Chapter Sixteen
Azazel
“Father and Colonel Zade told Talon and I that we will begin preparing for the great liberation that will finally make Dajahim pure again.”
“Tershetta, there is no way you’re actually this slow.” At this point, we were practically jogging. I wasn’t even breaking a sweat.
“Your stupid long legs are the real problem, jackass!” Nova shouted through gasps at my side. “How are you so fast when you smoke more than that volcano?”
I dared to peek down at her, risking the laugh I knew would come. Sweat was beading down her face, pooling at the tip of her nose as it always did. Her skin was flushed, her hair flying out of the knot atop her head. She was starting to lean forward now. Would she faint?
At least I’d get to carry her home. A small victory.
“You can’t possibly be tired. We’ve barely done five miles. This is child’s play.”
“You’re demented!”
“No, I’m resilient. It’s unbelievable that I’m the one sleeping on the hard floor and yet I’m way faster than you.” That part was true. My back hurt.
“You’ve trained your whole life and probably slept on what was equivalent to a cloud for like seventy years. I doubt a couple weeks of discomfort will hurt you.” She stumbled a bit, righting herself and shouting, “Meanwhile, I’m going to pass out!”
“Fine, we can take a short break.”
“A break? I’m near death!”
Chuckling, I slowed, watching in amusement as she let herself fall to her hands and knees in the powdery snow. Wheezes periodically came from her like an old toy with a broken squeaker. “So dramatic.”
“I hate you,” she said with a groan.
And I love you.
Get a grip, crazy.
“You’ll survive,” I shot back.
“I won’t. I can feel it. This is the end.”
“Rest in peace.”
“In your dreams. I’m going to haunt the fuck out of you, Snake.”
“You already do, Little Void.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked as she lifted her torso, sitting back on her heels.
She was glowing, her face shining in the dull morning light that reflected off the snow.
Her all-black training wear had straps sewn into them, wrapping tightly around her left leg, right arm, and chest. As I stepped towards her, she let her head fall back further, looking up at me in all the ways I’d fantasized.
Stars, I’m a pervert.
“What were you reading about earlier?”
“Why are you changing the subject?” Her eyes traced me, beginning at my feet and slowly rising. As if suddenly lifted by a string, she stood, her chest almost grazing my thighs on her way up. “You’re being weird.”
“Contrary to popular belief, even I am a bit weird under all of the undeniable allure and impeccable outfits.”
“You’re wearing the exact same thing as me right now.”
“Yes, but I wear the clothes, they don’t wear me.”
“I’m going to wear your skin like clothing if you don’t shut up.”
Stepping forward, I eagerly awaited the feeling of her against me.
Instead, she backed away, forcing me to practically chase her.
So I pivoted just slightly to the left, leading her directly to a tree.
My smile became feral when her back pressed into the bark, her eyes wide and her cheeks flushed as her head fell back.
“Careful,” I said, forcing my hands to remain at my sides. “It isn’t smart to tempt the man who loves the idea of getting under your skin.”
“Must you make everything sound sexual just to annoy me?” Her voice was low, almost sounding unfazed save the barely audible crack at the end.
Fuck it, just one touch won’t kill me.
Lifting my hand, I settled my palm against her jaw, spreading my fingers as wide as I could. I gripped her like a lifeline, maintaining eye contact.
“Does this annoy you, Tershetta?” My thumb slid into the hollow under her eye, swiping down across her cheekbone. “Do I annoy you?”
“Of course you do. You always have.” She didn’t pull away, though I could tell she was itching to. Tershetta seemed to loathe the lack of control. As if it physically hurt her to not know what would come next.
“Consider that I’m other things too. Far more tolerable things.
In fact, I’d say I’m capable of downright life changing things.
If you’re ever in the mood, that is.” I was pushing it.
I knew that. She’d only take the idea of me joking so far until she stopped to question if I was actually serious. Today wasn’t that day, though.
“Ha ha, you’re so funny. I’ll make a mental note of coming to you anytime I need a good laugh.
” Ouch. Her hand moved to my chest, fingers wrapping around the leather and using the grip to shove me back.
“If you’re done tormenting me with real running and faux flirting, then we’d best get back to your cottage.
I want to be on time for the meeting with Commander Maitoza. ”
“Ugh, fine. Way to kill the mood.”
“There was never any mood other than your amusement. Now let’s go.” She grabbed my hand, shadow walking us before I could so much as suggest we run back.
“Impossible woman,” I muttered as my boots met the wooden floors of my cottage.
***
Maitoza was not happy to see me. In fact, I’d wager she was borderline disgusted by my presence at her rebel meeting. Which was hilarious seeing as they would need me far more than I’d need them during the next hour.
“It’s a pleasure to have you here, Nova,” Maitoza said, grinning as they shook hands. When she faced me, her smile was wide and almost sincere, if not for the way her eyes seemed to close for a second—a barely there glare. “Welcome, Azazel, we’re happy to see you made it as well.”
“Oh, yes, a pleasure indeed. Outright divine, even, to be here.” My words earned an elbow to my gut from Nova, but Maitoza simply smiled on, waving us towards the long, wooden table at the center of the room.
The floors were concrete, the walls pale plaster. Nothing special, but then again, the rebels never seemed to need much. Their uniforms were surprising in comparison to how utterly uninteresting they were otherwise.
Nine people sat around the table, their faces not worth noticing and their names unworthy of remembering. With my Little Void at my side, I was utterly baffled at just how little I cared about others. Was that what happened when you fell in love? Everyone else ceased to matter?
No, I never really cared before. I was just caught up in…her.
“We really are grateful for the invitation. I’m very interested to hear more about the rebellion and what plans are in place.
” Nova wasn’t often kind, but she was always cordial.
Today, she was outright sweet as she spoke, her voice like chocolate.
Neither of us were meant to be hostile during the meeting, our goal being to gain Maitoza’s trust enough to figure out what she really wanted.
Only one of us was succeeding so far though, and I was a bit aggravated at how easily Nova was smiling at the commander, her face calm.
The three of us sat, Maitoza—surprisingly—motioning for us to sit in the two seats to her left. Why didn’t she separate us?
“Well, today we will run through a lot of the basics in terms of next moves and planned missions. If, at any point, you have questions or suggestions, please do feel comfortable sharing them.”
“Perfect, thank you,” Nova said.
“Okay, let’s get started, shall we? Lieutenant Demoi, how have supply drops been going?” Maitoza asked, facing the man two seats to the left of me.
His gaze flicked my way, a glare forming. When Maitoza cleared her throat, he sighed and faced her. “Not ideal. We’ve fallen behind in four districts.”
“Well, that’s a problem, isn’t it? Nova,” she said, turning towards us with a bright smile.
“You might be able to help us with this. Both of you.” Her eyes were on me, a glint in them that unsettled me.
“You see, our supply drops have been difficult with our low number of shadow wielders. Leaving the island in general is quite difficult, let alone transporting goods without being killed or captured.”
“So you need us to do supply drops for you? That sounds easy enough.” Nova’s voice was calm, but there was a hint of suspicion in it. A lilt she couldn’t hide.
“What’s the catch?” I added.
“Catch?” Maitoza’s calm demeanor never faded, her face unreadable.
“Yes, what aren’t you telling us?”
I felt Nova’s arm press into mine, but she didn’t seem upset by my tone, if anything we were finally on the same page. Neither of us trusted this.
“Well, it won’t really be easy. More officials have been stationed across the entire continent, making it far harder to walk around freely. On top of that, the two of you are obviously wanted.”
“Not to mention the cores have moved the shaytan forces into the Kawkeb District,” Nova added. We’d agreed on offering up a bit of our knowledge to gauge just how much the rebellion knew, but did she have to use it in a way that made her seem against me? “And what, exactly, are you supplying?”
“You are both stubborn brats. Commander, why must we involve them at all? Clearly they only care to argue,” one of the women at the table said, her mouth contorted into a sneer.
“Now, now, there’s no reason to be rude, Lieutenant Fay.” Maitoza was smiling even wider now, her hands clasping near her chin. “How about we end the meeting early? I’d like to talk with Nova and Azazel alone. Consider yourselves dismissed.”
A few moments passed before anyone moved. Once they seemed to settle into what Maitoza was saying, the arguments began.
“You can’t possibly expect—”
“Commander, they’re miscreants!”
“—they’re trying to sway you—”
“I can’t believe you’d let them—”
“Enough!” Maitoza yelled, slamming her fist onto the table as she stood. Her smile slipped, her eyes blazing. “You all chose me as your commander; therefore, you will obey my orders. Now get out!”
Each of the rebel leaders stood with slack jaws, their eyes wide as if they were baffled at her outburst. Maybe they were. I’d never seen Maitoza break character. Not even when I pushed her.
Still, they listened, each of them glaring at me before pushing out the heavy wooden door.