Page 215 of A Dance of Water

Luella’s lips parted.

Az gritted his teeth. He knew it would be like this. Cold. Cruel. Tradition over mercy, over her feelings. But that knowing didn’t make the sting in his chest go away as she shrank back from him, ever so slightly.

Az gentled his tone, fingers spanning over her cheeks. "I will be right by your side, Lu."

He caught the exact moment she realized what he meant. The way her blue eyes grew impossibly wider, the slight hitch of her breath. She tilted her head against his palm, a hand coming up to hold his wrist.

"I don’t expect you to do that for me," she whispered.

And even with the eyes around, his words were for only the two of them.

"I know you don’t, angel," he said. "And that makes me want to do it even more."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, ignoring Tharen’s derisive snort at the weakness. In this one thing, Az prevailed—he had her trust. The same couldn’t be said for the rest of them.

Perhaps Bastian, however.

Silent, Luella stared up at Az. She searched his eyes, and he tried so desperately to imbue every bit of adoration he felt for her inside his gaze. Slowly, he gave a soft nod in reassurance.

Her chin dipped in understanding. She would be forced to endure this trial, but at least she would have him by her side. No matter what.

Always.

"Enough!" Vale proclaimed, voice hard. The King had mounted his steed while Az had been entranced by Luella’s mere presence. "We are wasting time standing here." His green eyes flicked up to the sky, at the barest hints of dawn light that grew increasingly pronounced with every passing moment. "Dawn beckons. As do the Temples of Aedis. Luella," he addressed, "you are to walk alongside us. I cannot stop Azgorath from accompanying you, but do not think he can offer any aid. You are on your own."

Luella looked away from Az, her features twisting as if she were in pain as she pulled herself from him, standing alone. Her eyes were glassy, holding back tears that never fell.

His Vincire turned to the King, and the change that overtook her was so small, so slight, that Az wondered if it even happened.

But no. He couldn’t miss the way her shoulders rolled back or the tenseness of her jaw. Or even the sad set of her brow.

Her voice was utterly soft, but lined with quiet perseverance, as she whispered:

"I know. Nothing has changed for me. I have always been alone." She met each of their eyes under the cloud-covered sky. "But this time, I have an audience."

The town center of Serpentis was but a pinprick in the distance.

Every step was shadowed in darkness. The roiling clouds overhead had only grown darker, thicker, as the day wore on.

Hooves clopped over the broken, unregulated cobblestone path. Jagged pieces of rock stuck up at odd intervals, and Az had to maneuver it with care, his large legs allowing him to step over the ruts and dips in the road with ease.

His angel was not so blessed.

Luella’s gait was disjointed as she walked alongside him, and he had to force himself to slow so she could keep up.

Az watched her closely, memorizing every falter in her stride. She hadn’t spoken in hours, but her body spoke in winces and grimaces, flinching every time her booted feet struck the ground.

The winter air was frigid and charged. Even a hot-blooded demon such as himself couldn’t help the occasional shiver. Luella wasn’t allowed a cloak, and her nose was tipped in red from the cold, her fingers gripping her sleeves to keep her hands in a semblance of warmth.

His every instinct roared that he help her. Bundle her up in his large, warm shirt—carry her, even. But thiswashelping her.

Ahead, King Vale sat upon his regal steed—no crown, no golden cape. He looked just like the rest of them, but Az knew that was a fucking lie. Sat atop his high horse like some prideful ruler, he could fool no one.

The demon seethed, fingers clenching athis side.

Graves trotted alongside Vale. And Az didn’t miss the way the male kept glancing back at them, his deep blue eyes peeking out from the shadows of his hood and cowl. His head constantly roved, searching the skies, scouring the dips and hills ahead. They passed the mountain ranges, circumventing the harrowing terrain for as long as they were able, until eventually, they would be forced to traverse up the steep inclines to reach the Temples. But that would behoursfrom now. So in the meantime, they were at least granted a relatively flat and open expanse.

Az wondered if the route was intentional... Easier for her, and easier to see.

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