“Yes. Will you give me something special to be called?”

She gave a small laugh, finding that both creepy and endearing.

“Ah, no. I’m not very good with being creative. I don’t think I’m the right person to give you a name.”

His eyes faded to blue, much like how Orpheus’ orbs darkened when he was saddened.

“Look, I don’t know what you want from me, but I’d like you to leave. Please.”

His eyes went back to green. “But I want to speak with you. Mavka told me humans are difficult to keep, but you

are here. I wish to understand.”

“If Orpheus comes, he’ll be mad.”

“I will hear and smell him.”

He stepped closer, and Reia tried to match the length of his stride backwards.

“I said stay back!”

He stopped and crouched down once more to make himself smaller.

“I have upset you. I did not mean to upset you. Please speak with me, Reia human person.”

She stopped retreating and blew a few strands of her hair that had fallen over her face. He’d asked nicely, and it did seem like he wasn’t actually going to hurt her.

“Fine.” Reia groaned. The sword fell and the tip thudded against the ground. Her arms were too tired to hold it up any longer anyway. “What do you want to know?”

“Why is it you stay with him?”

“Because he’s my friend. I trust him, and I’m staying because I just am.”

“He said that you came here with him willingly. Why are you not afraid of us?”

Reia shrugged her shoulders, eyeing him carefully in case he moved suddenly.

“I don’t know. I’ve never been that afraid of much. I was scared at first, but not enough that he ate me. Like I said, I came to trust him.”

“And you are not afraid of me? You smell different from before, better, but I cannot smell fear.”

“He-he gives me a bath to get rid of my human smell.

That’s why I smell different, because he isn’t here to give me one,” she explained. “And I’m used to your kind now because of him. You aren’t monsters.”

His eyes sparked with yellow at that. “Monsters, no.

Perhaps, maybe, but I do not want to be a monster. I want a human who will let me hold them.”

Well, this is embarrassing. Her cheeks warmed slightly.

His eyes faded back to green, and he unfurled himself just enough to approach. He didn’t step forward, but he leaned closer.

“He said it is difficult to find a human that will stay with us.” He rested on his hand while sniffing up at her face. “You are not scared. Will you come with me?”

“Excuse me?!” Reia took a step back. “No, I’m Orpheus’.”

“You are not his.” He twisted his head in what she thought might be confusion. “You have not given him your soul. You are not his bride.”

“That-that doesn’t matter. I’m his friend.”

“But you can come be mine instead.” He came forward just enough to close the distance. “You could give me your soul instead of him.”

He reached forward like he wanted to touch her face gently, and Reia smacked his hand away with her arm.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Why not?” he asked, reaching forward once more and Reia smacked him away again. Red came into his orbs, and he darted closer.

“I said no!” She went to grab the handle of her sword with both hands, but his eyes turned white and he swiftly retreated a step.

“He said ‘no’ is important. That I should not touch if they say no.”

“G-good,” she answered with a shaky voice. “He is right. If someone says no, you should listen. No matter what it is.”

He placed his hand on his snout once more to tap the side of it. “Why will you not come with me?”

“Because I don’t want to. I want to stay with Orpheus. Find your own human that wants you.”

“Do you think I can? The others are always afraid, and it makes me hungry. How do I stop them from being afraid so they will stay with me?”

“I don’t know,” she answered truthfully. “Just be gentle?”

“He told me I need to eat more humans first.”

Her face paled, surprised that Orpheus would tell him to do that.

“Why?”

Why would he say to do something so terrible?

“Because he said I’m stupid.” She lifted her hand to her mouth to hide the snort of laughter that wanted to escape.

“I do not have enough humanity to understand.”

Although what Orpheus had said was cruel, she couldn’t help finding he might actually be right. This Duskwalker was very different from the one she knew. Orpheus was far more intelligent. Even she could see this Duskwalker would struggle to understand a human enough to erase their fears.

“Where do you live?”