Threads of Fate

Chapter 57 ~ One Last Chance

    When Azael returned with a meager meal for Tissaia, he found her already out of the tub. She had changed into the clean clothes he'd set out for her and was curled up on the bed, lightly dozing. She already looked significantly better from when he'd left her, having healed herself and cleaned off the blood that had been spattered across her skin.

    Azael perched on the edge of the bed, reaching over to touch Tissaia's shoulder. She acknowledged him with a grunt, not bothering to open her eyes. "You might want to eat now if you'd like your stew hot," he said with a faint chuckle.

    Tissaia rubbed her eyes with a grumble but begrudgingly sat up. He set the old stoneware bowl in her hands and watched as she lifted the spoon and picked at the food. "Have you seen Talarion?" She asked before taking a bite.

    "Vael said he was still in the sanctum when he went to watch the guards trade off."

    "But he's all right?" Her brow creased with worry and she let the spoon fall back into the bowl. "He wasn't...hurt, was he?"

    Azael took the bowl from her, guessing she wouldn't eat anymore, and in spite of his worry, he wouldn't push her to. He set it aside on the table next to the bed while he shook his head.

    "He didn't appear hurt or give them any cause for alarm. He was still just sitting there with..." He trailed off as Tissaia winced. "He's all right. Gaelen is going to check in on him through the night and the guards will make sure he stays undisturbed."

    Tissaia only nodded and didn't resist when he slipped an arm around her shoulders and drew her back against his chest. Azael laid back on the dust scented pillows and his stomach clenched as Tissaia curled into him, tucking her head beneath his chin.

    He grabbed the corner of a clean cloak that he had been wearing earlier and draped it over her, before letting his hand fall to the back of her head. He began stroking her hair gently as her breath grew deep and even, and some of the tension in her body melted away.

    Azael drew a shallow breath himself and fixed his gaze on the ceiling. Gods knew he didn't deserve this after everything he had put Tissaia through in the past centuries. He didn't deserve to earn her forgiveness, her trust. He didn't deserve to have her here, letting him care for her despite all that remained unsaid between them.

    She was entrusting herself to him, disregarding all the cruel things he'd said when they were last together. She should be furious at him. He should have to beg on his knees and grovel at her feet for forgiveness after hurting her so many times. He couldn't even be angry at her now for what she had kept from him, having finally let himself think it over.

    Of course she hadn't told him such vulnerable truths. He wouldn't have told himself either, in her shoes. Talarion had been right. He'd only seen what he wanted to see in her, and he'd never truly looked past what she let him see, even though he knew there were things she had hidden. He had abused her trust and her heart far too many times.

    It was he who deserved to be suffering like she and her twin were now. It was he who deserved to be dead instead of Kaius. Yet here he was, holding the female he loved despite so many lies still hovering between them, while Kaius and Talarion had been torn apart when their only crime was loving each other from the shadows.

    Azael screwed his eyes shut and buried his nose in Tissaia's hair, swearing to himself, to her, and to any gods who listened, that he would not waste his chance again. No matter what his future held or what his fears might be. Tissaia was here, and he was here, when he had no right to be, so he would not waste this time.

    And even if it were only borrowed time, and his punishment was soon to be delivered, he would make the most of it. He would give himself a life to fight for if death came to claim him, and he would never let Tissaia's heart be broken because of his own cowardice again.