She's not going to take this accusation lightly. “Mother, calm down.”
“You don't see the resemblance?” Vasilisa steps towards Mother with that eerie smirk.
I look behind me to Ignatia. She bows her head as she stares back at Mother. I reach a hand out to hers. “Mother, don't freak out.”
Mother keeps looking back and forth and eventually glares at me. “Amias… Let her go and come here…”
I squeeze Ignatia's hand. “Not with her here.” I glare at Vasilisa.
Vasilisa rolls her eyes. “Oh come on. I think she can handle herself, especially if she was able to mark you.”
Mother's glare intensifies. “Marked?”
I snap my head towards her. “How would you know?”
“Your scent is tainted,” she sniggers. “Youreekof her. If it weren't for Amarian's shitty sense of smell, everyone would know before you left the bedroom.”
This can't happen. Mother can't know. Not right now and not this way! “Mother, don't listen to her!”
“Piss off! You don't know shit!” Ignatia growls at Vasilisa, her body trembling with every word.
“Oh come on, Amias. What are you? A coward?” Vasilisa keeps snickering from behind. “Show them that bite mark on your neck!”
I breathe heavily, watching Mother tense up and her foot starts tapping. Her eyes start glowing scarlet again as red tutela flowers wrap around my hand holding Ignatia. I try to break the flower by pulling against it, but it drags me forward away from Ignatia.
Mother's eyes start to water. “You fell in love with a dreamscreecher? You let it mark you?”
Before I can say anything, Erasmus and Father come to stand by Mother's side. “Where's the marking, Amias?” Father growls.
I glance over to Ignatia, who's slouched over and breathing heavily, her wide panickedgaze darting between meand Mother. If I show everyone now in the midst of panic, Ignatia could die.
I can't let that happen.
I dash towards Ignatia as Mother's flower weakens, hoping my feet are fast enough before any more flowers grow. Maybe we can escape!
A wall of intertwined tutela flowers blocks my path.
I look over my shoulder to see Erasmus's eyes glowing. He's trying to stop me. “Show us the marking!”
I try to look through the wall to Ignatia, but the barrier is too thick. I turn to my family, my stomach dropping. No. I can't. Not like this.
I should've waited. I should've considered Vasilisa picking up my scent.
Father steps towards me, as Mother stands back, tears spilling from her eyes. “You’re going to show us the marking,” Father demands. “Now!”
“I don't have one…” I whimper. Though it doesn't seem to matter anymore.
They know.
He approaches me and I step back until I'm cornered into the wall of flowers, keeping my fists closed. “Father…”
“If you won't show it, I'll force you to. I’ll give you one more chance.”
I narrow my eyes and look back over my shoulder once more to Ignatia. I can't run to her aid. I can't shield her from my family. I can't make it out of here without showing the mark. Either way, they know the truth.
I don't have a choice.
I pull down the collar of my shirt, my heart dropping with it. It's there now. They can see it.
