Page 85 of A Soul to Steal

“I see. Although I am rightfully furious she attempted to harm one of my souls, it clears up why she gave me something so precious.” He bowed his head, making Aleron tilt his own in bewilderment. “I have much to think on, and much to do.”

Then, without another word, he vanished.

Aleron stared at the spot Weldir disappeared from until Gideon stepped away.

“Wow. Well, that was an adventure. I feel like so much happened in such a short amount of time.”

“I do not think we were gone long. Perhaps a day.” Aleron was growing tired, as if many days had passed since he last rested right after the canyon of souls.

Gideon lifted his elbow high as he rubbed at his neck, averting his gaze from Aleron’s skull.

“I’m not sure if I said it before, but I’m really sorry if I got in the way. I can have quite a temper when something gets my back up.” He brought his hand forward and rubbed at his cheek instead, oddly looking tired when he lacked the need for sleep. “It probably would have been better if I hadn’t gone. I don’t feel like I helped you at all.”

Something about the way Gideon held himself, looking off to the side with a pained, furrowed expression, touched at Aleron’s chest. It made him feel warm, the vulnerability and insecurity soothing his own misgivings about himself and how he reacted.

It was likely strange, but it only made Gideon appear more... beautiful to him.

Aleron reached out, hesitating part of the way, then braved brushing the smooth backs of his claws down his rough cheek. Gideon flinched and looked up, but didn’t pull away.

“Just having you by my side put me at ease,” Aleron stated with confidence, dipping his torso to the side so he could be more eye level with him. “I do not think you realise how nervous I was. You helped me understand things I would never have been able to decipher on my own.”

Without Gideon, who had grown angered by Merikh’s treatment of him, it was doubtful they would have shared the enlightening conversation they’d had afterwards. Aleron never would have learned just how deeply wounded the bear-skulled Mavka was, and never would have been given the chance to apologise in his own way. He would have looked upon therelationship he had with Raewyn and that Demon youngling with confusion, with no hope of being educated on it.

The fact that during the entire time they were there, he had someone who could touch him comfortingly, or just simply betherefor him, meant the entire world. He’d needed that. For someone to just be by his side in a place that had felt wrong.

A place where he’d been an outcast, but had belonged within someone’s hand.

Gideon snorted a humourless laugh. “I started a fight and almost had you going for a swim in fire.”

Although the burn of rage still simmered beneath his flesh at how this wonderful human had been treated, Aleron gently brought his claws forward so he could place two under his chin. He forced Gideon to look up at him as he lowered his skull. He nuzzled the end of his snout against the corner of Gideon’s lips, and the scratchiness of the hair on his face tingled Aleron’s fangs, sending a thrill down his spine.

The sensation reminded Aleron of their moment within the dark tunnel. The warmth of skin, the tickling sensation of hair, all of which belonged to Gideon, felt wonderful against the smooth bone of his skull.

Aleron stopped paying attention to their conversation. Instead, he wrapped his hand around the side of Gideon’s neck to keep him still for his affection.

Prickly.He gave a contented purr.

“Thank you, by the way,” Gideon uttered softly, leaning his head to the side to give Aleron more room to play with. “For saving me.”

“I will always choose you,” Aleron said without thinking, only to pause.

Was that true? Would he always choose Gideon? Something settled within Aleron’s mind at the realisation that he might care much more for this human than he originally thought. Enoughto balance with his kindred, someone he knew he couldn’t truly live without – and was only doing so now due to no longer being alive.

And the afterlife had only become bearable because of this male.

My sight grows pink for him.Not in his normal colouring, but one he only ever shined upon Ingram. Love... was it? A different and wholly special version of it.

“What did you say?” Gideon asked, backing his head away to escape and look upon him. Surprise caused his pitch to turn raspy and go higher.

Aleron refused to let him retreat far.

The growing, swelling, hot emotion behind his sternum demanded he show his fondness.

Aleron parted his fangs and swiped his tongue across Gideon’s soft, fleshy lips. Even though Aleron couldn’t taste him, the feel of them caused the inferno to swirl tighter, faster, disintegrating everything in its wake. With Aleron’s hand around the side of his neck, his fingertips cradling the back of the human’s head, he brought Gideon closer.

His tongue was more demanding this time as he licked across Gideon’s lips, separating them himself, so Aleron could flick it against his teeth. Just their bumpy, hard texture was enough to send a thrill of delight down his essence.

“I have not forgotten we were interrupted,” Aleron purred roughly. “And I would very much like to continue.”

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