Page 88 of The Orc's Captive Bride
Declar met his eyes. “You’re sure about that?”
“I’m sure that Lasseran doesn’t care what happens to us as long as he gets what he wants. Power. Control. Dominion over everything.”
“And you think this woman can stop him?”
“I think she’s trying. Which is more than anyone else has done.”
Declar was quiet for a long moment, and then he nodded slowly and reluctantly. “I’ll spread the word. Carefully.”
“Tell them they don’t have to make a choice yet. Just… be aware. Be ready.”
“Ready for what?”
“I don’t know yet. But something. Anything other than walking to our deaths without question.”
“You’re asking a lot.”
“I know.”
“This could get us all killed.”
“We’re already marked for death. At least this way, we die making our own choices.”
Declar gave a harsh laugh. “You sound like one of those Norhaven orcs. All honor and freedom.”
“Maybe that’s not such a bad thing.”
“It’s a terrible thing. Honor gets you killed and freedom is a lie. Survival is all that matters.”
“Then survive. But do it on your own terms.”
Declar shook his head, but he didn’t argue further.
“I’ll talk to the others. But if this goes wrong?—”
“It won’t.”
“You don’t know that.”
“No. But I’m choosing to believe it anyway.”
Declar studied him. “You really care about this human.”
“Yes.”
“Even though she’s not?—”
“She’s everything. And I won’t let Lasseran use her or hurt her or turn her into another one of his tools.”
“Protective. That’s new for you.”
It was. He’d never felt protective of anyone before. He’d been trained to see attachment as weakness, but caring for Thea wasn’t weakness. It was strength.
“There’s something else,” Declar said. “About the humans in the lower districts.”
“What about them?”
“Lasseran’s been having us… encourage them to leave. Creating incidents. Making the city unsafe for anyone who’s not under his direct control.”
