Page 82 of A Soul to Embrace

She wished she could see Jabez’s expression properly, but she could only make out his nose and the tips of his lips and chin.

“It’s only for a day or two,” Jabez stated with an exasperated sigh, shaking his head.

“I don’t give a shit how long it is, you pompous Elf!”

His response was immediate and held the undertone of a growl. “You know I don’t like being referred to as one ofthem.”

“What you’re asking for is too much,” Fayren said. Her red ears were pressed all the way back and had been for the entire conversation.

“You said you like her.”

“Oh, don’t give me that! Leaving Zylah here with me for even a day is unfair on her and me. My home is just big enough for me, Jabez. The poor girl barely fits on my bed. Where will I sleep? Where will she?”

Zylah’s head reared back as white filled her vision.He is planning to leave... without me?Her heart clenched in worry.

She’d been concerned when she’d gone to sleep without checking in with him. The last few days had been hard, and there had been a noticeable strain between them. She thought coming here would help lessen that, but now it appeared he didn’t even wish to be near her.

She didn’t understand why.What did I do wrong?

“You’ll figure it out.”

“I don’t know how to take care of a Mavka,” she said, shaking her head with her brows furrowing. “What will she even do here?”

“I’m sure she’ll be curious about your farm. Show her your garden, your chickens. Mother her like you mother everyone.”

“If you weren’t standing in the sun, I’d beat you with a stick,” the little she-Demon snapped, then gave a hiss through her fangs.

Jabez chuckled. “Which is why I’m standing in the sun.”

“Are you even planning to tell her yourself?”

He loosened his folded arms. “Of course. I wouldn’t just leave without saying a word, Fayren.”

As much as the revelation that he’d been planning to just abandon her here hurt, the fact that he didn’t mean to do so without an explanation brought her relief.

Zylah stood and opened the door so she could confront him.

“Jabez?” she asked in a small voice, just as he partially turned his face to her. He regarded her with a dull expression and his arms dropped to his sides. “Where are you going?”

She could have played coy and pretended she hadn’t been listening in, but she’d rather face the issue head-on.

Her stomach tightened when he focused his attention on Fayren and the lightest growl came from him. It died out quickly, and he let out a deep exhale as he turned from the fox-eared female. He stepped towards Zylah while skilfully making sure his cloak protected him from the light.

“I plan to go to Spiral Haven,” he stated, his gaze meeting hers firmly.

“Spiral Haven?” She’d never heard of this place.

He stopped a few paces from her. “The village belonging to the Demons.”

She held one of her wrists over her navel when her stomach twisted with unease. Like before, there was a noticeable strainbetween her and Jabez, which appeared to have grown since Zylah had entered Fayren’s home.

Unable to help it, blue swirled in her sight.

“Why don’t you want me to come?”

She didn’t know if it was her question, or even her orb colour, but Jabez averted his gaze to the side. “It’ll be easier for me to go there alone.”

“But I want to come with you.”

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