Chapter Twenty

Aranren and I spent our remaining time alone talking. We continued to speak about possible ways to circumvent Death, but also about each other. He was lonely, and I found comfort in him as well. I couldn't imagine how he had survived for centuries like this—with the world hating him, his best friend against him, and only Death knowing the truth. That he was a slave, not a villain.

But then Death returned and with him came that cold. I shrank into a box within my mind. I was still there, but not me. My emotions. That's what he took. Emotions and morality. I guess one is part of the other. No, there had to be more. I couldn't believe that it was just two things that stopped me from becoming the Corrupter.

It didn't matter. My musings faded under Death's certainty. I felt strong again, no doubt in my mind. But now, I had seen Aranren's truth. I should have confessed to Death, told him how we plotted against him. But there was enough of me within the cold to hold back. And even my new, calculating nature worked against Death. I knew that power came from secrets. The more I could withhold from Death, the more leverage I'd have. I did not like the idea of being his puppet.

I thought about this as Aranren and I left his pocket of summer and explored the rest of his land on horseback, Death riding us. Although everything was covered in snow, I made a mental map of the area and noted where the ward lay. I wanted to know as much about our defenses as possible.

After circling the fortress, we returned to it and handed off our horses to the soldiers working in the stable. By the time we reached the dining hall, food was already arriving at our table. I approved of the efficiency.

"You two seem closer now," Death said aloud as we took our seats.

A massive amount of food was laid before us. I knew from breakfast that the food wouldn't go to waste. When we were done, Aranren's soldiers would eat. No, not Aranren's. They belonged to Death—something else that stuck in my craw. I wanted my own army. I wanted my own power. To rule as Death promised. But I couldn't do that if he was stronger. And so, my plans with Aranren served this goal as well. Death hadn't counted on my ambition, and that made me smile.

"Yes." I took Aranren's hand. "I think you're right. Establishing a relationship with Aranren will only empower me. Together, we are stronger." I slid a secret look at Aranren.

To my delight, he sent one back at me. Yes, even when he was the Corrupter, he wanted more. Just like me. Our weaker selves would plot, but our stronger selves would make use of their subterfuge. He and I would truly rule in the end.

"And I am pleased with my new companion," Aranren said. "Thank you for bringing him to me, Death."

"I'm delighted that you are getting along so well. And all without my intervention," Death said. "Perhaps I shall leave you to yourselves again tonight." His tone went wicked, "You can see where the night leads."

The calculating me wondered if having sex with Aranren might benefit me, then tossed aside the notion. I didn't actually want to empower him. I just wanted Death to think that I wanted to empower him so he would leave us alone to plot.

"I would like more time alone with Aranren," I said. "But tomorrow, we shall go out and find more test subjects for Aranren's experiments."

"Very good," Death said. "Enjoy your evening, my emperors."

And then he left. Just like that. And with Death's withdrawal, parts of the real Ember rose. I gasped in a breath, as if I were physically surfacing from being underwater, then turned to look at Aranren. He was not as affected as I, but he'd had years to adjust to Death's withdrawals.

"Are you back?" Aranren whispered.

"Yes. Partly. You?"

He nodded, then glanced around at the Corrupted. "We have to be more careful in front of them. He is always within them."

"All right. We can use that as well." I frowned at the blank expressions of the Corrupted. Then a memory slammed into me—Caleb. Before we'd gone to Aranren's workroom that morning, the Corrupter had done his job and corrupted Caleb. I had stood there and done nothing. And now, he stood against a wall, staring at nothing. "Fuck. Caleb."

"Sometimes when he has you, the things he makes you do seem so normal and right that you don't remember them when parts of the real you return," Aranren said gently. "Not at first. But then they come back to you. Just breathe through it, Ember."

"I can free him."

"Ember, I'm sorry, this is going to sound callous, but it's the truth. You must focus on saving yourself. If you happen to be able to save your friend too, that's wonderful. But don't waste your time thinking about him now. We must focus on what's important."

"Yeah. I understand."

"And that goes for me as well."

"What?"

"If you get the opportunity to escape, you must take it, even if it means leaving me behind," Aranren said vehemently. "Do not hesitate on my behalf. I have survived for this long. I will endure."

"Aranren," I whispered.

"Will you call me Ara?" A soft smile came to his lips. "It's been a long time since I've had a friend call me by that name."

"I'd be honored, Ara." I glanced at the Corrupted, then lowered my voice to say, "And as your friend, I want to confide something in you."

"What is it?"

"You gave me too much credit earlier when you said I wasn't stupid." I grimaced. "I did this to myself."

"What do you mean?"

"I didn't trust Death." I snorted. "And Taroc didn't trust Caleb. Damn it, he was right. Taroc knew from the start that something was wrong with Caleb. He warned me. But I didn't see it, and as for Death, I thought I could handle him. I thought I could test him and prove him to be true or false. I was such an idiot."

Aranren laid his hand on my knee. "You are not the first to think he could control Death."

"Doesn't that make me even more foolish?"

"No. It makes you a man."

I nodded, not wanting to waste time arguing over it. "While we're still us, can you tell me how you possessed Caleb? That was you, not Death."

"Yes. It's a spell, something similar to what you call corruption."

"But Wraith Lords can sense corruption. Caleb wasn't corrupted."

"No, he wasn't. Mostly. Just as Death withdraws from us, so could I withdraw from Caleb. I wasn't possessing him when you found him."

"How often did you possess him?"

Aranren sighed. "Most of the intimate conversations you've had with him have been with me."

"Oh, wow," I whispered as I remembered how Caleb—no, the Corrupter—had encouraged me to use Death Magic. "You were guiding me into accepting Death."

He nodded. "And trying to drive a wedge between you and your lovers. I'm sorry, Ember. I had no choice."

"I know." Then I grimaced. "Poor Caleb. He tried to tell me a few times."

"He wasn't aware of what happened when I possessed him, but he grew suspicious when you started mentioning things to him that he didn't remember. It took him a while to figure out that something was wrong. And yes, he did try to tell you, but I was monitoring him. I stopped him every time."

"Fuck."

"I know. I'm a truly heinous person."

"No, you aren't. That wasn't you; it was the Corrupter. Death is the true evil behind this." I laid my hand over his. "And I'm not leaving you behind. Whatever it takes, you are coming with me."

Aranren's throat worked, and he blinked rapidly as he looked away, taking his hand with him. "Thank you for saying that. We will plan to leave together. But I know myself, Ember. Death has his claws deep in me. You, however, are freshly taken." He looked back at me. "You have a greater chance of escape."

"And you know him better, Ara," I said. "We must do this together."

Aranren stared at me for a few long, emotional heartbeats, then nodded. "Together."