Page 187 of A Soul to Embrace

Ulric flinched, as did many others. The one named Raewyn cringed and lowered her head as if in defeat, while Laele’s hand closed into a fist on the table. Mericato slapped his hand over his face and shook his head in disbelief.

“The hate I hold for you people hasn’t changed,” Jabez continued, drifting his gaze across those before him so they could be pricked by his thorny stare. “There isn’t a part of me that doesn’t want to tear into each of your throats, including theDelysiansthat sit here by your side. But, as I said, Zylah is the reason I’m here. Since Elysians are no strangers to seeing magic and essence, I’m sure you can see the soul floating between her antlers. It shows that I have accepted her unbreakable Duskwalker bond. She is, in all ways, my mate, and I seek toprotect my female – even if it is from myself and my own need for revenge.”

“And what of her?” Cleth asked, tilting their face to her. “We have no idea of her intentions, or if you are using her as a ruse to infiltrate our city and destroy it from the inside.”

“Are you stupid?” Jabez sneered, darting his head back in annoyance before he looked down at the magic circle around him. “What’s the point of a truth spell if you are going to disregard the honesty that comes from me?”

They opened their mouth, only to wisely shut it.

“I’m unsure if anyone informed you of Zylah’s state upon our arrival, but she was severely injured and her body would not mend itself. I solely sought to bring her here to have you heal her, and then I planned to abandon her in this city, where she could be safe from harm. Due to your apparent rule of refusing unbonded Duskwalkers within the city, I made a decision. Now I kneel before you, asking that she receive the sanctuary you offer, despite how it goes against everything I have wished for over these past years.”

“But it means we must also accept you, and you’ve admitted that your intentions are still unpure,” Laele stated. “We haven’t forgotten what has happened in the past, and it has weighed on us every day since you left. We have been afraid of your return.”

“You have two options before you,” Jabez said calmly, his lids lowering in indifference as he spoke. “Accept her, and therefore me, and my threat that has lingered over this city disappears. Or... cast out the female I’m trying to protect and witness my return, which will be in violent bloodshed.”

“How do we know you will not change your mind in the future?” Raewyn asked, her voice meek and shy, like someone who spoke as if they’d done so out of turn.

“I won’t,” Jabez answered, before letting out a sigh. “Do you think I wanted to come here? This decision wasn’t easy for me,and yet... I made it. I have chosen her over myself, and I will live by that. Nowyoumust make a choice, and I have informed you of the weight of each option. Choose wisely, or you may come to regret it. The Demons outside these walls are vicious and they’re starving. It won’t be hard to convince them to join me.”

“The future you present is unpredictable,” Ulric stated with a dark tone of distrust. “I think many of us would be willing to risk your threat, considering you’ve been incapable of enacting your pointless vendetta for the past twenty-one years.”

Ulric’s lips then curled in a smug grin. It was meant to be sharp, as if his expression was another attempt to cut through Jabez’s threat.

The deep laugh that broke from Jabez was sardonic and full of malice. “I have spent the last twenty-one years on Earth chasing a dead lead. Now I’m here in this realm, and I’ve discovered the inner sanctum of Tck’ith, and much of it remained legible.”

The moment he spoke of the mountain library he’d taken Zylah to, many faces turned ashen in worry.

“You have no idea of my capabilities, my strengths, and the dark secrets I discovered there. I wasn’t able to bring an army through my portal due to Weldir’s interference, but there is one here just waiting for a martyr. I’ll happily focus them all on one goal.”

“And you would willingly endanger your mate to accomplish this?” an individual stated behind him, speaking for the first time. He already couldn’t remember their name, and he didn’t care.

“If that’s the only option you present me with, then what other choice do I have? The safest place across both realms is Lezekos City, and I don’t care if it’s occupied by Elysians or Demons, so long as it one day shelters her. Oh, and I should probably inform you that she has now rendered me incapable of dying.” A grin curled back his lips and revealed his sharp fangs, while mirthcrinkled his eyes. “I can try over, and over, andoveragain until the end of time.”

All their expressions drooped in understanding, and many shared wary glances with each other.

“But the ability to turn incorporeal means you’ll be incapable of being captured should you turn on us within the city,” Raewyn stated with a touch more confidence. “And Zylah is a Duskwalker. If we threaten you, she will turn on us. She will always pick your side, no matter how wrong or right it is. As much as I don’t want to admit it... you both are a variable we can’t predict. If your hatred remains this strong, we won’t be able to trust you. If you weaken our defences without us knowing, we put our people at risk because of your inability to let go of the past. I...wewant to trust you, but you aren’t making it easy for us to do so. We are at risk, no matter if we turn you away or accept you. The fear will never subside. We will always be wary and watchful of you.”

“Then make up for what you have done to me,” Jabez stated. “I’m offering you an opportunity tosubsidemy anger and make amends, but that can only be done within the city. Treat my mate well, and my heart may change.”

“Is that even possible?” Zerik asked, his aged voice shaken. “You have offered us no way to guarantee our future, yet the past is solidified in the incidental cruelty we have done to you while your present is cast in bloodshed.”

“Then you shouldn’t have done it in the first place,” Jabez bit, shooting a glare at the elderly man. “You forget I was there when you all cast your votes to continuously detain me, and your voice was always the loudest, Zerik.”

“We are sorry for what we have done, and we have been regretful since the day you left,” Zerik answered, his wrinkles deepening as he frowned with obvious chagrin. “We have learned much of our faults and mistakes–”

“I don’t care!” Jabez roared, the flames of his patience beginning to give out. “I have no desire to speak about the past when I’m trying to change my own future. Stop this useless circling and make your decision. There is nothing else to discuss.”

A white dome shot over Jabez and Zylah, and all sounds muted beyond it. All he could hear was himself and her. His heart pounded in rage; these foolish councilmembers were unlikely to make the wisest choice he’d presented. But there had been no lie in his intentions, and if they allowed them into the city, then Jabez truly had no desire to endanger it in the future.

He’d come here for Zylah, and he was sure there were other ways he could help the Demons beyond the walls, even if it was peacefully. The only person who would be at a loss was him. They didn’t seem to comprehend what he was giving up, all because they were afraid of a future he already foresaw not happening if they justkept her safe.

The tenderness in his heart had grown tenfold when he’d given Zylah his soul. Not because of the action itself, but what it meant she had become to him. These idiotic Elysians obviously lacked the understanding of what it meant for a Demon to choose a mate, but in doing so, his essence urged him to protect at all costs.

And the longer he sat in the bond, the more he felt it tearing him up inside. He was growing narrowminded; his thoughts were foolishly beginning to circle around her to make her his centre. This was enough in his mind and heart to tell him their union was unwavering.

I’m trying...he thought with a wince.

He had nothing else to offer them but his threat. And considering the truth spell, there had been no way for him to hide how he felt about these people. All he had was this ultimatum.

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