“Yeah. So far, I've only seen it in a Dhon city. They're very advanced.”
“Why don't they share?”
“I don't know. Maybe they've never thought to or maybe the other races aren't interested.”
“Or maybe they do have them in other cities and you haven't seen it yet?” he suggested.
“True. That may very well be it. I haven't seen much of the world. But the point is, we could use one here.”
“I imagine this place was built long before the invention of lifting boxes,” Caleb panted.
“True.” I waved at the landing of the third floor. “There's a bench down that corridor. Let's rest for a few minutes.”
“Good idea.” He shambled down the corridor.
I followed, listing to my right. The bench I mentioned shortly came into view, the glorious thing situated in a window nook and padded with thick cushions. We sighed in unison as we sat down. Then we laughed.
“You'd think I'd be in better shape,” I said.
“Yeah, I did think that.” Caleb smirked.
I snorted a laugh and leaned back against the window. The glass was cool against my warm back, prompting me to sigh again. Autumn was quickly approaching. Construction would get more difficult when the rain came. And then there would be snow.
“Is something wrong?” Caleb asked. “You seem sad.”
I looked over at him, my thoughts instantly turning toward Taroc. “It's about a guy I'm courting. Or he's courting me. Or not. I don't know. But you don't want to hear about my love life.”
“We're friends now, remember? If you're holding back because you're worried about my feelings, don't. I'm not pining for you, Ember. I really just want a human friend who's around my age and not a father.”
I chuckled. “I get it. And I like having a human friend too. The Wraith Lords are very accepting, but they won't ever truly understand what it means to be human.”
“Yeah. And they're . . . well, they're so big.”
I burst out laughing again. “Yeah, they kind of are.”
“You've gotten bigger too,” Caleb said, but it wasn't in a flirty way.
Suddenly, I felt really comfortable with him. Caleb was right; out of everyone in the citadel, we had the most in common. And it would be nice to talk about Taroc with someone who wasn't invested in the situation. And who wasn't in love with me.
“I've been going out with Taroc. He's the one you saw in the corridor that day you came by to talk. We've been on a few dates, and I thought things were going well. He even started eating with us. But then he disappeared. I mean, he's here, somewhere, but I haven't seen him. It's been over a week.”
Caleb winced. “That's disappointing.”
“Yeah. I think he's having doubts. If Taroc commits to me, he'll be with me at least until the war ends, and it would mean sharing his only lover with three other men. And probably more in the future. I understand why he wouldn't want to do that.”
“Ember, I don't want to belittle your feelings for Taroc.”
“But?”
“But you have three men who love you and so many others who are eager to be your next conquest.”
“Conquest?” I snorted. “I'm the conquest, not them.”
“That's where you're confused. You may be the one pursued, but they are your conquests. You will gather them and form a strong team.”
I blinked. Had I been looking at it wrong? Maybe all of my game-playing with Taroc had influenced me poorly. I was the prize, but I was also the one with the power. Not just magical power, but the power to choose. I was the one who had to fall in love.
“Yeah, maybe I am the conqueror.” I grimaced. “That sounds awful.”
