Azriel touched down at the Crescent Court just as dusk fell, the fading light casting long shadows across the grand courtyard. He didn't belong here anymore; he knew that. Yet, a part of him couldn't let go without seeing Skye one last time. He needed to apologize, to tell her what he hadn't had the courage to say before. He hoped he could find some semblance of closure—for both of them.
He approached the main hall, and the guards, recognizing him, let him through without question. Skye was High Lady here, and though she was moving on, Azriel could still feel the weight of her presence in the air. He steadied his breath as he walked through the corridors, each step echoing louder than the last. Finally, he reached the door to her study, where he sensed her familiar energy within. For a moment, he hesitated, feeling the surge of memories rushing back, but he knocked, knowing he couldn't turn back now.
The door opened, and Skye stood there, a mixture of surprise and irritation flickering across her face. She looked just as he remembered—radiant, fierce, and now guarded.
"Azriel." Her voice was clipped, and she crossed her arms, clearly unhappy with the surprise visit.
He nodded, his heart clenching at the sight of her. "Skye. I didn't mean to intrude. I just... I needed to see you. To apologize."
Skye took a deep breath, her gaze icy. "Apologize? Now? After everything?" She shook her head, a bitter smile playing on her lips. "I don't know what you could possibly say that would change anything, Azriel."
"I don't expect it to," he replied, his voice raw. "I know I don't deserve forgiveness. But I couldn't leave without telling you how sorry I am. For everything."
She studied him, her expression unreadable. "For the lies? For the betrayal? Or for making me believe that I was enough for you?" Her words cut through him like a blade, and he flinched, guilt tightening around his chest.
"For all of it," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I hurt you. I broke the trust we had, and I'll regret it for the rest of my life. I know that I was selfish. I kept thinking I could make it work somehow, that I could keep you and still hold on to something that shouldn't have existed in the first place."
Skye's gaze softened for a moment, and he saw a flicker of the love they'd once shared. But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by a hard, determined stare. "I gave you everything, Azriel," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "And you threw it away. For someone you barely know. Do you have any idea how that feels?"
He nodded, pain and regret evident in his eyes. "Every day, I regret it. I don't expect you to understand. But I can't explain why this happened. It was never about you not being enough. You were always enough, Skye. You were more than I deserved."
Her jaw clenched, and she looked away, wrapping her arms around herself as if to shield herself from him. "I loved you, Azriel. I loved you so much that I would have given up everything for you. But I can't keep hurting myself, wondering why I was never the one you truly wanted."
He moved closer, wanting to reach out, but stopped himself, knowing that touching her would only make things worse. "You were what I wanted. But I ruined it. And I don't expect you to forgive me. I just... I just needed you to know that I'm sorry. That I'll carry this guilt with me forever."
Silence hung between them, thick with the weight of unspoken words. Skye finally looked up, tears glistening in her eyes, though she quickly blinked them away. "You should go, Azriel. There's nothing left for you here."
He swallowed, forcing himself to nod, though it felt like his heart was shattering all over again. "I wish things had been different. I hope you find happiness, Skye. Real happiness. You deserve that."
Her expression softened, a hint of vulnerability breaking through. "I hope you find peace, Azriel. I hope you find what you're looking for. But I won't be waiting for you. Not anymore."
He felt the finality in her words, a bittersweet relief mingling with the ache in his chest. He nodded, turning away, the image of her tear-streaked face searing itself into his memory. This would be the last time he'd ever see her, the last time he'd hold onto the pieces of a love he had destroyed.
As he walked out of the Crescent Court, Azriel felt the familiar weight of his shadows envelop him, a silent reminder of his solitude. He hadn't just lost her; he had lost himself. And now, as he returned to the empty path before him, he knew he'd spend a lifetime searching for the peace that had slipped from his grasp the moment he'd broken Skye's heart.
Yet, somewhere beneath the sorrow, a faint sense of closure lingered, mingled with the grief. They had parted ways, both scarred but free to forge new paths. Skye would find her happiness, and he would carry the memories of what they'd once shared. And as he left, he whispered a silent goodbye to the love he'd never truly be able to let go.
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Behind the Shadow - Part 2
FanfictionSEQUEL 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?
