Page 67 of Lich's Mate

“The slaves we freed were recaptured,” Kavian continues. “Gorran now knows who was behind everything.”

Kavian's jaw clenches and he looks away, staring into space.

I chew on my lower lip, letting his words sink in. “So our attack on the auction house can be traced back to you? Gorran will surely seek retaliation.”

He looks back at me and nods. “He will most definitely want to face me personally and make me pay.”

He goes quiet again but speaks just as I’m about to ask what his defensive plan is.

“You’re going to leave here first thing tomorrow. You’ll be taken to my coastal Zillinthas estate before Gorran's attack.”

I jump up from my chair. “You can’t be serious!”

“I’ve never been more serious about anything before.”

The blood leaves my face and I can feel my stomach sink into my feet. “There is absolutely no way I’m leaving at a time like this. Not when we know Gorran could be on his way this very minute!”

I walk around the table and stand next to him, pinning him down with a resolute stare. “My place is at your side. I’ve been at your side since the beginning and that’s where I want to be until the very end!”

Kavian looks away again. He doesn’t say anything.

“I have to stay and fight alongside you. That was the plan from the start. It’s what we agreed on! Don’t go back on your word now!”

Suddenly, Kavian stands, his fist slamming down on the table hard enough to make it shake and slightly crack. “I only want you to be safe!”

“I will be safe when I’m with you! I know that. It’s where I’ll be the safest!”

I grab Kavian by his shirt, knowing full well that I’ll piss him off even more.

That’s fine. Get mad at me, yell at me, be angry. Just don’t push me away and face this on your own!

His face remains expressionless but I can see a shimmer of pain and desperation in his eyes. Taken by surprise, I let go of him and he sits down again, clearly agitated.

My voice is soft when I speak again. “Please… I want to stay with you. Until the end.”

“Gorran is out for revenge and he is aching to kill us both. I cannot let that happen.”

My lower lip trembles as I search for the words to make Kavian change his mind.

He pulls me into his lap and I fall against his chest. Soft sobs of frustration escape me and I cling to him while he holds me tightly.

He wants to protect me, even if that means sending me away. I get that, but it’s not fair… I don’t want to leave him.

For a while, we don’t say anything, simply holding each other, wordlessly expressing how we feel.

“You saved me from a life of certain misery. I owe you my life. But now… you want me to leave you at the most crucial moment of a fight we started together.”

I look up into his eyes and see nothing but his love for me. It’s in stark contrast with the dark, dangerous look usually on his face.

My heart swells with happiness that someone like him could love me so much but also breaks with the knowledge that I’d be away from him when he meets his biggest foe.

“We will see each other again, I swear. I won’t keep you waiting long.”

Kavian’s words seem to directly address every fear I have. The way he holds me is at odds with his words, though, because it feels like he’s trying to discreetly say goodbye.

With a heavy heart, I stand up and return to the chair across from his table. “I will go.”

I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this! I want to stay!

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