“One of them.” I grinned shyly and waved at Kel and Rath, who were talking with some of the other Lords. “Lord Keltyr and Lord Ratharin are with me as well.”
Caleb's eyes went wide. “I saw them touching you, but I didn't assume . . . all three of them?”
“It's a long story, but the short version is; I've been given special abilities that—”
“Magic?”
“Yes, my magic. I have power over all the elements, including Spirit, which the Goddess gave me when she made me immortal.”
“Holy shit! You're immortal?!”
“And there's more.” I grimaced. “My magic responds to love. Specifically, my love for someone. I can bond with them and empower their magic, even share mine.”
“So, wait.” Caleb looked at Xae, then back at me. “You make them stronger?”
“Yes.”
His expression softened. “That's rather romantic.”
“It would be.” I made a waffling sound. “I mean, it is romantic. But long ago, the Goddess gave the Emperor a prophecy about me. I'm supposed to empowerseveralWraith Lords and then together, we will end the war with the Corrupter.”
Caleb gaped at me. Then he burst out laughing.
I grimaced.
He kept laughing.
My grimace turned into a scowl.
Caleb's laughter trickled away. “You're serious?”
“Yes. It's why I have three lovers and looking for a fourth.”
“Holy shit! You're immortal and your love will end the war?! That's amazing! You're amazing, Ember!”
Several people turned to look at Caleb, including Evina, who scowled at his profanity.
“Sorry,” Caleb said with a wincing look at the children.
The kids hadn't even noticed.
“They're fine,” I said.
As everyone went back to what they were doing, Caleb swung back to me. “So, you're the key to ending the war?”
“Yes, he is,” a deep voice came from behind me.
Caleb's stare lifted and lifted some more. He gulped.
I was almost as nervous as him. My heartbeat instantly started to race at the sound of Taroc's voice and things tingled that shouldn't have in public, especially after the workout they'd just had with Xae. I swallowed (probably as visibly as Caleb had), composed myself, and turned slightly to bring Taroc into our conversation.
“Lord Taroc, this is an old friend of mine, Caleb,” I said, waving from one man to the other. “Caleb, this is Wraith Lord Taroc.”
“A new friend of his,” Taroc said as he laid a hand on my shoulder.
Oh, great Goddess. He's touching me. Taroc is touching me! Keep calm. He has touched me before. This isn't a big deal. Agh!
I chanced a look up at Taroc's brutal face. Brutal and beautiful, with those Tytra angles and a chin like sheared rock. He had his shoulder-length blue-black hair pulled back in a low ponytail, the highlights matching the scales at his temples and complementing the cool tone of his skin. But even without the dark frame of his hair, his blue eyes were piercing. They stared right into me.
