“Not all Ladrin are bad.” Rath glanced over his shoulder at Lord Xaedren, who sat at a table across the aisle from us. “Xaedren can be gruff, but that's true about all of us. It comes with the job. He's a good man.”
My chewing slowed, and I looked over at Lord Xaedren. As if he sensed my attention, he looked up, met my stare, and nodded. I nodded back.
“He certainly handled my, uh . . .”
“You knocking him on his ass?” Nex offered. “Yeah, he handled that well. Thanks to Rath's intervention.”
“As I said, he's a good man. He has to be; he's a Wraith Lord.” Rath said. “We've been selected by the Goddess specifically for our virtues.”
“About that,” I said. “What happens if someone eats the starfruit, but the Goddess doesn't like him?”
“He dies.”
“Have many men died trying to become Wraith Lords?”
Rath's expression tightened.
“A few,” Nex answered. “One was a friend of ours.”
“I'm sorry,” I said.
“I thought he was worthy, but the Goddess didn't agree,” Rath murmured. “He must have harbored evil in his heart.”
We ate in silence for a few minutes, then I said, “Maybe I shouldn't take your word for it that Lord Xaedren's a good man.”
Rath blinked as he met my stare, his expression horrified.
My lips twitched.
Nex snorted a laugh. “Rath is saying that heassumesXaedren's a good guy because the Goddess chose him. His opinion has nothing to do with it.” He leaned over the table to add, “They don't hang out. Xaedren's a bit too rough around the edges for Rath.”
“Oh. Sorry, I was just trying to lighten the mood, but that was in poor taste.”
“It's all right,” Rath said. “I appreciate your attempt at levity.”
“Scoot down,” a chipper voice said.
I looked up to find the Dhon man, Lord Keltyr, standing beside me, looking perky despite his horns. “Oh. Uh.”
“Just sit there, Kel.” Rath waved at the open spot on my right.
“I like the end.”
“Everyone likes the end. Fucking deal or go sit at that end.” Nex waved at the other side of the table.
“But my tail needs space, and I want to sit by Ember.” Keltyr's tail rose, and its sleek blunt tip stroked my arm. “Pretty please.”
Blushing, I scooted down a spot.
“Thanks.” Keltyr sat down, but his bulk was more than I expected, and he ended up pressed against me. I started to scoot further away, but his tail curled around me, and he leaned down to ask, “You afraid of me, Ember?”
“Uh, no?”
“You don't sound certain.” He grinned, his teeth white against his tan skin and his blue eyes sparkling. “I don't bite.” He leaned down further to whisper in my ear, “Unless you want me to.”
I blushed hotter. “Uh.” I cleared my throat.
“Leave him alone, Kel,” Rath growled.
