Page 187 of A Soul to Guide

I will keep her... here... where it is safe.Where no one could touch her, not Jabez, not the humans, Demons, Mavka, or other Elves.

Because he had chosen her. He would convince her to become his bride. Then, they could do what they wanted, go where they wanted, and she would be a Phantom who couldn’t come to harm. Jabez couldn’t harm her, and once she gave him her soul, no one could permanently take her away from him.

They would be forever entwined.

Just like her body, her soul would be his to guide.

Through the darkness and the light, the pain and the pleasure, the happiness and the anger, she would be his. He was hoping she could guide him in return, so he didn’t fall back into the bleakness from before she came and upturned his life and heart.

How do I convince her?

He wrapped his hand around the side of his snout while he sat on the shore and watched her swim.

Splashing water around as she kicked, she looked content. She’d been much happier since she’d figured out the sun stone spell.

In her excitement, thinking she’d been alone at the time, she’d run on the spot, squealing in joy while holding it.

He’d never been so overwhelmed with happiness that he’d done anything remotely like that, but it only gobbled him up even more. He wanted that, with her. He wanted her to share that with him, for him to be the reason she did something so silly.

The problem was, he didn’t think he could convince Raewyn to become his. He still had his doubts, but if he kept her in his home for long enough, he wondered if she would warm to the idea.

Did he plant the seed first, or wait until she revealed her own feelings?Will it even be possible for her to love me?

Merikh grimaced.Fuck, I wouldn’t love me.

Was it still possible though? He sincerely hoped so.

Without knowing it, she had become a captive in his home.

Two days had passed since he realised that all the tender, aching sensations in his chest he’d been feeling towards her were much more violent than he’d allowed.

Every time she tried to talk to him about the plan to go through the Elven portal, he’d found a way to redirect the conversation. Now that she had successfully created the sun stone, she was ready to face the Demons, go home, and share her ‘scientific’ breakthrough with her people.

His orbs would always threaten to turn orange, but he worried the moment they were in her city she’d come to her senses, and she would leave him.

He palmed his bony face.I’m the worst. I think this is the most selfish thing I’ve ever done.It wasn’t going to stop him, though, not if it meant he could hold her soul – all by her willingness to give it to him.

He considered just taking it. It’s not like she could stop him, but he’d rather not take that choice away from her. He didn’t want her resentment when he was hoping he could be charming.

I don’t know how to be charming.He just knew how to destroy things.

Should I get her a flower? Don’t human women like gifts?He already got her tulips, though.

She will start questioning me.

His avoidance about them leaving. Why he was being different. Even touching her had become a strained task, since it felt like his heart and stomach were trying to switch places... and maybe his brain, too.

His cock jerked in excitement behind his seam, much needier than usual. It didn’t help that he hadn’t released in a while. She was also swimming in that red dress she’d ruined, the one he promised he’d tear from her next time.

For some reason, it was like his cock and heart were linked. His desire to bond them was making him more sensitive, and he’d held off touching her when he thought he might do something stupid in the middle of pumping into her.

He didn’t know what it was, but it was either take her soul or reveal his feelings – both were disastrous. He’d rather explain it to her while he was clear-headed.

To distract himself from his thoughts, he finished working on attaching the last strap to the quill guard for his back. As if he couldn’t help it, once it was attached, and he only needed to finish closing the two large leather pieces together, his sight drifted to her.

He tapped his tail against the water’s surface to let her know she was swimming the wrong way, and she redirected herself with a smile upon her face.

It was currently nighttime, but the sun hadn’t long disappeared.

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