Marked by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #4)(50)

Lakin’s expression softened with sympathy. “I’ll send word to you after I’ve met with the Chieftain, and if we do end up calling a town meeting after she meets with the council, I’ll let you know when. We can decide at that point whether it would be more helpful or counterproductive for you to attend and testify to what you learned.”

“Thanks,” I said, flashing him a grateful smile. “I really appreciate all the help you’ve given me,” I added, getting to my feet.

“Is there anything else I can help you with?” Lakin growled, getting to his feet as well. The hunger in his yellow-orange eyes swirled to the forefront, and the next thing I knew, his hands were on my hips, nostrils flared as he sniffed at me.

My internal temperature shot up at the contact, and the tingling in my lower belly started up again. It would be so easy to give in, to just lean into him and claim the sweet, sweet relief he was offering.

But instead, I gently but firmly pushed him away. “Sorry, Lakin, but I don’t need any help. I’m doing a little experiment with abstinence right now,” I added with a grin.

“Abstinence?” Lakin’s eyebrows shot up, and he looked at me as though I’d lost my mind. “While you’re in heat? Is that even possible? You’re crazy, Sunaya Baine.”

“That’s what they tell me,” I said over my shoulder as I walked out the door, cloaking myself in illusion once more. I sighed a little, both in relief and disappointment, as the heat receded. I wasn’t actually trying to be celibate during this time, but at the rate things were going, I just might end up going through heat without having sex once.

The question was, could I hold onto my control the entire time, as Resinah had suggested was possible? Or was I going to lose my mind after all?





20





Since there was nothing left for me to do in Shiftertown, I hopped onto my stolen steambike and sped back to Solantha Palace. Yes, I was still a little angry with the Mages Guild, but I needed to tell Iannis what was going on. Besides, even though the meeting he’d invited me to had ended badly for me, at least I had been invited. If somebody had told me two months ago that I was going to be present at a meeting in the Mages Guild to discuss war strategy, I would have laughed in their face. Yes, there was still progress to be made, but there was no doubt I’d made leaps and bounds already in my relationship with the Mages Guild.

I parked my stolen bike outside the side entrance of the Palace, then hurried to the Mages Guild to see if I could catch Iannis. Unfortunately, my luck in that area was still shitty as ever.

“Lord Iannis is out dealing with the rebellion,” Dira informed me primly. “There has been another outbreak of fighting at the Port, near the Fish Market, I believe.”

“How long has he been gone?” I demanded.

“Since early this morning. As I’m sure you understand, it is impossible to tell when he’ll be back. He’ll return as soon as possible, since he has urgent Palace and Federal business to attend to, but dealing with the Resistance is of primary importance.”

“Obviously,” I muttered, trying not to sound too irritated. Truthfully, it was admirable that Iannis was out in the trenches – he could easily claim that as the Chief Mage, he was better suited behind the lines, but instead, he was making use of his formidable powers and directing the mages in person. It was also a shrewd political strategy – by choosing to be on the front lines instead of cowering behind the warded walls of the Palace, he was rallying the mages and showing the citizens that he cared enough about the city of Solantha to defend it with his own two hands.

Still, I wished he would sit back and do a little more delegating. How the hell was I going to get him to implement any of my plans, if he was always out fighting in the streets?

“The Chief Mage asked for me to tell you to remain here when you returned,” Dira said, breaking my train of thought. “He was concerned when he couldn’t locate you in the Palace this morning, and he wants to speak with you.” Dira’s face was expressionless as she delivered the message, but I wasn’t entirely sure she approved. Not that her approval meant shit to me.

“Is that right?” I asked casually, as if my heart wasn’t doing a little happy dance in my chest. Maybe Iannis really did miss me as much as I missed him. “Well, I guess it’s a good thing I need to speak to him. Tell him I’m right here in the Guild when he comes back.”

Not that she actually needs to, I thought to myself as I headed down the hallway leading to the Guild offices. Iannis would be able to locate me any time with his serapha charm. But that was not for Dira to know.

I entered Iannis’s office, grabbed a piece of paper and a pen, and scribbled out a note with the salient details of what I’d learned at the Ur-God sermon this morning, as well as my meeting with Lakin. I sealed my report in an envelope and left it on his blotter, then headed down to the kitchens to refuel.

The scents of cheese, pasta, and sausage had my stomach rumbling in anticipation long before I trotted down the steps to the kitchen. My mouth instantly started watering as I caught sight of a huge pot of crumbled sausage and tomato sauce bubbling away, and my stomach let out the loudest growl the kitchen staff had probably ever heard.

Mrs. Tandry, the head chef, turned in the direction of the sound, propping her hands on her hips and giving me a friendly scowl. “Don’t you come nosing around these pots!” she warned, wagging a wooden spoon at me. “You go sit down right there, and I’ll serve you.”