“I'm still me.”
Caleb eased back and met my stare. “And I'm still me. But it's hard to remember that after being corrupted. I feel as if I've lost a part of myself to the darkness. I don't feel right.” He shook his head. “Something is not right.”
“You were infected with Death Magic. I think it's natural to feel out of sorts.”
“I suppose.”
“Give it some time. You need to heal. Not physically but emotionally.”
Caleb nodded. “Yes, all right.”
“Do you remember it?”
He bit his lip, then said, “Snippets.” A frown. “I think I was digging.”
“Digging? Do you remember if you dug up corpses?”
Caleb looked horrified. He started to tremble. “Corpses?”
“Sorry!” I held up my hands. “It's just . . . shit, we didn't tell you guys. I didn't think to tell you.”
“Tell us what?”
“Ember?” someone called from my left.
I turned to see Taroc walking up.
“Shit. I have to go, Caleb,” I said. “Uh, I'll find you when I get back, and we can finish our conversation.”
Caleb glanced at Taroc and nodded. “Sure. Sorry to bother you.” He hurried down the hall to his guest suite.
“You're not a bother!” I called after him, then grimaced at Taroc.
“What was that about?” Taroc asked.
“He's remembering a little from when he was corrupted.”
“You're still here?” Rath came up behind me. Then he saw Taroc. “Hello, Lord Taroc.”
“Lord Ratharin,” Taroc said.
“I'm just leaving now.” I stepped out. “I'll see you later.”
“All right.” Rath looked back at Taroc. “You do understand what it will mean if he accepts you?”
Taroc nodded, his expression blank.
“Thank you for bringing that up, Rath. I wasn't nervous enough.” I waved Taroc down the hall. “Shall we?”
“Be careful. The Corrupter will be watching for him,” Xaedren said. He had come to the door so quietly that I hadn't noticed him.
“I am aware. And I will be on guard,” Taroc said, then grabbed my hand and pulled me in against him. “Close your eyes, Ember.”
I wrapped my arms around his thick torso and closed my eyes, letting Taroc direct our fade. To hold him was magnificent. My arms stretched around his bulk. His body closed around mine. He was warm and solid and smelled like rosemary. Must be his hair soap. Then all of that was gone. Only tingling everywhere. But that lasted a few seconds, that's all. The tingling was replaced by normal sensations in an instant.
When I opened my eyes, the sun was shining on Taroc and me. I stepped back and blinked up at the bright blue sky. As my gaze lowered, it caught on the pointed tops of stone and steel buildings, rising several stories, though not as tall as those in the Dhon city of Ruva. Not as modern either. These buildings had the markers of ancient architecture. From the delicate ironwork to the stone carvings of dragons, even the alley was beautiful.
Dragons flew above the city. Great beasts with long necks, pointed horns, and deadly claws. Leathery wings angled to catch the currents, turning something cumbersome graceful. Their scales gleamed in the sunshine—crimson, sapphire, ivy, amber, and black. This was a Tytra city but one of mixed clans. So it was exclusive to Tytra and yet inclusive to all the clans. Unless I was wrong and there were members of other immortal races there. After all, we had only just arrived, and in an alley, no less. The far end of it to be exact.
