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Erica's P.O.V.
After dropping off the tray, I hurried back to my room and locked the door behind me. Leaning against the door, I replayed the events in my mind. My heart raced in my chest, and I still felt the warmth of his touch in the places where his hands had been. The memory of his kiss flooded back—his soft lips pressed against mine, pouring out all his passion. I reached up and touched my lips, still tingling.
"Is this real? Does he really want me?" The thought filled me with excitement, and a part of me longed to be his—only his.
But then reality hit. "No, stop dreaming, Erica. He won't be yours. Besides, Rachel is his mistress. The last thing you need is to destroy their relationship."
With that thought, I forced myself to clear away the fantasies of being with Azreal. I needed to focus on my true purpose: saving the ones I loved from the war. But for some reason, despite all my attempts to suppress it, I couldn't shake the hurt that lingered in my chest.
I went over to prepare my bath, picking out my nightgown before stepping into the warm water. After a quick bath, I changed and climbed into bed. But no matter how hard I tried, my thoughts kept drifting back to Azreal. I tossed and turned for what felt like hours before finally falling into a restless sleep, my heart heavy with the hope that I wouldn't fall for him.
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Erica's Dream
I opened my eyes, but quickly shut them again as the wild wind whipped around me, sending chills through my body.
"Erica!" I heard Azreal's voice—weak, distant. Panic surged through me, my heart clenched, and I struggled to open my eyes. Using my hands to shield myself from the dust, I squinted through the haze, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The wind thickened, making it harder to see.
I stumbled over something that didn't feel like stone. I bent down, reaching out, and my fingers brushed against something cold and heavy. My stomach turned as I realized it was a body. My hands, now covered in something warm and wet, confirmed my worst fear: blood.
I pulled my hands back, trembling in horror, and looked at them. My body shivered as goosebumps crept over my skin. The mist around me cleared, revealing a horrifying scene—dead bodies littering the ground.
"Argh!" I couldn't stop the scream that tore from my throat. My vision blurred, my body trembling uncontrollably. Just when I thought I might collapse, I felt a warm embrace from behind, and I froze.
"Azreal!" I stammered, relief flooding me as I turned to face him. My heart pounded in my chest. I checked him over frantically, ensuring he was unharmed. Only then did I allow myself to pull him into a tight hug, tears spilling down my face.
"Relax, I'm here. Don't be afraid," he whispered softly in my ear, his voice calming my panic. "I'll get us out of here."
I looked up at him, my eyes clouded with tears, and he wiped them away with his cold hands.
"How touching!" Asher's voice echoed around us, sending a chill down my spine. I didn't realize I was gripping Azreal's shirt until he gently took my hands in his, whispering, "Don't worry, I'm here. I'll protect you."
His words calmed me, but only a little. I turned my gaze toward the source of Asher's voice, and there he stood—smiling that maddening, smug grin, his bloodshot eyes filled with malice. He dragged my father's sword behind him, his aura radiating bloodlust.
"Now we end this!" Asher shouted, his eyes fixed on Azreal. Before I could react, he lunged toward us. Azreal shoved me out of the way just in time, and they collided in a fierce battle.
My heart clenched as I watched the two of them fight, Azreal dodging blows and striking back. For a while, it seemed like Azreal was gaining the upper hand, but soon it became clear that Asher's attacks were getting more brutal. Azreal was starting to weaken, and my stomach churned with fear.
I couldn't just stand there anymore. I ran forward, but a strange force stopped me—some kind of invisible barrier. I slammed my fists against it in panic, screaming for Azreal to be left alone. But it was too late. I watched, helpless, as Asher's sword plunged deep into Azreal's side.
A sharp pain sliced through me as if a part of my soul had been torn away. My legs buckled, and I collapsed to the ground. Asher's sickening grin grew wider as he looked down at me. The barrier fell, and I crawled desperately toward Azreal's bleeding body, tears streaming down my face.
"Enough! It's time to go." Asher's cold voice rang in my ears as he grabbed me, dragging me away from Azreal.
I screamed in agony, my throat raw with pain, but he didn't let go. The bloodied ground beneath me seemed to pull me down into despair.
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Erica's P.O.V. (Awakening)
I awoke with a start, panting heavily, drenched in sweat. My heart pounded in my chest as I scrambled out of bed, my whole body trembling. I rushed to the door, throwing it open, only to find Azreal standing right outside.
His eyes softened with concern as he stepped into the room, pulling me into his arms. His spicy scent filled my senses, grounding me.
"I heard you scream. What happened?" His voice was gentle, but it only reminded me of the nightmare I'd just experienced. I pulled away from him, my chest tight with fear.
I couldn't keep the truth from him. I looked him in the eye, my voice shaky. "Azreal, I saw you die. I can't watch you fight for me anymore. I won't let you risk your life."
His expression softened, but his eyes held a quiet determination. "Erica, this fight has everything to do with me. I won't let you go so easily. Don't you know how important you are to me?"
The words hung in the air between us, heavy with unspoken emotions. The silence stretched on before I finally spoke again, my voice barely a whisper.
"Asher hurt you in my dream. I saw it. I can't let that happen."
Azreal reached up, gently cupping my chin and lifting my face to meet his. His cold fingers wiped away my tears, just like in my dream. "I won't let him get to me. I'll make sure I come back to you."
My heart skipped a beat, and despite my fear, I felt a flicker of hope.
"Let me go with you," I begged, but he shook his head, his voice firm.
"No, it's time to sleep."
"I don't want to sleep," I protested, my fear of closing my eyes overwhelming me. But before I could argue further, Azreal lifted me effortlessly into his arms and laid me back onto the bed.
"This isn't appropriate, Azreal..." I started to protest, but he silenced me with a finger to my lips before pulling me close to him.
"It's time to sleep," he said, his voice soft but insistent.
I didn't argue further, my mind spinning as I lay beside him. Slowly, my racing thoughts began to slow, and my eyelids grew heavy. For the first time in what felt like forever, my troubled heart calmed, and I drifted into a peaceful sleep.
---
Morning
The warm sunlight filled the room as the first rays of dawn illuminated the bed. Erica's lashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she did was search for the man who had been beside her the night before, but he was gone. A pang of disappointment hit her heart, but she pushed it aside, getting out of bed and preparing for the day ahead.
After a quick bath and a change into fresh clothes, Erica left her room with confidence, ignoring the curious glances from the staff. She made her way to Azreal's room, knocking at the door, but there was no answer. She knocked again, but still nothing.
As she turned to leave, she ran into Miss Grump, who greeted her with a warm smile.
"Good morning, my lady. What brings you here this early?"
"Morning, Miss Grump. I was looking for the king."
"Oh, you won't find him now. He left earlier this morning with his men," Miss Grump replied before continuing on her way.
Erica's smile vanished, and panic surged within her. Her mind raced with the images from her nightmare. "I need to leave before I'm too late," she whispered to herself, determination hardening in her chest.
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