Page 523 of Reign

“Valentina.”

“I said no.”

I stop instead of reaching for her again.

“No one is marrying you tomorrow,” I say. “No one is showing up next week with a ring. I’m talking about possibilities. That’s all.”

“I don’t want possibilities.”

“I know.”

“You keep saying that!”

“Because I do.”

Her mouth trembles.

I lower my voice.

“And I meant what I said earlier. Tell me a name. I’ll try to make it work.”

She looks at me too quickly.

Goddammit, there is someone.

I can see it now.

But whatever name is sitting behind her teeth, she refuses to give it to me.

“There isn’t,” she says again.

I let the lie sit between us.

“We’ll talk after my honeymoon.”

“Convenient.”

“It gives both of us time.”

“To get used to you planning my life?”

“To stop yelling at each other.”

That almost gets something from her.

Instead, she wipes angrily beneath one eye.

“I hate this fucking family.”

I sigh.

“At the moment, I understand the sentiment.”

She turns toward the door.

“Valentina.”

Her hand closes around the handle.