Denial would do him no good whatsoever. He chose to listen instead to his churning gut, which told him he had to do exactly as the old witch had instructed if he ever wanted to return home to Lucia and life as he knew it.
“Oh, there you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
Magnus turned with a frown to see a pretty young woman quickly approach him. She had blond hair and dark blue eyes, and she couldn’t be much older than he was. He was certain she had to be speaking to someone else, but then she clasped his hands in hers.
“What—?” he began.
“Please,” she hissed out from between her teeth, clenched into a bright-looking smile. “Please help me. I beg you.”
Interrupting Magnus’s confusion, a young man approached, his expression sour and his glare sharp. “Who is this, Bella?” he asked.
“This is the boy I told you about,” she said. “The boy I will marry this summer. Isn’t that right, my darling?”
Magnus’s brows shot up. But the pained look in the girl’s eyes, belying her light tone, kept him from immediate denial.
“Yes,” he said, forcing a smile. “Of course that’s right.”
“So you see,” Bella said, “you must stop pursuing me. My future husband won’t have it. Will you?”
At her prompt, Magnus made a show of furrowing his brow and glaring at the boy. It was easy to pretend to dislike him; he regarded Bella as if she were a prized cow that had escaped from his yard.
Bella could provide him with vital information about this city. For that reason alone, he knew he needed to play along.
“That’s right,” Magnus said flatly.” Bella now belongs to me. And if you are any wiser than you appear, you will leave her alone.”
“But Bella . . .” the boy whined.
“Or,” Magnus continued, “perhaps you wish to fight for her? I am first in my class in swordsmanship, however, I promise to leave you with one of your hands intact. Perhaps your left?”
The boy turned a challenging look at him, which Magnus returned, his eyes steady and unblinking.
His swordsmanship claim was a lie, but he was well accustomed to using intimidation among his peers, able to stare any of them down until they scrambled away, tail tucked between their legs like a cowardly dog.
This particular skill didn’t fail him today.
“Fine,” the boy finally said, shoulders hunching in defeat. “I don’t want any trouble.”
“Then why exactly are you still standing here?” Magnus growled. “Leave me and my future bride in peace.”
With a last pained look, the boy turned and stormed away.
Magnus glanced at Bella.
“Well done,” she said, smiling widely. “He was such a nuisance. He refused to leave me alone. I knew I had to pick the most handsome boy in the city if I wanted to end things with him.”
The most handsome boy in the city? Magnus had no time for compliments, not even those from beautiful girls. “I’m glad I could help with your little game,” he said.
“Me too.” She slid her hand into his, her gaze moving over his face and traveling the length of his body. “And it seems that I’m the one who won.”
“Are you?”
Her smile turned flirtatious. “Now, I believe, you need to buy me a meal so that we can continue this conversation.”
“That,” Magnus raised her hand to his mouth and brushed his lips against it, “would be my pleasure. But first, some information, if you wouldn’t mind. I helped you, now perhaps you can help me.”
“What kind of information?”
His heart fluttered with hope at the thought this unpleasantness could be over quickly. “I’m looking for a woman; her name is Samara Balto. It’s very important that I find her as soon as possible.” He glanced with trepidation up at the sun high in the sky. Still hours before sunset, but he didn’t want this nightmare to continue a moment longer than necessary.
Beautiful girls eager for his company would not prove a distraction to him today.
Bella frowned, shaking her head. “I don’t recognize the name.”
“It’s possible that she”—he lowered his voice, warily eyeing the other civilians passing closely by them—“is a witch.”
Interest crossed her expression. “Really?”
Her reaction had already dampened his confidence. “Really.”
“I haven’t heard of this Samara woman, but . . .” She too lowered her voice, her hand on his arm to draw him closer. “I have heard rumors that the witch boy is close by.”
Magnus frowned. “Witch boy?”
She nodded gravely. “Some say he’s only a legend, but I think he’s real. He can speak to spirits.”
Magnus would normally dismiss this as fantasy, but presently he was ready to consider any leads that might help him. “Is that so. Where can I find him?”
Bella shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Magnus sighed as he tried to rein in his frustration. “Who might know?”