Page 400 of Reign

His eyes meet mine. Everything stops.

The violence is still there.

But he sees me through it.

And I know exactly who is looking back at me.

My Luciano.

He drops the knife.

He reaches me in two steps.

His bloody hands close around my face.

His palms are slick against my skin.

I lean in.

“Shh. Princesa. Shh.”

Why can’t I breathe?

“It’s okay. You’re okay.”

“Elena. Look at me.”

His face moves closer.

“Look at me, mi vida.”

I am. I think I am.

“You’re okay.”

The screaming stops.

Oh.

It was me.

My chest heaves. My throat hurts. My cheeks are wet.

Luciano’s thumbs move beneath my eyes.

They’re covered in blood.

Now there’s probably more blood on my face.

My dress is ruined.

The gardener is dead.

Luciano takes my hand. “Come with me.”

He walks toward the house and I follow because his hand is around mine and my brain won’t function.

Rodrigo is speaking. Luciano answers him. I don’t understand either of them.