A soul to guide duskwalk.., p.27
A Soul to Guide: Duskwalker Brides: Book Four, page 27
Whatever the case may be, it was fraying his nerves.
He liked being in control of his desires, or just himself, until he decided to let his aggressive instincts take control. This? This he wasn’t accustomed to, this he didn’t know how to navigate, and he didn’t know if he particularly liked it.
Merikh had no interest in obtaining a bride. He’d rather not wish for things he couldn’t have, because if he were being honest with himself, what idiot would agree to bond with him? Putting aside the fact he was hateful and spiteful, he was a Duskwalker, for pity’s sake.
He was a monster – deemed ugly, disgusting, and despicable by every sentient creature, humans and Demons alike.
He wouldn’t start feeding those fantasies when only a fool would think it was possible, especially with such a bewitching female. He was sure the moment they were in her realm, she’d stop becoming aroused in his presence when she had her own kind to fornicate with.
After meeting two of them – her and Jabez – he was under the impression they were all pretty fuckers. Why would she choose him when there were better options?
He didn’t want to be a masturbatory tool for a selfish Elf who had no idea how her actions might be hurtful to those who had given up hope. He’d given up on the idea of friendship, lust, love, or anything pleasant at all.
Huffing deeply, Merikh pulled back his cock to release it from the lovely press of her thighs, hoping it would go soft now that it was no longer trapped. His tentacles pulled out of her, and she gave a mewl that made him growl in frustration when his cock jerked in excitement.
I need to calm down. He removed his hand from under her dress and placed it against the tree. The other let go of her dress so he couldn’t see her supple, round arse anymore.
Raewyn didn’t turn around, instead choosing to rest her entire upper body against the tree trunk. Her contentment only infuriated him more.
At least he hadn’t killed or harmed her. He needed her to escape this vile world, so something truly positive had come from this.
He still couldn’t believe they’d done this with Demons possibly close by.
However, salvation was on the horizon. Maybe if he stopped touching her, stopped having to be anywhere near her, her pestering arousal and his own would cease. They were too familiar, constantly in each other’s presence.
Once they were in his home, he could finally have some space, some semblance of normalcy.
She ran away from me.
That was something that made his cock soften and caused his orbs to shift to blue – a colour he was used to seeing.
It was to be expected, really, but it just made him unable to truly trust her. They’d made a deal; he would help her get home, and he’d been planning to adhere to that promise. Merikh didn’t often make bargains with others because he had a weird compulsion to submit to them.
Perhaps, in their own way, even verbal contracts were something Duskwalkers were stuck obeying. Their magic was completely built on sacrifices and bargains.
Yet, when given the choice, Raewyn had opted to fuck off into the forest. Not only that, she’d chosen to do so with his sight! She’d attempted to steal from him.
Even if he understood why, it didn’t negate the fact it would have made him vulnerable in a world where he had no one to turn to. He couldn’t turn to anyone for help, for guidance – whereas she could at least turn to a human.
He had no one, even with his glamour.
Merikh likely would have found himself dead within a week’s time, with the way Demons would hunt him. They’d faced eight on their travels since the moment they’d set off together.
Even if Raewyn appeared guileless, with her angel-like appearance and soft personality, she’d shown him today she could be just like every other despicable creature in this world: cruel, selfish, and untrustworthy.
Still in his monstrous form, he wrapped his hand around her throat and turned her enough so he could see her expression.
“How long have you known I can give you my sight?”
She’d only begun travelling with him in the beginning because she’d thought he was human, but what about when he’d revealed what he was? Did she always know and had been waiting for the perfect time to steal it from him? Had this been her intention all along, the reason she was being so obedient with him?
“Only today,” she answered in a small, raspy voice, broken from crying out so much.
It shouldn’t make his skin tighten with a thrill that he’d brought her to this sloppy state.
His orbs flared crimson. “Don’t lie.”
She gave a mewl and a shiver, and he tilted his head in confusion at her reaction.
“I’m not,” she whispered. “B-but I knew you could share your sight with me from the cave.”
“What do you mean?”
She licked at her lips nervously. “You... uh, when we were intimate in the cave, I was able to see everything from your perspective. Y-you didn’t give me your sight like today, just shared your own.”
Merikh’s gaze slipped to the side as he thought.
I had wanted to lend her my sight today. When he’d said it to her earlier, he’d truly meant it. What had I wanted last time?
It hit him.
Fuck. She’d looked so erotic beneath me that I wanted her to see how perverse she looked with my cock sliding over her.
So, he could do both? That was at least interesting to know. He generally discovered the capabilities of his magic through accidents, by deeply wanting something.
“Merikh...”
“What?” he bit, his settling quills lifting suddenly. He hadn’t liked the way she said his name, all soft and gentle.
“I’m really sorry,” she apologised in a small voice. “I don’t know what came over me.”
And just like that, the deliciously wicked scents in the air he’d been secretly huffing in became unpleasant, as did the wetness of her orgasms clumping the fur around his groin.
He let go of her, resisting the urge to toss her against the tree supporting her. He averted his gaze when the reddish pink of shame lifted into his orbs. He hadn’t had this many orb colour changes in years!
At least his tentacles had swirled protectively and pulled his cock back within his seam.
“It’s fine. I didn’t stop either.”
Raewyn finally turned, and in his peripheral, her brows drew together tightly in either deep thought or confusion – maybe even both. Then, her lips parted, and she fidgeted slightly, as though she was feeling bashful.
“Oh,” she said before wringing her hands together. “No, not that. This was fine. I wanted it. I mean I’m sorry about running away.”
Merikh grunted, unsure of how to respond. The petting was okay? What was he meant to make of that? She was just adding a deeper layer of confusion to the whole situation.
Raewyn’s head lowered. “Doing something like that... It’s not something I would usually do. It’s just...” She scratched at the side of her neck before toeing the ground. “I’ve spent the last six years trying to reverse the magic that took away my sight, and when I could see... something just came over me and I wanted to keep it. I’m really sorry. It must have been very upsetting for you.”
Must have been? It was upsetting, and he was still rightfully angry about it. He didn’t know if he could trust the words that just came from her pretty lips – the ones he’d just had his tongue delving between.
He was conflicted about them, and he scratched at his own neck. She was the second person who had ever apologised to him, but she may be the first he could forgive. He didn’t want to, though, as he wasn’t a very merciful creature.
“Whatever. It’s fine.”
“Please, I really mean it,” she said as she bounced forward to grab his arm.
“Don’t touch me!” he roared as he leapt away from her, causing her to stumble on her feet.
Her starburst eyes filled with tears, and he didn’t like the way it made his damn chest feel. Right now, his emotions were all over the place. He took in a deep, calming breath.
“Currently my quills are extended. Don’t try to grab at me when I’m in an agitated state.” Then, just for good measure so she understood, he added, “That also includes sexually.”
Raewyn had almost grabbed his arm, and with the way she’d been coming at him, she would have impaled both her hands. Although he could heal that kind of injury, he didn’t particularly want to walk around with bleeding hands – that’s if he didn’t eat her because of her blood scent.
When her face lifted in his direction, he averted his gaze once more when she appeared relieved.
“Give me a moment and I’ll revert to my normal form. Then I’ll be able to carry you into the Veil before a Demon comes.”
The sun was still bright, but they were just asking for trouble remaining in one spot much longer. He’d need to find where he left their bags.
“So, you forgive me?” she asked, a beseeching and pleading smile lifting her face – one that made it hard to deny.
He wasn’t sure if he’d forgiven her or not, but at least he discovered this kind of magic was something he could do. He wouldn’t make the same mistake twice, and she would have to know that.
“Sure,” he grumbled with uncertainty, just as his clothing seeped through his fur and covered his body once more. The change also soothed his quills and made his mind feel more composed. His voice had returned to normal when he said, “Why not?”
Raewyn tried not to scream as Merikh jumped from cliffside boulder to cliffside boulder – she really did. It was just every time her stomach dropped, she thought her heart was going to give out.
He was cradling her in his strong arms, and although she was secure within them, it didn’t stop her mind from thinking of the worst. One wrong move, one underestimated drop, and they’d go plummeting. He could even slip and toss her by accident.
“Control your fear,” he demanded when he landed on another boulder. “Even a small amount will attract Demons.”
“I’m trying!” she whined. “Are you sure there is no other way?”
Merikh leapt and spoke at the same time. “Not one that would be this fast. The next walking point is a three-hour walk from my home, so you would be travelling on the outskirts of the Veil’s forest for that long.”
Getting eaten by Demons or splattering against the ground – those were her options? At least I’ll probably die if I hit the ground. The idea of being eaten alive was horrifying.
“C-can you go slower?” He was barely giving her a moment to adjust to the next landing before he would run off the edge!
“We’re almost there. Stop your fussing.”
Then, just like that, they were at the bottom.
Merikh never entered the forest. He took them around the border towards the red glow she’d been able to see from above. The closer they got, the more she could make out what it was, hear the crashing of water.
Before them was a half-kilometre-tall magical dome with a multi-pointed star. There were two rings, one a border ring and the other one slightly further in, with star-like symbols encompassing it. There were other, smaller circles within the border rings.
It all glittered red.
The dome didn’t appear fully formed, since it was pressing against the cliffside, but she bet it went all the way through the rock to stop Demons from clawing their way in.
“Your magic is the same colour as your orbs?” Raewyn asked, already concluding his base orb colour was red.
“Yes. It’s the same for all Duskwalkers,” he answered plainly before he walked straight through the dome’s edge. “The fact that you can see it means you won’t accidentally wander out of it.”
Raewyn expected to feel a brush of coolness or at least something to signify that she passed through his ward, but nothing happened.
Like she was a hot coal he’d been holding for far too long, Merikh placed her on her feet. He backed up enough that the heat constantly radiating off him dissipated.
The handle of her cane gently tapped against the side of her wrist, and she grabbed it.
The air here was cool and fresh, like it was filled with condensation. Even the grass beneath her feet was soft and moist, and she dug her toes into it to explore the plush carpet of life.
“Be careful where you walk. I’m sure you can hear the waterfall, but there’s a large lake at the bottom of it that makes up two-thirds of the area.”
The waterfall’s soft melody wasn’t harsh or overbearing. It was just enough to create a pleasant background noise, like moderately heavy rainfall. Raewyn’s lids lowered as she listened, pleased.
“To your left are two trees with some boulders underneath them for you to sit on, if you choose to. To the right is the entrance of my cave.”
Her heart swelled. His home sounds pretty.
“Can you show me?” she softly asked, wanting to know if what she was picturing was right.
“No,” he flatly rejected.
Raewyn’s cheeks puffed outwards as she pouted. “Oh, come on. Please show me?”
His chuckle was dark, and it, along with his words, stung. “No. I don’t trust you.”
Maybe what she was asking for was too much after she’d tried to run away with it, but she really wanted to see! He was the only person, not just in this world but in so many others, who could actually give her a brief moment of sight. The least he could do was share it with her for just a second.
“I said I was sorry.” She turned to him with her hands on her hips, a little awkwardly with the one holding her cane.
“I forgave you, but it doesn’t mean I trust you. Those are two different things.”
With an internal groan, she grabbed at his shirt and pulled on what she thought was the front of it. She shook him.
“Just do it, you big cranky pants! You don’t even have to give it to me. You can show me through your perspective while keeping it to yourself.”
She was accustomed to him giving her light growls, so she ‘grrred’ him back this time. He let out a warm chuckle, and she stopped shaking him when her ears went hot. He really seemed to like it when she did that.
“Fine, here.”
He placed his massive hand on the top of her head, and Raewyn smiled as she waited. She kept her face pointing towards him, and after a few moments of him thinking – likely trying to figure out the spell – the first thing she saw was her own expression.
Raewyn looked like a mess. There were sticks and leaves in her hair, as well as a dirt smudge across her cheek. Holy maiden. I need a bath, immediately. I can’t believe he touched me like this!
Then, his sight drew away from her and spanned over the entire area.
The Veil looked spooky, despite the treetops glowing with the sun shining over them. It was far denser than the forest above, and the white mist made it appear haunted and dreary.
She could do nothing to change the focal point as he drew his gaze over the three boulders he’d spoken about earlier. They were between two trees relatively close together and weren’t far from the lake’s edge.
The water was a crystal-clear blue, clean and not muddy at all from what she could tell. Already, she wanted to go for a dip and scrub her body from head to toe. The water raining into it was frothy near the bottom, and it sprayed a mist over the water’s surface, seeming to blow into the Veil to make it more prominent through the trees.
Then, finally, the decently sized entrance of his home came into view. A cream burlap curtain was latched to it by loops and hooks to keep leaf debris from blowing inside. Although she couldn’t make out what it was, there was a charm hanging from the very centre of the rocky, round archway. It was purple, blue, and red, fluttering in the wind like ribbons.
The cliff wall here wasn’t straight; it had its own concave pattern before bulging out to the right, close to the entrance of his cave. She couldn’t see where the ward ended because of the wall that became convex there, especially with the small group of four or five trees.
They’d walked past those trees as they’d entered.
There, Merikh’s sight spun at a dizzying speed, making her stumble, as he twisted his head back to her. She hadn’t even realised he’d been looking over his back with ease, like a bird would, until he’d done that.
He removed his hand and the image of her woozy, greening face disappeared.
“There. Now, let’s go inside.”
Using her cane to tap against the ground, Raewyn followed him with no physical contact. She didn’t know why, but for the past week, whenever they weren’t touching, she could always tell where he was.
At least, not by any normal means; she still couldn’t hear his footsteps or breaths. It itched at her brain – being able to sense him like this was nagging at her.
Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the change. She just wanted to figure out why.
Before she could even ask, he placed his hand on top of her head again.
His home rushed into her vision, and Raewyn blinked rapidly in surprise. The entire process was disorientating, and the more he did it, the less she liked it.
“There isn’t much,” he commented as his gaze roamed.
She couldn’t help thinking he was just being modest. There was far more here than she’d been expecting.
Carved like an oval, the cave was long and deep, both ends having a curve to them rather than giving the room corners.
On the left was a chair covered in animal fur that looked surprisingly plush, far too big for her thin frame. At the very back was a bed that would have been completely circular if he hadn’t cut off the very top pressing against the wall. It looked kind of soft, with leather laid over it to hide what it was made of.
What really caught her attention, though, was everything to the right: two long shelves filled with leather-bound books and odd knick-knacks. She wouldn’t say the knick-knacks were cute, considering two of them were skulls, but some were large crystals.
