Page 92 of Code Name: Reaper
“Mercury called her Katarina.”
“They’re cousins,” Blackjack clarified.
I looked around and realized we were the only ones not in the vehicle; everyone appeared to be waiting for my brother and me.
“I’ll drive.” He walked around to get in the driver’s side.
I got in too and looked over the seat at Amaryllis. She and Mercury sat side by side, next to a man I didn’t recognize.
“I’m Henry,” he said. “Carrington. Lyra’s husband.”
“Kingston Black.” I nodded in his direction.
We’d been on the road for a few minutes when Henry told my brother to take the next left.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Home,” he glanced at his wife as he spoke.
Amaryllis’—Charity’s—head rested on Lyra’s shoulder, her eyes were closed, and she’d never looked more beautiful. Or at peace. As if she felt my gaze, she opened them.
“I love you,” I mouthed.
“I love you,” she responded.
“The staff hasrooms ready for everyone who wants to stay on the estate, which I encourage all of you to do,” said Henry when Blackjack took the circular drive up to a sprawling villa that rivaled the main residence on the Trace Estate in Shere. “This is our home. Tomorrow, we’ll make arrangements for you to visit Minerva Protocol’s headquarters.”
When the SUV came to a stop, I got out, opened Amaryllis’ door, and helped her do the same.
I put my arm around her, and she leaned into me as we followed Lyra, her husband, and my brother up the steps that led to the home’s entrance. The rest of the SUVs pulled in behind us, and the coalition team members, along with people I assumed were from Minerva, got out and made their way to where we were.
Like me with Amaryllis, Henry kept his arm around his wife, guiding her inside.
“Why don’t we let everyone get settled, then we’ll meet later in the drawing room?” he suggested.
Lyra looked over her shoulder at us. “You’re not leaving, right?”
“Right,” Amaryllis assured her.
“They should stay in the east wing,” she said to Henry.
“Already taken care of.” He turned to me. “You can follow us. Beacon will make sure everyone else gets settled.”
As we made our way up the grand staircase, Lyra removed her arm from Henry’s and took Amaryllis’.
“I’ll explain more later, but she’s your cousin. Our cousin.”
“Her name is Katarina?”
Lyra nodded. “Her grandfather, Mikhail, and my mother were siblings.”
Amaryllis stopped on one of the stairs. “Is her name Anna?”
Lyra smiled. “Yes, and she cannot wait to meet you.”
“She’s alive?” Amaryllis whispered.
When she reached for me, I stepped closer and put my arm around her waist to steady her.
