it scare you. It grounds into the wards, and the earth elemental sends it away through the power sink in the bathroom."

Jack looked startled, glancing outside. "Do you get hit a lot?"

Alan chuckled. "Four times since I moved in, and from what I can tell, that was a light year. There's something about having such a magically attuned home that draws down the electricity, like positive to negative or something, energy to energy."

Jack sipped his wine and watched the window a moment longer. "That's an impressive design."

"Don't be too impressed," said Alan, "it's a pretty common precaution in magical architecture. It's obvious in a big building like the school."

"So the school gets lightning strikes, too?" asked Jack, that thoughtful look back on his face that Alan had learned to associate with things he probably ought to be asking about.

"Yep, dozens every year, mostly in the Schools of Merlin and Raphael," said Alan. "Why?"

"Well, I mean, lightning... that's a lot of power, you know?" said Jack.

Alan nodded. "Nature always puts man to shame when it comes to scale," he said. "The school has a whole network of safety nets in place to store and use the extra power, whether it's from lightning or careless students."

Jack smirked. "Did you know you were a human lightbulb before you moved out of the dorms?"

Alan blushed. "My parents warded my bedroom when I first started having powerful dreams. It wasn't until I got older that I realized it wasn't the nightmares that set me off, it was the sex dreams."

"You generate power in your sleep?" said Jack disbelievingly.

Alan felt his cheeks grow even hotter. "That's why the circle under the bed is permanent," he explained.

"Damn," said Jack, shaking his head. "Are there more where you came from?"

Alan laughed. "My whole family has power leakage problems, but it's not uncommon. I'm sure Ms. Baneberry has to ward against casting in her sleep, with how smooth she is at those levitation charms."

They both ended up laughing at that; the image of a young Gladiola waking up surrounded by floating objects after a nightmare was enough to keep them both chuckling for the rest of the meal.

Once the dishes were safely in the dishwasher and the leftovers in the fridge, Alan allowed himself to be led back into the bedroom. "Most of the time," said Jack, kissing him hard enough to send little biting sparks of power cascading over Alan's skin, "I don't raise power during casual sex."

"I guess," said Alan, wriggling out of his clothing, "this isn't casual sex."

---

"What did you mean by that, earlier?" asked Jack, his lost little boy expression belied by the sex they'd just finished having, and yet somehow more sincere than anything Alan had seen since that first day in his office.

"Mean by what?" asked Alan, pulling Jack close for another kiss.

Jack bit his lip, as if deciding whether or not to drop the subject, and then explained, "About this not being casual sex."

"Ah," said Alan, tugging the sheet up over them. The nights were still warm, but he always got chilled if he didn't cover up at least a little. "Well, if you raise power, then obviously it's not." Alan brushed the hair from Jack's eyes and tried to think how to explain it. "I'm already your lover in a lot of ways, as well as your teacher and soon Master and housemate. None of those are very casual relationships."

Jack nodded, looking pensive, and then sighed and snuggled up to Alan's chest. "You're right," he said, and Alan could feel that there was something he was holding back.

"But...?"

Jack looked up, then chuckled. "I should learn that you're always going to call me on it," he said, shaking his head. "But, I've heard so much about you for so long, and now I just want to be, I dunno. Special."

"Your opinions on Efram notwithstanding," said Alan with a warm smile, "I don't plan to take any idiot on as an Apprentice."

"Just specific idiots?" said Jack, chagrined.

Alan kissed the end of his nose. "Exactly."

Chapter 12

Morning sex and omelets were, Alan felt, both excellent ways to start the week. Especially when he found that Jack had taken it upon himself to assemble and chop fillings while Alan was in the shower, and had even made a pot of coffee. "Now this," said Alan, sipping from his full mug and looking down at the neat piles of ingredients, "is the start of something truly magical."

Jack laughed. "Only if you make me an omelet," he said, popping a bit of cubed ham into his mouth.

Alan shook his head and nursed his coffee for a few more precious sips before dealing with fire and eggs. "So," he said, looking over the piles, "wanna share one big one with everything?"

Jack shot him a look, then chuckled and shook his head. "That would be quite the pickup line," he said, stealing a little bit of cheese off another pile. "And yes, that'd be fine."

"Excellent," said Alan. He yawned and set down his mug, then fished out his omelet pan and got to work. "I seem to remember you saying you couldn't cook, but you've done fine with me so far."

Jack turned pink. "I'm really good at the chopping parts," he said, stealing a bit of green pepper to munch on, "but not so good at the other parts."

"I'd hate to see you in Potions class," said Alan, amused at the thought.

Jack shrugged, looking embarrassed. "Mostly I found lab partners who didn't mind doing all the measuring and brewing."

"Attractive ones?" asked Alan, smirking.

Jack rolled his eyes, but Alan could tell he'd hit the mark. "Why do something for one reason, when you can do it for two?" he replied loftily.

"And how many reasons did you have for becoming my Apprentice?" asked Alan pointedly. He checked the omelet and started scattering the filling on in layers, smacking Jack's hand when he grabbed for some more ham.

"Hey! Uh, lots?" said Jack sheepishly. "More, once I found out it would be you."

Alan shook his head, chuckling, and flipped the omelet.

They divided it onto two plates, all gooey cheese and fluffy eggs and innards spilling out in a colorful carnage, and then took their plates and coffee to the table to eat. Jack sat in the same seat he'd chosen at lunch the other day, just as Efram had, and Alan had a strange sense of family for a moment, the three of them finding a harmony that any two wouldn't be able to achieve alone. He shook his head, smiling at the image, and had a bite. "Mmm, good choices," he said, enjoying the mix of different ingredients together.

"I just used what you had," said Jack, looking quietly pleased.

Alan smiled, finding he liked that look on Jack a lot better than some of his others. "Do we need to drop by your apartment for your car?"

Jack bit his lip, then said shyly, "I was sort of hoping I might come back with you tonight, too, since Efram got two nights."

Alan reached out and stroked Jack's cheek with the back of his hand, feeling the softness of freshly-shaven skin. "I'm supposed to spend the evening with the house elemental," he said regretfully. "Maybe tomorrow night?"

Jack had tensed up, but he relaxed at the mention of the elemental, and even further at the last. "Yeah, tomorrow's great," he said, taking a big sip of his coffee. "Maybe I can meet the elemental then?"

Alan grinned. "I'd like that," he said, digging into his own food. They'd need to hurry up and eat if they were stopping by Jack's place before classes; Alan didn't want to be late for his first day teaching.

---

The first thing Alan did when he got to his office was double-check his schedule, and make sure his office hours were appearing properly on the charmed plaque outside his door. Then he went down to the copy room to make copies of the syllabi for all of his classes, color coding them for his own clarification and watching the clock apprehensively. Fortunately, the rest of the faculty was apparently more on the ball than he was, and he could hog both machines. He barely got done in time to go find the classroom for his very first attempt to teach Meditation.

The room was much as he remembered it, all warm wood and soft mats, with a raised platform at one end for him to sit on while he taught. There were already a few students there, and more coming in behind him, so he made his way up front and double checked that the rest of the elements were in place -- at the very back of the room, above and behind where he'd be when he sat, there was a very old fountain. It was powered by magic, so that the water fell endlessly over a sheet of rock, into which was a niche for a single candle. A small shelf near the top held incense, bringing all five elements together to engage and calm the senses and provide a focus for busy minds.

Alan used a trickle of his own power to light the candle and incense, and another to send the scent of smoke and water wafting through the air. By now the room was nearly filled, students finding spots to sit, lay or lounge on the cushions in various states of attentiveness. The clock over the door gave a little shower of sparks at 9:30, just as Efram slipped into the back of the room, and Alan couldn't help but laugh a little to himself.

It could never have been so easy as a class full of strangers.

"Welcome to Meditation," said Alan, taking his own seat on the cushioned platform. "I'm Master Alan Harper."

There was a murmur of welcome from the group, or at least some of them, and Alan took that as a good sign. "Go ahead and make yourselves comfortable. I won't be giving a lecture today, just sharing a simple focused meditation to get us started on what's bound to be a hectic week."

That got a bit more interest, and some shuffling as people put things away or got them out, rearranging themselves as comfortably as possible.

"Efram, since I see you lurking back there, could you come up and help me with the syllabus?" said Alan.

"Of course, Master Harper," said Efram, just a hint of teasing to his voice.

"Everyone, take one copy of the syllabus and one mint from Efram. They're not sugar free, but I promise they won't spoil anyone's diet," he said, and the class slowly settled into something like order.

Efram took the tin and papers and began moving among the students, who looked mystified but all obediently popped mints into their mouths as requested. "I'm going to take roll today so I can learn your names, and I can make sure that the class is filled to the Administration's exacting standards."

That got a laugh out of them, which pleased him. "While I'm doing that," he said, voice going lower, more soothing as Efram came back up with the mints and his bag, and settled in on one of the open cushions in the front, "I want you all to start your focused meditation for me. Eventually we'll learn more about clearing your mind completely, but today we're all going to meditate on the same thing."

Curious eyes blinked lazily up at him, some of them already drifting up toward the fountain.

Alan smiled. "I want you all to meditate today on the flavor of your mints," he said, taking one for himself from the mostly-empty tin.

There was a sigh of understanding and a soft rustle of chuckling, and then the group all settled in to contemplate the very sharp focus he'd given them. The mints were a bright, strong peppermint, the flavor pure and cool, almost a sensation as much as a taste as it seeped up into his sinuses and down his throat. "I want you to raise your hand when I call your name, but otherwise keep thinking about the cool mint in your mouth," said Alan, his voice low and soothing.

There was a murmur of agreement, quieter this time, and a little bit of inevitable fidgeting. Alan began to call names one by one, checking off the ones that identified themselves and then re-calling the rest when there were a few students that didn't respond at all. He watched the clock as he read, letting his voice drift over them like background noise, reminding them every few names that they were supposed to be meditating on the mints and letting go of everything else.

Soon enough his reminders were all that was left, the flavor long since melted off his tongue, and the hour was nearly up. "Now," he said, loud enough to catch their attention, "I want you all to look over your syllabus and tell me if you have any questions."

A hand went up. "Did you call my name? I'm Ashley Rogers," she asked, when he nodded to her.

Alan checked his list. "Nope, your name's not here. Are you a late add?"

She sighed and nodded. "I had late reg," she said. "Is there room in the class?"

Alan grinned and gestured to the room. "There certainly appears to be. Don't worry, we'll make sure you get in."

Another hand, and this time the boy spoke before Alan could even call on him. "How are you grading?"

Alan smiled mysteriously. "You'll see," he said. He glanced at his list and asked, "Gavin, right?"

"Right. Should we call you Master Harper?" asked Gavin, looking cynical.

"Only if you want to," said Alan, giving Efram an amused look. "I prefer Alan, myself."

A small chime sounded from the clock, the ten-minute warning for those too deep in meditation to notice the time. "Anything else?" asked Alan.

When no more hands were raised, Alan grinned. "Then I hope you take some measure of peace with you as you venture out into your day," he said, something Mark had always added at the end of his own Meditation classes.

Sometimes it felt good to follow traditions.

Efram lingered behind, grinning shyly. "That mint thing was very clever," he said, sitting on the edge of the platform. "It was pretty easy to concentrate on, I mean, but the flavor was interesting enough that it didn't get boring like some focuses."

"Kissing up?" asked Alan teasingly.

Efram glanced around to see that the room had emptied out, then leaned in with a grin. "Just kissing," he said, brushing his mouth over Alan's. "What's your schedule for today?"

"I've got Rituals in just over half an hour, and then office hours this afternoon," he said, scooting off the dais and then stretching. "Did you want to do lunch?"

Efram smiled. "I'd love to. Noon at your office?"

"Sounds like a plan," said Alan, stealing another kiss before he went back to his office to get his things for Rituals. Unfortunately, he wouldn't be able to get away with giving them an hour of quiet time, so he'd need his lecture notes as well as the blue stack of papers he'd copied.

He was unpleasantly surprised to find a message from Ms. Baneberry waiting in his in box, glowing slightly red to indicate its urgency.

"Dear Master Harper," it read, "It has come to my attention that you are not properly monitoring your magic use in accordance with the new regulations. I'm afraid that this reporting is neither optional nor negotiable, and I expect to see you implementing the monitoring spells forthwith."

"I'd like to implement something else, you officious..." muttered Alan, crumpling the paper and tossing it into his wastebasket, where the light abruptly went out.

He pulled out a fresh sheet of school stationery and penned a quick reply.

Dear Ms. Baneberry,

I believe that thus far the energy I have used while on school grounds and under your authority is actually less than the energy it would require to maintain the monitoring spells. Such a profligate waste of magic seems counter to the purpose of the initiative, wouldn't you agree?

Respectfully Yours, Master Harper.

He folded it up and wrote her name on the outside, then slipped it into his outbox, which contained spells of its own to make sure it got where it was going. Then he gathered up his class materials, locked his desk and office, and headed off to teach his second ever class, and give his first real lecture.

---

Efram was already waiting when Alan made it back from Rituals I, feeling as though the students were both painfully young and woefully undereducated. "Are all first years that dumb?" he asked Efram as he let them both into his office.

"Oh yeah," said Efram with a laugh. "I know I was."

"I'm starting to feel like we ought to have an 'Introduction to Anatomical Geography' class to teach them all to tell their asses from a hole in the ground," said Alan, shaking his head. Most of the kids weren't bad, but there had been a few that he'd wanted to send back to the manufacturer as defective.

At least Efram was kind enough to laugh at his joke.

"I'm sure all teachers feel that way sometimes," said Efram. He glanced over at Alan's inbox, which was glowing a slightly angrier red than before. "Shouldn't you be dealing with that?"

Alan grinned evilly. "Let her stew, I'm having lunch with my Apprentice," said Alan, locking back up. "Pub?"

Efram laughed. "Pub, O Wise Master," he said, gesturing for Alan to precede him down the hall.

"I'll treat," said a gruff voice, and Alan turned to find Mark stomping up the hall toward them.

Alan chuckled. "I take it she's after you, too?"

Mark snorted and caught up to their little group. "She'd be up my ass about something else if it wasn't this."

"A little birdie told me a few things about the origin of the new rules," said Alan as they all started down the hall.

"Well, then," said Mark with a grin, "I'll be getting my money's worth for lunch, won't I?"

"If it doesn't ruin your appetite," said Alan warningly.

They made their way out to the pub and got their orders in, and then Alan explained what he'd learned from Jack last night.

"I'd heard something about that," said Mark, while Efram looked on warily, "but I didn't credit it. Of course, I didn't really think the Council would be stupid enough to try to count magic like grains of rice in a sushi restaurant, either."

Alan gave Efram's back a comforting rub; he was used to Mark's intensity, but Efram seemed intimidated. "I was hoping we might do something to help," said Alan, "for the student project."

Mark's eyebrows went up, then he grinned. "That's the best idea I've heard all day," he said, taking a long swig of his pint. "We'll show them that magic can't be made into statistics and equations."

"I noticed their spell doesn't track how much energy a mage puts out, either," said Efram shyly. "Just what he uses."

"And if I were to forget to remove it at the end of the day," said Alan, "it would keep counting when I went home, all the small spells that run the house, maybe even the magic I feed into the earth through the elemental."

Mark slapped his hand down on the table, making the glasses and Efram jump. "It's dumber than trying to keep pigs from rolling in shit!" he declared, as though there was any disagreement at the table.

"You're scaring my nigh-Apprentice," said Alan teasingly.

The waitress came bearing food then, and that seemed enough to mollify everyone for the moment. "So," asked Alan, digging in, "what excuse are you using for leaving the spell off?"

"It disturbs my concentration," said Mark evilly.

Alan laughed. "You could concentrate through a blizzard, you old fraud."

"It might interfere with classroom wards," said Efram thoughtfully. "I mean, if the spell is sending information out even when you're inside, it could be a dangerous breach of the safety wards."

Mark roared with laughter, then drained his pint and gestured for another. "Now I see why you're keeping him, aside from his pretty face."

"Though the pretty face is fairly compelling," said Alan teasingly.

Efram blushed.

---

When Alan got back, the clock informed him that he was late for his office hours, and there was a second glowing memo in his inbox. Alan contemplated having a small accident and setting his inbox on fire, but he was worried that there might be something important hiding underneath. He grabbed the whole stack and started to go through it from the bottom up, leaving his door invitingly ajar even though he was fairly sure he wouldn't get any students so early in the term.

Efram poked his head in half an hour later. "I come bearing forms," he said. Mark had stolen him after lunch to help get Alan's paperwork in order, and now all he had to do was sign at all the spots designated by Mark's shining green-and-gold arrows.

"You're a lifesaver," said Alan, claiming the papers and a kiss besides. "What would I do without you?"

"Find some other boy to molest?" said Victor from the doorway, aristocratic features marred by his expression of distaste. "Do you have a moment?"

"For what?" asked Alan, not bothering to hid his own dislike. "Did you miss seeing Efram's pretty face?"

"Hardly," said Victor, stepping into the room and closing the door. "I wanted to speak with you about the new regulations."

"I'd ask which ones, but I can't imagine you care about my use of colored copy paper," said Alan, curious despite himself.

Victor rolled his eyes. "You never have known when to be serious," he said. "Do you understand the origins of this foolish monitoring idea?"

"I'd heard it was military, because of energy deficits around the Battle Artefacts," said Alan warily.

Victor sighed. "Those machines were never meant to run continuously," he said. "The Battle Artefacts were designed as a last-ditch defense against invasion, not an offensive and certainly not at such distances as they were used. The strain on local energy patterns was inevitable."

Alan blinked, surprised. "That puts things in a different light," he said. "And a much worse one. The people behind this will do everything they can to make sure the blame doesn't come back to their doorstep."

Victor nodded once. "You see my dilemma. I cannot be seen to rebel as you and Hartridge are, because they will make people believe it was my designs that were at fault, and ruin me."

"But you don't want to be monitored any more than the rest of us," said Alan. "Even if you aren't the source of the problem, do you have any idea how to repair the damage?"

Victor pulled a slender folio out of his robes, stroking his fingers over it. "You cannot allow it to be known that I was the source of this information," he said, slipping it between two books on one of Alan's shelves.

"I'm sure my Apprentices will come across something while they're doing research for the advanced student project this term," said Alan neutrally, eyes flicking to the book and back again.

Victor nodded. "We have an understanding."

Alan was still trying to figure out just what he understood as Victor let himself out.

"I can't stand him," said Efram, walking over to the shelf and pulling out the slim volume, "but I guess he's trying."

"Victor may be a self-serving snake," said Alan, standing up to peer over Efram's shoulder, "but he knows when his burrow is in danger."

Efram snorted. "That was a stupid metaphor," he said, opening the book to the section conveniently marked by a stray leaf.

"They can't all be brilliant," said Alan, eyes skittering over the complex pattern of interlocking circles and runes. He skimmed the text next to it, then shook his head. "If this would work, why doesn't everyone do it?" said Alan.

"There's a flaw here," said Efram, pointing to a spot where the circles overlapped and the runes didn't match up quite right, altering the meanings significantly by shifting around the combinations. "I think it might explode if you tried to channel too much power."

Alan sighed, resting his chin on top of Efram's head for a moment before ducking down to nip at his ear. "Well, with everything we have going for us, we should be able to figure something out, right?"

"Are you still talking about the book?" asked Efram teasingly, turning around in Alan's arms and tilting his face up invitingly.

Alan kissed him warmly, then stepped away and sat back down to keep himself from doing more than just kissing. "I don't think Geoffrey wants to be included in anything else," said Alan. He finished signing his paperwork and slipped it into his outbox, amused when it was whisked away immediately. Unfortunately, all that left him with was the two glowing missives from Gladiola.

"Bad for the wards, huh?" said Alan, opening the first, which lamented the imperfect system and basically told him to put up or shut up. The second one was a rather more insistent version of the first, adding the caveat that she refused to believe that he could concentrate on magic in the middle of sex but not hold together a simple monitoring spell.

Alan grinned evilly and wrote his reply, citing Efram's worries about any kind of breach in the safety wards leading to a dangerous flaw, and adding that it would be especially bad if it were to happen during a botched ritual, misbrewed potion, or accident in the Artefacts lab. He copied the entire magical faculty on his message and popped it in his outbox, already imagining the shrieks of outrage he'd get from Gladiola when a dozen other professors wrote in to echo his concerns.

Then Alan checked the clock, kissed his Apprentice, and closed up his office for the day. After all, he had an elemental to placate, and his office hours were officially over.

He could hear Mark's laughter following him down the hall as he left.

Chapter 13

The sun was still high in the sky as Alan pulled into his garage, and he contemplated his options for spending the time until dinner. He'd left all of his work at school just this once, knowing his evening was spoken for and, if previous such sessions were any indication, he'd be too tired for anything but sleep afterward.

"You're home early," said the little earth elemental, lounging in the earth well at the front of the garage.

Alan grinned and squatted down. "I have a busy evening at home, and I wanted to have plenty of time for it," he said teasingly, running a finger over the cool contours of the elemental's bare hip and thigh. "Did you want to join me in the garden for a while?"

The elemental purred under Alan's touch, sensual as a cat. "There's not much for you to do, unless you want to start on the old work room," it said. It rolled onto its back, stretching in the loose dirt as though it were satin sheets, cock starting to fill. "You've fed so much power into the earth, I've had plenty of energy for gardening," it teased.

Alan smoothed his hand up over its belly, feeling the skin begin to warm under his touches. "It's awfully early to get started," said Alan teasingly.

He always wondered at the choices the elemental made when it was in this form, pert sensitive nipples but no belly button, smooth skin dusted with fine earth but no hairs, not even on top of its smooth, round head. It was brown, of course, but not just one shade of brown; its nipples were the dark color of rich mud, its overall tone like dry dirt, but with shades of red clay along its cock, though it didn't bother with the conceit of balls or any kind of hole between its rounded asscheeks. Its teeth were the white of marble, and its eyes as well, set with green jade and black obsidian to mimic the expressiveness of human eyes. Its face had a slightly alien cast to it, as though it was something apart from Alan and his human life despite the warmth it was capable of showing.

Alan knew from experience that its skin tasted like dust and salt but not unpleasantly so, and the dirt that seemed to coat it at all times never smeared or filled his mouth, even when his mouth was full of its sleek cock. It never ejaculated the way a human would, but it shared its pleasure in other ways, and Alan had learned to enjoy the give-and-take of making love to the elements, ever since that first water elemental had followed him home from the fountain and shown him that water could run hot as well as cold.

He pulled himself up out of his reverie and pressed a kiss to the small mouth. "You are almost tasty enough for me to forgo my usual dinner offering," said the elemental, arching up so its cock brushed at the heel of Alan's hand, "but I know you will give me an even better offering afterwards, if I am patient, and the earth is nothing if not patient."

Alan smiled softly and kissed it again. "Is there harvest ready in the garden?" he asked; he liked to use ingredients grown at the house for at least part of dinner on these nights, taking the food back into himself that was partially grown from his own life energy, and then giving it back again to the elemental as an offering.

It wasn't only the earth that benefited from their sporting, after all, and the renewal he felt from it always seemed to tie directly back into that cycle, and how well he kept up his end of the bargain.

"There are a few things," said the elemental, wriggling his hips in a little tease. "Give me a taste of you, and I will show you."

Alan chuckled and let his own desire rise as his fingers trailed over the smooth little body. He'd asked once why the elemental didn't choose a form more suited to Alan's size, and the elemental had shrugged and said, "I'm large enough for sport, and you aren't the sort that needs to pretend that I am human, so why waste the power?"

Alan hadn't been able to find a response to that, then or now, and as he leaned down and breathed power over the strange living stone of its flesh he realized that he'd grown to enjoy the differences that made it a creature of magic and earth, from its size to its sensuality, and sense of humor. "I think I'm going to take a taste of my own," teased Alan, and he licked his mouth up the smooth shaft of its cock, then sucked on the head, surprised as always at the texture, like a ripe cherry, firm yet yielding in his mouth, as though there really was some vital juice flowing through the creature where Alan would have blood.

It breathed out a low, pleased sound, something like a cat's purr, a human's pleasure, and the sound of sandstone rubbing across itself all in one. "I never can fault your enthusiasm," it said, little hands toying with Alan's hair, "or the sincerity of your offerings."

Alan might have tried to explain, but he preferred to keep his mouth just where it was, suckling at the creature's cock, enjoying the size of it, just enough to fill his mouth without threatening to choke him. He used his hands to caress its thighs and torso, since it seemed to enjoy any touch just as much as the specifically sexual ones, and allowed himself to slip into something like a meditative trance as he pleasured it and, in taking its pleasure into himself, raised a small fraction of his own powers to give back.

He wasn't sure how long he knelt there before it said, "Enough, or I will surely want my whole meal now, instead of just this appetizer," it said, tugging at Alan's hair.

Alan pulled away grinning and swallowed at the salt taste left in his mouth, though there was no trace of grit on his tongue. "How is it that I always forget how enjoyable it is to be with you, when I'm not with you?" he asked teasingly, watching as the moisture from his mouth was slowly absorbed into the elemental's body, sinking in like rain on dry earth before disappearing entirely.

"If you remembered, you might leave off your mortal lovers entirely and spend all your time worshiping the earth," it said, just a hint of seriousness to let Alan know that it had happened before, to someone's detriment.

Alan grinned and kissed its small mouth one more time. "It's a good thing I have Apprentices now to keep me anchored in my mortal life," he said reassuringly. "I'm supposed to introduce Jack to you tomorrow, by the way."

"I heard," it said, reminding him once again that it had very strange ideas of privacy, and that he was rarely, if ever, truly alone. The elements were always around, and a mage doubly surrounded by nature and its avatars.

He levered himself up off the floor and headed to the inner door, which the elemental had unlocked ahead of him. "I'm going to change and I'll be out in the garden, soon," he said, glancing around to make sure the garage was secure.

"I'm always there," said the elemental, sinking slowly into the earth of its altar, "just as I'm always here."

---

His garden, Alan often thought, was one of the best perks of having an earth elemental bound to his house and home. Alan stepped out into the sunlit afternoon and paused just to admire the riot of growth, vegetables and herbs sharing space with flowers and even some fruits, all of them healthy and abundant thanks to the elemental's care, and Alan's regular contributions of sexual energy to its upkeep.

"There are a few last tomatoes here," said the elemental, strolling out from a space between two plants that Alan was sure had been empty a moment before.

"Thank you," he said, moving forward to pluck just the ones that were fully ripe, carefully putting them in the basket he'd brought out, cushioned with a tea towel.

"There are a few early squash over here," said the elemental, popping up in another part of the garden.

Alan smiled; it did enjoy showing off sometimes, especially when it had an abundance of power, and that it was doing so now even before their tryst was a good sign. He found a couple of tender young squash and plucked those, pondering if the elemental would be patient enough for him to roast them properly in the oven. "These look good," he said, going over to pluck some herbs that would go well with it. "Anything else?"

"Lemons!" said the elemental, tossing a couple down to Alan from the high branches of his lemon tree. "You're almost out of lemonade," it added, then threw a few more, one at a time so that Alan could easily catch them, though he did cheat and use a small bit of power to assure his success.

"Have you been drinking it?" asked Alan curiously; the elemental rarely took food or drink without being specifically offered, though Alan had long ago given it permission if it ever needed the nutrients, or wanted to indulge.

The little elemental laughed, the sound echoing around the garden as it reappeared down on the ground near Alan's foot. "Jack and Efram have," it said knowingly.

Alan chuckled. "True," he said, spotting some familiar green tops. "Are the parsnips ready?"

It sank down into the earth and came back up bearing half a dozen of them, small but ready enough for eating. "Thank you," said Alan, surprised at its helpfulness. He considered asking or even just commenting, but the elemental didn't always like to discuss the jumps it made in personality as it became accustomed to the rhythm of Alan's mortal life, preferring to pretend that things had always been so.

"You wish to roast them?" it asked, placing them neatly in his basket without so much as bruising a tomato.

"That was my thought," said Alan, "if you think you can be patient enough."

The elemental chuckled. "I enjoy the taste of fire on the fruits of my labor as much as you," it said, leading Alan through the foliage to a hidden plant heavy with ripe red peppers. "I think these are ready, and would also roast well."

"Nice," said Alan, adding them to his basket. "I think that's enough for tonight, unless there's fruit for dessert?"

The elemental blinked, and cocked its head as if listening. "Peaches, plums and a few early apples," it said, smiling.

"Peaches and plums, and leave the apples for the birds?" asked Alan; even with two Apprentices he'd never be able to eat all the bounty in the garden, and as part of his original deal with the earth elemental, any extra was left for the earth to reclaim.

It looked pleased as it sank back into the earth, then it called him from the woods until he made his way back into the trees to where a neat pyramid of peaches waited on the ground, inside a circle of perfectly ripe plums.

"You're going to spoil me," said Alan, loading up his basket and lugging all of it back to the house. "If I had time, I'd make jam from the plums," said Alan wistfully, rinsing off the fruits and vegetables and laying them out on top of towels the kitchen counter to dry.

"Why don't you have time?" asked the elemental, sitting on the granite counter like a sculpture, legs crossed and head cocked curiously.

"Four classes, two Apprentices, and some trouble with the administration," said Alan with a sigh. "I'm not sure I'll have the time to set aside for canning this year."

"That's too bad," said the elemental, and Alan got the strange impression it was wistful. "I enjoyed the canning last year, and your stores are nearly empty. What will you do in winter?"

"Go to the grocery store, I guess," said Alan.

He was amused at the face it made, and he went over to press a kiss to its mouth, just as he would have with Efram, or Jack. At some point he'd starting thinking of the little creature as a person, a lover, and he realized he wanted to make it happy not just for their bargain, but because he could. "Perhaps I can make some time for canning, if you'll help?"

It laughed and clapped its hands like a child, and kissed him back. "I would like that, even if it's just one day, Alan."

Alan surprised himself by smiling and saying quite sincerely, "So would I."

He went back to the vegetables and began chopping and cleaning them, feeding the seeds and other detritus to the elemental in little bites from his fingers accompanied by kisses, much more intimate than any interaction they'd had before.

"I feel more human today," it said, when Alan had put the tray of vegetables to roast in the oven, sprinkled with salt, pepper and fresh herbs and drizzled with olive oil. "I think it is the love you have for those boys, and their affection for you, that wakens me further."

"You seem more like a lover today than servant," said Alan thoughtfully, coming over to stroke its shoulder, arm and then take its small hand in his. "I like the change."

It smiled warmly and curled its fingers into the curves of his palm, using the other hand to close Alan's fingers over his own. "I do, too."

There was a pause, a quiet moment where Alan just appreciated the gifts that the earth and his own nature had brought into his life.

"Perhaps we can get your boys to help with our canning," said the elemental, its voice rich with humor.

Alan chuckled. "It might be a disaster, but it might be good for them, too. Will you help us harvest enough to make a day of it?"

"Of course," said the elemental. It scooted closer, not awkwardly as a human would, but by simply being where it hadn't been before, and Alan wrapped the small body in his arms, sharing his warmth with it. It hugged him close, which it rarely did unless they were making love, and Alan hugged right back. "I can see why they like this," it said softly, snuggling up further.

"I'll put 'snuggle the elemental' on my checklist for offerings," said Alan, feeling the elemental's cool skin begin to warm again.

"See that you do," it said, and Alan kissed the top of its head and found that he didn't really care if it was teasing him or not.

---

Eventually it let him go and they finished making and eating an excellent dinner, with some leftovers for the refrigerator this once. The peaches were made into a cobbler, the plums stored for this weekend with a promise from the elemental to guard them against rot, and the lemons put up in a basket to become lemonade tomorrow.

"I confess," said Alan, after devouring his serving of cobbler, "that I am eager to see how the changes in you will affect our lovemaking."

The elemental smiled its most seductive smile, and the last remnants of cobbler vanished from both their plates. "I am very much looking forward to it."

"Shall we repair to the garden?" asked Alan, the formal words a tease. The elemental had made a bower for them of sorts, a place where they were hidden from sight and could wallow in soft earth free from insects or other disturbances, but still be out in nature together where the elemental was most at home. They couldn't use it in winter, of course, but it was still the last vestiges of summer, and it would be warm enough for what sport they had planned.

The elemental grinned, then held up its arms like a child. "Carry me?" it asked, smiling.

Alan gladly picked it up, arms going around his neck as it settled comfortably in his arms. "You're very affectionate today," said Alan with a smile, taking it out the back door and toward their trysting spot.

"And demanding," it replied, wriggling just a little, its erection hot against his side. "I wish to sport until your body cannot any longer."

Alan laughed and kissed the little creature, enjoying the way its small mouth moved over his own, mobile and smooth but not so soft as human lips. "That can be arranged, though I'll need to come inside to sleep or risk illness."

It wriggled again, this time a long, sensuous movement of its body against his own. "That can be arranged."

Alan set it on the earth and stripped off his clothes, amused when the first thing it did was step up and go on its tiptoes, trying to get at his balls. "I don't know why you enjoy these so much," said Alan, kneeling so that his sac still hung down like ripe, furry fruit now brought within the elemental's reach.

"I did not choose to have testicles when I made this form, because they didn't seem necessary," it said, hands and mouth now warmed by their mutual desire, small head nearly the same size as either of the balls it so enthusiastically fondled and caressed. "But now that I don't have them, I find I enjoy yours and wonder what it's like."

"Can't you change your mind and make some?" asked Alan, voice breathy and low as the pleasure shivered up his spine. His power began to unfurl, early as it always did with the elemental, as though the very nature of their sex together made his responses more magical, more visceral.

It shook its head, making Alan whole sac jiggle quite pleasantly and drawing a gasp from him. "Our bargain gave me this form, and though you and I could change it together, I find I do not wish to risk losing the... the 'me' that lives in this body."

Alan stroked down over his own cock and down to the back of its smooth head, over its shoulders and down between the small legs, rubbing the sensitive flesh between them, smooth and featureless without balls there. "I like you just as you are," he said, gliding the finger up between its cheeks. He'd found the whole crevice was as sensitive as his own entrance, and he loved to touch it there, like finding a secret treasure at the heart of an otherwise featureless cave.

"Thank you, Alan," it said, giving his name a purr of sensuality. It straightened up and wrapped its arms around his cock, hugging the length of flesh as Alan had hugged the elemental's whole body earlier. "I like you just as you are, as well, and I am thirsty for my first taste of your pleasure."

Alan took that for a cue and sat back so the elemental could kneel as well, its cock rubbing between Alan's balls while it used its whole torso to caress Alan's shaft, its mouth busy licking and kissing all over the head. "It's like nothing else, being touched by you," breathed Alan, letting his fingers dig into the soil as his hips rocked up into the elemental's embrace.

Alan could feel its smile against his sensitive skin, and suddenly it wasn't enough to touch the earth this time, though he often did in lieu of trying to find a place on the small body for his hands. This form housed a personality that he cared for, and it was that living stone that he wanted to warm with his fingertips, caress with his power. He shifted his posture for better balance and then brought his hands, still coated in moist earth, up to cup the curve of the elemental's back, to caress the bent thighs and tease at the length of its cock where it nestled in his own dense fur.

"Your touches are so much more like this," said the elemental roughly, and Alan was glad of his decision. He let his fingers dance over the small body even as his own pleasure was coaxed higher, the coil of tension in his groin wound tighter, hotter.

The elemental's movements became more sensual, as though their purpose had changed from simply making him come to sharing in his pleasure, a change that Alan could definitely approve. Alan stroked along the smaller cock, enjoying its size both for the foolish ego boost of having it be smaller than his own, and for the sighs of pleasure it drew from the elemental's busy mouth.

He echoed them with moans of his own; the added reciprocation only made his own desire spiral faster inward and upward, and he was already close to finding his first peak of the night. "Do you come, too?" asked Alan, though he'd seen the little creature achieve what seemed to be orgasm many times, albeit without any fluid evidence.

"Oh, yes," it replied, and Alan gasped at the raw lust in its voice, hot and greedy.

Alan licked his finger, getting it nice and wet, and then used the wetness to help his finger glide along the heated crevice, treating it as any erogenous zone by caressing over it again and again. "With me," he gasped, hips rocking and fingers working the small body back and front, rubbing against smooth earth that felt almost like flesh, and yet didn't yield the same way, or have quite the same texture.

It yielded in its own way, however, and that was better, that the elemental was wholly itself while still mimicking some of the features of man. Alan let the wonder of it add to his pleasure, that a part of the very earth had locked itself into this form, had chosen to share in his life and his pleasures, and give him such marvels in return.

His pleasure peaked and he let it all wash over him, pulling the elemental into his magic and then letting it back out, the energy-rich seed spilling from his cock and onto the small face, only to be soaked up just as his saliva had been earlier, sinking into the hungry features. "You are delicious," it ground out, and then it stiffened and he felt some small measure of that pleasure-energy returned to him as it found its own form of climax.

When the body went soft again, Alan pulled it up and lay back, so the elemental lay sated across his chest in something like a snuggle. "So are you," he said, kissing it again, licking across its mouth and getting just a trace of his own taste, a slight tang of bitterness under the salt-dust flavors of its flesh.

The elemental smiled and snuggled up to him, and Alan felt a gentle warmth radiating up from the ground below them, no doubt called from the depths of the earth just as it did in winter to heat the house. "I like this very much," murmured the elemental, sounding almost sleepy, though Alan knew it would ask much more of him tonight, which he would gladly give.

"So do I," said Alan, trying to let himself relax, sated, into the now, though his mind kept ranging ahead to other things he wanted to try, licking all over the small body and maybe even seeing if it had developed any interest in penetrating him, which it never had before.

It pinched a nipple with wicked fingers, drawing his attention back to the moment. "Rest now," it teased, licking at his mouth until he kissed it with as much tongue as they could share, given the difference in their sizes. "You can do those things with me later."

"Gladly," said Alan, letting the soil cradle his body just as he cradled the chosen body of his elemental lover, letting his eyes drift shut and his desire ebb, for now, knowing it would return readily enough when the time came.

Chapter 14

Alan had allowed the elemental to exhaust him the night before, the new plateau in their relationship one he was happy to explore as long as the flesh was willing, but it meant that instead of the morning sex and hot breakfast he'd had the past few days, he woke late and barely had time for a shower before he headed out the door. A stop at a drive-thru on the way got him coffee and something resembling food, and he was very glad that he'd copied all of the papers he'd need for his classes the day before.

And as he rushed to make his ten o'clock class on Runic Circles, he still felt it had been worth it.

Alan took a moment when he entered the class to check the wards on the room, even though he wouldn't be doing any dangerous magic in there today or any day soon. He found them intact but oddly underpowered, and he made a mental note to talk to Mark about it, whether it was a symptom of their larger problem or simple neglect.

Alan took his things up front, also checking that there was plenty of chalk in all the colors stocked in the desk, and the slate boards and floor were clean. The clock had showered its sparks on him when he'd entered, indicating that he'd arrived just on time, so he took a deep breath and turned to face the class.

Before he could actually use the breath to speak, a girl in the front of the class said, "I thought Master Hartridge was teaching this class?"

Alan glared at her, but answered her question. "Your thought was incorrect," he said. "I'm Master Alan Harper, and this is Runic Circles I."

She looked sullen, and he barely refrained from rolling his eyes. "Let's start with attendance," he said, pulling out his class roster and a pencil. Practical magic courses like Runic Circles, even at the beginning level, were much more rarified than the basic Meditation class, so it didn't take long. He was missing two, and had one hopeful wanting to add, which was a decent enough outcome for the first day.

Alan passed out the papers himself, a syllabus stapled to a list of reference works that might be useful for upcoming class projects. "The basic Runic Circles course is divided into three terms, of which this is the first," said Alan, aware that he was stating the obvious as he moved quickly on. "This term, we will cover the basics of how to construct a circle and what each of the parts are for, and we will do a very small amount of actual magic. You'll notice that the floors are slate, which is an ideal material both magically and physically for making chalk circles."

"What about permanent circles, like those made out of metal or stone?" asked one of the boys curiously. Alan glanced at the roster and picked out his name -- Paul Smith.

"Well, Paul, that would be something covered in an advanced class, so you can ask me again in a few years if you still want to know the answer," said Alan, and the students laughed. "We will cover some other materials besides chalk on slate, but you really want to know what you're doing before you try to create a permanent circle."

"Why?" asked Donna Tennet, the girl from earlier.

"Well, not only are most permanent circles meant to contain more dangerous magics than your average chalk circle, but that would be a lot of time, energy and expense to waste if you messed it up," replied Alan, trying to keep up his good humor.

"What runic languages will you cover?" asked another boy whose name escaped Alan; he wasn't on the roster, since he'd wanted to add the class.

"Much of what we'll do this term will use Nordic runes, since that's the most common system, but you'll have a chance to touch on a number of others," said Alan, glancing up at the clock. "Why don't you all take a moment to read over the syllabus?" he suggested.

There was a rustling of papers and a general murmur of assent, and Alan took advantage of the respite to pull out his lecture notes. He waited until most of them had returned to staring dully at him and then said, "Any more questions?"

There were a few, but he managed to field them well enough to segue into the actual lesson for the day, a short but pointed lecture on the importance not so much of perfect circles, but uninterrupted ones. He even did a demonstrating, having each student draw a circle on their table and then coming by to invest it with a tiny bit of power. Those that were intact glowed with a soft blue light, and those that weren't sputtered and then showered the student in red sparks.

Alan wasn't above enjoying that Donna's circle had been one of the latter. "Now," said Alan, moving back to the front of the class, "imagine if those imperfect circles had been trying to do more than make a light show."

He could see in their faces that he'd made his point. "All right, now, there is only one official textbook for this term, and I don't recommend you buy any of the others unless you're sure you'll want them after this class; the library has plenty of copies for you to share. That said, I'd like you all to read the first two chapters of the main text, Runes, Shapes and Powers, for class on Thursday."

The clock chose that moment to give its gentle shower of gold sparks, indicating the end of class. "And that's all for today," said Alan with a grin.

They gathered up and filed out, except for the boy who wanted to add the course, Charlie Porter. Alan signed his slip and then gave it a touch of his magical signature. "Come find me if you have any problems adding," he said, and Charlie left with thanks.

Alan gathered up his extra papers and left, grateful that he had a nice long gap before he had to tackle his first double-length class, Runic Circles II. He'd have double Runic Circles I on Thursday, and short Runic Circles II, and he found that he wasn't looking forward to either of them all that much.

"I think you need more caffeine," said Jack, who was waiting by the door with a tray bearing three cups of coffee in the campus cafe's reusable, self-warming cups.

"If you're trying to kiss up, it's working," said Alan, taking his cup and a kiss with it, sipping a bit of the deliciously hot brew before he even bothered to unlock the office. "Especially since you brought it for three. New cups?"

"I figured it'd be better if we kept these on hand, since I expect fetching coffee to be one of my duties as your official TA," said Jack cheerfully, setting down the cups and pulling out a wrinkled piece of paper.

"Mark is my hero," said Alan, glad that the machinery of his paperwork hadn't been slowed by his refusal to comply with the monitoring spells.

"I'm the one that filled them all out," said Efram, coming in and discarding his backpack by the door. "Ooh, coffee!"

Jack chuckled and handed Efram his cup, which he sipped and purred. "You remembered the cream."

"He's sucking up," said Alan with a grin. "I take it you're officially official now, too?"

"Yep. And I got a letter during Potions about my Apprenticeship, too. Totally annoyed Master Jameson," said Efram with a chuckle.

Alan unlocked his desk and sure enough, under three more red-glowing missives from Gladiola there was the gentle blue glow of official Council business. "What about you, Jack?"

Jack shook his head. "It probably went to my address of record, since I don't live in a warded dorm room," he said, giving Efram a significant glance.

Alan snickered. "I helped him, so it's not entirely his fault," he admitted. "I didn't think about mail."

"Well, I don't get much, and the only thing that would need to get inside is Council stuff," said Efram philosophically. "Plus, I'll be out of there soon, speaking of which, when can we get back to work on those rooms?"

"One thing at a time! Jack asked for tonight, since you got two nights this weekend, but perhaps we can all share tomorrow?" said Alan. "The work, I mean," he added quickly, when Efram blanched.

Jack pulled out a leather-bound day planner and checked. "I've got Wednesdays completely off, how about you?"

Efram thought for a moment, muttering to himself. "I think I've got the afternoon off," he said, looking up at Alan. "Maybe we can do some shopping?"

Alan laughed. "We have to get a little more work done on the house before we can start ordering in furniture," he said, shaking his head.

Jack bit his lip. "Actually, it might be wise to shop now, before Dad cuts off my cards," he said. "Maybe we can put it in the living room?"

"If we arrange delivery next week, and you both are committed to spending the whole weekend cleaning, then... Yes, all right, we can shop," said Alan, feeling as though it was all happening too fast. He looked down at the Council papers and then sighed. "And apparently Monday evening you'll need to keep free to become formally Apprenticed to me by the Council, assuming Gladiola doesn't kill me for inciting mutiny."

Efram giggled, and Alan shot him a glare. "Hush, you," he said, though a smile cracked his mood and spoiled the effect.

"What'd you do?" asked Jack.

Alan read through the first of Gladiola's missives, then passed it to Jack by way of explanation. The second was a rather less formal scolding for having copied his fellow faculty on a personal matter, and the third was a faculty-wide message assuring everyone that such a small, voluntary breach couldn't possibly damage wards as established as those at the school.

Alan grinned evilly, passing each along to Jack, who then handed them to Efram. "Some days," he said, getting out some stationery, "I do love my job." He magically quoted the third letter into the body of his own, and then expressed his specific concern for the deterioration he'd already seen on the wards in his own classrooms. Then he copied it to the whole faculty again, citing the need for them to be aware of the issue and to check their own wards, and drained his coffee.

"I think we need an early lunch," said Alan, eyeing his inbox warily. The rest of his mail would wait, and he didn't want to be here waiting when Gladiola saw what he'd done. "Let's go double check the wards on my Rituals classroom and then go somewhere off-campus?"

"I have class at one thirty," said Efram, rummaging in his backpack for his wallet, "but I'm game."

"I'm off until two, but I won't get out of class until six," said Jack. "Should I just drive to your place?"

Alan thought about it, then nodded. He'd be done at 4:30, and he didn't want to stick around where he was supposed to be counting his magic. "Yeah, I'll start something cooking and we can work on the office a little," he said with a smirk.

"Be still my heart," said Jack. Alan locked his desk just in time to hear a pop of displaced air, and see an angry red light glowing brightly through the slats.

"That can't be good," said Alan with a chuckle. "Let's go this way." The shortest route to the parking lot went right past Gladiola's office, so Alan led them toward Mark's office and the back way out, abandoning his idea of checking the wards in favor of the better part of valor. "Lunch?" he said, popping his head into Mark's open door on the way by.

"If my kids can come, too," said Mark, levering himself up. His three students were sitting around his desk, obviously meeting about something.

"We're going to Elio's," said Alan, deciding arbitrarily; it was a busy diner that catered to all kinds of tastes, and would be easily able to accommodate the seven of them. "Back by one thirty?"

"Good for me," said Ron, standing.

"I'm in," said Marie, grabbing her purse.

Geoffrey shuffled some papers into his leather attache case, then stood. "If we can finish up there, I'd love to," he said awkwardly.

Alan had a flash of deep sympathy for him, and hid it with a grin. "All right, let's go before Gladiola finds and skins me."

Mark chuckled. "I saw that last memo you sent," he said, shooing the kids out and locking up. "You're going to give that woman a heart attack."

"It's only the truth of my deep concern for the safety of our students, faculty and insurance rates," said Alan with as much dignity as he could muster, sneaking them all down the back stairs and outside. "I can take mine, are you still driving that old truck?" he asked when they got to the parking lot.

Mark chuckled, but Ron stepped in. "I have a four-door, we can take that," he said, then he shot an abashed glance at Mark. "If that's all right, I mean."

Mark slapped him on the shoulder. "That's fine, lad, I'd hate to make you ride in the bed with the chickens."

"He doesn't really have chickens," said Ron, leading them to his car, "does he?"

Alan laughed and got his own Apprentices buckled in, pulling out of the parking lot just in time to avoid the glowing paper airplane that came arrowing out of the building. "Wow, she really is mad," said Efram, watching as it circled at the edge of the school wards, then flew back toward Ms. Banebridge's office.

"Well, she'll either have cooled down or decided to fire me by the time we get back," said Alan philosophically, "and either way, I'm still a Master, and I can still have Apprentices."

"Mark would be mad at having to try to replace you, though," said Efram with a laugh. "He seemed awfully smug about getting them to hire you in the first place."

"I did wonder," said Alan; as soon as he'd seen Mark that first day, he'd had a feeling that his appointment to the position wasn't based solely on his own merit or the desperation of the Administration.

The conversation turned to frivolities for the rest of the short drive, and soon enough they were all seven seated in a back booth. "So," said Alan, once he'd chosen for himself, "what business were you all conducting without us?"

Mark chuckled. "We were discussing Geoffrey and Ron's research, and Marie just came by looking for a signature on her Council paperwork, stating that she's begun the process of certification."

"I'll try to hold in my rabid jealousy," said Jack dryly. "Are we going to have a regular meeting time for the project?"

"It'll have to be an afternoon," said Alan, "my mornings are all filled up."

"I could do Fridays, but don't you have office hours?" said Efram distractedly.

"I do, but I could easily put up a note to find me in Mark's office, or do it afterward, or even move my hours," said Alan.

"I've got office hours on Friday, too," said Mark. "We could combine them, that's no problem, as long as you kids don't get too antsy about your private time with teacher."

Efram snorted his water.

"I think we're all mature enough to handle that," said Marie, shooting Efram an amused look. "I'm free after lunch on Fridays."

Jack was looking through his planner, and Geoffrey had pulled out a PDA and was paging through it.

"I think I have a class," said Ron, brow furrowed; he'd left his bag in Mark's office. "But maybe not until three?"

"If we met for lunch, that'd give us three hours," said Geoffrey. "I have a class at three as well."

"I'm free Friday afternoons," said Jack, "so as long as you guys can juggle your office hours, lunch to three sounds good."

"Then it's a plan," said Mark. "Starting next week, anyway." They all had a lot of work to do this week, and three hours was a lot to take out of their already full schedules.

The waitress came and got their orders, filling coffee mugs and smiling at the motley group. "Up from the university?" she asked idly, while Geoffrey struggled to make up his mind.

"Yep," said Mark with a grin. "I don't suppose I can get a pint here?"

"Of course," said the girl happily. "You look like a man who drinks bitter."

Mark's grin widened. "I think I'm in love," he said.

Alan snorted.

Geoffrey ordered last, and she took their menus and her leave, an awkward silence following in her wake. Geoffrey shuffled through his papers, oblivious, then came up with his notes in hand. "As I was saying, I found a moon rite, but I'm not sure it quite works with the shift in focus you added today," he said, all of his attention on Mark as though there was no one there.

"May I?" asked Alan, holding his hand out for the papers. "We found something, too, but I didn't think..."

"I've got it," said Efram brightly, getting the book out of his pack and handing it off to Geoffrey. "Check out the leaf, it's obviously flawed but we thought you might be the man to untangle it."

"Thank you," said Geoffrey with a surprised blink, quickly losing himself in the rare and obviously fascinating text.

Alan took a few moments to read over Geoffrey's painfully neat notes; this was a man who would never have to redraw a circle because of tiny imperfections, Alan was sure. The rite was designed to invite the regard of the moon goddess upon a specific location, and then either focus that gentle energy onto a specific object, person or working, or to scatter it over the general area like a blessing. It had everything they needed except power, as it was intended for a single village, one farmer's fields, or a small water supply that might have become fouled. The kind of widespread problems that they were looking to fix would require either a single flood of power that was orders of magnitude larger, or a long-term infusion of energy that would slowly refill the wells while trickling out into the surrounding regions.

Alan passed the notes to Efram, then took a sip of his blessedly hot coffee, to which one of his wonderful Apprentices had already added cream. "Are we really going to try to solve this problem as a class project?" he asked Mark pointedly.

"I'd say something about the finest military minds and all that," said Mark cynically, "but what makes you think they're willing to admit there's a problem until they've got someone to pin the blame on?"

"Good point," said Alan with a sigh.

Jack shifted, and Alan looked over to see him warring with something. "I, uh, I don't think they're totally in denial, but I think they're more interested in better ways to power the weapons than they are in how to fix the other problems."

"Did you overhear this from your daddy?" asked Mark, with a seriousness that belied his teasing words.

"Something like that," said Jack, the familiar mask of arrogance starting to slip into place under the scrutiny of the whole group. "I don't know a lot, but I get the impression that Etrangere knows more."

"I don't think there's much to get from him," said Mark dismissively, to Alan's relief. He didn't want to defend Victor to this group, but he had given them something of value.

Or so they hoped, anyway. "What do you think?" he asked Geoffrey. "You're our go-to guy for figuring out how to make it work, are we overstepping?"

Geoffrey looked up, having to visibly pull himself away from the little folio. "It's just like any other problem, really," he said with a shrug. "It will take time to solve, but a lot of the clues are in this book. May I hold onto it?"

Alan thought about it for a moment, then nodded. "I can trust you to handle it with both care and discretion?"

"Ah," said Geoffrey, "yes, I am used to handling documents of both value and dubious origin. I spend my summers authenticating at the Council's archives."

Alan was impressed despite himself; it wasn't a paid internship, but the position was a much sought-after one just the same, as it often guaranteed good placement both in advanced studies or employment later in life. "Then I leave it in your capable hands, but don't hesitate to call on me if you want a different perspective."

"What perspective would that be?" asked Geoffrey, cocking his head. The question had been tactless, but his tone was one of genuine curiosity rather than maliciousness.

Alan took a sip of coffee and smiled. "The perspective of someone who has performed a lot of rituals in the past few years, both on my Journeys and since."

"Oh!" said Geoffrey. "Yes, of course, practical experience can be invaluable when it comes to intuitive knowledge of the arts."

"It's good you think so," said Mark with a wicked chuckle. "Maybe we'll get you working magic of your own one of these days."

Geoffrey turned a bit pink, but didn't comment. Their food showed up before Mark could think of anything else to throw at the poor guy. The conversation turned to more amusing topics, like Alan's tactics at foiling the new regulations, and their next plan of attack. By the time they'd finished eating and divvied up the check, it was after one and nearly everyone had class to get to, so they piled into the cars and headed back to school.

Alan was somehow unsurprised when a small flock of angry memos came flying out of the building as soon as he stepped on school grounds.

He was, however, amused when Mark stepped up and hexed them all out of the sky.

There were plenty of copies left in Alan's office when he got there, most of them the same insistent message that he stop trying to spread panic and disorder by copying his wild theories to all of the other faculty. He systematically opened and destroyed all of those, leaving him with only a single glowing missive asking him to come and meet her in his office as soon as possible.

Alan wrote back and begged off until next week , pleading classes and other obligations. After all, the life of a new professor was a very full one, especially with two Apprentices suddenly thrust upon him without the normal waiting period. He felt his postscript, however, was the true work of genius -- he chided her for the profligate waste of magic in sending him multiple copies of the same memo, when it was obvious that he wasn't even on campus to receive them.

He grabbed his last set of syllabi and left, making sure to lock the desk so that her angry replies couldn't overflow onto the floor, should she feel once again that quantity was a better way to get results than quality.

Chapter 15

Runic Circles II proved to be more of a challenge than either of Alan's entry-level classes, since the students there had gone wanting last year and thus their Runic Circles I knowledge was both spotty and glossed over by the memory of a gentler time, or at least a kinder professor. By the time he got back to his office, Alan was ready to go home and straight to bed and forget the job, his Apprentices, and anyone who felt the need to ask him four times in two hours what the reason was for making magic circles circular, as though the answer would change on the fourth repetition.

He forced himself to grab his notes for tomorrow's Rituals I double session, but he blithely ignored the note from Gladiola that glowed a dangerously soft rose. There wasn't anything else in his inbox, either because she was keeping his mail hostage or no one wanted to speak to him while he was on the bad side of the administration. At this point, it was a relief not to have to deal with any of it, and he was tempted even to beg off of his commitment to Jack.

Instead, he drove himself home and put together a stew with whatever was in the fridge, combined with a few extra things the earth elemental was kind enough to bring him from the garden. Then he curled up in bed and set the alarm, smiling when the elemental snuggled under the covers with him.

"Are you safe inside the circle?" asked Alan, stroking its small body until the cool skin warmed to a comfortable cuddling temperature.

"As long as we do not try to make magic here, I'll be fine," it said, pressing a soft kiss to his lower lip. "You seemed like you needed comfort."

Alan smiled and kissed it back. "I do, and this means a lot to me. More than vegetables."

It grinned and wriggled closer, settling into his arms like a doll or a stuffed toy. "The earth has been a shelter for longer than man has existed," it said softly.

"This is way better than a cave," replied Alan sleepily, letting himself drift off to the sound of its rich laughter.

---

When he awoke, his alarm was chiming gently and the elemental was nowhere to be found, but Alan was warm and felt surprisingly refreshed for such a short nap. "Thank you," he said quietly into the air, turning off the alarm.

A chuckle floated up from nowhere, and Alan got out of bed with a smile on his face. He put himself to rights and went to the kitchen to check on the simmering stew, judging it to have about two hours left, then set the table.

He had just run out of make-work for himself when the door chime sounded, signaling Jack's arrival. Alan answered the door with a smile, laughing when a rather damp Jack stepped inside. "I didn't realize it was raining again," said Alan inanely.

"The garage is full of your car anyway," said Jack wryly, then he leaned in and kissed Alan, his lips cool and flavored with rain water, but warming swiftly.

"Well, come in and leave your wet things here," said Alan with a shy little laugh. "Maybe you can warm up with a shower?"

"Will you be joining me?" asked Jack, voice low and filled with intent.

Alan chuckled. "I suppose that can be arranged," he said, leading Jack through the house and hoping he wouldn't track too much water onto the wood floors. "You get started, I'll be along in a minute."

Alan walked back along the hall, looking for water droplets, confused when he not only found none on the floor but Jack's overnight bag dry where it sat by the door. He went to the earth well in the kitchen and asked, "Is all this cleanliness your doing?"

The elemental popped his head up and shook his head. "Not me!" he said cheerfully. "I don't have control over water in that way, you know that."

"But you know how it happened," said Alan, recognizing the coyness in its expression when it knew something that Alan didn't, and planned to make him work for it.

The grin widened. "I do, and I'll tell you if you let me come to the bathroom and meet Jack right now."

"He's already in the shower, you know," said Alan, already reaching out to cradle the doll-sized elemental in his arms. "He might not appreciate the interruption."

The elemental made a scoffing noise. "If he doesn't, he shouldn't be living here," it said.

Alan couldn't help but agree. "Let me get naked, too, for maximum impact," he said impishly, depositing the elemental on the bureau and skinning out of his clothes. He tossed them onto a chair, then gathered the elemental back into his arms, amused when it bent down to stroke first Alan then itself to proper attention. "Right, here we go," said Alan, stepping into the steamy bathroom. "Jack, I have someone here that wanted to meet..."

Alan nearly dropped the earth elemental, staring in shock at the water elemental curled up in the sink, avidly watching through the suspiciously un-steamed shower doors while Jack washed himself in the shower.

While Alan couldn't help but agree that it was a sight worth watching, he had never known an elemental to show up in a place of man without being called there. Jack ducked his head under the spray, and Alan gathered his wits and stepped up to the sink. "I am Alan Harper and this is my home, why have you come?" he asked the water elemental.

"You've given so much energy to the waters here, I couldn't resist seeing where it came from," said the little creature, rolling around in the sink basin like a cat, if a cat were made of clear, blue-tinged fluid. "Am I not welcome?"

"Do you wish to enter into the partnership of my household, as I've done with the earth in this place?" asked Alan, hefting the little elemental self-consciously.

"I would not mind sharing the duties," said the earth elemental. "More time for sporting."

"There is much wonderful sporting to be done here," said the water elemental, rolling onto its back to reveal a hard cock and round balls, the only features on a body smooth as glass -- even the feet had only a suggestion of toes. It had fully-formed hands and a proper face, with long flowing hair that frothed into something like curls, and it seemed more delicate both in build and material than the earth elemental.

Alan could admit that he found its form fascinating, as much as he did the earth elemental, as much as he did with all others of their kind since the first. "You would be welcome to the energy we generate here, in the bathroom, though the earth has precedence throughout most of the house and lands."

"There is much abundance here," said the water elemental with a giggle, splashing in the sink in a mentally jarring manner, its body going from water to solid form seemingly at will. "I will enter this bargain with thee, wizard, in good faith and friendship," it said formally, standing up and holding out its hand. "I would like to be named, though," it said, looking at the earth elemental.

"Ah, yes," said Alan, feeling a bit blindsided. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to its mouth, finding it warmer than he expected, more yielding than the earth elemental's. "May I take some time to think upon your name?"

The earth elemental took the opportunity to wriggle out of Alan's grasp and stand on the stone of the counter. "I think that I am ready to be named, as well," it said, and then it cocked its head, as though listening to a voice from the deep earth that Alan couldn't hear. "And you should consider inviting air and fire into your home, as well, so they do not become jealous."

Alan had never heard of such a thing, but he wasn't about to reject advice from such a source. "I will take it under advisement. When it was just me, there wouldn't have been enough magic to support all four elements."

"And I have always been pleased that you chose earth," said the earth elemental smugly.

Alan blushed unaccountably. "I've always felt most strongly connected to the earthbound passions," he said, stroking a hand down the earth elemental's back.

"But you possess the fluidity to adapt to your surroundings, as water does," said the water elemental, drawing attention back to itself. "I will wait on my name, and on your formal ceremony to invite all of us into your home and bed." It leaned forward and captured Alan's hand, drawing it forward to cup the soft balls and hard, small cock, so very different than the smooth, solid length of the earth elemental's chosen form. "I look forward to it."

Alan stroked it once, then kissed it again and said hoarsely, "As do I."

It giggled and thrust its hips, then dissolved itself into the water of its element and splashed down the drain.

Alan blinked a few moments more, then sat on the edge of the sink. "How long as it been here?" he asked the earth elemental.

"A few weeks. It was curious before you gained your apprentices, but their delicious abundance is what drew it out," said the earth elemental with a teasing grin. "Now there is enough of you to share."

Jack poked his head out of the shower at that moment, rubbing water out of his eyes as he asked, "Did you say something? Oh! Is that the earth elemental?" He stepped out onto the tiles and came over, water streaming off his very fit body, sparkling in the curls around his groin and scattered over his torso.

Alan swallowed again, very aware all of a sudden of how much water had already touched him, in its way. "Yes, this is the earth elemental who cares for my household," said Alan, standing up and finding his knees had recovered from the shock. "Jack Wellington wishes to become my Apprentice, and live here under your protection and mine," said Alan, sticking to formal introductions as easier on his stunned brain.

"I hope you will find my offerings to your liking," said Jack, stepping forward and holding out a damp hand.

"I would prefer a greeting kiss," said the elemental, looking more rigid than before but, Alan thought, with just enough sparkle in the jewels of its eyes to show that it was enjoying itself.

Especially when Jack blushed. "Of course," he said, trying to be smooth, and he leaned forward with one hand braced on the counter and pressed his lips awkwardly to the small mouth.

The earth elemental put its small hands on Jack's skin, one on his cheek and the other reaching for a shoulder, then kissed along Jack's mouth, licking, teasing until Jack relaxed and allowed himself to be taught how to deal with their relative sizes. Eventually the elemental pulled away and declared, "He is acceptable."

Alan laughed. "Well, I thought so," he said with a laugh. "So," he said to Jack, leaning casually against the counter and holding out an arm so that the earth elemental could snuggle close, "you don't seem like you're very comfortable with elementals as sexual beings." He cradled the small body, using his other hand to stroke its cock idly.

Jack flushed. "Ah, well, I just haven't, um, had much experience with it," said Jack. His cock had gone a bit soft when he saw the creature at first, but it perked up watching Alan's fingers playing along the length of living rock. "The elementals I've called weren't, uh, much interested in that."

"Perhaps you did not make them feel that such an advance would be welcome," said the earth elemental shrewdly.

Jack swallowed, but nodded anyway. "That's probably true," he said, stepping forward. "Do you really enjoy it?"

Alan wasn't sure who Jack was asking, so he let the elemental answer first. "I enjoy the energy of Alan's offerings," it said, arching into Alan's caresses now, "but I also get a purely physical enjoyment from the pleasure he gives to this body."

Jack swallowed again, obviously steeling himself, then reached out with trembling fingers to run his hand over the elemental's smooth head, down its neck and shoulder and across one peaked nipple. "You're softer than I expected," said Jack, cupping his hand around its waist and running his thumb over the nipple again and again. "Do you, um..."

"I do not have an orifice designed for penetration, though I do use my mouth to pleasure Alan," said the earth elemental in a purring voice, rough like sandstone. "Alan has given me the pleasure of his body, though."

"He's small, but he's got excellent technique," said Alan smugly; he didn't bother to explain that it was just the once so far, and only last night. They'd come inside when Alan still had a little energy left in him and made love on the garage floor, cushioned by earth from the well and using olive oil to ease the way. Having the elemental's whole body wrapped around him, from the cock inside him to the arms hugging his cock and balls, had been a fascinating and very satisfying experience, even if he'd had to shower off dirt and oil in interesting places afterward.

The elemental looked just as pleased at the memory. "Perhaps someday you will allow me such liberties with you," it purred.

Jack brought his other hand up so that he was practically enveloping its whole torso in his grip, then leaned and kissed it again while his thumbs teased the peaks of its nipples over and over. "Perhaps," said Jack, his own voice rough with something more than desire; Alan felt a wash of pride that he was willing to try to overcome whatever fear or discomfort the experience was giving him, and enjoy it. Alan began stroking the small cock in earnest, loving as he always did the way the soft, fine dust that coated the elemental's skin seemed to act as its own sort of lubricant, allowing his hand to work smoothly over the hard flesh.

It didn't take much longer for the elemental to arch up and shudder, moaning as Jack licked at its throat. "Oh, that is delicious," it said, going warm and limp in Alan's embrace.

Jack pulled away almost reluctantly, brushing his hands together and looking surprised when none of the dust lingered on his own skin. "It's strange," said Jack, running his palms over his own chest as if to remind himself what human skin felt like, "but enjoyable."

Alan grinned. "A good way to describe much of sex magic," said Alan, kissing the elemental one more time before laying it out on the counter.

It grinned up at them languidly and said, "A good way of describing many things." It allowed its body to sink slowly into the stone of the counter, the grin fading last until they were, at least nominally, alone.

"It suggested to me that we do a binding to invite the other elements to share in the bounty of our home," said Alan, moving to shut off the shower; he didn't really need one, and Jack seemed quite recovered from his earlier drenching. "Apparently the three of us are quite a banquet for one elemental."

Jack laughed and snagged a towel, drying himself off. "I think just you is a lot for any one being to handle," he said teasingly, stealing a kiss from Alan that had a hint of the elemental's nibbling technique to it.

Alan rolled his eyes, but allowed himself the pleasure of being seduced by Jack's smooth words anyway. After all, they'd have a lot of metaphorical mouths to feed very soon, and it didn't hurt to start filling up the power well now.

Chapter 16

When Alan got to Rituals I -- early today, and with steaming coffee in hand along with his notes -- he was happy to find the classroom empty and quiet. He hadn't bothered testing the wards in this room on his first day, but he wanted to do a thorough job now. He waved a hand and the set-spell sent the desk-chairs skittering into a circle around the edges of the round room, with his podium opposite the door. He got out some white chalk and began sketching out a simple circle on the floor with runes for the five elements evenly spaced around the edges. He put power into the circle to close it, then called up a sparkling swirl of ambient magic in the middle, making sure to invest it with enough of his own personal energy that he'd be able to track where every erg of it went.

Then he scuffed his toe across the circle and let it go in a blast of harmless light and warmth, like steam escaping from a well-lit bathroom, senses strained to feel what happened when it hit the room's safety wards.

Most of it was harmlessly absorbed by the wards and channeled into the same system that stored stray lightning or other errant magic around the school, but he was distressed when a good tenth of it kept flying on out into the ether, finding and escaping through a few dozen pinhole breaches in the wards. Alan had mostly been using the idea of the wards as a way to stay out from under the Council's scrutiny, but now he was truly alarmed.

The door rattled, and he said the keyword to reset the wards and allow the first of the day's students inside.

"It's good you're early," said Alan, still mostly lost in thought. "Can you erase the floor for me?"

The student in question was one of Alan's least favorites, always questioning without actually listening to the answers. He made a face and set his things down in the chair right next to the podium, then got a cloth and spray bottle of water out of their respective cubbies and got to work without argument.

Alan couldn't help but feel a small glimmer of satisfaction to see the annoying brat on his knees, but he tried to keep it out of his voice as he said, "I'm going to run down to my office for a moment, I forgot something," he said. "Make sure the other students know I'm on my way, if I'm late getting back."

"Yes, Master Harper," said the boy obsequiously. "Shall I take attendance for you?"

"No, I'll do it when I get back," said Alan, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.

He thought about taking his findings to Gladiola, but a part of him remembered her treatment of him as a student all too well, and his feet took him to Mark's office instead.

Mark was just getting ready to head out to a class of his own, but he paused to listen to Alan's findings with grave concern. "If there's a real accident, then that could be very bad," he said pensively. "Are you sure of the source of the breaches?"

Alan shook his head. "I've never seen the monitoring spell in action, but something's definitely messing up wards that were solid before."

Mark nodded. "We'll have to have proof to take to the Council," he said, "or they'll never listen."

Alan could only agree.

---

Alan was very careful with the simple ritual he demonstrated in class that day, double- and triple-checking all the lines, wards and runes. Then he called up an air elemental, which chose the form of a sinuous harem boy, sloe-eyed and dancing in the circle, hair in a short pixie cut that tossed in its own wind and a delicate erection rising between its legs.

"What do you offer in exchange for my service, mortal?" it asked, though a giggle shivered through the air behind the ritual words.

"I make an offering of power that you will deliver a message for me," said Alan. He saw the look in its eyes and added, "A kiss of power."

It laughed aloud this time, clapping its hands like a delighted child. "You're a smart man, Master Harper. I accept, a message for a kiss."

"The message is this," said Alan, thinking quickly; Mark had always let one of the students choose, but today he had something more important. "I wish you to examine the safety wards on this room, and report to Master Gladiola Baneberry their current state, exactly as you perceive them."

"Tricky," said the air elemental with a chuckle. "For that, I want three kisses."

Alan smiled back. "One now, one when you have delivered your message, and the third at a time of your choosing, though I may veto if it would harm someone or something," he agreed.

"I accept. Three kisses, and I shall bring the truth of this building's wards to the Councilwoman," it said.

Alan chuckled. "It is true that air hears all," he said, grateful more than he could say that it would examine the whole building. "I will break the circle and give you your first kiss, and with that and your word, our bargain is sealed."

It nodded, waiting until the moment he drew his finger through the double circle, then surged forward and kissed him with lips like the brush of breath over his own, soft and teasing but so very sensual. He kissed back with practiced ease, its mouth no smaller than the earth elemental at home, though less substantial, and when it pulled back it looked well pleased. "It is a very good bargain, Master Harper," said the air elemental.

A chuckle ran through the room, which Alan ignored, and then the elemental swooped up and out and away, dissipating into a hundred little breezes as it went through the wards.

"Another mage might offer flowers, favors, food or even a drop or two of blood, anything that carries power," said Alan, resuming the lecture smoothly despite his wind-tossed appearance. "I am what I am, though, and I offer kisses, because most of my own personal power is derived sexually. Yes, Portia?"

Portia Simmons, one of the perkiest first year students he had ever seen, smiled up at him and asked, "How did you figure out you were into sex magic, Master?"

"You can call me Alan, you're not an elemental," he replied, thinking quickly. "My family has a long history of producing powerful mages, so I was warned at a young age to watch out for random spikes of power during everyday activities. I'm, uh, sure you can guess the rest." He knew he was blushing a bit, and he tried to cover it up by fixing his hair and letting the class laugh, as they were meant to. "Any other questions?"

"Will you be demonstrating a sex ritual for this class?" asked one enterprising young man, his eyes drawn to Portia's perkiest feature.

It was Alan's turn to laugh. "Not this term, no," he said. "I'm guessing you never got a good look at the elemental, or you might not be so interested," he added, figuring they might as well get this part of the discussion out of the way now. "I have a form of Hewitt's Syndrome, so if I did demonstrate a sex rite, it would be with a male volunteer, not our lovely Ms. Simmons." Alan paused, then asked teasingly, "Why, were you wanting to help?"

"Ah, no, that's okay," said the boy, whose name Alan thought was Brad something. Or maybe Tad. "Maybe I'll just take Sex Magic next year."

"This class is a prerequisite for that one, anyway," said Alan. "Master Hartridge might tease you, but no true wizard would ever ask you to go against your preferences. Does anyone know why, aside from the moral issues?"

A few hands went up, and Alan called on one of the shyer boys, a tall, skinny kid with glasses. "Because power and enjoyment go hand in hand with sex magic, so if you don't enjoy it, there's no energy raised," said Dennis, returning Alan's encouraging smile with a shy one of his own.

"That's exactly right. True sex magic calls on the pleasure of its participants to raise their power along with their sexual desire, just as a healer calls on the desire of the body to be whole, or a moon worshiper uses his own love for the goddess to call her divine power to him. There's a lot of power in the natural world, and different magicians are attuned to it in different ways," said Alan. "Rituals are one method used to take energy and channel it in specific ways, but the energy still has to come from somewhere."

Donna, who was fast becoming Alan's least favorite student, raised her hand and asked in a disgusted tone, "Does that mean you enjoyed kissing that creature?"

Fortunately, the question was one he'd been asked time and again, and he was confident and calm as he answered, "Yes, it does. The elemental chose a form it knew would please me, because it wanted to taste my desire rather than take a simple transfer of power. Many elementals will choose to taste a wizard's strongest power when given the choice, whatever that may be."

"So, if Master Etrangere called an elemental, what would it ask for?" said one of the other students, half to himself.

"Usually," said a voice from the doorway, which had opened of its own accord once the ritual energies were dissipated, "they ask me for knowledge to go with their power."

Everyone turned to see Victor standing in the doorway. "Your elemental has been giving its report to every Master it sees on its inspection. An emergency faculty meeting is being called." He gave a chuckle and added, "Master Baneberry is ordering in lunch."

Alan nodded. "I take it that its findings coincide with my theories?" he asked.

Victor nodded. "Quite so," he said shortly, then turned and left.

"And on that note," said Alan, looking up at the clock, "I guess class will let out early. Dennis, could you clean the floor for me?"

"Of course," said the boy quickly, ducking his head with a pleased expression. Apparently not everyone was as put off by his dealings with the air elemental as Donna.

Alan sighed and gathered his things, then headed down to his office to leave a note for the boys.

---

Alan expected this meeting to be much like the first, and he was completely wrong. As soon as he came in the door he was ambushed, first by Gladiola's assistant with a takeout box, then by several of the other faculty demanding to know how he'd gathered his data, and then finally by the informant itself, smugly demanding its second kiss.

"I knew if I waited with Master Baneberry, you'd have to show up sooner or later," said the air elemental teasingly, settling into Alan's lap in the front-row seat he'd been herded to.

Alan chuckled, adjusting a bit to better accommodate the oddly shifting form of the air elemental; he was so used to the earth elemental's solid, heavy body that the contrast was throwing him off. "Do you plan to stay there for the whole meeting?" he asked, his tone equally light.

"Of course," it chirped, giving a wriggle designed to perk up certain parts of Alan's anatomy. "I want to anticipate my kiss properly."

"Tease," he said, kissing its hair. "That one was free."

It giggled, and he managed to shuffle everything around well enough to get his takeout box open, grateful when it turned out to be a sandwich and juice box, both things he could easily consume with only one free hand.

He'd just managed to get a bite when Gladiola took the podium, and the room's babble grew muted. "It has been brought to all of our attention today, rather forcefully in some cases, that there is a problem with the safety wards protecting the school," she said. Alan was amused to note that she looked a bit windblown, and he could just imagine how delighted the elemental would have been to breach her office wards uninvited and torment her for the sheer joy of it.

"I wasn't very mean," whispered the elemental.

"I'm sure you merely wanted to bring the point home," said Alan, trying to keep a straight face.

Gladiola glared anyway and continued. "It seems that the monitoring spells are partially to blame, as well as the usual low power we always experience at the start of a term, when the students have been absent from the dorms and classrooms, and the ambient energy of the school drops to its lowest point," she said.

The gathered faculty and staff weren't fooled for a moment, but as soon as the muttering began, she pushed on. "In light of the problems, I am authorizing everyone to discontinue the monitoring spells, and asking every member of the faculty to repair the wards on any room or office they personally use, as well as doing what you can for the larger building and campus wards."

"What's the Council going to do about the magic depletion problems elsewhere?" asked Mark pointedly, from off in one corner where he'd been huddled up with a group of older Masters.

Gladiola huffed. "I don't really see how that concerns..."

"It concerns us when you try to sabotage us with your little spying spell," said one of the Magical Artisans, an older man who'd been with the university for nearly a century now, teaching first-year students the basics of Magical Mechanics. He always taught two full classes per term, and there were inevitably accidents.

Alan flushed to think of the year he'd taken the course, and been the cause of several.

"You're warm," said the air elemental, which only made Alan blush harder.

"Sssh," he said, kissing its cheek idly, pushing his embarrassment away in a tickle of power that made it giggle again.

Gladiola sighed. "We have not yet found a solution, but the Council is working with the military..."

"Why would they do that?" interrupted Mark. "The war's over, and the gods willing we won't need those fool Artefacts again for another century or more." That was how long it had been since the war before this one, though of course the military was always finding small skirmishes to keep its budgets current and bring young men and women into its ranks.

"If you would allow me to finish," said Gladiola pointedly, "We are working with the military to find a solution that will both allow for the maintenance of the Artefacts as a deterrent to future aggression, and restore the natural balance of the land around them."

"It seems to me," said Alan, pulse jumping when the room got quiet so he could speak, "that they're looking for a scapegoat and an easy fix. We need to find a way to refill those reservoirs, and re-engineer the Battle Artefact technology so that it doesn't drain them again."

"Well," said Gladiola tartly, "If you have a solution for us, please, do share."

"At least I'm looking, instead of trying to put the blame on everyday magics and innocent wizards," said Alan, just as pointedly.

The room erupted in conversation then, men and women either talking amongst themselves or trying vainly to be heard over the clamor. Alan settled in and ate his sandwich while he had the chance, feeding little wafts of the scent of meat and cheese to the elemental, who seemed to enjoy sharing his meal this way.

"You are an interesting mortal," said the air elemental, when he'd eaten the last bite of sandwich and started in on the cookie that had been in the box beneath it. "Not many men treat with me so willingly."

Alan shrugged. "I have an earth elemental who chose to be bound to my home," he said, offering it a sniff of chocolate chip.

"Cheap chocolate," it said, but inhaled deeply anyway. "And it has accustomed you to our companionship?"

Alan shrugged. "I got along pretty well even before that, I suppose," he said, remembering back to his very first summoning. "I've always enjoyed sporting with elementals, I guess I'm just perverse," he added with a wink.

The elemental giggled, and clapped its hands, kicking up a whirlwind with its little feet. "I will enjoy claiming my kisses, then," it said, "and perhaps you will summon me again soon."

Alan thought about that for a moment, wondering if he could call a specific elemental back again when it hadn't been bound to him. He knew that certain elemental personalities often took a liking to the mages who fed them good energy or other offerings, but he'd never tried to bring back a specific one for a second task. "Perhaps you will answer, next time I call upon air," he said, kissing the tip of its upturned nose.

The cacophony of angry wizards around them was starting to die down, so Alan finished his lunch and tucked the packaging down by his feet, out of the way. "Order, order!" Gladiola was saying, and slowly it came about and the room was quiet and attentive. "If you wish to offer your expertise in this matter to the Council, then please, every perspective is welcome to us."

"Perhaps we should do something more formal," said Victor, speaking up for the first time. "I would gladly pledge my assistance, should a group of us wish to research the problem. After all, who here is not an able inventor, in his or her own way?"

Alan was impressed with his smoothness; it was true that a certain amount of ingenuity was required to make it to Master, and at one time any professor at the College of Merlin was also expected to contribute to the advancement of their branch of magic, but that wasn't as true now as it had been even a decade before. Still, the point was well-made. Who better to ask than a university full of Masters who had a vested interest in the reputation of their craft?

Apparently, Gladiola disagreed, from the expression on her face, but there was no way for her to refuse this offer publicly and save face. "That is an excellent suggestion, Master Etrangere," she said insincerely. "You yourself would be ideal to spearhead the investigation into power sources for the Artefacts, did you not help to design some of them?"

"I did have a hand in that honorable task," said Victor, sounding less than thrilled that she'd brought it up, "though the military appears to have misplaced the instruction manual on range and duration of safe use."

"Of course," she replied. "Well, then, anyone wishing to engage in this research can speak with either Master Etrangere, Master Harper, or myself."

Alan's eyes went wide, and the elemental had the gall to giggle again. "Of course," said Alan as charmingly as he could. "I would be happy to organize the effort into restoring the natural balance. Master Hartridge and I have already assigned our advanced students to related research."

Alan suspected that the exchange had had the opposite effect from Gladiola's intent as a murmur of approval went through the group. If he wasn't careful, he might end up with a reputation for social responsibility that would outstrip even his notorious youth.

"I would like my second kiss now," declared the air elemental, loud enough for everyone to hear.

Or not, thought Alan resignedly. "I am happy to oblige you, as you have held up your end of the bargain admirably above and beyond what I might have hoped," said Alan formally.

He could feel the eyes on him as the elemental writhed around in his lap, pressing against his trousers with a rush of hot air that drew his magic easily to the surface. It leaned forward, small hands on his face, and he let his eyes go shut as he kissed it with all the attention that he would give to any lover, his hands finding its hips and pulling it close, sending magic into its form through lips and fingers in a tingling rush.

It pulled away after an embarrassingly long moment, then grinned. "I am well pleased myself," it said, then bowed and kissed the very tip of his nose.

"Thank you," said Alan with a blush, and it laughed and rushed up and away with a final caress of its small, agile feet over his very appreciative erection.

Not for the first time in his career as a mage, Alan wished he'd brought a nice big bag to put over his lap.

Chapter 17

When the meeting finally let out, Alan returned to find both of his future Apprentices lurking at his office door once again.

"We really need to get you guys keys," said Alan, unlocking the office and heading inside, to find his inbox nearly overflowing with messages glowing in various colors and intensities. "Ugh. All right, you two have to help sort these if we're going to have time to shop."

Efram rolled his eyes. "Who cares about your mail, what happened at the meeting?"

"I hear you put Baneberry's knickers in a twist," said Jack, though he pulled up a chair and grabbed some papers.

Efram shot him a glare but followed suit, and Alan told them a short and slightly less embarrassing version while they went through his mail. Most of it had come in before the meeting and could be ignored, or answered with a quick return note, but he'd already received offers of assistance from several unexpected sources. "What didn't you tell us?" asked Efram, reading over a note that pulsed a rather nauseating violet.

"What do you mean?" asked Alan innocently, writing out a note to Victor offering to share notes and ideas, and requesting that they keep up with one another's progress so they weren't going over the same ground. He wasn't as smooth as Victor had been at the meeting, but then, Alan rarely needed to be.

"Something about an air elemental perhaps?" said Jack, holding a letter that glittered with pink and white sparks.

"Why are these people wasting magic?" said Alan disgustedly, snatching the page away from Jack. He glanced over it and saw words like kiss, elemental, and passionate, and sank lower in his chair. "Oh, that."

"That what?" said Efram, prodding him.

Alan sighed. "I made a bargain with an air elemental, I told you, and its price was three kisses. It claimed the second at the meeting," said Alan, feeling his face heat. "Apparently it was a good show."

"Apparently not all of the faculty is aware of your, uh, condition," said Efram, passing him the violet note, which was a rather disturbing offer from one of the female astrologers.

"Oh, dear," said Alan. "Well, it makes a good let-down, anyway," he said. He penned a regretful reply to both her and the sparkling pink, which turned out to be none other than Gladiola's personal assistant, a Journeyman doing some time at the university on her way up the ranks. There were a few more of those, mostly from men, and Alan assured them all that if there was a sex magic solution to the problem, which was highly unlikely, he'd be sure to let everyone know.

"I'd tease," said Jack, tossing the last of the old, red Gladiola memos from Alan's now-empty inbox, "but I've been on the receiving end of that kiss, and they don't know what they're missing."

"Too right," said Efram, with far too much enthusiasm for Alan's peace of mind.

---

Jack's credit cards were all still perfectly functional, and it was nearly seven by the time they got back to Alan's place with receipts and delivery appointments for what seemed to Alan like a bewildering array of furniture, computers, household items and even equipment for the workshop. "Might as well, since we're out," Jack had said every time he handed over one of the bits of plastic.

Alan thought it was a wonder his wallet hadn't melted. "Well, since we don't have beds here, you two are either going to have to make up, flip a coin, or both go home," said Alan, as he pulled out yesterday's soup for reheating.

"That would go a lot faster if you had a fire elemental," said Jack, watching Alan ladle soup into bowls for individual microwaving.

"Ooh, I bet you could have all five!" said Efram. "Well, four."

"I doubt we could satisfy an energy elemental even if we had sex 24/7," said Alan with a laugh, setting the timer on the first bowl, "but my earth elemental did suggest that we invite the other three into the partnership, now that I had you two to help increase our power output."

"He's already attracted a water elemental," said Jack, obviously enjoying this inside information, "not to mention today's brush with the element of air."

"Oh shut up," said Alan, getting down glasses for wine. "You know, I don't think I've ever, er, played with fire before. It's not really my affinity."

"I'm sure you would figure out how not to get burned," said the earth elemental, its upper body poking out of the dirt in the small earth well Alan kept in the kitchen, leaning its elbows on the edge of the unglazed ceramic vase. "You learned to merge with the earth without losing yourself in the ebb and flow of a planet's rhythms."

"You helped," said Alan with a blush, thinking back.

"As will the fire elemental, should you invite it to do so," said the earth creature with a smirk. "It would have good motivation to keep you coming back, after all."

Alan glanced over at Jack, who seemed both fascinated and still repelled by the earth elemental. "Do you really think I can keep a harmony with all four?" asked Alan, squatting down to its level. "I won't always have Apprentices to pick up my slack."

The small hand stroked over his mouth, and then it leaned in for a kiss. "I do not have to bargain for my kisses," it said, showing an eerie awareness of Alan's doings. "For that, I will put up with sharing."

"He's got a point," said Efram, coming over to stroke the creature's head and get a kiss of his own, from both of them. "It's quite a luxury, you know, how nice it is to be allowed."

"I can't disagree," said Jack, shifting in his chair, "but I do think we should wait until the house is ready and we're here full-time to help, ah, keep up your end of the bargain."

"Air and earth together might have enough knowledge to help, though," said Efram, snuggling right up to Alan like a puppy. "And fire could burn all the waste paper, what isn't needed for the compost, I mean."

"They both have points," said the earth elemental. It kissed Alan again, lingering more this time, then started to sink back into the soil. "Think upon it, Master Harper."

"I will," said Alan, giving its head one last brush of his fingertips before it disappeared entirely, and he was touching only dirt.

The microwave dinged, and Alan stood up, dusting off his hand on his pants. "All right, who's first?"

"Me," said Jack with a sigh. He got up and took the bowl from microwave to table with a towel wrapped around it against the heat, while Efram started the next one heating. Jack sat, then pushed away his empty wine glass. "I'd best have water, and I should probably go tonight. My father's likely to call sometime this week, once he figures out that the Master Harper that his boy wants to apprentice to is the one who started the faculty rebelling against the monitoring spells."

"Oh, I didn't start it," said Alan, pouring water for all three of them. "I just finished it."

---

"I'm nervous," said Efram, after Jack left. "I know it's stupid, but I'm not trying it out any more, and I feel like... Never mind, it's stupid."

"Tell me anyway?" said Alan, tugging Efram close and kissing his hair.

Efram nuzzled up into a proper kiss, then snuggled into Alan's arms with a soft sigh. "It's a lot of things, but tonight mostly... it's Jack."

"Let's sit on the sofa and drink something unseasonably warm and comforting and talk?" said Alan, sensing that this wouldn't be a short conversation, nor one he wanted to have in bed.

The bed was best saved for comfort afterward.

Efram smiled and kissed him, and Alan got to feel wonderfully wise for a brief moment. "It's nothing that important," he said, spoiling Alan's illusion.

"It is to me," said Alan, moving over to put the kettle on. "Have a cup of tea with me, please?"

Efram snorted. "You kind of suck at puppy eyes," he said, getting the tin of tea down from the cupboard and finding the teapot and strainer in the dish drainer, "but I'm a sucker anyway."

"I'll take what I can get," said Alan, moving over to interfere with Efram's preparations through kisses and cuddling.

Eventually Efram laughed and pushed Alan away. "You're a pain in the ass, do you know that?" he said, finishing up in time for the kettle to whistle.

"I've been told so by loftier minds than yours, trust me," said Alan. He retrieved the pot and added boiling water to the tea Efram had measured into it, then got down his grandfather's old tea tray, cast silver decorated with the runes for a levitation charm, something that he'd used at family teas since before Alan was born. "Get the milk out of the fridge?"

"Fancy," said Efram teasingly, though he obliged, grinning while Alan found the sugar bowl and cups, and even filled a small pitcher with the milk before giving it back to Efram.

"Sometimes it's good to remember that tea is more than just caffeine," said Alan, kissing Efram's forehead and then floating the tray into the other room, in front of the loveseat.

Efram grinned and cuddled up happily, his nervousness apparently not included in the sharing of hot beverages and scant space. "I bet you took tea like a proper boy when you were little, huh?"

"I took tea like a proper gentlemen with my grandfather every Sunday up until he passed away," said Alan, getting comfortable while they waited for the tea to steep. "Now, why don't you tell me what makes you nervous, since it's obviously not the touching?"

Efram blushed. "You're just very... I don't know, cuddly, I guess," he said with a shy laugh.

Alan rolled his eyes and poked Efram gently. "Not the point," he said.

"Can't blame a guy for trying," said Efram. "I suppose I just... I feel like I have to compete with Jack, who has way more experience and usually gets whatever he wants," he said, the last with a bitterness that Alan found surprising.

"Why would you say that?" asked Alan carefully; he'd told the boys that one of them would crack about their past, and it seemed like Efram was about to finally spill.

Efram shrugged, fingers plucking imaginary lint off of Alan's shirt. "When I told you I'd never been with a guy I wasn't entirely... Well, the thing is, I went to this party at Jack's one time, and my ride ditched me, and I got really drunk and when I woke up..."

"Jack was there," said Alan, swallowing hard. "Did he..."

"I don't think so," said Efram, blushing more. "It didn't feel like... like it did after you and me. I think we just did some stuff, you know, kissing and maybe a hand job, but I still had some of my clothes on and everything."

"And then what happened?" asked Alan, hoping the ending wouldn't ruin his slowly building opinion of Jack.

Efram sighed. "And then he got all handsy again once he knew I was awake, and when I tried to back off, he didn't really... like that."

"Did he stop?" asked Alan evenly.

"Oh! Oh, yeah, he did," said Efram quickly. "No, it wasn't... He, uh, he let me go, but then he went and told everyone that he'd, you know, had me. And then when I started getting trouble from some of the other guys, some of them tried to, uh."

"Follow in Jack's nonexistent footsteps?" asked Alan tactfully.

Efram sighed, clinging to Alan. "Yeah, though I'd learned enough magic by then that I managed to discourage them pretty easily."

"You shouldn't have had to," said Alan, though it was tired rather than fierce as it would have been in his own school days. He knew what it could be like, being known as gay, and as a sex mage, finding guys who assumed that also meant ready for the taking, no matter who was doing it. "Do you want me to keep the sex part of your training private for a while?"

"What? Oh. Um, probably not, I mean, they mostly stopped that after the first couple of tries," said Efram. "I learned a really quick sparking spell and roasted a few nuts, and they got the picture."

"It's always best to hit them where they care about most," agreed Alan. He kissed Efram's forehead, then his mouth. "I'm sorry Jack was an asshole."

"Let's hope he's grown out of it," said Efram darkly, with a very clear message that he'd believe it when he saw it.

Alan couldn't even blame him.

"Why don't you pour us some tea," said Alan, giving Efram a little push to sit up, "and then I'll tell you one of my sordid student tales."

"You do know good bribes," said Efram. He found his balance and then tested the tray; it was still steady where Alan had parked it, so he poured two cups and added milk to both. "I forget, do you like sugar in tea?"

"Like that is fine," said Alan, with a pleased little smile. "I do sometimes take it with sugar, but I've been eating well enough, I think."

Efram cocked his head, then giggled. "Oh, you're one of those!"

"You are, too, now," said Alan pointedly. "You're using your body to create energy, and you need to make sure you eat enough to finish growing as well as feed the greedy elements around here."

"Probably true," said Efram, and he added sugar to both cups and passed Alan his with a wicked twinkle in his eye. "Now, I think you should tell me about your exploits, and then we should go put some more power into that reservoir under your bed."

Alan laughed, but accepted both the cup and proposition well enough. "Have you heard the tales of my very first participatory ritual in Sex Magic class?" he asked, thinking that might be a good place to start.

Efram wriggled. "I might have heard a few things," he hedged, "but it's always best to get your information directly from the source."

Alan chuckled and kissed him, then took a sip of tea and pretended to think it over. "Well," he said after a long pause, "I wouldn't want you to have inaccurate information."

"Yay, story time!" Efram cuddled back up and sipped from his own full cup.

Alan rolled his eyes, and kissed Efram's nose. "Well, just like with Rituals, eventually you have to actually perform a rite in order to pass Sex Magic," said Alan, getting an impatient nod from Efram. "And so, since my Hewitt's had been diagnosed by then, all the girls got sent home early that day and it was just guys in the room, with Master Hartridge teaching."

"So it was you and who?" asked Efram eagerly.

Alan thought back to that day, him nervous in front of the class and the other guys milling around, either trying to get noticed or not. "Mostly, we'd had the same partner all term, but originally I'd been paired with a girl, so by the time it was all sorted out the other guys had partners and I was left asking for a volunteer to do the rite twice," Alan explained. "Mark put all the volunteers' names in a hat, and then had me do a little spell to pull out the name of the person my magic wanted."

"I sense trouble," said Efram.

"Three names," said Alan, blushing. "I had a couple of pretty hardcore crushes on other guys in the class, and all three of their names came up as equally tasty."

"Oh, man, I'd have died!"

Alan paused for a sip of tea. "Well, that wasn't going to happen, so then Mark asked if any of them wanted to bow out," he said, squirming a bit more.

Efram laughed. "No takers?"

"Ah, no," said Alan with a little cough. "Though one of them did step forward, trying to make it look as though the other two had stepped back." Alan looked down, resisting the urge to smack Efram so he'd stop laughing quite so hard. "You're going to spill your tea."

"Who'd you pick?" said Efram, unfazed and still chuckling.

Alan sighed. "I actually, um, kissed each of them. You know, to test out the compatibility of our magic."

"Was this what started the fist fight?" asked Efram eagerly.

"Shut up, there was not," said Alan with a laugh. "There was a little bit of sniping about cock sizes, and finally I went with the one who was bitching the least," he explained, with a wave of remembered embarrassment. "Plus, he'd had the best grade the first time around."

"Sensible," said Efram, but Alan could tell he was trying hold in a giggle.

"Hush, you," said Alan, silencing him with another kiss. "Anyway, by that time we were all pretty worked up, so Mark put us in the circle and took our clothes, and everyone else sort of gathered around. I swear they weren't this bad when it was mixed couples, but something about it being all guys made them like sharks after porn chum."

"That is a very strange image," said Efram with a raised eyebrow. "You are bizarre metaphor man, that's your secret weakness."

"Didn't I tell you to hush?" said Alan, giving in to the urge to poke him rather pointedly in the side.

"Yes, Master Harper," came the singsong reply, and then Efram made a motion like zipping his lips and batted his eyes in mock innocence.

Alan wasn't fooled for a moment. "Cheeky Apprentice," he said affectionately. "Anyway, I'd already, you know, prepared myself and everything, and there was oil in the circle for him, so we laid down on the floor and he got on top of me, and we were both hard but I could tell he was nervous now, so I kissed him again."

"Like you kiss when you want sex," said Efram, then he slapped his hand over his mouth.

Alan nearly snorted his tea. "I suppose, yes. Anyway, that got him all worked up, and I got his cock nice and slick and he got inside me and everything was going pretty well," said Alan, hating that he still blushed when talking about these things. "And then he knocked over the oil, smeared the pattern, and came, all at the same time."

"And then?" said Efram.

Alan sighed. "And I came, too, and the force of it in the imperfect circle, instead of channeling into the spell like Mark had intended, got channeled into the slate floor, which developed a very expensive crack."

"And that's why all the classrooms have wards in the floors and walls now," said Efram, with the tone of a schoolteacher telling the lesson from a parable to her class.

"Watch it," warned Alan, "or you'll sleep out here tonight."

"You'd miss me," said Efram impishly.

Alan pretended to think for a long moment, then relented and kissed him. "All right, we've now traded stories of our misspent youths and finished our tea," said Alan, draining his cup demonstratively.

Efram gulped down the last of his tea, and then Alan sent the tray floating back to the kitchen, where it would wait on the counter for them until morning. "And now for more of my very important sex magic training?" asked Efram, looking for all the world like an eager puppy who's spotted the leash in his owner's hand.

"Or," said Alan, pulling him close for another kiss, this one hot and deep, "we could just make love."

"Oh," said Efram, the word holding a world of wonder in it, as though no one had ever said such a thing to him before.

Alan kissed him again, then lured him into the bedroom with more kisses, shedding their clothes along the way until there was nothing between them. They fell into the bed and rolled around, laughing and kissing, touching each other like there was nothing more to their time together than this, the sheer joy of sensuality and the magic that rose between them along with it. "I'd be jealous of whoever showed you how to be such a magnificent lover," said Alan teasingly, lying on his back and looking up into Efram's flushed, smiling face, "if I didn't get to reap the benefits."

Efram sat up, going redder and hitting Alan lightly in the chest. "Like I don't have about a hundred other guys to be jealous of, not to mention Jack."

"Don't forget the various elementals in my life," said Alan teasingly, twirling his fingertips through the coarse ginger fur at the base of Efram's cock, his erection unaffected by either jealousy or embarrassment. "It's a wonder I don't eat myself out of house and home trying to keep up."

Efram shook his head, chuckling. "It'd be worth it," he said, leaning down and kissing Alan, his mouth strong and sweet, lips soft against Alan's. "This is kind of fun, watching you," he added, sitting back up and leaning back so he could cup and tug at Alan's balls, making Alan gasp.

"I like seeing all of you," said Alan, voice a bit strained as Efram's deft fingers continued to handle his delicate flesh in the most pleasurable of ways.

"We should do it just like this," said Efram, leaning over to snag the fresh bottle of lubricant that Alan had set out just this morning, along with a condom from the stack. He scooted back and stroked Alan a few times, then tore open the wrapper and dripped a bit of lube in the tip of the condom. "Then I can see you make those faces, and you can watch my beautiful young body on top of you," he teased, slowly encasing Alan's cock in the latex sheath.

Alan snagged the bottle and got his fingers slick, and Efram scooted forward obligingly once he finished his self-appointed task. "I think," said Alan, slipping one finger into Efram's tight entrance and crooking it just to watch him gasp, "that is a brilliant idea."

Efram let out a little whimper and started rocking his hips, shamelessly riding Alan's hand while Alan opened him up. Efram didn't have the breath for a clever rejoinder, a state of affairs Alan encouraged shamelessly with a second finger, a shiver of magic as smooth as fine whiskey, and a tease of his other hand along the length of Efram's needy prick. Alan slipped in a third finger before too long, but they were both too impatient and Efram pulled away with a panted, "Good enough."

Alan arched up into the touch of Efram's slicked hand, and his body stayed bowed while Efram lowered himself inch by exquisite inch. He paused that way for a moment, trembling on top of Alan, and Alan couldn't help but run his hands up over Efram's fluttering stomach and chest, all the way to his face, pulling him down for a kiss, feeling the sweet rush of their magic as their bodies connected on another level entirely.

"I can see," said Efram, punctuating his words with more kisses, "why women like this so much." He sat back up and Alan thrust up to meet him, and from there they did it again, Alan falling and Efram rising only to come together again and again, thrust after thrust. Alan's hands roamed as they would in skittering caresses, pinching a nipple here and gliding along a flank there, finally ending up with one hand stroking along Efram's thigh and the other wrapped around his cock, slick with lube and sweat and Efram's own fluids.

Alan wanted to tease back but everything in his head was replaced with a single thought, and he said it over and over in whispers and shouts, murmured like a prayer and moaned like a promise. "Efram, Efram, Efram," he said, again and again just to see the way it sparked in Efram's eyes to hear. Each repetition was like a chant, focusing their magic until his nerves were singing with power in sharp counterpoint to the pleasure.

Efram didn't say anything at all, but his eyes never left Alan's face, hands fluttering from perch to perch, first bracing himself on Alan's thighs or chest, then moving to touch his own body, or caress Alan's, before they were needed for balance again. Alan thought about rolling over, taking the lead, but he didn't want to give up the view above him of Efram so very alive and wanting, luscious and willing and his, if only for now.

"A-alan, I'm, please," Efram stuttered, his movements growing more erratic as his pleasure built.

"Please," whispered Alan, the word finding its way in among the rhythm of Efram's name and his own rasping breath. "Please, Efram, please," he said again, stroking harder, faster, barely noticing his own fraying control in favor of breaking Efram's apart and sending him spiraling over that most sought-after precipice.

The splashes of Efram's come over his chest and stomach were hot, and Alan could feel the magic they brought with them, sinking into his skin and swirling with his own until it was too much and he threw his head back and came. His world went white-hot and his vision shimmered in gold and silver, his whole being suspended for just one moment at the peak of pleasure. It was almost as much relief as disappointment when he passed the apex and slid down the other side, feeling the energy they'd raised slip away into his wards, taking the last of his physical energy with it.

"I'm just going to lie here like a beached fish for a while," he said, throat feeling dry as a desert and a grin splitting his face like the cat who'd gotten the very best canary ever.

Efram laughed and kissed him, straining to reach one of the towels Alan had left on the night stand. He cleaned them up perfunctorily, disposing of the condom in the bedside waste basket, then snuggled and kissed Alan's gasping mouth a few times. "I'm going to lie here and feel terribly complimented," said Efram smugly.

"Should I be jealous?" said the earth elemental, popping its head up out of the potted plant in the corner.

Efram looked as though he might object, but the elemental forestalled him with a raised hand. "I waited until I felt the power of your completion," it said, stepping out of the pot. "Besides, I brought a peace offering."

It waved an arm, and the tea tray floated in, this time laden with the pitcher of lemonade and two glasses.

"You're never this nice," said Alan, struggling to sit up, though he never stopped smiling. "What is it you want?"

The elemental looked properly guilty, like a child who'd been caught kissing up for cookies, which Alan couldn't help but find terribly charming. "I was hoping I might stay," it said, and Alan thought that if it could have blushed, it might have just then.

"Do you mean to sleep, like my nap yesterday?" asked Alan, gratefully accepting a glass of lemonade from Efram.

"That's the cutest disturbing thing I've ever heard," said Efram with a laugh. "Do you really want to cuddle with us?"

It nodded. "If my presence is welcome?"

Efram didn't even take a moment to consider it, which made Alan's heart swell with pride and no small amount of affection. "Of course it is, come on," said Efram, patting the bed.

It started to climb in, then paused, looking at Alan, who had his face buried in his glass of lemonade.

Alan swallowed quickly. "Of course, of course," he said, before gulping down another blessedly cool mouthful. "Sorry, I just overdid it somehow, and Efram was the one doing all the work."

"You put a lot of yourself into your lovemaking," said the elemental wisely, snuggling up next to him with a little smile. "I like it here," it added matter-of-factly.

"You look adorable," said Efram, after a long drink of his own.

Alan chuckled and kissed its bald head, when a thought struck him. "I haven't named you yet," he said guiltily.

"I am patient," replied the elemental. Then it chuckled and added, "Though less so than I was before I met you, Alan Harper."

"Great," said Alan with a laugh. "I'm even a bad influence on my elementals."

Efram was staring at them curiously. "I've never heard of an elemental asking for a name before," he said. "Is it common?"

"It's not unheard-of, especially if it's bound to one particular person or place, like our friend here," said Alan. "I think it's more common with air and water than earth, though."

"Fire even less than earth," said the creature, its cool hand moving over Alan's chest in curious little circles.

Efram put his empty glass on the tray, then cocked his head at Alan. Alan chuckled and finished his own, then put his glass back on the tray and held out his arms, one still cradling the elemental. "Wherever you're comfortable," said Alan invitingly.

Efram thought for a moment, then curled up around the elemental, his head on a level with Alan's so the earth elemental was cradled between them like a child. "This is good," he said, wriggling until he was properly settled.

"Very good," agreed the elemental, its voice a purr. Its eyes were half-lidded and languorous, as though it was the one who'd just had the brilliant sex.

Alan kissed Efram, then the elemental, thinking about its personality and what he might want to call it, were he to call out when they next sported. "What sort of a name?" asked Alan curiously.

"Something ageless, of course," said the elemental, sounding sleepy. "But sexy."

"Ageless and sexy, huh," said Efram, stroking his hand over its body like he was petting a small dog or large cat, over and over.

"You're the first elemental I've ever been bound to," said Alan thoughtfully. He leaned in for a kiss, and then another for good measure, rolling so that he could drape his arm over both the elemental and Efram. "What about Adam?"

"That is the first man, according to one of your human religions?" it asked, thinking. "You are the first man I have become so attached to, though there have been other bindings," it said, "and I do not know if I will carry this name after you are gone." It looked up, eyes shining. "I do not want you to be gone!"

"Oh," said Alan, a lump in his throat all of a sudden. He smiled and kissed the elemental's forehead; he'd never really thought about what it would be like, to be as eternal as a part of nature, and have humans pass through your life like fireflies, shining and short-lived. "I don't want to be gone," said Alan.

"It won't be for a long time, now that you're speeding up to match his pace," said Efram comfortingly.

The elemental thought for a long moment more, then nodded. "I will be Adam for you," it said, pulling Alan's face down and sharing a sweet kiss with him. Alan stopped before it sparked off too much magic, not wanting to harm the little elemental.

"I'll have to figure out a way to alter the circle, if you're going to want to join us in bed," said Alan with an embarrassed laugh. His cock had begun to rise, but it was halted when stomach rumbled and he laughed even harder. "And keep a stash of snacks in here for when you guys wear me out."

"I'll get us something," said Efram. He kissed them each, then grinned. "Adam. I like it," he said, slipping out of the bed. "Don't break him while I'm gone," he chided to Alan.

"I won't let him," assured Adam, looking quite smug in Alan's arms.

Efram laughed. "I bet you won't. You like who you're becoming, I can tell."

He left, and the elemental -- Adam now, which would take some getting used to -- turned to Alan and smiled. "He's right, you know. I like this, this person I am growing into, thanks to your magic and affection."

"Does that help?" asked Alan, petting it much as Efram had, wanting to touch but afraid of raising energy and setting off the spell. "Affection, I mean."

"When our masters are kind to us, we learn kindness, and when they use us for hateful things, we learn that, too," said Adam, stroking his hand over Alan's cheek. "It is rare for a master to care for us as you do, but when it happens, it gives us a warm and caring foundation to build upon."

Alan smiled and kissed it softly. "I was a little worried, you know, that I wasn't supposed to treat you as I do."

Adam shrugged. "Each master is different," it said. Or was it a he, now that it had taken a male name to go with its form? "I like the path you have chosen."

Alan smiled and pulled Adam close, hugging him tightly. "I do, too, Adam, and I like you a lot."

"You love him and you know it," said Efram from the doorway. "I hope apples are fine?"

"That's perfect," said Alan, pleased that Efram had bothered to core and slice them, but remembered to bring the cores along for Adam. "And you're right, of course, I do love him. I just didn't think I was supposed to."

Adam smiled a peculiar smile, both pleased and something else that Alan couldn't quite place. "It is rare," he said, sitting up with Alan so they could all three share the treat, "but it is always best to love the earth, and even better, I should think, to love the part of the earth that loves you best."

"You're going to make him go all mushy," said Efram, kissing the little bald head and nibbling on an apple slice.

Alan ate some apple defiantly, though he did feel distinctly mushy inside. He'd always taught that the earth loved all her children, and had loved the earth back in the same way he'd loved all the elements, from the fire that warmed his hearth to the energy that ran through his veins alongside his blood, abstractly and impersonally. He'd never really considered that the earth, even this little piece of it embodied in Adam's spirit and burgeoning personality, would love him back.

"Shut up," was all he said, but he had a feeling they both got the idea.

Chapter 18

Thursday was a whole new kind of exhausting, between classes, office hours, mail and more paperwork, and at the end of the day he declared that whichever Apprentice felt like spoiling him could come home with him.

"Depends on what kind of spoiling," said Jack with a wicked chuckle.

Efram gave him a shy smile and said, "If there's leftovers, I'm happy to spoil you."

Alan smiled back, then turned to Jack. "It'd be the quiet kind, where I wished the plumbers had done the bath and maybe spend some time in the library reading," he said truthfully. "I'm too worn out for sex like we have sex."

Jack looked as though he might take offense, but then he shook his head. "I never did get the hang of sweet and slow," he admitted. "But I reserve the right to make you teach me, some other night." He started gathering his stuff, but his movements were awkward and his voice tight.

Alan went to him, stopping his hands and putting himself in Jack's arms. "I promise, when I'm not so worn out, I'm all yours," he said softly, kissing Jack. "Please don't... I'm not good with people when I'm this tired, or ever, but I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

Jack gave him a wry little smile. "I'm way too easy to read," he said, pulling Alan close. They kissed, and it wasn't the challenge that Jack usually gave with his kisses, but something sweeter and more tentative, as though this was new ground for Jack.

"I like you that way," said Alan, kissing him again and giving the comfort right back, letting the kisses be a balm. He felt a small trickle of power rising up between them as his eyes fell shut, not the usual biting spikes but something cool and soothing, just a tiny thread of something between them. He pulled away with a smile and said, "And I think you're already learning."

Jack smiled back, then kissed Alan's forehead softly. "You're too tired to be teaching any more today, Professor," he teased, turning Alan around and pushing him gently toward Efram, who'd been fidgeting awkwardly by the desk.

"I'll take good care of him," said Efram, chin lifting defiantly even as he tugged Alan into a half-hug that managed for all the world to be protective despite the difference in their sizes.

Jack swallowed, seeing something in Efram's face, and looked away. He put the rest of his books away, then put his backpack on and walked over. His eyes slid over Efram's face guiltily before coming to rest on Alan, and he said, "Maybe tomorrow?"

Alan nodded. "Definitely tomorrow, though we'll have to work something out for the weekend, because I need you both for slave labor," he said, then straightened up and kissed Jack.

Jack leaned into Alan, getting close enough to Efram that he stiffened and pulled away a little. "I don't think I could share a bed with him," said Efram, looking glum.

"I haven't asked you to," said Alan reasonably, rubbing his back. He looked over at Jack, then gave in to his instincts and advised, "but I bet an apology from Jack would go a long way."

Jack flushed, but it was pure shame on his features. "I am sorry, you know," he said, finally looking Efram full in the face. "I never meant... I didn't really know how to deal with it when you said no, after you let me hold you like that."

Efram looked surprised, then skeptical. "Since when have you been all into 'holding' unconscious first years?"

"Since you," said Jack bitterly. He hefted his backpack and said, "I should have known an apology wouldn't cut it."

"Wait," said Efram, putting his hand on Jack's arm, which was the first time Alan could remember him touching Jack voluntarily. "If you really mean it, then... then I guess it'd be awfully petty not to at least try."

Alan couldn't presume to name all the emotions that passed over Jack's face, but he had a feeling that Jack had been harboring crushes for more than just his professor. Jack laid his hand over Efram's and gave a tentative smile. "Trying is good," he said.

"Now go away, because this can't be helping Alan's mood any," said Efram with a wink.

Jack laughed, and though it might have been a bit strained, it wasn't so bad as it could have been.

Nothing, Alan thought as he gathered his own things and bathed in Efram's quiet, cheerful presence, was quite so bad as it might have been.

---

Friday was everything Thursday wasn't; even the sun came out when the storm front finally passed. Meditation went smoothly and Alan had no further school duties after that, so he spent the rest of the morning having keys to his office and home made for his official Teaching Assistants and almost-official Apprentices at the magical locksmith. Jack called him just as he was leaving the store next door, and he answered with smug pleasure.

"How may I help you today, my charming Apprentice?" he said, walking to his car.

Jack laughed. "Efram and I came to join you for lunch, except you're not here," he said plaintively.

"How'd you get the duty of calling me?" he asked, then, "hold on." He slipped his phone in the car's cradle and hit the button, relieved when the system came up without losing the call. "You there?"

"I'm here. You're in your car," said Jack accusingly. "Meet us somewhere?"

"Can you two be trusted alone together in a moving vehicle?" said Alan teasingly.

"Shut up and tell us where to meet you," said Efram, his voice tinny and distant.

"Fine, fine," said Alan, pulling out of the parking lot. "I know when I'm beat. Do either of you have class this afternoon?"

"I don't," said Jack.

"Nope!" came Efram's faint affirmation.

"And do you both have your things for the weekend?" asked Alan, trying to think what there was that was equidistant between school and himself, but not out of the way for going home.

This time the chorus of, "Yep!" was almost in sync, except that Efram's voice was just a half-second faster than Jack, like a bad phone connection echoing in on itself.

"Then how about... Oh, I know, there's this tea shop, it looks frilly and awful but she makes the most brilliant pasties, and we can get extras for your rapacious young bellies. What's it called," said Alan, already turning towards it.

"Aunt Rosemary's Tea Shoppe," said Efram, sounding closer now. "I took the phone away, Jack's useless but I've been there. She does great sandwiches, too, if you don't mind them cut into hearts and flowers."

"I can feel Jack's disgusted look from here," said Alan with a chuckle. "Lead him there, Apprentice, and I'll get us a table since I'm closer."

"Will do, O Discerning Master," said Efram, and then he hung up.

Alan was still smiling when he pulled into the parking lot a few minutes later, and took his packages inside with him.

"Table for one, dearie?" said the plump woman at the front, whom Alan had always assumed was Aunt Rosemary. The place was bustling, which was always a good sign, and he shook his head. "Three, please, I'm meeting someone."

"A lovely lady, perhaps?" she asked, eyeing his shopping bags meaningfully.

"Of course not," said Alan, flirting shamelessly. "My heart has always belonged to you. No, my Apprentices need to be fed, and we'll need two dozen assorted pasties to go as well, if you please."

She giggled and led him to the last four-person table open, right behind and off to the left of her little corner of countertop. "A Master deserves a better table, but this way you can be close to me," she said, just a touch of dryness to her tone.

"I'll worship from afar, I promise," he said with a wink, and she laughed and set down menus for all three of them.

"Marjorie will be taking care of you today, not me," said the presumed Rosemary, chuckling as she walked off to fiddle with a display of teapots that looked to be on the brink of toppling over.

Alan put a gaily wrapped box on each of their places, then put their menus on top; it wasn't subtle, but it would do for an extra moment of surprise. Then he got out his menu and contemplated today's specials, admiring the set-spell that allowed her to change the contents of the menu daily without wasting paper. There were subtle runes embossed in the leather of the menu holder, and others watermarked onto the page itself -- pricey at first, but Alan was sure that she'd saved the cost a dozen times over in ink and paper and time, not to mention flexibility. People came because the food was good, but also because she tried new things and kept the menu fresh and interesting.

He was just contemplating the Namesake Nummies, a tea-style meal with a miniature rosemary beef pasty, rosemary chicken salad sandwiches, rosemary mini quiche, and even meyer lemon and rosemary jam for the scones. "There's rosemary mint tea to go with it, too," said a voice behind him.

"You must be Marjorie?" said Alan, turning to regard the pert young waitress. "I'm waiting for my friends, but I'm sure we'd all like water."

"I'd love some water," said Efram, plopping down in the chair next to Alan. Jack sat down on Alan's other side and shot one of his winning smiles at poor Marjorie, who didn't look nearly as impressed as Haruko had the other night.

"Water coming up, and then you'll be ordering," she said, less a question that a statement of fact.

They lifted their menus and Efram made a little sound of delight. "Presents!"

"You didn't have to get us anything," said Jack, looking sincerely pleased, his thin veneer of false charm already starting to drop, as it did whenever he was in Alan's presence.

Alan grinned. "I wanted to," he said. "I would have made them myself, but time is something I find I have less and less of every day."

"Not to mention all your energy going to feed horny elementals," said Efram, toying with the ribbon.

"And horny Apprentices," said Jack with a chuckle. "Can we?"

"Best decide on food first," said Alan, catching a glimpse of Marjorie bearing down on them with a tray. "I'm having the rosemary tea, it reminds me of Adam."

"Who's Adam?" asked Jack, while Efram giggled again.

"My earth elemental," said Alan, as though it was no big deal at all.

Jack's smile grew a bit uncomfortable, but stayed in place gamely. "Well, good for Adam, then, I guess. I'll, um..." He looked over the menu quickly; Marjorie had arrived. "I'll just have the cottage pie."

Marjorie began setting glasses down, then tucked her tray under her arm. "And you, young man?" she asked Efram expectantly.

"My Lady's Delight," he said, pointing to the spot on the menu. "With Earl Grey tea, please."

"Secure in your masculinity, I see," she said. "Tea for you two?"

"I'll have the rosemary mint," said Alan with a smile, "to go with the Namesake Nummies."

"Iced peach tea," said Jack. "Sweet, please."

She confiscated their menus and left, and then Efram and Jack were both tearing into their presents, Jack's wrapped in dark blue paper and Efram's in shimmery silver.

Inside each box there were four keys on a key fob -- two for the house, one for his office, and one that fit the door to the work room but wasn't yet attuned to the wards, since those would be removed and rebuilt. Alan had bought himself a replacement as well; he didn't have the heart to purge his grandfather's lingering magic from his old copy.

"Wow, cool," said Efram, ignoring the keys entirely and examining his fob. It was a tiny machine, a magical artefact that would, once attuned to the owner, always bring his keys to him when he called them, within certain limitations. "I've always wanted one of these."

Jack was looking over the keys, and Alan explained what they were all for, smirking as Jack looked at his keychain dubiously. It was just that, a fine silver chain that had a tiny silver lobster claw at one end.

"It's elf-chain," said Alan with a smug grin. "It'll attach your keys to your wrist, a pants loop, whatever, so you can't lose them."

"Oh!" said Jack, and then his smile grew a bit wry. "Wasn't this expensive?"

"No more than Efram's," said Alan with a shrug. "I wanted to celebrate a little."

"Then lunch is on me," said Efram, getting surprised looks from them both. "What? I'm not a poor orphan, you know, I do get some money to live on."

Alan laughed and nodded. "All right, your treat. And then it's off to the paper mines for you two." He paused, taking a sip of water, then said as nonchalantly as he could manage, "I thought we might do the elemental ceremony this weekend, you know, to invite all the elements into the house and not just earth."

Jack went a bit pale, but Efram looked intrigued. "Worried they'll get impatient?" Jack asked.

"Well, I'd rather have them all bound, instead of just hanging around without any assurances that they won't cause trouble. My wards aren't set up to keep out stray elementals," said Alan, "as you saw."

"You'd better cook something really brilliant this weekend, then," said Jack, making a joke out of it. "We'll all need it, if we're going to feed four elementals a binding-worthy meal."

"Not to mention the sex," said Efram, then he, too, went a bit pale, looking over at Jack. "Oh."

"I didn't think Masters were supposed to sex up their Apprentices," said Marjorie, leading two more waitresses and setting an array of interesting tidbits in front of them. Jack's pie was in a ceramic baking dish shaped like a tomato; Alan's food came on a half dozen flower-shaped saucers arranged like a bouquet in front of him; and Efram's was a three-tiered serving tray of silver, complete with paper doilies under the sandwiches, scones, and petit fours. Then two steaming pots of tea were produced, each with a different tea cosy, and cups poured for Alan and Efram, while the final item was set down in front of Jack, a tall glass of iced tea.

"Sex magicians are," said Jack, sounding almost defensive, which Alan was pretty sure was not the tone with which he usually shared that tidbit of information.

Marjorie giggled, as did the other two waitresses. "Well, that's just naughty," she said, glancing around the table. "All three of you, really?"

"Well, they're just Apprentices," said Alan, flirting just a little since he knew he'd never be called upon to follow through, much like with Rosemary herself. "I'm the Master."

She blushed and giggled and the waitresses scattered to attend to their other tables, leaving Alan chuckling in their wake. "Now, you don't both have to come into the circle with me," said Alan, taking a whiff of his tea and adding a splash of milk, once he was sure it wouldn't curdle. "And if you do brave it, you'll have me in the middle, so you won't have to do anything with each other."

"I think we should both participate," said Efram bravely, though his voice wavered. "It's only right, since it'll be our home, too."

"Maybe, um, we could all sleep together tonight? If the bed is big enough," said Jack, glancing from Alan to Efram, then blushing as he toyed with the mashed-potato crust of his pie. "Adam, too. To sleep."

Alan put a hand over both of theirs and smiled, so very proud and filled with affection for them both. "I think that's a brilliant idea," he said, looking from Efram to Jack and back. "We'll plan out the ceremony, too, so you aren't flying blind."

"I'm pretty sure I could find your ass even in the dark," said Jack with a laugh.

"Ah," said Alan, picking up one of his mini quiches, "but could you tell it apart from Efram's?"

---

The office was a dozen boxes lighter by the time they broke for dinner, and Alan claimed the shower first and then went grocery shopping while they got cleaned up, figuring it might be good for the boys to spend a little bit of time alone in the house together. Or he'd come back to doom and destruction, but at least it would be less destructive than they'd be able to manage once they were properly keyed into his magic, and therefore the house wards. The house was ominously silent when he returned, and he considered asking Adam to check on them, but instead he put everything away and gathered the courage to go looking.

"Jack, Efram!" he called, heading down the hallway toward the bedroom. "O Wayward Apprentices, your Master is home!"

He heard a laugh and a muffled thump from behind him, and grew even more confused. "Jack? Efram?" said Alan, louder this time if more tentative.

"In here!" Jack called back, and Alan went into the parlor, only to find the door to the dining room open and the two boys poking shamelessly through his things.

"I leave for an hour, and this is what you get up to?" said Alan mock-sternly.

Jack looked guilty, but Efram just bounced over and kissed him impishly on the nose. "We can't really do papers without you, but this stuff is more everyday useful. I already started putting things in the dishwasher, but Jack thought we should make sure before we ran it."

Alan blinked. "I have dishes? Oh, right, wow," he said, laughing. He rubbed the back of his neck and tried to think, but all of those things seemed like part of another life now. "Well, I guess I can trust you two to excavate in here while I cook, but don't throw anything out without asking first."

"Yes, Master," said Jack with a laugh. "Call if you need something chopped?"

"Don't worry," said Alan, turning to go back to the kitchen, "I know how to make good use of my slave labor."

---

They were all well-fed on the delicious dinner Alan had made, roast chicken with lemon and thyme from the garden, more steamed vegetables and baked squash, and even an apple crisp. Adam had helped in the garden and then stayed to keep Alan company as he cooked, even sitting to dinner, though he mainly took for his portion things that the humans wouldn't otherwise eat, apple cores and chicken bones, with some of Alan's buttery sauce from the squash to flavor it.

Once the food was gone and the dishwasher started on its cycle, Jack and Efram grew awkward and fidgety.

Adam tugged on Alan's pants leg and demanded to be held, though his method of persuasion was quite unchildlike. "You're becoming quite the lap elemental," said Alan with a laugh.

"Who needs pets when you have Adam?" said Efram, coming over to garner kisses and join in their embrace.

Jack watched for a moment, then came to stand on Alan's other side. "Has he always been like this?" he asked, reaching out to stroke along Adam's shoulder and hip.

"I have not," said Adam. He caught Jack's hand with his small one and brought the palm up to tickle with kisses and licks. "Elementals are changed by those to whom they are bound, and Alan is a very loving man."

Jack smiled and something in his posture softened. He stepped forward and put an arm around Alan's waist, not even minding that he had to share the space with Efram. "He is that," said Jack, leaning in for kisses from Alan and Adam, face hovering near Efram's for just a moment before pulling back.

Adam looked from Efram to Jack, and then said definitively, "You two should sport."

Alan did his very best not to laugh at the surprised looks on both of their faces. "I'm not sure they're quite ready for that yet."

"Humans," said Adam with a shrug, snuggling closer to Alan's chest.

"I think," said Alan, hefting the elemental, who was heavier than he looked, "that we should take the awkward snuggling to bed, where we can at least be horizontal while we're uncomfortable."

The boys laughingly agreed and they made their way to the bedroom, and then spent another twenty minutes brushing teeth and doing other bathroom things it was really far too early in the evening to be doing. Alan put on a pair of silk pyjama bottoms and took the first turn in the bathroom, then settled into the very middle of the bed with Adam nestled at his side.

Eventually Efram joined Adam, wearing a pair of old, thin blue-pinstriped white cotton pyjamas with a button missing on the top. "I usually just sleep naked," he said with a blush.

"I think we all do," said Jack, coming out in a pair of silk boxers and nothing else. "I, uh, don't have any pajamas, sorry." He climbed in next to Alan, but didn't seem to know how to fit himself in, staying just out of reach.

Alan did his job as Master and reached out to tug Jack close. "It's okay," he said, shifting with them for a few awkward moments until they were all reasonably comfortable and the sheet was pulled up to Adam's chin. He took a deep breath and decided to just dive on in to what was really troubling them, turning to his younger Apprentice and regarding the guarded features, freckles standing out on cheeks that were paler than usual. "Efram, you're the injured party, unless Jack has a different version of the story."

Alan looked over, and Jack shook his head, then shrugged. "I mean, I don't know what he told you, but I know I was at fault," said Jack. "I've always regretted it, especially... making it worse like I did, after."

Efram swallowed, as if keeping in whatever else he might have said, and instead he only let out one strained, sad word. "Why?"

Jack looked away. "I should've known you'd ask that," he said, sighing. He scooted down in the bed until his face practically vanished, head laying on Alan's chest and hidden by Adam's body. "I guess... I just wanted you to hurt, the way it hurt me when you acted like it was so awful, waking up like that. It felt so good to hold you, to know I was keeping you safe with me and away from all those guys..." He trailed off, and Alan gave him a squeeze. "Sorry," he added softly, after a long moment of silence.

Efram took a deep breath, then put a hand on Jack's shoulder. "It wasn't so awful," he said quietly, "right up until I remembered what people said about you, and I should have given you a chance to explain instead of assuming the worst." The words got faster as he went, tumbling out in the end until they were almost on top of each other. Efram took another breath and then said, "So, I'm sorry, too."

Jack bit his lip and looked up, and Alan felt quite a bit like a third wheel as their eyes met, hopeful and wary, guilty and hurt and so very young. "Do you think... You can really stand to be in the circle with me?" asked Jack, and Alan had a feeling he meant to ask a lot more.

"I think," said Efram, a tentative smile finding its way to his mouth, "that we can probably be friends, and we'll make our Master proud tomorrow."

They both looked up at Alan then, and he blushed and kissed them each in turn. "I'm already proud of you," he said, hugging them. They all snuggled up into the quiet, warmer and more comfortable now than the weighty silence of earlier.

Adam got in the last word. He sighed softly and looked up, then smirked and said, "I still think you two should sport."

Chapter 19

They couldn't use the bedroom or the bathroom for the ritual, not without dismantling the wards already in place, so Saturday morning found them moving the furniture in the parlour, rolling up the rug and very thoroughly cleaning the worn wood of the floor. After they got started, Alan repaired to the library -- which had its own complex wards older than Alan, against spilled liquids, unwanted dirt, errant breezes, and damaging fire -- and began to work out the summoning. He got out his notes from the day he'd brought Adam into his home, and Adam even came to sit on Alan's lap and give his opinions.

"Will I need to re-invite you, or should I just invite the other three? Or four?" asked Alan, mostly of himself.

Adam gave an intriguing little wriggle in Alan's lap. "You should invite all five, but in such a way that will make earth the first, and energy the last. That way I will always have the most power, and energy, who probably won't come, won't break the binding but also won't feel slighted," said Adam astutely.

"When did you learn so much about magic?" asked Alan, kissing its round head and making that note. He'd do earth, water, air, fire and energy, so that water would be able to help if something happened with fire, which was the most capricious of the elementals.

Adam looked smug. "I have helped you with many rituals now, Alan Harper, and I know my fellow elements because they are like me, only not."

"Well, I appreciate it," said Alan, giving him a little hug and a bit of a gratuitous fondle, which they'd always both enjoyed. "I can see why such partnerships often last a lifetime," he added, half to himself.

Adam squirmed around and hugged him tight. "I can, too," he said in a muffled voice, and Alan kissed his head.

"You're sure it'll be you that I get, if I redo the call to earth?" asked Alan, suddenly unsure. Adam had been a friend before this, but just in the past few days he'd become something -- someone -- dear to Alan on a whole different level, and Alan couldn't bear to lose that when he'd just found it.

Adam turned a smiling face up to Alan, and got a kiss for his troubles. "I am sure," he said, hips moving in a much less needy and more sensual way now that the moment had passed. "I wouldn't risk it, either."

Alan smiled, glad for once that he'd been so transparent. "Good," he said, and he allowed them both the luxury of a few long minutes of kissing, enough to raise a little trickle of Alan's energy, which he offered up like a snack for the little elemental.

Adam grinned and lay against his chest, once the power had been transferred in one long, sweet drink. "You can work out the rest," he said, though he didn't make any move to leave.

"I suppose I can," said Alan with a chuckle.

---

It was several hours and three separate showers later before the designs were drawn, taking up all of the available space on the parlour floor. Alan had foregone chalk for a fine, white sand that Adam assured them he could clean up afterward. There was a double circle at the outside that contained runes, a large star whose points just touched the inner circle, and then another, single circle inside the star that was just big enough for the three humans to fit without risking damage to the circle itself.

"We need something for each element," said Alan; he had the things he normally used, but he wanted the boys to at least contribute their choices, even if they didn't have items of their own to use.

Efram surprised him by bringing out the small machine that Alan had last seen on his desk. "I thought we might use this for Energy," he said shyly. "It's supposed to help focus and magnify energy to power a larger device, even if I never got it working."

"Good choice," said Jack, and Alan nodded his agreement."I brought something for fire, let me go get it." There was a blank place in the runes where each star point touched, and Efram found the one designated for energy and carefully set the small device in it.

"Why don't we use one of the smaller earth wells?" suggested Efram. "They make me think of Adam whenever I see one lurking in a corner."

Alan chuckled. "I actually prepared something special for earth," he said; he'd gone out to the place where he and Adam often sported and collected fresh earth in a small pot he'd had Adam make from the local clay, then anointed it with his own seed. He wanted to be very sure that Adam's place wasn't usurped by another earth elemental. He went into the kitchen and retrieved it, setting it in its place in the circle.

"We should use water from the bathroom," said Jack, coming back with both hands full. One held a decorative bottle full of water presumably from Alan's bathroom sink, and the other held a very expensive toy -- fire in a jar. It was basically a paperweight, except that instead of some kind of design or preserved specimen, the glass held an ever-burning flame fueled by ambient magic.

"Those are both perfect," said Alan, gesturing for him to place them. "Is the bottle yours?"

Jack nodded. "I bought it for rituals, but I haven't used it yet, so I thought it would be okay?"

"It's fine," said Alan with a smile. "Efram, do you have something that will work for air?"

Efram shook his head, then his face brightened. "I think I saw some feathers out in the garden, hold on." He slipped out the door, and Alan double-checked all the runes and lines one more time, making sure that all the movement hadn't created a flaw in their design.

"We'll be fine," said Jack, coming up behind Alan and kissing his hair.

Alan turned to claim a proper kiss, then sighed and smiled ruefully. "I'm just nervous, about you two, about losing Adam... I want it all to be perfect."

"I'm more worried about calling down energy with the rest," said Jack with a chuckle. "It seems risky."

Alan shrugged. "Adam seemed to think it was better to include and release it than insult energy by not inviting it to the party."

"Adam's probably right, then," said Jack, just as he had earlier, "but it doesn't make me not nervous."

"That's because you're smarter than you look," said Alan.

Efram came back triumphant, a trio of feathers in hand. "I think I have something to tie them with in my pack," he said, heading off and returning quickly with a leather thong. He tied them into a tiny fan-shape with a few deft twists of the cord, and then lay it gently in its place, where it fit readily within the circle's curve.

"All right," said Alan with a nod. "Strip off, and I mean everything, even jewelry," he said. They all headed into the bedroom, so a stray brush of clothing wouldn't spoil the design, and the tension in Alan's stomach coiled another notch tighter.

Efram didn't dawdle, stripping out of his light clothing quickly, as though he was ripping off a bandage. He lingered a little longer over his necklace and anklet, then squatted down and stuffed it all into his pack in a little bundle.

Jack, on the other hand, took care with each piece of clothing, muttering under his breath as he undressed one item at a time.

Alan started with his jewelry, putting everything in the bowl in the bathroom and feeling naked without the magical protection he normally wore day and night. Then came the clothes and he took a deep breath, returning to the bedroom to toss them onto the bed and finding Jack and Efram naked and staring at one another, Efram defiant and Jack with an almost painful longing.

"You both remember the game plan?" asked Alan, dropping his underwear on top of his pile.

They both nodded, and he glanced down at the relevant equipment; all three of them were limp and small, no sign at all of the arousal they'd need to build upon once they got in the circle.

"Potions, making out, or blowjobs?" asked Alan, a frisson of desire cutting through his anxiety just from the thought of it.

"What?" said Jack, tearing his eyes away from Efram's lithe form to fix on Alan's face.

"We're all soft," he said, giving his own cock a little flop with his fingers to demonstrate. "We need to fix that. You can use a potion, we can get in bed and kiss until we're ready, or I can suck you each until you're hard."

Efram let out a little whimper, but it didn't sound to Alan's experienced ear like fear. "Which one would you like, Efram?" asked Alan, while Jack was still looking stunned.

"Kissing," said Efram, climbing into bed and pulling up the covers. "Both of you?"

Alan grinned, pleased and proud once again that Efram was choosing to conquer his fears and trust his fellow Apprentice. "Jack?"

"Both of us is good," he said, and Alan could already see that Jack was enjoying the idea, his cock growing thicker and longer with each heartbeat.

Alan got in bed next to Efram and Jack followed swiftly, curling up against Alan's back. "I'm nervous," said Jack hoarsely, "but it excites me, too."

"I want you," said Efram shyly, eyes fixing on Alan. "I always want you." He looked over at Jack and swallowed. "I'm just not totally, um, comfortable yet."

"It's okay," said Alan, kissing him sweetly; for once Jack was the easy one, already hard and rocking gently against Alan's side, cock hot and ready now, so Alan felt free to give the majority of his attentions to Efram. "I'll take care of you, and Jack will be a good boy, too," said Alan, pulling Efram close so that his own burgeoning erection could rub against Efram's soft, warm package.

"That's part of what I'm afraid of," said Efram, but he arched into the touches anyway. Alan smoothed a hand down to cup his ass, and they both gasped when Jack's questing fingers slipped between them to pinch and tug one of Alan's nipples, knuckles brushing against Efram's chest in the small space. "Mine, too," whispered Efram, and Jack lost no time at all in finding and plucking at one of Efram's hard little nipples.

They all shared a moan, Efram's high and Alan's low, and Efram's cock perked up to join the party. Alan let the kissing go on a little longer, wanting them to all be riled up but not too ready, then he pulled away and pressed a single, lingering kiss to Jack's panting mouth. "Time for prep," said Alan, rubbing his ass back against Jack's cock and giving Efram's pert cheeks a squeeze so they both knew what he meant.

"Will you?" asked Efram, looking at Alan. "Prep me, I mean?"

Alan grinned. "Of course, if Jack will prepare me," he said, looking over his shoulder. Jack nodded enthusiastically and snagged the lube they'd set out, a fresh bottle of the kind Alan always used, good for rituals and sport alike. Efram rolled onto his back and tucked his knees under him, baring his ass to them both. His cheek was pillowed on his arms and his expression was terribly vulnerable, and Alan leaned in and pressed kisses to his mouth, fingers tickling along his cleft and behind his balls until he smiled.

"Here," said Jack, and he poured a trickle of oil over Alan's fingers and Efram's entrance, getting a gasp at the cold of it. "Sorry."

"S'alright," said Efram, hiding his face in his arms.

Alan worked a finger into Efram, then knelt up so that Jack could have access to him as well; he wanted to keep the chain of connection going as much as they could, to tie their desires together even before the spell did. Jack didn't need any instructions, and soon his slick fingers were wending their way up inside Alan, just as Alan slid a second one inside Efram. "Keep your energy inside," said Alan, mindful of the set-spell under the bed. "Don't let it go to waste."

Efram moaned, then nodded, and Alan could feel him holding back the rising tide, could feel the bite of Jack's magic pull back into himself. "I think I'm r-ready," said Alan, voice hitching a little when Jack gave a forceful thrust of his hand.

"Me, too," said Efram, stretching like a cat to get just a few more strokes before Alan pulled his fingers out and cleaned them on a convenient towel.

"Slick me up?" asked Alan, turning to present his cock to Jack, whose hands were still covered in the slick lubricant. He moaned when Jack complied, pulling his fingers out of Alan and using one hand on each of them until their cocks were glistening and ready. Alan passed him the towel, then gave Efram's ass a light swat, getting a yelp and a grin in response. "To the circle, and be mindful of the barriers," he said.

They both nodded, each getting a kiss from Alan and then, unexpectedly, Efram brushed a chaste, shy kiss over Jack's mouth before scrambling out of bed, cheeks bright red and cock bouncing ahead of him. "I'll check the circle," he said, as Jack and Alan struggled to get untangled and follow.

"That's new," said Alan teasingly.

Alan couldn't help but be amused when Jack flushed red, too, and herded him out into the hall.

Efram was already in the center of the circle when they arrived, looking nervous and holding a small, sharp folding knife. "Jack, you do the outer, Efram the middle, and I'll close the inner circle," said Alan, moving carefully into the center with Efram.

"Got it," said Jack, joining them and taking the knife from Efram. He pricked his finger so a single drop of blood welled up, then leaned carefully out, hand braced between points of the star, and dabbed a little blood on the sand between air and water. Alan could feel the circle close, like a change in air pressure that held them safely inside.

Alan held out a hand and helped Jack stand. They checked the lines, which remained undisturbed, and the knife passed to Efram, who repeated the gesture, this time between energy and fire. Alan helped him, too, stand comfortably, and then they all three knelt while Alan closed the inner circle, dabbing his own blood in line with the symbols for earth.

They all three turned inward and kissed, and Alan found that as always it was easy to avoid the sand circle now that its energy held them inside, and they were muffled in three layers of magic, cocooned by his own power and that of his Apprentices. The kiss started out with Alan's mouth being shared back and forth, but in the way of these things it became more. As the power rose so did Efram's courage, and the kiss became a true threesome, their tongues tangling and mouths open and damp. Their cocks kissed as well, wet heads rubbing together without regard for whose was whose, and Alan felt their magic rising together. The fluid ebb and flow of Efram's magic smoothed out the sharp, biting rise of Jack's, complementing each other as they spilled over into Alan.

"Elements of nature, we call to thee in invitation," said Alan, and Efram took that as his cue and broke away, bending down in an echo of his earlier position, arms and head facing down toward earth and his ass tilted upward, ready.

Alan moved forward, his legs outside of Efram's to give Jack plenty of space to work, then positioned himself at Efram's entrance. "Elements five, we call to thee in invitation," said Alan. He paused again to press slowly into Efram, swallowing hard to keep from saying anything as he was seated in the hot, tight space. The boys could moan all they wanted, his was the only voice that would count, and in that moment he envied them the freedom of their inexperience just a little.

"Earth, water, air, fire and energy, elements from which all things are made, we call to thee in invitation!" said Alan, almost losing his breath as Jack pressed into him, completing their connection. The magic rushed through him, filling him up as he called it from both of them, defying the normal flow with his own will. That practiced will would be needed to direct its final egress, which neither of the boys had the presence of mind to manage during their first sex rite together.

Alan grinned as he felt the air around them vibrate with their energy, and began thrusting even as they were greeted by the arrival of the first of the elements. Jack let him set the pace and only added a small movement of his own hips to keep things building. Alan looked up from the graceful line of Efram's back to find Adam standing in front of them, inside the point of the star designated for his element. Adam winked, and Alan grinned and blew him a silent kiss.

Water was the next to arrive, likely the same elemental who had been lurking in his bathroom, and then a suspiciously familiar air elemental touched down in its star-point. Fire appeared, dancing in its space without touching the floor, the flames starting out formless but slowly taking on a more humanoid shape. Finally Alan felt rather than saw the arrival of their final guest, the smell of ozone and the crackle of static alerting him to the unexpected presence of an energy elemental in his home.

"Earth thanks thee for this invitation," said Adam formally, "and the feast we will share."

Each of the others repeated the line, fire's voice like the crackle of flame and energy the buzz of high power lines. Alan shivered again, swallowed, and managed not to fumble his next line. "We wish to bind ourselves to ye, O Elements, so that ye may share our home, our friendship, and our lives, so that ye may bless us with your power and drink of our own."

This was where it could get tricky; sometimes elementals grew angry at any attempt at binding, even a friendly voluntary one such as Alan was proposing. Adam stepped forward to the very edge of the circle protecting the three humans and grinned. "I wish to bind to thee, Alan Harper, to thy home, to thy Apprentices, and to thy heart," he said. "I pledge to do no harm to the and thine, to help thee in thy work, and to protect thee within the limits of my powers."

Alan returned the grin; the heart part was new, and he couldn't help but feel as though something new and precious was being wrought between them in this moment. "I accept they pledge, and in return I offer thee succor, shelter, affection and energy," he said, replacing the usual friendship. He wasn't sure if it would get him in trouble later with the others, but for Adam, it was a risk he was willing to take.

Adam stepped back and gave a little bow. "So mote it be," he said, and the inner boundary suddenly expanded to fill Adam's point of the star, so that the elemental was inside their protections and would be able to feast upon the energy they were building.

Water was next, moving in the order Alan had called them, and it too stepped forward with a smirk. "I wish also to bind to thee, Alan Harper, to they home, to thy Apprentices, and to thy," it paused, eyes flicking down to the place where his body was still joined to Efram's, his hips now thrusting eagerly without his conscious intervention, "being." Its pale blue tongue flicked out over its lips and it continued. "I pledge to do no harm to thee and thine, to help thee in thy work, and to protect thee within the limits of my powers."

"I accept they pledge, and in return I offer thee succor, shelter, friendship and energy," replied Alan gratefully. He might someday develop a deeper relationship with the sensual little elemental, but it seemed unwise to presume. He swallowed again, each bit of relief causing the desire in him to flare higher in response, and his control still had last through three more responses.

Whatever those might be.

"So mote it be," said the water elemental, stepping back to bow. The circle expanded again, and Efram gasped at the sudden change in the pressure building all around them.

"Soon," whispered Jack, and Alan could sympathize.

The air elemental stepped forward and Alan turned so that he could see it, sure now that it was the same teasing creature who had helped him at the school. "I wish also to bind to thee," it said with a grin, using the same phrasing as water had, with one exception. At the end, it cocked its head and winked and added, "And I want lots of kisses."

Alan nearly laughed and spoiled it all, biting his lip to hold back as he nodded and spoke the ritual reply, with the addendum, "and lots of kisses."

It grinned as it bowed, and this time the pressure change drew a long, desperate moan from Jack.

Alan twisted himself around, hips still moving though his torso was contorted, and Jack put an arm around him to steady them all. Fire was silent for a long moment, then it stepped forward and said in its crackling voice, "I wish also to bind to thee." It, too, took the friendship route, though it had a very different rider than air. "I must have sufficient fuel for my physical form," it warned, flaring up just enough that Alan could see slender, dancing thighs, eyes like the blue deepest in a candle's flame, and a lick of flame where its cock would be.

Alan made his pledge, and included a promise for fuel, which seemed to satisfy it. The rush of heat that washed over them when the circle expanded again was a shock, and Efram's whole body was racked with shudders as he tried to hold back.

Alan twisted around in the other direction and got his first good look at the form of energy. It had chosen to appear approximately the same size as the others, its body silvery and limned in lightning, which flared blue in its eyes and violet in the open chamber where its heart would have been, had it been remotely human. It had two arms and two legs like a man, and even a slender cock that was smooth as glass with two orbs nestling below, glowing like plasma balls, but there was something alien about the curves of its body, the length of its fingers, the slant of its crackling gaze.

It stepped forward.

"I do not wish to bind to thee," it said, and Alan swallowed and nodded, not wanting to interrupt. "I will stay to share the feast, and I do pledge to do no harm to thee and thine while I am a guest in your home, Alan Harper, but even three wizards such as thee could not sustain such as myself."

"I accept thy pledge," said Alan, letting out a long breath, "and offer guest-rights to my home, and to the feast we bring before thee."

It stepped back and bowed, its grin feral and chilling as it said, "So mote it be."

The star gained its fifth point and both boys cried out as the dancing energy they'd built began to crackle, resonating with the strength of the energy elemental's aura. "So mote it be!" called Alan. He barely had time to twist back around and brace himself before Efram and Jack were both coming, spilling their power into him even as their seed poured out, Jack's into Alan's body and Efram's onto the wood of the floor.

Alan gave five more measured thrusts, using each one to help him divide the energy inside him into equal measures, then aligning each and finally letting go of the tension inside of him. His power, their power, poured out of him in five equal measures, and the elementals drank in every drop they had to give. It seemed to last for hours though in reality it only lasted as long as Alan's orgasm, and he managed to hold onto enough willpower to stop the flow once the moment had passed.

"I thank ye for this feast," said the energy elemental. Its body was suffused with a rosy glow and the crackling energy around it was much closer to red now, though its eyes retained their cool blue. "I shall depart, lest my presence cause inadvertent harm, but," it said, licking its lips with a glassy pink tongue, "feel free to invite me again."

It was Jack who kept enough presence of mind to carefully separate their bodies and break all of the circles, freeing the elementals to do as they wished, within the confines of their binding. Fire leapt into the prepared hearth and began to crackle merrily, losing much of the form it had taken on for their bargains.

"It is within my purview to help keep the fire supplied," said Adam, moving forward to get cuddles from the three exhausted humans, "since earth has always supported fire."

The air elemental flitted over with a grin and said, "Many kisses is much better than three kisses."

Alan chuckled and leaned in, giving it one that was strictly physical. "Well, there's your third, to start you in on the rest."

It laughed and clapped, and then the sand was scattered in a gust of wind and it was gone.

Water slunk forward all liquid grace and curiosity, and stuck its toe in the puddle of Efram's come. "Is this free for the taking?" it asked, smearing a little design to connect all the spatters.

"It's all yours," said Efram with a chuckle.

It swiped a foot over the puddle, which vanished as though it had never been. "Mmm, delicious."

"I agree," said Alan, giving Efram a leer.

Efram laughed harder and smacked him on the arm. "Perv."

"Professionally," agreed Alan. He gave Adam another hug and then asked plaintively, "Can you clean up the sand?"

"Of course. And then I will join you in bed," said Adam pointedly.

Jack let out a tired chuckle and said, "I think that's our cue, and I for one am happy to take it."

"First," said the water elemental, getting closer, "may I clean the essence from your bodies?"

"No cold hands," said Alan, remembering his first contact with water elementals.

"No cold hands," it agreed, already reaching for him.

Alan gestured in invitation. "Then I'm happy to have the help. You guys?"

"Just, um, outside," said Efram. He was curled up on the floor now, watching with fascination as the water elemental caressed Alan's flesh with its small, warm hands, absorbing the come, lubricant and sweat into itself with a little purr.

"Just outside," it agreed, reaching down between Alan's thighs to clean the fluid from them, and his cleft as well, pressing little kisses to his balls as it reached back and through to get to every last drop. It turned to Jack next, cleaning his cock and balls, then turned to Efram. "Would you roll over?" it asked politely, and Alan was reminded of how blank Adam's personality had seemed right after their first binding.

Efram complied, rolling and spreading, and this time the elemental curled its whole body between his legs, practically rolling around in the fluids there. "Ohhh," said Efram, legs falling further open. "That's... Nice."

The elemental chuckled, showing a bit more of the character it had exhibited upon its original introduction as it rolled onto its back and stretched. "I like this one," it said, showing its affection with a slender erection between its own thighs. It looked over at Jack and added, "You will do better with fire, I think."

Jack looked embarrassed, but glanced over to the grate where a hint of a face still hovered in the flames. "Maybe another day," said Jack, though Alan could see that he was intrigued now.

Efram yawned and stretched, dislodging the water elemental, who took the change with grace and stood. "Today is for napping," said Efram, standing with the help of Adam's solid little form. "C'mon."

Jack stood and put a hand out to steady the swaying Efram. "Today's a good day for napping," he agreed.

"Napping it is," said Alan, taking Jack's proffered hand and getting to his feet. They staggered they way down the hall and tumbled into bed, barely getting the covers up before they drifted off.

Alan woke just enough to accommodate him when Adam climbed into bed with them, getting a kiss and hug. "It's done," said Adam, looking pleased.

"It's well done," said Alan, and he kissed Adam again before letting sleep have its way with him.

Chapter 20

When he awoke the next morning, Alan was surprised to find that they'd slept with Efram cradled in the middle, his back to Jack and his body curled around a happy-looking Adam, with Alan on his other side holding them both. Jack was spooned up against Efram and blinking sleepily, but Efram was still dead to the world and looking much more peaceful than he had the first time Alan had watched him sleep.

Jack woke up enough to realize just who he was wrapped around and, much to Alan's amusement, he went very still and turned bright red.

"They'll sport soon," said Adam, stealing a kiss from Alan. "I should leave the circle."

Jack's eyes went wide, and Alan smirked. "I think that's probably wise," he said, running his fingers in a light caress right along the place where Efram and Jack's bodies met.

Adam pressed a kiss to Efram's sleeping mouth and sank into the bedclothes with a grin. Alan scooted forward to fill the space, repeating his caress and kissing Efram's forehead. "Efram," he whispered softly, "it's time to wake up and make love again."

Jack's expression went through several permutations at that, ending on hopeful, which in turn bolstered Alan's courage. "Come on, wake up and make love to us, Efram."

Efram yawned and stretched between them, muttering, "Who's us?"

"Me," said Jack. "I... I want to make love to you. Or with you."

Efram yawned again, slowly fighting the grip of sleep. He rolled onto his back so he could look from one to the other, blinking away the last of his lethargy. He pulled Jack down into a kiss that looked, from Alan's outside view, to be filled with heat and tension in equal measures. When Efram let go, his eyes were warm and a little sad, and he shook his head. "I'm not... not right now," he said, glancing from Jack to Alan.

Alan nodded, then kissed Jack himself. "We've got work to do today, anyway," he said, not wanting to open them up to blame or argument.

Jack nodded, looking pensive. "Can I have the first shower, then?"

Efram yawned again, and snuggled back into the bed. "I want the last one," he declared, clearly intending to sleep until forced into service.

Alan chuckled. "Just let me splash some water on my face," he said, giving them a moment alone while he used the facilities.

When he emerged, they were talking quietly, and the kiss they shared as he approached was warmer, softer. "I am sorry," said Jack softly, getting out of bed.

"Me, too," said Efram with a sad little sigh.

"Well, I'm hungry," said Alan, deliberately intruding before Efram tried to force himself into something he wasn't ready for. "I'll be in the kitchen when you slackers are ready to be fed."

They laughed and the mood broke completely, Jack vanishing into the bathroom while Alan rummaged around for his discarded pyjama bottoms. He slipped into the decadent silk and padded off, leaving Efram to snuggle back into the warm spot and resume his interrupted sleep.

"They did not wish to sport?" asked Adam, appearing in the earth well in the kitchen.

Alan shrugged. "They want to, but... I think that making love means too much to Efram right now for him to share that with Jack." He began getting out ingredients, deciding that French toast would suit his mood, along with fresh fruit from the garden. "They may have some more casual sport soon, but Jack wants more, and Efram hasn't learned to trust him yet."

Adam went still, then nodded. "When you first took me into the cavern of your body, it was very special," he said, climbing out of the well and walking over to snuggle up against Alan's front. He went up on tiptoes, rubbing his face against Alan's balls through his pants, and then grinned. "We should relieve some of your tension before you cook."

Alan laughed, lifting Adam up onto the counter for a sweet kiss. "Oh we should, should we?"

One of the burners on the stove flickered to life, and a blue face formed above it. "I wish to see you sport, if it is allowed," said the fire elemental politely. "I do not yet know if this sporting is something I wish to participate in."

"Of course," said Adam, looking up at Alan with a wink.

"You are welcome to observe our sport," said Alan, keeping his words formal and his tone politely inviting. Fire was a fey, alien creature compared to the familiar comfort of earth, but Alan was used to performing for an uncertain audience. Still, it would take some getting used to, having four elementals in his home instead of one -- anything resembling privacy was now a thing of the past.

Adam's clever little feet worked their way into his pyjama bottoms while he was woolgathering, and their warm, dusty caress against his balls brought his attention back where it belonged. "Oh, you haven't done that in a while," Alan teased, moving in for a kiss.

The motion of such a tiny mouth over Alan's own was familiar by now, a pleasure rather than a challenge, and he gave himself fully to the moment. Adam felt warm and alive in Alan's arms, and the elemental's firm erection pressed into Alan's stomach, asking for some attention of its own. Alan gave it gladly, slipping one hand down to stroke and caress just as Adam was doing with his feet. Their kisses flowed one into the other as their pleasure mounted, Adam's small hands curled in Alan's hair while Alan held him close.

Alan's right hand mapped out the shape of Adam's cock, finding it still familiar, still the body that Alan had grown so fond of in their time together. They were so lost in one another, reaffirming their connection, that neither of them paid any heed to their watcher. Even Adam gave himself wholly into the moment, drinking in each sip of Alan's magic as though it was ambrosia and giving back an affection that Alan hadn't known he craved until it was his for the taking.

Alan's climax came first and he shuddered, feeling his seed spill onto the thirsty earth of Adam's legs and feet. The release washed away the last of his doubts and fears and left nothing but peace in its wake. "Adam, my first, my earth," he said softly, hand still moving.

Adam shuddered as he reached his own peak, no fluid spilling forth but a tiny surge of magic instead. Adam gave back some small measure of what he had taken, and Alan drank in the taste of rich earth and growing things, storing it away with all his other memories of earth.

"My human," said Adam teasingly, when Alan finally opened his eyes.

Alan laughed and kissed his bald head with a wet smack. "Apparently so," he agreed, pressing their foreheads together for a brief moment.

"I can see why he enjoys you so," said the fire elemental, grown larger and brighter while they'd been otherwise occupied. It held a full form now, though smaller even than Adam, just a doll-sized figure of blue flame wavering above the burner.

Alan smiled back and nodded, acknowledging the compliment. "Adam has been with me a long time," he began.

"The earth has always enjoyed such offerings from her children," interrupted Adam, looking smug, "and Alan gives us very rich fruit indeed."

The little fire elemental stood, licks of flame that suggested fingers playing over the larger shape of its cock. "Fire enjoys the hotter passions," it said, "but you will have to come to my hearth to sample them. This flame is too pure, and I would harm your fragile flesh."

Alan swallowed, then nodded; fire could burn as well as enflame, and he would do well to remember that. "I will, after I've fed myself and the boys."

It chuckled, arching back to show off the flickering body it had chosen. "I'll be waiting," it said, then began to dwindle until there was nothing left but the small flame of the burner itself.

"Well," said Alan, checking to be sure the eggs hadn't been cooked prematurely, "that was interesting."

Adam laughed and kissed him. "You'll do fine," he said, curling up on the counter -- eggshells were one of his favourite treats, though usually he waited for Alan to offer them in the earth well.

"You just want to watch," said Alan, cracking the first egg with a wry half-smile.

Adam accepted the shell with a shrug. "All's fair," he said, crunching the morsel as though it was made of spun sugar.

Alan pressed another kiss to his head, and got down to the business of making breakfast.

---

"Why does it have to be filing?" complained Efram with a yawn.

"Because you know the system already," said Alan. "Jack will be sorting in the dining room while I play with fire, and then we'll all switch off."

"I think the fire wants to play with Jack more anyway," said Efram.

Jack stuck his tongue out. "Eat your French toast," he said, downing the last of his coffee. "I'll go get started now while you wait for the slacker."

Alan laughed, and Efram made a sleepily rude gesture. "Go on, let him wake up his own way," he said, stealing Jack's dishes for the pile in the sink. Jack rescued his last quarter-piece of French toast, popping the whole thing into his mouth.

Efram snorted, then went back to nursing his own coffee cup. "I need my beauty sleep."

"You're pretty enough as it is," Jack shot back as he disappeared into the other room.

Efram just yawned.

Alan chuckled and ruffled his hair, kissing his head. "You gonna be OK in here without me?"

"Want kisses first," said Efram, sitting up just enough to demand them.

"Then me!" said a familiar voice, and the air elemental swirled into being, perched on the edge of the table.

Alan laughed and obliged them, one and then the other, and then the water elemental, who dribbled its way out of the tap to demand equal shares.

When he left, Efram had perked up enough to chatter with the two elementals, talking about wards and energy matrices, engaging the intellect of Air with Water's instinctive understanding of flow patterns.

Alan was nervous when he went into the living room, and grateful that Jack had closed himself in the dining room to give Alan some privacy. "I've come to offer you tribute," he said, kneeling before the fire, a slice of crisply-browned french toast sprinkled with cinnamon and incense held in front of him. He'd made it specially, once all the human foods were cooked, hoping that Fire would consider it a fit offering.

The low blaze on the hearth flared up into the elemental, using the larger form he'd held last night. "Breakfast!" it said delightedly, its formality gone and an impish, fiery charisma in its place. First it inhaled, then it ate much as Adam did, though the bites clearly dissolved to ash on its palate, smoke rising out the top of its head to twine with its flamelet "hair" like a wreath. "Delicious," it declared, tongue flicking out to burn away the last morsels from its fingers.

"Did you wish another sort of offering as well?" said Alan, kneeling down so they were more of a height.

It grinned, and its colour changed, growing yellower and less bright, like the very edges of a candle flame. "I would very much like to try this sport," it said, slithering forward.

"Your tongue has cooled?" asked Alan, leaning in for kisses. He wasn't worried it would hurt him deliberately, its willing oath was binding enough, but he'd heard stories of what happened when elementals forgot how fragile human flesh could be.

"I will not harm you, Master Harper," it replied, moving forward, face turned up. "I wish to join the others in being allowed kisses."

Alan chuckled. "Lots of kisses," he promised, lowering his mouth to its. It was different from Adam, insubstantial like air but warmer, growing hot whenever it lingered in one spot for more than a moment. Alan let it explore, opening his mouth just a little and then giving it a few licks of his own, tongue sliding along the pressure-feeling of its lips, tasting the incense-scented heat of its mouth, though he couldn't linger there for long. Alan felt his own desire spark to life, drawn to the surface easily by the elemental's willingness and even its alien nature. His xenophilia worked for him in these moments, making his offering powerful and sincere, and he fed his own energy into the flames.

The elemental pulled back after a long draught of Alan's power, a smile on its features that reminded Alan of the tales of trickster gods. "That is enough for now," it said, stroking one hot hand along Alan's cheek, "but when you are more used to me, I will want to sport properly, and drink the full measure of you."

"You shall," promised Alan, feeling both disappointed and relieved to have gotten away with so little this time around.

It began to fade back into the fire of the hearth, but left him with one last comment. "You need more candles," it requested.

Alan chuckled. "Candles and water bowls both, I think," he said. The air was present in every breath he took, and there were earth wells scattered all throughout his home now, but water and fire were less omnipresent.

The only answer he got was the quiet crackle of flames.

---

He headed back into the kitchen for some lemonade for all three of them and found Efram still chattering away with the air and water elementals, and even Adam now. "Oh, hey, sorry," he said, looking up sheepishly when Alan came in. "We were talking about fixing the bathtub now that we have earth and water together, and ways to redo the wards in the bedroom and bathroom so the energy isn't wasted but the area's safe for elementals to, uh, sport with us."

Alan chuckled. "It figures," he said, ruffling Efram's hair and kissing his head. "If you'll take care of the dishes, I promise to forgive you," he said, getting out the pitcher of lemonade. There was just enough for three glasses, so he asked, "Adam, are there enough lemons on the tree for more?"

"Ooh, I want to see how this is made," said the water elemental with a giggle.

Adam's gaze got distant for a moment, and then he nodded. "Plenty of lemons, and a lot of other bounty ripening as well."

Alan grinned. "Well, once Efram gets to his filing, perhaps we should go picking, to see what's needed for hungry bellies and what can be left for the birds and insects."

"I would like that, Alan," said Adam with a private little smirk.

Alan laughed. "You all are going to wring me dry," he protested, though secretly he enjoyed the feeling of being so in demand, so wanted by all these gorgeous creatures, from Adam to Efram to Jack, Air to Fire to Water.

"Why does Earth have a name?" asked the air elemental suddenly, head cocked to the side.

Alan smiled fondly, stroking his hand over Adam's bald head. "When he had been with me long enough, he asked for one."

"I am his first," said Adam smugly.

"I still want a name!" said the water elemental from where it was playing in the sink with Efram.

The Air elemental looked thoughtful. "I might like one," it said after a long moment, "but I might not."

"In your own time," said Alan. He turned to Efram and the water elemental. "More washing, less splashing, please," he said, and then winked. "And of course you may have a name, give me a little more time to think of it, please, I feel I barely know you."

"You know water," it said, pressing a kiss to Efram's nose, and then diving down the drain.

Efram chuckled; it had dried his clothing and hair during the kiss, but left the end of his nose wet. "That one is very playful," he said, "and it likes to talk."

"Babble is more like it," said the air elemental with a sniff. "I would like more kisses now."

Alan chuckled and reached out for one of its small hands, tugging it close until he could properly embrace it. "It's odd, how you have substance but no weight," he said, used to the heft of Adam's solid form.

"But not bad," replied the air elemental, a statement rather than a question. It forestalled any answer by claiming its kisses, warm little puffs over Alan's mouth that were as different from fire's heat as from earth's solidity, and yet so much the same as he fit his larger mouth to the doll-sized lips of the elemental.

"Tastes like fire," it whispered, a tongue like a solid puff of air teasing into his mouth and coaxing his own out to taste the coolness of distant fields and the warmth of his own breath.

"You taste like breathing," said Alan, "like everything that breathes."

It smirked and kissed his nose. "Smart man," he said. "For that, I will help your Apprentice sort papers."

"I know a cue when I hear one," said Efram, closing the dishwasher but not bothering to start it yet. "I'll take Jack his lemonade, you go gather our sustenance, O Wise Teacher."

Alan laughed and kissed him. "Stay out of trouble, now," he said, admonishing both his Apprentice and the air elemental.

They laughed identical light, airy laughs, and took themselves and two of the three glasses out of the room.

Alan sipped his own lemonade, feeling thirsty from the heat of fire and the rush of air, sitting down so that Adam could climb into his lap. "I'll need to go shopping later, for water bowls and candles," he said, petting Adam's head and back, enjoying the familiarity in a way that would have seemed absurd a few weeks ago. "And meat, I don't think I have enough for the rest of the weekend."

"Bread, too, unless you want to bake," said Adam, cuddling close. "Don't forget you promised to make jam with me."

Alan smiled. "I haven't forgotten, but we need to get the boys moved in properly, and they'll need their own space even if they do mostly sleep with me."

Adam got a sly look and said, "I think you'll be surprised what four elementals can do, that I could not by myself."

Alan had no idea what to say to that, so he finished his lemonade and took Adam out into the warm morning sunlight to gather the garden's bounty.

---

"It's not cheating," said Efram, looking understandably smug as they ate leftover pasties, salad from the garden, and fresh peach lemonade for lunch. "The air elemental offered!"

The elementals were all ranged around the room like an extra family that Alan hadn't expected to have. Adam was snuggled in Alan's lap rather proprietarily, but the air elemental was floating above the table where he could drink in the scent of their food, and the water elemental was lounging in the sink, having declared the dishwasher an excellent means of getting its own food offerings.

Even the fire elemental stayed to talk after Alan had given it a pasty-end and some salad greens to consume.

"I think it was smart of them both," said Alan, watching both Efram and the air elemental preen. "Now the fire elemental has plenty of fuel, I only have two boxes of papers to go through personally, and the rest of the medical files are ready to go back to the clinic."

"And our rooms are almost ready," added Efram. "Though there's still some magical paraphernalia and stuff in the second room."

Jack looked discomfited to have been outdone; he'd sorted about half of the bags and boxes in the dining room and laid it all out on the table, ready for Alan to come glean the treasure from the junk.

"Obviously you'll get to help Jack this afternoon while I do paperwork," said Alan. "Oh, and I want to do a shopping run, too, do you guys need anything?"

Efram shrugged. "Nothing I can think of, but maybe something will come to me later."

Jack just shook his head, mouth full of pasty.

"Is it desirable for us to help with chores, as air helped your Apprentice?" asked the fire elemental from its burner curiously.

"Always," said Alan without hesitation. "Adam takes care of a lot of things for me, keeping the dust from accumulating, that sort of thing, but there's always other chores. For instance, a great deal of the paper that the air elemental helped Efram sort today will need to be burned to ash, and then Adam can use the ash in the garden."

"The roses will enjoy it," said Adam. "And fire could also help with heating, air and water with cleaning and maintaining the garden," he said. "The household is very blessed now."

"Very blessed," said Jack with a shy little smile. "I spent some time with water during my shower."

"Me, too," said Efram, blushing bright red. "And air."

"I have had a very good day," said the water elemental.

Alan chuckled. "I'm glad you are all finding my home a good place to live," he said formally. "And that my Apprentices are helping with the offerings."

Jack blushed at that, too, but both the boys looked pleased at the praise.

"While you're going through my things, keep an eye out for candles, candle holders, and anything that would work for a water vessel," said Alan. "I think we still need a few groceries, but it would be nice to be able to integrate things from my old life."

"I can help with that," offered the water elemental. "It would be good to choose some of my own vessels, and now that I am bound to the house it is harder for me to leave the grounds for very long."

Alan nodded. "That's fine, though I think you'll find it easier if you're with one of us. The few times Adam has left he's been with me, and he didn't have any problem as long as I could feed him energy."

"I have more freedom," said the air elemental, "but I will want a good offering before I do any long errands."

Alan nodded absently, trying to remember what was hiding away among his things. "Yes, of course."

"If we get most of the cleaning done today, can we do my canning tomorrow?" asked Adam.

"Canning?" said Efram curiously.

"Adam has asked that we preserve some of the garden's bounty for winter rather than buying too much from the store," said Alan, stroking Adam's back. "There's a lot of extra in the gardens this year, so I told him I'd try to set aside a day for making jam, at the very least."

"I think this is a very good idea," said the water elemental. "I can make sure nothing spoils."

"I can help cook," offered the fire elemental, curling demonstratively around the ring of the burner like a cat.

"I know recipes," said the air elemental.

Jack laughed. "I think we're doing it whether you like it or not," he said.

"He likes it, he just doesn't remember until he starts doing it," said Adam.

Alan chuckled, kissing Adam on his bald head. "I suppose you're right, I always enjoyed helping grandfather, and I did have fun last year when it was just me and Adam."

"Then it's decided."

---

The afternoon flew by, belongings sorted and groceries bought and a lot of laughter filtering in from the dining room. Alan took the boxes out to the parlour where he could feed papers directly to the fire elemental, who promised that he wouldn't always require quite so much fuel, but confided that he enjoyed the chance to glut himself once in a while.

Alan also thought about names; the water elemental had clearly been hanging around a while before it was bound, and it wasn't too surprising that it would want a name so soon. The air elemental had joined his little family on a whim, it seemed, and he was impressed that it was deliberating over its own desire for a name rather than simply going with the flow.

"What do you think of names?" he asked the fire elemental, feeding it yet another ancient bank statement.

"For elementals, you mean?" it said, sitting cross-legged in the middle of its woodpile. It rolled the papers into a scroll and slid the length between its lips in a way that would have been more erotic if Alan wasn't acutely aware of the fact that the papers were being burned to ash in the hot cavern of its mouth. "I have never thought of having a name. Fire is not the same from moment to moment, changed by the fuel it consumes, the air, the whims of its own element."

Alan nodded. "So you don't think you'll settle into a personality like Adam did?" he asked, carefully filing some more recent documents in one of the folders.

"I do not doubt that I will be changed by you as I am changed by everything else," it said, "but I do not think those changes will need to be named."

"I can respect that," said Alan, handing it more papers to burn. "Still, if you ever do change enough to want a name, all you have to do is ask."

"As in so many things with you, Alan Harper, which is a pleasant bargain indeed." It consumed the papers, then leaned out of the fire, growing larger and lighter until its face was big and cool enough to claim a kiss. "Very pleasant."

Alan pretended his blush was from the heat of the flames.

---

"I wanted to chop the peaches," said Efram mock-petulantly.

"You wash, I chop, that's the deal," said Jack, pointing with the knife. "You've got all those blackberries Adam found for us to deal with."

"They are insect free, but I think that you humans would be happier if you rinsed them," said Adam, walking up behind them and putting a small hand on either of their asses in a very proprietary manner.

Alan laughed. "You're just lucky you convinced the elementals to clean while I was out shopping," he said. He'd come home to find the boys' rooms basically ready for the furniture delivery, the kitchen and bathrooms sparkling clean, and leftovers made into dinner and waiting on the stove. His grandfather's collected magical paraphernalia was now taking up the empty space in the library until it could be donated, sold, or put to better use. Most of Alan's possessions had been likewise scattered throughout the household, adding a touch of nostalgic familiarity here and there, wherever he looked.

As a reward, they'd decided to start the canning tonight, since most of the fruit was at the perfect peak of ripeness, and might be too ripe if they waited until tomorrow.

"You will enjoy the peach recipe, I think," said the air elemental. It was sitting in an effortless lotus position, floating above Alan's head and giving him instructions. The fire elemental had turned itself into a dozen tiny figures dancing below the stock pot, and the water elemental directed a stream of clear, cold water into the pot. "Adam, what is the final weight of the chopped peaches?"

"Six pounds, four ounces," said Adam, giving the boys' buns a squeeze before coming over to where Alan was cooking. "They are very sweet."

The air elemental gave him quantities of sugar and spices to add to the pot, cinnamon and ginger and even some honey, the result smelling like heaven as it heated to a simmer over the fire elemental's slow, even heat. "This will come out so well," said Alan, stirring with a long wooden spoon. "I can't believe how much easier it is with all of you helping."

"A task shared is always better," said Adam, dipping his hand between Alan's legs to fondle his balls.

"Don't distract the cook," admonished Alan. "Are the jars ready?"

"I've sterilized them with the help of fire, and they're ready to go," said the water elemental. "These are some really good jars, you know, If your grandpa ever told you they don't make them like this anymore, he's not kidding, this glass is just lovely."

"Glass is a liquid," said the air elemental. "I think it's getting our watery friend too excited to notice he's babbling."

"Like a brook!" said the water elemental with a giggle, rolling in the sink and kicking its feet so little splashes of water danced through the air.

"That's a good name," said Efram thoughtfully, passing the colander of blackberries through the water elemental's stomach and making it giggle harder. "Brooks."

"A traditional sort of name, certainly," said Alan agreeably.

Jack cocked his head. "It's kind of girly, but so is the water elemental."

"You didn't say that this morning!" it protested, spoiling it with another girlish giggle. "But I like Brooks. Adam and Brooks, like apples and cooks!"

"Apples won't be ripe for weeks," said Adam. He merged himself with the cabinets and then rose up through the counter, feet swinging once he was perched on the edge. "I like the name, though."

"Brooks it is, then," said Alan. "Sealed with a kiss?"

"Kisses all around!" said Brooks, standing up so fast he took a few of the blackberries with him. He kissed Efram first, leaving wet little handprints and raising enough power to send a shiver down Alan's spine. Then he moved on to Jack, the blackberries floating through his body to gather in the round spheres below his cock and making some rather strange anatomy. Jack obliged him quite sweetly, while Efram came to take over stirring duties so that Alan could wash instead, and get his kiss in the sink.

He brought a hand up to caress Brooks' small cock, squeezing the blackberry balls until the elemental sighed. "We need to sport soon, don't we?" said Brooks, spreading his legs shamelessly.

Alan stroked up the length of his cock, feeling the warmth of water, enjoying the splay of Brooks' fingers over his cheek as they kissed, the fluidity of their mouths moving over each other, their tongues tasting and tangling. "We do," he agreed, stroking faster, urging the elemental to find a peak, feeding it his own excitement.

"Ohhh, we do," said Brooks with a little moan, hips rocking forward until it came with a surprising spurt of blackberries and water that hit Alan in the stomach and made them all laugh.

Alan plucked one of the blood-warm berries out of the sink and ate it with erotic intent, licking at the small fruit until juice stained his lips, tongue and fingers, then crushing it with his tongue before lapping the last of the juices away.

They weren't laughing when he was done.

Fortunately, the fire elemental remembered not to scorch the peaches.

---

Sunday the first of the deliveries began, and Jack and Efram spent a lot of time unboxing, cleaning and assembling while Alan and the elementals continued the canning. They made pie filling and jam, pickled cucumbers and beets and preserved vegetables, everything they'd need for the winter. The air elemental even came up with a few recipes Alan had never considered, spicy pickled carrots and minted peaches, and he promised to show Alan how to sugar some of the edible flowers, should he choose to take more time next weekend for their new hobby.

When Alan finally washed his hands one last time, he found the hour had grown late and dinner was well overdue. He went to call the boys to eat and paused in the hall, unable to resist listening to the voices drifting out of one open door.

"Not like that, you have to do this one first," said Efram. "Don't you read directions?"

Jack laughed, and there was a pause in the conversation filled by the sounds of furniture being put together. "There, that should be sturdy enough, even for sporting."

"Even sporting with our Master?" asked Efram slyly.

There was a rhythm thumping and then Jack said, "Seems so. Maybe Adam can check it for us, though, Alan's pretty energetic sometimes."

Alan laughed and took that as his cue. "You're both just as bad," he said, entering the room.

They looked up from where they were working, hardware spread out and dust smeared on their faces rather fetchingly. "All done?" asked Jack.

"For now," said Alan. "Adam's promised there'll be more next week, and it sounds like all the elementals want to keep up the project. It's interesting, how attached they are to the bounty of the land, even though it hasn't been their land long."

"We like the natural order of things," said Adam, popping up in the earth well in one corner, one they'd discovered buried in boxes. "Fruit flown across the world doesn't seem very natural."

"We'll want some fresh things, even in winter," said Alan, picking Adam up for a kiss and holding him. "But we'll try to rely more on what we can grow here. It'll be good for my budget, anyway."

"Will we sleep in here tonight?" asked Efram, sounding less than thrilled at the prospect.

Alan shrugged. "Up to you, really. Are the sheets clean?"

"I think they're still in the plastic," said Jack ruefully. "We haven't done any laundry this weekend, or gone through all the shopping, it's pretty much just shoved in a corner of the dining room."

"There's always tomorrow," said Alan. "Come on, if you're at a good stopping point, let's eat. I still have some school work to do tonight, and I'm beat."

"Sex would cheer you up," said Adam, giving a sly wriggle.

They all laughed and headed out, the Apprentices going to wash up a little while Alan headed to the kitchen to dig out the last of the pasties. "Let me eat first, and then I'll think about it."

Chapter 21

Despite the fact that they all slept in Alan's bed again, Monday morning was much less awkward. For one thing, Alan claimed the middle spot, and for another, they neglected to set an alarm. It was only Adam's belated intervention that woke them at all.

In the mad rush to manage three showers, three breakfasts, and two cars, Alan tripped over the small artefact that Efram had placed in the circle on Saturday. "Efram?" he asked, voice puzzled.

"Yes, O Master who is about to make us late?" asked Efram, waiting impatiently by the door with both their bags in hand.

"Didn't you say this wasn't powered up?" said Alan, carrying the machine and trading it for his bag and keys.

Efram's brows knit as he examined the device, watching the blue magic crackle from point to point inside it. "I... I guess we must've dumped some energy into it during the ritual," he said with a shrug.

Alan chuckled. "Maybe the energy elemental likes your design," he said, pausing at the earth well in the garage to steal a last kiss from Adam. Brooks had gotten his kisses during their hurried showers, and air and fire seemed to still be sleeping, the hearth banked and the house quiet without the air elemental's cheerful chatter.

"I think he did it on purpose," said Adam, sinking into the earth and preventing any further questions.

"Well, bring it along, we're late," said Alan, tossing his bag in the trunk and getting in to turn on the car.

Efram laughed and shook his head, stowing his own bag more carefully before joining Alan up front. "You, my Master, are a pain in the ass sometimes."

"I'm always careful!" protested Alan teasingly. He snuck his hand under Efram's bum to give it a squeeze, though he had to retrieve it quickly in order to shift. "At least with your ass."

Efram laughed and shook his head, and the miles flew by.

---

Jack had apparently put his head start to good use; he arrived at Alan's office a few minutes after his Master, bearing coffee in their new mugs. "I have to run, but I couldn't resist a peace offering," he said, setting down the carrier and taking his own mug out the door with him.

Alan chuckled. "You two are going to spoil me for future Apprentices," said Alan, handing Efram his cup and stealing a kiss.

"That's the idea," said Efram teasingly. He glanced up at the clock, then down at Alan's full in box with a sigh. "No time for morning mail, but I'll try to look through it after Meditation if you leave your desk unlocked."

"Bless you," said Alan. He closed the desk anyway, just to give the appearance of security, then snagged his coffee, his notes, and his Apprentice. "You know which key is the office?"

"Of course," said Efram, tugging out his keys and jingling them, the small artefact making a bell-like chime as it shook along with them.

Alan chuckled. "Come on, it's time to find some peace for our beleaguered souls."

Alan managed to calm his racing mind and get into the exercise he gave the students, enough to banish the morning's urgency. Alan gave Efram his cup and a kiss when they parted ways, Alan for Rituals I and Efram to tackle the mail. The first years in Rituals nearly ruined Alan's good mood all over again, but he set them to a small power-gathering exercise that stemmed the flow of idiot questions for a few minutes.

By the time class was over and lunch had arrived, Alan was already craving the relative peace of a house full of elementals and Apprentices.

Instead he got an office full of people -- Mark and Ron wanting lunch, and both of Alan's Apprentices with them. "Anything urgent in the mail?" Alan asked Efram, dropping his things onto his chair.

"There's some stuff you need to sign, but nothing you can't do during office hours," said Efram with a proud grin. "I took care of one thing for you, confirming our appointment tonight. Jack and I both have our Apprentice robes ready."

"Oh, god," said Alan, looking from one to the other. "That's tonight?"

Jack laughed. "That's tonight, and we have your things packed in the car. Adam and the air elemental told us what you'd need."

"Bless you," said Alan. He locked his desk this time, then pointedly left his work behind and said, "Pub?"

"Pub," said Mark with a grin. "I'm swearing in Ron tonight, too, and I think we could all use a drink."

The pub was busy as usual at that hour, but Mark traded on his status as a customer of long standing and much drinking to get them a coveted corner booth with room enough for all five of them, as long as they were willing to get a little cosy. Ron ended up on the end, with Mark, Jack, Alan and then Efram at the other end. "So, whose treat is it today?" asked Mark with a wicked glint in his eye.

"Yours, of course," said Ron cheerfully, looking over the menu. "You lost, remember?"

Mark chuckled. "You're sure?" he asked, eyeing the other three at the table.

"Sure of what?" asked Alan, positive he wouldn't like the answer.

"That Jack hasn't slept with Efram yet," said Ron with mischief in his eyes.

Efram chuckled, then tilted up his chin and said, "That depends on your definition of sleeping with."

Their laughter was interrupted by the waitress, and by the time she was gone, Jack and Efram seemed to have come to a tacit agreement not to let on to the precise status of their relationship.

"Well, if you won't settle the bet, then Alan will just have to pay," said Ron.

"Hey, how'd I get drawn into this?" said Alan laughingly. "If they won't settle the bet, you two can split the check as penance for betting on them in the first place."

Mark laughed. "That's no fun."

"But fair," said Efram, trying to look put out, though mostly he looked as amused as the rest of them.

Jack got the last word in by charging the whole meal to his father's credit card. "In support of our important research," he explained, grinning evilly.

---

"Did you talk to anyone about your machine?" asked Alan, pulling the latest stack of memos out of his inbox.

Efram blushed. "Not yet. I was hoping maybe you'd write to Master Etrangere for me?"

"All right, that's reasonable. Information sharing from one group to another," said Alan, pulling out a yellow notepad and passing it to Efram with a pencil. "You tell me what to say, and I'll rewrite it into a proper interdepartmental memo."

"Yes, O Lazy Master," said Efram with a laugh.

Alan rolled his eyes, and went through his mail. Efram had done a good job of weeding out the useless stuff and leaving him with the things he needed to read or sign, including a few add confirmations and one drop form, a formal acceptance of his two new TAs, and an application for a faculty parking permit. Efram had filled everything else out neatly, and Alan found himself out of paperwork in short order.

"Just in time," said Efram, passing over the pencilled copy. "This is really the technical parts, I figure you know what to say around it."

"I think so... Master Etrangere, in our studies we have come across, blah blah, right? You've got all your original references in here, wow, how do you remember all that?" said Alan, impressed.

Efram flushed red. "I've spent a lot of time defending my research," he said.

"Ah, of course, sorry," said Alan. He penned the letter, addressed it and copied a few relevant people -- mostly Mark and the other advanced ritual students -- and sent it off.

He hoped it would help at least as much as Victor's book had.

---

The end of office hours came far too quickly to Alan's mind, but he allowed himself to be bustled off to an early dinner regardless. He'd been starving all day despite the big lunch, and he made a mental note to stock up some high-energy snacks in his office if they were going to keep him doing magic at the rate he'd been. Dinner, too, flew by, and soon enough he found himself on the road to the Council Hall, with Mark's old truck chugging along behind.

"You know," he said conversationally, "I was planning to wait at least a year to settle into teaching before I took an Apprentice."

Jack laughed, and Efram ducked his head on a snicker. "Good thing you got outvoted," said Jack.

Efram grinned. "Just think, without us you wouldn't have Brooks or the other two elementals, not to mention still having stuff piled up in every available room of your house."

Alan sighed dramatically, but their good humour helped to bolster him. "I also wouldn't have so many mouths to feed, dishes to wash, beds to make..."

"Who wouldn't have dishes to wash?" said Efram disbelievingly.

"And I seem to remember Adam helping you out with feeding our hungry mouths," said Jack.

Alan snorted. "Not yet," he teased. "I'm pretty sure he'd have told me if one of you had gotten that brave."

Given their identical expressions of shocked embarrassment, he was glad he kept his car clear of any detritus. He wouldn't want them to have ammunition.

---

The Council Chambers were just as he remembered from his own investitures, big and imposing. And cold. Somehow the robes never provided adequate insulation against draughts along the marble floors.

Alan had always suspected the Councillors of cheating with personal warming charms. Or possibly long underwear.

He stood along one edge of the circle, at one point of the triangle inscribed inside it, and waited for the Chairman to speak. "Do you, Alan Harper, Master of your own Magic, take these two supplicants for your Apprentices?" he asked.

Alan tried not to think of it like a wedding, knowing it would be temporary and the two or three years he'd have them would go by in a flash. "I do."

"And do you, Efram Hawthorne and Jack Wellington, pledge yourselves to the learning of magic at the hands of Master Harper, binding your magic to his own until he feels you are ready for your Journeys?"

"I do," they echoed, slightly out of step with one another.

"So it shall be done," said the Chairman. He stepped to each point of the triangle and pricked each of their fingers, gathering a single drop of each of Apprentice's blood, which he then mingled in Alan's palm with Alan's own, rather more copious offering. Alan knelt down and pressed his bloody palm to the rune in front of him and the circle flared to life around them. He felt something in him, like a change in air pressure, and then he was aware of Efram and Jack on the same level he was aware of his own magic, personal rather than external.

"So it is done," said Alan, moving forward. He smeared a tiny bit of the mixed blood on his mouth, then kissed each of the boys, watching their faces carefully as he did so.

"It is a good match," said the Chairman, moving over to the second circle, this one containing Mark and Ron.

Alan grinned and led Efram and Jack to the sidelines. "He's right, you know," said Alan quietly.

"Right about what?" whispered Jack.

Efram licked his lips, then answered for Alan. "Right that we're a good match, the three of us."

Jack's face brightened into a blinding grin. "Oh," was all he said.

But Alan could feel his magic jumping for joy.

Chapter 22

For all that it began with their official Apprenticeship, the week was largely uneventful. Alan taught classes, the students found ways to frustrate him, and Jack and Efram got settled into their respective rooms with a minimum of squabbling. Having four elementals working together to maintain Alan's home resulted in a number of neglected chores getting done. Thus, Friday evening found him lounging in his newly-repaired bathtub with an apprentice on either side, Brooks making interesting waves in the water, and Adam sitting on the opposite edge, dangling his feet in.

"Despite the extra meals, long hours, and nonstop sex," said Alan with a wry grin, "I have to say you guys are making it worthwhile."

The air elemental swirled around above them, ruffling their hair before he settled on the edge next to Adam. "I find the energy here is more than abundant," it said, toes making little wavelets.

Alan grinned tiredly, feeling the heat sink into his bones. "I'm glad," he said, forcing himself to reach for the peaches in honey and cream they'd brought to snack on. "I was beginning to despair of ever keeping the four of you fed."

One of the many candles festooning the room grew brighter, a face dancing in its flame. "We are more than well-fed, Alan Harper, do not bring harm to yourself in trying to keep up."

Alan chuckled. "It's been quite a change, going from puttering around the house with Adam to four elementals, two apprentices, four classes and a research project," he admitted.

"We try to make things easier," said Efram, stealing a bite of peach from the big bowl.

Jack stole a kiss instead. "How can we help keep from wearing you out?"

Alan sighed. "I'm not sure you can," he admitted. "Well, other than making sure I eat enough, and that the elementals aren't feeling neglected."

"I don't feel neglected at all," said Brooks, giving a little shiver that transmitted itself through the water like a caress. "Showers and baths are the best inventions ever."

Adam grinned. "The only request I have is that we fix the wards this weekend, so that the elementals may safely sport throughout the house." He gave a distinctly predatory look to both Jack and Efram and added, "I am enjoying your apprentices' increasing comfort levels."

Jack blushed, and Efram giggled. "I like the taste of you," said Efram, reaching out to run a wet finger over Adam, leaving dark designs that vanished slowly as the water was absorbed into Adam's skin.

"Do you now?" said Alan, eyebrows going up.

Efram leaned in for another kiss, and another piece of peach. "I do," he said, holding the fruit up to Alan's lips.

Alan laughed and gave in, letting the two boys take turns feeding him kisses and fruit, and making sure they took plenty for themselves.

---

Alan started his office hours feeling almost as though they were getting the hang of things. Jack had left him a fresh cup of coffee, and Efram had sorted through his mail, leaving everything in two neat stacks of "read" or "sign" -- everything else was filed somewhere, whether the trash or its proper place in Alan's cabinet.

Alan was nearly done with the "read" stack, after he'd gotten everything signed and sent away, and was looking forward to grading the first Rituals I papers with a slightly sadistic glee.

"Professor?"

Alan whirled, startled. "Oh, Dennis. What can I do for you?"

Dennis stepped into the room with a shy duck of his head, cheeks going a familiar pink. "I was wondering if you had time to talk to me about my Foundation path? I don't have an adviser yet, they're short on faculty so the first years didn't get them this time."

Alan smiled warmly and gestured to the seat. "I'd be glad to, just let me put these away," he said, tucking the papers safely into their folder. "Are you thinking of going into rituals or sex magic?"

Dennis' Adam's apple bobbed and he nodded. "At first it was just rituals, you know, runic circles and the like, but seeing you with the air elemental got me, well, interested. Really interested. In sex magic, I mean."

Alan's smile grew from professional warmth to genuine caring; he could remember how it felt to be discovering these things, even if he'd done it before he got to university. "Was it me, or the elemental?" he asked gently.

Dennis blushed a bright red. "Ah, both, really. You together."

"Brilliant," said Alan, and meant it. "That means it's not a crush, at any rate. Why don't we make an appointment for you to meet the air elemental in person?"

"You can do that?" asked Dennis, head popping back up again with excitement.

Alan grinned. "I can do that," he said. He might have to bribe the little elemental with some extra attention to restore the energy it would waste manifesting so far from the house, but it would be worth it. "And then you should definitely enroll in elemental magic next term if you skipped it this term, if you find it's the elemental that, erm, sparks your interest."

"I was going to take it this term, but it was full," said Dennis, sounding quite disappointed. "If I do, you know, will you be my adviser? Officially?"

Alan nodded and patted his knee. "If you promise it's not just a way to get into my trousers, I'll gladly take you on. I'm sure they plan to assign the first years around before the term is out regardless."

"Thank you!" said Dennis, sounding relieved enough for Alan to wonder if he wasn't the first person Dennis had approached. "I'd love to have another meeting and just talk about my options, if we can?"

"We can and will," said Alan, flipping open the schedule on his desk. Just last week it would have seemed like another burden to bear, but Alan was finally getting enough into the rhythm of his new life that he thought this was one aspect of the job he'd welcome.

When Dennis left, they were both smiling, and Alan was relieved to see that he still had time to tackle the Rituals I papers. He stuck Dennis' near the bottom and got to work, letting the afternoon while itself away around him.

---

"Have you made any progress?" asked Marie exasperatedly.

Geoffrey rolled his eyes. "It isn't that simple," he retorted. "I have made progress, but what I really have for us is another set of options."

"Options are better than roadblocks," said Mark philosophically, shifting in his chair. They'd finally made time for another meeting of the advanced student group, and so far it wasn't going all that well. "Why don't you tell us about it?"

Geoffrey glanced nervously around the circle, then shuffled through notes he clearly didn't need. "Well, I think I can solve the circles in one of three ways," he said, gaze flitting from person to person without ever coming to rest. "We can try to power it with moon magic, which will be slow but steady, and there's a way to amplify the effect to accelerate the refill of the power wells." He swallowed audibly. "But, we'd need to find a pure moon goddess to volunteer for the rite, and we'd probably need more genuine moon-worshippers than just Ron."

"Makes sense," said Alan encouragingly. "It sounds like that isn't going to be our option, but there are moon covens out there that might be able to field the resources. Can you write up the circle and details for that option for publication?"

That seemed to be just what Geoffrey needed to hear, and he straightened and nodded. "Yes, with Ron's help I think we can lay out a full moon rite that will work for those who have a proper coven."

"I'm happy to, maybe we can co-publish under Mark's name?" said Ron hopefully.

Mark grunted his consent, and gestured for Geoffrey to move on.

"Right, yes, well. Anyway, the second option is sex magic. I looked into straight elemental magic, but the circles couldn't ever match up properly, no matter what I did. I had to add in the extra symbols," he shuffled out a sheet of meticulous designs to be passed around, "to make it all work. And sex fits the best, but that would leave either Alan or Marie out."

"Alan's got a lot more experience, and from what I've heard, power," said Marie philosophically. "Maybe I can watch and then take the rite on the road, if it's a success?"

"That might not be necessary, though I appreciate the offer," said Alan. "I know you have your license to think of, so we'll keep the possible options open."

"I'd like you both to help me work out that ritual anyway, I, erm," Geoffrey blushed, "I don't have much experience with the, uh, interpersonal geometry." He made gestures with his hands that were both innocent and dirty at once, and made it clear just what he meant.

"I'm happy to help you both," said Alan, holding in the sigh at one more bit of free time lost. "Jack and Efram should be along for our meetings if we can schedule it, for the experience."

"An evening sometime," said Geoffrey, and they all looked relieved.

"Sounds perfect," said Marie, speaking for everyone. "How about we meet at Alan's infamous home?" she suggested impishly.

"I've heard he's a very good cook," said Geoffrey, clearly as eager to see the arrangements for himself as Marie.

Alan sighed, but gave in. "Dinner at my- our place it is, then," he said, acknowledging that it wasn't just his home anymore.

Efram practically glowed.

"What's the third option?" asked Jack curiously.

"Ah, well, that's another one I'm not sure anyone will like," said Geoffrey with a sigh. "Since machines took the energy out of the areas, I think it would be possible, using this rite," he showed them a different page copied from the old folio, "to create an artefact that would concentrate power in the area, using elementals."

"That's a lot to ask of an elemental, especially energy," said Alan dubiously.

Mark took the sheet and looked over the page. "You said the one you had powered up Efram's machine on its own?" he asked.

"Well, yes, but we did give it an offering. I'm not sure what could possibly lure down enough elementals and get them to agree to such a bargain," said Alan.

Efram blushed. "My little artefact didn't really need much power, anyway, it's designed as an amplifier. I've already given it to Victor, maybe we should give him your notes about the ritual as well? Although..." He leaned in to look over Mark's shoulder for a moment. "I can already see a few problems that I solved in my own research. So, we may have to slip things over to their camp in some way that won't connect any of it to me."

"Politics are so stupid," said Jack, annoyed. "If we find an artefact-based solution to the problem, Efram should get the credit, not keep getting vilified for thinking of it first."

They all looked surprised at that, and Jack flushed.

"Thanks," said Efram, laying a hand on Jack's arm.

"So," said Mark, handing the sheet back to Geoffrey, "our plan is threefold. First, Geoffrey and Ron write up a publishable paper on the moon solution. Second, we get together at Alan's to meet his elementals and work on the sex rite. And finally, Efram and Geoffrey work together to polish up the artefact idea, and we find some way to slip that info to the other team."

"Like Victor did with the book," reminded Alan.

Mark nodded. "Sounds good, then. Time for a drink! Who's for the pub with me?" he said with an evil grin.

Given his penchant for getting his companions to stand the first rounds, everyone but Geoffrey declined. But seeing the glint of work-mania in Geoffrey's eyes, Alan privately thought that this time it was Mark who'd get more than he bargained for.

---

"So," said Alan, leaning in Mark's doorway, "you're going to help me write these midterms, right?"

Mark chuckled. "I should've known that was coming," he replied. He reached out his cane and snaked a chair into place. "Sit, sit."

"I know it's not for a few weeks yet, but I want to make sure I cover everything in class that's on the tests, and..."

"And you're new, and that's what old goats like me are good for," said Mark. "Now sit, you're straining my neck."

Alan laughed with relief and sat.

---

Alan paused at the door to his bedroom, surprised to find the bed occupied. Efram lay on his back, naked and splayed like an offering, with the air elemental floating above him and Adam planted firmly between his legs. He giggled and moaned, eyes closed and hands buried in the sheets, clearly enjoying the attentions of the two elementals.

"Are you sure?" asked Adam, doing something with his hands that made Efram gasp.

Efram nodded. "I'm sure, ohgod, please!" he said, spreading wider.

The air elemental swooped down, laying itself out over Efram's torso, little hands teasing at his nipples and mouth moving over his in a sensual kiss. "Thank you for sharing this with me," it said warmly.

"L-love you both, oh please, Adam, now!" said Efram.

Alan felt a small twinge of envy and voyeuristic guilt, but the rule in the house had become that open doors were open invitations, at least to watch, so he stayed.

Adam moved, and Alan realized that he was making love to Efram just as he had to Alan many times since that first. "You are very warm inside," said Adam, little hips working.

"You're, god, so smooth and solid," gasped Efram, before letting himself be drawn back into the air elemental's kisses.

It was too much for Alan, who remembered well the feeling of Adam, inside him and curled around him, the whole small body used to caress his most sensitive parts. He pulled his own cock out of his trousers and stroked, feeding his own energy into the mix without intruding physically, a function of the new interconnecting wards they'd set up under the whole house.

"Alan, fuck, Adam, yes, fuck!" Efram swore, writhing more now, toes curling and back arched.

The air elemental had grown less substantial, and Alan's hand went faster, remembering how it felt to be caressed all over by those teasing puffs of air, warm and cool at once, like making love to the breeze on a sunny summer's day. Alan let his moans drift on the air with Efram and Adam's, their pleasure mingling on several levels. Something clicked, and suddenly their motions all matched for just long enough, and then Efram peaked, dragging them all down into release with him.

Alan chuckled when his semen failed to hit the floor, instead showering over Brooks, who had been drawn to the energy in the room just as Alan had.

"Enjoy the show?" asked Efram teasingly, legs curled around Adam, holding the small body close inside him.

Alan blushed, then moved to sit beside him on the bed. "You know I did. Any particular reason you chose my bed for the staging?"

Efram sat up and kissed Alan sweetly, then pulled his hand down to feel the place where Adam still held him speared. "I wanted you to be a part of our first lovemaking," said Efram. "Your scent and aura, if not you."

Alan smiled softly, kissing him and then leaning down to kiss Adam, tasting just a hint of Efram's seed and skin on the dusty lips. "I'm glad I was here for it, then," he said, curling his clothed body around them both while Adam finished cleaning up the rest of Efram's come.

"Me, too," said Efram.

The air elemental giggled, curling up on Efram's chest and claiming kisses from them both. "Me three!"

"You've really grown comfortable with them," said Alan, stroking over the air elemental's back, then cupping his hand around the curve of Adam's head.

Efram's expression grew warm and slightly embarrassed. "I really do love them all," he said, pressing a kiss to the air elemental's mouth. "And you," he added shyly, kissing Alan.

"They all know I love them," teased Alan, though he grew serious when he added, "and you."

A different sort of energy shivered into the wards when their lips met.

---

"Why did I think being a First Year Advisor was a good idea?" asked Alan rhetorically. He was behind on everything from grading to actually getting the midterms copied and ready to go, and instead of peaceful office hours he had Dennis and two more first years coming in for his sage advice on their futures, as though he'd done such a great job with his own. At least he'd managed to fob off his tutoring duties onto his Apprentices; the administration didn't care who did the tutoring, so long as the grades improved.

Efram chuckled from where he was working on grading the pop quizzes from Runic Circles. "Because you sympathize with the plight of the confused firstie with no idea what he wants to be when he grows up?"

"I thought it was just because the administration forced you to," said a wry voice from the doorway.

Alan flushed. "You must be Charles," he said, turning back to look at the young man in the doorway. He wasn't in any of Alan's classes, but Banebridge's office had assigned him to Alan's care nonetheless.

"Charlie, please," he said, shaking Alan's proffered hand. "I assume this is for me?"

Alan nodded, and Charlie folded down into the chair, long limbs making him look like he should be awkward, though he seemed unselfconscious about it. "So, what brings you looking for advice?" asked Alan, pulling out one of his ubiquitous legal pads and finding a fresh sheet.

"I'm a late enroll, so I couldn't get into many of the classes for my area of interest," said Charlie bluntly. "Elemental magic."

Alan nodded; it wasn't officially his speciality, but it was fast becoming a secondary area of expertise. "So you want to help craft a course of study for this year that will put you back on track for next year?"

"Yeah, pretty much," said Charlie. "I'm mostly in non-magical requirement classes this term, those always make room for whoever needs them."

"Have you got a copy of your schedule?" asked Alan, making a few notes. "What specifically is your connection to the elements?" he asked idly.

"That's part of the problem," Charlie replied, fumbling through his backpack. "I don't seem to have one. I'm fascinated by them, but I can't seem to make a connection."

Alan's brows knit. "But you do have magic?"

Charlie sighed. "I test very high, but I haven't found any outlet for it. I thought maybe elementals, they're so fascinating and they enjoy power, so they could, I don't know, drink me and do my bidding or whatever."

Alan heard Efram stifle a laugh behind him, which gave him the help he needed to keep his own features straight. He accepted Charlie's schedule and glanced over it. "You're not in any ritual magic classes at all, that's too bad," said Alan, though he was aware that most of his own classes had filled up. "Still, you'll have a lot of your other requirements done."

"That's helpful in theory, but I just feel like I don't belong," said Charlie unhappily. "The one magic course I'm in is potions, and that's mostly about following instructions."

"You do have to infuse the result with your own power," pointed out Alan, contemplating ideas for Charlie for his next term. Unfortunately most of the serious magic courses were two terms long, and having missed out this term might end up putting him a whole year behind. "Have you had any luck with that?"

"Oh yeah, Professor Jameson says I add a lot of power, but my methods are sloppy so my potions aren't always viable," said Charlie with a shrug.

"That was one of my problems," said Alan, "but you learn to overcome it when you're doing what really calls you. I think your best bet will be to take some of the intro-level courses next term and get a wider taste of magic, and then choose a proper concentration next year."

Charlie nodded, though he didn't look well pleased. "I suppose that's a good idea, but won't I end up in class with a lot of math and art majors looking to make their requirements?"

"Unfortunately, that's all that'll be available. It's too late in the term to try to squeeze you into an existing class, and it sounds like what you really need is more time to decide what moves you," said Alan firmly.

Charlie sighed. "All right, yeah, accept what you can't change, right?" he said with a wry grin, shoving his schedule back into his pack and standing. "I'll make another appointment after midterms, to pick my spring classes?"

"That's perfect," said Alan, relieved that he wouldn't be called in to counsel this one more thoroughly or personally. He had his personal hands very full, after all.

Charlie thanked him and left, and he found himself with a lap full of grinning Efram. "See? That wasn't so bad."

Alan laughed and kissed him thoroughly before shoving him off. "It wasn't so bad, but I need more coffee anyway," he said, draining the last of his cup and holding it out meaningfully.

"Yes, O Wise and Demanding Master," said Efram, taking the cup with a laugh.

Alan felt just a little better about things as he watched Efram's pleasantly familiar behind bounce away.

---

"Now she's hidden all the colored paper?" said Alan, giving the copier a frustrated little kick. "All I want is some blue!"

"Just ask Madame's secretary," drawled Victor from the doorway. "A little birdie told me you had something for me?"

"Yes, and I'm tired of carrying it around, so I'm glad you finally found me," said Alan, rummaging among his papers for the fat file folder of artefact-related data. "If there's any way to manage it, Efram should get some credit. This is his research."

Victor nodded, flipping through it. "I never wanted to send him running to you, he was a promising student, but choices had to be made." He slipped the papers in amongst a stack of his own copying and went to the other machine.

"We made some progress in other areas, I think we're going to end up with different solutions for different situations," said Alan, copying everything but the top sheets of his midterms. He'd make Jack and Efram collate and staple them tonight, once he got his colored paper to make the covers.

"Good," said Victor.

For a long while there was no sound in the room except the rumble of copy machines and the shuffle of paper.

Alan let himself smile when Victor unwound enough to say quietly, "Thanks."

Chapter 23

After midterms, things slowed down for a few weeks. The last of the canning was done, and the Apprentices and elementals ganged up on Alan to get him to buy a big chest freezer, so frozen apples, peaches and even some late berries were stocked up for winter. Alan got caught up in his grading, and was starting to think he had the hang of this whole thing -- master and magician, teacher and lover, advisor and friend.

That, of course, was when Efram threw them all for a loop.

They were curled together in Alan's bed one evening, watching a movie on Efram's laptop and tossing popcorn at each other and the elementals. At the closing credits, Efram rolled over and put his hand on Jack's stomach. "Can I f- make love to you?" asked Efram, his voice mild but with an edge of challenge.

Jack looked startled, but nodded readily. "Anything, if it'll... Anything."

"It's a start," said Efram, a grin turning the words into a joke between them. He looked at Alan and then asked, "You'll be in me?"

Alan grinned right back. "Anytime you like," he said, then paused and added, "Except when I'm trying to work. I don't think my Runic Circles class would appreciate the lesson."

Jack laughed. "It'd probably be good for them," he said.

"We should leave you to your sport," said Adam, pressing a kiss to each of their mouths in turn before climbing out of bed. "This is between you humans."

"Thank you," said Efram, cheeks going slightly pink, though he was grinning as he spoke. "I'm sure you'll be welcome next time, though, just imagine the energy."

"Oh, we are," assured Adam, his voice warm with a lust and affection that Alan knew he hadn't been properly capable of a few short months ago.

Jack was already scrambling out of his clothes, and Alan followed suit, Efram looking smug in between them as he leisurely stripped off his shirt. "It's good to be wanted," he said.

"Maybe I just don't want you to have time to change your mind," teased Jack, but it held none of the bitterness that might have been there before. He snagged the lube, finding the bottle slippery from its last use and nearly dropping it on Efram's head.

Efram snatched the bottle away with a laugh, pouring some into his palm. "Roll over and present," he said.

"Sir, yes, sir," teased Jack, but he obeyed, shifting onto his stomach and spreading his legs to give Efram access.

"Good boy," said Efram, giving his arse a pat. "Ready?"

"As I have ever been," said Jack sincerely.

Alan laughed and made it his job to divest Efram of the rest of his clothing while Efram opened Jack up and Jack made a number of delightful noises in response. "I always knew you liked bottoming more than you let on," teased Alan.

"Like sex," gasped Jack.

Efram and Alan both chuckled.

"Lube?" offered Efram, though his hands were busy with Jack.

"Not yet," said Alan, starting where he was at the end of the bed and kissing his way up the back of Efram's legs, teasing little licks along the seam of his closed thighs before spreading his cheeks to lick at the dusky opening between them. "Better than lube," said Alan, and then he dove in and began to love the tender entrance with his mouth, delving into every little wrinkle and crevice before working his tongue into the tight centre.

"Oh, f-fuck, better, yes," stammered Efram, and Alan grinned smugly to himself.

"Soon, Efram, I need it soon," moaned Jack. His voice had lost all trace of its teasing tone and was filled with pure, vulnerable need.

Alan groaned and licked deeper, fumbling around until his hands found the smooth shape of the lube bottle. He got a finger slick and worked it in with his tongue, though he lost his place when Efram shifted and moved, getting into position behind Jack, who had brought his knees up to present himself in a delightfully shameless manner.

"Hold that thought," said Efram, stealing the lube back to get himself slick.

Alan grinned and slipped a second finger in to continue the work of his tongue. "Don't mind me," he said, grinning.

Efram's answering laugh was broken by little hitching breaths as Alan thrust his fingers into the tight, familiar space. "I never do," he managed to get out, then he turned back and tried to concentrate on what he was doing, rather than what was being done to him.

Alan slowed his thrusting, wanting to let them have their moment alone, though he snuck a hand underneath them both to toy with Jack's balls, using simple touch to remind them both that he, too, was a part of this reconciliation. Efram thrust forward and stopped abruptly, and Jack groaned as if he was dying, which Alan took as a good sign.

"Ready for me?" asked Alan, sitting up and finding a condom and some lube for his own eager erection.

"I'm ready for anything that makes him move," said Jack, with heartfelt sincerity that made Alan chuckle.

"Your wish is my command," he said, getting into position behind Efram. Softly, breath whispering along the shell of Efram's ear, Alan asked again, "Ready?"

"So ready," said Efram, turning his head for a kiss.

Alan obliged him doubly by kissing him even as he thrust his hips forward, driving Efram that tiny extra bit into Jack as he sank himself into Efram's body with a sigh. It felt different this time, Jack's sparking energy filtered through Efram's warmth rather than melding directly with Alan's own magic. "So good," he sighed, wrapping his arms around Efram and kissing him one more time. "You lead."

Efram stole a last kiss, and smiled. "I waited until I knew I could," he teased, pulling out and pushing Alan back at the same time, hands holding firmly onto Jack's hips.

Alan chuckled and Jack moaned, both cutting off as Efram began to move in earnest. His hips thrust back and forth, cock plunging into Jack and his body grasping Alan, sucking Alan back in even as he pulled away from Jack. Over and over again the cycle repeated, energy building between them as Jack's nervous need evened out into a rush of delicious lust, Efram's warm affection heated up into desire, and Alan let them blend inside him with the physical sensations into pure pleasure.

"Soon, soon," chanted Jack, each word gasped out at the height of Efram's forward thrusts, followed by ragged inward breaths as Efram drew back again and again.

"Very soon," whispered Alan, feeding their pleasure back to them along with his own, slipping his fingers along Efram's skin and tickling with is magic, reaching forward to do the same to what parts of Jack he could reach. Efram was in control, but Alan was still far more experienced in handling the energies no matter who his partner was, and he used that to heighten the sensations for all three of them.

"N-n-now!" said Efram, stuttering as Alan's fingers sent sparks of magic to his sensitive nipples.

Alan took that for his cue and thrust forward just as Efram did, so they were all as deep as they could go when orgasm hit Efram, the whirlwind of his release pulling theirs along with it, channelling all the built-up energy into the house wards where the elementals could feast on the delicious intensity of it.

The moment seemed to last a hundred years and was probably more like ten seconds, but when the last erg of magic finally drained away they were all three left panting and sated. Alan had the presence of mind to guide them down together, curled spoon-fashion in the mussed sheets, and he called silently for their friends to help clean them up so they could sleep after the incredible experience.

"Sometimes," said Brooks with a little giggle as his warm hands swept away the mess, "I think you three could power a city all by yourselves."

Adam laughed, pulling the covers up over them and snuggling up in the curl of Jack's languid form. "Lucky us, then, that they share."

A soft breeze cleared the air both physically and magically, and the air elemental's grinning face appeared to claim a kiss from each of the tired humans. "Very lucky indeed," it teased, disappearing so that only its giggle was left.

"On days like this," said fire, its voice a heated purr coming from the row of candles down by the foot of the bed, "even the energy elemental would have been well satisfied."

Alan chuckled, but he couldn't form a response, and instead he let sleep draw him down into its dark embrace just as he felt something warm against his back, Brooks learning not to make a wet spot or the air elemental taking on a more solid form for a few moments, or even the fire elemental. He was too tired to tell, and too secure in his surroundings to care, the last gap in rapport between the three of them finally closing.

The last thing he heard was a strange, delighted laugh following him down into sleep.

---

"How are Ron and Geoffrey doing on the moon rite?" asked Alan, settling into one of the free chairs in Mark's office.

Mark snorted. "Who are you hiding from?" he retorted.

Alan flushed. "One of my advisory students. I think he's got a little crush, and I have all the action I can handle right now," he complained.

Mark laughed.

"Thanks, you're a great help," griped Alan. "And that doesn't negate my first question. If we're going to send the paper out in time to be useful we should think about getting it vetted soon. Midwinter is coming up fast, and it's practically a full moon this year."

"Yes, yes," said Mark, a little tetchy. "I haven't checked in with them since midterms, but they were making good progress."

"Well, it's probably time to give them a-"

"Professor Harper?" asked a familiar hopeful voice from the doorway.

Alan sighed. "Yes, Dennis, what can I do for you?" he asked, standing resignedly.

Mark chuckled. "Go on, I'll be sure to keep you in the loop."

Dennis looked nervous, but determined. "I wanted to know if you could help me out with this elemental summoning ritual I found," he began, holding up a book that Alan himself had checked out of the library many times in his student years.

"I expect I can do that," said Alan, giving in to the inevitable. At least he'd been promised dinner out tonight, so he could shovel in as many calories as possible and be guaranteed at least one or two hours to recover.

---

It turned out Dennis had only wanted help with a solo conjuration, having been stuck on how to choose the right-size task to ask the elemental to do once it was summoned. Alan had given him an impromptu lesson on bargaining, and made it out to dinner with most of his energy still intact, swirling nervously through him. It wasn't until dessert that he realized he hadn't gone this long without feeding energy to someone in days.

"We'll, um, feed the elementals when we get home, right?" he asked.

Efram chuckled, but Jack looked at him more astutely. "You're practically vibrating," he said, running a finger down the back of Alan's hand and getting a crackle of static for his troubles. "What's wrong?"

Alan shrugged. "I think that I've been producing to keep up with demand, and now that I've had a slow day, I've got more power than I know what to do with," he confided.

Efram looked concerned. "You won't burn yourself out, will you?" he asked.

Alan swallowed, then shook his head. "I don't think it's that bad yet," he said, remembering the few times as a student when he'd tried to hold back and nearly fried himself after a week without any unnecessary expenditures of energy, "but I do think we need to make sure I have plenty of outlets, just in case."

"Oh!" said Efram, then he grinned. "I've got just the thing -- Victor sent over a new prototype based off my notes, asking if we could see fit to give the thing a bit of a charge for him to experiment with."

"Why doesn't he do it himself?" asked Jack suspiciously.

"He uses up most of his personal magic in teaching and keeping up the extra lab wards," said Alan. "Not to mention the ongoing projects I'm sure he couldn't just drop when this one came up."

"Besides," said Efram wryly, "this way he can run the design past me without having to actually ask for help."

They all laughed, and Alan breathed a sigh of relief when the check showed up a minute later. He wasn't in serious danger of overloading himself yet, but he was closer than he wanted to admit.

---

"The living room, I think," said Alan, glancing around for a suitable space to do the ritual to charge Victor's new machine. "Or, no, I don't want to fry any of Jack's expensive electronics. Damn, we really need to get that work room fixed up."

"The bedroom will be fine, now that we've changed the wards," said Efram confidently. He'd done most of the calculations himself, with the air elemental's help.

Alan nodded, rubbing his hands against his thighs. "Now, then," he said, stalking toward the bedroom and stripping off.

"It is the joining," said Adam, climbing up out of one of the earth wells. He shooed the Apprentices toward the bedroom and explained once Alan could hear. "Your two boys used to drain energy from you, and now that they are Apprentices, they bolster you instead. You're not used to it."

Alan swallowed and nodded, already in the bed with the lube in hand. "You all can take the release?" he asked.

"Oh yes," said the fire elemental, curling up out of the candles. "But soon you will need other outlets."

"You need to start doing rituals again, Master Harper," said the air elemental, fading into existence in the air above him. "There are always local groups needing experienced assistance."

"Not to mention your delicious power," added Brooks, slinking out of the bathroom with a smirk on his face. "We hate to share, but if we do not, soon your land will become as saturated as you are now."

Alan laughed. "Great, all I need to do is go live in the drained power-poles for a while and everything'll be fine," he said, nervous and needy.

Jack and Efram had stripped efficiently while the elementals were talking, and they each climbed in one side of the bed, the device nestling in the tangle of bedclothes at the foot. "I'm going to top you," said Jack, taking the lube and pouring some into his hand, and then into Efram's.

"You'll pour into me, and I'll power the device," said Efram, opening himself up with the ease of much recent practice.

Alan moaned, feeling the energy spark when Jack's fingers slipped inside him, first two and then three. "I'll be quick," he warned, shivering as his power reached out for his apprentices, drawing them all together into a unit even before their bodies were joined.

"You'll take us with you," assured Jack.

Efram moved to hands and knees, bracing himself against the footboard with Victor's new device below him. "I'm ready," he said.

Alan groaned. "So ready," he agreed, moving forward to part the globes of Efram's arse and just look, for a moment, at the pink, glistening entrance hiding there. "I never told you how much it meant to me, that you gave me this," he said, feeling reckless and almost high with the overload.

"I know, ohgod, just-" Efram's words were cut off as Alan sank into him, and they all groaned in unison when Jack joined them, closing the circuit and raising the tide of their combined energy that tiny bit higher.

There were no more words, just motion, Alan rocking back and forth into the demands of each boy's body, following the rhythm of their magic. It ebbed and flowed between them until Alan's nerves were strung taut and his balls even tighter, and he gasped when the elementals came to circle around them.

"We will drink the excess," said Adam confidently.

That was all the reassurance Alan needed, and he let it all explode out of him, first into Jack, who then fed it back, through him and into Efram. Efram gasped and mewled, pleasure and magic both so intense he could hardly stammer out the few words of the simple rite, feeding the energy sloppily into the machine until it could hold no more, then out and into the elementals surrounding them.

It was, Alan thought, the longest orgasm of his life.

The collapsed together, curling to one side like discarded spoons, the artefact glowing eerily in the dim room.

"I am glad you left your invitation open," said a voice that Alan had heard only once before. He blinked tiredly and looked toward it, less surprised than he thought he'd be to see the energy elemental in the circle right alongside the others.

Alan swallowed, then managed to answer, "I'm glad you were here to keep our household safe."

"You are... More, now, than you were when you first called me," it said, alien eyes sparkling with something that might have been mischief. "It tastes good." It slid one hand up the violet-bright shaft of its cock, then down to cup the plasma balls below. "I am well pleased indeed."

"The wards don't drain him as much, and neither do we," said Efram. "Will you come back, next time he needs help?"

It smirked. "I am always pleased to partake when there is such energy to be had," it said. Then, with a burst of sparks and a strong scent of ozone, it vanished.

Alan flopped back onto the bed, and Jack. "You two are going to be the death of me," he complained.

Jack laughed and kissed him. "At least you'll die happy."

---

"Why not?" Mark was demanding of Ron, when Alan wandered into his office a few days later.

Ron sighed, looking weary and pale. "Well, it will work, but not for six more years. Only a full moon on the winter solstice is going to be strong enough to get the kind of blessing we need. We can still publish, but it's not the immediate solution we're looking for."

"Well, that sucks," said Alan, giving him a gentle clap on one shoulder. "Still, we tried, and some things were bound to be blind alleys."

Mark grunted, then sighed. "You did good work, Ron, don't worry," he said grudgingly.

"I think it could be really good for the country to arrange a specific pattern of these blessings, when it is possible," said Ron tiredly. "It's a long-term project, but if enough groups can be formed in the meantime, we could really make a difference just by bringing the blessings of the Moon Goddess on the country."

"It sounds like you know what your next step is, then," said Alan, "but take a break first. You look ragged."

Ron flushed, then laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, I've been working hard to disprove my own calculations, but there's no use. It's just not going to work until the solstice is a full moon, which means I don't need to rush to publish before it's too late now."

"Which means you need to rest, and I need to talk to Geoffrey about the other projects," said Mark gruffly. "Go on. I don't want to see you in here for at least a couple of days."

"Gladly, sir. Professor," said Ron, nodding tiredly to them both and taking his leave.

Alan sat. "Disappointing, but we knew some of them might be blind alleys," he said.

"Victor's group is making decent progress, thanks to Efram's notes," said Mark with a shrug. "I guess I'd hoped we'd show him up."

"That way lies madness," teased Alan, shaking his head. "We've just got to do what we're good at, and let the other team do their thing, and remember that it's the goal that matters, not who gets there first."

"This time, anyway," said Mark, mischief in his eyes.

Alan laughed. "Speaking of Victor," he said, "we powered up a new prototype for him last night."

"And?" said Mark. "You wouldn't be here just for that."

"Buy me lunch and I'll tell you," said Alan, glad that they'd all made a special effort that morning to drain him of any excess energy. He was nervous enough when he thought about last night, without adding in the jitters.

Mark raised one eyebrow, but levered himself up out of his chair anyway. "All right, I might as well," he said, pretending to be put upon.

Alan smirked. "I'll drive us to the pub," he offered, jangling his keys.

"Excellent, then I can have two pints," said Mark with a wicked grin.

Alan shook his head in mock-consternation. "You'd better not be doing any rituals in your classes this afternoon."

Mark snorted. "Then it'd be three," he said, getting into the Mini with a grunt. "This thing's like a clown car, bigger on the inside," he complained good-naturedly.

Alan got in on his side and shook his head. "How are your classes going, anyway? I'm starting to wonder what'll happen next year when the new crop of apprentice-age kids gets their Foundation degrees, and finds every Master in the country is full up."

Mark shook his head. "That's a problem for next year, but you're right that it will be an issue." A snort, and he added, "Of course, you've already got two, so it won't be your problem."

"It had better not, I'm out of room," said Alan, in all sincerity.

"And here I thought you were going to say they were wearing you ragged," said Mark, eyebrows going up curiously.

Alan sighed. "Well, yes and no." He pulled into the pub's lot and parked, then got out and waited for Mark. "Actually, apparently they're boosting my magical output to new levels."

"Nothing dangerous, I trust?" asked Mark, looking curious and a little concerned.

Alan flushed, remembering the exercises he'd done when he was younger, to dampen down his energy production when he wasn't siphoning enough of it off in rituals and classwork. He waited for the waitress to seat them and take their orders for a pint each -- bitter for Mark, and lager for himself -- before he answered. "I had a bit of a crisis yesterday, the boys were both too busy for anything until after dinner and we'd woken late."

"Well, you seem fine now," said Mark, his gruff voice just a little uncertain.

"I am fine now, mainly because all five elements helped to drink off the excess," he said. "We made it back to the house in time, and apparently the energy elemental who'd shown at the binding ritual has been hanging around just in case."

"Hanging around just in case?" asked Mark.

Alan rather wished he'd already had his beer, just so Alan could've watched him splutter it. "Well, magical residences do get a lot of lightning strikes, not to mention the energy runoff that Adam tells me we've been putting into the ecosystem around the area."

"I guess such creatures are less elusive than they like to let on," said Mark with a shrug. "I thought they mostly lived up in clouds and the like."

Alan shrugged, too, then thanked the waitress for his drink and ordered lunch. When she was gone, he said casually, "Be a pretty crappy place to live during a heat wave, then."

This time, Mark did snort his beer.

"You did that on purpose," he accused, once he got the liquid mopped off his face.

"Wouldn't you?" said Alan, sipping his lager. "Anyway, the upshot is that the whole group of elementals suggested I should start volunteering to help out in some rites again, like I used to before I was teaching. Jack and Efram are going to spend the afternoon divvying up more of my school work so I have the time to siphon off some of this excess." He gave his fingers a demonstrative flick, sending harmless sparks of violet and red into the air.

"That's a lot of excess," said Mark, almost sounding envious. Alan's family had a long history of such power problems, but Alan had hoped his current household would be enough to keep him in check.

Apparently, it wasn't to be. He sighed and picked up his drink. "So anyway, if you'd like to keep your ear to the ground for any appropriate rites..."

Mark snorted. "You've only got to let it slip to one of the gossipy hens in admin and it'll be all over the net in a day or two. You were pretty popular before, and you're not likely to get less popular now."

Alan snorted. "I'm going to be more choosy this time, though, no more questionable rituals," he said. "The energy elemental is willing to help siphon off the excess, which means it's not an emergency yet."

Mark started to comment, but they were both distracted by their food, and by the time the conversation resumed, it was long forgotten.

It wasn't until he got back to his office that Alan thought to wonder what Mark had been about to say.

Chapter 24

Alan was grateful for his fully-functional dining room when they elected him to host the advanced ritual magic group on Saturday afternoon. Alan got Mark back by making him pay for the provisions, but it was still the hosts who ended up having to cook it all.

Their kitchen went from cosy to crowded with five students, two Masters and four elementals in it, but it was a friendly sort of crowd that didn't mind a bit of familiarity.

"Let me get that," said Ron, surprising everyone by taking over the preparation of the sauce for their lasagna. "You guys can do the layering, I always mess that part up," he added with a laugh.

"It's a deal," said Efram, pointedly not watching the giant pot of water sitting on the back burner, coming to a boil for the noodles.

Alan chuckled, pulling out cheese, dried herbs from their garden and even a bag of spinach they'd frozen as an experiment. "At least I'm not having to do all the work for once," he said, then set Jack to shredding the mozzarella while Marie grated the parmesan.

"The water's ready," said an amused voice, the fire elemental peeking his head out from under the shiny metal.

"Thanks," said Efram with a wink, and he began adding noodles to the salted water. The whole kitchen smelled delicious, like garlic and herbs, tomatoes and cheese and wonderful things. "Did you want to pull out some of our pie filling for dessert, too?" Efram asked Alan, once the noodles were bubbling merrily under the fire elemental's watchful eye.

"There's pie?" said Geoffrey, perking up.

Everyone laughed. "I'll take that as a yes," said Efram, stealing a kiss from Alan before heading for the freezer in the garage. "Peach?"

"Yes, please," said Geoffrey. "Do you need me to make crust? I can't boil an egg, but I can make a brilliant pie crust."

"Once we've got the lasagna in the oven, definitely," said Alan.

Mark chuckled from the corner, where he'd stationed himself in one of the chairs well out of the way of any and all food preparation. He wasn't even claiming to supervise -- instead he'd been chatting with Adam and the air elemental about Alan's magical output. "Lasagna and pie, you may never get them to go home after this," he said, taking a sip from his mug.

They were all drinking Efram's rainy-day tea, a tin of which had been surreptitiously mixed up ahead of time to avoid giving away the recipe. Even the elementals seemed to enjoy it -- Brooks got a cup of his own, the air elemental inhaled the steam from Mark's, and the fire elemental shared the used leaves with Adam whenever the pot ran out.

Soon enough two huge pans of lasagna were baking away and Geoffrey took over one corner of the kitchen while Marie and Jack shared the task of cleaning up the rest, having been elected as the least productive otherwise. Brooks and the fire elemental gently defrosted two pies' worth of filling, one peach and one blueberry, while Efram made more tea and Alan joined Mark in discussing his output issues. Alan had put out some feelers of his own, and between them they had a few nearby rites that might help to keep him from overloading his small plot of land -- and himself -- with excess magic.

"There's also the matter of Victor's machines," said Efram, slipping under Alan's arm to steal a kiss.

Alan chuckled. "True, true. He sent over three more prototypes to power this weekend, and they took a much better charge than the first one."

"But you're still crackling like a long-haired cat on a dry winter's day," pointed out Mark, undeterred. "You need to find some real outlets."

Alan sighed, but he couldn't deny the truth of it; he was unbalanced now, Apprentices putting power into his system with not enough ways for it to go back out again.

"Do you have plastic wrap for these?" asked Geoffrey, and Efram slipped away to help him get the pie dough into the fridge. By the time the lasagna was done, the pie crusts would be chilled enough to roll out.

"My grandfather's ceramic pie plates are up on the top shelf, there, if you think you can be trusted with them," said Alan with a smile. "There should be a bag of pie weights in them, so watch you don't drop it."

Geoffrey was tall enough to reach them easily, and he admired the fluted ceramic before setting them aside to await their future.

"All right," said Mark, levering himself up out of his chair. "Food's under way, now it's time to do the real work."

His announcement was met with the expected good-natured protesting, but soon enough they were all settled in the dining room around a fresh pot of tea, with their various notes and contributions at the ready.

"I'll start," volunteered Ron, once it became clear no one particularly wanted to go first. "I've got the first draft of the paper written up -- after all that research, it was easier to just do it and be done than try to rest up and do other things with it still, you know, taking up all my attention." He shrugged. "Mark did me a favour and we have a chart, now, of which areas are more and less depleted, and it turns out that the less powerful version of the rite might work for some of them."

With a little help from the elementals in finding the appropriate supplies, they soon had Ron's map tacked up on one wall of the dining room. All of the major power points in the country were marked, green dots for healthy, blue for inaccessible or unknown, and shades of yellow, orange and red to indicate the depleted areas. There were, Alan thought, depressingly few green dots left.

"You can see there's actually a lot more yellow on here than we were led to believe, and it's possible that simple blessing rituals would help to restore them in a relatively short period of time," said Ron.

Once he really looked, Alan could see that there were even fewer red dots than green, less than half a dozen all told, and a whole lot of yellow. "There's other rites we could adapt for those areas, too," said Alan, getting up. He took a thumbtack and marked the school, then pointed to the yellow and orange areas nearby. "Almost all rituals start with a raising of power, followed by channelling that power into whatever purpose the ritual has. We should think about things like sex magic, solar blessings, anything that brings power into an area, and then work on ways to meld that beginning onto Geoffrey and Ron's ending, infusing the power safely into the land's existing power wells."

Mark nodded. "Smart. Good use of resources. Ron, you brought copies of your paper for all of us?"

"Yep, right here," said Ron, passing them around the table. "It's not edited yet, but you'll get the idea. Geoffrey did a great job with the circles, that's really the crux of it, directing the energy safely into the land despite the disparity between earth and moon."

"I brought the, erm, sexually powered version of the chart, the one I asked for help with," said Geoffrey tentatively, cheeks a bit pink from either the positive attention or the subject matter. Possibly both.

"Let's move on to that, then," said Alan, pleased that Geoffrey, too, had thought to bring copies for everyone, not only of the original circles from the book, but the functional version they'd worked out for the Moon rite, and his tentative suggestions for the merging of sex and elements, as well as a few blank circles. "This is great, Geoffrey, you're going to make someone a truly excellent research assistant," he said with a chuckle.

Conversation swirled around the table, variations tried and tweaked or discarded until they had not one but three possible rites, each one designed to work for a marginally or moderately depleted area. Once they stopped thinking of the red-circled sites as their only goal, their progress began to move forward at a satisfying pace. Even Adam and the other elementals put in their opinions, just as they had with the new wards, suggesting ways to marry elements or energy sources that seemed too different on the face of things.

"All right," said Mark, looking very pleased indeed, "Marie, you can write up the sex ritual, this one," he said, sliding over one of their three final circles. It relied solely on the mages themselves, rather than their interaction with the elements, and was right up her alley.

"Brilliant," she said, tucking the drawing away for safe keeping, though they'd made sure it wasn't their only copy. "I'll be publishing under you, like Ron and Geoffrey?"

Mark nodded. "We'll cite their article, so they get some credit, but I think this one should go toward fulfilling your requirements."

"Thank you," she said, sounding quite sincere. "Can you help me arrange to perform the rite at one of the nearby sites, so that we have an example to talk about, too?"

"Of course," said Mark with a rather lecherous grin. "I know just the spot."

"I'll write up this one myself," said Alan, holding up the most complex of their creations. They'd need to work out a ritual involving all five elements and a central group of sex mages to go with the a network of interlocking circles they'd designed. The arrangement would boost and funnel the power around until, they hoped, it would be enough to 'top off' one of the orange-dotted locations. "Geoffrey, you'll have to co-write with me, I'm afraid, but I promise it'll be relatively painless."

Geoffrey blushed, but nodded. "Just writing, though, no, erm, participation?"

"No participation," reassured Alan. "Unless you change your mind."

Adam snorted. "Humans are silly about sporting," he said, climbing up into Alan's lap to claim a kiss. "Participation in one of Alan's rites is not a chore."

They all laughed at that, and Geoffrey looked intrigued enough that it was Alan's turn to worry.

"Jack and Efram can share the third paper, then," said Mark, tapping the circle that was a merging of fire, earth and solar energies, simpler in some ways than even the moon rite, but more difficult in others. "That'll make sure..."

Just then, the fire elemental popped in to say their dinner was nearly ready. "Geoffrey, why don't you take Efram and work on those pies?" said Alan. "I promise not to rope you into too much extra work while you're gone."

"It's all right," said Geoffrey with a shrug, shuffling his papers into a neat stack and slipping them into his bag. "It'll look good on my CV, anyway."

"As I was saying," said Mark with a chuckle, "That'll make sure that we can get them all done this term, so that next year we can start rolling them out. Alan, will you need more than the three of you to perform your rite, do you think?"

Alan sighed and nodded. "Yes, I think it'll have to be five, with each mage choosing an element to work with. I'll put out the call myself on this one, so you can concentrate on coordinating your group."

"And finding some other rituals to keep you balanced," he said, getting a laugh from both apprentices and a sage nod from Adam.

"The land will appreciate the respite," said Adam, which made Alan flush. "In winter, there are less ways for the earth to dissipate the energy, since very little grows."

"Oh," said Alan, kissing the top of his head. "I promise, next week I'll definitely do something."

"Good," said Adam with an air of serene wisdom, though he spoiled the act by leaning up to demand a kiss to seal the promise.

That seemed like a good cue, and everyone packed up their notes and cleared the table, then began to bring out dinner -- not only the lasagna but garlic bread quick-heated by the fire elemental, and two bottles of rich red wine. There was also fresh, cold water -- purified and chilled by Brooks and declared the sweetest they'd ever tasted -- and some olives and other antipasto that Mark had bought along with the rest.

It was a rich feast worthy of their triumph, and when the pies came out at the end, everyone managed to find room for at least one slice.

---

The next morning, Alan thought for a moment someone had forgotten an important book or paper when he woke up to a frantic pounding at the door.

"Who is it?" he asked Adam, curled sleepily among the humans.

"I believe it is this one's father," said the air elemental, drifting down to nuzzle at Jack. "They taste similar."

"Ew, you tasted my dad?" said Jack, pulling a face.

Efram chuckled sleepily and pulled Adam closer like a favored plush toy. "S'not my problem, make it go 'way," he said, already starting to drift back to sleep.

Alan echoed his chuckle, then kissed his sleepy mouth and slipped out of the bed. "Come on, this is sure to involve us both. At least we can keep him outside the wards." Alan looked up at the floating air elemental and asked politely, "Would you please try to keep the noise from disturbing Efram?"

"Happily," it replied with a little swoop and twirl. The air in the room grew quiet, muffled and still, and Alan nodded his satisfaction. "Thanks."

Jack and Alan scrambled into some clothes and took a moment to use the loo, then they both headed toward the door, where the incessant pounding hadn't let up one bit. "We can hear you," said Alan a bit testily through the door, and the sound blessedly ceased. "I'm going to open the door, but the house is warded and I don't want you to get hurt, so don't try to barge in, all right?"

Silence.

He and Jack exchanged concerned looks, but Alan was a Master now, and no matter the elder Wellington's status, he was allowed to keep people out of his private sanctuary. Especially before eight on a Sunday morning.

Alan took a deep breath, and opened the door.

"You're my Apprentice's father, I presume?" said Alan, putting on as welcoming a veneer as he could manage, having been woken from a sound sleep.

The man before him did indeed have a family resemblance to Jack, though the senior Worthington had a cold formality that Jack lacked even in his most guarded moments. He was wearing an impeccable black suit, and his body filled out the crisp lines solidly, his posture straight and just slightly looming. Alan was grateful that he was no longer much intimidated by such things, having been bullied by better than Worthington in his time, and he just smiled sleepily while Jack's father puffed himself up and looked belligerent. "I am here to bring my son home where he belongs," said Worthington, with an air of authority.

Alan's smile grew just a touch wider. "He is home, Mr. Worthington. Jack's serving a traditional Apprenticeship with me, sharing in the household duties to get a better feel for what it's like to live surrounded by his magic."

Worthington's brow grew stormy, and Alan suspected he wasn't often defied in such an open manner. "Are you a combat mage, then?" he asked, though he obviously knew the answer.

Alan chuckled. "No, of course not, my speciality is ritual magic." He decided to mention neither the elementals nor the sex for the moment, though he had a feeling Worthington knew, or thought he knew, just exactly what Alan's real speciality was. "Actually, Jack's been working with all of the advanced students in my department to solve the power drain problems. You're on that committee, aren't you?"

Alan took great satisfaction in watching Worthington's slow blink as he processed this idea. "How exactly will perversion further the military strength of this country?" he asked.

Alan could feel Jack's tension rising along with his magic, and he sent out a silent plea for one of the elementals to come help calm them -- or at least their magic -- before something went truly awry. "Given that it was a perversion of the original purpose of the Artefacts in question that caused the problems, I'd say more than you think. Now, Jack is my properly sworn Apprentice, recognized by the Council, and he'll be staying here with me until he passes into his Journeys. So unless there's something else I can do for you, I'd like to get back to my quiet Sunday morning."

A small hand twined itself with one of Alan's, Adam's familiar coolness anchoring him and helping to ground the flaring energies of Master and Apprentice both.

"What is that?" asked Worthington, disgust evident on his face.

Alan glanced down. "Have you never met an earth elemental?" he asked right back, feigning polite surprise. "He has chosen to be bound to me, my home, and my two Apprentices."

"Two?" said Worthington, latching onto this irregularity.

Alan nodded. "Yes, the Council is woefully short on Masters, so I was asked to take on both of the students who wanted to study with me," he explained, unable to entirely keep the condescension out of his tone. "My other Apprentice is still asleep," he added coldly.

"My son will not be sharing a Master with anyone," said Worthington, just as cold. "I'll speak to the Council about this."

"Feel free," said Alan dryly. "While you're at it, feel free to elaborate on your role in the current shortage of people and power, too. I'm sure they'd love to have more of an explanation."

That seemed to infuriate Worthington even more, but Alan was confident in the strength of his position. Worthington glared for a moment before his gaze moved, for the first time, over to where Jack lurked deeper in the doorway behind Alan. "You'll find that your financial situation has not been improved by your defiance," he said.

Alan's gaze left the senior Worthington just enough to see that Adam held Jack's other hand, and Jack was facing his father with admirable calm. "I expected something like that," said Jack. "You're nothing if not predictable when it comes to things and people you can't control."

"I won't allow you to disgrace this family," said Worthington, ignoring Jack's statement completely.

Jack snorted. "You do just fine with that all on your own. Let's go, Master Harper, no use wasting energy."

Alan nodded. "I hope you can learn to respect your son and his choices," he said, though most of it was to the senior Worthington's receding back. Alan shut the door and then pulled Jack into his arms. "It's a wonder you turned out so well, with him around," he said as lightly as he could manage.

If Jack's answering laugh was a little strained, well, no one was going to blame him.

---

Neither of them really felt like going back to bed despite the promise of Efram's warm snuggles, so instead they headed for the kitchen and made a pot of tea. "Want to make something really elaborate for breakfast?" asked Alan, surveying the contents of the fridge.

Jack laughed. "What, like omelets?"

"I was thinking quiche, and maybe baking up another pie since yesterday's got demolished," said Alan, pulling butter out with the milk for their tea.

"You're on," said Jack, standing up to get down the flour. "I got a few tips from Geoffrey yesterday, so I'd like to try my hand at the pie crusts."

Alan grinned and stole a kiss. "Brilliant. I'll go figure out what pie filling we still have in the big freezer." He took a moment to pour a dollop of milk in his tea, then added some sugar for good measure and took the cup with him out to the garage, and the freezer there.

Jack was staring contemplatively at a mound of pie dough when Alan returned with the frozen makings of an apple pie. "Something baffling you?"

"Well, Geoffrey said it's better to chill the dough for an hour or so, but I don't think sleeping beauty will be out that long," said Jack, "and I realized I wasn't sure which elemental has dominion over cold."

The flame on the stove flared up, and a familiar figure danced up out of it. "Fire and water together share dominion over the icy realms," it said formally. "What is the purpose of this chilling?"

Jack's brows knit, and he thought about it for a moment. "You know, I'm not sure," he said finally.

"It helps the dough relax and absorb water and it helps the butter to solidify," said Alan, moving in for a kiss. "Probably more of a job for Brooks than our fiery friend."

The fire elemental cocked its head, then nodded. "Yes, the water elemental will be able to encourage this relaxing more efficiently than I."

"Did I hear my name?" said Brooks, trickling out of the tap with a grin.

"Could you please help to chill this pie dough, and encourage the water to absorb properly while the butter stays nice and solid?" asked Jack, always a quick study.

"For a kiss," Brooks said impishly, already making its way across the counter, leaving wet footprints behind that evaporated two steps behind him.

Jack chuckled and obliged the little creature, and the two of them got to work. Alan found the ceramic pie plates, grateful that they'd cleaned up last night, and got the fire elemental to gently defrost the filling. Then he worked on filling for the quiche and by the time it was ready, so were the crusts.

And so was Efram. He came yawning into the kitchen just as the pies went into the oven, the apple covered in a nice cinnamon crumble and the quiche full of leftover chicken, shredded spinach, and artichoke hearts, as well as a great deal of cheese. "Did I dream it, or did your dad show up this morning?" asked Efram sleepily, making a halfhearted attempt to reach past Jack in search of tea.

"The pot's empty, let me make more," said Alan with a chuckle. "You sit."

"It wasn't a dream," said Jack, taking his own nearly-empty cup and leading Efram to a seat. "He's righteously pissed off and has finally cut me off."

Efram let out another huge yawn and leaned against Jack in a display that said more to Alan than any amount of sex; they'd found a way to trust each other, and it felt good to have been a part of it. "S'good we got all that stuff, then," he said.

Alan rolled his eyes, and got the fire elemental to cheat and quick-boil the water for their tea. It was busy keeping the oven temperature even, a perk that had made Alan's baking much more successful since fire had come into his home. "I'd have taken Jack even without the stuff, but I will admit it has helped." He chuckled and brought the pot to the table to steep, then went back for sugar, milk, and cups. "Even if you two never do sleep in those nice beds he bought."

"Oh, like you're complaining," said Jack, rolling his eyes.

Alan grinned and stole a kiss. "I'll use them for the next set of apprentices, who will no doubt be only a fraction as charming as the two of you," he said, moving around to claim a kiss from Efram as well.

Jack poured the tea, and once Efram got a little caffeine into him, he woke up enough to add his two cents. "Saves on wear and tear."

"On what?" asked Alan, eyes sparkling. "The beds, or the Apprentices?"

Fortunately for Alan, the fire elemental announced that breakfast was ready before anyone could think up an appropriate response.

Or find anything to throw at him.

Chapter 25

Jack, Alan and Efram all had messages waiting in Alan's office on Monday morning, informing them of the elder Wellington's intent to challenge the Apprenticeship. Jack balled his up and threw it in the trash, then took Efram's copy and threw it across the room for good measure. Alan sent Efram off for coffee, Jack's usual job, and then locked the door.

"I won't let all our work go to waste, Jack, I'll fight to keep you now that we're..." Alan paused, not sure how Jack would take the word that came to mind.

"We're what?" asked Jack, sounding tired and distant.

Alan pulled him close, glad that he didn't resist, at least. "Family."

Jack relaxed just a little. "Family sounds good," he said softly.

Alan kissed him. "Family it is," he said. "And we'll fight, and... Jack, I'll try to keep it quiet and clean and not... not messy."

Jack's laugh was hollow. "Dad won't do you the same favor."

"I know, but the Council knows all my dirty laundry, and I don't think your father really wants all of the dirty laundry about the war aired -- which we'll do if he attacks Efram. We've learned a lot in our research, and Victor would jump at the chance to take the tarnish off his own reputation."

"Yeah, I'll just bet he will. In fact, I think I'm going to pay him a visit later just to let him know what's up," said Jack, expression calculating. "If Victor knows a dirty fight might be in the offing, he'll find ways of making himself come out squeaky clean that can help us."

"He does seem to have finally found the value of gratitude, if only when it's directed toward him," said Alan with a chuckle.

The key turned in the lock and Efram returned with their usual morning pick-me-ups, which Alan took off his hands with a pleased sigh. Once unburdened, Efram slipped into Jack's arms and said firmly, "I won't let anything take you away again, now that we've found you properly."

"We were just discussing strategies," said Alan, "but it looks like I have to go, and so do you." It was edging on toward time to be late for class, which would be a bad way to start the week.

"Strategies for what?" asked Mark, leaning in the door that Efram had left open.

Alan handed Mark the last surviving copy of Wellington's notice, the one addressed to him. "For keeping my Apprentices where they belong," he said, snagging his things. "Can you fill him in, Jack?"

Jack nodded, smile just a touch grim. "Oh, I think Master Hartridge and I can find something to talk about."

Alan laughed and accepted his papers and coffee from Efram, and off they went to Meditation, leaving Jack and Mark to scheme.

"Is that a good idea?" asked Efram, once they were out of earshot.

Alan looked back, then grinned. "It's a great idea. If anyone knows how to shovel a pile of shit and come out smelling like a rose, it's Mark."

Efram's laugh buoyed Alan, giving him enough peace of mind to guide the class in Meditation.

---

Alan managed to further lift his own spirits by assigning an in-class project in Rituals I. The three students that annoyed him the most grouped themselves together with a fourth, and Alan got great joy out of telling them they were going about things entirely the wrong way. He gave Dennis' group a few tips, checked in with the rest of the class, and only then did he come back around to inspect the first group's progress.

"Whose homework were you using for this?" he asked, perplexed. They'd all done well enough on the assignment -- the whole class had -- that he hadn't expected any real problems.

"We pooled our work," said Donna. "Wasn't that right?"

"Er, no, not if you all chose different rituals for the homework. You can't just pull a piece of one and a part of another and try to assemble a new whole, at least not until you're far more advanced." He began pointing at the half-chalked circle they'd been using for reference. "These runes are almost never seen with these, because they represent very opposite ideas, and this grouping here is not only unrelated, but in a different language."

That started up a clamor of protests and it took nearly all the rest of the class for him to get them straightened out. "The four of you can turn yours in next class," he conceded, then went to check on everyone's progress. Two other groups got extensions because they'd been waiting on him to answer their questions, but he was rather proud that Dennis' group wasn't among them. "Good job, everyone," he said. "Those of you who finished today can get ahead by reading the next chapter, or just enjoy the respite until next time, when we'll be going over each group's work with the class."

There was a little muttering over that, but the clock gave off its shower of golden sparks, and lunch took precedence over protest. Alan was pleased when Dennis stayed behind to help him clean up. "Good job today," he said, wiping away the evidence of Donna's group's incompetence.

"Thanks, M- er, Alan," said Dennis, blushing. "The extra studying I've been doing has really helped."

"How'd that ritual go, anyway?" asked Alan, amused when the blush grew deeper.

"O-oh, that. Um. Fine," stammered Dennis, eyes very intent on the slate-topped table he was cleaning. "I managed to c-call water, like you suggested."

"Did it warm itself first?" asked Alan; he had a feeling that Dennis' first experience with playful water was a bit like his own.

Dennis looked up with a shy grin and nodded. "Yeah, after I asked. It said it remembered you, too, um. After."

"So, what was the exchange, if you don't mind me asking?" said Alan. He gathered up his things -- there was one desk left, but Dennis was doing fine and he took a moment to make a couple of notes about the class on his lesson plans.

"I asked it to clean my bathroom, and it requested to, um, sport, you know, with me," said Dennis. "That wasn't too unbalanced, was it?"

"Well, a bit," said Alan distractedly. He closed his notes and looked up with a grin. "But it probably knew that was what you really wanted to try. I bet if you check, you'll find it did a little extra cleaning."

Dennis laughed, moving over to wipe down the last desk, which held his own group's work. "Actually, yeah, after our room it cleaned the whole dorm, bathrooms and rugs and everything, even people's dirty dishes."

Alan grinned and headed for the door, but he got in a parting shot. "I guess you were a good sport, then."

---

When Alan got back to his office, there was some good news along with more of the bad. Wellington had managed to use his clout to force a hearing on the subject of Jack and Efram sharing Alan's house -- and, presumably bed, though that might not be something that Wellington wanted bandied about -- and it was scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Alan was tempted to try to postpone instead of having to reschedule the meeting with their grad students, but he didn't think that would fly.

He was just reading through his other missive, an request to perform a well-raising ritual, when Jack showed up, looking rather harried. "Sorry I'm late, and I'm sorry about the stupid hearing," he said, tossing his bag in the corner.

"You can explain it to Mark, and then all will be forgiven," said Alan flippantly.

He was surprised to get a growl from Jack in response. "Yeah, sure, whatever," said Jack, stomping off before Alan could form the words to say he was teasing.

"That doesn't bode well," said Alan, shaking his head.

"What doesn't?" asked Efram, dropping his backpack next to Jack's, albeit more gently.

"Jack," said Alan shortly, then he sighed. "His father's rescheduled our weekend and he's not taking it well." He handed the hearing notice off to Efram, but got waved away.

"I got one, too, since it's both of our Apprenticeships that are being called into question," said Efram.

He moved in and stole a kiss, and Alan let himself have a moment to bask in the quiet affection before the mood was broken.

"What, he gets kisses and I don't now?" said Jack grumpily.

"You didn't offer," said Alan, hoping they weren't going to revert back to the early days of rivals rather than partners. "Would you like one?"

Jack sighed, and pinched the bridge of his nose, and then he lost some of the tension coiling him up in knots. "Sorry, sorry. I just hate that this is all my fault," he said.

Alan snaked a hand out and pulled him close, grateful when Efram chose to stay and add his own soothing touch. "It's not your fault," Alan disagreed, tugging until Jack bent down for a soft kiss. "You can't choose your father's path, only your own."

Jack blinked, then smiled, wan and sheepish. "Thanks," he said, claiming a second kiss and then offering one to Efram, who gladly accepted. "I needed to hear that."

"We'll keep saying it until you really believe it," said Efram.

Alan just hoped none of them would get tired of the repetition.

"Well, in other news, I will be participating in a ritual tomorrow," said Alan, waving the invitation. "They're sinking a well on a nearby farm, and want someone more versed in elemental magic to help, since they're having trouble finding a good spot."

"Will that be enough of a drain on you?" asked Efram, brows knitting.

Alan shrugged. "Some is better than none. I think I'll have to start small before people remember what I can do, and feel like they can plan to include me."

"We need to schedule a test run on the big elemental sex-rite, too," said Efram, looking quite anticipatory indeed. "It'll be us three and two more, right?'

"Right," said Alan, getting a mischievous look on his face. "Perhaps we can convince Geoffrey it would help in his understanding of the work long-term to participate more closely in the development of the ritual."

"A dinner meeting at the house, perhaps," said Jack, getting into the idea. "I saw his fascination with Adam and the others."

They all laughed and made plans, figuring Mark would fill in the fifth spot -- which gave Efram and Jack pause until Alan vouched for his applicable skills.

"Marie certainly seems satisfied with her mentor, so there must still be some fire in the old bastard yet," Alan pointed out, amused.

---

Tuesday seemed to drag by, with Alan both excited and nervous about the ritual in which he was participating that afternoon. Jack and Efram spent the time they weren't in class taking care of all the paperwork involved with Wellington's challenge, and taking care of Alan, as well.

"I can't tell if the nerves are making me worse or not," said Alan, after the third time he sparked off his coffee cup.

Efram chuckled and exchanged a look with Jack. "Worse," they said in unison.

Alan sighed. "Who wants to take over a ritual room for a quickie, then? We could summon the air elemental from the house and get it to help with the Wellington issue."

"That is a great idea," said Efram, grinning. He made shooing motions. "Take Jack, I'll get more done by myself. Go on."

The two chosen participants cheerfully allowed themselves to be bustled off to an empty room, chalk and lubricant and all.

Alan was chuckling as they marked the room 'in use' and he began to prepare the floor. "See if there's some magically null cushions, I do get tired of the slate under my arse."

"You're going to bottom?" asked Jack, surprised.

"Yeah, it'll be easier for me to channel the energies properly if you're feeding into me, and this way I can't accidentally overload you, either," replied Alan distractedly, lower lip caught between his teeth as he chalked in a very minimalist air summoning ritual, just a few runes around the circle -- air at the north, his own sigil to the south, and two for invitation at the east and west points.

When he looked up, Jack was naked and holding a small pile of pillows that threatened to go flying everywhere should he shift his grip in just the wrong way.

Alan laughed. "Let me get those for you," he said, divesting Jack of one cushion after another until they had a decent pile in the chalk circle, the soft cotton covers possessed of enough friction to stay where they were, so long as they weren't too vigourous. "Hm. Maybe a couple less," he said, after a moment's thought. He gave three back and stripped off while Jack stored them away, putting his clothing in the cubby with Jack's, though the rite was simple enough he felt comfortable leaving his rings on.

Alan arranged himself on the pillows with a sigh, spreading his legs and relaxing back against them -- it wasn't perfect by any means, but it was a far cry from bare, cold slate. "Ready?" he asked, looking up at Jack expectantly.

He was surprised to find Jack standing and staring at him with the expression of a condemned man taking in the sight of his last meal -- hungry and resigned at once.

"We'll do this again, Jack," said Alan, holding out his hand, "Come on, let's make magic."

Jack laughed and shook his head, kneeling on the pillow Alan had thoughtfully left for him and pouring some slick potion onto his hand. "You and your puns," he said with a grin, slipping a finger into Alan's body with a soft moan. "I always forget how good this feels."

"That's, oh, because if we remembered, we'd never do anything else," said Alan with a laugh that was half moan.

Jack was beginning to learn the ins and outs of Alan's body, and he put that knowledge to good effect. The fingers of one hand worked to open Alan for him, while the other hand roamed over Alan's skin, finding and teasing at his most sensitive spots. Jack leaned in for a kiss and whispered with a chuckle, "Don't forget the ritual."

Alan kissed him back, embarrassed and grateful for the reminder. "I guess it hasn't been just us in a while," he said, hoping his blushes looked more like the flush of arousal.

Jack grinned like he'd been given a prize, and pulled both hands away to spread some of the lubricant on himself. "It's good like this, but it's good with Efram and our elementals, too," he said, sliding into Alan with barely a hitch in his breath.

"Showoff," said Alan with a groan, reaching up to pull Jack down on top of him more comfortably. "Ready?"

"As ever," said Jack, and then they began it properly. Jack reached out and sealed the circles around them with his power, making the tiny space crackle with their combined energies.

Alan stole another kiss, then began the summoning chant, words rising and falling in time to the movement of Jack's hips, eyes closed in concentration and hands threaded in Jack's hair, helping to strengthen their connection. Jack's magic slid smoothly into him, as it had since the Apprenticeship rite, feeling like it belonged to him as much as his own did. He could feel their pleasure beginning to crest just as the rite reached its climax, the physical and the ethereal planes in perfect concert within their small circle. Alan had nearly forgotten how good a properly done ritual could make him feel, each sensation feeding into the others until he was nothing but a conduit, for pleasure and energy alike.

He spoke the last word of the rite just as Jack reached his peak, and when they came together the force of it was enough to make the room wards glow an eerie violet.

A whirlwind filled the room, swirling around them until Alan broke the circle with his toe and it coalesced over their heads, the familiar face of their house air elemental formed out of mist and magic. "You called?" it asked with a giggle.

"We'd like you to gather as much information on Jack's father and the whole situation as you can using the energy we've gathered here," said Alan, trying not to get caught up in its infectious laughter. "When you're running low on power, just come home and report with what you have."

"Oh, I like that mission!" it said cheerfully, dipping down to waft cool breezes over the two rather heated humans. "Kisses to seal the bargain?"

Jack chuckled. "Kisses to seal," he said, sitting up enough to give the elemental its due.

"He's getting good," said the wind sprite, just before swooping in to claim its price from Alan. "With all this power, I'll be able to learn bunches!" it added.

The room was once again filled with a tossing whirlwind, but this time when it subsided the elemental was gone, and the crackling energy along with it. Alan flopped back onto the pillows with a grin. "We have to do this a lot more," he said, pulling Jack down for another kiss. "I feel great."

"Me, too," said Jack, and this time he hardly looked worried at all.

---

When they got back to Alan's office, there was coffee waiting along with Efram and several messages.

"Can you get Mark for me, Efram?" asked Alan, once he'd read the first letter.

"He's waiting for your call," said Efram. "I, erm, when they came in I had to tell someone!"

Alan chuckled. "It's fine, Mark needs to be kept up to date." Alan dialed Mark's office and waited for the gruff greeting. "Can you come to my office? Good, thanks." He hung up. "I know this affects you both, but can you two go get some more coffee and extra snacks? Mark likes his black as sin with a shot of espresso to spice things up."

"Energy bars?" asked Efram, grabbing their cups.

"Please," said Alan. He pulled Jack close for one more kiss, then passed it along to Efram before shooing them both out the door.

Mark thumped his way into the room a moment later, claiming a seat and then closing the door with his cane. "So?" he said expectantly.

Alan couldn't help but laugh. "I was hoping you'd have a bit more for me than that," he replied, holding out the letter. "I can't believe they're even taking the allegation seriously."

"There've been a few cases of real misconduct, even with sex magicians," said Mark, brows furrowing as he read through the letter. "Tell me, did you sleep with them before they became your apprentices?"

"You know I did," said Alan, frustrated. "They both were interested in sex magic as a course of study, and it was the fastest way to test compatibility."

"And did you make their Apprenticeships dependent on that compatibility?" asked Mark, giving him a steady, penetrating gaze.

"No, of course not. If we weren't compatible, then we'd fall back on other courses of study if they were determined to stay with me." Alan tried to remember back past the little family they'd formed to those tumultuous first few days. "Originally Efram had been looking into binding rituals, but Jack wanted sex magic all along."

Mark snorted. "Of course he did. And it took young Efram about how long to come around to the idea of sex with you?"

Alan laughed. "Oh, at least three or four seconds," he said, remembering the eagerness with which Efram had accepted his suggested method for testing compatibility.

Mark grinned. "As long as the boys will testify to the Council about the sequence of events, then you'll be safe." His grin turned feral. "Actually, it could turn out better for us, if we can give them enough rope to hang themselves."

Alan chuckled, imagining whatever lawyers Wellington had hired making themselves look like fools in front of the Council. "I like it."

"Did you want to get special magical counsel, or will I do?" asked Mark, waggling his eyebrows.

There was a knock at the door, and then Efram's head peeked in. "Done talking about us?" he asked impishly.

"I'm done with the parts you don't need to hear," said Alan, "so get on in here so we can all discuss what's to be done."

Efram, Jack, and four welcome cups of coffee entered the office, making it a bit crowded and very friendly. "So, what can we do?" asked Jack, once they were settled.

"Just tell the truth to the Council, and don't let anyone bully you," said Mark. He took a sip of his drink and made a contented face. "Alan will never let you go without a fight if you always get the coffee order right."

"Just, uh, so I'm clear," said Efram, shifting nervously, "What truth is that?"

Alan laughed. "Smart lad. You just need to be clear that when you slept with me you were willing, and you didn't think that your ability to become my student hinged on you putting out."

"Oh! Oh, yeah, I can do that," said Efram, relaxing. "I didn't really even know I wanted to be your Apprentice that first day, you know."

"But you were hoping to study with me," said Alan seriously. "I did derail the conversation a little, bringing up sexual orientation like that." He cradled the cup in his hands, feeling the warmth sinking into his fingers and soothe his nerves.

"Yeah, but you were just trying to make sure I could get my sex magic rotation done under you. I mean, with you," said Efram.

They all laughed. "I was, that's true. And you never thought that I'd have turned you away as a student if you chose not to go that route?"

"Huh? No, way, you were just asking so we could plan around it, if I was straight or something." Efram leaned over and nuzzled Alan's cheek until he could get a kiss. "Sleeping with you has been an unanticipated bonus."

Another laugh, and this time some of the tension left the room. "Well, you all know I was panting after his arse before I even met him," said Jack wryly, shooting Alan a wink.

"I do seem to remember you demanding an equal share of my time and attention, once you found out Efram had gotten a sleepover," said Alan. "Mark has an idea up his sleeve to make your dad look bad for even suggesting this, by the way, so go along with him if he seems to be leading you somewhere -- as my original Master he's offered to act as defence counsel."

Mark heaved himself up out of his chair with an unnecessary amount of theatrics, making sure all eyes were on him before opening his mouth to say something profound. The moment was spoiled when Alan's clock rained sparks down on him to remind Alan that it was time to leave for the well-sinking rite.

"I think that's your cue," said Alan impishly, "and mine as well. Did either of you Apprentices wish to observe your Master in action?"

"I've seen it," said Mark with a snort, waving them off as he took his leave. "Listen to him, boys, he's smarter than he looks."

The boys in question gathered up their stuff and Alan's, then shooed him out the door coffee and all, both of them electing to come along. "For the educational experience," said Jack.

"And to prove we do something for you besides sex you up," added Efram with a wink.

Alan was surprised to find himself smiling as he left the building; despite the difficulties, in that moment his life seemed to be turning out very well indeed.

---

By the time Alan pulled into the long driveway at their destination, he was feeling less sure of things. Jack and Efram had begun bickering on the way, mostly about small things like the distribution of chores. "What's up with you two?" asked Alan irritably as he pulled into the dusty roundabout and put the car into park.

They looked guilty and exchanged a glance, then sighed. "Sorry, I think it's just nerves," said Efram. "I'll get your stuff for the ritual together, okay?" He got out and started rummaging in the back, giving Jack and Alan the illusion of privacy.

"I know you think we can beat him, but it's..." Jack sighed explosively. "He's still my dad, you know?"

"And you'd rather he was proud of you," said Alan. He leaned in for a soft, warm kiss. "I'm proud of you, but hopefully I'm not a father figure," he added with a wink.

Jack laughed and relaxed a tiny bit; Alan could see that it would take a dozen or a hundred of these reassurances to get back the carefree Jack they'd seen the past weeks, but he felt that he and Efram were up to the task.

"Come on, Apprentice, let's go sink a well," he said, getting out.

Jack followed, even helping Efram carry Alan's equipment without being asked.

Alan knocked on the farmhouse door, hoping he looked professional enough, or at least unthreatening.

"Coming!" said someone from inside. After a few moments, during which Alan and his apprentices were sniffed by several farm cats, a middle-aged woman appeared at the door. "You here for the well?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am," said Alan. "I'm Master Alan Harper, and these two pack mules are my apprentices."

She laughed at that, and relaxed just a little bit. "The men are out back, still trying to suss out a spot so they don't have to pay your fees."

"My fees aren't so bad," said Alan. "Around this way?" he asked, pointing to their left, which seemed to be the clearer path.

"Aye, just follow the stone wall, and mind you don't run into the electric fence. It's only close in the one spot, but that's enough to give you a shock," She waited in the doorway, features softened by the dusty screen, clearly waiting for them to follow directions.

"Thank you," said Alan, smiling disarmingly, then he led the boys off through the weeds, along the foot path and around back. There was a back door to the farmhouse, which explained why the path wasn't better defined, and two men were arguing genially about the well and the benefits of magic to a farmer.

"Why don't you let me demonstrate?" offered Alan with a smile.

They turned, a little embarrassed and wary, though the man who'd been advocating Alan's help did smile back. "You're the mage they sent?"

"Master Alan Harper, and my two apprentices, Jack and Efram. They're just here to observe, and carry the equipment," said Alan, holding his hand out for shaking.

"I'm Jedediah, and this is my brother, Nathaniel." His hand was callused and rough around Alan's, a working man's hand.

"You're sure this'll work?" asked Jedediah warily, though he did shake Alan's hand.

"If there's water to be found, I can find it for you," said Alan. "Now, where's the best place for me to set up? A flat area that's mostly dirt would be best."

"There's a dead spot over here, never could get much to grow," said Jedediah, leading him to a dusty patch of earth. "Maybe you can fix that, too?"

Alan held in a laugh; first he was useless, now he was a miracle worker? "It all depends on why it's like that, but I can ask the elementals when I call them." He turned to his two apprentices and gave them a reassuring wink. "You've got the sand, right, Jack? Efram, why don't you clear the ground here and then you two draw me a double circle. I'll do the rest."

"Yes, Master Harper," they said in singsong unison. Bags were deposited on the grass, and Jack put together the funnels they'd use to get a good strong line, filling them with fine white sand while Efram swept the loose dust away, getting down to more solid earth beneath.

"Do you want rocks and weeds and stuff pulled out?" asked Efram, looking dubiously at the ground.

"Not unless you see something obviously man-made. Otherwise, the earth is good as it is." Alan felt his professional mein settling more firmly. "If there wasn't any dry earth, we'd use paint on the grass instead, but since it's nearly impossible to get an unbroken circle that way, the rite would be different as well."

"So you're gonna, what, do some chanting and stuff?" asked Jedediah, clearly curious.

Alan smiled. "Basically, yes. I'll use a chant and the circle to focus my personal energy and attract a pair of elementals, one earth and one water, so they can help me find the best place for your well."

"Sounds like a bunch of hooey to me," said Nathaniel.

"You'll see," said Alan. Jack had nearly finished the second, outer circle, and so Alan squatted down by the packs to take off his magical jewelry and change into his work robe, a simple shift of unbleached cotton. Once it was on, he slithered out of his other clothing underneath it, so as to avoid flashing the farmers.

"All right, I'll finish up," said Alan, stepping barefoot over to the circle. He accepted the smaller funnel from Jack and used it to drawn in some simple runes, using five points this time, with himself to the north and the two elements at the southern points, and then two very polite summoning runes at east and west. A small prick to his finger and he sealed himself inside the double circle and sat crosslegged, unconcerned about the dirt on his robes.

He had his own elementals to remove any stains, after all.

A deep breath, and he began a simple chant, first praising the earth and water from a farmer's perspective as the nurturers of life, then asking them to join him for an exchange. All the while he let his own power build and swirl around him, a tasty enticement for any elemental, especially one who hadn't had a chance for much magical interaction recently. Alan also sent some of his magic down into the earth beneath him, tasting what resided there in his own crude way, though of course the elemental would know much better.

The two farmers started visibly when the earth elemental appeared, rising up through the dirt just outside the circle while Alan was still chanting. "You called?" it asked, its voice deep and gravelly.

"Humans and their silly words," said the water elemental that burbled up beside it. "Why don't you just talk to us?"

Alan wasn't fooled, though he could see his apprentices were. He kept going, bringing the chant full cycle rather than letting them distract him into leaving out any of the traditional limitations on mischief and harm. Soon enough the rite itself came to an end and Alan asked formally, "Do both of you agree to bind yourselves for the length of this service, according to the terms set forth?"

"Yes, all right," said the water elemental testily, clearly annoyed at being denied its fun. Alan was reminded that, for all Brooks seemed silly and harmless, capricious water could drown just as easily as quench.

"I do so agree," said the earth elemental, slow and formal.

They both stepped through the outer circle to stand on their respective runes, and it wasn't until then that Alan broke the inner circle and allowed them to divide the energy up between them, guarding himself against being drained too far by the greedy creatures.

"Tasty," said the water elemental, sidling up to him. "So, whatcha wanna know?" it asked. Unlike most elementals Alan had dealt with, this one had taken on a sexless form, one that wavered from moment to moment without ever quite settling on a set of features.

"These farmers wish to sink a well, and have been having trouble finding the right place where earth and water meet," said Alan, trying to remember to stay formal around these unknowns.

The earth elemental looked like a cousin to Adam, with the same alien cast to its features and oversized endowment hanging limp between its short legs, but there was something in its gaze that warned him it would be dangerous to let his guard down. "Earth and water get along poorly on this land," it said, shooting a glare at the water elemental, "but there are a few places that may be suitable."

"Can you tell me why nothing grows here, in this patch of earth?" asked Alan, wanting to get that question out of the way before they broke the circles entirely and went dowsing.

Alan was surprised when the earth roiled beneath him, spitting up a rather vile-feeling artefact into which he could see there was something bound. "What is that?" he asked, reluctant to touch it.

"An old evil," said the earth with a touch of sadness. "I do not know if the creature bound within can be safely freed."

"What's in there?" asked Alan, peering into the inner chamber, which flickered a feeble, sickly blue.

"Water is," said the elemental bitterly. "Trapped within this cage of earth and magic!"

Alan took a deep breath and then nodded. "Is it safe to free it here, or should I take it to somewhere I can contain and nurture it?" He had a feeling that Brooks and the rest would do a better job with the tormented creature than these two bickering elementals.

"If you take it back with you and properly free it," began the water elemental, looking sly.

"Then we will do all the work to create a well of fresh, sweet water for the farmer," finished the earth elemental.

"Where will you put it?" asked Alan suspiciously.

"Right there," said the water elemental with a little giggle. "Once that thing is gone, we can purify the area together."

"You swear the water won't be poisoned or run out?" demanded Alan.

"We do so swear," said the two of them in eerie unison.

"You're the right man for this job," said the water elemental mysteriously before giving him a kiss on the nose and vanishing with a splash.

"Send your air to us when you have done this thing, and we will do our part," said the earth elemental, starting to sink down into the dusty ground. "Though you may feel free to return in spring for a fertility rite," it added, just before its head vanished.

Alan shook his head and laughed. "Always a surprise somewhere," he said, remember that he'd thought it would be routine and simple. He stood up and broke the circle, then went and fished a length of silk out of one of the packs. "This should keep it from doing any damage to the car or us on the way home," said Alan, carefully wrapping the artefact in multiple layers of fabric. "Efram, you'll help me with this later, right?"

"Definitely," said Efram, looking a bit ill as he accepted the awkward bundle.

Alan turned to the two stunned farmers. "Hopefully I'll be able to deal with this tonight, and you'll have your well by morning. Make sure it's obvious what stones you want used to line it, or you might find some missing from other important structures," he advised, gesturing toward the fieldstone wall.

"Oh, ah, thank you," said Nathaniel, shaking off his wonder to step forward and grasp Alan's hand gratefully. "Worth every penny!"

Jedediah chuckled at that. "Told ya," he said, giving Alan a slap on the shoulder.

Jack worked while they talked, scattering the remains of the circle and packing up the equipment, then hefting the lot of it so Efram could keep his attention on his dangerous cargo.

"I'm glad it worked out for you," said Alan. "We'll be going, but I may come back to check on the site, if that's all right."

"You'll be welcome," said Jedediah, much more warmly than before. "You're all welcome to visit anytime."

More thanks and goodbyes were exchanged, and soon enough they were back in the car and on the road.

"Well," said Jack, from where he'd been relegated to the back seat, "that was interesting."

"It always is," said Alan with a laugh. "Somehow, it always is."

Chapter 26

When they got back to the house, rather than pulling the car into the garage, Alan parked in the driveway.

"Brooks, Brooks, Brooks!" he called, the simplest three-fold summoning of all.

The water elemental poked its head up out of a puddle by the door, grinning. "You're home!" it said, stepping out of the water only to rear back like a cat confronted with a bad smell. "What have you brought to our home?"

"We need your help," said Efram, still cradling the silk-swathed artefact. "We need to heal the poor creature trapped in here."

Brooks took a step closer, head cocked, an alien expression on its face. "Where did you find this?"

"It was polluting the land where they wanted a well," said Alan with a sigh. "Can you help?"

Brooks drew itself up to its full height, no hint left of the playful creature they were used to. "It will be difficult, and might endanger the household."

"What can we do to shield against it?" asked Jack, opening the trunk.

The candle next to the door flared up, and the fire elemental's face appeared. "If one of you will take me away from this place for a time, it will lessen the risk."

"I'll do it," said Jack, pulling a small oil lamp out of one of the bags. "Efram's better with water than me."

The fire elemental grinned. "It is true, you are better at playing with fire. I expect I can find something for us to do while we are gone," it said, vanishing from the candle and appearing on the wick of the lamp.

"I'll go with you," said the air elemental, floating down from above them. "I know of a task which needs fire and air, if Jack is willing."

Jack looked intrigued. "If you think it's safe and within my powers, sure, you know I'm happy to help," he said.

"Take the ritual stuff with you, then, just in case," said Alan, tossing Jack his car keys. "Will we need anything else?" he asked Brooks.

Adam rose up out of the earth under the bushes and peered curiously at the artefact. "Do you have your grease pencils in the house or the car?" he asked. "They will suffice to ward the tub."

Jack rummaged again and pulled up the bundle of coloured pencils. "Here you go," he said, tossing them to Alan and shutting the trunk.

"Thanks," said Alan.

"That will do," said Brooks, his voice distant and distracted. "Fire must go now."

Jack hefted the lamp, then brandished his phone in the other hand. "I'll call before I come back."

"Don't burn the car up," teased Efram, trying to break the tension despite being at its center, hands still full of the silk-wrapped bundle.

"You won't get Alan to yourself that easily," teased Jack right back, securing the lamp carefully in a cup holder and then getting in the driver's seat.

"I will direct you," said the Air elemental, slipping in with him to float between the two seats. "It is toward the hills."

Jack shut the door, started the car, and waved as he drove off, and then there were no more excuses.

"Come," said Adam sharply, "Alan and I will ward the tub. You wait here."

Efram swallowed nervously. "Hurry?"

"We will," assured Alan, stealing a kiss before going inside, jogging the short distance to the bathroom and then skinning out of his clothes as fast as he could manage. "What kind of circle?"

"Containment and healing," said Adam. "You must protect us from it, and still be able to feed it energy and reassurance."

"Hm, three circles, then, I think," said Alan, and he began. It was hard, designing something this intricate on the fly, but it was the sort of invigorating challenge he'd missed in the months of academia.

The inner circle would keep the wounded creature safe from them, and them from it, allowing only good energy inside and none at all out. The second circle was for the people, protection for everyone and power focus and transfer for Adam and Brooks. Alan was grateful that they'd been named, so he could put them in their proper quarters and know that the unnamed water elemental wouldn't be able to use Brooks as a loophole. Then the outer circle, to protect the house and grounds from any turbulence or overflow without lashing back into the fragile humans.

"Check it for completeness?" asked Alan, concerned he might have missed a spot on the tile. The runes he used were all old, simple and powerful, nothing complicated for all that the symbols meshed intricately.

"Your work is seamless," said Adam, sounding impressed. "I will retrieve the others."

He vanished and soon reappeared, walking with Efram and Brooks in tow. "Put the Artefact in here," said Alan, watching to make sure Efram didn't smudge anything getting into the still-empty tub. "We'll fill the tub once it's in place."

"I will charge the water with energy from the house as it pours," said Brooks, standing confidently by the tap.

"I will make sure nothing damages the integrity of the circles," assured Adam, standing opposite Brooks, both within the second circle and near the runes bearing their names.

Efram placed the object carefully, pulling the silk away and flinching as the warped energy of the thing surged outward. Alan was too quick for it, however, and he got the circle powered up as soon as Efram's hands were free. Water began to pour into the tub while Alan worked, powering up the outer circle next, and finally the middle one, feeling the shift when all of the magic was working in concert, focusing clean, healing energy toward the thing in the center of the tub.

"How do we let it out without hurting ourselves?" asked Efram, looking nervous as he and Alan moved into place on opposite sides of the circle, so that the humans and elementals covered the four cardinal directions between them.

"I will do it," said Adam. "The artefact is of metal, of earth, and its power is old and easily broken. The water elemental stayed trapped because it is designed against water, and to keep things in." His eyes were focused on the strange machine as he spoke, and as Alan watched the metal began to crack and crumble away, breaking the runes and destroying the wards that had kept the poor water elemental trapped. "Be ready," warned Adam.

"I am ready," said Brooks, his form even more abstract than usual as his full concentration was on the other elemental. "I will wash away the taint of madness if I can."

"I will purify the energy," said Alan, hoping it was true.

"I will keep us grounded," said Adam, still watching the thing crumble away, layer by layer, to reveal a globe of polluted liquid at its core.

"I'll send it healing energy," said Efram, his confidence returning.

Alan sent him an encouraging smile, glad that he'd read the situation and figured out what was required of him without prompting.

There was only a single ring of metal left now, and already tendrils of black muck were drifting into the surrounding water. "Now," said Adam, and the final ring melted away.

The muck exploded outward until it filled the larger dome that now contained it, becoming a murky grey as the pure water diluted it. A thin, high wail filled the room, making the surface of the water shimmer in reaction. Brooks grew even more indistinct, feet merging with the water in the now-full tub, which was still flowing from the tap even as it threatened to overflow. Instead, a vortex formed in the murk, and more and more of the pollution was sucked down the drain, energy-charged water from the tap rushing in to replace it.

Alan spared a thought for wherever that pollution would end up, but he knew his elementals would never do anything to harm the land surrounding them, bound or not, so he let that thought go and concentrated instead on doing his part. He created a disk of energy and gently pushed it downward, letting only pure water -- and the poor elemental itself -- through as he helped Brooks shove the last of the accumulated impurities down the drain.

What was left was a shivering wreck of a creature, a fetal blob floating in the middle of the dome, wailing louder than before as it wavered and reformed.

Alan let his part of the spell dissipate and glanced at Efram, who was wearing an expression of intense concentration. Some of the magic leaked, and Alan felt a soothing warmth creep into him that had nothing to do with the bath water, though that, too was, comfortably warm. He nodded encouragement and watched as the wavering stopped, and the creature's form solidified as much as could be expected, into a sharp-featured, fey little thing.

"How can we help?" whispered Alan, sending the question on a gift of magic, a whisper of his own power coloured with his personality and his concern for the elemental.

It looked up sharply at him and slowly uncurled, letting long limbs span the full breadth of its circle. It turned as it floated, erratic and strange as it took in its surroundings, the circles, the magic, the room and the flow of water that cradled and continually washed over it.

"Ffreeee?" it croaked, its voice strange and hollow.

"Will you be well if we let you go now?" asked Alan, pushing the words on another influx of power, lacing the magic with meaning.

It spun again, erratically stopping and starting and finally ending up floating at an odd angle that made Alan feel like gravity was a bit off. "Nno haaarrmmmm," it said, floating forward and putting just one hand at the circle barrier.

"No harm," agreed Alan, stepping close enough to put his hand where its hand was. "I'm going to set you free of the first circle now, all right?"

It cocked its head, eerily bringing just that part of itself straight, and then nodded, expression expectant.

Alan took a deep breath, then smudged the circle with his toe.

The elemental didn't surge forward or outward like Alan had expected. Instead, it allowed their hands to meet, and Alan felt a small tendril of power feeding back into him, cold and shivery. "Tthhaaaankssss," it burbled, and Alan felt something loosen inside him.

"You are welcome," said Alan formally, basking in the healing energy that Efram was still putting out. He took some of it into himself, then added his own spin, a sort of emotional healing that he pushed back into the elemental at the place where they were joined.

Its face showed a wash of emotions, settling back on gratitude when the flow of power trailed off as Efram brought his part of the magic to a close. "I'm going to break the other circles," he said, looking to Alan for confirmation.

At Alan's nod, he smudged the second circle, then the third. Fortunately Brooks kept control of the water so they didn't flood the bathroom, and Adam stepped forward, looking very proud indeed. "Free, with apologies from Earth," said Adam, offering his small hand.

"Ffreee," it said again, brushing Adam's hand. "Goooo," it said, and then it ducked down the drain, leaving them all exhausted and bemused.

"Do you think it'll be all right?" asked Alan, sloshing over to turn off the faucet so that the water level would finally start going down instead of up.

"I believe so," said Adam, looking to Brooks.

"It's much better now," said Brooks, walking over the surface of the water to curl tiredly in Alan's arms. Adam and Efram joined them, snuggling as the tub continued to drain. "I think it will find others of our kind to help it finish healing.

"Good," said Efram softly. "How could anyone do that to it? Is that... That's not what Victor's trying to do, is it?"

"No, love," said Alan, hoping it was true. "That was a mistake, that artefact. I don't know what it was meant to do or how it got buried out in that field, but it's not what Victor wants to do at all."

"Good," said all three of the others in unison, one boy and two elementals.

They laughed and finally got out, Brooks wicking them dry and then Adam going to fetch food for the exhausted humans, who gratefully went to curl up in bed before they could get too chilled. They were both drained, and there was a real danger of catching something if they left themselves vulnerable. But Adam and Brooks were both there to care for them, and once they'd eaten enough bread and honey to replenish their bodies, and drunk enough cool, sweet water, they curled up and fell asleep with the watchful eyes of their friends making sure they stayed well.

---

When Alan woke, he found that he'd completely slept through Jack's return, their normal dinner time, and on into the morning. It was only the insistent chiming of their alarm spell that pulled him out of sleep, along with the demands of his growling belly and fully bladder. He stumbled into the bathroom and finally showered just to wake up fully, giving the equally tired-looking Apprentices a chance to rest a little longer.

"You are definitely no longer overcharged," said Brooks teasingly, having joined him for an undemanding snuggle and even helped to wash his back.

Alan laughed tiredly. "I think that won't be a problem for a while," he said, unable to imagine getting from where he was now to the crackling overproduction he'd been experiencing all week.

"Brave words," teased Adam, who rose up from the shower floor to snuggle against Alan's leg. "There isn't really any food I can prepare for you," he added regretfully.

"It's okay," said Alan, stroking the familiar bald head before turning off the shower and exiting it suspiciously dry. "I can scrounge us up something, and we'll all eat some energy bars when we get to school, too."

"Definitely energy bars," said Jack, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed with a groan. "I feel hung over!"

"I take it air's little task was sufficient challenge for my Apprentice?" asked Alan with a wan smile, rummaging aimlessly in his underwear drawer.

A giggle preceded the air elemental's appearance. "He was up to the challenge," it said smugly.

"Barely," said Jack, claiming the bathroom next.

Alan forced himself to concentrate long enough to dress and left Efram still obliviously asleep, enlisting the help of all the elementals to keep him on track as he made a simple but calorie-laden coffee cake with some of their canned peaches. He wasn't sure if it was the cake or the coffee that lured the boys out, but soon enough there were two damp, sleepy heads nodding toward the kitchen table.

It took at least a cup each of blessed caffeine before they were looking particularly awake, but after he was about halfway through his second cup, Jack sat up and gave them both shy, uncertain looks. "I, I have something I want to say, something I decided yesterday while I was out."

"What is it?" asked Alan, suppressing a yawn. He was seriously considering cancelling classes today, just so he wouldn't have to put up with the inane questions of his Runic I students.

"If things go badly... Not that I think they will, but just in case, on Saturday..." Jack took a deep breath, and Alan sat up and made his tired brain take notice. "I'll cede the floor to Efram, and find a new Master."

"What? No!" said Efram, looking from Alan to Jack unhappily.

Alan nodded. "We'll always be a family, and that's the sort of thing family does for each other," he said, giving Jack and Efram's hands both a squeeze. "I don't think it will go badly, but if it does, I'll accept it."

"What if I won't?" asked Efram sulkily.

Jack tugged his whole chair into hugging distance, then wrapped his arms around Efram the way he'd longed to do even before Alan brought them together. "You will, and I'll never forget that you didn't want to," he said, stealing a kiss. "It's worth it, just to be allowed to kiss you again."

Efram looked a little stunned, and even Alan was surprised that Jack had gone so far, and let himself be so vulnerable to his former rival. "Then, as long as your new master doesn't take you too far away for kissing, I guess I can't refuse," said Efram shyly, offering up another kiss.

"I hate to interrupt," said the Air elemental, coalescing in the steam from the last piece of coffee cake, "but you'll be late if you don't go soon."

Efram chuckled and kissed Jack one more time. "Never an excuse to slack off when you need one," he said with a wry grin.

"You'll make it up to each other later," said Alan. Taking up the mantle of Masterly duty again, he stood and stretched, picking up the last piece of cake to offer up to the house elementals, as thanks for their extraordinary efforts of the previous day.

"And us," said Adam, popping up out of the earth well to accept his part of the treat. "There needs to be much sporting to refill the house's reserves of power."

They all laughed at that, and it was with lighter hearts that they headed out to face the day.

---

The rest of the week flew by, as the three of them recovered from their ordeals and went through the motions of a life they were just starting to get used to. By Friday, Alan was once again crackling with energy, so he took Jack and Efram both into a ritual room and spent them on giving their air elemental one last burst of energy to go snooping around Jack's father.

Saturday morning dawned crisp and cold, but the bed was warm and full of love. They woke up early enough for a leisurely morning before their Council hearing, and despite the slightly desperate edge to everything, they made the most of what time they had.

"I promise, Jack, I won't let you go without a fight," said Alan. They were in the kitchen, sharing a last cup of Efram's rainy-day tea despite the sunny weather, a last moment of calm before the day's trials began.

"I won't either," said Efram shyly, squeezing Jack's hand.

"You will be welcome among us," said Adam, climbing up into Jack's lap rather than Alan's for once. "You were a part of our binding."

"You're a part of our home," said Brooks. He sipped his own cup of steaming tea, the darker liquid filtering out through his watery body in swirling, hypnotic patterns.

"I like the taste of you very much," said the fire elemental from where he was enjoying his own treat of burning herbs in a brazier in the center of the table.

The air elemental gently stirred Jack's hair, breathing in steam and smoke alike for his portion of their treat. "I would miss your kisses, were I no longer allowed," it said, and then swooped down for a few more, just in case.

Adam munched happily on the warm, wet herbs from the bottom of the teapot, his arm just the right size to scoop out handfuls of the stuff. "You'll be back," he said, sounding confident in the way of his element that nothing changes so much that the earth cannot reclaim it eventually.

Alan couldn't help but smile at the tableau in front of him, having moved from one elemental he had just been barely getting to know, to a whole family of apprentices and elementals alike, living in harmony. "He will as long as we get to our appointment on time," teased Alan, finishing off his tea and standing reluctantly. "We have everything we need?"

"We have our robes and official papers, and the air elemental already gave his notes Mark," said Efram with one last yawn. They'd agreed to stop for coffee on the way, since they had plenty of time, leaving space for this small tea offering in place of the rush to get caffeine. "I've got the car keys."

"And you have all the things you need to call us, should you need us," said Adam, kissing Jack with a tea-warmed mouth before climbing down off his lap, taking the teapot with him. "You have fed us well, so we have plenty of energy to answer your summons."

"You just need to go," said Brooks with a sigh. "Come back together, okay?"

"Okay," said Jack lightly, leaning across the table to kiss first Brooks, then the fire elemental.

That was all that really needed to be said, and so more kisses were shared and the three humans made it out the door and on their way, the tension in the car slowly rising as they drove to the same Council meeting hall where they'd formed their unexpected triad.

---

When they arrived, Mark was standing outside by a slick black car, talking to a stranger in the formal robes of a man of law. They trooped over to join him, Alan in front and the two Apprentices trailing behind like ducklings.

Mark turned and grinned. "I see you're all ready for the hearing," he said. "This is Council Justice Crane, he'll be presiding."

Alan shook his hand, "Good to meet you, sir, you're the Marshall Crane that does those amazing water works?"

Crane's grip was firm and cool. "Not in a few years, but it's good to know they're fondly remembered," he said. "I take it these are your Apprentices? You must be Jack Wellington." He stepped forward to shake Jack's hand. "Which makes you Efram Hawthorne, you're younger than I expected."

Efram accepted the handshake and the observation both with a wry little smile. "I started my degree at sixteen, I'm nineteen now and very fortunate to be able to share my studies with Jack and Master Harper."

"There's a lot of things I can teach them together," said Alan shrewdly, "We can do more complex rituals, so they're better prepared for their Journeys."

"Plus it spreads out the chores," said Jack with a nervous grin. "With two of us, I mean."

"I still cook," teased Alan, trying to get him to relax.

Crane looked amused by the exchange, fortunately. "Has the stipend been sufficient for your two growing boys?" he asked politely.

"Oh, more than enough," assured Alan. "I have vegetable gardens and a small fruit orchard on my land, too, and the house elementals helped us harvest and preserve the bounty this year."

"Elementals, more than one?" said Crane, surprised and now genuinely interested.

"We have four now," said Efram proudly.

"I used to just have one, earth, but with two Apprentices there was enough energy to summon more, so there's now water, air, and fire bound to our home as well," said Alan, feeling shy and protective of their friends. "Voluntarily, of course."

"We even had an energy elemental come to the summoning, though it chose not to stay," said Jack, just as proud as Efram.

"That's very impressive, Master Harper." Crane looked like he was going to say something else, but someone emerged from inside to gesture at him. "And that's my cue, I'll see you inside. Perhaps we can talk more about your arrangement after the hearing? I've never heard of such a small household supporting four elementals before."

Alan blushed. "I'd be happy to, though the secret ingredient is my hereditary power leakage problems, I think."

"Master Harper's one of the most powerful students I've ever taught," said Mark, looking smug.

"Good, good," said Crane, already moving off.

"Now that you've impressed our Justice, let's go change into our robes and get this show on the road. I want to finish up in time for beer with lunch," said Mark, herding them all into the building.

"You always want beer," teased Alan; he found a lot of his nervousness had vanished after meeting Crane. Wellington might have had the power to call the hearing, but he couldn't create misconduct out of thin air.

"Maybe we should've brought some of those oatmeal-apple cookies for the judges," said Efram, amused. "The ones the air elemental found us the recipe for."

"Wouldn't cookies be considered a bribe?" said Jack, amused.

"Cookies that good, maybe," said Alan, pleased that even Jack was starting to relax and trust in the rightness of their arrangement.

They bustled into the changing room and took over a couple of lockers, getting into their robes and making sure all the paperwork was still where it should be. Then they sat on the benches and cooled their heels, waiting until the chime sounded to call them into the Council chambers.

The slate floor held no magic circles this time. Instead there were two sets of tables and chairs facing Justice Crane where he took the center seat on the raised dais. Two other Councillors flanked him, both of them looking less than amused to have their Saturday mornings disrupted. One of the tables was already occupied with John Wellington and someone who was presumably his legal or magical counsel, and the other had four chairs all ready and waiting for their group.

"Please, be seated, so that the opening arguments can be presented," said Crane. He was less affable now, his gaze sharper, and Alan had to work to keep his chin up instead of ducking his head like an errant schoolboy.

They got settled with Mark on the left, closest to the opposition, and Jack as far from his father as he could get. Alan sat next to Mark, and Efram held Jack's hand under the table.

Wellington sat, too, but his counsel moved out ahead of the tables and cleared his throat. "Thank you for giving up your Saturday morning for this hearing," he began smoothly.

"Stop sucking up and get to the point, Standish," said the woman on Crane's left irritably.

Alan had to hold back a snigger.

"Ah, yes, of course," said Standish, clearing his throat. "We're here today to make sure there is no misconduct in the matter of Jack Wellington and Efram Hawthorne sharing their Apprenticeship under Master Harper."

"We know why we're here, Standish." It was Crane showing irritation at the posturing this time. "What specific misconduct do you have concerns about?"

"We're concerned that the Apprentices in question were coerced into sexual relations with Master Harper, and with each other, in order to secure their positions," said Standish, though it was obvious he'd meant to prevaricate more.

"And your response to these allegations, Master Hartridge?" asked Crane.

Mark stood with a little grunt, using his cane more than usual. "Both of the students came to Master Harper asking to study ritual magic under him, and Wellington specifically requested training in sex magic. Both boys are, as you can plainly see, perfectly happy to be shagging each other and their Master as well."

Alan had to fight back the urge to giggle every time someone said they were studying under him, but he tried to look serious and trustworthy.

"Do you boys agree with Master Hartridge's pleasantly succinct summary of the situation?"

"We do, sir, I mean, I do," said Efram, bobbing up to stand awkwardly, and then sitting again when he was done.

Jack just stayed seated, though he brought their joined hands above the table. "I do, sir."

Alan just nodded.

Crane sighed and turned back to Standish. "And do you have any actual proof, or have you wasted our morning with an overwrought parent who is unhappy with their son's choice of career paths?"

"I, ah, I have character statements about both Hawthorne and Master Harper," said Standish, reaching for the folders stacked on his table.

Crane held up his hand. "Character statements are not reason enough to dissolve what appears to be a very well-functioning magical Apprenticeship. Do you have any actual evidence of misconduct? Witnesses to coercion? Evidence the boys are in any way unhappy with their situation?"

Standish swallowed, looking over at Wellington, who looked like he was about to explode.

"My son did not volunteer to," began Wellington, rising up out of his seat, "to be violated by tha-"

"Just stop right there, Dad," interrupted Jack, standing up himself. "I volunteered to be Master Harper's Apprentice in ritual and sex magic, and I'm pretty good at it, if I do say so myself. I'm compatible with Master Harper and with Efram, we work well together and we like sex together."

"Thank you, Wellington, Wellington," said Crane. "I think we've heard enough."

A silencing spell went up, and the three Councillors deliberated behind it. Alan tried to read their lips, but he couldn't quite, and he could see the third person, the man who hadn't spoken up at all, seemed less easily swayed than Crane or the woman. After several minutes of tense arguing, the spell came down and Crane visibly refrained from rolling his eyes as he said, "Apparently someone wants to see the documents you've brought, Standish, I assume you have copies for everyone?"

"Of course, sir," said the lawyer, just managing not to sound unctuous. He passed one folder over to Mark, and then brought three more up to the Councillors. Crane gave them a quick check to be sure all three were identical, then handed them off to his compatriots to read.

Mark opened their folder and skimmed the first page, then passed it to Alan. It was one of the copies of Ms. Baneberry's angriest memo to Alan, from before he'd found proof of the flaws in the wards. Alan passed it down without comment, but he couldn't help but be amused. The next paper amused him less, as it was a copy of a confidential memo about Efram, but again the charges involved had been quite thoroughly disproven. There were a few other such things, and then several of those character statements originally promised.

Those were more damning, letters from Efram's fellow students and a few of his professors, though they seemed to predate this hearing and relate more to his previous difficulty. There were two recent letters about Alan, one from a fellow professor he'd never liked, and one from that irritating student, Donna. There was also an older letter that he had to suppress a laugh over, since it was from back when he was a student and they were all very annoyed over the cracked floor.

Jack stacked all the papers at his end and passed them back the other way for Mark, who folded his hands over them and looked confident, which Alan hoped wasn't just for their benefit. Alan leaned over to Efram and whispered, "Next time, definitely cookies."

Efram's glum face lightened, and Alan's mood with it. Efram leaned over and whispered something to Jack, which brought a smile to his face, too, and Alan felt a little bubbling of cheerfulness coming to him through the Apprentice bond, riding on a tiny wave of magic.

Alan leaned back toward Mark and asked quietly, "Who are the other two Councillors, anyway? I thought I knew most everyone."

"Maryanne Jansen teaches Conjuration at the Wexley School, and Ian George is a Combat Mage," said Mark, not quite so quietly. "I believe George worked with Wellington during the war."

Several people bristled, and Alan rolled his eyes. "Very diplomatic," he whispered, but he couldn't help but be amused.

"I wasn't aware you knew the complainant," said Jansen, looking less than pleased and closing the folder in front of her.

George tried to look unconcerned, though Alan though he could see a hint of nervousness in the way he was shuffling through the papers in front of him. "As it was in the line of duty, I didn't think it was relevant."

"It sounds like bias to me," said Mark, eyes narrowing. "What exactly was the nature of your work together?"

"Nothing relevant to this proceeding," said George again defensively.

Alan gave a little whistle, the agreed-upon signal for their air elemental to come to him. They'd fed the elementals well this morning burning off their nervous energy before breakfast, and all Alan needed was breath and intention to summon their elemental to them.

"Why is he whistling, are you touched in the head?" said Wellington, leaning back to stare down the line of people.

Alan smiled as his hair was ruffled, and the elemental appeared sitting on his shoulder. "I was summoning a friend," said Alan, reaching up to tickle its belly and feed it a little burst of energy with it. "Do you, elemental of air, swear that you will speak truth only in this chamber today?"

It kicked its feet, stirring up the papers in front of them with a little breeze, but refrained from its usual giggle as it said, "I do swear."

Mark grinned toothily. "Do you know the nature of the connection between Councillor George and John Wellington?" he asked.

"I do, Master Hartridge," said the air elemental. It crossed its feet and put its hands in its lap quite demurely, and Alan couldn't help but think they'd be made to pay later for its good behavior now. "Councillor Ian George was on several committees with John Wellington during the war, including the one which colluded to conceal the extent of the damage being done to the nation's infrastructure as a state secret, and another which was responsible for the decision to do the damage in the first place. They've known each other for many years, and belong to the same gentleman's club in London."

"That," said Crane dryly, "seems relevant, especially given the nature of the project Masters Hartridge and Harper are working on with their advanced students this year."

"Doesn't this first memo have to do with that cockamamie monitoring spell the Council wanted to use?" said Jansen, flipping back to the beginning of the file.

"Yes, ma'am," said Alan proudly. "That was before we had proof of the extent to which the spell was damaging the school wards."

"I tested the wards and informed the faculty myself," said the air elemental proudly. "Master Harper prevented a lot of potential damage and injury with his caution."

Alan sent the air elemental a blushing glow of pleased energy in reward, from himself and then both Apprentices. They'd have to do another ritual tomorrow at this rate, maybe they could set the air elemental to researching something for their project.

"It seems to me," said Crane, his face stony and blank now, "that there is more than one good reason to keep these Apprentices with their Master. This case is dismissed." He looked from George to Wellington and added, "And the next time you attempt to use your influence to interfere in Council business, I'll be keeping this incident in mind. This hearing is closed."

With a gesture from Crane, the silencing spell fell again and it looked to Alan like Ian George was getting an earful from both of his fellow Councillors.

"We're not done with this," said Wellington, standing up and straightening himself angrily. "You're not keeping my boy."

This time, it was easy for Alan to look serenely confident as he replied, "I believe you'll find that Jack can keep himself just fine."

Wellington huffed and stomped off, his lawyer scurrying after with a rather haphazard pile of papers.

"Do you want to go home, or hang out for a while?" asked Alan. Feeding their elation to the air elemental was helping keep him on an even keel, and giving it the power it needed to stay so far from the home it was bound to.

"I'll stay for a while," it said with a giggle. "I'd like some kisses before I go."

They all stood, letting Mark deal with their papers, and filed back out to the changing rooms to get out of their robes. "Plenty of kisses," said Alan, once they were safely out of the Council chamber.

The air elemental giggled and fluttered around the room here and there, claiming kisses from everyone, including Mark, as they got back into their street clothes.

Alan had forgotten Crane's intention to talk to them more, and was surprised to find the Councillor out of his robes and waiting in the parking lot for them, a look of unsuppressed curiosity on his face. "Is this one of the elementals bound to your home?" he asked.

Alan nodded, stepping forward with the air elemental cradled happily in his arms. "It is, we fed it some extra energy this morning in case we needed to call upon its specific knowledge," he said, feeling awkward and shy.

"You're the Marshall Crane who used to make lovely water works that made rainbows dance in the air," said the air elemental, sounding almost accusatory.

Crane laughed. "I am, and I promise I shall get back to it as soon as I find the opportunity."

"If it's known you're willing, it'll be easier," said the air elemental slyly.

Alan chuckled. "If you give him permission, I'm sure he'll spread the word for you," he added, making sure that the elemental knew it needed permission.

Crane looked surprised, then pleased. "That would be a clever way to get the invitations coming in again, go ahead."

"Hooray!" said the air elemental, swooping up out of Alan's arms and around Crane, mussing his hair. "You should come for dinner sometime, now that you're not trying to take our Jack away," it said, then twirled around and vanished, presumably to spread the word since it still had plenty of energy to blow off.

Mark laughed and slapped Alan on the shoulder. "You've got a lot more personality in your elementals now," he said, entirely unsympathetic.

Alan rolled his eyes. "For that," he said, "you can come to dinner when Councillor Crane does and bring your own Apprentice."

"Not that I don't appreciate it and very much want to, but I won't let your elemental force you..." began Crane.

"Nonsense," said Alan. "You're welcome to come to dinner, let me give you my number and we can work out a day. You can meet the whole group working on the power problems, and my elementals as well." They got out their phones and went through the process of exchanging details, and also established that Crane was single and wouldn't be bringing a plus one, which was good for Alan's relatively small house.

"Now," said Mark, when it looked like they might get to chatting, "I'd like lunch. Would you care to join us?"

"Oh, no, that's all right," said Crane with a look of genuine regret. "I've got to get going, I have a public works meeting later. It's endless."

"Makes me glad I'm unlikely to ever be invited onto the Council," said Alan. "We'll talk later, though, and thank you for not listening to their nonsense."

Crane rolled his eyes. "I hate that sort of idiocy, anyone with half a brain can see your Apprentices are happy, and anyone with magical talent can sense the way your magics harmonize."

"I'm glad you bothered to look," said Alan, shaking his hand again. Mark, too, shook with him, and then they made their way over to the cars.

"I know where I want to eat, give me one of your Apprentices and follow me," said Mark with a grin. "He can call with directions if you can't keep up."

"Your sense of mystery is terrifying," said Alan dryly. "Jack's already been abused enough today, so you can have Efram."

Efram laughed. "Master Hartridge wouldn't terrorize me, he wants me to bake him more cookies," he said smugly.

Mark just harrumphed, but Alan thought that Efram was right. "Come on, then, lad."

"And you're with me," said Alan, pulling Jack in for a soft kiss. "We won."

Jack laughed and relaxed, hugging Alan hard. "We won," he said, and then he scooted around the car and hopped in. "Come on, or your Master will leave us in the dust."

Alan slipped into his car and got the engine running posthaste, knowing that Jack was right. And really, he didn't mind that he might still need directions from Efram to find their way to lunch, because they'd won the trial. Losing a little race with Mark hardly mattered.

Even if he did end up buying the beer.

Chapter 27

They'd had a lovely lunch and then gone home and had a more private celebration, and when Alan woke up the next morning he could feel the static crackling in his hair. "Oh, no," he said, sitting up in bed. "Guys, we have to, I mean, I have to do a ritual right now."

"You do," said Adam seriously. "That's why we woke you. Go shower away some of the power, we'll get your boys up."

Alan nodded and got up while the elementals roused the sleepy Apprentices and explained the situation. At least on a Sunday there was likely to be a ritual room free, but what on earth would they do with it? He whistled the little summoning for air and felt its cool breeze around his body. "Please tell me you've got an idea for what we can do with the energy."

"I'm working on it," said the air elemental. "I've got much more independence now. How far do you think you can drive?"

"No more than an hour," said Alan, hoping that was true. School wasn't even that far, though even their wards could only take so much energy dumped into them at once. "We're too far from any of the depleted spots. Maybe a shrine or something?"

Alan rinsed away the soap and, he hoped, a little of the excess power, shut off the water, every drop of which vanished down the drain thanks to Brooks, leaving Alan clean and dry. The air elemental sitting over it in lotus position, a distracted look on its face. "Let me know what you figure out," said Alan, pressing a kiss to its cheek and going to find clothes and food.

The boys were sitting up in bed looking worried, and Alan waved them into the shower. "I'll feed us, our air elemental is looking for somewhere to dump the power."

They sleepily agreed, and Jack led Efram into the bathroom where Alan could hear the shower starting up on its own. The elementals really were spoiling them today, which was worrisome indeed, and he slipped into his clothes quickly and headed to the kitchen. Adam was there to help ground him while he made up one gigantic omelet for the three of them, with the fire elemental keeping it from burning and making toast under the broiler as well. Though the very first thing he started was coffee -- he'd need to be more awake than this for any kind of useful ritual.

"We should make more jam next year," said Alan, pulling down a jar from their already-dwindling stash.

"We'll start earlier," said Adam, but he looked incredibly pleased that Alan was thinking of them. "Perhaps you'll let me have a beehive, too, so we can have honey."

"Let you?" said Alan with a chuckle. "I'd love that, Adam, do you need a proper human-built one so you can harvest the honey?"

"It does make things easier," said Adam, looking happily surprised. "I will ask the air elemental to help me research it, and Efram likes to show me things online."

"You're fun to surf the web with," said Efram, coming in and claiming a cup of coffee out of the now-ready pot. "Breakfast ready?"

"Almost," said the fire elemental. "Alan, if you'll retrieve the toast?"

"Let me," said Jack, grabbing a plate and getting the toast from under the broiler, blowing a kiss toward the flickering flame that peeked out from under the omelet pan.

Efram poured coffee for all of them, and then sat and helped Jack put butter and jam on all the toast while Alan got the omelet divided up onto three plates, feeding a bit to the fire elemental and Adam as well. He came over and sat, distributing the food and getting toast and coffee in return, and then slumped in his chair.

"I hope we can figure out some better long-term plan for this," Alan said, feeling the magic crawling along under his skin. "We can't keep having crises like this."

The air elemental popped in above the table and took a deep breath of the scents of their breakfast. "I believe a solution may finally have worked itself out," it said mysteriously, right before Alan's phone rang.

"Harper," said Alan, feeling more than a little baffled since his caller ID told him it was the last person he expected to hear from on a Sunday morning -- Victor Etrangere.

"A little elemental told me you have some power you need to dispose of," said Victor, getting right to the point.

"I really do," said Alan with a sigh. "Do you need it for something?"

"I've got a new battery ready, based off of Hawthorne's prototypes," Etrangere replied, though the tone was grudging when he gave credit where it was due. "Is there a circle we can prepare for you to power it?"

"I'll send my air elemental over to show you," said Alan. "We'll be about forty-five minutes, maybe less if we eat fast."

"I'll see you in, hm, let's use room 221, that's got a slate floor and it's well-grounded into the lightning rod system," said Victor. "See you then." He hung up without saying goodbye, but Alan didn't mind, given the civility and usefulness of the rest of the conversation.

"Eat up, we're powering up one of Etrangere's batteries." Alan took a deep breath, then coaxed the air elemental down and breathed it into the little mouth, laden with the power inside him. "You know what circle we need?"

"I do," said the elemental, giving him a kiss like the gentlest of breezes. "Give me one more like that, and I can go ahead of you."

Alan grinned, then took another breath, breathing in the rich smells of his breakfast and the underlying flavours of all the power that lived in his home, and breathing out ozone-scented air into the elemental's greedy kiss. "Good?"

"Very good," said the air elemental, claiming one last kiss before it whirled up and out and away.

Alan set to eating his cooling food with a will; he might have an excess of magical energy, but it would still burn physical energy to channel and control it. Especially since he was likely to be performing sexually as well.

"So, I take it I'm the, er, helper today?" said Jack, already most of the way through his own breakfast.

"Efram will stay outside to observe and consult on the design," said Alan with a nod. Unspoken was the likelihood that Efram would have difficulty performing with Etragere there watching, given their history. "You'll have me, I've got too much power in me to dump it through you safely, and then I'll charge the battery."

"I'm really curious what they've done, given that we had the energy elemental's help charging the last couple of prototypes," said Efram, working methodically through his own food and looking like he'd much rather be asleep.

"We did?" asked Jack curiously.

"Yes, all three prototypes were charged by the elemental," said Adam. "The third time I didn't mention it, because you were asleep, and the wards were set to allow it to visit."

Alan yawned hugely, nodding. "Well, perhaps I can send it a message that it might be needed, I've certainly got some extra energy." He stuffed the last of his toast in his mouth and headed over to one of the bits of decorative ironwork around the windows that doubled as part of the house's grounding system, and sent a little pulse of thought out into the ether. He wasn't sure it would work without a proper rite, but he needed to survive the ride in the Mini without shorting anything, so anything he could do to siphon off a little energy was a good thing.

The fire elemental poked its head up curiously out of the candle on the centre of the table. "Interesting. A little like writing a message on paper, and then burning it for fire," it commented, clearly finding the idea intriguing. "We'll have to explore this method of communication."

Alan smiled, pleased that the fire elemental had grown comfortable enough to express its curiosity. "I'd love to, maybe I can try it when we're done today and see if you get the message."

"Good," said the fire elemental, sinking back to a smaller flame before the candle could melt too much and drown the wick.

Alan came back over to finish his coffee, glad to see the boys were basically done. "We'll clear up," said Adam, when Jack made to load the dishwasher. "You need to go now."

"He's right," said Alan. "I can feel it building up again, come on." He took a few deep breaths to dispel the crawling feeling of power under his skin, then got into his shoes and coat and tossed Jack the keys to the Mini. "You drive, I'm too wound up."

"You seriously are," said Jack, putting on his own coat.

Efram finished tying his shoes and stood. "Let's do this thing," he said, and they headed out to the car. Jack's car was in the garage today, and the Mini in the driveway, but the day was dry and cold so it was no hardship to go out the front door. Alan got shotgun by default, Efram long used to being relegated to the back seat, though there was a bit of adjusting to give him room -- he usually sat behind Alan's shorter legs on the driver side, so everything had to be switched around.

Efram yawned as Jack pulled out, sighing. "I should've brought a blanket, I could've just napped back here," he said tiredly.

"No napping, you'll need your wits for Victor," said Alan. He rubbed his palms against his corduroys and tried to think calming thoughts as Jack broke a few speed laws trying to get them to the school faster.

They were parked and out of the car in record time, and Alan felt a familiar swirl of air as their elemental came out to meet them. "Everything's ready, I set it up so the energy elemental is welcome but not required," it said, claiming kisses from both Apprentices and then a longer, more power-rich one from Alan.

"Smart," said Alan. "I lucked out, getting you for my own."

"We," said Efram pointedly, giving Alan a poke in the ribs.

Alan chuckled and unlocked the door for them; the various work rooms were available on weekends, but only if you could get faculty to agree to supervise you, so the building stayed locked, and this was one key he hadn't copied for his Apprentices. "Room 221, right?"

"Right," said the air elemental, giving a little swoop. "It's very clever, how the metal circle-template feeds into the lightning rods if it overloads."

"And useful, given our issue," said Alan. He actually jogged upstairs, and he was amused to see that Jack was already getting his coat off in anticipation. "I don't suppose you also got us a cushion or two?"

The elemental giggled. "There were some in a cupboard, yes," it said, swooping down for one more kiss before they got to the open door. It vanished with another impish laugh, and Alan strode through the door to find a relatively simple energy-channeling circle set up for them, with the promised cushions, a soft blanket, and even a bottle of lubricant.

"We're all ready for you, as you can see," said Victor turning, and his eyebrows went up. "Your haste makes sense, Master Harper, however did you let yourself get into this state?"

Alan hmphed. "I'm not used to the Apprentice bond yet, they feed into me now instead of taking energy away," he said, feeling grumpy about admitting it. "I've always had power problems, but with three of us it's amplified to the point where my house and grounds can't use it all up."

His hands were working as he talked, taking off his jacket and shirt and handing them to Efram, who had an armful of mixed clothing from Jack and Alan both.

"Master and I will do the rite," said Jack, slipping out of his shoes and socks and helping Alan out of his while he was down there. "Efram's going to observe."

"Of course," said Etrangere, looking vaguely uncomfortable as Alan and Jack stripped off efficiently. He turned his attention to Efram instead. "You can put those things there," he said, waving his hand at a desk that had been pushed up against the wall. "I've got the plans over here, so you know what to look for."

"How do the batteries discharge, once they're powered up?" asked Efram, dumping the clothes onto the desk and moving over to look at the plans.

Alan tuned him out concentrating on breathing, centering himself despite the overload humming through his veins. "What rite are we using?" he asked.

The air elemental swirled into existence in front of him, looking very interested in his nakedness, and cuddled up close for kisses. Its warm feet caressed him teasingly, only a little more substantial than the breeze from a heater. Alan put his arms around it, caressing down its back and arse and thighs, letting the familiar sensuality of it take him from limp to aroused.

"You won't need words with the circle," it said, once Alan was sufficiently hard for its amusement. It drifted over to the circle and said, "Just pour your power into the receptive rune, here, and it will flow through the symbols and around the circle to pour first into the spot for energy," it said, pausing above the sub-circle it had made with symbols inviting the energy elemental to assist them, "and then into the machine," it added, pointing to the oddly beautiful contraption, "and finally into the lightning rod, should there be excess."

Alan nodded, admiring the elegance of it. "Is this one of Geoffrey's designs?" he asked, aware that the air elemental had been helping with the research here and there.

The elemental did a little swirl in the air that was almost dizzying. "It is, he's getting better and merging circles," said the elemental. "Now get in the circle before you wilt."

Alan laughed and stepped in, coaxing it close for another kiss. "Now you get out of the circle and be safe," he retorted.

It kissed Alan's nose, then vanished again in a puff of warm air, and Alan turned to hold his hand out to Jack. "Come on, it's nice in here," said Alan with a wink.

Jack laughed and stepped into the circle, and they found the small ritual knife to use for sealing themselves in. Alan tried to banish his awareness of Victor, though he could feel Efram's attention on them through their bond now that things were beginning, like the warmth of the sun against his bare skin.

Alan took a moment to kiss Jack very thoroughly, feeding enough warmth into him to bring him to proper attention. They each pricked their fingers and sealed the circles, then Alan lay back against the pillows and blanket and looked up at Jack invitingly.

Jack huffed a laugh and Alan could tell it was killing him not to talk, to make whatever comment was on the tip of his tongue. Alan spread his knees wider and Jack took the hint, leaning in for another kiss, then getting the lubricant and spreading it first on his own cock, and then slicking his fingers to find Alan's entrance.

It didn't take long to prepare him; Alan was eager both to have Jack in him, and to dump the power inside him, and it made his body accommodating. Jack had the eagerness of youth behind him, and it didn't take words for him to move on to the next step. Alan turned part of his attention outward, to the pair of circles set up to receive the power they were putting out, and he sent a tendril of power into them as a test. It turned from a trickle to a rush as Jack pressed into him, and Alan gasped.

Jack kissed Alan like he meant it, the kiss he used when he wanted it hot and fast, and Alan showed his agreement in the kiss and with his body. Their hips moved together, finding a rhythm easily after all the practice they'd had, both in and out of ritual spaces. Alan was cut off entirely from anyone outside the circle except Efram, who was part of him at a deeper level while they were Master and Apprentice. Alan felt his pleasure building fast, the heat of Jack's magic joining in with his own, sending visible sparks off their fingertips, and between their lips when they kissed.

Finally, Alan could hold no more, either pleasure or power, and he let himself fall over the edge and take Jack with him. Jack's magic poured into him and he multiplied it tenfold with his own, sending a flood along the path he'd established, and into the circle. He felt as much as saw when the energy elemental joined them, its smooth body flushed fucshia and violet with the sexuality of their gift. Alan blinked to clear his vision, and he watched as it turned and did something that was not quite physical with the battery, feeding it concentrated power while keeping plenty for itself.

"Thank you," said Alan, his voice rough and throat dry. For some reason the energy elemental still intimidated him, more alien even than fire to him despite the magical power that he lived and breathed and used every day.

"Your offerings are always so tasty," it said, its voice the crackle of static along a telephone line. "This circle is a good one, no binding, only offering. Use it again."

With a crack like lightning the elemental vanished, and Alan felt the pressure of power finally vanish, like having his ears pop. "Oh, thank the elements," he said, flopping back against the pillows with Jack still inside, his whole body limp and drained.

Jack pulled out, breaking the circle and accepting a warm, damp cloth from Efram. "Bless you, Apprentices," said Alan, letting himself be pampered and trying not to blush over their extra audience.

Victor, however, was far more interested in the device than their post-coital moment. "We still don't know if it can be powered without the elemental's help," he said, "but you gave it a full charge."

Alan wrapped himself up in the blanket and got up, shuffling over to look while Jack finished the clean-up and got dressed. "It's a good design, I can see how you refined Efram's idea. Very slick."

"It's a Master's work," said Efram, impressed rather than resentful. "I couldn't have made anything this efficient or streamlined."

"You laid the groundwork," said Etrangere. "You'll be in the paper when I publish.

Alan tried not to look surprised and completely failed, if the look on Etrangere's face was any indication.

"The stigma has been removed by the circumstances of our new project," said Victor. "Now that we can work together openly, I intend to continue doing so. Efram has a unique perspective on combining our two disciplines."

"He does," said Alan with a fond smile. "I'm happy to loan him to you, as long as he keeps up with our part of the project, too."

Their air elemental reappeared, looking very pleased with itself. "I have given Geoffrey the results of our work, and he wishes to come to dinner."

Alan chuckled. "I'm a bit wiped out, but if I can get a nap, he's welcome. We still need to work on the big rite, so maybe we can coax him into being our fifth."

"I'm all for that," said Jack, handing Alan his underwear with a smirk. "Better him than some stranger."

Alan got dressed while the boys brought Etrangere up to speed on their various projects, and when he came back over they were talking about the batteries again. "Why don't we work out a production schedule?" said Alan.

"Are you certain you'll be available to power them regularly?" asked Victor, looking quite keen at the prospect.

"I need more outlets, this will solve two problems in one go," said Alan. "I won't always have as much power as I did today, but eventually people who aren't overproducers will want to be able to charge them, so that's not a bad thing."

"It's not," said Victor with a nod. "I'll come find you during office hours to discuss it, then, I need to see how much machining time I can get in and around the students and my classes."

"I can help, too," said Efram. "I haven't forgotten everything you taught me."

"I suppose you can," said Victor, though he sounded less than sanguine about the prospect. "We'll schedule it, anyway."

"We'll go resume our Sunday, then," said Alan, shaking hands with Victor and letting his Apprentices drag him away. He was feeling pleasantly drained, and wanted nothing more than to curl up and do nothing.

"I'm still driving," said Jack, looking at Alan's expression as they got to the car.

"Be my guest," said Alan. "Efram can even have shotgun if someone will find me that blanket we stashed in the trunk."

"Yes, O wise and lazy Master," said Efram teasingly, taking on that task while they settled in.

Alan curled up in the back seat with the blanket and basked in his worn-out state while Jack got them on their way. "Do we have anything urgent planned for today?" asked Alan with a huge yawn.

"I think all we had planned was baking and some planning for the big ritual," said Efram, getting out his phone to check. "You wanted to try pasties again."

"I vote we stop by Rosemary's for lunch and some of her pasties," said Alan, "and spend the afternoon being as lazy as possible."

Jack chuckled. "I'm all for that, though it's a little early for lunch."

"I'm hungry enough not to care," said Alan. "Why aren't you starving?"

"Oh, I'm starving," said Jack, "but Efram might not be."

"I'm a growing boy," said Efram, sounding amused. "I can always eat, especially at Rosemary's."

"Then it's a plan," said Alan, yawning again and settling in for a doze. "Wake me when we get there, O obedient and useful Apprentices."

"Yes, Master," they said, in singsong unison that included the air elemental's voice.

Alan felt the elemental's warm body fill out the blankets with him. He shifted to properly snuggle the small body without even thinking about it, and drifted off to the sound of its contented purr.

---

"I think it's about time for you two to do a rite together without me," said Alan over lunch the next day. "Nothing big, maybe something for the fire elemental, Jack's got a good affinity for it."

"It's interesting," said Jack, managing not to sound defensive about his desires for once. "I'm not sure what it would need us to do a rite for, though."

"There's already a lot of extra power around the house," pointed out Efram. "I'm not sure our elemental needs anything."

"Well, we could ask it to do a task, the way we do the air elemental," said Alan thoughtfully. "Is there anything we need done?"

"Oh, we could get it to help us cast some parts for those batteries," said Efram. "They're not all machined, I think there's at least two pieces that are cast from molds."

"A fire elemental can really help that process along," said Alan with a nod. "I don't think I'd have ever passed my Artefacts class if I couldn't get elementals to help."

"Is that going to be all right?" asked Jack, turning to Efram. "Are you sure you're okay doing magic with just me?"

"Of course I am," said Efram, leaning in to kiss Jack warmly. "We'll schedule it with Victor, so we can work without all his students around."

"You can do the rite in one of the private ritual rooms and just bring a lantern to carry the charged elemental to the foundry, too," said Alan. "That's what I used to do, so no one had to watch me, you know."

"We like watching you," said Jack teasingly.

"We like helping better, though," added Efram.

"I like it when you help," said Alan, amused. "We'll talk to our fire elemental before we do anything, to make sure it's all right with being called from the hearth."

They talked about the details a little more, with Jack promising to do everything Efram said to help with the actual casting, given that he'd not taken any Artefact classes yet. "We'll get you into a beginning one next year," said Alan. "It's good to have a grounding in all the basics, you've seen what I've accomplished with just a little bit of knowledge."

"Your car and house are both really neat," said Efram, "When will we start on the work room, anyway?"

"Not until spring," said Alan. "It's a big stone room with all the heating and cooling spells broken, we'd freeze our butts off any sooner."

"I'm sure we can think of things to keep us busy," said Jack. "It's not as if we don't already have a lot of other projects."

"Besides, we like our butts," said Efram impishly. "We have uses for them."

"We really do," said Jack, while Alan laughed helplessly. Then a student showed up to take advantage of his office hours, and by the time that was done Efram had finished filing and Jack had marked up all the Runic I papers.

Victor sauntered in a few minutes later, his schedule-book in hand, and they got down to the business of solutions.

"We haven't had as much luck as you with charging the prototypes," said Victor, when they'd worked through a schedule. "We tried a few times before yesterday, but the output was either too little, or too," he gestured with his hand, trying to find the right word, "muddy, I suppose. The power you produced was remarkably untainted."

"That's probably the energy elemental," said Alan, choosing to ignore Victor's rather insulting tone at the end there. "Elementals like our power, especially the personality that we put into it, so it would have savored all those parts and only passed along the pure energy."

"Hm," said Victor, getting a calculating look.

"Don't even think about it," said Efram. "We found a water elemental trapped as part of some Artefact the other day, and it was awful. You know bindings like that are bad news."

Victor chuckled ruefully. "Out of the mouths of babes, hm? I shall consider myself duly reprimanded."

"He's right," said Alan. "It only works because the elemental volunteers. You'd only destroy something, trying to bind energy that way."

"Don't worry," said Victor, standing up. "I won't compound my sins. I'll see you at the appointed times," he added by way of farewell, and swooped out looking rather affronted.

Efram looked smug. "I may have enjoyed that a little too much," he said unrepentantly.

"You earned it," said Jack ruefully. "I'm just glad I finally earned your forgiveness."

Efram slipped into Jack's lap and kissed him sweetly. "You've earned more than that, I think tonight while Alan's cooking we should practice for our ritual, you know, just in case."

Alan snorted. "If that's the case, then you can practice being good Apprentices by getting me some coffee."

"Office hours are almost over," said Jack, though he got up and retrieved their cups.

"And if I have to cook while you to shag, I want coffee," said Alan. "Go on, you can stop by Mark's office and give him the good news."

"That's the real reason he wants us to go," said Efram, checking inside the cups. "Bleh, and we'd better wash these."

"You're too spoiled by Brooks," teased Alan, turning back to his lesson plans. Finals were coming up faster than he wanted to think about, and everything he wanted covered needed to be stuffed into his students' reluctant brains before then.

"Ooh, maybe Brooks would clean them," Efram was saying as they wandered down the corridor, leaving Alan's door open.

Alan was deep in his contemplation of what exactly needed to be covered in Runic Circles I versus II when there was a polite cough in the doorway.

"Erm, sir?" said Charlie, one of the first years he'd been assigned to advise. "Do you have a minute?"

"I do," said Alan, making a quick note so he wouldn't lose his train of thought, and grabbing a clean legal pad just in case. "Have a seat."

Charlie came in and sat, backpack at his feet. "You told me to come in after midterms to discuss my options for next term."

"And it's after midterms," said Alan. "How's it going with potions?"

"Better," said Charlie. "I talked to the instructor, and just knowing I'm not going to be stuck doing it forever helped, I think."

"Well, and all the practice you've no doubt had since we talked," said Alan. "It's good that you're learning to have some control in any area, though, it'll help you later when you're figuring out what area suits you best."

"Yeah," said Charlie thoughtfully. "Anyway, do you have time now, or did you want me to make an appointment?"

"We can talk now," said Alan.

Charlie grinned and pulled out a rather marked-up course catalog for next term. "I thought about what you said, that it didn't matter if I was in Runes for Art Majors or whatever, as long as I got a taste of the different disciplines, so here are my ideas."

They were deep in discussion when the boys finally returned with coffee and the news that Geoffrey wanted to have their dinner meeting sooner rather than later, and both Jack and Efram had suggestions for Charlie from the perspective of students who'd changed disciplines late in the game. Between them, they got a schedule worked out with a couple of alternatives, and Alan promised to help fill in the gaps by arranging a few demonstrations, depending on what courses he got into.

"Well, that was a fruitful day," said Alan, glancing up at the clock. "I know we're technically done, but let me make a few more notes on my Runic classes before we go and I completely lose the idea I was working on."

"We'll pack you up to go," said Efram cheerfully, and Alan tuned them out while he finished up his notes and then sent a memo to Mark, asking for a bit of time to discuss finals and review days and all the rest.

"All right, I'm all yours," said Alan, standing up and stretching.

"I'm pretty sure your Apprentices would disagree with that," said Marie from the doorway, "but I definitely wouldn't object."

Alan turned and laughed. "Sorry, I guess they got bored of waiting and wandered off," he said, flushing. "I'm afraid I'm still, you know."

"I know, more's the pity," she replied, grinning flirtily, "but a girl can dream. Anyway, they only wandered to Mark's office, I offered to come drag you over for scheduling questions, so bring your planner."

"Oh, right, sure," said Alan, confused as always by female attention. "I'll just grab it and lock up." He turned self-consciously and got his ledger out of its spelled holder, then locked first his desk, briefcase inside, then the office while she waited in the hall. "Shall we?"

Marie took his arm with a wink. "Lead on, oh wise Master."

"Now you sound like my Apprentices," said Alan wryly, heading down the corridor for Mark's office. "Don't learn their bad habits."

"I don't sound nearly as well-satisfied as your Apprentices," she purred teasingly, leaning in close. Her voice was quite low as she added, "I'm starting to get quite envious."

Alan had never been so grateful to see Mark's office door. "Well, we're here!" He pulled away, gesturing chivalrously for her to precede him.

She smirked, hips giving a little swing as she sauntered into Mark's office. "I found him for you."

"We knew right where we'd left him," said Efram, sounding amused.

Alan rolled his eyes, taking the last free seat, right between his boys. "I'm not a puppy, you know, I knew right where I was, too."

"Bet you didn't notice when we left," said Jack.

Alan hmphed. "You're not puppies, either," was all he said, getting a chuckle around the room. He opened the schedule book in his lap and said, "what are we scheduling?"

"Trial runs," said Geoffrey, looking quite nervous. "For, erm, Marie's rite, and your big one."

"Are the circles ready? Our air elemental brought us the one you designed for the batteries yesterday, by the way, great work," said Alan.

Geoffrey flushed with pleasure. "Oh, yes, I worked out that last issue and, um, tightened everything up a little. Not smaller circles but you know, better."

"Geoffrey's got a real talent for it," said Mark approvingly. "The one for the three-person rite with Marie is quite good, too."

"You're doing that with Ron, right?" asked Alan. "And you'll be our fourth, so we just need a fifth."

Geoffrey turned adorably scarlet.

Efram put a hand on Geoffrey's knee. "Why don't you come by for dinner tonight?" he said, his voice low and inviting and just a hint flirty.

"T-tonight?" said Geoffrey, his voice going quite high at the end. Alan suddenly felt quite smooth in the way he'd dealt with Marie, though the amusement on her face said otherwise.

"Sure," said Alan. "We're going to cook, um."

"Paella," said Jack. "Efram asked you to make more, and then I think you're baking something to go with those spiced peaches we canned."

"Oh, right," said Alan. "So, paella and something with peaches?"

Geoffrey occupied himself for a moment flipping around in his little scheduler, then he nodded, not looking up. "I, um, I suppose I can."

"Great," said Jack with a grin. "Let's go do that, and leave these three to schedule their rite. Alan's still got a bit of work to do on our end, I think."

"I do, yeah," said Alan, standing. "Mark, we'll schedule the big one tomorrow?"

Mark smirked. "If you think that'll give you enough time to do your bit of work," he said with a leer.

Geoffrey got redder, but didn't protest.

Alan shot Mark a reproving look. "We'll know enough by then. Come on, boys, let's grab our things. Geoffrey, will you need a ride?"

"No, sir, I've got my car," Geoffrey replied, standing up and gathering his things.

"I'll go with you, that way you can't get lost," said Efram cheerfully. "Just let me grab my bag from Alan's office."

Geoffrey smiled, looking properly his age for once, and nodded. "That sounds good, come on."

They got their things and headed out with no further incident, arriving home in good time. Alan parked in the garage, leaving the driveway for Geoffrey's car, and they went inside and got started right away on dinner. They had things well under way when Efram and Geoffrey arrived, and Efram dragged Geoffrey around the house to show him all their new wards, as well as the older, permanent runes carved all over the house.

The elementals mostly helped in the kitchen, though the curious air elemental went to join the boys on their tour as soon as he'd dictated the recipe for their spiced peach cobbler and ginger ice cream. Brooks volunteered to make sure the ice cream froze to the proper texture, the fire elemental helped everything cook evenly, and Adam just enjoyed Alan's company more than any stranger.

"Mmm, I enjoy fresh seafood," said Adam, after Alan hand-fed him a mussel from the paella, shell and all.

Alan leaned down and kissed him sweetly, tasting the promise of their dinner on his small mouth. "Even though it doesn't come from our land?" he teased.

"What doesn't?" asked Efram, drawn back to the kitchen by the smell of nearly-ready food.

"Seafood," said Alan. "You two can set the table, there's white wine and lemon water chilling, and we'll have tea with our cobbler."

"Will do," said Efram, directing Geoffrey to get things down from high cupboards and heading to the dining room. Already the quiet young man was looking more relaxed, smiling and chatting with Efram as they worked.

"They get on well," said Alan with a grin. "What do you think, can we win him over to making magic with us?"

"I think so," said Jack, chuckling. "It's weird not to be jealous, but I just can't muster it up."

"Well, it's not as if you won't be in the circle with us," said Alan, giving him a kiss. He took the paella in its big cast iron pan into the dining room to sit for a few minutes, then came back and retrieved the warm bread out of the oven. "You'll let us know when the cobbler's done?" he asked the fire elemental.

"Of course, Efram's already got my candles lit," said the fire elemental, sounding pleased. They'd grown into the habit of including it whenever possible, and it was friendlier as a result, which suited everyone. "Thank you for the treats," it added, referring to the bits of spiced veg and shrimp tails they'd fed to the hot gas flame for it to burn to ash as its offering.

"You're always welcome," said Alan with a grin. Jack grabbed the water and wine, and they headed back to the dining room together.

Efram was showing Geoffrey how to kiss one of their elementals in their chosen size, using the air elemental as a volunteer.

"You have to be the most careful with fire," said Alan, once Efram had finished. "You can't linger too long in one place, or it can burn you by accident. Want to see?"

"Yes, please," said Geoffrey, smiling shyly when the air elemental floated over to him for a bit of a cuddle, clearly hoping to provide a test kiss.

The fire elemental obligingly grew a face out of one of the candle flames for Alan to kiss, its lips and tongue a flicker of fire against him, moving just fast enough to leave him tingling but not burned. Alan sent it a trickle of his power, fanning the flame until they were both well satisfied. "Mm, thank you," said Alan, grinning at the elemental.

"Thank you," it replied, turning back into a normal-sized flame so as not to melt down the candle too fast.

"Did you feed it energy?" asked Geoffrey, head tilted like a curious cat as he used his magical senses along with the mundane ones.

"I did, I generally do with the elementals," said Alan. "And sometimes with humans, though non-magical ones generally find that unsettling."

"It's better to ask first, with a human," said Jack wryly.

Alan chuckled and started serving up plates of paella and bread, while Jack poured the wine and Efram the water.

Adam rose up out of the earth well in the corner and came over to join them. "Most elementals will enjoy the power more than the purely physical kiss, though here in Alan's home we often appreciate the affection more, since power is overly abundant at the moment."

"Oh," said Geoffrey, surprised and thoughtful. "They are very affectionate, aren't they?" he said, gazed fixed on Adam.

Alan chuckled. "Yes," he said, putting a plate in front of Geoffrey and kissing his hair, "we are."

Geoffrey looked up, surprised, but he smiled instead of looking mortified, which Alan felt was a good sign. "Thank you, sir," he said instead. Then he turned to the patiently waiting air elemental and asked, "May we try our kiss now?"

"I would love to," it said impishly. It moved so it was standing in Geoffrey's lap rather than hovering at his side, and took the boy's face between its small hands. Alan and the others got settled in to eat to give him a little privacy, though they couldn't help but watch curiously to see how he reacted. Geoffrey leaned forward, lips pursing, and the air elemental kissed all along the curves, licking at the seam until he parted them slightly. It was awkward and sweet, and the air elemental leaned into him with its hips, its body language indicating that it was very much enjoying the experiment. After a good long moment and a nice little drink of Geoffrey's power, if Alan was any judge, it pulled back and grinned at him. "Thank you."

"Oh," said Geoffrey softly, blinking back to himself. "You, you're welcome."

"Will you sport with our humans later?" it asked.

Alan huffed a laugh, while Jack groaned and Efram slapped his forehead. "Geoffrey's not decided that yet, I don't think."

Geoffrey gave Alan a coy, shy sort of look that would have gotten him all sorts of things, had Alan not already planned to have them on offer after dessert. "I am leaning that way, if I'm invited."

"Oh, you're definitely invited," said Efram. "Right?"

"Right," agreed Jack and Alan together.

Geoffrey grinned. "Then, I might," he said, then his shyness overtook the warm glow of being wanted, and he ducked his head and started poking at his food. "Oh, this is a really nice paella, you put in all sorts of good things."

They talked about food for a while, and then magic, Alan explaining that the sex for a rite like the big one they were planning would be, in its way, as planned as the circles were, so as to avoid mishaps. "There's not a lot of spontaneity, not like with real sex, so you don't have the same performance anxieties."

"You get different ones," said Jack wryly.

Efram kicked him under the table. "Not helping."

Geoffrey chuckled. "It is, a little. I don't have too much anxiety about planned things, but I'm terrible at being spontaneous."

"We could help with that, a little," said Efram, giving Geoffrey his best sexy coquette look, the one that never failed to get Alan's trousers down in under a minute.

Geoffrey glanced nervously at Alan. "Is that, um, allowed?"

Alan grinned. "Oh, yeah, they're not exclusive to me or anything. They've even got their own beds that they never use."

"I wouldn't mind helping, too," said Jack, though he was a little less sure of himself than Efram, which Alan found interesting. "But I won't be upset if you don't want to deal with both of us at once."

Geoffrey's cheeks had gone even redder and he had to swallow before he said, "No, I, that sounds... Good. It sounds really good."

"If you're finished with dinner," said Alan, "you can go now, and we'll all have tea and cobbler after." He paused, then added, "unless you want my company, too, in which case I want to finish my paella."

"I could, um," Geoffrey cleared his throat and had the last of the wine in his glass. "I could wait."

Alan gave him a slow, warm grin. "I won't linger, then," he said, scooping up more rice and already thinking how they might arrange their foursome so that Geoffrey was the most comfortable.

"We could have a bath first," said Efram. "Come on, we'll draw the bath while these guys finish stuffing their faces." He got up and drew Geoffrey away by the hand, once they got nods of agreement from the other two.

Once they were gone, Alan spoke up. "No sexing up Geoffrey without his explicit consent," said Alan.

"Of course," said Adam, snuggling up in Alan's lap now. "We can watch, though, right?"

Jack grinned. "He knows you're all here and always paying attention, but we'll make sure he understands that means sex, too."

"Speaking of which, I think we should take him to bed for anything more than a bit of groping or the blowjob that Efram is no doubt giving him right now," said Alan, amused. "And we'll make a plan in the bath for who's going to do what, so he's less nervous."

"Good idea," said Jack. "I think he's reversible like the rest of us, he hasn't seemed nervous about the idea of a bunch of us, so maybe if he's between you and Efram, and I can either have you or be had by Efram?"

"Or maybe you and Efram can sixty-nine," said Alan, eating his last mussel and feeding the shell to Adam. "That'd be nice to watch."

"Yes, it would," agreed Brooks, who was splashing around in the vase in the center of the table. "You're right, Efram's relaxing him, I'll let you know when the coast is clear."

"Our Efram does love that," said Jack with a happy flush to his cheeks and a grin on his face. "Not that I don't."

"But he's really grown to love it a lot," agreed Alan. "I'm stuffed, you guys will finish off the rest?"

"Of course," said Adam, scooping up a little handful of rice and munching happily, a few grains at a time. "You'll need to move things to the sink for Brooks, though."

"In a minute," said Alan, dropping a kiss on Adam's smooth head. "Once you've had a bit more."

Adam grinned. "You spoil me."

"He spoils us all," said the air elemental happily. "The new incense packets will be here soon, so fire and I can share some new flavors."

"And I can eat the ash," said Adam happily.

"Did you get anything for me?" asked Brooks.

"You'll see," said Alan mysteriously, though he knew the air elemental was aware of everything in the shipment, including the special scented waters for Brooks.

"I'm ready," said Jack. "I'll get this cleared up, you finish with Adam."

"Thanks," said Alan, hand-feeding Adam a bite of sausage and getting his fingers sucked for his troubles. "I'll make some alone time for us soon," he said softly.

Adam lit up. "Will you really? I don't mean to be greedy..."

"But you're used to having me all to yourself," said Alan. "I'll have to do it for the others, too, sometimes, but you know you're special to me, love."

Adam leaned up and gave Alan a long, sweet kiss that tasted of earth and spices. "We're special to each other."

Alan felt a warm glow inside him that had nothing at all to do with magic. "Good," he said, claiming another kiss. They finished the last of Alan's paella between kisses, and then Jack stole away his plate and Brooks burbled up to report that the bath and its inhabitants were ready to be interrupted. Adam took a last kiss and vanished into his earth well, leaving the humans ostensibly alone.

"Naked or clothed?" said Jack, looking a bit nervous.

Alan pulled him close for a sweet kiss. "Geoffrey wants all of us, love, and he's already asked to be in your bed. Nothing bad's going to happen tonight."

Jack chuckled and rested his forehead against Alan's, then stole another kiss. "Thanks," he said. "Let's go in half-undressed so we're not flashing our junk, but we're not voyeurs, either?"

"Good idea," said Alan, and they headed down to the bedroom, stripping down to their underwear before knocking on the bathroom door. "Ready for us?" he asked.

"Yep!" said Efram cheerfully, "Come on in."

They opened the door to find Geoffrey with his arm around Efram in the bath, looking quite a bit more relaxed than earlier. "Come on in, the water's fine," said Geoffrey with a shy smile.

"I'd love to," said Jack, stripping out of his boxers and tossing them in the direction of the hamper.

Alan huffed and took the time put both pairs in properly, then joined the three boys in the bath. "Are you particularly interested in anything specific?" he asked Geoffrey. "Sometimes it helps to plan who's going to do what in regular sex, too, especially with this many participants."

"Really?" said Geoffrey, perking up a little. "Most people think it, you know, kills the passion."

"Keeps the beanpole from elbowing me in the face, more like it," said Efram with a laugh. "Usually we just negotiate who wants to do what, but sometimes when the elementals play it gets more complicated."

"Will they, um, want to play with us?" said Geoffrey, looking more nervous again.

"They've promised not to play uninvited, though I'm afraid nowhere in my home is safe from voyeurism," said Alan with a chuckle. "They consider it a perk."

"I can see why, sir," said Geoffrey, looking flirty again. "If I'm invited back, perhaps I'll be brave enough to, erm, how do you put it?"

"Sport with them," said Efram happily. "You'll like it, and our air elemental is already interested in you from the work you've done together."

"M-maybe next time, though," said Geoffrey, and Alan had to hold back a chuckle. Jack had moved around to Geoffrey's other side and appeared to be doing something distracting underwater. "I don't, um, I have done both positions but I don't really have a p-preference." Geoffrey let out a little moan.

"Jack, let him talk," said Alan teasingly. "You can go back to fondling after."

"Yes, master," said Jack, grinning and unrepentant.

Delight and embarrassment warred on Geoffrey's face. "So, erm, what did you have in mind... Master?"

"Just Alan today, Geoffrey," he replied. "I thought perhaps you'd have Efram while I... actually, while Jack has you, and then I can have a little mutual oral pleasure with Efram."

"I vote for this plan!" said Efram, looking very pleased indeed.

Geoffrey was surprised into laughing, "It sounds good to me," he said, then asked, "Is there a reason why not you, um, having me?"

"I pack a lot of power these days," said Alan, "and my boys are used to channeling magic into the house wards, but you're not, so it's safer for now if you and Jack pair off." He was really glad he'd had the boys around long enough to get used to being so matter-of-fact about sex and power both, since otherwise he'd probably be stammering and blushing as badly as Geoffrey at the thought of three nubile young men in his bed. "Plus, you three look amazing together," he added with a wink.

Efram leaned in on one side, and Jack on the other, and hands vanished below the waterline to do something that made Geoffrey moan again. The boys took turns kissing him until he was looking as though he'd quite forgotten there was anything in the world besides kissing, and Alan sat back and watched, letting himself enjoy the voyeuristic thrill of knowing he could join, but was welcome to observe, too.

Alan got a very pleasant surprise when Geoffrey roused himself from his daze enough to cross the big tub and snuggle with Alan. The boys got the tub draining and the warm towels out while Alan leisurely explored Geoffrey, moving his hands over Geoffrey's soft, slender scholar's body as they kissed. He reminded Alan a little of another scholar he'd had a ritual with, though that man had been quite experienced and more interested in the rite than the sex. Jack and Efram lured them out of the tub, and everyone got dried off and into bed amidst much kissing and teasing. Alan kept his role as director, helping the boys choose a position and remembering they'd need condoms.

It also gave him the excuse to just watch for a bit, to appreciate these three young men in his bed. Jack was laying on his side, fingers buried in Geoffrey's lovely arse, while Geoffrey clung to Efram and kissed him, too overwhelmed to help much. Alan made sure both Geoffrey and Jack were wearing condoms, then slicked up his fingers to open Efram himself.

"You're all so lovely," said Alan, slipping a finger into his young lover, "how did I get so lucky?"

"You're r-really good in bed," said Efram, riding back against Alan's fingers.

"You make it, oh, all seem so fun," said Geoffrey. He twisted around to get very thoroughly kissed by Jack.

"It is fun," said Alan, working Efram open thoroughly, letting himself feel the amazement he always got that this gorgeous young thing wanted to be had by him, not just for magic, but because he loved what they did together.

"Really, really fun," said Jack, after doing something to make Geoffrey gasp. "Are you ready for me, Geoffrey?"

Geoffrey nodded, "So ready, please, it's been ages," he said. He rolled forward a little, giving Alan and Efram a lovely view of it when Jack pushed into him, both of them moaning.

"I'm ready, too," said Efram, and Alan helped him get rolled over and into position, curled against the front of Geoffrey's body. With Jack's help, they got Geoffrey's cock into Efram's greedy body, and all that was left was for Alan to take his own place in their little tableau.

Alan lay opposite Efram, his toes curling against the headboard and his face happily buried in Efram's crotch, with Efram's mouth already eagerly exploring him. Geoffrey added a new magic to their mix with the rest, a soft susurration like the rustle of pages from dozens of books being read at once. Despite the liquid feel it of lapping at the shores of their own magic, it reminded Alan more of air than water, and he couldn't help but imagine that each erg of energy came with a bit of hard-won knowledge. He put that out of his mind for later, and concentrated instead on Efram, on filling his mouth and senses with Efram's need and answering it with his own.

The room was filled with moans and sighs, and wet, obscene sounds as the boys figured out how to get enough leverage in the positions they'd chosen. There was a crescendo both of magic and voices, and Alan pulled the magic to him while he let the pleasure pull him along, too. He was just as ready as any of them when the spark hit and they all came together, one after the other as the magic flowed from Jack to Geoffrey to Efram, building all the way, and finally to Alan, who dumped it into the house and fed it to the elementals, trusting them to keep it from overloading anything.

"Delicious," said a familiar crackly voice, when the power trickled off and they all went limp.

Alan pulled away to talk to the elemental, leaving the boys to clean up and get tucked into bed. "I'm glad you enjoyed us, and drank the excess for us."

"I have grown fond of your excesses, Master Harper," said the energy elemental, its lovely body as strange as ever. The light that played through it was violet, red, and blue, but the heart held an angry orange that Alan had never seen it display before. "I have heard disturbing news."

"Something I can help with?" Alan asked, instantly alert, the languor of sex vanishing in the face of news bad enough to bother an energy elemental.

"I have heard from the winds that there is a mage who wishes to try to make batteries of us, rather than with us the way you do," it said, its voice crackling hotly, and more of the orange creeping out into the rest of its body. "You know more than most the consequences of such idiocy."

"I do," said Alan, thinking of the poor water elemental they'd freed. "It's not Victor, I take it?"

"No, no, one of the younger ones, whose offerings are always too poor to attract one of us when charging the battery. There aren't many who can feed energy with something left over," said the elemental, and more of the satiated violet suffused its body, rising up from the plasma balls between its legs.

"I'll arrange to give a talk to the Artefact students, Victor can arrange a guest lecture on the interaction of elementals and artefacts," said Alan thoughtfully. "Maybe we can see what the students can do to improve the quality of their offerings."

"That would be appreciated," said the energy elemental. It gave a smile that felt like a smirk and added, "Perhaps they can have more group sex, I like the way your flavors mix."

Before Alan could manage a response to that, it vanished in a flash of light and ozone. "Well," said Alan, "that was interesting."

Geoffrey was staring at the space where it had been, eyes wide. "We called an energy elemental by accident?" he asked, his voice squeaking at the end.

Alan blushed and laughed. "Well, not exactly, we have an arrangement with it," said Alan, rubbing the back of his neck. "We, ah, often have an excess of energy from our activites, and it helps keep the house and grounds from becoming oversaturated."

"But it's not bound to us like the rest," said Efram, cuddling up. "We don't make enough energy for that."

"That's still a lot of energy," said Geoffrey. "No wonder they're having trouble replicating your battery charges."

Jack kissed him. "We're working out a schedule for those, Alan needs to drain the energy off anyway."

"But it's good for other people to learn the technique," said Alan.

"You do have very good technique, Master," said Efram, batting his eyelashes.

"Brat," said Alan, but he kissed him anyway, and allowed himself to be pulled into their snuggle. Tomorrow would hopefully be soon enough to tackle this new worry along with the rest.

Chapter 28

Everyone was more relaxed when they cleaned up and made their way out to the kitchen to have their dessert, which the elementals had kindly watched over for them. The peach cobbler was warm and the ice cream cold, and they each shared with an elemental as they ate. Their air elemental snuggled back up to Geoffrey, while Brooks made a wet spot in Efram's lap, the fire elemental focused on Jack, and Adam cuddled up in Alan's lap.

"So," said Alan, once they'd all had a chance to give the food and elementals the attention they deserved, "what do you think of helping us out with the rite now?"

Geoffrey blushed and smiled shyly. "I'd like that, and maybe I can learn a little more from you before we have it?"

Alan grinned. "We'll arrange a few proper lessons, if you like, and you can come spend a night sometime, too."

"There's room in the big bed," said Efram with a chuckle, "but only just, once we get the elementals in there for snuggles."

"We like snuggles," said Adam cheerfully. "Even fire is learning to enjoy human affection."

"It's a different sort of warmth," agreed the fire elemental, rising up out of its oil lamp to get another kiss from Jack. "Pleasant."

"I don't even make a wet spot in bed," said Brooks, giving a wriggle in Efram's damp lap.

"You'll dry that before you get up, too," said Efram mock-sternly.

"Of course, silly Apprentice," said Brooks, claiming his own kisses.

"I really like your elementals," said Geoffrey shyly. "I've never thought of them as affectionate before, when I've summoned one they almost always ask for knowledge."

"You're full of interesting knowledge," agreed the air elemental, ruffling Geoffrey's hair with a warm gust. "I like your kisses, too, though."

Geoffrey gave it another, his face interested and full of warmth. "It's weird, but it's a good weird, kissing you when you're small like this."

"It's a good size for sporting," said the air elemental slyly. "You should call one of us to sport with you tonight."

"Not, um, you?" said Geoffrey, all shy and embarrassed.

"I've got a wealth of affection already," it said, kissing his cheek. "Other air elementals should benefit, too."

Geoffry smiled and nodded. "All right," he said. "I always like having an air elemental help research, anyway, they're really good at it."

"I know," said the elemental impishly. "Now have more ice cream, I like the way it makes your kisses cold and smell of vanilla."

They all chuckled and went back to eating, and once the food was gone they all gave Geoffrey their phone numbers and a number of rather lingering goodbye kisses. Alan walked him to his car, discussing the best way to offer something an elemental hasn't asked for, though Alan was fairly sure that word would have spread so that the elemental that showed up to Geoffrey's apartment tonight would be one that desired what he wished to offer.

---

Alan made his way to Victor's office this time, taking his concerns with him rather than making Victor come to him. "Do you have a moment? I brought a peace offering," he said, proffering the coffee cup. He'd tipped the barista extra to give him Victor's usual.

"For coffee, I suppose I can make time," said Victor. "I take it this isn't just a social call?"

"One of your students is trying out some stupid theories," said Alan. "The energy elemental visited us last night and asked me to look into the idiot wanting to try to put elementals into the batteries directly."

"Ah," said Victor. "That would be Susan, I expect. She's always had a difficulty with viewing magical creatures as fellow people."

Alan sighed. "Some people do, but I actually have half of a solution for you, which is to offer to guest lecture about the interaction of elementals with artefacts."

"You are the expert," said Victor wryly. "It's a good idea, and I will speak with her alone as well. I don't fancy having the school's elemental population turn on us."

"Nor do I," aid Alan, with a little shiver. "I found an artefact in a field a few weeks back, when I was sinking a well, and there was a water elemental trapped inside. It was... Awful. Evil. The poor thing was nearly mad, but we managed to heal it enough to give it back to its element."

Victor looked faintly nauseated, which suited Alan perfectly. "Any idea where it came from?"

"It was old, so probably no one alive," said Alan. "We had to dissolve the artefact to let out the elemental, but I didn't see any familiar markings."

"Good," said Victor shortly. "Our branch of magic is in enough trouble as it is, at the moment."

Alan sighed. "Speaking of which, we've found all the participants needed for a couple of energy-replenishing rites to try at some of the depleted sites, so we'll be scheduling those once the weather warms up enough for an outdoor ritual."

"Ah, good news with the bad news," said Victor, amused. "I've still got your schedule in my notes, so I'll make a time for all the various Artefact classes to attend a single lecture, and book the auditorium."

Alan knew a dismissal when he heard one, and got up gratefully, not wanting to be late for his own first class. "Just keep me apprised, and thank you."

"I'm certain that this time, I need to be thanking you," said Victor, holding out his hand. Alan shook it and took his leave, heading into his day with at least one burden lightened.

---

"So, which of the sites do we have the best chance of getting permission to use for our experiments?" asked Alan, plopping himself in one of the chairs in Mark's office.

Mark huffed. "Ask the easy ones, why don't you?" he said, but he put aside the papers he'd been grading and got out their map. "We need one orange area for the big rite, and a yellow area for Marie's."

"Ron's paper is circulating already, right?" asked Alan.

"Yep, we got it fast-tracked into this December Journal of Ritual Studies, and sent a few copies out to some specific groups we thought might be interested. I've heard back that a couple of the yellow sites might get blessed at midwinter." Mark pointed to the ones he'd inked a little white moon next to.

"That's good news," said Alan, bending over the map. "What about this one, for our big rite? It's pretty close by, we'd only be gone one night, I think."

"Might be hard to get permission, though, isn't that in that sacred grove of the virgin war goddess?" said Mark, peering at the map.

"Oh right, yeah, a big gay orgy is probably not going to suit them, then," said Alan with a laugh. They talked about a few more sites, and ended up with two possibles for themselves; Mark had already picked one out for Marie's rite. "Ron's all set for that one?"

"Yep," said Mark with a wicked grin. "We'll take some blankets and a basket of Rosemary's pasties, make an afternoon of it."

Alan snorted. "Lech," he said fondly. "I have other good news."

"You do?" said Mark, just a little too fake in his curiosity.

"As you've already figured out, Geoffrey has agreed to be our fifth," said Alan, rolling his eyes when Mark looked smug. "You're not the one who got him into bed, so wipe that look off your face and help me decide who gets what element."

"Air for Geoffrey," said Mark, "obviously."

"Obviously," agreed Alan. "Fire for Jack, he's got quite an affinity. Efram can take water or earth, he does well with both."

"Don't you usually take earth?" asked Mark, one eyebrow raised.

"I'll have to take energy, I think," said Alan. "The energy elemental's been lurking around me, not you, and it came to me with a problem yesterday."

"Energy it is, then, I'll take earth and you can leave water for your lithe pretty thing," said Mark teasingly.

"Which one?" asked Efram from the doorway. "There's three of us now, you know."

"Geoffrey is not mine," said Alan, "and he meant you. Do you think you can call water for the replenishment rite?"

"Is that what we're calling it?" teased Efram. "Sure, I'll spend some extra time with Brooks to make sure."

"So, we promised to give Geoffrey at least two demonstrations," said Alan, turning back to his schedule, "And as much as I'd like to wait until the weather's warmer, we probably ought to give it a shot this year."

"How about during the holiday break?" asked Efram, flipping ahead. "Not Midwinter or New Year's, but somewhere in between?"

"Good idea, it's auspicious but nonspecific at that point," said Mark, making some notes. "Keep your calendars free, I'll make the arrangements and let you know."

"Yes, Master," said Alan teasingly. He gave Mark a kiss on impulse, finding the whiskers just as disconcertingly appealing as ever. "I'll work on the, what did Geoffrey call it? Interpersonal geometry."

Mark snorted. "You do that, now get out of my office, I've got phone calls to make."

Efram stole a kiss, too, which amused Alan and surprised Mark enough that they got away without a parting shot. "What do you think?" asked Alan, amused.

"I'm not sure I like the beard," said Efram, "but his magic is nice."

Alan laughed and kissed Efram quite thoroughly himself, then they sat down and called Geoffrey to schedule a few more demonstrative rituals.

---

Between Victor's improved battery design, the demonstrations for Geoffrey, and a few other side gigs that Mark found for him, Alan made it through the end of term on a relatively even keel. He was still overpowered, but he no longer go to critical levels every few days, and he considered that a vast improvement. Even the lecture to the Artefact students went relatively well, and Victor reported that his follow-up with the student in question was promising.

Finally it was the day of the main event, the weather crisp and bright, and Alan was glad they'd arranged for warming braziers to be set up before they arrived because crisp wasn't very appealing on his naked bits.

Alan, Mark and Geoffrey had spent several office hours dickering about the wording of the rite, and in the end they'd pared it down to a few opening lines from Mark, one line of request per element, and a final closing from Alan. It resembled the binding rite, in a way, but instead of asking for a long-term binding, they were asking for a short-term blessing, trading their warm, human energy for the impersonal power of the elements.