Lillith dropped Curnen's gaze, at once apologetic and a little fearful. "Because I remind you of Zahra, and she took Kash from you before this place did?"

Kash had always been Zahra's, but Lillith understood well that the heart did not always work so cleanly.

"Or because you would rather he were here and not me? I wouldn't blame you, if you do fell that way."