Page 148 of A Soul to Steal

Once the shock faded, Gideon placed his hand back down... on top of Aleron’s. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, with his ears heating nervously and his heart pounding, he dug and curled his fingers over the webbing of his large hand to hold it.

A strange, almost strangled noise came from Aleron when he closed his big fist and clamped Gideon’s fingers within the depth of it. With his other hand covering the end of his snout, he turned his head to the side, away from Gideon, as bright yellow lifted into his orbs.

A gentle and sweet emotion trickled into Gideon’s conscience as the Duskwalker showed bashful joy at simply holding his hand.

Minutes ticked by as Gideon took in his crudely carved name. He’d thought coming to stare at it would make him sombre, but he suddenly couldn’t keep his mind off the person next to him. Especially since his heart seemed to flip upside down in his chest, acting all shy and out of sorts as well.

In the cold darkness, with the lightest gusts of air brushing his hair back and forth across his brow, he took in Aleron’s presence.

The subtle scent of his hazelnut-and-cedarwood aroma no longer instilled homesickness, but instead the comfort of being where he needed to be. Aleron’s warmth spread along Gideon’sfingertips and up his arm, linking them in a way he didn’t fully comprehend. The points of his claws just lightly pressing into him were like sharp little trappings, but Gideon found himself wanting them to press harder until they’d burrowed under his skin.

Even just the sound of Aleron’s large lungs working out heavy breaths was lulling and tingled his ears.

In this place, surrounded by the plaques of those who had died, Aleron looked like an angel of death with his imposing, feathered wings. Gideon didn’t think he’d ever looked more beautiful.

“Thank you for bringing me here,” Gideon said quietly, refusing to be loud so he didn’t completely steal the serenity of this moment. “I also want to thank you for being with me during a time of my life where I felt really confused, scared, and very lost. It hasn’t been easy for either of us, and I’m sorry I took most of that out on you, but it really means a lot to me that I didn’t have to go through it alone.”

“I care for you deeply, Gideon,” Aleron stated firmly, and with unwavering conviction.

His wings twitched, like he wanted to say more, but Gideon spoke quickly before he could. He worried Aleron would try to apologise for his part in all this, which is the last thing he wanted right now.

“Yeah, but that usually isn’t enough.” Gideon turned his face up to the crescent moon, similar to the one that had shone brightly the night he died. “Thank you for still being here for me, even after I gave you my absolute worst. Not many people would have remained.”

He squeezed Aleron’s big, clawed hand a little tighter.Thank you for forgiving me, even if I don’t really deserve it.

Then, a small, humour-filled smile curled the corners of his lips. “Hey, Aleron... I have another favour to ask of you.”

“Anything, little spring.”

His eyes crinkled at that, since the affectionate name was rather cute.

“When we find Emerie, can you please not tell her about what happened after the first week we came back to life?”

Aleron tilted his head and dipped forward like he wanted to fully take in his expression. “Why not?”

“Because I know she’ll try to beat the ever-living daylights out of me.” He chuckled and tipped his head towards Aleron’s skull so he could see the mirth in his eyes. “She’ll punch first and ask questions later.”

Since Aleron had still been holding the end of his snout, he tapped the side of it with a claw in thought. “Can you not just punch her back? I punch Ingram all the time.” The completely dumbfounded note in his tone set Gideon off.

He gave a mild laugh. “Yeah, but it’s not nice to hit your sister. I’d rather not argue with her if I don’t have to. No matter how strong she’s gotten, it appears my body is the same as when I died. I don’t want to hurt her since I’m bigger than her.”

Aleron’s large shoulders lifted as if to shrug. “If that is what you want, then okay.”

“Thanks.”

Then, once more, Gideon lifted his gaze to the moon. He found it prettier than usual, only because out of the corner of his eye, he noted it made the gold glitter in Aleron’s skull sparkle. Gideon squeezed his big hand tighter.

I think I’m ready to move on now.

A campfire lit the undersides of the leaves above, giving the forest canopy an earthy glow. It crackled, sparking with life, and billowed soft, steamy smoke into the air.

After quietly holding hands in the cemetery for a little while longer, they’d eventually left Fishket. They were only a small distance away from it, impossible to see, but likely an hour for Gideon if he were to walk back on his own.

He didn’t feel a single desire to go back. All the longing, his homesickness, his attachment to that town faded at the same time as it faded from view. It was no longer important, a place he didn’t need to think about anymore.

The spot they’d chosen to set up camp was a decently cleared area within a ring of trees. A small gap in the centre allowed cool moonlight to shine down, and stars glittered and peeked through the thin clouds shrouding them.

Gideon disturbed the quiet by plopping down the last branches he’d found in their direct vicinity. Aleron also returned, doing the same, but with much larger branches. The Duskwalker broke them into smaller pieces for burning with nothing but his bare hands, whereas Gideon would’ve needed touse his axe.

---