Page 133 of A Soul to Guide

Merikh folded his arms when she was almost to him, and he tapped a claw against his biceps.

“I told you to never come here again,” he sneered as he lowered himself down to her stout human height. “Yet, you not only disobeyed me, but you brought the twins here with your stupidity. You entered my ward the other day when you realised my guest could not see you.”

“You called for me. I imagine it was to do more than confront me when you could have done so sooner.” Her rich-brown curls, looser than Raewyn’s, fluttered in the wind. “What is it you seek from me?”

“There is currently a female within my home who needs aid I cannot provide. You will help her, then you will fuck off back to the void where you belong.”

The only indication of hurt she gave was the flickering of her long eyelashes. Her eyes moved around him as she leaned to the side.

“She’s an Elf.” Her eyes darted to the corner of her lids to look up at him. “You could only imagine my alarm when I saw you bring her here.”

Merikh released another growl, hating that she watched him through one of her spells. It appeared like a floating mirror with a black dust border.

His arms tightened defensively across his chest. “Youwillhelp her. You owe me that much.”

Once more, her eyelids flickered, the corners of her lips drooping with them. She nodded as she stepped around him. “I will do what I can, but you know my power is limited.”

He carefully watched the woman go past him before he turned and followed close behind. He kept his distance from her so not even a single strand of fur brushed her.

His apprehension grew as she approached Raewyn, who still rested in the same position as when he’d left her. He was unsure if her lack of shivering meant she was getting better or worse, but his concern was palpable as it thickened in his throat.

As the woman placed a single knee on the bed next to Raewyn, she looked small compared to the Elf. Yet Raewyn was the one who appeared fragile, delicate, and frail in comparison.

From the foot of the bed, Merikh was vigilant as he watched the Witch Owl place the back of her hand against Raewyn’s shiny forehead. Then, she turned so she could place her ear centimetres away from her nose and mouth.

“She said she could become sick from depleting her magic. That is the current cause,” Merikh stated, hoping to give her as much information as he was willing to offer to get her out of his home.

No doubt, she’d watched them all day performing the task.

“This is not something I have ever dealt with,” she said as she placed her other knee to steady herself.

Then, she hovered her hands over Raewyn’s chest and muttered incoherent words. Black mist glittered from her fingertips. It also filled her eyes, as if working in tandem with her sight, and they went completely black.

A few unbearable seconds passed, and his worry grew that she might trick him and harm her further.

She let out a deep expire before ceasing whatever magic she was doing. The scent of it was unpleasant. It was too sweet, like sugar that had been added to honey.

“Her magic has already begun replenishing itself.”

“Then why isn’t she getting better?” he bit as he stomped forward.

She flashed him a calculating gaze out of the corner of her eye before returning her focus to Raewyn. “You care about her.”

Merikh’s growl was so feral that evenhethought it sounded barbaric. His orbs turned crimson when his torso tightened at the possible truth of her words, at how much he was against her knowing anything about him.

“She is nothing but a means to an end, one I will not see perish before it is complete.”

The Witch Owl grabbed Raewyn’s wrist and wiggled her limp hand at him. The streaks of lava-like veins flared at the movement.

“This is the action of someone who cares. You attempted to inject your own magic into her body to quicken the process, and in doing so, you’ve blocked her natural circulation.” Then, she narrowed her gaze into a fierce glare. “You can hate me all you want, but you cannot lie to me,Merikh.”

Fuck, of course he couldn’t hide his feelings for the Elf from her. He’d rather she think he was just using Raewyn.

His snarl almost overshadowed her words. “Then. Remove. It. Surely, you can at least do that.”

She turned her head away dismissively and took Raewyn’s hand in both of hers. Slowly, the glowing streaks retracted, and instead grew up her own arms. She hissed in what he thought might be agony, and he gleefully admitted that pleased him.

As soon as his own magic was gone, Raewyn’s colour improved significantly. She let out a sigh, and her breathing returned to a semi-normal state. Even with the small distance between them, he noted her heartbeat had strengthened.

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