Whispers Of Desires: A Sense Of Truth {Book 2}

꧁༺ 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓛𝓧𝓧𝓘𝓘 - 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓡𝓮𝓾𝓷𝓲𝓸𝓷 ༻꧂

Sunlight shone through a crack in the curtains, landing right on Kazi's face. She squeezed her eyes shut against the sudden brightness, the dull ache in her head throbbing in tandem with her ribs. As she stirred, a warm sensation spread across her arm, feeling both familiar and unfamiliar.

Kazi opened her eyes, disoriented, and focused on the hand that was softly gripped around hers. She looked around the room, realising she was in her old chambers in Althea. She then looked at the hand in hers...It was Azrael.

He held her hand as he slept at the edge of her bed, his breath soft and warm against her knuckles. The blankets were tangled around them, their limbs entwined in a way that felt so natural and comfortable. Despite the pain in her side, she couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over her. It was as if she had been asleep for weeks, her body and mind exhausted from the ordeal.

"Azrael?" Kazi's voice was barely a whisper, the past few days a blur of fear and frantic searching.

He slowly woke up at the sound of her voice, his eyelids fluttering open. He turned his head to look at her, concern evident on his face. "Kazi, thank the heavens you are awake." Relief washed over his face, replaced almost immediately by a blush. "You...you were hurt, and I... I was worried about you." He let go of her hand and tentatively reached out to touch her cheek, gently brushing away a strand of hair that had fallen across her face. "Are you in pain? Should I get the healer?"

But Kazi could not concentrate on his relief. All she noticed was the bandage poking out from under his shirt. "Are you alright?" Azrael's words were filled with concern, and his gaze moved from her face to her scared arm.

Kazi ignored his question, her voice harsh with hardly hidden concern. "Are you? You were gone! Missing!"

Azrael flinched, a flicker of pain crossing his features before being instantly replaced with a smirk. "Seems like the mighty General Kazi can be worried after all."

Kazi's cheeks flushed, "Of course, I worried! "You disappeared after..." Her voice trailed off as the memories of their argument.

"After what?" Azrael prompted; his gaze fixed on hers.

"The argument," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "After the argument, you left...an-" Her voice caught in her throat, and she couldn't meet his eyes. She had never felt so vulnerable, so exposed. "I just wanted to say I was sorry," she managed, her voice barely audible. "I did not mean to deceive you...I just..."

"There is no need for you to apologize," Azrael whispered, his voice hoarse. "I was an idiot. I should not have left like that. I should have stayed and talked to you." He paused, searching for the right words. "I should have fought for us."

"What...what happened to you?" Kazi asked, her voice barely audible. "After the carriage attack. We thought... the worst."

Azrael's smile softened, a hint of vulnerability peeking through his usually arrogant facade. "Well, the worst did not happen. Thanks to some lucky turn of events, I ended up being found by a kind soul who nursed me back to health. They helped me escape from the clutches of those who sought to harm me and brought me here." He paused, his gaze flickering away for a moment before returning to meet hers. "I owe them my life."

"You now have a scar on your abdomen," Kazi murmured.

He chuckled, a deep sound that caused a pleasant sensation in her chest. "Looks like I have a story to tell then, do not I? About a daring rescue and a close call with –

But Kazi cut him off, her voice surprisingly firm. "No stories, Azrael. Just tell me you are alright."

Azrael's smile faltered slightly, replaced by a seriousness that mirrored her own. He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "I am more than alright, Kazi. Because I am here with you."