I stared at her for a long moment.
"You can't leave without an escort, my lord."
The way she said it—so calmly, so matter-of-fact—like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Like I was some delicate heir who might snap in half if left unattended. Not, you know, a god.
"Lilith," I began, pinching the bridge of my nose. "What exactly do you think you're protecting me from?"
She tilted her head slightly, her lips curved into a soft smile that was equal parts innocent and... unsettling.
She began to walk toward me, her steps graceful.
"You've only just recently recovered some of your strength, my lord," she said, her tone maddeningly gentle, like she was discussing the weather.
"You're not even nearly half as strong as you were five hundred years ago. And considering the state of the world—the Realm Eaters stirring, and the so-called Virtuous Gods, who were never exactly on friendly terms with you…"
