Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

AZIEL

It took a second for my mind to focus. That release was so intense, I couldn't think enough to get my body to move. But I did need to get moving. I did what Athena said. I let Declan dominate me. That had to be enough.

He had been catching his breath, his hand planted on the mattress to keep him off my back, when he finally spoke.

"Well, that was fun."

I grunted, pushing myself up once he moved away. He sat back, his breathing still stilted, studying me as I sat on the edge of the bed.

"If you give me a few minutes, we can go again."

It pissed me off that my immediate thought was yes. I told myself I wasn't going to do that again. It didn't matter how good it felt. I grabbed my clothes off the floor, masking the want coursing through my system.

"I'm good. I gotta get back."

"Ah. Probably don't want to keep the babysitter waiting. I get that."

It was a convenient excuse, and I bobbed my head in agreement. No point in pissing him off by saying I wasn't interested in more. It'd be a lie anyway. I just didn't want to say that out loud. I tied my boots, tugged my shirt over my head, and stood. Declan dragged on his sweats, but otherwise didn't bother to get dressed. He followed me to the back door, shirtless and too damn good looking for his own good.

This was the part I was unfamiliar with. I didn't do hookups or relationships. The few times I slept with people, it was transactional. They wanted to hook up with a demon, I wanted to get off. And once we were through, they left me alone. But Dante still needed to hang out with Ollie for information. I had to see Declan again. And I didn't know what the hell to say to him.

"Change your mind?" he teased. When I turned to face him, he was leaning against the door jamb, his arms and ankles crossed and a smug look on his face. That look made me want to pummel him and kiss him at the same damn time. It was annoying. I chose to ignore it instead.

"No. But I don't want things to be awkward. Dante likes playing with Ollie. He'd hate me if I ruined that for him."

Declan's smirk softened a little. "Don't worry. It won't be awkward. We're both adults. It's not like we promised each other marriage. We got off together. That's it. The boys can still play."

The fact that he wasn't demanding more from me was refreshing. I worried when I gave in to him, that he'd see himself as above me and demand obedience or something stupid. I'd have to hurt him if he did. But what we did in the bedroom didn't seem to extend outside of it.

"If I know Dante, he'll be up my ass to see Ollie again tomorrow."

Declan huffed out a laugh. "Guess I'll see you tomorrow, then. Ollie will be here a little before lunch."

Nodding, I spread my wings and, without another word, launched myself into the air. I hovered until he closed his door and I heard the lock click into place before heading for Athena's place. Dante could take care of himself for a few hours and normally I would've just left him alone. I left Dante with her tonight because I wanted to see her once I was through, to make sure this stupid vision was done.

When I landed on her front walkway, though, she was waiting for me. She had a deep frown on her face and she beckoned me closer before I could even fold my wings again.

"You need to go back."

"What? Why? "

"They followed Dante here. They could've followed you there. Go back and protect him."

Stunned, I looked around. "How–"

She made an irritated sound, waving me away with a shooing motion. "There's no time for that. They won't attack in daylight, not without catching attention from the council. Stay there until daybreak and then come back here. Go!"

With a frustrated growl, I teleported back to Declan's place. Sure enough, one of my uncle's soldiers was casing the place. He startled hard when I landed behind him.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?"

Pulling himself together, he sneered at me. I didn't know his name, but I didn't really care to. Not all the soldiers who worked for my uncle were blood relations. No one cared if I remembered their names. "I could ask the same thing of you. Wait until Lord Camus hears about you hooking up with humans. He'll have your head for sure this time."

Lord Camus. What a fucking ridiculous title. He was lord of nothing. He just liked to make himself sound important to his peons.

The little soldier made a mistake coming here. I might not fight humans, but I had no issue fighting other demons. I didn't want my uncle to know about what happened with me and Declan. And I had no problem making sure that secret never got out.

Pulling a packet out of my pocket, I tossed it at him. "Catch."

He missed, and the packet bounced off his chest, powder exploding all over him. He looked stunned, shooting me an incredulous look. "What the fuck was that?"

"Teleportation blocker. Didn't want you running off before I could deal with you. I wonder if my uncle will notice one missing pawn?"

The lower ranks underestimated me a lot because of the way my uncle treated me. They thought I was a pushover who couldn't fight. This one wasn't the first to find out how wrong that was.

By the time the sun crested over the horizon, I was exhausted. I stayed on the roof of Declan's place, watching over him, until I was sure no one else would come. The little shit I dealt with last night didn't get a chance to report to anyone else, at least according to what he told me. No one else knew about Declan, aside from him being related to Dante getting information. And I was going to keep it that way, even if I had to sit up here every night.

Hopefully, it wouldn't come to that. Athena's vision said if I submitted, that I'd finally be free. I did that. Protecting Declan afterwards was a kindness, because I didn't want him hurt being involved with me. The sun was up, Athena said they wouldn't come in broad daylight, and I could distance myself from him to keep him safe. Only Dante needed to stay close. I could drop him off with Ollie so he could continue to get information and stay the hell away from Declan.

I headed back to Athena's place once the sun had fully risen. I was too tired to fly, so I teleported to her front door and pushed inside, joining her and Dante in the kitchen. Athena was making breakfast with Dante on hand to help her. I remembered a time when I did the same exact thing. She was the reason I knew how to feed myself.

"How did it go?"

"You were right. A street soldier was poking around when I got back. No one else came the rest of the night."

Her wrinkled skin made her frown more pronounced, and she flicked her gaze to Dante and back to me.

"Dante, dear. I need to go to the farmer's market this morning. You will join me. Do me a favor and go into the back garden. The crows should have left me some new bones. I'll need them. They like to scatter them instead of leaving them in a convenient pile, so you'll have to search a bit." She rolled her eyes at me. "To get me to exercise, according to Vivi, the last time she visited."

Dante looked suspicious. He was old enough now to know he was being sent away to stay out of the conversation. He didn't argue, though. We both waited a few minutes, I heard the back door open and shut, and I opened my mouth to speak, but Athena put her boney finger up.

"You're not clever, boy. Your cousin used to do the same thing when he was being nosy. Go outside until I say otherwise."

I heard Dante huff from the hallway. He stomped off and this time, the back door slammed loudly as he did as he was told. Athena shook her head .

"Children. Always think they're the smartest people in the room." Her eyes turned to me. "You're sure he was the only one?"

"As sure as I can be. It didn't take much to get him to talk. He was going to take Declan and bring him to Camus when he reported me, so my uncle could punish me by hurting Declan. He hadn't reported it yet."

She hummed, stirring the food in the pan. "You'll have to be more careful in the future, then. I doubt he'll be the last soldier sent to watch you."

I frowned. "What are you talking about? I did what you said. I fulfilled the vision. I don't need to see him again."

She shot me an irritated look, turning off the burner on the stove. "No, you did not. If you did, you would be there with him and not here with me."

"What the hell are you talking about? You said submit to the white tiger! I did that!"

The room grew darker, like the clouds had passed in front of the sun. That wasn't what was happening, I could see the sunny backyard through the window. It was Athena losing her patience that made the room tremble and the air grow cold. I'd seen her get angry only once in my life, when my uncle showed up on her doorstep demanding she hand me over after my parents tried to leave the family. She refused, and when he attempted to take me from her, the amount of psychic energy that overtook the yard was terrifying. She blasted Camus with it, sending him sailing off her property, and she said if he ever came back, she'd tear the fabric of his future apart. She couldn't protect me forever, but if he had gotten to me that night, no doubt he would've used me to punish my father the same way he used my mother.

"Lower your voice," she demanded.

Fury and confusion swelled in my chest, but I knew better than to challenge her. She helped raise me and I knew she cared for me, but she wouldn't hesitate to put me in my place. There was a reason I respected her so much.

"I'm sorry. I just thought–"

Her magic pulled back slowly, and the temperature of the room went back to normal. I fought the urge to shake the chill from my skin.

"I know very well what you thought. I told you to submit to the white tiger to earn your freedom. I never said anything about sex."

My mouth fell open. "What did you mean, then?"

Making a tsk sound, she turned back to the food, lighting the burner again to rewarm it. "I meant what I meant. You have been fighting your whole life, Azzy. It's time to let someone else care for you. The white tiger will give you what you need. And not just in the bedroom."

Horror slammed into my gut, and I launched to my feet. "Hold on. You're saying I need to– Are you insane? Just one night with him almost got him killed! I'm not risking his life to save mine!"

"His future and yours were always intertwined. Such is the way of mates, dear one. You would have found each other eventually. As I said before, he is stronger than he looks. If you want to be free of your uncle's control, then the white tiger is your salvation."

Mates. No. I couldn't mate. Not with a human and not with anyone else. It wouldn't help me be free of my uncle. It would give him leverage against me. He'd use my mate to force me to do his bidding. I never wanted a mate.

"I've known you a long time, Athena. I never thought you'd be cruel."

She frowned, turning to face me again. "What are you talking about?"

"You know what would happen if I mated. You know what my uncle would do. He'd use my mate against me to force me to hurt people. I'd never sign someone up for that kind of life. You were wrong to push me towards something I couldn't have. It's cruel."

Her expression softened, and she puttered closer, urging me with her hand on my arm to sit back down. Even sitting, I was taller than her, but she didn't ever seem to mind. She cupped my cheeks in her hands, leveling me with a look.

"You listen here, Aziel Shadowwalker. Your happiness has always been my greatest concern. I cannot tell you all I've seen. It would change the outcome. Just know, every guidance I've given you is leading to your happiness. I would not tease you with something you couldn't have."

A deep, painful longing twisted in my chest. I wanted to believe her, to know that my future wasn't filled with pain and premature death. But I was too afraid to hope.

"I don't want my happiness if it destroys his. I won't be like my uncle."

"I know. "

She didn't change her mind or give me another path. She just held my face and looked at me with love and compassion. She was the only person who ever did.

I relented. "Can you promise me this won't end up killing him or his family? I'd rather spend the rest of my life running if it does."

"I can't promise much. The future is ever changing, you know this. But I can promise that he will be unharmed. You have people, Aziel. Rely on them to protect your mate. Only together can you succeed."