Page 50 of Soul Forge

“It’s a long story, and you’re a stranger,” she answered carefully.

“We have all night. He won’t wake up until the sun comes up.”

Reiner’s eyes narrowed. “You must make a habit of draining him if you know that.”

“Not if I can help it.” Julian patted the tulpar demon on its flank. It folded itself into a comfortable position on the ground, nickering happily when he settled against its side again. It wouldhave been comical if the moonlight hadn’t revealed the fangs it sported when it opened its mouth. “Come on, tell me the story. I have to know how this asshole bagged himself a wife.”

Elda looked down at Sypher, brows pulling together at the sight of his pale face. He wasn’t breathing, but she’d seen his body die before and wake up again. Would he wake up himself? Or would the demon wake up in his place?

“Tell me something first,” she bargained. Julian inclined his head in agreement. “Will he wake up… dangerous?”

The vampire paused, glancing between them for a moment. “You’ve both seen it too?” Elda nodded, and Reiner mirrored her. “When did he marry you?”

“A few days ago, not long after he named me wielder.”

“And you’ve seen it already?” She nodded again. “Huh. Normally, he manages a few months before his wielder finds out about that.”

Reiner frowned. “He shouldn’t be hiding it fromanyone, least of all his wielders.”

“Not all of them could be trusted,” the vampire answered tightly, then swivelled his gaze to Elda. “How’d you find out?”

“We ran into some trouble on the first day of our journey and fell a long way,” she shrugged. “He broke my fall. He woke up different. I need to know if he’s going to attack me when he comes round.”

“It depends on the severity of the injury and the situation,” Julian mused, shrugging. “He’s accepted that I’m not really dangerous, so it’s unlikely he’ll wake up like that this time.”

“Youkilledhim,” Reiner reminded him.

“Not permanently.” The vampire shot Elda an impish smile. “Your turn.”

She sighed and recounted the story of their engagement, her eyes never leaving Sypher’s face. She felt Julian watching her intently the whole time. The captain remained resolutelybetween them, and while her power dimmed back to normal, she was still enough of a threat without the magic to keep Julian outside the shelter.

“I see. Horthan really rubbed him up the wrong way,” he chuckled when she finished her story. “It doesn’t surprise me that Sypher proposed just to annoy him.” Elda’s stomach growled loudly, interrupting their conversation. “You hungry?”

“I’m fine.”

“Sure you are,” he scoffed, getting to his feet. “I’ll find you something to eat. Call it a peace offering.”

“We packed food,” Reiner protested.

“And? I’m going hunting. You ladies haven’t lived until you’ve tried my roasted boar. Why don’t you two say hi to Nox while you wait?”

He patted the tulpar demon fondly and disappeared off into the trees before Elda could object. She gripped the dagger tighter, returning her attention to Sypher’s face and praying the demon stayed where it was.

“This is insane,” Reiner hissed. “We should load up and get out of here before he comes back.”

“Somehow, I don’t think escaping fromthatwill be easy, especially with three passengers on one Pegasus,” Elda answered, inclining her head towards the tulpar demon outside.

“You realise we’re trapped here with two demons and a vampire,” she argued.

“One of those demons has saved my life several times. The other is scary to look at, but it isn’t trying to eat us. And the vampire seems to be full.”

“Of yourhusband’s blood,” Reiner muttered, glowering at the creature nosing around the entrance. She pointed her mace at it. “If you try to eat us, I willbrainyou.”

The creature tipped its head curiously, ears flicking forwards as though it were listening. Elda leaned away from it when itshead breached their shelter, followed by its front legs. It bent to sniff at Sypher’s prone body, snuffling at his cheek.

Reiner gave a warning growl, but the creature barely flinched. Instead, it took two purposeful steps further into their makeshift cave. Atlas lifted his head and nickered at it, receiving a snort in response.

Elda waited, expecting it to attack, to try and drag Sypher outside so it could eat him, but it made no move to hurt anyone. A low chuffing sound puffed from its chest, and Atlas nickered again.

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