Page 45 of Lich's Mate

“Earlier, you said this plan could work,” he says. “You said you thought we had a shot! And now you’re telling me there’s no way the plan can work—saying we need to step back? What aren’t you telling me?”

“Well, I’m not telling you your emotions have been compromised, for one,” Vex replies. “I’m trusting that, even now, you haven’t gone blind because of this woman. Because this whole plan kind of came out of nowhere.”

Kavian says nothing. As I reach the room where they’re talking and inch around the corner of the doorframe, a candle barely revealing his hardened face, I realize he’s probably suppressing his anger for the sake of playing nice.

Though I’d hate to be on the other side of his ire.

“Just tell me, Kavian. Why are these humans so worth saving? What do they possibly offer us in combat that we can’t already do better?”

“When did you become such a utilitarian?” Kavian asks. “If we were dealing with demons like us, you wouldn’t hesitate to save them. And now you’re questioning whether their lives are worth it?”

Vex snorts, chuckling in response.

“Kavian, these are slaves we’re talking about, not our kin. And you’re talking about putting a lot of our lives on the line for their benefit! So you’ll forgive me if I’m a bit slow to the frontlines.”

Outside, the rain slows down, the thunder quieting.

“You underestimate them, I think,” Kavian says. “That’s okay. You don’t know them like I do.”

I almost can’t believe what I’m hearing. Is Kavian genuinely coming to the defense of humans out of goodwill?

He always made it seem like a transaction—like he was only going through with this because he benefited from it.

Does he really care about us after all?

“Well, as one of your most loyal defenders, I think you owe it to me,” Vex says. “If you know something I don’t, maybe you should tell me.”

Kavian shakes his head.

“How do they survive any of it?” he asks out loud, pacing to the other side of the room.

Vex appears puzzled.

“Survive what?”

Kavian’s eyes meet Vex’s, as Vex begins walking toward me.

I duck, hiding against the wall and clinging out of their sight.

“The slavery, the auctions… things that would probably drive all of us to suicide,” Kavian replies. “How do any of them keep going?”

Vex, saying nothing, just grips the doorknob. My eyes widen, realizing that I’m inches away from being sighted.

Why does it matter though? I think. This is all information I should be privy to anyway.

In theory, there’s no reason I shouldn’t be able to step out and thank Kavian for coming to our defense.

But my gut tells me to remain hidden.

My gut is grateful to hear the pure, unadulterated truth come out of Kavian’s mouth.

“I think their secret is in their struggle,” Kavian says. “They haven’t known luxuries like we have. They spend their lives growing from nothing, learning to value objects they could never, in a million lifetimes, possess themselves.”

Vex sighs heavily.

“And you think that somehow translates to skill in combat?” he asks.

Kavian nods.

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