Betrayed by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #5)(19)

As I stepped into the Guild lobby, I caught sight of Dira, the receptionist, on the phone. Remembering my visit with Comenius yesterday, I veered toward her desk, then waited until she was off the phone.

“Good morning, Miss Baine.” Dira’s eyes flickered in surprise at the sight of my outfit—she’d been too busy dealing with the morning crowd to notice me when I first came in. “What can I do for you?”

“Do you have pen and paper? I need you to get a message to Comenius Genhard, at Witches End.”

Dira passed me the requested items, and I quickly scribbled out a note to Com, explaining my change in circumstances. I told him to go ahead with the sale of my jewels and the airship purchase in my absence, and apologized for not being able to say goodbye in person. I also mentioned the explosion from last night, and that I was fine and not to worry.

Fenris will let me know the moment Com learns anything new, I reminded myself as I hurried on toward my rooms. Even so, I couldn’t push aside the anxiety twisting in my gut, or the fear that something was about to go horribly wrong for my friends.



Despite the stressful morning, I felt my anxiety drop away as I watched Solantha recede, face pressed against the glass of the airship window. We were off to Dara without a hitch so far, and now I had to focus on getting through this trip as quickly as possible so I could be there for my friends.

“You’re very tense.” Iannis, who sat facing me, reached across and tugged me from my seat. I went willingly, allowing him to gather me onto his lap. He smelled faintly of roses this morning, and I buried my nose in the crook of his neck, inhaling the scent.

“Wandering in the gardens this morning?” I asked, pressing a kiss against his warm skin. “I didn’t think you had time.”

“I didn’t, but I wanted to check again and see if there were any clues we’d missed that could lead us to the assassin.” He stroked his big hand along the curve of my spine. “Is that why you’re still so tense?”

I shook my head. “No, I’m just worried about my friends. And that stupid interview this morning put me even more on edge.”

Iannis stilled. “Interview? Who did you speak to?”

I explained that Director Chen had scheduled a number of publicity interviews and meetings for me, and had cornered me into doing the first one that morning. When I told him how it had gone, and how I worried I’d made a fool of myself with Gena Chanie, he only sighed and kissed the top of my head.

“I will rein in Director Chen upon our return,” he promised, holding me a little tighter. “You are not ready to deal with the press yet, and she should know better. As for your interview this morning, I doubt you said anything damaging, but I will teach you how to handle them more smoothly on future occasions. You cannot simply blurt out the first thing that comes to mind when journalists ask you a question.”

“I know.” I scowled as I turned to look out the window again. “I f*cked up. I get it.”

“I’m not blaming you.” Iannis’s fingers curled around my chin, and he turned my head so he could look into my eyes. There was annoyance in his violet gaze, but concern as well. “Though I do wish you’d told me about the interview last night.”

“Yeah, well, my mind was a little preoccupied after nearly being incinerated,” I reminded him as I poked a finger in his chest. “As was yours.”

“Indeed.” Iannis pressed his lips together, glancing out the window and back at Solantha’s receding shoreline. “I discussed the search for your attacker with Fenris this morning. He is going to inform the staff that everyone will have to submit to a truth spell upon my return, which I will administer personally.”

“That could lead to the traitor making a run for it,” I pointed out.

“Yes, and if that happens, he will have made himself known.” Iannis’s glittering gaze turned to ice. “Fenris is monitoring the employment records very closely. We will find out who it is. They will not escape retribution.”

“And what happens if the guy doesn’t leave, and he somehow manages to evade your truth spell?”

Iannis shrugged. “I suppose in that case, I would have to fire all the human staff.”

“You can’t just put people out of jobs like that,” I argued, horrified at the idea that he’d put dozens of innocent people out of work. “Your servants are incredibly loyal, and to punish them like that will only increase resentment in the human population.”

“That’s a risk I’m willing to take if it means keeping you safe,” Iannis said firmly, his hands banding around my upper arms. “You are mine, Sunaya Baine, and I won’t let anyone take you away from me.”

I sighed, fighting against the urge to roll my eyes. This macho-ness was getting a little ridiculous…but it was also incredibly sweet, and I didn’t want to discourage Iannis. “That’s fine,” I said gently, placing my hands on his broad shoulders. “But you’re going to have to replace all those humans, and it would be all too easy for the Resistance to slip in even more spies.”

“Then we’ll require that all new employees submit themselves to truth testing. In fact, I may make that a new-hire policy in general, at least until the Resistance has been eradicated.”

“And are you going to apply that same policy to mages?” I demanded, annoyed now. “In fact, shouldn’t you be subjecting all employees to the truth test, and not just the human ones?”