Page 219 of A Soul to Steal

Aleron let out a small, half-hearted, growling huff.“You attacked me.”

“You frightened Emerie!”

“I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to scream and ruin this,” Emerie grumbled, her words heavy with regret.

“Eh. It’s not your fault,” Gideon said back to her. Only to smile as he brought his hands back to cup under the sides of Aleron’s jaw and direct his snout upwards. “You didn’t have someone to make wings comforting like I did.” Aleron’s orbs brightened in their pink hue, which made him grin. “Come on. You ready to forgive and meet your kindred?”

A snorted huff echoed from his snout in a foggy cloud before Aleron shakily lifted to his hands and feet. Gideon stood as well, just as Ingram came up next to him.

Then Aleron leapt for his twin.“Ingram!”

If it weren’t for the joy in his shout, Gideon would have thought they were about to start fighting again when Aleron tackled his twin.

The two Duskwalkers rolled around as they attempted to bring each other into the tightest hug possible. Using injured tails, wings, arms, legs, and even their skulls, they meshed their bodies together until they were one heap. Someone purred, while another groaned in relief.

Gideon backed up to give them space, wishing globs of purple blood didn’t stain the white snow everywhere they went. Never mind the intermittent light whines that could be heard.

“I feel bad that I started a fight,” Emerie stated, coming up beside him to watch them as well.

“Don’t be.” He refused to allow Emerie to berate herself for something she couldn’t control. “I honestly doubt this will be the last time we have to separate these two.”

Considering the level of post-traumatic stress she had, that had continued over the last eight years, his death, her burns, and just her life in general, he guessed none of it had been easy for her. She couldn’t help her reaction, and he just hoped that his return helped to heal her.

Maybe Aleron can soothe her nightmares in the same way he inadvertently did mine.

“At least they’re together now,” he added. “Aleron always spoke of him.”

“Same with Ingram. I’m so glad they’re reunited.”

A small smile curled his lips. “So are we.” He turned to her slightly and found her own smile had formed. “Sucks to be you. You’re stuck with me for eternity now.”

Her nose scrunched up in disgust. “I forgot how annoying you are.”

“Just you fucking wait!” he exclaimed, letting a chuckle out. “I think Aleron’s going to make me worse. He seems to find me humorous.”

“That’s because he doesn’t know any better,” she teased. “I think we should give him a hundred years of your crap and he’ll be looking for a way out.”

Throwing his hand over his heart, he clutched at his jacket. “Ouch, Em. That hurt.”

A laugh exploded from her. “No, it didn’t. You’ll just try to be even more annoying.” Then her laughter died, and her smile grew small. “You really are the same. It’s just so hard to imagine.”

“If that’s your way of calling me immature, I did die at twenty-three,” he said in his own defence, a scowl furrowing his features. “Now, if you don’t mind... can I have that hug?”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

She threw her arms around his neck, and he circled his around her waist. They both squeezed with all their might, pushing years of missed time – mainly for her – into just a short hug.

Gideon took in the familiar smell of her, and the colour of her hair. Wanting to deepen it, he turned his cheek and placed the side of his face against the top of her head. He had to go to his toes a little to do so.

“I remember you being shorter.”

“If a single joke about my height falls from your mouth tonight, I’ll show you how the guild taught me to punch right in the kidney.”

Gideon chuckled. “That’s not fair. You have an advantage over me now. Don’t tell me my brute strength will become meaningless.”

“I wised up and learned how to fight so I can finally kick your butt.” She buried her face against his shoulder as she mumbled, “Had been planning to do it in the afterlife, but at least now I know it’ll actually hurt.”

Just as Gideon opened his mouth, likely with some smartarse comment falling from him, he closed it. Two deep huffs blew over them, billowing their hair in one direction, just as the chill in the air seemed to ominously... disappear.

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