Page 35 of Traveler (Soulbound #1)

Elliott

The dorm hallwa y smells like lemon-scented cleaner and the faint musk of old textbooks as I wait outside Alyssa’s door. Vivianne’s voice drifts through the wood, sharp and teasing— “Bird’s nest…twigs for flair…”—followed by Alyssa’s laughter, light but edged with nerves. My thumb taps the wicker picnic basket Barrett packed: chocolate-covered strawberries, basil-mozzarella sandwiches, and a bottle of sparkling pomegranate juice he insisted was “date-approved.”

I knock.

The door swings open, and there she is—sundress wrinkled, damp hair half-twisted into a bun, cheeks flushed like she’s been pacing. Her eyes dart to the basket, then my face, and she smooths her skirt with forced casualness. Gods, she’s radiant.

“You look great,” I say, and her cheeks flush.

“Thanks!” She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear, voice too bright. “So, what’s the first stop on our adventure?”

“The library.” I offer my hand, pulse quickening when her fingers lace with mine. “Then the pond. To do some reading. I have snacks.”

She perks up. “Snacks? Perfect. Lead the way.”

Vivianne snorts from her bed, waving a dagger in mock salute. “Don’t Have her out too long. The bugs love her, Blondie.”

“No promises,” I call over my shoulder, steering Alyssa into the hall before Viv can unravel her composure further.

The library’s oak doors groan as we step inside, the scent of aged paper and cedar wrapping around us like an old friend. Alyssa’s fingers graze book spines as we walk, her curiosity tactile, hungry . I guide her to the romance section, my thumb brushing the back of her hand.

“You’d love this one.” I pull Undead Hearts from the shelf, its cover worn from my own late-night reads. “Post-apocalyptic reverse harem. Zombies, three love interests, sustainable farming subplot.”

She grins, sharp and bright. “Sustainable farming? As a subplot. Why didn't you say so? Do you have an apocalypse plan?”

“Lay down and die,” I deadpan. “Unless they’re slow zombies. Then…bunker. Solar panels, fend our way through .”

Her eyes light up, hands animating the air as she outlines a survival strategy involving rainwater filtration and mountain hideouts. I lean against the shelf, memorizing the way her smile curves. This woman is everything I could have ever wanted in a mate.

“You’ve thought about this,” I murmur.

“Only every night before bed,” she says, then freezes, cheeks pink.

A flicker in her mind, fleeting but unmistakable. She’s worried I’ll find her odd.

I bite my tongue. “I take zombies very seriously too,” I lie smoothly, handing her The Stormweaver’s Oath . “This heroine stockpiles daggers in a haunted library. You’d…appreciate her.”

She flips to a dog-eared page, lips quirking. “Grudging affection for the idiot prince.” Sold.”

Alyssa settles against the trunk of the large oak tree turning so her back is to me. When I sit, she folds and lays with her head in my lap. “Read to me?”

I sink down, her head resting on my thigh. Sunlight fractures through the leaves as I read aloud, her voice dipping at the smutty parts. I comb fingers through her hair, undone by the breeze, and let her laughter warm the hollows of my chest.

“Why do you like reading?” she asks suddenly, marking the page with a blade of grass.

The truth claws up my throat. “They’re escapes. And…they help me understand people. Even the fictional ones. I- I’m not great with people. I think books help me with that. Although if you ask mum, it does more harm than good because I’m never ‘with anyone’ jokes on her I’m with you and reading.”

She hums, plucking another grass blade. “How have you been feeling about everything that’s happened recently. Sometimes I forget to check on you guys.”

“Well, if I’m honest the whole kidnapping thing was not fun for any of us. We were so worried about Carion” I joke, tapping her nose. “We knew you were fine. And more than likely giving Vernon hell. Thankfully the guys could feel that you weren't in any physical pain so that helped.”

“I was scared.” she says quietly.

“You are one of the most powerful travelers this realm has seen. You only have to be able to fight for a little while. We will always come for you. It took everything after Vivianne knocked you out to calm Saul and Jared enough that they didn't kill Vernon.” if I’m honest. I almost let them. Watching the way she screamed. The pain when she saw Carion go down scared us all.

“I know. I just, I never want to see something like that happen again. Watching Carion-” her voice breaks.

“Carion is okay. Thanks to you. He has some mental scars that need time to heal. But you saved him. And as much as I know he would have been okay with us murdering his dad, he gets justice. So do you.” brushing strands of hair from her face I bend to kiss her full lips.

“Although we should probably leave Viv at home next time. There was a lot of mumbling about Castration, and I think it made all of us a little jumpy." That girl is next level scary.

Her laugh scatters the ducks. We watch them regroup, her thumb absently circling my wrist.

As the sun bleeds into the horizon, her voice frays. “What if they leave? The others. What if they resent…all this? I mean who really wants to share their mate?”

I tilt her chin up, holding her gaze. Never. “Everyone. We all grow up knowing we will share. It's better that way. Where I lack, they pick up the slack and vice versa. You Are loved and taken care of. That's all we want. They won’t leave. We chose this. You. ”

Her breath hitches— almost a kiss —but she deflects, grinning. “Jared would reorganize Saul’s closet.”

“Don’t give him ideas,” I groan, and her laughter stitches another crack in my ribs.

“Those two fight so much.” I smile.

She curls into my side, fireflies blinking around us. Her weight is a grounding. The need to be close to her has been intense. But I'm just glad she's here. Safe.

“Today was…” She yawns into my shirt.

“Perfect,” I finish, lips brushing her hairline.

Because you’re here. Because I get to keep you.