Chapter 41: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

••{RHIANNON’S POV}••

The moment my lips touch Azræl’s, his entire body tenses.

What did I just do?

Why isn’t he moving?

Did I make a mistake?

My heart begins to gallop so wildly I’m sure he can hear it.

I don’t think I can open my eyes.

I’m terrified of what I’ll see on his face if I do.

What if he doesn’t want this?

What if I’ve just made a complete fool of myself?

Before my doubts can convince me to pull away, his lips finally move against mine.

The kiss is gentle... almost hesitant at first as if he’s afraid I might pull away if he becomes too eager.

We’ve shared a kiss before, but this one feels different. This time I don’t feel like I’m kissing a man I hate.

Before I realize it, my body is already leaning into his, and my hands are running through his hair.

I part my lips, silently inviting him to deepen the kiss.

He does without hesitation, angling his head and brushing his tongue against mine as our pace grows faster... hungrier.

I’m still not sure what Azræl Bloodbourne is becoming to me.

I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to forgive him for what he did.

But in this moment, it’s like the entire world has fallen away and hatred is the very last thing I feel.

Azræl wraps his arms around my waist and, without breaking the kiss, lifts me from the chair and sits me on the vanity, pressing my back against the mirror.

As Azræl devours my lips like it’s his last meal, my robe slips down my right shoulder, exposing my breast. He gently palms and squeezes it before he starts rolling the hardened nipple between his fingers, drawing filthy sounds out of me.

He swallows all of them as our tongues continue to explore each other, and when we finally break apart, we’re both left gasping for air.

For the several heartbeats we spend trying to catch our breaths, we do nothing but smile as we stare into each other’s eyes.

Azræl rests his forehead on mine and closes his eyes. I close mine too, and the both of us remain like that even long after our breathing evens out.

"Azræl," I whisper, opening my eyes. "There’s something I want to ask of you, but I need you to promise me you’ll say yes."

He opens his eyes and meets my gaze.

"What is it?" he asks softly.

"Promise me," I say, my tone a little firmer.

"Alright," he nods. "I promise."

A warm feeling spreads through my chest.

"I’ve felt nothing but trapped for the past month," I murmur, searching his eyes. "I’m sick and tired of being confined to these chambers, surrounded by walls from sunrise till nightfall."

I pause for a heartbeat as I swallow the lump in my throat.

"So please... I beg you... let me go outside. Let me feel the sun on my face. Let me walk through the gardens. Maybe even ride a horse."

Azræl frowns and immediately recoils as if I suddenly slapped him across the face.

"No," he says without hesitation.

My heart sinks to the pit of my stomach.

"No?" I say slowly, my tone filled with disbelief.

"Rhiannon, I can’t do that," he says firmly. "It’s simply too dangerous."

"Azræl, please," I beg, my tone filled with desperation. "It’s just within the castle grounds. Can’t you at least grant me this small wish?"

"Let’s say I do," he says sharply. "What happens next? Will you eventually get tired of that too? Will you then ask me to let you go into the city?"

I quickly step down from the vanity.

"Why do you refuse to grant me this one little thing I ask of you?!" I lash out. "I am your wife, Azræl! Your Empress! Yet I’m treated like a prisoner while Delilah gets to go wherever she wants at any time she pleases!"

"But you are not Delilah!" he shouts. "The whole empire knows who you are now, Rhiannon. I can’t risk exposing you and putting your life in danger!"

The room falls silent after that.

The warmth.

The nervous excitement.

The tenderness.

The fragile hope that maybe something has finally changed between us—everything I felt only moments ago disappears so quickly it almost feels like it never happened.

Now as I stare into his golden eyes, I feel nothing but anger and disappointment.

I pull my robe back up my shoulder before wrapping my arms around myself.

"I need you to leave," I mutter, my tone as cold as ice.

Azræl’s frown deepens and his lips part with disbelief.

"...What?" he says slowly.

"I never want to see your face ever again," I add, my heart aching with each word that leaves my lips. "Stop visiting my chambers to keep me company, Azræl. Leave and never come back."

With that, I turn my head away so I don’t have to look at him.

So he doesn’t see the tears I’m fighting hard to keep at bay.

A long moment passes, but I still don’t hear him leaving.

I turn slowly to look at him, and when I see the hurt in his eyes, my heart shatters into a thousand pieces.

My eyes begin to sting with tears threatening to fall.

"Get out!" my voice cracks as I point toward the door.

Azræl nods slowly.

"Alright," he says quietly. "If that is what you want... then I will respect your wish."

He turns his back on me, and as he walks toward the door, tears blur my vision until I can only make out his figure.

When he reaches the door and pulls it open, some part of me aches for him to turn around.

To look at me just once.

But Azræl leaves and shuts the door behind him without sparing me a glance.

꧁ ✧༺ ❦ ༻✧ ꧂

𖤐••{AZRÆL’S POV}••⛧

The very first time I met Rhiannon Aurelian, we fought, and she ran a sword through my chest.

It’s been over a month, and I still haven’t forgotten what that pain felt like.

But what just happened in her chambers feels so much worse than taking a sword through the chest.

I’ve lost count of how many glasses of bloodwine I’ve drunk, yet somehow, it’s still not enough.

I need to drink myself into a stupor.

I need to forget this pain that’s ripping my heart in two.

I—

The door suddenly opens.

My heart jumps into my throat as I turn in my chair, but when I see who it is, my shoulders drop and I lean back in my seat.

"Oh," I mutter, taking a slow sip of wine. "It’s you."

"You don’t sound very surprised to see me," Delilah says.

Once she reaches me, she sits in my lap and rests her head on my shoulder.

I don’t spare her a glance.

My eyes remain focused on the flames dancing in the hearth as I continue to drink.

"You look angry, my love," she says softly. "Did something happen?"

"I’m not in the mood for conversation, Lilah."

She leans closer to my ear.

"Good thing I know something you’re always in the mood for," she whispers.

She kisses the side of my neck, then places her hand on my crotch and begins rubbing me through my trousers.

"Lilah, stop," I murmur.

She continues kissing me as she grips my cock through the fabric, stroking me slowly.

"Lilah, I said stop," I murmur again.

She ignores me completely.

"Delilah!" I shout.

She flinches, her brows furrowing with confusion.

"I want to be left alone," I mutter.

"Azræl—"

"Get out," I snap, my tone hard as stone.

Her frown deepens as she slowly stands from my lap.

She stares at me for a moment then scoffs before turning around and walking away.

Once the doors slam shut behind her, I pour myself yet another glass of bloodwine.

I’ve lived for thousands of years and had more lovers than I can remember. Kings, queens, witches, and mortals—some of whose names I’ve long forgotten.

But none of them ever brought me to my knees like Rhiannon Aurelian.

I have never wanted anyone as much as I want Rhiannon Aurelian.