Page 161 of Reign

“There,” she says, releasing me too quickly. “Ready.”

She reaches for the loose earring on the vanity, but her fingers fumble with the clasp once.

Then again.

“Give it to me.”

“I have it.”

She doesn’t.

I take the earring from her hand. Her eyes lift to mine.

For once, there is no blade in them. The challenge in her eyes softens, leaving room for something she would deny the second I named it.

Trust.

For one heartbeat, I understand how a man starts a war over a woman.

Because she’s looking at me like I’m the safest place she knows.

I bury the thought before it becomes intent.

“You know how to put in earrings?” she asks softly.

“I know how to handle small, delicate things.”

She blinks.

Then her mouth opens. “That was—”

“About the earring.”

“Liar.”

I lean closer, touching her only where my fingers guide the post through her ear.

Her breath catches anyway.

I secure the back, then let my hand fall away.

“There.”

She stares at herself for a moment. Beautiful. Armored. Nervous.

Trying so hard to look like a woman prepared for war that she’s forgotten she’s allowed to look like someone who doesn’t want to go.

She turns from the mirror and smooths both hands down the front of her dress. “Do I look fine?”

The question is too small for her.

I hate it.

“No.”

Her face changes. I step closer before the word can hurt her.

“You look beautiful,” I say. “You don’t look fine.”