Page 122 of A Soul to Embrace

“What is that?” she asked, her head twisting and cocking as she tried to make it out.

“Have you never been in Spiral Haven when dawn comes?” Rook asked, returning with three books in his arms. He sat down next to her, although a little closer than before.

“No,” she answered, eyeing the thickly bound novels he’d brought. “This is my first time here.”

“I figured as much, all things considered as of late,” Rook answered cryptically, sounding somehow forlorn. “It’s to let everyone know that dawn has finished rising and it’s time to leave. They have about an hour to cross the meadow before they’re unable to.”

“Oh.” She looked down at the novels around her, most of which she hadn’t managed to get through yet. “Does that mean we should leave?”

His eyes softened, and a gentle smile lifted into his feline features. “No. You are welcome to stay a little longer. I don’t mind keeping my store open later for you. It just depends on if you plan to leave the village before the sunlight fills the surrounding meadow like everyone else.”

Zylah wasn’t affected by the sun, and Jabez had his cloak to protect him.Jabez can just teleport us away anyway.

“We will be fine. Thank you,” she said with tenderness pooling in her chest.

He gave a small chuckle as he looked down to obtain one of the books he brought over. He shook his head as he said, “Well, it’s not often I have a Mavka in my store.”

No. I guess that would be strange,she thought, while laughing in return. Then what he said truly sank in.

Her head reared back, and she cupped the side of her skull with her orbs flaring white in worry.

“The glamour...”

“It fell quite some time ago,” he stated quietly, with his head bowed and his ears flattening. “I considered telling you, but you were just so interested in our conversation and my books that I didn’t know when to interrupt you.”

Zylah glanced over to Jabez, thankful that his hood was shielding his features. She didn’t know what to do. Should they leave immediately upon someone seeing what she was, and potentially recognising him?

“I’m sorry if that’s an issue,” Rook continued, lifting a green bound book in her direction. “You’re not the first Mavka I’ve had in my store, and I’m hoping you will not be the last.”

Zylah brought her gaze back to him and fidgeted nervously. “You are not against Mavka?”

His eyes crinkled at that. “No. Admittedly, I was nervous at first, but he showed me your kind can be just like us.” His expression deepened into one of kindness and warmth. “I also very much liked the human he brought here. They returned one last time before our late king forbade their entry.”

Her sight flickered with blue. “He forbade Mavka from entering? Why?”

“I’m not entirely sure,” he answered.

Just more proof of how little the king of Demons thinks of us.Zylah would love to return here. She looked around at all the shelves, and the hope and adoration she felt in her surroundings left a lightness within her mind.I can pick my own stories to read.

There was so much to learn here. She imagined she could spend days, even weeks, just curled up in a corner and readingeach one. To forbid her kind from entering Spiral Haven, and therefore this place, felt wrong.

And Goldie...She’d left her clothing store feeling wonderful. Even though the little Demon hadn’t been able to tell Zylah was a Mavka, she’d still made her feel beautiful.I don’t think it would have mattered if she did know.Something about the female said that she would have tried to better match Zylah’s attire had she known she bore a skull.

“Thank you,” Zylah said as she took the book and hugged it to her chest. “I appreciate your acceptance more than you can ever know.”

“Oh, I think I do. When I first met Reia, I was delighted to meet my first human. I was worried she would be repelled by my company.” Then he gave another small chuckle as he said, “Although she was obviously very wary of me, she befriended me on her own terms. She dragged her Mavka back here to greet me, and I spoke with her at length. I’ve learned much about humans from her. She’s my...friend.”

“Why was a human travelling with a Mavka?”

Zylah realised she was being greedy by staying without a glamour, knowing Jabez would be against it, but she just couldn’t find the will to end the conversation. Not only did she not want to be rude towards Rook’s kindness, but she was curious. About Rook, about these people he spoke fondly of.

“Reia is Orpheus’ bride,” he answered. “He’s a funny fellow. He was much more cautious of me than she was. I really do hope they are okay. I haven’t seen them for quite a long time, but there are whispers throughout the village that they are still alive and together.”

“What kind of skull did he have?”

“A wolf one, with Impala antelope horns.”

I have not met this one.Then again, she’d only met the raven-skulled Mavka with short pointy horns briefly enough to forgetmost of his features, and her father, the fox-skulled, antlered one.

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