Page 98 of Magic Forsaken

“Raine!” Kira called out from the car behind me, leaning out of the window with a bright, fierce expression. “Don’t forget that you’ve already beaten Talia and faced down a dragon in his lair. You look gorgeous and you can absolutely do this!”

I couldn’t help it. I laughed. She was so tiny and fierce and caring. So honest and extravagant with her feelings. She’d forged her own path, walked through her own painful trials, and come out effervescent. After hearing her story, I could only hope to be half so resilient.

So I waved. Turned. Lifted my chin, and made my way through the open doors and into the Symposium banquet.

When compared to the last time I’d seen it, the room was almost unrecognizable. Dim lighting and tasteful decor concealed the room’s industrial bones, while a band played softly in the corner near a temporary stage as the early arrivals were being shown to their tables.

The atmosphere was noticeably more relaxed than it had been only forty-eight hours before, but my heart still hammered loudly as I hovered on the edge of the space, gazing out across the crowd. There was so much power in that room. So much wealth and influence. Lights reflected from the crystals in the chandeliers, from the crystalline wine glasses, from the eyes and the clothing of the other attendees as they sipped and mingled and performed their perplexing political dances.

Fae, wildkin, shapeshifters, elementals—all dressed in a bewildering array of both human and Idrian fashion. Elegant and graceful. Powerful and threatening.

And then there was me.

Elegant and powerful, check—at least for tonight. Graceful? That was hit or miss. Threatening? I suppose it would depend on who you asked.

I only lacked the one other thing tying everyone in this room together, and it was the one thing no amount of makeup or training could give me.

“Raine?” The quiet hiss came from behind me, so I turned and experienced possibly the most satisfying moment of my life when Angelica took a good look at me and stopped dead in her tracks, mouth hanging open.

“You…” She appeared to be struggling to form words.

It felt like I’d been handed a gift. The biggest, shiniest, most gratifying gift imaginable.

“Yes, I’m feeling much better, thank you.” I smiled. Our eyes met, and I saw the glimmer of amused respect in hers.

“The dress is gorgeous,” she murmured. “Stunning, actually.”

I shrugged lightly. “Kira and Marilee picked it out.”

“Well, they killed it.” Her voice abruptly returned to her usual brisk tone. “And I’m pleased to see you looking well.”

She didn’t look half bad herself. Still wearing black, but her satin sheath fit her to perfection, and her golden hair cascaded over her shoulders in glamorous waves.

“Still no sign of…”

Her expression turned studiously blank. “I’ll let Callum fill you in on the rest. He’s upstairs. As his date for the evening, you should head up to meet him so you can be seen entering together.”

I swallowed against the tight feeling in my throat and nodded. Of course, it made sense. But now that the moment was here…

No. I could do this. Ihadto do this. It was my one chance to ask my questions before it was too late.

“Is he in the office?”

She shook her head. “Last I saw, he was headed up to the roof for some air.”

Of course he was. Because I absolutely wanted to confront him while thinking about the last time I’d been up there and nearly fallen to my death.

Well, at least I would look completely amazing while doing it.

Somehow I flew up those stairs, driven by adrenaline and breathless anticipation.

When I opened the door to the roof, I didn’t see him at first, but I did see where someone had set up a tiny rooftop lounge. There was an old coffee table within a circle of chairs, all of it illuminated by string lights that gave off a warm, homey glow. The temperature was mild for October, and a light breeze ruffled my curls as I emerged from the stairwell and looked around at the glittering city skyline.

“Hello?” I was beginning to think Angelica had been mistaken when a piece of the night sky turned around and moved towards me.

And when he stepped into the warm glow of the lights, I nearly gasped aloud.

Callum-ro-Deverin was gorgeous no matter what he was wearing, but tonight, in what was probably a custom-tailored tux, he was devastating. His hair was brushed back and perfectly tamed, while the slight shadow of beard on his jaw only emphasized his lips and cheekbones.

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