Chapter 57

" Well if that's the case then we should warn the king of Greyden. We might not be on the best if terms but it's the noble thing to do. "

" No need, I already did. "

Nuriel gave a subtle smile and nodded. But the fact that the witches were proclaiming war on Greyden could mean that they planned to do the same with Zalian. The last thing the kingdom needed was another threat. 

" But I thought that Greyden was spell proof. " 

That meant that magic and anything related to it was not allowed and could not be performed in the land. It was said that witches automatically lost their power once they crossed the border to the kingdom. 

" I thought so as well, but the way they were talking, they sounded sure of their victory. " Nuriel watched as Bastian took a step to the right. Then he stood and turned back to him. 

" She will do it whether she likes it or not. " the raven winged angel then said and Nuriel seemed confused. 

" What?.. who are you referring to? "

" I have no clue Sire. I overheard Raza, Umallen's queen say that to her mate at the end of one meeting. It was after the king asked whether the SHE in question was willing to cooperate, "

This was all very confusing to Nuriel. And Bastian unfortunately did not have the answer to that. Whoever the female being discussed was he didn't know. But it meant that whoever was terrorising Zalian was not from Umallen. And that meant that their only possible explanation was wrong. 

" Have there been more killings since I left? " Bastian asked and Nuriel told him about Florence. And despite the fact that the angel showed utterly no reaction to the news, Nuriel knew that he was just as angry and affected as the rest of them. 

" Thank-you for the information Bastian. "

" You're welcome Sire. I shall take my leave now. " 

Nuriel watched as the angel walked towards the exit. But then he called out his name before he walked out. Bastian stopped and turned to look at him, waiting to hear what he had to say. 

" You should go and inform Drexel of your return, he has been very worried about you. " 

In the second that followed, Nuriel saw a flicker of emotion pass over Bastian's usually collected features. It disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared, but he had seen it. Though he couldn't quite name exactly what it was. The relationship between Bastian and his cousin was a perplexed one that no one actually understood. And the most shocking thing was that none of the council members had known of the blood relationship between those two until about five years after they had all met. 

Bastian gave a curt nod before he left. And when Nuriel went and looked outside the door, the angel was nowhere in sight. 

He sighed and went back inside. Now it was time for him to go back to facing his demons. Because they insisted on being heard and no matter what he did, they never left.

                                🌼💮🌼💮🌼💮

It was dawn by the time Nuriel decided to head back to his chambers. The warriors were just beginning to wake up and the staff were already busy getting started with their duties. He acknowledged those who greeted him. 

He felt much better than he had the previous night and he hoped that the few hours of sleep he had had before waking up would be enough to last him a few more days. A week if he was lucky. 

Once he got to his chambers, he tried to be as silent as he could. He had already woken Flame up once and he did not wish to disturb her again. He walked past the nourishment chamber and living space and into the bedroom. 

And there she was. Seated up in the bed with that familiar far away look in her beautiful eyes. 

" M'eudail? " he called out as he approached. She turned to him, quickly tucking strands of her hair behind her ear. Then she crossed her legs and waited for him to sit down next to her. 

" Why are you up so early? " he wondered whether she still wasn't feeling well, but then he looked at her eyes and the realisation sank in. 

" You never went back to sleep, did you? "

She didn't answer. Just sat there with her head hung, looking troubled and confused. 

" I was waiting for you to come back.....but you never did. " she said the last part in a low voice. And he felt the pain she had tried to dilute out of the statement. 

" Is anything the matter?... tell me, don't you feel well? "

Shaking her head, she sighed defeatedly. Then she began playing with the fabric of the covers while avoiding his eyes. 

" Can I ask you something? "

" Of course you can. You know that you can ask me anything you wish. "

She looked up at him then. A half hopeful, half worried look masking her features. Then she reached over and took his hand in hers. Her hand was warm and as soft as it always was. And even though she looked tired, he still thought of her as the loveliest female he had ever seen. 

" What were you dreaming about last night? You kept saying 'go back ' . Who were you talking to? " 

Nuriel had known that she would eventually ask him about that but he had hoped that maybe by luck she would forget about it all and simply let it be. He loved her, but that was not a subject he was planning to ever discuss. The only person he had confessed his guilt to was Victor. And that's only because the angel was going through the same exact thing and Nuriel knew that he would understand. 

So with as much care and affection as he could, he traced the back of his free hand across the side of her face. 

" It was nothing, just forget about it. "

" I know that's not true, come on angel, just tell me and maybe I can help - "

" No! " he sternly said. Cutting her off and making her jump. He regretted doing so immediately after. 

" Flame..." he began but she simply moved to the other side of the bed and sank into the covers. Bringing the blankets over her face. Then she removed them and turned to him. A glare on her face. 

" I wish I never told you anything about me! What's the point of all this if you can't even trust enough to let me to help you! " she angrily snapped before covering herself up again. Nuriel was left dumbfounded and feeling even more guilty than he had initially. The last thing he had wanted was to hurt her. But he wondered what she would think if he told her. Victor had tried convincing him that he was not at fault. But Nuriel knew that was simply because the angel held himself accountable. 

And the last thing he wanted was for Flame to view him as weak. Which had already happened once last night. He just couldn't do it. And he also couldn't stand knowing that she was upset with him. 

" M'eudail? " he called out but she ignored him. He reached over and tapped her but she still wouldn't look at him..So he stood and walked to the other side of the bed, going down on one knee next to her. 

" Please talk to me, "

" Leave me alone! " he heard her mumbled response. So he held the covers and tried pulling them down and uncovering her face. She put up quite a fight, but he eventually succeeded. Though immediately after, she rolled over to the other side of the bed and got off. Heading straight for the washroom. He followed closely behind her, then he settled himself in front of her and against the door with his wings spread.

She grunted, then quickly turned and headed to the walk in closet. 

He held her hand and pulled her back to him just in time. 

" Stop bothering me! And unless you're planning to tell me what's wrong then don't even talk to me. "

" You can't be serious. "

" You really think I'm joking? "

Nuriel tightened the grip on her arm when she attempted to yank it away. Then he wrapped his other arm around her and pulled her even closer to him despite her reluctance to let him do so. 

" Try to understand, " he began. Looking at her until she gave up and returned the gaze. And when she did he noted that she was more hurt than she was upset. It was understandable. He had basically blackmailed her into talking him all about her past. And she had done so despite the many negative feelings it arose in her. Yet he refused to tell her just one thing that she could tell disturbed him. 

" Understand what exactly?... " she sighed, " Okay then, I know that maybe you don't want to talk because you don't feel ready. But what if I give you some time?.... will you promise to tell me then? "