Taken by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #8)(46)



Director Chen nodded, taking a seat in one of the empty chairs. “Fenris sent an anonymous warning on his way here, but it was not taken seriously. We acted quickly, however, after he connected with Director Toring. Fenris helped me get the crucial information out of the main suspect, Moredo, another of those construction tycoons… was that only six hours ago? It seems longer.” She passed a hand over her brow in a weary gesture. “Then he also helped take care of the plotters, just in time for your return.”

“You all did very well,” Iannis said. “I am glad everything is in hand.”

“Who else was involved?” I asked, leaning forward. “Did you find out anything about the details of the planned attack?”

Fenris and Director Chen fully briefed us on the particulars. I tried to listen attentively, but as I sat on the comfy couch, curled up against Iannis’s warm body, I began to feel sleepy again. It seemed like we’d missed all the excitement—thanks to Fenris and Mina’s sleuthing, and Director Chen and Garrett’s quick action, the perpetrators had been apprehended. Even better, everything was still on schedule despite our long absence, so there was truly nothing to worry about.

“I’m glad you are able to go around Solantha in your own face once again,” I said to Fenris after Chen had left, called away by an urgent appointment. “Sorry we weren’t here when you first arrived. Your run-in with Garrett must have been scary as hell since you didn’t know what I’d told him.”

“How exactly did you run into him?” Iannis asked. “What did you say?”

“He helped me out of a tight spot in jail,” Fenris admitted. “I was snooping around downtown when an enforcer arrested me on the orders of some gang or criminal businessman he was working with. He falsely charged me with trying to cheat a brothel owner.”

I snorted with laughter. “A brothel owner? Just what kind of snooping were you doing?” I teased.

“Not that kind,” Fenris said dryly, not taking the bait. “Anyway, Director Toring found out that I was in jail, and he took pity on me and sprung me. Believe it or not, he actually took me out to dinner, then told me that my parents were in town and that I should visit them.” He shook his head. “I still have to go and see them. I have to admit that I’m not entirely looking forward to that visit, since they believe me to be my own son.”

“They came here first, and I was sorry I could not help them,” Iannis said. “They will eventually find out that you have resurfaced. Better that you go and see them in person than having them find out from a third party.”

“I’m so glad that Garrett bought the story,” I said, relieved. “He seemed convinced when I spun it, but that was months ago and I wasn’t sure how he’d react if he ever saw you again. I tried to make you sound like a poor victim of your parents’ indiscretion, brought up by your old great-uncle in that remote country house of his, and hidden away behind the library sofas whenever he had a visitor. I told him you grew up in that library, which explained your love of books and scholarship, and why you were so different from other shifters.”

“It’s a bit insulting how readily he and my parents believed your story,” Fenris said with a frown. “I would never have treated any child of mine like that, shifter or no. But never mind all that,” he added with a smile. “I am very happy you did this. Now that I am engaged to Mina, it means that the two of us should be able to live openly together. And my interest in ancient magical lore and my knowledge of Loranian no longer need to be hidden. I can even practice magic to some extent.”

“And wear robes, if you want to,” Iannis said. “That old great-uncle could have apprenticed you.”

“I wish that you’d brought your Mina with you,” I lamented. “I really want to meet her. She smells nice, Fenris—like lavender and sunshine. I bet she’s one of those sweet and gentle types.”

Fenris grinned. “She is, but she does have a fiery side if provoked. She is very excited about meeting the both of you, although she is a bit nervous.”

“She won’t have any need to be,” Iannis assured him. “We’ll make her feel right at home. I don’t know that we’ll have much time for social affairs before our wedding, what with everything going on, but we’ll have to get together before you two leave.”

“Leave?” I demanded. “You’re not going back to whatever cave you’ve been hiding in, are you, Fenris?”

“Not permanently,” Fenris admitted, “but Mina and I do need to settle our affairs in Watawis—that’s where I ended up. We are thinking of moving back out to Canalo, but it will likely be nearby, and not within Solantha itself. Mina is very fond of the beach. And speaking of traveling, where in Recca did you two disappear off to? I heard that you might have gone to Manuc, but nobody knew for sure. What was so important that you had to leave at a crucial time like this?”

“It’s a long story,” Iannis said as I grimaced. The last thing I wanted to do was recount those painful experiences, not when the memories were still so fresh. “I’ll have to tell you the details when I have more time, but in short, we had trouble with some of my Tua relatives. They were not pleased with my choice of a bride and would not be ignored on the matter.”

I snorted. “That’s the understatement of the year,” I said, rolling my eyes. “Thankfully we managed to escape, and just in time, too. There’s still so much to be done.” I sighed, flopping back down onto the couch. I was so tired…

Jasmine Walt's Books