And this was how her egg donor described her. As nothing.
Elena felt her heart breaking. Cracking into tiny little pieces as her girlhood dreams shattered around her. It was one thing to refer to Elise as her egg donor in her head. Another entirely to hear her mother dismiss her so casually. It didn't matter that Elise had already warned her not to trust anything out of her mouth from here on out. Her words rang with a note of truth that Elena had a hard time denying. Elena really was nobody to her. That was certainly more believable than her egg donor’s claim of love.
Elena kept the pain those words caused off her face. Survive. That was the only thing she needed to do. Just survive.
Lothos's gaze remained locked on Elise's face, his expression considering. "Then it won't matter if we dispose of her."
"I considered that," Elise admitted. As if it wasn't her child's fate up for debate. "But she was seen in Kira's company on more than one occasion. She has ties to the Phoenix that we might be able to exploit."
"You want me to protect her." Lothos's face left no doubt as to how much he disliked that suggestion.
"You know how Kira is. She won't abandon a child she feels responsible for. She'll come for her. You can use that opportunity for your plan."
Lothos looked like he was considering. "It would be better to give her to the masters. They can vent their anger on her instead of you."
Elena's stomach curdled. Her breathing stuttered for a brief second before she caught herself, forcing it to resume a normal cadence.
She knew how bad that would be for her. She'd overheard Aunt Kira and Uncle Jin talking one night. They were two of the strongest people Elena knew. Anything that could put that amount of pain and fear in their voices was better off avoided at all costs.
"I disagree. We need the Phoenix's cooperation. If the child is harmed, she will not bargain," Elise said. "I can take anything the masters throw at me. The child can't say the same. She's far too weak to survive their anger."
Lothos narrowed his eyes at her. "You're not trying to hide something from me, are you?"
"Of course not," Elise answered lightly. "I learned my lesson the last time."
The moment dragged as Lothos stared. Suspicion forming behind his eyes.
Elena found herself holding her breath. What would she do if he realized Elise was lying? Fight? She'd die.
But maybe that would be better. Being ripped apart at the seams didn't sound like a bucket list item.
No. Survive. Those were Auntie's orders. Survive at all costs. No matter who you had to sacrifice or what you had to do.
Easier said than done.
An eternity later, Lothos seemed to come to a decision. "Very well. I'll believe you. For now."
Elise's face remained apathetic. As if it didn't matter to her whether or not Lothos believed her.
Lothos's gaze shifted to Elena. "Does she understand our language?"
"Of course not. She's Tuann. You know their kind. Only ever interested in their own matters."
Lothos's frown sent another jolt of adrenaline through Elena system. "Are you sure?"
Shit. He knew.
And Aunt Selene would have sent her to time out for using that word.
Elena fought the desire to flee, trying not to react outwardly in any way.
Pretend. Pretend.
Of course, a Tuann wouldn't know the Tsavitee language. They would have no reason to. They hadn't fought in a war against them. Even if they had, Elena doubted most would have taken the time to understand their enemy.
A human might have. A Haldeel scholar definitely would have. But not a Tuann, who were the very definition of arrogance.
If not for Elise's disguised warning, Elena would have already given herself away.
