Wings of Shadow

Chapter 16 - Bonus #1

Warning for smut.

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First times

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Azriel walked back into his war tent, dragging his feet through the half-frozen muddy ground. He was exhausted, after having spent the entire day with Cassian in the sparring ring, training the new female recruits. He couldn't believe that after months there, they had barely made progress.

He began to remove his armor, bit by bit, until he stood half-naked, wearing nothing but his breeches as he looked down at the small stack of weapons that stood over a makeshift table.

A sudden sound startled him, his shadows immediately tensing around his shoulders, whispering about the incoming danger. He whirled around, fingers tense over a dagger he found. At the entrance of the tent stood a cloaked figure, waiting.

When the hood came down, he recognized the honeyed eyes that stared back at him.

"Marzia," he said, lowering his dagger as she looked at the youngling standing in front of him. "What are you doing here?"

She ventured a step closer into the tent, sweeping her eyes over the furniture, and then settling on him. And his nakedness.

"I came to see you."

He had noticed, for weeks now, that she seemed to follow him like a lost puppy. She was so nice, and skilled enough at fighting, that he sometimes indulged in her company. She was talkative and fickle, but sweet to look at and smart enough to engage in conversation. Cassian said she was in love, but he had not wanted to hear that or consider the possibility. He preferred to ignore the looks she gave him sometimes, as if she wanted to ravish him at the earliest chance she got. He knew that if he somehow submitted to her and whatever desires she might have, he would end up hurting her. It was easier to keep her away - she was too young and too inexperienced, and she wasn't Mor.

"Well," he said, clearing his throat. "I'm here."

"I can see."

Her eyes raked over his shirtless torso and he suddenly found himself feeling self-conscious about his state of undress.

"Did you need something?" He asked, turning around to leave his dagger on the table.

"Yes," she said. Her voice was followed by a soft thud that he didn't quite place. "You."

When he turned to face her again, he did a double-take, but otherwise kept his face restrained. Marzia had dropped her cloak, revealing all the innocent nakedness of her youth. She was standing there, looking at him like she wanted to devour him, wings tucked tightly against her back. He blinked a few times, trying to clear the fog around his thoughts.

"You should leave," he muttered.

"No."

"Marzia, this isn't-"

"Give me a good reason," she said. "And I'll go."

He stayed quiet, trying to focus somewhere else - anywhere, but her body. Her very warm and inviting body. He sighed.

"We shouldn't."

She shook her head, taking a few steps closer. He tried to move back, but found himself trapped between the table and her.

"Why not? Give me one good reason."

He couldn't think. He was intoxicated by her scent, her Illyrian wildness and unclipped wings. He had seen her train, had seen the body of a female hiding beneath the fighting leathers. He could not deny it now, not as she stood fully naked in front of him. Cauldron damn him; he couldn't look away or think of an excuse to send her away.