Solomon shrugged. "I used to be evil. I probably deserved it."

"Nobody deserved that," Gabe said quietly.

"You're ridiculously kind and loving, Gabe. I'm not sure I can trust your opinion."

Melissa was actually starting to feel a bit sick. Sick and dizzy. She hadn't eaten dinner, and between revelations and imaginings, the adrenaline was starting to have its toll. She tore her gaze away from Solomon's eyes, trying to banish the image of him without them, and took a breath.

"Here you go, Madam Edgley." Dexter at her side made her jump and turn, just in time to catch him patting an armchair out of midair. "Take a seat. Since it seems like we're gonna be here for a while."

"Thank you," she said numbly, taking the seat and tugging Stephanie down onto her lap. "You really changed your name?"

"It's a good thing she did," Dexter said, twirling his wrists and shaping something in midair. Melissa watched as another armchair fizzled into existence, and a moment later Dexter took Solomon's arm and tugged it to the side so his cane hit the chair. "Right there, Sol. Names have power, you see. Given names are gifts, but it means a person can be controlled by them. Taken names aren't legally binding, but they're magically binding, so you can't be controlled. It's like a locked door. An extra layer of defence. Every sorcerer has one. Some mortals, too."

"Have you been controlled, dear?" Melissa asked Stephanie, hugging her.