Page 102 of A Soul to Steal

“Where are you going?”

“To the town, obviously.” Glancing behind him, his lips drew downwards in a cringe when he noticed how big he was. Over a foot and a half taller than Gideon’s five-foot-eleven height, he was like a menacing wall. “I don’t mean to be rude, but for the love of all that is holy, don’t follow me.”

“We cannot be separated. We are bonded, so you will return to me.” Since Gideon didn’t respond, the Duskwalker added, “We must talk.”

Go find a tree to talk to.It’d be more receptive than him.

When Gideon didn’t stop, a soft growl had all the hairs on his body standing on end. “I will not leave you. You are mine, and I must protect you.”

“I don’t need protecting,” Gideon muttered back.

He wants to protect me?Perfect. That meant he wouldn’t hurt him, for now. Gideon was sure his giant monster stomach would end up getting the grumbles, and he’d be his next meal if he didn’t quickly scamper away.

Right now, the only thing keeping Gideon together, the only thing that was stopping him from losing his ever-living-shit, washis desire to move when deeply stressed. He needed to walk and head in a direction that meant a solution.

The anxiety wasn’t going to fade, so he’d just grin and bear it until he was home.

A clawed hand wrapped around his elbow, and it sent repulsive shivers up his arm. He pulled away from it and turned to the Duskwalker.

“Please...” he begged, trying to be nice to not piss him off. “Please, don’t touch me.”

He was naked, unsure as to why and what that might mean. He’d done a mental check of his body, and absolutely knew nothing horrific had happened to him while he’d been passed out for however long.

He also just didn’t trust him.

“Gideon.” The Duskwalker’s tone was stern. “Talk to me.”

He just shook his head and spun away to continue in the direction of the town.Leave me alone.

That same large warm hand wrapped around his forearm again, but this time lightly yanked him back. Instincts foolishly, stupidly, thoughtlessly, took hold.I said don’t fucking touch me!His mind screamed as he spun, raised his enclosed fist, and struck him across the face with all his might.

Rather than the Duskwalker’s head twisting to the side, a crack sounded as agony shot down the back of Gideon’s knuckles and up his forearm. A howl of pain exploded from him as he cradled his injured hand.

“Holy shit!” he hissed, keeling over as tears stung his eyes. “What is your skull made of,iron?”

Considering the force behind his swing and the pain he was currently in, he’d either broken something or at least fractured it.

He probably should have been alert for retaliation, but nothing came. When he looked up at his skull, blue orbs shone down at him darker than before.

“You hit me,” he whimpered, cupping the side of his snout. Then his orbs morphed white as his skull dipped downwards. “You arehurt!”

He darted forward, as if he wanted to check on Gideon’s wellbeing. He hissed out a sharp breath when the Duskwalker cupped his injured hand, and they both darted away from each other in surprise.

“What the hell do you want from me?!” Gideon yelled as rage took hold, his patience lost, agony making him even more stupid. The Duskwalker recoiled in surprise. “Just leave me alone if you’re not going to eat me!”

Red flared before snuffing back to blue. His clawed hands clenched and then unclenched, while his fur and feathers puffed in waves, making him appear more menacing.

“You are my bride,” he stated again, like that madeanysense to Gideon. “You asked to come here with me, to be with me, and in doing so, we brought you back to life.”

“I don’t know who the fuck you are! I’ve never seen you before today.”

“Because you have forgotten!” he snapped, then patted his torso. “I am Aleron.”

Fuck me, dude.

“Listen... Aleron, was it?” Gideon said with a sigh and a grimace, squinting his eyes. “Whatever you think happened, didn’t. You’re a stranger, and I doubt I would have befriended a Duskwalker.”

“We met when Ingram and Emerie came to the afterworld, Gideon.”

---