Queen (The Blackcoat Rebellion #3)(74)

Greyson took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Guess so,” he said. “I’m going to put together a council tomorrow.”

“Like the Ministers of the Union?”

“Something like that. I want you to be on it. You, Knox, Benjy, Rivers, the other leaders of the rebellion who survived—you all won this war. I want to honor that and turn this country into something to be proud of.”

“You will.” I rested my head against his shoulder, my gaze lingering on Knox. “Thank you. I know being Prime Minister was the last thing you wanted.”

“Being my father was the last thing I wanted,” he corrected quietly. “Making a difference in this country—giving people their lives back and making sure all of this wasn’t for nothing—that’s an honor. Besides,” he added, “if all goes as planned, I’d like to hold elections eventually. Real elections, where there’s more than one name on the ballot. And term limits. No one will rule this country indefinitely again, and the people will have a voice—a real voice.”

That sounded almost too good to be true, but wasn’t that exactly what we’d spent all this time fighting for? “America’s lucky to have you.”

“No. They’re lucky to have you.”

I pressed my lips together. “I’m sorry for kicking you in the shin.”

He chuckled and pulled me closer. “I’m sorry for trying to stop you. But I meant what I said, Kitty. You’re it. You’re the only family I have left now. I’m never going to let anything bad happen to you again. I promise.”

“Bad things happen all the time. Maybe not war and death and maiming, but—little things.” I looked up at him and offered him a lopsided smile. It was all I was capable of at the moment. “It’s okay. I don’t mind them, as long as I have you.”

Knox let out a particularly loud snore, and my shoulders shook with laughter.

“You, too,” I added, giving him a look. He was still fast asleep, and I turned back to Greyson. “We’re through the worst of it. We’ll get through the rest together.”

Greyson sighed. “I hope so.” After a moment, he added, “Can I ask you something?”

“I think you already did.”

He smiled vaguely before it dropped from his face completely. “Why didn’t you tell Daxton who you really were?”

I hesitated, not sure how to put it into words. “Lila gave up her entire life for this rebellion. She risked everything time and time again. And maybe she had her moments of weakness, but we all do. I wanted to honor her. I wanted to make sure her name goes down in history as the reason this all happened. If I told the country who I really was—it wouldn’t matter that she started it. They would only remember that I finished it, and I couldn’t do that to her. She deserves to be remembered.”

Greyson took a deep, shuddering breath and wiped his eyes quickly. “Thank you. I know she would have appreciated it. And thought you were crazy for not wanting credit.”

“It’s not about the credit,” I said. “It’s about making a difference. And we all did that together.”

“We did. And even if everyone thinks you’re Lila, I can find a way to have you returned to your original appearance,” said Greyson. “We have all the doctors in the country at our disposal. I can make it happen.”

For months, I’d wanted nothing more than to look in a mirror and see my real face staring back. Round and freckled, with a button nose and dirty blond hair several shades darker than Lila’s. But I was more than my appearance. I was more than what people thought when they looked at me. And no matter whose face I wore, I would have to find a way to accept that.

“Kitty Doe is dead,” I whispered. “I’m Kitty Hart, and somehow, even though I shouldn’t be, I’m still here. And this is what I look like, scars and all. I don’t want to change a thing.”

“Okay,” he said softly, running his fingers through my hair. “You’re perfect exactly the way you are.”

I smiled again and let my eyes fall shut. “Damn straight.”

* * *

Sometime in the middle of the night, I awoke with a jolt. A nurse stood over me in the dimly lit room, silently checking my vitals. When he noticed I was awake, he winced, clutching his tablet apologetically. “Are you sure youwouldn’t be more comfortable in your own bed, Miss Hart?” he said quietly. Beside me, Greyson had also fallen fast asleep.

“No, I’m good here,” I mumbled. “Can I have something to drink?”

He fetched me a glass of ice water, and I sat up. Swallowing was a torture unlike anything I’d ever experienced, but I managed to get some down by taking tiny sips. As soon as he was done checking me over, the nurse exited, leaving me alone in the darkness.

“How’s the throat?”

I jumped, nearly spilling the water all over my lap. Knox’s eyes were open, and he watched me from his position prone on the bed. “It’s fine,” I lied. “I’ll live. How’s your shoulder?”

“It’s fine,” he said. “I’ll live.”

We stared at one another for a long moment, and finally he cracked a grin.

“You look like hell.”

“And you don’t?” I said hoarsely. With effort, he sat up.