Taken by Magic (The Baine Chronicles #8)(59)

“And now,” Director Chen, who was acting as tonight’s master of ceremonies, called in a magically enhanced voice as the chatter quieted down, “it is time for the bride and groom to open the first dance.”

Iannis and I looked at each other. “Are you ready?” he asked, offering his hand.

I smiled, wordlessly slipping my hand in his. The crowd parted as a slow, beautiful melody started up and Iannis gracefully led me onto the empty dance floor. The world fell away as I looked into his eyes, and as we swirled and glided across the room, volumes seemed to pass between us without either of us saying a word. After the first minute or so, other couples joined in, and soon we were at the center of a happy throng. Rylan was swinging Annia around with great energy, and Com was smiling at Elania as they danced. Fenris and Mina were pretty lively on the floor together, I noticed with approval. It was like we were all one big, happy family.

The song was just winding down when something odd flickered at the limits of my vision. Frowning, I looked over Iannis’s shoulder at the ballroom and activated my mage sight.

“What is it?” Iannis asked, sensing my tension.

“It seems that Deryna and Drawe aren’t our only unexpected guests,” I murmured. “Nalan and Alara are standing by those pillars behind you.”

I looked at the Tua twins directly, and they both smiled and waved. They had glamored themselves to look human, but beneath the magic, they were just as gigantic as they had been in the Tua realm. As I stared, Broghan popped out from behind Alara and soared across the room in baby dragon form. The guests gasped as he let out a thin stream of flame, forming a heart that blazed directly above us.

“What a charming illusion,” I heard somebody gush. “It will soon be the rage at every wedding, I’d bet.”

“We have come to learn more of the human world,” Broghan said to me in mindspeak as he did a few somersaults. He was stealing the show, but he was way too cute for me to care. “My father has given his permission, as long as my cousins accompany me.”

“Do you think you might act as a guide for us?” Alara asked. “Once you come back from your honeymoon, of course.”

“We have a number of experiments we’d like to perform,” Nalan added, “and could use a native guide to help us minimize the damage.”

I held back a snort. “I’ll think about it,” I told them, then relayed what they’d said to me to Iannis in mindspeak. “I’m kind of torn,” I told Iannis as the song came to an end. “On the one hand, I don’t love the idea of them running around doing ‘experiments’ in our world, but I shudder to think of what havoc they could wreak unsupervised.” Not that I had a chance to control even one of them, but hopefully they would listen to their expert in local culture. They had all my memories, but would they be able to make proper sense of them? Did they have a true idea just how vulnerable Recca’s people were when faced with the might of the Tua?

“The mind boggles at the possibilities,” Iannis said, though he did not sound too worried.

Inspired, I flagged down Rylan and Annia, who were still together on the dance floor. “You complained that your life was too boring,” I told my cousin with an evil grin. “I have just the remedy for that. You and Annia are going to look after some foreign guests while I’m gone.”

They glanced at each other. “I happen to be at loose ends,” Annia said, shrugging. “Why not?”

“What’s the catch?” Rylan asked suspiciously.

“Just that they’ll keep you on your toes,” I said airily. “You get to babysit someone far smarter and more powerful than you, which will be excellent practice for whatever you choose to do afterwards. If you can get through this, you can do anything.”

“Gee, thanks,” Rylan said sarcastically, but Annia looked intrigued. I wondered just how powerful that amulet had made her, and if she could hold her own against Broghan. Amused, I lost no time introducing Rylan and Annia to our interdimensional tourists. They were all eyeing one another curiously and getting acquainted when Iannis pulled me away for one last dance.

“That’s some challenge you set Rylan and Annia,” he commented. “But in our absence, the best you could do. Let’s not worry about what happens until we get back.”

“Right. With any luck, Solantha will still be standing.”

When the dance ended, we turned to face the crowd as one, and Iannis wrapped his hand in mine. “Thank you all for celebrating with us,” he said to the crowd. “Sunaya and I are off to our honeymoon now. Please enjoy the festivities, and drink to our good health while we are gone!”

He pulled out a gulaya from his sleeve and activated it amongst cries of protest from the crowd. The last thing I saw was Director Chen and Fenris’s knowing smiles as we disappeared, and the next thing I knew, we were standing on a sandy beach, looking out at a spectacular sunset. I felt a momentary queasiness, but it quickly passed.

“Holy shit,” I said, looking around. Chills ran up and down my spine as I took in the familiar surroundings. “This is the island where we first made love, isn’t it?”

“Indeed,” Iannis said, scooping me up. He carried me up the beach to where a charming seaside cottage sat, its white stone walls sparkling in the dying sun. “I bought it in your name and had a few improvements made,” he said as he waved the front door open with a bit of magic.