Shielding your bond had become second nature, not that it really mattered if it was shielded or not. The light of it that once burned bright had been slowly snuffed out, leaving it cold and dark. Azriel had taken on more missions that kept him away for extended periods of time. At first, you had begged him not to go, but he claimed it was his duty. After a while, you realized you were wasting your breath. He'd never choose to stay. You had started sleeping in the guest room when he was away, unable to sleep in your lonely marital bed unless it was one of the few times he was home. He hadn't noticed the toll this was having on you, or if he had, he didn't care.