Page 103 of Reign of Betrayal

I hear her pick up her bag and head to the washroom, shutting the door. Once the fire roars, I grab my bag and pull out the apples, cheese, and bread I packed. I slice the food and plate it for when Reign emerges.

The door opens, and Reign steps out, shivering. Her hair is damp, and she wears a long-sleeved bedtime shirt and pants that I had Sasha pack for her. She wraps her arms tightly around herself while walking over to the fireplace. I wish I could hold her to warm her up, but knowing my little Reckless, she would probably stab me for trying. The thought brings a smile to my face

“Come eat, Reign.”

“I’m not hungry,” she replies in a stale voice, while staring into the fire, not even bothering to look my way.

“I wasn’t asking, Reckless,” I reply, sitting down at the small table.

She throws her head back, closes her eyes for a moment, and huffs dramatically before finally taking a seat across from me. I set her plate in front of her. She picks up her food with cold, shaky hands and starts to eat.

We eat in silence and it’s killing me. I don’t know how to fix this, or what to say, or what to do. Her incessant shivering bothers me. I get up, walk over to the bed, and grab two blankets—one I hang near the fireplace and the other I wrap around Reign’s shoulders. If she weren’t so cold, I have a feeling she would be her stubborn little self and refuse it.

After we finish eating, Reign continues to sit at the table, staring blankly. I’d give anything to peer into her mind and see what’s going on in there. “Reign, it’s getting late. We must leave early, so try to get some sleep.”

She pushes the chair back swiftly, making it scrape loudly against the floor. “You don’t need to boss me around like I am a child, Prince.” She seethes between gritted teeth. “Eat this, sleep, do this, do that… I have lived the last twenty-six years of my miserable life without you telling me what to do, and I will continue to live on for however long the mother grants me,withoutyou.” She stands, walking over to the bed and flops down. “And just so you know, I wanted to go to bed. That is why I’m lying down… not because you told me to.”

I say nothing back. I just watch her. I know she is hurting. I know I’m the one that caused it, and I hate myself for it. She lies on her back, eyes closed, cocooning herself in the blanket as her teeth chatter loudly throughout the room.

I stand and walk over to the fireplace, grabbing the blanket that warmed nicely. I walk over to Reign and place it over top of her. I pull a chair near the bed, sit, and stretch my legs. My eyes drift closed as I pray to the mother to fix the mess I made and let sleep come so I no longer have to think or feel.

I wake to Reign crying and yelling in her sleep. She is thrashing in bed. “The children! The children! The blood!” I jump up and rush to her, shaking her.

“Reign!” She flings herself up and opens her eyes, looking at me like she is confused. She looks around the room and releases a long breath. “It was just a nightmare,” I say as I bring my hand up and wipe her tears away. “You are safe. You are okay.” I trail my hand down her arm and back up again.

“I’m fine,” she says, while laying back down on her side. I get up to walk back to my chair, but she grasps my hand. “Can you lay with me, just until I fall asleep? Can we just pretend for one second it was all real and not a game? We can go back to hating each other tomorrow,” she says sleepily.

I can never refuse her, especially for something so simple, but my heart fractures at her words. I lay down on my side, and we stare at each other. “Want to talk about it?” I ask.

“It felt so real. There were children everywhere—some lying dead on the ground, while others were bound and crying as a man in a cloak killed them and drained them. Glasses full of their blood sat on the table. A woman with a cloak covering her face came in and began drinking the glasses of blood.” She lets out a shuttered breath. “It felt so real. I could feel their terror in their last moments.”

“It was just a nightmare. Sometimes, when life is full of chaos and turmoil, it manifests itself in our dreams. I know that all too well,” I say while rubbing her arm. She closes her eyes. “It was never a game to me…”

Her eyes snap open. “What?” Her face scrunches.

“None of this”—I gesture between us—”was a game for me. It was always real. Still is.” She exhales slowly, closing her eyes again.

“I’m okay now. You can sleep in your chair.” She rolls onto her back, not looking at me.

“Let me sleep next to you tonight. Like you said, you can go back to hating me tomorrow. For tonight, let me hold you. Let me pretend you are mine.” She still doesn’t look at me. I reach over, grasp her chin, and turn her to meet my gaze. “Just for tonight…”

She gulps but nods her head. Her eyes are wet, glistening in the fire’s light, and filled with unspoken words. She turns onto her side, her back to me. Wrapping an arm around her waist, I pull her to me, letting my warmth seep into her. Within minutes I hear her tiny little snores.

I wish so badly this could be my norm, sleeping with her in my arms. Instead, I will be dangling her in front of Prince Elliot like bait for the taking. I have only ever heard great things about him. He is supposed to be loved by his people, a great noble man. Maybe her life would be better with someone like him. Even if she and I had a chance, I could never make her happy. I’d damn us both. I’m the monster under the bed, not prince charming.

Laying there, I breathe in her scent deeply, committing it to memory. We were damned before we even started. She stirs and flips onto her other side, facing me, her cheek against my chest. Panic bubbles up, so I lay on my back, but she moves again until she’s fully on my chest. Breathing heavily, I remind myself she isn’t Vanna, that I’m safe. Breathing feels impossible as sweat beads on my brow.

Instead of pushing her away, knowing this is the last night I’ll have with her, I wrap my arms around her, telling my stupid mind to shut up while I will my heart to slow its rapid pace. After a few minutes, they listen. My breathing slows, along with my heart and racing thoughts.

Never in my life did I think a moment like this was possible—laying with the woman I love, her body resting on my chest. Maybe in another life, I could have been different, better for her. In another life, we could have had a normal life together, free from our burdens and haunted pasts that torment us both. I would find and love her in every lifetime, even if this is all the time we get—just a few measly seasons.

I run my fingers through her beautifully rare lavender hair. How could anyone give up such a gift? But was she ever mine to give? Instead of thinking any further, I hold her tightly like it’s my last day on the continent and try to sleep because tomorrow I have to do the hardest thing I’ve ever done… and give her up.

The room is dimly lit, as if the sun shares my trepidation about today. I feel strong warm arms wrapped around me, and I realize I am lying on Lukene’s sleeping chest. I wish so desperately to stay like this, but if he wakes and notices me on his chest… I don’t know what would happen, and I can’t upset him like that, no matter how angry I am. I try to get up and back away, but he pulls me closer, tightening his grip. Not wanting to wake him, I decide to lie still until his hold loosens.

Staring at him, I take in all his features, so I never forget them. I smile at the thought because I know I could never forget them even if I tried. His stoic face bears black stubble that traces down his sharp, glass-like jawline. His black hair is tousled, hanging over his forehead and into his eyes.

I wish so badly that things could have been different, that I wasn’t a Drifter or a prisoner. Maybe if I had noble blood, we could have been together. Reaching up, I push the hair off his forehead and gently rub my hand down his face, feeling the prickly stubble. I trace my fingers over his lips, which I long to kiss. To my surprise, his lips curl into a smile. My gaze drifts to his bright green eyes, which dance with amusement.

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