Page 78 of Reign

My hands freeze at my zipper.

Falyn chills at the end of the row of gym lockers, her arms crossed and her smile wide.

“What are you doing here?” is out before I can tell myself not to ask the obvious question.

“Enjoying the thought of you splashing around like a belly-flapping fish while you try to learn how to swim.”

“What makes you think I’m here for that?” I unfreeze, casually stripping my jacket.

“Nice try, possum. Eden and I had a nice chat.” Falyn uncrosses her arms and strides forward. “She mentioned your … disability. It all makes sense now, that whole Marco Polo thing you and Ivy had going at the lake when I—”

“—pushed me?”

“I was going to say expedited your initiation. You should thank me. If it weren’t for that, we wouldn’t be here. Aren’t you proud of being here?”

Falyn strolls ever closer until she’s in my personal space, taking up my viewpoint and assaulting my nose with her powdery, fragrant scent. “Why are you taking swimming lessons, possum? Afraid of another drowning?”

“Ivy was killed in front of my face, so yeah, I’m preparing myself.”

Falyn laughs, tucking her hair behind her ear as she draws back. “It’s amazing how hard you work to cover your ass, when meanwhile our princess is dead because of you.”

I ignore the jab and respond with a croak. “Ivy didn’t deserve to die.”

“Your avoidance skills need work. You might as well admit blame.”

“Maybe I do,” I say hoarsely, “but so should you and every other Virtue who stood by or enabled Sabine to gain so much power over you. You’re nothing but a pawn, Falyn, just like I am and Ivy was. The only difference between you and me is that I know it.”

Falyn’s eyes grow small. “You think you’re so much better? It’s because of you we’re all in this position. You’ve forced your way into a membership, killed people, hurt your closest friends, trash Chase, and yet you’re standing here trying to tell me you’re the good one? All you do is take and take and take. You don’t care what happens to me, Violet, Willow, the rest of the Virtues or even Eden and Emma. All you care about is you. You’re fine with destroying our livelihoods so long as your dead mom gets some justice. So what? She’s a rotten carcass, Callie. She doesn’t give a shit what you—”

The slap rings out in the empty locker room.

I stare at my hand, appalled, until I tear my gaze away and notice the blooming red stain on Falyn’s cheek. Narrowing my eyes, I close the distance between us. “Don’t you talk about my mother.”

“You fucking mad bitch!” Falyn spits, holding her cheek and stumbling into the wall of lockers. She keeps her back pressed to the maroon-colored metal, hissing, “You deserve everything that comes your way. And I deserve everything I’ve worked for. I’m not going to let you steal it the way you stole Ivy’s life or Chase’s future. I’m the princess. I’m the future of the Virtues. And when Sabine retires and gives the crown to me and not you, I’ll make sure you pay for every single mistake you’ve made while coming here.”

I stare at her, aghast. “You really believe all this, don’t you? That Sabine has your back.”

“More so than anybody on your side, Callie. Say, why don’t you go check on Eden. She might need your help.”

I stop my stalk toward her and veer to the entrance to the indoor pool, drowning Falyn’s laughter with my heavy, panicked breaths. “Don’t ever forget who has the upper hand, Calla Lily Ryan! Sabine will always choose me!”

Bursting through the doors, I scan for Eden, my mind concocting images of her floating face-down in the pool, her black hair twisting and twirling with the mirage of life as her body doesn’t breathe.

“Eden?” I call. “Eden!”

“I’m here,” comes the quiet reply.

I race to the shadowed corner of the rectangular room, the pool’s lights reflecting soft ripples across the walls and Eden’s slumped form at the bottom of the bleachers.

“Thank God,” I breathe when I reach her, plop down next to her. “Are you hurt? Did Falyn do something to you?”

“No.” Eden won’t turn to me. She hides between the curtains of her hair. “We just talked.”

“About what? What did she say, Eden? She’s as ambitious as Sabine. I can already tell you anything she said is a lie, a power-play designed to mislead you—”

“Did you really choose Tempest as your soulmate?”

I wasn’t expecting that. Pushing my brows together, I answer, “Yeah, but—”

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