Elizabeth reached down and grabbed the letter, holding it up. “His dad taught him how to play Scrabble. Taught him so well that he had never lost a game. Until he met me.” Elizabeth winked at Lynell and handed her the letter. She stood up and sighed. “We’ll go for ice cream tomorrow. Just the two of us, for your birthday. And after that, I’ll teach you how to play Scrabble. Who knows? One day you may meet your own king for a game.”

DAY 5

“You knew the whole time?” Lynell asks, throwing a pillow at Zach. He dodges it, closing the door behind him. She’d barely slept the night before, despite the fluffy pillows and a comforter enveloping her and trying to lull her to sleep. But she’d fought them, giving precedence to her reeling mind.

The news she’d heard at dinner, the revelation of Zach’s true identity, her father’s true identity, her true identity, kept her awake and staring at the canopy with red eyes.

Elysians. Close to royalty. Creators of the Registration.

She’d tossed and turned in bed until Zach quietly opened the door and she sat up, meeting his eyes. It was only 6 a.m., but she could tell he hadn’t slept either.

Lynell throws another pillow. He catches it and gently sets it on the ground.

“You knew, and you didn’t tell me!”

“Lynell, please.” He holds his hands up as if trying to calm a wild animal. “The guards . . .”

“Will what? Knock me out? So, what!” Her voice rises and she leans forward, moving closer to Zach, her posture that of an animal ready to pounce. “They can’t kill me, can they? Or you, dear cousin.” The word instantly drains all energy from her, and she sinks back, face in her hands.

“I’m sorry . . .”

“You knew we’re family.” She spits the words at him. “You knew who I was. And you didn’t think to tell me? You were totally fine to Register me? Your—” She shakes her head, unable to finish.

He reaches out and places his hands on her knees. “I didn’t know. I mean, shit, I did, but . . . I didn’t know you.” He’s looking at her with so much regret that she fights the urge to push him away. “I didn’t know how kind you’d be. How strong and—”

“Why does that matter? I could have been a weak bitch and I’d still be your cousin. I’d still be human.”

Zach stands, shaking his head. “You don’t understand. You didn’t grow up here.”

“No, I didn’t,” she says, climbing off the bed. “I grew up under one roof with an abusive alcoholic and a last name that was forced on me. I grew up with a mom who tried to hide her pain with drugs and couldn’t even Register the man that hit us because she was never blessed with a Registration. I grew up thinking my father walked out on us, but now I hear he was killed by his own brother. Killed, not Registered. Because if he was an Elysian, he couldn’t be Registered, right? Which means it was cold-blooded murder. By the same man who had his own son, my cousin, Register me, kidnap me, drag me across the country, make me believe he cared about me, just to get the information he needed out of me before he had me killed!” As she speaks, Lynell steps toward Zach until he’s standing with his back against the wall. When he has nowhere left to retreat, she hits his chest. She takes a deep breath, closing her eyes momentarily before meeting his again. “That’s what I understand, Price. Do you?”