Fang-Kissed

Chapter 22

The way Raze navigated Fortitude, with an air of confidence, a warm handshake for his comrades, a smile for the second-hands, nurses, doctors... it had me awestruck.

Once we returned, he ushered me along so he could continue working.

If he wasn't defending the realm, he was strategizing on how to defend the realm. The elders flock to him.

It's different now that the true First Runner has returned and I see why Raphael felt so out of place.

Raze had this connection to everybody, he was the irreplaceable glue. The Fang Monarchy had been long replaced with a lighter political structure, to blend in with humanity, to appear mortal-like.

But, my, how Raze appeared like a King. Not even because I was in love with him – but even how the air parted for him. I especially kept my distance when I saw Dolores Fang Gold welcoming Raze back home with a mother's love. The respect and love he showed her was commendable.

In all I saw, I was still finding my place.

Raze was mine – and yet he seemed... untouchable.

Strangely, after all that, I feel drawn to Raph.

I checked his schedule in his office just before, and it was scratched out.

With war, everything had changed. But right now, everyone was inside after fighting so hard already to regain 85 orbs. It was enough to de-escalate things temporarily until the next Run was conducted.

So, Raph right now, was in his room, or should be.

That's where I'm headed right now.

201.

I knock on the door, dressed in a new second-hand uniform.

"Raphael?" I call out pleasantly, and he opens the door a quick second later.

Raphael is in sweats, shirtless and sweating from a workout he was clearly conducting on the balcony, from all the equipment I see out there.

He must have sprinted to the door when I knocked.

As I step in under his penetrative stare, Raphael leans in and buries his nose in my hair, breathing in as I duck and spin.

"Ah, why?" I ask.

"Just checking," Raphael answers smoothly as he shuts the door and reaches over to place his hand on my shoulder, moving aside my grey top to see my skin on either shoulder. With no bite marks, he's satisfied. Raphael now lightly smirks to himself and walks toward a chair with a dry towel. He wipes off his sweat while I follow him, holding my hands behind my back.

"You're dumbstruck, aren't you?" Raph asks me kindly as he folds his towel and drops it on the chair, "Raze has that effect. Tell me what's wrong, Clary."

He moves past me toward lunch, which is set up on his ceramic table outside. I follow him and he motions to the food, offering me some, but I shake my head – I haven't got an appetite. I was too nervous about tonight.

Raphael reclines back on his iron chair, eating under the sweet sun, catching a deeper tan than he already has. The scar on his face shines and it suddenly means more than it used to. Raze is hardcore. How else to say it?

"What's wrong?" I repeat Raphael's words, after thinking for a good while, "Raph... Raze is beyond me."

"Welcome to my world, little nerd," Raphael grins with a mouthful, "You can't handle him, can you?"

"You know I can," I glare and he almost chokes on his food.

"Don't get cocky, sweetheart," Raphael looks me up and down, "You did very well this morning, considering... but tonight will be different, we'll lead," his tone changes. I hear the lust coupled with possession, his grey eyes turn to stone, as he sits back slowly after demolishing that plate of sandwiches.