Page 61 of Soulmateless
Just breathe.
With that thought, I gulp down breaths. Several.
It's not doing anything. Just calm down.
"You…you won't bite me," I murmur, trying to soothe myself. “ You wouldn't do that.”
I stretch out my hand towards it to test that theory. It flinches, flattening its ears as I jerk my hand away. Maybe this creature is just as scared as I am.
I laugh. Here I am contemplating whether I should shoot or not, but this creature’s probably thinking the same thing, onlywith its claws instead of bullets. “You scare me too… but we can set our fears aside, can't we?”
I reach my hand back out towards it. It stretches its head forward, sniffing my hand as if it were a foreign object. It’s very kitten-like, displaying the same curiosity.
Is it offensive to pet it like it can't shift? Because I'm just treating it like it's another big cat.
Crunch.
Crunch.
The noise from behind me causes the dreamscreecher to retreat into the bushes. I stretch my hand out towards it wishing it would stay a little longer.
Damn it. We were getting somewhere.
“What are you doing out here?"
I look my neck over my shoulder to see Erasmus and Glaide standing over me, glowering.
I gulp. How will I explain this?
"What the fuck are you doing out here?" Erasmus snaps. “You better have a damn good explanation."
"I'm trying to help out the kingdom!" It comes out harsher than I meant it to. "What are you even doing here?" I glare at Glaide. He’s the only person who could’ve known.
Glaide’s brows furrow. " I saw you were on that dreamscreecher app earlier. I wanted to make sure you were being safe!"
"Iambeing safe!" I protest. "And I'm not a child. I'm taking care of myself just fine."
"Well, maybe actually learn to be safe then,” Erasmus says. “Where's your gun? And why are you at the park in the dark alone? That's idiotic, dreamscreecher hunting or not!"
Erasmus pulls me up by my arms and as soon as I get on my feet, they both hold my shoulders and push me forward. I roll my eyes. "I have a gun in my pocket."
"It should be out," Glaide growls. "Not in your pocket."
I bare my own teeth. "I didn't even need to use it! It didn't attack me!"
Both Glaide and Erasmus fall silent… and realizing what I just revealed, my gaze darts to the floor. More than ever, I pray to Cosmo for a sinkhole to open beneath me so I can pretend I never said anything.
"You encountered a dreamscreecher?" Erasmus shrieks.
Glaide’s nose wrinkles. “You didn't shoot it?"
I wince. "Well…"
"You fucking dumbass!" Erasmus adds extra force in his push on my back. "Are you trying to die? Mother will fucking snap when she hears of this."
I scrunch my face. I don't need Mother to be stressed about me too. "Don't tell Mother! She'll freak out!"
"Exactly! Maybe it will set your mind straight!" Erasmus leans over me, bringing us nearly chest to chest. He’s slightly taller, but his height doesn't intimidate me. "You could've been eaten alive! I'm surprised you still have a head!"
