Azrael stood at the edge of the balcony, his figure silhouetted by the moonlight. Elysia approached cautiously, her bare feet barely making a sound against the stone floor. He turned when she was a few steps away, his piercing gaze meeting hers with an intensity that made her heartbeat falter.
"You should not be out here, it is cold." she said softly, her voice almost lost to the breeze.
"The cold does not bother me," Azrael replied, his tone calm. He motioned for her to come closer, and she did, pulling the shawl tighter.
"What happened in the hut? Were you able to find the person who the Duke was working for?" she asked, leaning against the stone railing, her eyes fixed on the stars.
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he gently tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. "It was a trap," he said, his voice low. "They knew we were coming and set the hut on fire. Unfortunately, the Duke couldn't make it out in time."