Page 104 of To Free a Soul
When she cupped both her hands to her chest, he braved reaching out. “I cannot give you what you seek right now, but I can do this.”
Collecting every piece of his self into his right hand, all his fingers solidified to their base knuckles. He cupped the side of her tear-stained cheek and brushed it with his thumb to wipe some of the moisture away. His mist pulled in tight when she...leanedinto his meagre touch trustingly, affectionately, and something about it changed something within Weldir.
I like this side of her.He came a little closer, wishing there was more of him to share with her, and that he could bring her into an embrace he couldn’t feel but longed for all the same.I like this... tenderness.
“Would you care to stay awhile and tell me all that I’ve missed?” he asked, refusing to pull his hand away from her cheek. He drifted it down the crease of her nose and even rubbed over her full lips.
“Yes. Please, yes. I want to stay here.”
His mist swirled around him in mini whirlpools, and that had never happened before.
We can lay my mist upon Earth later.He would tell her how he needed her helpafterhe spent time with his female. Hismate, who was being exceptionally soft with him, had no idea how captivating he found it.
For once, he didn’t care about strengthening his power, his reach, or even his duty. He didn’t want to shadow this with impatience or expectations.
He just wanted to spend time with her in his realm, surrounded by his darkness, her voice and presence filling every inch of it the way he’d long ago begun to want it to.
It was also the first time he’d wished there was more of him, simply so he could seat her in his lap while they spoke.
She had years to share with him, and he would be a grateful listener.
She also likes watching me fix her cloak.
And considering its poor and sorry state, and his low mana, it should take him some time. More for him to spend with her. For once, he didn’t think he needed to use that as an excuse.
She wanted to be here as much as he wanted her to stay.
August 17th, 1900
Approaching a swirling yellow portal in her snowy owl form, Lindiwe landed before it, shifted, and removed her feathery hood.
Nearly a year had passed since Weldir’s return, and she was thankful they’d had many spare owl feathers for him to fix her cloak with. She’d been without the ability to fly for nearly twenty-five years, as it was impossible to fly with a missing arm, and therefore, wing.
She probably should have taken better care of the garment by folding it away neatly and storing it safely, but her cloak was a part of her now. It was an extension of herself, and not wearing it was like being naked and exposed. She also hadn’t wanted to die, be trapped in Weldir’s realm, and have it go missing. A human may have picked it up or stolen the mana stone – not knowing its owner would one day come back to retrieve it.
Although she still had a lot of pain and trauma to mentally deal with from his disappearance, she was... happy.
He was back; that’s all she needed to remember. And thingsbetween them had noticeably shifted.
For once, the time apart had allowed her heart to grow fonder. She believed it had to do with their intimacy right before he was shoved into a near-death slumber.
But it wasn’t the sex, despite that being an exceptional bonus. No, it was his openness, his honesty, and his truth that had built the foundations of trustbeyondtheir bargain. For every single one of those years alone, she remembered the words he’d said to her, the way he’d touched her with care, and the possessiveness he’d displayed.
Their impact was enough that if she remembered them late at night and under the covers of a soft bed, she’d find her fingers gliding into her underwear so she could give herself relief. Orgasming like that had felt hollow when it wasn’t her hand she wanted, but his. Or his mouth, cock, or tendrils.
Funny how her opinion and mindset had shifted from just one very naughty conversation.
None of that removed the ache in her heart, and the new fear that he’d disappear again. Possibly forever. Anxiety ate at her constantly, nibbling away until it’d burrowed deep, and tightness clutched her chest.
Almost once a day, Lindiwe called out to him to make sure he was still there, still awake, still... alive.
But there was something else behind the anxiety, a tenderness and yearning that hadn’t been present before. The need to hear him constantly, see him more, and be by his side.
If it wasn’t for the fact that Lindiwe was charting across the globe to aid Weldir as his hands and feet in a world he couldn’t touch, she would have asked him to transport her here so she could have an excuse to be in his realm. Be near him.
It’s taken me nearly a month to find this portal,she mused, stepping closer to it confidently.I’ve never been to this part of the world.
Which was surprising, considering how far she’d travelled over her two hundred and thirty-nine years of life. She’d also been in North Unerica for many years and had never travelled to South Unerica.
