Page 218 of A Soul to Embrace

Zerik’s wrinkled features cringed, and his eyes hinted at regretful sorrow. “I know.”

“If you truly wish to make amends, then I have a counteroffer,” Jabez stated, once more thrumming his fingers on the desk. His eyes narrowed into distrustful slits. “I have little interest in whatever words, apologies, or actions anyone will attempt to rectify what has happened to me. However, Zylah has already shown to be a rather cute bookworm, and she enjoys learning. You giving me this stone means she can already start coming here. If you take her under your wing and help her any way you can, answer her questions about anything she needs further clarification on, and maybe one day let her work under you, it will appease me.”

“The Duskwalker is interested in books?” Zerik asked, his expression lifting warmly. “I’m always willing to help those in need in my library. The stone only translates the written word, but if she shares it with me while she’s here, we can communicate through paper until she understands Nyl’kira.”

The corners of Jabez’s lips quirked to smile, but he quickly hid it. “Then I’ll let her know.”

With a renewed spring in his step, Zerik moved to open one of the scrolls. “Let me find the books you requested. There may be quite a few, so if you wouldn’t mind helping me carry them, these old bones would be grateful.”

Jabez stepped back and waved his hand to the side, letting the man know to begin their search.

This will make her happy.

When Zylah entered her new home alone, she hadn’t expected Jabez to already be inside it.I thought he was mining stones.She didn’t know why, but she felt the need to hide the bag she was carrying behind her hips as her sight turned reddish pink.

He has a gash on his forearm,she thought with dismay, noticing claw marks and dried blood. The smell of it had been spicing the air, and she hated that it did – despite how delicious she found the aroma.

She made no comment on it; it would only bother him, and he’d refuse to let her heal him anyway.

“And just where have you been?” Jabez asked, his tone hinting at playfulness as he stood from one of the yellow lounges.

There was a suspicious, although curious, hint to his warm gaze as it slipped to her hips. Zylah’s hands tightened on the bag she was hiding.

“One of the councilmembers took me for a walk while you were gone,” she mumbled coyly, stepping to the side to enter deeper into their home.

His expression dulled in a way she knew meant he wasn’tpleased. “Was it Raewyn?”

Her head jerked in surprise. “How did you know?”

“She’s the only one who can speak English, and the only one I can think of who would try to form a bond with you,” he answered, stalking closer with a predatory glint in his eyes. “Did she tell you she is my half-sister?”

“Maybe.” She chittered nervously, her sight deepening in her embarrassed hue at being caught. “Is that okay?”

“I expected that she’d try to speak with you while I was out mining with Merikh. I just didn’t think she’d be so diligent to try the very first time. I can already tell she’s going to be a nuisance.”

“Why didn’t you tell me she was your sister?”

Jabez shrugged. “I don’t know her, and I’ve only spoken to her a handful of times now, but it’s been about business.”

She wasn’t surprised that their interactions had been limited, since they’d only been in the city less than a week. Almost twice a day, Jabez had been called away to dosomethingfor the council. She usually remained behind due to him feeling bad she wouldn’t understand anything that was said.

She tried not to be annoyed that they were apart and was just relieved it was always for short periods.

He’d already started teaching her Nyl’kira. It was something they did every day, but it wasn’t an easy language to learn. She was also trying to learn to read and speak it at the same time, making the process even slower.

“Now...” Jabez started, before stepping to the side suddenly and going behind her. “Just what are you hiding?”

Zylah squealed and spun to evade him, giggling as he chased her around their home. “Raewyn took me to the markets.”

“You went shopping? Without me?” He stopped and placed a hand over his chest. “That hurts, Zylah. If you wanted something, I would have liked to go with you again.”

Zylah grumbled, knowing he probably wasn’t upset at all, and wiggled her head. “I didn’t know I’d want something.”

“I guess it’s only fair, since I procured something while you weren’t with me as well.” He gestured towards the lounges he’d been seated at. “I have a few things for you.”

Her chest filled with tenderness and excitement.He always gets me gifts.At least once a day, he brought her something new.

Zylah followed him, her sight drifting over the new clothing he’d bought for himself while they’d been exploring the city beyond the central tree.

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