“So I could save the other kids,” I say.
“I told the government that,” she says. “When I helped you escape, I told them it was to save the other kids.”
“It was,” I say, my voice tight. “Because the very second you had the chance, you tried to kill Azar. I’d just gotten him back.”
She frowns. “Give me a little credit. I knew Azar’s brother was a threat, and I knew the dragon we were spearing was Hyperion.”
“No way,” I say.
This time, she’s scowling, “Liz, I meant to stop Gideon that day. I didn’t want him to do a second time what nearly killed you the first. But when I saw it was inexplicably Hyperion, and I thought you could rid Azar of the threat of his older brother? I decided to help Gideon instead of defending you. I’m sorry that was wrong. I had no idea they had reconciled.”
Could she be telling the truth? Was she less of a villain than I thought? “Then you support me being bonded to Azar? By choice? You won’t fight me and work against me anymore?”
“They’re monsters,” Mom whispers. “It’s undeniable. Beside them, we’re no more than gnats. It’s terrifying, and it should be. Our lives are a candle’s flame beside their inferno, but I think he cares for you, deeply. And I think you shine when you’re around him.” She sighs. “It would be so much easier if you loved Gideon. It would be simpler, safer, and just easier. But I spent most of my life defending my love for your father to all my family and friends. I won’t make you do that. You clearly love him, and I won’t get in your way ever again.”
I want to believe her.
Maybe it’s the magic of Christmas.
Maybe it’s their desperation for our help.
I’m not sure what it is that changed my mother, or maybe she would have come around eventually either way, but it’s the holidays, and she’s here, and she’s holding out an olive branch.
I take it and hug her.
It heals something raw inside of me I hadn’t realized was hurting.
It takes Mom and Dad and Gideon a little while to get settled into their rooms, and thankfully that gives me time to pull out the gifts and holiday decorations I chose and at least check which ones are cracked and which aren’t.
“What are you doing now?” Axel’s peering over my shoulder, and it’s the cutest thing ever.
“I’m wrapping them up.”
His brow furrows. “Why? Sammy knows there’s no fat man, now.”
I laugh. “You do that so people don’t know what you got them. Then when they open the gift, it’s a surprise.”
“Who are you supposed to get a gift for?” He blinks. “You got something for your family members, and something for Gordon, Rufus, Hyperion, and Asteria.”
I smile. “Yes, usually it’s everyone you care about.”
“What about me?” He lifts both eyebrows. “Did you get me something?”
“You’ll have to wait for tomorrow morning to find out, mister.”
He sits next to me on the ground, carefully positioning himself around my wings, and wraps his arms around me from behind. “What if I don’t want to wait until then?” he whispers in my right ear.
“Too bad.” I kiss the side of his mouth.
He smiles.
I duck around and kiss the left side of his. “What if I just got you a little coupon book for kisses?”
“What’s a coupon?” He kisses me on the mouth then, twisting me around entirely. “And why do I need one to do this?” He kisses me again.
And then I remember that my parents and Gideon are both here. They’d lose their mind if they walked in on this, and we didn’t exactly build this place with privacy in mind. At the time I told him what I wanted, Axel was stuck as a dragon all the time, so. . . Other than a big door that stays open most of the time. . .
“All I really want for Christmas is a little more privacy. Maybe a smaller room here, near the back of our chambers.”
