“Did I embarrass you?” he asked, his tone shifting to a seductive murmur that I could almost mistake for a spell.
“No, but what are others going to think?”
A quick glance sideways confirmed that we were being observed by a few curious eyes, likely due to the Mage Lord’s presence beside me.
He shrugged. “That I’m a lucky man,” he said smoothly, “or that I’m helping someone for a change.”
It was a little barb slipped into his words, as though he didn’t help his people, as though he didn’t give enough. It made sensethat Reagan would feel guilty around his citizens. Seeing the animal features, hearing their wishes for the end of the sentence.
It made my chest tighten for him.
“Because trying to fight a horde of Wraiths isn’t helping anyone, of course,” I quipped dryly, reaching for a glass of pink ale.
Reagan chewed for a moment before speaking. “It’s my obligation. I’m not...volunteering. Believe me.” His voice was stern, his eyes serious. “I’m not selfless. If I could, without consequence, I’d be pursuing my own interests far more often.”
“So everything you do is an obligation?” I challenged softly. “Somehow, I doubt that. What interest would you pursue that you can’t now?”
He stared. Long enough that I wondered if he’d answer at all. With words, at least. But his eyes, quietly boring into mine, said plenty.
My stomach clenched. Then, almost reluctantly, his gaze flicked past my shoulder. I turned to see Alameda approaching.
“I came to grab Jane for a while. Do you mind?” she asked, looking at me with inquisitive eyes.
“I’ll see you later,” Reagan said, and we strode away.
She hooked her arm around mine as I took a deep, quiet breath and led me to a spot where Gwinifer was sipping her drink.
“Red,” she greeted, her words carrying a tipsy drawl that had me narrowing my eyes.
“I was telling Gwin about your visit to Erisea and the things we talked about,” Alameda said in a cryptic tone. “And how that gave me an idea that our battle mage here was able to help with.”
I hummed. “What idea?”
Gwinifer looked right and left before she said, “Come with me.”
The Lady of Erisea pulled me as we followed Gwin past the guests, the banquet tables, and towards the first line of pine trees that glowed with wisps.
“Where are we going?” I asked right before Gwinifer stopped behind a tree that concealed us from view.
“We will show what the elven spirit is like,” she stated.
My brows knitted as I stared at her, catching sight of Alameda, whose smile was getting bigger by the second. Gwin lifted her hand between us, her knuckles shimmering a bright red. An ivory plate with three small chocolate cakes appeared above her hand.
“Red, today you will try elven dust brownies,” she said, wearing a puckish smirk.
I huffed a laugh, looking between the two of them and the cakes.
“Really? Is there elven dust in that?” I asked, eyes widening. “Are we even allowed to eat that?”
Gwinifer rolled her eyes, cocking her head towards Alameda. “Told you.”
“Of course it is allowed. We would not offer it if it wasn’t,” Alameda explained, squeezing my arm softly. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but I promise you it is safe.”
“Why are we hiding here then?” I asked, wary.
“Because it doesn’t exactly screamruler of the estateorbattle mageto do this in front of citizens, so we didn’t want to speak it out loud there,” Gwinifer explained.
“And you just want to do this for fun? What does it do again?”
