Page 198 of The Mercy of Dawn

“I’ll kill him if he touches her again,” Mikael said. Forward wasn’t something he was usually fond of being with his father, with how little civil conversing they did, but no part of this was usual anymore.

It was Lars’ turn to nod as he tossed him a sidelong glance.

“I think a few people share that sentiment. I thought you were going to kill each other earlier, truthfully.”

Mikael scoffed. If it wasn’t for how badly it would’ve fucked up Cyril, it might’ve been for the best.

“He threatened me, you know,” Mikael said, staring at the tapestry that hung opposite them on the wall. Its rolling flower fields felt entirely off putting.

“He…” Lars stared at him. “When?”

“Just before Bron died,” Mikael sighed. “He didn’t want me anywhere near his sweet little niece, because obviously I’m the danger.”

Lars was silent for a long minute, shaking his head.

“Dion has never been an…easy man to deal with. His temper and arrogance, and his vices—” His father laughed, bitterly. “They’ve always been problematic, but never like this. I think everything has finally caught up with him.”

“Am I supposed to feel bad for him?” Mikael could feel that tenuous hold he had on his anger slipping again. “That fucking waste of air has had a hard life, so that means he gets a free fucking pass on tearing Cyril down into nothing? He fucking hit her—”

“I was there, Mikael. I am well aware of what happened.” Lars loosed a slow breath. “His behavior is inexcusable, but you have to forgive me for trying to wrap my head around what series of events caused my friend to become such a monster.”

Despite what his father said, Mikael knew he was looking for an excuse.

A reason for why this happened that was anything but Dion being a fucking monster. Some tangible thing he could blame everything on that would separate the actions from the person. Separate the deplorable behavior from his dear friend.

Mikael knew what his thoughts on the matter were, but he needed to calm down. Cyril couldn’t see him angry and worked up like this, not when she came out of that room. She needed calm and—

“Your mother is offering Cyril sanctuary.”

Mikael blinked.

“She’s what?”

His father wore a sad smile as his attention turned to the end of the hall, where one of the double doors to their suite pulled open. “She’s offering Cyril refuge and safe haven. A way out of her life, if she wants it. I’m sure your mother will want to explain it all to you too.”

Cyril and his mother stepped out, and Mikael’s feet had him halfway there before he realized it, his father trailing behind. Cyril’s shoulders shook, her quiet sobs echoing down the hall as Runa pulled her into an embrace.

Not a happy conversation then.

“...You take your time to decide, all right? There is no rush.”

Runa stepped back from Cyril and took her face in her hands, sweeping her thumbs across her cheeks.

That usual rosy pink undertone of Cyril’s skin was gone, replaced with something ashen and cold. Her eyes were glassy, the brightness in them winked out. She looked like she was in agony, and Mikael’s heart felt like it was being torn apart.

“She would like to go lie down,” his mother said to him, and another quiet sob left Cyril when she looked at Mikael. “And I would appreciate it if you came back to speak with me afterward.”

Cyril reached for him with a shaking hand and tucked herself into his arms. The urge to hide her away somewhere safe—somewhere that no one could see her, touch her, or make her cry ever again—sank its claws into his spine.

Runa’s eyes met his, and they were weighed down with pain. The sadness, laden thick in her voice, was something wholly unfamiliar to him, the calm and soothing current of a being that his mother was.

“Of course.” His eyes drifted down to Cyril, to the hastily braided mess of black hair tucked against his chest. He rubbed her back. “You want to go to your room, or...?”

“Yours, please,” Cyril whispered.

As if she thought he would want to dictate where she could or couldn’t go to rest her damn head. He would have thrown her over his shoulder and carried her to fucking Helia if she asked him to.

“Come on.”