Elise's face hardened as her gaze shifted to him. "I entrusted her safety to you. How could you let her be so reckless?"
"You don't get to talk to him like that!" Elena flared up.
Uncle Jin was one of the three people who had helped raise her in the egg donor's absence, contributing both time and attention to her development. He'd earned his place as Elena's guardian through countless hours spent at her side. Teaching her. Caring for her. Just being there when she needed it.
Who was Elise to her? A stranger. Someone who'd abandoned her at birth.
"I'm your mother."
"You're an egg donor. Aunt Kira and Aunt Selene are my mothers. They were there when I needed them. You weren't."
Elise's face went blank.
Elena tried not to feel bad, sensing her words must have hurt the other woman on some level. That reaction, the way Elise's face emptied of all emotion, was a self-defense mechanism that Elena had noticed a lot of the forty three shared.
Aunt Kira and Aunt Selene were the same. The stronger their emotions, the more expressionless they became. As if they were afraid the things they felt would be used against them.
Aunt Selene was the worst about it. Her emotions almost always tamped down and controlled except for the rare occasion when she let herself go around the children. They always cherished those moments, competing to see who could make her the most expressive.
One time Tommy even got her to laugh. Not a snicker either. A full belly, tear forming laugh.
Aunt Kira was different. It took a lot to get her to retreat to that state. Elena thought that had something to do with the fact that Aunt Kira had spent more time interacting with humans. She was more used to wearing her expressions on her face.
But even she would occasionally get that flinty look in her eye. Her expression made out of stone. As if nothing in this world could affect her.
Elena hated when she looked like that. Hated it more seeing the same expression on her egg donor's face now and knowing she’d put it there.
Elise looked down at her hands. "I deserve that."
"Yes, you do."
"Elena," Uncle Jin chided softly.
Elena's flinch was tiny. She steadied herself, projecting a bravado she hoped would conceal her guilt.
"You're lucky it was me who ran across you," Elise said, seeing right through Elena's facade. "If it had been anyone else, it would be a very different story right now. They would have turned you over in a heartbeat. I can promise you wouldn't have enjoyed your time in the Osiri's care."
An uncomfortable feeling rose in Elena's chest at the rebuke. "It's not like I meant to wander into that place. It was an accident. That's all."
"You can't afford 'accidents'. A single mistake and you're dead. I thought Kira and Jin would have taught you that."
"What do you care?" Elena shot back, the words out before she could stop them. "You abandoned me, remember? It's too late for you to pretend to care now."
"Is that what you think? That I deserted you? Because I didn't care?" Elise didn't hide her shock or distress as she looked from Elena to Jin. "That's not what happened."
Elise rose to kneel in front of Elena, reaching for her hand. Elena pulled back, but she wasn't quick enough. Elise caught it and cradled it gently in hers.
"I left you behind, not because I didn't love and want you, but because things were happening that I wasn't certain I could protect you from."
The sincerity on the egg donor's face felt genuine. Sincere enough that it was hard to remember that Elise was considered a master of manipulation.
Despite everything she knew about the woman, Elena found herself wavering. She wanted so badly to believe in her mother. This hero of her childhood. The person she'd yearned for despite the love and approval she'd received from her aunts and uncle.
"I left you with someone I trusted. Who would care for you in my absence," Elise explained.
Elena yanked her hands out of Elise's grip and stepped back. "Except you didn't."
"What are you talking about?"
"She's right," Jin interjected. "I found her living hand to mouth in some back alley on Idra. She'd long been abandoned and a pair of lowlifes were planning to sell her to cover their debts."
Elise shook her head in denial. "That can't be. That's not right."
"My first memory is of the cold. Shivering so hard as I wondered if I'd make it to morning. Unable to feel my hands and feet."
If that was what Elise considered being "cared for", Elena would hate to see what she considered neglect.