Page 68 of Lich's Mate

Kavian walks over to me and pulls me to my feet. “Meera… it’s only because I want to keep you safe. I dragged you into this and it’s my duty to ensure that you remain unharmed.”

I nod and do my best to blink back the tears threatening to stream out of my eyes.

“I hate that you want to do it this way, but I understand. I’ll do what makes the coming battle easier for you.”

“Thank you, Meera.”

He embraces me tightly, as if for the last time. I wrap my arms around him and hold him close, our hearts beating in rhythm.

“I love you, Kavian.”

26

KAVIAN

“Do you have everything?” I ask, looking down at Meera as she shuffles up and down the stairs, finding her belongings—belongings she and I purchased during her time in Ikoth.

She came to me with almost nothing but the clothes on her back. Rebuilding and getting her acclimated to life here has been difficult.

And now I’m sending her away again.

It’s a painful realization I’m still suppressing.

But it’s for the best, I think. At least this way, she has a chance at survival.

By now, I’ve all but confirmed to myself that here at the mansion, she’s an easy way for them to get to me. I’ve also accepted that we need to move fast and that there’s little time for goodbyes.

Still, if I send her out in the wilderness, what chance do I have at protecting her myself? How safe is she, away from my eyes?

Her response takes me out of my burdensome inner monologue.

“I’m going as fast as I can,” she says. “I’m just not sure what to take, and what to leave. I don’t know when I’m going to see you next.”

“Leave nothing behind,” I caution.

My tone is unnaturally stern, and I realize at her dejected face that I’ve said something wrong.

“Look, I still don’t know what they’re going to do to me, or to this place,” I add. “Gorran is one giant piece of shit, so I wouldn’t be surprised if…”

The possibilities run through my mind.

I can see him burning my mansion to the ground and flaying me alive.

I can see him taking me prisoner somewhere and forcing me to work, like some common slave.

Not that I’m going to give him that chance. If he sets foot here, I’m going to raze the ground beneath him, leaving him a charred shadow.

But I can already see how distressing this situation is, so I don’t explain that this place she’s come to love might not be here if she ever returns.

“I just don’t really know about the musical instruments you bought me,” she says. “They’re heavy and unwieldy, and I think traveling light might be better?”

I nod.

But when she heads to Zilinthas, I don’t want her to fall back into the life she knew before she knew me. I don’t want her to take as little as possible, doing without entertainment and things to keep her sane in trying times.

I want her to keep appreciating beauty the same way I have.

It’s going to be okay, I think. I’m going to get out of this just fine. And then we’ll be reunited as if nothing ever happened.

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