Page 119 of To Trap a Soul

And when Jabeziryth reached into his bag to offer her some kind of fruit, and she willingly took it, both of them sharing a meal he’d never be able to with Lindiwe, he wanted this all to cease.

He didn’t like that behind all his crankiness and annoyance, the root of the issue may actually be...

Am I jealous?he thought, looking off into the darkness behind him.I cannot do any of this with her.

He could not sit next to a rushing waterfall in the physical realm and feel the breeze together with her. He couldn’t sit with her and experience the sun or shade, or the water spraying against his skin until tiny droplets collected upon it. He could not share in a meal or offer her such a fruit.

He’d never been able to, nor may it ever be possible to experience such ease with her. She was further from him than ever in every way, and closer to Jabeziryth in ways he didn’t appreciate.

Yet neither had done anything to warrant such envy, other than sharing in each other’s amicable presence. He felt all this entirely on his own.

Although it upset him because he’d never made his dislike of Jabeziryth unknown to her, she obviously wasn’t doing any of this to cause such an emotion. She was seeking a personal connection, something that Weldir couldn’t give – or, rather, hadn’t been giving. Something he didn’t quite understand.

And realising that somehow made guilt roll with his jealousy, making his mist collect tighter against his form until there was obvious strain.

But I want these things.

It pained Weldir in his own way to be separated from the physical world. He was so different, and sometimes it felt as though he didn’t exist in reality.

He wanted to be able to share in her laughter and bring it forth from her. The more he thought on it, the more he wanted to bridge the vast gap between them, and the more he realised she’d been trying to do just that in her own way when she asked to deepen their relationship physically.

And then he’d been detached and callous, as she no doubt already thought him to be.

He looked back at the viewing disc as a heaviness settled over him.

“I will speak to him,”Weldir said through their bond, his tone more annoyed than he wished it to be.

Lindiwe paused just as she was about to take a second green lumpy fruit. With her hand out and touching it, her features twisted into something pained before she took it.

“Why now?” she whispered, looking away from Jabeziryth when the male’s sensitive ears twitched in reaction. “You said you didn’t want to.”

“It’s what he seeks from you,” Weldir stated coldly.

Because it will surely reveal the truth about his intentions.And then Weldir would get what he wanted, which was her absence from his presence.

I would like to have your attention back.Even if it was disjointed and stilted.I would like to show you I can do the things you sought from me.

“Is he talking to you?” Jabeziryth asked, tilting his head and leaning forward with abject interest. Too much interest.

She nodded to him, yet answered Weldir with, “You don’t know if that’s true.”

No, Weldir was making the assumption despite no longer knowing if it was true or not. But he wanted to separate them, and he would use any means necessary in his power –withoutpotentially upsetting her. Doing so forcefully would gain him no ground.

Then once I have proven I do seek a deeper bond, I’ll place her in a different part of the world.

Somewhere, anywhere, that was as far from Jabeziryth as possible.

Especially as he had no desire to give this male what he wanted, and he didn’t wish for Lindiwe to be caught in the middle of it. If his assumption was correct, then she could potentially be in danger if Jabeziryth and his Demon companions turned on her.

He wanted to prove to this female, this human, hisowndamn female, that he was... trying. That he would like to give her the things she sought – like companionship in ways he could not fully achieve – even if he found little value in them for himself.

In his own way, he wanted to make her content, like she’d been at this waterfall for the past few days. To protect her, even if he couldn’t do so by his own hands.

A time unknown, but one of failure

She is cross with me,Weldir thought, as he floated before his mate with his arms folded.

Hers were also crossed over her chest, and she refused to look at him since he brought her here. Her pretty face was furrowed with deep lines, while her shoulders were raised and tense.

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