Page 98 of Soul Forge

“I’m happy he didn’t overstep his boundaries with you. I’m concerned about the way he acted last night though. In the villa, I had some sort of control until you showed up. He only properly locked me out when he saw you. But when Malphas hurt you?” His frown deepened. “I was at his mercy from the start. He could have killed anyone.”

“He won’t harm me. And he didn’t hurt anyone else,” she reassured him.

“He killed the vampire that bit you.”

“And you wouldn’t have done the same?” she asked, arching an eyebrow at him.

“I would have at leastthoughtabout it first.” He scowled.

Elda shrugged. “Maybe next time he comes out, I can get him to promise he won’t harm anyone.”

“Sure. And I’ll grow a second head.” He ran a hand through his ruffled hair, pushing it out of his burning eyes. “I’ve never been locked away like that before, El.”

“So, all this time, he’s been strong enough to take over whenever? And right now, he’schoosingto give you control?” Sypher nodded.

Elda’s brows crept upwards, deeply troubled by the revelation. Even if she wasn’t at risk of harm when the demon soul was free, the safety of her friends was never guaranteed. Would he kill someone out of anger? Would Reiner lose her head for overstepping her bounds? The panic made her heart race, her breaths quickening enough that she had to focus on them to slow them down.

“This doesn’t change anything,” she decided eventually, telling herself the words just as much as she was telling Sypher. “Vel can’t blot you out without risking both of you being enslaved by Aeon.”

“It changes things for me,” Sypher insisted. “It means my control is weaker than I realised. If he ever finds a way to slip Aeon’s chains, I’m gone.”

“I’ll do everything I can to stop that from happening,” Elda vowed, smiling at him. “I don’t want either of you to disappear or lose your free will. Trust me, Sypher.” She didn’t know how to stop Vel blotting him out, but she was willing to try anything.

“Of course I trust you.” His shoulders finally relaxed, his hand rising to touch the unblemished skin where Malphas’ fangs had torn into her. “I was going out of my mind waiting for him to give me control back. I thought you were dead.”

“You really couldn’t see what was happening?”

“No. I can’t see or hear anything if Vel doesn’t want to share our mental space. I’m locked inside my head. He doesn’t usually blot me out completely.”

“You said he speaks to you. How can he do that if he’s sent to the same place you are?”

“I’m not always strong enough to banish him when I don’t want to deal with him.” Sypher’s eyes shifted to look down at the blanket. “And I hoped not completely shutting him out might soften his anger a bit.”

“It’s hard to soften an eight-century-long grudge.” Elda patted his knee. “He let you back out, and that’s what matters most for now. We’ve got travelling to do.”

“You’re right.” Sypher swung his legs out of bed and stood. He tossed her pack to her and took his own into the washroom to change into fresh clothes, waiting until Elda was dressed in a white tunic and brown leather trousers before emerging again.

“Do I still have to behave like I’m your property today?” she asked as they made their way downstairs.

Sypher frowned at the splintered door frame. “Only if someone makes advances,” he told her. “Just make sure you don’t leave my sight until we’re out of here.”

“Gladly. This place makes me uncomfortable.”

Their conversation ended when they stepped into the tavern area and saw the state of the room. Tables were tipped, stools were shattered, and empty tankards were strewn around the place. Someone was sleeping on one of the few tables still upright, a puddle of saliva forming beneath his open mouth.The orc woman was already bustling about with a cloth over her shoulder and a stern look on her face.

“Errud, you filthy drunk! Get your pickled ass out of my inn!” She levelled a solid kick at the base of the stool Errud was slumped on, knocking it out from beneath him. He hit the ground with a heavy grunt.

“Did you have to do that?” he groaned, rubbing the back of his head mournfully.

“No more than you had to drink an entire keg and pass out at my table!” She whipped at him with her cloth. “Shoo, get out!” Errud scrambled to his feet and stumbled away, protecting his head with his arms as the orc continued to swat at him.

“Good morning, Genevieve,” Sypher greeted when she’d sent one last kick towards the fleeing man’s rear.

“Well, hello, handsome!” Genevieve replied with a wide grin, smoothing down her wild curls. “Can I interest you in one of my special pick-me-ups?” she asked, shooting him a wink.

“I’m married.” Sypher arched an eyebrow and draped an arm around Elda.

“She can join in! She’s cute and I’m not fussy.”

---