Page 304 of Black Reign

“None come immediately to mind.”

My father closes his eyes.

For the first time in my life, I may have exhausted him.

Then a sound comes from the hallway.

Soft.

Fabric against the doorframe.

Every nerve in my body activates.

I turn.

Sabine stands in the doorway.

Barefoot.

My white shirt falls almost to mid-thigh beneath the robe she has pulled loosely around herself.

Her caramel hair is enormous from sleep.

One side flattened.

The other doing whatever the hell it wants.

Her cornflower eyes are wide.

Very awake now.

My stomach drops.

How long?

Her gaze flicks toward the screen.

My father sees her.

His expression becomes stone.

Sabine looks back at me.

Then at the wall.

Then me again.

Silence stretches.

She lifts one eyebrow.

“When you said we had tonight, I did not realize there was a marriage proposal scheduled for sunrise.”

I close my eyes.

Fuck.

Her accent thickens when she's tired.