He knew all this. “The Followers have already found me, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Her head cocked. “They have?”
“Tried to convince me Galadaine Manae wasn’t all bad. Thought I could take his place.”
“There are things even they do not know. You need to?—”
“Why should I care what you think I need? Your history leaves a lot to be desired.”
She stilled. Blinked. Her mouth slowly closed. She swallowed, and it appeared to cause her a great deal of pain when she finally said, “Alright. Then whenever you are ready to listen, I’ll be here to talk.”
His heartbeat still resided inside his Adam’s apple, so David only nodded. He couldn’t imagine ever being ready. Elenya looked as if she wanted to say more, but he escaped into the dark hallway before she could.
When he reappeared in the Sunshine Room, twilight had transmuted into a blanket of navy visible through the swaying treetops, punctuated by green auroras and twinkling stars. Kywyn had gone, but Autumn stood with her hands clasped, smile thin.
Upon meeting her golden gaze, David froze.
“Breathe,” Autumn said.
He did. Slowly.
Details of his mother scalded his vision.
Golden hair.
Contrite eyes.
She’d sent him away to protect him from this realm that hated him. She’d tried to do the right thing. Was it her fault it had all turned out so drastically wrong?
He couldn’t process it. Couldn’t separate the myriad feelings that threatened to crack his ice.
So he left. He passed by Autumn, who followed, and sweptthrough the door. Two flights down, Autumn broke the silence. “Ready for supper?”
David shot her a baffled glance.
She hummed. “Just a suggestion.”
Incredulous laughter loomed in his chest, but he held that back, too. “You have nothing else to say?”
Her shoulder lifted. “It went better than I thought it might.”
David moved toward the balcony rail and gazed down several floors, where people meandered from place to place.
“For how much you wanted to say, how hurt you are, you restrained yourself admirably.”
“I’m not hurt.” The words spilled automatically, without thought or consent.
“You are,” she said, utterly certain, “but it’s no surprise you don’t want anyone to know it. Elenya hasn’t spoken of you often, but her thoughts strayed your way. She has never once doubted that she did the right thing until today. She thought keeping you from this place was best for you.”
“Mother of the year,” David muttered.
She let out her usual buoyant laugh. “Even Sean is on your side about all this. His mom took him away, yes, but she went with him. He thinks Elenya’s a terrible mother for leaving you alone.”
A smirk pulled David’s mouth to one side when he met her golden eyes. “But I wasn’t alone, was I? I was never, ever alone. I was watched. Controlled. Made to be something I wasn’t.”
Autumn’s voice lowered, and she set her warm hand on his arm. “She didn’t know, David.”
His chest tightened, but David breathed deeply against it, forcing it to relax. “It doesn’t matter. Can’t change it now.”
