In the Shadows

Chapter 23: Azriel's Choice

Azriel stood on the edge of Skye's balcony, the moonlight casting shadows over his face as he looked into her room. The cool night air whispered through his hair as he took a deep breath, steeling himself. He'd been away for what felt like an eternity, and now that he was here, doubts clawed at him. But he was tired of running, tired of wondering. It was time to face her.

He slipped into her room silently, taking a moment to let his eyes adjust to the dim light. Skye was asleep, her chest rising and falling in gentle rhythm. She looked so peaceful, so different from the fiery woman he'd come to know. As he watched her, he felt the ache in his chest intensify, a yearning that was almost unbearable. How many nights had he thought of her, pictured her like this? And now, here she was, so close he could reach out and...

He brushed a stray strand of hair from her face, his fingers lingering. Her skin was soft beneath his touch, and he let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

Suddenly, Skye's eyes shot open. In a heartbeat, she had him flipped onto his back, her weight pressing down on him as she straddled him. Her hands pinned his wrists to the bed, and her eyes were fierce, blazing with the fire he adored.

"Azriel?" She whispered, a mix of surprise and disbelief in her voice. Her grip loosened slightly, and he could see the realization dawn on her face. She was still on top of him, her body warm and close, and he could feel the frantic beat of his own heart.

She quickly moved off him, adjusting her nightgown, crossing her arms over her chest. Her face was flushed, and she seemed to be fighting to regain her composure. "What are you doing here?"

He sat up, watching her as she took a few steps back. "You've been avoiding me."

She scoffed, though he could see the vulnerability in her eyes. "Yes, Azriel. I'm glad you noticed. But since when did you care what I think?"

He felt the sting of her words but pressed on. "I've always cared, Skye. That's the problem."

She looked at him, hurt and anger swirling in her expression. "You've had a funny way of showing it." She turned away, and he could see her hands tighten on the edge of her nightgown. She looked so small, almost as if she was trying to make herself invisible.

He rose from the bed, slowly closing the distance between them. "You don't have to hide from me."

She stiffened, her voice low and tense. "Why? You do."

The words hit him like a punch to the gut. He'd spent so long hiding his feelings, locking them away, believing they were safer there. But now, seeing her like this, he realized just how much his walls had hurt her. He'd been hiding from her, but mostly, he'd been hiding from himself.

"Yes," he admitted quietly. "I have. I've been hiding because I was afraid. I wanted the bond to guide me. I thought... I thought that if it didn't show itself, maybe I'd be wrong. Maybe we weren't meant to be."

She turned to face him, arms still wrapped protectively around herself. Her eyes were guarded, and he could see the faint shimmer of tears in them. "And now?"

He stepped closer, reaching out to trace his fingers over her bare arm, feeling the tension ease from her muscles as she allowed the touch. Slowly, he leaned forward, pressing his forehead to hers, letting his eyes close as he took in the warmth of her presence. "Now, I don't care what fate says. I don't care about a bond. I just care about you."

He felt her take a shaky breath, and when she spoke, her voice was almost a whisper. "I can't play these games, Azriel." She pulled back slightly, and he could see the tears threatening to spill over. "I can't keep pretending that I don't feel anything, that I can just wait around while you figure out what you want."

Azriel reached out, gently wiping a tear from her cheek with his thumb. "I know, Skye. I know I've been an idiot, running away from something that was right in front of me. I guess I've never known any different."

Her expression softened, but she kept her distance, watching him with a wary gaze. "So why now? What's changed?"

He ran a hand through his hair, searching for the right words. "You have. Every time I was away, every moment I spent trying to convince myself that I didn't need you, I realized... you're all I can think about. I can't stop seeing you, hearing you, feeling you. And that's what scares me the most."

Her brows knit together, and she looked down, as if unsure of what to say. He took a step closer, letting presence speak for him. Gently, he reached out and placed a finger under her chin, lifting her face so she'd look at him.

"I'm not perfect, Skye. I'm far from it. I don't know how to do this—how to be with you in the way you deserve. I've spent my life in shadows, hiding from connections like this. But with you... it's different. You make me want to step into the light, even if it terrifies me."

She searched his eyes, her own full of uncertainty but also a flicker of hope. "I don't need you to be perfect, Azriel. I need you to be honest. I need to know that I'm not alone in this."

He nodded, his thumb softly brushing over her cheek as he cradled her face in his hands. "You're not alone, Skye. You never have been. I've been here, fighting it, pushing it away, but I'm done with that. I'm done hiding."

She let out a shaky breath, closing her eyes as she leaned into his touch. They stood there, wrapped in the quiet intimacy of the moment, until she finally spoke, her voice almost a whisper. "It's going to be different now, isn't it?"

He smiled, a rare, genuine smile that softened his usually intense features. "Yes, it's going to be different. I can't promise you perfection, but I can promise you honesty. I'll be here, Skye. No more games, no more hiding."

She opened her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips as she let her arms fall to her sides, no longer shielding herself. "Then maybe... maybe that's all I need right now."

He let out a sigh of relief, closing the final bit of space between them as he pulled her into his arms. She sank against him, her head resting on his chest, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he felt a peace settle over him.

They stood there in the quiet of her room, holding each other as if they were the only two people in the world. And maybe, in that moment, they were. The unspoken promises between them hung in the air, fragile but real. He knew there would be challenges ahead, that there were still questions unanswered, but for now, they had this—each other. And for the first time, he allowed himself to believe that it might just be e