To the Shadowsinger | Azriel

Chapter 74: One condition

When Raisa's slippers landed on the wet sand, she released her mate's hand. It wasn't because she didn't want to hold Azriel's hand, she just hated the feeling of wet shoes. She placed them side-by-side in the sand, far enough so that the waves wouldn't touch them.

"Where are we?" Azriel asked. She turned around to see him staring off at the horizon. The morning sun had painted the sky in shades of orange and yellow but the water was perfectly clear. This place had once been her paradise.

Raisa smiled as she dug her toes into the sand and watched the water kiss her skin before rushing back. "The beach."

Azriel squinted at her, making her smile widen. No shit, she could almost hear his thoughts.

"Lux Beach, not too far from the capital of Vallahan," she sat down, not caring about getting her dress wet. The waves were gentle this morning, but she could feel her whole bottom soaked. Azriel was watching her cautiously. "I used to come here almost every day when I was in my second-century. Sometimes, I would even catch fish."

"You would catch fish?"

She laughed when she saw his expression, "believe it or not, Azriel, I've tried many things at least once."

His hazel eyes were fully on her when a smile curled on his lips, "I believe it."

He sat down beside her, keeping a strange distance. His body language was tense and she didn't know what to think of it. Her mind kept wandering to the possibility that he didn't want to be near her after what he saw a few days ago. If she could do it all differently, she would if it meant going home with Azriel and Wylla. Instead, she had lost it and almost killed him. She knew she would spend the rest of her life kicking herself for those actions.

There were so many things she wanted to say but she settled for, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put either of you in danger and I was confused. I thought I was still in the mirror and that death wouldn't be permanent. I would never want to hurt you and I'm sorry that I did."

Azriel had paid close attention to her as she spoke and when she was done, he scooted closer to her. She relaxed as his hand came up and gently rubbed her back.

"I'm sorry too," his voice was soft. "I should have come sooner. I should have told Wylla to go home. I should have-"

His words faded as she gathered his hand in hers and brought his knuckles to her lips. She was shaking her head, "Let's not play the 'should have' game. This is where life brought us and the only thing we can do now is learn and heal."

His smile was warm as she continued to hold his hand in her lap. He relaxed as she rubbed his hand with the pad of her thumb. The awkward tension was no longer there, they were on the same page.

"I missed you," he spoke through a lump in his throat. "I thought of you every day."

"Every day?" A brow raised. "I must have made quite a good impression."

He shrugged, looking back to the horizon. "I wouldn't say a good impression."

She laughed, elbowing him in the side and then climbing to her feet. "Fine," her smile showed her sharp canines. "Let's just say I made an impression."

He nodded, laughing to himself as she walked backwards into the water. Her dress was drenched already, but damn did she look beautiful. Like a sea nymph being called to the water.

Fuck it, Azriel thought as he ripped off his boots and socks and tossed them behind himself. He pulled off his shirt before entering the warm water.