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“What’s in it for you?”
“At this point in time? Nothing. Care to know why Pollux thinks Cael would seek to confine you if you come into yourself too sharply?”
“If you can state what you assume clearly and plainly, sure.”
“You are capable of destroying the reality of this world and creating a different one. Without control of that ability, you can break yourself and the minds of everyone around you. Polly worries Cael will respond prematurely. Pollux has grown much too soft in Cael’s world. It is his instinct to overwhelm and consume, but he hesitates to hurt you. He, of all people, should know that pain is an unfortunate side effect of life.”
My free hand clenches into a fist against my thigh. “You’re wrong. He knows that growth isn’t always comfortable. His mind is incredible, and I trust fully that he has thought every action where I am concerned through countless times.”
Castor laughs briefly. “Child, that’s called overthinking. And, yes, Polly is great at it.”
“Ultimately, I don’t trust why you want me to embrace becoming fully fae, if I can even figure out how to. I trust whatever reasons he has for being cautious.”
“Kassandra Eve Role,” Castor says, as though it’s common knowledge to know my full legal name. “I do hope you will take these words to heart—sand is overwhelming, yet it makes a terrible long-term foundation. Your powers are overwhelming to perceive and dangerous if you toy with relying on them to fix what you don’t like. You have the ability to control more than mortals should, but having power does not justify its abuse. Even under a context of righteousness, power that forces another’s will completely should not be used.”
“Mrs. Role is…” Andromeda begins, so softly I can hardly hear her.
“Shh.” Castor sighs, going silent for several moments. “We are respecting Polly’s wishes. That is the least I can offer an old friend as penance for the trouble I’ve caused today.”
My throat closes. “Meda.” I squeeze her hand. “You know what I am?”
“Yes.”
“Can I really get you out of here?”
Her fingers tighten around mine. “That isn’t why you should accept becoming fully fae, Mrs. Role.” Her hand unravels from around mine, then the indent of her weight slips out of my reach.
“Meda,” I hiss, reaching blindly.
Her voice rises from nearer where Castor’s has been drifting. “Uncle Castor, please. I promise I’ll sit here and wait for you to come back if you take Mrs. Role home to her parents’ house and let her be after this.”
“An interesting proposal. I’ll have to decline.”
“You just said that a power that forces someone against their will should not be used. If you keep her here for too long, she’ll be forced to either break or adapt whether she wants to or not.”
Castor drones, “Little lamb, where in this entire event did you decide I abide by some higher moral code?”
“Daddy still believes in you. Daddy still cares about you.”
“Yes, well, that would be his undoing, wouldn’t it? Care to know something about your daddy and your Uncle Cael? Between the two of them, one carries their morals in an unless fashion, the other a regardless one.”
“What does that mean?” Andromeda asks.
“Cael holds to his morals unless something happens. He would have found a way to torture me within an inch of my life daily if I’d intentionally kidnapped his moth princess recently. Pollux, above many things, craves peace. He hates pain. He hates death. He is soft. He relies too entirely on his presence being a threat, because he is not emotionally prepared to lift a finger without consent. Wrongs are wrong to him, regardless. My wrongs do not make any he could commit right.”
Andromeda sniffles. “Daddy cares so much about everyone. It’s not kind to use his care against him.”
“When have I ever claimed to be kind?”
“Please,” Andromeda whispers. “Mrs. Role is hurting, and I can taste her fear. She’s never been scared in front of me before. Please.”
“Do not worry. Even if this event allows her to regain the ability to access the full range of her emotions, it is not her absence of fear that cancels the presence of yours. It is the foundation of her character, which seeks to create a safe space for everyone around her. In spite of herself.”
“I’m not worried about that.” Andromeda’s voice shakes. “I’m worried about her.”
“She will survive. It takes humans days to go fully mad even without the precaution you’ve taken in covering her eyes. I anticipate we have perhaps minutes before your father reaches us.”
Pollux would be here in minutes? Does that mean I get to sit pretty like a damsel in distress and wait for him?
