Betrayed by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #5)(16)

“So what do you want me to do?” I asked, trying not to sound irritated. After all, Director Chen had a point, even if I didn’t like what she was saying. Papers all over the Federation had already printed articles speculating about my relationship with Iannis, and that was before our engagement.

“I’ve had my secretary set up some appointments for you. You will be meeting with important mage families and media representatives to answer questions and discuss your future role as the wife of Canalo’s Chief Mage.” Director Chen smiled again. “In fact, the first interview is already set for tomorrow.”

“Oh.” Relief swept through me. “I’m sorry to say I won’t be able to make any of those appointments. I’m leaving for Dara tomorrow, with the Chief Mage.”

“I’m well aware,” Director Chen said, unruffled by my announcement. “Tomorrow’s interview will take place in the morning, at nine o’clock. I believe your flight is not scheduled to leave until just before lunch, correct?”

“Correct,” I said through gritted teeth. Dammit, but I wasn’t ready for this! It was one thing to interview suspects, another thing to be interviewed myself. And I’d never been groomed for the kind of political schmoozing that Chen clearly had in mind.

“Excellent,” Chen said briskly. “Your other appointments will be rescheduled if you cannot return on time. I will assign you a social secretary to help you keep up with your engagements.”

“Whoa, whoa, hang on.” I held up a hand, getting a little overwhelmed now. “I’m not sure I should be doing this so soon. I want to talk to Lord Iannis about this first. Does he know you’ve set this up?”

“I haven’t had a chance to tell him about it yet, but I will, and I’m sure he would approve. With all this adverse gossip about the two of you spreading, Lord Iannis would be the first to demand that something needs to be done.”

“I dunno,” I said dubiously, not sure if I should trust Chen. I wasn’t completely certain she had my best interests at heart. “I think I’d rather pick out my own social secretary, thanks. And I’d rather do the interviews when I’m more prepared for them.”

“Miss Baine,” Director Chen said patiently, but in the sort of tone one used on small children or half-wits, “the papers are currently presenting you as a sleazy gold digger, because they’ve never had a chance to interview you in person. Once they do, I am reasonably confident they will change their tune. But you have to be willing to talk to them.”

I let out a sigh. “Fine, I’ll do this interview in the morning,” I agreed, knowing in my heart I would regret it. “But I still plan on talking to Lord Iannis before I agree to do anything else. Who am I seeing?”

“You will be interviewed by Gena Chanie, a correspondent from Now,” Chen informed me. It was a celebrity-focused publication I’d seen on the magazine racks many times, though I’d never read it myself. “She’ll meet you in this room for the interview, unless you would prefer to see her in your sitting room?”

“No, here’s fine.” I set down my teacup, ready to be done with this conversation. It was bad enough I had to meet this journalist—no way was I inviting a stranger into my private suite. “Is that everything?”

“I believe so,” Director Chen said. “Unless you want to look through the list of suitable candidates to serve as your secretary now. I could advise you—”

“I’m sorry, but it’ll have to be another time.” I rose from my chair. “I have to prepare for the trip to Dara, and now that I have an interview scheduled for tomorrow morning, I have less time than I originally anticipated.” I allowed the slightest bit of censure to enter my voice.

“Of course.” Director Chen inclined her head fractionally, though she did not look contrite at the fact that she had, in my opinion, overstepped her bounds by scheduling all these interviews without consulting me first. “Good night.”

“Good night.” I walked out of the room, and barely, just barely, managed not to slam the door behind me. I had to improve my control over my emotions, and who better to practice on than one of the most infuriating women in Canalo?





8





Too restless to head up to my rooms yet, I went back out to the garden. By this time, the sun had set, and all that was left were the last faint streaks of purple, pink, and gold. The lanterns had turned on to help the crescent moon illuminate the darkness, and their warm, magical light gilded the plants, statues, and bushes. The evening’s serene beauty was at odds with the conflicted thoughts churning away in my head.

Of course, I’d known my engagement with Iannis was going to draw public attention to me, that I would have to deal with interviews and public speculation. I wasn’t stupid. But so many things had been going on when I’d agreed to the engagement that I’d pushed this aspect aside, unwilling to confront it. Now that my life was calming down a little, I was starting to experience the reality of what it meant to share Iannis’s life. Interviews, photo ops, fancy dresses, parties, meetings, and more. Not to mention my calendar was no longer my own to dictate—Chen was scheduling interviews without my permission, and Iannis was roping me into missions on short notice.

You asked for these things, I reminded myself. You wanted to take a more active role in Solantha, to provide a voice for the shifter community. This is all part of the deal.