Chapter 168 My Angel | 061
NOELLE
I can't take my eyes off Azren. He's with his dad now. They're having a conversation on the couch. There's no awkwardness at all. Just two men with quite enough history between them. Azren snorts at something his dad says, and Kaziel smiles.
Gosh, looking at them like this makes my stomach tingle in the best way. It hits me how alike they look. The thought hits me then. Will Azren look the way Kaziel looks now when he's much older? Aging like fine wine? And I'll be by his side even then?
The thought sends my heart fluttering. Thinking about the way he'd mentioned marrying me again has me emotional now because I realize that I just don't like him. My feelings for him have grown so much, I can't even imagine my life without him.
"Wow, look at that smile," a gentle voice speaks behind me, and I nearly jump out of my skin.
I turn behind me from my position on the stairs. It's Levi. He's sitting right there. I didn't even hear him get here.
"Don't do that," I groan, and he grins.
He leans towards me, and I notice that his eyes are misty and there's a heavy sadness there.
"I heard that you were here when my dad was...uh...you know?"
I nod slowly.
He's not like himself right now. I know he's usually mischievous and all. But I'm starting to think all of that is a mask.
"I kind of feel guilty for not being here, you know? Azalea gave me the stink eye when I came back earlier. Thank you for being here, really," he utters softly.
I watch his face for a moment, not wanting to pry. But he's basically family now, isn't he?
"Levi," I say, and he blinks. "Is everything okay with you?"
He lowers his gaze and starts fiddling with his fingers, his shoulders slumped. A little smile tugs at his lips.
"I guess I'm not doing a good job at hiding it," he mumbles.
Now, I'm really concerned.
"I...I messed up," he whispers. "My dad is going to kill me."
I wait, not pushing him. If he feels comfortable enough to tell me, I will gladly listen. But if not, that's okay too.
He sighs, folding his arms on his knees and resting his chin there.
"You can't tell anyone, okay?" He whispers, and I nod immediately.
He hesitates further, releasing a shaky exhale.
"I... I'm a father now."
My eyes go wide.
"Levi, this is huge," I tell him in a low voice.
He nods. "I know."
"How about the baby's mother? Are you two in a relationship?" I ask gently.
"Well...we kind of are. But it's complicated. We can't...we're not supposed to have a baby together. It's too dangerous—"
"What are you two doing?"
We both look up to see Azalea above us on the stairs, her arms folded. She narrows her eyes for a moment. Then she smiles, hurrying down and settling on the stairs between the both of us.
"Involve me in your gossip," she says, and I smile weakly.
Now this is awkward.
"Noelle," she pouts. "I'm really sorry about that day I called you an attention seeker. You're not mad at me, are you? Please forgive me."
She rests her head on my shoulder, and I smile, patting her hair.
"How can I be mad? You were under a spell," I tell her, and she smiles weakly.
"I've been having nightmares about that night. I really wanted to apologize, but I was scared you'd be pissed," she says in a high-pitched voice, and I flick her on the forehead lightly.
"Don't be ridiculous!" I say, and she grins.
"My friends and I will be having a pool party soon, want to join? It's going to be fun, I promise," she tells me, and I wince.
I've never attended anything like that. Plus, I'm not sure how I'll look in a bikini.
"You have to come. I can't wait to show you off," she says, and I blush.
Show me off? She's really putting me on a high pedestal here, and I don't know how to feel about it.
"I'll think about it," I mumble.
"Angel?" My husband calls, and I perk up instantly.
He's still with his father, but his gaze is fixed on me. He holds out a hand towards me, and a grin breaks out on my face before I can stop it. I rise to my feet, trying not to break into a sprint and fool myself.
I don't even realize I've crossed the room until Azren's hand catches mine.
He tugs gently, guiding me closer, and before I can even ask what he's doing, he pulls me down onto his lap.
A soft gasp slips out of me. “Az—"
"Stay," he murmurs, one arm wrapping around my waist.
My face heats instantly, especially with Kaziel right there, but Azren doesn't seem the least bit concerned. If anything, he settles deeper into the couch, his chin brushing my shoulder like he needs the contact.
And... I let myself relax into him. Because I do too.
Kaziel watches us quietly for a moment. There's something different in his eyes now. Not just exhaustion or pain. Something softer and warmer. It looks a lot like gratitude.
“Your wound…what really happened? Why isn’t it healing?” I ask, and he smiles.
“I was caught off guard. Nyxara came to me in her previous form. She used a cursed weapon to ensure that I would bleed to death,” he tells me, and my heart sinks.
“If your wound is cursed, then—”
Kaziel shakes his head. “The curse broke because Nyxara has been weakened. But the dark energy from the curse lingers. It’s why I still feel unwell. My son’s blood helps, though. The wound is healing, but it’s happening quite slowly.”
I nod in understanding, determined to help.
He adjusts himself slightly, wincing faintly.
"Noelle," he says in a gentle voice.
I straighten up a little on Azren's lap, suddenly nervous.
"Yes?"
He studies me like he's trying to find the right words.
Then his expression softens even more.
"Thank you," he says.
The words are simple. But they hit hard.
My brows pull together slightly. "You don't have to—"
"I do," he cuts in softly.
Azren's hand tightens a little at my waist. Kaziel exhales.
"You stayed when things were... bad," he continues. "You protected him. You protected all of us, whether you realize it or not."
My throat tightens.
"I didn't do anything special," I whisper.
"You did," he says firmly. "You chose us."
That lands somewhere deep in my chest. Kaziel's gaze shifts briefly to Azren, then back to me.
"He's different with you," he adds, a faint smile touching his lips. "He’s calmer and lighter. Like he finally remembers he's allowed to breathe."
My eyes sting unexpectedly.
Azren huffs behind me. "Careful, Dad. You're getting sentimental."
Kaziel chuckles weakly. "I'm allowed. I nearly died."
"That's not funny," Azren mutters, though there's no real bite to it.
I can feel his chest rise and fall against my back, steady. And that comforts me more than anything.
Kaziel's attention returns to me, more serious this time.
"Take care of him," he says. "He won't always ask for it. In fact, he'll probably fight it. But... he needs it."
My fingers curl slightly against Azren's arm.
"I will," I promise.
There's no hesitation in it. Not even a shred of doubt.
A small silence settles over us, but it's not uncomfortable. It's... peaceful. The kind that feels earned.
Azren's fingers start tracing slow, absent patterns against my side, almost as though he doesn't even realize he's doing it. Then his lips brush the shell of my ear.
“Earlier. On the stairs. You were staring at me,” he says, and heat floods my face.
This is what happens when you have a partner who isn’t subtle at all. Ugh!
"I was not staring—"
"You were imagining our future," he whispers, his voice low and laced with amusement. "I could feel it."
My heart stumbles. He's not supposed to know that.
I try to turn my head to glare at him, but he tightens his arm just enough to keep me in place.
"Don't deny it," he adds softly.
I huff under my breath. "You're impossible."
"And you love it."
...I don't answer that. Because he's right.
For a moment, there’s a brief pause. Then his tone shifts and becomes lighter, but with that familiar trace of mischief underneath.
"Go get ready," he rasps against my ear.
I blink. "For what?"
He leans in just a little closer.
"Shopping," he replies.
I pull back slightly, turning my head to look at him. "Shopping?"
His lips twitch.
"You said you needed clothes the other day," he reminds me. "And I intend to fix that problem properly."
My eyes narrow slightly. "Properly sounds expensive."
"It is," he agrees without hesitation.
Kaziel snorts softly from the couch.
"That's my son," he mutters.
Azren smirks, completely unapologetic. I shake my head, trying not to smile.
"You're unbelievable," I tell him.
"Get ready anyway," he replies, brushing his thumb along my side. "Humor me."
I hesitate for a second. Then I sigh.
"Fine," I mumble.
He presses a quick kiss just behind my ear. "Good girl."
My entire face combusts.
"Oh my—Azren!"
He just chuckles, completely unbothered. And I love that. I really do. What can I say? I’m a sucker for Azren Lakewood.
Upstairs, I’m just about to start getting ready when the mark on my wrist suddenly glows brighter.
I freeze, clutching at the wrist, my brows furrowed.
“What the…” I breathe.
In that moment, an all-consuming heat shoots through my body, my vision blurring.