_{‘ you have a mother. ‘ pointedly. ‘ don’t you ever dismiss her like that. ‘ lilith was particularly protective of mothers; bearing children who didn’t love them, or found themselves ungrateful; it was a sting she knew well, one that got buried deep. ‘ you wouldn’t be here without her. ‘ he had taken the amusement out of playing pretend step-mommy.}

_{he knew he had one; dismissing her was just easier. ky didn’t need anyone – he attempted to prove that time and time again. why should he hold anyone else higher than himself? or maybe he just didn’t understand that point. ‘have you ever thought maybe that would  be a good thing? not to have existed at all – i’m sure  many would  agree to  that. including dear ol’ dad.’}