“Would you rather I had not come?” I asked nonchalantly, trying to act as though my pulse wasn’t skyrocketing in response to his touch. His long fingers wrapped around mine, thumb stroking across the back of my hand, and my heart fluttered wildly. By Magorah, what was I getting myself into?
“Of course not. You saved me, broke through Halyma’s spell and reminded me who I really am.” His grip tightened on my hand. “You mentioned at the stream that you needed me. I think I am starting to realize that I need you too.”
“Wait…what?” I gaped at him, stunned. “What could you possibly need me for, when you’ve got Fenris and the whole Mages Guild behind you?”
“Fenris is invaluable of course, and the Mages Guild has its role, but whenever there is trouble in my city, you always seem to find your way directly to the heart of it.” Iannis smiled a little. “Those escapades of yours helped expose layers of corruption and decadence that I might not have otherwise noticed. Perhaps we should consider working together, instead of working around each other as we have been.”
“Wait a minute.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “Are you suggesting that we become partners?”
Iannis frowned. “‘Partners’ might be the wrong word, considering that we are master and apprentice. You would still be subject to my authority, and under my protection. But should you come across a case that has far-reaching ramifications, you may come to me and request my assistance at any time.”
“Oh gee, thanks.” I rolled my eyes as I sketched a mocking bow. “Your generosity abounds.”
Iannis arched an eyebrow. “Did I say something to offend you?” He sounded genuinely curious, and if I bought into the brief flash of emotion I saw in his eyes, maybe a little hurt.
“No.” I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “No, you said exactly what you’re supposed to say.” Get real, I told myself as I fought the sinking disappointment in my chest. The idea that Iannis would treat me as an equal, that he would profess to need me for emotional rather than practical reasons, was absurd. He was a mage, the Chief Mage, first and foremost, and mages and shifters just didn’t mix.
But as Iannis studied my face for a long moment, something like regret flickered across his features, and I wondered if, like me, he really did want something more like a partnership. He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again.
“What?” I snapped, annoyed that I was hanging on tenterhooks waiting for the words to spill out of his mouth.
He shook his head, then held out his hand. “Come here,” he said. “I need to put an illusion on you.”
“What for?” I asked as I approached cautiously.
Iannis took my hands again, and that familiar thrum of electricity started up in my nerves again, traveling up my arms and vibrating through my whole body.
“Dara is a very mage-centric city,” he explained as magic began washing over my body. Sparks skipped up my arms and across my chest before sinking into my skin and filling me with more of that strange humming. “There are humans and a few shifters who live there, of course, but they are not allowed at the Convention. It would call too much attention to us if I brought a shifter with me, and you’ll blend in far better as a mage.”
The magic faded from around my body, and I looked down to see that I was dressed in a set of emerald green robes embroidered with delicate gold vines. A matching gold and green sash was tied around my waist, and the toes of soft gold slippers peeked out from the hem of my robe.
“There.” Iannis took me by the shoulders and pulled me around to look into the small mirror hanging from the wall. “That wasn’t so bad now, was it?”
I stared at my reflection in shock. My shifter eyes were gone, replaced by round human irises that allowed the whites of my eyes to shine through. They were still the same color, but it was a jarring contrast to what I was used to. My black hair was free of its tie now, cascading down my shoulders in glossy ringlets, and I wondered if that was illusion too or if Iannis had actually pulled the tie from my hair when I wasn’t paying attention. The collar of the robe nearly grazed my chin, but from what I could see in the mirror the garment flattered my figure and was almost sexy despite the fact that it didn’t show any skin.
Not that I wanted to show skin.
“So you think you’ve won by finally getting me into a robe, have you?” I asked Iannis as I turned to face him.
Iannis chuckled a little, shaking his head. “I wasn’t aware this was a competition. But looking at you does make a man feel as though he’s won something.” His eyes roamed over me appreciatively. “You should wear these in real life. I’ll buy some for you.”
“Not a chance.” But my chest swelled with pride at the compliment, and it was almost enough to make me consider wearing the robes again.
Almost.
“As soon as we reach our hotel room, you’re getting these things off of me.”
“Am I?” Iannis asked softly, interest flaring in his eyes. A blush heated my cheeks as I realized what I’d just said, and I cleared my throat.
“I didn’t mean –”
“It would be impractical to rely on illusionary attire during the entire Convention,” Iannis said. “As soon as we get settled, we must procure proper robes for all of us. That will make it easier to work together.”
“Work together?” I pushed past the fog of lust clouding my brain to try and follow Iannis’s logic. “You mean on finding out what the Resistance has planned here in Dara?”