put a chain of events together to form logical conclusions."
I looked behind me at Bastien. He had his golden gaze fixed on Cromwell. "Sir?"
"Kyle has shared with me the truth of Inamorata, Sam. You shouldn't have kept this secret from us. But this is not something you should blame yourself for. I worked with her for years and never saw the Leviathan lurking inside."
Now I glared at Kyle. Though I knew he'd never betray me, it smarted that he'd blabbed my shame to the Grand High Master.
"He told me she tried to kill you, and it was your familiar and Detective Holliard who stopped her. Holliard became someone special to you, didn't he? Might I remind you of the dangers of getting involved with Revenants?"
I blinked. Cromwell believed Crwys was a Revenant? Yeah, it was obvious Levi was, but maybe…maybe since he couldn't figure Crwys out otherwise, that's what Cromwell went with. I was pretty sure the grand poobah of Witches has spells like my dex. Wonder if he got an unknown message like mine.
I didn't trust myself to lie so I just nodded to him. That acknowledgement seemed to satisfy him.
"I still don't understand all the intricacies that piled on one another to convince you to think it was necessary to make deals with Faeries. But obviously they were important and they have led us to this point. The Faeries have taken the detective."
I nodded.
"That, in itself, is interesting, but since Revenants and Faeries have a long history of hatred, it's not surprising. I suspect the detective was taken in order to harm you." Cromwell folded his left arm over his chest, then rested his right elbow on top of it and pulled at his slight goatee with his right hand. He looked pretty impressive like that, especially since I thought of him as the magical Grand Moff Tarkin. "I came here intending to ask the Aces Alpha if I might interview his pack, or at least those who saw Blackwood's actions last night. But I am now led to believe the Faeries have one of your own coven?"
I felt Bastien's hand on my shoulder again, and this time I reached up and put my hand on his. His skin was warm and calloused. "Yes. It's my belief that Ivan Westerfield was thrust through the Cairn at the moment Blackwood destroyed it."
"You are responsible for those you lead."
"Yes, sir."
"It is up to you to negotiate his release."
I hesitated. "Yes, sir. But, I want to bring Holliard back as well."
"That's not something I can help you with. In fact, I can't help you with the Faerie kingdoms at all. What I can do, at the bequest of our High Witch," he turned and gestured to the suffering Arden with a nod of his head. "Is deal with these Cowen charges against you. Dharma and I will do what we can on this end."
"But I want to go with Sam!"
He turned the immensity of his gaze on her. "You are a Cleric, Miss Parande. Your involvement in this affair comes to an end, now. You were right in contacting me about the Cairn incident, but I am disturbed you did not inform me of the detective's kidnapping immediately," he tilted his head to his shoulder. "Unless you have some personal or emotional attachment to this event?"
I watched Dharma back pedal, though she did a smooth job of it. Cromwell's assessment of her position in this rang true. If there are political shenanigans in place, a Cleric placing herself in the middle of what could be an extraction will reflect back on Parliament.
I felt my Undine stir and welcomed her. She came forward and immediately went to Dharma and touched her hand. She sensed Dharma's drowning loss just as I did. And now to be told her help would not be permitted—I'd kill someone if they told me I couldn't go after Crwys.
Dharma looked down at her and then smiled. "I apologize, sir," she looked at Cromwell. "I was remiss in informing you of Holliard's disappearance. I will not let that happen again."
When my Undine returned to me I looked back to Cromwell. "So, you approve of us going in and getting our people back?"
"Not officially. That would be career suicide. We have treaties in place. Accords and agreements. Going into Alfheim is strictly forbidden, which is why we often discredit its existence."
Now that made sense. It also explained why Cromwell had been so slow to believe I had a Faerie head