Chapter Forty

"We're going home," Rath said.

It was over an hour later. Caleb and I had eaten all we could hold while we had gotten to know each other better. Then I faded him to the citadel. He was tired and didn't feel comfortable without more humans around. So, I was waiting for my lovers on a couch near the wall. And by waiting, I mean groaning and rubbing my belly.

As my hand fell away from my stomach, I looked from Rath to the others, including Ara. "All of us?"

"Yes," Xae said.

"I don't think General Ranor will be all right with that," I said. "He hasn't accepted that this is over. Sorry, Ara, but I don't think he'll want you in the citadel. He'll see you as a risk. A way for Death to discover . . ." I trailed off.

"Yeah," Kel said. "We weren't thinking straight earlier when we sent you here. Death already knows where the Wraith Lord Citadel is. He had access through you and Caleb."

"Fuck," I whispered.

"He always knew where you were. He can go everywhere. Everywhere except for places that are warded," Ara said. "He needed someone inside to open the way. So, the citadel is safe now."

"We should still speak to Ranor first."

Xae searched the room, then said, "There. He's with the Tigers."

Tigers. The word instantly reminded me of Lord Vexen, one of the Tiger Ladrin Wraith Lords. He had brought Caleb, and he'd been so kind to me when I returned to the citadel, naked and frantic. He said the strangest thing to me then. What was it?

"Let's go," Taroc said.

I continued to wonder about it as Xae took my hand and led me over to Ranor and the Tigers. When we drew close, Lord Vexen looked over and met my stare. As soon as he did, I remembered. He had been surprised that I knew his name. Granted, there were a lot of Wraith Lords, and I hadn't been among them that long, but tigers—the animals—had always fascinated me, so I knew the names of all the Tiger Wraith Lords. On the continent of Moav where I was raised, tigers were considered to be exotic beasts; so exotic, they were almost imaginary. By association, Tiger Ladrin were just as exotic to me. They were from Raxis, as most Ladrin were, but were native to the Northern tip, closest to the equator.

I'd been to that region once on a mission. It had been warm, even though it was night, and the city was surrounded by thick jungle. I still remembered the Tigers in the streets, fighting off the Corrupted in their beast forms. Giant predator felines with fur like orange tabby cats. They were even striped like a tabby, except their stripes were black, making the markings stand out. These were not beasts who had to hide. They fought viciously and without fear, snarling and swinging their claws. Deadly and beautiful. I could see those beasts in the Tiger Wraith Lords—in the way they moved and even the angles in their faces. There was something cat-like in all of them. For Lord Vexen, it was several things, but especially his eyes. Their shape, that vibrant green, even the dark skin around them. All they needed was a slit pupil. If I stared into his eyes as he shifted, would they even change?

Lord Vexen's cat eyes slid to the side, gliding over Xaedren to settle on Aranren. His expression tightened. So, General Ranor wasn't the only one wary of Ara. Not that I could blame any of them. This was the man they had fought for centuries. The focus of all our animosity. And within the course of a few hours, he had shifted from enemy to friend. That's hard to process.

I nodded at the Tiger Lords, then focused on the General, "General Ranor, my team . . . er, my family would like to bring our newest member home with us, but I warned them that you might not approve."

General Ranor stiffened.

The Tigers made low growls.

"Get over it," Xaedren snarled back. "Death already knows where the citadel is. He's been inside it. As Aranren has. We're not risking anything by bringing him there."

"Just ourselves," the General said. "I'm sorry." He looked each of us in the eye, including Ara. "I truly am. But until I'm absolutely certain that this is over, I cannot allow Aranren into the citadel. As far as I'm concerned, the war is not over."

Ara inclined his head. "I understand, and I accept your decision, General Ranor. In fact, I believe it's both wise and for the best."

"Ara," I whispered.

"Time will speak for us, Ember," Ara said. "I'm not concerned about where I rest my head, only that Death is not inside it any longer."

"Well said." General Ranor stuck out his hand and shook Aranren's. "I hope and pray that you are free of Death forever."

"Thank you, General. I hope that as well. But like you, I am still processing this change and part of me hesitates to celebrate it."

"Ara?" I said again, this time with more concern.

"Ember, it's the first day. I've spent centuries under Death's bones. It will take time to feel free."

"I'm liking you more and more," Ranor said. "But I still can't let you into the citadel."

"Yeah, we got it, Ranor," I snapped.

The General lifted his brows.

"Sorry," I muttered. "Ara and I have been through a lot."

"I know, Ember." Ranor laid a hand on my shoulder. "Look, we cleared the fortress. You could go there, maybe install a new ward. I'll send a unit of lords with you to help keep watch."

"We'd appreciate that, General," Rath said.

"What?" I looked at Rath. "You guys want to live in Aranren's fortress? Are you sure?"

"Why not?" Xae shrugged. "Our own fortress? Sounds good to me."

"We'll have to cook for ourselves," Ara said. "My staff was . . ."

"The Corrupted, " Taroc said. "It's all right. I can cook."

"You can?" I asked, starting to smile. "You never told me you could cook."

"There was no point."

"I would have liked to know. I can cook a bit too. Nothing magnificent, mind you. But enough to get us by."

"Wonderful," Rath said. Because I'm an awful cook."

"Give me a few minutes and I'll gather some volunteers to go with you," Ranor said.

"I'll go," Lord Racmar, one of the Tigers, said as he looked at his fellows.

The rest of them nodded.

"That's eight," Ranor said. "But I'd like some Makhan with you. They can patrol from the air. Give me a minute." He walked off.

"Thank you," I said to the Tiger Wraith Lords. "And, Lord Vexen, I haven't forgotten how kind you were to me. It was so thoughtful of you to bring Caleb tonight. Thank you for that, and for keeping me from running around the citadel naked, like a madman."

Vexen grinned, flashing a pair of fangs. "That would have been something to see. But you're welcome, Lord Ember."

"He kept you from running around naked?" Keltyr asked.

"I was distraught."

"You saw him when he first returned," Xae said gruffly, casting a look at Ara. "He had just escaped Death, but he wanted to go back for Aranren."

Ara's gaze met mine, full of gratitude and love. He didn't have to say anything. I knew what he was thinking—that any other man would have left him behind and never returned. I grinned at him. I wasn't any other man.

Then I looked back at the Tiger Ladrin. "Did you guys want to stay here a bit longer? We can go ahead and prepare the fortress." I glanced at Ara, who nodded. "Then come back for you."

"We know the way, Ember," Lord Vexen said with a little smile. "Just don't put up a new ward before we get there."

"Right." I snorted a laugh. "Of course."

"I don't want you heading over without backup," Ranor said, coming back at the end of the conversation.

"That was fast." I looked behind him, then blinked, surprised to see Lord Jathalion among the group of Makhan. "Jath? Are you sure?"

"Yes, of course." Jathalion glanced at the other men. "Unless you'd prefer I didn't."

"You're most welcome, Lord Jathalion," Ratharin said. "Thank you for volunteering."

He nodded.

"Thank you," I said to him and the two other Makhans. "We appreciate the company."

"Load up on the food," Xae said. "We'll be surviving on Taroc and Ember's cooking."

The lords who'd be joining us turned and headed for the buffet table as if they might never eat again.

"Rude!" I called after them.

Ara chuckled, and his laughter was light, beautiful, and warmed my soul. I turned to smile at him, thanking the Goddess yet again for sending me to Death. I guess there was a little faith involved in loving her.