Chapter 36
I
n the hush of dawn, a dense mist had settled upon the vessel. Azahara, with a blanket gracefully draped around her shoulders, stepped out of her quarters, leaving Jayce still in the embrace of slumber on the disheveled mattress.
Gazing over the ship’s edge, she became entranced by the enchanting panorama of Hydrox Port. Her mind painted vivid scenes of the bustling harbor, teeming with a diverse tapestry of people and travelers converging from every corner of the world.
The previous night lingered in her memory like a breathtaking dream, leaving her wondering if she would wake up to find it all wasn’t real.
Unexpected revelations had woven themselves into the fabric of her joy.
The only way this moment could have been better was if Kaed, Illyan, and Zhal were there with her.
Sharing this moment with them would have made her feel complete.
A gentle melody escaped her lips, a soft hum echoing through the ship. The rhythm, felt in the depths of her throat, reverberated off the deck, encapsulating her in a soothing cocoon. It was a simple tune, evoking the memory of the violin’s tender strains from the night before.
“Don’t tell me you can sing too,” she gasped, startled by his sudden appearance behind her. Swiftly turning, she watched him saunter out of the room towards her, shirtless and seemingly unaffected by the cool air enveloping them.
Shaking her head, she replied, “I don’t sing.”
“You sounded lovely just now,” he complimented.
Her arms opened, inviting him under the blanket, and he embraced her without hesitation.
Leaning in, he whispered, “You can sing to me anytime you’d like.
” She smiled as he kissed her, his hands securing her arms, as if ensuring she wouldn’t slip away.
Pressing his forehead to hers, he grinned, revealing a toothy smile. “It was worth the wait,” he said, lifting her and placing her on the railing, standing between her legs.
Resting her head on his, she shyly smiled, her cheeks ablaze. “Stop, or I’ll melt into the sea.”
“I’d come to collect you.”
As his fingers traced a path up her side, a playful laugh bubbled from her lips, accompanied by a delightful shiver as his arm gently shifted the blanket from her shoulder.
The tips of his fingers grazed the small dip between her collarbone and shoulder, sending a thrilling sensation coursing through her.
“Can we stay here all day? Just the two of us?” she asked, reminiscing about the times when all she desired was to linger in bed with Kaed, only to be constantly on the move for one reason or another.
“Your wish is my command,” he murmured, his fingers continuing their journey down her arm, and she couldn’t help but grin.
“Music to my ears.”
True to his word, they remained on the ship for the rest of the day, enveloped in each other’s company.
She opened up to him, sharing more about her life before the curse.
Delving into the details, recounting the final moments and explaining how she found herself at the Temple, inevitably turning Goddrick’s hourglass.
Though the truth brought a sense of relief, it wasn’t the outcome she had hoped for.
From the very beginning, he had deceived her into releasing him from his prison.
Transitioning to the events involving Ilkiz and Rahmulous, Jayce was astonished to learn that Azahara had encountered Rah’s spirit.
She delved into every intricate detail; recounting Mel’s involvement, Rah hurling her skyward from the Tomb, and the summoning of Ilkiz.
Jayce, surprisingly, had no questions, and she spoke almost uninterrupted for hours.
Even the trial was covered, in which he said he’d have a word with the ghostly Dragon for doing that to her.
As the conversation shifted to Azahara’s varied lifetimes, Jayce was captivated.
From seeking simple adventures like climbing the Veesilka mountains for fun to serving as a house mother at a brothel, each story left him eager to ask more.
Although she now acknowledged the year at the brothel as a fun one, it paled in comparison to her time at the Idle Fox.
When the focus turned to Jayce, the barrage of questions began.
At six thousand two hundred and thirty-three, barely three hundred years after the Reshaping of Rah, he astounded her with his age and grounded demeanor.
He explained that there had been so many changes and shifts throughout his lifetime, from the Conquering of Parádeisos to the Wrath of the King, that it had kept his mind level.
However, he emphasized that, despite the longevity, there had been only a few couple hundred years of actual peace between each significant event. It was why he left the mortal realm and returned to the Howl, seeking some semblance of it, but it was short-lived.
Jayce had desired to be the Elder Fae when Helio was selected. She didn’t understand their politics and asked him not to dive deep into it. It wasn’t something she was interested in unless it truly affected him. Which it didn’t, so he digressed.
After the Rite, and although he had been selected, the outcry from Helio’s children accusing him of cheating led to a near war within the houses. Despite Jayce having the majority vote, the more powerful voices compelled him to step-down due to baseless accusations.
Imprisoned for over a thousand years without evidence, he harbored no resentment toward Illyan, as they hadn’t been alive during those tumultuous events.
Karver, who he said was like his brother, finally had the opportunity to get him out. His newfound strength enabled him to rupture the cell wards, setting him free into the Mortal Realm. Aware that remaining there would result in his sentencing, Karver chose to accompany him.
In a moment that wasn’t exactly humorous but carried a certain irony, he quipped about the fortuitous timing of her being captured, occurring when there was an absence of Magic around Howl.
If the prison had been fortified with their impenetrable Locke Wards, without question, he would have had to decimate the place he once called home, to get to her.
The surreal realization that he would have sacrificed his home and people for her felt unreal.
Then again, if the world or anyone in it tried to take him from her or anyone she loved, there would be no mercy.
Even if it meant becoming the villain. For the sake of them, she was willing to embrace that title.
Throughout the day, they engaged in ceaseless conversation, punctuated by brief bouts of sleep that never diminished the precious time they spent together. As the sun set, they both observed the encroaching night.
“Another question,” she sang, leaning over the ledge. “The connection on my back, what do you see? I haven’t been able to ask anyone, and I’m a bit nervous to… I’m not even sure why.”
He laughed, mirroring her posture. “I see raven wings that span your entire back from shoulder to, I believe also to your butt, although I didn’t get a good enough view last night to confirm.”
“Wow,” she looked up at him, eyes wide and cheeks flushing. “That big? I’ll really have to find out more about this thing.” Her face reflected excitement, as if uncovering this mystery was simply another desire, not an obligation.
Jayce slid his hand around her back, fingers slipping between her arm and torso.
“Akua shared some information about the Connection with me. He says the stronger your bond with someone, the bigger it is.” Anticipating her surprise, he added, “I was just as stunned, though not displeased by the revelation.”
She chewed on her lip, stealing a glance out at the sea.
“Can I see your wings?” Her voice held a subtle hint of shyness.
“I mean, if that’s—” The soft flutter and gentle rustling of feathers reached her ears, prompting her to spin around.
Witnessing them already unfurled in their full splendor behind him, her heart quickened, and her eyes widened in absolute awe of their magnificent display.
They appeared longer than she had remembered, their sheer force leaving her breathless.
Not only were they beautiful, but they also exuded strength.
Their color resembled midnight black, yet upon closer inspection, an iridescent sheen revealed itself.
Hues of blue, purple, and even a hint of green emerged from the tucks and folds of the glossy feathers.
The alluring beauty of their appearance tempted her to reach out and touch them.
“Are they heavy?” Her voice was soft, as if speaking too loudly might startle the feathers that twitched and fluttered at random.
“No, surprisingly.”
“I’m okay to touch them?” She heard him laugh.
“Of course, they are just like another part of—” Her fingers glided gently along the surface of the wing, confirming that they were as smooth and silky as they appeared.
The tightly packed feathers overlapped neatly, reminding her of the moment he had wrapped her in them—like a cozy blanket enfolding her in comfort. “me…”
Shifting her gaze, she saw that he was blushing. “I swore you said they weren’t sensitive.”
She could see his throat bob. “When anyone else touches them, apparently. Maybe they longed for your touch as much as I did.”
“That is a thought,” she ran her fingers along them, feeling the tapered shape, watching them shiver at the simplest of attention. “They are huge, by the Mother.” They towered over her, and even as she looked to her left, they felt endless. “Do you know how long?”
When she didn’t get a response, she looked at him, and his gaze turned away from hers. “Jayce?”
“Hmm?” He still didn’t look at her. “I haven’t measured in a while. Twenty-five, maybe thirty feet.” His voice was husky, and she narrowed her eyes at him.
Deciding to play dumb, she walked down towards the tip of his wing, and as she had done before, took it and wrapped it around her. “I think I’ll take my next nap right here.”