My blood iced over. Caedmon loosened an angry sigh.
Eldar inclined his head, and once they moved on, I leaned closer. “Have you heard anything?”
Caedmon dipped his head slightly, his attention already shifting to other figures approaching. “A few rumours from the outposts.”
“I thought we were free of Wraiths,” I murmured.
With the wards newly reinforced and nearly impenetrable, stray Wraiths were unheard of within Mountheim’s protections. If one was found at all, it would be spotted quickly by the patrollers and permanently ended.
“They’ll always be a problem, like the creatures in the Northern Forest,” he said. “They always crawl out of some holeand multiply. But I really didn’t want to tell you today of all days.”
“Then you should have told me yesterday,” I said softly for the sake of the guests, though I knew he would hear my displeasure beneath it. “What else?”
Arun came into view, with Maith and Anife flanking him.
Caed turned to me, a wicked grin tugging at his mouth. “Aren’t you going to threaten me for it?”
“I thought I didn’t have to anymore,” I said lightly, “but maybe I will just ask Arun.”
His expression soured and rearranged itself with impressive speed. Caedmon lifted two fingers toward the approaching elves, asking them to wait.
“I thought you knew better than to make these kinds of jokes today,” he murmured.
I found myself reining in a smile. “Then tell me quickly.”
“Of course, Jane love,” Caedmon said. “You were somewhat occupied today, so Finn only had time to tell me. He returned from the Healers’ Hall in the city. One of the captives we rescued is hybrid-born. She told Finn she knew about an advocate group before she was captured. They stood against the Order.”
My mouth fell open.
A thousand questions surged at once. I wanted to know who she was. How long she had been under the Order’s hold. And how many others she might lead us to.
Barely two months had passed since the arrest of Giddeon Madden in his unregistered mansion in Ashenagth, where forty-seven humans and hybrids had been forced into servitude. Every Scion present that day had been sent to Pavilion.
After nearly a decade, this was the closest thing to justice Reagan would ever have for his parents. Still, he had found some measure of closure. Without him, Mountheim might have fallen into the hands of Sable Ilya or his son.
Which made the Order leader’s final words ring louder now. Caedmon had warned me this would happen, that the empty seat would be filled quickly. Perhaps now we’ve found someone who could connect us with advocacy circles.
“Now please, love. Can we speak of this next week?” he asked.
I nodded, and with a final look at me, Caed gestured for the waiting guests to approach.
“Congratulations,” Anife said, her orange gown sparkling even more brightly than her brother’s.
Maith followed, clearly scanning the room for Finn, her raisin-purple skin glowing beneath red chiffon.
Arun wore white and silver, matching his hair. “I came to give my gratitude for the battle mages stationed in Banfgaard,” he said, his gaze passing Caed only to settle on me. “We were surprised by how many chose to relocate.”
“We look after our allies,” Caedmon replied. When Arun's gaze remained on me, a warning edge entered Caed’s voice. “And we are clear about what that alliance includes. And what it doesn’t.”
"I’m painfully aware of what it doesn’t include, My Lord," Arun replied, finally facing him.
“Are you?” Caedmon asked lowly.
In Banfgaard, I had told Arun there was nothing between Caedmon and me. The look he gave me now might have been resentment for the lie, or suspicion about our last conversation. It didn’t matter. He had no knowledge of the truth-telling relic, and I owed him nothing.
Besides, we were in Mountheim, and I was about to become its Lady.Theywere the ones who should be measuring their words.
“I believe that makes our position clear,” I said, meeting Arun’s gaze. “Enjoy your evening.”
