Hyena Boy (The Neva Aton Collection) by Ila Golden

of a storm as a stranger once.’ ‘A storm can be so much,’ she sighed. ‘It’s a thing of beauty, don’t you think? It’s a destructive force, like a rage. But it clears the air and leaves everything settled. Like passion,’ she curled in closer against me. ‘Passion isn’t destructive.’ ‘It can be. You of all people should understand that.’ ‘Why can we never have a conversation that doesn’t refer back tuh Baz?’ I groaned. ‘What is it about my father you find so fascinating?’ ‘Nothing. Except how you manage to put up with him,’ she shrugged. ‘Besides, how do you know I meant him?’ ‘Who else could you mean?’ ‘Why do you let him control who you are?’ She sat up straight and turned towards me; her eyes searching desperately for something. ‘I don’t.’ ‘Yes, you do. That’s why you hide your scars.’ ‘Not all of them,’ I shifted uncomfortably, turning away from her. ‘And why wouldn’t I hide them. You’ve just said I let him control who I am. He gave me those scars, so why wouldn’t I hide them? Doesn’t that mean I’m deciding who I am?’ ‘I don’t know, but it makes it feel like you’re hiding bits of yourself from me,’ she placed a hand against my cheek, trying to get me to look at her. ‘And I get it. I do. Why you keep those bits hidden. They shame you. Frighten you. Remind you of things you wish to forget. But they’re still a part of you. The headband is nothing more than a way of hiding. A way of letting him control you,’ she reached for it. ‘I’ve told you before,’ I half jumped up from the be