Page 103 of Fate

Ellena shifted, both her body and her eye line. “He would be someone’s mate one day. I wanted him to be a better one than his father.”

Firen nodded, feeling stricken by how many poor thoughts she’d harboured against this woman. How much resentment. “He loves you. He does not like to speak of it, but I feel it all the same. The... loss.” She brought her hand to her chest, to the source of what she treasured most.

And felt another pang of sorrow that, for Ellena, it was a source of pain and frustration.

Ellena pulled away, her hands coiling as she looked up at Firen in entreaty. “I am still here. Please, I...”

Firen shook her head. “Please, don’t. I...” She huffed out a breath. “We had a terrible start, you and I. So let’s begin again, shall we? As best we can?”

She took a full step back, thinking of the games she and Lucian had to play as they muddled through in their first days. Him so full of misgivings. Her with her host of expectations—the ones she would staunchly disagree existed at all.

She lowered her head and brought her hand back to her chest briefly. “It is a pleasure to meet my mate’s mother. I thank you for your service in raising him. For loving him. And I will endeavour to make you proud.”

The words were old ones. Meant as a prayer as families gathered and gave blessings and got to know one another.

So much had been neglected. Made impossible.

But perhaps not as much as she’d once thought.

Ellena merely blinked at her, her eyes misty and her hand up at her throat.

“Why don’t you come tomorrow? For tea with my mother and I. Lucian did not tell me his schedule, so I do not know if he can stay long, but...”

“Yes,” Ellena burst out before Firen could even finish her thought. “Yes, I would like that.”

They’d turned back already. Were almost back to her mother and Firen was more relieved than she cared to admit. Even if she’d determined to try harder, it was easier when Mama was there to offer her support. “Tea, tomorrow. At my house. Is that all right with you?”

It felt strange and unexpected to be making that sort of arrangement. For her head to be filled with thoughts of treats she should buy and flowers to set the table, and maybe she should go over the kitchen once more before they came just to be sure there weren’t any forgotten crumbs hiding beneath the cupboards.

Mama cast a glance at Ellena, then back toward Firen. “I would not miss it.”

Which could mean quite a few things, and Firen would speak with her about it. And maybe give a few more particulars on what the troubles had been and what her hopes were for the future.

They settled on a time and Firen gave the direction for their house, Ellena’s shoulder relaxing as soon as she was given their address. “Thank you,” she murmured, and Firen believed her gratitude was real, and she nodded before Ellena stepped away from the stall and took her leave.

“You’ll come early,” Firen amended to her mother. “So we can talk first?”

Mama’s lips tightened slightly, and she didn’t look at Firen. “That might be best.”

Firen took a step forward, not wanting her to be cross. “I want to try,” Firen offered. “For Lucian. And maybe even a little bit for Ellena. She’s had a hard life, I think.”

Mama reached out and patted her shoulder, lingering a bit as her eyes grew serious. “And I love you for that. But you are mydaughter, and my concern is for you first. And I’ll not see you hurt. Not when I’m about.”

Firen gave a rueful look, and Mama merely smiled sweetly at her. “It is too late to disinvite me. You’ll be seen as rude.”

She was right, and Firen would not have done it, anyway. Not when it just meant that her mother loved her.

She bought the treats.

And she scrubbed the kitchen.

And she even had supper warmed on the stove when Lucian came back through the door. He was tired—she did not need the bond to tell her of it, not when it was so obvious in the lines about his eyes, the set of his shoulders.

“Sleep or food?” she asked, hoping for the latter but knowing only he could decide what his needs were.

He grunted, rolling his shoulders before bending down to slip off his boots. “Both.”

She chuckled, fetching plates and cloths for the inevitable mess, and shook her head when he made to sit at the table.

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