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“I-I know,” she offered, giving him a broken smile. “I wouldn’t want my thoughts shared either, to be honest.”

He nodded, thankful she understood, before looking up at the ceiling. The streaks of sunlight were dim, revealing the day was late but not yet over.

I’m not sleeping as long as I did the first time.He received only a few hours, like any normal Mavka. He sat back on his tail, and hollow feelings grew in his gut.I cannot ask this of her for much longer.

Her gaze darted away nervously, and he palmed his fucking face because she heard it. She was choosing not to comment on it for his sake, as if she didn’t hear his thoughts, but he saw little point to it.

“Just ask,” he stated with a grumble, licking at the inside of his maw in irritation.

Her features lifted to him with appreciation. “Why? I don’t mind doing this for you.”

“Because I cannot sleep the day away and keep you from doing the things you wish. There is little to do in my cave, and you miss the sun when you help me rest.”

I do not want to keep her in the dark.Linh should glimmer in the light, and not be snuffed out within his cold, watery cave.

“Maybe I could do this in the afternoons instead, then?” she asked as she knelt. She fiddled with the sewn-on leaves of her pink dress.

I am surprised she chose to wear this today, after last time.Once more, he cringed, knowing she likely heard that. “It looks nice on you. I am glad to see you trust me while you’re in it.” Then, before she could speak on it, as he’d only commented on her choice of clothing to reassure her, he said, “The afternoons may be better. Once the sun goes down.”

She nodded, but in general, just looked weirdly awkward seated before him. Her heart was even racing, as if ahummingbird had taken flight within it.Is she uncomfortable with my voice?

“No!” she exclaimed, shoving her hands up. “I’m just... I’m not used to it.” She self-consciously tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear. “It’s really nice. Husky and smooth. I expected it to be deeper, and kind of...”

“Monstrous?” he asked with a chuckle, and her shoulders turned inwards. “It was much different before I died. It was deeper, growlier, and even my mother struggled to decipher what I was trying to say.”

Even Aleron’s voice was scratchy when he spoke to me.That bat-skulled Mavka had been very pushy to talk, without knowing it just hadn’t been possible. He’d climbed all over Nathair before eventually giving up to just lie next to him with his feathered wing resting over Nathair’s coiled-up form.

Aleron had been seeking comfort in his new life in Tenebris, and Nathair willingly allowed it – rather than rushing into the lake to be alone.

“It’s nice,” she complimented.

Says the female who puts me to sleep with a song.He grunted and scratched at the side of his neck in annoyance.

“Do...” he started, lowering his arm to wave at her with his claws facing upwards. “Do you always sing the same song?”

Whenever she started, a numbness rode within, and everything became inaudible. All he registered was her scent and the melodic cry of her voice changing in pitch. It always sounded beguiling, like she could tame even the wildest of animals with it.

“No. Sometimes it’s different.” She shrugged. “My parents used to sing to me when I was little, but they weren’t really lullabies. I just sing whatever comes to me, and when I can’t think of anything, I just make up my own song.”

I see.No matter, they all had the same impact.

“I’ll be honest,” she mumbled, rubbing her arms as if a chill had crept over her. She looked away, avoiding meeting his gaze. “It makes me miss home whenever I sing to you.”

He tilted his head at that. “It does?”

Nathair wished he’d known that sooner. He would have been less inclined to have her sing to him if it made it more difficult to gain her affections.

“I would have sung to you regardless,” she stated, as if she’d picked up the stray thought. “It helps you, and... I want to give back for all you have done for me.”

Nathair didn’t know what to think, nor to say.

He had no soothing words, nothing that could make her feel better. He could offer her a condescending head pat, but that was beneath him. He didn’t intend to do anything that could incidentally convince her to leave, but he also refused to pressure her to stay.

Their relationship was built on the foundation of nothingness, because therehadto be nothingness from his side. No pressure, no devious plot – at least not yet. She needed to feel in control, without realising she had very little of it.

He didn’t think this form of manipulation was evil, considering his intention behind it was pure-hearted. Or, rather, had become so.

I want her soul.And that wasn’t a decision he’d made lightly. He wanted all the feelings that came with it, and all the affection he hoped to give, as well as receive.