“Do you have secrets, Ember?” Ratharin asked urgently. “You need to be open with us. We've talked about this.”
“I mean minor things. Like whatever it is you're keeping from me,” I huffed. “Sheesh, relax. I can't even think of any secrets I have. Not specifically, but I'm sure there's something. Some things are private.”
“Is your secret private, Rath?” Xae asked with a twinkle in his pale blue eyes.
Xae looked like a savage with his long, blond hair hanging in wild disarray around his brutal shoulders. And his unkempt state wasn't because of all the sex we just had. Well, not only because of it. He always looked primal. I had to brush his hair, or he'd forget about it completely. It was adorable. Sometimes. At other times, it was annoying. Tonight, though, I wasn't interested in his hair. Not even the soft curls on his chest. I was hooked on his words and the teasing tone to them.
I looked at Rath. Then I blinked. “Are you blushing?”
“No,” Rath said.
Xae chortled.
“Xae, watch the crumbs,” I chided.
Xaedren just laughed more.
Rath sighed and got out of bed. I sighed too when I saw him cross before the bed naked, his lithe body corded with wraith lord muscles and his long hair brushing the top of his pert ass. I forgot all about my presents, even the custard buns, as I watched my lover walk into our dressing room.
Once he was out of sight, I recovered enough to ask Xae, “What's he doing?”
“Getting something,” Xae said and took another bite of his slice of meat pie. “This is good. I have to ask Vex where he got it. Tastes like venison.”
I scrunched up my nose. “I don't like venison.”
“How can you not like venison?” Xae gaped at me.
“Eww, shut your mouth, Xae.” I pushed his chin up. “You still have food in it.”
Xaedren chuckled and leaned back against the headboard, propping the pie on his belly. “Well, if you don't like venison, I'd better finish this.”
“Rath may want some.”
Xae snorted.
“He can have the pie,” Rath said as he emerged.
Rath had a pair of shorts on, which made me pout, but then he sat down beside me and opened his hand. In it was a teardrop-shaped piece of glass. I frowned and looked closer. Within the glass was a flower, just the bloom. It was yellow and simple. Not something deserving of preservation in such an elaborate manner. But there was beauty in that.
“That's pretty,” I said. “You should wear it.”
Rath's expression fell.
I frowned at his stricken face, then at the flower. Something about that flower was tickling a memory. I picked up the pendant—that's what it was; a pendant attached to a leather cord—and peered at it.
“Oh, Goddess,” I whispered. I met Rath's stare. “Is this the flower I made with Earth Magic in Levari?”
Rath's wounded eyes brightened, and he grinned. “Yes. The one you gave me.”
“Oh, Rath.” My hand closed around the pendant as I launched myself at him.
He caught me with a laugh, then hugged me tightly. “You don't think it's silly?”
“No, of course not.” I eased back enough to kiss his cheek. “I think it's romantic.”
“Told you,” Xaedren said.
“Shut up, Xaedren,” Rath growled. “We're having a moment.”
