Tissaia didn't go far, recognizing that she couldn't just abandon Azael as much as she would like to. Maybe he was a cold-hearted prick, but she wasn't. She only went far enough that she could no longer see or hear him, then let out her tears in full force.

She pressed her back to the trunk of a tree and drew her knees to her chest, sparing half a thought to erect a shield around herself before she wrapped her arms around herself and wept. Her eyes burned and she could scarcely draw a full breath amidst her choking sobs. Within her chest, it was like her very heart was tearing itself in half.

What had happened to them? Where had the male she'd known so many years ago disappeared to? Why had he just attacked her when she was only trying to help? He'd fallen from the saddle and her mind had screamed at her that she'd let him die. Even when she saw he was alive, and would remain so, it continued to eat at her.

She'd been terrified for him, and he might as well have punched a hole through her chest. What had she done to deserve this? Had she brought the Cadhael curse down on herself by giving her heart to him when he didn't want it, just as Queen Elwyth had to King Mavron? She wept harder, threading her fingers through her hair and curling them down.

She had suffered through this for nothing. Azael didn't care about her at all. All her wasted years, all her futile hopes and self-reassurances... All the times she'd been forced to endure her father's wrath at her failings and had assured herself that it would be over soon. Azael would come to his senses soon. He would marry her and she would be free of her father forever.

Those hopes were crushed. She might as well have broken their betrothal and let her father wring her neck like he so obviously wanted to. The thoughts roared through her skull, slicing deep grooves through her chest with each one. She couldn't stop her tears even if she tried. They'd been held in for too long. Her heart had been bleeding for too long.

He would never love her. He would never care about her. He would never care what her father had done to her or her brother. He would send them back to him the moment he could. Her back sparked with agony at the thought, each of her scars aching as though they were freshly carved. She didn't want to go back there. She didn't want Talarion to go back there.

She didn't want to be forced to bow to her father's beatings. Didn't want to see her dull-eyed mother who didn't care what happened to them, so long as it kept Roshan's attention off her. Didn't want to go back to that dark manor that was their prison.

To her locked bedroom door that had been broken off its hinges too many times so her father could drag her out of bed by the hair and smash her fingers to pieces beneath his boot, all because there was still no ring on them. She would kill herself before going back there again.

Tissaia's head jerked up the next instant as something rustled nearby. If Azael thought she wanted to see him now, he'd find her dagger stuck through his palm. She rubbed her tears aside and blinked swiftly, then unsheathed her sword as several figures emerged from the woods. Their leader raised his hands in a show of peace.

"Easy. We're not here to hurt you," he assured her. "We found those Shifter bodies a ways back and figured whoever killed them must be nearby, and would likely be hurt." He crouched, holding out his hand. The other male and two females behind him sheathed their weapons silently. "My name is Vaeldan. We're from a hidden village nearby. We can help you. You're hurt." He gestured to her bloodstained clothes.

Tissaia shook her head and cleared her throat, though it did nothing to hide the hoarseness of her voice as she answered. "Most of it isn't mine. I already healed my own wounds."

"Well, that's a relief. Kahari thought you might be dying when we heard you." He tipped his chin towards one of the females, who bowed her auburn head in greeting.

"I am not dying," Tissaia whispered. But I wish I was.

"I'm glad, but we can still offer you aid. Will you let us help you?"

She eyed his outstretched hand warily, then sheathed her sword and accepted it. "My...companion is nearby."

"Are they alive?" She nodded in answer. "Then waste no more tears. Our village has exceptional healers if your friend is still injured."

"He is not my friend," she hissed.

The male cocked his head, then bowed it. Tissaia folded her arms around herself and took the lead, assuming they would need her to guide them to Azael. She retraced the path she had followed blindly before. It was still familiarly blurred by her salt-stung eyes.

Azael was right where she left him, but he scrambled to his feet as they approached, a hand falling to his sword while his gaze darted to his horse. "They're not going to hurt us," Tissaia mumbled. "They have a village nearby. Come on."

Azael stared at her blankly, then nodded and took his stallion by the reins. They waited for the unnamed male to take the lead, and Tissaia fell into step alongside the female, Kahari, letting Azael linger at the back of the group. She didn't bother talking to him again.

•༻☽☾༺•

They reached the village in less than an hour, and Azael found himself wondering if it was Kaius's old one, but he didn't dare ask Tissaia. She hadn't so much as looked at him since they joined the Forest Dwellers, and something told him trying to talk to her now would only make the situation worse.

But he knew he had to try to make things right somehow. He would take this time to plan out what he was going to say, and try to talk to her later before they rejoined Talarion and Kaius. He was separated from Tissaia the moment they entered the hidden village. He would have protested, had she not followed the females without a hint of hesitation.

Azael had watched her go, but let himself be led into a house much smaller than the one they had left behind. He was placed in a decent bedroom with a private bathroom attached, and left alone with the promise of a change of clothes and a healer should his wounds require further attention. Azael had only waited until the promised clothes were delivered, then locked himself in the bathroom.

Afterwards, he had listened for any word about where Tissaia had been taken. No doubt if Talarion learned he'd allowed himself to be separated from her by strangers, that would be another thing the male would kill him for. But when sunset stretched across the village and no word came, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

He poked his head out the door, expecting to find someone on watch, but instead he only saw the female who had accompanied them earlier passing by. She paused when he caught her eye. "Where's my companion?" He asked.

"In another house. She asked to be placed away from you," the female answered, a guarded look in her eyes.

"I need to talk to her," Azael prompted. "We had two other companions, her brother among them, who we were separated from."

"She informed us and our Elder has already dispatched scouts to track them down. But she made it very clear she does not wish to see you, and I have no desire to force an unwanted male's company on any female entrusted to my care."

Azael pursed his lips, but nodded. Clearly Tissaia had kept the reasons for her request vague, and this female had assumed the worst as a result. He wouldn't push his luck with her, but he also wasn't going to sit around here and do nothing. He drew a measured breath, committing the female's scent to memory, then retreated into his room and closed the door.

The female's footsteps resumed at once. Azael waited until he could no longer hear them, then darted to the nearest window and watched the street, waiting for her to emerge from the house. It didn't take long. As soon as she vanished down another block, Azael set off.

He left his room unarmed and picked up the female's scent easily. He traced it through the house, which was thankfully devoid of any guards. He met a few passersby who flashed him curious looks, but no one impeded him. Whether or not they knew his identity, he didn't know.

He left the house and hurried down the street, still tracking the female's scent. The last rays of sunlight were fading rapidly as he followed it towards another guesthouse similar to the one he had left. Again, there was no one to stop him from entering, and as soon as he stepped in the door, Tissaia's scent greeted him. He focused on it and ignored the other female's scent as he mounted a flight of stairs.

Her scent led him to a doorway at the end of the hall. Azael paused before it and hesitated, then steeled himself and knocked. For a moment, there was no response, but presently, the door cracked open. Tissaia's reddened gaze met his. "Go away," she bit out, moving to close the door again.

"Wait," Azael pleaded, holding up his hands in deference. "I know you don't want to see me, but we have to talk. Before we rejoin Talarion and Kaius. I think your brother might kill me otherwise."

"That doesn't sound so bad to me right now," she grumbled, but digressed and held the door open. Azael stepped into the room but she motioned for him to stop just inside. He obeyed at the risk of being thrown out before having a chance to speak, and closed the door behind himself.

"So, are you going to tell me why you think I've been having an affair with Kaius?" Tissaia perched on the arm of a sofa and crossed her legs, tilting her head to watch him.

Azael knit his brows but averted his gaze. "I think that's obvious," he answered, keeping his voice low and quiet. "I've seen the way you act together. I saw you leave at the ball and I know you were alone with him before Talarion arrived. I believe you when you say nothing happened that night, but we both know something happened the night we first stayed at the other hidden village. Don't bother denying it. I saw you with him."

Tissaia gawked at him, her lips parting slightly as she shook her head. "Gods, you really are a fucking idiot, aren't you?" She scoffed. "That wasn't me you saw, your Highness. That was my brother. He and Kaius are mates."