I stood up from the floor and met Azune’s eyes, which seemed to soften when he connected with my gaze. "Hey, I'm okay. She slapped me; it was deserved, especially when she thought I was taking you from her," I said, trying to defend Parker as I stepped closer, positioning myself between them.
Parker pushed me forward, a sneer on her face. "I do not need you to protect me, Darksbane!" she shot back, and irritation flared within me—now that truly made me angry.
I smiled, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth to keep the raging Abraxes at bay. "Shut up, Parker. I get you don’t like me, but my demon is even less of a fan of you than I am. I currently like the blue in my room; I’d rather him not turn it red," I snapped back, feeling the heat of the moment simmering around us.
Then I turned my attention back to Azune, a softer tone creeping into my voice. "It's okay, I promise. just...calm down please?" i said feeling dizzy from the massive amount of energy my body excerted to keep abraxes form maintained for the council.
Azune sighed as he caught me before I lost consciousness. I reached up a hand to touch his face, the warmth of his skin grounding me in that moment. "Please, just let her walk out that door, Azune..."
He stiffened at my words, glancing up at Parker with a look that I couldn't quite decipher. It was as if a silent battle was raging between them, one that I couldn’t fully understand. "Leave," he said, his voice low and firm.
I didn't catch what else was exchanged between them; my body finally gave out, and all I could feel was the comforting embrace of Azune’s arms as I slipped into darkness.
I came to after what felt like an eternity. My head throbbed as I scanned my surroundings, disoriented. I was in my bed, and the soft moonlight filtering through the window illuminated a figure seated at a small table nearby. It was Azune, poring over my father’s journal, a mortar and pestle beside him.
“What are you doing?” I croaked, my voice raspy.
He glanced back, a relaxed smile washing over his face. “It’s good to see you awake, Darksbane. You scared me there for a moment. I’m currently trying to follow these confusing instructions from your father to make a potion that not only cures the effects of monksvein but also re-energizes you. I heard about the council meeting… did you really show them Abraxes?”
I nodded slowly, the memory rushing back. “It’s what they asked of me. Abraxes was none too pleased, but he answered whatever they asked. Hand me the notebook, please. My father wrote everything cryptically. He wasn’t one to allow his knowledge to fall into the hands of his enemies.”
Azune reached out, passing me the worn notebook. I opened it, the pages filled with my father’s elegant script, intertwined with strange symbols and diagrams that twisted my mind just trying to make sense of them. “He always had a flair for the dramatic,” I muttered, a smile creeping onto my lips despite the remnants of pain in my head.
I grinned and closed the book. "How do I know you're not trying to kill me again?" I challenged him, meeting his gaze with a defiant glare. Azune rolled his eyes, clearly unfazed by my accusation.
"Why would I? My father was very forward in expressing you may be more useful to me alive. Plus, I promised I wouldn't do it again, didn't I?"
I thought back to that comment and smiled mischievously. "Did you add powdered squid tentacle and the tail of a scorpion?"
Azune cocked an eyebrow in confusion. "No, why would I? Both are toxic."
I giggled, a lighthearted laugh that contrasted the tension in the air. "To you maybe, but according to this book here, it’s very beneficial to me and Abraxis."
His expression shifted from skepticism to curiosity as I waved the tome in front of him. "Bring it here," he said, his tone more serious now. "Let's see what else that book of yours has to say"
I scooted off my bed and flinched as my warm bare feet touched the cold stone floor, letting my blanket slip away and exposing every curve. Azune looked away in respect, or so I hoped, as I noticed him swallow hard. I brought the book over and placed my hand on the table, leaning a bit as I showed him the page.
"My dad was a riddle master," I began, feeling a rush of pride and nostalgia as I recounted pieces of his legacy. "But this line here about the eight-legged monster that lies beneath the black lagoon's surface is clearly referring to a swamp squid. And this part, about the tail of the desert king, has to be about a scorpion tail. I’m sure of it."
Azune leaned in closer, his interest visibly piqued. "You really think your dad left these clues for a reason?" he asked, his voice a mix of curiosity and intrigue.
I nodded, tracing the words with my finger as if they were the key to a hidden treasure. "He always said riddles were more than just games—they were ways to uncover truths. I think perhaps he wanted me to find something, something important."
Azune’s expression shifted slightly, a mixture of amusement and something deeper flickering in his gaze as he watched me. “You really think you can just shove me aside and take charge, don’t you?” he teased, but there was an edge to his tone that suggested he respected the fire in my spirit.
I rolled my eyes again, focusing on the task at hand. “It’s not about taking charge; it’s about doing this right. And trust me, I know how to handle potions better than you think.” I carefully poured the concoction into a small glass vial, watching as it sloshed around, the color murky yet strangely captivating.
Azune leaned closer, his curiosity piqued. “What did you put in there? it smells rank.”
“Just a little bit of this and a dash of that,” I replied, trying to keep my tone light even as I felt the weight of his gaze. “Honestly, I think I’d prefer a nice fireball potion over whatever this is.” I gestured toward the foul-smelling mixture.
“It’s not all about what smells good, Kiri. Sometimes the most potent brews are the ones that make your stomach churn.” His tone was serious for a moment, and I could sense the layers of wisdom in his words.
“Right, because nothing says ‘fun’ like toxic fumes,” I shot back, smirking at him.
I could feel Abraxes stirring, his sharp thoughts swirling in my mind,"to you it may smell bad but to me it smells just like the delicacy fon fon ru do not be so quick to dismiss where i am from.”
“Easy for you to say, your not the one putting it in your mouth. hush you big lizard” I thought back, shaking my head at his dramatics.
I turned back to Azune, who was watching me with an intensity that made my cheeks flush. “You really think this will work?” I asked, wanting to get back to the practicality of our lesson.
He grinned, that familiar arrogent expression lighting up his face. “We’ll find out soon enough.”
“Great, just what I wanted to hear,” I said, rolling my eyes once more but unable to suppress a smile as i tilted the vile up immediately wanting to spit it out there in the back of my head i could hear abraxes laughing "mm that was yummy" i shook my head. i could hit him if he wasnt a part of me.
I took a deep breath, grabbing a handful of juniper berries and shoving them into my mouth before quickly spitting them back into the pestle, desperate to rid myself of the bitter taste. As I wiped my mouth, Azune stepped closer, tucking a finger beneath my chin and gently turning my head to face him. His hand braced around my waist, drawing me in closer until my torso was pressed against his.
He bit his lip, his gaze locked onto mine. "I wasn't lying, just so you know, when I said you are unbelievably gorgeous." His thumb traced my bottom lip, sending flickers of electricity through me wherever he touched. My heart began to race, and I could feel heat rising within me.
Clearing my throat, I stammered, "Yes, well, um, thank you for the compliment, I suppose," breaking eye contact to gather my thoughts. He took a deep breath, and I could tell he felt the connection as strongly as I did.
"Those blue eyes of yours will be the death of me, you know," he murmured softly.
My eyes widened. Did he really just…? I placed my hands on his chest and gave a small push. “You are my teacher, and any attraction to me is to be forgotten. Leave it in the shadows… Besides, my eyes are nothing special,” I said affirmatively. It was against the general guidelines of everything Shades believed in—romance and feelings were distractions.
“Besides,” I continued, shaking my head, trying to banish any notion of sincerity in his words, “playing with my feelings isn’t fair of you to attempt to do.”
But before I could gather my thoughts, his lips crashed into mine, taking me completely by surprise. Was this really happening? Azune Stone was kissing me! A whirlwind of emotions surged through me—shock, confusion, and an undeniable thrill. I pushed against him slightly, my mind racing with the implications of this moment.
Part of me wanted to pull away, to remind him of our roles and the boundaries that should exist between us. But another part—a much bolder part—was responding to the warmth of his kiss, the way he cradled my face as if I were something precious. It was intoxicating.
I found myself melting into the kiss, forgetting the rules, the fears, and the weight of our reality for just a heartbeat. In that fleeting moment, nothing else mattered but the heat between us. But as quickly as it started, I remembered why this couldn’t happen. This was dangerous territory, and I knew I had to be the one to pull back.
With a firm resolve, I pushed away, breathless, my heartbeat pounding in my ears. “We can’t do this,” I breathed, my voice barely above a whisper. he didnt allow me to finish before he gripped the backs of my thighs and liffted me on to his hips and set me on to the desk kissing me deeper.
i broke the kiss once more and as our lips parted, I felt an undeniable heat between us, but reality crashed in like a tidal wave. “Azune, we can’t. This is against the rules,” I said, trying to sound more resolute than I felt.
He paused, studying my face, a smirk tugging at his lips. "From what my dad told me, you and Abraxes don't really care about the rules. You play by your own." His voice was teasing, but there was a sincerity behind his words. Then, with a gentle kiss on my cheek, he stepped back, giving me a moment to breathe.
"But you're right," he continued, his tone shifting to something softer, more serious. “This isn’t the time. You need to rest for tomorrow. Combat training with me isn’t going to be easy.”
I nodded, still slightly dazed by everything that had just happened. “You’re right,” I admitted, trying to regain my composure.
He smiled, a warmth reflecting in his eyes that made my heart race. “Get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.” With a final kiss on my forehead, he turned and slipped out the door, leaving me with a whirlwind of emotions and thoughts racing through my mind.
As the door clicked shut behind him, I leaned against the desk, trying to soothe the fire burning within me. The rules were there for a reason, but the thrill of what had just occurred made me question everything.
I felt a rush of warmth as I settled back into the comfort of my bed, the remnants of the unexpected encounter with Azune Stone swirling in my mind. Just moments ago, the guy who had sworn to kill me had kissed me in this very room. What in the world was happening? Surely, there had to be an explanation.
Maybe he was just drunk. After all, it had been his day off yesterday, and we all know how wild things could get on a day of freedom. I wanted to cling to that thought, to let it wrap around me like a comforting blanket. But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more complicated underneath it all.
Could it be possible that Azune had genuine feelings for me? The idea felt foreign, almost surreal. Love was a concept I struggled to grasp, especially coming from someone like him. I had seen the darker side of his nature—the way his charm could turn into something dangerous in an instant.
But I couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like if there was truth to that kiss. A flicker of hope ignited within me, though I quickly snuffed it out. It felt foolish to believe in something so unstable. I knew better than to trust appearances; he could just be playing me, only to throw me off my game tomorrow.
The confusion gnawed at me as I stared at the ceiling, trying to make sense of everything. Was I fooling myself? He had always been unpredictable, and the thought of him wielding such power over my heart made me uneasy.
I allowed sleep to gently pull me under, hoping that when morning came, I could face whatever lay ahead without the weight of these confusing emotions holding me back.
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