“Why can't the Goddess take him now?” Taroc asked.
“Death is not one of her creations. She cannot simply snatch him away. There are rules that even gods must follow,” Earth said.
“I've heard that before,” I muttered.
“Let me guess—from Death?” Fire drawled. “His brilliance is that he hides his lies in truth. Fortunately for us, he is also arrogant, and that is why he makes mistakes.”
“Like leaving you alive,” Earth said. “Learn from his mistakes, Spark of the Goddess. Never leave your enemies alive. Not if you can help it.”
“I like you,” Taroc said.
The house trembled, just a light shaking, but Taroc and I braced ourselves and stared around in horror. Then I realized what was happening.
“He's laughing,” I said to Taroc.
The shaking stopped and Earth said, “I like you too, dragonling.”
“Did he just call me a baby dragon?” Taroc growled.
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing as the house started to shake again.
Chapter Seventeen
“How did you get past the ward?” Xae demanded.
It was the one thing no one else had thought to ask of the Elements in the hour or so we'd been meeting with them. And it was a meeting. We had even included General Ranor. We wanted to be open with everyone this time. Well, not everyone right away. We were discussing it with the General, and then, if he approved, we'd speak to the rest of the wraith lords.
“As I told Ember, Death has weakened himself by bonding with Aranren,” Air said. “He has limitations now that none of us have. You cannot ward against the Elements.”
“But youcanward against a dickhead with a god complex,” Fire said.
“A god complex?” I asked. “You mean, he's complicated?”
“No, I mean he's fucking mental. He thinks he's a god.”
“Mental?”
“Crazy. Bonkers. Certifiable. Off his rocker. Nutso—”
“Don't mind Fire,” Water said, cutting her off. “She likes to use phrases she learns in other—”
“Do not!” Earth roared. “There is only so much I will agree to share.”
Everyone went silent. Well, all the non-elementals.
Water got annoyed. “Fine, you don't have to get pissy with me. I thought we were being open with them?”
“Ugh, now you're doing it. Can we just stick to the vernacular of this world?”
“This world?” I jumped on that. “Meaning there are others?”
“Oh, that was all you, Rocky,” Fire said, her tone amused. “Nice job. I never said shit about that. You could have just let them think I was woo-woo. I mean, I am Fire. Having a strange way of speaking isn't all that strange.”
“Forget about other worlds,” Air said to us. “This is the only world you will ever know and the only one you have to save. Focus on Varr.”
“I believe we are more focused than you four are,” Rath said.
“Watch it, pointy-ears!” Fire snapped. “We're here to help, and it's a huge step for us to even talk to you. Never, in the history of all the inhabited universes, have we ever spoken to anyone. Have a little respect. We may seem odd to you, but we're genuine and we care.”
