They all remained sitting for a long time. Daniel finally had enough, and he turned to Bitty.

"You seem to know so much about this. Is there something we could do to take everyone's attention off who broke the curse?"

“Oh yes," replied Bitty at once. “You need to think outside the box.

When I became your emissary, I reached out to the gnomes and told them what had happened and why it was important to remain silent.

ALL you probably need to do is for the same order to come directly from you to all the gnomes to keep their mouths shut about it. The sooner the better. They won't tell on their own, but they could be forced to. There are many magics to make that happen. But if you, the one who freed us, orders their silence, they will have no choice but to obey. I think. You will need to order all of them."

"ALL of them? How would we do that?"

"A ritual, naturally. You send a message and explain why it's important. If it comes from you, the person who broke the curse, the gnomes will have to agree. Really, it's so important just to communicate. So much can be solved simply by talking about it."

Daniel Laughed "Bitty, you're a wonder! But would they really stay quiet about it?"

Bitty reached up and wrapped her hands around the back of Daniel's neck and pulled herself up and kissed him on the mouth. "For you, the gnomes would do anything. You don't get that yet, despite me telling you over and over.”

Daniel smiled and kissed her back. “I don't mind gratitude, but that's all I'll ever accept. But this is amazing." He looked over at Amy and Jasmine. "Maybe you two can sit down with Amber and explain this to her? Get her to see?"

Amy nodded and rose and pulled Jasmine off the couch with a helping hand. "Come on, Jazz. Let's go remind Amber that she's not the boss.

Seriously, that girl needs to be spanked hard."

Daniel watched Amy and Jasmine exit out the patio door. No sooner had the door closed than Bitty was yanking down his pants and wrapping her mouth around his cock. As he grew hard in her mouth, he stroked her bald head and sighed contentedly.

*

Much later that night, Daniel sat at the wrought-iron table in the garden with Bitty sitting beside him. There was no moon in the night sky and Bitty had said that was perfect. This caused another heated conversation with Amber, who said the moon was vital in rituals.

Daniel could still remember the condescending tone that had emerged from Bitty for the first time. She was showing her true colours around Amber, and Daniel was impressed already.

"Actually, NO," stated Bitty with a tone that startled all of them.

"It is only during spiritual rituals that the moon plays a part. The sun's reflection off the moon is spiritual energy. It can augment the ritual if you can harness that spirit prior to sealing the circle.

Remember, nothing in or out once formed?

“Or have you forgotten the Night Fae civil war three hundred years ago? They slaughtered people from their lairs deep underground. How did they do that with no moon, huh? It's like I'm speaking to a child when I talk to you, Amber! Do you know anything at all?"

Amber had screeched in reply, her hands raised in claws, before Bitty did something to her that had Amber on her ass staring up, bewildered.

"Don't you show your claws to me, Amber Aine! By the Gods, what is your problem?" hissed Bitty. “Get over yourself." Then Bitty pointed at Daniel. "And you need him for this. He has the power to make this work. Sorry, but you girls don't have the strength yet. And I sure hope your ritual knowledge is sufficient to actually make this work.

But without Daniel's magic juice, you might be able to communicate with me. Good thing I'm standing right here, twenty feet away, huh?"

Daniel bit the inside of his cheeks to stop from laughing. Amy helped Amber to her feet and pulled her away. Daniel was watching them from his seat at the table. They were animated and the occasional words drifted their way. Words like ass, jerk, male, and.