In the Shadows

Chapter 13: Traveling Together

Azriel's dream came on gradually, like the first threads of a sunrise slipping over the horizon, warm and consuming. At first, he was only aware of a silhouette, standing in the shadows, wrapped in soft, muted light. The figure moved closer, a delicate hand brushing over his chest, leaving trails of fire in its wake. Every touch lingered, sparking a primal hunger he hadn't felt in ages.

He couldn't make out her face, but he felt the shape of her against him, the curve of her waist, the warmth of her breath ghosting over his skin. His pulse raced as his hands settled on her hips, drawing her even closer. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest, the heat of her body pressed against his, and the scent of her filling his senses, rich and intoxicating. His fingers skimmed over her bare back, feeling the tension in her muscles give way beneath his touch.

A soft sigh escaped her lips, and it was enough to unravel him. His head dipped, and he traced the line of her collarbone with his mouth, savoring the taste of her skin. A shiver ran through her, and he felt her hands slip around his neck, pulling him closer, their bodies aligning perfectly, as if they were made for this dance. The intensity of her gaze held him captive, though he couldn't quite see her eyes. They burned with something familiar, something he craved, but couldn't fully grasp.

And then, just as he reached the edge of the dream, she was gone. He awoke with a sharp inhale, the last threads of the dream clinging to him, leaving a hollow ache in its wake. His skin was damp with sweat, his breathing ragged as he sat up, rubbing a hand over his face. The fire had burned down to embers, casting a dim, reddish glow over the camp. He heard movement beside him and looked up to find Skye standing nearby, her expression caught between concern and curiosity.

"Azriel?" she asked, her voice soft, barely more than a whisper in the night. She took a step closer, her eyes tracing over him as he realized his chest was bare, slick with sweat, his skin glowing in the faint light.

He cleared his throat, suddenly acutely aware of how close she was. "Couldn't sleep," he murmured, his voice still heavy with the remnants of the dream.

She nodded, though her gaze lingered on him, her eyes following the path of a single bead of sweat that traced its way down his chest. "It must have been some dream," she remarked, a hint of a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.

Azriel looked away, hoping she wouldn't notice the flush creeping up his neck. "It was... intense," he admitted, running a hand through his hair. He could still feel the ghost of her hands on him, the warmth of her body pressed against his. He shook his head, trying to clear the lingering haze of the dream. "I didn't mean to wake you."

Skye shrugged, crossing her arms as she settled onto the ground beside him. "I'm not sure I would have stayed asleep for much longer anyway." She hesitated, glancing over at him. "We've got a long journey ahead of us. If you need to talk..."

Azriel shook his head. "No. I'm fine." But even as he said it, he could feel the tension coiling in his chest, the unspoken words pressing against him. He glanced at her, taking in the soft, relaxed curve of her posture, the way her eyes reflected the dim light of the embers. She was beautiful, even now, with her hair slightly tousled, her face touched by shadows.

Skye held his gaze for a moment, her eyes searching his, as if she could see the secrets he held locked away. "Fine, then," she replied, leaning back. "But the offer stands."

The following day, they continued their journey, the awkward silence between them growing heavier with each mile. Azriel kept his gaze forward, his jaw set as they moved through the dense woods. He could feel Skye's presence beside him, close enough that their arms brushed occasionally, a reminder of the tension that simmered between them.

They traveled in silence until they came upon a narrow clearing, the trees opening up to reveal a wide, sweeping vista of the mountains beyond. It was breathtaking, the sky a brilliant shade of blue, the air crisp and filled with the scent of pine. Azriel took a deep breath, letting the cool air fill his lungs. But before they could fully take in the view, he sensed something—a prickle at the back of his neck, the familiar warning of danger.

He had just enough time to grab Skye's arm, pulling her down behind a fallen log as arrows whizzed past them, burying themselves in the earth where they had been standing moments before.

"Ambush!" he hissed, his voice low, urgent.

Skye's eyes widened, but she nodded, quickly assessing their surroundings. They crouched together, their backs pressed against the rough bark of the log as they listened, the sounds of their attackers moving closer.

Azriel met her gaze, his eyes hard. "We'll need to fight our way out of this."

Skye nodded, gripping the dagger at her waist. "Ready when you are."

They moved as one, launching themselves over the log and into the fray. Azriel's shadows sprang to life around him, weaving between the attackers, disorienting them as he struck with deadly precision. Skye moved beside him, her own blade flashing in the sunlight, her movements graceful, controlled. They fought together, their bodies moving in perfect synchronization, a deadly dance that left their enemies reeling.

When the last of the attackers lay defeated, they stood together, breathing hard, their eyes meeting in the sudden silence. Azriel could feel the adrenaline coursing through him, the heat of the battle still thrumming in his veins. He looked at Skye, his chest heaving, and for a moment, he felt a surge of something fierce and primal, a desire that had been simmering beneath the surface, now burning with an intensity that left him breathless.

Skye seemed to feel it too, her gaze flickering over him, her own breathing unsteady. But before either of them could speak, she turned away, sheathing her dagger and brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

They continued on in silence, the unspoken tension between them even stronger now, the air thick with the weight of what had just transpired. And though neither of them said a word, Azriel knew that something had shifted between them, something that neither of them could ignore.

As they neared the mountains, Azriel turned to Skye, his wings flaring out behind him. "The path ahead is steep. I can fly us over the ridge if you'd prefer."

Skye hesitated, glancing at his wings, then back at the narrow, rocky path that wound its way up the mountainside. She nodded slowly, a hint of trepidation in her eyes. "If you're sure," she replied, her voice barely a whisper.

Azriel held out his arms, waiting as she stepped closer, her body tense. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him, his wings folding around them as he took off, the ground dropping away beneath them. He felt her arms tighten around his neck, her body pressed close to his, the warmth of her seeping into him.

They flew in silence, the wind rushing past them, the world stretching out below in a blur of colors and shapes. Azriel could feel every inch of her against him, her heartbeat a steady rhythm beneath his fingers, her breath warm against his neck. It was both exhilarating and agonizing, the closeness, the intimacy of it.

He kept his gaze fixed ahead, but he couldn't ignore the way his body responded to her, the way his heart hammered in his chest. She shifted slightly in his arms, and he tightened his grip, holding her close as they soared over the ridge, the mountains stretching out beneath them, vast and unending.

When they finally touched down, he released her reluctantly, stepping back to put some distance between them. But the memory of her warmth lingered, a ghostly presence that clung to him, haunting him as they continued on their journey.

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, watching as she brushed a strand of hair from her face, her expression carefully guarded. She was beautiful, fierce, and he couldn't deny the pull he felt toward her, the way she seemed to fill the empty spaces within him, easing the loneliness he had carried for so long.

But he also knew that getting close to her was dangerous, that the emotions she stirred within him were a threat to the carefully constructed walls he had built around his heart. And yet, as they walked on in silence, he found himself wondering if those walls were worth protecting, if the risk of letting her in was worth the possibility of something more.

For now, he kept his distance, but the temptation was there, a constant whisper in the back of his mind, a reminder of what could be if he was willing to reach out and take it.