Page 81 of A Soul to Steal

She let go, unbothered by his interference, and stared down at Gideon.

“You, on the other hand, have no deity essence, human. You are weak, feeble, and as you said, insignificant. You will disintegrate from the heat before you even reach the lava, your soul extinguishing forever.”

All her humour, her cheer, and even gentleness faded.

“Aleron, will you choose the human, or your chance at life?” Piercing her icy stare at Gideon, she crooned, “Let’s see how sweetmyMavka really are.”

The ground came out from under Gideon, and within an instant, he plummeted.

Alone.

He gave a yell, scratching at the air, while staring up at Aleron and the Gilded Maiden still standing on the glass platform.

Oh shit!

One minute Gideon was beside him, the next he was just...gone.

He’d disappeared so suddenly that Aleron barely had the chance to register he’d fallen. The space next to him immediately felt cold, empty, and barren.

“What will you choose?” the Gilded Maiden asked, causing his skull to raise in her direction in disbelief at what he’d just witnessed. “Sacrifice the human, and I may give you new life. Or go after him, and I will send you back to Weldir as you are.”

Ice bled into his pulse, starting from the centre of his torso as it radiated behind his sternum. As it spread, going down his extremities like it flooded his veins, his orbs flared bright crimson. His fingers twitched as he bared his claws, while his maw parted so he could flash his fangs at her.

His snarl came out more like a bark when rage took hold. But Aleron wouldn’t linger on her, what she had done, and the icy cyclone of destruction that swirled inside him.

His wings shot back, extending to their full lengths. Aleron dived swiftly, chasing the yell of his little human.

He’d reacted too slow. Gideon had already fallen far, dropping steadily towards the hot lava below.

Except for the day his skull had been broken, and he’d feared for his kindred’s life more than his own, he didn’t think he’d been this terrified. Dread raced down his spine, stiffening his wings as he flapped them to creep ever closer to Gideon.

For the first time in months, wind cut over his face, bitter and sharp. It rustled his fur and feathers.

The whoosh of his wings was heavier than normal, fighting through the air rather than just peacefully gliding with it. He fought it, that invisible foe, while reaching for Gideon with all his might.

The male had turned, facing his doom like that would save him.

“Gideon!” Aleron roared, just as the temperature began to rise.

Gideon flipped over. His hair rushed around his forehead and temples, while his brown pants and grey sleeveless tunic filled with air and flapped.

“Aleron!” The panicked, fretting crinkle on his brow tightened, yet relief lifted into his eyes.

He looked so pale with fright that it sickened Aleron.

His chest felt bruised when he thought,Did he not believe I would come for him?

Gideon flipped, falling feet first, as he shoved his hand up to Aleron. Within seconds, the heat became nearly unbearable. Gideon’s small fingertips swiped against the sharp points of his claws, and Aleron’s heart squeezed in anxiety from missing.

They swung again.

Aleron flapped his wings hard and grabbed his wrist, then yanked Gideon to his chest. He hugged the male tightly, squishing their torsos together, and the world glowed bright red. All that could be seen was liquid fire.

They were too close to the ground now, and the likelihood of Aleron stopping them from diving headfirst into the lava was low.I can survive.That’s what the Gilded Maiden said, right?

Although Mavka sunk, perhaps he could figure out a way to swim them to safety – even if it meant clawing his way along the dirt.

So, he wrapped his wings around Gideon, hoping to keep him cocooned within their fluffy feathers, and spun so his back faced danger. Searing heat stung, causing him to wince. The crackling, fizzing, and bubbling of the molten hot liquid filled his ears, and he never realised something could sound so harrowing.

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