Page 131 of Soul Forge

He looked back without humour. “Only if you want to.”

The butterflies picked up their fluttering inside her rib cage again. “I want to.” Her cheeks coloured, but she dipped her head to press a chaste, hesitant kiss against his lips.

A sigh escaped him, and he caught her before she could pull back, one hand finding the back of her neck when his lips parted to deepen the kiss. Another shiver rippled through her at his touch. He rolled until she was the one in the soft grass, his wings encasing her on either side as his weight settled over her. A groan that made her toes curl rumbled through him when her fingers knotted in his hair.

He broke off their embrace reluctantly, looking down at her with eyes so bright they glowed. Their faces were close enough that Elda could see each spark of fire flickering in his irises – fire she now knew belonged to the soul of an angel.

“You’re extraordinary,” she whispered, reaching up to take hold of his cheeks. His features softened into a faint smile. “Come on,” she said gently. “I think you’re ready to be around others now. I’m sure Julian is worried sick about you.”

He nodded and got to his feet, helping her up beside him. When she settled on his back once more, they took to the skies.

Julian was pacing when they returned, wearing a flattened trail into the lush grass of the villa garden. Nox followed his path diligently, nosing at his elbow every time he turned to repeat his steps. Reiner leaned against the doorway leading to the garden,watching him walk back and forth. He turned when Sypher landed in the villa garden, pausing in his pacing to watch Elda climb down from his back.

“Finally! I was starting to think you’d abandoned us,” he quipped, but then he saw Sypher reach out and tuck a loose strand of blonde hair behind Elda’s ear, his fingers lingering to tenderly trace her jaw. “Oh, I see how it is.”

“See how what is?” the Soul Forge asked without looking away from her.

Julian surveyed the green fronds caught in the back of Elda’s braid. “You went off and got me all worried about you when really you just wanted a quick roll around in the grass. I hope you weren’t publicly indecent,” he teased, feigning offence.

“It’s not indecent if she’s already my wife.”

“I knew it!” Julian beamed, bounding over to slap his friend on the back. “If I’d put money on you two getting together, I’d be a rich man right now.”

“Foresight isn’t your strong suit,” Sypher answered, but he smiled. Elda noticed Julian take a deep breath, almost like he’d been holding it until he knew his friend wasn’t going to lose himself. The Soul Forge watched him, cocking his head.

“I’m glad you’re still with us,” the vampire murmured, dropping his pretence at humour and pulling him into a tight hug.

Sypher froze, then returned the embrace and patted Julian on the back. “You’re my family, Jules. I won’t leave you.” His voice was rough, but he stepped back and flashed a shaky smile, keeping his hand on Julian’s shoulder. Elda watched the pair with a smile of her own, glad to see Sypher starting to rise from the depths of his despair.

The vampire nodded slowly, blinking away the moisture in his eyes. A wicked grin split his cheeks. “Of course you won’t. Yourlife without my pretty face in it would be an absolutetravesty.” He winked.

Sypher laughed despite himself. He opened his mouth to answer, but Elda tugged his elbow and pointed towards the doors leading into the villa, where Yani and Clover stood side by side.

“When you’re done flirting with Sypher, I’d like a kiss hello,” Yani quipped. Julian grinned and bounded across the clearing to embrace his husband. Clover raised an eyebrow and descended the few stairs into the gardens. Reiner pushed away from the wall to follow him, raising an eyebrow at Elda that made nerves crawl up her throat. She hadn’t thought about how the valkyrie would react to their newfound relationship.

“Tell me you have something,” Sypher pleaded, oblivious to their silent exchange.

Clover shook his head. “Unfortunately not. Arden moved from city to city like the rest of the wielders, helping the monarchs and civilians with whatever they needed. From what I can gather, his first encounter with the Corrupted was the day they took him.”

“Then we still don’t know where they’ve taken him or why,” the ex-captain noted.

“Would they not have taken him to Darkhold?” Elda suggested. “Isn’t that where Malakai hides himself?”

“Unlikely,” Sypher answered. “Even Cynthia on her wraith would struggle to cross the border. The kingdom is inhospitable, covered in molten rivers and teeming with demons. They would only enter and exit Darkhold when absolutely necessary.” He frowned down at his boots. “She found us on the mountain, which means she never returned to Darkhold after taking Arden. And Abraxos is incapable of crossing the border without her.”

“Why?” Clover asked.

“She has an... affinity for demons.” He hesitated over his choice of words, and Elda sensed there was more to it thanCynthia simply being good with the creatures. “If Abraxos tried to ride a wraith without her, he’d lose his head.”

“Which means they’re still somewhere else on Valerus,” Elda realised. “But where would they go?”

“The desert is closest, and they’d have fewer demons to worry about, but it’s almost as inhospitable as Darkhold,” Sypher mused.

“So the simple answer is we don’t know?” Reiner asked.

“Unfortunately. We can discuss it as a group once Lillian returns. Until then, I need a drink.” Sypher ran a hand through his white hair, pushing it back from his forehead. Elda watched him approach Julian and speak too low for her to hear. The vampire grinned and grabbed his arm, dragging him to the kitchen just as Gira emerged.

“I’m pleased that he seems to be doing better,” the shifter noted, smiling at Elda.

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