Seeming to sense her discomfort, he crouched down onto one knee, but in a way that was almost caging.
“Is that truly why you want me to leave?”
Guilt squeezed her heart. “Yes.”
It was the truth, but his question deeply cut her after what she’d done; running through the Veil to flee his home and getting caught in a terrifying spiders web. Reia knew what would have happened to her if he hadn’t come in time, but she couldn’t help wondering what would have happened to Orpheus.
Would he have been sad? Could he have possibly missed her if she died? How many humans had done exactly what she’d done, and he hadn’t been able to save them in time?
He lifted a hand slowly to tentatively touch her cheek with his thumb and fingertips, making sure his claws didn’t prick her skin. When he saw she accepted them, he then cupped the side of her face, and the roughness that greeted her in his touch and warmth of it was utterly soothing.
“I do not want you to leave me, Reia.” Her eyes almost watered instantly at the sincerity and the deep well of loneliness and sadness she could hear in it. “You are beautiful.” His thumb and claw tip lightly caressed her cheek near the crease of her nose. “And your personality is shiny. I have missed many humans that have left, but I like you more than any other that has come here. Even if you safely make it out of the Veil, you will be gone.”
“I promised that I would stay and wouldn’t try to leave again.”
“But you still want to, don’t you?”
Fuck. His eyes turned an even deeper blue and her gut tightened while her intestines felt as though they were tying into a bow.
“It’s not you, Orpheus.” She reached her hands up, and for the very first time, cupped the sides of his long jaw. “It’s just… I don’t know. It feels like I’m trapped here. I don’t feel free.”
“What can I do to not make you feel this way with me?”
With me… He was asking how to make Reia happy to stay by his side, and she didn’t know the answer to that.
“I’ve always wanted to travel.” She lowered her hands to place them in her lap so she could stare down at them. “I’ve been trapped in my whole life. I’d always hoped that one day I would be able to leave the village and see the world. I wanted to become a Demonslayer for that very reason.”
“Even if I could do that with you, it would be very dangerous. Here you are safe. Here you will not catch a disease or be hurt if you stay within the protections.”
“I know,” she answered with a small voice. She knew she probably wouldn’t have lived long as a Demonslayer, foolishly trying to travel the dangerous world, but she thought she would have been satisfied just seeing a small part of it before she died. “Anyway, I don’t plan to run away again. So, if you could get me more food, it would make me happier. I miss meat. We had hunters that would hunt deer for us, and farmers who had animals.”
He lifted her head by placing two fingers under her chin so she would face him.
“If…” He hesitated, like he thought his words would be upsetting for her. She bit her lips together, knowing they would hold a heavy weight to them. “If you gave me your soul, Reia, I may be able to give you what you want.”
Her face paled while her eyes grew so wide she knew they were full and showing the whites of them completely. His hand flew away from her sharply, and he backed up to give her space.
She must have suddenly smelt of fear by how quickly and devastatingly it clutched at her stomach, like a horrible set of claws.
“I don’t know what will happen since it has never been done before, but I was told it would mean that you would always be safe… and with me.”
Her pulse quickened in her veins. Orpheus’ hand clenched into fists on his knee, and he turned his face away from her.
“I understand.” He stood to be above her. “I will not ask again.”
Then he held his hand out to her, bringing what was behind his back forward. It was the sword she’d used to fight the Demons.
“You said you wanted to be a Demonslayer, and I can see you are willing to fight. Would you like to train with a sword?”
All her apprehension and fear fled faster than it had entered her. She quickly got to her feet.
“What? Really?!”
“Knowing you would be able to protect yourself if I am unable to reach you would bring me comfort, as long as you do not use it to leave.”
“Yes!” she squealed, almost bouncing on her feet. The smile she gave was bright. “Yes, Orpheus, please. I would love to!”