Page 10 of Reign

Tempest’s eyelids lower to half-mast. “Do what you must, but don’t draw any more attention to yourselves. You two are done. Do you understand?”

“Yeah.” I massage the back of my neck, staring at nothing but seeing everything. “I have to ruin her at the same time I’m falling in love with her.”

4

Callie

By the time the sun crests over the polished stone landscape of Briarcliff Academy, I’m dressed and on my third cup of coffee.

My hand shakes as I set my mug on the counter for the final time, my stomach growling for more sustenance. I tried to satiate it—with cereal, a stick of cheese, a banana, a goddamned cookie—but I vomited it up every time.

Ivy’s not alive.

She’s dead because of what I represent. Some fake queen meant to rule a concealed class of pompous, sociopathic assholes.

And my mom died for it, too.

No wonder I can’t keep anything down. How am I supposed to reconcile that kind of mindfuck with a complete breakfast?

Emma’s door creaks open, and I break out of my vortex stare into our granite countertop.

“The craziest thing just happened,” Emma says in greeting, “I just got the most hilarious email this morning.”

I give a curt nod, then push away from the counter and toss my backpack over my shoulder.

“Holy shit, Callie. What have you done?”

“Told the truth.”

“You’ve outlined everything.” Emma holds up her phone. “Rose Briar’s letter. Howard Mason’s journal. Piper’s diary. Jesus—Ivy’s murder last night.”

“It’s the only way I know how to fight back and protect us at the same time.”

Emma gapes. “How the fuck is this meant to be a defense? Who did you send this to? Everyone? The entire school? The national news stations? Callie.”

I don’t react to her heightening panic. “Did I ever tell you that Ahmar and my mom used to catch up over coffee some nights?”

“I can’t wait to see where this is going. Did my brother agree to this?”

I ignore her question. “Most times, I slept through their meetups, since it was largely them decompressing, shooting the shit, that kind of thing. But one time, I couldn’t sleep. I went into the kitchen to ask for a glass of warm milk, but right when I reached the threshold, I heard Ahmar say, ‘seriously, Mer, you can take all the photos you want, provide all the evidence, but sometimes, the cops just can’t act. Funds are too thin. Manpower too spread out. So, you know what I gotta do sometimes? Take it public. Nothing makes a commissioner act faster than throwing scandal at the press.’” I shrug. “So that’s what I did.”

“There are no facts. Everything you collected was stolen from you. How is anyone supposed to believe this?”

“I don’t need truth. I need panic. Interest. Rumors. The Virtues can’t touch us while the gossip swirls.”

Emma’s phone dangles at her hip. She takes one step back. “I don’t know whether to admire you or fear you. You don’t … sound right.”

I respond colorlessly. “I don’t know how I’m supposed to act. Sabine wants to take everything from me until I can’t rely on anyone but her or the Virtues. I’d rather face public ridicule than become her next princess. And with these kinds of accusations sent to parents, faculty, and the Briarcliff Academy staff and board of directors? I’m dragging her out of her protective cave and feeding her to their stockholders. She can figure out how to explain Ivy’s blood on her hands. Because after this semester, I’m out.” I breathe in deep, then level my shoulders. “I’m going home.”

“I don’t blame you,” Emma says quietly. “Though I don’t think it’ll remove you from danger.”

“My mother knew she didn’t belong here. If she were alive today, she’d never have let me step on this soil to even glimpse the academy.”

“What about my brother? Does he know you’re leaving?”

Chase. My Chase. He left soon after I fell asleep, deciding that if the police came, he probably shouldn’t be here. Haskins never knocked on my door last night, but that doesn’t mean he won’t find me this morning.

But Chase is different. I can’t let him find me, because if I do, I’ll break. I’ll fall into his arms. I’ll stay.

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