Finn lowered his wing and straightened. “You know, you're one of us now, Ember. Every man here would fight and even die for you.”
“What?” I whispered as I looked at him.
“I'm not saying you're special. I mean, you are, but that's what we'd do for each other. Even the Lords I'm not close with, I'd die for. That's what being a Wraith Lord means, and you are a Wraith Lord in all but title.”
“I am?” My chest went warm and tingly. It's what I'd sensed from the Wraith Lords and what I hoped was true, but I'd never assume. Not with something so important.
“You are.” He nudged me with his shoulder. “It's a type of brotherhood. We care for each other like family.”
“A freaky family,” I teased with a pointed look at Sern and Quenle on our left.
Finn snorted. “I saidlikefamily. I mean that no matter what happens among us, we always have each other's back. Anything can be worked through because we are all Wraith Lords and always will be. You understand?”
“Are you saying that I don't have to worry about fucking up because I'll be forgiven?”
“Yes, but also that you should forgive with the same ease.”
“Ah.” I glanced at Xaedren. “But you don't know why I'm upset.”
“So tell me.” He pushed my mug of ale closer.
I glanced at the other men at our table.
Finn looked at them, then at me. “All right.” He got up, grabbed our mugs, and said, “Come on. We can do this in private.”
“Woo-hoo! In private, eh?” Lord Pavis teased. “Moving on already, Ember?”
“That's right,” Finn lifted his voice. “He finally realized he can do better. And by better, I mean me.”
Xaedren's growl carried across the room.
I winced and shook my head at Xae, trying to convey that it was not what Finn made it out to be. I may be angry, but I didn't want him to think I'd take another lover so easily. Xaedren met my stare and settled, his stare going hopeful. I shook my head again, this time to deny him, and he crumpled, his shoulders hunching inward as he fell forward on his forearms. I hated seeing that, hated hurting him, but I was doing it for us. I needed Xae to learn that he truly didn't want me to be with anyone else. At least, I hoped he'd learn that. I didn't want to be with a man who could share me. How much could he possibly love me if that were true?
“You'd better be careful, Finn,” Pavis said. “You're poking an angry beast.”
Finn looked back and forth between Xae and me, then took my hand and whispered, “If you want him to value you, you have to show him that you're valuable.”
I looked up at Finn and nodded. “All right.”
With a grin, Finn handed me my mug, then clasped my free hand. Sauntering down the aisle with me, he lifted his chin as if he knew he'd be getting exactly what he wanted soon. Rath scowled at the display, his baffled stare going to Xaedren before returning to me. I wouldn't meet his eyes. I had to be valuable, and I had to value myself. That meant not letting others push me around. I could go anywhere I wanted with anyone I wanted to go with. I knew I wasn't cheating on Xaedren and, if he knew me at all, he'd know it too.
And yes, I still considered myself to be in a relationship with him. I was mad at Xae, but I hadn't stopped loving him. That would never happen.
Finn led the way through the corridors, though he did release my hand once we were out of the dining hall. That made me feel immensely better. For a second there, I'd been wondering if this was just a ploy to get me alone so he could make a move. But even after Finn led me out to the kitchen garden, he didn't try to touch me. He just went to a stone bench by the bed of basil and sat down on one end. I sat down on the other end so his wings wouldn't be crowded.
“All right, it's only me and the plants now,” Finn said. “Tell me everything.”
“You heard about what happened with Xaedren? How I went with him on a summoning?”
“Yeah. We've all been talking about it. Loren said you did something to Xaedren, and he suddenly had magic like a Makhon.”
“Like me. My magic.”
“So you did share it with him? That's what a lot of us assumed. That somehow, you transferred your magic to him.”
“Not exactly. After it happened, Xaedren took me to see the Emperor. He told us about something the Goddess said that he now believes he misinterpreted. She said that I would unite Wraith Lords and give them unmatched power.”
“Holy shit. That's amazing! So you can do that for all of us?”
