I looked around the room, then smiled. “I think you're right.” I lifted my tankard. “To being where you belong.”
“To being where you belong,” the men echoed and thumped their tankards to mine.
Chapter Nine
I may have drunk a little too much, and combined with my exhaustion, it made for a loose tongue and low inhibitions. When Rath escorted me upstairs to help me find a room, I couldn't stop thinking about what he said to Keltyr. Normally, I wouldn't have said anything. I'd let it stew. Infect me. Build resentment. But not in the state I was in.
“This looks good,” Rath said as he stepped into a room. “And my room is just a few doors down.”
“And that matters because?” I closed the door.
Rath turned toward me, a line forming between his brows. “I think you're drunk. Come on, let's get you in bed.” He took my hand and led me to the huge bed.
“Oh,nowyou want to get me in bed?” I drawled. “I thought you were only my mentor?”
Rath chuckled, let go of my hand, and pulled back the blankets. “Lie down, Ember. Before you say something you'll regret tomorrow.”
“Like what?” I sat down on the mattress. “Should I not ask why you told Keltyr there's nothing between us?”
“No, you shouldn't.” Rath started to turn away, but I grabbed his hand.
“Is there nothing between us? I thought . . .” I shook my head and dropped his hand. “Was I wrong?”
Rath sighed. “It's been one day, Ember. We barely know each other.”
“That didn't stop Keltyr from propositioning me.”
The skin around his eyes twitched. “Keltyr propositions everyone.”
“So there is something between us?”
“I'm your mentor. We'll be great friends, I'm sure.”
“Friends? Is that all?”
“To be anything more would be unethical.”
“And you readily agreed to mentor me.”
“The Emperor asked it of me.”
“No, he didn't. He implied it, a bit. And honestly, if I'd known it would make you off limits, I would have chosen someone else.”
Rath's hand went to my face and cupped my cheek. His thumb brushed my lips. “There is something between us. But I cannot act on it.”
“Ugh!” I threw up my hands, shoving his away. “You're ridiculous!”
“Ridiculous?”
“Yes, ridiculous. I don't believe you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don't believe that's the only reason you don't want to have sex with me.”
“I never said I didn't want to have sex with you. I said it would be wrong.”
“Sure. Wrong. Just tell me the truth. You're not going to hurt my feelings. I mean, you might, but I'm a grown man, I can take it. And it's better if you tell me now before I start liking you even more.”
