#abh x audrey

[lxvesicklili]

— ✦ Yearning ✦ —

✦ Pairing: Raphael x Audrey (MC) ✦ Book: Astrea's Broken Heart ✦ Rating: T ✦ Warning: Slight cursing ✦ Tagging: @rc-catalog ✦ Note: My second submission for "RC Catalog Vday!" The prompt used is: star-crossed lovers. This one made me quite sad but it was fun to write <3 Comments and reblogs are always appreciated!

Her fingers ached to touch him,

To be his anchor, 

“Look at me, love me, let your light shine.”

She pleaded, her eyes full of hope,

“Only gaze at me with that tenderness,”

Hold me, love me,

Sweet Raphael,

You, who hides behind masks—

Let me strip them away,

Let me set you free,

Let me hold you, let me love you.

And for the sake of all that is gentle,

All that is pure,

Do not gaze at me with such softness,

Laced with longing—

It cuts too deep.

“Do you…” Audrey began, fiddling with the hem of her skirt as she sat on his bed. Her voice was hesitant, unsure, but she forced herself to finish asking the question she had in her mind. It had been marinating for so long, and now it itched to be let out.

The evaluator cleared her throat. Raphael’s attention was now fully on her.

“Do you think it—us—would have worked out if you were also a human?” She breathed out, her chest aching as the words escaped, and Audrey regretted it.

For the briefest of moments, a painful expression crossed his face. But of course, the angel adopted a gentle smile on his face after a while of looking at her in silent contemplation. Audrey wished he hadn’t.

She hoped he wouldn’t wear all these masks in front of her—damn it, Raphael. It was embarrassing, alien, and so strange. The woman wanted to gently hold him, caress him, touch his wings with care he had never felt before, to make him forget all the pain, all the sadness he had to endure in his life.

Damn it. She loved him. She adored him to the point of no return. Audrey didn’t know what to do, how to act, what to say when he looked at her with such adoration. His eyes softened, and then she could only see her reflection in his gorgeous irises.

Oh, sweet, beautiful Raphael.

Her breath hitched in her throat, heart drumming against her ribcage, and Audrey let out a heavy sigh. He’s hauntingly stunning.

No, it wasn’t the urge to possess. It was the unbearable urge to let him know that he was the greatest thing in her life. She would gladly fall at his feet, to repeatedly remind him how much of a blessing he was. She would do it. 

That, and so much more.

“I have never understood why humans desire to put labels on things, Audrey.” The angel smiled, coming closer to where she sat. He looked at her like he knew more than her—not the secrets of the universe, but about something fragile, something only they shared.

“You…” his eyes softened, “You already hold every piece of my heart.” Raphael put his right palm on her soft cheek. He felt her face warm up. “I have never loved before.”

With a whisper, a confession left him, “And now I love so fiercely.”

Audrey’s eyes began to sting. It hurt. It always hurt whenever they were together, laughing, smiling, gazing at the other so fondly. She knew it would end one day—maybe today, tomorrow, or the next fucking week.

He was aware of this fact as well. Yet, they tried to challenge fate like stupid teenagers. Foolish, but with hopes in their hearts.

Why are the best things in life always the hardest to achieve? She put her hand on top of his, he stopped caressing her cheek with his thumb. He looked at her like she was the only person in the world. The only one that truly mattered.

Audrey breathed out a sigh, her brows scrunching together in an effort to not make her glistened eyes visible. Oh, but he saw the shine, and he deemed them gorgeous like the rest of her.

However, the gentle angel didn’t like to see the hurt in his beloved’s eyes. So, with a light motion, he wiped the tear that escaped. 

“I wish it could have been different. I wish…”

I wish.

But he didn’t answer, didn’t open his mouth, but covered her lips with his. Raphael hoped she didn’t see his inner turmoil reflected in his irises.

Hope was never meant for him.

Sweet, gentle Raphael,

Oh, the secrets you hide behind your eyes.

He can only hold the fragile moments—

So close to his heart,

And witness them slipping through his grasp,

Like fading stars.

And feeling his smile recede.

But he continues to mask,

The sorrow beneath his smile,

He masks the tears,

He’s never allowed to shed.

Oh, Raphael,

An angel,

Too good at his craft,

Too good at pretending.

[bobby-turner]

All of us David romancers seeing him covered in blood, professing he'd kill everyone and burn the whole world for Audrey:

[webanglikethat]

◟Mikael and Audrey .ᐟ

hold my hand, let me tattoo all the creases and lines and the spaces between your fingers into mine / you are the peace I crave in this world. for @mikaelsrose

[indomitable-mrs-barkley]

[ramsashi]

CAN I JUST LOCK HIM AS THE LI NOW??? 🥹🥹 I need more scenes with him ASAP

[noelle-v]

[ratanslily]

The Morning After.

Book: Astrea's Broken Heart. Type: Edit + Ficlet. (523 words) Pairing: Cassiel x Audrey. Rating: T Trigger Warnings: None, Except slight suggestive content. Open to change, if necessary. Tags: @agattthaa , @rc-catalog

A/N: a continuation of the beautiful @agattthaa 's Starved. Please read that before this <3333

Warm rays of sunlight streamed in through the window, disturbing Cassiel's peaceful slumber. His eyes shoot open, looking up at the ceiling. beautifully decorated room, soft cushions, fur blankets..where has he woken up?

His eyes fall on Audrey beside him, her drool adorably pasted all over her pillows (and some on his chest), her body still bare from last night's lovemaking. Memories rush back to him in waves as the scent of their joint act hits his nostrils like a tidal wave, and he shudders, remembering how they teased each other into a night both of them will never forget.

No, No! He can't be thinking again, or else he'll get a morning wood, yet another chance for Audrey to tease him.

That damn bat. Cassiel mentally takes a note to thank the creature for matchmaking them because they both are stubborn as hell not to do it themselves.

~~

Cassiel rarely sleeps peacefully. Whatever he did in life rushes back to him at night, haunting him, torturing him mercilessly. so most of the nights, he either tosses in bed restlessly or goes by the Astrea's statue to train himself.

But this night? This special night? He slept like a baby, entwined with the most gorgeous (and infuriating) woman he's ever seen. She's such a vixen.. a very beautiful one at that. She keeps his fears and nightmares at bay, and he finds comfort in her arms. He won't tell her that, though.

They clung onto each other all night, as if they were both afraid the other would leave, disappear or just run away from this.

A soft smile makes its way on his face when he sees her sleeping face, lips parted slightly, the lipstick smudged all over (from his doing), her hands on his waist, legs intertwined with his. God, he hopes she sleeps like this for a few more minutes so he can apprecia- oh, no.

Of course, she had to wake up.

Ofcourse, her lips had to curve into that annoying smirk, on having caught Cassiel being soft red-handed.

He immediately shuts his eyes, putting on the most neutral expression ever.

"Ha, I saw that, Cassiel."

".."

Cassiel mentally rolls his eyes, opening his lids with a defeated sigh.

"You have drool on your face."

"I had you inside me last night."

"..."

Audrey's smirk gets more smug when she sees that she's left him speechless for the second time this morning. The day is already off to a great start. Now for her third shot..

"If we have a daughter, I'm going to name her Cassie."

"Audrey, what on earth?"

"Hehehe... just 'kid'ding."

God, this woman. her charms.. they can shut him up real quick. she got him bad. Like, real bad. She makes his eyes roll, but only he knows how much his heart flutters on her teasing.

(She knows it too, she can feel his heartbeat rising up in her proximity.)

~

"I didn't.. think you'd actually stay here till the morning.."

Audrey scoots close, drumming her fingers over his chest, tracing invisible patterns.

"Ofcourse."

Cassiel finally looks at her with that soft expression again.

"I'd be nowhere else."

[secret-fungi]

Anger Management

Book: Astrea's Broken Heart

Paring: Cassiel/Audrey

Word count: 2224

Rating: T

Warning: swords, sexual flirting, violence as a means to vent anger, (only trees and training dummies were hurt) mentions of physical harm, mentions of blood

It was a rather slow day, and when he found her she was sitting on the small stone bench with her head in her hands. Her hair looked as if in a moment of frustration she had punished it by balling it up on the top of her head. He noticed she did that, whenever she was frustrated she would reach to get her hair out of her face. She looked like she would rather be left alone, and if she came here she must’ve, but with a snapping of a twig she wiped her eyes. “What is with you fucking people and spying?” She asked, turning to face him. “I didn’t mean to…” “I know your spot.” she said, waving her hand in a motion that seemed to wave away a pest. “Get used to sharing.” she muttered 

He watched her for a moment, everything in her seemed as if she was maybe one ill-placed comment away from stabbing someone, her posture, her expression, the tone of her voice all of it he had come to know that this meant someone’s death. 

“Do you need to be alone?” he asked, “Sit.” she said shortly. 

Somehow, he felt like he was being scolded but he couldn’t remember what he did, but still he came and sat beside the woman. She stayed quiet, not looking towards him or attempting to make conversation and for some unknowable reason he missed it. Three assignments and she had already gone quiet, her brows furrowed and her lips pressed into a displeased line as she glared at a tree in front of them, and for a moment he took in the crime scene before them; a stick on the ground next to it and a decent chunk of bark missing from it, the scuffs on her palms and her foul mood. 

And he smiled, faintly, unnoticed by the woman beside him.  “What happened?” he asked. She looked at him as if he was the stupidest person known to man, and her next victim. “Nothing.” she said. For a moment he was silent, only raising a brow at her in question and in return she raised her own, a response not worth repeating. 

“Did David do something?” he asked. She let out an annoyed huff and it was clear to him that she wouldn’t talk to him. Everyone that came here came with troubles they rather not remember, troubles they cut into short sentences devoid of any emotion because if you allowed even one word to betray the facade you would fall into a despair you couldn’t return from, as if you made it so by admitting your feelings on it. Everyone here did that, and everyone here only gave the facade of openness, but even with all her efforts It didn’t take much to guess that she didn’t want to be here, no matter what she said it was clear that when given the chance she would leave, and so with all this in mind it was easy to guess that whatever trouble that lead her here it had gotten worse.

He watched as she let out a breath and for whatever reason he didn’t want her to be so overcome by her troubles that she became like them. “Do you want to use a sword?” he asked and at this she looked at him for the first time, her brows raised high and her eyes wide in surprise. “It helps blow off steam when I'm angry.” he explained, and as he did a slow smile crept across her lips before she nodded. “You trust me not to stab myself?” she asked “I’ll be there, I can show you a few things.” “I would love to.” she said.

He rose to his feet without another word and started on without checking to see if she followed, but he slowed his pace when he heard her stop footsteps behind him so that she could catch up.  

They didn’t say a word as he led her to the training grounds, but he noticed she took care to notice the scenery and how to get here, and when they reached the clearing he looked at the rack the back to her and handed her a fairly light, short sword. 

For a moment she held it in her hand, getting used to the weight before she took a few practice swings. “Aren’t you going to correct my stance?” she asked, wordlessly, he walked towards her and pushed her legs apart with his foot, then he moved her hands apart at the hilt before he grabbed his own sword and started to show her the movements. 

And for a moment she watched him so intensely he could feel the heat against his back but then he heard her strike the dummy, and once she started she didn’t stop, she kept attacking it with all her force. “I can see why you do this.” she said breathlessly. He gave a small smile. “You keep this up and you might be able to get that unfortunate tree that pissed you off.” he teased. “You think?” she asked with a soft smile that felt like spring's first breath. With each swing of her sword he watched her mood brighten, with each strike she seemed lighter, until she had returned to herself again, and so then they had the pattern once again for her to wait and watch him before repeating his movements. 

And maybe he struck his target with a touch more flair than usual, and when he turned back she wasn’t bothering so much to pretend that she was looking at him just to copy him, a small, greedy little smirk on her lips as she watched him. 

“Are you paying attention?” he asked, “Definitely.” she replied. “Do you have any other thoughts?” he grumbled. 

she waited till he turned to reply “Not when i'm with you.” she said with a grin. He rolled his eyes and grumbled “Unreal.” “You’re showing off again and now you’re complaining I’m enjoying the show.” she said “I’m not showing off, it’s not my fault you suck.” he replied “Who uses a sword anymore?” she dismissed as if he was the strange one, and to her he was. 

“Stop being lazy and do it.” he instructed. “How am I even supposed to do that?” she asked. With an exasperated look he started to walk her through the movements, only for her to jump up and grab hold of him, she had gone pale and her eyes had grown wide and the last time she looked like that she had fainted. “What?” he asked, grabbing hold of her arms to keep her steady. 

“Don’t you feel that?” she asked “what?” He asked, “Your arm is hurt.” “Oh, yeah.” he said looking at the dark spot that had formed on his shirt sleeve.

“You did all that when you knew you were bleeding?” she asked, as if he was insane. He only shook his head, surprised at the worry that seemed to etch into her features. “You’d make trouble if i didn’t.” he said with a smirk. 

“Well you could have said you needed tending to, i would’ve waited to start causing trouble until after you were all fixed up.” she replied so surely that it felt rather strange. “It’s nothing big, it just reopened,” he explained.

 “Is there a kit out here?” she asked as she tied a strip of fabric around his arm. “no.” “closest ones should be?” “There's one in every room or the manor.” he said, neglecting to mention that these were all newly placed kits that were placed when he saw how accident prone the woman was.

“Can you walk?” He arched a brow at her. “What? like you’ll carry me?” he asked sarcastically, “You think i can’t?” she asked, reaching to steady him as they started their walk to the manor. “No.” he replied with a scoff. “I can, I'll carry you in like a princess, I'm very strong.” “sure.” he replied, rolling his eyes.

But still, as they made their way to the manor she kept her eyes on him, her hands hovering behind him as if ready to catch him. 

With every movement he made he could feel her keen eyes following him. He was sure she wouldn’t take no for an answer when it came to seeing him fixed up, and with a sigh he silently relented before they even got to the steps. 

When they did get to the manor she looked at the kit he had handed her with a surprised smile. “Okay take it off.” she said. He arched his brow but did as told, she was careful, gently taking off his bandages before she looked at his cut, her hand on his wrist and the other on his arm.

“This kit doesn’t have what you need.” she said “Just wrap it up it’ll be fine.” he said, and once again she looked at him in horror. “God no. You’ll get infected.” she said, pulling him away. 

The walk to her room was short, as it seemed she had already found the shortcuts, and though he gave her a knowing glance and she offered an innocent smile in return, neither one of them said anything about it.

She hadn’t made herself at home here, everything as it was before, and without a word he sat on the chair she gestured to before going into the adjoining bathroom. Her kit was much larger than the ones around, and from it she pulled gauze and wraps and all sorts of unnecessary items.

“You think I need stitches?” he asked, watching as the woman set the box beside her. “It’s deep, won’t close on its own with you favoring it.” she replied as she wiped his arm down with an alcohol wipe. He raised his brows but she didn’t say a word.

He watched her long, graceful fingers thread the needle. “Do you need something to squeeze?” she asked, “I’m not a child.” “Well, if you need to hold something.” She handed him a teddy bear, a frown embroidered into its fuzzy face. He looked at it skeptically for a moment and after a beat she informed him with a smile you can hear: “His name is Cas.” “It is not.” he replied “it is, look at his foot.” she said 

Sure enough on his foot the grumpy looking bear’s name was Cas. “I saw it when I went out and saw an uncanny resemblance.” she explained “So you took it to bed?” he asked, arching a brow at the woman, but she didn’t seem to notice his joke, her gaze trained on his arm as her fingers worked on stitching him up. 

“Did they teach you this in school?” He asked, “no.” “I thought you were a doctor?” He asked with a smirk and an arch of his brow. truthfully he wished to cheer her up, she looked rather disturbed by his wound and the thought that she worried about him made him uncomfortable. 

“not that kind of doctor.” “Did you ever want to be a real one?” he asked and for a moment she paused. He expected something snarky on the tip of her tongue, it was force of habit to go tit for tat with each other, but instead of that her brows pitched together as she worried her lip, trying her best not to hurt him with her gentle movements. “Why do you always want to argue? Just sit and be taken care of.” she demanded suddenly. Then after a while she must’ve felt a bit bad for her tone because after a moment she replied to his question. 

“I had my heart set on the not real kinda doctor.” she teased with a slight smile upon her lips. “I didn’t mean it like that.” he said “You did.” She said with no real anger, He opened his mouth to say something but couldn’t bring himself to, instead he watched her every movement silently. 

He couldn’t feel her moments, and he realized she must’ve given him something for the pain.

And the thought made him laugh just a little, and without looking up from her work she asked “did you lose that much blood that it affected your head?” “My heads fine.” “if you say so.” she replied easily. 

Finally, she cut the thread and started to wrap his arm, and that’s when she met his gaze with this look on her face that just told him she was trying to figure him out, she had seen something in him and was sure it was gospel he knew it, so before she could ask whatever question she was going to ask he interrupted her. “Don’t do that.” 

“Look at you?” she asked in surprise “that's not what you’re doing, You’re analyzing me.” he said at this she smiled as if very amused. “Why would I do that?” she asked calmly “to see how you can fix me.” at this she nodded as if reasoning with the unreasonable. “I won’t try and fix you if it makes you uncomfortable.” she promised with an amused little smile. “It doesn’t make me uncomfortable.” he assured “okay.” came her bemused reply as she tied the bandage, finishing it off with a little bow. 

[rc-catalog]

🖊️: fanfiction; 🖼️: moodboard; 🎨: art/edit; 🧵: web weaving; 👥: character profile; ⚡: flash fic friday; ☕: motivation monday

HEAVEN'S SECRET: REQUIEM

Two Dreams by @thepanky |🖊️| Lane x Anna | M

Softly by @agattthaa |🖊️| Lane x Anna | T

Taste by @agattthaa |🖊️| Lane x Audrey | E

Two Are Better Than One by @mynameisemma |🖼️| Lane x Cain | TW: religious imagery, religious text | T

PSI

Devotion by @joeymerenset |🎨| Lou x Ivo | TW: nudity | M

ASTREA'S BROKEN HEART

Taste by @agattthaa |🖊️| Audrey x Lane | E

KALI: FLAME OF SAMSARA

Don't Like Anyone That's Not You by @a-cloud-for-dreams |🎨| Devi | TW: blood, violence | G

AND THE HAZE WILL TAKE US

Dream by @agattthaa |🖊️| Lada x Dragan | T

[adilqalbi]

the gasps I gusped I love this so much GOD CASSIEL UGH

|| 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 ||

prompt: feb 6 (sunny vs grumpy/slow-dancing)

characters/pairing: audrey (mc) x cassiel

rating: T (implied suggestive material? not sure but T to be safe)

tw: none!

a/n: this is my first time making a "CG" (non-outfit) edit and i decided to experiment with my darlings!

taglist: @rc-catalog

[lxvesicklili]

— ✦ Slow dancing ✦ —

✦ Pairing: Cassiel x Audrey (MC) ✦ Book: Astrea's Broken Heart ✦ Rating: T ✦ Tagging: @rc-catalog ✦ Note: My first submission for "RC Catalog Vday!" Needless to say, I am very excited about this. The prompts are amazing, and I know I will have fun writing the drabbles and longer fics. The prompt I used is: Sunny vs Grumpy | Slow-dancing. I hope everyone likes this. Comments and reblogs are always appreciated <3

Cassiel laid out a hand in front of her, his expectant gaze connecting with her curious one. Audrey’s deep brown eyes twinkled, her hand perfectly fitting in his, and a soft chuckle escaped.

The demon’s eyes glanced at her lips, an action he had done millions of times before. Often, the time-worn man did it unconsciously, but in other instances…not so much. Her breath hitched, and Cassiel quickly looked away—the statue, at Bruno who looked at them in slight confusion, and his eyes went back to the woman he loved.

God, she’s beautiful. Those are the words he wanted to breathe out while caressing her soft cheeks and the mole at the corner of her lips. The man was aware that he looked her way with love, adoration, respect, and so many other emotions—all positive, all tender.

But sometimes…sometimes he wondered how one could fall so deep, so to never be picked up again. A thought to consider.

Audrey smirked, lacing their fingers together. This time, Cassiel’s breath hitched, but he was swift in clearing his throat and acting like her attention or actions didn’t affect him—oh, they did, every time.

“Cassiel,” she smiled at him, “don’t tell me you were serious about…this.” Bruno seemed to agree with his owner, for he let out a sound of agreement. The demon rolled his eyes.

“Why?” He put a hand on the small of her back, tracing it with his thumb, enjoying her slightly flustered state. “You think I can’t dance.”

“I am just worried you will be—”

“I am not ‘stiff’ while dancing.”

The woman threw her head back as a laugh left her lips. Cassiel smiled as well, eyes crinkling at the edges as he saw her joyful expression. It’s a pleasant feeling, to be able to cause someone such happiness with just the simplest of words, touches, and actions.

Audrey put her hand in his, got into position, and chuckled, “Okay then, I am very curious to witness your splendid dance moves, Sir Cassiel.” 

Cassiel scoffed as, he too, took his position. “God, your impersonations are awful. Who are you even trying to impersonate here?”

The woman laughed, “Hey, it got you to crack a smile! I say it was worth it.” He twirled her around suddenly, and the evaluator gasped in surprise, but that quickly turned into a small fit of giggles. “Cassiel, I will fall and take you with me at this rate.”

For you, I will take all and every damage.

His eyes softened, “Even if you fall, you won’t get hurt.”

Audrey clicked her tongue, “Sorry, but my clothes will be ruined.”

Cassiel rolled his eyes again, an action unique only to him. He sighed, “Don’t worry, Audrey. You won’t fall.” Their bodies got closer, chests almost touching. Bruno went to another part of the garden without making a sound, as if he too wanted the lovers to have their soft, intimate moment without any prying eyes watching them.

The demon and the evaluator didn’t break eye contact. Gentle smiles, hearts free, and souls that seemed to sing whenever the other was near—spending even a few minutes without the other felt like torture. 

Audrey’s lips twitched. He raised an eyebrow in response. She probably remembered something amusing. 

“Who would have thought it would turn out like…this?”

“You mean us.”

“The grumpy Cassiel and me.”

A chuckle, “And the cheerful evaluator.” He twirled her, “Always getting into dangerous situations,” the man pulled her closer, “always making me worried.”

Audrey stared up at him, entranced, and he gazed at her with that familiar expression of longing, love, and hope. Beautiful. It was silent for a while, no sounds left their lips. No words that needed to be spoken. They understood each other.

The gentle wind caressed their hair, and attempted to calm their raging hearts—but that was an impossible feat to achieve. With a breathless whisper, he came closer, “Can I…?”

Her cheeks got warmer, “Of course…of course.” Audrey let out a shaky breath, “You don’t have to ask. Ever.”

And his desperate lips pressed against her soft ones. Cassiel hoped that he was able to transfer all that he felt into that sacred contact. 

Her body, his temple, and he, her devoted worshipper. 

The woman smiled into the kiss, all her previous fears melting when he touched her with such tenderness that was mixed with a fiery intensity. It was an electrifying sensation. Audrey snaked her arms around his neck, and he put an arm around her waist. His other hand cupped her cheek.

Next to her, everything is right. Everything has colour and meaning.

“You are everything,” is what the demon hoarsely whispered, and he smiled again upon witnessing the shock his words put her in, but after all this time—

You should be aware of how deep my feelings run for you, Audrey. 

[lxvesicklili]

— Calla lilies and my love for you

Pairing: Cassiel x Audrey (MC) Book: Astrea's Broken Heart Tagging: @rc-catalog @webanglikethat @adilqalbi Special tag: @ratanslily Rating: G Note: This is for Valentine's Day <3

"Calla lilies? For me?" "Who else would I give them to...?" "Ah, Cassiel the romantic... haha. Thank you!" "Hmm, of course. It was worth it..." "Huh?" "What?" "You're blushing." "I'm not."

[lxvesicklili]

— ✦ Quiet jealousy ✦ —

✦ Pairing: Mikael x Audrey (MC) ✦ Book: Astrea's Broken Heart ✦ Rating: T ✦ Warning: Slight mention of possessive behaviour ✦ Tagging: @rc-catalog ✦ Special tags: @bubblexly @mikaelsrose @liykaii @adilqalbi <3 ✦ Note: A Mikael fic! I hope everyone enjoys it. Comments and reblogs are always appreciated :)

Mikael followed her with his gaze, wine glass in hand, posture relaxed…but that was not quite true. His brows were slightly furrowed, mouth set in a straight line, and if you looked closely—

David took a sip of his drink, masking a smile. He swirled the liquid, pointing it first at Mikael, then at their evaluator. Sure, her smile is dazzling. He chuckled, eyes twinkling.

“Oh, you are so jealous.”

The archangel turned his head to face him, swift and sharp. An unamused sigh escaped him, his posture stiff. “David, don’t.”

Raphael looked at his brother with quiet curiosity but said nothing. Of course, the man’s so-called ‘hidden’ affections for Audrey weren’t well-hidden at all. Everyone could see the way his stern eyes softened every time she looked at him, or spoke during their meetings. Her laughter—scratch that, even the woman’s smile made him tongue-tied.

The melancholic man also tried to mask his suddenly bright expression. He noticed Mikael holding back a sigh as he turned his gaze away from her, clenching the glass in his hand a little too tightly than required.

David laughed as he nudged Cassiel. “Here he’s frowning and on the verge of tears, but as soon as our dear Audrey comes back, he’s going to be back to his normal self.”

The boss didn’t hear him, looking absorbed in his thoughts. Cassiel rolled his eyes, looking uncomfortable in such a place. The party venues had never been his thing. The stoic man raised an eyebrow at the lawyer.

“Don’t you have better things to say, David?” Cassiel murmured, voice low.

David shrugged, downing his glass of wine. “I mean, I can tell in detail how the old woman tried to run and beat up her husband with a designer bag during today’s case.” 

Cassiel grimaced. “Keep your mouth shut, David.”

But Mikael’s words interrupted their banter, they turned to look at the approaching figure.

“You are back.” Mikael said, nodding his head. “Good. We should leave.”

David nodded his head, whisper of the earlier smile still present. “Our boss missed you.” Mikael simply raised an eyebrow, daring him to go further, and Audrey looked at the man in question, a gentle look appearing on her face upon hearing David’s words.

Raphael shook his head, seeming tired. “Let’s just leave.” The evaluator agreed with him, and the small group began to walk outside when Audrey looked at the appraiser.

“You aren’t coming with us, right?” She asked, remembering Raphael mentioning that he had to go somewhere after attending the event. He nodded his head, a tired yet warm smile on his face.

“Yes.” Raphael replied, “Go ahead. I will be home later.”

Home. Audrey’s lips twitched a little. It feels right, now. Home. The guys, Felonia, and me. Especially…her gaze travelled towards their boss, Mikael. Home feels complete with him in it.

She quickly averted her gaze, not wanting him to catch her staring at him. A smirk, it’s not like he doesn’t know how much I look at him, though.

—

The sky had darkened considerably. Night brought stars with it, and Audrey looked up at them from the car’s window. She was lost in her thoughts. It was David’s sudden question that had her looking ahead.

“So, who was that? A friend from college?” The woman could almost hear the amused smile in her friend’s voice.

“Yeah, you could say that.” A quick glance at the man she loved. “One of the only decent guys there.”

David chuckled, catching her eye in the rear-view mirror. “With the way he was making heart eyes at you…”

Cassiel sighed from the passenger seat, already knowing what the lawyer was up to. He almost let out a scoff again. Getting a rise out of their boss—

“David, just drive. Be quiet.” The archangel’s voice was more stern than usual.

—Is not easy? Cassiel’s eyes widened. Well…okay.

—

“Mikael,” Audrey said as she entered his office behind him. It was late. They should go sleep—well, she should go to bed because it’s not as if the immortals require rest as much as she does. “Is everything okay?”

He paused in the middle of loosening his tie, the archangel’s back turned to her. The evaluator heard him take a small breath before he took off the suffocating material, and turned around to face her. Audrey’s breath hitched.

The moon’s light enveloped him. It kissed the top of his hair, the loose strands placed neatly on his shoulders, the sharp contours of his face, and—Mikael’s voice brought her out of her thoughts that were pulling the woman deeper and deeper. Audrey hoped he didn’t catch the sight of her cheeks warming.

“Why wouldn’t I be alright, Audrey?” There was a sense of finality in his tone, as if telling her to not look too deeply into it. Everything was fine. He wasn’t…irritated. But she didn’t like the hint of steel in his beautiful eyes.

Especially not when he looked at her like that.

Her brows pinched together a little. She crossed her arms over her chest, and regarded him, “You are…different tonight.” With a sigh, “Did I do or say something?”

He didn’t answer, continuing to look at her. 

The black-haired woman’s earlier expression slowly morphed into a surprised one, “I know you aren’t the type to really get jealous, so did I accidentally say something wrong...?”

Despite his annoyance—but he shouldn’t be annoyed. He wasn’t a young mortal—his lips quirked up in a gesture of fondness. Something he did often in the company of the woman he…well, it was just her. Her presence made him feel things of varying degrees.

“It wasn’t a pleasant sight to see his arm wrapped around your waist.” Mikael admitted, taking a step closer towards her, and relishing in the sight of her adorable flustered expression.

“Oh…” She said, not knowing what else to respond with. “Well…”

“I apologize for my straightforwardness,” the man softly spoke, gaze trained on her beautiful face as he caressed her cheek. He didn’t sound apologetic at all. “Seeing you smile at another man so warmly was…”

“Not a pleasant sight?” She smirked.

He chuckled. “I see. Your sense of humour is back.” Mikael’s eyes softened, “I have never felt like this before. At times, it's troubling...”

Audrey waited for him to continue, her heart hammering against her ribcage, wanting to be set free. “...Feeling so possessive over someone.”

The urge to protect her and make her feel loved. To hold her.

“I do wonder if you ate something wrong at the event…” she murmured, cheeks flushing. “But it’s not like I have feelings for him, you know.”

“I’m aware.”

Audrey stepped closer to him, slipping her arms around his waist. Mikael caressed her back, not breaking eye contact with her. Steely grey eyes softened even further upon connecting with warm brown ones.

“Then why?”

This time, his reply was swift. He whispered, “You are a master at making me lose my composure.” Mikael paused near her lips, asking for permission, she nodded.

Yes, she’s certainly good at it…

[lxvesicklili]

David's past haunts him still, a shadow that led him to Astrea, a place where atonement was meant to cleanse his soul. But can a demon ever be purified when he reeks of sins and mistakes? Yet, in the presence of her―the evaluator―he wonders: is this defiance? Could his feelings for her be a sin, one he is not meant to embrace? How could he not? Her laughter dances like sunlight through a window, and her brown eyes gleam with a passion that stirs his very core. Her voice, so calm, yet filled with unspoken depth. Her touch―an electrifying comfort, a beautiful contradiction that succeeds in pulling him closer.

How could he banish the delicate sparks of fire that bloom between them, when she looks at him with a tenderness that pushes all his dark thoughts aside? The demons that whisper and mock him fall silent as if her very presence has the power to erase their taunts, leaving nothing but peace behind.

Audrey―so sweet, so compassionate. But should she be here, in this manor steeped with secrets and dangers too great for a gentle soul like hers? No. She doesn't belong here in this cold, dark, and haunted place. Yet, somehow, she is the one who breathes life into its walls. She makes the house feel like home, filling every corner with warmth, with light, with love.

How could anything or anyone be more precious than her? Of course, David would dare trick fate itself for her―no question. For her, he would defy the world. For her, he would be willing to sacrifice everything.

Of course.

It was inevitable, wasn't it? From the very beginning.

[indomitable-mrs-barkley]

[indomitable-mrs-barkley]

All I want to do is hold him in my arms. Closely, firmly, securely, lovingly.