Page 57 of Up In Flames
“I am,” Death said. “You will both gain power once you're bonded.”
“I don't know how to do that,” I said.
“Ugh! Fine.”
A little tingle touched my brain, and I remembered. Just a little, but it was enough that a name popped into being. Xaedren. He was the one whose hair I used to brush. It would get so tangled if I didn't. And then he'd threaten to cut it off. Xae. Who was he? Then it came to me. I was bonded to him through magic. Xaedren, Ratharin, Keltyr, and Taroc. Four lovers. I used to have four lovers.
“Ember?” Ara squeezed my hand.
I took a sudden breath, as if remembering so much had made me forget simple things, like how to breathe. I focused on Aranren. The Corrupter. Except he wasn't who I'd thought he was. He was my lover now. My only lover. All I needed. So why hadn't I bonded with him as I had with the others?
“Spirit,” I whispered.
“What's that?” Death demanded.
In a stronger voice, I said, “Spirit. It's how I bond with someone I love.” I stretched up on my toes to kiss Ara's cheek. “And you have been repressing my Spirit Magic, Death.” I frowned, looking away from Ara. “Why? What's wrong with Spirit? Isn't my control of all magic what makes me unique?”
“Yes,” Death said, his voice low and the tone pensive. “I see. In trying to draw you two closer, I've cut you off from the very thing you need to seal your relationship.”
“Seal it?” Ara asked. “This bond lasts forever?”
A pause, then, “Yes.”
“So I will still be bonded to those other men,” I concluded.
“What other men?!” Ara snapped.
“Oh, for fuck's sake,” Death grumbled.
Ara's expression went slack, then he blinked. Then he roared, “You have suppressed my memories?! Mine?”
“You betrayed me!” Death roared back, his voice even stronger than Aranren's.
Both of us cringed and covered our ears.
“I'm sorry,” Death said in his usual tone. “I don't mean to be so harsh with you.”
“I have been your partner for centuries,” Ara said. “I don't deserve this.”
“You conspired to escape me,” Death said.
The words rang through me, summoning the memories of Ara and me again. The ones of us laughing and planning. Hoping. What did hope feel like? I couldn't remember.
“I would never do that,” Ara said, then frowned. “Oh.”
“Yes, oh,” Death drawled. “You love Ember. And that love made you foolish.”
“You still shouldn't have taken everything.”
“I didn't. I left you with much more than I did him.”
“Hold on,” I said. “How many memories have you taken from me?”
“I didn't take anything. I merely covered them,” Death said. “Forget about that. You must make love to Aranren and bond with him.”
“We can't just perform on command!” I snarled.
Death sighed. “Very well. I will leave you as you are. Do not disappoint me. I expect you to be bonded by tomorrow morning.”
