“When I said we were all with you, I meant your lovers as well,” Air said.
I remembered them gathered around me and realized that their hands weren't the only ones on me. They had supported me in the astral plane while my lovers had done the same in the physical world.
“We were so close,” I said. “Again.” I closed my eyes and moaned, “Again.”
“Third time's the charm,” Fire said.
Blinking, I looked up. “What does that mean?”
“It means that we'll definitely get him next time.”
“Fire is right, Spark of the Goddess,” Earth said. “We made contact. Although that may not seem like much to you, it's important to us. While you were battling Death, we were sensing him.”
“Sensing him?” I asked.
“Don't start that repeating shit again,” Fire snapped. “Pay attention, Sparky. Cause we were. We sensed the differences in Death. Differences we didn't see before. And now, we can train you to use them against him.”
“Now,that, I understand.” I stood up, a new determination filling me.
“There's one more thing,” Air said hesitantly. “The main difference we saw was how powerful Death has grown. And how your power wasn't enough against it.”
“What?” My determination faltered.
“Even if you had enough time to properly cast the spell, it wouldn't have worked,” Water said. “Let that be a comfort to you.”
“How is that a comfort?” I growled.
“Because you couldn't have won today, no matter what you'd done.”
Air took over, “And we know what you need, Ember.”
“Oh, for fuck's sake, stop drawing it out,” Fire huffed. “You need another lover. Your strength is nearly there, Sparky. One more man should do the trick.”
“Do the trick?” But then my confusion faded and my determination went solid again. Because that's when I saw Vexen.
He was standing to the side with Nex and a huge group of Wraith Lords. I was a little startled by their presence for a couple of reasons. First, they had been so silent that I hadn't known they were there. And second, I'd never seen so many lords respond to a summons. But then this wasn't just any summons. It was me against Death on the battlefield of Fress. Many of the lords had grown attached to the children and formed friendships with the adults of Fress. When Death attacked this village, it was personal for all of us.
But I barely glanced at the other wraith lords. I was focused on Vex. And he was focused on me. I saw it in his eyes. He knew that I'd be after him now. Chasing him instead of the reverse. It was bad for our relationship. Alphas needed to hunt. But I didn't have time for that shit.Ineeded to fall in love now more than ever.
Because my team had been short a man.
Vexen's face twitched, but he didn't run. Again, too alpha for that. Instead, he stepped forward, and my lovers parted for him. They stared him down. I could feel the intensity rolling off them. But I didn't look away from Vex. And he didn't look away from me.
“I felt it when you left me,” Vex said.
I blinked, trying to comprehend. Thrown off by the unexpected. “What?”
“When you fought Death,” Vex clarified. “I felt you leave your body. It scared the shit out of me.”
“Oh.” I thought about it. “I didn't really leave. I, uh . . .”
“His mind went to the astral plane of existence,” Air said.
“Yeah,” I said. “I even saw the Elements there.”
It was Vexen's turn to be confused. “You saw the Elements on this other plane? Like when Fire appeared to Graysen?”
“No. When she did that, she used the element to shape a body. But there, she looked like a normal woman.”
