“I'm still hungry.”
“Oh! I could take you somewhere—”
“Why don't we eat dinner with people we like,” I said and waved toward the dining hall.
Rath nodded. “All right. But we're going to try for dinner again, somewhere other than the citadel.”
“It's a date,” I said.
Rath went still.
“I mean, it's not a date-date. It's a date like, it's a time when we will go to dinner again. As friends. Well, as mentor and . . . what am I? Mentee? Is mentee a word?”
Rath laughed. “You are so—”
“Devastatingly attractive?” I cut him off. “Adorably amusing? Charmingly suave?”
“Lovely to be around,” he finished. “And you're not terribly unattractive.”
I grinned broadly and hooked my arm with his. “I'll take that. Come on, let's get some food before I expire.”
“So dramatic.” Rath rolled his eyes. “But I do owe it to you to see you fed.”
“Yes, you do,” I said primly.
I glanced at Rath, then quickly looked away. It was hard enough working with him every day, but then he went and did something valiant and it made it even more difficult. I'd forever remember the way he stood up for me against his own people. The look on his face—he'd been so outraged on my behalf. And so sad to learn that my view of his people was more accurate than his. I wanted to hug him. All right, I wanted to do a lot more than that, and it seemed as if he wanted it too. And that made me hope for things I shouldn't be hoping for.
I let go of Rath as we strode down to the buffet table. Dinner had started an hour earlier, but the staff made sure to set out fresh platters when the food dwindled, so there were several hot selections available. As much as I would have loved dining on a tree branch and eating fancy Varraen food, I was more than happy with the sliced beef, roasted vegetables, crusty bread, and more that was offered for dinner that night. I heaped food on my plate, then followed Rath to a table that only had a few Wraith Lords sitting at it. He nodded at them as we sat down at the opposite end.
“Hey, guys!” I called to Jakel and Nex.
“Hey.” Nex scooted down to us. “Why are you so late for dinner?”
“Don't ask,” Rath muttered.
“Did your training go poorly?” Nex looked at me for the answer.
“No. Actually, I just became a Master of Earth.” I put my fists on my hips and puffed out my chest.
“Congratulations,” Nex said. “Well done, Ember. A master mage. That's a-mage-ing.”
I snorted a laugh. “Thanks.” Then I set to work on my food. After moaning, I spoke with my mouth full, “So good.”
“Yeah, we're lucky to have such talented chefs here,” Nex said.
“The least they can do is feed us well,” Lord Xaedren muttered as he passed by on the way to the buffet.
“Damn straight!” Nex called after him. “Hey, everyone, Ember became a Master of Earth today!”
The Wraith Lords cheered and called out congratulations. Keltyr even tossed a piece of bread at me. I caught it and ate it as I waved at everyone.
“Thank you!” I called to them. “Four more to go. Then I can earn my keep.”
“Yeah, stop being such a freeloader, Ember,” Lord Pavis called out.
“I've got a way for you to work off your debt,” Lord Finn said, then blew me a kiss.
“Shut the fuck up, Finn,” Xaedren growled as he sat down at the table across the aisle from mine. He looked up, met my stare, held it for a moment, then started to eat.
