Taken by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #8)(54)

I raised an eyebrow. “Does that mean I have your blessing to rattle some cages tonight?” My brain immediately began to conjure various possibilities…scenes I’d fantasized about during past moments of frustration.

Iannis chuckled. “I wouldn’t exactly say that,” he said as we pulled up in front of the manor gates. “But if the situation warrants it, I certainly don’t want to stop you. The last thing I want is for you to become some boring society matron.”

I laughed as the carriage door opened. “I can assure you,” I said to Iannis as I took the footman’s hand and let him help me out, “there is absolutely zero chance of that happening.”



Iannis and I entered the manor arm in arm and were immediately greeted by Balthur ar’Zaronian, the Grand Master of the Order of Master Mages. He was a tall, regal man in deep purple and grey robes that set off his shining silver beard and long hair. His hair was tied back in a low tail, much like Iannis wore his.

“I am very pleased that you could make it, Lord Iannis,” he said enthusiastically. “The way I hear it, the Mages Guild was uncertain as to whether you would make it back in time for your own wedding!”

“Yes, we had some unexpected business come up at the last minute,” Iannis said smoothly. We’d agreed not to talk much about the Tua connection for now, or the true nature of our travels. “This is my bride-to-be, Sunaya.”

“As lovely as your pictures in the paper,” the old mage said, bowing over my hand. I was relieved to see no derision or malice in his eyes—if this man thought I was unworthy of my position, he at least had the good sense to hide it. “Iannis has told me much about you in his letters. I hear that you are already powerful, and will be formidable when fully trained. How is your apprenticeship coming along?”

“Pretty well,” I said, smiling. If only he knew…

We chatted with the Grand Master for a little while, then circulated amongst the rest of the crowd. Grand Masters from several continents were among the guests—two thirds of them male, and all well past their first century. Their interests focused on magic rather than politics, and several conversed with one another in Loranian on esoteric subjects. Even without knowing their backgrounds, I could have guessed that these mages were of a higher caliber than at the other receptions—the air was practically humming with power.

Many of the guests seemed skeptical of me, but they made efforts to be polite, even as they subtly tested my knowledge. I surprised quite a few of them with my grasp of magical theory and fluency in Loranian, thanks to Fenris’s broad knowledge. At the end of each little tête-à-tête, I felt a little more confident. They might be learned and accomplished, but I could hold my own.

“Just look at her,” a thin, elderly mage sneered under his breath as I passed. “Strutting about as if she owns the place. She is a mere apprentice—if not for her husband-to-be, she would not even be allowed amongst us.”

“What was that?” I asked sweetly, turning on my heel. The mage’s face paled—no doubt he’d thought he was out of earshot, unaware of my sharp shifter hearing.

He set his jaw and met my gaze squarely. “I see no need to repeat myself,” he said as the room quieted around us.

“No, of course not,” I said softly. “You’re too much of a coward to say that again to my face, now that the entire room can hear you. But if you really think I don’t belong amongst you,” I added, raising my voice so that everyone else could hear, “then how about a little challenge?”

“You’re not strong enough to challenge any one of us,” he scoffed. “We do not measure ourselves against mere children.”

“Then you should have no problem accepting,” I said with a smirk. “Let’s see who can levitate the largest amount of people in this room. I bet you can do, oh, ten?”

“Ten! Don’t make me laugh,” he spat, raising his arms. As he did, several of the guests began to gasp as they were slowly lifted into the air. Raising an eyebrow, I looked around the vast ballroom and counted.

“Fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen…” I trailed off to look at him—beads of sweat had gathered at his temple, and his cheeks were red with exertion. “Twenty.”

His breath came out in a whoosh, and the guests landed on the ground in a heap. “That wasn’t very gracious of you,” I said as the unwitting participants got to their feet, cries of outrage echoing throughout the room.

“As if I care what you think,” he panted, trying to look righteous. “I did far more than ten—I doubled that number.”

“How nice for you,” I cooed, lifting my own arms. The guests cried out in alarm as their feet began to lift off the floor—all four hundred-ish of them, including my challenger. I left Iannis and the Grand Master on the ground out of respect, but sent the rest of them soaring high up, until their heads were nearly touching the ceiling. From below, it was a funny sight—all those feet and shoes dangling in the air. Lucky for them, the robes hid their underwear pretty well.

Finally, when I felt my magic begin to strain under the weight, I gently lowered them back down to the ground. As their feet touched the tiled floor, a hush fell over the room. I met the old mage’s flabbergasted stare as they all gaped at me, many with their jaws nearly to the floor. With the exception of Iannis, and maybe a few of the Grand Masters, none of them would have been able to carry this off without losing control.