The Heir of the Fallen

Chapter 31

Horseman of Famine, Adelaide

Adelaide looked at Beelzebub, sucking in on her cheek again. "Well, I have been reading Famine's journals, and one of his ideas resonated with me and Letum."

Beelzebub looked back at her, nodding. "Continue."

"I think Famine was right about reincarnation. And I think what just happened with Letum and the souls confirmed it." Adelaide said, barely above a whisper. Her adrenaline was starting to race every time she thought about reincarnation, about how there was just an endless cycle to life. If it was real, how many times had she been cycled through, how old was her soul? Based on her brain's trajectory after the Purgatory realization, she, Letum, and Ares could be as old as Beelzebub.

"So, all of the souls are just reborn," Beelzebub said thoughtfully, tapping his chin with his finger. "It is plausible."

Letum glared at Beelzebub, obviously trying to catch his eye, then nodded towards Adelaide. "Well, I need to get back; there are many souls to keep moving through." And with that, he was gone.

Adelaide turned her attention back to Beelzebub, whose eyes met hers. Such intense heat radiated from those eyes toward her that she had to stop herself from looking away. Adelaide did clear her throat, however, to break the silence. "So, what are you thinking?" she asked.

"How I have never thought of reincarnation all this time as a possibility. There's only so much I know, so much that I have access to. I overlooked one of the main theorized possibilities of what happens after death." Beelzebub said, running his hand through his hair and propping his head up on the desk with the same hand, his attention directed towards Adelaide. "What are you thinking?" he asked in return.

Adelaide's expression changes in an instant, and she scoffs. "You don't want to hear what I am thinking."

Beelzebub looked at her, concerned for her etched into his features. His tone was serious when he said, "I always want to know what you are thinking."

Heat crept up her cheeks, and she broke their eye contact as she looked down. She swallowed and said, "I think it's real." Her voice was quiet, barely tangible. Adelaide also couldn't help herself when she thought this information might help change Beelzebub's mind about them.

Beelzebub sighed as he stood, walking over to Adelaide, the realization dawning on him. He knelt in front of her and leaned forward, his hands curling into fists and holding him up while he hovered over her, almost caging her. She leaned back from him, their bodies only inches apart, as his face leaned beside hers. "Darling, you will cross into dangerous waters if you keep pushing this." His voice caused soft, warm air to embrace her, to dance across her ear and the side of her cheek. It caused shivers to dance along her spine. She just nodded, her brain racking for another response - any other response.

"I think I know what I am doing," she said, testing the waters as she turned her head and leaned over, her lips barely a breath away. When he didn't pull back, she closed the gap.

Their lips met in a much gentler way this time. He did not hold back from completing the embrace. He wrapped his arms around her, one hand firmly on her back, the other going up into her hair as he gently laid her back on the ground. After setting her safely down, his hands moved to her head, placing his forearms on the floor beside her head, all the while not breaking the kiss. She felt his warm, hard body against hers like they had been in her kitchen, but this felt different, less... urgent. She could still feel his excitement against her, and a wave of relief washed over her at the warm feeling against her stomach. He hadn't turned her down for any other reason than the truth. The truth was that he was scared. She knew this now.