I crossed my arms, mulling over those facts. Perhaps Varian still had an interest in taking over Reagan’s position. I wondered what level of risk his cousin could pose, especially with the estate’s sentence.
“Has he ever tried to take Reagan’s place? Or hurt him?” I asked.
Cerridwen’s gaze snapped to mine, but she hid the concern with a smile. “No. You don’t need to worry.”
I returned her smile, though I didn’t believe her words.
I excused myself, claiming I needed to rest after the journey, and promised to see her at dinner.
As I made my way to my room, a thought crept into my mind, something Judge Malory had said after passing my sentence. Something about Reagan having enemies.
I had never asked him that before, seeing him as my enemy as well. But now, my circumstances had changed, and the thought kept swirling in my mind. I wondered if I could uncover the other dangers Mountheim was facing if I paid closer attention.
???
I stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around me, steam trailing into the room. My wet hair clung to my shoulders, and I rubbed it with another towel.
My gaze drifted to the dresser, to the small purple box Alameda had given me.
Inside, there was a delicate silver bangle with a pendant holding a single heartstone. It was crimson, jagged, and no larger than a pea. A card was included, saying that the Barrows would like me to return to Erisea again as their guest, and thatshe hoped I liked the piece of mage jewellery. Nothing binding, just beautiful. And it was. Even now, it glimmered faintly in the low light in my chamber, just like Reagan’s.
I was planning to look for a book in the study that could tell me more about them when his voice cut through my thoughts.
“I’ve got to hand it to you, you’re a better emissary than I expected,” Reagan said, leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest. “You’re already pulling information you weren’t supposed to have.”
I tensed at the sharp tone. Cerridwen must have told him about our conversation.
“Do you want me to apologise?” I asked. “Because I’m not sorry that I sought information that I need to survive here. Or at least, to do the job you gave me.”
“What you need is to listen to me when I say you should not know,” he drawled, taking a single step inside the room. “There are things that you can’t know, that none can. Even if you are an emissary, you can’t know everything.”
My fists clenched at my sides.
“Well, I know nothing. If I travel with you and meet more people like Varian and those Scions, who wanted tosquash me, I’d like to be prepared, to know what I’m dealing with.”
He sighed, dragging a hand over his face. “Right, you should have known about the Scions, and I told you in Erisea. But next time, ask me before trying to get information from the staff. You can’t just go prying around. It’s dangerous.”
“I asked you, and you dismissed me,” I reminded him, holding my ground.
There was no answer for a moment. His eyes swept over me, as if he were just realising what I was wearing. A hint of amusement crossed his tense features. He was taking in my stance, staring at my feet, wide apart.
The corners of his lips curled.
“You are feisty even when you’re only wearing a towel.” He took a few more steps toward me and extended his hand.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “And you shouldn’t have come in here without knocking.”
“I knew you wouldn’t be naked,” he argued, and I huffed. “Fine. I will leave, but tell me you understand that it is dangerous to pry here. If you want to know something, then come to me.”
“I got it the first time,” I replied. “I won’t ask others, I’ll ask you, but you better not dismiss me again.”
He grinned—grinned. “Is that a threat?”
I blew out a long sigh, closing my eyes for an instant. “Just answer me this. Do you think your cousin would hurt you? Do you think he’s a threat?”
Reagan contemplated me, then extended his hand again. I knew I could send him away. He would leave if I asked. I was so used to his presence by now that it didn’t unsettle me. What I was feeling was more complicated than that.
I placed my hand in his, and he pulled me toward him until my towel brushed against his shirt.
