He met my stare and quickly looked away.
Fuck that.
“You got something you want to say,LordJathalion?” I asked.
The room went quiet. The whole fucking dining hall. Yeah, my tone had been astringent. Straight-up aggressive.
Jath stopped walking and turned to look at me, his plate in one hand. “No. I just don't think any room, no matter the size, would be big enough for four men, much less more.”
“Well, you don't have to worry about that because you will never be one of those men,” I said. After my initial blast of anger, I wanted to make sure no bitterness infused my voice. I kept my tone light, just stating a fact.
Jath's face twitched as a few snickers filtered around the room. “Maybe wait for me to ask before you turn me down. I have no interest in being one of your fuck-toys.”
With a snarl, Xae shot to his feet. And he wasn't the only one. Rath and Kel got up as well and turned to climb over the bench to face Jath.
“What the fuck did you call us?” Kel demanded.
Jath's stare shot around the room to all the other Wraith Lords who stared back at him with disapproval. We were a family. That meant we stood beside each other no matter what. We had each other’s backs. But family sometimes fought. Jath would be forgiven for the insult. Perhaps after he got his ass kicked. And not just by my men. No one hits you harder than a brother or forgives you faster.
“My apologies,” Jath said. “You're doing what you must to end the war.” He tried to walk away.
Xae stopped him with, “You think we're with Ember just because of the war?”
Jath looked back. “Why else would you share one man?”
With the grace that only he could manage, Rath said, “Because that one man is Ember Aldritch. Now, away with you, Jathalion. We are done putting up with your viper tongue out of sympathy. You have suffered, but so have the rest of us. It does not give you the right to hurl such venom at your fellow Lords.”
Jath lifted his chin. “You're right, Lord Ratharin. I have no excuse for my churlishness. I will endeavor to keep it to myself, as I've tried to do with my pain. Goodnight.”
He left the dining hall.
It was enough. We all knew Jath was still upset over the deaths of his trainees, and no one expected him to get over it quickly. But we weren't going to let his suffering affect us anymore. And he knew it. So, yeah, he could keep that shit to himself. I was done feeling sorry for him and obsessing over him. Perhaps I was inexperienced, but I learned fast. I wouldn't get wrapped up in another man who I knew was bad for me.
I had better men to focus on.
Chapter Forty-Seven
After dinner, my men and I showered separately, Kel downstairs in his bathroom. I was the last to bathe. By the time I got out, I could hear Kel's voice through the door. He had returned. It was time.
As I dried off, I stared into the mirror. My hair hung past my shoulders now. I should get it cut. And there were other changes to my body—hardness that hadn't been there before I'd come to the citadel. I may not be great with a sword, but the training gave me some nice definition. And then there were my magical skills. I was a master of all the elements now. I had known that was impressive, and I had celebrated it, but it hadn't sunk in just how amazing that was. How astounding my journey from unknown human to prestigious Wraith Lord had been.
I almost didn't recognize myself.
But I was still there, beneath the muscles and magic. The same Ember. Just not so lonely or weak. I liked the new me. I liked my strength and confidence. And I loved my men.
I hung up the towel and left the bathroom naked, chin lifted and heart racing. What had seemed crass the night before felt right now. Xae, Rath, and Kel were standing at the foot of the bed, talking. They paused to look over at me, then their faces went slack, their eyes filling with lust. And their pants. I grinned to see their response. They wanted me. Me, Ember Aldritch. And not because they had to. They desired me so much that one look at my body hardened theirs. I never imagined I'd have this. Even standing there, it seemed impossible. How could I ever complain about my life again? They were worth everything I had to go through to get here. Even dying.
I strode over to the bed and climbed up on the mattress.
Like a pack of wild animals, my men spread out—Xae and Rath coming around to one side of the bed as Kel took the other. I laid back against the pillows and watched them strip, their hungry stares never leaving me, holding me pinned as if they thought I might escape. My cock hardened under their stark lust, and I trailed a hand down my chest to stroke it.
Xaedren growled.
Then pounced.
Xae's huge body covered mine, his lips demanding a response. I groaned and wrapped my arms around those vast shoulders, pulling him down as I met his mouth with mine. His tongue slipped between my lips as his hips pumped, bringing our shafts together.
Then the bed shifted.
