"Ah! You're too heavy." I closed my eyes.
As I opened my eyes, I was met with a sight that caused my heart to skip a beat. Azriel was sleeping soundly on my chest, his long eyelashes gently resting against his upper cheeks. I couldn't help but blush as I realized that everyone must have been watching us.
Suddenly, Mara and Yale appeared before us, their faces etched with concern. Yale picked Azriel up and held him gently, causing a sense of emptiness to wash over me.
"What happened?" Mara asked urgently, her voice filled with worry.
"He was injured during the fight," I explained. "He's heavily wounded, and I'm sorry. He was- he was-" Another death because of me. My breaths quickened. "Just-just a minute."
Mara nodded understandingly and reassured me that they would take care of Azriel.
I breathed deeply, trying to calm myself down as my whole body trembled.
"Are you okay?"
I opened my eyes to see Troy. I nodded with faint smile.
As we made our way towards where he could receive the medical attention he needed, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that he was going to be okay.
"Today, you guys should stay here." Mara said.
As we stood there, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease wash over me. The events of the past few days had taken a toll on us all, and the thought of staying in a strange place with strangers made me feel even more uneasy.
"He is no condition to move or do anything. We don't have much room. But I hope you can adjust at my top floor. It's empty and has two single beds. Do you want me to show you? Azriel's already sleeping there."
I nodded reluctantly, feeling a sense of trepidation as we followed her up the stairs. As we reached the top floor, I couldn't help but feel a sense of intimacy as I saw Azriel sleeping soundly in one of the beds. It felt strange to be so close to him, and I found myself blushing as Mara explained where everything was.
"Ah, and your clothes."
I glanced down to see my bloody clothes and frowned slightly. But the frown was replaced my amazement in my eyes the minute Mara put her hand below my neck, and new clothes appeared, shining on my body.
Does everyone knows how to do that here?
Soon, I plopped down on bed, thinking about everything that has happened. It did not overwhelm me as much as I thought it would. I was living in the world with magic! Most people didn't even know about magic, that it did exist, and that the world is in danger. I swore that I would train to save the world. And, now, this was overwhelming. I took deep shaky breath in. How would I be able to do that? I can't even punch someone's face well to defend myself.
I looked at my right to see him sleeping calmly. The moonlight falling on his face from the window on his side. He really had face of an angel. And he was like a guardian angel. I never thought someone would go this far to protect me. He almost killed himself for me, for the job which was to protect me at all costs. And I was the reason he almost died, once again, because of me, it's all because of me.
As I mused, laying there, I suddenly realized that tears were streaming down my face. I hadn't even noticed when they started, but they were coming fast and hot now, a silent testament to my fear and uncertainty.
And then, as if sensing my distress, Azriel shifted in his sleep, murmuring softly under his breath. His hand twitched, and then he was reaching out to me still sleeping. I wiped my tears and got up, walking towards his bed. I touched his hand, feeling a sense of electricity shoot through me as I watched his hands curl around mine. My heart fluttered, and I immediately kept his hand on the bed, so it doesn't keep hanging off the bed.
"Thank you." I whispered, averting my gaze, then looking back at him, "For protecting me and all."
Ugh! It was embarrassing. I was talking to a sleeping person! Thanking him! Ugh! I let out an annoyed sigh and was about to walk back to my bed when he said, "Stay."
I froze in place, unsure if I had heard him correctly. I turned to face him, but he was still asleep. Did I imagine it?
"Stay," he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. Should I stay? What if he wakes up and doesn't remember asking me to stay? I decided on staying just for a short while. And then I would go to my bed. So I stayed. His hand holding mine again. I looked up at him. He looked so serene, so at peace. It was hard to believe that just a few hours ago, we were in the middle of a life-threatening situation. But here we were, in this moment of calm.
As I sat there, lost in thought, I felt his grip on my hand tighten slightly. I looked down, and our eyes met. His were still hazy with sleep, but there was something else there too. Something that made my heart skip a beat for nth time.
I panicked. "I was just- I was- You said it-okay! It's not my fault!" I tried to defend myself immediately for his holding his hand.
I could feel the blood rushing to my cheeks as I stumbled over my words. Why was I so nervous around him?
He smirked faintly, his eyes glinting with what looked like amusement and mischief, "It's okay. You don't have to explain yourself."
I couldn't help but stare at him. Forget what I said about him being an angel, blah-blah. Yes, he had a face of an angel, but he looked up, smirking at me like a devil. It was almost like he was a completely different person than the fierce man I had seen in action earlier.
"Besides," he continued, his voice low and raspy, "I don't mind if you hold my hand if you feel unsafe-"
I felt my cheeks flush even more. I instantly snapped my hand back, cutting his words off. "Shut-Shut up, such an idiot! You were sleeping and saying that I stay. Plus you held my hand in sleep. So-"
"I said that?" he asked, his voice groggy and disoriented.
I nodded, feeling suddenly shy and self-conscious. "You asked me to stay," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
He looked at me, and for a moment, it seemed like he was going to say something. But then he shook his head, as if he had changed his mind.
"Never mind," he said, running a hand through his tousled hair. "It was just a dream. I'm sorry for bothering you."
I felt a pang in my chest as I went over to my bed plopped down, covering myself with a blanket.
Eventually, I drifted off to sleep, still lost in a haze of confusion and desire. But even in my dreams, I couldn't escape the pull of his presence, the way he had made me feel alive in a way that I never had before.
"Goodness! Do you know how much you scared me?!" Mara's yell got me out of my sleep. I fluttered my eyes open to see her scolding Azriel.
"How many times have I told you to not fight carelessly?!" Mara shouted, tears in her eyes.
I smiled faintly. I wish I had someone shouting at me just because they cared so much about me. I glanced at Azriel who had a slight pout on his face. "I am okay now. Aren't I? Plus, if I had fought carelessly, I wouldn't be alive now!"
"Oh my god! How can you say that!?" Mara went forward to hit him on the arm. "And, you almost died! Okay?!"
As I watched the exchange between Mara and Azriel with a mix of amusement and concern, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. I had never had someone care for me the way Mara cared for Azriel. Her protectiveness and undying love for her son were evident in every word she spoke, every gesture she made.
Azriel, for his part, seemed unfazed by his mother's scolding. He pouted like a child, but there was a sense of strength and resilience in him that I couldn't help but admire. And I hated to admit it.
"Oh, you're awake, sweetie?"
I snapped out of my musings, and looked at her smiley face as I nodded slowly.
"Come downstairs and eat. And bring that idiot with you too, okay?"
Did she just call Azriel an idiot? Our thoughts matched. I couldn't help but let out a chuckle. "Oh my. Oh my. This is the first time I heard you laugh!"
That immediately made me shut my mouth up.
"Oh, no, sweetie. Laugh. It's good too laugh. I'll call him an idiot a thousand times." She laughed at her own joke, making me smile. She was so cheerful.
I turned my gaze to Azriel to catch him looking at me. He immediately turned away from me, getting up abruptly and going to the washroom. What was up with him?
Mara's footsteps echoed in the hallway as she stomped her way towards the kitchen. Her face contorted with anger as she muttered under her breath. Her son, Azriel, was nowhere to be found, and breakfast had been ready for an hour now.
She turned to me, her eyes blazing with frustration. "Go check on him upstairs. I can't believe he's still in shower. He takes such a long time in bathroom, unaware that all of us are waiting for him!"
I nodded, understanding. Mara was not one to be messed with when she was angry, and Azriel knew it better than anyone.
I made my way up the stairs, my feet padding softly against the carpet. I stopped in front of Azriel's door and knocked gently. "Are you okay in there?" I called out. What if he was bleeding? No. No. No.
There was a pause before he responded, his voice slightly muffled. "Yeah, I'm fine."
I furrowed my eyebrows, not convinced. Should I push further or respect his privacy? But before I could make a decision, the bathroom door swung open and Azriel emerged, his hair damp from the shower.
My eyes widened as I took in the sight before me. My heart fluttered, and for a second, I couldn't function properly. His chest was in front of my eyes, his abs and his almost healed scar were in view, and he wore only a towel. When I pulled my eyes away from his very distracting chest and gazed up into his eyes, I knew I shouldn't have – they were even more distracting. The amber eyes. His eyelashes long and sparkling from the water.