Page 502 of Reign

They’re all hers.

Tears well and my nose begins burning. The left nostril first, because apparently even my emotional breakdowns have selected a preferred side.

Damn it.

I lower the dress and turn toward Luciano.

He’s already moving.

His arms close around me, and whatever strength I was attempting to maintain dissolves against his chest. I clutch the dress between us and bury my face in his neck.

“This is perfect,” I whisper.

His hand moves slowly over my back. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” My voice breaks. “I can’t believe they let me have them.”

Luciano draws back enough to see my face.

“They didn’t let you have anything, Elena.”

I blink at him.

“They returned what should have belonged to you from the beginning.” His thumb catches the first tear beneath my eye. “Your mother’s dresses belong with her daughter. There was never anyone else who should have inherited them.”

I look down at the daisies.

“I want to put this one on.”

“Then you should.”

“Really?”

“Why wouldn’t you?”

I glance down at the dress I’m already wearing. “Because I’m wearing Elena Hope.”

His gaze moves over the soft sage dress I designed for myself.

“You look beautiful in Elena Hope.”

“But?”

“But if you want to wear your mother’s dress, I say wear it.”

I look toward the entrance.

“Are the guards around?”

“They’re outside the perimeter.”

“Anyone inside?”

“No.”

“Good.”

I hand him my mother’s dress and reach for the straps of my own.