Chapter 46 Jealousy
Morning came with a knock on the door.
Lilith opened it to find Lady Morgana standing there. Smiling. Too sweetly.
“Good morning, Lady Lilith. I thought perhaps I could show you around the city today. Give you a proper tour.” Her voice was honey. Poisoned honey. “Lord Azrael is occupied with council matters. I’d hate for you to be bored.”
“That’s kind of you, but…”
“Wonderful! I’ll meet you in the courtyard in an hour.” She left before Lilith could refuse.
Sera appeared from the connecting door. “That woman is up to something.”
“Definitely.”
“Are you going?”
“Do I have a choice?” Lilith sighed. “Refusing would be rude. And I need to understand this place. Even if my guide hates me.”
“Want me to come?”
“No. Stay here. If I’m not back by dinner, assume she murdered me and hid the body.”
“Comforting.”
The city tour started innocently enough.
Lady Morgana showed her the markets. The gardens. The military training grounds. All while providing commentary laced with subtle jabs.
“Lord Azrael built all of this from nothing,” Morgana said. “Centuries of work. Planning. Sacrifice. It takes someone who truly understands him to appreciate the scope of his achievement.”
“It’s impressive,” Lilith said carefully.
“Yes. Though I suppose it’s difficult to grasp when you’ve only known him a few weeks.” Her smile was sharp. “I’ve known him for three hundred years. Watched him build this kingdom. Supported him through wars and politics and everything in between.”
“That’s quite a history.”
“Indeed.” Morgana stopped at a fountain. Beautiful. Intricate. “He commissioned this for me once. A gift. He can be surprisingly thoughtful when he wants to be.”
The implication was clear.
Lilith said nothing.
“Tell me, Lady Lilith,” Morgana continued, her voice light. Conversational. “Do you truly believe you’re suited for him? For this?”
“I’m not trying to”
“Of course you are. That’s why you’re here. Learning his kingdom. Spending time in his palace. Wearing dresses meant to impress him.” Morgana’s eyes were cold. “But you’re a child playing dress up. He needs a partner. Someone with experience. Knowledge. History.”
“Someone like you?”
“Exactly like me.” No pretense now. Just honesty. Sharp and cutting. “I’ve waited centuries. Supported him. Stood by him. And now some girl appears because of a prophecy and suddenly I’m supposed to step aside?”
“I didn’t ask for this.”
“Doesn’t matter. You’re here. And you’re in my way.”
Before Lilith could respond, Morgana walked away. Back toward the palace.
Lilith stood alone by the fountain. Hands shaking. Angry and confused and something else she didn’t want to name.
Jealousy.
She was jealous of Morgana’s history with Azrael. Of three hundred years she could never compete with. Of a connection built over centuries instead of weeks.
And she hated that she felt it.
That evening, there was a formal council session.
Lilith attended. Sitting beside Azrael. Watching him work.
He was impressive. Commanding. Every word deliberate. Every decision confident. This was his element.
Morgana stood to his left. Official position as Master of Standards. Close. Too close.
Lilith watched her. Watched how Morgana leaned in when speaking to him. How her hand touched his arm when making a point. How she smiled at him like they shared secrets.
Azrael was professional. Polite. Nothing inappropriate.
But he didn’t pull away either and Lilith wanted to burn the entire room down.
“Lady Lilith?” Lord Theron was speaking to her. “Your thoughts on the trade proposal?”
She’d missed the entire discussion.
“I” She forced herself to focus. To push down the irrational anger. “Could you summarize the key points again? I want to make sure I understand completely.”
Smooth. Professional. Lucian would be proud.
Lord Theron obliged. She listened. Responded intelligently. Saved herself from embarrassment.
But she felt Morgana’s satisfied smile from across the room.
After the session, Lilith headed back to her chambers. Alone. Needing space.
Morgana cornered her in a quiet corridor.
“Well done today,” she said. “You almost looked competent.”
“What do you want?”
“To be clear. Since you seem a bit slow on the uptake.” Morgana stepped closer. Invading space. “Azrael is mine. Has been for centuries. Will be long after you’re gone. You’re a distraction. A temporary obligation. But I’m permanent.”
“Does he know that?”
“He knows where he belongs. Who understands him. Who’s stood by him through everything.” Her smile was vicious. “You think a few weeks of training and some pretty dresses make you worthy of him? You’re a child. You don’t know him. Don’t understand what he needs. Can’t give him what I’ve given him for three hundred years.”
“And what’s that?”
“Everything.” Morgana’s voice dropped. Intimate. “I know him better than anyone. Know what he wants. What he fears. What he dreams about late at night when no one’s watching. I’ve shared his bed. His throne. His life. You’ve shared what? A few stolen moments during training?”
The words hit like physical blows.
“You’re lying,” Lilith said. But her voice wavered.
“Am I? Ask him yourself. Ask about our history. About what we’ve been to each other.” Morgana leaned closer. “You’re nineteen. You’re nothing. You’re a prophesied obligation that he’s trying to make the best of. But when this is over, when you’ve made your choice and moved on, I’ll still be here. I’ll always be here.”
“Get away from me.”
“Gladly. Just remember you’re temporary. I’m forever.” Morgana walked away. Heels clicking on marble.
Lilith stood alone in the corridor. Shaking. Fighting tears. Hating herself for feeling this much.
She wasn’t supposed to care. Wasn’t supposed to be jealous. Wasn’t supposed to feel like her chest was cracking open.
But she did.
Sera found her ten minutes later. Sitting on the floor outside her chambers. Staring at nothing.
“What happened?”
“Morgana happened.” Lilith’s voice was hollow. “She told me she and Azrael have history. Three hundred years of it. That I’m temporary. That she’s permanent. That she knows him better than I ever will.”
“She’s trying to get in your head.”
“It’s working.” Lilith looked up. “Is she right? Am I just a prophesied obligation he’s trying to make the best of? A distraction before his real life continues?”
“You’re spiraling.”
“I’m being realistic. She’s known him for centuries. I’ve known him weeks. She’s stood by him through wars and politics. I barely understand how to survive dinner with his council. She’s” Lilith stopped. “She’s everything I’m not.”
“She’s also a manipulative bitch.”
Despite everything, Lilith almost smiled.
“Come on.” Sera helped her up. “You need to talk to him. Ask him directly instead of letting her poison you with implications.”
“I can’t.”
“You can. And you will. Because otherwise you’ll spend the next week and a half torturing yourself.” Sera squeezed her hand. “Face it. Whatever the truth is. Face it.”
Lilith stood outside Azrael’s door for ten minutes. Hand raised to knock. Frozen.
Finally, she knocked. Before she could lose her nerve completely.
He opened it immediately. Still in formal attire. Exhausted.
“Lilith, is everything…”
“Did you sleep with her?” The words came out harsher than intended.
Azrael went very still. “What?”
“Morgana. Did you sleep with her? Are you were you together?”
His expression shifted. Understanding. Then anger. “What did she say to you?”
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“Yes. It does. Because whatever she said was designed to hurt you. To make you doubt.” He stepped closer. “What exactly did she tell you?”
“That you’ve been together. That she knows you better than anyone. That I’m temporary and she’s permanent. That she’s shared your bed and your throne and your life for three hundred years.” Lilith’s voice cracked. “Is it true?”
Azrael was quiet for a long moment.
“Some of it,” he said finally.
The words hit like a punch to the gut.