Skye stood in her chambers, gazing at her reflection in the ornate mirror that had been a fixture in her family's home for generations. The intricate, pale blue gown she wore brought out the color of her eyes, making her look every bit the part of a bride. She let out a soft, trembling sigh, forcing herself to focus on the day ahead and not the heaviness that seemed to weigh down her heart.
Her attendants fussed over the gown's final details, pinning and tucking where needed. "You look beautiful, my lady," one of them murmured, a soft smile on her face as she took a step back to admire their handiwork.
Skye managed a small smile. She could feel their eagerness, their excitement for the festivities to come. Yet, inside, she felt a hollow ache she couldn't shake. She clenched her fists at her sides, struggling to convince herself that this was the right decision.
Her thoughts drifted to the man waiting for her outside, her fiancé. He had been patient, kind, always there to support her through the most trying times. She could still remember the night he had proposed, how he'd looked at her with such love and certainty that it had made her breath catch. He had told her she deserved happiness, deserved to be loved without reservations. And he had promised to give her that—something Azriel had never been able to do.
She looked back at herself in the mirror, steadying her expression. This was the life she had chosen, and she would see it through. But even as she repeated those words to herself, fragments of her time with Azriel crept into her mind. The way he used to look at her, his piercing gaze seeing straight through to her soul, the feel of his hand in hers as they walked through the woods under the starlit sky.
One of the attendants pulled her out of her thoughts. "Is everything alright, my lady?"
Skye nodded, giving a quick smile. "Yes, I'm fine. Just a bit nervous."
As the attendants finished their work and left her alone for a moment, she felt a familiar tug in her chest—a pull that had once bound her heart to another. She took a deep breath, determined to push away the memories of Azriel. She had made her choice, and there was no turning back now.
Throughout the day, Skye moved through the palace, her duties and responsibilities filling each moment. Meetings with court advisors, discussions about upcoming treaties, and the endless details of her upcoming wedding. She threw herself into the work, hoping that if she kept herself busy enough, she could keep the lingering thoughts of Azriel at bay.
But as the sun dipped below the horizon, she found herself alone in her chambers once more, the silence pressing down on her. She walked to the balcony, gazing out at the sprawling lands below, the stars beginning to dot the sky. She remembered the nights she'd spent with Azriel, lying beneath those same stars, their hands intertwined as they talked of futures that now seemed impossibly distant.
A knock on the door broke her reverie, and her fiancé stepped into the room, his gaze warm as he took her in. "You seemed miles away," he said softly, crossing the room to stand beside her.
Skye gave him a gentle smile. "Just... thinking."
He reached for her hand, his thumb tracing soft circles along her knuckles. "Second thoughts?"
She shook her head, her resolve firming as she met his gaze. "No. You've been everything I could have ever wanted. I know I made the right choice."
He smiled, relief softening his features. "You have no idea how happy that makes me."
Skye leaned into him, drawing comfort from his embrace, letting herself believe that she could be content with this new path. Azriel had his own life now, a life that she wasn't a part of. She had to let go of the past, had to find peace with the choices she'd made.
YOU ARE READING
Behind the Shadow - Part 2
FanficSEQUEL Skye may have made into the shadows but now she is behind Azriels shadows is the truth to hard for the both of the. They are tested to their limits. Will they make it out unscathed and together?
