Chapter 39
Jane
“I wish we could have met under better circumstances,” Reagan said, his tone lordly as he stood a few steps from my father’s bed, hands deep in his pockets, projecting an ease that belied the thrum of power coming from him.
We had to wait two days before Hildegard allowed a longer conversation. She’d reprimanded us for the way Father’s heart rate had spiked. It was only during meals that we visited him.
My father’s face twitched in a controlled expression. Knowing him, it was surprise at the pulse of mana that clung to Reagan. “I wished the same, but I’m not young anymore. Just a frail old man that scares too easily.”
His lips curved, though there was a hint of caution there.
“It was probably the Strzyga. The monster you saw,” I argued, filling the silence, my arms folding over my chest. “But Caedmon does have that effect on people too.”
“Like a Strzyga?” Reagan asked, sounding faintly amused. “Zara, I hope not.”
I forced a smile for Father’s sake, despite the mess in my head. It was the lack of sleep from the last couple nights, my mind too loud with thoughts wreaking havoc.
“Yes, I can see that,” Father said cautiously, examining both of us. “I don’t recall your mother ever feeling so…obvious. Or we never would have been able to hide.”
Every time I heard it, my body wound up. Hide.
“Jane told me about your wife,” Reagan said, his tone carrying quiet mourning, using the term he wasn’t used to. “I’m sorry for your loss and for the circumstances you endured. I wish there were a way to bring justice to her. I understand she was from Mountheim.”
“There is a way,” Father said.
I looked at him, meeting his wearied gaze. His eyes flicked to Reagan, as if nothing more needed to be said.
Caedmon dipped his head. “She is safe here. Both of them.”
“With due respect,” Father said, cautious but unflinching, “I know how your people treat those who are different from them.”
“Not here,” Reagan replied. “That is not how this estate treats the hybrid-born. Or humans. I don’t condone violence in my territory.”
“Your parents didn’t condone violence either.” Father’s voice rose a fraction, the words edged with something, as if Reagan himself were to blame for what had happened when my mother died.
“That’s not fair,” I said.
Reagan only regarded him, his expression cool and unreadable, as though the mention of his parents didn’t affect him at all.
“You’re afraid for your daughters. I understand that.
So let me reassure you. Of course, if you repeat this, I’ll deny it, and everyone here would believe me over you a thousand times.
” His gaze never left Father’s. “My priority is keeping your daughters safe. I will protect them, at the cost of anything else.”
Father’s brows lifted, the words clearly blindsiding him. I tried not to focus on what they did to my chest, especially after how we’d left things. But it was exactly like Reagan to speak plainly about something so complicated.
“If you understand my kind as well as you say you do,” Reagan went on, “then you know what that means.”
I didn’t know what to think, hearing the honesty in his voice. Whether he still felt hurt, or jealous, or both, I refused to dwell on.
Father’s brows lowered. “You love her.”
“Alright,” I cut in, clearing my throat. “You’ve met him. You can see he’s fine with you staying here while you recover.”
“Yes,” Reagan said immediately.
Father looked between us again, and I could only imagine what he saw. The space we kept between us.
“That is partly reassuring,” he said, his voice softer. “So perhaps you will do me a favour, if only for Jane.”
Reagan dipped his head.
“When I recover, you will let me leave here without tampering with my mind.”
I tensed and looked at Reagan’s face, staring at the hard lines of his profile.
“Robert, you must know that what you are asking is out of my hands,” he replied in a warning tone.
It should have dawned on me sooner, but I hadn’t thought that far ahead. The weight of the daunting consequences crashed into my mind.
Father was fully human and knew about the mageborn.
“And I’m sure lords have ways in these lands,” Father countered, as if ready to negotiate his future.
“There must be another way,” I said, turning to my father. “We’ll look into this.”
Reagan met my gaze for the briefest moment before turning away. “You have some time now. I’ll leave you to use it.”