I sat behind my desk as I watched the carpet cleaner going over the carpet, shampooing it and removing the excess water at the same time. The broken tank had been removed, and my old aquarium had been brought out of storage. Inside floated the damsel fish and a few others I had managed to save, but the lionfish had been unceremoniously flushed away. I glared at the smaller tank as I thought back to Al redirecting my magic, and I felt my anger channelling to blame him.

I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes.

This wasn't Al's fault. I chose to throw that magic his way, and he only reacted. I knew the consequences. But why had I thrown that magic? It was just Rachel. True, I had enough time and interest backing Rachel, but to stop thinking rationally because of the danger one demon posed?

And the truth is I hadn't been thinking straight.

I stood from my desk, tugging my jacket down, and pressing down any wrinkles that might have started to form. I walked carefully across the drying carpet and out the door into the hall. I nodded to the cleaner in the room, and he continued moving slowly across the carpet, sucking up water and pieces of gravel.

Turning, I headed down the hall, making my way through the complex as the décor became softer, until I was sliding through an unmarked door and making my way down the stairs to the sunken living room. Ceri was sitting in front of the magicked window, Ray and Lucy lying before her on a blanket. She had a plate beside her with arrowroot cookies for the children and a dainty cup of tea for herself.

She looked up as I made my way down the stairs, and I smiled at her.

"I thought you were going to try and get some work in?" Ceri asked, as Lucy caught her fingers, and held on tight, smiling up at her mother.

"The cleaners are fixing the office, and it's disrupting me," I said, as I ran a hand over my hair. I started to make my way across the large room, "I'll be in my rooms," I informed Ceri and she waved me away as she turned her attention back to the children.

The moment I closed the door behind me, my shoulders slumped. Unbuttoning my jacket, I slipped it off and flung it over a chair before heading across my bedroom to the bathroom that lay beyond. I strode to the sunken Jacuzzi tub and flipped a few switches to get it running and warming up, and then turned to the sinks.

I needed to distress and it was either in the tub or on a horse, and I didn't think Quen would give me the time to go out to the stables. I desperately wanted to see Tulpa, and I suddenly recalled Rachel mentioning the horse's name, although in an entirely different context. What was a tulpa to the demons? How did I come by the word when I named my familiar?

For a few brief moments I thought of my horse, and then my thoughts invariably turned to Rachel. I tugged my tie loose and folded it neatly before laying it on the counter. Next came my watch, and cuff links, both sitting neatly on top of the tie. I stared at these for a moment, knowing they made Rachel's assumption about me completely correct – I was a businessman. I had no reason to be attacking demons and studying elven magic. Perhaps she was right. Ignoring her wishes and attacking Al had led to nothing but broken items. She proved to me that she hadn't needed me there; she could control Al perfectly fine on her own.

But then why had she wanted me with her? And why, curse the Turn, did she touch me after? My hand strayed to my face where her fingers had brushed me, and my gaze became unfocused as I tried to recall her touch.

Rachel had no idea just how much she affected everyone she was with. Just one touch and here I was looking at myself in the mirror, and trying to figure her out. There had been moments in the past few months when I could have sworn she was seeing me in an entirely different light – one in which I wasn't the bad guy. And it meant the world to me that she didn't see me that way anymore. I craved her acceptance.

Shaking my head, I quickly unbuttoned my shirt, and let it slide to the floor, the silk soft against my skin. My pants puddled next to the shirt, and I quickly made my way back to the Jacuzzi and slipped into the moving water. I sighed as the warmth enveloped me, and I wondered if Rachel enjoyed the same kinds of relaxation. Brow furrowing I tried to direct my thoughts back to more comforting things like my horses. I couldn't very well relax with Rachel on my mind.

But even the thought of Tulpa kept bringing me back to Rachel, and I thought of her touch again. Why had she done that? What had been the point? And there had been something behind her eyes, some emotion I couldn't quite figure out. I sighed, and closed my eyes, only to be bombarded by her wild red hair and green eyes. And then the memory of her kiss suddenly surfaced, refusing to let me relax my muscles even for a second.

At first that kiss had been distant, and cold. But when she had let her reservations go, it had certainly been an eye opener – in more than one way. Remembering her hands in my hair, I squeezed my hands into fists to remind me of the two fingers missing. And yet, I knew I would trade more than two fingers to save her life again.

I sank further into the swirling water as I remembered trying to talk to Rachel about that kiss. She had told me to forget about it, that she already had. Something had cracked inside me when she had said that. I kept telling myself I didn't care for her romantically, and yet some part of me desperately wanted her to want me. I had been so sure that that kiss had meant more than just breaking the spell.

And today she had touched me. Why?

My hand rose to my cheek again, and I opened my eyes. What if she hadn't forgotten that kiss?

I stood up from the tub, water dripping to the floor as I picked up a towel and quickly began to dry myself. Putting my suit back on, I ran a brush over my damp hair and turned off the Jacuzzi. I had a few hours until I had a meeting to attend in Cincinnati, and I decided I had time to make one more charm. Come to think of it, why not give Rachel all of the charms? It would give me an excuse to drop by, to see why she had felt so compelled to touch me.

Leaving the tie and cufflinks on the counter, I left the bathroom and emerged from my rooms to find Ceri bouncing Ray on her knee while Lucy crawled toward her. I walked over and picked Lucy up. She giggled and grabbed for my hair. Smiling, I bounced her a bit, and looked down at Ceri. "Are they behaving?"

Ceri nodded, and smiled quietly. "Of course. They're both little angels."

I kissed Lucy on the forehead, and placed her back on the blanket. "That's great! I'm just going down to the labs for a bit before I head out to a meeting. Tell Quen I won't be long if he's looking for me."

Ceri nodded. I took the stairs two at a time and hurried down the hall to the elevator. Pulling a key from my pocket, I inserted it into the panel and pressed the correct button. As the elevator whirred into motion, my thoughts kept straying to Rachel.

Her red fly-away hair. Her kick ass now and ask questions later attitude. Her unique way of wearing leather and making it work for her. The way every single thought she had crossed her face. At that one, I paused. There were times when I just couldn't read what she was thinking. It bothered me. I wanted to know what she was thinking. She intrigued me.

When the elevator doors opened, I strode down the hall and stopped in front of a closed door. Unlocking it, I went inside and closed and locked the door behind me. Turning, I surveyed the small room with the different items needed for elven magic. On a small table near the door were a few charms I had made earlier that week. Dismissing these charms, I moved across the room and opened a drawer in the counter. Inside sat two rings. Picking them out, I examined the rings that seemed like simple puzzle rings. I had started this charm but stopped, thinking it was pointless if Rachel never took the silver band off. I also figured it was pointless if she refused to accept it.

But what if she would?

I put the rings on the counter and stared at them. This would be a test of trust. Did she trust me enough to take this charm? If she did, what else did she think of me? Something stirred inside me, and I sighed.

I turned to a bookshelf and pulled an old book, knowing exactly which tome held the charm I was looking for. I flipped through the pages until I found the charm I was looking for. I let my fingers brush the text as I read the elven and Latin print, describing the charm and the words to prepare and invoke it.

A lovers' charm. It would bring you to your love or bring her to you when you so desperately needed her. It was romantic, if I thought about it. Especially if distance kept you far apart. But it was also pretty useful, especially in times of trouble. Rachel could use it in a desperate situation, and I would know with certainty that she was alright. It would bring her right to me, and my heart could rest easy knowing that.

Some part of me had changed. I wanted to protect her. When had that changed? Perhaps about the same time that I started listening to her, understanding that she let her wants drive her and not her needs. I found her wants interesting. She wanted to see justice done, but above all, she wanted to protect and keep her friends around her. I remember figuring that out – and I remember when I wished that I could be included in that small circle.

I set the book down next to the rings, and pulled my ribbon and cap from another drawer, draping the ribbon across my shoulder and chest. I put the hat upon my head and felt a slight blush. I still felt foolish wearing it, but I knew I wasn't ready yet to remove them when casting my charms. I was going to do this. And not to see if she trusted me. I was doing this because I thought I was finally part of her circle of friends. And if I was, she would accept this ring. And one day, it would bring her to me. I felt my heart beat faster as I suddenly thought of the kiss again.

Determined, I turned to the book, and read over the words carefully. Intent and wording was what created this charm, and I knew I had the intent right. I picked up a ring in each hand, and spoke the words aloud:

"Dimidium a universitas seorsum

Tamen usquequaque in meus pectus pectoris

A diligo orbis

A vox vocis ut sono

Intorqueo is manus manus

Crux crucis is terra

Per illa versus

Vestri diligo ut redimio"

Carefully, I gently moved the rings until they were touching, and closed my eyes. I whispered "Suo illa orbis una," and closed my good hand over both rings, feeling them spark with the life that was my magic. I let out my breath, and slowly opened my eyes. Opening my hand, I looked at the two dully shining rings resting on my palm. I dropped the smaller one on the counter, and slipped the other onto my finger. I could still feel the magic coursing through the metal.

I picked up the smaller one, and held it to the light. It didn't look any different. I closed my bad hand around it, and turned to the other charms. I would bring her the charms. I had the time before heading to my meeting, and I suddenly felt the need to see her again. What would I say to her?

Finding an empty paper bag, I pushed the charms into it and at the last moment decided to place the ring in with them. Leaving the room, I headed back upstairs, determined to get in the Jaguar and drive over to Rachel's. For some reason the thought of showing up unannounced made me anticipate this meeting all the more.

I always loved seeing her in her own element. Catching her by surprise always left me understanding a little bit more about her, and I'd take as much away from this as I could. Getting off the elevator, I headed for the garage, anticipation quickening my steps. I wondered what she'd be wearing. What emotions would cross her readable face? I hoped she would be as excited to see me.

I had just opened the door to the garage when I heard Quen call, "Sah'an."

Groaning, I turned slowly around. I watched as my head of security came walking down the hall toward me. "Are you heading to your next meeting. Sah'an?" Quen asked.

I nodded, and ran a hand over my hair, making sure it was where it belonged. "Yes, I was just on my way."

"I'll drive then," Quen said as he passed me and walked out into the garage.

I followed slowly, "There's no need, Quen. I can do this myself."

Quen headed for the limo, and I followed behind. "Of course you can. But I'd rather if I did this."

Giving in, as I always did, I slid into the leather interior. "Well, in that case, if we could stop by Morgan's, I have something I would like to drop off."

Quen sat down in the driver's seat, and twisted around to look at me. "Sah'an?"

"We have the time."

Quen raised an eyebrow, and I knew he didn't believe my reasoning. "Of course," he said, and started the car. I put the bag of charms on the seat next to me. The memory of Rachel's lips against mine, her hands running through my hair surfaced again, and I closed my eyes, remembering every detail.

I apologize for my crappy Latin, but here is the English poem I put together for the charm:

Half a world apart

But forever in my heart

A lover's ring

A voice that sings

Twist this band

Cross this land

Through these lines

Your love that binds

Join these rings together