Chapter 3

From our spring grotto to the nearest Healing Temple, it was a brutal twenty-mile hike through Thornmire.

Mom glared at me with icy eyes. "You bloodless wretch. We’ve fed you and sheltered you using our Essence for over a decade. Since you dared to lay a hand on my actual daughter, we will do exactly as Lumina wishes."

Seeing I couldn't get up, Dad grabbed me and hauled me to my feet. "Stop faking it. You barely bumped into anything."

"Carry Lumina to the Healing Temple right now," he ordered. "If her injuries worsen, I swear I’ll throw you out of House Silverthorn."

I knew he meant it.

But I couldn't leave yet.

I had no choice. I pulled Lumina onto my back and stumbled toward the temple.

Dad guided his Moon-Wing stag mount at a slow pace, following right behind me.

He kept shouting, "Briar, hold her steady! If you drop my precious girl, I’ll strip the bark from your bones!"

Mom frowned and complained from the mount, "Walk faster! Did you not absorb any moon-dew today? Don't delay my baby's healing."

Lumina rested on my back, a smug smile on her face.

"See that?" she whispered. "No one in this family actually loves you! You're just an unwanted stray."

Words like that used to pierce me easily.

But now, after accumulating so much pain, I was completely numb.

Seeing I didn't react, Lumina fell silent.

But just as we neared the Healing Temple, she struck.

She pulled out a Thorn Curse she had hidden and drove it hard into my back.

The agony made me stumble. I crashed face-first into the dirt.

Dad jumped off his mount. He and Mom rushed over, pulled Lumina off me, and sprinted toward the temple.

Mom glanced back at my pale, sweating face.

Annoyed, she tossed out, "We're already at the temple. Find a healer yourself. We don't have time to deal with you."

I never went inside the Healing Temple.

Because I didn't have a single Glimmer Coin.

Too weak to walk back, I sat on the temple steps.

It wasn't until dark that I finally dragged myself back to the spring grotto.

They were already home.

Standing in our grotto was a cowering, filthy middle-aged couple. They reeked of the Blighted Thicket.

"You're back just in time," Dad said, pointing at the pair. "These are your biological parents. Pack your things and leave with them right now."

The air turned dead and silent.

Mom walked over and took my hand, though she wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Briar, you were my daughter for a time, and I'm sad, too. But since your real parents are here, you have no reason to leech off House Silverthorn anymore."

I thought I had no tears left.

But they spilled over anyway, soaking my face.

These were the parents I had cherished for over a decade. I had put them above everything.

Yet they wouldn't even let me stay in a tiny, forgotten corner of this house.

My tears made Mom look guilty.

She reached out to wipe them away, but Lumina quickly grabbed her arm.

"Congratulations, Sister!" Lumina chirped. "You're finally not an orphaned mutt anymore."

Seeing this, the middle-aged woman lunged forward and grabbed my hands.

Her blackened, dirt-caked nails dug into my flesh. She began to howl.

"Oh, my sweet daughter! Mommy finally found you! Come home with Mommy!"

The man claiming to be my real Dad started dragging me toward the door.

"Yes, yes, hurry up. We've bothered Lord Silverthorn and his Lady for too many years. Don't be a shameless burden anymore."

"Wait," Lumina said.

"Sister, finding your real parents is a huge deal. You can't just leave without doing the submission kinship bow."

"Or do you think they're too poor? Are you looking down on them in your heart?"

I froze.

I turned my head to look at Dad and Mom. "Do you also think I should bow to them?"