Page 91 of Soul Forge

“Do you see this wall?” Reiner gestured up to the towering wooden structure surrounding the village. “This is to keep out more than just greedy kings.”

“There are demons under the soil,” Julian muttered darkly, bringing Nox and Atlas over to them by the reins. “I can hear them stirring.”

“That’ll be the demons that surprised Falkryn,” Gira said. “The eroni are a plague. Nasty little blighters that will strip your calves of flesh the second they burst from the ground. They’re easy to kill, but they reproduce faster than they can be wiped out.”

“They ate half of Falkryn’s forces before they even reached the gate,” Sypher confirmed. “Walking through these valleys at night is a fool’s game.”

“Gate’s closing, travellers,” came a gruff voice from inside the village border. “Are you in, or are you out?”

“Stay close to me,” Sypher whispered in Elda’s ear, draping an arm around her shoulders and urging her inside. “And please don’t hit me.”

“Imight hit you,” Reiner muttered, following them through the gate.

“Soul Forge!” The gruff voice turned jovial, and a burly wood elf slapped him on the back. His red hair was greasy and wild, falling into watery green eyes. “Long time no see!”

Sypher’s eyes dropped down to the hand resting on him. “Errud. I thought you were dead.”

“Nah, demons won’t kill me,” Errud chortled. “A scorned woman will be my death.” Those bloodshot eyes found Elda, a leer turning up the corners of his moustached lips. “Maybethiswoman. Aren’t you a beauty?”

Reiner’s low growl was cut off by Sypher.

“If you touch her, I will cut off each one of your fingers and shove them down your throat,” he answered pleasantly, thehand around Elda’s shoulders sliding down her back to hold her tighter. “This one ismine.” Her pulse stuttered, goosebumps rippling across her spine where he touched her.

Errud noticed the wedding ring. “Youmarriedthe woman?” The Soul Forge nodded. “Fatal mistake. A lass as beautiful as this will eviscerate you when she finds a better offer.” Elda arched an eyebrow, resisting the urge to slap him. Errud waggled a finger at her, tempting her with thoughts of snapping it at the knuckle. “Don’t look at me like that, gorgeous. You know you’ll go running to the first rich man to throw you a bone if he’s prettier than your current one. All you women do.”

Anger blossomed in her chest, storming through her veins until her vision turned red. She wanted to take all the new things she’d learned and use them to tie Errud’s arms and legs in knots. It felt like a long time since she’d been reduced to a vapid, beautified bauble, and the memory of the palace turned her thoughts acidic.

But she kept her cool, placing a hand on Sypher’s chest and looking up at him beneath her lashes with a coy smile, channelling the energy she’d seen from desperate ladies of the court trying to find a husband.

“Maybe I’m not with him for his face.”

Julian, Gira, and Reiner stared at her, a crackle of violet pulsing through Reiner’s irises. The briefest flash of shock passed across Sypher’s face before he composed himself, his hand gripping her hip to pull her against him. Elda ignored the way her heart ricocheted around her chest at the feel of his fingers digging into her hip bone and looked back at Errud, her gaze starting at his moustache and moving down slowly to rest at his groin.

“You can challenge him if you’d like,” she offered, “but I don’t think yourdaggerwould fare too well in this sword fight.” Thecorner of Sypher’s lip twitched, but somehow, he stayed calm. Julian snickered.

“Errud!” someone boomed, breaking the standoff. “Close the damn gate and get your stupid ass inside before we all get eaten!”

The voice came from a nearby doorway, where a muscular woman with green-tinged skin and a small pair of tusks stood with her hands on her hips. Elda blinked, surprised to see a full-blooded orc outside of the infamous northern citadel.

"Now, dammit!” the orc cried. Errud hurried away from them before she could drag him to the gate herself. When the wood elf was no longer there to shatter the quiet, Elda’s thoughts turned to her wayward behaviour.

Maybe I’m not with him for his face.She cringed at her own brashness, her legs carrying her away from the others before anyone could confront her. Reiner was going tostrangleher. She cursed herself internally for being so forward just to prove a point, irritated that she’d let her temper make her stupid. She’d never be able to look Sypher in the face again. Julian wasstillcackling.

“Elda.” The Soul Forge caught up with her, putting a hand on her arm to stop her. A molten blush spread from the soles of her feet right to the tips of her pointed ears. When she forced herself to peek at him, he was grinning broadly.

“Don’t look at me like that,” she mumbled, scowling at her feet. “What I said waswildlyinappropriate. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He shrugged, still grinning. “It worked. Errud knows to keep his hands to himself.” He folded his arms across his chest, a mischievous flicker of fire darting through his irises. “And I’m flattered.” She pressed her lips together, the blush growing darker.

“That wasexcellent,” Julian beamed, drawing level with them while Sypher was still watching her. Even Gira looked amused byher antics. Only Reiner seemed unhappy, leading both mounts by their reins. “I had no idea you had such a mouth on you, pipsqueak.”

“I spoke out of turn,” Elda mumbled. Had she acted like that in the palace, her father would have locked her in her room. Her reputation among the nobles would have been ruined. She’d have been seen as nothing more than a common whore, not fit for marriage and certainly not worthy of the crown.

“I thought it was hilarious,” the vampire disagreed. “Keep that up, and I’ll be laughing until we leave.” He nudged Sypher with his elbow. “Not to mention, it’s beenwaytoo long since anyone paid any attention to his dick.”

Elda made a choked noise. Julian doubled over when Sypher elbowed him in the stomach, groaning in pain. Gira shook his head.

“Idiot,” Reiner muttered.

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