Her lip curls. “Don’t be stupid. My power is already huge.”
I spread my hands a little, waving the trinket she wants. “Then why are you still here?”
“To watch your Hoi Polloi husband bleed to death.” She smiles. “The longer I keep you busy, the weaker he gets.”
My stomach drops hard. I can help Griffin, even with my limited healing skills, but I need to get him to the stream and act soon.
I fold back my wings and reach out for my sword. We’re out of time, and I won’t ask Griffin to kill for me, even though I know he would. He gives me Thanatos without a word, his expression strained. The hilt is warm from his hand and seems to hum against my palm with a song to sing me, or a ballad to tell. I wish I knew how the story ended, but only silence travels up my arm.
Compulsion scrapes through my mind again. Pressure, pain, and then a deep-seated desire to turn the sword on myself.
I push back hard, jarring a flinch out of Mother. There’s no sound between us, only the common thought of her trying to break me like she did once before, that dark moment when I lost all sense of myself. Eleni did, too, but she paid the heavier price.
Mother bores deeper, and I grind my teeth with effort. It turns out she wasn’t bluffing. She has plenty of power left.
Gasping, I raise my hand to my searing head, still clutching Ianthe’s pearls. The pressure and pain disappear instantly. I drop my hand, confused, and they come roaring back.
The pearls!They don’t amplify magic; they block it!
I crown myself with Ianthe’s perfect gift, and Mother’s lips pull back in a snarl.
“I get it now. And this time around, I can breakyou.” I cock my head to the side, looking her up and down. “Maybe I should.”
Thanks to Ianthe, I’m protected now from mental attacks, and for the first time ever, I see uncertainty flicker in Mother’s eyes. It doesn’t bring me nearly the satisfaction I thought it would.
“Do it then,” she taunts, even stepping closer in challenge.
My whole body locks up tight.Gods, I’m tempted. But in the end, I say, “I’m not a monster like you are. I won’t take away anyone’s free will.”
Her bright-green eyes seem to shutter. “Take first, or everything will be taken from you.”
I shake my head at her. What kind of warped philosophy is that? It’s like her “Love nothing, and no one can hurt you.” It’s a total perversion of natural sentiment. How did she get this way? Why didn’t she try to change?
“Don’t waste your time trying to impart your twisted wisdom.” I raise my sword and get ready to exercise free will. “Any last words?” I ask her.
The look she levels at me is scathing. “You’re the embodiment of my every mistake.”
Well then. I guess I shouldn’t have asked.
I lift my chin. “It’s a shame you never tried to see how a real family acts. You might have liked it.”
Maybe I just imagine the small flinch from Mother. Either way, it makes me hesitate as I step forward with Thanatos in my hand, and Mother starts to laugh. The sound makes my belly churn like it did when I was a child.
“I knew it,” she says. “I didn’t even bother to run.”
Holding out his hand, Griffin grinds out, “Give me the sword, Cat.”
I shake my head and then force my shoulders back and down. They keep curling up around my ears.
I can do this. I should have done it already. Minutes ago. Years before.
Steeling myself, I leap forward and swing in a hard arc.
CHAPTER 14
Mother’s eyes widen. She didn’t think I’d do it. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I would.
She jerks back enough to get thoroughly out of my reach, and I scowl. I must not have tried very hard.
