Page 55 of Tin God

“Because that man didn’t do anything to you. My stepfather abused me. He has family, but I wouldn’t dream of murdering them becausehewas awful. They had nothin’ to do with it.”

“And you believe human life has innate value.”

Brigid blinked. “Of course it does.”

Tenzin shook her head. “No of course. Why? Why is it valuable?”

“Because it is?”

“Is ant life innately valuable?” She glanced out the window. “How about insects? The cow meat you ate last night? The pickled egg from the chicken or the eagle nesting in the tree outside?”

“All life is valuable, but human life?—”

“Is brief, harsh, and painful.” Tenzin lifted her chin. “And most of all, it is small. It is small in the way that a flower petal is small. Beautiful and fleeting and valuable for those very reasons. That is my philosophy, and you are allowed your own. Because human life is so short, it should be allowed to exist for the brief flash that it is. I do not crush beauty for no reason. That would be as stupid and crude as crushing a flower.”

“But you’re not going to lose sleep if you accidentally trip over it while you’re walking,” Brigid said. “Flower crushed. Sad, but not a tragedy.”

Tenzin nodded once. The young one was beginning to understand. “Brief. Harsh. Painful.”

Brigid whispered, “And beautiful because of it.”

“No ancient I have ever known—save for Giovanni’s grandsire Cato maybe—really believes humans are anything more than amusing food or pretty flowers. Remember that.”

“So preserving human life is only a form of self-preservation,” Brigid said, “that allows them to live the lives they want in peace.”

“And Zasha’s antics are disturbing that peace,” Tenzin said. “Which is why no one powerful in the vampire world will be bothered when they are dead.”

“Do you think Zasha knows that?”

Tenzin laughed a little. “I think they revel in it. Whatever lies they have told themself, they are asking to be caught.”

The realization came a fraction of a second later.

Oh.

Tenzin’s heart softened just a little.

The memory flashed in her mind. A vampire on her knees, pleading with Tenzin, not for life but for death.

Kill me. I don’t want to live without him.

Zasha had a death wish. They had been nursing one for years. But like a phoenix flaming into ash, they would burn as many as possible in their desperate attempt to die.

“Leave,” Tenzin whispered. “I want to call my mate.”

“You can’t tell him where we are.” Brigid’s voice was petulant.

Tenzin glared at her. “Out. I’ll tell my mate whatever I want.”

Brigid curled her lip, baring a single fang, and Tenzin had to admire her bravado. She could crush the young vampire against the wall and force her own fire down her throat, but she wouldn’t.

New Year’s resolutions.

She heard Ben’s voice in her mind and wanted to see his face.

“Out.”

He wasangry and so beautiful Tenzin nearly wept.

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