Azriel | Lux Ex Tenebris ✓

Chapter 64: Spell-Cleavers

✧Misma POV✧

Long forgotten memories had flooded my mind when Azriel had stepped into our flat in the early morning hours. Memories of his sharp features, pure lethality engraved into the lines of his face when he had strutted through the Hewn City like death incarnate. It were just a few memories thad had nearly completely vanished from my mind in the past years—now they became more and more clear again. I had only been a child when I had seen Azriel —the lethal torture master of the cruel High Lord— for the first time from bedroom window, heading probably to his torturing chamber. Most of the time screaming faeries had been dragged after him and—

"Sunshine, are you alright?"

Snapping back to reality, I only then realised that I had stopped the movement of my clothed hand. Azriel lifted a scarred hand, hooking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Sorry," I whispered, meeting his gaze briefly before letting my eyes trail over the splutters of blood on his neck.

"Was there really nothing to get out of him? Can you not question him again tomorrow?"

Azriel's spies had found the convoy from Rask, but—

"No." My mate's voice was cold, a shiver creeping down my spine when he clenched his jaw. "And no, he is in no state to be able to do that." I had somehow known that.

Leaning forward, I pressed a kiss to the corner of Azriel's mouth before removing the last drops of blood from his arms—not my mate's blood at least.

A shuddering groan escaping his throat, Azriel threw his head back and closed his eyes. My hand moved to his face, stroking his cheek when silence settled around us. It was enough for this moment—for us.

Climbing out of the bath, I already awaited my mate with a towel and made quick work drying his torso. Kneeling down in front of him, I also dried his lower half. That was the point when finally a small smile appeared on his lips. The rest of the night would not end with our naked bodies moving against each other. No, we were both not in the mood and the situation was not appropriate, but at least me kneeling in front of my tall mate, made his thoughts go into another direction and that was what I wanted. When straightening up, Azriel brushed his hand over my head, leaned down and placed a kiss to my forehead.

"Can you forgive me for what I did tonight?" His eyes were closed when my arms slowly curled around his middle.

"I love you and there is nothing to forgive you for. It is your job. The High Lord depends on it and you. I don't blame you, so please do me the favour and don't blame yourself."

"Misma—"

"No. I know you know it's not good what you do. But you know it and that means you are a not a bad person. A bad person wouldn't care about it. You care and that is what matters to me, my love."

I had no idea for how long we stayed in the bathroom, holding each other. I carefully peeled away from my mate and tugged on his hand to make him open his eyes. "Bed?"

He bowed his head, shadows skittering over his shoulders and practically enveloping me in them.

I giggled softly when Azriel clasped my hand and followed me to the bedroom where he immediately collapsed onto the bed. I followed his movement and simply dropped down on my love who released a breathy laugh.

"Your torture chamber is close to where I used to live, you know?" Eyes going wide Azriel lifted his gaze and stared at me like I had grown another head.

"What?" His voice broke, his chest heaving rapidly against me. "How do—?" I noticed a slight panic break out inside of him, a tremor coursing through his body and quickly wiggled my arm free to place it over his heart. He caught my gaze and I knew exactly what he was wondering right now: why had he never asked me where exactly I had lived in the Hewn City.