Page 94 of Magic Forsaken

“Too many ears here.” I shook my head. “I’ll tell you after the reception is over. And only after I’m sure my family is safe. Whoever is behind this probably knows about them. Might even know where they’re staying. I have to warn them before I make any other moves.”

Callum’s eyes darted sideways briefly before returning to me with an almost guilty look.

“Your family is fine,” he said, a bit gruffly. “There are guards on the hostel.”

My gaze narrowed, and my pulse sped up. “For how long?” I demanded. “Callum, how long have you been watching them?”

The dragon shook his head. “Not me. Faris.”

Why would Faris have the hostel guarded? Had he been spying on us this whole time? Waiting for me to justify his initial suspicions?

As if he’d heard me thinking, Callum reached out and touched my arm for the briefest moment. “Don’t let your imagination run away with you, Raine. Faris owns the Hotel Idria. He provides it as a safe haven for Idrians fleeing their courts, so they can have a chance to get on their feet. There’s usually one or more of his people keeping an eye out for trouble, but since yesterday, he’s doubled that.”

Faris owned the hostel where we’d been staying.

How much had he known about me, all this time? How loudly had he been laughing at my attempts to keep my secrets?

So much now began to make sense. How they always seemed to know where I was. What I needed. Why Faris had deigned to trust me enough to offer me a job in the first place.

They’d known my every move. Could have removed me and my family from the playing field without ever breaking a sweat. Taken the kids hostage and used them to convince me to cooperate.

But they hadn’t. I tried to remind myself of all the opportunities they hadn’t taken. All the times they could have used this to their advantage.

But there were still too many questions I couldn’t shake. Why had they waited this long to tell me? How many other things were they still hiding from me?

And did those things include the true, sinister purpose of this Symposium?

My heart hammered in my ears, while the voice of my mysterious visitor lodged somewhere in my brain, insisting on answers. But I couldn’t ask for them now. Did not dare give Callum even the smallest hint of my doubts. I had to continue to act normally until I got a chance to talk to him in private.

“Raine?” His deep voice rippled through me, and I wanted so badly to cling to that sound. To find it as comforting as I had only this morning.

But suddenly, I was beginning to feel as if the room was too crowded. I needed space. A cold sweat broke out beneath my collar and I tugged at it, unable to get enough air. I needed to focus, but I couldn’t seem to think clearly.

“She’s going to faint.” I heard Angelica’s disgusted declaration, right before my knees wobbled.

Callum’s hand caught my arm, warm and utterly immovable. I couldn’t have fallen if I’d wanted to.

“Here.” A glass moved into my field of vision. Callum took it from Angelica and held it up to my face. Water.

I took a small sip and choked. Whatever the clear liquid was, it was not water. It burned—my tongue, my throat, my nasal passages—and tasted like the desert at midday. Scouring heat, blistering sun, winds roaring across the sands…

“What…” I gasped for air as tears began streaming down my face. People were beginning to notice. “What was that?”

Angelica took the glass back and sniffed at it. “Just the basic elemental wine we chose for the reception. Very light.” She took an experimental sip. Shrugged. “Barely stronger than water.”

But I was getting more lightheaded by the moment. My vision blurred, and panic began to claw at my throat—sharp and desperate.

“You…” I had to struggle to force the words out, my fingers grasping at Callum’s sleeve, trying to tear it away from my arm. “You drugged me?”

“Raine, I swear there is nothing strange in that glass.” I looked up, peering at him out of burning eyes, noting his expression of stunned desperation. He really believed that. Or wanted me to think he did.

“Have to get out…” I was coming out of my skin. Surrounded by enemies. The world was on fire.

“Hold on.” Callum’s voice in my ear. “Raine, I promise this wasn’t me. I’ve got you.”

I wanted to believe him. I wanted it so badly. But that voice from the darkness kept echoing in my mind.

“You’ve chosen to protect the very person who is striving to destroy the freedom you’ve made for yourself.”

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