Page 2 of A Soul to Steal

They weren’t good company for this reason.

“I wish you could come with us,” Emerie sadly grumbled, bringing Aleron out of his thoughts, as she nibbled at her pink bottom lip.

She didn’t just say this to him, but another who was with them. A fifth person.

Aleron peeked at the male human at his side.

No, not alone. This one is not screaming in terror and trying to flee.

His hair was relatively short, about the length of Aleron’s little finger – since he didn’t know how to count properly – yet messily swept back. It was a light brown and had the oddest orange to it in the false sun. That same shade of brown had grown as very short hairs upon his cheeks, jaw, and neck. His skin was tanned but lacked any of the spots the female had upon her.

He was much taller than his female companion, surpassing her by over a head. He was also much wider in his shoulders and thighs, holding strong muscles for a human – not the biggesthe’d seen, but enough for Aleron to know he wasn’t small and feeble.

Aleron had taken in his intensely piercing green eyes from the few fleeting moments they’d shared a wary look upon each other, but he’d noticed they were... sparkly. They were light in colour, like a brightly lit forest and the sparkling gemstones he’d seen in the dirt and some caves.

However, he was just a human – someone who meant very little to him in comparison to his kindred and his bride before him.

Gideon, the brother to this female, rubbed at his short-hair-covered cheek with the heel of his palm.

“It’s fine, Emerie,” Gideon mumbled back, raising his green eyes to the false blue sky.

He did have a nice, deep voice when he spoke, Aleron decided. It was the most enjoyable quality of the male so far.

“There’s no point in wishing for things that can’t change.” Then he pulled his hand away as he chuckled, making two little indented dots form in his cheeks. His tone was coy, aloof, and playful as he continued, “Who says I want to go with you and this Duskwalker anyway? I don’t want to be a witness to anything possibly...unseemly.”

Emerie’s bottom lip fell in disbelief of what he’d said, only for her to launch forward into an attack.

“You’re still a big jerk!” she squealed, punching the bottom of her fists against the tops of his shoulders before yanking on his hair. “You know what? I’m glad you’re not coming. I don’t have to hear you sing another lame ballad and mangle a guitar anymore.”

“I’ll give you a lame ballad.”

Within seconds, the female let out a shriek as he curled his arm around the back of her neck, tucked her head against the side of his chest, and ran his knuckles back and forth over thetop of her head. She fought him, even tried to pull away by pushing back with her feet, which only caused them to go in a circle.

With a growl, Ingram attempted to interfere, only to shove his grasping, intangible claws through their bodies. Aleron worried if he tried to assist, he’d hurt his kindred’s bride-to-be.

“Ow! Stop it!”

When Gideon let her go, her long, wavy hair looped in a nest of tangled strands. Her face had flushed deeply, and her lips tightened in annoyance – only to vibrate as she let out a ‘pfft’ and a giggle.

Just as she opened her mouth, Gideon pulled her in for a tight hug before she could speak. She immediately put her arms around him to return it, and clawed at the back of his sleeveless grey shirt.

Aleron faced his skull towards Ingram’s ghostly raven one to gauge if he was bothered by this open affection.

He wasn’t, from what he could tell.

Instead, he crouched to be at the same level and leaned forward, and Aleron mimicked the action. They pretended to nuzzle skulls.

“We will try to figure out a way to bring you back to the living world,” Ingram stated quietly. “If Emerie can come back, there must be a way for you as well.”

Ever since Aleron had arrived in the afterworld, he hadn’t had much hope of returning to Ingram’s side. However, Ingram’s belief and determination lifted Aleron’s spirit, alongside Weldir’s earlier mention that not all hope may be lost for him.

“I will do the same from here,”Aleron answered, his voice more guttural in comparison to Ingram’s – likely due to still being in his monstrous form.“Then I will not stop until I find you.”

Finding Ingram and Emerie would be the first thing Aleron would do if he were to be revived. He would never rest, nor deviate from this task. He would allow nothing to get in the way.

As Ingram stood, and Emerie let go of her brother, they both backed up. After staring at each other for a long while, Ingram dipped his head towards Weldir.

His voice came out strained and thick with emotion as he stated, “We are ready.”

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