Page 64 of A Soul to Steal

Before he could respond, Raewyn approached.

“Mericato has permitted you both entry.” Despite her earlier ire due to Merikh’s blatant rudeness, she gave a bright smile in their general direction. “We welcome you into Lekezos City with open hearts. Please do not take any stares that fall upon you wrong; Duskwalkers are a new species to our kind, and none of us have ever looked upon a Ghost. Their stares will be of curiosity, and they trust that the council would not allow entry to people who would cause hurt or fear.”

The bubble over them remained, but the area where it intersected the much larger one opened up to allow them through.

“Once we enter the central palace, we will direct you to a room in which I will need you to wait. I will need to personally inform the other councilmembers of your arrival and why you have come. It shouldn’t take long, but I will leave Merikh in your presence so that you have someone who can translate should the need arise, since he has taken well to learning Elysian Elvish so far. You won’t mind this task, will you, Sir Grumpybear?”

Her smile was snide as she directed it to Merikh, who huffed at her. “Not at all,CouncillorRaewyn.”

She clapped her hands together once. “Excellent! Please follow Mericato, as he will be leading the way since he is the head of Lekezos security.”

When the soldiers took off, Raewyn and Merikh stayed behind a few feet, discussing something quietly. Grabbing Aleron’s hand, Gideon pulled him along, since the Duskwalker intended to remain with them – likely due to their familiarity – rather than follow.

However, this situation felt similar to an interaction Gideon once witnessed in Fishket, his hometown. In this case,theywere the intruders, and it was best to follow the soldiers in order to minimise the chance of any further altercations.

He peeked over his shoulder, hoping to see Raewyn chewing out the Duskwalker. It would have been deserved.

Merikh’s orbs flared red as a growl echoed down the fortress hallway. Blinking in surprise, he didn’t expect for her to crinkle her nose, grit her teeth, and do it back to him with her head shaking.

Did she really just... growl at him?He considered that rather dangerous.

Yet, the big bear-skulled Duskwalker cupped the woman’s jaw with both hands, held her still, and nuzzled her. His orbs were bright pink as he did so.

Her giggle was loud when he licked up her cheek.

She gave in too easily,Gideon grumbled, darting his head forward.

Still, she had already shown that she was very sweet.

If he can win her heart, then I guess he can’t be too bad.Not that he planned to forgive the bastard for hurting Aleron anytime soon.

I guess I’m starting to feel pretty protective of him.

Aleron was just so gentle-hearted. It made Gideon want to fight for him, even when facing a monster that would have ripped him in half if he were alive.

“I’m sorry,” Gideon eventually grumbled to Aleron as shame prickled the back of his neck. He covered his mouth to hide hisgrimace. “I shouldn’t have gotten involved. I just instigated a fight that caused problems instead of helping.”

“I did not know you could be so... combative?”

Gideon laughed at that. “Yeah, I guess. I have an issue with people picking on the little guy, or just being rude to someone for no reason.”

A quiet yelp escaped him when Aleron placed his arm around his shoulders and held Gideon as he licked over his ear.

“I appreciate your care. It means much to me.” He pointed a claw at Gideon’s pinkening face, unsure if it was from his ear being licked, or the bashfulness that stirred behind his sternum at Aleron’s words. “However, do not do it again, Gideon. I am still very angered he threatened you.”

He threw his free hand up in a half-hearted shrug. “Can’t make promises I can’t keep.”

Still, he’d attempt to be on his best behaviour from now on.

I was supposed to keep Aleron in check, not the other way around.

When they had been led through the city’s gates, Gideon hadn’t expected the joy he saw upon the people’s faces. Peace and contentment were obvious by the merry voices, the colours that splashed anywhere possible, and the clean infrastructure they passed.

Many people gaped, but their wide stares held no animosity or hate. As Raewyn had foreseen, curiosity was the cause, and many came closer to get a better glance.

Even as they entered through a doorway that opened into the central tree itself, the trunk apparently habitable, those stares continued.

Gideon mirrored them, trying not to find himself overwhelmed by the white bark walls and flooring, or the molten ore that filled in the gaps. He tried not to rudely look upon the many people with pointed ears, who all stood taller than him by half a foot, if not more.

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