Page 105 of To Trap a Soul

He was intangible in all ways that a mortal creature, one which came from another world to him, was not. His ideologies often didn’t align with hers, his opinions differed in ways she found unsettling, and his mindset was firm with the teachings of his mother and fathers.

Worse still, Weldir was deeply aware she thought of these as failings in him.

Lindiwe was attempting to unravel a being who had been alive for over fifteen hundred human years, and she was a being he could not relate to. The space between them was vast, not because his realm was not part of hers, but because who andwhat they were would never be one. They would always be misaligned.

All they shared was their bond; it was spiritual but lacked anything else.

So how to change this?

Is it possible to give her what she seeks?Surely he could do this... be intimate with her.

Oddly enough, Weldir found it daunting.

He could barely hold onto the physical parts of his form shecouldtouch. He was mere ribbons to her, even though he could see and feel all parts of himself. He’d seen humans conjoined in coitus. There was much grasping and holding, which they could not do. Not unless he finally reached true strength, something he’d never achieved and had been reaching for with each soul he collected.

But could he at least offer the pleasure and tenderness she sought in some semblance?How?

It took much focus just to control a single tendril, and for even a small length of time. How was Weldir supposed to give her something more substantial to cling to, and how was he meant to claim her without dispersing into mist from within her?

These were questions that plagued him.

What you have asked of me feels near impossible.

But Weldir was set on trying, for her sake.

Because, even if she didn’t believe it, Weldir did care for this female rather deeply. She was the mother of his offspring, and his hands and feet in a world he could not be in.

He found her beautiful. Even though it hadn’t changed in the many years, his appreciation of her continued to evolve and deepen. Her personality was gallant and charming. Her care for others – their offspring and other humans alike – inspired him, and it made him inclined to let her have her way, even if it meant he was drained of power and suffered for it.

Her soul was bound to him, and he knew he must nurture whom it belonged to.

I must do better.

But with Lindiwe in this state, unreceptive and reclusive, it was impossible.

She did not want his words, and that was all he currently had to offer. Until their twin offspring were grown, there was little he could do.

And so, he would bear witness, joining in with her suffering, even if she never knew he was there for her should she choose to reach out.

October 2nd, 1733

Readjusting her newly repaired cloak of black raven feathers, Lindi stepped out from underneath the shade of a tree and into bright sunshine. Spring had fully bloomed in this part of the world, melting away the snow and allowing small yellow weed flowers to sway in the light wind.

It always surprises me that the northern and southern hemispheres differ as to when their seasons happen.She’d just left early autumn in Eyropea, whereas here, in Austrális, the spring was cool and inviting.If I wanted to, I could avoid harsh winters forever.

Then again, she found the cold desolation of white snow could feel rather tender-hearted. The world could be rather cruel in the most heavenly ways.

She hummed in thought as moss cushioned her steps when she sprung over a small river, making her way to two individuals. One lay on the wet grass, letting his black scales soak up theheat as the sunlight gave them a rainbow shimmer. The other lay nearby in a small huddle – not close enough to hurt his companion with his quill spines, but his thin tail and tuft swayed against him.

The moment her boot crunched against the crisp grass, they both reared their heads out from their individual cuddles to inspect who came near.

Orson, with his orbs flaring a deeper red, let out a growl. His quills jutted up from his back and limbs as he quickly got to all four paws. He arched, going low to ward her back. Nathair, on the other hand, tilted his head with his orange orbs shifting to dark yellow.

Then he held his scaled hand out in front of an aggressive Orson to halt him. Nathair was ignored as Orson snapped his fangs at his fingers, silently warning him not to intervene. Orson tossed his head, presenting his bull horns, and stamped a forepaw in her direction before gouging at the ground as he swiped back with his claws.

Lindi paused as a stinging heartache wrapped itself around her chest.Is he going to charge me?

After the last few terrible months, Lindi just wanted to be greeted warmly by her children for once. Taking care of a set of twins, and a horrible depression at the same time, had taken its mental toll on her.

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