Hunted by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #3)(47)

“Will do.”

I sprang out of the tree, then shifted into panther form and crept around the camp, careful to stay out of sight behind the tree line and downwind of the dogs. The last thing I needed was for the Coazi to find me and stick me in a cage next to Fenris. Thankfully they’d gone back to eating and dancing around the fire, and with my inky-black fur nobody would be able to spot me beneath the cover of the pines.

Once I’d made it around to the forest on the other side of the camp, I put my nose to the ground and started sniffing out Iannis’s trail. It didn’t take me long to find it, and I trotted uphill, winding my way through the trees and taking care not to rustle the needle-laden branches. I didn’t want to alert Iannis to my presence – the last thing I needed was for him to blast me with his magic because he thought I was a wild animal that wanted him for dinner.

As Iannis’s scent grew stronger, the sound of running water greeted my ears, followed by a splash. A gap in the trees brought the stream into view, and I nearly tripped over a pinecone as I caught sight of Iannis standing waist deep in the water without a stitch of clothing on. My mouth went dry as I watched the moonlight play over the muscles of his broad back, and I traced a line down his spine with my gaze until it disappeared beneath the silver ripples of the water. A flush spread across my skin, and suddenly I was too hot for my fur.

As Iannis dunked his head beneath the water, I shifted back into human form, figuring that was probably my safest bet. I stepped out of the tree line as he resurfaced, and swallowed hard as he tilted his head back and pushed his gleaming mane of hair back from his face. Silver moonlight played across the strong planes of his handsome face, highlighting the length of his nose, the edges of his high cheekbones, the strength of his triangular jaw. His sensual lips, normally so firm, parted on a contented sigh, and it struck me that I’d never seen him so relaxed. I wondered if he was like this in the privacy of his rooms, or if living out in the wilderness had softened him.

What if he really does want to be here?

As though he sensed my gaze, Iannis’s whole body stiffened, and he turned sharply in my direction. Iridescent eyes clashed with mine, and an electric current zapped through me as he looked me up and down. Something like wary recognition flickered in his eyes, and I seized on that as hope filled me.

“Iannis.” I took a cautious step forward, moving slowly as I might with a wild animal I was trying not to startle. “It’s me, Sunaya. I’ve been looking for you.”

“Looking for me?” His dark brows pulled together in a frown as confusion filled his gaze. “I am not lost.”

“Yes, you are.” I kept my voice low but firm as I stopped close to the edge of the stream. “You were flying to Dara in a dirigible bound for the Convention, but you never made it there. People have been looking everywhere for you. Solantha has been in a panic ever since we learned you were missing.”

“Solantha,” he said slowly, testing the word out on his tongue. “My city.” A shadow passed through his eyes then, and he shook his head vehemently. “No, this is my home. I belong here with the Coazi.”

“No, you don’t!” My voice began to rise as agitation got the better of me. “These are not your people, Iannis. You have friends and colleagues who desperately need you. Not to mention that I desperately need you.”

“You do?” Iannis looked positively bewildered. “What for?”

“Because I’m your apprentice!” I cried, throwing my hands up in the air. Not knowing what else to do, I tugged the chain I’d given to Iannis over my head and held it out to him. “We agreed to wear these, don’t you remember? So that we could always find each other in case one of us was in trouble?”

The stone flared to life, and Iannis recoiled as if struck. “Get that away from me!” he cried, throwing his hands up as if to shield himself. A burst of magic emanated from his hands, and a hard gust of wind hit me, sending me flying backward. I sailed several feet through the air before landing hard on my butt with a yelp.

“By Magorah!” I shouted, struggling up into a sitting position. “What the hell was that for?”

“Halyma told me that the stone on that necklace was black magic, and it was preventing us from being together.” Iannis scowled at the serapha charm, which was still clutched in my fist. “She said the pain in my chest would go away if I took it off, so I did. Why do you have it?”

“Because I was using it to track you down!” I snapped as I got back up to my feet. “Halyma is a liar, Iannis. She’s using her shaman powers to trick you into believing that you’re her lover, and that you belong here when you really don’t. She didn’t want you wearing the necklace because she didn’t want me to find you.”

Something flared in Iannis’s eyes for a moment, and then that same shadow I’d seen earlier clouded his irises again. “Halyma is my sharalla. She wouldn’t want to hurt me.”

“She’s selfish,” I insisted. “Come here and let me prove it to you.”

“No!” The shadow in his eyes darkened, and Iannis retreated to the other side of the stream. “You are the one who is trying to trick me.”

I ground my teeth together, frustrated beyond belief with this game of cat and mouse. I wanted to jump into the water and wrestle the necklace over Iannis’s head, but I knew he’d just hit me with his magic. Even if his brain seemed to be addled, he was still the Chief Mage, and there was no way I’d win that fight.