That took a while. By the time I was done, the men were sprawled on the grass or sitting against tree trunks. But they didn't complain. Even Ranor waited patiently. At last, Air said it was time to practice the caging spell.
Rath stood up and went to stand before me.
“You will need to strike quickly,” Air said.
“Like a snake,” Earth added.
Water explained further, “You could form the cage without entering Aranren, but then you wouldn't be able to draw all of Death into the cage. So, before you gather us, you must enter your target. You have an easy way in with your bond. So focus on your bond with Rath. But don't draw on it. Just find it and let it lead you into him.”
“All right,” I said. “You ready, Rath?”
Rath had never looked so uncomfortable. It would have been laughable if I wasn't so nervous. He was a guy with unshakable assurance—in himself and everything he did. Even when he was worried, he looked calm. Not so much now.
My Varraen lover ran an elegant hand back over his braided hair. The tips of his ears were red, but that could have been due to the chill in the air. The thinning of his lips was not chill-related. Nor was the twitching skin around his stunning lavender eyes. I stared into those eyes, trying to convey confidence for once, and ended up absorbed in their beauty, contemplating the dark purple ring around the lavender-gray irises and how he might have looked blind without it. But with that ring, his eyes looked as if they were glowing.
“Ember!” Xae smacked my arm.
“Huh?” I blinked and looked away from Rath.
Rath chuckled. “I said I was ready. But if you keep looking at me like that, I'll be ready for another type of bonding activity.”
The General cleared his throat.
Rath did not apologize to him.
“Tonight,” I promised. “You and me alone. It will be your reward for playing the part.”
“So, you consider yourself a reward?” Rath lifted a dark brow.
“You don't?”
Ratharin laughed boisterously. “I consider you to be much more than that, love. But I'll gladly take the time alone with you.”
“Great. Now that we've got that settled, can we get to the training?” Earth grumbled.
“I was thinking the same thing,” Ranor said in the same tone.
“We don't mind your presence, General,” I said. “But if you're going to stay, you need to let us work as we do best. We aren't just a team. We're bonded lovers. It's the love that makes all the difference.”
“Well said, Ember,” Air said.
“I just wanted to get to it,” Earth huffed.
The General cleared his throat. “You're right. I will be a silent observer.” He crossed his arms and lifted his chin.
“Thank you,” I said. Then I focused on Rath. “You'll be fine. I'll feel it if you experience any distress, and I'll stop immediately.”
“I know you will,” Rath said. “I trust you.”
“All right, so connect with him,” Air said. “Follow the path inside. And when you're there, search for the feeling of the element you wish to contain.”
“What would be the hardest to contain?” I asked.
Every element answered with their magic in unison.
I rolled my eyes and thought it through. Air needed freedom. It was the only element that you couldn't contain in a vessel. Sure, you could cap a bottle full of air, but was it really trapped in there? No. Not like water or earth would be. And fire stayed where its fuel was. They could be contained. But not air. Air went where it wanted.
As they argued over who was the hardest to control, I reached into Rath and sought Air. It was cool, almost effervescent, and tingled. I recognized it instantly. Hard not to when I had worked so long with it and held it inside me.
