“Did they blame you?” I found myself asking before I could stop myself. “Or Mom and Dad?”

Daisy stilled. “For what?”

“The people back home. Did they blame you for me?”

My mother sighed. “There were many who thought bone witches the spawns of the seven hells. But more were afraid than they were hateful. They feared retaliation should Lady Mykaela—or you, for that matter—hear of any mistreatment, and they relied too much on Rose’s and Lily’s services as forest and water witches to be too hypocritical. We knew the townspeople had resentment, but they left us alone and bought from your father’s forge as they always had.”

Daisy grinned. Her heartsglass shone a healthy, cherry red. “You being Dark asha actually elevated us in the community, albeit not in the usual manner. People go out of their way to give due deference, strain their backs as they bend over. Whatever they may personally think of us, they are outwardly respectful.”

“I’m sorry.” I didn’t want that. Knowing they were disliked was worse than receiving false courtesies, polite or not.

My sister shrugged. “We’re a hardy breed, and it’ll take more than a cold shoulder to take us down. I miss talking to you, Tea bunny. It’s been a while since we’ve had any sisterly heart-to-hearts.” Daisy clasped my hand to hers. “We all miss you,” she said earnestly. “Mama wouldn’t stop crying for weeks after you two left, and the only comfort she had was knowing two of her children were leaving, instead of one remaining in the ground.”

“Oh, Daisy.” My mother sighed.

It had been hard growing up these last years without them. In many ways, my family members were almost strangers to me now. The more years standing in between their lives and mine, the fewer chances there were for them to intersect. “It wasn’t smooth sailing for me either, as you can tell. I had to learn to be something I knew nothing about. And Fox had it even worse.”

“But you both made so much of yourselves,” Daisy argued. “More than the rest of us could in Knightscross.”

“I’m in prison, Daisy. That’s not exactly an upgrade.”

“Not for long, I’m sure. You have friends in Princess Inessa and Empress Alyx! I figured occasional arrests came with the territory. Dark asha frequently clash with people in power, just like in the books you used to read. You used to love all those volumes on asha.”

“I was sillier then. Reading about asha was very different from becoming one myself.”