Page 189 of A Liar's Twisted Tongue

Someone charges for me with a sword in hand, and I’m only just getting to my feet when someone steps in front of me.

A severed hand falls to the floor. A scream rings through my eardrums.

Lucian crouches down, picking me up at my waist and hauling me over his shoulder. I claw at his back. “Lucian, I need my necklace!”

He doesn’t even give me the decency of a response, and I grow tired of trying to tear his heavy coat. I let my body go slack in his. What is he going to do to hurt me when apparently I can just burn anyone to death?

In the darkness behind my eyes, I see my mom shaking her head before she walks quickly to the entrance of a dwelling I don’t recognize. Her hands swing over the neck of a man. I think it’s Freyr. I can see her chest trembling with breaths.

“I’ve missed you,” Freyr says into her hair.

She grabs his cheeks. “And I’ve missed you.”

“How is she?” Freyr walks to me and I recoil, even when I tell my body not to. He looks over his shoulder at my mom. “You wiped me from memory?”

“I can’t give her any more instability. She’s already destructive enough as it is.” Her voice is so far from the one I know. Like she’s angry with him.

Or me.

“Isa—”

“I know, I know, nurture trumps nature.” She sits next to Freyr in front of me. “It’s easier said than done.” The way she’s looking at me… it’s like she doesn’t like me. She sounds exasperated when she says, “She’s already killed people.”

“Isa,” Freyr says sternly, turning to her and holding onto her shoulders to turn her to him too. “You can’t keep saying these things in front of her and wiping the memory. The emotional imprint is never gone.”

“I know, I know?—”

He cuts her off. “If you can’t love her, find a way to give her love. She’s a sentient weapon. Treat her just as fragile.”

“Gods,” Mom drops her head into her hands, “what were we thinking?”

“It’s too late for regret, my love.” His hand shifts to her cheek, and they stay looking at one another. It’s so… tender. “Do you have anyone helping you? I understand if you do.”

“There’s never going to be anyone but you.” Freyr’s head tilts. “There’s no one helping me,” Mom clarifies.

“Okay.” He looks away.

Mom goes still. “Why? Is there someone helping you?”

“Never. I spend my entire life in that room.” A beat later, he says, “Have you spoken to Willow?”

“I’ve seen her a few times. But she’s not good. As much as I try, she won’t tell me what they’re making her do.” Freyr nods. “Do you have any more questions about the past? Because I’d really like to be here with you now.”

“Just one last thing. I know you don’t want her.” Freyr looks at me, and only now do I realize that when I try to speak, I can’t hear myself. My mom’s a Light Folk, and sound is Air’s territory. She knew the truth my whole life. “But by nature, you are good. She can be too.”

“Is that all?” Mom says.

“Yes.” Freyr drops his head.

She picks it up and kisses him.

Chapter 39

Losing Track of What I’m Fighting For

DESDEMONA

I don’t recognize where I wake up, and when I see a figure at the end of this mysterious bed, I pounce. My knife lifts to his neck and his knife meets my chest, but our eyes are on each other.

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