“Thank you,” I added. “I don't believe Master Bri'tar would have let me die, if for no other reason than the Emperor would have had his ass for it. But still, you saved me from shitting my pants at the very least.”
Rath snorted a laugh, then said, “You're welcome.”
“And I'm sorry for this morning. I shouldn't have said that.”
“No, it's my fault that you don't know me better, not yours.” Rath sighed. “I don't . . .” he trailed off as his gaze went to my right. “Never mind. I'll talk to you later.” He strode off, the Wraith Lords parting to let him through.
I looked up to see Xae's hard expression. He softened it for me.
“You shouldn't have hurt my teacher,” I said.
Xaedren's expression returned to its previous severity.
“But I know why you did,” I added. “Just as I know why you did what you did this morning.”
His expression went tremulous. “You do?”
“All right, guys, that's enough gawking,” Nex called out. “Our boy's alive and well. Now, let's give him a moment with his brute of a boyfriend.”
Xaedren didn't even glance at Nex as he passed by with the other men. But he did wait until they were gone before he said, “I thought you might be upset with me.”
“No. I know you, Xae. I know you needed to assert yourself in front of Rath. You had to show him he doesn't have a chance with me.”
Xae's jaw dropped.
I stood on my toes to kiss him on the tip of his nose. “And I love you too.”
With a whoop and a brilliant grin, Xaedren lifted me off my feet and spun me in a circle. When he set me down, his head came down as well, and he claimed my lips in a jubilant kiss. I wrapped my arms around his broad shoulders and kissed him back, feeling the rightness of it. This was ours. Our love, our way, in our time. I had feelings for Rath too, maybe I even loved him, but we only get one person to be with, and I was happy with my choice.
“You really do know me,” Xae whispered as he turned our kiss into a hug.
I realized then that my earlier doubts had been foolish. Xae listened to me. He always did. He didn't just listen, he used what he learned to look after me. And he didn't just look after me; Xae treasured me. He showed me love in every way he could. It was Rath. He was the chink in the armor around my love for Xae. My heart wanted two men and whenever I was in the presence of the one I didn't have, it made me doubt the one I did have. That was going to stop right now. I would never doubt Xae again.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Another week passed, seeing me proficient in Air magic and absolutely pathetic in combat training. And yes, Master Bri'tar had returned to finish my training, but he refused to do so at the citadel. We finished our lessons on a nearby mountaintop. And he did teach me to fly without wings, though he had me summon the Air and use it to lift me until I was confident. And I was extremely confident now. I never had to fear falling again. Before Master Bri'tar left, he declared me a Master of Air. He even hugged me. No hard feelings on either side over the incident.
I was a master of three elements. Not that I felt masterful. Yes, I was learning to take control of the elements, but I still had two to go, and the last one, Spirit, was the most important. Without it, all the other elements couldn't be united. Until they were, I felt the separation. I'd never felt it before but now that I had three elements mastered, I could sense the discord inside me. It was as if controlling three elements showed me how wild the other two were.
Speaking of wild things . . .
Xaedren grinned as he set a satchel down on the trunk at the foot of my bed. “You've got the day off.”
“What? How?” I asked.
“I spoke with Master Resar, and he agrees that you've earned a day to yourself before you start training with Fire. I'm taking you out.”
“Out where?”
“Out of the citadel.”
“Yes, but to where?” I reached for the satchel, but he jerked it away.
“No peeking,” Xae said. “Are you ready?”
“Uh. I guess. I'm not sure since you haven't told me where we're going.”
“Stop pouting and come here.” He slung the satchel across his chest and opened his arms.
