Threads of Fate

Chapter 40 ~ Relentless Teasing

    They left early the next morning, before the sun had even risen. Azael made the choice to ride double with Tissaia, allowing Vael to continue riding his mount so they could make faster progress. He had a secondary motive too. He'd been unable to quell the Mountain Fae's dark words from his mind all night. The remarks he'd made about Tissaia.

    It had left instincts knotted in his stomach and he'd barely managed to sleep until he had finally digressed and pulled his cloak alongside hers. He hadn't held her. Not with Talarion around, but he had cast a shield over her and positioned himself as close to her as he dared. Kaius had been awake and watched him do so, though he said nothing.

    He had been preoccupied with Talarion. The other male had been asleep, but restlessly so despite being nestled against Kaius's chest. The Phoenix had been combing his hair with one hand, while the other ran up and down Talarion's spine. His palm had been glowing crimson, and that same light filtered from the mark emblazoned on his sternum. Azael guessed he'd been using magic to warm Talarion.

    It was still odd to him, watching the two males openly care for each other. He had never seen that side of them before, and they seemed so different from the males he'd thought he'd known for years. If they truly loved each other as deeply as their actions implied, he couldn't imagine how difficult the past two centuries of only sharing stolen moments and hiding their feelings around others had been.

    It had solidified the decision he'd long been making. Azael didn't know how he would accomplish it, but when this was over, he would make sure none of them had to return to a life of submission to Roshan Lochren.

    He still didn't know if he could bear to marry Tissaia, knowing what he did about his future, although he was trying to picture the outcome of such a choice. But still, there had to be some way he could remove her and her brother from Roshan's power. Perhaps he really would try to persuade Talarion to enlist in the Cahirim.

    Gaelen would be able to find a decent position for him and would look out for him, and he already knew Kaius would go wherever his mate did. Maybe Tissaia would want to go with them too. There weren't many female members of the Cahirim, but more had begun to join in recent years, and at the very least, it couldn't hurt for her to develop her skills beyond what they already were.

    She was keeping a lookout now, her bow at the ready. They knew the Lochren warriors would be getting close. There was no point trying to outrun them. They were all too exhausted. They would have to make a stand and hope it bought them enough time to leave the area before more scouts came to investigate. Almost without realizing he was doing so, Azael let go of the reins with one hand to wrap his arm around Tissaia's waist.

    "What are you doing?" She asked, glancing back at him, though he didn't miss the hitch in her breath.

    "Assuring myself that you aren't going to fall off if the horse is startled and decides to bolt or rear."

    "How considerate. Hold me a little tighter, why don't you? I can still breathe." With a murmured apology, Azael loosened his grasp, but only just. He wasn't going to give any of these warriors a chance to pry her away from him. "Talarion still isn't himself today," Tissaia sighed. "And Kaius barely looks awake."

    "I don't think he slept more than ten minutes, if at all," Azael replied. "Every time I woke up, he was still keeping watch, and he refused to trade off."

    "We have to lose these warriors and find somewhere we can sleep peacefully for at least one night."

    "I'm not sure that will be possible. There aren't any hidden villages beyond the Vidar, and none of us have the energy to create more illusions anywhere we might stop."