The offer was kind, but Luella hated to show such weakness in front of someone she did not trust fully. But did that mean shetrusted the others? That made Luella pause. "Thank you, Sorill, for your kindness. I will think about it."
The Queen cleared her throat. "I am truly glad you are here, safe, Princess Luella. As much as I wish I’d come only to see you well, there is another reason…"
"Mother?" Graves prodded.
Vale moved to lean by the wall, arms crossed, green eyes burning. But the line of his shoulders wasn’t as taut as it had been before they had spoken.
"Opulus sent me at the behest of… Azgorath, your demon friend," the Queen shared.
And just like that, the tension returned, and Luella recalled that anger burning inside her—not her own. It had since abated, but that made her question the source.
WherewasAz? She hadn’t seen him in the few hours since Graves had brought her back.
She sat up, dislodging Tharen’s hands. She felt his fingertips skim the curve of her backside, hidden by her wings. She shivered. "What? What is it? Is Az alright?"
"He’s fine, lamb," Tharen grumbled from behind her.
"Then"—she looked to Vale and Graves, craning her head to meet Tharen’s guarded eyes—"what are you not telling me?" Because something was being hidden from her.
"We have been… questioning the Fallen who took you," Vale announced, eyes drifting to Luella, then Sorill at her side.
Luella understood what he didn’t say.Torture. "Oh," she said. "And?"
Was it terrible of her that she did not feel disgust?
He swallowed, lips twitching with a snarl. His lids drifted shut, but not before she saw the slits of his pupils.
His dragon.
Luella stood slowly, walking to Vale. When she was before him, she hesitantly touched his clenched fists, her fingers easingsome of the tension in his knuckles. His eyes shot open, the slits turning to normal the longer he stared.
They weren’t alone, but she so wished they were.
Vale’s hand fell to her shoulder, just brushing the feathers of her wings. Some intrinsic piece of her, connected to the wings, fluttered at his touch, while a different part of her wished to cower back. She was a mess. The feathers were covered in matted blood.
It was as if she wanted topreenfor him.
She eyed his hand and the edges of her wings, shrinking back, throat closing up. What was wrong with her? Torture suddenly did not unsettle her, yet unclean wingsdid?
"Why don’t you get cleaned up?" Graves spoke up, as if he sensed her turmoil. "We’ll talk later."
Bathing with Az was an act Luella was coming to treasure.
The Queen and Princess Sorill had left, both wishing Luella well, then her demon had come to her, pressing a kiss to her crown. After Vale had helped her to the bath, Az had taken over, pulling the curtain snug; though, that did not do much to block out the sounds of their voices from beyond.
Hushed murmurs and furious whispers drifted through the trickle in the bathing pool, along with Az’s gentle words as he helped her slip her gown off. She stood nude, and her body listed to the side in weariness. He picked her up, cradling her against his bare chest like a babe as her arms wrapped around his neck, cheek resting against his hot chest.
Carefully, he entered the water with her in his arms, sitting with her still bundled on his lap. The material of his thin breeches grew soaked, and she felt his hardness poke against herbackside where she rested against him, sending a flushed chill throughout her tired body.
It was only after her wings were once more pure and clean that she realized she no longer became paralyzed in the water. The gentle ripples were soothing to her, as was the heat, as Az dunked a small stone cup beneath the surface, pouring it over her wings. She felt the water’s warmth in her very soul.
Az rewarded her bravery with soft words of praise, his large fingers delving into the slick warmth between her thighs. Her body fell apart easily.
Holding her against his chest, he pressed wet, messy kisses to her lips and face. Tired exhalations puffed into the crook of his neck as he rubbed over that spot at the apex of her thighs, thumb circling while his other hand dipped lower and teased her entrance—a place that had remained untouched… so far.
She shifted her hips, curious of what his fingers might feel like there,insideher, but he distracted her with firm pressure as he stroked that mind-numbing spot, and she soon forgot all about her musings.
When her sweet little puffs of air grew louder and her body spasmed, clenching around nothing, he kissed her brow and murmured gentle words.
