“Go, Ember,” Rath said. “We'll see you later.”
“Go,” Xae forced the word past his clenched teeth.
“Thanks,” I whispered. Then I held my hand out to Kel.
“Really?” Keltyr's sun-kissed face broke into a grin. “Well, fuck! It really is my lucky day.” Then he whooped, grabbed my hand, and drew me away from my lovers. “That's right, fuckers!” He lifted our joined hands. “He's going to dinner withme. Suck it!”
I snorted a laugh as Kel wrapped my hand around his arm and escorted me out like a gentleman despite his crass words. Then I saw Jath, sitting with a group in the left corner. His face was tight, his eyes narrowed, and when he caught me looking, he flushed and turned away.
Nope. That was done. Not going to think about him.
“So, what kind of food do you like?” Kel asked as he led me to the entry hall.
“Anything but Varraen.”
“Really? What's wrong with Varraen food?”
“Nothing. I just have a bad memory associated with a Varraen restaurant.”
“Sounds like a story you can tell me over dinner.” He winked at me. Then he went serious. “I'm really glad you're giving me a chance, Ember. I . . .” He bit his bottom lip and ducked his horned head. “I've always had a crush on you. I mean, I know you know that, but I just wanted to say it.”
“I like hearing it.” I grinned at him. Maybe this would be fun. “So, where are you taking me?”
“I think I'll take you home.”
“Home?”
“My home. Where I'm from.”
“All right.” Then I frowned. “Uh, why are we heading to the arrival chamber? We can fade from anywhere.”
“I needed time to think about where to go.” Keltyr stopped in the hall, between the suits of ancient armor and beneath the great iron chandelier, and pulled me into an embrace. “Hold on, Ember. I wouldn't want to lose you now that I have you in my arms.”
I smiled as I wrapped my arms around Kel's bulk and laid my cheek on his solid chest. Then he faded us away.
Chapter Sixteen
We reformed in a dark alley, and with Kel's head tucked over mine, it felt intimate. He didn't release me right away, but instead lifted his head and looked down at me. He was handsome, there was no denying that, but I'd discounted it for so long. It was his playful attitude. Keltyr rarely got serious, so I couldn't take him seriously.
He looked serious now.
“I don't want to let you go,” Kel whispered.
“Then how will we eat?” I grinned at him.
Kel nodded and stepped back, but he took my hand and put it around his arm once more. “Welcome to Ruva, the largest Dhon city on Varr and my birthplace.”
Keltyr led me out of the alley, to a sidewalk, then paused, letting me take my first look at his city. Most of the pedestrians were Dhon, but it wasn't like the Varraen city Rath had taken me to. There were other races welcome in Ruva, and I saw Makhans, Tytras, and even a few Varraen. No one even glanced at me even though there were no humans in Ruva. And I didn't look at them for long either. Not with the spectacular structures around me catching my eye.
The Varraen city had been enchanting, with homes built among and within gargantuan trees. But Ruva lay on the opposite end of the stunning spectrum. A few trees grew from plots of earth cut from the stone sidewalks, but they were small and looked as if they'd been planted there for decoration, not built around. It was the buildings themselves that were impressive in Ruva. Soaring columns of glass and steel rose around us, stretching so high I couldn't count the number of floors. Lights shone from windows and streetlamps, turning the night into day. Everything was clean and polished. The steel walls gleamed like a sword.
“Wow,” I whispered.
“It's nice but crowded. People live in apartments instead of houses. Though the view makes it worthwhile,” Keltyr said. “This way.”
Kel led me down the sidewalk, then up to a pair of glass doors. A Dhon man in a dark uniform opened one of the doors for us, nodding politely. As we entered an open room with doors to either side, I remembered climbing the stairs that circled one of the enormous trees in Levari, the Varraen city. I had no desire to make another such climb.
“How many flights of stairs are we going up?” I asked.
