Page 68 of To Free a Soul (Duskwalker Beginnings #2)

A time unknown, but one of disgruntlement

Keeping his eyes on a viewing disc of his mate, Weldir sat cross-legged, one hand gripping his knee while he rested his chin on top of the enclosed fist of the other hand.

Nathair, lounging back upon his tail like it was some kind of chair, lifted his hands in Weldir’s periphery. His signs were deliberate and often held pointed intent.

“Why haven’t you greeted her?” Nathair tilted his head with his orbs morphing to dark yellow.

“I will when I’m done,” Weldir stated dully.

Although he was in the middle of extending his mist, he could do both at the same time. He just didn’t want to. I doubt she cares. Or maybe she did, who fucking knew?

He disliked this change, and no poking or prodding on his part had aided the situation; she was steadfast about maintaining their distance.

Her soul has changed again. What had been glowing brightly with pure citrine flames now bore charcoal.

The left breast, up the side of its throat, and half its face were blackened like coal.

He’d long learned they were depression markings, and it.

.. upset him that his female wore them – again.

After years of not having them, as if she’d grown happy with her life and their bond.

The darkness had only developed after that day.

She said I have done nothing wrong, yet she punishes me regardless. Therefore, Weldir had surmised that she had lied, and he was at fault somehow. I don’t know how to help her heal these markings if she will not share with me her pain.

He was waiting her out, seeing if whatever thing he’d done to offend her would eventually fade and they could resume as they once had.

It hasn’t been long. Perhaps a year and a half? It was difficult to tell when he’d been asleep and hadn’t long woken.

He’d consumed all the souls waiting for him after finally perfecting the process to occur automatically.

He’d checked on all of their offspring, and they were all well.

He’d checked on her to find she was still at her little hut that was barely big enough to be classified as a home.

Or maybe he was just annoyed and jealous of the inanimate object because he’d thought she’d begun to see his realm as her home.

Then Weldir had come to Nathair and found him to be lucid. Since that lucidity could be temporary and fleeting, he’d put all his energy into Nathair so they could continue to build his vocabulary.

He learns fast, he thought, letting his gaze slip to Nathair when he shrugged and lounged back once more. Then again, a number of human years have passed since we started.

Seeing as his offspring no longer felt chatty, and Weldir was often subjugated to his whims regarding that, he brought his focus back to his female who didn’t want to be his mate right now.

Why should I care if this is what she seeks?

There was still an amicable friendship there.

She may not have returned to his void except for the night of the twins’ birthing to be healed, but she wasn’t avoiding him entirely.

She didn’t seem angry at him, nor was she acting like his voice was an irritant.

She spoke kindly when he reached out to her, and her responses weren’t curt or designed to end the conversation. She always left them open, but he didn’t know how to continue them without her assistance. He didn’t have enough excuses.

If this is what makes her content in our bond, then fine.

This was what he’d once wanted. He’d never imagined more until she decided it. He’d been quite content with friendship and unity within their joint duties, as that was all he’d originally sought.

But it wasn’t fucking fine.

He was greatly vexed by it, and going to his cave of memories only made him angrier.

The last time he’d been inside it, his fury and rejection had caused him to crack his newest creation of her diagonally in half.

He was annoyed by the obsession to make it, and that she wouldn’t give him more to add to his cave.

He’d fixed the statue and then quickly left, and hadn’t returned since, when he was usually quite infatuated with his memories of her.

“Weldir,” a voice echoed from within his mist.

He knew that familiar voice, and like the last time it called out to him, he was surprised to hear it growl his name.

His gaze shifted to Nathair beside him, whose orbs were white. He’s slipped into a daze. It could be hours, days, or weeks before his mind returned to consciousness.

He collected his mist tightly against his form, hating that this was happening to his offspring and he could do nothing to assist. Especially when he was partly to blame.

At least this means I can leave without informing him as to why. Nathair was nosy and curious all the time with nothing but Weldir to entertain him.

He dematerialised and transported himself to the outskirts of the Veil, between the forest and canyon walls.

Waiting for him at the border of his red protection ward was Merikh.

Arms folded and shoulders stiff, the sun on his back caused his bear skull and horns to create a shadow through Weldir’s invisible form.

“You called?”

“Bring me Lindiwe,” Merikh stated instantly.

“Why?” he asked, a touch more defensively than he intended.

Their interactions had always gone unpleasantly, and Lindiwe... was always distraught afterwards. He also had this remarkable sense of protectiveness towards his mate, and he didn’t wish to add to her sadness if there was a way to prevent it.

Although he wanted them to have a bond, Weldir would rather they didn’t meet if Merikh only intended to be unwelcoming.

“I have absolutely no desire to speak with you,” Merikh stated in an odd tone. Like he was trying to hold in a growl to sound cold and indifferent, but failed.

“Why not? From my memory, we parted ways last time amicably. I see no reason why you would be disgruntled by my presence.”

“I’d rather not speak to my master if given the choice, especially as I have no interest in being your servant.”

“Master? That’s a rather profound statement. You’re my servant, whether you wish to be or not. You cannot undo the souls you have brought me, nor can you prevent yourself from bringing more in the wake of your constant destruction.”

A rolling, huffing growl came from his maw.

“I will never have need of you. If I wish to speak with her, I will call you, as I cannot call out to her.” His arms tightened, and he rolled his shoulders back more defensively.

“I met you, saw your realm. My curiosity was sated regarding you. Other than that, you are nothing but a reminder of what I am and why I was born.”

“If that is how you feel, I see no reason to discuss this further.”

Dark yellow flickered in his orbs. “That’s it? You don’t care?”

“Why should I?” Weldir asked, genuinely confused. “If this is what you want, then there’s no reason to convince you otherwise. It changes nothing.”

The only offspring he’d ever spoken to was Nathair. He was the only one who could ruffle his mist if he became absent.

Merikh grunted. “I thought you’d at least give some sort of a shit.”

Weldir chuckled lightly. “I don’t have a physical body, so I cannot do that for you. Quite an odd request.”

Merikh choked on his own spit and staggered forward. “That’s not what I meant! I did not mean literally !”

His laughter deepened. “I know. This will be the last time I come to you when you beckon. You will now be at the whims of your mother, and it will be up to her if she wishes to grace you with her presence.”

Weldir left and transported himself to within his own magical dome – one he didn’t cast but freely allowed in his mist. His body, invisible as it was, created no shadow over Lindiwe.

Despite it being winter, she lay upon the ground in the sun, and was apparently trapped there by their twin offspring snuggling on her belly again.

He had an inkling she did this on purpose.

Her eyelids were low and drowsy as she looked up at the sky.

Swaying shade cast diamond patterns across her legs and dress.

Once more, he was hesitant to greet her.

But he easily gave in. He wanted to hear her voice anyway, as it was no longer a frequent gift.

“Lindiwe,” he called.

Her eyes snapped open fully, and she sat up with a gasp. She threw her arm around the twins just in time to stop them from rolling off her lap as they squealed from suddenly being hurled forward.

“You’re awake,” she rasped.

He didn’t know why she smiled, as if she was pleased about this. More and more, she puzzled him, and he was finding he understood less as the months passed by. She was happy he was back, despite apparently wanting little to do with him?

She never saw him beside her, but that didn’t stop Weldir from wanting to reach out to her, knowing they were intangible to each other.

“Yes.” He was unsure if it was cowardice in the face of all this or just anger that had prevented him from telling her.

Curls fell around her cheeks, haloing her beautiful face while simultaneously hiding it when she looked down. “I’ve been waiting for you to come back.”

Weldir’s mist pushed out from him in surprise. “Why?”

Had she changed her mind? Should I have reached out sooner? Did his absence again upset her and wake her up to this foolish, infuriating distance between them?

“I know you like to watch them grow into adulthood,” she murmured, before petting a tiny raven skull and a fruit-bat skull.

So nothing had changed, and he’d gotten excited for no reason.

“You waited for my return to grow them?”

Her smile became saddened. “Yes. I’ve already picked what kind of horns I want to give them and know where to find them.”

As much as he was annoyed, his mist shimmered with mild joy. She thought about him, what he desired, and even waited for his return for such a reason. He appreciated that.

“Thank you. Unfortunately, we have other matters to speak about. Merikh has requested your presence.”