Page 78 of Lich's Mate

I push through the small crowd, nimbly making my way to where Kavian lies, Gorran cackling triumphantly.

My love, please, hold on.

Slowly, carefully, I walk closer, turning the spear in my hand so the tip’s pointed at my enemy’s back.

Now that I’m closer, the sight before me is a horrifying one. Although Gorran is injured and bleeding, Kavian is in a worse state. His face is bruised and swollen, blood streaming out of his nose and down his mouth and neck.

Seeing him like that makes my blood boil. I’ve never hated anyone like I hate Gorran right now.

I pull the spear back and storm forward, a guttural scream erupting from my chest, my eyes blurry with tears.

With a satisfying but sickly sound, the spear enters his back.

Gorran screams in surprise and pain, arching his back in an effort to get away from my weapon.

I put my full body weight and the momentum of my run into my attack, driving the spear even further into his back.

“What the fuck?” Gorran tries to turn but I yank the spear out of him, my stomach turning when I see flesh and blood spraying from his wound.

It’s not enough. This won’t kill him. I need to attack him again.

I pull back and stab him again, and again, and again.

His blood spurts out on the ground and all over me but I don’t stop. I can feel the wetness of his blood as it drips from my face onto the ground.

I notice that the crowd of xaphan has gone quiet and I look up at them, daring them to approach me and save their leader.

None of them step forward, their faces filled with a mixture of awe, fear, and anger.

“You want some of this?” I yell, pulling the spear from Gorran’s back.

They collectively take a step back, giving each other looks of trepidation. Slowly, they start walking away, not interested in getting involved.

“Fucking cowards!”

I look down at Gorran, who has started stirring at my feet. He reaches for me as if he could do anything with his back, such a bloody mess of pierced skin and crushed bone.

“You. Don’t even think of coming closer.” I bend down, sitting on my haunches, looking into his pitiful eyes.

These same eyes looked on with pleasure when humans were tortured and killed. These eyes watched gleefully as he tried to kill Kavian just now.

“I ought to rip out your disgusting eyes and feed them to you. I should tear out your tongue and slice off your fingers one by one.”

A sadistic desire to really hurt this creature washes over me. I want to make him pay.

Kavian lifts his head, looking in our direction. “Kill him, Meera. End our fight here and now.” His voice is hoarse and cracks as he speaks.

I nod, understanding that I shouldn’t draw out the fight more than necessary. I use the spear to push myself to my feet.

Looking down at Gorran with nothing but disdain, I raise the spear high above my head. “It ends tonight.” I bring down the weapon with a loud cry, pushing it into his back as deep as I can.

Gorran screams out in pain, blood bursting from his mouth. “You… you bitch!” His words are punctuated by red bubbles and spit.

I rip the spear from his body and turn away. With the spear still in my hand, blood dripping from the blade, I walk over to Kavian.

I kneel down and put down the weapon. Ignoring the blood on my own hands, I caress his face. “Are you okay? Where does it hurt? I’m sure Korval’s already arranged for a healer.”

Kavian takes my hand in his, smiling. His face is colored with pain and I can see in his eyes that he’s feeling the aftermath of Gorran’s attack. “I’m going to be fine. Thank you. You’re so brave.”

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