Page 241 of A Soul to Embrace

He snorted a mild, condescending laugh. “Coward.”

While brushing a leaf from the silky navy material covering his chest, wishing they’d all leave him be in this disgusting world, he stated, “I’m just saying it would be easier if you talk to them first. I actually like my outfit.”

If he was going to be glared at all day, he could at least look pretty while enduring it. If he got into any brawls, they’d likely ruin his clothing and put him in a shitty mood.

“I’m actually curious to see what will happen.” Merikh leaned to the side until their heads were aligned. “I wonder if they’re still a pair of idiots sharing one brain. When I last saw Aleron, he was a Ghost and still rather low in humanity. I think his bride is the human who was accompanying him. Gideon, I believe his name to be.”

“A gay Mavka?” Jabez asked, while cupping his jaw. He pulled his hand away to shrug with it, completely unbothered by this new information.

He was more concerned by how this bride would behave meeting the person who, inadvertently, killed his lover.

When they almost reached the dome, Merikh patted him on the back. “You’re probably right. It would be best if you stay behind, but you’re not going to do that. I want to see you get your arse kicked.”

“You may be better at defence, but I’m better at evading,” Jabez rebutted. “And attacking.”

“Want to make a bet then?”

Jabez’s ears twitched at the idea of a gamble. “I’m listening.”

“If they leave even a scratch on you, you have to meet your parents.”

Jabez let out a low whistle. “That’s a harsh bet.”

He could hear the sly humour in Merikh’s tone. “I guess you’re not confident about it then.”

I bet Raewyn’s been in his bony ear hole about it.Merikh probably didn’t care what Jabez did, and likely agreed with his sentiment of not wanting to meet them; he knew it would be a great loss for a bet.

Jabez cupped his jaw in thought as he tried to come up with an equal loss for Merikh. An idea lit in his mind, and he almost wanted to laugh at the ingeniousness of it. Especially as it was like killing two birds with one stone.

“If I win, you have to speak to Weldir about lowering his ward temporarily. The synedrus council are considering building a second city in Nyl’theria, and I want the Demons in Spiral Haven to inhabit the village.”

A rolling growl bubbled from Merikh’s maw, and his orbs flared bright red.

“Come now, Merikh. He brought your dear brother back to life. Time to let it all go.”

Merikh spun and pointed a sharp claw at his face, showing his already limited patience was running out. He retracted his hand before snapping out, “Fine.”

“Any restrictions?” Jabez asked, clasping his hands behind his back to appear aloof when they began walking again.

The chuckle Merikh produced was mean. “You’re not allowed to teleport. It gives you too much of an upper hand.”

A devious smile curled his lips. “Is that all?”

“That should be enough.”

Idiot,Jabez thought with mirth, lifting his eyes to the brightening sky. “The sun is rising, so we better make this quick then. The bet is off if they don’t attack, though, as I’m not going to provoke them into doing so just for a gamble.”

Jabez didn’t need these people to like him, but he did want them to tolerate him for Zylah’s sake. Therefore, he had no intention of starting a needless fight.

“Sounds fair.”

Just as they were about to enter the pink protective dome, a woman with bright-red hair stepped out of a cave with her arms lifted like she was stretching. Hiking up the skirt of her simple grey peasant dress, she stepped to the side with the intention of heading towards the forest, but froze when she noticed movement.

Her gasp was so loud it was almost a quiet scream, and she ran back inside the cave.

“It’s the Demon King! Wake up!”

A kerfuffle could be heard as multiple bodies immediately went into motion, just as a handful of feathers fluttered out of the cave mouth.

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