Page 228 of A Soul to Steal

“Do you know what will happen to us if you die?”

“No. I do not think a Mavka with a bride has died before.”

A thoughtful hum vibrated his lips, and he placed his ear against Aleron’s chest so he could look within the shade of the forest. Everything had gone quiet. Since they were above the surface of the Veil, a few birds chirped, but mostly everything had gone into hibernation or left the north.

“Can you do me a favour?” Gideon asked, once more trying to battle the clog in his throat. “If we return to Tenebris, and we’re not together, can you come find me?”

Aleron squeezed his hand – and his arse – comfortingly. “Of course, Gideon. I will always come for you.”

A small smile twitched his lips, only to fall. “If I’ve forgotten you, can you make me fall in love with you again? No matter what it takes? I don’t want to have a future without you, no matter where it is.”

Aleron’s big chest shuddered, just as something sparkled in Gideon’s peripheral.

Once more, Gideon looked up to his bat skull, only for his eyes to glisten. With a streak of sunlight making Aleron’s face glitter with gold, floating drops of the brightest pink he’d ever seen hovered around Aleron’s empty eye sockets.

I’ve seen those ethereal tears before,he thought, as a soft and tender expression bowed his eyes.

“I love you, Aleron.” Gideon lifted up just enough to press a kiss to his longest fang. “And I know I’ll love you no matter how many times I forget.”

“I love you as well, little spring.” Aleron lifted his free hand to cup the side of his face. “I have, deeply, since Tenebris.”

“I know,” Gideon whispered, leaning into his big palm, just as Ingram and Emerie came out from the trees.

He tried to ignore that she looked half-dead within the cradle of Ingram’s arms, her eyes barely peeking open. She didn’t evenhave the strength to blush or pull the leaves and twigs from her hair.

With bright-pink orbs as well, Ingram snorted a strange huff at them, the colour brightening. Then Ingram laid down next to them just as Aleron turned away and placed Gideon in front of him so they could cuddle with their torsos facing.

The kindreds pressed their backs to each other’s.

A truce of no contact between them and their brides was silently made, and Gideon figured this was due to the scents. Neither wanted to spread them between them.

Yet, it was obvious they wanted to touch. Gideon felt Ingram’s lizard tail bump against the underside of his foot as it coiled around one of Aleron’s calves.

We’ll move on in a bit.They had forever, after all.

He hoped for many lazy mornings just like this one.

Patting her hands together, Emerie exited the cave situated about two metres behind Gideon.

“Well, I think that’ll do for now.” With a harrumph, she sat next to him on the natural ledge of rock that acted as a stair. “We should get some bedding we can lay on the floor, and maybe figure out some sort of makeshift table.”

“I’m happy for you to doll it up to your heart’s content,” Gideon offered, before he cast her a sly grin. “But only if you admit this was a great idea. I’m down for some boot kisses as forgiveness for your impudence.”

She scrunched her face up. “Ew! Grow up, would you?”

“You know what? I would, but I’m all out of growing up. You’re stuck with me like this... forever.” He turned to her and wiggled his fingers like he was some kind of spooky Ghost.

“Oh nooo, the horror,” she fake whined, rolling her eyes. They both let out a soft chuckle. “But sure, you’re right. I just didn’t know if I should trust you, since you were making this out to be some kind of big secret. I never even considered Sunnet Hill’s headsprings as a place to settle down for winter. How’d you even come up with it?”

Drifting his gaze over this section of hot springs, a small smile curled his lips.

“Aleron and I found it while searching for you guys.”

The main springs were around the other side of the mountain’s base, and were more open to the elements. This section was far smaller, with only four pools and a grassy clearing just before them. The forest intersected it, hiding certain areas from each other.

Not far from his feet, perhaps four or so metres, was a pool large enough that both Duskwalkers could stand at the deepest edge and be fully submerged. It ran into a smaller one that had two others flowing into it, but they were private and a little further away.

They’d searched the entire mountain base and decided to stay here due to its layout. The last two remaining pools sat within the forest on either side and gave each couple privacy if they wished. They bled into the bottom pool, meaning any questionable liquid flowed away from the main one at the very top.

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