Supreme Magus novel Chapter 440

Lith pondered for a while, thinking about why Kamila would have had such a change of heart so quickly. He remembered that she had never explained why she had been sent to Othre to him.

His only real clues were Jirni’s words about trusting Kamila and how she had reacted to them.

"I’m aware we’ve known each other for barely two weeks and that you have no real reason to trust me." Lith said. _{freewēbnoveℓ.com}

"So, if you need some space because something happened in your personal life, just tell me and I will not pry any further. Yet if someone from the army is pressuring you about our relationship, then I think I have the right to know.

"Because it wouldn’t be just your problem, but our problem. You shouldn’t be forced to shoulder such a burden alone. Whatever this is about, know that I’ll not be part of your life unless you want me to be."

Lith’s words struck a nerve. Kamila’s eyes wandered around the room, almost hoping she would receive a sign from the heavens, or at least find a way out of her predicament. She stared at the door for a second before looking him in the eyes.

’I can’t run away from my problems forever.’ She thought. ’If I’m right and Commander Berion sent me here as his pawn, I should’ve been nice to Lith, smiled a lot, and even slept with him to further the Commander’s agenda.

’That’s not who I want to be nor how I want to make my way up the army’s ranks. Maybe Lith isn’t as good as he appears, but at least he has been honest so far. If I have to live like a puppet, I might as well have never run away from my family.

’I won’t sell my dignity out of fear, I owe myself that much.’

Kamila did her best not to tremble as she told him about her conversation with Berion before being dispatched to Othre. Yet she failed. She was in an impossible situation where she had been forced to either lose her job, which had been the only safe harbor in her life, or herself.

Lith listened without saying a word nor trying to comfort her.

"So now I’m screwed no matter what I do. If I put any distance between us, the Commander will understand I’m not playing ball and punish me. If I stay with you, I will always ask myself if I’m doing it because I want to give us a chance or just because I’m too afraid to disobey."

She didn’t cry, and her voice remained firm. Yet seeing her anguish made Lith feel some guilt, but mostly, he was angry. He took a few deep breaths to calm down and assess the situation with Solus.

Only then did he tell her about the dead woman, the living tissue sample, and his doubts about Manohar’s theory.

"Why are you telling me all this?" She asked.

"Because it’s what I would have told you anyway as my handler. I didn’t mention it before only because I noticed that the woman I hope will become my girlfriend was feeling down, and I didn’t want to spoil her dinner with gory details." He replied.

"I didn’t mean to hide anything from you. I know how important your job is to you. Maybe you should wear a double sided nametag, so I know when I’m talking with Kamila and when I’m talking to my handler." He smiled at his own joke.

"Thanks, I’ll think about it." Her lips curved up into a light smile as he placed one hand above her shoulder. She grabbed it, appreciating its warmth.

At that moment, she was grateful for many things. To Lith for not getting angry with her, for continuing to talk about "them" in the present tense instead of the past, and for just being there for her instead of making promises he couldn’t keep.