Page 45 of A Soul to Embrace

Zylah shifted awkwardly, her shoulders lifting. “Can it be closer?” Her voice was higher pitched than normal.

Jabez looked at the large gap he’d left between their rolls and considered it. The idea left him uncomfortable. Her choosing to lie beside him of her own volition was different to him making accommodations for her to do so.

He didn’t wish to blur the lines of their companionship.

His brows furrowed deeply.If I don’t, she’ll likely sleep on the ground just to be next to me.Which would defeat the purpose of him procuring the bedroll in the first place. With a huff and jagged movements to highlight his displeasure, he shifted it much closer but made sure they weren’t touching.

“There. Better?” he bit out, only for his forced annoyance to die when her little tail tuft wiggled in delight. He wished it hadn’t been noticeable from his view of her side profile, as his cheeks warmed at seeing it.

“Yes. Much better,” she chirped happily, before returning to her book.

Defeated by the night, and just by her, he plonked his backside on his own bedroll and pulled a green apple from his bag. His sharp fangs bit through it like butter, and the extra crunch in each bite combined with the sour-sweet taste was satisfying.

He hadn’t grabbed as much food as usual since all the items he’d obtained for her had taken up most of the space. He’d considered stealing more material to make her a new dress, so she had something to change into, but just couldn’t fit it. He also didn’t like leaving her outside of the village by herself for long periods in case a Demon came.

As time went on, Jabez found he was becoming rather... protective of her. Apprehensive as well, which didn’t coincide with the fact that her presence was oddly soothing for him.

I should have known she’d follow me inside one night.So foolish.

Once she’d been able to fully communicate her wishes to him, she’d asked that Jabez not make her kill humans again. He’d argued with her on that front, considering the more she consumed, the more advanced she’d become, but she didn’t care. The idea apparently made her feel ‘sick in the heart,’ as she put it.

Now that she was able to voice her lack of consent on the matter, he’d thrown the idea out.

So now, even though he disagreed, he would attempt to help her no longer rampage against any humans. Even Demonslayers, should they come upon them. He already expressed he may not be able to help her in that matter, as Demonslayers attacked first without a shred of self-preservation.

She doesn’t wish to harm Demons, either.He had a feeling that was due to Jabez being a half-Demon himself.She really is a strange Mavka.Then again, their entire species was made up of fucking oddballs.

“What’s a prost... itute?” Zylah asked, tilting her head one way and then the other as she assessed the new word on the page.

Sucking in a sudden, shocked gasp, Jabez choked on a mouthful of apple when it went down his windpipe. His chest burned as he bashed on it and coughed to dislodge the chunk of fruit, hacking until it flung past his fangs.

“What?” she asked, lifting her skull towards him. “The hero of this story is speaking with one about some special information she may have. A secret.”

“I’ll explain later,” he wheezed, refusing to answer. “Just finish the book first.”

She let out a huff through her nose hole and shrugged. She reached for her dictionary, but he doubted the word was in there if she hadn’t come across it yet.Unless she just didn’t understand the word and its meaning at the time.

He reached forward and slapped his hand on top of the dark-green hardbound book. He hated the way his ears darted back and his cheeks heated at the simple thought of her learning about this topic, especially as he couldn’t fathom as towhyit made him uncomfortable.

“I told you there are a few things I won’t teach you.” Anything of a sexual or romantic notion would be avoided, so as to not put silly ideas in her head. “This is one of those things. I know the definition, and it pertains to words I have refused to explain. Those that require... further depth and demonstrations.”

Zylah licked the inside of her mouth, which he took as her way of pouting. “But how will I understand this scene if you do not explain it?”

“It is a woman who prefers the company of men.” That was all he’d say on the matter.

“Then how would she gain secrets?” she asked curiously.

“Because her occupation has a tendency to make men relaxed and stupid. Many prostitutes are often used as a place to lay troubled minds.”

“Is this solely a feminine role?”

Jabez sighed when strain flared at his temples, and he pulled back to lean against the cave wall. “No, not always. There are males who do this as well, although I think that is less common within humans. I know Demon males do.”

She hummed in thought and accepted his vague answers before burying her face back in the book. Only to lift her head once more.

“Did you ever meet with prostitutes?”

Jabez closed his eyes in mortification and tilted his head back until the ends of his horns prevented him from going further.Someone strike me down now.He opened his gaze to the ceiling.

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