Chapter 51 – Azaria
AZARIA
The halls of the palace were quiet this morning. Summer warmth seeped through the stone, light dancing brightly through the tall windows. I felt them before I saw them: the guards, the servants, the couriers and scribes slipping between offices, already bustling with their early routines.
And beneath it all, inside me, was a hum I couldn’t name. Satisfaction and heat—a slow, molten ache that curled between my hips and refused to fade.
Quinton had kissed me before we left my house, pinning me against the doorframe, his hand fisting in my hair to tilt my head exactly where he wanted it.
When he pulled back, his thumb traced my lower lip, and the look in his eyes made my knees soften.
“You were so good for me last night,” he murmured, low enough that the words landed somewhere between praise and promise.
“Now go be a Captain. And try not to think about what I'm going to do to you when you get home.”
I was absolutely thinking about it. Every step of the walk to the palace, his hand brushing mine in the summer warmth, his scent still clinging to my skin—none of it helped.
By the time we reached the gates, I was fairly certain my composure was held together by stubbornness alone.
I turned to him. “I need to check in with the palace officers,” I said. “Get cleared for return.”
He nodded easily. “I’ll go ahead. Save you a seat.”
His smile did something devastating to my pulse.
I watched him walk away—broad shoulders, unhurried steps, the quiet confidence that made heat stir in places I really didn’t need stirred before facing my squad.
I inhaled once. Twice. Straightened my posture and headed the other way.
I’d just passed the east stairwell when I heard the familiar rhythm of boots behind me. Someone who moved like a soldier, but didn’t carry tension in his shoulders.
“Captain Sylvenhart,” Elias said, his voice warm and low. “I hear you’ve returned from exile.”
I turned to find him catching up, lips curved in that ever-gentle smile. Gods, Quin may have been the darker one—gritted jaw and simmering restraint—but Elias had that sunshine-through-clouds calm that made people spill secrets without realizing it.
“I was not exiled,” I said dryly.
He arched a brow. “Voluntary confinement, then?”
I snorted. “Let’s call it extended leave with intense emotional labor.”
He chuckled, then fell into step beside me. “Well. It’s good to have you back.” He glanced at me sidelong. “You look better.”
“Better?”
His lips twitched. “Less stormy. Fewer knives behind the eyes.”
“I assure you, the knives are still there. Just more focused.”
He gave a thoughtful nod. “Still. You look steadier. Happier.”
That stopped me for a breath.
Was I?
I thought of Quin’s hands on my hips. His mouth on my throat. The way he’d whispered, you’re mine like a vow.
I looked down the hall ahead. “Maybe I am.”
Elias didn’t press. Just smiled, hands behind his back, posture neat as ever. By the time the door to the wing came into view, my pulse had picked up. I could already hear voices—Reyna’s, definitely, probably Kael’s laughter too—and I knew.
They were going to eat me alive.
The door creaked open, and the room stilled like someone had cut the sound. For half a heartbeat, all I heard were boots on stone and the buzz of channeled heat from the vents overhead. Then someone whispered, “Shit.”
Then it exploded.
“Captain on deck!” Reyna hollered, half-standing on the bench like she were about to salute with both hands and a boot. “Look alive, degenerates!”
Kael kicked his chair back so hard it nearly hit the wall. “She returns!” he cried, flinging his arms out like I were a prophet returning from exile. “The goddess walks among us once more!”
Lirael practically tripped over her own feet trying to reach me. She caught herself on the edge of a table, cheeks flushed, eyes shining.
“Azaria,” Zephyr said, low and wicked, like he was trying not to grin but utterly failing. “We were just placing bets on whether you’d show up or send us all flaming letters from exile.”
“I told them,” Reyna said proudly. “Told them you’d come back swinging.”
“Stars, you look good,” Kael added, eyes gleaming. “Is that a tan? No—don’t tell me. That’s afterglow.” He sniffed theatrically. “You reek of sex and self-confidence.”
Thorne stood, smacked Kael upside the head, then gave me a deep nod. “Welcome home, Captain.”
Elias stepped aside as we entered, and I moved further into the room slowly, letting them have their moment. Letting them drink it in.
I raised one brow, folded my arms across my chest, and looked at the lot of them. “Have you all gone completely mad in my absence?”
“Yes,” Reyna chirped.
“Absolutely,” Zephyr confirmed.
“And we regret nothing,” Lirael added quickly.
Kael smacked the table. “I wrote poetry about your return. It’s three verses and one stanza about your thighs.”
“Stars above.” I dragged a hand down my face, trying not to smile.
They were chaos. Loud, ridiculous, absolutely inappropriate.
And gods, I missed them.
Reyna was the first to pounce. “You look well-rested, Captain.” Her tone was far too sweet.
Kael lounged back in his chair, mist curling lazily at his fingertips. “Rested? I’d say glowing. Wouldn’t you?”
Lirael made a strangled sound that was somewhere between a laugh and a squeak.
Zephyr leaned forward, elbows on knees, eyes full of mischief. “Something you’d like to share with the class?”
I dropped into the nearest chair, aiming for nonchalance. “Not particularly.”
That only made it worse.
Reyna smacked her palm down. “Ha! I knew it. You can’t fool me.”
“I’m innocent,” I said flatly.
Kael snorted. “You’re many things, Cap, but innocent isn’t one of them. Come on. Give us something.”
The entire room leaned in, waiting. Even Elias’s mouth quirked at the corner, which meant I was doomed.
I sighed, dragging my hands over my face. “Fine. Maybe I’ll tell you.”
That earned a chorus of cheers. The squad practically vibrated with anticipation.
I let them stew for a moment. Watched them practically crawl out of their skins waiting.
Then I stood. I crossed the room to where Quinton leaned against the wall, arms folded, watching me with that half-smile that was already too much. He didn’t move. He didn’t need to.
I stopped in front of him, tipped my chin up, and kissed him. Not long, but deliberate enough that no one in the room could mistake what it meant. His smile curved against my mouth, his arms wrapping around my waist as if he’d been waiting for me to do exactly that.
The room erupted.
Cheers, whoops, laughter, a few exaggerated sighs of relief, like they’d been holding their breath for months. Reyna actually clapped.
“Gods, finally!” Kael groaned, throwing his head back like he’d been wronged by the gods themselves. “Stars above, it took you two long enough!”
Lyra was on her feet, beaming so hard I thought her face might split. Bless her cheerful soul.
“We’re happy for you, Captain,” Thorne’s deep voice rumbled, and I smiled toward him.
Then Reyna turned to Lirael without a word and extended her open palm.
Lirael dropped a silver coin into it without being asked.
“You placed bets on whether me and Quin would get together?” I asked.
“Of course,” Zephyr said without a hint of shame. “It was bound to happen. Might as well make some money out of it.”
I shook my head. Quin laughed, and the sound sent something warm and reckless through my chest.
“Hang on, there was an extra bet,” Kael said, then turned to me and Quin. “Have you two consummated your relationship yet?”
“Kael, stars above,” Lirael started.
“Not everyone goes to bed on the first date like you do. Other people have standards,” Reyna groaned.
“No way I’m telling you anything, Kael. You’ll want to join in and watch.”
He just sat back, pure nonchalance. “Yeah. I like to witness a good tumble.”
I laughed at his ridiculous attitude.
Quin pulled me flush against him, dipped his head and nipped at my ear. “Are we making it official, then?”
“Would you rather I keep it a secret?” I murmured.
Quin’s voice came low, right against my skin. “Do whatever you want, Sweetheart. I’ll follow your lead.” He grazed his lips along the shell of my ear and added, in a tone that made the entire room irrelevant, “But…” Another playful nip. “I like the idea of everyone knowing you’re mine.”
There was a warmth that pooled low in me, and it had Quin’s name written all over it.
“Oh,” I said, teasing, because it steadied me. “You’re very sure of yourself after last night.”
He laughed, short and pleased. “Careful, Sweetheart. If they knew what you were doing with that mouth last night, they’d never let you hear the end of it.”
I smiled and let Quin hold me there while the squad argued over payouts and tattled on bets. The room was loud and ridiculous and perfect, and for once I didn’t want to leave the noise. I wanted to stay in it with him.
And then, beneath it all, a quiet brush against my mind, gentle and familiar.
I’m happy for you.
I turned just enough to find Dain across the room. He hadn’t said a word, hadn’t even moved from his chair, just watched with that unreadable calm of his. But when our eyes met, he gave me the faintest smile. The smile that told me he meant it.
Warmth curled in my chest, steady and grounding.
For the first time in longer than I could remember, everything felt right.