Chapter 126 Perfect Cover

Chapter 126 Perfect Cover
Eldoria Clan, that's the clan we'll claim to belong to. We won't reveal our true identities so they'll let us in. You can use your real name since they don't know who you are. I'll use an alias. Vlanchard Clan is known for their hospitality, so getting in shouldn't be difficult. Once we're inside, I'll make my move."

Whoa. That was a clever idea.

"What am I supposed to do?" I asked, thrilled.

Azi turned his head to look at me, and I met his gaze. He furrowed his brows. "Didn't I tell you not to leave my side? That's your job."

I pouted. "But... I want to do something else. I want to contribute to the success of this mission. This is my first time out, and it would really mean a lot to me."

An amused smile played on his lips. "Yeah. I guess you're right." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Damn. You're catching on faster than I expected."

"Aww. Look at you, giving me a compliment." I couldn't help but laugh.

"Uhm. I can't think of anything specific for you right now. We'll figure it out once we get there," he explained, and I agreed. "For now... stick to your primary job. Don't leave my side."

Without realizing what came over me, I leaned in closer to him and looked straight into his eyes. "This close, Master Azi?" I asked.

The smile on his lips vanished instantly.

"A-ah..." My face contorted in awkwardness. Shit.

I was about to pull back when his hand gripped my arm. I stared back into his eyes, where the reflection of the flickering fire danced.

"Yeah." His Adam's apple bobbed. "I want you to always stay this close to me."

My gaze drifted down from his eyes to his lips. A sudden magnetic force seemed to draw me toward them. Before I could process what I was doing, my lips met his.

He didn't respond to the kiss at first. I froze, suddenly coming to my senses as I realized what I had just initiated. I pulled back slightly. "S-sorry..."

I attempted to pull away completely, but his hand moved to the back of my neck. He pulled my lips back onto his, but this time, he kissed me back.

Kissing him felt like drowning, as if he was pulling the very air out of my lungs. I was neither naive nor foolish enough not to recognize the strange, looming emotion welling up inside me.

Tears spilled from my eyes as I shoved him away. I stood up quickly and walked away, my breathing heavy and ragged. I stopped at the entrance of the cave, staring out at the rain as it began to lighten.

No. I don't want this.

I sniffed, wiping away my tears. What am I supposed to do? This is wrong, and we both know it.

I heard the sound of approaching footsteps rushing toward me. I kept my back turned, staring fixedly at the rain... until I felt his jacket being draped over my exposed skin.

"Put your clothes on. I'll check the perimeter," Azi said quietly before stepping past me and heading outside. He was fully clothed now. He hesitated, looking as if he might glance back at me, but I turned around and headed back deeper into the cave.

Trembling, I knew I had crossed a line.

My clothes had dried, so I put them back on and packed my belongings neatly inside my bag. Once finished, I sat back down by the fire to wait for Azi.

"Shit," I whispered, feeling an overwhelming weight on my chest. "No. I refuse to end up like Tabitha."

There was only one way to counter this mess, focus on someone else. Right. I need to focus my attention on Lord Maximus once we return. It benefits both Azi and me that way.

Though deep down, I still held onto the faint hope that this sudden emotion was just a reaction to the freezing cold weather.

Azi returned and untied Sigrid. I stood up as he used dirt to extinguish the fire. He did all of this without making eye contact with me once.

"It doesn't look like the rain is going to stop completely," he said after the fire was out. "It's just a light drizzle now, so we can move. We can't afford to wait here any longer."

I took a deep breath. "Yeah. Looks like the rain won't be clearing up anytime soon."

He mounted Sigrid. I didn't wait for him to extend his hand this time, I climbed up behind him on my own. Instead of wrapping my arms around him, I settled for gripping the fabric of his jacket.

"The trail is a bit slick," Azi noted as he guided Sigrid out of the cave. "It's safer to wrap your arms around my waist than to just hold onto my jacket, Shekina."

Left with no choice, I wrapped my arms around him. My grip was loose, so he reached back, grabbed my arms, and pulled them tight against himself.

"Let me take us there..." he said.

The crisp breeze brushed against my skin as we stepped outside. The muddy path clung to Sigrid’s hooves, leaving clear tracks in our wake. Drops of rain still clung to the green leaves around us.

After traveling for a few hours, we emerged onto clean ground, free of towering trees and thick brush. In the distance, bright torches flickered clearly against the sky.

"We're here..." Azi said.

A massive wooden gate stood ahead, guarded by two sentries, which quickly became three as they spotted us approaching. They immediately drew their weapons.

"Maybe they aren't as hospitable as you said," I muttered under my breath.

Azi dismounted to approach them, completely unfazed by the sharp swords pointed directly at him. He was clearly accustomed to these situations.

"Which clan is this?" Azi asked calmly. "It was raining heavily earlier, and my wife and I got lost. Could we take shelter here for the night?"

What?

"Which group do you belong to?" one of the guards demanded.

"We're from Eldoria Clan, over on the other side of the mountain. If you grant us shelter, we'll inform our leader so you can be rewarded," Azi offered with a warm smile, the kind of smile I rarely saw on him. "I truly apologize for the intrusion. My wife is pregnant, so we desperately need a place to rest."

What?