Page 499 of Reign

“That’s all?”

“For now.”

I narrow my eyes.

The corner of his mouth lifts. “There may be several things downstairs.”

“How many?”

“Several.”

“That isn’t a number.”

“It wasn’t intended to be.”

“Luciano.”

“Nothing happens until you want it to.” His thumb brushes beneath my eye. “We start with berries. Then you decide what comes next.”

“Just us?”

“Just us, mi vida.”

Relief moves through me so strongly that I fold against him, pressing my face into the warm place beneath his jaw.

His arms close around me.

The date still hurts. Mamma is still gone. No gift, or carefully planned day can change that.

But Luciano woke me with pleasure instead of candles. He silenced every demand waiting outside our bedroom and gave me the one thing no one ever thought to offer.

A choice.

For the first time, my birthday doesn’t feel like a summons.

It feels like mine.

***

Luciano did not lie.

There are several things downstairs.

Several is apparently the word cartel leaders use when they mean enough gifts to occupy most of a foyer.

A smile begins pulling at my mouth before I can stop it.

Bolts of fabric are stacked across one table in a riot of color and texture. Silk, velvet, lace, organza, and materials I have only ever touched in Evelyn’s workroom. New sketchbooks sit beside cases of pencils and markers. Jewelry boxes gleam beneath the morning light. Candles in every scent I have lingered over occupy an entire side table.

And there are shoes.

So many shoes.

I walk toward them in a daze. “We don’t have room for more shoes.”

“We have plenty of room.”

“No, we don’t. My shoes have already colonized half your closet.”