Chapter 40: When The Heart Finally Speaks

𖤐••{AZRÆL’S POV}••⛧

My hand has been hovering a breath away from the door for the last several heartbeats.

Yet I still can’t bring myself to knock.

I lower my hand for the third time before resting my forehead against the wood, closing my eyes as a quiet sigh escapes me.

"What is happening to me?" I mutter.

I have fought the most terrifying creatures capable of haunting a man’s dreams for eternity.

I’ve stood on battlefields drowned in blood and stared death in the eye more times than I can count.

I’ve been trapped in places that could break a person’s body, shatter their mind, and leave their soul scarred beyond repair.

Yet here I am...

Standing in front of Rhiannon’s chambers like a fucking coward.

I straighten and stare at the door.

For someone who has faced armies without flinching, I’m taking far too long to knock on a fucking door.

I raise my hand again, my knuckles hovering just inches from the wood.

With every passing second that I hesitate, my jaw clenches tighter.

Before I can lose my nerve, I knock three times and immediately take a step back.

My heart begins pounding wildly against my ribs as I wait for an answer.

After an agonizing few seconds, her voice finally comes from the other side of the door.

"Come in."

I quickly reach for the door, but the second my fingers touch the handle I almost withdraw my hand.

I take a deep breath before gently pushing the door open.

As soon as I step inside and we meet each other’s gaze, her eyes widen and she goes completely still.

"Azræl," she says, her tone barely above a whisper.

For a moment, we do nothing but stare at each other from across the room before she turns to the maid standing behind her.

"Leave us," she murmurs.

The maid bows then starts walking toward me.

Once she approaches, she lowers herself into a bow. She says something. Probably a greeting. But I don’t hear her because all my senses are tuned to Rhiannon.

A slight crease forms between my brows when I notice the maid is still standing in front of me.

She doesn’t move.

Instead she stares at me with an awkward expression, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"Is there a problem?" I ask.

"Um..." she slowly rubs her elbow. "You’re... blocking the door, Your Majesty."

The second I glance over my shoulder, my brows rise.

"Oh," I say.

I turn back to her and step aside.

She bows her head as she scurries past me, and once she’s gone I gently close the door behind her.

I turn to Rhiannon, but she barely holds my gaze longer than a second before turning her head away.

Should I go to her?

Or is it better if I keep my distance?

"Rhiannon... how are you feeling?" I ask, my voice quiet. "Are you alri—"

"I’m fine," she says without sparing me a glance.

Her tone isn’t cold or harsh.

But maybe it’s better if I just linger by the door for now.

For a while, the room stays silent. But bloody hells, I have never felt more uncomfortable in my entire life. I have no idea what to say, where to look, or what I’m supposed to do with my hands.

"Rhiannon," I say, finally breaking the silence. "Have you... had your dinner yet?"

At last, she turns to face me. "Why are you here, Azræl?"

I take one small step forward.

"I... want us to talk about what happened earlier," I say slowly.

Her gaze falls to her lap.

"I know I crossed a line—"

"You did more than cross a line, Azræl," she says sharply, lifting her head to look at me. "You broke your promise."

Something tightens around my heart.

"I know... and I am truly sorry," I say calmly, taking another step closer. "But you could’ve stopped me yet you didn’t."

Her expression twists into a frown.

"That is not an excuse for what you did," she replies, her tone filled with anger.

"I know that," I counter, my voice hardening before I can stop it. "I just want to understand what you want from me?"

"I don’t want anything from you," she mutters, shaking her head frantically.

"Then why?" I ask, my tone firm but trembling with so many emotions I can’t name. "Why did you barge into Delilah’s chambers and attack her? Why did you insist I stay faithful to you and this marriage?"

Her lips part, but several heartbeats pass and she can’t utter a single word.

"I’m not allowed to touch you," I continue, "and at the same time you don’t want another woman satisfying my needs?"

I turn my back on her, dragging a hand roughly through my hair as frustration burns hot in my chest.

"What do you want from me, Rhiannon?" I snap as I face her, the desperation in my tone betraying me.

My gaze immediately softens, and my shoulders sag when I notice the tremor in her lips and the tears gathering in her eyes.

"I..." she draws a sharp breath.

"I don’t know," she whispers.

Her eyes close, tears running down her cheeks as her shoulders begin to tremble.

"I don’t know..." she sobs. "I just don’t."

I erase the remaining distance between us, crouching on one knee and cradling her face between my palms.

She doesn’t pull away like I expected.

She melts into my touch instead.

For however long it takes, I kneel before her, wiping every single tear from her face until she finally stops crying.

Her eyes slowly drift open to reveal those ocean-blues, and as she stares into my eyes, she does something I never expected.

She rests her forehead against mine.

Immediately, I get this strange, fluttering feeling in my stomach as I realize just how close we are.

Then to my utter shock and surprise...

Rhiannon Aurelian leans in and presses her lips against mine.