That version of me is staring down at the broken glasses while gasping out, “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”
Since my mother is now looking straight at the younger version of me, I can see the tears that stream down my cheeks as I stare down in panic at those broken glasses.
Then my mother flicks her gaze down at the glasses on the floor, and from seeing this memory from the other direction earlier, I know that my father, who is standing beside her, is doing the same.
I don’t need to see the expression on my face. I already know exactly what is going through my head during those seconds. Panic. Fear. And a terrible conviction that my parents now hate me for ruining the only drinking glasses we had.
Then all three of us look up from the glasses at the same time.
Watching my younger self through my mother’s eyes, I can see that my turquoise and lavender eyes are lined with tears and swirling with intense emotions.
I gasp. The real me. Not any of the people in the memory. Shock clangs inside my skull, and only my tight grip on Draven’s wrist keeps me from staggering backwards from the sheer force of that shock.
Because now, watching this from my mother’s eyes, I see something that I never could before.
The moment that the younger version of me looks up from the broken glasses and meets my parents’ gazes in panic and fear, glowing magic flashes in my eyes.
Digging my fingers into Draven’s wrist, I drag in unsteady breaths as I stare at those glowing turquoise and lavender eyes. My eyes. And there is absolutely no question about it. Magic. I am using magic on my parents.
Panic flashes across my young face, and that version of me begins frantically pleading, “No, no, no, please. Please, don’t hate me. I didn’t mean to… Please, I didn’t mean to?—”
Orion pulls me out of the memory.
I draw in a shuddering breath.
For a few seconds, I just stand there on the grass,shellshocked. I feel like I was just hit in the head with a blacksmith’s hammer.
That memory. That memory when I had to watch my parents’ features so clearly and so suddenly transform into hatred when they looked at me… The exact moment it happened, the exact moment they began looking at me with resentment in their eyes, I was unwittingly using my magic on them.
Which can only mean one thing.
A broken sob rips from my lips, and I slap a hand over my mouth. Tears well up in my eyes.
I was using magic.
Oh Goddess above, I accidentally used magic on my parents which made them hate me.
Tears of profound relief stream down my cheeks as I gasp in unsteady breaths. My heart feels like it’s both full of sparkling warmth and a thrashing storm of emotions at the same time.
My parents loved me.
My parents did love me.
CHAPTER SIXTY
“Kings do not hug,” Orion declares. “Hugging is for peasants.”
So I give him another extra tight squeeze before whispering, “Thank you.”
His stiff posture softens, and he pats me gently on the back. “You’re welcome. I’m glad I could give you closure.” Then he drops his voice low enough that only the two of us can hear as he adds, “I’ve heard it’s what people do for their… friends.”
I grin, but since my back is to everyone else, they can’t see it. I also keep my voice low as I reply, “You really have a massive heart underneath that ruthless façade, don’t you, Unseelie King?”
“If you ever imply something so ridiculous again, I will lock you in my dungeon and trap you in your nightmares for the rest of your life.”
I chuckle. “Sure.”
But as I release him from my embrace and step back, his black and silver eye is gleaming with unspoken emotions. He quickly shoots me a threatening look, daring me to comment on it. I press my lips together to stop a smile as I step back and turn to face the rest of our friends again.
