Page 215 of Reign

“I don’t like it.”

“That sounds like a you problem.”

I smile. “It usually is.”

A frown forms between her brows.

Far too curious.

“No,” she says finally.

“No?”

“I did say curious to impact play.”

My jaw locks. “Impact play and Throne Kingston are not the same thing.”

“I know that.”

“You don’t.”

“I know enough to ask questions.”

The fork bends slightly in my grip. I loosen my hand.

She looks at the page again, tapping the pen near Throne’s starred name. “Maybe we could try that next.”

For a second, there is no kitchen.

No bowl. No list.

I picture it. Elena over my lap. That mouth finally going quiet for a reason entirely different from obedience. Her expression when curiosity turns into understanding.

And just like that, the rest of my morning rearranges itself.

I look at the star beside Throne’s name.

Maybe he’s useful after all.

I spear another berry.

“Elena.”

She looks at me.

I bring the fork to her lips. “Open.”

I take the pen from her hand and set it out of reach.

“We’ll discuss impact play after breakfast.”

She smiles a little.

That smile is going to ruin my life.

“Okay,” she says.

I feed her another bite and look at the star beside Throne’s name.