Page 42 of Caged By the Lich

What the fuck am I doing? I've killed demons for less than looking at me wrong, yet here I am, defending a human. And not just any human – Astrid.

The thought of her name alone sends a surge of... something through me. Something I can't quite name, something I've never felt before.

I grab a bottle from my minibar, not bothering with a glass as I take a long pull. The burn in my throat is a welcome distraction from the turmoil in my head.

These emotions... they're foreign, uncomfortable. I've spent centuries building my reputation, cultivating fear and respect. And now? Now I'm risking it all for a pair of green-gold eyes and a sharp tongue.

I take another drink, welcoming the familiar haze of alcohol. But even that can't dull the memory of Astrid's smile, the pride in her eyes as she watched me fight.

I need to figure this out. These feelings, whatever they are, they're a liability. I can't have them surging like this over and over. Which means I am going to have to learn how to get a handle on them, just like when I first came into my magic.

And then I need to figure out what I'm doing with Astrid. Because I can't keep up with the limbo we are in.

It's going to be the death of me.

19

ASTRID

Isettle into the plush chair across from Olvaar's imposing desk, the now-familiar scent of parchment and ink filling the air. Our lunch sits between us, a spread of exotic fruits and savory meats that would've made my mouth water just weeks ago. Now, it's almost commonplace.

Olvaar's eyes flick up from the report he's reading, a hint of a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. "Enjoying the view, little rebel?"

I roll my eyes, grabbing a slice of some violet fruit I can't name. "Just wondering how many trees died to fuel your paperwork addiction."

He chuckles, the sound low and rich. It still catches me off guard sometimes, how easily we've fallen into this... whatever this is.

We chat about inconsequential things as we eat - the latest gossip, a new trade agreement with a neighboring demon lord. It's almost... pleasant. Until I decide to poke the bear.

"So," I start, keeping my tone light, "about yesterday's little incident..."

Olvaar's eyes narrow slightly, but he doesn't interrupt.

"Don't you think you might have overreacted? Just a tad?" I pop another piece of fruit into my mouth, feigning nonchalance. "I mean, you almost put the guard through a wall over a crude joke. That seems a bit much, even for you."

The temperature in the room seems to drop several degrees. Olvaar's jaw clenches, a muscle ticking in his cheek. When he speaks, his voice is dangerously soft. "You think I overreacted?"

I shrug, refusing to be cowed. "It's not like it was the first time someone's made a lewd comment about me. I can handle myself, you know."

Olvaar's eyes flash, swirling with streaks of angry blue. "That's not the point," he growls.

I blink, taken aback by the sudden intensity in Olvaar's voice. His eyes bore into mine, no longer playful but blazing with a fierce protectiveness I've never seen before.

"Unacceptable?" I repeat, trying to maintain my casual facade. "Come on, Olvaar. It's just how things are. I'm used to it."

"Used to it?" he snarls, slamming his palm on the desk. I flinch involuntarily. "That's precisely the problem, Astrid. You shouldn't be 'used' to such disrespect."

I laugh, but it comes out hollow. "In case you've forgotten, I'm human. In this world, that's all the reason demons need to treat me like dirt."

Olvaar's eyes narrow dangerously. "Who else?" he demands. "Who else has dared to disrespect you in such a manner?"

I shrug, suddenly uncomfortable under his intense scrutiny. "Does it matter? It's been happening my whole life. Even at my father's court-"

"Names," Olvaar interrupts, standing up abruptly. His chair scrapes against the floor, the sound making me jump. "I want names, Astrid. Every single demon who's ever treated you as less than you are."

I stare at him, genuinely confused by his reaction. "Why do you care so much? It's not like-"

"Because you're mine!" Olvaar roars, his voice echoing off the walls. The air crackles with his barely contained power, and I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

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