Kazi strolled the corridors, her mind still preoccupied with the information from the overheard conversation. Every corner and every face revealed a probable suspect. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she almost missed the familiar figure outside the window. Azrael. He strolled alone through the royal gardens, his expression distant and troubled.
"Kazi?" The sound of Ren's voice startled her. She turned to find her friend approaching, a warm smile on his face.
"Ren," she greeted, forcing a smile of her own. Her mind, however, remained on Azrael. "Hello."
Ren stopped in front of her, his brow furrowing slightly. "Is everything alright? You seem distracted."
Kazi opened her mouth to reply, but her gaze drifted back to the window. Azrael was gone, vanished from sight. "I...I think I just saw something," she stammered, a sudden urge to chase after the prince overwhelming her.
"Saw what?" Ren asked, his voice concerned.
Kazi bit her lip, torn between her mission and the inexplicable pull she felt towards Azrael. "It is nothing," she mumbled, offering a weak smile. "I apologize, Ren, but I...I need to go."
Before Ren could protest, Kazi ran past him and hurried down the corridor. Her heart pounded in her chest as she raced through the palace, her thoughts consumed by the sight of Azrael outside. She had to find Azrael.
Ignoring the shocked looks she received as she passed by, Kazi navigated the maze of corridors, her only guide the fading image of Azrael's retreating figure. She pushed open doors and looked around corners, her anxiousness increasing with each passing second.
After what seemed like a lifetime, she arrived at the huge grounds. Birds chirped merrily among the petals, but what met her was not the calm image she had anticipated. Azrael had vanished from the gardens, leaving no trace.
A flash of disappointment passed over her, followed by a renewed sense of purpose. Giving up was not an option. Suddenly, she heard a faint splashing sound. Intrigued, Kazi followed the sound, her steps light and quiet.
She moved a bush and emerged alongside a rushing stream. And there he was. Azrael is sat on the edge of a smooth rock, his feet dangling in the cool water.
He was deep in thought, kicking his legs absentmindedly, producing ripples over the smooth surface.
Kazi paused for a minute, unsure how to go. She then took a big breath and walked forward.
"Your Highness?" she called out softly.
Azrael's head snapped up, his eyes widening in surprise. "K?" he stammered, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. "What...what are you doing here?"
Kazi shrugged, forcing a casual smile. "I saw you come out here," she admitted. "Just...wanted to see if you were alright."
Azrael studied her for a moment, his gaze uncharacteristically guarded. "I am fine," he said finally, his voice distant. "Just needed some air."
He looked back at the water, his expression unreadable. Kazi, unable to bear the awkward silence, knelt down beside him, rolling up the legs of her trousers to avoid getting them wet.
With a playful splash, she dipped her feet into the cool water. "Mind if I join you?" she asked, her voice soft.
Azrael flinched slightly but remained silent. Taking his silence as assent, Kazi leaned back on her hands, gazing out at the shimmering water. A comfortable silence settled between them, a contrast to the tension that had initially filled the air.
A smile tugged at the corner of Kazi's lips as Azrael yelped, startled by the cool water splashing against his feet. He shot her a look, then with a laugh that surprised her in its genuineness, he retaliated, sending a spray of water her way.
Their laughing rang through the peaceful garden, creating a gentle music among the chattering birds and rustling leaves. Kazi felt a warmth creep over her chest that she had not felt in a long time. It was...nice. Fun. Normal.
"It is nice to see you laugh, Azrael," she admitted, wiping a stray droplet of water from her cheek.
The playful glint in his eyes faded slightly. He looked away, his gaze drifting back to the water. "I know you saw everything," he said, his voice low.
Kazi's heart skipped a beat. She remained silent for a moment, then forced a sigh. "I apologize," she mumbled, her voice barely a whisper. "I shouldn't have eavesdropped."
Azrael chuckled, "It is fine, K," he said, looking over at her. "It was not exactly a secret conversation. The Queen has...a way of making her voice heard."
"Is she...usually like that?" Kazi asked hesitantly.
He laughed. "Like a...what? A kind queen adored by all. Let's just say appearances can be deceiving, K." He stopped, then said, with a playful sparkle in his eyes, "She is actually a witch in disguise."
He deformed his face into a horrible impersonation of a witch, full of a wart on his nose and a cackle that turned into a second laugh. Kazi couldn't help but chuckle along, the tension dissolving under his unexpected humour.
The playful attitude faded just as quickly as it had appeared. Azrael's smile faded. He threw a small stone into the stream, creating ripples that immediately faded.
"You know what I despise the most, K?" he said, his voice low.
Kazi's heart lurched. This was not the carefree Azrael she had been splashing around with only seconds before. This was the prince, burdened by his position and wounded by secrets.
"What?" she managed to force out, her voice barely a whisper.
Azrael looked to her, his eyes revealing a depth that shocked her. "Deception," he spat, "Lies and deceit. It poisons everything, K. It destroys trust, love, everything we hold dear."
Kazi felt a cold dread settle in her stomach. His words acted as an unsettling reminder of her delicate situation. Here she was, the epitome of deception, standing next to the man she was supposed to marry, a man who hated dishonesty with passion that burned in his eyes.
Can she keep up the deception? Could she maintain this false connection when the foundation of their relationship was founded on a lie?
But then she looked up to meet Azrael's gaze. Despite the hatred in his voice, his eyes were vulnerable, revealing a desire for genuine connection. There was a glimmer of optimism within the darkness.
"Are you...genuinely alright, Azrael?" she asked trying to change the subject.
He shrugged, his gaze distant. "One learns to adapt, Kazi. It comes with the territory of being a second prince...the son of a concubine." The bitterness in his voice was unmistakable.
Kazi felt a surge of anger, a protectiveness towards this man who, despite his royal title, seemed to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders.
She reached out, her hand hovering over his for a moment before gently taking it in hers. His hand was surprisingly warm, sending a jolt through her.
"Just because you are the second prince," she said, her voice firm but gentle, "doesn't mean you deserve to be treated that way. And if...if you ever need someone to talk to, someone who will listen..." she trailed off, squeezing his hand gently.
An unspoken understanding crackled between them.
Neither of them spokes, the weight of their unspoken emotions hanging heavy in the air.
Kazi's heart hammered against her ribs, a confusing mix of duty and something far more dangerous fluttering in her chest. Azrael's grip tightened on her hand, his eyes reflecting a conflict that mirrored her own.
Azrael's gaze dropped to their intertwined hands, the warmth of Kazi's touch sending a jolt through him. He looked back up, their faces impossibly close, a question hanging in the air. Kazi leaned in, the space between their lips shrinking with each passing moment.
Azrael's breath hitched. This was not right. K was his guard, a man. Yet, the pull he felt towards him was undeniable, a spark of forbidden desire igniting in his chest.
Just as their lips were about to meet, Azrael turned his head to the side. Kazi's hand, soft and warm, tilted his face back towards hers.
And then, she kissed him.
The contact was soft, tender, and unexpected. His body tensed, but she was gentle, coaxing him to relax into the moment. Her lips were full and warm, and they moved in perfect harmony with his, as if they had been made for this, as if they were meant to be together.
But then, a fire of his own ignited. He responded with a passion that took them both by surprise, his tongue dancing with hers in a hungry, desperate duet. His hands found their way to her back, pulling her impossibly closer, as if he could consume her. She moaned into the kiss, arching her body against his, lost in the heat and the need.
They broke apart, gasping for breath. Kazi's eyes fluttered open, wide with shock and a flicker of something else - fear? Regret? She stumbled back, the sudden movement pulling her hand free from Azrael's grasp.
Panic surged through her. What had she just done? She had crossed a line, a dangerous line, and now there was no turning back. She stood up and whirled around her mind screaming at her to run, to get away from this tangled mess of emotions.
But before she could take a single step, Azrael stood up and grabbed her arm gently. A jolt of electricity shot up her arm as his fingers tightened around her skin. He pulled her back towards him, their chests heaving in sync. His gaze was intense, unapologetic, and filled with an emotion she did not recognize.
In that moment, there was no time for thought, no room for hesitation. Azrael seized the initiative, his lips crashing down on hers once more. This kiss was different, more urgent, more desperate. He poured everything he felt into it, every emotion he had been bottling up for far too long.