Isla's POV

The weight of Velaris pressed against me, invisible yet suffocating.

It wasn't the city itself—Velaris was beautiful, a sanctuary carved out of light and dreams. It was the expectations, the constant reminder that I was living in a world far beyond my own. Powers I didn't understand coursed through me, untamed and unpredictable. Most days, I felt like a child stumbling through the dark, reaching for something solid but finding only shadows.

And yet, it was the shadows that seemed to understand me the most.

Azriel's shadows had become a constant presence in my life. They moved around me like silent sentinels, their dark tendrils curling in ways that felt almost... affectionate. They offered a solace I didn't think I deserved, a quiet reminder that I wasn't as alone as I felt.

But Azriel himself—he was another story.

I found him in the training yard one morning, his back to me as he worked through a series of precise movements with his blades. His wings flared slightly with each strike, the muscles in his back rippling under the soft light of dawn.

For a moment, I simply watched him, my heart pounding in a way that had nothing to do with fear.

"Are you going to stand there all morning?" His voice was low, tinged with the faintest hint of amusement.

I flushed, stepping into the open. "I didn't want to interrupt."

Azriel lowered his blades, turning to face me. His expression was unreadable, as always, but his shadows stirred at the edges of his form, shifting like they were pleased to see me.

"You're up early," he said, his tone neutral.

I shrugged, wrapping my arms around myself. "Couldn't sleep."

He nodded, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer than necessary. Then, without a word, he gestured for me to join him.

Training with Azriel was... intense. He didn't coddle me, didn't treat me like the fragile mortal everyone else seemed to see. He pushed me, challenging me to face my fears and my limits.

But today, I wasn't up for it.

Halfway through our session, I dropped to the ground, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. "I can't," I said, my voice cracking.

Azriel stood over me, his brow furrowed. "You're stronger than this, Isla."

"Am I?" The words came out harsher than I intended, but I didn't care. "Because I don't feel strong. I feel lost. Like I don't belong here. Like I'm drowning."

For a moment, Azriel said nothing. Then, slowly, he crouched down in front of me, his shadows curling around us like a protective cocoon.

"You're not drowning," he said softly. "You're learning how to swim."

The words hit me harder than I expected, and before I could stop myself, tears filled my eyes.

"I don't know if I can do this," I whispered.

Azriel didn't respond, but his shadows moved closer, brushing against my skin like a gentle caress. I closed my eyes, letting the sensation wash over me. It was like being held, like being wrapped in a warmth I hadn't realized I needed.

For the first time in weeks, I felt safe.

But when I opened my eyes, Azriel was gone.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

That night, I couldn't stop thinking about him. About the way his shadows had comforted me, the way they seemed to know exactly what I needed.

It wasn't just the shadows, though. It was Azriel himself. He was distant, yes, but there was a depth to him that I couldn't ignore. A quiet strength that drew me in, even when he tried to push me away.

I found him in the library later, sitting alone at a table with a book in his hands. His shadows were restless, shifting and curling around him like they couldn't decide whether to settle or flee.

"Am I interrupting?" I asked, hesitating at the edge of the room.

Azriel looked up, his expression guarded. "No."

I took a deep breath, crossing the room to sit across from him. "Thank you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"For what?"

"For earlier," I said, meeting his gaze. "For being there when I needed someone."

His jaw tightened, and he looked away. "It was nothing."

"It wasn't nothing," I insisted. "You didn't have to stay, but you did. And your shadows..." I trailed off, unsure how to put it into words.

Azriel's gaze snapped back to mine, something flickering in his eyes. "They shouldn't have done that."

"Why not?"

"Because it's not their place."

His words stung, but I refused to back down. "Maybe it's not their place, but they did it anyway. And I'm grateful for it."

Azriel shook his head, standing abruptly. His shadows swirled around him, agitated. "You don't understand."

"Then explain it to me," I said, standing as well. "Help me understand."

He turned away, his wings tensing. "I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because you make me feel things I'm not supposed to feel!"

The words burst out of him, raw and unguarded. For a moment, the room was silent, the weight of his confession hanging between us.

"I didn't ask for this," he said, his voice quieter now. "I didn't ask for any of it."

"Neither did I," I said softly.

Azriel's shoulders slumped, and for a moment, he looked more vulnerable than I'd ever seen him. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice barely audible.

Before I could respond, he was gone, his shadows trailing behind him like a dark tide.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

In the days that followed, I found myself avoiding him, unsure of how to face the emotions his words had stirred within me. But his shadows—they didn't seem to understand the concept of distance.

They were always there, always reaching for me in moments of quiet. They were my comfort, my solace, even when their master couldn't be.

Slowly, I began to realize that they weren't just shadows.

They were Azriel's heart, laid bare in a way he couldn't bring himself to show.

I didn't know what it meant, this connection we shared. But I knew one thing for certain: I wasn't ready to let it go.