“Who? The Goddess?” I asked. “Did you speak to her again, Your Imperial Sire?”
Xae shook his head in amusement.
“That's not right either?” I whispered to him.
“ImperialMajesty,” he whispered back.
“Oh, right. Your Imperial Majesty,” I tried again. “I don't know why I can't remember that.”
“It's all right, Ember. The point of a title is respect, and you give me that,” the Emperor said. “To answer your question, no, I haven't spoken to the Goddess again. I'm referring to something she said in our last conversation, the one in which she told me about you. She said, 'He will unite them and give them unmatched power. His love is the key to conquering all corruption.'”
“Unite them,” Xae murmured.
“Yes. I thought she meant that Ember would lead the Wraith Lords and that his race would be integral to winning the war—his love for his people. But now, I see that I was wrong. She meant it more literally. Ember's love is the key.” He nodded at me. “Yourlove, Ember. That's what allowed you to empower Lord Xaedren. And this is just with you half-trained. I imagine once you master Spirit, it won't merely be your power that grows. Lord Xaedren will rise with you.”
“Well, shit,” I whispered.
“Holy fuck,” Xaedren said.
The Emperor's expression softened. “You have proven yourself to be the man the Goddess spoke of, Ember. I'm grateful that you have joined us and elated that you have found love. Love is the greatest gift, especially for a warrior. It gives us something to fight for.”
“Yes, I'm very lucky Ember chose me,” Xaedren said.
“You're not the only lucky one.” I gave Xae a tender look.
The Emperor winced. “Seeing your devotion to each other, it pains me to do this, but I must share my new interpretation of the Goddess's words.”
“What is it?” I dropped my fork. “Have I hurt Xae by giving him magic?”
“No, not at all,” the Emperor said gently. “Your love has literally made Lord Xaedren a better man.”
“Then what is it?” I asked. “I don't understand. What could be bad about me empowering Xae and ending the corruption?”
“Fuck,” Xaedren whispered. “No. Don't ask it of us.”
“I'm so sorry,” the Emperor said. “I'm not asking anything of you, nor is the Goddess. It is merely her prophecy and my interpretation of it. You are free to interpret it differently.”
“What?” I looked back and forth between the men. “What interpretation?!”
“He willunitethem and givethemunmatched power,” Xaedren repeated in a monotone. “Them, Ember.” He met my stare, his eyes full of pain. “You have to take more lovers.”
“What?!” I screeched.
“Your love is meant to unite many Wraith Lords, not just empower one,” the Emperor said. “I believe that is what the Goddess was trying to tell me. It makes sense. With just one Wraith Lord's might magnified we are stronger, but not strong enough to end this war. With several, we may be.”
“Several?! How many is several?” I demanded.
“As many as your heart leads you to, Ember,” the Emperor said. “I'm not trying to hurt either of you. In fact, I think you will find happiness in this.”
“Happiness?” I growled. “You think I'll be happy to betray the man I love? No, I'm not doing it.”
“Ember,” Xae said gently.
“No!” I shot to my feet. Then I softened my tone for Xaedren. “No, Xae. I won't do that to you. I love you too much.”
“I love you too.” Xae stood up and took my arms, turning me to face him. “But the Goddess has given you this gift for a reason.”
“Gift? A gift I can only share through sex?” I made a horrified sound. “Are you kidding me? This is stupid. Ridiculous! I'm not going to fuck a bunch of men under the guise of obeying the Goddess.”
