Burned by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #1)(69)

I shifted, uncomfortable beneath her teary gaze. “I appreciate your kind words, Mrs. Mills, but it wasn’t your fault.”

Thorgana lifted her chin. “Nevertheless, I am the owner of the paper, so I do feel responsible.” She turned her gaze back to Iannis. “I will ensure an unexceptionable replacement is found for Petros.”

“That is very well,” the Chief Mage acknowledged. “Just so long as you understand that I shall be vetting this replacement, and that until he is found and approved, your paper is placed under the temporary control of Director Chen.”

Thorgana’s eyes flickered, but whatever emotion I’d glimpsed was gone too quickly for me to get a read. “That sounds like an excellent idea, Lord Iannis. I’m afraid perhaps my lack of experience has caused me to make poor choices in my staff, so I could use the insight.” She bowed again, and I scowled as her scent changed subtly. It didn’t smell like she was lying… and yet, I felt she was holding something back.

She’s probably just irritated that the Mage’s Guild is getting involved with her business, I thought. Just because she didn’t actually run her company, didn’t mean she wanted an outsider doing it. I would feel the same in her place.

“Well, I’m afraid I must be going now.” Thorgana rose smoothly, her practiced smile back in place. “Do have a good evening, and again, I extend my heartfelt apologies to both of you.”

The door to my left opened as Thorgana left the hall, and Fenris walked through the door, looking sweaty and slightly disheveled. “Iannis –” he began, and then stopped when he saw me.

“Fenris.” Guilt bit into my chest as I remembered how we’d parted, and I stepped forward, wanting to apologize. “I –”

He engulfed me in a tight embrace. “I’m so glad you’re alright.” His muscular arms squished my face against his broad chest, but I was so happy he didn’t hate me that I didn’t care. “When Iannis and I found you crushed beneath that disgusting lout, I thought we’d arrived too late.”

“No, you guys were right on time.” I extricated myself from his embrace, and as I looked up into his dark, handsome face, I lamented that I wasn’t attracted to him. We’d developed respect and liking for each other, and I could see us working well together. But instead, my body wanted the most unsuitable man in the universe. “I’m sorry I was such an ass earlier.”

“It’s fine.” Fenris smiled sadly. “I should probably tell you the truth of it sometime –”

“I hate to interrupt,” the Chief Mage said, his voice mild. “But I would really like to know whether or not you’ve apprehended our serial killer.”

Fenris sighed. “We tracked him to the docks and his scent disappeared from there. He probably managed to stow away last minute on some ship.”

The Chief Mage’s face darkened. “You’ve sent word to all appropriate ports telling them to keep a lookout for a man matching Yantz’s description?”

“Of course.” Fenris folded his arms. “We’ll find him yet. With all the eyes and ears we have, he’s bound to turn up in our sights somewhere soon. We should have him apprehended within a week.”





Chapter Twenty-One




“So they still haven’t found Yantz?” Comenius asked, forking up a mouthful of noodles. “I would have thought he’d be apprehended by now.”

I sighed, pushing bits of lasagna around my plate. “Yeah, he’s been pretty elusive so far.” It had been ten days since the night he’d escaped, and though the Chief Mage’s contacts were on full alert, there was no sign of the former editor.

“Maybe, but that’s no reason to look so bummed.” Noria twirled a bunch of spaghetti around her fork and gestured towards Comenius and Annia, who were seated around the large glass patio table with us. I’d invited them all out to dinner at Pomodoro, an Elanian restaurant in Rowanville, so that we could catch up after this whole ordeal. “We’re all here together, alive and well, aren’t we?”

“Yeah, and considering that you’re here with us too, that’s a damned miracle.” Annia lifted her glass of wine to me, her dark eyes sparkling. She was a more sophisticated version of Noria, with wavy, dark red hair, flawless ivory skin and a slender figure. “When Noria sent me that telegram telling me that you’d been arrested for killing with magic, I thought you were a goner for sure. Instead, here you are sitting at this table, and not only do you have your Enforcer’s bracelet back, but you’re a freaking apprentice to the most powerful mage in this city.”

“Hear, hear,” Comenius agreed, and we all lifted our glasses and drank.

“Thanks guys.” I gave them a grin that I didn’t really feel. “I really appreciate you all being here.”

Noria shrugged. “Hey, you’re paying, right? Why wouldn’t we come?”

I plucked a piece of bread from the basket in the center of the table and threw it at her, and she caught it, grinning. “Yeah, yeah, laugh it up,” I said as everyone else snickered. “Just because the Enforcer’s Guild rewarded me with a small fortune for solving the case doesn’t mean I’m filthy rich.”

Noria snorted. “It practically does. Now that you’re the Chief Mage’s apprentice, I’m sure you’ll get the choicest cases. If you play your cards right, you might end up being like all the other hoity-toity mages and never have to work again.”