“Don’t look at me like I’m some freak of nature.” “You are a freak of nature.” His stare goes dark and cold. “No. I am Tiressia’s salvation and damnation, though I have never wanted to be either. I keep Neri bound so that he cannot wreak havoc on the Northlands or any other part of this empire. Three centuries ago, I stumbled out of the Shadow World with a shattered heart, fighting a godsdamn deity who used me to escape his eternal punishment and was ready to tear down the world.” His eyes gleam in the firelight. “And I won. A little thanks might be in order.”
