***
"Are you being real right now?" Deloris stared at Philip.
"If you'd asked me this before I fell for my mate, I'd have definitely told you I wasn't being real." Philip stared the warlock down. "Hell, I'd have talked Jer out of it. But now, let's just say I know what he's going through." He totally missed Gloria's smile.
"Alpha..."
"You better cast that spell pronto before I have you thrown into a dungeon." Philip cut Deloris off.
"Philip..." Gloria groaned.
"I'll let them give you a TV in there," Philip added in a stern voice but couldn't suppress his grin when he saw Deloris rolling her eyes. "And you'll have Mama Cora to keep you company. It won't be so bad."
"What!" Mama Cora's indignant gasp drew irrepressible laughter from Gloria.