"She is not needed here," I managed, though my voice trembled like a reed in the wind. "I don't see why there's a need to invite her."
My throat was so tight it hurt, but I forced the words out.
I would take whatever punishment Finn dealt me, every cruel word, every slap, every lash, but not this. Not her. Almira may not have been the best mother one could dream of but she was still my mother. The only family I had left. I loved her, despite it all.
Finn didn't answer at once.
He carved another piece of meat with neat strokes of the knife. His calmness was worse than rage. Rage I could expect, rage I could brace myself against. But this quiet indifference chilled me far more.
"The Heirbind Rite is only a few days away," he said finally, his tone deceptively mild. "With what happened to Stella, I know it must have saddened you greatly."
His golden eyes lifted, catching mine like a snare. "Which was why you made… a mistake last night."
