Page 73 of Bright Soul

I looked up at Phaeron. “Thank you,” I said, properly teary for my brother and me both.

He dipped his chin in acknowledgment, a hint of something like grief and longing passing over his expression. “I’ll give you some privacy,” he said.

27

GEO

Cress and I exchanged a glance the moment after Phaeron and Ben disappeared in a swirl of shadows. “I don’t feel like committing grand theft auto right now. Do you?” she asked.

“No,” I answered.

“How about this? I’m going to go find us something to eat in the mall, and then we can go back to the library.”

“No,” I said again. Her eyelids fluttered. “I shall come with you to find something to eat.”

“But you can’t see in the dark,” she pointed out.

My shoulder blades ground together when I shrugged. “And you control light. You’re not going back in there without me.”

She tilted her head back and forth before unsheathing her sword and casting Lux upon it. With no need for us to hide anymore, the shadows she’d worn over herself like a coat seeped back into her skin.

“You’ll have a lot more fun if you take your human form,” she suggested as she gingerly tiptoed over the glass shards littering the way back into the mall.

I crunched straight though them, lifting her by the hips to set her outside of the destruction wrought by Myuna’s creatures. She turned with a crease between her brows, undoubtedly to tell me to stop treating her like a doll, but I was already halfway through the process of shedding my wings and stone skin.

I swallowed her complaint with my warm human lips against hers. She sagged into me with a muffled moan.

Banding my arms around her, I cuddled her and rested my chin atop her head. “Why is it so important we retrieve some food?” I asked. She was tired and bloodstained, with rips in her clothing. I was sure she had wounds that needed tending.

My stone heart thrummed in my chest. I would ensure she received proper care with my own hands, even if I had to carry her out of this dark mall before she was ready to leave.

“I’m about ready to give my left arm for some junk food, Geo,” she said matter-of-factly. She removed her handbook from the holster on her hip. “The Librarian Witch’s Handbook, scan for junk food that hasn’t been spoiled.”

“Aye, aye, Captain!” it squeaked, taking flight from her palm. It flapped away into the gloom ahead.

She took my hand and tugged me along, holding her gleaming sword in her free hand. “You are sure of this?” I asked.

“I’m feeling okay. Promise. Besides, when was the last time I had you to myself like this?” She had a cheerful bounce to her step. “You’ve been so busy standing guard. It’s a treat to see you outside of gargoyle form.”

She had a point. I’d been in that form more lately than my preferred one—of blood and flesh and emotion. The latter of which was still a confused mix in my head, unsure of if I should apologize or feel proud of how well I’d done my duty.

“It’s always a joy to be with you,” I settled on saying.

She ducked her head with a giggle. “Aw. I love you,” she said.

There was no mistaking the rush of warmth that suffused me head to toe, loosening muscles and joints from their rocky stiffness. Those three words were more efficient than a full-course meal or any cup of coffee in reviving the man in me. “I love you too.”

After a couple seconds’ pause, I added, “We should locate your junk food quickly.” The longer we delayed, the more likely one or both of her other men would return. I might’ve agreed to share her, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t hoard every second of her undivided attention like the gold it was.

She smiled and led me to a directory, which helped us map out all the probable stores to visit. As we headed to the closest one, a shadow wound around her feet and released a rasping meow. “Okay, okay. Jin wants to take a ride on your shoulder,” she said, motioning to the black cat.

I bent down, and Jin jumped the rest of the way, little razor claws digging into my skin. It was the most pain I’d felt all day, a fact that made me feel guilt over the bruises and scrapes Cress had undoubtedly sustained from her fight with the Hungering Darkness.

“Greetings, small feline,” I said, nearly knocking her clean off my shoulder trying to pet her. She purred thunderously and dug in to remain in place, rubbing her face against my fingers.

Jin draped herself over my neck like a furry scarf as we started finding the kinds of things Cress wanted to bring back with her. The first store was dedicated to selling records and movies, with a small subsection full of chips, candy, and cans of soda in bright packaging. Some of it had been torn into by the unnaturals that’d overrun the mall, but Cress’s face lit up nonetheless when she realized there were a few rows higher up that were left untouched.

We left with two sturdy shopping bags full of junk. She had the biggest grin on her face, so I refrained from asking if this meant we were done. “Let’s make a pile of loot,” I suggested.

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