Chapter Twenty-Three
Later that night, I went to take care of Xaedren as promised. I knocked on his door, but he didn't answer. Feeling a bit like a criminal, I checked the handle and found it unlocked.
“Xae?” I ducked my head into his room. Then I grimaced. “You've entered my room without permission loads of times, so I'm just gonna come in. Hello?” I went inside.
“He got summoned,” Keltyr said.
I spun toward the door and found Kel leaning against the frame.
“I can help you out if you're,”—he looked me up and down—“in need.”
“Thanks, but I'll wait for Xae.” I went out to the hallway, then closed the door.
Keltyr's usual smile floundered, then settled into a serious line. “I want you for more than a fuck, Ember.”
“What?” I gaped at him. First, Rath, now Kel? Shit, I really did have a storm to conquer.
“I know you think I sleep around, but it wouldn't be like that with you. I . . . I really like you, Ember. I think we could be good together.” His tail lifted, and the end stroked my cheek.
“I'm flattered, Kel. Truly. I think you're handsome, and I would love to learn what you can do with your tail.”
“But?” His tail fell.
“But I'm with Xaedren.”
“Sure. I can see the appeal.” He shrugged, going right back to his carefree self. “He probably fucks like—”
“An animal,” I finished, rolling my eyes. “Yes, that seems to be the general assumption.”
Keltyr snickered. “Oh? I'm not the only one who's been talking about your boyfriend's sexual prowess?”
“Boyfriend?” I frowned, then looked at Xae's door. “Huh. Yeah, I guess he is.”
“You're turning me down and you haven't even worked out if you're committed?” Keltyr asked in dramatic offense.
“No, we've talked about it. Sort of. We said we wouldn't fuck other people. We just haven't talked about where our relationship is going. I don't think he's the kind of person who needs to label things.”
“Xaedren nuzzled you in public after your first night together. I think he's more like that than you think. You do know that wolves mate for life, right?” Keltyr winked at me, then turned around, and sauntered off. Over his shoulder, he tossed, “Let me know if you change your mind. I can always give you a taste of the tail to help you decide.”
I grinned as I watched him walk away. If only Keltyr knew how close I'd been to choosing him. Then I glanced at Xae's door again. That whole wolves mate for life thing was romantic, but I didn't know enough about Xae's people to assume that their animals had that much of an influence over them. And it didn't matter. We were people, not animals. We weren't mates, we were boyfriends. Hopefully. At the very least, we were monogamous lovers.
I wanted to go back inside Xae's room and wait for him there, but that would be pathetic. I don't know why I was even worried. This was what Xae did. He went out and fought the Corrupter and his Corrupted. He protected people. I loved that about him. I was going to do it myself someday. Xae would be fine.
Still, all I could think about as I headed to my room was how Rath would have died if I hadn't been there that day.
“I have to hurry up with my training so I can go on missions with him,” I said to myself as I entered my bedroom. “Then I won't have to worry.”
Shutting the door but leaving it unlocked for Xae, I headed for my bed, my thoughts turning back to Rath. My hand lifted to brush my lips, then the mark on my neck. I was glad I told Rath no, proud of myself for being loyal to Xae. But when I laid down on my bed, my hand went to my chest, right over my heart, and I remembered what Rath said.
He doesn't make your heart race and ache.
It wasn't true. Xaedren did make my heart race and ache. I was falling in love with him. Just as I was falling in love with Rath.
“Aw, fuck me,” I muttered.
Chapter Twenty-Four
A few hours later, I was still waiting for Xaedren. Battles were fast. They don't take three hours. Not the sort of battles the Wraith Lords fought. Sure, something could happen to change that, but that was rare. Usually, the Lords returned within an hour of being summoned.
