My heart leapt at his name, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to eat with him.
Taroc set his plate down. “Could I have a word with you, Ember?”
I looked down at my food, then up at Taroc. “Sure.” I got up, and he took my hand to lead me to a corner near the buffet.
Blocking the room with his body as he tucked me into the corner, Taroc created a private space for us. “Are you . . . what's going on? Why did you walk away like that?”
“Well, you were busy getting congratulated on your prowess,” I said.
“Are you mad at me?” His blue eyes widened. “You were shouting at me to kick his ass. I did it for you.”
“Did you?” I asked without bitterness. In fact, I smiled. “Cause it looked more like you were measuring dicks with another Wraith Lord.”
“Measuring dicks?” He blinked.
“Yeah, seeing whose is bigger. I think that fight was more about proving your prowess than defending me. The defending me part was just a bonus. Though, it did start with me, so thank you . . . I think.”
“You think?”
“I didn't need your help, Taroc. I had just finished speaking with Jathalion, and I gave him some hard truths to mull over. That's why he was so upset. What you told me helped, so thank you for that as well. But I don't need you to toss someone into a wall for me.”
“No, you don't,” Taroc said, his voice gone low. “But this is what I do for people I care about. Whether you're strong enough or smart enough or whatever enough to defend yourself doesn't matter. I will stand up for you because I can. I will throw people into walls, off rooftops, and onto their asses if they come at you in any way that I don't deem acceptable.Thisis who I am. I can get violent, but it's always for a good reason. I don't do it to prove myself better than someone else. If that were the case, I would have gone up against Jathalion in a training match, and I would have done it the first day he stepped into the yard. But that's not who I am.” He sighed and shook his head. “He came at both of us today. I could have brushed him off if it was just me, but I couldn't tolerate the way he sneered at you. The way he lifted his nose as if you were beneath him. It's not just the thing with his trainees, Ember. Surely you see that?”
“What?” I whispered. “What do you mean? What else could it be?”
Taroc lifted his brows at me.
I frowned. Then blinked. “It's because I'm human.”
Taroc grimaced. “I may have been especially sensitive to that sort of look after taking you to Myar today and seeing it on so many Tytra. But to see him, a fellow Wraith Lord, look at you like that—it made my blood boil. I couldn't allow it. And the only way to stop an attack of that nature is to stomp it out. Prove you're bigger and better. Make him think twice about doing it again.”
I stared at Taroc. His jaw was tight, his shoulders bunched, and his fist was planted on the wall beside my face. Everything he said was true. I didn't just believe him, I'd also seen the truth of it for myself. He wasn't that man. I had misjudged him. In a fucking second. So unfair. And it had been nice to be defended. I don't know why I got upset about it. I liked who Taroc was, all of him. Why was I acting this way? I suddenly regretted not giving him a victor's kiss.
“All right,” I said. “I get it.”
Taroc relaxed. “You do?”
“I do, and I like who you are. I won't be so disapproving in the future. But don't expect me to go running to you and fawn all over you when you do shit like that.I'mnotthatman.”
“I didn't expect that.” He brought his head down to mine. “But I was hoping for a kiss.” He grinned. “I did throw someone into a wall for you.”
I snorted a laugh, then grinned. It looked as if I was being given a second chance. And I wouldn't waste it.
I grabbed Taroc's face and kissed him.
Taroc's arms went around me, and I eagerly slid into a primal expression of desire and affection with him. One flavored with blood. That should have disturbed me. But Taroc had bled for me. That wasmyblood. And it tasted as sweet as his victory.
Chapter Fifteen
The next day at breakfast, when my lovers and I sat down, Taroc got up from his table and came to ours. He sat across from me, beside Xae, and ate in silence. We didn't bother him with conversation. It was just nice to have him there. And I wanted him to be comfortable with us. He could have his quiet meal and still be part of our group. Tiny steps.
After we finished breakfast, when everyone was getting to their feet and my guys and I were discussing training, Taroc finally spoke.
“Ember?”
Everyone went quiet at the sound of his voice.
“Yes?” I turned toward him.
