Page 78 of Up In Flames
Sally blinked. “Um. No, I don't think so.”
“Maybe we'll take Uncle Ember's suggestion and try some together,” the Emperor said. “I can go first to make sure it's good.”
“All right. But if you make a face, I'm not eating it.”
“Agreed.” The Emperor sent me a grateful grin, then said, “Enjoy the rest of your evening, Lord Ember.”
“Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty.” I bowed to him. To Sally, I said, “Goodnight, Your Grace.”
“Uncle Ember, just call me Sally!” she chided. Then she leaned closer to whisper, “You're my favorite uncle now that Daddy is my Daddy.”
I pressed a palm to my heart and bowed to her. “That is the greatest compliment I have ever received, Sally. Thank you.”
She giggled again. “You're so silly, Uncle Ember!”
“Say goodnight to Uncle Ember,” the Emperor reminded her.
“Goodnight, Uncle Ember.”
“Goodnight, Sally,” I said.
When I turned around, I found Caleb waiting for me, a soft smile on his face.
“Oh, Goddess! I'm sorry. I just left you,” I said.
“No, that's all right. I listened in.” His expression went grim. “I didn't know there was a chance this wasn't real.”
“It's real, Caleb,” I said firmly. “It's just going to take some time for people like Ranor to accept it. Don't worry. The war is over.”
“All right.”
“Now, let's raid the Emperor's buffet. Maybe we can start with the dessert table as Sally did.”
Caleb beamed at me. “I love that idea!”
Chapter Forty
“We're going home,” Rath said.
It was over an hour later. Caleb and I had eaten all we could hold while we had gotten to know each other better. Then I faded him to the citadel. He was tired and didn't feel comfortable without more humans around. So, I was waiting for my lovers on a couch near the wall. And by waiting, I mean groaning and rubbing my belly.
As my hand fell away from my stomach, I looked from Rath to the others, including Ara. “All of us?”
“Yes,” Xae said.
“I don't think General Ranor will be all right with that,” I said. “He hasn't accepted that this is over. Sorry, Ara, but I don't think he'll want you in the citadel. He'll see you as a risk. A way for Death to discover . . .” I trailed off.
“Yeah,” Kel said. “We weren't thinking straight earlier when we sent you here. Death already knows where the Wraith Lord Citadel is. He had access through you and Caleb.”
“Fuck,” I whispered.
“He always knew where you were. He can go everywhere. Everywhere except for places that are warded,” Ara said. “Heneeded someone inside to open the way. So, the citadel is safe now.”
“We should still speak to Ranor first.”
Xae searched the room, then said, “There. He's with the Tigers.”
Tigers. The word instantly reminded me of Lord Vexen, one of the Tiger Ladrin Wraith Lords. He had brought Caleb, and he'd been so kind to me when I returned to the citadel, naked and frantic. He said the strangest thing to me then. What was it?
