Page 75 of Reign

“My father can’t be saved. The Virtues created under his idleness and Sabine’s rule are unsalvageable. What he’s done to my sister—” I hiss out a breath, collecting myself. “I’ll help you with the Virtues and Sabine. But the Nobles? You leave them to me.”

Callie stares back silently, her plush lips a hairsbreadth away from gawking. “I can’t keep up with your mood swings.”

“You don’t have to if you simply accept that you’re my girl, the Virtues are yours to fuck with, and I retain control of the Nobles.” I rest my forearms on my raised knees. “Does that sound good to you?”

To my surprise, Callie breaks out into a genuine smile. She rushes me with her arms, crashing us back to the bed. “You have no idea how much I’ve wanted you to … to…”

“Simply be there for you?” I murmur into her ear. “Calla Lily Ryan, it killed me to be away from you.”

She finds my lips, sucking them between her teeth, then flicking out her tongue and making that adorable purr I can’t resist. Unfortunately, she pulls away soon after. “I wish this could be the end of our fairy tale. But your sister. And Sabine…”

“Are you sure you want that binder?”

Callie nods fervently, her small body pressed against mine.

“You’ve tried once and failed,” I add, my brows weighing heavy above my eyes. “And it’s so explicit. Sabine’s shown us her knack for predicting our next move.” I angle my head and peer at Callie closer. “What if we approach it from a different angle instead? Like, a more psychological one, and beat Sabine at her own game?”

Callie pulls in her lower lip, sucking on it thoughtfully. In the shadows and moonlight, she looks like a tentative goddess. “If we could somehow make her question the amount of power she has over the girls, plant seeds of doubt…”

“Exactly.” I wrap my arms around the small of her back, delighted she’s catching my wave of thought. “The way to push Sabine off-balance is to go after her insecurities, and that lies with her false claim as the true queen of the Virtues.”

Callie responds, “I don’t know if… what if it’s not enough? Mom’s murder won’t be solved. Ivy’s death won’t have closure…”

I grunt, acknowledging her worry. Sabine and my father always seem to plan for all contingencies, my poor sister included. There must be a reason Father revealed Emma’s adoption to me, same as the reasons Sabine allowed Callie to find her hidden folders on Meredith Ryan in the first place. I just haven’t figured out why yet.

“We need more believers,” I say.

Callie raises her brows.

“The Nobles,” I clarify, “the younger initiates, you could probably talk them onto your side, especially with your claim to the Virtue throne. And through that, we could tell them about Sabine’s treatment of the princesses. Enough games. No more behind the scenes. We could tell them the truth.” I move my gaze to the ceiling. “I’m sick of all the lies.”

“Me, too.” Callie shifts with me. “Sabine’s gotten away with so much because she’s kept so many people ignorant. Maybe, if we had numbers on our side. But … all I have is my word.”

I run my finger along her cheek, thinking of my father gleefully admitting my twin is not my twin. Or Sabine, allowing Callie into the Virtues for dangerous reasons that escape me. “Maybe that’s enough.”

Callie thinks for a moment. “With you beside me, I can try.” She raises her eyes to mine. “Will you be? On my side?”

“Sweet possum,” I say, “Yes. You’re the only good thing I have left.”

26

Callie

It doesn’t take long for Chase to fall into dreams, but I can’t seem to catch up with him.

I love watching him sleep. It’s like my favorite parts of him float up to the surface of his skin. Chase’s relaxed brows, his soft lips, his thick lashes becoming crescents against his golden skin. It all points to his hidden sweetness, that section of him he works so hard to bury and keep at bay.

I run a hand through his thick, unkempt hair, and he purrs in his sleep, angling toward the touch.

If you were to ask Chase, he’d say he’s weakened in slumber, all his vulnerabilities exposed to any enemies creeping closer. He’s too soft, he’d argue. His lips would never tilt so serenely, his body would never become so relaxed and floppy if he were awake. But I’d argue he’s at peace.

Reluctant to rouse him any further, I withdraw my hand and slide out of bed, in need of a hot coffee so I can sit and think.

Chase gave me a lot of himself tonight—more than he’s ever allowed. Now I carry his secrets, and my stomach curdles at the thought of what I must keep from Emma.

Darkness eats away at all of us, but I had no idea how it infiltrates even those who think they’ve overcome it.

My door doesn’t creak as I open it, and I close it with just as much silence, aware that the slightest snick of sound would wake Chase and ruin any dream state he finds calm in.

---