Page 71 of Magic Claimed

Even Angelica didn’t bother to give us a side-eye.

“They’re here,” she announced. “I haven’t told the court anything definite about your condition, so they’re still operating under a suspicious assumption that something is very wrong. Maybe even that you’re dead. How would you like to play this?”

Callum set down his mug with exquisite care and control. I could feel a tremor of rage shiver through him, and had tosuppress an evil smile at the thought of what was coming for the shapeshifters who’d dared to show their faces here.

“Have them wait downstairs. Tell them they’re free to judge your actions after they’ve seen my current condition.”

She nodded. “Do you wish me to be present at the meeting?”

He eyed her thoughtfully. “It depends on your future plans. I don’t know what my relationship with the court will look like after this, so if you want to keep working for them, you’ll need deniability. If it helps, I’ll make sure they understand that nothing has been your fault, and you were only following my orders.”

She folded her arms and regarded him coolly. “And if I don’t want to keep working for them?”

“Then I would ask what youdowant,” Callum replied. “You’re capable, loyal, and the best assistant I’ve ever had. Your quick thinking is the only reason I’m still alive, and if I continue in my position, I wouldn’t want to lose you. But I respect you too much to attempt to influence your decision, and I don’t have enough certainty in my own future to promise you anything.”

She huffed. “I don’t need your promises, Callum. I know my own worth, and I will land on my feet whether I choose to continue with the Shapeshifter Court or not.”

No one would have disagreed with that.

“But I would rather remain loyal to my oath to you,” she continued. “No matter what happens with the court. I would like to see this through, if you will have me.”

Callum’s head tilted, but his gaze remained direct. “It doesn’t have to be about an oath.”

Her nostrils flared. “What else would it be?”

“Family,” he said simply.

For just the tiniest instant, her gaze darted towards Ryker, and her cheeks turned slightly pink.

“Why would I want that?”

“It’s not about blood,” Callum explained, “or any formal ties. Just people who choose each other. And I think you’ve already done that, just by being here.”

She didn’t agree in words, but some part of her softened ever so slightly.

“Maybe,” she allowed grudgingly. “But right now we don’t have time to debate the details. Do you want me to attend the meeting or not?”

He nodded. “I do. You and Raine. I’m putting all my cards on the table. When they leave here, I don’t want any doubts about my intentions.”

We didn’t havelong to wait, and I needed all of it to make myself vaguely presentable. I had to race next door to grab clean clothes, then brush my hair and try to wash all remaining traces of ash and char from my skin. One of these days, I would have time for a shower, but apparently that day was not going to be today.

And I felt even worse when I rejoined Callum on his doorstep. He looked like he’d showered, changed, and was now ready to take the modeling world by storm. Freshly shaven, hishair in artful waves, wearing dark jeans and a perfectly fitted black tee.

No suit, no entourage. Nothing to suggest that he was technically the king of his people.

Nothing except the look of steely determination that sent shivers down my spine and filled me with an evil sort of anticipation.

When he saw me, his eyes lit up, as if he’d just seen something miraculous. Something other than me in my torn jeans, dark hoodie, and mostly clean running shoes.

And yet, his gaze never wavered, and as I approached, he held out his hand. “Go with me?”

To the ends of the earth.

But for some reason, there was suddenly a lump in my throat, so all I could do was nod.

We made our way down the stairs together, and by the time we reached the foyer, we could already hear voices. Angelica’s cool, crisp tones mingled with a handful of others—by turns sharp, nasally, demanding, or dismissive.

Any one of them might be the traitor who’d wanted Callum dead. Any one of them may have colluded with the fae to stab him with a poisoned dagger. And when I found out who it was, they were going to wish that dagger had taken them instead.