The whole dining hall went silent.
I shot to my feet and gestured wildly at the air. “You've been with us this whole time, training us. And you've also been watching Death because you told us that Aranren hasn't left the fortress. So, why the fuck would you wait until now to tell us you could help us draw the Corrupter out of his fortress?”
Silence.
“Well?!” I demanded. “One of you answer me! You are supposed to be helping us. So why didn't you suggest this sooner?”
“Ember, we simply didn't think of it,” Air said gently. “Now that you have, we can help you form a plan.”
“You didn'tthinkof it?” I asked scathingly. “All you are is thought!”
“We are sorry, Spark of the Goddess,” Water said, sounding sad.
“Not good enough,” I growled.
“Sit down!” Taroc snarled at me. It was the voice he used when we were alone and playing his game. Except this time, he wasn't playing.
Which meant that I could say, “Fuck you.”
Taroc got to his feet slowly.
Benches scraped the floor as several other Tytra got up. They hurried over to us, but then just stood nearby, waiting tosee if they'd be needed to restrain Taroc. The fools. They were worried about the wrong lord. I was ten times as powerful as Taroc.
I blinked. The arrogant thought helped to cool my temper and ground me. I frowned at Taroc as he came around the table, his shoulders hunched and teeth bared. None of my other lovers stood up to help me, and I knew why. Taroc would never hurt me. Not ever. He didn't have to be restrained.
And I would never hurt him.
Taroc reached me at last and the Tytra around us went tense as he stretched out a hand.
“Stand down,” I said to them. “This is between me and Taroc. And he'd sooner cut off his arm than hurt me.”
The Tytra looked at Taroc.
Taroc was smiling. “There you are. Come here.” He pulled me into a hug. “I was worried that I'd have to take you over my knee.”
I chuckled into his chest, then whispered, “We can do that later.”
He growled low and sexy in my ear.
“Well, shit,” one of the Tytra said. “And just so you know, Ember—we weren't here to defend you. We were coming to defend one of our ownagainstyou.”
Taroc snarled at the Tytra as they walked away. It wasn't his ego that was threatened; it was me. You don't threaten a Tytra's mate. Even if you're doing it to defend him.
My head shot up and I called after them, “Then you're smarter than you look.”
That turned Taroc's snarl into a laugh. “Oh, you think you can drop me, little boy?”
“I know I can.” I waggled my brows at him.
He started to pick me up.
“But only if I use magic!” I shouted as I backed away.
Taroc burst out laughing again. “I will accept that.”
“Are you fuckers done shouting and putting on a show?” someone called out. “I'd like to get back to my meal.”
“No one's stopping you, Jakel!” I called back as I climbed back on my bench. “Just open your mouth, but instead of spouting shit that no one wants to hear, you put food in it.”
