Hunted by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #3)(72)

And with that, he rolled off the bed and left me lying there, staring at the ceiling and wondering just what the hell had hit me.





25





An hour later, Iannis and I climbed into the carriage I’d had the concierge call for us, and we were off to the ball. The Finance Secretary and the other delegates had come to collect us, but because Iannis and I had spent so much time arguing, we hadn’t been ready to leave. Iannis had ordered them to go on ahead without us while we’d finished getting ready, which meant that we would be arriving fashionably late. The fact that we’d also be arriving separately from the other Canalo delegates would raise eyebrows, and only further the rumors that I was Iannis’s mistress.

Then again, after the way Iannis had kissed the breath out of me earlier, was I really so far away from becoming exactly that? My lips tingled in remembrance even as I pressed them together in distaste. I didn’t like the term “mistress” – it implied that I was a kept woman, which was far from the truth. But since we weren’t married, I guessed that was the only other title they could fall back on for me.

I looked away from the window at Iannis to find that he was watching me, and the air thickened between us instantly. Not wanting to deal with the tension, I decided to give him a debrief, which was something I needed to do anyway.

“You might want to know that I learned a couple of things when I was hanging out at the coffee shop this afternoon.”

“Oh?” Iannis asked, relaxing back against the velvet upholstery. “I’m surprised you didn’t mention that back at the hotel room.”

“I was going to, but we were sidetracked,” I said dryly. “From what I’ve been overhearing, a Lord Cedris ar’Tarea is apparently the frontrunner as the next Minister.”

“The Chief Mage of Rhodea.” Iannis nodded. “I’ve heard rumors to that effect too, though I can’t quite fathom why he is such a popular choice. He governs a small state and has little experience with international affairs.”

“That’s what one of the mages in the coffee shop was saying. I also heard several people mention that you were a prime contender as well.”

“Hmm.” Iannis’s lips thinned. “Between the two of us, I certainly believe I would be the better choice as the next Minister. But I would rather not leave Canalo so soon in my political career.”

“Yeah, no kidding.” If Iannis became the next Minister, there was no way he’d have any time to train me. “A bunch of people came up to me and asked how you were going to vote. I guess maybe I should tell them you’re voting for yourself,” I joked.

“Very funny.” He did not look amused.

“That reminds me,” I said, my eyes narrowed. “One of the mages who tried to chat me up was a Coman ar’Daghir, and he kind of looks like me. A lot like me.”

Iannis went still for a moment. “Eye and hair color do not necessarily equate blood relation.”

“But you’re not denying that he is a blood relation,” I accused, folding my arms across my chest. Iannis said nothing, simply staring blankly, and I ground my teeth in frustration. “Oh come on! You have to tell me who my father is. You can’t keep me in the dark about this.”

“You’re not ready to know yet.”

“What the f*ck does that mean?” I fisted my hands in my skirts, just itching to slap some sense into him. “How the hell do you expect us to work together if you insist on treating me like a child that needs to be kept in the dark?”

“It’s not a matter of age, but experience.” Iannis’s eyes hardened. “Acknowledging your parentage publicly is going to open up a world of problems that you won’t be well-equipped enough to deal with until you understand the magical world and its rules far better. Once you are finished with your apprenticeship, I will happily divulge your father’s identity.”

“Once I’m finished with my apprenticeship?” I echoed in disbelief. “But that’s not for another ten years!”

Iannis sighed. “Answer me honestly. Is there really any burning reason for you to know his identity right now?”

“Other than the fact that he’s my father and I want to?” I answered sarcastically.

“Yes, and just what would you do with that information?” Iannis challenged. “Are you going to run off to reconnect with the father who abandoned you, while the Northia Federation is on the verge of calamity? Is it truly so important that you discover the identity of a mage who clearly does not want to have anything to do with you, right this very second?”

“No,” I admitted tightly around the lump swelling in my throat. I glanced away, blinking back tears of anger and grief. Apparently the wound of my father’s abandonment was more tender than I’d realized.

“I haven’t told you who he is precisely because I do not wish to cause you unnecessary distress,” Iannis said gently. “Believe me, if circumstances change and this knowledge becomes necessary, I will tell you.”

I let out a deep breath, then turned to face Iannis again. “You know, I could just ask Coman myself,” I pointed out.

“Let me save you the trouble,” he said dryly. “Coman is not your father, and if you ask him about it he will likely be rather confused. Your inquiry will merely raise suspicion and questions that we would rather not deal with, since you are here as Narina Sernan, not Sunaya Baine.”