Chapter: The Silence Between ThemIf he had been human, Azaziel's mouth would have been hanging open from shock.He kept looking at Vynessa holding up the bed frame like it was a side stool, his mind not quite wanting to believe what his eyes were seeing. The heavy, wrought-iron monstrosity wasn’t just lifted—it was being cradled effortlessly in her grip, like a twig, like air. His anchor...Vynessa... This small, broken little girl was holding onto the heaviest looking sofa by the tip of her fingers. It defied logic. Physics. Everything he had quietly convinced himself about her limits.Even now, after the bond, after the truth had split her world apart like a lightning strike, a part of him had clung to denial. It wasn't that he could not believe it, or that he expected her to be weak and puny forever... It was that he was really not prepared for her change. He had still held on to a tiny hope...That she might just be… mostly normal. Human enough to remain untouched by the shadows
The silence was worse than her screams.Azaziel stood in the doorway of the bedroom, watching her. She lay curled on the far side of the bed, facing the wall, swaddled in a blanket too large for her frame. He’d brought it to her after she'd passed out in his arms—but not before she’d flinched at his touch.She hadn’t said a word since.Not one.Not even a glance his way.She’d opened her eyes hours ago. He had felt it—through the bond, through that warm hum of presence that now lived within him. But when he spoke her name, she didn’t answer. When he knelt at the bedside and whispered apologies he couldn’t begin to explain, she turned her face deeper into the pillow.And that... that broke something in him.Azaziel exhaled slowly and dragged a hand down his face. His body buzzed with residual fury—some of it still aimed at Khaos, but most of it now turned inward.He should have told her.He’d had the pieces, had gathered them one by one like breadcrumbs left in blood. The moment he fel
The wind outside screamed like it had a score to settle with the windows.Azaziel stood by the far side of the penthouse, his back turned, arms braced against the railing of the balcony. He’d barely spoken since the moment Khaos disappeared into the floor. Just... silence. Cold and brutal. The kind of silence that wasn’t empty, but thick with the weight of what he hadn’t said.Vynessa didn’t move. Not at first. She just stood, rooted to the spot, her eyes on the floor where Khaos had been moments ago, her breath trembling out of her lungs.She didn’t understand why her legs still held her up. Maybe it was the shock. Maybe she wasn’t standing at all and the floor was just holding her body like a tired lover. But when her knees finally buckled, it was Azaziel who caught her.He didn’t speak. Not right away. Just lifted her as if she weighed nothing—because apparently, she didn’t—and carried her to the long, low couch. His chest rose and fell slowly, deliberately, like he was trying not
All Vynessa could think was, 'This demon must be crazy!' Never in her life had she ever been called a demon. She looked at herself again. She was so plain, it was laughable. She-demon? Her? Do demons do drugs? "I knew you weren't supposed to be here in the first place. You've got the wrong person" Vynessa said finally. She didn't even care for his mistake. She just needed him gone already. Azaziel narrowed his eyes at Khaos. “Just why would you concern yourself with my anchor?” He was so composed, it was chilling. Vynessa actually felt the room temperature lower. “Anchor? Now brother, you will be putting me in a difficult position” Khaos said, but he did not look a tiny bit uncomfortable. "Brother?" Vynessa said without hearing herself. "Yes, Vynessa. Brother" Khaos said, looking directly at her. She took the time to look at him thoroughly. He looked nothing like Azaziel.Where Azaziel's hair was pure, pristine white, Khaos was midnight black. His eyes bled pure black where Azaz
The next morning, Vynesss woke up sore and alone. She was excited. More than excited! She was not fully claimed and anchored to Azaziel. And yet, the nagging feeling that something was wrong did not leave her. She could not tell what was going on with him since he turned into a blank book whenever she asked him. She knew and understood he was protecting her, but she was his anchor now. Keeping secrets did not help anyone, and it did not get easier or help calm her nerves in any way. Deciding to try and forget it, and look up to the future good things, Vynessa chose to walk around the large house instead. She had not gotten a chance to explore the house the night before, so she grabbed the black dress shirt Azaziel had worn the day before and put in on. It still smelled of him. She was just about to close her eyes and breathe him in, when she noticed something shiny sticking out from under the bed. Fuck! Last night had been wild, she knew she had lost her earring when he'd had
"Hell no no no no"Azaziel advanced on her quickly, before she could react further. She squealed as Azaziel picked her up, hanging both her thighs on his hips while staring at her face wild with shock. “Be mine, Vynessa" He said, his voice husky and deep. "What do you mean? I'm already yours. Oh my God, Azaziel, you have wings""Language" He said and looked at her, but her eyes were glued to the space behind his head."Vynessa, concentrate""It's very hard to concentrate when they are large leather wings sticking out of your back, Azaziel. They're very distracting. In fact, they are all I can see. How have I never seen these before? Are they heavy? Wait, can I touch them? Do they hurt? Will they... "Azaziel crashed his mouth to hers forcefully, effectively silencing her. "There. Stay quietly, Vynessa darling" he growled. His lips still hovering above hers. Vynessa pouted, eyes dilated, but stayed still, she stayed silent. "You're my anchor, Vynessa, but until we bond and gain th