I looked at Jath. He stared back at me. I lifted a brow.
Yes, Jath, what's your true issue with me?
“You're all fucking insane,” Jath muttered, turned, and faded away.
General Ranor sighed, then asked, “Is there anyone else who would like to express their concerns?”
“So, you're not like the Corrupter?” Lord Jusso asked.
“Death Magic is similar to Spirit in that it is extremely difficult to master. According to Death, the Corrupter's mind was damaged during his battle to take control of Death Magic,” I said. “He didn't have the Consciousness of Death guiding or protecting him. Death told me the Corrupter wasn't worthy, but, in the end, it respected the Corrupter for his tenacity. In short, he survived, and that impressed Death.”
“Then the magic is not on the Corrupter's side,” Lord Dielran said with a look around at the other Lords. “If Ember can win that magic away from the Corrupter—”
“As much as Death wants to believe he's a god,” I interrupted. “He is only a consciousness. Death cannot take the magic away from the Corrupter. It is magic, available for anyone to use. Anyone with the power to master it. But I think having him on our side will be a good thing. It could even be what we need to end the war.”
The Wraith Lords went quiet.
“I know we must be careful with him. Perhaps everything he says is a lie. But after what he did today, that seems less likely. And he has proven himself in other ways. Death could have told the Corrupter that I was alive a long time ago, before the Corrupter discovered it for himself. But he didn't.” I sighed deeply and looked around the hall. “One of my biggest fears in using the Death Magic was that it would take control of me. That has not happened. Death helped me through the ward and taught me the spell to cast another ward. It was my first spell, so it didn't last long against the Corrupter, but it worked. I cast a death ward alone. In mere seconds. And my mind is whole and still my own. If it was safe to use once, maybe I can use Death Magic again in a time of great need.”
“As long as you reserve it for those times alone,” Ranor said. “We need to proceed carefully with this entity and not let the possibility of power blind us.”
“Agreed.”
“Uncle Ember, don't you want some cake?”
I turned toward the dining hall to see Sally standing in the archway, looking so tiny in that massive passage. Her mouth was streaked with chocolate and her eyes bright as only a child's could be.
“Did you eat it all, Sally?” I widened my eyes at her as I went over to her.
She giggled and held her arms up. “No, I saved you some.”
I scooped her up and kissed her cheek. “You mean this bit on your face here?”
“No!” She giggled harder. “I saved you a piece. A whole piece.”
“What about my friends?” I nodded over at the Wraith Lords.
“I saved you some too!” she shouted at them.
I have never seen such fierce warriors melt so quickly. Every man, no matter how stern, smiled at the little girl.
“Let's eat cake!” I called to them.
I led the Wraith Lords into the dining hall with a little girl in my arms. And as I did, I said another prayer of thanks to the Goddess. I wasn't sure if she had accepted my choice, approved of it, or simply protected the children, but I was grateful.
Chapter Forty-Four
After settling the kids and the reunited families in some guest rooms, Xae, Rath, and I took Keltyr to our suite. I needed to bathe and . . . do other things. So I left Kel with Xae and Rath while I went to the bathroom. I cleaned myself exceptionally well. Not that I didn't clean properly all the time, but this time, I had to wash away the scent and release Jath had left on and inside me. I wanted to be absolutely free of him when I made love to Keltyr.
I came out of the bathroom dressed in a fresh set of clothes. I thought it would be too crass to walk out naked. The men were waiting for me in the sitting room, near the fireplace—Xae and Rath on the couch and Kel on a chair. Keltyr's foot tapped the rug and his hands were clenched. Not at all his usual, carefree self, and I didn't think it had anything to do with the events of the day or his still-healing injuries. No, Kel was nervous.
I went to him and took his hand. “It should be just you and me our first time.”
Kel let out a relieved breath. “Sweet Goddess, thank you. I know I joked about wanting to be with the three of you, but it was just that . . . jokes. I don't know if I'm ready to sleep with three men at once.”
“You wouldn't be sleeping with us,” Xae said. “We'd be sharing Ember. But I understand.”
“We will need to come together later,” Rath said. “Once we do, you'll be more comfortable. So will we, for that matter. But for tonight, why don't you two stay in your room, Keltyr?”
