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 it feels good,” 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.
Ingram was turning out to be rather… playful. He could turn anything into a game and then that game into something perverted.
Like tag.
If Ingram ran, he’d find a spot to hide and tackle her since there was no way she’d be able to keep up with him. If she ran, using her Phantom form to get away and hide her scent, he’d tackle her when she was physical.
Both times ended in her being tackled in his four-legged form, and being thoroughly taken by his cock while he was more monstrous.
She embraced it all, especially since it seemed to be healing him of Aleron’s loss.
They were both better after seeing their loved ones again in Tenebris. Although she knew she’d never see Gideon unless she truly died again, it was nice to know he was in a place where he wasn’t alone, scared, or confused. He was resting in peace, with his happiest memories.
Ingram was under the belief that, although there was nothing he could do to bring back his kindred, Aleron would find a way to return to him.
Emerie didn’t know if that was true, but she fed his hope. Who knew? Maybe he was right. He’d been able to do the impossible and go to the afterlife and come back.
He’d even brought her with him.
In the meantime, Emerie knew one thing for certain.
Ingram needed someone to give him purpose, to guide him where to go, even if it was truly nowhere. He needed someone to make him feel like he wasn’t alone by pressing up against their body as much as he could.
He didn’t want to remain within the permanent ward he’d accidentally put down, even though it bordered the other Duskwalkers’ territories. It was right up against both Magnar’s and Faunus’ wards – and smaller since it’d tried to form over them and failed. Their wards were there first.
It’s sad he doesn’t want to stay with his brothers. He was used to freedom, to roaming the world as he pleased, and tying him down to one location kind of freaked him out.
He wasn’t ready to settle.
But that’s okay. Emerie didn’t mind. She would love to get to know the other couples she’d met and become part of their little community. She’d adored Reia, Delora, and Mayumi, and could see them truly becoming friends she could count on for anything, but they had time.
An eternity of it, so long as nothing bad happened.
For now, we’ll just go anywhere we want on a whim.
The direction she pointed, would be their heading.
But we’ll visit often, she thought with a smile, burying her face into the side of Ingram’s chest. She caressed the rib bones protruding from the outside of his body. And one day, we’ll build our own home and fill it with everything we’ve found along the way.
Until then, they would be two lost souls who were wandering the world, but were loved and constantly intertwined.
Free, and without responsibility.
That sounded perfect.
Thank you so much for reading A Soul to Revive, the fifth book in the Duskwalker Brides series.
I experienced so many emotions while writing this book, and I’m sure you had just as many reading it. I’m sorry for all the pain our couple suffered, but I’m hoping you found it worth it in the end. Yes, I cried many, many times. I always do, and I always hope those raw emotions pour through the page for readers.
I adored writing Ingram. He was just so cute, tender, and goofy — but such a horny fucker — that it made his bird brain quite a fun place to hang out in. I’m sure it comes as no surprise to anyone that the purple-orbed Mavka’s cock was connected to his heart. He desired much, though. Love, affection, touch, and just all that was Emerie. I’m sure many of us want to be loved like that.
Emerie was a breath of fresh air to write. She was logical, brave, and selfless. She was also so patient with a big himbo, and willing to teach him while wisely keeping herself safe. She had to face some hardships, and deal with so many bottled up emotions.
Emerie’s struggle surrounding infertility is currently something I am going through. I’ve been trying for a long time now to have a baby with my partner, but we have been unsuccessful. I felt for Emerie, as I’ve also experienced being the outsider in the room when surrounded by happy families who found it easy to fall pregnant. Although her battle is different, since she will never have a child and I may still, those feelings of resentment can be hard to face, but it always helps when you have supportive people around you.
Yes! We finally had some proper anal in a book. It’s not just for men on men, and many women find enjoyment from butt action just as much – depending on the partner, their patience, and the level of trust with each other. Everyone experiences it differently.
I have to admit, this is pretty much my favourite story I’ve ever written. The angst, the pain, the smut, the story, and the world. All of it was wonderful to create!
For the next book, A Soul to Steal, can you guess who the next couple will be? Yep! You got it. Aleron and Gideon. There will be an M/M book within the series, giving representation to the LGBTQIA+ community.
For those wondering about F/F, I won’t be writing it for this series but I will for a different one. I can only represent so many communities and people within a series. Many men have asked for this book, and after some thought, I decided I wanted that too. I’ve read a few M/M books, and many BL manga and Manhwa – I’ve also written one coming out next March for a fairytale anthology!