Page 107 of A Bond so Fierce and Fragile

“Remind me not to get on your bad side,” he mumbled.

Thissian rolled his eyes as Pellie responded, “You’d never, handsome.”

“You, on the other hand.” Pellie’s finger shot out so fast Loche thought it might smack Meyah in the face. “You tread very fucking carefully or I’ll make your worst nightmares come true.”

It was Loche’s turn to chuckle, but he made sure to keep it dark as he glared at the rebel leader. “They’re right. It’s time for us to have a real chat. You must end this rebellion right now, or we’re all doomed. I…” Loche ground his teeth before continuing. “I might not have approached our… discussions… in the most amicable way before, but I am here to listen now. I am sure we can find a middle ground before Havlands as we know it is lost and both of our peoples perish.”

Meyah’s eyes were narrowed to slits as they captured his. “Both of our peoples… You’re such a disappointment, Loche. I didn’t have particularly high hopes for you… but this… this is what it’s come to?”

“Enough with the act,” Loche snarled. “Show us your real face.”

The woman who looked like his mother threw her head back and cackled. “You keep proving me right, son. After all this time away from you, I thought perhaps my decision to leave you behind had been hasty, but you’re as useless and stupid as you always were.”

Loche kept his smirk on his face. He’d been called worse growing up and when he fought his way to the regency, and even now he knew what those fuckers in the council whispered behind his back.

“I said enough.” Loche took a step forward, and his friends followed, the already strained air growing heavier, whipping saltacross their skin as the wind picked up, almost as if it felt the anger rising within him. “We do not have time for your games. And you’re doing your people no favors by insulting me.”

Meyah laughed again. “You truly don’t see it, do you?” Her hand waved lazily toward the tanned Fae behind her, who had an impressive mane of curly black hair falling down his back. “He is blocking all magic.”

A hand landed on his forearm, and Loche frowned at Soria when she shot him a small smile, her delicate face moving from side to side ever so slightly.

“So what?” Loche hissed when the rebel leader didn’t continue, but Kerym made a sound that made him spin toward the raven-haired Fae, his frown deepening when both he and his brother winced as they met his eyes.

“He’s neutralizing magic,” Kerym said, his tone almost apologetic. “She can’t shift.”

She can’t shift.

Loche shook his head so violently his hair lashed his cheeks.

No.

Because…

No.

This was not fucking happening.

Loche’s hands clenched and unclenched as he tried to lock down the surprise, the unease, the fucking guilt that seemed to have taken a permanent position within his body, and the only question he could get out was “Why?”

Meyah seemed amused as her gaze trailed across his face, reading way too fucking much into it, judging from the way her eyes lit up. “Why am I your mother? Why didn’t I tell you who I really was? Why are you such a disappointment? There are so many questions to be answered, don’t you think?”

She shook her head, her red lips lifting into a distant smile. “I unfortunately can’t answer the last one, but I can tell youthat I birthed you. A night with too much to drink, and I wasn’t careful enough. And before you ask, I have no idea who your useless human father is. I wasn’t happy, of course. It’s difficult to get clients when you’re with child, although there are a few who seem to prefer it.”

She flicked Soria and Pellie a glance. “I wouldn’t advise you to go looking for those men, though… they’re pretty vile. And it’s expensive to take care of children! You’re so needy…” Her top lip curled back in disgust. “The screaming… the sleepless nights. No, you weren’t for me.”

Meyah tilted her head as Loche only stared back at her.

He’d known she was a terrible mother—that he wasn’t wanted. The beatings, the name-calling, the hungry days informed him of as much.

But this?

“I was already part of the rebellion then. It was the only way I could stand letting these humans touch me, knowing that their silver went to the people they hated. Because they hated me, and they hated themselves even more for wanting me.” Meyah’s eyes lifted to the sky for a moment as she pursed her lips. “Men… idiots, all of them.” Her eyes snapped to his again. “Look at you. Falling in love and ruining your life. Was it worth it, son? I saw how she clung to the Death Whisperer when I met her…”

“Enough! It’s fucking enough,” Kerym snarled when Loche began shaking.

But Loche lifted a hand, silencing him.

He needed to hear this. He needed these answers.