The questions came fast and furious, and I floundered badly at each one. Had I picked out a designer for my wedding dress yet? Who was going to give me away at the altar? Did Iannis have any family who would come out of the woodwork to attend? What was it like being engaged to the most powerful man in Canalo? On and on and on it went, and I had no idea if the answers I gave were damning or not to my reputation, never mind Iannis’s.

“Well, I’m afraid that’s all the time I have left,” I announced, cutting off the correspondent mid-sentence. She’d been edging towards questions about the ‘intimate’ side of my relationship with Iannis, and I was having none of it. “I’m leaving for Dara today, and I’m afraid I’m not quite packed yet.”

“Really?” Gena jumped to her feet as I rose, her pen and pad still clutched in her manicured fingers. “What for?”

Shit. I had no idea if our trip to Dara was supposed to be a secret or not. But even if it wasn’t, I doubted Iannis would want me leaking details to the press.

“I cannot say,” I said coolly, deciding it would be best not to offer any information at all. “Lord Iannis asked me to come along as his apprentice, so I am going. Good day to you.”

I swept out of the room, heels clicking on the hallway floor as I hurried back to my rooms as fast as I could without running. I didn’t want to look like I was fleeing from the interview—even if I was, sort of. I really did have to pack, though—between the events of last night and the interview this morning, I wasn’t even remotely ready to go.

As I stepped into the Guild lobby, I caught sight of Dira, the receptionist, on the phone. Remembering my visit with Comenius yesterday, I veered toward her desk, then waited until she was off the phone.

“Good morning, Miss Baine.” Dira’s eyes flickered in surprise at the sight of my outfit—she’d been too busy dealing with the morning crowd to notice me when I first came in. “What can I do for you?”

“Do you have pen and paper? I need you to get a message to Comenius Genhard, at Witches End.”

Dira passed me the requested items, and I quickly scribbled out a note to Com, explaining my change in circumstances. I told him to go ahead with the sale of my jewels and the airship purchase in my absence, and apologized for not being able to say goodbye in person. I also mentioned the explosion from last night, and that I was fine and not to worry.