Calliope POV
We reach the human city and pull into the parking lot of a coffee shop. I look over at my mother and I can't read her face. "Mom" I say and she turns pulling me into a hug. "Thank you Calliope. You are so strong. I'm sorry" she starts to say and I stop her. "What are you sorry for?" "I should have been strong enough to fight my father when he insisted I mate Mateo. I should have left your father when I knew he was never going to love me." I pull back "don't do that. You are stronger than any woman I know. You sacrificed your own happiness to protect me from the vile things he was doing. I know based on what I saw today this isn't new behavior for that ba**ard." She laughs and the brightness actually reaches her eyes. I wish I had realized how unhappy she really was be
