Page 200 of The Mercy of Dawn

Mikael just shook his head.

That Dion, the Lord of Helia, wouldn’t even fight for his damn niece to have rights…

“Safe to say Dion is no longer fit to carry out his duties as her guardian,” his father muttered, and Mikael couldn’t agree more. That man should have never been responsible for someone’s care or upbringing. “But that helps our case with getting her citizenship if she accepts our offer.”

Mikael wasn’t sure why she wouldn’t accept their offer, given everything, but one thing still made little sense to him…

“...And your offer upset her?”

“She was angry at first.” Runa huffed a laugh tinged with something bitter. “Not at me, or us, but Dion. Because I was another thing he kept from her, and did not give her a choice of. And then reality caught up with her a bit, of what she’s already lost, and what she would still stand to lose in exchange for her freedom.”

Mikael felt like his questions were never-ending. He sighed and sank back in his chair. “What does she even have left to lose? Dion? I’d hardly call that a loss.”

His father made a noise that had him inclined to believe Lars agreed.

Runa did not look impressed with either of them.

“Her home, Mikael. Helia is her home. Everything she has ever known is there. Not to mention we know Dion would strip her of her title, the lands that would be hers one day, any money she has. She would start over completely. But I did tell her we would take care of everything for her. Whether she wants to live here or in the city, if she wants to work or not, we will see that she doesn’t want for anything.”

Generosity was never something his parents had a short supply of for those who truly needed it, and Mikael knew that well, but he had never witnessed them invested so personally. His father, especially, given his role, was a purveyor of kind neutrality. This was the furthest Mikael had ever seen him tip the scales.

“Can I ask what happened last night?”

Another damn question, but Mikael knew the likelihood of him getting any sort of answer out of Cyril was next to zero. Truly, he wanted to ask what wild fucking chain of events led to Dion thinking he had any right to touch her, but his mother looked like she was hanging on by a thread.

His parents both spoke at once, but Lars motioned for Runa to continue.

“He stripped her of any association she had with the guild and, in light of that decision, he had all of her research and findings from the archives destroyed…”

Mikael was certain his heart dropped right out of his body.

He couldn’t fathom how many hours Cyril had spent in the archives, pouring over texts and tomes, writing pages upon pages of notes until her hand cramped. All in the name of trying to make herself useful, to be of some sort of value to her uncle and his guild.

And the fucking bastard took that from her.

“He did what?”

Runa just nodded, her eyes tired and heavy.

“He cited her…behavior as his justification. He tried to take all her freedom too, saying it was a matter of her safety. Then they—” His mother blew out a shaky breath, and he watched her lose hold of that frayed strand of composure she clung onto. Her shoulders shook and a quiet sob left her. “They went at it, and that’s when he…when he…”

She didn’t need to say anything else.

Even Lars closed his eyes, his body sagging with a sigh.

“I tried for years to convince him to bring her here,” Runa said shakily through her tears, “to let us see to her education and upbringing. But Dion thought he knew better, thought she needed to be with him, that he would take better care of her.” She scoffed and shook her head, dabbing her sleeve to her face. “I will never forgive myself for how I failed her, for not keeping her safe. But I will be damned if I do not give Cyril her wings.”

Mikael knew now that his mother would move mountains for Cyril if this entire display said anything. But parsing the absolute deluge of information that was just dumped on him felt impossible when all he could think of was the condition he left Cyril alone in.

“You know I’ll help in any way I can,” he said, and the faintest glimmer of a smile tugged at his mother’s features. “But I should see if she needs anything. I don’t think she should be alone for long…”

Mikael stood, and his parents did as well.

His mother came around the small tea table and hugged him, saying, “Cyril is going to need time and patience, and both in healthy measures. Her entire life has been spent at the mercy of others—having things taken away from her, her every move dictated. Once these dark clouds of her grief clear, she will need help to navigate her freedom, if she chooses it.”

“She can have whatever time she needs. I’m not going anywhere.” Mikael half shrugged as his mother leaned back and smiled at him, her silvery blue eyes still glossy and red.

It was the truth, though.