"It's how it worked in your family when you lived in Iran. You are free now to live however you want. No one is going to stop you unless you do something illegal."
"Like what?"
Drova winced. "Like compelling people to steal things for you. But we are talking about you now, not me."
Arezoo sank onto her desk chair, wrapping her arms around herself. "Family is not just about respecting or disrespecting traditions. It's about caring for one another and not being selfish. It's about obligations."
"Bullshit," Drova said succinctly. "It's about fear. Your mother is afraid of losing control, and you're afraid of disappointing her."
The words stung because they were true. Arezoo had always been the good daughter, who never caused trouble and was always helpful. But then what choice did she have? Her father was a controlling, borderline abusive jerk, and her mother was bitter but still doing her best to raise three girls. She'd needed Arezoo's help, and she needed it still.
"You don't understand," she said. "My mother needs me."
Drova sighed. "I know, but you can be there for her and still have a life, right? You are working at the café, earning your own money, and meeting people. You just need to set boundaries."
Arezoo snorted. "She'll just tell me that as long as I live under her roof, I have to obey her rules."
Drova leaned forward. "Then maybe you should move out. As an adult, you can apply for housing and get to live with aroommate instead of your family." Her black eyes flickered red for a moment, taking Arezoo aback. "We could move in together. Get our own place. I'm not eighteen yet, but I'm a Guardian in training, and I'm considered an adult in the Kra-ell community. I can convince them to approve it." She grinned. "And don't worry. I won't be using compulsion. My persuasion powers and charm should be enough."
That sounded tempting, but premature. "I can't. Not yet, anyway."
"Why not?" Drova pinned her with a dark glare. "Your mother would disown you? Drag you back by your hair? She might get upset at first, but she'd get over it."
"Are you unhappy living with your mother?" Arezoo asked, deflecting from her own situation.
Drova shrugged. "Jade doesn't try to control my life or anything. And Phinas, her immortal mate, is cool. But I'm ready for my own space. Aren't you?"
Arezoo tried to imagine a home where she could do what she wanted and could come and go without explanation. The image was thrilling, but she wasn't ready for that much independence yet.
Until Drova came up with the rebellious suggestion, it hadn't ever crossed Arezoo's mind that she could move out and live on her own. She needed time to get accustomed to the idea, to prepare her mother and her aunts, so when the time came, they wouldn't be as shocked.
"I can't right now," she said finally. "My mother and aunts need me, especially now, with the store they're planning. Someonehas to watch the children, help with inventory, be there for them."
"You can do all that while living somewhere else," Drova pointed out. "It's not like you'd be moving to another planet. Just to a different house in the village."
"I need time to think about it," Arezoo said.
Drova's expression turned skeptical. "Sure you do. Just like you needed time to think about calling Ruvon, or standing up to your mother, or to think about actually living your life instead of just existing in it."
The words were like a series of punches to her stomach, each one finding its mark. Arezoo wanted to protest, to deny the accusations, but her throat felt tight with unshed tears.
"Come to the bar with me," Drova said, her voice softer now. "Just for an hour. One drink—hell, one mocktail. Take that first step. Trust me, rebellion gets easier with practice."
"You sound like you're speaking from experience."
"I am." Drova's grin returned, sharp and proud. "First time I defied my mother, I thought lightning would strike me down. When it didn't, I realized the sky wasn't going to fall just because I made my own choices. They were bad ones, but they were mine, and everything worked out okay. Using my compulsion was wrong, but it revealed my powers, and Kian decided that instead of punishing me, he could use me, and I got to join the Guardian Force."
Arezoo's resolve started to waver. The idea of walking into the bar and sitting down like she'd seen young women do in themovies was exciting, liberating. The rebellious aspect was much more tempting than meeting Ruvon.
"My mother would know," she said.
"So what? Let her know. Let her rage, cry, and guilt you. Then what? She can't actually stop you." Drova stood, stretching her long limbs. "The door's right there. All you have to do is walk through it."
"With you."
"With me," Drova confirmed. "I'll be your bodyguard against maternal guilt. I'm very good at being intimidating, and I don't mean compulsion. I'm scary enough as I am."
She was, and her arguments were convincing, but so were Arezoo's.
