Ilyas paced in his room, irritation growing with each passing minute. The maid's behavior had been unacceptable, and her fear of Azurel, his treasured brother, felt insulting. But as the rain continued to pour, guilt gnawed at him. Maybe he had been too harsh. Deciding to bring her back inside, he headed toward the door.
As Ilyas stepped out into the rain, he was greeted by an unexpected sight. Against the stone wall of the house stood Azurel. His tall frame bent down, his lips capturing the maid's mouth in a heated kiss. Her hands pushed against his chest, trying to resist, but Azurel held her firmly in place, pinning her to the wall.
Ilyas's eyes widened in shock, but he didn't intervene. Instead, he watched, curiosity piqued. How had this happened?
The maid struggled against Azurel, her muffled protests drowned by the rain. Fear radiated from her, but there was also a strange intensity in her response.
Ilyas moved closer, unnoticed by the two. He observed with a mixture of fascination and confusion. Azurel's actions were unexpected, and the maid's reaction was unlike anything he had seen before. She was scared, yes, but there was also a vulnerability that seemed to draw Azurel in.
Finally, Azurel broke the kiss, his breathing heavy. He looked down at the maid, his expression softening slightly.
"Stop resisting," he murmured, barely audible over the rain. "I'm not your enemy."
Her eyes shimmered with tears, but she stopped struggling. She looked up at Azurel, her chest heaving, and nodded slowly.
Ilyas didn't step in. He simply watched, his dark eyes curious, as if trying to decipher the mystery unfolding before him.
*****
The storm raged around her as she stood, soaked to the bone, shivering beneath the dark sky. She could still feel Azurel's touch lingering on her skin, the way his blue eyes had held her captive. Memories of the man from another land who had kidnapped her and nearly sold her flooded her mind, and she sobbed. Ilyas had saved her just in time.
Her tears mingled with the rain as she struggled to understand how everything had gone so terribly wrong.
But as she stood there, defeated and heartbroken, movement behind her caught her attention.
Azurel had followed her outside.
His soaked blonde hair clung to his face, rain dripping down the sharp lines of his jaw. His drenched white robe clung to his body, outlining the sculpted contours beneath.
His blue eyes gleamed like ice against the stormy backdrop, striking and intense as they locked onto her trembling form. The rain only made them more vivid, more piercing, as if he could see right through her.
Every breath she took was shallow, her pulse quickening as Azurel approached, his movements deliberate. He looked almost otherworldly—a figure of power and allure. The contrast of his fair hair and blue eyes against the dark, wet surroundings made him seem both dangerous and mesmerizing.
He now stood over her, his gaze unyielding. The rain cascaded down his face, his lips parting slightly, as if to speak—but instead, he just watched her. The tension between them grew with every passing second.
With wide eyes, she tried to run, but Azurel quickly followed, pinning her against the cold stone wall. She trembled, avoiding eye contact, her body wet and vulnerable. Without warning, Azurel kissed her.
She gasped as his hand gripped her arm, pulling her against the wall. His hands were firm yet gentle as he pinned her there, rain falling relentlessly around them. "You're not running from me this time," he whispered darkly, sending shivers down her spine.
Her pulse raced as she weakly pushed against his chest. "P-please..." she whispered, her voice trembling with fear and confusion. "I-I didn't mean—"
"I don't care what you meant," Azurel interrupted, his breath warm against her ear as his lips brushed her neck. "You're always so afraid of me, but have I ever hurt you?"
His fingers trailed down her arm, tracing her wet skin. She trembled beneath his touch, torn between fear and something she couldn't understand.
Her teary eyes met his again—those impossibly blue, mesmerizing eyes. For a fleeting moment, she was lost in them, forgetting why she had been so scared.
Azurel's gaze softened, though his grip remained firm. "Tell me... why are you so afraid of me? Am I really so different from him?"
Before she could answer, she noticed something.
Ilyas stood nearby, his expression unreadable as he silently observed the scene unfolding in front of him. The maid's breath hitched, realizing he had been watching all along without stopping what was happening. She wanted to cry out, to beg for help, but the words wouldn't come.
Azurel leaned in, his lips hovering just above hers. "Don't be so quick to run," he whispered softly. "You might find you like this."
At last, Ilyas stepped forward, making his presence known.
"Azurel," he called out, his voice firm but not unkind.
Azurel turned, surprise flickering in his eyes. "Ilyas."
For a brief moment, their eyes met—brother to brother—before Ilyas's gaze shifted to the maid, still pinned against the wall.
Ilyas approached them, glancing between the two. "What's going on here?" he asked, though his tone was more curious than accusatory.
Azurel straightened, his expression unreadable. "I was... making a point," he said vaguely.
Ilyas looked at the maid, trembling and soaked. He sighed, irritation fading. "Come inside," he said gently. "Both of you."
The maid glanced at him, unsure of what to expect, but slowly nodded.
As they entered the grand estate, The maid followed Ilyas, feeling protected by his presence. When Jasmina saw her, she said nothing, though the maid clung to Ilyas, afraid Jasmina might throw her out again.
Azurel felt a pang of jealousy as he saw the maid clinging to Ilyas. Ilyas, however, averted his gaze from her soaked form, her wet clothes clinging lewdly to her body.
"Go get changed," he ordered softly.
Ilyas said nothing more and disappeared into another room with Azurel. The maid, desperate to escape the tension, hurried to the servants' quarters, heart pounding in her chest.
*****
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