To the Shadowsinger | Azriel

Chapter 18: Tense

Azriel accepted clothes from Nuala at the end of the hall, far enough that she couldn't see Rai in the bath. As he walked back, he let his wing stretch out and block his sight of the bath so that he could set the clothes next to the towels.

Her small laugh made him smile as he returned to guarding the door.

"I wouldn't have guessed you to be so chivalrous," he heard Rai say and the water splash; he guessed she was getting out of the water.

He let her words roll off his back and tried not to think about her standing behind him, completely naked as she walked to the bench for a towel. He took deep breaths and focused on counting the tiles on the floor.

Eighty-three. Eighty-four. He ignored the sound of the towel rubbing on her skin. Eighty-five. He pulled back his eager shadows from seeing exactly what she was doing, but he couldn't control the irritated way they swarmed him.

"Tense?" Rai's head popped into his peripheral, almost startling him.

His eyes flicked down to the dark blue dress she wore. It was a soft material, easy to breathe and move in, but it covered most of her skin- as Azriel had asked Nuala to get. Rai looked comfortable in it, that's what mattered.

"Let's go," he looked away with a bored expression.

He led her to his bedroom. He could have taken her to one of the guest rooms but last time he did that she ended up sneaking out and getting into trouble. He wasn't going to let her escape a third time.

Rai sniffed the air, "Your room?" He watched her drag her hand along his quilted blanket. Her short nails traced over a patch that resembled Illyrian wings.

"I don't trust you to sleep in the guest rooms," he handed her his hair brush.

She smirked at him but accepted it and started brushing through her long dark hair, "I guess that's my own fault." She shrugged, "At least you trust me enough to keep your back to me."

He hadn't even considered the possibility of her attacking him. A part of him knew she wouldn't hurt him just like he wouldn't hurt her- at least not anymore. That time he hit her still made him feel guilty.

His skin tingled as she walked right past him and set the brush down on his dresser where he had picked it up. His eyes traveled with her. She stopped at his couch, fluffed up a pillow, and laid with her back towards him.

What kind of Queen doesn't demand the bed? He almost wanted to laugh at the thought of the Queen of Vallahan sleeping on his couch. "Rai. Take the bed. I'll sleep on the couch."

She didn't turn around, all he saw was her waving him away with the flick of her wrist. He shook his head with a small smile before taking off his shoes and climbing into bed. A nap would be good for him.

Finding sleep was usually a challenge for him, but as he lifted his head up and saw the steady rise and fall of Rai breathing, sleep welcomed him with warm arms.