Page 20 of Up In Flames
“Ember has received his first love letter,” Rath said.
“He what?” Xae rubbed at his eyes, then frowned at the letter I still held. “Who sent you that?”
“He doesn't know. It wasn't signed,” Rath went on in his cold, calm tone, the one he used when he was seriously angry but trying to keep it together.
Xaedren snorted. “Coward.”
“This isn't cowardice; it's romantic!” I shouted. “Ugh! You wouldn't know romance if it bit you on your furry ass!”
“Holy fuck.” Xae pulled back, gaping at me. “What the fuck did this man say to you?”
“He refuses to share it with us,” Rath said.
Oh, that fucking voice. It annoyed the fuck out of me.
“You're not going to show it to us?” Xaedren asked. “Why not?”
“Because it's not meant for you, Xae. It'smyletter. And here's a fucking revelation for all of you—I get to have things for myself. Things I don't have to share with four other men!” I stomped toward the door.
“Ember, don't you fucking walk out on us again!” Rath shot to his feet.
I paused and turned back. “What did you just say?”
Rath, always so calm, was trembling with rage. He clenched his hands into fists and said, “I'm tired too, Ember. I'm tired of you walking away every time a fight goes badly. Part of being in a relationship issticking around!”
“You know why I walk away when we argue, Rath,” I snarled as I stormed back to him. “I leave so I don't say horrible shit to you. I leave because I love you and I don't want to see your face crumble when I say that you're oppressive. That your love is fucking drowning me.”
Even as I spoke, a part of me cringed and then screamed. Why was I behaving like this? But I was so angry. The anger infused every piece of my being, even those little ones that sacrificed themselves for me every day. For the greater good. Well, I wasn't about to sacrifice myself anymore.
“Ember, that's enough,” Xaedren said.
“You are not my master!” I pointed at Xae.
“What?” His face scrunched up.
“You heard me. I'm not a Ladrin. I'm a human, Xae. Get that past your thick skull. I'm not going to play beta to your alpha anymore. I'm sick of bending over for your wolf because you need to assert your dominance.”
“Ember, stop it,” Rath said.
“No, you wanted to hear this.” I spun back toward him. “You want me to stick around. So, here I am, Ratharin. Sticking around. You want to force me into staying? Into talking this out? This is what you get. Not so fun, is it?”
“What is wrong with you?” Rath whispered.
“I think he's enchanted,” Xae said and reached for me.
“I am not enchanted, you big fucking idiot!”
Rath slapped me.
“Holy fuck,” Keltyr's voice came from behind me.
“Someone care to tell us why Ratharin just slapped Ember?” Taroc growled. “You have five seconds before I cripple Ratharin.”
I stared hard at Rath as I said, “Because they think I'm under a spell. That I couldn't possibly feel overwhelmed and angry on my own. Not our sweet Ember who will kneel to suck our cocks whenever we want and bend over every morning to take a good thrusting even when he's not in the mood because he's had to fuck all four of us for hours the night before. No, he can't be angry. He's got the better end of this deal. He gets loved by everyone. He doesn't have to share. He gets all the pleasure. The focus of four virile men on himconstantly! Who wouldn't want that?!”
“Ember,” Rath whispered. “I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have hit you.”
“No one thinks that about you, Ember,” Xaedren said. “We know it's hard for you too. And we never want you to havesex with us when you don't want to. Not even my wolf wants that.”
