Page 199 of A Soul to Guide

One he wanted to be hopeful about but couldn’t help being utterly terrified of.

“Did... did you just tell me to calm down?”

He didn’t like her tone, how it was high pitched and full of disbelief. He shot his head to her to find her mouth was agape and got the impression he’d just absolutely said the wrong thing.

“You know what? Fine.” She felt around on the shelf and grabbed a dress. “I’ll go calm down for you,your highness.”

“Raewyn,” he started as he reached forward with a wince. “That’s not what I meant. I just need to think.”

She stepped backwards as he approached her, and he only halted because her expression was a mixture of hurt and anger. He’d never seen that from her before, at least not turned towards him.

“For once, Merikh,I’mgoing to be the one to storm away.” She turned and literally stomped her feet as she navigated her way outside. “I’m going to go have abath,and if you don’t give me some sort of explanation when I return, I... I...” She gave a huff. “Well, I don’t know, but you’ll regret it. I’ll try to rip your tail off or something.”

The moment she was gone, he covered his bony face with his palm as he crossed his other arm over his chest.

I’m an idiot. How? What? Why? How am I meant to fix this and ask her now?

He should have told her everything last night, but he’d been a... cowardly chicken. Did he eat one in the past or something? Should he start bawking and flap his arms?

Clean, dry, clothed, and sitting near the lake, Raewyn covered her face in shame and embarrassment.I can’t believe I exploded at him like that.

She had no proof whether or not he was lying or hiding something, but she had worked herself up. If her past actions didn’t already prove it, she usually wasn’t one to do that. She liked to come at issues with at least some kind of backing, but she’d been bursting with a mix of emotions and they’d just...boom.

Yeah, okay, not her proudest moment, but she also thought she wasn’t completely unjustified.

I just shouted at a Duskwalker.He’d sounded confused at her behaviour. Considering how they’d gone to sleep, what they’d done right before it, he definitely hadn’t expected her to behave like that.

To be honest, neither had she.

He obviously wants to tell me something.He’d asked her to calm down, and then they’d speak.At least, I hope he wants to tell me something.

Right now, she’d take any explanation.

Having a bath had calmed her. She thought it was really the space that made her feel better. She was clearer headed and in better control.

She toed the water with a pout.I ruined what could have been a good day.She regretted that now.

She wasn’t used to having all these kinds of emotions swamping her. She should be drowning in bookwork, not in her conflicting feelings over a big Duskwalker who was as confusing as he was sturdy. She wanted to lean on him, and she wanted to run away.

Most of all... she didn’t want to be alone in this. She didn’t want her growing affections to be unrequited, especially since she’d never allowed herself to feel them for another.

How could an Elysian male fail to win her heart, but a Duskwalker could? It made no sense, and yet that was the reality she was facing.

One that could only just be enjoying her until they made it to her home world. It wouldn’t even be his fault, since she technically started it all. He’d been hesitant about it in the beginning.

I should go inside.She’d been sitting here for a while now, and she couldn’t avoid him forever. Not talking to him wasn’t going to solve anything.I’m not going to apologise, though, since he has some explaining to do.

Just as Raewyn was about to stand, quiet crackling from the left filled her ears. Then, an aqua light began to form, cutting through the air not far from her.

With a gasp, she stood and backed up, careful not to fall into the lake.

That light, which had turned into a seam of lightning, then opened into an oval. A shadow passed over it, and many more followed after it.

Fear caught in her throat, unsure of what it was or what was happening. Along with the crackling, a familiar sucking sound penetrated the air, and it softly pulled her hair and skirt in its direction.

Two voices called to her.

One was far away, Merikh’s gruff voice, while the other was gentler.

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