Page 81 of Magic Forsaken

The hum changed pitch. It was happy. Rath had told the truth.

How did I know?

His answers left a lot of possibilities, but at least I knew it wasn’t the fae.

“Raine.” Callum’s deep voice snared my whirling thoughts, slowed them to a churn, and tugged me to face him.

How did he do that? How did he make me feel safer with nothing more than his voice?

“What kind of magic does Logan have?”

I didn’t like the question. Didn’t like what it said that he’d already figured out we were all different. But it didn’t matter now. Nothing mattered except finding Logan.

“Earth,” I said tightly. “He has earth magic.”

“Then we need Faris.”

I hesitated. Last I’d seen Faris, he’d been suspecting me of murder. I wasn’t sure I wanted him involved with my little family.

“Faris doesn’t trust me,” I pointed out. “Why would he help me?”

“He doesn’t suspect you any longer,” Callum informed me. “And if Logan uses magic anywhere nearby, Faris will be able to find him.”

Well,thatI hadn’t known.

When I nodded tightly, Callum took out his phone and made the call.

To my surprise, it didn’t require much persuasion. He said maybe a total of a dozen words before hanging up again.

“He’s en route.”

Which left the six of us staring awkwardly at one another while we waited.

“I think,” Rath said delicately, “that this is my cue to leave.” He paused. “Kes…”

“I’m not coming back,” she said quietly, refusing to turn and look at him. “I can’t. Please don’t try to change my mind.”

For a moment, he hovered, and I saw both pain and regret flit across his face.

“Very well.” He bowed his head briefly. “I am pleased to have been able to see you again. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you are ever in need.”

A few brief moments later, he was gone.

Kes’s eyes shut, and I saw tears glimmering on her cheeks, but I didn’t ask. Not yet. Not in front of so many strangers. Whatever conversation they’d had must have been deeply painful, and I would never force her to relive that unless she chose to.

I looked over at Angelica, and she responded by giving me a small nod before glancing down at Ari.

“I have snacks and a phone,” she stated loudly. “Up in my office, if anyone would like to come upstairs with me.”

Okay, so apparently shedidknow something about children. That was all it took for Ari to gaze at her adoringly and follow her up the stairs and out of sight without a single word of complaint.

That left me and Callum and Kes, but both Kes and I were too worried for niceties, while Callum’s instincts for nurturing behavior were probably not very strong.

I was suddenly reminded of my first official meeting with him and murmured under my breath, “I suspect this is the point where Kira might tell you that tea fixes everything.”

His eyes softened. “Does it?”

“Not really,” I acknowledged. “But I think it gives people something to do with their head and their hands while their hearts are busy being afraid.”

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