Page 198 of A Soul to Steal

With a nod of his bat skull, he lifted off. Kicking her legs, Reia pelted out a horrible squeal as they climbed through the air, and the stupidest lopsided grin lifted his cheek.

I can already tell she’s going to have a ball up there.

Then he was alone with Orpheus and the baby Duskwalker that still clung to his chest.

With his wolf skull tilted to the sky, watching them, Orpheus’ fur puffed in agitation before he seemed to turn to stone. It was like he’d intended to become an unmoving statue that did little more than wait to be reunited with her.

Unsure of what to say to Orpheus, Gideon unslung his case to unburden himself. The lightthunkof it hitting the ground pulled the Duskwalker from his trance, and Orpheus tilted his skull to look at him.

“Do you wish for food or water?” He gestured towards the log-cabin house behind him, and a silver bell dangling from each of his horns jingled at the motion. “I can take you inside so you may be comfortable.”

“Nah,” Gideon rejected, shaking his head. “I don’t really feel the desire to eat or drink, nor do I want to.”

His lack of bodily functions was a benefit. Even if playing pretend at being a good guest would have been kinder, he had priorities.

“Perhaps a chair, then?”

“No, I’m fine. Thank you.” Gideon sat on the grass and folded his legs under himself. “You can join me, though, if you want. We might as well wait together.”

Orpheus hesitated, but did eventually sit across from him.

Their silence was filled with awkward tension as the weak sun shone down upon them. The subtle wind barely swayed the short grass stalks; it appeared someone, likely Orpheus, regularly cut them with a scythe.

The area and the cute log cabin all looked well-maintained and loved, as if the person living in it cherished its existence.

Summarising he’d need to be the one to break the quiet, Gideon said, “I like your house. I never expected to see a human house in the Veil.”

Though, as he roamed his gaze over it, he noted itdidlook a little taller than a normal house.

“I built it a long time ago,” Orpheus answered, eventually lifting his snout to the sky again.

Reia and Aleron had long disappeared, but he seemed content to watch for any sign of her. At the same time, he lightly pet the tiny, furless Duskwalker against his chest until they eventually stirred. After a small while, they reached out to cling to his hand.

Orpheus moved his wrist in a certain way that allowed them to crawl over his hand without falling. One moment he was palm up, the next they roamed over his knuckles. With one arm up and the opposing foot mirroring it, they stomped over his hand with curious but trusting steps.

It was a simple action, but it appeared to be natural and pleasant for him. Like someone rolling a coin back and forth across their knuckles or, even more daring, a spider.

Gideon found himself unable to tear his gaze away from the creature, a little curious about them.Would it be rude if I asked about it?

“She does not like you,” Orpheus eventually said.

He let out a small chuckle. “Yeah, I gathered that already.”

“She made me fulfil a promise, one which saw a male of your kind dying at the fangs of another Mavka.”

His lips tightened. “She made you feed a human to your kind?”

“She was not treated well. She has been mistrustful of every human we have met, and it took her a while to grow relaxed with all those we have befriended.”

Gideon cocked a brow, as humour twitched his mouth. “Are you telling me to be patient with her?”

“She will either befriend you if she sees you are worthy, or she will shove a sword through your chest. The choice is entirely up to you, but know she can be merciless when provoked.”

Gideon noted the hint of admiration in his tone.

They both peered up at the sky when the shadow of Aleron and Reia glided over them. She was pointing east, in a certain direction, and he figured they’d both finished their initial flight to go further exploring.

Choosing to direct the conversation elsewhere, Gideon stated, “I noticed you aren’t completely comfortable with this.”

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