Page 50 of Reign
“Oh, come on,” Eden says to her. “You willingly took a baseball bat to the face. You can open a compartment in an underfunded library and pocket a hairbrush.”
Emma gives me a pointed look. I raise my hands, saying, “I didn’t tell her.”
“I’m not stupid,” Eden says before Emma can respond. “In fact, I’m incredibly observant. It doesn’t take a genius to connect the dots between Piper, you, and Callie.”
“Actually, it does,” Emma says, but her expression softens into one of respect. Maybe, after all this time, it’s nice to be acknowledged for all the suffering she endured.
Eden shrugs it off. “I don’t think those DNA kits online do these kinds of samples. Is there a way we can trace Rose’s descendants?”
I say, “We can try, if we can find her baby, Delilah, and determine the children she had. I’ll also call Ahmar, see if he can call in a favor to this forensics lady he used to date.”
Emma raises her brows. “Do you think Ahmar would help you with this? You said he was … concerned … for your well-being after you confided in him.”
I nod tightly. “He will.” I hesitate. “If I lie and tell him it’s related to finding my real father, he will. Ahmar wouldn’t say no to something like that.”
“Okay. Good,” Emma says, and thankfully, leaves it at that.
“That’ll take time, too. It’s why I’ll focus on pinning Sabine for Mom, first.”
Both girls nod in agreement.
“So, we good?” Emma asks, hands on her hips.
“One other thing,” I say.
They pause, waiting for me to continue.
“I, uh, I need you to teach me how to swim, Eden.”
Eden shoves her hands in her hoodie’s pockets as she glances to the side. “I don’t know if…”
“You have to,” Emma cuts in, moving to stand next to me. “Callie nearly bit the dust once, and we don’t know if that was a fluke or whether Sabine knew Callie couldn’t swim. We can’t let that happen again.”
“Eden,” I say softly, blinking away the image of Ivy wrestling me to the surface and saving my life. “I’m sorry. I’m asking you for a tall order, but out of everyone, you could teach me the fastest. You’re a champion swimmer.”
“Used to be,” Eden says, working her jaw.
“You still are,” I say.
“Besides, Callie would owe you one.”
I cut a sharp look to Emma, who shrugs. “What? Eden does better with quid pro quo’s.”
Sighing, I agree. “I would.”
“Fine,” Eden says, but directs her statement to the ground.
“Eden, if it’s too much—” I start.
“I said fine. Meet me in the mornings at the indoor pool in the rec center. 4 am.” Eden flicks her eyes up. “I don’t want anyone seeing us.”
The early timing doesn’t even register, and I’m not about to push the issue with Eden. “Cool. Thanks.”
“Great,” Emma says. “We’ve all got our assignments. But Callie … there isn’t anyone on the inside to protect you anymore. If you do the robing ceremony…”
“I’m on my own,” I finish for her, but my voice is strong. “I’m good with that.”
Eden angles her head, studying me carefully. “You don’t seem the type to want to be alone, though.”