Tissaia woke barely an hour before the rest of their companions joined them. When she'd blinked her eyes open to find sunlight streaming through the windows of the hut, the day already passing its midpoint, she had scrambled to her feet with a muttered curse, only to find her belongings already packed up and no sign of Azael anywhere.

    A quick glance outside revealed that his mount was gone, though her own had been left picketed to the ground the graze. The Prince's scent had still been relatively fresh though, so Tissaia guessed he'd either gone off to do more scouting, hunting, or perhaps to meet their companions. She had used the rest of her time to properly wake up and eat a scrap of a meal.

    She almost couldn't believe she'd slept so late. That was highly unlike her. Either she'd been more worn out than she thought or... A small smile graced her lips. Or perhaps, for once in her life, she had simply felt safe enough that she was able to fully relax and sleep.

    Her heart fluttered with a foreign emotion. Not the bitter tension that she had previously known every time she was around Azael, but something softer and lighter. Something so fragile that she didn't dare dwell on it for long, not wanting to rid herself of the feeling prematurely.

    She didn't have time to spare anyway. Hoofbeats sounded outside, announcing everyone else's arrival, and Tissaia hurried out to greet them. As she'd suspected, Azael was with the group and he dismounted while she joined her brother and Kaius.

    "You didn't find anything worth reporting, I take it?" Talarion asked when he swung down beside her.

    Tissaia shook her head. "A few signs of some refugees and travelers, but no warriors." Her brother breathed a sigh of relief, then glanced at Kaius. The male was gazing vacantly towards the mountains and didn't seem to have heard their brief conversation. "Is something wrong?" Tissaia asked when Talarion's eyes narrowed.

    "I'm not sure. He's been like that all morning, but every time I ask him if he's all right, he just brushes me off."

    "Want me to try to talk to him later?"

    "If he won't tell me, I doubt he'll tell you."

    "He might," Tissaia replied with a shrug. "Maybe he just doesn't want to worry you about something."

    "If you think you can get him to open up, I won't stop you," was all Talarion said in reply. His gaze turned back to her and swept over her critically. His nose wrinkled. "You smell overwhelmingly like Azael."

    "And you smell like you're in dire need of a bath," she retorted, not giving herself a chance to blush at her brother's insinuation. "He's the only person I've been around since yesterday. Of course his scent was going to stick to me."

    "Is he pestering you about that already?" Kaius chuckled, finally prying his gaze from the mountains to look down at them. He dismounted and his mouth twitched into a lopsided grin. "I told him not to mention it no matter what you smelled like."

    Tissaia gaped at him in indignation, then swatted his arm. "Pricks, the both of you! Not that you need to know, but absolutely nothing happened. Not everyone is as depraved as you two."

    "No," Kaius agreed, "but he had to have been pretty close to you for several hours at least for your hair to smell so strongly of him."

    "I hate you both," she grumbled with a disgusted huff, and flounced over to Kahari before they had a chance to say anything more. The female greeted her with a smile as she fitted her staff in a leather wrap nestled between her shoulder blades. "Did you accomplish everything you needed to?" Tissaia asked in greeting.

    Kahari nodded. "Kaius and I were able to place an enchantment over the house that will shroud it from view for at least a week, and thanks to your brother, the shields should last that long too. Hopefully anyone who might be looking for us will have moved on by that point. Vael did manage to pass a warning back to our people as well. They'll be on the lookout for any signs of the Spawn or more Blood Fae."

    "Good. A part of me hopes they won't find anything, but if they do, maybe there's a way we can drive him out." Tissaia perked up when Vael drew near, accompanied by Azael. Talarion and Kaius followed a few paces behind.

    "We can make it to the mountains within the next seven days if we set a hard pace," the Shifter said, gesturing to the looming structure. "But that's if we keep on a straight path. If we're forced to deviate for whatever reason, it could take longer. I know some routes through the foothills that aren't frequently traveled and I'll try to keep us following them as much as possible."

    His dark gaze flitted between the other three males. "I'll show you the routes on a map when we have a chance to stop longer later. For now, we should probably start moving and make the most of the rest of today."

    They all nodded their agreement and turned to mount their horses. Tissaia ducked back into the hut briefly to grab her satchel and supply bag, and returned to find Azael leading her horse over to her. She flashed him a grateful smile and allowed him to secure her supplies in her saddlebags while she lifted herself onto the creature's back.

    "Watch out for my brother," she murmured when he leaned closer to tighten a strap on one of her packs. "I might've overestimated my influence over him."

    Azael gave a quiet laugh. "What does he have to be upset about? Nothing happened as far as he knows."

    "No, but he was already remarking that I smell Iike you and didn't seem thrilled."

    She fought to hide the warmth in her face when his pale eyes lifted to hers. "He'll get over it." Azael smiled and looked down once more.

    Tissaia hesitated before adding in a teasing tone, "What's your opinion, Darling? Do you like my new choice in fragrance?"

    "I already liked your old one. But I could grow accustomed to the new one too, if it's one you intend to keep."

    She caught a hint of a smirk on his lips as he retreated to his own mount and swung up. He rode past Talarion and Kaius without so much as a sideways glance and joined Vael at the head of the group. Tissaia fell into place beside Kahari as they set off, trying to keep her smile to herself.

    Yes, this was new, and very fragile. Azael had certainly never flirted with her before, and she'd been so careful about doing so herself, as it almost always ended badly. But it was another way they could learn to trust each other with themselves.

    Teasing and flirting was a way to expose the vulnerable thoughts of their minds without directly doing so, and opening themselves to the possibility of it being returned, or rejected once more. Not that she wanted to open herself up to more rejection, but if facing that possibility was the only way she could slip past Azael's stone walls and the only way she could let him past her flames, then that was what she would do.

•༻☽☾༺•

    They rode at a steady pace for several hours, with very few breaks in between. Kaius barely noticed the time passing. His attention was divided between the mountains and his surroundings. He was constantly looking for any signs of the divine Doe now following him, but there were none, and a small seed of bitterness had taken root within him towards the goddess.

    He'd spent so long trying to reassure his mate that they could trust Drenusha. That they had to do this for her. That she only had Asterria's best interests at heart. But if she was able to walk the mortal plane within her deer form, however sparingly it was possible, why hadn't she done so from the beginning? Why force him to endure so many agonizing visions and their aftermath?

    Why would she appear regularly to a Half-Fae without even a drop of god-blood, but she couldn't do so for him? Was it because he was already bonded to Hadeon so deeply? Did she not want the god to learn of her endeavors because he had stood in the way of those wishing to harm his Spawn in the past? Did the god care for his wayward creation more than his living descendent, the mortal vessel for his power?

    Kaius rubbed at his temple wearily and shook his head. Dark tangles of hair fell across his face and he shoved it back, briefly wishing he had something to tie it with. But he wished even more so that he knew what was going on in the minds of the goddess who was supposed to be guiding them, and the god who was responsible for all of this to begin with.

    Someone cleared their throat beside him and Kaius glanced at them from the corner of his eye. For a moment, he thought it was Talarion, but soon realized his mistake. Tissaia was watching him with furrowed brows. "You've barely said a word this afternoon," she pointed out. "Are you all right?"

    "I'm fine." He was certain the lie would be no less convincing to her than it had been for Talarion, and he was proven correct.

    "Were you able to sleep better last night? Did you have another vision?"

    Kaius shook his head. "No, like I said I'm going to make sure I sleep deeply enough to avoid them. But I only slept for a few hours, though that's my own fault." Because he had still been too afraid of dreaming to sleep, and had forced himself to stay awake as long as possible to avoid it.

    "Then what's bothering you? You aren't yourself today at all."

    Kaius remained silent. What was bothering him? What was wrong? Nothing and everything all at once. He was exhausted and drained, physically and mentally. He was still sore from the results of his vision the night prior, and he'd barely slept again last night, even with Talarion curled around him protectively.

    He had just uncovered a long forgotten memory from his past, and was faced with the reality that he might somehow be tied to the very monster who had hunted every Phoenix before him. He could very well be leading his mate, his sister, his Prince, and their new friends on a suicide mission.

    What if they couldn't even find what Drenusha had sent them after? What if they found something, or someone, else instead? If any of them died on this quest because he didn't know what he was doing...

    "Kai?" Tissaia called.

    "I'm just overwhelmed," he murmured, and began to brush his thumb across his braided bracelet. "But I'll be fine. You don't need to worry, Tiss."

    "It's a bit late for that," she scoffed. "You should ride with me or Talarion for an hour or two. Get some rest, and let Kahari or Vael use your horse so they don't have to ride double this whole time."

    "I don't need either of you to coddle me, you know."

    "Caring for you is not the same as coddling you." Once more, he didn't answer and Tissaia only sighed. "It's almost over. We'll reach the mountains soon and all we have to do from there is find the temple and secure whatever is waiting for us.Then we can find that new home you were talking about."

    Kaius closed his eyes with a faint nod. Almost over. It was almost over, and he didn't have to fear his visions any longer. Everything was going to change, finally. He could have a home with his mate and not have to fear for him every time they were apart.

    They would be free to be together, and they could keep Tissaia safe too. Perhaps the day was approaching when they could even be rid of Roshan Lochren forever. His eyes opened and he gave Tissaia a warm smile. A genuine one this time, and she returned it.