Decade | | Azriel

3

Azriel woke up first, alert at the sounds of the day starting. The rooms were soundproofed by a spell when they were in use, but she was technically off the clock so the spell was down and he could hear the activity outside. There were whispers and giggles outside the door before someone knocked.

"Hey, hon', we brought breakfast for you and your secret friend," someone called through the door, amusement in her soft voice, "we'll just leave it here."

She mumbled something, still mostly asleep. Azriel couldn't help but smile. He kissed her forehead gently before standing up. He paused at the door, making certain there was no one lingering outside of the door. His shadows cloaked him as he opened the door and grabbed the food. He shut the door and his shadows fell away.

"Come back to bed," she muttered tiredly, a pout on her face.

"Your friends brought us breakfast," he told her, and she grumbled something incoherent and reached out for him.

He laughed quietly and set the bag of food down. He climbed back into bed with her and she curled up against his side.

"Sleep, princess," he murmured, "you'll need the rest for later."

She let out a breathy, half-asleep laugh and rested her head on his chest.

She fell back to sleep quickly, relaxed by the sound of his steadily beating heart. He played with her hair until he fell asleep too.

This time, she was the one to wake up first, glad to find that the food was still warm and fresh. Azriel woke up when she moved and smiled at her from the bed.

"You're beautiful," he spoke up as she turned back towards him and began returning to the bed. Her dark hair was messy from how he had pulled on it, and her emerald eyes sparkled so mesmerizingly. He thought he might die from how gorgeous she was. "So unbelievably beautiful."

"It's charming that you still bother with flattery," she remarked as she sat next to him in bed with the food.

"Only for you," he replied with a grin. He looked almost boyish. It was an odd thought to have about Azriel, of all people, but he looked so young when he smiled like that.

She handed over a tray of food to him and kept the other to herself. They ate quietly, and she could feel his stare on her.

"What are the plans for today?" she inquired, flashing a pretty smile.

"I haven't thought about it," he admitted, "I'm in no rush to figure it out."

"You seem far more relaxed this morning," she commented, "are you feeling better?"

"Waking up next to you always relaxes me," he replied before taking a bite of his toast.

Her smile warmed and she averted her gaze for just a moment before she looked at him again.

"Do you want to talk about what happened with your father?" she offered, knowing he needed to get it out. He was more relaxed now, but she knew the hurt still lingered so heavily beneath the surface.

Azriel knew it probably wasn't healthy, but she was the only one he talked to about these things with. There was no one else he felt comfortable talking about his feelings with.

"Rhys would allow me to kill him and his sons if I wanted to," Azriel muttered, "and I've considered it but...he's important to the Illyrians. They wouldn't respond well if I killed him in cold blood. And there would be a scramble for power to take his seat if he and his sons were all dead."

"Let them scramble then," she replied, "the world is better off without them. No one who could do what they did to you deserves to continue living."

"It would be far too messy," Azriel reasoned with a sigh, "if he wasn't who he is, I could do it. There are just too many factors. And if I killed him...somehow spending that energy on making him suffer would be like admitting to him that he hurt me. It's better to pretend I wasn't effected. At least this way, he thinks he failed."

"He did fail," she told him, "you're here, with more power and influence than he could ever dream of. He's nothing."

"He'd have a fit if he heard that," Azriel muttered with a sad laugh, "his sensitive male pride couldn't handle such a pretty female speaking so negatively about him."

"I have plenty of negative things to say about that whole family," she muttered, a glare set on her face at just the thought of Azriel's family. "Maybe if you won't kill them, I will. You've taught me more than enough that I could manage it."

He smiled at the memory. After two years of their time together, he decided to spend a few of his Friday nights teaching her self-defense when he realized she didn't know anything about defending herself. He taught her the basics and then some, and she went on to teach the same things to all her coworkers. She had lied about where she learned it, but Azriel had felt a rush of pride when she told him how she taught everyone all the things he taught her.

"I have to admit, I think I would very much enjoy watching you beat the life out of someone," he said, a wicked grin on his face. "I should take you to the torture chambers some time and let you have at some of my prisoners."

"Enticing offer," she hummed thoughtfully, "but, if you took me there, I think I'd just end up begging you to put me in chains and do your worst."

Azriel's eyes flashed with desire at the thought and he let out a long exhale through his nose.

"You can't say things like that before we've even finished breakfast," he mumbled, shaking his head before taking a bite of his eggs.

"I'm finished," she replied simply, setting her food aside.

"You haven't eaten even half," he scoffed, "I won't fuck you until you actually eat."

"You're a cruel male," she told him with a pout, grabbing her tray again.

"Shut up and eat," he scoffed, rolling his eyes.

She squirmed slightly and followed the order. Azriel smirked in satisfaction.

"Not feeling like a brat today?" he teased, and she shrugged as she ate her food.

"Do you want me to be a brat?" she asked, eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Not today," he responded after a moment, "be good today."

"Because you asked so nicely," she purred, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.

He scoffed and rolled his eyes at her smugness.

"I'll reward you nicely if you behave, princess," he promised, and she smiled so sweetly.

"I'll be a good girl just for you," she responded, batting her eyelashes.

"I'd be stunned if you were capable of it," he quipped dryly, resisting the urge to grin at the way her eyes sparkled at that.

"I live to impress," she replied proudly, "especially you."