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“Why?”he asked, shaking his head as he turned his raven skull towards the guards. His orbs flared red.“I can just kill them.”

“I’d rather you didn’t,” she countered, as she grabbed the horn that still had the ornament she’d give him in preparation to leap.

He lowered himself just as she jumped to his back. A makeshift saddle, a special one just for him and his spikes, cushioned her.

She liked how it disappeared whenever he shifted into his more humanoid form. It was a neat trick.

“Go, Ingram! Before they see you.”

Hopefully with the distance, they just thought he was a horse or something. It was doubtful the guild would have shared that she hadn’t only deserted them but released a Duskwalker. They wouldn’t want to share their failure.

They were secretive for a reason.

Ingram, with an annoyed huff, galloped at his top speed. Within seconds, the town with a cornfield beside it disappeared from view. In minutes, he’d crossed over a wide and vast meadow, then up a sharp hill.

He veered to the left at the top and bolted along it before going right.

She knew the path he was taking, as they had taken it twice in the past. A little over a month ago, and then recently.

Looking at the back of his white skull and jutting goat horns, the smile that curled her lips was simply because where he was taking them was... sweet, and also adorable.

“Here is perfect,” she stated, patting his neck when he’d begun slowing down on his own.

He turned his head to the side, and bright yellow glowed from his orbs.

Emerie kicked her leg over and slid down the side of him, straight onto the soft, short grass. Butterflies had already lifted off in a small kaleidoscope, even before she laid back with a cheerful giggle.

One that only got louder when he fell to his front, with his skull plopping sideways across her abdomen.

“Well, that was fun,” she laughed.

“That is the second time you have been chased from a town, Emerie,” he grumbled, even though his orbs remained bright yellow.

“Guess it makes life interesting for us,” she answered, turning her face up to the bright sunlight. “It’s not like it matters. Even if they capture me, I’ll just hover my Phantom butt out of there when no one is looking.”

He twisted his head to look at her better, another annoyed huff bursting from him. “Yes, but it means you will be away from me for longer.”

Her lips pursed. “Another hour won’t hurt. I need supplies. Clean clothes, fire starting tools, fresh food.”

“But you do not need to eat.”

“But itfeelsgood,” she argued playfully.

That was enough to win, and he crawled up until he was beside her. He pulled her into his side so she was cuddling him and looked up at the sky along with her.

She took in the clouds, thankful they weren’t shielding the sun. A flock of birds passed overhead, likely migrating for food or to breed since winter was almost upon them.

After a while, she softened her tone, and asked, “You like this hill, don’t you? You keep bringing us back here.”

“I... do,” he admitted.

“Why?” she asked, laying her face in the direction of his bony one.

His orbs flared bright pink, as his hand tightened on her hip. “Because it is where I first started truly loving you.” And just like that, he made her fall even deeper for him. Then, he grabbed her bag to shake it. “Did you obtain another dress I will tear off you?”

Her lips pursed at that. “I did. Two, actually. But try not to rip them. It’s such a waste.”

“But it is fun,” he stated, and his quiet chuckle told her he was just trying to tease her.