Page 412 of Reign

Her brow pulls together.

“Those women live beside men who make decisions you may never agree with.” I hold her gaze. “Maybe they can explain that differently than I can.”

She looks down at our hands.

“I don’t want them to convince me you were right.”

“I don’t either.”

Her eyes come back to mine.

“I made a choice,” I say. “I can tell you why I made it. I can tell you I was thinking about you. I can tell you I wouldn’t gamble with your life.” My jaw tightens. “None of those things change what happened to Miguel.”

For a moment, she says nothing.

Then, quietly, “Okay.”

“Okay?”

“They can come, but when Ayla complains the entire time because she thinks she should be in your meeting, I’m blaming you.”

“I’ll accept responsibility.”

A little more life returns to Elena’s face.

I take it.

“While you’re with them, I’ll be discussing the war.”

Her expression sobers again. “The war.”

“It’s mine now, Elena. I’m in it.”

“You said you weren’t.”

“I was wrong.” My thumb moves over her fingers. “I was in it the second I fell in love with you.”

The admission comes easier than it should.

She looks down.

“Are you going to hide that from me too?”

“No.”

Her gaze returns to mine.

“I’ll tell you anything that affects this house. Anything that affects your safety. You will never learn that someone is coming for us because a gun is already pressed against your body.”

She studies my face, deciding whether she believes me.

Finally, she nods.

“All right.”

I bring her hand to my mouth and press it against my lips.

She watches me for a moment.