Reagan saw my shoulders quake, saw the way my fingers refused to stay still. He shifted forward, pulling himself to his knees before me, his arms circling me in a steadying hold. I didn’t think. I threw my arms around his neck, clinging to him with everything in me, breathing him in as though that alone could prove he was real.
That he was here.
“Don’t you ever,everdo something like that again,” I said, my voice breaking.
His hand slid to the back of my head. His breath ghosted against my temple, and I heard the promise in the quiet steel of his voice.
“I won’t.”
Judge Malory’s voice, softer than I had ever heard it, cut through the moment. “Lord Reagan, you and Miss Darling should rise now.”
Reagan pulled back just enough to cup my face, then we finally stood. Malory’s gaze settled on us both. “I will formalise the end of your sentence and Miss Darling’s deal at Court.”
Reagan’s arm tensed around me.
“Deal?” His gaze darted between the judge and me.
Malory barely paused. “I will also issue an Infamous notice for Varian and the other three. Keep your outposts on high alert for any sign of them. In the coming weeks, your estate will begin to recover. Continue the work your staff spoke of today.”
Reagan inclined his head in acknowledgement, his eyes flicking to Gwinifer and Finnegan.
Malory studied him for a beat longer. Then, turning her gaze to me, she said, “I expect to hear from you in nine days.”
She flung out of the room.
As I stepped aside, Gwinifer reached for her brother and fixed him with a glare. “Your plan was rubbish,” she bit out, though her voice betrayed a hint of unease.
“We’d be knee-deep in shit if Jane hadn’t been so sure you’d broken the curse,” Finn said, pressing a hand to Reagan’s shoulder. “You good?”
Reagan dipped his chin, his gaze finding mine, fathomless and threaded with something. Something he seemed about to say as his mouth parted.
“Varian ran,” Gwinifer said with a frown. “If this is not an admission of guilt, I don’t know what is.”
Reagan nodded. “He’ll be summoned to court.” His brows furrowed as he turned to me. “What deal, Jane? And why does Malory want to hear from you in nine days?”
Three pairs of eyes fixed on me.
I sighed. “She thinks I can help discover who meddled with your sentence. And actually, I might have overheard something I wasn’t supposed to hear.” The conversation drifted to the edges of my mind. “There was someone here before you all arrived. This man said he would act when the time came. Something about threads.” I shook my head, trying to make sense of whathe meant. “I don’t think it was only Varian who wanted you cursed.”
CHAPTER 33
When we returned, only the staff and a handful of guests remained in the Hall.
They told me that a single rose had been left in the courtyard, along with a piece of parchment bearing directions to a vast area on the outskirts of the estate, where they had tracked us.
Cerridwen told us that they had noticed the changes a few moments earlier. The creature-like features disappeared one by one, limbs returned, skin tones shifted.
Briefly, we shared with her and Barracus what had transpired at the cabin. Reagan’s arm stayed tight around my waist the entire time.
I barely had time to react before someone slammed into me. Hands cupped my face with startling speed, and before I could process what was happening, Gwinifer pressed her lips to mine.
I stilled, brows arched.
“Mana help me, Gwinifer,” Reagan said, glaring as she let go of me.
Gwinifer chuckled, the sound seeming almost deliberate, as if meant to annoy her brother. “I’m expressing my heartfelt gratitude to Red for somehow turning an idea out of thin air.”
Reagan held his frown, and I laughed under my breath. Finn shook his head, stepping toward me as if to speak, but Reagan’s arm shot out, barring his path. He fixed a look on his emissary.
