Chapter 8
Sweat drenching her back and neck, Nymiria slowly pulled herself out of the bed. The shadows in her room and the hall were looming and ominous, making it feel as if the world was caving in on her, swallowing her whole.
The slapping of her feet against the stones of the hall were the only sound she could hear—not even her pulse could be heard.
She charged towards Aziel’s room, hating herself, hating the fact that she couldn’t sleep for more than a few hours anywhere else, hating the fact that she didn’t want to.
That room at the end of the hall on the other wing, the one that Aziel made for her, didn't feel like hers at all. Though the person who’d decorated and stocked it had seemingly been very selective over every miniscule detail, it didn’t feel welcoming.
It felt like someone was locking her away, shutting her out. It felt like resentment.
When she reached the door, there was light seeping out from the crack between it and the floor.
A soft golden glow, like that of a fire.
The aura lights had been dimmed and she briefly wondered if perhaps she should turn around and go back.
She almost did. Instead, she took one glance back at the all-consuming darkness and reached for the knob.
The dining room was vacant and dark, the smell of early-spring flowers seeping in through the open balcony. She glanced out at the night, eyeing the winking of the stars as she padded across the floor to his sleeping chambers.
The door was left open, roughly an inch, but just enough for her to peek inside to see if he was asleep or awake.
Her heart sank.
Aziel was most certainly awake.
But instead of reading a book or practicing some kind of secret hobby, he was sprawled across the bed, his pants pushed down to his thighs. One hand clutched a pillow to his face and the other…
She turned away, squeezing her eyes shut as if it could do anything to rid herself of that image or the heat that was now inching its way up her thighs. She clenched them together, hoping to stop the pulsing she felt there, but a low groan traveled from her ears straight to her sex.
“Fuck,” He hissed, his voice muffled by the pillow.
Despite her desire to flee, to dive back into her bed and hide from the present, Nymiria turned towards the door again.
She watched his hand move over his shaft, his piercings and the small bead of pre-ejaculate on the tip of it gleaming in the firelight.
He pumped himself slowly, languidly, as if to prolong whatever it was he was thinking of.
He was swearing, legs moving back and forth against the sheets, and his pace increased.
Rougher, faster, each stroke making his body twitch with pleasure.
But his words, whatever he was panting under his breath, was drowned out by the pillow he was now sinking his teeth into.
A loud knock sounded at the door in the dining room and Nymiria felt every ounce of blood, every shred of desire, drain from her body.
Humiliation rose to claim her body, her eyes going wide as she silently searched for a place to hide.
She glanced around the room, a scream lodging in her throat when she heard Aziel begin walking across the floor.
Another knock.
Hand clapped over her mouth, Nymiria did the best that she could with what she had and decided to hide behind the buffet that sat at an odd angle in the corner.
The space behind it was large enough for her to fit behind.
She climbed over the top, thighs skidding across the heavily shellacked and polished wood, before sinking into a low crouch on the other side.
She nestled there, silently wishing she could simply just vanish into thin air.
By this point, Aziel was already exiting the sleeping chamber, the hurried rustle of his clothing signifying that he was still adjusting himself.
She should have just left. She should have turned and left the moment she thought about it, but no. Her curiosity always got the best of her. In the end, she’d say that Aziel probably wouldn’t have thought her to do any less, considering how they initially crossed paths all those months ago.
The door to his rooms opened and Aziel heaved a sigh. “What happened?” He asked, breathing still labored.
“Did I interrupt something?” Came the sound of Trio’s voice, twinkling with implications Nymiria would rather not entertain.
A pause. “No.” Clipped. Straight to the point. Lying.
“Well,” Trio sighed, the door clicking shut behind him. “I only assumed that since—”
“Why are you here? It’s nearly morning.”
“Can’t a friend visit another friend?”
“Not when that friend is supposed to be heading to the stronghold in the South Mists awaiting my father’s army.”
They were walking now. Despite Aziel’s seemingly harsh tone, Trio was unbothered.
Anyone who knew Aziel would be unbothered, as broodish was his natural state of being.
Nonetheless, Nymiria settled in further to her place behind the buffet, peering through the sliver of a crack in between the furniture piece and the wall.
Aziel was pouring himself a drink, and had already handed one to Trio.
Trio took a seat at the table, hesitant before he spoke.
“That’s exactly why I am here.” He stated.
“It was a trap. Dorid’s men were already there and had been for a while.
And someone has been helping them, Az. They were glamoured to look like fucking trees.
Popped up out of nowhere.” He shook his head and brought his glass up to his lips, hands trembling. “We lost ten.”
Aziel’s jaw locked, teeth grinding as he looked down at the glass in his hand and gave a solemn nod. He knew, Nymiria guessed. He knew before Trio even came that something had happened. Perhaps not the dirty details, but he knew that people had died.
“What do you suspect?” Aziel asked after a beat of silence.
Trio shrugged, his hand coming up to toy with the twisted lock of hair dangling at the side of his head, right above his burn scars. “The information Everand gave us today was shit. And after your little pissing contest—”
“Pissing contest? Please—”
“Should I call it a dick measuring contest, then?” Trio snapped. “Regardless, I feel like the two are directly related to one another. You showed your hand, he didn’t like it, and then we get fucking blindsided.”
Behind the buffet, Nymiria pressed herself closer to the crack.
Aziel was walking, leaning forwards against the table, his elbows rested against the top.
He seemed to be at war with himself, a mix between anger and something he was reluctant to say.
“We have to maintain this relationship. I don’t want to jump to conclusions based on one isolated incident.
It could be someone else feeding Yaar information. ”
Trio rolled his eyes dramatically. “Who would you suspect? Thorn? Me? Or was it you? Because we were the only three people also in attendance at that meeting.”
“You have a right to feel what you feel, Trio, but—”
“But nothing. I’m giving him one more chance, Az. One.” He paused and then tossed back the remainder of his glass, not even flinching at the amount that he’d downed. “My sister was on the front lines today.”
The god looked solemn, his face a mask of hard emotions.
And then, as if he’d known exactly where she was, Aziel’s eyes flickered in her direction and then narrowed.
“I might know someone who could spy for us.” He suggested, his mouth curving into a smug grin as he turned his body to face her.
Nymiria’s heart was in her throat, her hand covering her mouth as she pushed herself as far back into the corner as she could get.
“I’ve come to learn that it is one of her many talents. ”
Trio was looking around the room, confused when he followed Aziel’s gaze to the buffet. Nymiria swore at herself silently, debating on whether or not a knife to that precious little vein in her neck would be better than having to face this humiliation.
“Nymiria.” Aziel sighed. “Would you like to help us with something a bit more grand than peeking through cracked doors and hiding behind furniture?”
Fuck.
Nymiria closed her eyes, doing her best to regulate her breathing before she slowly pushed her weight up with her legs, her back dragging against the wall until she was fully erect and glaring at him.
“You want me to spy on Everand for you?” She asked bitterly, but most of that bite was towards herself and her own foolishness.
Aziel shrugged. “He’s been begging to spend time with you.”
She considered him for a moment, glancing between him and Trio as she mulled over their conversation.
Aziel had stated nearly two days prior that he didn’t trust Everand, even insinuating that the camps had rewired the way his young mind had once operated.
She also remembered just how condescending Everand sounded when he grabbed Aziel’s shoulder, the fire in his eyes when he turned to look at him.
Nymiria had always wanted to do something good—something helpful.
She’d been successful in her last few attempts, with Aziel’s help.
Perhaps it was the need to redeem herself, her desire to give back to the people she put in harm's way. She slowly began to nod her head. “Alright,” she sighed. “I’ll do it.”
Their eyes were locked, wordless phrases being passed between the two of them. Aziel was smug, seemingly rather proud of himself. And she…
Well, he just seemed to enjoy humiliating her and though she deserved it, it still made her want to deliver a swift punch right to the center of his chest.
Finally, Aziel looked away from her and refocused his attention on an open-mouthed Trio, his eyes raised at the corners, smiling.
“There. Now we have a spy.” He stated simply, pouring more of that amber liquid into his glass.
“I will give you more of a plan tomorrow morning when I’ve had time to think. ”