Her Reason

[Denali’s POV]

I stare at my mother, trying to make sense of what she is saying. Was that the reason that I was here? Because I used the command already?

“So there is no going back for me,” I say quietly. “I truly died.”

“No,” my mother counters. “You aren’t.”

“But I used the command.”

“You couldn’t have,” she counters. “If you were to use the command, you wouldn’t even be here,sweetheart. Your soul wouldn’t exist.”

“But I used the command.”

“Denali,” my mother sighs, giving me a look of grief. “I think it is about time I completely opened up about everything from the command to your twin, and even about hiding my will.”

Nodding, I wait as my mother seems to collect herself. It was clear from her expression that everything she was about to tell me was difficult, but she kept me in the dark for too long, and since I was here with her, I wanted to know everything in the hopes that it would help me going forward.