Page 76 of Dark Reign

“I’ll do whatever it takes to fix this,” I blurted next, meaning every word. “I swear on my honor that I’ll make this right.”

Sure, it was a grandiose promise to make, but I’d do everything in my power to make good on it.

Because if I failed, the blood of my friend, mybrother… would forever be on my hands.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Corina

Elle ran a comb through my hair and, this time, I let her.

I’d tossed and turned the entire night, having one nightmare behind the other. The result of which left me feeling like I’d done more running than sleeping. The dreams were vague, but there was a heavy sense of terror breathing down my neck. Even now, hours later, I still felt it, thick and foreboding in this room Julian had called mine.

I awoke feeling different, though. The hostility toward my hosts had subsided and I knew why. Seeing Julian when I came out of the haze yesterday forced me to consider him in a new, gentler light. He was so attentive, so concerned. It made me wonder if the interest he’d shown at the gala wasn’t contingent on who or what I was. It made me wonder if discovering I was human hadn’t canceled out those feelings like I assumed.

Maybe it was less illusion and fantasy and more … real.

I wasn’t sure what to make of that, but I did know it made me reconsider myownfeelings, question whether there was substance to the chemistry I had dismissed.

It still stood that I would have chosen death over being turned had I been given the choice. However, I understood the depth of the hard decision Julian made to save me. It was an act of selflessness, sacrifice.

And while I couldn’t figure out why he thought enough of me to risk it, I appreciated him.

My gaze met Elle’s in the mirror, as she reached for a hairpin to secure the neat bun she styled at the nape of my neck, slightly off to one side. I knew she wasn’t real, and she was no Liv, but I found comfort having her here with me this morning. It definitely beat being alone.

As she made me over, the conversation had revolved around one topic only—me being turned. Because it was so rarely heard of for a human to be bitten for any reason, even for an Ianite to feed, the process was a mystery to me. Fortunately, Elle had the answers I sought.

She confirmed what Julian already shared, that I’d only be me—therealme—for approximately sixty more days. Until then, I would still be perceived as human to any Ianite I crossed paths with, still susceptible to death if I weren’t careful. Yes, Julian’s venom coursed through my veins, but the extent of its power so far was that the wounds on my wrist, throat, and the back of my head had healed. Otherwise, his poison would go undetected, provided another vampire didn’t sink his teeth into me within the next day or so, before the venom dissipated. If that happened, he or she would be dead within minutes. Of course, I too would be dead by this point, but it was still interesting to know. Another peculiar Ianite fact I wouldn’t have otherwise discovered.

Glancing down as I sat, being pampered at the vanity, I noted that my hands were visibly shaking now. With so little time to wrap my head around stepping out into the public eye, I felt ill-prepared. I was assured I wouldn’t be expected to speak, but I just wasn’t ready. With my team on high-alert, I was positive word of my capture had spread. That meant our entire network had likely scoured every news outlet possible for updates after the fiasco at the gala. While I was certain that, up until now, they’d known this had all been an undercover mission gone wrong, I couldn’t guess what they’d assume when news hit that I’d been taken as a Doll.

It was no small gift that I could hold off telling the team I’d been turned. My plan was to ease them into that knowledge delicately, face-to-face, on my own terms. Until that time came, I’d hold onto my secret for dear life, until I couldn’t anymore.

Until I wasforcedto give it up and confess.

Never in a million years would I have imagined this to be my fate. And yet, here I was—being fussed over by a bot in a suite in our Capitol’s palace.

“Prince Julian thought it’d be a nice touch if your outfit coordinated with his today,” Elle informed, cutting into my thoughts. “Perhaps it will make the two of you appear more united,” she added as I glanced down at the soft, white robe I hadn’t taken off since my bath.

“He wants us to … dress alike?” I asked, needing clarity despite the statement being pretty straightforward.

“Yes,” Elle beamed. “He’s chosen a gray suit with a white shirt and blue tie. So, I took the liberty of selecting sleek, gray slacks for you with a sleeveless, white blouse and blue accessories.”

I breathed deeply, but didn’t say a word.

Elle, being perceptive and all, didn’t miss a thing.

“Will that not suit you?” She seemed genuinely concerned I didn’t approve.

I could have told her I felt wildly uncomfortable being made such a fuss over when I knew for a fact my team was running out of food, when I was certain there would be another transport mission coming up soon. I could have told her how being dressed like some inanimate object made me feel like evenmoreof a prisoner than I already did.

But … I didn’t.

Because, somehow, this humanoid robot convinced me she had feelings, and I couldn’t bring myself to hurt them. She had no hand in anything that transpired and had been nothing but kind.

And kindness was something I so rarely came across these days.

“No,” I replied. “The outfit sounds fine.”

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