“We should sleep.”
I nod, and she makes her way to her side of the bed. As we lay there in the dark, I can feel her staring at me. I’m not sure what she’s thinking, but it’s loud.
“There’s something you should know,” I finally say, filling the silence.
“Sounds ominous.” She attempts a half-hearted laugh, but there’s no humor behind it.
“I was the one who brought Agatha to my father.” I can already feel the tension radiating from her side of the bed. “It was supposed to be Emeric. That’s who he had requested. I couldn’t do that, though. Not to you.” I keep my eyes trained on the ceiling. “You see, Agatha knew about my part in the rebellion. She’s the only person I trusted to look after youin the Sector. After the bombings, I had told her about my dilemma. I was trying to work out who I could take in his place that would please my father enough, and that’s when she volunteered herself.”
“What?” Reign sits up abruptly.
“She had lived a long life, Reign. She knew the price, and she was willing to give her life for Emeric’s. It was her choice to make.”
“I can’t believe it.” She falls back onto the bed. “She was so calm that day in the Throne Room.”
“I told my father that Emeric had died in the bombings. When I brought Agatha in, she played the part well. She wasn’t my father’s first choice, but he seemed satisfied once I told him that she was like a mother figure to you.”
She turns onto her side, slipping her hands beneath her head.
“Are you telling me this because you think it’ll make me think of you differently?”
“No,” I answer honestly. “But someday, if you choose to say those three little words back, I want you to know who you’re saying them to. Reallyknow.”
“I know who you are.” She reaches for my face, turning it to hers. “I see you, Ryder. I see the hurt. The anger. The sadness. The shame. The guilt.” She starts to pull her hand away, but I catch it in mine and hold it to my chest. “But I also see the remorse. The selflessness. The sacrifice. The perseverance. I don’t care about who you used to be. I only care about who you are now.”
“I am who I am now because of you.”
“That’s not true. You were already this person. I only held up the mirror.”
I pull her into me, needing to be closer. “Are you sure?”
“I’ve kept my distance from you long enough. I don’t want to do it anymore.”
Amaya seems all too pleased with herself after her little stunt with the garden last night. Normally, I would take it a little easier on her when it comes to hand-to-hand combat training, but not today.
“Okay, I guess I deserved that,” she admits, picking herself up off the mat.
“Next time, I suggest you just tell me where to be.”
“Fine,” she agrees, massaging her lower back. “In that case, I’m planning a family night at the next Skycap this week, and you need to be there.”
“Oh, Ineedto be there, huh?”
I hold up my hands and block three of her punches aimed at my face.
“Yes. If you’re going to win Reign over, you need to show her that you can fit into her world. The family she has made means everything to her. It would mean a lot if you were a part of it.”
“Family nights aren’t really my thing,” I tell her as she switches to kicks.
“But they’re her thing. You already have a relationship with each of us. Some might even call it a friendship…” She raises both of her brows and smiles at me. “It’s time you showed her that.”
I let out a single laugh. “I’m sure she knows.”
Amaya’s brows pinch. “Not really. Most of the time she sees you interacting with us, it’s over some kind of serious matter. Besides, if you want to stand a chance against Damien, you’regoing to have to pull out all the stops. He already has you beat in the… umm… physical aspect.”
With that statement, I send her falling ass-first onto the mat.
“You’re the worst. You know that?” She slaps the mat before reaching out her hand.
