Rahu's expression went horrified.
“Ember,” Vex said in a chiding tone as he pulled me back again. “I'm handling it.”
“He's being a dick,” I said.
“He has good reason to.”
“Excuse me?” I turned to Vex, as horrified as Rahu.
“His sister was killed by the Corrupted,” Vexen said. “A lot of my people were.”
“Yeah?” I snarled. “Well, that wasn't humans. It was the Corrupter. And now we know it wasn't even the Corrupter. It was Death. So, how does he have a good reason to hate humans?”
“It's a good reasonfor him.Inhis mind,” Vex said gently as he took my upper arms. “Let the magic go, please.”
I looked down and realized that my hand was still coated in water. “Oh. Sorry.” I dispersed the magic.
“He has magic,” Rahu was finally coming out of his daze. “That humanhas magic!”
“I'm surprised you haven't heard of him,” Vex said. “Word has spread across Varr about the human wraith lord with power even greater than a Varraen.”
“Greater than a Varraen?”
“Yes. Ember has mastered all the elements and Spirit,” Vex said proudly. “Don't you see, Rahu? He is a living symbol of the Goddess' love forallher children. She does not see humans as abominations.”
Rahu's face twitched as he looked from his cousin to me. “A human wraith lord with magic.” He shook his head. “No. Not possible. This is a trick.”
“It's not a trick,” Vexen said patiently. “How would we know you were coming here? We came to be alone. We wouldn't have prepared a trick on the off-chance that you showed up.”
“Alone,” Rahu said slowly. He blinked and then snarled. “You're fucking a human?!”
“Enough,” Vexen growled, finally losing patience. “I've given you some leeway because we're kin and I know your past, but that is as far as it goes, Rahu. He's important to me.”
“You said he was just a friend,” Rahu sneered.
“Only because I'm waiting for him to love me!” Vexen shouted.
The following silence was deep, somehow echoing in my ears. Even deeper than that.
Rahu gaped at Vex. “What the fuck? Who are you?”
“Who are you?” Vexen shot back. “The man I knew wouldn't reject reason for blind hatred. I assume it's too sudden. That you need time. So, I'm going to let you think about it, Rahu.” He glanced at me. “Ember.”
“Yeah, I'll go,” I said.
“You're not going anywhere,human,” another man said as he stepped out of the trees.
With ten others.
They surrounded us and started looking very intimidating. The bared fangs were a big factor.
“Tell them to stand down, Rahu,” Vexen said.
“You tell them.”
“This man is a wraith lord!” Vex shouted at the other Tiger Ladrin. “He is blessed by the Goddess with magic. If you move against him, you are attacking me and all the other lords.”
The men paused and looked at each other.
