Page 43 of The Iron Flower

“They have had female alphas, too.”

“Not for some time, Andras, and it is unforgivable. They are everything the Goddess despises. And after they die, it will be as if they had never existed, whereas we will go to the Goddesshaven.”

Andras shakes his head. “I don’t believe that. I don’t believe any of it anymore.”

“What do you mean you don’t believe?”

“Every race—the Fae, the Lupines, the Elves, the Gardnerians, the Amaz—they all have completely different religious beliefs, but theone thingthey all have in common is that they all believe their way is the only way, and everyone else is less worthy.”

“They are wrong!”

“Oh, I know,” Andras says bitterly. “Only the Amaz are right. Don’t you understand? I have no place with your people. Your every tradition says that, as a male, I am inferior and dangerous and worthless, except to be used to create more female Amaz. I don’t believe this. I am not vile, and I do not have some uncontrollable urge to enslave women.”

“Because we have repented!”

“No. Not because we have repented. Because it’s nottrue!”

“You do not know what you are doing!” Professor Volya cries, her voice taking on a desperate edge. “You will bring down the judgment of the Goddess on us both!”

“No, I won’t,” Andras says, adamant. “Because there is no Goddess.”

His mother seems overcome with shock. She glances at the sky as if expecting a lightning bolt to descend on them both at any minute. “Beg forgiveness now,” she pleads, her voice a strangled whisper.

“No,” Andras says. “I will not apologize to anyone for speaking the truth.”

Her face tightens with outrage. “If you continue down this cursed path, you will no longer be my son.”

Andras’s expression turns stony. “How convenient for you, Mother. Now you can go back to your own people, the people you really love.”

Professor Volya’s resolve seems to waver, her eyes tortured. “Andras...”

Andras suddenly flings his hand up, his fingers splayed open. “Look at my hand, Mother,” he demands. “I have just as many bones in my hand as you do. Contrary to the lies told in your people’s story of creation.”

“You will be damned by the Goddess,” she cries, her voice catching as her eyes turn glassy with tears. “You will die someday and be nothing more than a handful of ashes. And I will go to the Goddesshaven all alone. Before, maybe there was some chance the Goddess would take pity on us...but if you do this thing, my son... I will never see you again.”

“No, Mother,” Andras says quietly. “When we die, we will both be nothing but ash, just like everyone else. No matter how many stories are invented to try and deny this fact. And if this is the only life I get, I want more from it. I want a mate and children and acceptance. Something your people will never give to either of us.”

Professor Volya stands there in silence, tears streaking down her face.

“I am leaving the Amaz, Mother,” Andras tells her, compassion filling his tone. “But I’m not leavingyou. You will always be family to me. I will be living in the wilds while I finish my commitment to help you with the care of the horses until the spring. After that, I will join the Southern Lupine pack and become one of them. And I hope that someday, you will turn your back on the lies your people have forced down your throat and join us, as well.”

She shakes her head, anguish streaking across her face. “Andras, no...”

“I’ve decided, Mother.” Andras cuts her off, sounding upset. “If you cannot accept that, then you need to go.”

“My son...”

“No,”Andras says, emphatic. “Leave me be.”

Professor Volya hesitates, looking distraught, then turns and pushes into the woods as Andras slumps down, his head falling into his hands.

Yvan and I wait until we can’t hear her anymore, and then we go to him, hesitantly approaching.

Andras doesn’t move as we quietly take a seat on either side of him.

“I’m sorry... We overheard,” I tell him, placing my hand lightly on his broad back. “And...I’m sorry this is all so hard.”

Andras looks up at the crackling fire, his expression devastated, his cheeks slick with tears.

---