A Soul to Embrace (Duskwalker Brides #8)

Chapter 3

A quiet chitter tickled Zylah’s chest. She scratched the side of her neck awkwardly as she stared down at the little plump human who barely came to her chest height.

Delora looked up at her so expectantly, her brown eyes wide and glinting with emotion, and she had no idea what she was supposed to do or say.

Zylah took in the wavy dark hair that reached just below her shoulders, her tanned flawless features, and her full pink lips. The gown she wore over her busty figure was white and came to just below her knees, with frills around her neck and sleeveless shoulders. It didn’t particularly look like an outfit for going outside, especially as she lacked shoes Zylah knew humans preferred to wear.

Although she’d met her before, and knew what she was to Zylah, it was still hard to digest that such a small thing was her mother. The fox-skulled Mavka she could understand, since they both wore a skull, antlers, and even a collar of a creature – hers being fur and his being feathers.

Zylah thought she may be a little under a foot and a half taller than her, which just made her wonder how she’d been birthed from this human.

“H-hi,” Delora greeted, her croaked voice thick with emotion and trembling with nervousness. “How have you been?”

Why did the question feel so stiff? It didn’t help that the female’s cheeks turned bright red, reminding Zylah of how her orbs would shift to embarrassment – something Jabez teased her about and called a Mavka blush.

“I’ve been okay,” Zylah grumbled in return, scratching at her neck harder with the desire to leave this conversation already. Even her teal orbs shifted to reddish pink as she felt completely out of her depth.

Loneliness almost had her orbs flickering with blue, but she managed to stop them. I wish he didn’t have to leave. She didn’t want to do this by herself.

“W-we, um...” Delora licked at her lips and glanced to the side at Magnar. “We’ve returned to your cave a few times over the last few months, but you were never there. Magnar said your scents had faded, like you hadn’t returned in a long time.”

“We left to go to Nyl’theria,” Zylah admitted.

Delora’s high-arching brows narrowed as her head jerked to the side. “Nyl’theria?”

Zylah lowered her hand, surprised she didn’t know. “Oh. It’s the Elven realm.”

Her complexion paled, her eyes twitched wider, and she fisted the skirt of her white dress. “T-the Elven realm?” she mumbled in a shaky voice. “Why?”

Zylah’s first thought was to state the whole truth as to why they originally left, but she decided that may not be taken well. He’d wanted to enact his war, only for him to fail because she’d gotten hurt. Jabez didn’t tell her this. Zylah figured it out on her own and thought it was sweet he’d done that for her because he loved her so much.

“Because we live there now,” she answered instead, lifting her sight to Raewyn so she could find an out from the conversation.

She watched as Magnar waved his hand barely an inch from Raewyn’s nose, as if checking she was truly sightless. She wondered if it was rude to do that, since it looked odd watching it from the outside, but she’d remembered doing exactly that the first time she met her. Perhaps it was a Mavka thing to be curious in such a way.

The tall Elven woman merely laughed, as if expecting it from him.

“Then how is it you walk around by yourself?” he asked her.

Placing Lehnenia on the ground to free up her hands, Raewyn unclipped an unassuming cylinder from the side of the satchel she’d taken from Merikh. The white cylinder had a brown loop on the end, and a tiny orange mana stone on its side. She placed her thumb over the stone for a few seconds, and a rod suitable for her height shot out from it. On the end, a small ball freely rotated for ease of movement across uneven surfaces.

The entire thing was made from the same nearly indestructible material the Elysians used as armour, which came from the silk thread of the central palace’s leaves.

A strip of silver in the very middle stated the level of Raewyn’s visual impairment, but the colour of it varied depending on the person.

Zylah had seen the female pull out her mobility cane quite a number of times, so she wasn’t surprised. Magnar, on the other hand, gave a laugh of mild excitement as he touched it to explore what it was. Raewyn then showed him how she used it to see.

For some reason, seeing her parent react in the same ways she had was oddly soothing. Her heart swelled with tenderness at Raewyn’s kindness in the face of it all; it was a quality she really adored about her. She looked so natural meeting new people, so open and welcoming despite that Magnar was something other to her.

I want to be like that.

Realising she’d looked away from Delora, and that she wasn’t offering the same kindness she liked in Raewyn, Zylah brought her skull back to her. She flinched inwardly at the female’s frowning and obviously disheartened expression.

“Why do you look so saddened?” Zylah asked, subtly tilting her head.

Delora gave her a shaky false smile, as if she wanted to soften her next words despite how narrowed her brows were and how liquid had filled her eyes. “Because if you’re in the Elven realm, it means we can’t visit you.”

“Why not?” Zylah asked. “The Elven city allows people to enter it, and they know of Mavka.”

“Because we don’t know how to get there. It’s also in a realm we don’t know, but we’re certain is filled with Demons.”

“I guess that’s true,” she grumbled, looking away as she scratched at her neck again. “Maybe Jabez can draw you a map from his portal or show you the way.”

She didn’t know why she was offering that, especially without his permission. Maybe it was because, in Zylah’s heart, she knew he would do that for her if she asked. Not once had he ever rejected her requests, not that she had many, and he always tried to fulfil them as best he could.

“I... should go to Raewyn,” Zylah commented, walking off without giving Delora a chance to say otherwise. “She doesn’t know Earth well.” But she knew enough, as she’d been here for quite some time with Merikh.

The half lie tasted sour, but Zylah just didn’t know what else to say or do. She could have offered for her and Jabez to visit in the future, but she wasn’t entirely sure she wanted that. Jabez may not be allowed to leave Lezekos City on a personal excursion like this again for quite some time.

She was also following Jabez’s advice to lean on Raewyn, who may help her from feeling so out of place. She could follow her lead.

“Hello, Zylah,” Magnar greeted, his deep, grainy voice warm and friendly when she reached them. “It has been a while since we saw you. I know Delora is very happy you have returned.”

He tilted his fox skull in his bride’s direction, and his orbs flared bright yellow. He lifted his arm to reach out to her as she came to his side so he could bring her into a side cuddle, and her face looked worn and paler than it had a moment ago.

Guilt immediately slipped down Zylah’s spine, and her sight flickered with orange. Raewyn’s full lips pursed and her brows knotted when she must have seen her orbs change colour – since the only thing she could see were the tendrils of magic.

“I was just showing Magnar my cane,” Raewyn stated brightly, trying to distract from the current conversation for Zylah’s sake. “Lehnenia’s been chirping away as well. I think she’s excited to meet more people who look like Merikh.”

The little Demon gave a bright smile at the only word she understood. Then in Nyl’kira she said, “ Papa Merikh! Papa Merikh!”

She pointed up at Magnar’s skull as she chatted away incoherently, and Zylah was able to catch a few words that she’d already learned of the language: skull, fangs, and orbs.

Raewyn answered her with a laugh, and the conversation in Nyl’kira was immediately lost on her, Magnar, and Delora. The human held Magnar’s hand tightly, while her lips were a thin line as she turned her forlorn gaze away from Zylah’s skull.

“She’s very cute,” Delora stated after relaxing her expression. “I noticed her ears are like yours, but I’m surprised to see horns on an Elf. We have fairytales about Elves, but I guess they’re wrong.”

“That’s because she’s not an Elf,” Zylah interjected matter-of-factly. “Lehnenia is a Demon.”

“A Demon?” Delora asked, her features stiffening slightly.

“Yes, this youngling is a Demon,” Magnar stated, tipping his snout towards Delora. “I’m sorry. I should have told you I scented that.”

She gave a shaky, broken smile. “Okay. That’s fine with us. I’m guessing it’s different where you’re from.”

“Yeah, the Elven realm and our city are very different to Earth,” Raewyn stated warmly, as if prepared for such a conversation. “So long as the Demon has reached full completion, they’re welcomed into the city and are given a new title. My species are called Elysians, not Elves, although I know that’s what humans call us. Any Demon who enters our city becomes a Delysian.”

“So, you adopted her?” Delora asked.

“It’s more like she adopted us.” Raewyn gave a laugh and looked down at her. “Lehnenia was very smitten with Merikh when she first saw him. Since he doesn’t want children of his own, at least not yet, I thought this was a good opportunity for us. Our relationship is still new, but bringing in a child that would accept him was a concern of mine. The fact that Lehnenia adored him straight away meant I knew we were making the right choice, even if the timing was wrong.”

At the easy conversation, which Raewyn engaged in so confidently that it wrung out all the awkwardness, Delora also laughed. “Yeah. I bet that would have been difficult. I would’ve had the same concerns with a human child, although we’ll probably have more of our own in the future.”

“More?” Zylah asked with her head cocking.

Delora finally offered her a real and very tender smile. “Yeah. You’ll have your own brothers or sisters in the future.”

“Just not right now,” Magnar grumbled with his naturally green orbs darkening in possessiveness. “I would like to keep my bride to myself for a little while longer.”

Before anyone could say anything more, the rapid approach of heavy, galloping stomps and deep, snorting huffs stole all their attention.

To Zylah’s left, a large creature with a wolf skull and Impala antelope horns emerged, his orbs blue and focused on them. He ran on all fours, his fluffy body partially humanoid while his legs looked wolven with big paws for feet. A pale human with long blonde hair held on tightly to his back while she was seated over his waist.

Like Delora, she wore a white dress, although her feet were covered in brown boots, and she had a sword scabbard strapped to her waist.

When he skidded to a halt, the female slid off him with her boots thudding against the ground. Gripping the hilt of her sword, she exclaimed, “Is everything okay?!”

Magnar raised his hands at the narrowed and hard gaze of the human. “There’s nothing wrong,” he stated quickly. “We just have some visitors who wanted everyone to gather.”

“Oh thank goodness,” the female said with a relieved sigh, her expression softening. “We thought something terrible happened since you called us so early in the morning.”

The new Mavka changed his form, going from monstrous to humanoid, and a pair of black pants rose to the surface of his flesh to shield him. Zylah glanced at Magnar, who was naked except for his fur covering him and his long fox tail shielding his backside.

“We’re glad to hear everything is fine,” the wolf-skulled Mavka stated, before he sniffed at the air. His orbs shifted to dark yellow in curiosity as he looked around Magnar to Raewyn, Lehnenia, and Zylah standing there. “I smell a Demon... and something unfamiliar.”

Delora approached the pale female, and Zylah couldn’t see her expression with her back turned to them. “This is Raewyn, Lehnenia, and... Zylah.” She turned and gestured towards them with her hand.

“Zylah?” the female stated with a gasp, her green eyes widening at her rabbit skull. “You mean Fyodor Zylah?”

Zylah’s shoulders turned inwards self-consciously; she wasn’t expecting to be known or for her presence to be so surprising. She stepped slightly in front of Raewyn and her youngling protectively when the unnamed couple came forward. She didn’t want any accidental harm to befall them – she also thought Merikh would be enraged at her if she allowed it or didn’t do everything in her might to prevent it.

“Hey, Zylah,” the female stated, a grin lifting into her sharp, although feminine, features. “I knew you when you were just a tiny little baby.”

Then, as if to show just how small she’d once been, she hovered her hands in front of her large breasts to create a ball that was barely half a foot in diameter.

Zylah gave a nervous chitter. “I’m sorry, but I don’t remember you.”

Her grin grew. “Oh, I already knew that. You Duskwalkers forget everything until you have enough humanity to form proper memories.”

Then why did she have to say anything about it? Doing so only made her feel awkward and timid. She had no memory of being small, nor of this female, let alone the parents who had created her.

“I’m Reia, by the way,” she greeted, before waving her hand at the wolf-skulled Mavka. “And this is Orpheus. We’ve been wanting to meet you again, especially since Delora told us she spoke to you a few months ago.”

Zylah lifted her gaze away from the little human to the male Mavka only a few inches taller than her. So, this is Orpheus. Jabez hadn’t spoken of Orpheus since before they bonded, but she remembered him speaking of the wolf-skulled Mavka.

She glanced down at the female beside him again. And didn’t Reia kill Jabez’s companion? Zylah didn’t care that Reia had stabbed her in the chest; it wasn’t done to her, or anyone she’d known. Actually, as naughty as she thought it was, she was thankful no one had been in her way when she’d met him. He was all hers and she liked it that way.

Rook also spoke highly of this Reia, and Zylah liked Rook very much. She wanted to trust him and his friendship with this blonde female – especially as he’d described her as being welcoming to him. That had to mean she had a good heart, right?

Orpheus held out his hand to her, and Zylah inspected it mistrustingly. She tilted her head, wondering what he was doing.

“You’re supposed to shake it,” Magnar said enthusiastically, reaching for Orpheus’ hand to clasp his own in it. They gave a singular shake downwards. “Like this. It is a human greeting.”

I don’t think I should greet him, though. Zylah wondered how she could get out of it. Jabez wouldn’t care, but she thought these people may be the most upset about her bond with him.

How was she supposed to proceed then? Maybe... I can help them see him the way I do?

“Go on, Zylah,” Raewyn encouraged with a smile.

At their direction, and not wanting to appear rude, Zylah reached out and took his hand. His hold was gentle as he greeted her with it, both their palms almost fitting perfectly. His hand is warm and rough. Once they were done, she looked down at her palm, surprised by how much she liked doing the action.

She threw her hand out towards Reia, and the human’s features brightened as she placed her tiny hand in hers. They shook, and Zylah attempted to be even gentler than Orpheus had been, considering how small she was. Just as Zylah touched her, some strange creature gave a squeak and shifted underneath the back of her dress.

If this was how she was supposed to greet people, she wondered why Delora and Magnar had never done so. Then again, all of their conversations and meetings had been saturated in a tense aura, much of it Zylah’s fault.

It didn’t help that Delora often looked just as frazzled as she felt, whereas Reia’s confidence easily ate away at Zylah’s nervousness. She found it easier to follow while she was still adjusting to meeting the others. It’s why she appreciated Jabez so much.

He always led every interaction, and she was able to bounce off his energy and gauge how she should react. He was also kind enough to give her very direct openings so she could take control if she wanted to, and it was slowly building up her confidence.

He’d done it when she first met Merikh, and it was one of the reasons she liked the bear-skulled Mavka – no matter that his attitude could be rather sour.

Lehnenia spoke up at Raewyn while pointing at Orpheus’ face, and Zylah figured she was commenting on his skull and features similar to how she did with Magnar. The interaction brought attention to them, and both Reia’s brows lifted as she took them in.

She leaned closer to Delora while bringing her hand up to the side of her mouth. “Who are they?” she asked, when the question sounded more like, “ What are they?”

“Raewyn is an Elysian Elf, and Lehnenia is her adoptive daughter. She’s a Demon.”

“Okaaay,” she sang out low with a grimace. Her lips twisted as her brows narrowed. “I’m a little lost. Can you explain why they would be here?”

“I’m Merikh’s bride,” Raewyn said with a welcoming and unbothered smile.

“Ohhh!” Reia stated with her expression turning bright. “That makes total sense now.”

“It’s okay,” Raewyn answered with a laugh. “I understand we’re different to you humans, and our sudden appearance is strange.”

“I’m kind of used to strange now, to be honest.” Then, repeating exactly what she’d done before by raising her hand to the side of her mouth, she leaned towards Delora. “Who the fuck is Merikh, though?”

“He’s the bear-skulled Mavka,” Orpheus bit with rough darkness in his tone. He put his arm around Reia’s back protectively and looked around. “I don’t scent him. Where is he?”

“He’s gone to get the others,” Delora answered. “I think he wants to meet everyone, and it’s why they’re here today.”

“I see,” Orpheus said with a hum, cupping the end of his snout. “All Mavka and their brides in one place?”

Reia let out a groan as she gestured to herself. “And I’m in my nightgown? Seriously?” Her cheeks darkened with a small amount of pinkness. “I’ll have to go change before anyone else turns up.”

As if on cue, more people approached, but from the opposite side Reia and Orpheus had arrived. Zylah twisted to the right.

A feline skull with a golden crack in it came into view, his horns sandy and ram-like as they curled back over his skull before circling forward. Whereas Orpheus had fish fins going down his forearms, calves, and back, this Mavka had small spikes down the same places.

Like Reia had done, on his back rode a woman with long black hair and a fawny complexion. Unlike the two humans already there, she wore a pair of brown leather pants and a long tunic. A whip, dagger, and a sword were strapped to her waist, and she wore a pair of brown boots.

Her hair was loose, messy, and windblown when she jumped down from her Mavka. His orbs were yellow, but Zylah didn’t think he was joyous or curious right then.

“Took you long enough,” Reia commented loudly. “We all would have been dead.”

“I was naked!” the woman yelled, stomping boorishly towards them. “It’s stupid o’clock in the fucking morning. I had to get dressed.” Her hard gaze immediately landed on Raewyn, Lehnenia, and Zylah before narrowing with suspicion. She placed her hand on the hilt of her sword. “Friend or foe?”

“Friend,” Delora stated, and the newcomer’s shoulders loosened.

She removed her hand from the hilt of her sword. “How friendly?”

“Raewyn, here” Delora started, and the Elf waved to show who she was speaking about, “is Merikh’s bride.”

She opened her mouth to continue, but a scoff came from the feline Mavka as he morphed into his more humanoid form. Naked, although very fluffy, he approached them.

“Merikh has a fucking bride? Since when?” he asked, annoyed, as if the very thought was ridiculous.

“I would say it’s been around an Earth year,” Raewyn answered in a sickly sweet tone.

“You must have your hands full then,” he stated, coming to Orpheus’ side while placing his hand on the hip of his female and dragging her with him. “That ill-tempered Mavka has a mean streak. No offense, but I’m surprised anyone would give him their soul.”

“Admittedly, he has his moments.” Raewyn’s face followed where he went by the sound of his voice moving. “But he’s actually rather sweet when you give him the chance.”

“I’ve had my insides ripped from me and my head decapitated one too many times to truly believe that.” Then, as if noticing her falling expression, he grunted and ran his hand over one of his horns. “Sorry. All of my interactions with him have been rather unpleasant, even when I’ve just tried to talk to him. It’s hard to shake that after so many years.”

“It’s okay,” she said with a cringing smile, then looked down at the youngling holding her hand. “This is Lehnenia, our daughter.”

“Smells like a Demon,” he commented, and Zylah noted his voice lacked any judgement. “She reminds me of those in the Demon Village. She’s reached full completion?” Reia and Mayumi gave a silent gasp at what he said, and he reared his head back in surprise. He looked at them all. “Come on, you all must know about that. Orpheus, you’ve been to the village a few times.”

“Since her parents achieved completion before she was born, Lehnenia is a fully developed Demon child, which is why she partially looks like an Elf,” Raewyn explained.

“I’m not surprised by the way she looks,” he said defensively as he folded his arms across his bulky chest. “Just that Merikh would take one in.”

“Very true. Well, if we’re introducing ourselves, I’m Faunus, and this is my bride, Mayumi.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you all,” Mayumi said with a very small smile, like she was only putting it on for pleasantries. It fell, although her face didn’t appear vexed, just as if it was normal to be stoic.

Faunus gestured to a strange, blobby near-black creature that had been hidden inside his long fur covering his chest before pointing at a second one clinging to the crook of his neck. “This is sleepy, bitey, annnnd” – he looked over his shoulder, then down the front of his body, sticking his tongue out as he reached under his armpit for a third nestled against his back – “squealy.”

As if to highlight what he’d just called them, the little creature let out a terribly high-pitched shriek as they were grabbed. They held on firmly to his fur but were easily removed, and he cupped the last one under his palm and nestled them to his abdomen.

“They’re our children,” Mayumi stated. She threw her body forward so her hair would flip, then wrangled the long strands into a high ponytail with a piece of ribbon.

“These are Mavka younglings?” Zylah asked, tilting her head as she stepped forward to inspect them just that little bit closer.

When they confirmed, she chittered as excited interest swelled her muscles. She’d always wanted to know what a Mavka youngling looked like, but she hadn’t expected them to be so tiny. Although two were big enough that they’d fit in her palm nicely, the third was very small.

She peeked at Delora, and it now made sense as to how she may have carried her in her little human body.

“Do you want me to explain what they look like to you?” Zylah offered to Raewyn.

“Maybe later. Thank you,” she answered with an appreciative smile. “But you should introduce yourself.”

All excitement breezed out of her like a gust of wind, and she almost wanted to snap at the female for it.

“I’m Zylah,” she muttered quietly.

“Your daughter?” Mayumi asked Delora, who nodded with eyes widening. Mayumi held the end of her chin as she folded an arm across her chest, before she gave a mild laugh. “Well, that explains why you called us here at butt fuck in the morning.” She turned to Reia and pointed. “Ha! You didn’t get changed first.”

Reia’s cheeks pinkened once more, and she threw her hands up. “It’s not my fault! We thought they were in danger, so we left right after getting out of bed. I almost left Kevin behind since I was half asleep.”

“Kevin?” Zylah asked, cocking her head quizzically.

“We have a baby as well,” she answered, before pulling her nightgown to the side and reaching inside it.

Another little Mavka, similar in size to the small one in Faunus’ arms, was revealed. They squeaked, their limbs waving around her palm, until she placed them against her chest. They clung to her dress, and buried an oval-shaped, mostly featureless face against her breast.

They were a lot easier to see against Reia’s bosom since they contrasted against her white gown, and Zylah inspected them as best she could. Their flesh was such a dark grey that they almost appeared black, and they looked kind of... blobby. Then again, she’d never seen a baby anything before, so she didn’t know what to compare them to.

They opened their mouth to yawn and revealed jagged fangs much like those that filled the gaps between Zylah’s cheekbones and jaw.

“They were born in the spring,” Orpheus said, with his orbs morphing bright yellow.

Mayumi placed her hands on her hips and turned to Zylah. “We’re happy to see you’re alive and well. You even have a soul!” She peeked around her to search for its owner. “Where are they?”

Zylah knew it was probably best she didn’t say anything, but she also didn’t want to hold back the truth. He was her mate, she wasn’t ashamed of him at all, and she was prepared for negativity.

“Jabez has gone with Merikh to collect the others,” Zylah stated confidently. “They will be back shortly.”

By the ever-night, she hoped it was shortly! There were so many people here now, and she was growing overwhelmed. Thankfully they had no issue talking to each other naturally, which meant Zylah was able to insert herself as little as possible.

Mayumi’s features hardened, and she lowered her head slightly with harshly tightened lips, whereas Reia’s face did something similar but paled in worry at the same time. They silently shared a glance, before their gazes went to Delora, who instantly looked towards her feet and held Magnar’s hand tighter.

The vibe in the air shifted so swiftly it was almost cold. Zylah felt her fur lifting in alarm in reaction to it.

“Delora told us you were with him when she last saw you. I was hoping that, since you’re alone, you managed to get away from him,” Reia said in a deep, dark tone.

“Are you saying you bonded with that vile fucker?” Faunus growled and stepped back from her while placing his arms around his younglings as best as he could. “Do you have any idea what he did to me?” He became overly protective against Zylah, as if he thought she’d harm them.

Orpheus was quick to place his arm around the front of Reia and draw her to his side, and both his and Faunus’ orbs flared crimson.

Zylah placed her hands over her teal dress, right against her abdomen, when her insides twisted. The mood had darkened so quickly her heart clenched with a tender, painful ache. She stepped back, retreating into Raewyn’s side.

She knew it’d be bad, but not this bad. Their reaction had been instantaneous, and the hostility coming from them was palpable.

“He isn’t what you think,” she said defensively.

“He cracked my skull,” Faunus growled. “I know exactly who he is. Let alone what he’s done to the rest of us.”

“Guys, please stop,” Delora pleaded, letting go of Magnar’s hand to turn to them with her palms out.

“No, she has to learn what he’s done,” Reia said to her with her lips pulled back into a sneer. “We have no idea why he’s bonded with her, what games he’s up to. Have you considered this might just be another ploy or tactic to get to us?”

“He’s asked us all to join his war, even me,” Mayumi cut in, her hand falling to the hilt of her sword like she found it comforting and natural to hold it in tense situations. “What if he’s using her? She can’t leave him now, unless the spirit of the void knows how to break a Duskwalker’s bond.”

“If you could all just wait a moment,” Raewyn said softly as she stepped forward.

“What if he hurts her?” Reia asked Delora as she waved in Zylah’s direction.

With her heart pounding in anxiety and anger, and her orbs threatening to flicker red in reaction to it, Zylah growled, “He wouldn’t!”

“You don’t know that,” Reia said, turning to her with a shake of her head. Her eyes bowed beseechingly as she looked up at Zylah’s rabbit skull. “We’ve seen what he can do, how cruel he can be. He uses people, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s trying to manipulate you as well.”

“Has he even explained to you what he’s done to us?” Orpheus asked with the undertone of a growl.

“Of course he has,” Zylah bit out, her orbs flaring bright red.

“Truly?” Orpheus let out a dark chuckle that held not an ounce of humour. “He revealed how he and Katerina tortured me for years? How they almost killed Reia and took her away from me forever?”

“Yes, I know all that,” Zylah admitted.

Reia’s jaw dropped and her eyes widened. “And you still bonded with him?”

“He’s changed.”

“People don’t change that much,” Mayumi sneered. “Jabez’s heart is rotten to its core. Whatever he’s done to manipulate you will only hurt you, Zylah. I wouldn’t be surprised if he hasn’t already–”

“Shut up!” Zylah roared with her claws bared, and all the humans flinched. “I don’t care! I don’t care what he’s done to you all! I only care about how he treats me. ”

They all wanted her to care about how they felt, but none of them were considering her feelings and how they could be hurting her with their words. And Zylah didn’t know how to share her innermost thoughts now that she was upset.

More than ever, she wished Jabez was here to help soothe her when she felt like she was drowning.

Orpheus shoved his female behind him protectively with his orbs deepening in their crimson hue and a snarl coming from him. Faunus yanked the back of Mayumi’s shirt to draw her closer to his body so she was a safe distance from Zylah. The female gave a surprised euk as the collar tightened around her chest momentarily.

“I know what he has done,” she snapped out, her fur puffing all the way down her back until her tail tremored. “I know how he has hurt our kind, but he feels regret and guilt over it. You don’t know him like I do, nor do you know what we have been through. Your past is not my own, and I don’t know any of you.”

Delora ran between them and placed her hands out on either side of her to act as a divider. “Everybody stop!” she screamed with her eyes clenched tightly shut. “She’s right! We have no idea what has happened, nor is it our place.”

“If you won’t accept us, then we will leave today and go be by ourselves while the rest of you gather,” Zylah warned sternly. “We only came because Merikh needed his help.”

“Zylah,” Raewyn softly called from the side.

With a snorting, enraged huff, she darted her skull to her with her orbs bright red, worried that Raewyn would try to convince her otherwise. With her hands balled into tight fists to the point her claws stabbed into the palms of them, she snapped, “What?”

“C-could you please help me find some shade? Lehnenia said the sun has risen.”

She wants shade? She looked around, and the annoyed tension she directed upon the Elf diminished like a sharp and sudden gust of wind.

Zylah hadn’t even noticed the dappled light peeking through the trees, although there was no direct sunlight to be seen. It was still too early morning for the sun to truly touch the Veil.

Despite being rather irritated, when Raewyn reached her hand out, Zylah immediately took it. She ignored the others as she guided the female to a spot beneath a tree that would shade them permanently.

She wished her fur would stop being puffed. Her breaths were hard and shallow, her heart hot and racing with aggression. All her muscles were locked, like her veins were filled with stone. She hated having her back to these people, but she also didn’t want to look upon them right now.

She could hear Delora quickly muttering to the others, her voice high in distress. Zylah ignored her too.

I want to leave, she thought, looking up at the branches above them. I don’t want to stay here.

She knew this wouldn’t go well after how things had turned when she first met Delora and Magnar, but she just didn’t think it would be this bad. After what she’d learned of Jabez’s past, she did understand why they were so angry. She understood they were justified in that anger, but she just... couldn’t handle the way they spoke of him.

He would never hurt her, and she knew he hadn’t given her his soul to manipulate her. He... loved her, and she loved him dearly in return.

In fact, she adored him more than anything in the world, and she was happy with him in Nyl’theria. He’d been there for her through so much, but the others were too absorbed by their hatred to listen.

They didn’t know him, didn’t know how he cared for her, what he’d given up just to ensure she was safe. It made her heart hurt that they thought he’d be cruel to her when he was entirely the opposite. He could be distant at times, lost in his own thoughts with a miserable expression, but he showered Zylah with affection the rest of the time. He gave her gifts and tried to ensure she was happy by taking her for walks around the palace or even to the beach.

He was attentive and kind, and his mean playfulness had started to bring her out of her shell. He was a good mate, whether they wanted to believe it or not.

Look at what he was doing today.

Although Merikh had demanded that Jabez assist, she knew he had ulterior motives for agreeing. When he’d told her of Merikh’s plan, he’d shared that he wanted her to meet everyone so she understood this family bond she was supposed to have. He’d even admitted that part of his reasoning was because it was something he’d lacked his entire life, and it had weighed on him.

He didn’t want it to weigh on her as well, nor did he want to be the reason for getting in the way of it. He just admitted he wanted little part in it and was happy remaining as an unwanted outsider.

“Are you okay?” Raewyn whispered, her white brows knitted with deep concern.

Her starburst eyes sightlessly bowed and creased in sympathy up at her bony face, while her pointed ears had drooped back. With her hair framing her face in the added darkness, something became apparent. Zylah knew this female, who rarely ever leaned on anyone and preferred her independence, had only asked her for help in order to aid Zylah and bring her out of the unpleasant situation.

Frozen, unsure of what to do or how to make herself feel better, her orbs turned blue. The bottoms of them quickly wavered as she let out a small whine in answer.

“I know it’s hard,” Raewyn continued quietly, while offering a sad smile. “Hopefully they’ll come around by the end of the day. After what Merikh told me of what he knows, there’s a lot Jabez has to answer for. These people have been hurt very deeply, many of them facing death at his hands, and it’s unfair of you to expect so much of them in a short period of time.”

“But I don’t want to hear it,” Zylah said with a whimper.

“And I understand that. As his sister, it’s hard to hear it as well, but what you said was right. They don’t know who he is. Let it come naturally. Let them see what he is like now, and how he treats you.”

“What if they never do?”

“Then what does it matter? Why should you care when you know the truth? He cares about you, that’s all you need to remember, and I’m sure he feels nothing in regard to how they feel.” She reached up slowly and placed a soothing hand on the side of Zylah’s face, chasing the magical essence of her orb change like usual. “I know what Merikh is like. He’s grumpy and short-tempered, but I love him all the same, no matter what anyone else says. You have to face that, too, but you also have to accept that they have every right to be angry at him.”

Zylah wanted to pull on her antlers in frustration because she knew all that, yet it did nothing to stop the tears threatening to float from her.

“Zylah?” a soft voice meekly called.

The settling fur on her back instantly puffed once more, and she turned her head to the side to look at Delora through one orb. Clutching the skirt of her white gown, the female’s brows were furrowed so tightly her forehead had pinched.

“I’m really sorry,” Delora stated and nibbled at her lips. “So are they. They didn’t mean to upset you, so please don’t leave.”

“We all have concerns,” Magnar said at her back as he placed a hand on her curvy hip. “We just want the best for you.”

Zylah considered facing away and ignoring them. It was only because Raewyn petted the side of her head soothingly that she gained the will to turn around fully.

She remained a safe distance from all of them.

“I understand he has hurt you all very deeply, and I am sorry that he has,” Zylah stated loud enough so everyone could hear, since the others were collected a few feet behind them. “But Jabez has given up on his war. He even entered the city he sought to destroy just to protect me.” Then she gripped her elbow and let her shoulders turn inwards. “Jabez wouldn’t bond with me until he told me everything, and even then... he didn’t want to because he was worried about how I would feel later. He thinks of himself as a monster for what he has done, but he had his reasons for doing it. I accepted all that because I love him, and because he is kind to me. I know it is difficult to hear, but we are bonded now, and even if I could undo it, I know I never would.”

“We’re not angry with you.” Reia ran her fingers through her blonde hair, before scratching at the side of her head in obvious annoyance. “We just... we don’t know if we can ever forgive him for what he’s done.”

“He doesn’t want your forgiveness,” Zylah stated with a saddened laugh, knowing that was the truth.

“You have to understand,” Raewyn interjected from her side, “Jabez has been through a lot, and much of that is our fault. I’m sure understanding his past from before he even came to Earth would do little in assuaging your anger, but there is a reason as to why he was so set on destroying us, and why he would do anything to achieve it.”

“Just because someone has trauma or whatever, doesn’t excuse his behaviour,” Mayumi stated from afar. “We also don’t have to accept it.”

Raewyn’s lips tightened. “That’s true.”

“But...” Mayumi continued, letting out a sigh as she looked up at the feline Mavka’s skull. “We will try our hardest to keep how we feel to ourselves.”

“Just know that if he turns on us, it will not bode well,” Faunus stated with a quiet growl.

“He won’t,” Zylah stated confidently.

“We don’t want you to feel uncomfortable,” Delora said as she looked at her beseechingly. “None of us hold anything negative towards you, and we’ve all been wanting to see you and meet you as you are now.”

“Please don’t let what’s happened stop you from speaking with us,” Reia added. “We really are sorry. We just... we weren’t expecting it, and we weren’t prepared.”

“I don’t want him near Kevin,” Orpheus grumbled as he folded his arms and let out a huff through his nose hole.

“No, but I think we have to accept that for today,” Reia said with a broken smile.

“At least you only have one to keep an eye on,” Faunus stated, rolling his head to the side. “Bitey likes to run off now that they’re bigger.”

“Would you like to meet them properly?” Mayumi offered to Zylah, although she shot Delora a wary look. “Every Duskwalker we’ve met has been curious about seeing what they looked like when they were babies.”

“Maybe I can show you around my home,” Delora interjected with a hopeful smile. “There will be a lot of us shortly, and we can talk and get to know each other better before everyone arrives.”

“That’d allow me to go home and get changed,” Reia stated as she looked down at her dress. “It won’t take me long. We’ll probably be around fifteen or so minutes if Orpheus runs really fast. I can bring some food over for lunch as well, and maybe some lemon for tea?”

“I’m fine how I am,” Mayumi said, throwing her arms to the side. “I can talk to Raewyn outside so you can speak privately. I’m interested in learning about Elves and what your world is like.”

Zylah’s muscles eased at the change of energy and conversation, and the cold, aching twist in her chest unwound. Even her orbs reverted to their normal teal as she drifted her gaze over them all. It did appear like they really were trying , and that was all she could ask for.

They didn’t have to like him. All they had to do was just quietly accept his presence for her sake. If they could do that, then Zylah could try her hardest as well.

“I do have one request, though,” Reia stated with her lips pouting as she glanced up at the brightening sky with a devious look. “And it’ll require the use of my sword, although I think he’s fast enough to not get hurt.”

“If you’re thinking what I think you are, then I want in on it,” Mayumi said with a mischievous grin curling her lips. “It’d be fun to play with Jabez a little, and it’ll let us know if he truly is harmless.”

Zylah rumbled out a half-hearted growl before it immediately died.

So long as it wouldn’t hurt him, she knew anything they did or threatened would only make him chuckle. He’d likely taunt them. She’d seen him do this to the councilmembers on the odd occasion she went with him, and even if she didn’t understand a word they said, she knew when his grin was mean and cheeky.

“If you tell me what it is, I’ll consider it,” Zylah stated with a sigh.

If it makes them hate him less...

And... he did say he didn’t care what they did or thought of him.