Page 24 of Reign

He flashed me a sceptical look. “Really?”

“Yes.”

“Well, you seem to trust her. Who is she to you? Ex-lover? Friend? What?”

I smirked, ignoring his question. “It’s not important. Now tell me about what you found.”

Chapter 8

Ember

Jed leaving so suddenly hadunsettled me even more than my constant headache or the waves of nausea that had me kneeling on the hard floor with my head shoved down the toilet bowl. The things he’d said… I spat bile from my mouth. He’d lied to me? About what? Was that why he hadn’t pushed to sleep with me? Had we been arguing when I had my accident? Were we breaking up and that’s why he wouldn’t sleep with me? Why I don’t feel drawn to him?

Godammit, this was impossible! I needed to stop worrying over his words before it drove me mad.

When I was sure my stomach had settled, I pushed to my feet, groaning as blood flowed back into my numb knees. I took a fortifying breath and grabbed a bottle of peppermint mouthwash, rinsing the bitter taste of bile from my mouth.

I honestly didn’t know what to think or feel. Had my father done something to make Jed mistrust him all of a sudden? But Rex was my father, wasn’t he? Damn, I was so confused. My head started to pound. I massaged my temples, swallowing repeatedly so that I didn’t succumb to another wave of nausea.

Jed had taken my painkillers with him, so I couldn’t take any. It was probably for the best. Having headaches like this for so long after my accident meant there was something more going on, and I needed to seek help. I wasn’t an expert, but even I knew these headaches were unusual, especially when they were making me feel so sick.

The sun was high in the sky and despite the air conditioning, it was hot in the confined bathroom. A bead of sweat rolled down the groove of my spine, and it was difficult to stay standing on my shaky legs. I hadn’t eaten anything since yesterday, and it looked to be well after noon. I needed some food. I wrinkled my nose. But first I needed to clean myself up. I stunk of vomit and sweat.

Taking a shower took far longer than it should. My limbs were heavy and I had to keep stopping to get my breath. I chose to dress in a pair of shorts and a light, floaty white shirt. The material set off my golden tan, but nothing could hide the shadows under my eyes or my hollow cheeks, not even a light brush of concealer. A pulse of what felt like solace throbbed through my chest as I looked in the mirror. Instead of ignoring it, or pushing it away like I usually did, I smiled and embraced it. I had no idea where that feeling came from, but it had been warming me more and more lately as if my subconscious was trying to comfort me. Pinching my cheeks made no difference to my exhausted appearance, but I’d be damned if I’d let Valentina see me looking so tired. She would gloat and think it had something to do with the problems between Jed and me.

Thankfully, I didn’t bump into Valentina and managed to make it to the kitchen unseen. Quickly, I grabbed some cold chicken, fresh bread, olive oil and some olives which I suddenly had a craving for. I stuffed one in my mouth, and then another, while I rushed back to my room. Jed had said to stay out of everyone’s way so that’s what I would do, until I could talk with him again.

I sat out on my bedroom balcony and tried the internet on my tablet again while I ate. The salty taste of the olives was heavenly. The pleasure, however, was short-lived. I grunted when I realized that once again, the internet didn’t work. But then, it never had. The signal was so poor out here in the hills. I had no choice but to wait for Jed and get answers to my questions directly from him. What I’d really wanted was to Google my father. I’d tried to find an internet connection on his office computer once when I’d snooped around a bit, but my father had caught me before I succeeded. I frowned, realizing he had locked his office door ever since. It had never seemed like a big thing—until now. I shook off a stab of guilt at trying the internet again. I’d wanted to see some photos of dad, mum and me all together as a family, not just to search for him or Jed, or so I told myself. I couldn’t help the seed of suspicion that was growing in my mind. They had told me that my mother had died when I was a baby, and my father didn’t keep any photos of her. It never occurred to me to ask why not, but it should have.

Enjoying the warm breeze that caressed my skin, I tried to concentrate on my e-reader, only by late afternoon I was exhausted, and my eyes stung as I tried to keep reading. Across the room, my bed looked too inviting to resist. I kicked off my sandals and padded over, groaning as I laid down and relaxed. I’d just close my eyes for a moment, then Jed would be back.

A screech lodgedin my throat, my heart pounding. But the warm hand that cupped my mouth felt familiar,smelledfamiliar. I blinked and blinked again, but it was dark, I couldn’t see a damned thing.

“Shh, it’s okay. It’s me,” Jed said in a low gravelly voice.

On a whoosh of breath, I relaxed. My right hand reached out and felt his jaw line. Stubble scraped my skin. He was tense, his jaw muscles bulging. “What’s wrong?”

His eyes gleamed in the moonlight as he searched my gaze. “We need to get...”

Gun fire echoed from outside. I shot up from the bed, my heart pounding. An explosion rocked the house and glass shattered in the next room as if a window had been broken. “Oh my god! What’s going on? Are we being attacked? Where’s dad?” My words were quick and breathless.

He grabbed my hand, his free one curling around the back of my head. “It’s okay. I promise. Please trust me. We just need to stay in here. We’ll be fine, I swear, and when all the noise has died down, we’re going to go out there, and I’ll tell you everything I promised you earlier.”

I stilled. My brain fired a hundred questions, but I felt the sincerity in his words. “Ok, but, that’sgunfire, Jed,” I stopped speaking. Tilting my head, I listened through the pounding of my heart and all of the noise. “What’s all that growling?” Ice curled around my heart. “Are thereanimalsout there?” I pulled away from him. “Why are you in here, instead of out there fighting whoever this is? Where’s your gun?” My voice was shaking.

“Ember, it’s okay. Look…” Slowly he lifted his jacket. His gun was holstered against his ribs where it always was. “It’s here.”

I pulled my hand from his and ran to the door, looking back over my shoulder at him. “Then what are you doing? Shouldn’t you be out there protecting my father? Or helping your men? Why are you still in here?”

“Because they’re not my men, Ember.”

My breath caught. “Why are you calling me that? My name is Sarah.” Confused, I shook my head.

His face dropped into a twisted mask of regret and pity. “No. I’m so sorry, sweetheart, but your name is really Ember.”

I had a flash of...something, memory maybe? Something that made that name seem familiar. And that frightened me more than anything because if it was true, it meant I knew nothing about my life, or even myself. That thought froze my lungs. I couldn’t breathe! I had to get out!

As I turned to run, Jed stepped in front of me, stopping me cold. In the moonlight his face looked harsh, his body bigger than ever. He swallowed. “Please don’t run. I need to keep you in here for your own safety.” His voice was deep and, although soft, laced with a level of command that made me shiver. I sucked air into my lungs, but it wasn’t enough.I’d trusted this man.Who was Jed? Or Rex?Who the hell was I?Shit! I needed to get out! Yanking it open, I bolted out of the door.

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