But instead of reading a book or practicing some kind of secret hobby, he was sprawled across the bed, his pants pushed down to his thighs. One hand clutched a pillow to his face and the other…
She turned away, squeezing her eyes shut as if it could do anything to rid herself of that image or the heat that was now inching its way up her thighs. She clenched them together, hoping to stop the pulsing she felt there, but a low groan traveled from her ears straight to her sex.
“Fuck,”He hissed, his voice muffled by the pillow.
Despite her desire to flee, to dive back into her bed and hide from the present, Nymiria turned towards the door again.
She watched his hand move over his shaft, his piercings and the small bead of pre-ejaculate on the tip of it gleaming in the firelight. He pumped himself slowly, languidly, as if to prolong whatever it was he was thinking of. He was swearing, legs moving back and forth against the sheets, and his pace increased. Rougher, faster, each stroke making his body twitch with pleasure. But his words, whatever he was panting under his breath, was drowned out by the pillow he was now sinking his teeth into.
A loud knock sounded at the door in the dining room and Nymiria felt every ounce of blood, every shred of desire, drain from her body. Humiliation rose to claim her body, her eyes going wide as she silently searched for a place to hide. She glanced around the room, a scream lodging in her throat when she heard Aziel begin walking across the floor.
Another knock.
Hand clapped over her mouth, Nymiria did the best that she could with what she had and decided to hide behind the buffet that sat at an odd angle in the corner. The space behind it was large enough for her to fit behind. She climbed over the top, thighs skidding across the heavily shellacked and polished wood, before sinking into a low crouch on the other side. She nestled there, silently wishing she could simply just vanish into thin air.
By this point, Aziel was already exiting the sleeping chamber, the hurried rustle of his clothing signifying that he was still adjusting himself.
She should have just left. She should have turned and left the moment she thought about it, but no. Her curiosity always got the best of her. In the end, she’d say that Aziel probably wouldn’t have thought her to do any less, considering how they initially crossed paths all those months ago.
The door to his rooms opened and Aziel heaved a sigh. “What happened?” He asked, breathing still labored.
“Did I interrupt something?” Came the sound of Trio’s voice, twinkling with implications Nymiria would rather not entertain.
A pause. “No.” Clipped. Straight to the point.Lying.
“Well,” Trio sighed, the door clicking shut behind him. “I only assumed that since—”
“Why are you here? It’s nearly morning.”
“Can’t a friend visit another friend?”
“Not when thatfriendis supposed to be heading to the stronghold in the South Mists awaiting my father’s army.”
They were walking now. Despite Aziel’s seemingly harsh tone, Trio was unbothered. Anyone who knew Aziel would be unbothered, asbroodishwas his natural state of being. Nonetheless, Nymiria settled in further to her place behind the buffet, peering through the sliver of a crack in between the furniture piece and the wall.
Aziel was pouring himself a drink, and had already handed one to Trio.
Trio took a seat at the table, hesitant before he spoke. “That’s exactly why I am here.” He stated. “It was a trap. Dorid’s men were already there and had been for a while. And someone has beenhelpingthem, Az. They were glamoured to look like fucking trees. Popped up out of nowhere.” He shook his head and brought his glass up to his lips, hands trembling. “We lost ten.”
Aziel’s jaw locked, teeth grinding as he looked down at the glass in his hand and gave a solemn nod. He knew, Nymiria guessed. He knew before Trio even came that something had happened. Perhaps not the dirty details, but he knew that people had died.
“What do you suspect?” Aziel asked after a beat of silence.
Trio shrugged, his hand coming up to toy with the twisted lock of hair dangling at the side of his head, right above his burn scars. “The information Everand gave us today wasshit. And after your little pissing contest—”
“Pissingcontest? Please—”
“Should I call it a dick measuring contest, then?” Trio snapped. “Regardless, I feel like the two are directly related to one another. You showed your hand, he didn’t like it, and then we get fuckingblindsided.”
Behind the buffet, Nymiria pressed herself closer to the crack. Aziel was walking, leaning forwards against the table, his elbows rested against the top. He seemed to be at war with himself, a mix between anger and something he was reluctant to say.“We have to maintain this relationship. I don’t want to jump to conclusions based on one isolated incident. It could be someone else feeding Yaar information.”
Trio rolled his eyes dramatically. “Who would you suspect? Thorn?Me?Or was it you? Because we were the only three people also in attendance at that meeting.”
“You have a right to feel what you feel, Trio, but—”
“Butnothing. I’m giving him one more chance, Az.One.” He paused and then tossed back the remainder of his glass, not even flinching at the amount that he’d downed. “Mysisterwas on the front lines today.”
The god looked solemn, his face a mask of hard emotions. And then, as if he’d knownexactlywhere she was, Aziel’s eyes flickered in her direction and then narrowed. “I might know someone who could spy for us.” He suggested, his mouth curving into a smug grin as he turned his body to face her. Nymiria’s heart was in her throat, her hand covering her mouth as she pushed herself as far back into the corner as she could get. “I’ve come to learn that it is one of hermanytalents.”
