“Watch yourself, Cordella,” I growled. “I fancy you, but you can be replaced.”

I let go of her, and she coughed, rubbing her throat.

“For… give me, mas… tar,” she managed while still coughing.

“There’s nothing to forgive,” I said as I turned towards the bar and poured myself a drink. “And Cordella, my dear, you’re asking the wrong questions. The right question should be why.”

“Then… Why mate with a human, sir?”

I sipped my drink slowly, turning back to the flame. “Why do you think our kind has been dying like flies? Why our numbers keep decreasing every passing minute?” I paused, giving her time to process the...