I groaned into it and would have turned it into something more if my bladder hadn't been screaming at me to stop kissing and go to the bathroom. I pulled away from Vex reluctantly. “I've gotta pee. But then I'll be right back here and you can distract me again.”
“That sounds wonderful, mate,” Vex said.
“That sounds careless, foolish, and selfish,” Earth said.
“You tell 'em, Earth!” Fire said.
“All of you can shut the fuck up and get the fuck out of here right now,” I growled as I got out of bed. “I know Vex has to bond with the others too. I know that we need to train. And I know that we need to focus on ending the war. He knows it too. We will fucking get to it. But we deserve this reprieve. No, hold on. It's not even a reprieve. Love is what is going to win this war. Not magic. Love. So, we need to refuel and empower that love as much as possible. Making love to my mate is not just good for my heart, it's also good for the planet. So, I'm going to do it. Right now. Well, after I relieve myself. And the four of you are going to be gone by the time I return. Got it?”
A chorus of “yes” was muttered.
And then Air said, “We're sorry, Ember. We have watched people for thousands upon thousands of years, but we are not people. We don't think as you do or feel as you do. We don't understand love. But I do think you're right. It is the key to ending this war.”
I took a breath and let it out slowly. “Maybe you don't understand love, Air, but it's a part of you. If it wasn't, you wouldn't be helping me.”
“Well said, mate,” Vexen said.
There was a shimmer in the air and then the four avatars of the Elements stood before me, though their bodies were formed of their elements. It was quite the sight—Air like a ghost, Fire burning as she had before, Water rippling, and Earth wasa statue of soil. They were somber, but their elemental eyes sparked with emotion that, according to Air, they didn't possess. In unison, they bowed to me.
“Thank you, Spark of the Goddess,” Air said.
“For reminding us,” Earth continued.
“That we are more than energy,” Water added.
“We are born of chaos, but we became consciousness through love.”
The avatars shimmered and dispersed into their elements, swirling around me before dancing away.
Chapter Thirty-Four
With the Elements' approval, Vex and I celebrated our mating for another hour or so before we went back to the Wraith Lord Citadel. We were only an hour ahead in Invea, so breakfast was still being served in the dining hall when we arrived. We made some plates from the buffet and joined my team at our usual table. Graysen was there as well.
“So, you snagged another man, eh?” Gray said as I sat down. “You guys enjoy yourselves?”
I grimaced and glanced at Vexen. “It was more complicated than usual.”
“What does that mean?” Xaedren demanded.
Before I could answer, the other Tiger Ladrin came to our table. Vex turned to greet them.
“Is it done?” Lord Racmar asked. “Have you bonded with Lord Ember?”
“Yes, and Ember was tested,” Vexen said. “He's been accepted into the clan.”
“Welcome to the Invea Clan.” Racmar squeezed my shoulder.
Then the rest of them welcomed me. Even more surprising—they went back to their table but only to grab their plates and mugs. Then they returned and sat with us. It was at the end nearest Vex, but still.
Meanwhile, Rath asked, “How were you tested?”
“A fight,” I said. “I agreed to fight without magic, but I got around it with the Elements. They helped me.”
“Sneaky,” Keltyr said with a smirk.
“It was that or die,” I said.
Kel, Taroc, Rath, and Xae all narrowed their eyes at me. Then at Vexen.
