Page 79 of A Soul to Steal

Gideon’s eyes crinkled with tenderness and humour.I think so too.

She came forward once more, gripping the sides of Aleron’s skull, and nuzzled her lips and nose against the tip. He didn’t flinch like before, but his feathers did puff.

“As much as I appreciate the sentiment, it is unneeded.” She pulled back and turned, her expression coy as she glanced over her shoulder. Gideon followed her gaze, one where she expected someone to interrupt them. “But there is a reason you have come.”

Aleron nodded. “Yes. Weldir has tasked me with obtaining a tear.

“I’m sure he did,” she said with a hum. “He has been so good, so patient. He likely feels as though I have abandoned him. It’s no surprise he has asked me for something as small as this.”

Her golden coils bounced and fluttered as she sauntered around the area, the water rippling beneath her feet. Gliding her hand as if caressing the edge of a table, she lifted her face upwards towards the muted sun shining over them.

Then, her head dipped back, her neck craning and arched, so she could glance at them with her lips pouted and her eyes squinted.

With dark humour laden in her tone, she mischievously asked, “The question is: should I?”

Gideon opened his mouth, preparing to spout some outraged statement, but quickly shut it.

Fuck. I’ve already caused enough problems with Merikh.As much as his heart wanted to fight for Weldir, more so because Aleron seemed to care for him, he didn’t. It wasn’t his place, and he didn’t want to make matters worse.

Aleron tilted his head. “Yes. I think you should.”

She laughed at that, especially since her question had been rhetorical.

“That is not what I meant, dear child,” she sang. Once more, she turned from them, humming as she thought. “I could giveWeldir what he wants, or I can give him more. I shall solely leave that up to the decision you make.”

“I do not understand.” Ah, Aleron’s favourite words.

“Good.” She giggled, before swiftly spinning.

She sauntered back over, only to lean her hands on her knees to be at head height with Gideon, her nose barely an inch from his own. Unlike with how Merikh had done this, it didn’t come across as superior, but more like she wanted to make them equal.

It felt like a caring mother leaning down to her child.

Just as Aleron reached for Gideon’s arm to pull him away, she shoved her hand out between them to stop him.

“Why did you come here, human?”

“Me?” His brows drew together tightly. “I don’t know why you’re bothering to ask me. I’m insignificant in all this.”

“You did not come seeking power or a wish?”

She leaned her head to the side, causing her long hair to cascade over her shoulder like a waterfall. Her golden, pupilless eyes bored into his own, and looking at his clear reflection in them made him nervous.

He averted his gaze as he rubbed at the side of his head. “No, not really. I don’t really need anything if I’m dead.”

“What about life?”

He managed to completely stifle his snort of laughter.Yeah, I considered that.

But the reason he wasn’t going to ask for it was he didn’t think it’d matter. Gideon wasn’t related to her in any form, and as he’d already mentioned, he was irrelevant. His wants and desires meant little, and he’d rather not state them if they could have a negative impact on Aleron.

He did, however, ask with a sardonic smile, “Can you give it?”

Her full lips formed a conniving pout when she smiled. “Perhaps.”

Then she might be able to bring Aleron back to life.He could go back to his kindred, who he deeply cared for.

Aleron missed Ingram like a terrible ache. He never hid it, and frequently spoke of him and their memories together. His orbs were often a dark, swallowing blue because of it, and the colour always made Gideon sad for him.

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