Although Arella was not part or parcel of this conversation, she found herself answering, "I know that no one has tasked me with taking all the burdens onto myself, but that does not mean there are no expectations placed upon me."
Haniel pressed his lips together, then lifted his cup to take a very obviously angry sip of his cooling tea. After a few moments of silence, he spoke up once more, "You do not have to take the throne Kratel. We can run from here."
His voice was filled with frustration, worn and old. Arella could recognize the exhaustion in his voice, and for the first time, she understood something: Haniel cared about Kratel. More than just as a fellow angel, more than how a subordinate would like their superior. There was a history between them, one that she did not have the access to.
The tall male did not take Arella's hand, but Arella could see how his hand twitched, as if he was trying to not reach out.
