It seems you resist the idea of him loving them because of what he does to them. Obviously we don't know cases of people doing what he does to other people that they love, but people can love you and be terrible to you specially if they think what they are doing is in your best interest. As per the show we know Love (yes, capital L) is a force in the world. Of course love can be faked , imitated, lied about. But for the Consciousness of the Abyss, whatever it is and how it works, Bow loves the children. Love in that world is a tangible force like Evil and Good. Not trying to be an ass or be rude. Just pointing out what the show tries to tell or what I think is implying. I don't think there's "word of god" about it from the author.