The Blood Rites were over and Myrrh had never been so relieved in her life. All three of the men had come back. They were a little beat up but otherwise in one piece and that was all that mattered. Now as she got ready for Starfall she couldn't help but wonder what would happen now that he was back. She and Azriel had created a tentative peace while they he was at camp and she and her mother had been nearby. Rhys couldn't understand why they avoided each other. He had thought that she and Azriel were a lot alike. If he had any idea, she thought to herself. Her hair up, her dress on, she surveyed herself in the mirror. She closed her eyes for a moment, recalling the relief she had felt at seeing Azriel with Rhys and knowing they were both ok and then he had looked at her. They both knew what they felt, what was between them. Myrrh took a deep breath and went down stairs.

Rhys grinned, seeing her come down the stairs. She really looked lovely and he supposed sooner or later another male was bound to notice. So far he hadn't had to fend off any unwelcome suitors but the day was coming. He wasn't paying attention to the man next to him or might have realized that the day was today.

Azriel looked up as Myrrh got to the landing and his breath caught in his throat. She looked beautiful. Her dress had gems set in it, so it sparkled but the fabric was dark blue, almost black. Darkness and starlight. Rhys walked over to her and took her hand, smiling. As ridiculous as it was, Azriel was jealous. He would have died a thousand times over to take her hand. He would have loved to tell Rhys how he felt, that he was in love with Myrrh but Azriel knew that telling anyone that could land him in trouble with her father.

Through the night, Azriel watched her as she danced with Rhys, with Cassian and various other members of the court. Finally, he felt like enough people had danced with her that he could get away with asking her.

"Hi," he said quietly, coming up next to her.

She turned around and looked a little frightened. In truth, her heart had nearly stopped and now she felt like it was going to beat out of her chest.

"You're speaking to me? I thought you were going to avoid me forever."

"I'm sorry. If you want me to go, I will." Azriel turned to go.

Myrrh grabbed his hand. "No. Don't go. Please."

Azriel felt his heart skip a beat. Her plea for him to stay. He could feel the fire inside, the mating bond burning at him.

"I thought you might like to dance," he said to her.

She nodded and he took her other hand, pulling her towards him. He slid his arm around her waist, holding her other hand gently. Myrrh shivered. His scent was intoxicating and feeling him this close made her want to lose all sense and kiss him. Instead she closed her eyes, soaking everything in with her other senses so she could remember this moment.

Azriel watched her carefully. He could smell her, something like jasmine and lavender, every time he took a breath. He wanted to be alone with her. He wanted to tell her how he felt. He glanced around and saw that everyone was occupied. Rhys was flirting with a girl. Cassian was missing, likely already off with a girl. Myrrh's parents were on opposite side of the courtyard both talking with people.

Very carefully, Azriel moved her across the courtyard until they were more in shadow. Then he could hide them better.

"Would you come for a walk with me?" he asked her.

She opened her eyes, looking into his, and nodded.

With another quick glance to make sure nobody noticed, he started down the path that led to the orchard. She walked next to him and the air around them was thick with tension.

"Your father has told me that I am going to be here with him," he told her.

"Here?" she asked, "As in, Velaris, at court?"

Azriel nodded.

Myrrh felt the hair on her neck stand up. She didn't know how she could stand to have so close all the time.

"You look beautiful," Azriel whispered to her.

"Thank you."

Suddenly, she reached over and hugged him, her arms wrapping around his neck. He slipped his arms around her, feeling her close to him.

"I was worried the whole time you were gone," she told him.

"You shouldn't have been. I can take care of myself."

She found herself looking into his hazel eyes again. He was holding her hands in his. He was so close. Up above, the stars began their show but neither one noticed. They seemed to be getting closer, as if pulled by a magnet. Now he was so close, she could she the flecks of green and brown in his irises.

He felt her eyelashes brush his cheek as she closed her eyes. Gently, he lifted her chin and felt his lips meet hers.

If either of them had questioned their mating bond before, that moment made it clear. The gentle kiss caused fireworks to go off and both of them to lose any sense of reason. Azriel slipped his arms around her waist again, pulling her close to him, feeling the desire for her in his soul. She wrapped her arms around his neck and one of her hands tangled into his hair. She thought her heart might stop, it was beating so hard.

The gentle, shy kiss deepened as Azriel pulled her closer, fitting her body to his. Any second, he thought, he was going to burst into flames and be consumed by her.

"Myrrh?" came Rhys' voice.

Abruptly, Azriel stepped back, his hands behind his back, trying to look uninterested.

"I'm over here," she yelled back.

The scent of their bond was in the air and there was no way to hide it. Myrrh glanced over at Azriel and he looked up toward the sky.

"There you are. You vanished. I was a little worried." Rhys looked at Azriel suspiciously. "What are you two doing?"

"I wanted to go for a walk and get some fresh air. Azriel offered to walk with me, to keep me safe," Myrrh explained.

Azriel tried to look like this story wasn't new to him.

"Huh. Ok," said Rhys casually. "What's the smell?"

"What smell?" asked Myrrh.

Rhys eyed his sister carefully. She had her shields up so her couldn't really tell what she was thinking although if he really wanted to, he could push his way in. Azriel was his friend though and he wasn't the type you had to worry about around your sister. He brushed away the inkling in his mind that said Myrrh wasn't telling him something. He threw his arm around his sister's shoulders.

"Come on, let's go see the stars from the roof."

Myrrh glanced behind her at Azriel. "Coming?" she asked.

"In a minute," he replied.

He watched Rhys and Myrrh walk away, listening to them chat with each other. He ran his hands through his hair, recalling the feeling of her hands there. He could still feel her kiss burning on his lips. After a few minutes, he walked slowly back towards the party. He'd meet them on the roof and sit in the background, watching her goof around with her brother. He would laugh too. From now on, every moment would be spent watching her, keeping her safe. And perhaps soon, another kiss.