I snorted. “I think you’d have a better chance of getting me to wear mage’s robes than you would of getting me involved in politics.”
“Perhaps, but you have a long life ahead of you, and you are only just at the beginning.” The Finance Director pressed the tips of his fingers together and regarded me from over the tops of his short, manicured nails. “I’ve learned to trust my instincts, Miss Baine, and mine are telling me that you will at some point become a force to be reckoned with.”
“Well thanks, I think.” Pride swelled in my chest at that, and I forced it down before it inflated my head. “Is there anything else?”
“Yes.” He closed the book. “I would like for you to help the other apprentices continue to go through the files. We need to get all of the information together to turn over to the legal department so they can begin prosecuting, and since I am one of the delegates accompanying Lord Iannis to the Convention I am extremely pressed for time. As it is, I am going to have to delay my departure because of this bank fiasco and miss my berth on the official airship.”
I groaned. Great. More paperwork.
By the time I left the Finance Department, my eyes felt like they were bleeding and my head was so full of numbers I thought it was going to explode. My neck and shoulders ached from hunching over a desk all afternoon, and I really, really wanted to go down to Comenius’s shop and beg him for one of his soothing tea blends. And maybe a shoulder rub.
But I didn’t have time to hang out with Comenius, much as I would have liked to. I needed to head down to Turain and find out when the next Shifter Royale was taking place.
Just as I was about to enter the Guild’s lobby, I spotted the Chief Mage, his cobalt blue robes rippling as he strode into the lobby. We locked eyes and stopped at the same time, Iannis in the center of the lobby while I hovered just inside the hallway.
“Miss Baine.” The Chief Mage inclined his head. “I was just coming to look for you. You never showed up for your lesson.”
“Huh?” Alarm shocked me out of my foggy state, and I pushed back the sleeve of my jacket to check the time. Eight fifteen. Over an hour late. “Crap. I’m sorry.” I looked up to meet the Chief Mage’s stern gaze. “I was helping the Finance Secretary sort through all the records he seized from Sandin Federal Bank this afternoon. I guess I lost track of time.” Well that, and I’d completely forgotten we were scheduled to have a lesson tonight.
“Ah, yes.” The Chief Mage’s frown lightened. “I’m glad you finally investigated the bank. It would seem there was good reason to look into it.”
“Yeah.” I thought about telling him about the rest of the investigation, but I held back. I really didn’t need Iannis’s help with this, and he was so busy as it was. “Umm, so can I get some food before we start? I haven’t eaten since noon.”
“No need. I had dinner in my quarters with Fenris, and the cook brought more than enough food. If the leftovers aren’t still there, I’ll simply order more for you.” He turned and headed back out of the lobby, clearly expecting me to follow.
“Hang on,” I said, hustling to keep up with his long-legged stride. “We’re not going to the training room?”
“No. We won’t be needing it for what I have planned tonight.”
Warmth blossomed in my cheeks as Iannis confirmed what I’d suspected – he was taking me to his personal quarters. The last time I’d been there, the Chief Mage had briefly seen me naked, and we’d also fought about the idea of him making me his apprentice. I still remember the way my body had tingled as he’d pushed me up against the wall and pinned me with his violet eyes, and I remembered how they’d blazed. I hadn’t been sure whether or not he was going to kill me or kiss me at the time, and the idea of being alone in that room with him again made my heart beat a little faster than it should have.
Then again that room was also the same place where the Chief Mage had unlocked the seal my father had placed on my magic, giving me control over my powers for the first time in my life. So there were good memories of that room too.