“I tried to get him to leave,” Vex said.
“It's fine,” I said to them. “I even confessed to Vexen's dad about my rule-bending, and he was good with it. He knew he'd put me at a disadvantage.”
“Hold on,” Xae growled and swung his stare at Vex. “It wasyour fatherwho instigated this test?”
Vexen cleared his throat. “He's the Chief of our clan. I'm his only child.”
Xae blinked. Sat back. Grunted.
“What the fuck does that mean?” Keltyr asked. “Why are you acting as if he just explained everything?”
“A chief's son mating an outsider is a big issue,” Xaedren said. “They had to test Ember to see if he was worthy of the clan. Vexen might rule one day and that would mean Ember would beruling under him. He has to be accepted as one of the clan for that to happen.”
Ratharin sighed. “And of course, the way to be accepted is through violence. Fucking Ladrin.”
Instead of being insulted, Xae grinned at Rath. “We value strength.”
“So, you're a chief's son,” Keltyr said to Vex.
“I thought that was obvious,” Taroc said.
Everyone looked at him in surprise.
Taroc waved at the Tiger Ladrin group. “They're protective of him. It was either that or they were all fucking him, and I didn't scent them on him.”
Vex gaped at Taroc.
I snorted a laugh and said to Vex, “You can't slip anything by Taroc. He sees all.”
“Kinky,” Gray said. “So, hey, I'm heading out later today.”
“Shit,” I huffed. “I'm sorry I've been so busy. I wanted to spend some time with you.”
“It's fine.” He waved his hand. “You know where I'll be. Come and see me when you get a moment to yourself.”
I grimaced. “That might not be for a while.”
“That's fine too. The tower's my new home until this war is over. Come by anytime.”
“Thanks, Gray.” I grinned at him. “I'll try to make it by soon.”
“Did things go smoothly other than the test?” Rath asked.
Gray hooted with laughter. “Was that your subtle, classy, Varraen way of asking how the sex was?”
Rath stared at Gray.
Gray cleared his throat. “Sorry.”
“No,” Rath said. “I wasn't asking about the sex. I was asking about the bonding.”
“I'm not finished asking about the test,” Taroc said. “Why did you need the help of the Elements? What happened, Ember?”
I shrugged. “I nearly lost. The guy I was fighting with was too fast. Faster than I thought he'd be. He got me pinned. But Air got him off me while I acted as if I pushed him.”
“I don't like that you put Ember in danger,” Taroc said to Vexen. “You should never have taken him there. We should have all bonded together, as I did with them. That would have been the wisest course of action. But you had to be selfish. I'm not happy with you, Ladrin.”
When Taroc spoke, it was usually short and to the point. He didn't often find the need to use so many words. The fact that he had showed how upset he was.
