Page 24 of Entwined

“I like Asteria,” I say. “But if she could die, that means Ocharta could as well.” I glare at Mom. For someone who didn’t want to talk about this, she sure is chatty.

“If either of them dies, it’s a blessing,” Mom insists.

Some of the old Mom’s still in there, still fighting.

But she crouches down now, dropping one knee to the ground. “But kids, listen. That’s not for you to worry about, okay? You listen to your sister, and you stay safe here with her.”

Sammy wraps his arms around Mom again, tightly, but then his little voice fills the entire room. “But I like Gordon, Mom. Is that bad?”

“Who’s Gordon?” Mom asks.

“That’s me.” Gordon and Rufus were clearly hiding from Axel—pretty sure they’d be in trouble when he found out how they were playing. But they’re never far, not anymore.

When they step forward from around the wall into the hallway, Mom’s eyes widen. “And you are?” Her eyes cut toward mine.

“Gordon’s my best friend, Mom,” Sammy says. “He’s really bad at Uno, but he always beats me at Candy Land. Usually he’ll play anything I want, and he brings me treats all the time. Plus, I can ride on his back—like he’s my own dragon car. Even though he kinda looks like a snake, he’s really fast, and we were totally beating Rufus and Coral before?—”

Gordon’s shaking his head, his eyes wide.

Axel’s laughter surprises all of us.

“You’re saying that your best friend,” Mom says, “is—” She chokes.

“A dragon,” I say. “Yes. He’s an earth dragon.”

Mom closes her eyes. She stands up, shifting Sammy’s hands from around her waist to her hands. When she finally opens her eyes, she looks broken again.

Shattered.

She’s staring right at me. “I can’t say that I understand or approve of you pairing your brother up with a blessed.” Her eyes drop to her feet, as if speaking out against them either scares her. . .or she’s been ordered not to do it. “But does it have to be the weakest variety?”

“The earth blessed can’t bond him,” Axel says. “It makes them uniquely situated to care for a child who’s sure to be a bright.”

Mom’s head snaps back up, her expression pained.

“They’re young, but all three of them will be highly sought after,” Axel says, “both for their connection to Azar, and because finding brights has now become more difficult.”

“Are you implying that you care about their welfare?” Mom’s eyes flash.

“I care about it because Liz cares about it.” Axel arches one eyebrow imperiously. “Would you like me to find a stronger blessed to protect them?” His tone isn’t mocking.

He seems utterly serious.

“You’re the Prince of the Earth Blessed,” Mom says. “So you’ll know that I mean nothing but respect when I say this, but do you believe your earth blessed are capable of protecting my children, knowing their position within the society of the blessed?”

I frown. “They’re at the bottom, sure, but?—”

Axel steps toward Mom. “I think they’re the best of our options, and Rufus and Gordon are my strongest lieutenants.” He sighs. “Beyond that, everyone knows they’re my two closest companions, so their presence is like my own.”

Mom nods slowly. Then she turns to me. “I should head back before Ocharta notices I’m gone. Thanks for welcoming me, Entwined.”

I roll my eyes. “Stop.”

She shakes her head. “I can’t stop. Besides, you should know that I’m grateful. You’ve done everything you can to keep them safe.” A single tear forms at the corner of her eye and rolls down her cheek. “You’ve done what I couldn’t—what I was too weak to do.” Mom takes my hand then.

The hand that wiped away my tears.

The arm that wrapped around me every time I was afraid.