Chapter 37
Reagan
Reagan flung her back to Mountheim and returned alone.
His head hammered from the compounded distance travelled in such a short span, but Jane needed to be with her father.
When the familiar had spoken, a weight had lifted from his chest. Jane’s eyes had reddened, and she didn’t speak, as though her words had failed her.
But he needed to stay.
His fingers itched with restrained frustration, his mind already turning to what he would have to deal with next.
He headed down the corridor toward Finn’s room. The moment Reagan told him Jane’s father had woken, Finnegan’s thoughts had clearly drifted elsewhere. Things between him and Finn were still strained. Reagan hadn’t fully forgiven him, but Jane was safe, and that was all that mattered.
They encountered Iqbal and Eldar in the dining room. Both looked at ease. There was no sign of Arun. Apparently, the elven warrior was playing along with Jane’s plan.
“You look like you had a bad night, Reagan,” Iqbal drawled from where he lounged in his chair.
“I wish that were the case,” Reagan replied and sank into a chair.
Iqbal’s brows lifted. Maith and Eldar both stared at him, the former flicking a glance toward Finn.
“I don’t like my affairs shared,” Reagan said, leaning back on the chair. “And I only share when it’s necessary. So imagine my disappointment when I learned that the very people we’ve been trying to ally with have been betraying us.”
“That is a serious allegation,” Eldar said solemnly. “How exactly have we betrayed you?”
“By doing precisely what I’ve been asking of you,” Reagan said, “only for my enemy.”
“All this time,” Finn added grimly, “you’ve been feeding information about us to a Scion named Cahir. Isn’t that right?”
Iqbal’s eyes narrowed to slits.
Eldar set his cutlery down, his face stoic. “We did what we had to do to protect our people.”
“How does working for Scions protect yours?” Reagan asked.
“We have an agreement,” Anife cut in, earning a sharp glare from her brother that did nothing to deter her. “We give them what they need, and they leave us alone.”
“And have they?” Reagan asked.
“For the most part,” Eldar replied. “It isn’t only information about you. Most of it concerns the human lands. Whatever Cahir is planning, it involves humans.”
“So the disappearances I mentioned yesterday,” Reagan said, forcing his temper down, “you already knew about them.”
Eldar dipped his chin.
Reagan’s nostrils flared. “You chose your safety over everyone else. Humans paid the price. My people paid the price. And the Order walked away stronger for it.”
“It was either humans or us,” Anife snapped. “We had to choose.”
Reagan swore under his breath. They were living inside an illusion of safety.
“This is what will happen,” Reagan said, the room falling quiet. “I won’t speak of your part in giving information to the Order to help them tamper with my estate’s curse. And I won’t give Nova Malory cause to punish Banfgaard.”
Iqbal’s sneer deepened.
“In return,” Reagan continued, eyes fixed on Eldar, “you will give us your resources. You will give us information on the Order’s hideouts. And you won’t relay anything about our plans to them. I won’t take your word for it either. We will swear a binding oath.”
Eldar studied him, measuring every word.
“Wait,” Iqbal said, lifting a hand. “How did you come by this information?”
“You have your spies, Uncle,” Finn replied simply. “And we have our diviners.”
“Time and again we have tried to preserve peace,” Eldar said.
“Yet it seems an impossible pursuit.” He turned to Reagan.
“You intend to act with or without us. We cannot shield all of Banfgaard from mageborn threats, but if this alliance grants us battle mages, we will swear the oath in good faith.”
“Wondrous news,” Reagan said dryly. “I’m glad you found your sense.
” He rose from his chair without having touched any of the food.
“Now, have your staff or whoever you need begin drafting a list of the Order’s locations.
We’ll need paper and ink to set the terms of this alliance here and now.
And make no mistake, Eldar. I won’t forget this. ”