Chapter 17 #2
“What if it’s not just the estate’s money?” Reagan asked. “What if there are other reasons he wanted Varian here?”
“Like what?” she asked.
“Resources. Location,” Finn supplied.
Jane blinked, eyes widening. “The border to the human lands.”
“We’re still speculating,” Finn said. “We need more information.”
Reagan inclined his head. “Which means speaking to people who might know Madden’s plans, or who are capable of finding out. And giving them a reason to share.”
“And you know those people?” Jane asked softly, meeting his gaze.
Finn sighed, already bracing himself.
“Finnegan’s lovely family in Banfgaard keeps an impressive network of spies,” Reagan said. “Finnegan here is the worst of them.”
Finn scoffed, and Jane’s mouth twitched with quiet amusement.
“We’d like to pay them a visit,” Reagan went on. “You can decide whether you want to be involved in what comes next. But we’ll need to travel.”
When she hesitated, he allowed himself a grin, giving her time to take it all in. “Zara knows I’m tired of Finnegan’s company.”
“It’s mutual,” Finn muttered.
She laughed softly through her nose, glancing between them before her gaze drifted to the window, to the two figures inside, and her mouth pinched.
At a subtle signal from Reagan, Finn inclined his head and moved toward the infirmary door.
“I’ll…check on your father’s condition,” he said.
Reagan reached for her, taking her hands in his. Her eyes followed the movement of his thumbs tracing slow circles against the inside of her wrists.
Those eyes, luminous beneath heavy lids, lifted to meet his.
“We’d be glad to have you,” he murmured, bringing her wrist to his lips. “But it’s your choice.”
Her mouth curved faintly as she shook her head, amusement lighting her face, as though she saw straight through his coaxing. “I want to travel with you. But maybe it’s best if I stay and practice with the tutors. Until I can wield at will.” Her gaze flicked again toward the infirmary.
He drew her other wrist to his mouth, unable to stop himself from kissing her skin. “I understand. But it’s a shame. The staff misses you when you’re not in meetings.”
“I’m sure Barracus is heartbroken,” she quipped.
“Inconsolable,” Reagan replied evenly. “Threatening to quit.”
Her breath escaped in a soft huff of laughter, and the sound knotted something inside him. Jane bit her lip as if to rein it in, but the gesture only stirred his blood. It took everything he had not to press her back against the glass of her father’s ward.
Jane sighed. “It makes more sense for me to stay.”
“I suppose you’re right,” he admitted, “even though I wanted you to come with me so we could be alone, like in Erisea. Then we wouldn’t be interrupted while you fulfilled what you promised me yesterday.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t remember any promises.”
“Then you weren’t listening closely enough.”
He drew back before he lost himself entirely, turning toward the window. Beyond the glass, Joy was mouthing something to Finnegan beside their father’s still form.
“What is your father like?” Reagan asked, leaning against the stone sill.
“My father?” she echoed, her head tipping as she thought. “He’s funny. Talks too much, forgets half of what he says, but he’s brilliant. The cleverest man I know.”
“Ouch,” Reagan said with mock injury, earning another fleeting smile. “Will you introduce me?”
She pursed her lips. “Well, he is living in your home,” she teased. “I suppose I have to.”
That word caught him. “Our home,” he corrected.
Jane’s mouth curled, but she said nothing, only turned her gaze back toward the room as voices called her attention.
“You should leave,” Joy said, her tone matter-of-fact. Her fingers tapped against the armrest in a steady rhythm. She seemed to notice it and stopped.
Finnegan tilted his head, smiling. “It’s only an offer.”
Joy was silent for a moment. “I know what you think. If you’re that afraid, then stay away.”
Finn’s brows arched as he folded his arms. “Afraid? My…it must be nice to think so highly of yourself.”
“Am I wrong?” she asked, her voice carrying a strange tone Reagan couldn’t decipher.
Jane swore under her breath and made for the door, but Reagan caught her hand.
“It’s Finn,” he said simply. It made her halt reluctantly.
Finn took a half step closer. “You’re far from the most dangerous person here, but you are the least trained.”
Joy seemed to deliberate. “Why didn’t you and the Lord say whatever you came to say in here? Can I not be trusted?”
Finn smiled and shook his head once. “You’re not staff.”
Silence stretched. Then Joy said, “Your mouth curves the wrong way when the smile is forced.”
Finn blinked, as if caught off guard. Reagan narrowed his eyes, noting how Joy seemed to observe far more than her body language suggested.
Finn recovered with a grin. “I didn’t realise you were watching so closely.”
“What is he doing?” Jane murmured.
Joy lowered her gaze to the bed again. “Please go lie to someone else,” she said flatly, her fingers curling into her sleeve.
Finn stared at her.
Not sure he knows what he’s doing, Reagan thought, but kept it to himself. Finn had always been interested in puzzles.
At last, Finn inclined his head and stepped out of the ward. When he returned, his gaze flicked between Reagan and Jane before settling on her.
“Have you decided?” he asked. “Are you coming with us?”
“Not this time,” Jane said, her eyes intent on him, as if she were weighing him.
It was enough for Finn to shot Reagan a questioning look, and just because his friend had been a prick earlier, Reagan decided to have a little fun.
He leaned slightly behind Jane, pursed his mouth, and shook his head slowly at his emissary, silently mouthing, Behave yourself.