Chapter 11
Azahara
The scream that tore from her body could wake the dead.
After the first initial scream, she sat there, unblinking, looking at all the blood that now accompanied a lifeless Kaed. Her entire body was shaking uncontrollably, and she felt nauseous. No… no… please… what have I done…
“If you think your life is yours, you are mistaken, little mouse.” Goddrick’s voice rang in her ears, morbid anger in his tone.
What have I done… what have I done… she repeated in her head.
The blood, there was so much of it on his beautiful face. What have I done… Her eyes stung as tears began to gather and then stream quickly down her face. Death… if you love me… do not take him from me… what have I done…
“Azahara!” a far-off voice called to her. What have I done…
“Azahara, please!” The voice was getting closer, but she couldn’t blink or look away from him. This is what she had caused. She knew damn well that playing with a god was stupid.
Her hands trembled as she finally moved to touch him. The lifeless body of the person she knew would have been her only lifeline. The person she had come to care for beyond her own beating heart—someone who was too good for this realm but deserved it more than anyone.
“AZAHARA!” The voice was right in her ear, and she finally closed her eyes and blinked.
As if she had wiped away the past several minutes and returned in time, all the blood was gone.
Kaed was sat up, his hands at her shoulders, shaking her as if she were having a nightmare.
Yet she had been awake the entire time. There was liquid on her face, but when inspected, it was just her tears.
What the fuck…
“Azahara, please, say something.” When her eyes looked back at him, they were hollow with no light in them. The absolute fear that raptured her translated to pure terror on her face. He looked no better, as he, too, had both fear and worry lacing his utterance.
All she wanted to do was speak, but the trauma grabbed her by the throat and threatened to silence her forever if she spoke.
Kaed put his hand behind her neck and pulled her into an embrace. “Sweetheart… it’s okay…” Her body rumbled in his arms, and she dared not blink again. He buried his head into her shoulder, willing her to speak.
Then, as if nothing else could go wrong, the front door swung open. She didn’t jump, but Kaed did. He was on his feet before she realized he had let her go and sat her on the couch. She had slumped then, staring down into the embroidery. Was it Death here to collect him… don’t let it… protect him…
Her eyes were stinging to blink, but she refused to give in. She wouldn’t allow him to be taken away in that split second of weakness.
“How the hell did you get in here?” She heard Kaed, and her eyes trailed up to see a very tall, lanky figure standing in the doorway.
One hand was wrapped around a colorful cotton bag, and they wore a beautiful white and silver dress that flowed as the stormy winds outside gusted through the cottage.
“Who, pray tell, are you?” Their voice was singsong. “Have you harmed my Ladybug?” Their eyes traveled from Kaed to her, who looked lifeless on the sofa.
It took everything in her to shake her head.
Kaed seemed to relax ever so slightly. “Ladybug?” It captured quickly in his mind then who they were. “Illyan. You’re the Fae.”
At that moment, she knew it was safe, and if Illyan were there, everything would be okay. They could protect Kaed. The purple eyes of the Fae never left as her head dipped, and darkness overtook her vision. The last thing she saw was the two of them rushing to her side.
Illyan screamed something, but the words were indiscernible. Kaed also raised his voice, but oddly enough, she understood him. “I don’t know how to help her.” Were the last things he said before she was gone.
The smell of peppermint leaves filled her nose. She opened her eyes, allowing the world to leak into her vision. Light broke through the clouds, shining through the bedroom window, which was cracked open, allowing for the cool morning breeze to sneak in and caress her warm cheeks.
She licked her dry lips. It didn’t help, as her mouth was just as dry.
Leaning forward, she brushed her fingers through her tangled hair.
She was in her room, alone. Inspecting herself, she was wearing new clothes, and by the look of its coordination, Illyan had been the one to change her.
Her pants, with their matching top, were a silk night outfit with a lining of wool inside.
The color was a beautiful sky blue. The top was the short sleeve, which she was thankful for.
The room was hot, even with the open window.
Kaed was at the forefront of her mind.
She deduced that Goddrick had played with her mind. He was making her see a possible vision of what he could or would do to Kaed. She bit the inside of her cheek, trying to distract her from the vision of his blood splattering across her.
It had felt so real. The warm liquid hitting her face, stinging her eyes. She even tasted the metal in the air. It was a cheap trick, but it worked.
Distant voices captured her attention, and she realized that Illyan and Kaed were talking. At first, she thought maybe they were downstairs, but the sound of a horse neighing near them indicated they were outside.
Sliding towards the window, she pulled the frames inward and leaned out into the brisk air. The two of them were out back, and Kaed was cutting wood.
“You need to eat, Elf.” Illyan was using their scolding tone.
“Do you not remember my name, Fae?” Kaed was equally as scolding—an irritated tone lacing his words.
“Kaed. You should eat. Ladybug would be upset knowing you haven’t eaten in two days.”
I’ve been out for two days… She was shocked at the revelation.
“Your cooking sucks in comparison to hers.” The playful shock that Illyan expressed was humorous. She leaned a bit forward to see them more clearly.
“While I should take offense to that, I understand. Nothing compares to her cooking.” Illyan flicked their wrist, and as Kaed went to swing the axe he was using to chop the wood, it lifted.
“What the—” he exclaimed. The axe went flying into a nearby tree with a thud.
“We have enough wood to last us at least three winters.”
“Okay? What is it to you?” Kaed began walking towards the axe to retrieve it.
“Don’t make me toss it into the mountains, Kaed, because I will.” Illyan leaned off to the side, placing a hand on their hip. “Eat something.”
“I can’t be in that house. Knowing she still hasn’t woken.
You insist I relax, but how can I relax when you constantly talk in riddles?
!” Her heart raced. “You won’t answer my questions, she won’t answer my questions.
This is all I can do to distract myself.
Moondancer won’t ride further than a few hundred feet away from this house.
I swear it has something to do with that damn horse of yours. ”
Starlight.
“I told you, it’s not my—”
“It’s not your story to tell. It’s not your secret to bear.
I know. I know, but it doesn’t make it any less frustrating.
” It was hard to see Kaed’s face from where she was, as he faced the mountains and forest instead of the house.
However, she knew what he was feeling. There was so much pain, and all she wanted to do was take it away.
“If I bring the food outside, will you eat it?” Illyan was trying, and she loved them for it.
“Fine, if it will get you off my back.”
A giddy clap and jump was the only answer Kaed would get as Illyan rushed back into the house. She could hear the door open and close.
Her eyes stayed on Kaed, and he looked tired as he sat on the wood block. His head fell into his hands. She needed to go to him.
She needed him.
Slowly she got out of bed and exited her room. The entire house was warm, and it smelled like peppermint tea.
“Ladybug,” Illyan called to her softly as she descended the stairs.
They turned, tucking the loose strands of hair behind their high-pointed ears.
“Thought I heard that heartbeat pick up.” You are so weird.
She crossed the room quickly to Illyan and wrapped her arms around their lithe form.
Their gentle and lanky arms took her in.
Illyan was over seven feet tall, towering over her.
They had made it a point to call her every short nickname in the book until she threatened to sell their wings to the highest bidder.
It was then that the term Ladybug stuck.
Rarely did Illyan ever call her Azahara, only on occasions when things were serious.
They pulled away and stared down into her ocean eyes. “We have a lot to catch up on.” She nodded. “For now, I think he requires your attention first.”
Pressing her lips into a fine line, Illyan placed a kiss on her forehead, and she headed out the front door. She hadn’t even made it down the first step when that strange feeling when he was near tugged at her.
Kaed was running around the house, and when he saw her, he picked up his pace.
She took the second step out of the house and headed in his direction.
She hadn’t needed to start running because he was before her in a matter of seconds.
His arms were wrapped around her, and that feeling in the pit of her chest settled and tightened.
There was this bond, a tether that, when connected, created a vortex of energy, happiness, and love. This sensation only manifested when he drew near.
He held her so tightly that she had to adjust so she could take a breath. His familiar scent filled her nose, causing her to smile.
She pulled away first, but only by a few inches. Her head leaned back so she could see him. There was relief in his eyes. His fingers brushed her wild red curls from her face. “How are you?”