Amid the dangerous situation, none of them could sleep peacefully. They managed to get only a few hours of sleep before waking up and preparing to head to the Aquillian Palace.
"Be careful," Roxanna said to Azul. She gently brushed the loose strands of hair away from his face and tucked them behind his ear.
Since they would likely spend the day doing a lot of physical activities—especially fighting—they had tied their hair back.
"I will," Azul replied softly. He smiled at her before pulling her into a tight hug. "I'm sorry I haven't been myself these past few days."
Roxanna couldn't honestly say that nothing had changed because Azul really was different from the man she knew back in the Vixeria Tribe.
Everything about the Devourers and his homeland had taken a heavy toll on him. The bright spark that used to fill his eyes had faded, and she could hardly remember the last time she had seen him smile so freely.
However, none of it was his fault.
