It was partially directed at herself, at the stupid way she was acting, at the damn tears that wouldn’t stop falling. But it was also directed at Hermod, and it came out with more force than she’d intended. But he’d grabbed her, which she hated, and she was panicking, and Bast hated that feeling. She hated not being in control. And she’d never dealt well with emotional upheaval.
“Just stop,” she repeated. “We’re not going to work on anything. I don’t need help. And you don’t love me.”
She’d thought saying those words, those final words, would make it true. And then things would be better. Instead it was worse. Hearing them aloud like that, it shattered her, and there was another sob. This time, she couldn’t even run, because her whole body wanted to collapse. It was all she could do to remain upright. “Just stop.”