He transferred his smile to me. “You've been looking after them all this time?”
“Oh, not me. Harcut and Reginald help. And the General hired Evina.” I nodded toward the Bear Ladrin. “I spend time with them when I can. Especially Sally.” I dropped my voice to whisper, “She's my favorite.” Then I kissed her forehead as she smiled up at me. “But I have to go on missions and train.”
“I still can't believe you're a Wraith Lord.” Caleb's stare warmed. “All those years, you had magic?”
I nodded. “It's why I kept to myself.”
“Dear Goddess, Ember. I thought you were . . .”
“A jerk,” I said, pointedly looking at Sally, who giggled.
He cleared his throat. “Yeah. A jerk.”
I set Sally down. “Look, Sally. They're putting out some cakes.” I pointed at the buffet table. “Why don't you get in line before the others do?”
“Cake!” Sally's squeal was like a call to arms.
There went her advantage. All the children—crying or not—lifted their heads and looked toward the end of the room. Then, with a great roar, they ran for the tables. Oh, if only my troubles could be so easily forgotten.
“Walk!” Evina shouted. “No running!”
The children immediately obeyed, earning some shocked looks from the parents, and then lined up for their treats.
“Our kitchen staff always brings out sweets when the kids cry,” I said as I stood and turned back to Caleb. “I'm surprised the children haven't figured that out and started crying just to get cake.”
Caleb smiled after Sally, then looked back at me. “Ember, I'm so sorry for the way I treated you.”
“Why?” I frowned. “You treated me just fine.”
“I treated you like an embarrassment.”
“And I preferred it that way.” I laid a hand on his arm.
A growl rolled over me, a sound I knew well. I jerked my hand back. Caleb's eyes went round as he focused on someone behind me. I looked over my shoulder knowing what I'd find—Xaedren getting to his feet, his cold stare locked on Caleb.
“Xae!” I held up my hands and got in his path.
“He's not a Wraith Lord,” Xae said, his voice gone gravelly. “He doesn't get to flirt with you.”
Caleb blinked. “What does that mean?”
I ignored Caleb and focused on the threat. “He's an old . . . well, we were—”
“You fucked him?!” Xae swiveled his furious stare at me.
Caleb swayed on his feet.
The people in our vicinity went still and stared.
“Before you and I met.” I pushed at Xae's chest and, of course, accomplished nothing. “Stop it, Xae!”
“Stop speaking to him, and I will.”
“So I can't talk to men I've been with before you?”
“Correct.”
“That's ridiculous!”
