Page 416 of Reign

“I’m still pissed at you.”

“I know.”

Maksim leans down. She plants her palm against his face.

“I said I’m mad.”

He lowers her hand and kisses her forehead anyway.

She scowls.

He looks completely satisfied with himself.

“Stay here.”

Ayla gives him the finger when he turns away.

“I saw that, Beda.”

She grunts.

He doesn’t even turn around.

A second later, he disappears down the hall to join the other men.

Ayla watches him go.

Then she walks into the sitting room, drops into the empty chair, folds her arms over her chest, and plants both boots on my coffee table.

She crosses them at the ankles.

My eyes drag from her boots to her scowling face.

God, this woman is such a peach.

Adriana reaches for her water bottle and takes several long drinks.

Apparently Angelo wins even when he isn’t in the room.

Beside her, Vasilisa opens her second snack cake.

Damn.

She ate the first one fast.

Ayla hasn’t moved. Her boots remain planted on my coffee table, and her attention stays fixed on the hallway like she might summon Maksim back through sheer force of irritation.

Or teleport herself into Luciano’s office.

Honestly, I think she’s attempting both.

“So,” Adriana says. “Luciano told us what happened. Do you want to talk about it?”

Great.

A therapy session.

Exactly what I wanted.