Page 9 of A Tongue so Sweet and Deadly

In the four years she’d done this—brought these children here for a better life—not a single parent had come for any of them.

He nodded, satisfied with her answer, and when a small yawn escaped him, Lessia smiled again. “Time for bed. Kalia will make sure you have everything you need, but you can always send for me if you need me. Just ask for Lessia.”

As she made her way to the door, Ledger whispered, “Did your family come for you?”

Swallowing, Lessia responded, “I don’t have a family.”

But she couldn’t stop the memory of gentle hands in herhair, the smell of fresh grass, and the sense of happiness flickering to life. A girl with a face the mirror to her own, giggling as she chased her. But when that face twisted with pain, emptiness replacing the happiness in the golden eyes, Lessia bit back a whimper.

She hadn’t been able to save her.

But she’d made a vow that no more souls would lie heavy on her conscience.

With a final glance at Ledger, whose eyes had now shut, the hardness in his face softened, she forced a small smile, then walked out of the room.

Chapter

Four

After helping her move the shelf back into place, Amalise waited at the bottom of the spiral staircase, one hand resting on the metal railing. As she approached her friend, Lessia cast a mournful glance over her shoulder.

She wished there was something more she could do for them.

Keeping them locked up like this drove even the calmest crazy some days.

But she’d brought them over illegally—hadn’t dared to risk that they’d be turned away at Ellow’s borders. So they had to wait until they turned sixteen, when most folks in Ellow started to work, before they could be introduced into society, each with an individual backstory of how they’d ended up here.

“Don’t.”

Her eyes found Amalise’s, and Lessia frowned. “Don’t what?”

“Don’t feel guilty.” Amalise’s blue eyes held hers captive. “You’ve done so much for them. This is more than they could ever ask for.”

Lessia shook her head. “Living like prisoners? Just because they have a bed and food doesn’t mean they’re free.”

“But they’re alive.” Amalise took a step toward her. “They get to live, Lessia.”

A shard of ice pierced her chest, and Lessia tore her eyes away, slamming a hand against the wall as she thought of the young girl who didn’t.

“You can’t blame yourself forever, Lessia.”

Amalise tried to put an arm around her shoulders, but Lessia shifted away.

She couldn’t stand the compassion when she was the one at fault.

She needed to do better by these children.

Give them the life another had been robbed of.

“You were a child, Lessia. It wasn’t your fault. You couldn’t have known,” Amalise pleaded.

“Please stop,” Lessia whispered. “I can’t think about this.”

“But you need to. At some point, you need to let it go. She’d want you to. We all know why you bring them over, and of course we support you. Gods, I’ve come to love those little bastards despite all the chaos they cause. But you need to see the good you’re doing!”

Lessia shook her head, her eyes following the swirling snow outside the rounded window beneath the stairs.

This burden was one she’d carry for however long she would live.

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