The Illyrian Warrior

Chapter Thirty-One

Davina couldn't sleep. She'd been tossing and turning all night, the poor excuse for a bed she was laying on offered no reprieve. Today, Cassian, Azriel and Davina were at a different camp called, Holbeck. The camp reminded Davina too much of her own, the males had been sneering at them all day while they tried to gather any willing females. They had decided to stay the night and try again tomorrow, but the hut the camp provided for them was freezing cold. A draft drifted in from under the door, the blankets were painfully thin, and Davina was pretty sure her bed had a hole in it. Perhaps the camp lord was hoping they'd get hypothermia and die.

Davina sighed and sat up. She had no idea why her mind was so restless, perhaps it had something to do with the similarity of this camp to her own. Either way she needed to clear her head so she could sleep better. Slipping on some boots and a thick jacket, Davina made her way outside. Illyria was always cold but the snow was finally beginning to thaw as they rolled into spring. Davina wasn't stupid and only planned to walk a few meters from their hut before returning.

The moon was full tonight, and the stars that always blanketed the Night Court were bright across the sky. It was a beautiful night, cold, but beautiful. Frost crunched under Davina's boots as she made her way down the hill. She could just spot the river that ran at the bottom of the hill before someone grasped her arm.

She gasped and spun around on her heel, preparing to fight if necessary.

"What are you doing out here?!" Azriel hissed.

He too had thrown on boots and a jacket to chase after her and yet Davina could tell he was freezing.

"I needed to go for a walk", Davina replied in an equally clipped tone.

Azriel released his grip on her arm, yet his expression didn't soften, "out here?! In this camp?!"

Davina knew what he was implying, they'd upset some of the Illyrians today and if the quality of their hut was any indication then they still weren't happy.

"I can handle myself".

Azriel sighed before clenching his hand by his side, "I know you can, I just-"

Davina raised a brow at his incomplete sentence, if he had something to say then he should say it. As Azriel breathed out his hot breath fogged the sky.

"I can't stop thinking about you, Davina, and I'd rather drown myself in the fucking Sidra than see you hurt again".

Davina involuntarily brushed a piece of hair out of his face, "I know, but I can't sleep, I'm cold and restless".

"If you want to go for a walk then take me with you, or even Cassian, just don't go out alone".

"I thought you were sleeping".

"You were projecting your restlessness down the bond, I was trying to soothe you but obviously it wasn't working", he said calmly.

Davina blushed, "sorry, I didn't mean to keep you awake".

"It's fine", Azriel said wrapping an arm around her and steering her back towards the hut, "let's just go back inside before you freeze to death".

Azriel wrapped a wing around her, it's warmth cocooning around her. She knew his wings would be freezing, she wouldn't keep him out here if he was so desperate for her to come inside. Involuntarily, Davina leaned into Azriel, the heat radiating off his body making her sleepy. She could hear his heart beating faster and a small part of her delighted in the effect she had.

As they snuck into the hut, trying not the wake up Cassian, Davina had a rather stupid idea.

"Sleep with me", she said.

Azriel blinked several times before a blush overtook his cheeks, or maybe it was the cold.

"Are you sure?" He whispered as he took off his boots and shrugged off his jacket.

Davina nodded, she wasn't ready to leave his warmth yet. Besides, sleeping beside Azriel might be a good next step. But he still looked uncertain.

"Use your words, Davina", he said calmly.

"I'm freezing Azriel, sleep beside me so you can keep me warm", she hissed as her feet began getting cold now that she wasn't wearing boots.

A ghost of a smirk flashed over his features before he ushered them over towards her bed. The beds weren't made for two, it was meant to discourage Illyrian males from bedding any females, of course that wouldn't stop them. Azriel held the blankets for Davina as she snuggled in and got comfortable, then he joined her. Azriel tentatively laid down beside her, Davina allowed him to get comfortable before shifting closer to him, although, she doubted they could get any closer in these small beds.

"Are you comfortable?" Azriel whispered.

His words tickled her ear and sent a shiver down her spine.

"Yes", she said breathlessly, "you?"

He hummed an affirmative, before closing his eyes. Davina watched him for a moment as his shadows seemed to crawl from him to her. They wove themselves in and out of her hair, they caressed her neck and legs. She could feel them differently now that he knew of the bond. They were only ghosts before but now they felt real, it felt like it was him touching her. She squirmed a little as they travelled further up her legs. She didn't even realise her scent had changed until Azriel's eyes flicked open, gaze turning feral.

"It's your shadows", Davina squirmed feeling the heat in his gaze and the soft caress of the shadows up her legs.

Azriel immediately withdrew them, Davina allowed a sigh of relief to pass her mouth. That was not what she signed up for when she laid beside him.

"What did they do?" Azriel asked, his eyes still locked on her.

Davina blushed, "they feel different from before".

She didn't really answer his question but she was beginning to feel foolish.

Azriel blinked, curiosity crossing his features, "different how?"

"They feel more solid", Davina sighed cursing the mother for her embarrassment, "it feels like your touching me".

Azriel's gaze when back to the hungry one she had seen so many times before.

"And when they traveled up my legs", Davina avoided his gaze, "I couldn't help but-"

Davina stopped mid sentence as his shadows returned, but this time it was evident he was controlling them. They snaked up her legs and ran up her arms, Davina shivered, Azriel watched every reaction intently. Her heart began thumping faster as his shadows brushed the tops of her thighs and just bellow her breasts.

"Azriel", she said breathlessly.

She wasn't sure if she was asking him to continue or to stop. Her head and heart were shouting different answers.

She stifled a moan as one of his shadows curled around a breast, he was teasing her. She supposed it was one way of getting warm in these cold temperatures.

"Use your words, Davina", Azriel said, voice deeper than usual.

She could barely breath let alone get out a coherent sentence. His shadows continued teasing her and making her squirm, but she could only get one sentence out.

"Cassian is just over there".

Azriel growled, whether it was because of the unfortunate reminder or because she had said another males name, she wouldn't know. Either way his shadows returned to his body and Davina only felt slightly disappointed.

"We should sleep", was all Azriel said as he closed his eyes.

Davina would kick him for it later. Curse him for getting her breathless and then leaving her wanting more. But right now, she too was tired and they had a big day ahead of them.