Chapter 26
Excitement thrummed through my nerves as I re-entered the ballroom – I was sure we could manage to locate the Minister with the information I’d overheard in the broom closet!
Plus, it sounded like Lord Cedris was trying to rig the vote, and it was definitely suspicious that he seemed to be the only delegate who knew where the Minister was.
If we got our hand on the Minister and brought him back to health, we could bring Lord Cedris’s campaign crashing down.
I navigated the sea of colorful and bejeweled guests, searching for Iannis, but between the crush of bodies, the loud chatter, and the amalgamation of scents, it was like searching for a single flower in a sea of blossoms. Not seeing him amongst the groups of gossiping mages, I made my way to the dance floor to check if he was out there twirling some female on his arm.
Long fingers curled around my upper arm, and a familiar, lightly-accented voice murmured in my ear, “Would you care to dance?”
“Iannis.” The name escaped me like a sigh, and I turned to face him. A slight smile played on his lips, and his iridescent eyes shimmered in the muted yellow light from the chandelier.
He offered me his hand, and as I placed my palm in his, an electric current ran between us, sending heat rippling through me like a gust from a sirocco.
I allowed him to lead me out onto the ballroom floor, and though I felt the stares from the other dancing couples as their swirling robes and skirts brushed up against us, my eyes were locked on his.
Gently, Iannis took my right hand in his, then slid his other hand behind my left shoulder blade. I wrapped my fingers around his upper arm, mimicking the other couples, and just like that we were waltzing with the rest of the dancers.
“The rumor that we are lovers has spread through the delegation like wildfire, and is being used to discredit my so-called campaign,” Iannis murmured, amusement dancing in his eyes. “We might as well give them something to gossip about.”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say some of my rebellious streak is beginning to rub off on you.” I grinned, enjoying this side of Iannis that few people ever saw.
“Perhaps.” The tips of his fingers caressed my exposed upper back, sending a lick of heat through my spine. “I do wonder if perhaps I should consider the role of Minister. If we are left with Lord Cedris as our next leader, the Federation will not be in safe hands.”
“Maybe.” I leaned in a little closer so that my words wouldn’t be overheard.
My breasts brushed against his chest, and the words momentarily caught in my throat.
“But before you start worrying about that, we should visit the current Minister ourselves and see if you can’t do something about his illness. ”
Iannis’s dark brows shot up. “Have you discovered his location?” he asked, his lips hovering a few inches from mine.
“I have,” I confirmed, my voice a little breathless. “I snuck into a broom closet and overheard Lord Cedris and Coman talking about it.” I recounted to him exactly what I’d overheard.
Iannis’s expression never changed while I spoke, but by the time I was done his eyes were sparkling dangerously.
“It sounds like Lord Cedris knows exactly why the Minister has fallen ill, and is keeping him sequestered to prevent anyone from helping him. He should be surrounded by physicians and healers, not just guards.”
“That’s kind of what I’m thinking too.” I hesitated for just a moment. “Should we go and get him tonight?”
“We’ll get him now.” Iannis’s mouth tightened. “The vote is tomorrow, and if the Minister is as gravely ill as Coman indicated, we cannot afford to delay.”
“Do you think it’ll be suspicious if we leave early?” I turned my gaze toward the dancers around us, who were still casting surreptitious glances at us.
“You could feign an illness of some kind,” Iannis suggested. “If you swoon in my arms, I’m sure no one would think it suspicious.”
“I’m not swooning,” I started to snap, then caught the glint of amusement in his eye. “You’re teasing me.”
“It is remarkably easy to do.”
I caught myself just as I was about to roll my eyes, then instead hunched forward a little and pressed a hand against my abdomen. “Oooh,” I groaned, just loud enough that the dancers near us would be able to hear.
Iannis placed steadying hands on my shoulders. “Are you alright?” he asked, playing along.
“I think those salmon canapés didn’t agree with me.” I braced a hand on his forearm, as if for support. “Perhaps it’s best that I turn in for the night.”
“I’ll make sure you’re seen back to the hotel, then.
” He tucked my arm in his and guided me carefully off the dance floor, as if not wanting to move too fast lest he upset my stomach.
I kept my hand placed over my abdomen, allowing lines of strain to tighten my face, and the dancers who saw us hastily cleared a path.
Guess they weren’t really into the idea of getting projectile vomit on their finery.
I stiffened momentarily as I caught an excited whisper. “Can she be expecting his child?”
“Why else would he be so solicitous of a mere assistant?”
I bit back a snarl at that. I wanted to give those two gossips a piece of my mind, but I had bigger things to worry about, so I bit my tongue and kept moving.
“Leaving so soon?” The Finance Secretary approached us as we headed for the exit.
“Ah, Cirin.” A faint smile curled Iannis’s lips. “I’m taking Miss Sernan back to the hotel as she isn’t feeling well, but I’d like a word with you. Would you mind following us outside?”
“Certainly.” The Finance Secretary’s expression never changed, but curiosity flickered in his dark blue eyes as he fell into step with us. We made quick goodbyes to the variety of mages who came up to us, then boarded the elevator and asked the operator to take us down to the second floor.
“What is it that you wanted to speak to me about, Lord Iannis?” the Finance Secretary asked once we were out on the front steps awaiting our carriage.
Iannis glanced around to make sure no one was within earshot, then leaned in. “Miss Baine has discovered the Minister’s whereabouts.”
“Is that so?” Cirin’s eyebrows winged up as he turned his gaze toward me. “How did you manage that? I’ve made discreet inquiries of my own, but I’ve yet to turn anything up.”
“Yeah, well, you don’t have my super-hearing skills.” I tapped my left ear, then grinned as Iannis and Cirin both gave me vaguely annoyed looks.
“The how is not important at this moment,” Iannis said impatiently. “Miss Baine and I will go see the Minister now. It is likely we will be bringing him back with us. Apparently Coman ar’Daghir, Rhodea’s Legal Secretary, is hiding him somewhere on Blixton Road, on the south side of town.”
Cirin frowned. “I’m gathering it’s no coincidence that the Chief Mage of Rhodea is the frontrunner as the Minister’s replacement?”
“You can put money on that,” I assured him.
“Alright. I’ll prepare a room for the Minister, and discreetly tell the rest of our delegation.” Cirin hesitated. “Are you sure you will be alright on your own? I could always put one of the other delegates on this and come with you.”
“No, Miss Baine and I will be fine.”
“Very well.” The Finance Secretary bowed deeply. “Good luck, to the both of you.” His eyes met mine for a heartbeat longer than necessary, assessing me, and then he was gone, headed back up the stairs and to the light and laughter of the ballroom.
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. “Are you sure he can be trusted?”
“Cirin is ambitious, but loyal,” Iannis said. “He’s gotten to where he is because of me, and he won’t damage that alliance.”
The carriage the concierge had called for us pulled up, and a footman jumped down from the rear to open the door and help us climb in. Iannis gave the driver directions in a low voice, and the vehicle bumped and jostled along the streets as it headed over to the South Side neighborhood.
“So what’s the plan?” I asked, reclining against the plushy upholstery. “Are you expecting me to fight the guards in this dress?” I could do it, of course, but I was growing fond of the garment and I didn’t want to ruin it.
“Of course not,” Iannis said “We’ll use magic to distract the guards and then sneak in.”
Iannis used illusion magic to disguise us, swapping out our finery for dark, unassuming clothing and hooded cloaks that would hide our faces.
The carriage came to a stop, and I stepped onto the cracked sidewalk and looked around while Iannis paid the driver and gave him instructions to wait until we returned.
Sewage and brine laced the air, and many of the houses here sported peeling paint, rickety fencing, and dingy windows.
Every third streetlamp or so was cracked, casting the neighborhood in more darkness than it perhaps deserved, and I couldn’t help but think that Lord Cedris had chosen a good location to hide the Minister.
No one would think to look for him in a rundown neighborhood like this.
It took a bit of searching, but we found the house several blocks up, sitting in the middle of a wide, unkempt yard that prevented the other houses from cozying up to it. I picked out three guards total, two by the front porch and one by the rear, a dead giveaway in this poor area.
“They set wards set around the perimeter,” Iannis murmured as we studied the rear of the property from across the street. “Likely to prevent the Minister from leaving. I will need to disable them in order to get him out safely.”
I sighed. “Are you sure we can’t just knock the guards out?”
“Doing so will only alert Lord Cedris,” Iannis reminded me. “I’d like to keep him in the dark about this until after the vote.”
“Oh alright.” I huffed out a breath, crossing my arms over my chest. “We’ll do this your way.”