Hunted by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #3)(45)

“No sign of the Chief Mage yet,” Annia commented as she studied the camp through a pair of bronze binoculars. “You think he’s hiding out in one of those huts over there?”

A series of whoops and shouts echoed from the forest on the opposite side of the camp, and everyone in the clearing turned toward the sound as one. Both adults and children started jumping and shouting as well, and there was no mistaking their excitement as they all ran toward the edge of the forest.

A small group of Coazi men armed with spears and bows emerged from the forest, a pair of large hunting dogs dancing around their feet as they carried a huge elk back to the camp. I nearly fell out of the tree as I spotted Iannis at the head of the group, along with two other hunters. Brightly colored feathers very similar to the shamaness’s were woven into his cherrywood locks, and he’d traded in his robes for buckskins. The tunic and leggings he wore showcased his tall, lean form in a way that his robes never did. I drank in the sight hungrily, my eyes roaming over his broad chest and shoulders, his lean waist, and long legs that I could tell were muscular even through the buckskin pants. His violet eyes glowed with health and vitality, and his white teeth gleamed as he flashed a brilliant smile.

Except that smile wasn’t for me, I realized as I followed his gaze. That smile was for the shamaness, who had rushed forward to greet him along with the others. The whole tribe crowded around them, whooping and cheering at the sight of the elk, which had been bound to a long, sturdy tree log that all six of the men helped to carry. The shamaness gave Iannis a feline smile as she twined her arms around his neck, and I hissed as she pressed her slim curves against him. I saw lips move as words were exchanged, and Iannis lowered his head and kissed her.

“No f*cking way!” Annia hissed as a red haze spread across my vision. My claws dug into the bark, and I realized a second later that I was snarling, my fangs bared. “Not only is he one of them, but he’s standing there making out with that hussy shamaness while the rest of Solantha is losing their minds?”

I ground my teeth together, choosing not to respond because honestly, I didn’t know what to say. I felt like someone had thrust a superheated blade straight through my heart. The searing agony made it hard to breathe, and hot tears gathered at the corners of my eyes. I’d come all the way out here to rescue Iannis, only to find that he’d thrown himself wholeheartedly at another woman. And from the way he was kissing her, it didn’t seem like he had any plans on leaving.

“Your lack of faith is unbecoming, Sunaya,” Fenris warned, his eyes narrowed as he read my emotions perfectly. Not that I imagined that was a great feat – I’m sure they were stamped across my face for the whole world to see. “You and I both know that Iannis would never willingly abandon his people to live amongst the Coazi. What we are seeing here is clearly a product of the shamaness’s trickery.”

“But –”

“This is the same man who took you in against the wishes of the Council and made you his apprentice. The same man who risked his life and reputation to save me from execution. Do you really think that he would willingly abandon his responsibilities now, when his people need him more than ever?”

“No.” I let out a heavy sigh, and tried to push out all the negativity in my chest along with that breath. But it was hard, especially as I watched the two of them link hands and walk back into the camp with the rest of the Coazi. The group dispersed now that the welcome committee had done its job, the ones who’d been in the midst of chores returning to their tasks while others jumped in to help skin and prep the elk for dinner.

“I guess you’re right, but it’s hard to reconcile that logic with what my eyes are seeing,” I told Fenris, ripping my gaze away from Iannis. I really didn’t want to watch him hold hands with the shamaness anymore.

“I understand, but you have to put your emotions aside and focus on the mission,” Fenris reminded me, his eyes softening with sympathy. “Besides, I imagine that when Iannis sees you again, he will have no trouble forgetting about the shamaness’s charms.” His lips curled into a smile.

“Yeah, right,” I scoffed as a blush crept up my cheeks and butterflies erupted in my stomach. “Let’s just focus on getting him out of there. The sooner we can get him away from that woman, the sooner we can beat some sense back into him.”

“That’s the spirit.”





16





We waited until the sun had set and the evening meal was in full swing before enacting our first plan. We’d gone through a couple of different options, including outright kidnapping Iannis, but even though he might have been under some kind of enchantment, there was no evidence that he didn’t still have full use of his formidable powers. In fact, he was the only one of the hunters who didn’t carry a weapon, so he was probably relying on magic even now.

“Alright,” Fenris said as we watched Iannis leave the fire and head back into one of the tents. We’d already tried using mindspeak to reach him, but he hadn’t responded, so our only choice was to get closer. “I’ll head in now.” He crouched down, white light enveloping him as he changed from man to wolf.

“Be careful,” I told him as the light faded from his form, revealing a large wolf with coarse brown fur and yellow eyes. “The Coazi won’t be happy if they see you anywhere near their children.”