The stars stretched endlessly above the forest, twinkling like silver tears on velvet. Jayden sat near the fire, legs tucked beneath her, arms wrapped around herself as the night air crept in. The flames flickered low, casting warm gold against the shadows surrounding them.
Azrael sat silently nearby, sharpening the blade of his scythe with almost meditative precision. His cloak draped around his form like a living shadow. His golden eyes, however, flicked to her every few moments—quietly, intently.
Jayden glanced at him, then away, then back again. "You don't sleep?"
"Death doesn't rest," he answered without looking up.
A soft smile curled at her lips. "Of course not."
She hesitated for a moment, then scooted a little closer to the fire. "I... I can't sleep. My thoughts won't stop. And... I keep seeing faces. Ghosts."
He paused his motion but said nothing.
She turned to him with a small hopeful grin. "Wanna play a game?"
Azrael's brow lifted just slightly. "A game?"
"Truth or dare," she said, a little too quickly. "It's something I used to watch the village kids play through the cracks of my window."
Azrael studied her. "Did we not already do this once?"
Jayden laughed softly. "Yeah. And it was fun. Plus, you didn't seem to hate it. Come on. Let me feel a little human."
His head tilted. "Very well. Your rules again."
She brightened. "Okay! I'll start. Truth or dare?"
"Dare."
Jayden grinned. "Take off your gloves."
Azrael raised a brow but complied, slowly peeling off the dark leather gloves that covered his long, strong fingers. Without them, his hands looked almost human, though faint black veins ran up his forearms—like smoke beneath pale marble skin.
Jayden's gaze lingered a bit too long before she looked away. "Your turn."
Azrael didn't miss the way her cheeks warmed. "Truth or dare?"
"Truth."
"Why do you keep looking at me like you're trying to figure out if I'm real?"
She blinked, startled. "...Because you don't feel real. You saved me, threatened an entire royal guard for me, gave me that necklace—" she touched the ruby at her neck, "—and now you sit here like some ancient statue come to life. You're terrifying and comforting at the same time."
Azrael didn't speak. He simply stared, gaze unreadable.
Jayden cleared her throat. "Truth or dare?"
"Dare."
Her eyes glinted with mischief. "Come sit next to me."
He didn't hesitate. In one smooth movement, he rose and settled beside her, close enough that his cloak brushed her bare arm. His warmth radiated like a storm barely restrained.
Jayden swallowed hard. "Okay... your turn."
Azrael didn't look away from her. "Truth or dare?"
"...Dare," she said, more breath than voice.
He lifted a hand—no gloves, no barrier—and gently touched her chin, tilting her face up. His thumb grazed just beneath her lips.
"I dare you," he said lowly, "not to look away."
Her eyes widened.
He held her gaze for a long, soul-deep moment. No kiss. No move closer. Just eyes on eyes, as if peeling her apart and studying what made her break.
Jayden's breath shook. "You're doing it again..."
"Doing what?"
"Looking at me like that."
He smirked faintly. "Like what?"
"Like a wolf who hasn't eaten in centuries."
Azrael leaned in slightly, his voice lowering into silk. "You're the one who brought the game up again... and now you're backing down, mischievous girl?"
She froze, blush rising like fire to her cheeks. "I—I'm not backing down."
His smirk widened. "Mm."
Jayden turned her head, flustered. "You enjoy this, don't you?"
He stood slowly, towering above her. "I enjoy watching you unravel."
She gawked. "You're impossible."
He turned, his back to her, though she didn't miss the satisfied gleam in his golden eyes. "You're the one who started the game."
"I regret nothing," she muttered, grabbing her blanket and curling up.
But as her heart thundered in her chest and her skin still tingled where he touched her, Jayden realized something dangerous was happening. This wasn't just a game anymore.
And the more she looked at him, the more she wasn't sure she wanted it to stop.