Page 223 of A Soul to Steal

Just as he was about to fall back asleep, more movement shifted. Ingram’s arm moved, then something large and strong – his lizard tail – smacked against Aleron’s foot. This time, he woke a little more, and opened his sight.

Gideon stirred when Emerie must have shoved against his back.

Ducking his head out from under his stretched wing, he took in the beginning light of morning. Early daybreak, the groggiest point of the day, but sometimes the most peaceful. He could still remember Ingram and himself resting similarly to this with entwined limbs, choosing to remain on their sides long after they woke before truly rising.

Bright pink lifted into his sight, changing it from its normal hue at knowing he now did this with his whole family. Four bonds, linked together totally through their own interwoven strings.

Weldir had once shown him his bond strings. How they connected to his father creator, the other Mavka in Tenebris, and all the human souls he’d eaten and brought there. He wondered what those same strings looked like now with the fourof them; he hoped they were knotted and entirely incapable of being untangled.

Emerie shifted before giving a small moan. It sounded groggy, lazy, and breathy.

“Not in the cuddle, Ingram,” she whined softly.

“It has been forever, little butterfly,” his kindred responded with a deep groan.

“It’s only been two days.”

Aleron ducked his head back underneath his wings to investigate. Ingram’s orbs were their normal purple, so nothing was the matter. Well... perhaps theywerea little darker.

A few new scents from them drifted within the space, hers turning a little sweeter than normal.

Ingram jostled Emerie, who let out a gasp. “I said not in the cuddle!”

With an annoyed growl, Ingram backed out from under his wing, dragging his female with him like prey from underneath a bush. Before Aleron could even bring his head out, Ingram started carting her away, deeper within the forest.

He tilted his head, unsure of what had just happened.

It started off as small movements, but eventually Gideon’s torso heaved.

“Pfft,” he let out a muffled chuckle against Aleron’s chest. “Talk about an emergency.”

A little disappointed they’d escaped when he would’ve preferred they’d remained, he tried to stay positive. At least he had his little spring all to his greedy self now.

Rolling to his back, he took Gideon with him so he could lie upon Aleron’s body while he wrapped his wings entirely around the male. His light weight was nice, and he pulled him down in a tight hug. His bride’s short arms attempted to wrap around him, but only came to where Aleron’s back met the ground.

He shoved his face against Aleron’s chest and rubbed against his fur. “I’m glad you washed in the outside bath back at that house. You’re no longer covered in blood and smell nice again.”

Sliding his claws through his bride’s short hair, Aleron tilted his head slightly. “I smell nice to you?”

Gideon ground his hips against him as he nuzzled deeper. “Yeah. Like hazelnuts and cedarwood. You smell like home to me.”

A warm bubble formed behind his sternum at such a wonderful compliment. “You smell nice as well. Like purple stem flowers and patchouli.”

Sliding his chin up, Gideon rested it against that warm bubble so he could frown up at Aleron. “You know, I’ve been trying to figure out what kind of flower that is for you, since patchouli also has purple flowers. All I can come up with is lavender. To be honest, I’m surprised you know what patchouli smells like.”

“I do not mind what it is called, only that you smell like fresh spring.” Aleron continued sifting his claws through his bride’s hair. “You taught me what this herb smells like, back in Tenebris. However, you did say there was a vinegar undertone to everything.”

Gideon shone a small smile at him, only for his nose to crinkle. He shifted higher, coming just that little bit closer to his skull, and something hard slipped against Aleron’s pelvis. Gideon shoved his head against him again, only to chuckle.

“I think I just realised what’s going to happen. One couple is going to start and then the other probably will too.”

Aleron’s sight morphed to dark yellow. “What do you mean?”

Sitting up to straddle Aleron’s hips with his hands just below his pectoral muscles, Gideon’s ears appeared a little pinker than normal. “They’ve gone to have sex, Aleron.”

“Did they?” Aleron asked in surprise, turning his skull in the direction they’d gone.

Small noises fluttered over to him, as well as scents. Now that he understood what the others were doing, they made more sense.

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