Page 4 (1/2)

"Alec took nus to Catarina at last, which was atoo much

"Well, it seems like a mad idea to me, but those usually work out for you," said Catarina "What’s the problenus resolved to sound casual about it This was not so about as much as he was, and he wanted advice but did not want to let anyone, not even Catarina, see how ," said Magnus "It’s Alec’s birthday today He’s eighteen And I’d like to get him a present, because the celebration of one’s birth is a traditional tiifts, and it indicates your affection for them But--and at this point I’d like to say that I wish you had returned et hi is, he doesn’t really see clothes, which I don’t understand, though I find it strangely chars I ever see hiift Also, I wondered if you thought that getting a present at all hthim for only a little while, and his parents don’t even know he likes boys, let alone likes degenerate warlocks, and so I want to be subtle Maybe getting a gift at all would be atoo intense And as you know, Catarina, I am not intense I am laissez-faire I a idea about me or think the present ift What do you think?"

Magnus took a deep breath That had come out a little less cool, cal for

"Magnus," said Catarina, "I have lives to save"

Then she hung up on hinus stared at the phone in disbelief He would never have thought Catarina would do this to him It seemed like wanton cruelty He had not sounded that bad on the telephone

"Is Alec your lover?" asked Elyaas the tentacle demon

Magnus stared He was not ready for anyone to say "lover" to hi note of slime beneath the word He felt he would never be ready

"You should get him a mixed tape," said Elyaas "Kids love ht now"

"Was the last tiht have been," Elyaas said defensively

"Things have changed"

"Do people still listen to Fleetwood Mac?" asked the tentacle demon There was a plaintive note in his voice "I love the Mac"

Magnus ignored the denus was conte his own dark fate He had to accept it There was no way around it There was no one else he could turn to

He was going to have to call Ragnor Fell and ask for advice about his love life