Marked by Magic: a New Adult Fantasy Novel (The Baine Chronicles Book 4)

by Jasmine Walt

  When two guards led Rylan into to the room, he arched his brows at the sight of the platter of sliced cheeses and meats and the pitcher of milk that was sitting on the steel table. I didn’t miss the gleam of hunger in his yellow shifter eyes though – his face was thin, eyes sunken, and the loose fit of his black-and-white striped prisoner’s uniform told me he hadn’t been eating enough.

  Not exactly surprising, I thought to myself. The easiest way to keep a group of shifters under control was by keeping them undernourished. Our superior strength and agility depended on large quantities of food. Anger sparked in my chest at the idea that the shifters here were being starved, but there was nothing I could do about it, and besides, they were criminals.

  “Why, cousin,” Rylan drawled as he sat down in the chair opposite mine, “a tea party, for me? You shouldn’t have.”

  “Don’t be an asshole, Rylan.” I shoved the platter at him. “Eat. You look like something the cat dragged in.”

  “No kidding,” Rylan agreed. His wrists were bound with steel manacles engraved in runes that prevented him from breaking them, so he couldn’t shovel the food into his mouth as fast as he wanted to. Nevertheless, he managed to clear the plate in less than ten minutes, and downed three glasses of milk besides that.

  “Thanks,” he muttered when he was finished.

  “No problem,” I said dryly. My stomach gave a hollow pang at the sight of the empty platter – I’d yet to have dinner, but I hadn’t wanted to eat any of the food since Rylan clearly needed it more than I did.

  “So, did you come here just to feed me?” Rylan asked. “Or did you have something to say?”

  “I wanted to bring you some news,” I told him. I started in with the Benefactor’s plans for the shifter community, telling him what I’d learned at the Ur-God temple and from talking with the humans individually, and also that I’d convinced the Mages Guild to lighten the sentences of shifter soldiers in view of the recent injustices.

  Rylan’s lips were pressed together when I finished. He looked pained, but resigned. “I know you’re not lying, and what you say unfortunately lines up,” he admitted with a sigh. “Over the past few months, the human officers were suddenly being given access to ridiculous amounts of money and way more information than we were, and shifters were excluded and ignored more and more in meetings and decisions. Believe it or not, we used to avoid things like blowing up bridges and setting buildings on fire. But not only were we starting to do it, but shifters were also being sent in to carry out the worst and most dangerous missions.”

  “I suspected as much,” I told him, a little sadly now. “I couldn’t believe it when you guys tried to blow up the Firegate Bridge. It had never occurred to me that the Resistance would go that far.”

  “We shouldn’t have.” Rylan’s shoulders slumped, and he scrubbed his hands over his face before looking me in the eye again. “Look, despite everything that’s happened between us, I’m glad you’re safe. I fought hard against the kill order that was put out on you, but it came down from the top, and there was nothing I could do.”

  “I know,” I told him. I didn’t want him to feel guilty about this. Thorgana was at fault here, not him. “And you did warn me about going to the Convention.”

  “I also told you not to warn the Chief Mage,” Rylan growled, anger lighting his eyes now. “But I knew you wouldn’t listen, so I took extra steps there to ensure your safety too.”

  I froze. “What do you mean by that?”

  “I was in town when I called you, so after I hung up the phone, I went down to Witches End and had a witch cast a spell to make you forget to tell the Chief Mage whenever you were near him.”

  “What the fuck?” I shot to my feet so quickly that my chair clattered to the floor. “How the hell did you manage that?”

  “I filched some hair from your apartment the last time I was there,” Rylan admitted, looking more than a little uncomfortable now. “The witch was able to use it to cast the spell on you.”

  “You bastard!” I slammed my hands down on the table, sending the empty milk pitcher crashing to the ground. It shattered, scattering shards of pottery across the floor as I shoved my nose in Rylan’s face. “You almost got the Chief Mage killed, and you made me think it was my fault by making me forget to warn him!”

  “Yes, and I also saved your life,” Rylan shouted back, not backing down one bit. “The Resistance would have killed you for sure if the Chief Mage hadn’t gotten on the dirigible that day.”

  “Yeah, and so what?” I sneered, shoving back from the table. “They put a hit out on me anyway, didn’t they? At least if you hadn’t messed with my head, I could have warned Iannis, and we could have potentially saved hundreds of lives. Their blood is on your hands, Rylan.”

  Disgusted, I had the guards take him away, then asked them to leave me for a moment so I could regain my composure. I was shaking with rage, so angry at Rylan’s betrayal that I wanted the guards to bring him back in here so I could beat the shit out of him. But that wouldn’t solve anything, and besides, he would be sent off to the mines soon anyway.

  When I was composed again, I asked the guards to bring Thorgana in. Unlike Rylan, she didn’t appear undernourished, but her platinum-blonde hair hung limp around her heart-shaped face. Without her makeup, she looked brittle and colorless.

  “Miss Baine,” she said in a cool voice, crossing her legs as she sat down in the chair. Somehow, she managed to make her prison uniform look elegant, and she sat in the hard chair with the posture of a queen. “I would say it’s nice of you to visit, but I’m afraid the very sight of you turns my stomach.”

  “Is that because I’m a shifter, or because I’m a mage?” I asked casually, refusing to react to the malice glittering in her eyes. “I hear you hate both of them equally, which is kind of strange.”

  She shrugged. “The mages are cruel and unjust, and the shifters barbaric and dangerous. I console myself with the certainty that their days are numbered, no matter what becomes of me.”

  “And yet,” I said, glancing down at the runed manacles on her wrists, “you’re a half-shifter yourself, aren’t you? That’s why you’re so strong, and why you look younger than your age. And I bet it’s also helped you gather information at your little parties. You’ve got shifter senses.”

  “An unfortunate curse,” Thorgana agreed, her mouth twisting into a sneer. “But I learned early in life that if I wanted to succeed, I had to use every advantage I could.”

  I shook my head. “How can you say that? You were raised in a wealthy family, had every human advantage there is, and you have some useful shifter abilities.” I eyed her again. “I’m assuming you can’t actually shift, though?”

  “Even if I could, I would hardly care to turn into a filthy animal,” Thorgana said coldly. “My late father was less fastidious – he had a dalliance with a wolf-shifter servant girl that resulted in my birth. Because his own wife was barren, he kept me as his child and got rid of the servant. That part of my heritage was never alluded to in the family, and I was glad enough not to be reminded.”

  “So you are his heir then, and not just an empty-headed fool,” I murmured. No wonder she hated that part of herself, if she had been brought up to hate and despise her shifter heritage all her life. “As his only child, he would have taught you the family business.”

  Thorgana didn’t confirm that – she simply turned her gaze away and began examining her nails. “Did you come here to waste my time and yours with nonsense and pointless questions, Miss Baine?”

  “No,” I said evenly. “I came here to look you in the eye and tell you that I know what you are, and that you may as well give up whatever details you’re still hiding before they’re uncovered. The Finance Secretary has already impounded all your businesses in Canalo and alerted the rest of the Federation to do the same, and the Minister is demanding your extradition. Don’t you think you’d be better off here, than at the capital?”

  Thorgana laughed. “Wha
t difference does it make, when I’m slated for execution either way?”

  She had a point, but I wasn’t going to tell her that. “The Chief Mage of Canalo is a reasonable man. He may be willing to cut you a deal, such as seeing that your husband is spared, if you cooperate.”

  “What a generous offer.” Thorgana smiled coyly, looking back up at me again. “I think I’ll take my chances in Dara just the same, but I appreciate you coming here to negotiate on the Chief Mage’s behalf. Congratulations on your engagement, by the way. It is not likely to last very long, so you’d better enjoy it while you can.”

  Frustration bubbled in my chest at the blasé attitude she seemed to hold toward her execution – it was almost as if she wasn’t worried. As if she had a plan. And by the way her eyes gleamed in satisfaction, I could tell she knew I was frustrated. After all, her shifter senses would be able to tell her, just as surely as I was able to read her emotions.

  “I’ll be sure to pass on your felicitations,” I told her, standing. “And of your preference for returning to Dara.” Her eyes narrowed at that. “By the way, what was that glass thing you threw at us in your mansion, when you were arrested?”

  “Glass thing?” She pressed the tips of her fingers against her mouth as she tittered. “Oh, you mean the pendant from my necklace. What of it?”

  “That wasn’t just a damned pendant,” I growled, bracing my hands against the table and leaning into her space. “You were trying to kill us somehow. What the hell was that red, smoky stuff?”

  “I’m afraid I can’t provide you with any information on that,” she said sweetly. “But it certainly seemed quite alarming, didn’t it? If I were you, I would watch my back, Miss Baine. With the amount of attention you’ve drawn from the Resistance, you’re a dead woman walking.” Her smile turned fierce.

  Nervous energy rippled down my spine at the conviction in her voice. Of course it would be foolish to assume that all the secret supporters of the Resistance who were in Solantha had been identified. My stomach sank a little as I remembered the talk of ‘secret weapons’ I had overheard in the Maintown Ur-God temple. What if they were talking about more than just guns?

  “I’m not done with you, Thorgana Mills,” I said, straightening again. After all the dangers I’d survived, I was not about to let this bitch of a half-human rattle me. “You might be leaving here soon, but you’ll never get far enough away that I won’t be able to find you.”

  She only smiled.

  With nothing left to say, I called for the guards to remove Thorgana, then headed back to the ferry. I sincerely hoped I never had to deal with that horrible woman again, but somehow, I doubted this would be the last time I saw her.

  27

  The rest of the day, and the evening, were so completely jammed with meetings and paperwork that I was totally exhausted when my head finally hit the pillow. I woke up in the morning with a tension headache, and decided then and there that I needed a break from all this crap. I needed to just be Sunaya Baine for a moment, and I also needed to see my friends.

  “Are you sure this is a good idea?” Iannis asked as the wheels of the carriage rumbled beneath us. He sat across from me, dressed in a pair of dark red robes today, his hair pulled back from his face and tied at the nape of his neck. Part of me wanted to run my fingers through it until it was wild and free again, but I knew that we couldn’t go walking around looking like we’d just had sex all the time.

  Though carriage sex wasn’t a bad idea.

  “Why wouldn’t it be?” I asked. “We’re engaged now, and my friends need to get used to the idea. Not to mention, you need to get used to being around them, because once we’re married, they’ll be coming around the Palace. A lot.”

  “Naturally,” Iannis muttered, but he smiled. “I am glad that you want to include me in other areas of your life.”

  The carriage rolled to a stop outside Witches End, and Iannis helped me out of the carriage. To my relief, the two burly shopkeepers were gone, and the barrier had been removed from the pier entrance. As we walked up the pier, I saw that all the rubble had been cleared away, and the stores were open for business again. It seemed like it was just yesterday that all the windows were boarded up, but then again, I had been gone for over a week.

  A bell tinkled as I pushed open the door to Comenius’s shop, and I was pleased to see there were several customers perusing his wares. It was a little sad to see him ringing up the sales behind the counter without Noria’s assistance, but at least he was safe.

  “Sunaya!” he greeted me, and then his eyes widened at the sight of Iannis standing behind me. “My Lord,” he said, dropping the small bag in his hand and bowing. The rest of the people in the shop instantly did the same, and I fought against the urge to squirm uncomfortably. How the hell did Iannis deal with all this genuflecting?

  “Thank you,” he said, waving a hand graciously. “Please, don’t pause on my account. Sunaya and I are happy to wait until you are free.” He moved toward the small sitting area on the other side of the room.

  “Are you sure I can’t get you anything? Tea, or –”

  “Com.” I turned back to him, a little exasperated now. “It’s me, Sunaya. It’s okay.”

  Comenius seemed to relax a little then, and he turned back to the customers. It didn’t take him long to help everyone – the customers seemed anxious to get out of the shop, uncomfortable with being around Iannis. I slipped my hand into his and squeezed it as we sat next to each other on the wicker couch, actually feeling a little sorry for him. By education and nature, he wasn’t very approachable, and his position required that he maintain his stern persona. He needed to remain formidable, even if he did have feelings and desires just like the rest of us.

  As soon as the shop was empty, Comenius flipped the sign closed, then came to join us in the sitting area. I stood up before he could bow again and wrapped my arms around him in a brief, but fierce hug.

  “Congratulations on your engagement,” Comenius said, eyes twinkling as he stepped back to regard Iannis and me together.

  My eyebrows went up. “Word travels fast around here, doesn’t it?”

  “It’s been the talk of the town,” Comenius agreed as we took our seats. “It’s a historic moment, the prospect of a legally binding union between shifter and mage. I imagine your match will spark debate across the country.”

  “No doubt.” Not wanting to think about that, I turned toward Iannis. “I’m sure you already know, Iannis, but this is my friend, Comenius Genhard. He’s a hedge-witch.”

  “Pleased to meet you.” Iannis leaned forward, holding out a hand, and Comenius shook it after a moment’s hesitation. “Hedge-witches are very well respected in my home country, Manuc, particularly for their formidable herb lore.”

  Comenius beamed at that. “Thank you,” he said. “I’m more than happy to provide the Palace with any assistance in that area, although I’m sure you are more experienced than I am.”

  “Nonsense,” Iannis said mildly. “I hardly know everything, and I’ve recently discovered a variation on a magical recipe that I could use some help with, as it requires herbs.”

  They immediately launched into a technical discussion about the new gulaya recharging spell Iannis had discovered in Messindor’s diary, and I let them go at it for a little bit. It was nice to see the two of them getting along so well, especially since Comenius and I used to be lovers.

  “I’m assuming that one of the reasons you came here was to find out if I’ve received any ether pigeons from Elnos,” Comenius said once he and Iannis had exhausted that topic of conversation.

  “Well, yeah.” I leaned forward a little. “It’s been almost two weeks since they left, Com. Shouldn’t we have heard something by now?”

  “As a matter of fact, I received a message yesterday.” Troubled lines settled into Comenius’s face. “It turns out that Noria was slated to be sent out of state to an area to assist another group with technical work, and they don’t know when or if s
he’ll be coming back. Annia and Elnos have not been discovered so far, but they are still trying to wangle their way into following Noria without compromising themselves. They say even before she left, Noria was always sequestered away with the other technological specialists.”

  “Shit,” I muttered, dragging a hand through my hair. Noria was a genius inventor, and in the hands of the Resistance, she could do some serious damage. The idea that they had so many specialists working for them also sounded ominous – just what the hell were they planning? “We have to get her back.”

  “First, we must find out exactly where she is, Sunaya,” Iannis reminded me. “I can contact the Chief Mage of that area, once we do. The entire Federation is on the alert for any activity by the Resistance – any of my colleagues will be more than happy to mobilize forces and shut down this operation.”

  “No,” I snapped. “I’m not going to throw Noria to the wolves like that. I need to get her out of there before we call in the authorities, or she’ll end up getting killed. Not to mention Annia and Elnos, who are there undercover. Elnos is smart, but he’s young, and I don’t know if he’ll be able to defend himself and Annia well enough if he gets caught in the crossfire.”

  Iannis sighed. “I’m guessing this means you want to take a hand in the rescue yourself, if it becomes necessary?”

  “Yes.” I paused. “I was hoping you’d come with me.”

  “I can come too,” Comenius offered. “You might have need of me.”

  Iannis was silent for a moment. “There is much still left to do here in Solantha, and I’ve promised the Minister to hold myself in readiness for that task force I’m supposed to lead,” he finally said. “But you cannot leave your friends in danger, nor can we ignore a potential threat from the Resistance. I will think on this and see what I can come up with.”