Page 208 of A Soul to Embrace

“Here.” He gestured for her to stand under the spout and he waved his hand over a different dreaded pulsating light she hadn’t noticed before.

This one was red, and it glowed just as heat and air silently swirled around her. When it stopped on its own, he had to wave his hand in front of it to power it again since she was still partially wet due to her thick fur.

Just as she and the ground and walls dried, a knocking came from the entry door of the room.

He cocked a brow as he stepped back. “Are you going to fall over again if I answer that?”

Her sight shifted to a reddish pink, and she scratched at the nape of her neck. “No,” she grumbled.

Nervous about being in the obsidian room alone when he teleported away, Zylah steadied her hand against the wall as she slowly and carefully escaped. He’d already answered the door and closed it by the time she stepped out of the small room and back onto the wooden floor of the blessed white tree.

In his hand, he held a red tray, and she noticed all the different pieces of food on top of it.

“I was wondering when they’d try to feed us.” Jabez walked to the bed and sat down near the headboard with one leg bent up and his other foot remaining against the ground. He picked up a square piece of pale-greensomethingand sniffed it.

“I think they knocked earlier.” She cupped her hands together nervously when he paused, popping whatever food it was into his mouth, and lifted his face to her with a frown. “I think that’s what woke me, but I wasn’t sure what it was. You, um, were very deep in sleep.”

He scratched the side of his head as he chewed. “I’m not surprised. If it was about the council’s decision, they would have been incessant.” Then he shifted so he was sitting back against the pillows and wall. “Come sit with me.”

Zylah walked over to the bed and sat next to him, only to gasp when he curled his left arm around her waist and dragged her between his outstretched legs. With her back resting against his bare chest, he kept his arm around her tightly, like a hug, and reached out with the other to slide the tray across the bed so it was closer.

“Here, eat,” he told her, lifting a slice of something pink and veiny.

Zylah sniffed it before pulling her nose hole away. “Why? I no longer feel hunger after eating your soul.”

The corners of his lips curled slightly. “Even if I have to feed you tiny bits of meat forever, I’d like to see these disappear.” His left hand clasped hers and he brushed his thumb across her remaining protruding knucklebones. “It’ll mean your body has reached its fully evolved state, and then you can decide if you want to be plumper or not.”

“Do you not like me how I am?” she asked, as he wiggled the flap of meat at her.

“You’re perfect as you are, but I’d prefer you to be what is considered healthy for a Mavka.” When she refused to take the food, he shoved it into his own mouth and loudly chomped on it. “Those with lots of their skeletal bones still showing tend to look underweight and sickly in form. If you are happy with the way you are, that’s fine, and if you wish to look as big as Merikh, I don’t mind that either.”

“I don’t know how Merikh looks,” Zylah said, as she watched him pick up an orange slice of something that smelt fruity.

“You will soon,” he answered with his mouth full. “He’s in the city and you’ll likely meet. He’s currently being a cunt, but I’msure he’ll seek you out in curiosity eventually. He won’t be able to stand not knowing who you are or what you look like.” He pointed a finger at her face. “Don’t let him be a prick to you. He’s an asshole at the best of times, and none of it is meaningless. He’ll like it if you snap back at him, since he actually likes arguing.”

Grumbling, Zylah wiggled her head. “I don’t like arguing.”

“Trust me, he’ll make you want to bite his head off. He has a way of getting under your skin.” Jabez picked up another slice of the strange meat and it flapped limply as he held it towards her. “Now, do you want to help me eat all this food?”

She glanced at it before greeting his red eyes. Although Zylah didn’t mind how she looked, and appreciated that the choice to change it a little was entirely up to her, she leaned forward and took it.

Since she lacked cheeks, she bit off a little piece with her jagged Mavka fangs before swallowing it whole, and was pleased to find it didn’t unsettle her stomach. She took each piece he offered, and he only ate the fruit so she could have the meat.

I like this.She liked sharing such a simple task with him while looking out the glass at the bright world. Basking in the intense sunlight together, the warmth fought against the tender ache inside her chest already trying to sear her. It was tranquil.

It made her feel closer to him, and like a normal being who needed to eat. She also adored that he was holding her tenderly as they did this, and she hoped they did this often in the future.

Her tail wiggled as she took the last piece, hoping if they were able to stay here in the city, this was what their future would be like.

Jabez grunted, then his hand shot down to cup between her thighs and shove her backside against his groin. “Be careful where you wag that thing.”

“Did I hurt you?” She tilted her skull to the right to see him better.

“No,” he answered as he wrapped his other arm around her and buried his face in the crook of her neck. “But you’re going to make me hard if you do it right against my dick.”

“Oh.” She giggled when she felt it hardening against the underside of her tail pressed against him. She stretched her head to the side when he grazed his fangs against her neck. “I don’t see a problem with that.”

“Neither do I.” His hand gripped her hip while the other came up to caress up her chest, his palm giving her breast a tentative squeeze. “But, considering they brought us food, I’m sure the council will make their decision soon. I’d rather not be interrupted.”

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