Tainted by Cyndi Goodgame

the court and marry a human?”
    My mom had a confused look, but softened quickly and turned her head to the kitchen.  She watched Ian while he laughed at something said by Bane, but he had both eyes on me.  “Why did you go with him?” She pointed her head to Ian.  I was dense at first not getting her innuendo.  My mom continued, “You could have said no.”
    The answer dawned on me.  “You loved him too.”  I couldn’t see what my mom saw in my boring lawyer dad, but I’d always seen how much she was devoted to him.  He was everything to her.  Ian was my everything, then and always!
    My mom shook her head and continued to look at Ian.  “And I’ve been able to read your mind for longer than you want me to admit.” 
    That is not what I needed to hear.   “Okay!”
    “My point darling, I knew you would go.  You love him.  I see it in both your eyes.”  She looked back at me whereas I stayed tuned to Ian who was staring.  He could read my mom’s mind I was betting.  I knew he heard her now as he looked at me.  I stayed watching him for as long as he did before we both turned back to the listening ears. 
    “I couldn’t let him walk away and not know.”  I looked at the picture on the wall of my dad and mom from their wedding day.  They were so young.  My mom had aged, but not as much as my dad.  I’d never noticed the difference.  But it wasn’t that much.  Like dad was ten years older or something, yet both looked younger than they should.  “And you couldn’t either, could you?”
    “No, Grace.  I couldn’t.  I chose this life and wouldn’t want anything else.  But I knew who and what you would become.  I owed that to you as a choice for you to make alone.  It would’ve been selfish to hide you.  Besides, Ian and Pike would’ve found you.”
    “And Kin!”
    “Yes, Kinsler too.”
    No need to contaminate the conversation with his name any longer.  Besides, if he is listening, we agreed no information would pass.  It had to look like a personal visit.  And it was.
    “Mom, I can’t stay long.  I just wanted to make sure you know how much I miss you.”
    My mom gave me one of those “mom and daughter” looks.  “Honey, will you come back when dad is here?”
    She looked at Ian who was shaking his head no.  My mom already knew the answer. 
    “It’s too dangerous, I know.” 
    My mom was sad and this was killing me.   All the times I gave my mom a dirty look for stupid teenage stuff was causing a riff of emotion.  I’d wasted time not loving her the way she needed.  Teenagers should be better informed somehow about what their parents did for them.
    “I love you!”
    “I love you too!”
    She reached to grab my arm, but I was quick and snatched back.  Mom reacted badly of course, showing all the coarse tears of a crestfallen mother who would only show her pride for me in the end.  No words were spoken, but mom knew why. 
    “Let’s gather some things I have for you.  I knew you’d come back eventually.”
    We walked up the stairs into my old room.  Across my mom’s lap sat a mahogany brown jewelry armoire the size of a pizza box.  It was covered in red velvet across the back inside and bottom too.  There were only two items lying inside.  My mom handed the box to Danella who stood in front of both of us and handed it to me.  It was new to my room, so I guessed it arrived after my departure.
    “Take the gold one.  It was given to me at my wedding by your previous queen, Lazyra.  It is very powerful and fought back even the strongest of the Fey when I needed it most.  The silver leaf was given to you at your naming ceremony.  I’ve kept it for you.”
    I was speechless.  Not often had that ever happened until the last few months and only near Ian.  I worried why she needed to fight off her own kind at some point but was caught up in the moment.  Inside I saw two pendants that matched Ian’s exactly for which I had on still.  I