Behind the Shadow - Part 2

Chapter 11: A Painful Revelation

Azriel sat slumped over the table, the remnants of several empty glasses scattered before him. He was drunk—more so than he'd been in a long time. Rhysand and Cassian sat across from him, watching with concerned expressions as he ran his hands through his hair, shadows swirling around him in a disjointed rhythm. His confession had hung in the air like a storm cloud, darkening the mood.

Cassian leaned forward, his face a mixture of shock and sympathy. "Az, are you saying that you've... slept with her?"

Azriel nodded, his eyes downcast. "It wasn't supposed to happen. I tried to resist. I tried to ignore... but I couldn't stop myself."

Rhys's gaze was steady, but the tension in his jaw betrayed his anger. "Azriel, you're marrying Skye in a few days. Why didn't you tell us about this sooner? You could've ended this before it spiraled out of control."

Azriel let out a harsh laugh. "You think I haven't tried? You think I wanted this? I didn't ask for the bond, and I sure as hell didn't ask for her to show up every time I'm trying to forget she exists."

The room fell silent as the three of them absorbed the weight of his words. Rhys exchanged a glance with Cassian, both of them torn between their loyalty to their friend and the knowledge that his actions had put them all in an impossible situation.

"Who else knows?" Rhys finally asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Azriel rubbed his temples. "No one. I haven't told Skye. I haven't told anyone except you two." He closed his eyes, trying to block out the image of the other woman—Lilith—in his mind. She had invaded his dreams, haunted his thoughts, and now, she threatened to tear apart everything he'd built with Skye.

Cassian let out a heavy sigh. "So, what now? Are you planning to tell Skye before the wedding?"

Azriel's silence was all the answer they needed. Rhys leaned back, crossing his arms. "You can't keep this from her forever, Az. She deserves to know the truth before she makes a commitment she might not want to if she knew."

Azriel took another sip from his glass, bitterness evident on his face. "I know," he said, his voice breaking. "But how do I tell her? How do I look her in the eyes and admit that the one thing she feared most is true? That I've found a mate... and it's not her."

A few nights later, Skye was busy overseeing final preparations for the wedding when she received word that Morrigan had arrived early. Her friend's unexpected presence was a welcome distraction from the whirlwind of her duties, and she greeted Morrigan warmly.

"Morrigan," she said, smiling as she embraced her. "I wasn't expecting you yet."

Morrigan returned the embrace but quickly pulled back, her expression grave. She took Skye's hand, leading her to a quiet room away from the servants and the bustling activity. "I need to speak with you, Skye," she said, her tone uncharacteristically serious.

Skye felt a chill run down her spine. "What's wrong?"

Morrigan took a deep breath, as if steeling herself. "There's something you need to know before the wedding. Something Azriel hasn't told you."

Skye's heart pounded. "What is it?"

"There's someone else," Morrigan said, looking her straight in the eye. "Azriel has... he's bonded with another female."

Skye's mind reeled, and for a moment, she couldn't process what Morrigan was saying. "That's impossible. Azriel and I... we've been planning this wedding. He wouldn't do that to me."

Morrigan reached out, gripping Skye's shoulders. "He hasn't told you because he's trying to spare you the pain. But you need to know, Skye. He's been keeping this from you, and it's not just a passing infatuation. It's a bond."

Skye's legs felt weak, and she sank onto a nearby chair, her hands trembling. Her mind raced with questions, with doubts, with a pain so sharp it threatened to consume her.

"Who is she?" she whispered, barely able to speak.

"Her name is Lilith," Morrigan replied, her voice gentle. "She's from the Court of Nightmares. They met on one of his recent missions, and... it's more than just an encounter. It's a mating bond."

The words cut into Skye like a knife, and she felt tears pricking at her eyes. She'd known, deep down, that something had changed between them, that Azriel had been pulling away. But she had never imagined that this was the reason.

"What am I supposed to do, Morrigan?" she asked, her voice trembling. "How am I supposed to face him, knowing this?"

Morrigan knelt beside her, taking her hands in hers. "You deserve someone who can give you everything, Skye. If Azriel's heart is divided, he's not the one for you."

Skye swallowed hard, her resolve hardening. She stood up, determination flashing in her eyes. "I need to talk to him. I need to hear it from him, to make him say it to my face."

Morrigan nodded, standing beside her. "Then I'll go with you."

Skye shook her head. "No. I need to do this on my own."

"Skye, what's wrong?" her father asked, his voice a steady presence in the room as Skye frantically rushed towards the doors

She hesitated, unsure of how to explain. "I... I need to go to Velaris," she said, the words spilling out before she could stop them.

Her mother was hot on her heels, "Shouldn't you wait until morning?"

But she shook her head, pulling away. "No, I need to go now." With that, she turned and left the library, ignoring their protests as she headed for the door. She winnowed, and in seconds, she was gone, her heart pounding in her chest as she stepped into the cool night air of Velaris.

By the time she reached Velaris, the sun was beginning to set, casting a golden light over the city. She moved through the streets, her steps purposeful, her heart pounding with a mixture of fury and heartbreak.

She reached Azriel's quarters and found him alone, staring out at the horizon as if lost in thought. He turned when he heard her approach, surprise flickering across his face.

"Skye," he said, stepping towards her. "What are you doing here?"

She took a step back, her eyes cold as they locked onto his. "Don't," she said, her voice a low warning. "Don't act like everything is fine. I know, Azriel. I know about Lilith."

His face fell, shadows swirling around him as he took in her words. He tried to reach for her, but she shook her head, holding up a hand to stop him.

"How could you?" she demanded, her voice breaking. "How could you lie to me, keep this from me while we were planning our future together?"

"Skye, I—" He stopped, his voice faltering. "I never wanted this to happen. I never wanted to hurt you."

She laughed, the sound bitter and hollow. "Did you think I wouldn't find out? Did you think I wouldn't see the signs? You've been avoiding me, keeping secrets, and now I know why. All this time, you've been torn between me and her."

Azriel clenched his fists, his face contorted with pain. "It wasn't supposed to be this way. I thought... I thought I could choose. I thought I could ignore the bond and stay with you."

Skye's eyes filled with tears, and she shook her head. "No, Azriel. If you truly loved me, you wouldn't have let this happen. You wouldn't have let it go this far."

He reached out to touch her face, but she stepped back, the distance between them growing. "I trusted you," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "I believed in you. But now... I can't do this anymore."

Azriel's eyes filled with regret, but he knew that nothing he could say would change what he had done. He watched as she turned and walked away, her figure disappearing into the night, leaving him alone with his guilt and the shattered remains of their love.