“How did you manage during that time?” she asks.

Make your response quick, find something else to talk about.

“Fine,” I grunt, trying desperately to think of a follow up question.

“Just fine?” she asks. “That’s it.”

“Yeah,” I snap. I already feel the air of tension brewing between us.

“Well, okay then…” she says quietly. “In any case, it’s good to see Colson and Kenji back with their father.”

Well then why did you keep them a secret- Ugh, what am I doing? Stop overthinking!

“Sure is,” I say, forcefully feigning a smile.

“Here’s an idea, maybe you can teach them some magic. Nasthyn used to always-”

“I’ll do it, okay?” I snap. I feel the vein in my forehead throbbing before suddenly realizing I’ve given my anger away.

Does she think of Nasthyn as the better father figure?

“What’s gotten into you?” asks Cyra, crossing her brows in annoyance.

“I just don’t want to hear about how some other guy fathered my children every day for two years.”

“He didn’t-” begins Cyra before sighing. “I didn’t say he was their father, I’m just saying something he did to look after them was-”

“There you go again, talking about how great Nasthyn is to my kids!” I exclaim, raising my voice.

“Hey! Calm down! He was good to the kids so why don’t you just cool off?”

“He was good you say? Are you forgetting he fucking stripped away your freedom?”

“Stop yelling!” says Cyra, rising from her chair. “I’m not forgetting what he did but I can’t stay angry at him because he helped me with the children. I don’t understand why you’re getting so heated.”

“It’s because of all your damn questions!” I scream, pounding the table with my fist. “How am I? Oh Lykan, talk to me about your past, tell me your feelings! I’m sick of it!”

Cyra shakes her head in disbelief, the sight of which only infuriates me further.

“And then there’s all this praise for a piece of shit elf who took you away from your freedom, but it’s okay because he’s actually a really good guy?”

“He was good to me.”

“If I hear that one more time, I swear I’m going to-”

“You’re going to what? What have you ever done for me before this? Oh right, you got me pregnant! Thanks for that! What the fuck do you want from me?”

“I could ask you the same thing! Here’s the truth Cyra, you’re never ever going to understand me. It’s not like you truly care about my wellbeing.”

“How the fuck could you say that? I don’t care about you? Why do you think I moved in here? I wanted you to have more time with your kids, I wanted you to have a friend in me, I wanted to-”

“Save it Cyra,” I snap, waving a dismissive hand. “I don’t even know how I can trust a single word you say. Of all the people that have betrayed me in this world, none have ever come close to you keeping my children from me. You’re nothing but a no-good, lying human scum.”

Cyra gasps, her eyes immediately welling with tears. I suddenly regret what I said but pride withholds the urge to apologize.

“Fine. The kids may love you, so I’m going to be the bigger person and let them keep seeing you but you and I are no longer friends. You’re just some lonely piece of shit who thinks no one around him can be trusted. Get the fuck over yourself you glorified security guard. I never should have let you near me.”

With that, she storms out of the room, slamming the doors behind her. I’m left alone in the aftermath, sinking into my seat as an air of dread and isolation floats around me.