A Soul to Embrace (Duskwalker Brides #8)

Chapter 37

Lying on his side with a sleeping female in his arms, Jabez reluctantly moved his face away from between her breasts to glare at the oncoming light.

Dawn was finally breaking across the horizon, casting an eye-piercing beam of sunlight into the room. The sky itself turned aqua as the first sun of Nyl’theria, the green one named Pire, mixed with the lightening blue sky. The sky would change colour depending on the season and by which sun, or suns, were closest.

He lifted his hand to touch the refracting ray on the wall above their heads, only to wince and pull away. They lock away my magic behind an enchantment, but put me in a room that’s likely to kill me if I don’t cover myself.

Then again, they’d warned him of this only possible alternative to the prison cells, and he’d agreed. There had been nowhere else to put them, and the council only allowed this so long as he submitted and let them put these golden bracers on his wrists.

He noticed the way they shimmered as they nullified his magic when he tried to cast a sun barrier against his skin. The mana flow tingled, but nothing happened.

The fact they haven’t learned how to do this kind of spell surprises me. They had Demons in their midst, yet they weren’t protecting them fully.

Then again, it wasn’t hard to stay in the shade, so long as the person wasn’t an idiot.

He let his arm fall and curled it around Zylah, pulling her soft body closer so he could rest his tired eyes. I still haven’t slept. Something had been weighing on him since their arrival in the city. It had grown heavier in the many following hours, but his mind refused to quieten to let him sleep.

A curse that had been strangling him his entire life.

Had he not been injured and expended such energy in order to heal himself, it may not feel so pressing. Still, closing his eyes for a little while and holding her had relieved some of the pressure behind his aching, squinting eyelids. He could only imagine how bruised the inner corners of the flesh beneath his eyes appeared.

As much as he would have liked to fuck her relentlessly in the confines of this room, unsure when they’d have the freedom to do so safely again, he hadn’t been able to muster the strength for a second round, let alone more. He was just too tired, and his heart had been throbbing in his chest. He’d managed to convince her to let them cuddle while lying down, and he removed his cock from her to stop her trying to wiggle on it.

After he caressed her back, feeling how few protruding vertebrae she had, she’d quickly fallen asleep. It gave him time to think and reflect without her noticing him retreating into his mind.

As resistant as he’d been about being intimate, at the time truly doubting he’d be able to get his dick up, he was thankful Zylah had pushed for it.

Jabez knew the distraction had been needed. He’d been able to sense his mind slipping into unfiltered chaos. He’d been losing his sense of self, unable to stop reflecting on his life, his past, his mistakes, and how it’d all led to this place where he felt so damn lost. He’d been reeling from the moment he walked through those hallowed gates of false promises.

He’d been sinking into the muck of depression.

Every time he’d shaken his thoughts and tried to refocus them back on figuring out a solution and mapping out the course of their next actions, where they would go or what they would do, they kept going back to his behaviour within the conference chamber. He could only imagine how pathetic he’d appeared, slumped over on his knees with his arms bound behind his back, crying like a damn child.

He hadn’t cried since the day he left Nyl’theria at seventeen, and he hated that he’d been harbouring such torment, only to release it in front of those particular people. They were his enemies and were the cause of his suffering to begin with.

He couldn’t believe just the possibility of being returned to the place he’d been locked away had so easily broken him under the weight of his fear. He’d once vowed that he’d never feel that way again.

That being said, he also vowed he’d never return here without an army.

He’d also been battling with the way he tried to think of a solution that meant they could remain here, just so Zylah’s safety was guaranteed. He didn’t care for his own wellbeing – he was used to being amidst destruction and violence – but he didn’t want that for her.

Yet he’d foolishly tied her to him, and he’d felt like a horrible anchor for her because of it. It was his fault that they’d be turned away, and she’d suffer as a result.

And after experiencing her in agonising pain, he knew he couldn’t bear it again. The anxiety, the grief, the regret, and the self-loathing had been too much for him to swallow. It’d been too thick and hard for him to gnaw his fangs through without shattering them.

That was even before she became his mate.

For a moment, he’d regretted giving her his soul because it meant she was stuck with him. Not quite the self-loathing realisation he’d wanted to come to right after committing to her.

So, he’d been giving up. His vengeance and need for retribution had been slipping through the cracks of his fingers, and it brought on a sense of loss. He could feel himself withering away on the inside, no longer knowing who he was supposed to be or what he was supposed to do without his goal driving him forward.

Jabez did not know himself outside of his idealistic goal.

His eyes cracked open so he could lazily stare at Zylah’s fur-covered sternum. She’ll never understand what she did for me.

He’d needed her to wake him from his stupor before it was too late. He’d needed her to be her sweet, cute, and arousing self, completely ignorant and unaware of how broken he’d been inside. Her actions may have been the opposite of what most would consider appropriate for someone suffering within the depths of their misery, but it’d been perfect for him.

He didn’t know how to talk about his innermost thoughts, especially with her, as he didn’t wish to burden her with them. Giving him a sympathetic hug would have done little more than offer him warmth as he dwelled in those same thoughts, and it may have actually worsened them. He imagined coddling him like a child would’ve only reminded him of the motherly affection he’d been torn from. After that, the only thing he’d had to embrace him all his life was the cold, numbing darkness.

No, he’d needed lust.

Using his body was the only way he knew how to communicate with another, whether it be sexually or violently.

She’d also stopped him from fucking into her with feral aggression as he tried to pound his anger and frustration into someone who didn’t deserve it. He could only imagine the shame that would have crested over him afterwards had he been the one in control and let his agony lead their intimacy. Instead, she’d taken him her way, forcing him beneath her and being mostly in control.

Her beginning attempts had been clumsy, but he’d found them arousing all the same. She’d made him laugh when he doubted anyone else could have, and watching her fumble had been winsome. It reminded him of all the parts he liked about her gentle but curious personality, and how he could easily grow fascinated by the way she figured things out on her own.

And watching her explore herself for the first time... even now, a desirous shudder rippled down his spine.

All this had allowed him to settle gently into their intimacy, while his thoughts and lingering pain dissolved until all he could think about and feel was her. Until his heart realigned as she became the focal point of his feelings and reminded him of why he’d been so desperate to bring them here. Not for himself, but for her.

She also showed him that he now had a mate he could lean on. Someone who twisted him up inside in so many different ways that the unpredictability and mayhem of them often left him raw. Someone who was soft where he was jagged, sweet where he was nasty, and sensual when he was indifferent.

Someone who, from this day forward, could be his task.

He had nothing else to hold onto. If he couldn’t bear to throw her into the violence of his vendetta, then she would need to be what drove him forward without it. He would have to find his happiness within her, as he knew there was nothing else that was going to give it to him.

At least... not in this wretched city.

Without knowing it, Zylah had become his centre.

He was surprised by how much that didn’t bother him. In the past, the thought of a female being the cause and result of all his next choices had been abhorrent to him. He hadn’t wanted anyone to fill the void in his chest because it meant letting go of who he was.

This female, his own personal bunny, was just cute enough that he didn’t mind.

It meant he now had to make choices he was uncertain about, but he was starting to accept them. Enough so that he gingerly sat up without disturbing her and shifted off the bed so he could stand.

Grimacing in disdain at her blood-soaked dress, he searched quietly for his pants. He yanked them up his legs and tied them around his waist while trying his hardest to avoid the beam of sunlight cutting across the room.

He should have known she’d sense that he abandoned her, since she groaned and shifted on the bed. I should’ve covered us with the blanket. Regardless, when her orbs flickered open to teal, informing him that she was awake, he knelt behind her and placed an arm on either side of her torso.

Jabez leaned down to her and brushed his lips against her bony jaw. “Go back to sleep, Zylah. I’ll return shortly.”

She turned a little and cupped the side of his face. “Where are you going?”

“To speak with the councilmembers.” He kissed her cheek, her brow, and then the side of her snout. “Don’t worry. I won’t be long, and everything will be fine, I promise. Stay here. Rest.”

Then he pushed off and walked to the exit, grumbling when she went to sit up despite what he’d said. He knocked on the door, and the guard on the other side cracked it open so they could speak. Jabez wondered if he heard their moans earlier, but decided he didn’t give a shit either way.

“Take me to the conference chamber,” Jabez gently demanded.

“They’re still discussing–”

“I’m aware,” he cut in. “However, I have new information I wish to share that may sway their decision.”

Showing he held no ill intention, Jabez turned and folded his arms behind his back in offering. It didn’t take long for the guard to make his decision. He stepped into the doorway to remove the golden cuffs from Jabez’s wrists, then replaced them with the proper prisoner bindings, which dampened both his strength and his magical capabilities.

“Jabez, why are you leaving without me?” Zylah asked while sitting up on the bed and kicking her legs to the side like she was about to get up.

He looked away when her orbs shifted to blue, although was thankful the door would be shielding her nudity from the guard’s view.

“There’s no need for you to come. You won’t understand anything, and I’d rather you sleep more.”

When he offered the best reassuring smile he could muster, she settled back onto the bed with a nervous chitter.

Jabez then turned and exited the room. There were multiple soldiers lining the hall, and he figured they’d increased their security here in case he managed to escape. The guard who bound his arms spoke to a fellow soldier further down the hallway, explaining what Jabez wanted, and they exchanged him so the original man could return to his post by the door.

The soldier was a Delysian female this time, who was quick to hold the strap between his clasped elbows and wrists to ensure he couldn’t run away easily. Her companion fell in line in front of him, and they led him through the central-tree palace together.

A few more soldiers along the way noticed and joined them, creating a thin barrier between him and the many people who were now awake due to the first sun’s rising. They helped him avoid the sunlight peeking through misshapen branch windows, but he figured that was the Delysian soldier just trying to protect herself as much as him.

Civilians stared as they passed them, likely curious about who he was and why he was being led through the hallways. He doubted any of them knew of his arrival, especially since they lacked fear in their gazes or scents.

Most were Elysians in well-tailored, flowing outfits, each of them wearing different colours and styles. Many of the males were either topless or wearing intricate singlets that crossed over their torsos and tied at their waists. Some women were fully covered except for their arms due to the heat, while others wore what could only be considered loose strapping to hide their breasts and privates.

With perpetual summer being a constant, the need for heavy clothing or the desire to cover up was low. There was a reason the Elysians had used magic to grow this tree to its daunting size: they required shade or they’d all incinerate over time from the heat.

It didn’t take his entourage long to enter the hallway of the conference chamber, and he could already see the large double doors at the other end.

When they were only a few metres from the entrance, the door suddenly opened for them. His brows furrowed in concern. He’d essentially given no notice, so they should have remained shut until the guards around him notified those inside of his desire to speak with them.

When a tall, daunting being stepped through the doorway, he realised it’d been unintentional and a mere coincidence.

His feet immediately halted, incidentally causing the female Delysian soldier to smack into him and make him stumble forward. His upper lip twisted in shock, as his jaw fell until it threatened to unhinge and fucking fall off.

“Merikh?” he grated out, barely believing that his old friend stood before him.

The large Mavka appeared unfazed as he stomped across the obsidian floor towards him, although his naturally red orbs did brighten menacingly in apparent anger at seeing him.

Standing two inches taller than Jabez’s own six-foot-nine height, the bear-skulled, bull-horned Mavka looked exactly how he had only a few Earth months ago. Well, his rounded, muscular gut did, as did the short black fur covering him.

However, he now wore a pair of black pants that had been tied around his knees. It left his calves free for white, armoured guards to be strapped over them protectively, ensuring he didn’t hurt others with his echidna quills. More intricate, segmented guards covered his bare forearms, with a large one strapped underneath the silky red singlet covering his torso. The singlet bore a silver strip where it crossed over his chest to be tied at his side.

His bull tail flicked back and forth, and the tuft of fur on the end of it curled.

Before Jabez could even begin questioning Merikh with how he came to be here in the Elven city, realisation dawned.

“It was you!” he growled out, snapping his fangs at him. “You’re the one who’s been feeding them information about Earth, you jerk of a Mavka.”

The burly male burst out in a joyful chuckle, stopped barely a metre from him, and folded his arms. “Absolutely.”

“Do you have any idea what you’ve fucking done?”

Anger clutched his gut, and he stomped down the hallway, alerting his guards, who suddenly chased after him.

Whatever he’d told the synedrus council meant they knew all about Jabez’s escapades and actions. That information had been vital in ensuring the councilmembers were swayed to likely not let them stay in the city. Had they been uninformed, they wouldn’t be aware of his callous bloodshed and the depths of his hatred!

Sure, he figured Merikh didn’t know Jabez would try to enter Lezekos while it wasn’t in flames, but still.

It also meant that these people were aware of Merikh’s kind and had made it impossible for him to enter with an injured Zylah without bonding to her. He still didn’t regret it, but he would have liked to make that choice when he wasn’t under duress. By the cursed light, he would’ve liked to have the option to be lame and make it romantic.

“I don’t really give a shit, if I’m being honest,” Merikh chuckled back.

His fangs vibrated as he produced a deep growl, knowing the big fucker was only full of mirth because he wasn’t the one tied in restraints. Considering the bear-skulled Mavka was usually bull-headed and had a temper that was meaner and more violent than Jabez’s own, had their roles been reversed, Merikh would have tried to eat him by now.

And had Jabez not been restrained, he likely wouldn’t be so overconfident.

“So this is where you ran off to?” Jabez asked, shaking his head in disbelief. “How’d you even get here?”

“I had a pretty fairy help me escape without your help,” Merikh answered, tilting his head in a way that could only be condescending. “My bride is something you hate the most. I found that rather humorous when I thought about it. I also think you’d be disgusted to discover just who I’ve been shoving my cock into each day here – repeatedly, may I add.”

Jabez’s eyes flicked up to the bright-blue flaming soul between his tall bull horns. Other than the fact it had long, coily hair and pointed ears, nothing else about it was recognisable.

He shook his head, his lips twisting in disgust – regardless of who it was – before they softened. His brows narrowed.

“I don’t understand. You were my fucking friend. Why would you feed them information knowing how much I hated them?”

Any humour in Merikh’s voice died, and his orbs deepened to crimson as he bit out a snarl. “I haven’t been your friend for a long time, Jabez. You made sure of it.”

He scoffed at that, especially as he doubted that was true. He knew this Mavka more than anyone else. After their last interaction on Earth, Jabez knew if it hadn’t been for the potential of a bride and a new life, Merikh would have returned to his side. Likely with a few conditions, but the temptation to rekindle their friendship had been easily recognisable in his body language.

Sure, Jabez probably shouldn’t have threatened his siblings, but he also knew Merikh didn’t give a damn about them – only that they were safe. Jabez had been attempting, in his own way, to show he had no intention of going after them anymore. He also hadn’t wanted to give away anything about his emotions, nor his regrets, unsure if he’d actually been able to trust his past companion due to old wounds.

Obviously done with the conversation, Merikh stepped to the side to go around him. Jabez glared at him, and it only deepened when the Mavka slowed to place his hand on his shoulder.

“I want you to know,” Merikh started quietly, his tone dark and deep as he leaned his head down to Jabez’s level, “I advocated for your removal from the city.”

Merikh purposefully sunk his razor-sharp claws into the bare flesh around his shoulder until they cut through muscle, and then he shoved Jabez forward. Bastard! He hissed through gritted fangs as warm blood quickly rose to the surface. Of course Merikh had to inflict a wound on him like the violent asshole he was.

“I’m trying to protect one of your kind by bringing her into the city,” Jabez told him, surprised Merikh would go out of his way to ensure another of his kind was in danger.

“Heard you bonded with a Mavka – a female, no less. You can bet I was surprised to learn that.” Without turning to look at Jabez, he shrugged with one hand. “It’s her fault for being an idiot for choosing you as a bride. You reap what you sow, Jabez. You have no one else to blame but yourself.”

“I’ll remember this,” Jabez warned.

A malicious grin curled his lips when Merikh waved goodbye with the back of his hand. If they allow us into the city, one of the first things I’ll do is knee you in the seam. And considering what he planned to reveal in that chamber, the chances of them staying were much more likely.

He’s forgotten how cunning I can be. He shouldn’t have taunted Jabez so much. You reap what you sow, Merikh.

He spun around, and incidentally spooked the soldiers who’d been gawking at them. They didn’t know any of the English they’d spoken. He nodded and walked towards the doors, then waited for them to announce him.

Jabez chuckled quietly to himself when the doors creaked open. I must admit, arguing with him did give me the energy I was lacking. His confidence had renewed, as did his normal vitality. Nothing could stoke his inner flames quicker than anger.

When he entered the conference chamber, he noted the unease in all the faces of the councilmembers. Considering he was walking in right after they interrogated Merikh, he doubted they were feeling trustful or inclined to give him what he wanted.

But the tides of a mental battle could swiftly change, and he knew he’d be victorious this time.

Jabez quickly took his place on the lower platform in a kneeling position, then waited for the guard to tether him to the ground and leave. Surprisingly, they didn’t this time, but that may be because he’d shown he could be compliant. Once the doors shut and it was just him and the council, he lifted his head, offered them all a dull gaze, and waited for them to start the meeting.

“We have not yet made our decision, Jabeziryth,” Ulric quickly spat out while leaning against his golden table. “And after what we’ve just heard, we’ll absolutely need adequate time to discuss the concerning matters pertaining to your time on Earth.”

“What you heard from Merikh will be completely irrelevant,” Jabez answered, saturating his voice with conviction. “My past is violent, and the things I’ve done unforgivable, disgusting, and deplorable.” He had to stifle the urge to grin in satisfaction, simply because toying with them was actually rather fun. “You will overlook them after this conversation.”

Ulric laughed, leaned back in his chair, and stroked his short beard. “That’s doubtful. Nothing you say will sway those of us who are against your admittance, and I’m sure those who were unsure now lean towards your removal.”

“Why have you returned?” asked Teyen, a female Delysian who had been utterly silent last time.

He dipped his head to the right to take in the small, clay-red horns that shot forward from her forehead. Her canine fangs were large, but the rest of her teeth were flat like most Elvish, yet she lacked the white hair of their kind. Her brown bob swayed around her chin as she glanced at the other members.

“This city has stood for over a century,” Jabez started, bringing his gaze forward so he could look upon the random councilmember directly in front of him. He’d already forgotten their name. “Before I was locked away, I overheard my mother and stepfather speak of the dwindling power supply. The mana stones are running out of energy, and no matter how much of our own energy we pour into them, if they are unable to hold mana anymore, there is nothing we can do.”

“We didn’t ask for a history lesson, nor do we need someone like you to inform us of what we already know regarding the state of the city we govern,” Ulric retorted loudly, then scoffed.

Jabez’s lips curled knowingly. “How is the mana stone that protects the city?” He tilted his head just as the man’s features fell. “How many years does it have left? You don’t know, do you? But I’m guessing it’s beginning to dim.”

“What of it?” Cleth stated, leaning their arms upon the table while clasping their hands. “If you’re here to find out about our defences, then we’ll need to ask you to leave.”

“I can get you a new mana stone. The right kind, and a large one that can power the protective dome for just as long, if not longer.”

“How do you suppose you’ll do that?” Ulric sneered, before waving his hand to the right and almost smacking his seating partner in the face. “There are scores of Demons out there, and the mines are full of nests.”

Jabez’s eyes crinkled in humour. “I thought you spoke to Merikh,” he stated, realising the bull-horned Mavka actually made this much easier and likely more convincing. “I’m sure he told you of my ability to teleport. I can go anywhere whenever I want.”

“That is a forbidden spell,” Laele muttered, her aged tone hinting at deep concern.

“Yes, but only because of the danger it presents to its user,” he answered, tilting his face in her direction. “Most die due to materialising inside a tree, the ground, or even another person. I’ve perfected it over the years to the point I’m now able to take two people with me safely, and I’ve already been inside multiple mines within Nyl’theria. I can teleport in and out in very little time, unscathed. With someone able to watch my back, mining a stone the size you require would be easy with my increased strength and speed in comparison to a normal Elysian.”

“Are you saying you’re willing to face such danger just to ensure your approval to stay in the city?” Raewyn, the sobbing woman from earlier, asked.

His gaze flicked to her, and he hardened his tone. “Yes, that’s one of the things I am offering.”

“And you expect us to trust that you won’t attempt to make contact and scheme with those outside these walls? We’d be fools to allow such a thing,” Ulric argued. “I can already foresee you attempting to build your army right beneath our noses.”

“By the holy maiden, you are fucking obnoxious,” Jabez blurted out with a cringe of disgust, using their form of a godly curse. “Has anyone told you to shut your mouth?” He looked at the other councilmembers with a confused shake of his head. “Does he usually prattle on and argue about everything like an ill-tempered child?”

Oddly enough, Raewyn was the one to choke out a singular laugh before covering her lips with a fist and masking it with a cough. Mericato, on the other hand, held his throat to stop himself from laughing, before keeling forward with a hiss when pain must have struck his scarred throat.

Ulric shoved up from his table to stand and slammed his hands down on it. “How dare you! I am a respected–”

“A wise man listens before he speaks,” Jabez stated over the top of him. “As I said, this is merely one of the things I’m offering. I’ve already explained that my mate is the reason I wish to enter this horrid city, and I will do what is necessary to ensure her safety. I’m even willing to let my justified anger go. At least I am attempting to make amends.”

He was even willing to be subservient if need be. He had nothing else to lose, and his pride would never falter no matter what he did for them, so long as they treated his tantalising mate well.

Seething, Ulric sat his arse down and folded his arms. “Get on with it then.”

“You are behaving much more calmly now,” Zerik commented.

Jabez smiled to no one at that. “You’ll be surprised how a little rest and a quick fuck can soothe me.”

The old man choked in surprise, while a few others gasped.

Considering the man was cupping his scarred throat once more, Jabez could tell Mericato was attempting to stop himself from laughing again. He signed when his coughing eased, and this time Cleth translated on his behalf.

“At least he’s honest.”

“I’ve been nothing but honest since I arrived in this city,” Jabez stated, looking down at the ground to find that they’d forgotten to power the truth-speaking spell.

They trust me more than they did last time. It likely wasn’t much, but enough to not use the spell or tether him to the ground. That should work in his favour.

“My second offer is that I will give you the answer my mother sought all those years ago.”

His voice echoed in the chamber as complete silence descended upon them. The weight of what he just said was heavy, not just for them, but for him as well. But if sharing his secret was the answer to his and Zylah’s admittance, then so be it.

Raewyn was the one to break the silence. She stood with one of her hands pressed against the surface of her table for support. With her sightless eyes wide, she licked at her lips nervously.

“Are you... are you saying you found the way to aid the Demons in reaching full completion?”

“Yes,” he answered, cocking a brow at the excitement in her tone. “However, I will only share this knowledge with three restrictions. Firstly, only the person who took over my mother’s work will be allowed to know about it. I understand this may make the other councilmembers uncomfortable, but I ask that you have faith I have good reason. Due to the nature of it, I have kept this secret from the moment I discovered it and have not assisted any Demons in their completion. It’s dangerous.”

“You are asking that we are kept in the dark re–”

Raewyn cut Ulric a glare in his general direction to quieten him before leaning forward. “What are your other restrictions?”

“Only I will volunteer for the role. I refuse to allow others to be brought into this, and the fact that my mate has made me deathless ensures this won’t have lasting effects.” When no one disagreed with that notion, he let his gaze dull to indifference. “And, lastly, my mother must never know the answer.”

Raewyn flattened her lips, obviously upset by his third restriction.

“Are you saying you want us to withhold from her the reason she brought you into this world?” Laele muttered quietly. “Even after everything she’s done and lost, you would be so callous as to not answer her life’s work?”

“The fact that my conception was nothing but a tool to further her science means I want her to die never knowing, while understanding that we have that answer. I want her to feel regret when she burns on her funeral pyre and greets her death feeling as empty as I have my entire life.”

Raewyn’s features twisted into dismay. Losing her enthusiasm, she sat back down in her chair slowly, with a forlorn expression on her face. Even her pointed ears drooped heavily.

“ If we allow you to remain in the city, we can only fully adhere to two of those restrictions,” Cleth stated, their eyes drifting to the upset woman. “Raewyn is the one who took over your mother’s work, and as you can see, she is vision impaired. Her assistant will be required to be well informed in order to aid her.”

Ah, so that’s why she was so excited. Her reaction made much more sense now.

“So long as it remains confidential, I have no problem with her assistant knowing in order to help her,” he answered.

“I must admit, what you’ve stated here this morning is rather convincing,” Teyen commented with her hand cupping her chin. “No wonder you walked in so confidently.”

“I’m not done. I ask that you hear me out fully before rejecting it.” He shot Ulric a death glare, and the bearded man rolled his eyes before turning his face to the side with a childish sneer. “I’m unsure if you’re aware of the devastation that is happening outside your walls, but the Demons have hunted most animals to extinction. They are starving and have resorted to eating each other, regardless of whether they have fully achieved completion or not.”

“We are aware,” Teyen stated, her red eyes narrowing on him.

“I scented animals within the city when I was brought through it, and I’m guessing the herds you tended when I was a child in order to preserve those creatures from extinction are now being used as food for the Delysians within the city.”

There was no other explanation as to how the Demons here were able to live peacefully to the point that three of them sat in this very room as part of their governing system. After he left, the Elysians figured out they were starving the Demons of the nutrition they needed in order to survive.

“I ask that you consider building a second city within the forest in order to save those who seek peace.”

In the corner of his eye, he watched as Ulric opened his stupid mouth. He promptly shut it when Jabez turned his face to him and raised a brow.

“If you do this, the Demons can begin to build a civilised society that has agriculture, food, and proper housing. It will lead to the decline of violence outside these walls. The potential to take back Nyl’theria through a means of peace will slowly allow Elysians to flourish. I’m sure Merikh spoke of the village of Demons, Spiral Haven, on Earth. I grew that place to do exactly that, and with the proper systems in place and adhered to with the help of soldiers and guards, it is entirely possible. Spiral Haven is already proof of that. Demons also have little issue with killing each other, and they can continue to feed and help those close to completion by eating lesser Demons until there are no wild ones left.”

Jabez respectfully went quiet when Mericato began to sign with his hands. Oddly enough, after Jabez’s last visit to this chamber, and with how the man had laughed at his brash honesty upon his return to it, his feelings of hatred towards him had... lessened.

“How are we to know the Demons won’t try to build an army through this second city and attempt to destroy us?”

“You don’t,” Jabez stated truthfully. “But are you willing to give up the potential of peace and the possibility of building an alliance with them? This city can only last so long, and there were already housing issues when I was a child. I wasn’t ignorant of that fact. It may take another hundred years for them to remove the less-developed Demons from the realm, but isn’t the chance to one day be able to walk through the forests of Nyl’theria without fear worth it?”

“How would we do this?” Silveria’s soft and angelic voice rang out.

“Currently, the village that took the last stance in Nyl’theria is occupied by a rather violent tribe of Demons. The protective dome podium still stands, and I can find a more adequate stone to power it like I can for Lezekos City. If we take over the village, we can slowly rebuild it and fill it with those who wish for a more peaceful way of life. Word will spread, and they will have to screen those wishing to enter like you already do here. Your truth spell will allow them to weed out those who are intending to enter under falsities, and I guarantee you, by doing this, the Demons will feel gratitude for your aid. You’ve already brought many into your city, and you understand that they seek a new, safer way of life. If you trust the Delysians you allow here, then there is no reason you can’t trust the Demons outside these walls who will have good intentions.”

As much as Jabez’s goal had spearheaded him through life, the nagging desire to help his fellow Demons had always sat in the back of his mind. Just because he had to give up his vendetta, didn’t mean he had to give up on the idea of helping them.

Although this would be a much more peaceful and political way to achieve that goal, he was hoping doing this could count towards his penance for all he’d done. He’d never seek forgiveness, but he surely could begin to make up for what he’d done in the past.

Rather than remaining a violent plague upon the world, he could become a healing force instead. Zylah is the reason I realised this. She wanted to be good, and he was finding that na?ve morality quite infectious.

“You make a very convincing argument,” someone behind him stated, and he had a feeling it was one of the other Delysians within the councilmembers. “It’s true there are other Demons who seek peace, and many of us Delysians have always wished they would shed their fear of the unknown and attempt to enter the city as we have. I’ve already been considering such an endeavour, but travelling through the forests has always been dangerous. Your ability to teleport lessens that danger, but having to place our trust in strangers is still concerning.”

Jabez gave a hum, their concerns making him reflect on a possible solution.

“Actually, now that I think about it... if you intend to do this, I suggest lowering Weldir’s ward to allow some of those who occupy Spiral Haven to relocate and ensure the start of the new village.”

“We are unable to do that,” Zerik stated loudly. “What Weldir does to protect us from the thousands of Demons who have gone through his many portals is one of the reasons we’ve survived the last twenty-one years. You are right, our protective dome is currently weak, and if more Demons come to attack us, it won’t be long before it breaks.”

Jabez sucked in a deep, calming breath before releasing it. How little they know.

“I’m not saying lower them all. I’m saying allow those occupying Spiral Haven to come through and then ask him to reinstate it. The laws and rules I placed on that village were cleverly crafted and have been tried and tested. They will also govern and teach the Demons not used to civilised society, which would quicken the process.”

“We would have to trust Weldir would do that,” Zerik argued. “We have no idea as to why he has continued to keep his wards in place, since he likely feels abandoned by his mother and the other remaining gods. We have no idea of his intentions. If he chooses to be a malevolent demigod, we may not survive him and his growing power.”

Jabez chuckled and lifted his eyes to the ceiling. “Weldir has no desire for destruction,” he informed them confidently. “If he did, we would have joined forces many years ago and already razed this city to the ground. He rejected the notion, and his mate has made it known he has no intention of harming you. You fear a demigod who seeks nothing but acceptance from the Gilded Maiden.”

“You have spoken with him?” Cleth asked, their lips flattening and their brows narrowing at him.

Jabez lowered his gaze to them just in time to see their disgruntled expression.

“No, but his mate and I have spoken under temporary truces many times. He listens and speaks through her when he can.”

Many of the councilmembers cast each other wary glances, as silence descended upon them. A few shuffled in their seats, and he allowed them time to digest everything he’d said while he knelt before them.

“You have given us much to think about,” Silveria stated quietly. “You understand that it will take time for us to discuss all this?”

“I do. Considering you’re allowing us to stay where we are, I see no issue with awaiting your answer, no matter how long it takes.” Then he paused, wondering if he should speak his request before shrugging. There was no harm in trying – all they could do was reject it. “I do ask that you forgo the magic-dampening bracers in the meantime, unless you wish for all of this to be a pointless conversation because I’ve gone insane from burning alive multiple times.”

He rolled his eyes as he thought, I’ve almost done that one too many times than I can say I’m truly comfortable with.

The Witch Owl had now, officially, set him alight twice. He’d also been stuck under Earth’s sun with little escape except for sparse shade in the distance.

He didn’t really wish to burn to a crisp in front of Zylah either. She’d bring him back to life through her Mavka bond, only to watch him disintegrate again.

Not really how he’d like to spend his time waiting.

“You’re a very different man than when you walked in here mere hours ago,” Laele commented. “I’m sure many of us didn’t expect such intellectual and well thought out plans from you.”

He quirked his lips in humour, knowing he had Zylah to thank for that.

“Last time I was fuelled by my anger, and my emotions were unsettled because I carried Zylah within the city to be healed. I was given little time to calm before I was brought before you.” His ears twitched, and he grinned towards the ground. “I’m actually a very cunning man, and I’m quite strategic when given time to assess. You should have already summarised that, considering I’ve lived so long despite everything I have done. There was a reason I was called King Jabez on Earth and managed to retain that title the entire time without being killed or usurped.”

“Do you understand that we’ll never accept you as a councilmember, so if you seek such power again, you’ll never achieve it?”

A laugh burst from him. “I have absolutely no interest in governing the city. I never did. I’ve always wanted nothing more than to live in the home I’d been born into, without being looked at like I was a disgusting piece of vermin.”

A few members grunted or lowered their gazes at his brash words, but he refused to withhold how he felt.

“If you have nothing else to share, we’ll call the guards in to take you back to your room,” someone from the left stated.

Jabez nodded and stood, showing them he was done.

He was quickly removed from the conference chamber, and he was glad to hear that they told the guards to remove the restriction of his magic use. The walk back through the hallways was much easier due to the weight lifted off his shoulders, and his feet moved fast to return to his mate.

The moment he was brought inside his room, Jabez zeroed his eyes in on Zylah sitting on the bed, waiting for him. They removed the bindings from his arms, and he immediately cast a sun barrier to shield his body.

The door closed, and Jabez hastily crossed the spacious room when she went to stand. He tackled his female to the soft mattress before she could even get a step away from it, and she let out a surprised scream. She was still naked, warm from sitting in the sun, and smelt like hot jasmine and violets as he wrapped his strong arms around her narrow waist.

Nuzzling the fuck out of her, he squeezed her so tightly she gave a cute squeak.

“Did you fall back asleep?” he asked, burying his face against the crook of her neck when he turned them to their sides.

“No,” she answered, hugging him in return. She rubbed the side of her snout against his hair and horns as if she missed him in the short time he was away. “I couldn’t while you were gone.”

“Then rest with me now.” He dug his elbow into the bed and dragged them higher until they both had a pillow to lie on. “I think I’ll finally be able to sleep.”

“Is everything okay now?”

He shrugged. “No idea, but I’ve done all I can.”

Seeming to accept his answer, she went quiet as she deepened their embrace, and Jabez’s eyes closed. He soaked in the sound of her heartbeat, the feel of her soft body against his, and let her scent lull and soothe him like it always did.

Sleep swept him under in moments, and for once, it was tranquil.