Page 116 of Obsidian and Frost

Lazriel shook his head and scoffed. “Of course they don’t. Because you obviously need your fucking secrets, don’t you?”

“Word cannot spread that I’m ill,” Sylas told us. “It’s imperative.”

“We get that, you dumb fucking fool. Of course we do. You’ve got a shitload of enemies. They’d all come for you if word got out.”

“Not just me. Those I care for.”

“Kai, you mean?” Lazriel snapped.

“You know I’m referring to the two of you. I don’t draw close to people, so it will be very obvious. You’d become instant targets if my enemies found out I was weakened.”

“Velra and I aren’t new to being targets.”

“All the more reason to keep other bullshit away from you, wouldn’t you say?” He went to push off the bed, only to fall back down, his head lolling back.

He was still too weak to manage it.

“Just rest, for fuck’s sakes,” Lazriel told him.

“This is what you needed my magic for?”

Sylas’ gaze snapped to mine. “Yes. The way my power responded to the flare of yours the first day we met suggested it could possibly assist with my situation.”

“Yet you told me to take my time, to wait until trust was built between us, before we even tried?”

“Of course. I don’t force people into things. Ever.”

“This is different. You’re dying. I sensed it when your magic was down briefly.”

“And I fucking smelled it,” Lazriel said.

“The serum is countering the effects. So long as I inject it in time and don’t overexert myself, I’m fine and beyond functional. Tonight was an outlier. And I’m also searching for a solution to the actual sickness itself. It’s being taken care of. I understand seeing me in that state tonight was disturbing, but it was an extreme circumstance. I’m handling it.”

“Handling it, huh?” I said, shaking my head.

“Yes.”

Lazriel slammed his hands down on the foot of the bed, the whole thing rocking. “You. Almost. Died.”

“Babe—”

“Don’t. Don’t call me that! What’s the point of any of this, anyway? You’re gonna leave me. You’re gonna perish. You’re gonna keep doing this vigilante work and get yourself killedbeforeyou find a cure.Ifyou can even find a cure! I looked into it. I’ve activated my sources and this sickness is unheard of. It’s never fucking existed before!”

“I’m already aware of that and I’m—”

“Stop! It’s all bullshit! You pulled me close, you let me care about you—deeply—all the while knowing you were dying! What kind of sick—fuck it!Just fuck it!”

I went to reach for him, but it was too late. He sped away in a burst, the door slamming after him as he left Sylas’ home.

Sylas cursed and brought his hands to his face.

When he sighed deeply, then lowered them, there were tears in his eyes.

It was the first time I’d ever seen emotion from him.

“He processes with rage first,” I said.

“Yeah, I know. I know he does.”