She hesitated, going over her options in her head . As a child of the Shadows, the law of the forest was sacred . To reveal herself to the Empress Dowager would be a violation of everything she held dear . Her world hinged on protecting her people and keeping them safe . Known as a shapes.h.i.+fter she would be a danger .

Then again, there was Mally, a sister of the court . A daughter of the very clan Kyera was supposed to protect . She could very easily die from the wounds on her body, from bleeding or infection, both were entirely possible . In order to insure her safety Kyera needed the energy Akira could ofter, but was the price too high?

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Akira could feel the internal battle raging in her daughter . It was hard for her not to speak, so she focused on tending the Empress Dowager's tea . The warm earthy scents of this particular tea was enough to make her sigh . As she finished preparing the pot to take to the Dowager, Kyera made her decision .

"If that is the price for your help, I will have to find another way . Thank you for your time, Akira . " Kyera spoke with a sense of finality as she continued toward the door . Akira scoffed in annoyance .

"What is your problem, Kyera? She already knows about our kind . Are you seriously willing go let Mally die over a stupid code?" Akira challenged in disbelief . "How can you be so cold?" Kyera turned back looking at her for a long moment nothing was said . Kyera's tear filled eyes rendering her mother speechless .

"Cold? Perhaps it was the day my brothers died and I became the princess of a entire village that I had no idea how to handle . Their safety and wellbeing rests on my shoulders and mine alone . It has since I was 7 years old . Maybe that has made me cold . " Kyera replied, the words flowing from her lips almost too fast for her mind to comprehend what she was saying . She fought back the tears that welled and threatened to spill over . "Do you realize finding out what I am could mean to our people? Do you know how many of our kind outside the palace I am tied to? Those who work in the village, hunters, servant girls . All of them could be at risk . I was captured two miles from the Bazaar . I can't chance it . " Kyera replied as the first tear fell . "I have to let myself go . I can't have emotions . Hopes, dreams, or love . I have to be a princess . " kyera whispered as the dams broke . "Mally is like a sister to me…" the words a soft whisper filled with pain .

Akira felt her heart shatter as her daughter broke into sobs . She wrapped her arms around her, pulling the teenager to her chest . The soothing motion was natural though foreign to both mother and child . Kyera had forgotten what it felt like… to be held like this . Whereas Akira had missed this sensation . The warmth in her chest moving over her body .

"I am sorry you had this burden placed on you . I never… that doesn't matter . I can't make up for their deaths . I can simply try to be here to help you shoulder it now . " Akira whispered, lightly rocking as Kyera cried . The tears stopped and she dried her eyes . Akira let Kyera go, knowing the girl's pride had been wounded .

"thank you . " Kyera murmured looking away as she ran her hands through her hair bouncing the strands so they fell more naturally over her back . Akira nodded offering a soft smile .