Chapter 73: _Questions He Can’t Answer
Azrael’s POV
*****
6:30pm, Blood Oak Academy.
A sudden shift in the atmosphere made him raise his head from the glass of wine he turned for himself.
For some minutes now thunderclouds had been gathering with no signs of rain. The storm’s epicentre was right above the Crimson Expanse—which made him pause. And watch.
"What is happening back there?" He whispered, staring into the evening sky while taking a sip from his wine.
Why was he back here? Simple.
He had no business watching the Blood Trials. He shouldn’t even be in this hell-forsaken academy, intermingling with mortal adolescents anyway.
And most of all... He couldn’t bear being around her. Not after the High One’s psychic warning earlier today.
Telling him he’s straying from his purpose has to be the biggest insult he’s heard in his immortal life. For centuries he’s given up loyalty. Emotions. Time. His everything, all to serve the High One.
Never has he failed. Never has he lost focus on a mission or let flimsy feelings get in the way—
—Until now.
Perhaps the High One was right. Maybe he was letting himself get too entangled with this... Mate bond. A dangerous affair for something he still didn’t understand.
"Celeste," he mumbled, smacking his lips. Wishing the wine that painted his them—was hers. "You have no idea what you’ve done to me."
History was repeating itself in the most twisted way.
Caring for another never ended well for vampires.
Heaving a silent breath, he spun away from the window, eyes wandering to his living room door. He lumbered forward, lifting his glass for another satisfying sip.
However, a dangerous thrill curling through him made him stop.
An ache numbed his jaw and teeth. Right at the spot where his fangs usually sprout out.
He blinked, brows furrowing as the feeling heightened until it was all that ran his instincts. His eyes tightened on the pinkish-red liquid swirling around the glass.
Slowly, it seemed to change under the room’s darkness, turning into a darker shade until it resembled something he had no business seeing right now.
Blood.
Without thinking, Azrael swung the glass to the ground with a violent crash. "Bloody hell!" He roared, stumbling back a few steps. "This... The bond..."
The ache in his jaw worsened until he couldn’t bear it anymore.
Magic flowed through the bond, hitting him in ways no witch has. Ever.
And it wasn’t just any magic either.
"What is happening to you, Celeste?" He gripped a wooden chair close to his study table, vision hazy. "What is happening to me?"
Questions he couldn’t answer unless he went to the Expanse.
But she should be in the middle of the Hybrid trial by now. This shouldn’t be happening.
Desperate, he grabbed his silver ring, index finger sweeping over the blood red sigil. "I stand here with my object of office. I call on you—Amunira. Daughter of the sunless night!" He spouted too quickly.
Wind blew open his balcony doors, the thunder above rumbling louder.
"This is turning into a habit, Azzy." That sly voice made him snap his neck to the balcony.
A shadow stretched from it, drifting into his room until a humanoid figure walked out.
Lush black hair. Long, slender legs and golden brown skin, all veiled by a silk handless black dress.
Her eyes glowed, fiery gold and fierce. "What is it now? Locusts? Armageddon? Or..." She took provocative steps forward. "Does it have to do with your little pet again?"
His fangs itched when she referred to Celeste "pet". But he bore it, placing a hand over his mouth. "Thread carefully, Amunira."
"Really?" Her brows lifted, unimpressed. "YOU summoned me here. If you don’t have anything important, I guess I should be on my—"
A thunder clap followed by a flash of white light cut her short. She frowned, turning until she faced the cloudy sky. "Well, that’s new. Thor pay you guys a visit or something?"
He ignored the sarcasm, trudging to her side. "That’s why I summoned you. Celeste is currently engaged in an academy competition and... Her magic..."
More lightning fell like whips, each seeming like it would touch the earth if given enough push.
Amunira’s expression darkened. "All this magic... Is Celeste? The same wolfless, nigh magicless hybrid?"
Azrael grunted, brushing past her. "Yes," he stepped onto the balcony, placing his hands on the rails. "Since that night at the memorial, she’s been undergoing subtle changes." His voice rose as he lifted his eyes to the clouds. "And then... The night I bit her—"
"Excuse me?!" Amunira shrilled. "You did WHAT, Azrael?"
Keeping that to himself all this while had been his original plan. But sharing it with a fellow vampire—especially Amunira—felt like the best option.
If he didn’t want to lose himself.
"I lost control during a kiss," he explained, images flashing through his head. "I didn’t mean to. I’d never."
Hasty footsteps bolted to him until she stood to his left. "Azzy, you more than anyone should know the risks of biting someone you’re emotionally entangled with. I know I joked about it but... You actually doing it?"
She placed a hand on her cheek, head shaking. "This is bad. Now I’m not sure about anything. Most of this is still crazy to me," a pause. "Have you noticed anything different about yourself? About the bond?"
Azrael’s jaw tightened.
Hours ago the High One asked a similar question. He gave a negative response.
Now—
"I..." He stuttered, words failing him for the first time in ages. "She’s been—"
A sound reverberating through the thunderstorm made him stop. It wasn’t just "a" sound too.
Tens or hundreds of growls, snarls and roars boomed in a dreadful cacophony. His vampire hearing made it easy to trace where they were all coming from.
"The Crimson Expanse..." His grip tightened on the railing as Amunira frowned at him.
"What are you even—" she tried speaking when he turned his neck to her, hand finding his sunglasses.
He put them on, posture straightening. "I must go. Something’s happening at the Blood Trials." Before he jumped off the balcony, he gave her one last look. "Do not tell the High One what I’ve told you. I’ll do it myself."
With that, he leapt into the night, shadows swallowing him.
Then—he vanished.
