To the Shadowsinger | Azriel

Chapter 17: Promise

 Raisa had expected Azriel to take her back to Morrigan's house. Instead, he flew to the mountains and landed in a home that overlooked the whole city.

"Why are we at the High Lord's home?" Raisa asked when Azriel gently set her on her feet.

His face had relaxed in a way Raisa hadn't seen as they flew. There was no pinch between his brows, his full lips softened, and his hazel eyes lacked darkness. Raisa wished she could have immortalized the scene in her mind forever.

That relaxed look was gone now, "The High Lord and Lady will be here soon. Clean up, get some rest, and I'll get you something to wear."

He had his back turned to her. He was hard to read but when he didn't look at her, it was impossible to guess what he was thinking. She was tired and dirty though, so she looked down at her feet and said in a voice of defeat, "lead the way."

The first time she had been in the High Lord's house, she didn't take the time to appreciate how beautiful it was. Everything, from the decor to furniture to the colors of the wall was a tribute to the night. Her hands were greedy to feel each fabric as they passed a dining room, a living room, went down a flight of stairs and came to a hall that echoed running water.

He took her to a room with a pool. The walls were a clean white marble and carved into the walls were hideous winged creatures that spouted water from their mouths.

"Towels are over there," Azriel gestured to a stone bench stacked with folded towels.

Her face heated, "You want me to bathe here?"

"This is the bath."

Raisa's eyes went to the entrance, there was no door, and then back to Azriel to see if he was still joking. "This is a pool. I cannot bathe here. What if someone sees me naked? Anyone can walk in." Raisa's maids didn't even see her naked; she took her baths in the privacy of her own bathroom.

Azriel gave her a blank look, which only made her more nervous. Did he intend to stay? "I'll stand outside and make sure no one comes in."

She narrowed her eyes at him and crossed her arms, "And you promise not to peak?"

He narrowed his eyes back, "Promise."

She hesitated to strip out of her clothes, watching his back to make sure he didn't look. He stood with his back to her, unmoving like a guard at his post.

The water was nice; much warmer than she expected. It must have had some healing magic as well as she felt her aching muscles loosen and the pain in her arm soothe. The power to slow time made her think her head was going to explode. As she brought her head under the water, the feeling evaporated.

"So, Azriel, tell me about yourself," she said as she located lavender soap and began to scrub.

"There's not much about me," he said with his back still to her.

She snorted, "Humble now, are we?"

"What do you want to know?"

Everything. He was a book she desperately wanted to read. But she knew that he wouldn't spill his life tale to her simply because she asked. She would have to coax it out of him. She thought about the first thing she wanted to know about him, starting small: "What do you want most in this life?"

When he didn't answer, she feared he was ignoring her. She patiently waited while washing her hair.

"To see my brothers and friends happy," he finally said.

Raisa stared at his back. She wasn't expecting that answer. She was an only child yet couldn't imagine caring about siblings enough to put their happiness at the top of her list of desires. Most people she knew hated their siblings; her husband had even killed one of his brothers about three hundred years ago. As for friends... she never really had a friend before. No one that cared for her or her for them.

"You care about your brothers and friends that much?" She asked.

"They're the reasons I'm here today. They're my family and I would give my life for any of them."

The intensity of his voice made her heart skip. Family. That's what she wanted most in the world. To have people to love and to be loved in return. Love was a foreign feeling to her, but something she craved.

"They're lucky to have you," her voice was barely a whisper.

"I'm lucky to have them."