Page 87 of Up In Flames
“Xae is still upset with him for that whole hissing thing,” Kel whispered. “He said Vexen was acting as if you were already his.”
“He was just trying to help me,” I said.
“And establish a claim,” Taroc said. “Fucking Tigers.” He shook his head and followed Xae. “Short beast mentality.”
“Short beast? They're not short. And what's wrong with Tiger Ladrin?” I asked Rath and Kel.
“Nothing,” Rath said.
“They can just be a little tribal,” Kel said. “And possessive.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that they have traditions they cling to,” Rath said. “There's a reason the Tigers stick together.”
“They have other friends among the Wraith Lords,” I said.
“Yes, but none as close as their own kind.” Rath glanced at Kel.
Kel shrugged. “I don't mind. I get it. It's nice to have a tribe within a tribe. They're like brothers. I mean, maybe they are brothers.”
“They are not brothers,” Rath said.
“How do you know?”
“Because he has spoken to me. We are not loners,” Lord Vexen said as he stepped up to us. “We even mate outside our race.” He inclined his head to me. “Hello, Lord Ember.”
“Hi,” I whispered, suddenly shy. “Uh, you can just call me Ember.”
Vexen had been someone I noticed many times and not just because I was fascinated with tigers. He was a striking man. I loved the honey-walnut color of his skin and the way it made his eyes shine. He was muscular but not as bulky as Xae or Taroc. Still large, very large, but tempered by a sleek grace. Itmade him look as if he could leap into action in a second. There was nothing short about him, even his hair was shoulder length, the dark tresses highlighted with gold.
Then I flinched.Fuck! I've just lost Ara and here I am lusting after another man! What is wrong with me?
As if I had asked the answer in truth, a warm, shimmering sensation flowed over me. The Goddess.
But trusting her had lost me Ara. I was hesitant to let her guide me again.
The warmth pulsed, moving into my heart, and with it came peace. The Goddess wasn't able to help me in Death's domain, and maybe losing Ara wasn't her plan, but she wouldn't abandon me, even when I doubted her. Just as I would continue to fight for Ara, she would continue to look after me. And she had told me to follow my heart. My heart evidently wanted to make us stronger.
It made sense. At the moment, I had no idea how I'd free Ara. Maybe we just needed to train until all of my lovers were competent in merging the elements as Rath was. But maybe Vexen was the answer. With another lord in our group, we might be strong enough to destroy Death's cage once and for all. Love to save love. Ara would understand.
Then Vexen said, “I know you'll need some time, Ember, but I want you to know that I can wait as long as—”
“I don't need any time,” I interrupted, surprising him as well as Rath and Kel.
“You don't?” Vexen asked, his pale green eyes widening. “But, Ember, just a few hours ago, you were distraught. You . . . you lost someone you loved.”
“I'm still distraught. But I haven't lost him. He's still alive and I will get him back. I know I will. So, I can move forward with that certainty. Putting my life on hold won't help either of us. And you are a part of my life.”
“I am?”
“Yes. A small part now, but I think that will change.” I stepped closer to him. “Do you know how Death took me, Vexen? It was because I was upset by your last letter.”
“What?” Vexen growled.
“I'm not blaming you. I just want you to know how much those letters meant to me. Your final letter, the goodbye, crushed me. I was so intent on finding you that when Death offered to help, I decided it was time to test him.” I held up a hand. “Again, it's not your fault. I wouldn't have allowed him past my inner wards if I hadn't felt the Goddess' approval.”
“The Goddess approved of you letting Death inside you?”
