“It would have been extremely awkward for him,” Zarya finished, trying to imagine Darling in a women’s lingerie boutique. Although, he did have a deep appreciation for it…
Teasingly, she rubbed her arm against Lise’s. “If it makes you feel any better, Maris is the one who taught me, too.”
Lise laughed. “If you ever get a chance, you really should go shopping with him. I’ve never seen anyone get so excited about shoes.” The humor faded as she turned serious again. “I know Sorche doesn’t remember her mother, but do you?”
“I do.”
Lise considered that for a moment. “What was it like?”
Zarya wasn’t sure what she meant. “What was what like?”
“Having a mother. Was she kind?”
Zarya couldn’t speak for several seconds around the lump in her throat that those words caused. It’d always saddened her that Sorche couldn’t remember their mother. But Lise’s was alive…
I will never understand Natale. How could she neglect her children so?
“She was wonderful. I’m sure we fought, but I don’t remember it at all. I only remember her laughing and hugging us.”
“I’m so sorry, Z.”
Her apology startled her. “For what?”
“Everything my uncle did to you.” Lise glanced over to Sorche who was snoring ever so softly. “I know how much Patrice and Rachelle meant to Sorche. She said that you and Rachelle were very close.”
Zarya clenched her teeth against the wave of pain that crashed through her at the mention of her sisters. She even missed her brother’s meanness. “We were.”
“Sorche talks about them all the time, but she said that you don’t.”
Tears welled up in Zarya’s eyes, blinding her for a moment. “I can’t,” she said with a short sob. It was why she’d blocked out those memories of Darling’s visits when they’d been children. She missed her family so much that when she looked back, it felt like something gutted her. She still couldn’t believe they were gone.
That she’d never see them again…
Lise wrapped her arm around Zarya’s shoulders and hugged her. “I get it now.”
Zarya cleared her throat. “Get what?”
“You and Darling. You’ve both had the weight of the universe on you for a long time. From the cradle, my father filled Darling with responsibility. And my mother shoved so much on him that I’m surprised it didn’t break his back to carry it all. Meanwhile, your father made you responsible for the entire Resistance, as well as Sorche and Rachelle.”
Strange, she’d never thought of it that way. She’d never considered her sisters a burden. But Lise was right. She and Darling did have that in common.
“Darling was the only parent I’ve ever known and Sorche said that you’ve been her only mother.”
Zarya glanced down at her little sister. “Yeah, but I never minded.”
Lise fell quiet for a few seconds. “I wonder if Darling ever did.”
“Did what?”
“Minded us.” Lise flinched.
“Is your back all right?” she asked, worried about the pain she saw on Lise’s face.
Lise nodded. “It’s not the back. I flashed on Darling and all the times Arturo would start toward me or his daughters, and Darling would put himself between us, giving us time to escape while he drew Arturo’s attention and fire to him. It had to bother him, didn’t it? But he never said anything about it. Not once.”
Zarya took her hand and held it gently. “He loves you, Lise. Dearly. So no, I don’t think he minded at all.”
“I really need to be nicer to him.”
Smiling, Zarya started to respond, but the operating room door finally opened.
Her throat went dry as Syn came out, looking pale and shaky. Exhausted. Without a word, he went over to Nero and pulled the flask off his belt. Tipping his head back, he took a deep swallow.
Nykyrian and Kiara returned a second before Maris joined their group.
Terrified of Syn’s behavior, Zarya gently pushed her sister off her shoulder, got up and went over to him. “Is Darling all right?”
Syn returned the flask to Nero, then nodded. “I’ve got him stabilized. For now.”
Hauk scowled. “What happened?”
Syn ground his teeth. “We lost him three times on the table and had to resuscitate him.” He glared at Nykyrian as if it was somehow his fault. “Damn you half-blooded mongrels. You make it hard as hell on us to treat you. None of you react to anything like you’re supposed to.”
Half-blooded? Those words echoed in her head. She frowned at Syn. “Darling’s human, isn’t he?”
Syn didn’t answer her question as he continued his report. “Because it’s Darling, we’re not sure how well the new procedure will take. But I did a little more work on his internals while I had him under. The additional stress shocked his system, which was really stupid on my part. However, I knew the chances of getting him back on the table would be slim, so I wanted to get as much done on him as I could.” He pulled the surgical cap off. “I seriously hope I haven’t made a mistake.”
Nykyrian placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “You’re the best there is, Syn. He’ll be fine.”