Behind the Shadow - Part 2

Chapter 1: Strained Connections

Azriel landed silently on the balcony of Skye's room, the soft light from inside casting a gentle glow over him as he stepped into the familiar space. He hadn't seen her in weeks. His visits were fewer and shorter now, stolen moments that barely scratched the surface of what he needed—of what they both needed.

He didn't even need to knock. Skye had sensed him before he landed, and the moment he stepped inside, she was in his arms. The urgency between them was almost desperate, fuelled by the tension and loneliness that had built up over the endless days apart. It wasn't long before they found themselves tangled together, their breaths mingling as they sought solace in each other's embrace. For a while, it was easy to forget the world outside.

Azriel lay back afterward, staring up at the ornate ceiling of her room, still catching his breath. His arm was draped around Skye, who rested her head on his chest, tracing absent patterns along his scarred skin. They lay in comfortable silence, but Azriel couldn't ignore the persistent tugging in his chest—the conflicting pull between two worlds, each demanding parts of him he wasn't sure he could keep dividing.

"You're awfully quiet tonight," Skye murmured, her voice soft yet laced with exhaustion.

Azriel turned his head to meet her gaze. "I'm just... tired," he replied, brushing a thumb over her knuckles. It was a half-truth. He was tired, yes, but it was more than just physical fatigue.

She rolled onto her side to face him fully. "Tired or worried?" she asked, arching a brow. She knew him well enough by now to recognize the subtle differences in his tone, the slight tightening of his jaw when he was holding something back.

He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "It's difficult," he admitted. "Sometimes, it feels like I'm being pulled in two directions. I want to be here with you, but..." He trailed off, not wanting to finish the thought. It would only hurt her, he was sure of it.

Her expression softened, though there was a flicker of sadness in her eyes. "I know," she whispered, reaching up to brush her fingers over his cheek. "I feel it too. The weight of everything I have to do here, the hours and days that slip away... sometimes it feels like I'm always running out of time."

Azriel tightened his grip on her hand, pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. "I don't want you to think that I'd ever ask you to give up your responsibilities," he said. "I know what this role means to you, Skye. I wouldn't dream of taking that from you."

"I know you wouldn't," she replied. "And I don't expect you to compromise on your duties either. But sometimes I wish..." She paused, hesitating. "Sometimes I wish it could be simpler, you know? That we could just... be together. Without all of this." She gestured vaguely, indicating the world beyond her bedroom.

Azriel could feel the weight of her words settling heavily between them. The idea of a simpler life, where it was just the two of them, free from the burdens of leadership and duty, was an enticing one. But it wasn't realistic. He couldn't leave the Night Court, and she couldn't abandon her people.

As if reading his mind, Skye added, "But that's not our reality, is it?" She gave him a sad smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "We're both bound by our duties, and sometimes it feels like those duties are bound to keep us apart."

He pulled her closer, burying his face in her hair, breathing in the familiar scent of her. "We'll figure it out," he promised, though even as he said the words, a part of him wondered how. How could they make this work, when every moment they spent together seemed to highlight the impossibility of their situation?

They lay together in silence for a while, the warmth of each other's bodies a comforting reminder that, for now, at least, they were here. But eventually, the reality of his duties began to press down on him once more. Azriel reluctantly sat up, running a hand through his hair.