Page 59 of Magic Forsaken

It seemed likely that the murderer was connected to our attackers and wanted to silence them before they could be questioned. But what were they afraid we might learn? It was obvious they wanted to stop the Symposium. But why? Who stood to gain the most from its disruption?

“And that’s another reason why you’re coming with me,” Callum said, still looking at me, even though his words were clearly meant for Angelica. “Another set of eyes to watch for anambush. And now that we know you can use ice to counter fae magic, I want your defensive abilities at my back.”

I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. Yes, I knew that was why he’d hired me. But this was the first time it was going to be for real. The two previous times, I’d simply reacted, but now I had to remain alert. Be able to see threats and respond appropriately.

Angelica started slamming things around on her desk just a little too pointedly. I knew she still disapproved of my hiring. She wanted Callum to have an entire team of shapeshifters to watch his back, but he’d vetoed it. Said he didn’t want to appear as if he were feeling threatened, or making any threats.

Which was why he planned to introduce me to everyone as one of his assistants, rather than a bodyguard.

As I followed him down the stairs, I tried to sort through the whirling mass of information that had been stuffed into my head over the last ten days. Names, faces, history, rules… There was a solid chance I wasn’t going to remember any of it. That I was going to mess up pretending to be his assistant, let alone acting as his bodyguard.

“Just to remind you,” I pointed out, aiming my remarks at the back of Callum’s head, “I’ve never actually been an assistantora bodyguard before, so I don’t really know what I’m doing. You do remember that, right?”

The shapeshifter king glanced back over his shoulder as we reached the foot of the stairs. “I am aware, yes,” he responded dryly.

“So you also know that I might do or say the wrong thing and accidentally cause a diplomatic incident.”

“All you have to do is stand a little behind me while looking competent and mysterious. If I tell you to write something down, you make a note in your phone. If anyone attacks physically or magically, you deal with them, and I’ll deal with everything else.”And then he shrugged, as if this ought to be the simplest thing in the world.

“No problem, Your Majesty,” I muttered. Never mind that I didn’t have a phone to take any notes with. How had he somehow managed to overlook that fact? “And how is it you would prefer for me to ‘deal’ with them?”

“However you see fit.” His eyes were hard, the line of his shoulders rigid. “Raine, anyone who attacks us today will be doing so in a very public way, with clear knowledge of who they are attacking. They won’t be unaware of the potential consequences.”

Right. Not terrifying at all.

I took a deep breath and reminded myself of all the reasons I was doing this. Yes, I might have to use this magic I didn’t want. Yes, I was probably going to end up putting myself in danger. But if it would make this world safer for other people like me and Ari and Logan? It would be worth it.

“Understood.”

After those warnings, the blood was already humming in my veins as I followed the shifter king out the main doors, and stepped towards the black SUV waiting on the curb.

So like, and yet unlike the moment I’d first seen him.

When we reached the curb, I paused briefly, unsure of the correct protocol. Did he ride in the back and me in the front? Did we open our own doors?

Callum saw my hesitation and stepped into the gap, opening the rear door and gesturing me forward.

I reared back and held up both hands, palm out. “I’m pretty sure that’s my job,” I told him. “Kings don’t open doors for their assistants.”

He glowered at me, a looming suggestion of threat wrapped in darkness, lit only by the spark in those amber eyes. One hand still gripped the edge of the door, and I saw his fingers clenchas his head tilted to regard me. Despite the tamed and styled auburn hair and the clean-shaven jaw, he still managed to look predatory—a perfectly groomed dragon, hiding his teeth behind civilized urbanity.

“Don’t call me that,” he growled.

“It’s what you are.”

“But not because I ever wanted to be treated like one.”

That much I believed about Callum-ro-Deverin. It hadn’t taken long to figure out that formality and fawning made him desperately uncomfortable. He was king because he could do the job, and because hewoulddo it. Protecting others was in his blood.

“Fine,” I agreed, “but while we’re in public, we should at least observe the formalities. Otherwise, no one is going to believe you when you tell them who I am.”

His expression shifted, and he looked down at me with a slight quirk at the corner of his mouth.

“And what is it that they’re going to think if they see me opening your door?”

It took me a little over half a second to catch his meaning. About half a second more for me to drop my gaze to the sidewalk as a horrified blush heated my face.

“That both my hands are broken?” I suggested, baring my teeth in a parody of a smile.

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