Jane took the sandwich, still not fully recovered. Yet the resolve in her eyes had not dimmed. She met Gwinifer’s gaze, and there it was. The same unrelenting focus Reagan had seen in the alley, and after he had shifted back into his body in that damn cabin.
The sight eased the pressure of his flux.
It struck him harder now. She had createda portalin a room barely large enough to breathe, bleeding out while doing it.
The Scion’s lax monitoring of her cell proved how badly they had underestimated her. The same way the Order underestimated the hybrid-born, still carrying the misconception that their wield was lesser than that of the mageborn, regardless of training.
Never would they have guessed that a hybrid-born reared as human would know how to create a portal. Most mageborn didn’t try to learn what they considered a magister’s work and would not have been able to build a portal to save their lives. Reagan would hardly have believed it himself.
Butshewas wickedly clever and always sought knowledge that would grant her an advantage. If she could not overpower them, then she had chosen to outwit them all.
Behind them, the first line vanished through the portal.
“We cannot wait too long,” Jane said. “We need to get them out.”
Reagan watched her eat, still holding her close, fingers threading through her hair while his other hand rested at her waist. He sent a breeze of mana skimming along her pulse, which still beat too fast.
“Eat,” he told her. “You’re no use depleted.”
Jane blinked, chewing more slowly. His mouth curved at the surprise etched across her face, water gathering in her eyes. He could almost see the moment she remembered what she had done, the power she had wielded.
“Yes. You showed off quite a lot,” Reagan murmured, his mouth twitching. “You wicked, wild witch.”
Gwinifer muttered something about sparing herself and turned to address two approaching figures.
“My Lady,” Heil greeted solemnly, towering over them, Astrid drawing up beside Gwin.
“Hi, Heil,” Jane replied, steadier now with food in her system.
“Good to have you back,” Heil said, offering a brief smile before returning to the task at hand. “Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”
Still chewing, she nodded.
“Does any sound bleed through that room?” Heil asked. “Is there anyone waiting outside?”
“No,” Jane replied. “It’s soundproof, and they don’t leave anyone watching.”
“Idiots,” Gwinifer muttered, glancing at Astrid, who scrunched her face in agreement.
“What can you tell us about the site?” Heil continued.
“At least two floors and an underground level,” Jane said. “Most of the captives are kept below, but some are in the kitchens and private rooms. I counted thirty-four. And another thing, the Scions… They might be weakened by the bloodbane. I’ve been spreading it on the rugs and into the vents that run from the washrooms below to the upper floors. I don’t know how much of a difference it will make, but…you should know.”
“Where did you get bloodbane?” Reagan asked, tightening his hold on her, wondering if that was what had drained her further.
“That room is full of it. In the padding.”
A knot of emotions rose in Reagan. Madden would pay tenfold for what he had done to her.
He leaned close to Jane’s ear, wanting to provide anything she needed, wanting to take her away from here. She was extraordinary.
“Being yours is the greatest honour of my life.”
She met his eyes, colour deepening across the freckles on her nose and cheeks.
Now they stood with a clean path into Madden’s hidden mansion, supposedly in Ashenagth. An unlicensed portal was a serious offence, but it paled next to keeping captives.
“Smart thinking,” Heil said. “That could give us the edge we need.” He turned to Gwinifer. “I’ll check outside the room. If it’s clear, your squad goes in second.”
