Chapter Thirty-Seven

In the weeks that followed, we trained hard. First, we had to get Vexen adjusted to using elemental magic. Next, we had to train together and practice working as a team. When Vex was ready to go further, I showed him how to blend the Elements.

And during it all, I trained to capture Death.

Every day was a long day, but we fueled each other—love and brotherhood keeping us strong and motivated. The other lords helped too. Not with the training but with motivation. When we trained at the citadel, a crowd would gather, and hearing them cheer for us helped. It reminded us that we were more than our little pack. We had a clan too.

We also went on missions. Every time my pendant glowed, I hoped it was the last battle—that the Corrupter would be there. But he never showed. It felt as if Death were hiding from me. So, I guess that whole paranoia over Ara telling me to run thing was unfounded. Death was running from us.

“Where is he?!” I roared as I stepped out of the arrival chamber, fresh from our latest mission. Well, not so fresh, but straight from—shit, not so straight either. Ugh! You know what I mean.

It had all gone smoothly except for one thing—no Corrupter. Plenty of the Corrupted and lots of the dead, but no Death the Consciousness.

“He hasn't left his fortress since your last battle,” Air said.

“The fucking coward,” Fire snarled. “He knows Ember is ready to end this.”

“I am!” I flopped my arms against my thighs. “I need to end this!”

“Cease,” Xaedren said as he pulled me into his arms. “It will happen when it's meant to.”

We were both wearing armor, so it wasn't a comfortable hug and there was a lot of clanging at first, then some scraping, but I sighed and relaxed.

“He cannot hide forever,” Rath said.

“Well . . .” Water said hesitantly.

“Well, what?” I stepped away from Xae, my relaxation vanishing.

“Well, Death can control the dead and the Corrupted without Aranren present. So, he doesn't have to take the Corrupter out of his fortress. He could keep him trapped there indefinitely.”

“Isn't it bad enough that he's trapped Ara inside himself?” I whispered. “He has to trap him in a fortress too?”

Vex wore leather armor, and he had already removed his helm, so he only creaked a bit when he strode over to me. He took my helmet off, then bent his forehead to mine and just breathed deeply. My body instinctively followed his lead, breathing slowly and deeply. My racing heart calmed and the panic that was threatening to consume me retreated. Vexen's long hair formed curtains around us and his scent wafted from it, adding to the tranquility.

Vex lifted his head a few minutes later and looked deeply into my eyes. “Better?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“That's a great trick,” Kel said. “You wanna do me next?”

Vexen lifted a brow at Keltyr and, his cat eyes glinting in mischief, drawled, “If I wasn't in love with Ember, I'd consider it.”

“Ha-ha,” Keltyr said, but his eyes twinkled. “And what does that matter? We're bonded. You're good with me slipping my tail up—”

“Kel!” I snapped. “Not in public. That's not all right.”

“Yeah. Sorry.” He grimaced, then winked at Vex. “But you know what I was going to say.”

“I do, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I enjoy it. But that appendage is not the same as your cock. I'll stick my finger in your ass if you want, but nothing more.”

Everyone was silent for a second, watching Keltyr's eyes widen. Then Ratharin started hooting in laughter. Our stares turned toward him.

He laughed harder, then pointed at Kel. “Look at him! He's horrified. Do you get it now, Keltyr? That's why you don't go around shoving your tail into a man's ass without asking.”

“You enjoyed it!”

“Not the point!”

“What did I just say about public!” I shouted.

Rath and Kel looked at me. I waved a hand toward the dining hall. Several lords were staring at us through the archway.

From one of the tables, Lord Jath called out, “An appendage still counts!”

“It counts, but it's not the same!” Vexen shouted back. “All you tops know what I mean. You don't mind a finger, but you don't want a cock up your ass. Am I right?”

“He's not wrong!” someone said.

“Yeah, maybe,” Jath admitted. “But that's still foreplay.”

“And foreplay is not sex,” Vex said. “Which is my point. You put your cock in someone and it's sex.”

“The quality of conversation has really gone downhill since the children moved out,” General Ranor muttered as he left the dining hall.

“Sorry, General,” I said.

“It's all right, Ember,” Ranor said. “I was finished with my meal anyway. And this is how it was before the children came to live with us. I . . .” He rubbed the golden scales at his temples. “I just miss them.”

“Maybe you should think about taking a mate,” Taroc said. “You could have children of your own.”

“I am a soldier.”

“Soldiers have children,” I said.

“They do. But that's not how I'd want to raise my children. I'd want to be there for them every day.”

“The war will end, General. I know you want to keep being a soldier, but it won't be as dangerous as it is now. You could make a new life for yourself. One outside the citadel.”

Ranor glanced over his shoulder into the hall, and I had the feeling he was looking at the table where the children used to sit. When he looked back at me, his expression was wistful. “Maybe.” He grinned. “There you go, handing out hope again.” He smacked my shoulder and walked past. “Get out of that armor and get some food, Wraith Lords!”

“Yes, sir!” we all said.

“Good lads,” Ranor said. Then he paused and added, “Keltyr, I will never look at a Dhon's tail the same way again.”

“Sorry, General,” Kel said.

We faded upstairs to our suite. As soon as we arrived, we burst out laughing.