“I told him how I saved Rath, and the Emperor said, 'It's you' in this tone of revelation. He went on to explain himself, telling us about what the Goddess said. But that initial 'it's you' freaked the fuck out of me.”
“I'll bet.” Xae snorted. Then he went serious. “Itisyou. You're going to change the war, Ember.”
“Hopefully, I'llhelpend it.”
He grunted. “Hopefully. But for now, I need you to eat. Get your strength back.”
“You already have an erection, don't you?”
“Yup.”
Smirking, I said, “Me too.”
“Damn it, Ember! Now, you've done it.” Xae surged out of his seat and yanked me into his arms. As he carried me back to bed, he grumbled, “Our food is going to get cold.”
“I don't care.”
Xaedren met my hot stare and growled as he lowered his head to kiss me, “I don't either.”
Chapter Twenty
“Where were you last night?” Rath asked as I joined him at our usual breakfast table. “You weren't at dinner. I went to your room, but you weren't there either. I would have been worried if I didn't know you can't fade.”
“Sorry. I . . .” I smoothed my hair and stared at my food. “I ate with someone in their room.”
“You ate with . . .” Rath blinked. “Oh. I see.”
“It was just dinner.”
“Yes. Well, we all get hungry.” Rath stretched his neck, subtly looking around the room. “Who did you dine with?”
I lifted a brow.
“I'm sorry. Don't answer that. Just tell me it wasn't Keltyr.”
“It wasn't Keltyr.”
“What wasn't me?” Kel plopped down beside me, slung an arm around my shoulders, and nuzzled my neck. “You know, if you need something from me, all you have to do—” Keltyr's words turned into a shocked cry as he was lifted off the bench and tossed on the floor. He lay there and stared up at his attacker in confusion. “What theactualfuck, Xaedren?”
Xaedren just snarled at Keltyr, baring his teeth, then sat down beside me. He set his plate on the table and started eating as if nothing had happened. I gaped at him. Then at his plate. Xae had tossed Keltyr one-handed. He glanced at me, winked, and went back to eating.
“What the fuck?!” Kel asked again as he jumped to his feet. “There are plenty of open seats, asshole.”
“I like this one,” Xaedren said, then lifted his head and stared Keltyr down.
Keltyr's expression went even more baffled as he slid onto the bench across the table from us. He pulled his plate over, then his mug, sipped as he continued to stare at Xae, then looked at me.
I cleared my throat, focused on my plate, and took another bite.
“No,” Rath whispered. Then, louder, he said, “No fucking way. Tell me I'm wrong.”
I glanced at him, shrugged (though it was more of a wince), shot a nervous glance at Xae, then sipped my coffee.
“Why? For the love of the Goddess, why him?!”
Meeting Rath's stare directly, I straightened my shoulders, and said, “Why do you care?”
“Why does he care about what?” Keltyr asked. “You didn't really . . .” He looked at Xaedren.
