Page 167 of The Amber Sunburst

Lazarus reverts to a respectful tone despite the circumstances. “Councilwoman.”

“Remove the taser from your pocket,” she says with a rough hand on Arete’s shoulder to stop her from running.

There goes his only weapon. It barely makes a sound when it falls to the grass.

“Now, Lazarus. I think it’s time for us to talk.”

“Release the child first, and I’d be happy to.”

“The child?” Apollonia asks. “Why refer to her so callously? You know her name.”

“No.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Apollonia doesn’t budge.

“Let her go, and then we’ll talk, Councilwoman.”

“I will keep her, and I’ll talk if it pleases you.”

Lazarus can’t bring himself to glare.

“You are not leaving this place, Lazarus. Not now, not ever. You will feel my wrath and the wrath of every Guardian and Councilman who lent a drachma for your success.

“The level of your ingratitude is incomprehensible. We chose you and raised you to be everything you ever could have wanted⁠—”

For the first time in his life, Lazarus interrupts her. “How do you know it’s what I wanted? I was a child.”

“You were my child,” Apollonia says without changing her grave tone.

Lazarus’ whole brain does a double take.

“What?”

“Why do you think we picked you? You are my blood. You have my eyes, my hair, my skin, my drive.”

Apollonia is… she’s…

She’s my mother.

It shouldn’t affect him. He shouldn’t care. He’s been taught his whole life that blood ties mean nothing. And yet…

“Then why?” Lazarus almost whines, desperation for her approval causing him physical pain.

My mother, my mother, my mother.

“Why do you hate me?”

“You think far too much of yourself, Lazarus. I do not care about you enough to hate you. I am indifferent. The fact that you are my son is of no importance to me. My concern is blood. My genes are powerful. You were the best choice for our future leader.”

Lazarus shakes his head. He can’t let this break him. It has to be inconsequential because he can only have one priority right now.

“I will stay, if you want me to. But let her go.”

Apollonia narrows her eyes in suspicion. “The sister of a boy you’ve barely just met?”