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“I’m glad you like it.”
“It’s perfect, as always.” I took a sip of my juice. “How was your day?”
“It was good. I went to the market and there was a Youkai merchant there selling his wares. He had spices from all over. I bought some for tomorrow.” Her eyes widened in delight. “He even gave me a recipe to go with it.”
I smiled. “I can’t wait to try it.”
She laughed as she shook her head. “You and your appetite. You’re going to be the death of me, I swear.”
I grinned and kept eating.
She sat down across from me and placed the dress in her hands on the table. “What’s bothering you, child?”
Was I so easy to read? A mother’s intuition, perhaps.
I sighed and leaned back in my chair. “I’m just worried about the future.”
“You worry too much,” she tsked. “You’ll be fine. You’re strong and capable. I have faith in you.”
I pushed my plate away. “I met the Caid today.”
My mother dropped her stitching. “Why?”
I looked down. I didn’t want to see her reaction. “I think you know why.”
She pulled me into a hug. “You’ll be fine, I promise.”
But I wasn’t so sure.
“I’ll talk to Mehdi. Maybe there’s a way to get you out of this.”
Her voice had a hysterical tone to it.
Bowing my head, tears welled up in my eyes. “No.”
“You don’t have to do this.” She hugged me tighter. “We can leave, start a new life somewhere else.”
I took in a sharp breath. “No, I have to do this. It’s my duty.”
For Souhir.
My mother’s grip loosened. “I know, child. I know.”
My father and brothers were gone. And now I would leave my mother and Tilila behind. The Elves had not been kind to my family.
I had to be strong. I couldn’t let them down.
“I love you,” I said, my voice trembling.
“I love you too, child.” Tears shimmered in her eyes. “I’m proud of you. I never wanted this fate for you, but I’m proud of you.”
I smiled through my tears and hugged her tighter. Her words gave me strength. And I would need all the strength I could get for what was to come.
The scent of her perfume soothed me. “Thank you.”
“Be careful,” my mother whispered in my hair. “Please be cautious. You can do this. I know you’ve got this in you. Simply be yourself.”
I nodded and wiped my tears. She was right. This was something I could do. I had to be strong. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
