Page 35 of A Soul to Guide

Her ears flattened again. “We are sorry for whatever he has done.” The sincerity of her words rang true, and every day, her people beared the weight of the horror they had knowingly left the humans to deal with. “We were hoping to find a way to fix both our realms, but every year, we’re met with failure. No matter what we try, or how much research we do, we can’t–”

He interrupted her with a growl. “Save your breath. I don’t care about the war between the Elves and the Demons. I don’t care who is at fault, who is wrong, who is good or evil. All I care about is one thing.”

“Which is?”

“You.”

Her lips parted in surprise. “Me?”

“Yes,” he answered, his tone just a little too perverse. “Because you’re going to get me off this sad, dreadful rock they call Earth.”

“You want to go to Nyl’theria?” she squeaked.

“Is that what your realm is called? I don’t care if it’s Nyl’theria or not, just anywhere that isn’t here.”

Raewyn scratched at the side of her head in annoyance, before pushing her braid over her shoulder.

She didn’t know how to feel about that. Bringing him to her realm could lead to trouble. Just because she was a councilmember didn’t mean she could allow whomever to enter their realm. They already had issues with monsters crawling everywhere; they were essentially imprisoned in a pretty city.

Bringing him, an unknown entity, into their already overrun home could lead to further devastation.

As a councilmember, she needed to make sacrifices to protect her people. Her needs were second to the overall.

But I don’t want to be stuck here.The inner turmoil she faced twisted her gut.And I am one of the head scientists.

Sure, there were others who could take over her work, but they would be years – probably ten Nyl’theria years – behind her progress. There were things only she knew, differential equations only she had conjured up. Without her, the Elysians would slip backwards in their progress to fixing their world, as well as Earth.

They need me.

Was that true, or was she just coming up with excuses?

Then again, she could just pretend she was going to allow him to come to Nyl’theria, and then cast a barrier so he couldn’t. She was sure the Anzúli would help ensure he didn’t pass through the portal.

“So, the idea is that you’ll help me get back home so long as you get to come with me?” She wished her voice didn’t shake with uncertainty.

To be fair, she wasn’t the greatest liar. She wore her heart on her sleeve. All her emotions, her truths and lies, were easily seen and read.

“Don’t sound so concerned,” he said as he slipped a claw under her chin to make sure she faced him, most likely to add power to his next words. “If your people are like the humans, I have no interest in staying there, either. You – and they – only have to fear me if you don’t give me what I want. We’ll all get along just fine otherwise.”

Raewyn’s lips tightened before she narrowed her eyes into a glare. “And what is it you want? Power? To take control of a clan of people who are already suffering?”

“Power? Why would I want something as ridiculous as that? I have no interest in ruling or governing over a bunch of Elvish people I know little about. What I want is freedom.” She felt him come closer, his breaths billowing through the material covering his nose hole. “And, Raewyn, I will kill and maim anything and everything until I have it.”

“You expect me to trust you after saying that?” she snapped.

“I can already see the cogs turning in that head of yours. It is a warning, that is all. It should only be frightening if you intend to betray me. Otherwise, it is empty and pointless, and you and your people have nothing to fear.”

She opened her mouth to refute him, then instantly shut it.So, we won’t come to harm as long as we don’t betray him?The fact he had no interest in taking over her people, or harming them, was exceptionally relieving.

Hopefully, he wasn’t lying.

“What did you mean by freedom?” she couldn’t help asking.

His scent softened as he leaned back and then stood.

“Go to sleep. We will be leaving this house the moment the sun has fully risen.” He finally stepped away to give her some space, and she took a proper breath. “I will take you to some Anstthúli.”

“I’ll be honest with you,” she said, rubbing at her eyes in emotional and physical tiredness. “I’ve only been pretending to sleep. Earth’s planetary cycle is different to mine.”

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