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"He's a bastard," Maia snarled, loud enough that Bryon stopped at the head of their group and they all ground to a halt a few paces away. "He needs—"
Az grabbed her close and cut off her words with a kiss, swallowing the pulse of magic on the tip of her tongue and ignoring her irritated push on his chest. She was getting out of control again, and she'd regret whatever she did with her snaresong. He'd called her a monster once, but none of this was her fault; this was all because her aunt had tortured her with iron.
Her patience snapped and Maia shoved Azrail away, her brow knitted in anger and her mood still sharp enough to cut. She took a step—and Kheir caught her, the bronze prince spinning her towards him and kissing her in the same movement. Impressive, Az noted sourly. He wasn't above petty jealousy, even if he knew Maia's volatility required more than one mate to soothe.
"I'll just—wait over here," Bryon muttered, his voice as low as thunder. Az frowned when he stalked behind a tree, something in his voice ... off. He couldn't place the emotion, his voice too deep.
"I know what you're doing," Maia muttered, pushing at Kheir's chest. The bag fell off her shoulder and she just left it there, scowling.
"Good," he replied with a broad smile, tucking a lock of silver-blonde hair behind her ear.
Az watched with equal worry and amusement as she twisted away from Kheir and was instantly caught by Jaromir who kissed her with a rush of passion.
It was strange to watch his friend like this, stranger still when they were all naked with Maia. Azrail … didn’t know how to feel, what to think. What he was allowed to think.
He scratched the back of his neck, watching from the corner of his eye.
The forest was deadly quiet around them, making Maia's throaty noise of complaint loud as Jaro tilted her face and kissed her deeper. The angry pulse of magic around her was fading, the hairs no longer standing on the back of Azrail’s neck. She'd come too close to commanding Bryon the way she'd taken control of Zamanya in the courtyard. Bryon would have never forgiven her, might have even stormed away before he could show them where he'd tracked Vawn to, and this whole trip would be pointless.
"Bastards," Maia growled softly when Jaro released her. She was already reaching for Ark, a barely-repressed smile on the palace guard's face as he snaked an arm around her waist and tugged her close.
He looked so different out of his uniform, more like an everyday civilian, but there could be no missing his training in the way he stood, the way he handled himself and moved. Azrail was glad he was here; no one would protect Maia better than a trained guard.
Azrail watched them kiss, relieved to feel nothing but mild jealousy.
"I'm annoyed that worked," Maia muttered when they broke apart. She transferred her glare between all of them, golden eyes narrowing dangerously when they landed on Azrail. "How did you know it would?"
Az shrugged, the pack on his shoulder bumping his back. "Just a hunch."
In truth, he hadn't known itwouldwork. He realised a beat too late that his expression had made that very clear when Maia's nostrils flared and she stalked across the dense forest path towards him.
"I could have doneanythingto you, you stupid bastard," she snarled, and then stunned him with a fierce hug. "You've gotta stop with this self-sacrificing shit, Az," she said just for him.
"I'll contemplate it," he lied. He couldn't handle his friends and family suffering; it was more bearable for him to take it on himself.
Maia saw right through his bullshit and shoved his shoulder, kissing the edge of his jaw in the next moment. "I know you're used to taking care of everyone else, and not giving a shit about yourself, but you're making my job difficult, Azrail Plunaron."
A little thrill went through him at his name on her tongue. "Your job?"
"Yeah," she said slowly, as if he was an idiot. "As your mate."
Claiming after claiming—Maia would never let him forget that he was hers. His heart thumped, his expression becoming very soft. Maia made a sound in the back of her throat and glanced away. "Don't do it again."
"No promises, sweetheart. I'm afraid I'm too addicted to your kisses to care about the risk."
She scowled, but her cheeks tinged pink. "Pretty words. Now shut up, we need to find our moody guide and get the hell out of this forest. It's too quiet; it's making my skin crawl."
"And mine," Kheir agreed, casting a wary glance at the trees around them. "How old is this forest?"
"Ancient," Azrail replied, grabbing Maia's bag and shouldering it alongside his own. Maia gave him a strange look, her soul going very still and very hot where it joined with his volatile smoke. "What?"
Maia shook her head, her eyes focusing with a blink. "Nothing. So—old forest, scary silence."
Kheir snorted as they set off walking again, the only sound their crunching footsteps. "I think she's enjoying your show of strength," he said out of the corner of his mouth, earning a dark scowl from their mate.
Her cheeks were now bright red. Adorable.
"Is that so?" Azrail asked slowly, giving her a long, sultry look.
