Chapter 52

But according to angelic etiquette, one was not supposed to mention it since it was considered a violation of privacy. 

" Thank you, " Phelan said then Nuriel watched as both he and Kael took their leave. 

He could not be fooled. He knew very well that Kael was to blame for his mate's current state, but he understood the depth of the relationship between those two. And why Phelan would choose to take the fall for his friends actions. Their bond was one that could not be broken. Forged when they were still young and gaining in strength as they grew. 

They were brothers in every particular sense of the word. 

But now was not the time for that. He had to take care of Flame. She was drenched and dirty. Dirt, grass and what he assumed was flour stained her clothes. So he took her hand and tried to lead her outside. 

" No, we have to go, " he said when she gripped the edge of his desk and planted her feet on the floor. She wasn't herself at the moment, so he did not try to will her to do as he pleased. Instead he struggled with her. Even tried to bribe her with more of Kael's bloody fruits. 

" Please m'eudail, stop being so stubborn, "

He blew out his cheeks afterwards. Then decided to just go at things the only way he knew how. So in one swift motion, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her out and to their chambers. Making a mental note to banish those damn fruits from the Triecan. 

With a hand on her wrist, Nuriel ran Flame a bath. A task that proved much harder than he had bargained for. She kept tugging at his arm. And on more than one occasion, she had attempted to jump into the tab. 

But he finally managed to complete the action, then he turned to her and wondered what to do next. 

Should he undress her? Or should he let her do it herself? 

He chose the latter. She was not herself, and he had to remember that fact. So he let her go and turned around. 

" Okay Flame, now take off those dirty garments, " he used the same tone he would use when talking to a stubborn youngling. He thought that it would work to persuade her to do as asked. But it did not. She tried to run off again. But he held her hand before she made it to the door. 

" You're quite the handful, " he said as he moved her hair over one shoulder. Deciding to just get it over and done with. Besides, it wasn't as if there was any part of her he had not yet seen. The only difference was that unlike last time, he would have to keep his hands to entirely to himself. Because pleasure was only truly enjoyable if freely given. 

He unzipped her gown and let it fall to the floor. And she surprisingly stood still throughout the entire time. After dispelling off her undergarments as well, he tried his best to keep his eyes on hers. He knew very well that if he dared to look down, he would be the one paying for it. He was already hard from simply standing before her as he was. 

" Get in the tab, " his voice was low. Convincing but still edged with the huskiness of restrain. He just hoped that she would simply do as asked. But it seemed like she was hell bent on making the situation harder for him. 

With her hands around his neck, she inched closer. Close enough for her naked form to intentionally rub against his. He grit his teeth, starting to have second thoughts about maintaining eye contact with her. Because her eyes held that deep cloud of what he knew very well to be lust. He recognized that look. It was the same one she had worn the previous night while he had pleasured her with his mouth.

" bloody dungeons! " he uttered. Then he asked for strength from whichever force granted it. And with his hands around her waist, he lifted her up and into the tab. She laughed playfully. Splashing the soapy water on him before she cupped the foam in her hands and blew on it. 

Even in her current state she was a delight to be around. He took the sponge and lathered it with soap, taking her hand afterwards and running it smoothly against her skin. And with each minute that passed, the urge to simply take her as she was grew. But he overcame it. Something that urged him to make the bath as short as it could be. 

And once he was content that she was clean, he grabbed a towel and unfolded it, holding it wide in front of her. 

" Come on now, stand, " 

She did so reluctantly, and he wrapped the soft towel around her entirely and carried her to the walk in closet where he proceeded to grab the nearest nightgown he could find and put it on her. Then he took her to bed and tucked her in. Using his Laviel's scent to lure her into sleep. It was not long before she drifted off. He stayed with her for about an hour. Simply seated on the couch next to the window as he watched her rest. 

He would always be there for her. That was a promise he made himself. That as long as he breathed, she would be secure and out of harms way. And when he decided to let her get some rest and get back to his duties, he kissed her on the forehead. A long and prolonged kiss that she felt even in her peaceful slumber. 

" I love you, " he whispered in her ear after. And the words, when spoken in such a soft and gentle manner, made him come entirely alive. 

                             ✳️❇️✳️❇️✳️

Flame hissed when she tried to sit up. Her head hurt and she felt truly horrible. She narrowed her eyes and looked around. It was dawn. 

" Oh God! " with a hand on her forehead, she tried to recall exactly what happened. But she couldn't recall much. The last thing she remembered was being in the fort with Aziel, Kael and Phelan. And nothing after that. 

Everything was such a blur and her eyes hurt. 

" Here, let me help you, " she hears a soft voice say. And soon after, someone was there, helping her to sit up as sue propped a pillow on her back. 

With great effort, Flame focused in on the stranger. 

It was a young female. Her dark hair tied up in a tight knot and her dress a simple grey. She took a step back and bowed. 

" Um... hi..." Flame said unsurely. 

The girl was pretty, but Flame doubted whether she worked there since she had never seen her before. 

" I hope you fare well my queen. My name is Idah, I was appointed by Sir, Xavier as your personal handmaid. "

If Flame didn't feel as if her head was about to explode then she was certain that she would have reacted differently to the news. But at the moment she was too exhausted and worn out to try and figure out why they would hire her a handmaid. 

" Christ my head hurts! " 

Everything was going round in circles and there was a buzzing in her ears that refused to stop. 

" Here, the king asked me to give this to you when you woke. It's a special concotion ensured to make you feel better, "

Flame blindly reached for the cup being offered, then she sniffed it and she felt even worse. 

" What exactly is in this? "

Idah stepped closer, placing her hand over Flame's on the cup and urging her to gulp it all down. It was bitter and sour. Flame shivered the moment it went down her throat. 

" Just boiled herbs and crushed Bello seeds, it's very efficient in terms of curing a hangover. "

" Hangover?... but I'm not.. " slowly by slowly, fragments of her memory from the previous day started Comimg back. 

" Oh man! " she groaned, attempting to throw herself back down on the bed but shopping halfway due to the stabbing pain that shot through her head and straight down her spine. 

" Be careful, " Idah assisted her to sit up again. 

Then she settled down on the bed beside her and took the cup from Flame's hands placing it aside. 

" Do you feel any better now? " the sweet girl asked. 

She did not look older than twenty. With pale blue eyes and freckles on her cheeks. She seemed rather adorable. 

" Yeah, I can see much better now. Thanks. "

" There is no need to thank me, it's my pleasure to serve you. "

Flame smiled. Blowing out a breath. 

" Where's the angel? " 

The question simply came out. He had become the first being she thought of each time she woke up. And normally, he was always there with her. 

" Which one? If you are referring to the king , he's out paying his respect to the families of those who were affected by the terrorizer. But he shall be back soon. "