Page 46 of Violet Moon
“I’m not.”
“Not now.I don’t think it will ever take hold like that again.The opportunity has passed, but I believe without a shred of doubt that, if you were faced with that transformation again, you would emerge even stronger than you are now.”
“None of that matters.You won’t lose.”
“I don’t plan on it, but the pack comes before all else and that includes planning for the worst, no matter how impossible it may seem right now.”
“We’re here for you.”
“Tell no one.”
“But the pack should —”
“Do you trust me?”
For the first time, Sera faltered when responding to that.
“Do you trust me?”Parisa asked again.
Sera nodded, unable to find words.
“Then tell no one.I will tell Wilma the evening of the challenge, but no sooner, and no one else.”
fourteen
Thecoffeewashot,the tea was fragrant, the fire was roaring on a chilly autumn night, and Parisa was finally sitting across from Sera, exactly where she should be.
As Parisa talked, Sera drummed her fingers along the side of her coffee cup, jumping at every little sound around the house.
“I seriously cannot handle Clemente anymore.”Parisa took another sip of tea.“I counted how many times he interrupted me today.Seven!Seven times.He thinks he’s so great just because he’s a million years older than anyone else."She raised her cup to her lips again.“Truthfully, he’s far better than he used to be, but that’s not saying a lot.”
Sera tried to listen but her skin was hot as anxiety simmered inside of her.Silence stretched between them as Parisa turned her attention back to her tea.
Sera sat with her feelings until she couldn’t take it anymore.“Are you really not worried about it?”
Parisa set down her tea cup with a clatter.She took her time folding her hands neatly in her lap before looking directly at Sera.“The worry consumes me.It’s been decades — longer — since I handled a duel, but I’m not going to fall apart.”She leaned forward, maintaining eye contact.“And it’s so much easier now that you share this burden, too.”
“But there’s nothing I can do to help.”
“I feel immensely better knowing that someone else knows — that you, in particular, know.It’s not that the problem has magically disappeared like I wish it would, but it’s better.I should have told you sooner, if not for my sake then at least so you could mentally prepare for whatever happens.”
Sera wasn’t sure if she meant preparing for being at the duel or preparing for the worst case scenario, but she didn’t want to talk about either, so she didn’t ask.She shifted in her seat and tried to sip her coffee, but her hands shook when she picked up her mug.Sera cast her eyes down to the floor, lamenting how useless she really was in this situation.
“Do I ask too much of you?”Parisa asked.
“No, not at all.Of course not.”Sera looked up in a panic.She couldn’t be more of a burden than she already was.“If anything, I wish I could do more.”
Parisa stared at her, features soft, eyes a bit watery.“I promise, you do more than enough.”
“But I —”
“I made you something,” Parisa interrupted.She picked up a small, opaque container from the side table.“I wanted to thank you for the daisies earlier.I did enjoy them, even if it was much later in the day.They were lovely,azizam.”
Sera managed a tiny smile.Parisa motioned for her to take the container.Peeling open the lid, Sera suppressed a delighted gasp.The large cake slice inside was soaked in a rosy, still-warm syrup.It was decorated beautifully with small rose petals and pistachios arranged meticulously around the edge.
“I must apologize.I baked it more for myself than you.I needed the process of doing it but, aside from the several slices I’ve eaten today, you’re the only other one to get any.”Parisa handed her a dessert fork.“I thought it’d pair well with your coffee.”
Feelings like Sera tried to keep buried rose to the surface.Important, big words danced on her tongue and she looked up at Parisa and wanted to say them, but she kept it all inside.“It’s beautiful.”
