"You cannot control Boo!" she shouted.
"I command armies! I control shadows! I have bent ancient spirits to my will!"
"You cannot stop Kelpie from flooding the floor!"
"I will instruct him on proper water management!"
"You cannot make Felix listen!"
"I will threaten him with extra homework!"
"You cannot threaten children!"
"Why not?"
"Because they will cry!"
Dante blinked slowly.
"...They cry?"
"Yes! They cry! Children cry! It is what they do!"
"That seems inefficient."
Alina threw both hands up again in complete frustration.
"Dee!"
He looked completely calm, infuriatingly so.
"You will rest tomorrow."
"I will not."
"Then I will teach them."
"You will not!"
They stared at each other again, breathing hard.
Then Dante's lips twitched slightly.
"Little dove," he said slowly, "you forget something."
"What?"
"I have already made the decision."
Alina narrowed her eyes dangerously.
"You cannot order me to take leave."
"I can try."
"And I can refuse."
