Chapter Twenty Three…

Sliding into a saddle was both exciting and terrifying. Elda’s heart thudded when Syd pawed at the ground and shifted around beneath her. Her massive wings flexed and twitched impatiently, eager to take to the skies. Julian climbed up behind Elda and took hold of the reins.

“If you drop her, you die,” Sypher warned.

“Relax,” Julian chuckled. “She’s safer in the saddle than she is on your back.”

“I doubt that.”

“She’ll be fine.” Julian tapped his heels against Syd’s sides before Sypher could say anything else. Elda yelped when she was thrown back against him, the burst of speed stealing the breath from her lungs. The tulpar demon broke into a full gallop, gaining even more speed before leaping into the air and soaring upwards. Sypher drew alongside them with ease despite them getting a head start and the seven foot tall Shifter balanced awkwardly on his back. He circled them a couple of times, warming up his muscles for the long flight. Syd nipped playfully at his heels when he passed.

“Show off,” Julian teased when the Soul Forge banked and rolled out of the way of Syd’s goading.

“You try flying on cold wings,” he shot back. “It’s hard enough without a passenger.”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re just showing off for your wife.”

“If I were showing off for her, you’d be left in my dust.” He moved closer so he didn’t have to shout, his wings almost brushing the tops of their heads with each beat. “Is Syd up for distance flying or will she need breaks?” The tulpar demon threw back her head and whinnied in a challenge, beating her wings harder to pull away from him.

“There’s your answer,” Julian chortled, shouting back over his shoulder. Elda turned back to see Sypher arch an eyebrow. When he caught her looking, a wide grin split his cheeks.

“Have it your way,” he shrugged. Elda laughed when he overtook them, watching him fly a loop around them. Gira shifted with him automatically, keeping himself low and his head down to help Sypher’s speed. It was obvious they’d spent decades bonded even after so long apart. A burst of jealousy blossomed in her chest. She swallowed it down, trying to enjoy the flight as Syd nickered and weaved around behind him, but she couldn’t shake it. She already missed flying with Sypher.

“Something bothering you?” Julian asked from behind her. “You’re quiet.”

“I’m alright.”

“Hmm.” He pitched his voice lower. “You can’t take your eyes off him. What is it?”

“Nothing.” He poked her in the back. “Fine,” she muttered, jerking away from him. “I was just noticing how well they work together. Gira knows exactly which way to lean to make things easier.”

“Fifty seven years of being bonded will do that,” Julian agreed. “To tell you the truth, Sypher hates it. He said it makes him feel like a pony being saddled up.”

“I can imagine it’s not comfortable to carry a passenger, especially one as big as Gira.”

“Good thing you’re tiny,” he chuckled. “And also that he likes you.”

“Did he fly Lillian around?”

“He did at first, if they had to travel a distance. Once she betrayed him that stopped altogether. He only flew with her when forced by the Compulsion, which thankfully wasn’t often.”

“I really don’t like her.”

“I expected her to switch sides like Cynthia to be honest,” Julian mused, shifting the reins to change Syd’s trajectory a little. “It still shocks me that she didn’t.”

“It would be a disaster if she did,” Elda shuddered. “That sword makes her the perfect assassin.”

“Nah, she’s the kind of person that would enjoy a dramatic monologue before she killed someone. Assassin work wouldn’t give her the attention she craves.” Elda couldn’t help her giggle.

They settled into companionable silence for a while, both of them watching Sypher gliding in front of them. After a few hours, Elda found herself getting inexplicably grumpy. Irritation made her skin prickle, though there was no reason for it. She tried to focus on the panorama of valleys and rolling hills below.

“Gira and Sypher are arguing,” Julian frowned. Elda’s brows crept up, realising that the feelings didn’t belong to her.

“What are they fighting about?”

“The same thing they always fight about. His ex.” Another ripple of annoyance from the Soul Forge fluttered faintly through to her, zipping down the beginnings of their bond. Something else came with it, something deeper that she couldn’t understand.

“Gira’s?”

“Sypher’s.” Elda turned in the saddle so she could fix him with a stare over her shoulder. “I guess he hasn’t mentioned her.”

“No, he hasn’t. It’s not like I need to know.” Her brow furrowed. “I’m just surprised he had a relationship with someone when nobody is able to touch him.”

“Selena came before his touch phobia developed.”

“Why would Gira argue about her with him?”

“She was Gira’s cousin.” Julian shifted awkwardly. “I shouldn’t really be telling you this, Princess. You should ask him yourself.”

She turned back to face the direction they were flying in, studying the faint ebb and flow of emotions through the mental link she suddenly shared with the Soul Forge. A lot of it was too hard to understand, but she tried anyway.

When they finally landed all of Elda’s muscles were aching. Gira dropped from Sypher’s back before he touched down, landing in a crouch. The Soul Forge tucked in his wings and landed lightly beside him, chest heaving from the effort of their flight. Syd’s landing was less smooth, her hooves clopping heavily against the dirt. Julian helped Elda out of the saddle, steadying her when her numb legs tried to buckle. Sypher made an exhausted sound and laid flat on the ground, crooking an arm over his eyes.

“When the fuck did you get so heavy?” he grumbled between breaths. Syd copied him, flopping onto the ground with a heavy sigh. Steam rose from her twitching muscles as the air chilled with the loss of sunlight.

“I’ve gained muscle since the last time you carried me,” Gira chuckled, their argument seemingly forgotten. “Think of it as endurance training for you.” Sypher growled something that sounded like an insult, drawing a laugh from the Shifter.

They’d landed outside a large village, though Elda had no idea which kingdom it belonged to. A hand-painted sign reading ′Welcome to Varthal. Thieves will be hanged′ swung from an ornate metal pole in the ground. The entrance to the village was beyond a small bridge, crossing a clear stream that bubbled pleasantly. In contrast to the quaint surroundings, a monstrous wooden barricade bordered the entire place, its top decorated with spiked tips.

“Where are we?” Elda asked. “I’m not familiar with the villages out here.”

“Technically, this area is neutral. It’s bordered by Falkryn, Valdren and Eden, but it belongs to none of them,” Gira replied.

“Falkryn tried to claim it about ten years ago,” Sypher answered, sitting up slowly. “Horthan’s father sent a battalion of soldiers to take possession of the village. None of them made it home.”

“Wow,” Elda mumbled, looking back up at the sign. “So they’re serious about hanging people then?”

“Definitely. Under no circumstances should any of you break the law here. I really don’t want to fight this village,” he warned.

“What’s their opinion on hungry Vampires?” Julian asked.

“There’s a brothel you could ask at,” Sypher shrugged.

“Won’t Yani be upset with you biting strange women?” Elda balked. “And is it right to use women forced into selling themselves?”

“These women aren’t forced,” the Soul Forge chuckled. “They practically run the village.”

“And Vampires don’t do traditional marriages,” Julian winked, his grin widening at Elda’s horrified blush. Even Gira started laughing.

“Let’s just go already,” she muttered, scowling and stomping away. A large hand came down on her shoulder when she was only a few steps away from the gate.

“Perhaps it’s best to stay with Sypher for now,” Gira suggested. “The people in here are a special kind of friendly, in that they’ll slit your throat if they don’t like the look of you.”

“Even if I’m a Keeper?”

"Because you’re a Keeper.” He scratched his dark beard thoughtfully. “For some reason they won’t cross Sypher.”

“Because I hated the Keepers too,” the Soul Forge answered casually. His wings were gone, though he flexed his shoulders like they still felt heavy. “Don’t mention my demon blood and don’t tell them who you are.”

“Should I take off my wedding ring?” she asked, looking down at the platinum circle around her finger.

“No. The men will leave you be if I have a claim over you, but the second they think you’re unsupervised you’re in trouble. Even as my wife you’ll need to stay with me.”

Elda swallowed nervously. “Can’t we stay in the forest?”

“Do you see this wall?” Gira gestured to the towering wooden structure surrounding the village. “This is to keep out more than just greedy Kings.”

“There are demons under the soil,” Julian muttered darkly, bringing Syd over to them by the reins. “I can feel them stirring.”

“Gate’s closing, travellers,” came a gruff voice from inside the village border. “Are you in, or are you out?”

“Stay close to me,” Sypher whispered in Elda’s ear, draping an arm around her shoulders and urging her inside. “And I apologise for my behaviour in advance. Please don’t hit me.”

“Soul Forge!” The gruff voice turned jovial and a burly man slapped him on the back. His red hair was greasy and wild, falling into watery green eyes. “Long time no see!”

“Errud. I thought you were dead.”

“Nah, demons won’t kill me,” Errud chortled. “A scorned woman will be my death.” Those bloodshot eyes slid to Elda, a leer turning up the corners of his moustached lips. “Maybe this woman. Aren’t you a beauty?”

“If you touch her I will break every single one of your fingers,” Sypher answered pleasantly, the hand around Elda’s shoulders sliding down her back to hold her tighter. “This one is mine.” Errud’s eyes fell on the wedding ring.

“You married the woman?” Sypher nodded. “Fatal mistake. A lass as beautiful as this will eviscerate you when she finds a better offer.” Elda arched an eyebrow. “Don’t look at me like that, gorgeous. You know you’ll go running to the first rich man to throw you a bone if he’s prettier than your current one. All you women do.” She bristled, but kept her cool, placing a hand on Sypher’s chest and looking up at him beneath her lashes with a coy smile.

“Maybe I’m not with him for his face.” Julian and Gira both stared at her. The briefest flash of shock passed across Sypher’s face before he composed himself, his hand gripping her hip to pull her against him. Elda looked back at Errud, her gaze starting at his face and moving down slowly to rest at his groin. “You can challenge him, if you’d like, but I don’t think your dagger would fare too well in this sword fight.” The corner of Sypher’s lip twitched, but somehow he stayed calm. Julian snickered.

“Errud! Close the damn gate and get your stupid ass inside before we all get eaten!” The voice came from a doorway where a muscular woman with green tinged skin and a small pair of tusks stood with her hands on her hips. "Now, dammit!” Errud hurried away from them before the woman could drag him to the gate herself.

Maybe I’m not with him for his face. Elda cringed at her own brashness and started walking away from the men, internally cursing herself for being so forward just to prove a point. She’d never be able to look Sypher in the face again. Julian was still cackling behind her.

“Elda.” Sypher caught up with her and put a hand on her arm to stop her. A molten blush spread from the soles of her feet right to the tips of her pointed ears. When she forced herself to peek at him, he was grinning broadly.

“Don’t look at me like that,” she mumbled, scowling at her feet. “What I said was wildly inappropriate. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” he shrugged, still grinning. “It worked. Errud no longer believes you’re easily intimidated.” He folded his arms across his chest, a mischievous flicker of fire darting through his irises. “And I’m flattered.” She pressed her lips together, the blush growing impossibly darker.

“That was excellent,” Julian beamed, drawing level with them while Sypher was still watching her. Even Gira looked amused by her antics. “I had no idea you had a mouth on you, Princess.”

“I spoke out of turn,” she mumbled.

“I thought it was hilarious,” the Vampire disagreed. “Keep that up and I’ll be laughing until we leave.” He nudged Sypher with his elbow. “Not to mention, it’s been way too long since anyone paid any attention to his dick.” Elda made a choked noise. Julian doubled over when Sypher elbowed him in the stomach, groaning in pain.

“Idiot,” Gira muttered.