Page 181 of A Soul to Steal

“Fair enough. It’d be hypocritical of me to force you.” He poked his thumb over his shoulder. “You said this guy is gone for good, right?”

“Yes. Merikh is in the Elven realm.”

“Excellent! Let’s go see if he has any good shit to steal.”

His mirth and immediate redirection of the conversation was welcomed. However, Gideon then turned and bent over to pick up his guitar case. The rounded cleft of his backside now on display in front of Aleron reminded him why he’d been frustrated to begin with.

He wanted to leave thisshittyplace and knead every inch of his pretty human’s body to pacify himself until he felt better.

Now he was just sad and horny at the same time; two emotions he was well aware shouldn’t coincide.

Even just his hair swaying over the arch of his little ear made Aleron want to reach out. He’d rather it be Aleron’s tongue brushing over such a sensitive area that always caused him to shiver.

My mind is all over the place,he reiterated as he followed Gideon to the cave entrance. The cloth flap, that was usually tied down to keep out forest debris, currently fluttered loosely. Merikh had obviously left swiftly and without warning.

It’d once been a barrier for him and his kindred.

They could have easily torn their way inside, but they had been worried Merikh would hunt them down if they did. They had been permitted within his ward, just never within his cave.

Inside, Gideon placed his case down and started rifling through Merikh’s abandoned effects.

Much of it had already been disturbed, as Ingram and Aleron had both pawed through his belongings when they were last there together. They hadn’t been able to contain their excitement at getting to explore within its secretive walls, only to discover it was utterlyboring.

Merikh’s bed shoved into the very back of the long, oval area was unmade. The hide-covered armchair to the left had leaves and dust coating it from the flap being loose, and more forest debris lay over the ground and the hide rug in the middle. A few tools lay on a stone bench not far from the entryway. A shelf of some kind up against the opposite wall to them was filled with books, tools, and various other items: animal skulls, crystals, and glass bottles of dried herbs.

Gideon looked over the only place of interest: the shelves.

“He has a bunch of books. Maybe we can take one and continue your reading and writing lessons?”

“I would like that,” Aleron admitted, watching him rifle through a few before eventually taking one and placing it in his pocket. It was too big and threatened to fall out.

Aleron liked that Gideon wanted to spend more time with him, to teach him. He liked that there would be little judgement if he stumbled in learning, and it was one of his favourite qualities. He didn’t want to be judged or shamed for something that, as Gideon had once stated, he couldn’t help.

Gideon moved on to a different shelf.

“Holy crap. How big was this guy?” he asked, pulling down a shirt to open it. Not only did it come to his knees, it was wide enough to fit three Gideons, if not more. “What was he, a freaking bear?”

Aleron mildly chuckled at that, despite the heaviness radiating behind his sternum. “Well, he does have a bear skull.”

“Oh really–” The male’s voice cut out, just as the shirt slipped from his hold. It crumpled against the grey stone at his feet.

Immediately sensing something was off, Aleron’s sight flashed white. He dived forward when Gideon swayed. His right knee buckled inwards, and he collapsed to the side. Thankfully, Aleron caught him before he could hit the ground.

“Gideon?” Aleron’s pulse sped up when the little human’s suddenly became eerily slow.

Sweat instantly broke out across Gideon’s forehead, his lids low as he panted weakly. Unresponsive at first, he only came out of the trance when Aleron cupped the side of his face and gently stroked his thumb across the little human’s broad cheek.

Gideon’s nose scrunched and his upper lip twisted. The disgust in his features was harrowing, only because Aleron thought it was aimed at him.

“Wow. What a dick he was.”

His skull tilted sharply at that. “You remembered something?”

“Yeah. It was brief, but I remember sitting in their home or something and Merikh was saying a bunch of heartless stuff about all Duskwalkers.” Gideon looked around and his brows furrowed as he took in their position. “Did I fall?”

Being gentle with him, Aleron helped him back to his feet. Gideon was quick to recover, the colour returning to his features, but Aleron couldn’t help finding it odd.He is not startled by this?It’s like... it wasn’t the first time memories had returned to him while he was conscious and awake for them.

The moment he was steady, and he no longer needed support, Gideon bounced forward to do a final look over what remained here. Aleron made a fist until his claws sunk into the flesh of his palm.

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