“A lot of Aunare are asking questions, not all of them nice ones. I want you to be prepared. Who and what you are put you at risk, and before you set foot out of this house—out of this room—I need you to understand what you’re up against. If we could make a statement together today, that would be best. The longer we wait, the more distrust will brew.”

I swallowed down my nerves. At least my father was being honest with me, but making a statement? No. That wasn’t who I was. I hid. I lied. I fought. That was it. I didn’t want to be in the spotlight. I wasn’t up for that.

If my mom were here, she’d be so pissed off. That’s why he was here alone. And this—this—was exactly why I’d been upset when I woke up. In that moment, I craved the peace that I’d felt so briefly in that safe, warm place before I woke up.

I didn’t know what to say to him, but this time I couldn’t lie. Not anymore. “I need time. Please.”

His brows creased, and I knew I was disappointing him, but that didn’t change anything.

He blew out a breath. “Your mother said the same, and we can wait a day. Two at most.”

Was he insane? Time didn’t mean a day. I’d just woken up. I jumped up off the bed to tell him as much, but he held up a hand to stop me.

“The statement can be short. I have an advisor for you. He will help you through this.”

“I don’t want his help.” I backed away from him. “I want to be left alone.”

He sat down on the edge of the bed—where I’d just been sitting—and looked up at me. In that one look, I realized my father might be as lost in this conversation as I was, but he was doing the practical thing—preparing me for life—when I wanted something else. Anything else.

“We need to bring your memories back or you will need to quickly learn what it is to be Aunare.”

I backed up another step, hitting the wall, and he stood from the bed.

“I have tutors ready, but… You don’t remember me at all do you?”

“No.” I wished I had another answer for him, but I didn’t.

His face crumpled and he ran a hand down it. “I knew it was too much to hope when your mother said, but… This is bad timing. All of this. It’s gone so much worse than I’d ever dreamed, and we’re at war now, and I don’t have time to ease you into this.”