Chapter 21 Azahara
Azahara
Azahara could have likely blamed Kaed for killing the mood, but it was both of their faults. He was responsible for pulling her back to admire her reflection, and after seeing the new color in her eye, she’s become fixated on it, tugging at the lid as though it would change anything.
Nonetheless, he remained a gentleman, refraining from making any jokes about how she had left him stiff as steel. She was aware of the playful undertone, and although she had no trouble rekindling the mood, Kaed shifted the conversation to a more severe topic as they nestled into bed.
He hadn’t allowed her to put on any clothes except for her underwear, which he got to choose. They were a charming pair made of black satin, hugging her hip bones and revealing her cheeks in the back. Kaed chose a pair of loose-fitting pants and no shirt.
Unbeknownst to her, Illyan had filled her closet with some clothes for Kaed during the two days she was out. She was thankful for them; it would be two weeks tomorrow since they arrived, and the last thing he needed was to wear the same couple of clothes he had come with.
As they settled into bed, he grabbed her bottom leg and pulled her to him. She let a squeal out and wrapped her leg around his hip.
“Can you tell me what happened?” He approached the topic with sensitivity. “I understand if it’s too much.” His fingers gently twirled her hair as he took a deep breath, his chest rising.
“You have the right to know,” she replied. Although, she wondered if it would hurt him more to know or her for telling.
She proceeded to recount everything, from Goddrick refusing to let her go to her death and standing with Death, to how she heard him call for her, essentially bringing her back from purgatory.
“Do you know what the gift Death gave you is?” She had mentioned the kiss, and Kaed went wide-eyed but hadn’t commented. “Do you think it’s why your eye is pierced with fire?” His hand brushed against her left cheek.
“I don’t... think so. I hate to say it, but it’s the same color as Goddrick’s eyes,” she remarked, and watched as Kaed rolled his eyes and shook his head. “I could be wrong, but it’s far too much of a coincidence.”
“How so?”
“After Death brought me back, he forced me to consume his blood. It is how I’m healed every time, it would seem, but I wasn’t dead.
And it also was a lot. Something tells me far more than I have ever consumed.
” The sun peeked through the window. Although it was midday, they lay in bed as if it were dusk, and it seemed likely they would remain there for the rest of the day and night.
They understood the unspoken truth without uttering a word—they were both thoroughly exhausted.
Kaed pondered for a moment before speaking. “Would Illyan know?” She knew he didn’t want to lean on the Fae, but if they could answer the question, he’d be more than happy to.
“Likely not, but it’s possible his grandfather might.
” The look on her face was filled with displeasure, which meant that would not be an option.
“I’ve also been hearing a voice. One that I’ve never heard before.
It appeared for the first time last night.
I also think she saved you from that Vaeragi attacking you on horseback. ”
“I honestly thought that was Illyan until they told me their Magic was gone.” He shrugged. “Then, I completely forgot about it after…”
Azahara leaned in and brushed her nose against his chin. “I’m here.” His arm snaked around her neck, pulling her into his chest. His fingertips drawing small circles on her shoulder blade.
“I know, Red, but it will take some time for those images to fade if they ever do.” He kissed her forehead, letting his lips linger there. “Did he let you go after that?”
Falling back into the story, she described that someone, likely a goddess from the sounds of it, confronted Goddrick for breaking their most sacred law: he killed a mortal.
Kaed’s surprise was warranted. She continued telling him that he was turned to ash before her and then disappeared; likely being dragged to Parádeisos for his judgment.
There was a sense of weight being lifted from her chest. “While I may still be cursed, he wasn’t allowed to kill me, you, or anyone I care for.”
Kaed tensed. “You still think you are cursed? You don’t think he’s dead?”
“No,” she quickly responded, giving no doubt to her answer. “I can still feel he is alive, which means the curse lives too.”
His grip on her tightened. “I’ll need to start training even harder to be able to fight a god.” She couldn’t help but wonder if he thought about how effortlessly Goddrick had snapped her neck with a flick of his thumb. Fighting him would indeed be an impossible task, and Kaed had to know that.
“I’m thinking…” She cut in, her fingers tracing across one of the many scars on his torso. “We find a way not to fight him. Hm?”
“You said he couldn’t—”
“Kill us. It doesn’t mean Goddrick can’t bring us close to it.” Kaed nodded in understanding.
A moment of silence hung between them, allowing them to absorb the weight of her words. It would be challenging, but she was determined to find a way.
Their immediate priority was to deliver the news to the king, which meant they would likely have to depart in the morning.
Although all she desired was to remain here, enveloped in his embrace, she understood the impracticality of that choice.
Whether they sought refuge behind protective wards or sought sanctuary in Ilkiz, she couldn’t shake the intuition that what was coming would eventually find them.
“So, your letter to me.” Kaed broke the silence, which caused her face to burn. “It would have made me fall for you if I hadn’t already done so.”
Nestling her head against his chest, she pursed her lips tightly together. Her heart pounded, its rhythm quick and erratic. “I’m—uhm—glad you enjoyed it.”
He ran his fingers through her hair, brushing out the tangles he had caused.
“There is one other thing that wasn’t in the letter.
” His fingers traced her forehead and down the contours of her face.
He didn’t need to guide her to look at him, and when her eyes lay upon him, she was surprised to see a red tint across his cheeks. “But first, I wanted to apologize.”
Her eyebrows furrowed. “For what?” She was suspicious, ready to protest if he tried to say sorry for being unable to save her.
“I stopped you from saying something in the meadow.”
Azahara had nearly forgotten that moment, the memory swiftly flashing before her eyes—just as she was torn away from him. While she comprehended his reasoning behind it, she knew that regret would have consumed him if she had truly died permanently.
“That fear we had just talked about; it was coming in full force, and I couldn’t slow it down.
I didn’t want to believe that you were about to tell me that because you thought you were going to die.
I couldn’t imagine hearing it and then never hearing it again.
” He tightened his arms around her, both now wrapped over her shoulders. “It was cowardly, and I’m sorry.”
She brushed her nose against his chest, feeling his warmth and hearing his beating heart. Those tendrils tightened when they were close. Strong and unwavering. Kaed meant it; she didn’t need to be an Elf to know that.
Placing a kiss on his chest before tilting her head up to gaze through her eyelashes at him. “I understand why you did it, and likely, I would have done the same in your position.”
His hand came to her cheek and leaned to kiss her but stopped short of her lips. “Would you be mad if I took it away from you again?”
Her heart was pounding in her ears. “No…” A mere whisper against his lips.
A smile came over him as he let out a huffy chuckle. Before she knew it, he was rolling her onto her back. His hands were on both sides of her head, propping him over her. He used his knees spread her legs apart before situating himself between them.
She was on fire, and she knew the blush consumed her entire face. As he leaned in, she sucked in a deep breath. “Azahara.”
“Mhmm?” One of his hands came behind her neck as he leaned down, once again their lips barely an inch apart.
“I love you,” Kaed said without a single doubt. “Time was irrelevant when it came to knowing that.”
She was sure that she’d never stop smiling after that moment. Nothing should be able to take this fantastic feeling and moment from her. This was the only thing she wanted for the rest of her days. To stay wrapped in his embrace, safe and loved by him.
“I love you too, Kaed.” Her voice sang with unwavering truth. “Yesterday, today, tomorrow, and all the days ahead.” She encircled her arms around his neck, cherishing the moment. His smile held immense love, and she desired to etch it into her memory forever. Don’t forget it. Please, don’t forget.
She pulled him down to her, allowing their lips to meet finally. He kissed her gently at first, gradually deepening the embrace by intertwining his tongue with hers. She could swear he tasted like the essence of freshly brewed tea.
They were on the brink of losing themselves in a captivating blend of sensations and emotions.
While their lips caressed, his hand tightened slightly around her neck while his thumb brushed against its vital spot. She let out a soft gasp, and Kaed sighed a frustrated groan. “I am a weak Elf,” he whispered against her cheek, kissing slowly down to her jaw and then settled at her neck.
As though a primal urge took hold of Kaed, his teeth grazed lightly across her delicate skin.
She had a brief moment to suck air into her lungs before his teeth bit gently into her neck.
It elicited a rush of tantalizing pleasure that shot straight to her abdomen.
It evoked a shiver of excitement through her body, and her hips bucked up.