Page 109 of Magic Forsaken

Even when he felt betrayed, even when he had to be questioning my loyalties, he kept his promise to protect me. Even when he didn’t understand, he tried to keep me safe. So no matter how hurt and betrayedhewould feel, I was going to protect him, too.

The moment we came to a stop, he released me, and I pushed away from him. Struggled to my feet, fighting for balance in the darkness. Once I was sure I wouldn’t fall over, I reached for my magic again and made a light—a scintillating ball of blue that I threw upward to catch in the darkened chandelier. It flew up and hit the glittering crystal facets, blooming instantly into a blue fire that illuminated the entire space.

I’d expected chaos, but this was so much worse. Callum swore in a deep, guttural tone that told me the dragon was lurking close to the surface, but there was nothing he could do.

All around us, bodies slumped over, some lying on the floor, some resting their heads on the tables. There were signs that a few had tried to flee, but had been stopped in their tracks.

And when I looked closer? Their eyes were open. They were still conscious, still breathing, but utterly unable to move, or, from the look of things, use their innate magic.

I knew Elayara had developed an anti-shifting serum and had been working on ways to counter other magic as well. But it hadn’t been complete at the time of her death. How was it possible that…

“So you came after all.”

Slowly, my teeth clenched tightly together to keep from screaming, I lifted my gaze to the stage. The live band was gone, and I could only hope it was because they’d gotten out.

In their place? Blake stood with his hands in his pockets. He wore a dark suit, but no tie, and appeared as relaxed as if he were still walking in the garden. Not at all like a man who’d just single-handedly subdued fifty of the most powerful Idrians in the country. He must have had help…

And he had. There on the margins of the room, standing with their backs to the wall, surrounding us on all sides… the caterers and the waitstaff were watching. Motionless, identical, and all but invisible.

And also human.

Just as he had hired local human companies for renovations and security, Callum had hired human staff for the banquet, never imagining that they would be a danger. Which meant… Blake’s people had been in position since the beginning of the evening. Waiting for the right moment. For Callum to step out. For me to decide who to fight for.

Heather had been his lookout, so the moment I arrived and she saw me with Callum... they struck.

“Yes.” I took a few steps towards Blake, separating myself from Callum. Hoping the distance might give him a chance to shift, or find some other way to save himself. “I’m here. And I’m wondering what it is you’re trying to do. You said you preferred not to hurt anyone. That you would do everything in your power to keep people alive.”

I knew how this would sound to Callum. Like I’d plotted against him. Like Blake and I had made this plan together. But the longer I could keep Blake talking, the longer I had for whatever he’d done to the delegates to wear off.

“Oh, please.” Blake’s pleasant smile never slipped. “How can you still be so naive after what we witnessed? After what we wentthrough? I didn’t want to lose an asset like you, so I had to tell you whatever might convince you to join me.”

Anasset. It was exactly what the fae had called us.

“Join you for what?” I gestured to the room. “What are you trying to accomplish? Where does all this death get you?”

“Death?” He laughed. “Oh, they aren’t dead. I have no intention of killing anyone. At least, not anyone who can be of use to me.”

Be of use to him…

“There is only one piece left now. Only one thing I need, and I suspect you know where it is.”

Me? What could he possibly think that I knew?

Except…

“Come on, Raine.” His voice turned coaxing. “How can you not want your revenge on these Idrians? After they took us off the street and made our lives a living hell for ten years? Buried us alive in that prison complex? And you… You were forced to play their sick games, caged in darkness, forced to fight for your life, tested with magic and with pain. Worse even than that, how many did they take that never came out alive?”

“It wasn’tallIdrians who hurt us, Blake.” My voice trembled as I fought back the memories his words evoked. “It was a small handful. And the victims weren’t all human. They were also elemental, wildkin, shapeshifters, and even other fae. I’m not interested in revenge on those who had nothing to do with it.”

“Raine.” My name had never sounded so haunted as it did on Callum’s lips in that moment, but I needed him to be quiet. To not remind Blake of his existence. But he was either too hurt or too stubborn to shut up. “Raine, what is he saying?”

I was going to have to take control.

So I stepped towards Blake again, holding his gaze with my own. “He’s saying,” I replied in a flat, empty tone, “that I was born human. Just like him.”

My limbs began to shake as the words echoed in the air around me. For a moment, it felt like I’d carved out my own heart and offered it up on a platter. I’d finally laid my secrets bare, and I didn’t want to see Callum’s reaction. Didn’t want to know how betrayed he now felt.

“But unlike him, I didn’t fail the tests. I was Elayara’s first true success.” I did turn towards Callum then, somehow managing to face him without crying. “She didn’t just find a way to infuse objects with stolen magic—she found a way to transfer it to another person. A human. One who was given no choice in the matter. And as she experimented, she realized that it was the youngest humans who had the best chance of holding on to that magic.”

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