Page 46 of Reign

“No,” I snap, then draw back my whip. “It’s another of the Nobles’ rumors, meant to make me run from Briarcliff with my tail between my legs and never come back.”

Eden scoffs. “If seeing your best friend murdered in front of you didn’t make you want to hightail it out of here, how could they think—sorry. Too soon.”

I pull my mouth out of the frown, peering at Eden closer. She may be talking about Ivy off-the-cuff, but the sheen of loss in her eyes tells me differently. “Did I miss anything while I was away?”

“Nothing to report.” Eden shrugs, falling into step beside me as I shut my locker and make my way to class. “The place was deserted, though, which was a nice change. No student … or Virtue … in sight.” She adds under her breath as we enter the crowded hallway, “No secret meetings, either. I’m guessing it’s because Daniel Stone and Sabine stayed in New York for the holidays and couldn’t be bothered planning a coup long distance.”

I jerk to a stop, grabbing Eden’s elbow to halt along with me. “I thought they went on some fancy, tropical vacation together?”

“My sources tell me otherwise,” Eden says easily. “They holed up in their luxury penthouse in Manhattan. Chase and Emma were there, too. And that creepy-hot Tempest guy.”

“But…” I think back to my rare, but necessary, public outings with Blair. In particular, Christmas Eve, when I saw Chase everywhere, but nowhere, at the same time.

Eden jolts, her eyes widening in sudden realization. “Shit, your parents run in the same circles as them. You didn’t run into those assholes, did you?”

I shake my head. “We kept to ourselves, getting to know the baby as a family instead. Dad and Lynda went to some New Years’ ball, but I stayed behind to watch Blair. They might’ve crossed paths then.”

My eyes flit to the side as I work to recall New Years’ Eve. Blair was asleep in her bassinet next to me as I watched the ball drop in Times Square from the comfort of the den’s couch. I must’ve fallen asleep, because I don’t remember said ball actually dropping and woke up to the sound of footsteps—Dad and Lynda wandering in well after midnight.

“How was it?” I’d mumbled, rubbing sleep from my eyes. Infomercials had replaced the live coverage of the revelry thirty blocks away.

“Good,” Dad said at the same time Lynda trilled, “Great! Only one boob decided to leak. The other stayed painful and swollen but, oh my God, to be back in socialization again. I practically forgot it wasn’t highbrow to whip a breast out in the middle of the dance floor and squeeze it for relief.”

“She’s had champagne,” my dad said as explanation for her outburst, but I smiled, patting the couch next to me for Lynda to sit down. “Squeeze away. I won’t judge.”

I try to remember if there was strain around Dad’s eyes, or if Lynda’s voice was higher than normal. Wouldn’t a surprise confrontation with the Stones send them home stiff-backed and concerned? They don’t know about Ivy, but they’re well aware of the threats to send me to Briarcliff, and Dad recently losing his job because of my refusal to bend to Sabine’s will…

I can’t recall any tense moments when they got home. Just Lynda sagging in relief beside me and Dad making some dad joke about how badly I want him to order the new omelet maker on television.

After searching my face, Eden grows serious. “Do you think they’re in any real danger?”

“I didn’t think Ivy was in any danger,” I say honestly.

Eden’s lips press together.

“How lovely, the stank possum and her skank are back in business.”

Rather than turn toward Falyn’s familiar, grating voice, I say to Eden, “Let’s go.”

“Was last semester not enough for you?” Falyn’s voice follows us down the halls. “Do you have some sort of sick craving to be humiliated and tossed aside by every guy at Briarcliff? So pathetic, Callie. Why couldn’t you have taken the warning and gone back to your gutter?”

I whip around so fast and so hard, Falyn has to skid to a stop before barreling into me. She rights herself, smoothing her skirt, but can’t smooth the tic of surprise in her expression when she meets my eye again.

“You were saying?” I say softly. When her chin trembles and she doesn’t respond, I add, “Go on.”

Falyn lifts her upper lip. “I was saying what a skank you were—”

My arm flies out and slams her against the wall, my forearm pressing against her throat. Gasps sound out, a few footsteps scampering back.

Falyn gurgles, her hands scrabbling against my arm. I say, “I’d appreciate it, as a fellow sister, if you’d shut up about my slut status.”

“I’m not your sister,” she spits out, her voice strained.

I press harder. Violet yelps and Willow steps forward, but one scathing look from me and Willow freezes.

“Callie 2.0 in the house,” Eden sings under her breath, backing away, but her stare locks on me in fascination.

There must be something different in my eyes, I think offhand. Enough to make these bitches step back. Then I add idly, I wonder what it could be?

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