I hesitated, then did as he bid. It wasn't very long before I heard them behind me, Jak cursing like a trooper as he once again scraped his way through the tunnel. Quinn had left rope dangling into the pit earlier, so even with my various aches and pains, it was fairly easy to climb out.
I'd barely crawled through the gap in the roller door when Azriel took my hands in his and gently pulled me upright.
He didn't immediately say anything, just kept hold of my hands as his gaze swept me. His expression gave little away, but his anger and concern raged through my inner being, the sheer force of it rocking me back on my heels. Maybe Quinn hadn't been overstating when he'd said Azriel had been frantic. And while that thought warmed me, the snarky voice deep within couldn't help but note that if anything happened to me, his mission would fail. And in the end, his mission was everything.
"You cannot keep going like this," he said eventually. "It will be the death of you."
"Yeah, well, tell that to the bad guys who keep attacking us." I pulled my hands from his, even though all I really wanted to do was step fully into his embrace and let the heat and warm strength of him melt into my bones and make me feel safe.
And I didn't care if that feeling of safety was as temporary as the man himself.
"Ris—" He stopped.
I shifted briefly into Aedh form to stop the bleeding, then crossed my arms and regarded him steadily. "I'm glad you didn't bother denying the temporary situation, Azriel, because really, how can you ever be anything else? Especially when you don't want anything else?"
"You have no idea what I do and don't want." It was vehemently said.
"No," I agreed. "But to be honest, I don't really think you do, either."
I resolutely turned away, suddenly too tired to get into a fight with him again. It didn't help. Awareness of him whispered through me: the flex of his fingers, the slow release of breath, the close shimmer of heat as he reached for—but didn't quite touch—me.
I know what I want, Risa. His thoughts ran through my mind like whiskey on a cold night—warm, and yet with an edge that bit. And for both our sakes, you had better hope I never decide to take it.
That sounds like a threat, reaper.
It is nothing more than honesty.
And as usual, you being honest doesn't actually tell me a whole lot, does it? I shook my head slightly. One of these days, Azriel, you might just regret your reticence.