Page 98 of A Soul to Steal

He shook his head, making the sound of dry bones rattle from him.He came here with me—that is all that matters.Gideon had chosen him, just as Aleron had chosen this male. That was enough.

I cannot wait to smell him.What did Gideon smell like? He couldn’t even begin to imagine it, and he’d rather not try to when he could just be pleasantly surprised.I bet he smells amazing.

His heart and personality were amazing—so kind, gentle, and warm towards Aleron. He didn’t see why his scent wouldn’t reflect that.

Then it happened. A transparent white Ghost flickered into the area. He couldn’t help letting out a choked breath.

Aleron darted to Gideon peacefully sleeping and curled up on his side, and knelt around him, ready to lift him off the ground and into the safety of Aleron’s arms and wings. Although the chill on the wind didn’t bother him due to his feathers and fur, humans did not have these things. He didn’t want Gideon to be cold.

Eyelids tipped with long eyelashes twitched, clenching tight, before they flipped open. Gideon lifted his face to him, gasped, and turned solid.

He let out the most harrowing yell Aleron had ever heard. Aleron flinched and skittered back in surprise, as Gideon scuffled out from under him, kicking dirt and sticks in his direction. He fled on his backside.

If Gideon’s intense, rapid, and heavy heartbeat didn’t give it away, the strong, sour scent of fear that wafted off him did.

Aleron couldn’t believe the first thing he smelt from his bride was terror. Gideon’s huffing breaths heaved, and his crinkled eyes full of anguish tore at his heart.

“Please. Please don’t eat me,” he begged –pleaded– to Aleron.

Something is wrong...Very wrong.

Aleron reached out to gently cup the side of his face, but Gideon’s fear worsened as his pretty green eyes darted to his claws. He hesitated, and drew back, especially when the male threw his arms over his head to protect it.

“Gideon?” Aleron softly called, lowering his head.

“Oh my god.” A mangled sob broke from him. “How the fuck does it know my name?!”

Realisation didn’t just settle in, it struck him like a stone.He does not remember. He does not remember me!

Aleron darted to his feet and backed up, unsure of what to do or how to ease his cowering bride. He... he was terrified of him!What do I do?!

“Weldir!” Aleron roared, only to wince at the distressing noise Gideon squeaked in response.

“I know,” Weldir stated, his voice echoey as though he spoke from somewhere distant.

Aleron turned to his voice but found nothing. The space was seemingly empty.

“Weldir?”

“I’m here,” he answered in the spot Aleron had turned to. “I cannot use another soul right now; I will not be able to handle the loss of power. You can only hear me, but I am here.”

Perhaps to a human eye he may have been invisible, but now that Aleron was aware of Weldir’s presence, he noticed something. A humanoid shape blurred everything. It was only a minute shift in his vision, and perhaps only something with a keen eye such as a Mavka would be able to notice it.

Gideon lowered his arms, and with wide, panicked eyes, he searched for where Weldir’s voice came from.

“What’s going on?” Gideon asked with anxious, huffing breaths. “Who’s there?”

“You said he would not forget!” Aleron snapped at Weldir, flashing red orbs at him. He gestured a hand to the trembling creature he adored. “I would have waited longer, until we were certain, had I known this would happen.”

“Yes, well... we all wish we had the power of foresight,” Weldir snarked, before sighing. “Like I said, Ingram’s bride retained her memories.” A blurred arm lifted, as though he’d cupped his jaw. “But she only had to remember a day. This human... It has been over a month since he woke from his dream state. Perhaps it was too long.”

“That’s it! I’m going insane,” Gideon chuckled darkly, before staring at his hand. “A Demon is talking to nothing, and the nothing is talking back.” The laugh that came from him was high-pitched and unhinged, like a creature that had truly losttheir senses. Then he looked beyond his hands and squeaked before covering his exposed groin. “Holy shit! Why the fuck am I naked? Where did my clothes go?”

“This is bad,” Weldir stated. “He truly remembers nothing.”

“You!” Gideon shouted, pointing at Aleron’s skull. “The hell did you do to me? I stop you from eating my sister, so you fly off with me and strip me naked? How the hell did I get here?”

“Fly off with you?” Aleron’s wings shifted as he turned his head to glance at them. They drooped. “I am not the Demon that killed you.”

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