Free Monster Baiter (An Obscure Magic Book 6) by Viola Grace

lot of anger aimed in her direction, but it was about her request and not her personally. He was treating her as if she had been bespelled.
    “He has been useful, and if he has served centuries, I believe that he is done with penance. At the very least, he is capable of being integrated into modern society.”
    Aleneus winced, and she could almost hear the whirring of his mind. “He will be released.”
    “Wow. That was easy.”
    “Well, the sentence was that if a woman that did not have carnal knowledge of him asked for him to be released, he would be. When that regulation was put in, we did not count on his consciousness being pulled for this assignment.” He grimaced and pulled a sheet of parchment from his desk.
    Everything in the guild was done as traditionally as possible, and that included penmanship.
    Aleneus wrote with a flourish; his golden hair fell forward as he finished and sanded the page.
    “So, Sophia, what are you doing for dinner this evening?”
    Sophy blinked. “I am doing some research at the Gangers.”
    He grimaced. “Oh. Them.”
    “Demon influence. I have found a cursed object, and I need to look into it. They are the best source for knowledge and information.” She didn’t mention that she had already gotten it. He didn’t need to know that.
    “I would like to take you to dinner soon. You are not getting any younger, and keeping the curse in powerful bloodlines would not be a bad idea.”
    She blinked. “I had not thought of that. One of my ancestors had their daughter in their fifties, so I have some time.”
    He scowled. “I want you, Sophia.”
    “I am aware of that, Aleneus.”
    “Was that all you wanted?”
    Sophia looked at him, truly looked. He had wide shoulders, a very attractive face, thick neck, deep chest and his butt wasn’t bad either. He took care of himself, and it showed, but he wasn’t for her.
    “Yes, that is all that I wanted here.” She smiled softly. “Good day, Aleneus.” Sophy rose to her feet and headed for the exit.
    “I will have to summon you here after Magnus is free, to make sure that he is behaving.”
    She paused and turned. “What do you mean?”
    Aleneus was standing up, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “Didn’t he tell you? By asking for his freedom, you are now responsible for his behaviour, and his behaviour has never been acceptable to the Mage Guild.”
    She gritted her teeth. “No, he didn’t mention that.”
    “Enjoy your charge. We can put him back in the amber if you say the word.”
    Sophia nodded and left his offices as quickly as she could. She didn’t run but walked swiftly through the halls and tapped her feet in the elevator. The final sprint to freedom concluded in her car when she settled, put on her seatbelt and started up the vehicle.
    “Were you going to tell me that I was responsible for you?”
    “I hoped but was not sure that they would actually release me. They are doing it?”
    She sighed and put her car in gear. “Yeah, weren’t you listening?”
    “No. My ability to communicate does not extend to the Guild Hall in this form.”
    She grunted and headed home. It was time to work on the stuff she could actually control. “Did the book come home with me?”
    “Yes. It is on the coffee table.”
    “Good. I have some reading to do while they thaw you out.” She mused. “I wonder if I have to pick you up or will they deliver you?”
    “I have access to portal magic. I will deliver myself.”
    “Oh. Yay. Nothing like another surprise to cap the day.”
    He chuckled, and she fought a smile.
    Once home, she startled Delwin, who had on an apron and was dusting the objects that didn’t have repulsion wards. He was taking his duty as a housekeeper seriously.
    “I am just going to grab this book and head into the back yard. As you were, Delwin. It is looking great.” She smiled.
    He grinned. “Thanks, Sophia.”
    She headed out the back door and saw that he had already cleared her small table and tiny