Azazel's growl intensified, but I held up a hand, asking him to wait. This moment felt too serious and too fragile to interrupt.

"I do see you," I said carefully. "You've been... you've shown me kindness when the world showed me cruelty. You gave me strength when I had none."

"But?" His jaw clenched. "There's always a but."

I hesitated, my hands hovering in the air as I tried to find the right words. "But I don't... I never thought... Veyran, we're allies. Partners in this war. I never ...