Page 123 of A Soul to Embrace

At least I now know Orpheus’ name,she thought warmly.

As nervous as she was about the prospect, she eventually wanted to meet all the others.UnclesJabez had told her they were, which meant they werefamily.She’d read how much those blood ties could matter, despite not truly feeling any emotional depth regarding the concept.

The more she understood about the world, the more she wanted to reach out to anyone who could possibly be welcoming. At the time, she’d disregarded her parents as strangers, but she’d love to meet them again and come to better know them.

She looked upon Jabez, who was still asleep.He is a barrier.But maybe one she could help break. Surely what he’d done could be forgiven, especially as she’d forgiven him easily for it.

I can do it.She would be stubbornly determined, and if they refused to accept him, then they would lose her. He mattered more to her than strange relatives she didn’t know.

“You’re very different to Orpheus,” Rook said, his gaze flicking down to the book in her arms. “I don’t think he can read well, and you’re much more friendly. Hopefully Reia has helped him come out of his shell.”

Zylah giggled at that, and finally opened the pages to skim over its contents. She already knew this book was one she’d like to take, since Rook had been the one to give it to her; she was obtaining all kinds of gifts from people today. She was also curious about what a romance novel was, and hopefully it would shed light on that question.

“I would like to come back,” Zylah said, finally voicing her inner thoughts. “I’ve deeply enjoyed my time here in Spiral Haven, and everyone has been so nice even though they didn’t know what I am. I’ve experienced so much I never even dreamed could exist. I’d like to do that as myself.”

“Much has happened in the last few months,” Rook said, flicking through the pages of another book to show her. “We’re mostly happy with the laws placed upon us, as many of them keep us safe. But there’s a large group of us who would like to remove the ban on Mavka and their brides. My mate has already stated she is willing to travel to the outer ring to inform them of their ability to return if it’s allowed.”

Zylah knew what a mate was, as Fayren had explained it to her. It was when two Demons, sometimes more, formed a lasting companionship because they ‘loved’ each other. Although, some did form that bond due to other reasons.

“What is a bride?” Zylah asked, tilting her head. “I’ve never heard this term before.”

His forehead and lip whiskers twitched as his brows drew together. “How can you not know about this?”

Zylah scratched at the side of her snout bashfully. “Truthfully, I haven’t spent much time with my own kind.”

“Well, I think a bride is like a mate for Demons, but a partner that a Mavka chooses. It’s what Orpheus called Reia.” He flashed her an apologetic grin. “Sorry. I don’t know much about this myself. All I know is that your kind is very protective of them.”

“I see.”A bride?She wished she had more information about this.

Once more, she brought her gaze to Jabez. She bet he knew.Could he become my bride?Oddly enough, just the thought of him becoming her partner brought on a fluffy warmth in her chest, and her orbs morphed to bright pink.

She covered an eye socket when she turned back around, and Rook’s expression widened. He shoved his face right into hers, and his wet, twitching nose almost touched her bony snout as he inspected her orbs. It reminded her of Jabez’s earlier excitement over the colour.

“You Mavka are so strange with your colour-changing orbs. I’ve always wanted to know what they mean.”

“I can’t help it,” she grumbled back, her shoulders turning inwards self-consciously.

“Don’t be nervous about something natural to your kind! Be yourself with me, I don’t mind.”

The tension that had been clinging to her muscles eased, and they once more became engrossed in the books surrounding her. Rook brought her more until there was a noticeable mess surrounding them, occasionally putting away the ones he could tell she didn’t want.

Then an idea popped into her head! With a gasp, she dug through her satchel and grabbed her favourite book – the one of three humans going on an adventure and winning many battles along the way.

“Have you read this book?” Zylah asked, holding it out to him.

Rook took it and thumbed the embossed title on the front of the leatherbound book. “No. I don’t have this one.”

She propped up the first romance book he’d given her. “I’ve already read it twice. Would you like to trade?”

“Really?” he exclaimed, his eyes brightening as he gifted her with a large, fanged smile. “It is so hard to acquire new books! I would love to trade book for book.”

His feline tail curled in obvious delight, and he immediately opened it so he could get a feel for the pages. “This is the best trade. Thank you.” Then he waved to the other books on the ground. “But you can continue to look. I will take anything, so if there are more you would like, please do consider them.”

A certain giddiness made her chest ache, and she safely tucked the book away so she could go through the many others. Already the urge to flick it open and begin reading nagged at her conscience, much like Rook, who was already lost in the words of the one she’d given him.

Her orbs flared bright yellow.I traded on my own!

Zylah continued to look, setting aside two she could already tell she would enjoy. She didn’t know how much time passed, mere minutes or hours, but her happiness never waned.

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