Xev swallowed hard before he spoke again. “Because of who we are and how we are born and raised, we tell ourselves that we need nothing. We want nothing. We are nothing. That we are despised creatures of darkness. And that’s okay by us. We don’t need or want the approval or acceptance of them.” His gaze fell to the floor at Kody’s feet. “But there is one thing that will always draw us out against our will, and make us weak.”

“The light,” Kody breathed.

He gave a subtle nod. “No one will ever take us in battle. We know how to fight against all odds. How to stand strong in any maelstrom. We know how to deal with insults. Cruelty. And viciousness. That is and will always be our mother’s milk.”

Xev gestured toward Nick’s unconscious mother. “Sadly, it’s unexpected kindness that disarms us. A simple smile that throws us completely off guard. Innocent love that renders us defenseless and sends us to our knees. That’s how they cripple and defeat us. Not with war. But with friendship.”

Kody shook her head. “Love is never a weakness.”

He laughed cruelly. “Your own mother would be the first to violently disagree with that statement, Nyria.” His gaze went to Nick. “It’s what killed your father, Malachai. It’s what enslaved me and Caleb to our enemies, and it’s what will kill us all in the end.”

Menyara snorted rudely. “How dare you speak to them of love when you know nothing of it.”

He twisted his lips into the cruel mockery of a smile. “Yes, I had all of you to thank for that, didn’t I, Cam? You were all so kind and understanding of me when I was a boy, needing comfort and finding only the coldness of your rebuffs at best … the backs of your hands at worst. Your harsh brutality tutored me well on the subject, until all I knew was the hatred that filled me full from tip to root.”

Guilt darkened her eyes before she looked away from Xev. “How could we ever trust you? You were suckled by evil incarnate.”

“Actually, my wet nurse was a she-fox warrior demon, who took pity on me when no one else would. Or so I’m told. My mother couldn’t be bothered with my needs or feeding, as she couldn’t have cared less if I lived or died once my father told her I should be left out to the elements, for he, a shining bastion of all-good and light, had no intention of ever claiming me as his son.”