They continued traveling through the forest for three days in total. In that time, Azael had gradually relaxed around Kahari and Vael. The female was seemingly sweet and had a genuine desire to help if she could. As for the Shifter, his knowledge of the area was proving valuable. He'd already helped them remain undetected by another group of Blood Fae, and had begun to open up about himself a bit too.

To Azael's surprise, he was finding himself able to relate to the male. Vael was his aunt's Heir Apparent, and was expected to one day lead their village after her death. He already felt the pressure of the role as he strove to prove himself worthy to his elders and those who already respected him.

Azael knew better than anyone how unbearable that weight could be, especially when you didn't actually have the power to make any decisions of your own. Vael had also apologized for his initial words about him, before he pieced together that he was the Prince. Azael assured him no apology was needed. He understood it hadn't been meant as an insult to him, just a statement of a fact.

There likely wasn't much he'd be able to do to help the Forest Dwellers if his father overrode his decisions, but he would try anyway as soon as he could. That had seemed to earn him a sliver of the male's gratitude, and he had felt the tension within the group lessen thankfully.

That had been earlier in the day, and the sun was beginning to set once more. Talarion was already reining his horse to a halt up ahead. Azael slowed his own mount's pace and glanced back to see Tissaia and Kahari doing the same. Vael and Kaius rode over to Talarion before they halted and dismounted.

"We'll camp here tonight and leave the forest tomorrow," Talarion said. "But two of us will scout ahead in the morning before we set off, to make sure there are no Lochren warriors nearby."

"I'll go," Vael offered. "I know where the most recent sightings of bandits have been and the Lochren warriors are bound to be near those areas."

"I'll go too," Azael added. "Probably best if you three stay out of sight until we're certain it's safe." Understanding and thanks reflected in Talarion and Kaius's gazes, although Tissaia appeared slightly put-out, and he wondered if she had meant to volunteer as well.

Their camp was made within the next thirty minutes and a brief meal was eaten. Vael then announced he would scout their perimeter and ensure there was no sign of activity around them. Kahari and Tissaia were going with him for part of the way to gather their supply of firewood for the night.

The rest of them remained at camp, and shortly after the others left, Kaius took his draught of tea that Kahari had continued to provide him, and was soon locked in sleep. Talarion remained at his side, one hand curled through the ends of the male's hair.

"Is it good for him to drink that stuff every night?" Azael asked hesitantly.

"Kahari says it's all right, and she seems to know what she's talking about," Talarion answered. "If you're meaning you're worried he's going to miss some important sign that we need to guide us, I've thought of that too. But honestly, I'd rather him get the rest he needs than worry about those visions."

"I don't blame you, but Kahari won't know if she's able to help him out of one if he doesn't have one that she can test her theory on."

Talarion sighed, his gaze falling to the Phoenix. "He knows that, but he's more afraid of what will happen if she fails than he is of never finding out."

"How do you bear it?" Azael asked, the words coming out quieter than intended. "Seeing him go through that so many times, and the effect it has on him even now, and not being able to help."

Talarion gave a dry laugh. "I feel exactly as useless as you think. But I bear it because I have to. Because he doesn't deserve to bear it alone."

The male's scarred back flashed through his memory, along with the knowledge of the scars he knew he had not seen. "You've...borne a lot for him."

Talarion's gaze lifted to him once more. "For my sister as well." He looked as though he would say more, but footsteps whispered against the grass, silencing him. Kahari came into view and deposited her load of wood next to the crackling fire. "Where's Tissaia?" Talarion asked at once.

"She's fine," the female assured him. "We found the most incredible place in an opening in the trees. There's a basin and an underground stream has broken through one of its walls to make a small waterfall and a pool. The water was fresh and we filled our water skins, but she wanted to stay a little longer."

"She shouldn't be on her own," Talarion protested.

"Vael had already checked the area and assured us it was fine."

The female's words seemed to offer him little comfort. Talarion's mouth twisted sideways with a pensive frown, but he didn't stand as Azael expected. His gaze flickered to Kaius as the male winced at something in his sleep, hesitation sweeping across his features. "I'll go," Azael offered. The male's shoulders tensed, then relaxed again. Talarion nodded and Azael rose at once.

An unexpected feeling twinged in the pit of his stomach as he watched the male bend over his mate and gently smooth hair back from his face. There was something so tender in the touch. There was no expectation of anything there. It was merely...affection. A simple sign that he was watching over him. Azael had never experienced anything like that from any of the females he'd been with.

They had wanted pleasure and compliments, nothing more. The minute they got what they wanted, they'd run off to brag to their friends and peers about bedding a Prince. And he had to learn that lesson a few times before it stuck. Azael cleared his throat and thrust that feeling of jealousy from his mind. He picked out the remaining traces of Tissaia's scent and began to follow it.

•༻☽☾༺•

Tissaia's head broke through the surface of the water and she smoothed soaking hair back from her face with a breathless shivering laugh. The water had a slight chill, but it had been ages since she'd gone swimming and she wasn't going to pass up this opportunity. They were already out of reach of the river and she would have to count this as her most recent bath until they found another place with running water.

She drew a deep breath, preparing to dive again, then froze as undergrowth snapped from the shore. She sank lower into the water and turned, eyeing the deepening shadows of the forest. "Tissaia?" A familiar voice called. She gave a faint sigh of relief and lifted her head once more. Azael spotted her a moment later and cocked his head. "You like to swim?"

"Who doesn't?" She answered. "Or are you even stranger than I thought?"

At his quiet chuckle, flutters curled within her stomach. "I like to swim. Remember the story I told you about my last few days with the Cahirim?"

She grinned at the recollection. "This water isn't quite as cold as that, I imagine." She bit her lip as a thought occurred to her. Tissaia swallowed, then added, "Of course, you could always test it for yourself. See if I'm wrong."

Even at this distance, she could tell Azael's eyes had grown round with surprise. Warmth flooded her face and she cursed herself inwardly. He would never cross that line and had made it perfectly clear. Why would she even open herself to that disappointment and...

Her breath caught as Azael began unbuckling the belt at his hips, then set his swords near her discarded pile of clothes. Tissaia glanced down at herself, her flush deepening. She'd had the foresight to leave her undergarments on at least, but if her hair moved and he saw her back...

Her anxiety deepened at the thought and Tissaia straightened in the water, making sure her hair wasn't floating away from what it was meant to hide. Her skin prickled with goosebumps at the cold air and she found Azael's eyes lingering on her when she looked at him again.

He removed his tunic, then his undershirt in one fluid motion, and kicked off his boots. He didn't remove his pants, but rolled their hems up to his calves before wading into the water. "You're right," he said as he drifted towards her. "Not quite as cold as that." Her next shiver wasn't from the chill alone. "But still a little cold," he added. His eyes remained firmly fixed on her face.

It took a moment for her to find her voice when he was in reach of her. "I didn't actually think you'd do it," she admitted.

"Why not? We're just swimming. Not doing...anything else."

"Right."

Her heart was pounding loud enough that she was certain he could hear it, and not from his presence alone. This was the most indecent she'd ever been around him, or any male for that matter, in years. Since they were betrothed.

And she was realizing now, that she had no idea what he thought of her appearance. If he found her beautiful, average, or below. She'd been called beautiful before by many people, but those people weren't him. She'd spent most of her life trying to win his approval, and she had no idea if she had even managed to procure the most basic form of it.

"Your brother didn't want you to be on your own," Azael said, drawing her from her thoughts. The last few rays of sunlight dusted his skin with gold, before sinking out of sight. "I offered to come so he didn't have to leave Kaius. He's sleeping already."

That coaxed a smile onto her lips, and her heart stuttered as Azael's gaze dipped to her mouth. "Thank you. He doesn't like how deeply that tea makes Kaius sleep so he's afraid to leave him alone."

"I gathered." He tilted his head, the ends of his hair falling into the water. "So, did you invite me in here just to get me out of my shirt or..." She splashed water at his face, interrupting him mid-sentence.

"You are so full of yourself," Tissaia scolded, though she couldn't hide the laughter in her voice.

She let out a shrill gasp as he returned the favor, dousing her thoroughly. Tissaia thrust herself backwards before he could lash out again and Azael grinned at her before vanishing underwater.

"You bastard!" She called after him, then struck out to put as much distance between them as possible, already guessing his plan.