223 Mother's Chat

AYLETH

Ayleth's chest when cold when she saw that thing, and the memories rushed back to her—her mother had woken her in the darkest hours of the night, taken her from her bed, to a cold, damp chamber somewhere under the castle, where Ayleth had shivered and cried as the ritual was performed on an altar not unlike the one beside her.

The memories flashed through her head in a blink as she snapped her eyes up to meet her mother's.

"Why did you bring that?" she asked, her voice breathless and hushed.

"Because I told you, Ayleth, I would never allow you to be tortured or harmed by our enemies. I would never allow them to steal you and hurt you—"

"No one is hurting me mother."

"I'm glad that you've remained safe so far, but they stole you from us and brought you here. Now I will steal you back and bring you home."

"Mother, no, Etan is my—"