Page 194 of A Soul to Steal

Only one last house remained, and he’d been rather hoping he wouldn’t have to greet Orpheus. Although Aleron liked him because he was of his kind, Orpheus did not return that affection.

That is, if he is even in his territory!

Aleron lifted off.

Since the sun had nearly fully risen now, he was able to locate the house surrounded by a clearing. Not a single tree swayed within the salt border, as if Orpheus had wanted the area to be showered in sunshine throughout the day. Already, light peeked over his territory, highlighting it in warmth.

Relief coursed through Aleron when he noticed the wolf-skulled Mavka sitting within his makeshift ward carved of salt.He did, however, tilt his head at the little blonde human seated next to him, who let out a wild giggle.

She wore a simple pink dress, from what he could tell, and Orpheus had donned some kind of black trousers. His chest was bare, as were his humanoid feet, and his curled deer tail stuck out as it rested upon the ground.

Aleron circled them, and Orpheus’ skull darted up towards them.

He correctly assumed Orpheus would swiftly pounce to his hands and feet. Still territorial as ever, Orpheus brought himself closer to the blonde human, tucking her seated form into his side to shield her.

Aleron made sure to land in front of him, and some distance away, so as not to encroach too heavily upon what Aleron could now see to be his bride. Even if the soul between his twisting horns hadn’t been obvious, the possessive markings covering each other were. They had recently been entangled, although hers smelt... different to Gideon’s. More feminine, sweet, and subtle.

Thankfully Gideon remained unmoving in his hold as Aleron waited for Orpheus to take them in. The female poked her head around his shoulder, wary but not shy, with bright-green eyes. Her loose, blonde hair swayed down her cheek to curtain one side of her head.

The wolf Mavka tilted his head sharply before slowly unfurling himself from his protective stance. He did so sooner than Aleron expected, but perhaps that was due to Gideon and his soul floating between his own twisting horns.

“Aleron?” Orpheus said his name hesitantly, lowering his hand to help the female to her feet. “You’ve returned?”

With orbs shifting dark yellow in curiosity, Aleron’s skull reared back in surprise. “You know of my name?”

“Who doesn’t?” the female stated with a laugh, her sharp features softening. She placed her hands on the swell of her hips. “Ingram speaks of you quite a lot when he and Emerie are here.”

Her laughter caused him to flinch, unused to such a feminine voice producing the sound. He much preferred Gideon’s warm chuckle, finding its depth and familiarity soothing and alluring.

“Is it safe to put me down now?” Gideon asked in a low voice, his hand beside his mouth as if to hide it from them. “My back aches and my case strap is killing my shoulder.”

“Oh, sorry.” Aleron promptly placed him on his feet, and the male was quick to move the strap so it crossed his torso in the opposite direction. Aleron lifted his skull to Orpheus. “I am searching for Ingram. Has he been here recently?”

Neither came forward to close the space between them, but Aleron could tell that his apprehension was unneeded. Orpheus’ orbs were yellow rather than blue, and his stance lacked the aggressive, threatening tension he was used to.

Placing an arm around his female’s side, showing his affection for her, Orpheus stated, “They were here three weeks ago.”

Aleron’s wings drooped as his head lowered in defeat.Three weeks?His hand clenched into a tight fist, just as red flared in his orbs.Then where are they?

Why must he wait? Why must this task be so difficult? He and his kindred were bonded on a spiritual level. He’d always thought he’d be able to follow his instincts to Ingram, that the strings connecting them would steer them closer.

Yet Aleron’s sight lacked his kindred’s scales, his raven skull, his very presence, even after a month of searching.

As if reading his thoughts, the female gave a little mischievous hum before looking down to an unmoving blackblobtucked next to her breast. “We know where they are, though.”

His body stiffened and his head lifted. “You do?” This time, bright yellow filled his sight, and Aleron stepped forward. “Please. Which way? We have been searching for a long time.”

Perhaps over a month wasn’t a long time in the grand scheme of his lifespan, but it had felt like an eternity. He’d already been parted from his kindred before this, and now that they were on the same plane of existence, he found the separation nearly unbearable.

She put her fingertips together, while keeping her palms separated. “I’ll tell you in exchange for afavour.”

Her lips curled coyly and with mirth, as she flicked her green eyes to Aleron in a mischievous manner.

They weren’t the same kind of green as Gideon’s.

Whereas his appeared like the freshest, dewiest forest showered in bright sunshine, a colour so light that he found it pierced his soul every time Gideon looked upon Aleron, hers were darker. His were like spring, hers like summer – almost... warmer.

His fangs parted in disbelief, and Gideon’s jaw dropped as well. Orpheus tilted his head at his female, seemingly just as perplexed.

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