Page 95 of A Dance of Water (Moon Song #2)

TRADITION OVER MERCY

AZ

D awn threatened to pierce the stormy sky.

Az tightened his hand on Luella as he tugged her through the misty haze of early morning.

She was quiet, her white hair frizzing in the humid air of this wet winter.

They had already prepared the horses and packed their things for the journey.

Over Luella’s head, Bastian’s dim red eyes met his. Az felt an unnatural brush against his mind as the vampire spoke: What do you plan to do?

Az swallowed, unable to help himself, as he looked down at her. Whatever I have to do to make her feel safe.

The demon hadn’t given it much thought, but he realized what he must do for their journey ahead—walk alongside her.

Luella would be forced to endure their journey to the Temples on foot. No food. No water. And no sleep.

It was barbarous. But what could he expect, knowing it had come from the mind of Vale’s ancestors?

He heard Bastian’s sharp intake of breath at his plan.

Az looked toward him. The light was dim, the clouds were swiftly moving and hiding the weak sun, and the air crackled with the promise of a violent storm.

The journey ahead loomed. Foreboding. Yet, in this moment, with Lu nestled between them, Az could only feel grateful that he was able to find solidarity with the vampire.

Bastian, at least, had always wanted to protect her, but he had gone about it much differently than Az—patient, as he waited and watched.

Should Az fault him for protecting her the way he saw fit?

Bastian’s lips quirked up. No , he said, y ou shouldn’t.

Inclining his head to the looming gates, Bastian hurried his pace, leading the forefront with Luella in the middle and Az trailing behind, his hand still wrapped tightly around hers.

A low murmur of voices greeted them.

"Where is everyone?" Luella asked, her voice soft.

Guards stood at the gates, archers lining the top of the wall, poised to defend the palace.

But no audience. It was quiet. And still.

Graves was atop his steed, gloved hands gripping the reins, his usual cloak and cowl covering him. Tharen and Vale talked lowly, the former rummaging through his saddlebag.

Their boots crunched over gravel as they stopped. Luella shivered, burrowing deeper into Az’s side. His heart clenched. He hated this.

Keep her safe, keep her safe, keep her safe —the only thoughts in his head, the only thing keeping him sane, keeping him from ripping everything apart.

Vale turned to Luella, one hand stroking over the muscled rump of his horse. "Princess Luella," he greeted. "Are you ready?"

"I—" She shook her head. "Yes?"

He felt the small tremors that wracked her frame from how tightly she was pressed into his side. Bastian met his eyes and gave a soft nod before going to one of the horses. He ran his hand over the horse’s muzzle and took the reins.

She looked at the horses, the closed gates, and finally back to Vale. "Who will I be riding with?" she asked.

Az held his breath. It would be okay. He would be with her. Always.

"No one," said Vale.

"N-no one?" she repeated, her brows furrowing in confusion. "Are the Temples close, then? "

The King stepped away from his steed, shoulders proud as his green eyes bore into hers. Az rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand.

"You will walk," Vale said simply. "As is custom for all the Chosen. You will endure the journey on foot."

She gasped. Silence stretched on, broken only by a low rumble of thunder. Az stared up at the sky. Would it rain? A journey done on foot in the cold would be hard, but in freezing rain…

She had to calm down. Or this would only be harder for her to endure.

Az gripped her hand. "Lu," he murmured, "remember what I told you." She turned to look up at him, the sun peeking through the fast-moving clouds and leaving flashes of light on her pale skin. Her eyes were wide. Scared.

Az knew the others were watching, but they already thought him weak. What’s the worst they could do?

He released her hand, and her chin trembled, but before she could question him, he took her face between his large hands.

Her skin was so soft under his palms. Precious.

Cradling her cheeks, Az leaned his head down, so careful to keep the points of his horns away from her.

Due to their height difference, he had to stoop low.

He always felt like a monster—but never with her, even as he towered over her.

Az searched her wide blue eyes, free of kohl and lined with shadows from lack of sleep; it would only grow worse in the coming days.

"I will always protect you."

She licked her lips, eyes drifting to the side, finding Vale and the others watching.

"It is nearly a day’s journey to the Temples," Vale shared. "A test of strength. Of fortitude."

Stunned, she could only look back at Az. "That’s absurd," she whispered. "I-I can’t walk that far."

"You must," Vale asserted. The scent of burning wood filled the air, and Az found thin streams of grey wafting from his nostrils with every breath.

Luella’s lips parted .

Az gritted his teeth. He knew it would be like this. Cold. Cruel. Tradition over mercy, over her feelings. But that knowing didn’t make the sting in his chest go away as she shrank back from him, ever so slightly.

Az gentled his tone, fingers spanning over her cheeks. "I will be right by your side, Lu."

He caught the exact moment she realized what he meant. The way her blue eyes grew impossibly wider, the slight hitch of her breath. She tilted her head against his palm, a hand coming up to hold his wrist.

"I don’t expect you to do that for me," she whispered.

And even with the eyes around, his words were for only the two of them.

"I know you don’t, angel," he said. "And that makes me want to do it even more."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, ignoring Tharen’s derisive snort at the weakness. In this one thing, Az prevailed—he had her trust. The same couldn’t be said for the rest of them.

Perhaps Bastian, however.

Silent, Luella stared up at Az. She searched his eyes, and he tried so desperately to imbue every bit of adoration he felt for her inside his gaze. Slowly, he gave a soft nod in reassurance.

Her chin dipped in understanding. She would be forced to endure this trial, but at least she would have him by her side. No matter what.

Always.

"Enough!" Vale proclaimed, voice hard. The King had mounted his steed while Az had been entranced by Luella’s mere presence.

"We are wasting time standing here." His green eyes flicked up to the sky, at the barest hints of dawn light that grew increasingly pronounced with every passing moment.

"Dawn beckons. As do the Temples of Aedis.

Luella," he addressed, "you are to walk alongside us.

I cannot stop Azgorath from accompanying you, but do not think he can offer any aid. You are on your own."

Luella looked away from Az, her features twisting as if she were in pain as she pulled herself from him, standing alone. Her eyes were glassy, holding back tears that never fell .

His Vincire turned to the King, and the change that overtook her was so small, so slight, that Az wondered if it even happened.

But no. He couldn’t miss the way her shoulders rolled back or the tenseness of her jaw. Or even the sad set of her brow.

Her voice was utterly soft, but lined with quiet perseverance, as she whispered:

"I know. Nothing has changed for me. I have always been alone." She met each of their eyes under the cloud-covered sky. "But this time, I have an audience."

The town center of Serpentis was but a pinprick in the distance.

Every step was shadowed in darkness. The roiling clouds overhead had only grown darker, thicker, as the day wore on.

Hooves clopped over the broken, unregulated cobblestone path. Jagged pieces of rock stuck up at odd intervals, and Az had to maneuver it with care, his large legs allowing him to step over the ruts and dips in the road with ease.

His angel was not so blessed.

Luella’s gait was disjointed as she walked alongside him, and he had to force himself to slow so she could keep up.

Az watched her closely, memorizing every falter in her stride. She hadn’t spoken in hours, but her body spoke in winces and grimaces, flinching every time her booted feet struck the ground.

The winter air was frigid and charged. Even a hot-blooded demon such as himself couldn’t help the occasional shiver. Luella wasn’t allowed a cloak, and her nose was tipped in red from the cold, her fingers gripping her sleeves to keep her hands in a semblance of warmth.

His every instinct roared that he help her. Bundle her up in his large, warm shirt—carry her, even. But this was helping her.

Ahead, King Vale sat upon his regal steed—no crown, no golden cape. He looked just like the rest of them, but Az knew that was a fucking lie. Sat atop his high horse like some prideful ruler, he could fool no one.

The demon seethed, fingers clenching at his side.

Graves trotted alongside Vale. And Az didn’t miss the way the male kept glancing back at them, his deep blue eyes peeking out from the shadows of his hood and cowl.

His head constantly roved, searching the skies, scouring the dips and hills ahead.

They passed the mountain ranges, circumventing the harrowing terrain for as long as they were able, until eventually, they would be forced to traverse up the steep inclines to reach the Temples.

But that would be hours from now. So in the meantime, they were at least granted a relatively flat and open expanse.

Az wondered if the route was intentional... Easier for her, and easier to see.

Tharen took up the rear, practically breathing down their necks, with Bastian alternating between riding alongside Luella and circling toward the front.

As the hours continued to pass, the clouds overhead grew so dark and so thick that even the light of the sun was not able to break through, casting them all in shadows.

The broken cobblestone path had turned to a simple, beaten path of mud, cutting through the rain-soaked grass and frozen treetops. Frost clung to the tips of leaves, and flowers that broke through the ground were sagging and lifeless. Waterlogged and crestfallen with the cold.

And throughout it all, Az never faltered in his watch of her.