Page 311 of Reign

“I want to watch.”

“You’re becoming a bit of a voyeur.”

I laugh softly.

“When it comes to you, princesa, I’ve never pretended otherwise.”

Elena gives me one last suspicious look before diving into the pool.

The water closes over her, black fabric and dark hair disappearing beneath the surface. She glides almost the entire length before coming up for air, wiping water from her face as she turns to make sure I’m still watching.

Of course I am.

She smiles and rolls onto her back, floating beneath the late-afternoon sun like she’s belonged in this house her entire life.

My phone vibrates on the table beside me.

ANGELO AMATO.

I glance at the time.

He waited until late afternoon to call.

Considering Conti must’ve reached my gates shortly after nine, that’s an impressive amount of restraint.

I consider answering.

Then I decline the call and set the phone facedown.

When I look back at the pool, Elena is swimming toward me.

She reaches the edge and folds her arms over the tile, water beading across her shoulders. “That face.”

“What face?”

“The one that says someone’s annoying you and you’re deciding whether murder would be inconvenient.” Her eyes flick toward my phone. “Was that my brother?”

“Don’t worry about it, princesa.”

She rolls her eyes.

I stand and walk toward the pool.

Her gaze follows me. “What?”

“You should be careful.”

“Of what?”

“You’ve rolled your eyes at me several times today.”

She grins, entirely unrepentant. “Maybe you keep saying things that deserve it.”

“Do it again, and there’ll be a consequence.”

Her eyes narrow with interest rather than concern.

“That sounds suspiciously like a reward.”