A Soul to Embrace (Duskwalker Brides #8)

Chapter 5

With his lips flat and somewhat pursed, Jabez looked down at the pair of swords barely an inch from either side of his throat. A frown marred his features, but it was mainly out of surprise, as he’d just teleported the second twin and his bride, Gideon, into Magnar’s ward.

To his right stood a very short woman with a light, fawny complexion and black hair tied into a high ponytail. Her brown eyes were furrowed into measured stoicism, and her sword didn’t even tremble, like it was merely an extension of herself. He noted her adorable little hunter’s outfit.

To his left, a pale woman with straight, blonde hair glared at him, her forest-green eyes filled with complete and utter loathing. Her pink upper lip was curled on one side, but unlike the other woman, her sword was unsteady. She wore a simple light-pink summery dress with a brown girdle and matching boots.

His ears perked up and a quiet chuckle rumbled from him as he tilted down towards the blonde. Right before her sword could pierce the flesh of his throat, he turned incorporeal, and the sharp blade went straight through his intangible, ghostly body.

“Hello, Reia,” he greeted with a malicious, fang-filled grin. “I would say it’s nice to see you, but the hatred in your eyes tells me you wish I would turn physical around this sword.”

“You have some nerve showing your face here,” Reia bit out. “You should have known this would happen.”

He twisted his head in an intentionally creepy fashion. “I wouldn’t be here if I was given a choice.” Then he stood and eyed the height-challenged woman to his right. “I remember you. Quite the swordswoman. You fought a group of Demonslayers rather gracefully.”

“You’re lucky we both held back at Delora and Zylah’s request,” the woman stated with an air of indifference. “Otherwise, we would have swung and cut off your head.”

He lifted his red eyes towards the crimson orbs of Orpheus and Faunus, who both held Mavka younglings. Faunus held three, from what he could tell, whereas Orpheus had his hands cupped underneath a single one.

“Well, as fun as this is, I’m more afraid of Merikh than you two put together, and he is awaiting my return. We can resume in just a moment.” With that, he stepped out of range of their swords, turned physical, and teleported back to Merikh.

Bright sunlight made him hiss, and he quickly placed his sun barrier spell over his body, but it did little to save his eyes from the way it reflected hot-white light off the pools of water.

“Took you long enough,” Merikh stated with annoyance, before reaching his wrist out when Jabez approached. “Don’t tell me you’re getting tired. Is that sweat on your forehead?”

Jabez rubbed the back of his hand against his temple, surprised to find the Mavka was right and there was perspiration.

“Everyone wants a piece of me today,” he stated with a tired sigh, already fed up with the threats.

“Orpheus and Faunus?”

“They looked murderous, but no. Their brides.” He cocked his head at Merikh as he touched his arm. “Did you know they have younglings?”

Their conversation was seamless as Jabez teleported them both to Magnar’s ward – but away from where the two humans had just tried to corner him.

“No, but I’m not surprised,” Merikh said, before he headed straight for Raewyn and Lehnenia to check in on them.

Jabez skirted around the growing crowd of Mavka and their annoying brides to meet Zylah, who was already heading for him. He could feel multiple stares of orbs and eyes following him warily, but he mentally shrugged. He’d prepared himself for this.

“Are you okay?” Zylah cupped him underneath his jaw to lift his head back. With the way she tipped his head side to side and sniffed at the air, he knew she was checking to make sure he was uninjured.

“You’re forgetting who I am,” Jabez muttered, since the way she was holding his jaw kept him from talking properly. “I saw them coming from a mile away, but I think it’s best if I let everyone get their anger out and face it head-on.”

“I wish they wouldn’t,” Zylah grumbled with a small growl, before it came out as a sigh. “But I think you’re right, and they did ask me if they could do it.”

He cocked one of his brows. “And you let them?”

She chittered and her orbs flared orange. “You said you didn’t care what they did.”

He couldn’t help the way his lips curled at his mate being naughty like this. “It’s fine. I’ve faced much worse.” They both naturally reached out a hand to each other so they could intertwine their fingers. She needed his touch as much as he needed the reminder of why he was putting up with all this bullshit. “How are they treating you?”

“Good,” she admitted, her orbs shifting into a reddish pink. “They questioned me about you, and then tried to tell me about all the awful things you’ve done, as if I didn’t already know.”

His lips curled with tenderness at that. “I bet they were surprised when you didn’t care.”

She turned her head to the side with a huff, her way of pouting. “A little.”

“Oi!” Merikh yelled across multiple heads, catching everyone’s attention. “Get over here. Lehnenia needs protection from the sun.”

His gaze drifted over the multiple people between himself and Merikh. Well, I’m not walking through that. As much as excessively using his magic was beginning to weigh on him because these Mavka were damn heavy , he dipped his head in their direction. Zylah nodded at his silent question, and he teleported her with him to Merikh’s side.

Standing in the shade of a tree with Raewyn, Jabez balanced on the balls of his feet as he crouched down to the little demonling who held her mother’s hand. He placed his palm on top of her white hair, and she giggled as he patted it while giving her a sun barrier.

“Alright, come here,” he said in Nyl’kira so she understood, stepping back further into the sunlight while still crouched.

She shook her head and pressed herself against Raewyn’s leg.

“It’s alright, Lehnenia,” he reassured, wiggling his hands in the sunlight. “See? I’m perfectly fine.”

She fisted her light-orange dress with her other hand as tears brimmed in her eyes. “But I don’t want to burn. It hurts.”

“You won’t. Remember, I’m all-powerful and magnificent.” He gave her a wink, and her full lips pouted in cute distrust.

“It’s okay, sweetie,” Raewyn said, pulling their connected arms forward without actually forcing the demonling. “You won’t get hurt.”

She lifted her big, round red eyes up to the woman. “Promise?”

“Promise.”

Lehnenia flicked her eyes down to Jabez’s awaiting palms and tentatively reached out. She withdrew her hands the moment sunlight touched them, only to bring them right back when she wasn’t burned by it. She stepped forward, braving the light, and giggled when it didn’t hurt. She ran for him and held his biceps before looking up.

The moment she began to squint, he had to quickly cover her eyes. “Don’t look directly into the sun. I can protect your skin from burning, but the light will mess with your eyes.”

“Okie,” she said, lowering her head.

Now that his task was completed, Jabez stood and faced Zylah, only to notice those behind her. He paused at the multiple people who had witnessed the interaction. He had no idea why his cheeks and ears heated in embarrassment, but he averted his gaze to the side when they all looked... shocked that he could be caring towards another.

Jabez was aware he was the most monstrous thing here, despite his handsome features. He’d long ago accepted that truth about himself.

For fuck’s sake. She’s a child. They were assuming the worst in him.

“You ready to collect the last piece?” Jabez asked Merikh, wanting away from these people.

The big, burly Mavka was quick to look away. “Yes.”

At least this one shouldn’t know me.

This wouldn’t be a battle Jabez would have to face, but an emotional one Merikh would have to deal with on his own. Especially as Jabez doubted he’d lean on him for support.

Whatever. I’ll be there for him if he needs it.

That’s what a friend was supposed to do, right?

Although Zylah had allowed Reia and Mayumi to corner Jabez how they did, she felt entirely different after seeing it.

She grumbled as she moved closer to Raewyn, seeking to calm herself by being at the familiar female’s side. She watched the four newcomers greet those they already knew, and they were all accepted into the fold without hesitation.

Two of them look... familiar.

At least, the little human’s red hair looked familiar, and she did remember meeting the raven-skulled Mavka briefly. However, her memory of that time was really foggy, as it was before Jabez helped her gain so much humanity.

She eyed the only male human, who wore a large grin on his face as he patted Orpheus’ back.

After leaving for a short while, both Reia and Orpheus had returned wearing different clothing. Orpheus now wore a black button-up shirt with matching pants and boots, while Reia wore a light-blue dress with some kind of wide brown belt thing.

Even Delora had changed, and she wore a grey dress similar to Reia’s, and had donned a pair of black flats on her feet. Magnar wore pants and a shirt, but the shoes he wore were similar to the ones Jabez had procured for her.

His five toes looked like hooves, and she bet they’d be uncomfortable in a pair of boots.

The only other Mavka to wear anything was Faunus, although he did so begrudgingly. He’d complained as he donned a pair of black pants that had been given to him by Magnar. They looked uncomfortable on him, since they stretched over his rump too tightly, while his long feline tail had been threaded through a slit in the back.

The new Mavka with large, feathered wings tilted back to look past the others with his bat-skull turned to them. His wings puffed and flared wide. On bird-like legs, he immediately ran over to them while holding the hand of the human male and unwittingly dragging him along.

“Raewyn!” he called, his orbs flaring bright yellow in joy.

As if her presence had only just been noticed properly, the raven-skulled, lizard-bodied Mavka jerked in their direction. He ran over as well, bumping into Magnar in the process like he couldn’t get to them fast enough.

“We heard you were here,” the raven-skulled one said when he was right in front of them.

“Aleron,” Raewyn greeted warmly to the winged one, before turning in the other’s general direction by following the sound of his voice. “And Ingram. It’s so nice to meet you both again.”

“Do you remember Gideon?” Aleron asked, pulling forward the human so he was in front of him. Zylah thought this must be his bride, since Aleron had a floating flame soul between his twisting goat horns.

Zylah noted his green eyes, his tanned, chiselled features, and his orange-brown hair and how it was messily brushed back. This male also had muscles that flexed. Perhaps not as much as her own mate’s, but he looked strong for such a little creature.

His face has little hairs on it like Jabez gets after a few days without shaving. The stubble wasn’t very noticeable, but she always found the texture scratchy and nice against the bone of her snout. She wondered if his Mavka felt the same way.

“Of course I do,” Raewyn answered. “It wasn’t that long ago you both came to Lezekos City in order to gain permission to speak with the Gilded Maiden.”

“You’re still as tall as I remember,” Gideon chuckled, smiling so brightly that a set of dimples dented his tanned cheeks. Then he crouched down to one knee and rested an arm across the padded leather covering it. “And this must be little Lehnenia.”

The demonling’s eyes widened as she pointed a claw at his face and bounced up and down while looking up at Raewyn. He placed his hand out, and Lehnenia rushed to touch his palm before slapping it a few times. She sucked in an overly animated gasp of wonder.

“That’s right. Last time I was a Ghost,” he stated with a chuckle.

“Raewyn, this is my bride, Emerie,” Ingram said as he gestured at the female who calmly came to his side. “She has bright-orange hair and blue eyes. She looks like a butterfly.”

Raewyn laughed at that. “I don’t know what a butterfly is, Ingram.”

He grunted, his head rearing back, then grumbled a moment later as he scratched at the scales of his neck awkwardly. The tip of his long, spiked tail curled with emotion against the ground.

Raewyn smiled as she said, “But it’s nice to meet you, Emerie. Ingram and Aleron were so friendly towards me when I first met them. I bet they make you and Gideon both very happy.”

“I’ve heard all about you,” Emerie said with a warm smile, while darting her blue eyes to Zylah. “And I guess we’re meeting again properly for the first time, Zylah.”

Her shoulders lifted, as if she wanted to recede into herself bashfully. “I’m really sorry, but I don’t remember you well.”

She drifted her sight over the webbed scarring on the left side of Emerie’s face, and the freckles on the other side. She took in the colour of her eyes, her light complexion, and her toned muscles, trying her hardest to remember such features. She hated that they remained a blur, no matter how hard she stared.

“That’s okay,” Emerie said with an awkward, shaky laugh. “You kind of gave me and Ingram a fright last time, though.”

Her sight flared bright orange, and she cupped her hands to her stomach. “I did?”

Emerie waved her hand up and down dismissively. “It’s fine. It all worked out in the end.” She drew her eyes down Zylah’s body, looking over her and the teal Elven dress she wore. “I’m really glad you’re doing well. Last time, you lacked a lot of humanity, so I never got the chance to speak to you.”

“I’m Gideon, by the way. I’m Emerie’s brother,” he greeted, as he offered his hand out, and she was thankful she now understood this custom. Zylah went to clasp his hand. When she had a firm grip, his eyes glinted with humour as he said, “Please don’t shake me headfirst into the ground. That’s happened far too many times.”

She did it softly, and his smile grew once more.

Ingram also shoved his palm out, although much more excitedly, and his grip was strong as he shook hands with Zylah.

“Me next!” Aleron called, his feathered wings flaring in excitement while his pink orbs changed to yellow to reflect that.

A laugh slipped from Zylah as she grew more comfortable with the greeting, and she did it with him as well. These Mavka are nice. But why did she get the sense that they... didn’t have as much humanity as her?

They seemed rather giddy and loud, and lacked any reservation with a stranger. Or maybe that was just how they were. She was curious about their pink and purple orb colours, though, since those emotions were startling ones she only felt with Jabez. It was actually remarkably uncomfortable to have such hues on her, despite being able to tell it was just their natural orb colours.

“Sooo,” Emerie sung, her lips thinning as she placed her hands behind her back and rocked back and forth on her feet. “You bonded with Jabez, huh?”

“Yes?” Zylah answered in a low tone.

She threw her hands up defensively. “All good. Just curious and wanted to air it out. He and Merikh already told us, so I don’t see any point in saying anything about it.” Then she gave a cringing grin as she said, “You’re not mad I blew him up... right?”

“That was you?!” Zylah exclaimed.

The woman gave an empty laugh as she threaded her fingers through the side of her long, wavy hair. “Yeah. I think it happened not long after we met, actually.”

“Reia, Delora, Emerie, and the Witch Owl all went to his castle without us,” Ingram stated with an annoyed grumble. “We were not pleased.”

Emerie averted her gaze to the side coyly. “I’m surprised he survived, if I’m being honest.”

“I saved him,” Zylah admitted.

The female froze, and her eyes grew wide. “What?”

“I don’t remember much, but I remember chasing a bright light and the pain of healing him after I took him to my burrow. It’s how I met him.”

The moment the words fell from Zylah, she wondered if she should be telling them this. She shrugged. It was the truth, and what had happened.

She remembered how her limbs had nibbled away bit by bit as she regrew his, how her fur had fallen out as blisters bubbled. The only thing that had pushed her forward through the agony was she could see her efforts fixing him – Zylah was learning she was rather stubborn. She’d been hoping he’d be thankful enough to stay and ease her loneliness.

Everything else had been forgotten, but she remembered those things.

“Oh,” Emerie mumbled, her expression twisting into anguish before softening, and she lifted her face to Zylah with a strange smile. “I guess you met him because of us then.” That smile turned mischievous and playful as she said, “You’re welcome.”

A small laugh came from Zylah, and her orbs shifted to bright yellow. I like her. She liked Gideon, too, since he’d managed to get Lehnenia’s trust enough to pick her up and let her babble to him incoherently in another language.

“Hey, Zylah,” Reia called, making her gaze slip over their shoulders.

“Yes?”

“Delora and I are going to prepare some food. Want to help us?” The female offered a smile as she walked over with her hands behind her back. “Delora’s too shy to say what she actually wants, but I think she’d like some help picking out food from her garden.”

Her sight darted to Delora to find she’d covered her face in embarrassment. Her ears were pink, and her shoulders were turned in self-consciously, much how Zylah’s often did.

After the negative conversation that happened earlier, Reia and Mayumi had been trying to rectify it by being overly friendly with her. She didn’t know if they were putting on an act to appease her, or if this was just the way they were. The fact they were trying did mean much, though, and she was thankful they were going out of their way for her.

And... Zylah also found it easier to forgive Reia due to the conversation she’d had with Rook about her and Orpheus. The fact that Reia was so accepting and kind to a Demon Zylah had come to care for, and Rook adored her in return, made her think Reia was a good person.

Zylah understood why they were angry, but their past wasn’t her future. She hoped they could one day shed their pain and come to know Jabez as she did – especially as she thought they would actually get along, from what she’d seen of them in the last few hours.

Reia and Mayumi fed off each other, while both picked on their Mavka and everyone else freely. Although Zylah had been confused by it at first, she did occasionally have the urge to laugh when the males were annoyed. It reminded her of how Jabez liked to tease her, and she was glad she understood that.

It was also teaching Zylah she could do the same thing in return to him and it may not be taken as terribly as she thought. The males often huffed and grumbled while throwing their skulls around as if they were annoyed, but their tones afterwards held the mildest, fond chuckles as if they secretly enjoyed it.

The males also weren’t as bad as they first came across.

Orpheus was a little prickly, but it reminded her of Merikh and Jabez. He was the wariest male of them all, and seemed to be the most protective of his bride and new youngling.

If he wasn’t found at Delora’s side, Magnar was often found at Orpheus’, as if he sought his company the most.

Faunus, on the other hand, was loud and boisterous.

He laughed a lot and picked on his bride, who was quick to do so back. He even let Lehnenia hold his forearm as he lifted her off the ground. The little demonling had enjoyed that a lot, squealing as she kicked her feet and asked him to do it repeatedly.

After a while, Magnar had taken over with bright-yellow orbs and a quiet laugh. Even Orpheus let her have a go, but only after he handed Kevin to Reia – who had apparently been the one to give the youngling such a strange name.

Raewyn had been nervous at first about letting the other Mavka play with Lehnenia, but it was obvious she was just happy to know her daughter was having fun and being comfortable. Zylah also thought she may just appreciate that they were being so willing to accept her despite Lehnenia being a Demon, and they had all been very welcoming to Raewyn.

The more they brought Raewyn and Lehnenia into their conversations – especially Mayumi, Reia, and Delora, who were trying the hardest – the more Zylah liked them. Their first meeting had been awkward, but their open acceptance of people who were becoming dear to her made her feel better.

“Go on,” Raewyn whispered behind her, urging her forward. “Spend some time with Delora.”

Zylah grumbled. “Okay. I will help.”

“Really?” Delora rasped, her hands falling from her face to look up at Zylah approaching.

“I do not know what to do, though,” Zylah admitted, her chest tightening with anxiety, but she pushed through it regardless.

Somehow, her conversation with Emerie had managed to make her feel more comfortable about interacting with everyone personally. The bold female almost killed Zylah’s mate before she would’ve even got the chance to meet him, and yet Emerie didn’t loudly cast out any negative feelings she may harbour.

Then again, she’d been prepared by meeting Jabez before meeting Zylah today. She wondered if that had made it easier for her to accept her bond with him.

“That’s okay. I can show you,” Delora offered.

“Alright, let’s go,” Reia said as she placed her hand on the small of both their backs.

The touch made Zylah flinch forward in surprise, and whether Reia noticed or not was unknown to her. She also lifted her arms, since the little female surprisingly had quite a lot of strength as she pushed them forward.

They made it about three steps when Reia paused and turned.

“What was that, Mayumi? You need me for something?”

Mayumi swung around with a frown on her face before her eyes flicked up to Zylah. She smiled in a strange way, then looked at Reia. “Oh. Yeah. Can you come with me for a moment?”

The interaction was odd.

Reia walked off towards Mayumi, and Zylah’s head jerked, realising she hadn’t even heard the other woman call to her. Perhaps she just missed it, since she didn’t see any other reason as to why Reia would leave like that. She didn’t even give them notice.

Delora let out a cough, and Zylah turned her attention back to her... mother . Her cheeks were pink, and her brown eyes hinted at shyness. “So... the garden?”

She waved in the direction of the back of her home, and Zylah begrudgingly went that way. Just as they were passing the porch, Delora swiped up a basket sitting there that she’d brought out after changing. New people had arrived and interrupted whatever she’d been intending to do.

Delora had shown her around before, but their earlier conversation had been mostly quiet and awkward.

The shy woman had filled in as much of it as she could by telling Zylah of what she’d been like as a youngling, but she couldn’t help feeling disconnected from it. She was still struggling to accept this bond, as she didn’t remember living any of those memories with her. She also felt very little towards her, as if something was broken within her mind or heart and she couldn’t figure out how to fix it.

She could almost... taste the human’s sadness.

Although Delora was trying to hide it, she wasn’t very successful. Her expressions often gave away that she was disheartened by Zylah’s behaviour, no matter how much she tried to offer her broken smiles.

But, out of everyone, Zylah trusted her the most. She also found her the hardest to be around.

Her sight landed on the bright image that had been painted on the side of the house, depicting things she didn’t understand despite already receiving answers. Apparently Zylah had clung to her chest as she finished painting it, or often played through the garden around her feet.

The unicorn, with a bright rainbow above it, stood majestically in the middle of a field, and there was a waterfall to the left of it. Zylah had never seen a horse, let alone this mythical creature, but at least the background was pretty and easy for her to understand.

They approached a tree just on the opposite side of the garden’s fence.

“I think some apples would be a nice start,” Delora said as she reached for one of the hanging red bulbs.

Her fingertips just lightly grazed its bumpy, uneven bottom. As she made to jump, Zylah easily grabbed the apple and handed it to her.

Delora gave her a tender smile. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she responded, before obtaining a second.

She placed it in the human’s palm, and the backs of her fingers brushed against the inside of it. The task may have been menial, but Zylah found herself enjoying it. It was better than standing there in uncomfortable silence with each other.

A sweet scent fluttered over her as she moved around the tree and picked fruit. Looking up as she reached for another, she hesitated to give it to Delora. To inspect it, Zylah caressed its hard red skin with the pad of her thumb and claw.

“This smells like you,” Zylah muttered, refusing to look at her because she knew it would make her uneasy about admitting it. “You also smell cold, like peppermint or spearmint.”

“Magnar says the same thing,” Delora croaked in a trembling voice.

Zylah handed the fruit over. “It’s... comforting. I like the way you smell.”

I like Magnar’s scent too. She didn’t know what he smelt like, only that it was sweet, but also felt protective.

They hadn’t been around each other much yet, but he always followed Delora like he was her shadow. He often scratched at the side of his bony fox snout, and he appeared just as unsure about Zylah as she was about him.

She kind of liked that, as it made him more relatable to her. Was he struggling to deal with this bond in the same way she was? He did appear more comfortable as he approached her to string up an awkward conversation, whereas Zylah was just being avoidant.

The tang of salt rose into the air, and her sight shifted from the apple Delora was holding to her face. The wet track of a lone tear going down her left cheek caught Zylah’s attention, and others swirled unshed in her mother’s brown eyes.

Zylah chittered nervously as her orbs shifted reddish pink in embarrassment. Just as she went to step back and retreat, unsure of how she’d upset her, Delora reached her hand out halfway.

Her lips trembled as she tried to curl them into a smile. “Can I... can I please hug you?”

Zylah’s first instinct was to reject her, but something about her frowning, beseeching expression had her halting.

“Okay,” she answered with a light nod.

Delora put the apple in her basket and placed it on the ground. Then she slowly, almost gingerly, came forward as if she didn’t want to spook Zylah, who tried to ignore the way her fur puffed in aversion.

Yet, the moment the little human wrapped her arms around her narrow waist, warmth bled into her and soothed her fur. Delora was soft, her wide body moulding around the lithe hardness of her own, and her scent felt reassuring and protective.

Delora gave a sob when Zylah placed her arms across her back and held her in return. She did so properly, leaning into the embrace when tenderness swelled in her chest.

This... feels nice.

“I missed you so much,” Delora said around tears. “We were so worried for you when you suddenly grew and wanted to leave, but we knew we had to let you go. Thank you for coming back, even if it’s only for a little while.”

Unsure of how to respond, Zylah said nothing.

She could tell in Delora’s trembling form that she needed this more than anything. Zylah just held her mother tightly until she was ready to let go, even when it went on for too long.

Maybe she needed this too.

“Can I join in?” a masculine, deep voice asked from behind.

Zylah spooked but didn’t let Delora go as she lifted her head to Magnar. He was scratching at the side of his snout while it was pointed up and away, and his orbs were a bright reddish pink.

The fact he looked embarrassed, but had gained the courage to ask anyway, was one of the reasons she agreed. The other was because she enjoyed hugging Delora so much, she wondered if it would feel deeper if her father joined in.

There was only one way to test that.

Delora’s sobs grew louder when he came up behind his bride and hugged her from behind, while his arms wrapped around Zylah’s ribcage. His hold was loose, but tight enough to squeeze the little female between them. He gave a purr as he rubbed the top of Delora’s dark hair with the side of his snout.

Zylah’s sight blackened as a radiant ache swirled in her centre.

I like this too.

She liked the way they smelt together, and that their touch didn’t feel foreign.