Rath's face twitched as he looked over at me. “But this is insulting. If she knew who you were, she wouldn't dare disrespect you.”
“I don't give a fuck about her opinion of me.” I shrugged. “If she thinks so little of my people, I don't want her respect. And I certainly don't want to eat in her pretentious restaurant. Maybe someday she'll realize who she turned away and feel like an ass. That's enough for me. But who I am shouldn't make a difference. I should be given the common courtesy due to every living thing, no matter my race. So, fuck her and fuck this place.”
“Excuse me!” the woman gasped. “How dare you speak like that in my presence, you disgusting piece of human filth! Guards! Remove this creature!”
A couple of well-dressed men flowed out of the shadows and strode toward us.
“Come one foot closer and you will learn why the Goddess chose to make me a Wraith Lord,” Ratharin said in a low, deadly tone as he stepped between me and the men.
The men stopped.
“And you.” Rath turned to look at the woman. “You are a disgrace to our people. I'm embarrassed to have brought him here to be so disrespected by someone so insignificant as you. You arenothingcompared to him!” he sneered. “Nothing. Just some servant in a restaurant. While he is the hope for our world. His name is Ember. Remember it. Someday you will hear it again and you will be the one ashamed.” Then he looked at the guards. “Tell Illorian that Lacinda has insulted Wraith Lord Ratharin so tremendously that he will never be returning to this establishment.” Then he turned and embraced me. “Close your eyes, Ember. I'm taking you somewhere they appreciate the Wraith Lords and all we do for Varr.”
“My lord!” Lacinda cried as we disappeared.
The last thing I heard was one of the guards muttering, “Illorian will not be pleased.”
Chapter Sixteen
I opened my eyes and found myself back at the Wraith Lord Citadel, in the arrival chamber—an empty room about ten feet square. Rath took my hand and quickly drew me out to the entry hall. Lingering in the chamber was a bad idea. A Lord could fade into you. Literally.
“Ember, I'm so sorry,” Rath said.
“It's all right. I was kind of expecting it.” I shrugged. “No one there looked happy to see me.”
He shook his head. “I guess I've been blind to my own people. I knew we were a bit . . .”
“Pompous?” I offered brightly. “Arrogant? Elitist?”
Rath grimaced. “Vain. We believe our race is the strongest on Varr. I still believe that, but that doesn't mean the other races are undeserving of my respect or that they're less significant in any way. I shouldn't have taken you to Krix. I see that now. But I wanted to share my culture with you.” He made a sardonic sound. “I've been away for too long. I've changed while they've stayed the same.”
“It's hard to realize that things aren't as you thought,” I said. “I'm sorry.”
“Don't you dare apologize.” He took my face in his hands. “I tried to give you a treat and ended up torturing you. I'm sorry, Ember. I'm so sorry.”
“Stop.” I pulled his hands down. “It's fine. I—”
“Can you not have this conversation right outside the arrival chamber?” someone growled.
I turned to see Lord Xaedren in the chamber doorway, with Lord Darsen behind him. Both men wore leather, armor, and chainmaille, with numerous weapons strapped to their bodies. Xaedren had blood splattered across his chainmaille tunic.
“Holy fuck!” I exclaimed as I jerked away from the arrival chamber and Rath.
Lord Xaedren's lips twitched as he stormed past.
“Sorry about him,” Lord Darsen said. “It was a rough one.”
“Uh, you have a little something, just there.” I motioned at the pointed tip of his left ear.
“What?” Lord Darsen frowned and brushed his ear. A piece of flesh fell to the floor. “Damn it.” He crouched and picked it up. “I hope I haven't shed any other bloody bits in the arrival chamber. I'd hate for the staff to have to clean that.” He went and checked, nodded, then stepped past us, heading for the stairs as he muttered, “Fucking Corrupter.”
“See?” I waved a hand after Lord Darsen. “He's a nice Varraen too. He even cleans up after himself so the citadel staff doesn't have to pick up body parts.”
Rath snorted a laugh. “He's a Wraith Lord like me. This job changes you.”
“For the better.”
Rath smiled softly at me. “I hope so.”
