“You said my father is in the infirmary. What happened to him?” I asked, forcing the words out past the soul-crushing fear that came with the question.
“He’s alive,” Reagan said quickly, as if to stop me from spiralling. “But he’s been hurt.”
“I just spoke with Madam Hildegard,” Finnegan added. “He’s stable and still sleeping after the incident.”
“You hurt him!” Joy snarled at Reagan.
I turned to him, afraid to know if there was truth to her words. But Joy was not one to lie. He didn’t wait for me to speak.
“They came in from the Northern Forest, from the train station,” Reagan began. “I didn’t realise they were your family when I found them, Jan. I’d have to bring them to Court because of the issue with the entry between my estate and the human lands. It was the second trespass. I needed to address it before more people started coming through. I only realised she was your sister when I brought them here, and Finn recognised them. She was attacked by a Strzyga there.”
My chest constricted. Had she not been in my arms, I might’ve broken apart. I searched her for any sign of harm.
She tilted her head, exposing the side of her neck to me, and there it was. A bite mark.
I searched her eyes. “Are you all right?”
A pause. A nod. Not convincing. She must have been terrified. The nightmare came rushing back to me. I’d been in Erisea when Reagan woke me from that dream. Joy, caught in the Strzyga’s attack. I’d thought the dream was about me, but the blonde hair was just like hers. It had been so vivid, as if I’d seen it.
I swallowed.
“Tell her what you did to our father,” Joy said. “He held Father in the air by his neck. He threatened him, saying he would act if we didn’t explain why we were there.”
I wanted to believe it wasn’t him. The possibility that he hurt him—
“Is that true?” I asked, my voice trembling. He heard it.
Reagan’s forehead creased as he kept his sorrowful gaze on me. “Yes. I didn’t know he was your father when I confronted him, Jan. I didn’t expect him to be so...nervous.” He fumbled for words. “He collapsed in my arms, as if his heart were failing. So I brought them both here. Hildegard said it was a heart attack.”
I turned my head away, focusing on Joy.
“We want to see him,” I said.
Her distrust of them was clear in the furrow of her brow. I could tell she had countless questions, and I wanted to reassure her, but I couldn’t. Not while we were reeling from the news about Father. The only thing that would help was to see him, to confirm with my own eyes that he was alive.
The room was warm enough now. I helped Joy stand up from the bed, steadying her onto her feet.
“We can bring you, but...” Finnegan said, shooting Reagan a meaningful look.
I followed his gaze, narrowing my eyes. “What?” I asked.
The emissary took a cautious step towards us. “We have to be careful, Jan.” The wariness made my entire body go still. It wasn’t directed at me.
I glared at Finn. My arms tightened around my sister. “Careful ofwhat?”
Finnegan’s eyes flicked briefly to Joy before meeting mine again.
That quick glance. My jaw clenched.
“Are you joking?” I rasped.
Reagan’s mouth tightened. “She was unhinged before you arrived, and your father is too weak right now. We don’t know if she might hurt him.”
“Hurt him?” Joy repeated, her body trembling.
“Either take us there or get out of the way,” I said firmly, hating the hurt in his eyes.
Reagan spoke, low and gentle, softening the hard edges of our discussion. “I just need you to understand, my love.”
