I didn’t want to tell her about the key— kinda because I didn’t really trust her with that information, but more so because right now, she was really pissing me off. “I’m the Worldweaver. I can sense power. Kazim isn’t as strong as his sister. He never will be.”
Mom waved me off. Ethan squeezed my knee under the table, and I settled at his touch.
Forget Mom. This was about doing what was best for the babies. I didn’t know why she wanted to hammer this point home so badly. Didn’t she regret separating Arthur and I? Why would she want to do that to Kazim and Kalina?
Maybe my Mom wanted Arthur to experience some of that pain. So he’d know what it felt like, and she wouldn’t have to be alone.
Understandable motives. Still fucked up.
“Listen here. There isno wayI’m separating my children, so everyone here can get that out of their heads,” Arthur seethed. “What are our other options?”
“You could leave the estate,” Lucien offered. “Take the twins somewhere even more isolated, where it’ll be hard for anyone to find you.”
A surge of terror slammed into me, though I knew it was selfish. I didn’t want the twins to leave, because I wanted them with me.
But if it wasn’t what was best for them, it didn’t matter. I’d suffer if it meant keeping them safe.
“I don’t think that’s wise,” Ethan said. “Here at the estate, we have multiple people here to protect them. If Arthur is out on his own with the twins, they could be better hidden, but if there is an attack, he’ll quickly be overwhelmed trying to fend off multiple foes on his own.”
“We can’t just do nothing,” Mom complained.
“Why not?” Babcia shot at her. “The estate is a safe place for us all. It can remain so for the twins, if we increase our magical protections and become even more cautious as to who’s out there.”
“Droga will find this place eventually. We all know that,” Lucien said tiredly.
“Then give us more time,” I pleaded. “I’m certain we can find the last Crystal and put a stop to all of this.”
“Even if Droga is defeated, Kalina still won’t be safe. There is no shortage of evil in the world, and monsters will always come for her,” Lucien argued.
“But if wedodefeat Droga, we’ll be in a much better position to protect her,” Ethan stated. “We’ll have more resources, and won’t be distracted.”
“And Kalina will have to come back to Malovia anyway, once she has to learn her magic. It’s the same situation we were in with me all over again. Let’s do it differently this time,” I pleaded.
“We can’t, Emma. The safety ofmygrandchildren are at stake,” Mom spat.
“Give them a chance to prove themselves,” Bapa argued.
Mom let out a cruel laugh. “Why? I wasn’t given the same option. Ihadno choice.”
But then Lucien laid his hand on hers, and something in her eyes changed. Her tone became less harsh as she said, “You’ve got one more year to fix this, Emma. We can’t keep bargaining with the safety of the family like this.”
I didn’t have much time left anyway. I was fated to die next winter, if my prophecy was right. I was determined to make sure the twins were safe before that time came.
“You shouldn’t be making demands. This is Arthur’s decision,” Babcia said firmly.
“Arthur is too young to understand.Iwas too young. I’m his mother. I have been through this, and I know the consequences!” Mom shouted.
“He and his sister have been through more than you can ever imagine,” Bapa barked back.
Mom snorted. “Like you would know.”
Okay, I’d had enough of this. This family war had crossed the line. I didn’t care about it, until it started hurting the twins. And right now, it didn’t seem like anyone at this table could be an adult, save for me, my mate, and my brother.
“You guys really need to make up,” I said. “The twins deserve a united family. Not one that’s arguing all the time.”
“We aren’t the ones holding a grudge,” Babcia rebutted.
“Let’s just lay it on the table. You don’t like Mom because she’s prejudiced against Unseelie fae, andshedoesn’t like you because she thinks she needs to be the center of Dad’s world at all times,” I stated bluntly.
