To the Shadowsinger | Azriel

Chapter 68: Explode

Just like she had when the mating bond slipped into place, Raisa froze as Azriel sank his teeth into her neck. Her mind had been in so many places at once but as soon as she felt him mark her, her eyes dilated, she hissed in a breath.

It wasn't that it hurt or even felt good, it just felt... right. Like the last piece in the puzzle clicking into place. She relaxed in his arms, her breathing matching his, and for a moment neither moved. He relaxed against her as well, his teeth not moving from her neck nor did his hold of her weaken. Her head fell back against his chest and her eyes drifted shut.

Gods it felt so right, Raisa might even start crying again. When he finally released her and set her down, she slowly turned to him.

He looked away almost as if he was embarrassed and wiped away the blood running down his chin. It made her think of something else- a dark bedroom and the two of them making love. He had told her he couldn't mark her if he had to leave her. Was that real or was that in the mirror? That had felt so long ago when they were both so new to each other and eager to explore each other's bodies. Every single touch had been deliberate and precious. Had that been real as well?

Raisa's head ached with these thoughts. She pressed her palms against her temples to help the pain subside, but it didn't work. It didn't work because this wasn't real. Her and Azriel had already marked each other- many times. At least, she thought? Her favorite was probably the time they swam out deep into the ocean late at night and he kissed her long and slow as if they had all the time in the world. She remembered squealing as something slimy brushed her leg and him laughing. The stars shone bright in his eyes as he picked her up and carried her out of the water. It wasn't until he dropped to his knees in the sand, laid her down and touched her until she was a whimpering sandy mess did he mark her.

Now, she cupped her hand over the side of her neck, still feeling blood rush from the wound, and met Azriel's gaze with a blank expression. She looked at him and felt nothing because this isn't real. He was only a product of the mirror and her mind. Honestly, if all she was worried about was upsetting Azriel by killing herself to go to another part of the mirror, she could just blow them all to bits. She had done it so many times before.

There was no point to any of this- it was simply time to start all over again. Easy. Simple. Done in seconds.

Azriel reached for her, but she had already pulled away and began walking down the hall. Magic pulsed around her, ringing in her ears and screaming to be released. She couldn't look back, she already had her eyes screwed shut because she knew she would turn around and see the face Azriel would only show to her.

This isn't goodbye, she told herself.

And then, without any warning, she let her magic explode.

Letting her magic go like this had always been one of her greatest fears. She was always so careful, maybe even too careful. Her magic brewed in her veins like a raging storm, demanding her to burn, but she buried it down time and time again. That was the only control she had with it, taming it into submission. When she let it go, she was no longer in control.

Her magic wasn't just fire. It was time and space. And when that kind of magic was released, it wasn't just hot enough to melt flesh from bone- it was enough to completely erase years from the space it consumed. Her magic consumed time and life.

Azriel wouldn't even feel a thing. 

A/N: I just wanted to say thank you all for reading this story. I thought it would get a thousand or so reads at most but I'm really grateful that so many people have been enjoying it. Thank you, thank you <3  Oh, and has anyone read The Bargainer series by Laura Thalassa??? It's similar to ACOTAR in a lot of ways- it's so good and the Bargainer is pretty much the lovechild of Rhys and Azriel. Highly recommend.