Page 23 of Reign

“Oh my god.Bee,” he whispered, voice breaking on a sob.

Then, to Beatrice’s shock, he strode forward in a few swift steps and folded his arms around her, closing her in a hug. He paused a moment, then leaned over and brushed a kiss on her brow.

There was so much emotion folded into that gesture, tenderness and relief and a tight-leashed fury, that Beatrice had no idea what to make of it. She held herself very still.

“I can’t believe it. Thank god,” Teddy kept saying, over and over. He turned to Samantha, and a warm smile creased his features. “Sam. Nice hair. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

“That was kind of the point,” Sam said ruefully.

He shook his head. “I can’t believe I missed it; I’ve been here the whole time—”

“I know, and I’m so grateful. The doctors told me you hardly left—”

“I should have known she would wake up for you!” Teddy’s smile illuminated the whole room. “What did you say, Sam?”

“Oh, I just asked for her advice about all the problems in my life. Never a shortage of drama when I’m around, is there?”

Teddy nudged Sam’s shoulder playfully. “You don’t want the drama but the drama finds you?”

Beatrice glanced back and forth between them, bewildered. Their energy wasn’t at all flirtatious; if anything, it reminded her of the way Sam and Jeff used to tease each other. But didn’t Sam once have a crush on Teddy?

Beatrice supposed she must have moved on to someone else. Sam’s energies were too wild and restless to stay fixed on any one point for long.

“Dr.Jacobs.” Sam’s voice was surprisingly resolute. “Can you finish up these tests later? Teddy and I need a moment with Beatrice, alone.”

The doctor started to protest, only to fall silent at something in Sam’s gaze. He nodded to her, bowed to Beatrice, then left the room.

When the door had shut behind him, Sam turned back to Beatrice. “Bee. What’s the last thing you remember?”

Teddy threw out a protective hand. “We don’t need to interrogate her; she just woke up.”

“I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

He hesitated, then looked to Beatrice. “Bee? What do you remember?”

A dizzy feeling snaked up her spine. Trying to remember…it was like stepping into a vast darkness without being able to see her steps. She might fall off an edge at any moment.

“Do you remember the League of Kings?” Sam prompted.

“What about it?” Beatrice asked, to hide her confusion.

“Did you enjoy it?”

“It’s not meant to be a party; it’swork,Sam. But, yes, I enjoyed parts of it.”

“She sounds pretty normal to me,” Teddy joked, resting a hand on Beatrice’s shoulder in a casually affectionate gesture. What was he doing?

Sam ignored him, eyes fixed on Beatrice. “What was your favorite part of the conference?”

“I don’t know! The stables at Chenonceau are pretty wonderful. I borrowed one of their horses and went on a few early-morning rides.” She narrowed her eyes at Sam. “Why are you asking about the League of Kings, anyway? It was years ago.”

Silence. Beatrice looked up and realized that Teddy was no longer smiling.

“She’s lost weeks,” he said softly.

Sam shook her head. “Maybe more.”

“What do you mean, I’ve lost weeks?” Her voice was scratchy; Sam heard it and handed her a cup of water from the bedside table. Beatrice took a small sip, feeling perilously close to tears. She hated not being able to control every situation, and this was as out of control as she could ever remember being.