A Court of Shadow and Song

Chapter 8

Gwyn POV

Gwyn pulled back, cheeks flushed, as she was suddenly keenly aware of the very shirtless Illyrian standing in front of her. She closed her eyes for a moment, counting to ten to calm her mind. A section of her brain was elated at the current situation. However, another was sounding the too familiar alarms at a man standing so close. She hated that section of her brain.

Her eyes opened to the feeling of a gentle hand cupping her cheek. Her body relaxed at the textured presence of Azriel's scarred and beautiful hands.

"Are you okay?" He said quietly. He knew, better than anyone, the battle that was constantly in her mind.

"Perfect." She whispered, leaning into his hand, "Just realizing you are very very shirtless, Shadowsinger. How am I supposed to go about my day?" Azriel glanced down, as if only just realizing he was still without a shirt. Not that Gwyn particularly minded. Azriel was a beautiful sculpture of muscle, scars, and tattoos. His body was not just for show, he displayed every battle he had ever won. It looked the way Gwyn often felt. Staring at him now made her feel a little less broken.

Azriel pressed his lips to Gwyn's forehead before stepping away to retrieve his shirt. Gwyn had time to digest everything that had happened. She had woken up pressed against him, warmed by the heat of his body. Their sleeping arrangement had been a catalyst to her discovering Azriel's true feelings about her and about himself.

Her heart hurt knowing that he felt he was so unworthy - so bad. He had never been anything but good in her eyes. She knew that she would not be alive if it were not for him. And if she had, somehow, made it out of Sangravah, she would have been a shell of a person.

He was her hero, whether he believed it or not, and she did not regret telling him so. Nor did she regret kissing him.

Kissing the Shadowsinger had been like a drug all on its own. Gwyn hadn't realized something so mundane could feel that good. She had no idea how anyone that kissed the Azriel could ever focus on anything again.

"What is the plan for today?" Azriel asked. Gwyn watched him slide his now dry shirt over his wings. She felt a twinge of sadness watching him cover himself again. "Gwyn?" He was looking at her, she realized.

"Oh, um.... What?" He had asked her a question, hadn't he? What was it?

"You're ogling me." A subtle smile played at Azriel's lips.

"I am not." Gwyn huffed, knowing he saw right through her lie.

"Ogling me like I'm a play thing." Azriel tsked.

"I am not!" Gwyn's face turned red in an instant, but she couldn't hide her laugh.

"It's okay, Little Valkyrie," he said, walking slowly back to her, "I don't think I would mind being your plaything." He winked and Gwyn thought her face might be on fire.

"You had a question?" Gwyn tried desperately to change the subject.

"Ah, yes. What is the plan for today? Are we heading back into town? You made the strides to get the people trusting you. I'll follow your lead."

"No town today," Gwyn said quickly, "You need to rest. We both do. We can take one day off. We should go home."

"As you wish, boss. But we are flying this time."

"Are you sure-" Azriel gave her a pointed look and the question faded from her lips. "Fine. Flying it is. As long as you rest when we get home." Azriel gave her a nonchalant salute as he headed to the door, eager to stretch his wings.