Page 77 of Reign

“I’m not any of those things,” she whispers fiercely, her cheeks rising with color. “And it’s high time I find out who I am without you, or Father, or the cursed Virtues.”

She spins, and I catch Chase’s arm before he tries to run her down and keep her here.

He whirls on me, ready for a fight.

“Let her go,” I say.

“Never,” he snarls.

“Let. Her. Go.” My grip tightens on his inner elbow, well aware that if he wanted to rip from my hold, he would’ve shaken me off like a horse fly by now. “She needs time. We all do.”

“This has gone too far.” Chase pulls away, raking his hand through his hair and pacing the room. “Murder. Sex. Blackmail. Stolen privilege. Broken families. Callie, I’m fucking done.”

I stay where I am, watching him carefully. “So am I.”

“We need to do something. Emma’s right—waiting is the worst thing we could do right now.”

“Biding our time is never a mistake, especially when it comes to Sabine and your father.”

“Then our moments of pondering are finished as of now.”

“I agree.”

Chase pauses in his movements, eyeing me suspiciously. “You never agree with me.”

“Maybe that’s the problem.” I sigh, bone-weary and desolate. “Everyone around me always gets hurt. Destroyed. Killed. I want it to end, too.”

Chase checks his watch, but I don’t need the time to understand the pinkish gray skies in the window behind him. He looks up and says, “I’ll set up a meeting with the Nobles tonight. We’ll finish this.”

“We’ll get your sister back.”

He nods resolutely. “And cause enough questions and instability in the ranks to fracture the societies.”

“Are you sure that’s what you want?” I study him, aware of the Noble Chase simmering under his skin, the one that’s desperate to save a society he wants redeemed.

Chase’s shoulders rise and fall with deep, angry breaths. “They’ve involved my family. My sister. I made a promise to her years ago when she was recovering from her injuries: she would never be fucked with again. And if she was, I would bring down Hell to protect her. Never would she be hurt on my watch.” His black stare lands on mine. “I refuse to fail a second time. When it comes to choosing between my family and the societies, my family wins every time.”

My lips pull into a tentative smile. “I’m glad to hear that.”

“Callie. My sweet, misdirected possum.” Chase comes up to me, his hands landing on my shoulders and pulling me into a deep, heartfelt kiss. He pulls away, but his lingering study keeps the warmth from the kiss. “That includes you, too.”

* * *

Emma doesn’t return before classes, and I don’t expect her to.

Chase left shortly after the confrontation, hoping to catch her at the lake house and succeed in the heart-to-heart I don’t think either of them ever allowed themselves to have in all these years of forced distance and inequality.

It’s what I hope for and I check my phone constantly for a text from him, but the only ping I get is from Eden, reminding me of our 430 am swim lesson at the rec center, which, if I’m already up and zinging with adrenaline, would be a shame to miss.

I pull on a simple black one-piece bathing suit, then dress in Briarcliff sweats. After burrowing into my winter coat, I shove my uniform into my duffel and leave the silent apartment behind, taking the stairs to the bottom floor, the eerie, red EXIT lights the only source of illumination for my trip down.

I don’t mind, since this type of lighting better reflects my thoughts.

The trek to Briarcliff Academy’s recreational center goes by fast, mostly because I’m immersed in my and Chase’s conversation and the student pathways are deserted. It’s chilly, though, frigid and windy, and I’m thankful to hit the heated confines of one of Briarcliff’s more modern buildings on the other side of campus.

Motion lights flash on as I head through the single hallway, making me think Eden either got here much earlier than me or hasn’t made it yet. I’m not concerned as I push into the girls’ locker room, finding the nearest bench and dumping my bag on it before I strip off my coat.

“What’s up, sister?”

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