To Bewitch a Devil

264 After what I’m about to tell you

The night at the cabin had been wonderfully simple, yet he felt he had ruined the beauty of it and it was only right to fix it. When he asked Azriel’s opinion, as they rode their horses side by side, Azriel stared off into space, thinking.

“I don’t know,” Azriel said. “Only thing I know women enjoy are new garments, flowers, shoes, and sweet words that make them melt faster than butter. Other than that, I really don’t know.”

“I am talking about the woman I love, not the ones you bed,” Zavian said. “It was my mistake to ask you in the first place.”

“Or I have so much more experience than you think,” Azriel grinned at Zavian’s jab. “Let’s start with your woman. What does she like?”

“She’s simple, and we both enjoy each other’s company,” Zavian answered.

“Then redo the whole cabin thing again, but someplace else,” Azriel suggested. “Go to Taos, it has beautiful scenery, so show her around, and at nights...,” he patted Zavian’s shoulder and winked. “...now if you want tips in that area, I would supply you a library of it.”

“Thanks for the generosity, but I must decline.” Zavian had said dryly.

So when they reached the gates, Zavian realized Azriel’s suggestion might not be bad at all. Taos was peaceful and welcoming, and Princess Zelda had been a very sweet demon during her stay in the palace. Zavian wondered if he had chosen her instead of Princess Jasmine back then. Would things have been different? Or would the same envy grow in Princess Zelda at watching him and Neera together that she would want Neera killed too?

He shook his head. Those thoughts were useless now. He should have only married Neera long ago, and now he has, and that was all he needed to look forward to.

.....

He felt Azriel tense next to him, and Zavian followed his gaze and saw Azriel’s hard eyes were on Penelope talking to one of the guards. The guard, a young demon of Pen’s height with hair the colour of roses and dandelions blended together, was even from their distance, obviously trying to flirt with Pen.

“Someone’s got your woman,” Zavian said.

“She’s not my woman,” Azriel stated in a declarative tone. And softly, and because Zavian was able to grab the words, he said, “At least she doesn’t want to be.”

“As free as a bird,” Zavian said. Both Penelope and the guard were so engrossed in their conversation that they didn’t even notice the two pairs of eyes on them, one amused, the other holding on to his temper.

“She could have anyone for all I care,” Azriel said.

Zavian raised his brow at that, but said nothing. The young guard reached for something in Penelope’s hair, and Azriel watched as the man used that opportunity to run his hand through Penelope’s dark hair, and then Azriel could see the past when Penelope was next to him on his bed when morning came, and she was asleep as he ran his hands through her silky hair.

He schooled all the self-control he had been taught as a soldier and calmed himself. Turning to Zavian, he said, “I’ll have to go back to my place. I have some things to see too.”

“Very well then.”

He rode his horse away, and Zavian saw Penelope look up then, her eyes trailing after him. Zavian made a promise to ask Azriel what was the problem between the two of them, but somehow he already knew, and he smiled at his friend’s ignorance.

The guard and Penelope bowed their heads to him, and Zavian rode past them, and as he dismounted his horse, eagerness filled his strides as he moved up to his chambers in search of Neera. On getting to the chambers, he met her there, back facing him as she stared out the window.

“Neera,” he called, and she turned. He walked to her and pressed a long kiss on her lips. “I have the perfect gift for us.”

“Zavian...”

“I can’t promise we would stay longer, but we would make the most of it,” Zavian said, excited. “We could go tomorrow to Taos, spend a few days, and be back...”

“Zavian...”

“No, wait, listen. It won’t disturb anything. There are no council meetings till next week. We would be fine. I’ll have the maids pack up everything right now...”

“Zavian...,” Neera grabbed his hand before he left the chambers.

“Neera,” he called. “You can’t talk me out of this one. We are going.” He smiled, watching her face, so glad was he at the moment, almost delusional that he was having her fully okay and by his side for good this time. One didn’t just get so lucky in a lifetime.

“No, Zavian, we are not.” Neera said, her head bowed.

“Yes, we are.”

“No,” she looked up, her eyes glimmering with unshed tears. “We aren’t going, after what I am going to tell you.”

“Neera?” An alarm rose in him. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s something I have to tell you, something I have been meaning to tell you for a long time.” She said.

“Is this about what we talked about? You don’t have to tell me anything you aren’t comfortable with Neera.” He assured her. “I love you, and I will always listen when you are sure you want...”

“But I am sure I want to say it right now, Zavian!” She snapped. She was exhausted, and he kept giving her time that she almost wanted to steal more of.

“Neera,” Zavian’s hands were on her arms, holding her in fear and comfort. “Okay, it’s fine. It’s fine. You can talk to me if that’s what you want. I’m here to listen like I promised, okay?”

“Zavian,” Neera wept, and if it weren’t for his hands holding her, she would have collapsed to the ground. He pulled her down with him to sit on the carpet, and when she could make out his face in the blurry view of her tears, she almost broke at the worry in his eyes.