Summary: Azriel is on uncle duty during a visit to the day court and Nyx gets away.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Azriel had fought in wars. He had infiltrated enemy courts, survived countless battles with nothing but his wits and his shadows. And yet—
Nothing, could have prepared him for watching over a toddler.
“Nyx,” he warned, his voice calm but firm as the little boy squirmed in his arms, practically vibrating with energy. “Stay still.”
Nyx—Rhys and Feyre’s pride and joy, the heir to the Night Court—grinned up at him, utterly unaffected.
“No.”
Azriel’s eye twitched. “Nyx—”
The moment he loosened his grip just slightly, the boy launched himself from Azriel’s arms and took off through the grand halls of the Day Court palace.
Azriel cursed, bolting after him. Rhys and Feyre had entrusted him with watching Nyx while they attended a diplomatic meeting with Helion. Just an hour or two, Feyre had said. He’ll be good, I promise.
Lies. Utter, blatant lies.
Because Nyx was not being good—he was running, his little wings flapping as he giggled, ducking under servants and weaving through columns with the skill of an Illyrian warrior. Azriel was fast, but somehow, this tiny, barely-three-year-old child was evading him.
As Azriel rounded the corner and skid to a stop, his chest heaved. No more pattering feet. No more giggles. Nothing. His shadows swirled in agitation, reaching out—searching, but then he heard it.
Laughter. Soft, melodic laughter, paired with a delighted giggle that definitely belonged to Nyx. Azriel followed the sound, his steps quieter now as he approached the open-air gardens. And that was when he saw you. Sitting beneath the golden glow of the sun, a book resting on your lap, Nyx curled up beside you like he belonged there.
The boy was grinning up at you as you traced a sunbeam over his tiny hand with your fingertip, your magic shimmering in the air.
Azriel felt something tighten in his chest.
You hadn’t noticed him yet, too focused on Nyx as you murmured, “And here I thought I’d be reading alone today.”
Nyx beamed. “I like you. You’re pretty.”
Azriel bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing as you gasped in mock offense. “You shouldn’t say such things to strangers, little prince.”
Nyx just shrugged. “Not a stranger. You’re nice.”
Your lips twitched. “Well, that’s very kind of you.”
Azriel finally stepped forward, clearing his throat. “Nyx.”
Both of you turned. And Azriel swore the world tilted slightly. Because up close, beneath the golden light of Helion’s court, you were—
Stunning.
Sunlight seemed to bend toward you, clinging to your skin like a second glow. Your hair shimmered with it, and your eyes—Mother above, your eyes—were warm and bright, like liquid sunlight caught in a bottle.
Nyx, utterly unfazed, looked between the two of you before grinning.
“I ran away.”
Azriel shot him a look. “I noticed.”
Then, reluctantly, he turned to you. “I hope he wasn’t bothering you.”
You shook your head, smiling softly. “Not at all. He was keeping me company.”
Azriel hesitated. He should grab Nyx and go—bring him back before Rhys sensed something was off. But something in the way you were looking at him, made him pause.
And when you tilted your head, sunlight catching on your cheekbones, and said, “And what about you, shadowsinger? Were you planning to introduce yourself?”
Azriel blinked.
Then—He smiled. Just a little. Just enough for you to notice.
A/N: I'm still having awful writer's block and have been busy and not having a great time in my personal life so here's a very short and very self indulgent story.
The air was colder than you anticipated, wrapping your arms around yourself as the wind caressed the bare skin, raising goosebumps with its touch. You were ready to give up when the shadowsinger spoke up from his place sitting against the railing.
“Can I hug you?”
It takes you a moment to process the words, eyes widening slightly as you did. You'd think you heard him wrong if it weren't just the two of you on top of the roof, making it impossible to mistake the whispered words. In all the years you've known Azriel he had never asked something like this of you, or anyone, not so openly.
You followed him here because you noticed how upset he seemed at dinner, barely saying a word and keeping to himself even more than he usually did, but beyond a few encouraging words from you and a refusal to share his feelings from him, you had expected to go back to your room empty handed.
Azriel always seemed so intent on keeping his emotions to himself that it made you even more curious and worried for the reason he was feeling like this today. You weren't going to let that stop you though. Nevermind what happened, all that matters is that he needed you.
“Of course,” you answer quickly, perhaps a bit too loudly, especially in the quiet of the night and the vulnerability of the moment. You've always wished Azriel would let you or anyone else in at times like these, that he shared his problems or at least let someone comfort him.
A ghost of a smile appears on his face before you both reach for each other at the same time, kneeling down in front of him and letting him pull you closer, your arms wrapping around his neck as his circle your waist, his wings following suit and creating a cocoon around your melded bodies, his shadows joining in and effectively hiding you both from the outside world.
You let him hold onto you like it was his last lifeline. His face falling onto the crook of your neck, breath hitting your skin in unhurried pants, as you run your fingers through his hair, trying your best to give him the peace of mind he seems to be craving so badly.
Over the last few months, your relationship with Azriel seemed to have evolved into something else, something you were too scared to admit for now, not quite ready for such monumental feelings. Still, your heart stirred as he held you close, as his breath came out slower and his body relaxed against yours. You were happy to be a calm and comforting presence for him, it was all you needed actually.
“You don't have to tell me what's wrong,” you start, softly this time, careful not to disturb the air around you, “but I want you to know that whenever you feel like this and you just want someone to hold you, or listen to your worries and doubts, take a walk with you or even spar with to let out your frustrations, you can come to me.”
He stops for a second, letting your words sink in before he pulls his face away from the safe place he made for himself against your neck, never straying too far as he looks into your eyes, searching.
“I'll always be here for you,” you confirm softly, a smile playing at your lips, one that widens when he lets out a sigh, closing his eyes and leaning his forehead against yours, arms holding onto you even tighter than before, until you could feel his heart beating against yours.
Summary: Cassian convinces you to help him retrieve an item from his brother’s room. It doesn't quite go as you had planned.
Warnings: none really, slightly suggestive comments and a hint of smut if you squint (the tiniest hint). Just bat boys being silly.
A/N: Just something a little bit light hearted. I wrote this in one go after waking up this morning as I needed to get it out of my head. Enjoy the silliness. Comments very welcome I love to hear your thoughts.
Edit: you ask and you shall receive, part 2 here x
—————
Cassian looks at you with a familiar hint of mischief in his eyes.
“Come on sweetheart. Light of my life. The most beautiful female in all of Prythian.”
You roll your eyes at his words, a small smile on your lips. You continue making your breakfast, trying to manoeuvre around him as he’s trying to block your path.
“Your flattery doesn’t work on me Cass. Also you forget I have known you for way too long to go along with any of your schemes.”
And you have. Being childhood friends you have been there through all of his terribly planned out pranks and plots.
He sighs but by the look in his eyes you can tell he isn’t going to give up anytime soon.
“You don’t understand, I NEED that dagger. It’s technically mine anyway, Az stole it from me. I just need you to distract him for a little bit while I go into his room and grab it. I’ll be stealthy, I promise. I’ll go in through the window. No harm done.”
You don’t mean to but you start laughing and you snort at the vision of a 200 pound Illyrian trying to stealthily push himself through a window.
You grab your cup of tea and lean against the counter.
“Stealthy? Cass, I love you but being stealthy is not really your vibe. You’re better off leaving that to the professional spies, like Az.”
His eyes light up at your words, and you can see some unspoken plan forming in his head. He claps his hands together. You immediately regret everything you’ve just said.
“Or like you! That’s it, change of plan. I’ll go distract Az, you sneak in through the window to get the dagger.“ He looks at you with pleading eyes, pouting.
The Lord of Bloodshed, looking at you like a stroppy child that won’t stop until he gets his way.
You groan. “I did not become a trained spy for this court to aid you in your stupid pranks, you overgrown bat.” but you’re caving, and you know Cassian can tell.
“I’ll take you out for dinner, my treat. Anywhere you want. And I’ll wash your dishes for a whole month.”
You roll your eyes, taking a small sip from your tea as if you need to think about it for a minute. You don’t. And Cassian knows it too.
“Come on, I know you want to.”
You sigh. “Fine, but I pick somewhere expensive AND you buy my outfit.”
He looks at you with a big grin on his face. “Done.”
—————
This is stupid. Utterly ridiculous. You swear softly to yourself as you look from the little balcony you are standing on to the window of Azriel’s room on the left.
Ever the gentleman he had traded rooms with you a while ago, giving you the one with the balcony and moving into the smaller one without himself.
Which meant getting in through his window was going to be a lot more challenging than you had considered.
Thank the mother he had left it open.
—————
After an embarrassing struggle with the window and a small freakout about heights, you’ve made it into Azriel's bedroom.
Your courage in your little mission wavers as you look at the collection of daggers displayed on a big table against one of the walls. Cassian had described the one you are looking for to you in great detail but looking at the overwhelming amount of weapons, this is going to be a challenge.
The Spymaster is a grade A hoarder. Perfect.
You make a system in your head as you start looking, getting so wrapped up in the task at hand that you don’t notice the small shadows slipping in through the crack under the door.
You’re a good spy, but this ridiculous search has made you leave your guard down. Also Azriel is the one that trained you. It’s a lost cause to begin with.
Then out of nowhere the room goes dark. A soft curse leaves your lips as you try to look around for a way to escape. It’s no use. You’ve been caught.
Well, that didn’t last long. You should’ve known, Cassian is a terrible liar.
You suddenly feel a presence behind you, lips hovering right over your ear. You shiver at the feeling. “Looking for something love?”
Azriel moves closer, wrapping one of his arms around your waist as he presses you against him to keep you in place. There’s no making a quick escape now.
Not that you could get away anyway with the room being as dark as it is.
Your breath hitches at the pet name and you lean back slightly, savouring the feeling of Azriel’s strong chest pressed against your back.
“Just admiring your collection.” you reply casually, knowing damn well that Azriel can see right through you.
“Is that so?” he whispers back, lips touching the shell of your ear before moving down to the spot in your neck he knows drives you crazy.
This isn’t new territory for the two of you, but there is usually a lot more alcohol involved.
“Then why did I just get dragged out of my room by Cassian pretending to have a very important, non-existent laundry crisis he needed my help with?”
You really should’ve given the general some pointers. A laundry crisis, really? Why did you agree to help him again?
He spins the two of you around and before you realise what is happening you are pressed against the wall on the other side of the room, Azriel hovering over you.
The darkness has cleared slightly.
“What is he looking for?” He asks, staring into your eyes with an intensity that makes your knees feel weak.
“Nothing.” You squeak, voice an octave higher than it should be.
His scent is overwhelming your senses and it’s becoming more and more difficult to not keep staring at his lips.
He smirks. He knows exactly what he’s doing to you.
He moves even closer, lips hovering over your own, almost touching. “I don’t believe you.”
You close your eyes and take a deep breath while trying to block out the male in front of you. His body presses even closer to your own and his lips find their way to your ear again. “If you tell me I’ll reward you.”
You shiver as you feel heat begin to pool in your core.
“I’ve been trained never to reveal my secrets on a mission.” you reply, voice surprisingly steady considering your current state.
“Since it was me that trained you I think it’s okay to make an exception.” Azriel mumbles, as his lips trace the outline of your jaw.
One of his hands starts moving up your side, making small circles up towards your breast. He stops the movement just underneath and rests his hand there. Tease.
He pulls his lips away from their position on your jaw to look into your eyes again. His pupils are blown and you can tell it’s taking him a lot of strength to not just devour you then and there.
You smirk. “You okay there Shadowsinger?”
“Never better.” his voice comes out rough.
You can’t take this any longer.
“He wants the dagger you stole from him.” you mumble as you move one of your hands to trace the outline of his wing. He hisses in response, pressing a knee between your legs to push them apart so he can settle in between them.
“Does he now?” he grumbles. “I’ll have you know he lost that dagger in a bet, fair and square. I didn’t steal anything. It’s not my fault he’s such a sore loser.”
He presses against you and the feeling of his evident arousal makes your cheeks flush. His hand starts moving again, slowly tracing the outline of your breast before softly grazing your nipple. You let out a small whine.
Your eyes find Azriel’s again and you are about to crash your lips to his when you hear a loud knock on the outside of his door.
“LET ME IN, I’M TAKING MY DAGGER BACK.” It seems like Cassian is getting desperate and has decided to resort to his favourite way of getting what he wants, violence.
Azriel presses his lips to yours and slowly bites down on your bottom lip. “Don’t go anywhere, we aren’t finished.” he whispers into your mouth. Then he steps away from you and light floods the room again.
Summary: You got Cauldron-yeeted into the Night Court, and now Azriel’s losing his mind because you’re his mate. You have no idea what that means.
Genre: crack humor
For: @lili-of-the-wildfire
The Cauldron spat you out, and honestly?
Rude.
One minute you were minding your own business, the next you were being dunked into an eldritch soup that apparently turns humans into fae like some kind of morally dubious fairy godmother situation.
Nesta came out snarling, Elain came out glowing ethereally, and you? You came out coughing up Cauldron water and screaming at the top of your lungs.
“I THINK I SWALLOWED A TOOTH??”
Some ancient power with a flair for the dramatic had apparently decided, “You know what would really spice up this war? One more traumatized mortal!”
You would later reflect on that moment—wet, confused, slightly insulted—as the worst bath of your life.
Fast-forward through some screaming, a deeply unnecessary magical transformation, the quiet internal horror of realizing you now had pointy ears, and suddenly.
Boom. Night Court citizenship.
No orientation. No welcome packet. No free T-shirt. Just a bunch of absurdly hot people talking about “courts” and “power” and “the Mother’s will” while you tried to figure out if you still needed to pee like a human.
And listen.
It wasn’t bad.
Velaris was nice. Beautiful, even.
You had a great view.
You had your own room. Your own bath.
The Inner Circle was… tolerable.
Cassian made good jokes and walked around shirtless enough that you stopped questioning it.
Rhysand had the whole sexy-evil-warlord thing going on.
Mor was sunshine in stilettos and threatened to take you clubbing at least once a week.
Amren was terrifying in an “I will drink your soul like a Capri Sun” way, but she also kind of adopted you. Maybe. You weren’t sure. She once handed you a ruby the size of your fist and told you not to “eat anything cursed this time,” so that felt like something.
Even Nesta—who had all the emotional warmth of a glacier—didn’t actively try to kill you. Which was progress!
Flash forward to the Night Court, where you’re forcefully adopted by Feyre, who is much too excited to give you "the talk" about wingspans and siphons.
Life is... weird.
Everything is dark and velvety, there’s an aggressive amount of dramatic cloak-wearing, and a lot of attractive men with trauma.
Speaking of: enter Azriel.
The Shadowsinger is... acting strange. Like, big strange. He stares at you when he thinks you aren’t looking. He hovers (not in the cute way, in the “unintentionally menacing” way). He disappears for long stretches of time and returns looking stressed.
And the man refuses to make eye contact.
The others notice.
Cassian starts making jokes.
Feyre and Rhys look concerned.
Mor gives you the Look.
And then, finally, the breaking point.
You’re talking—probably about how the House of Wind should stock snacks that don’t require superhuman jaw strength—when Azriel snaps.
Not, like, snaps snaps. But he crashes. Hard.
"You're my mate."
He says it like he’s dying.
Like he's been holding it in for months.
His wings sag, his shoulders drop, his breath shudders out.
A pin could drop.
The room is silent.
You blink. "Okay... anyway, as I was saying—"
Azriel malfunctions.
His pupils dilate so fast it’s honestly concerning. His breathing picks up, his hands flex at his sides, and his shadows do that thing where they slither like nervous snakes. Cassian screeches in the background. Feyre gasps. Rhys rubs his temples like he's getting a migraine in real-time.
"You—" Azriel chokes, "—You heard me, right?"
"Yeah," you say, still crunching your too-hard snack. "Mate. Cool word. Very wolfy. Anyway—"
"You don’t... you don’t understand what that means?"
You squint at him. "Should I?"
Azriel short circuits.
He staggers back.
He sits down.
His entire being enters a psychological tailspin. He’s mumbling now—something about the bond, the Cauldron, why me, Mother above give me strength—and his shadows full-on wrap around him like a weighted blanket.
Cassian is crying laughing. Feyre looks like she’s debating whether to explain it or just let this play out. Rhys is 100% enjoying this, the smug bastard.
Azriel? Azriel is currently having a full Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) moment.
And you? You’re just trying to figure out where the hell they keep the peanut butter.
Later that afternoon, you walked into the training ring where Azriel was sulking like a thundercloud in leather. His shadows twitched when they saw you. He looked like he wanted to run or explode. Possibly both.
You stopped in front of him, arms crossed. “So.”
He stiffened. “So.”
“I know what it means now,” you said. “The whole ‘mate’ thing.”
Azriel’s shadows froze. He didn’t blink. He might’ve stopped breathing.
You nodded. “And, uh… ew.”
He flinched.
“But also,” you added, stepping closer, “like… kind of hot?”
Azriel blinked.
You poked his chest. “So if I licked you right now, would that do something weird and magical or…”
Azriel blacked out for two seconds. Just fully dissociated from reality.
Cassian, from across the ring. “OH MY GOD SHE’S BROKEN HIM.”
Rhysand, appearing from nowhere. “I was not prepared for this arc.”
You, still poking Azriel. “So... do I get like a mate badge or does he just follow me around like a broody duck now?”
Okay I can't stop thinking about the line in Mockingjay where Katniss notices that Finnick does not let go of Annie's hand after they're reunited
And she thinks it's because he is afraid to lose her again, which I'm sure is a significant factor
But I also. I can't. I can't stop thinking that
That this is the first time Finnick can hold her hand in public. The first time he can hold her hand where people will see them. Because he is finally no longer the Capitol's golden playboy. He can hold the hand of the woman he loves and it doesn't have to be a secret anymore. He can hold Annie's hand without that simple action putting both of them in danger.
And don't even get me started about their wedding being broadcast into the Capitol. Finnick Odair, famous for "going through four or five" "lovers" every time he is forced to return to the Capitol. Finnick Odair, who was repeatedly sold to the highest bidders, who had to act for the cameras - and even away from the cameras! - that he liked it, that he wanted it. Who could never even risk marrying the woman he loved in secret because of what would be done to her if he did.
Finnick Odair gets to hold Annie Cresta's hand without fear of who sees them. And Finnick Odair, the Capitol's golden slave, and Annie Cresta, the girl who went mad and only survived the Arena because she could swim, get to swear vows of love and fidelity in front of everyone. In front of the cameras they had up til then feared seeing any move they made. They are married in front of those same cameras. They kiss, and they dance, and it is celebrated.
When Drusilla tells Maysilee that she has no idea what will happen if she wins the game and that she’s knows nothing is so horrible. She was most likely referring to the prostitution of victors.
summary: azriel is very experienced in the romance department and you're not. well, that is until you're introduced to the world of nesta's favorite book genre and everything changes.
warnings: horny!az x innocent!reader!!!, shadow bondage, praise kink, PIV, mentions of smutty books, mentions of nessian’s unintentional exhibitionism, size kink/big dick az, overstimulation, orgasm denial
word count: 6.1k
Curled up on the loveseat next to the fireplace at the far end of your reading room at the House of Wind, you’re too entranced by the book in front of you to notice the two Illyrians who sneak in.
It isn’t until a shadow swirls around your wrist that you’re broken from your trance, which is quickly followed by the book in your hands being snatched up quickly.
“Hey!” you cry out with a frown as your eyes finally come up to meet your mate’s as he stands in front of you next to Cassian, as he smirks down at the book he stole from your grasp. “I just got to the best part.”
“Ohh, are they about to fuck?” Cassian chuckles, snatching the book from Azriel’s hand to skim the page you’re on.
“N—No,” you say sheepishly with a furrowed brow, sitting up quickly as your cheeks flush red at his question. “They just admitted their feelings for each other and kissed.”
Cassian frowns over at you as he finishes reading the page, visibly disappointed by the lack of steaminess in your book. “You’re a very different reader than Nes is.” he remarks, handing you the book once again.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” you question innocently.
“I mean, the books she reads…they’re very detailed if you know what I mean.” the male retorts with a smirk, “They really get her going, and I thank the Cauldron for them every day.”
You open your mouth to ask him more, but your mate plopping down next to you on the loveseat stops you in your tracks.
“Ignore him, sweetheart.” he says softly, pulling your legs into his lap as he massages your calves gently. “He’s being crude.”
“Yeah, sure.” Cassian chuckles, grinning wildly. “If you really wanna know about them, you can ask Nesta. She’d be happy to introduce you to the world of highly inappropriate books anytime.”
Azriel shoots Cassian a warning glare as your blush deepens, your eyes wide with curiosity as the male throws his hands up in defeat before retreating from the room. Before you can say anything on the matter, Azriel reaches a hand up to stroke your cheek, leaning over to kiss your forehead simultaneously.
“Did you have a good day, love?” he says in a quiet voice to change the subject, thumb running along your cheek while smiling at you.
“Pretty good,” you mumble, forgetting about your book once more in favor of climbing up into your mate’s lap. “Just spent most of the day reading and napping by the fire.”
“Hmm, just pretty good? That sounds like your idea of a perfect day.” he hums against the soft skin of your neck, trailing kisses along the smooth expanse.
“I am on my second book of the day, so it’s been pretty successful if I do say so myself.” you giggle, running your hands through his hair while leaning into his touch. His hand running along your thigh, toying with the hem of your dress makes you shiver, your hips involuntarily leaning into his as you do. “H—How was your day?” you question, trying to ignore how flustered he makes you feel.
“Boring, I missed you too much.” he murmurs shortly, breathing in your scent as he leans in to nip at your neck, his hands holding your hips in place when you unconsciously grind yours against his. “Thought about coming home and spending all day with you instead of being stuck in Windhaven.”
You giggle when his teeth graze your neck, skin heating as drinks you in. “Missed you too, Azzy.” you say quietly while reaching for his face, your hand hooking under his chin to pull his lips away from your neck and up to your own.
Your lips are plush and warm against his as you run your fingers through his hair. A small whimper sounds as he tugs at your bottom lip with his teeth, surprised by the eagerness from the male. The tiny noise is enough to drive Azriel wild, but he controls himself for your sake. He wants nothing more than to rip the little sage cotton dress you’re wearing to shreds and pull you onto his cock, to have you ride his length until you’re a crying mess, but he makes no such advances.
Though the two of you have been mated for over three years now, you’re still as shy as the day he met you, still just as meek when it comes to sex as you were on the day he first kissed you. Sure, you’d bedded males prior to being with Azriel, but you’d never actually been with someone who took the time to make sure you were taken care of first. You’d never even experienced an orgasm before being with him, so the world of sex was essentially brand new once you’d accepted the bond. Azriel was worlds more experienced than you and you knew it, but he never minded taking things slow, not with you. He enjoyed taking his time and taking in every single inch of you, enjoyed making sure you were satisfied and drawing those sweet little sounds out of your pretty little lips when you’d cum for him.
It wasn’t like you hadn’t thought about doing more for your mate, you knew he was always holding back with you, knew he was treating you like a fragile doll that was ready to break. You’d been fine with that for quite a while, but things had changed recently. Within the last few weeks, you’d craved more and more from him, craved the rough touch and sharp tongue you knew were hidden behind that sweet facade he always put on for you. You didn’t want him to hold back anymore. But in all reality, you didn’t know how to reciprocate and make things interesting for him, so you stuck with your simple, basic manners of affection for now.
You’re pulled from your thoughts when one of Azriel’s hands snakes from your waist towards your breast, groping at it through the thin cloth of your dress. You gasp against his lips and he chuckles, thumb rolling along your pebbled nipple gently.
“A–Az…” you mutter as you pull away from the kiss, your cheeks flushing a deep shade of maroon, “We–We can’t, not in here…”
As much as you wanted to, you’d never done anything like this in any place other than in your shared bed. You’d be downright embarrassed if someone caught you in such a public place…that was the fuzzy feeling in your chest that you were feeling right now, embarrassment, wasn’t it?
“Hmm, why not?” he says, feigning a frown as he peers at you with darkening hazel eyes, “It is your reading room, after all. You should be able to do whatever you want in your own room.”
Azriel typically stopped as soon as you expressed your apprehension to him, but he could feel the heat radiating from your body, could smell the arousal on you as he teased you. He knew you well, he knew you wanted this just as much as him.
“Az,” you say with a breathless giggle, burying your face in his shoulder as he tries to coax it out of you.
“What love?” he coos, gently angling his hips up into yours to earn a strained moan from you, “Just tell me what you want. We can do whatever you want.”
Before you can even think about what you really want, there’s a harsh knock against the threshold of the open door. “Dinner, lovebirds.” Nesta says bluntly, walking past the room without another word.
There’s still the ghost of a smirk on Azriel’s lips as you look up at him, eyes wide and cheeks flushed as you think about even getting caught in your mate’s lap in the reading room. He leans over then to kiss you quickly before pulling the two of you to your feet, shadows smoothing out the skirts of your dress as his fingers intertwine with yours.
“We’ll finish this conversation later, hmm?” he murmurs, smiling down at you sweetly as you nod feverishly, trying to compose yourself before making your way downstairs.
_______________________________
You decide to change up your lounging location the next day, opting to read in the drawing room of the House of Wind instead of your private quarters, in hopes that you’ll get the courage to stop Nesta if she makes her way downstairs.
If you were being honest, you hadn’t stopped thinking about Cassian’s suggestion from the day before, about him telling you to ask his mate about the world of highly inappropriate books.
Sure, the books you read were fun, but from the looks of it, the books that Nesta read were highly influential in her love life, and Cassian definitely benefited from her reading them. The thought of the time you’d accidentally walked into the kitchen one evening for a midnight snack and had actually run into the two of them tangled in each other came to your mind when you thought of it. How Cassian had Nesta bent over the kitchen island, one large hand gripping the meat of her ass while the other was snaked around her neck as he pounded into her mercilessly from behind. How you remembered him muttering extremely foul words in her ear, mumbling about ‘Is this how they did it in the book, huh? Is this how you wanted me?’.
You thanked the Cauldron that neither of them had seen you that night, and that you were able to slip out of the room before you were heard. But that didn’t mean that the vision wasn’t etched into your brain and didn’t replay in your thoughts every once in a while.
Luckily for you, Nesta did decide to make her way to the drawing room in the early afternoon, a handful of her infamous books in hand. She silently sits on the loveseat opposite to you, offering you company in your reading time.
“I’ve never seen you reading down here,” she remarks bluntly before opening one of her books, raising her brow at you when you give her a shy smile.
“I just thought I’d switch it up today, I’ve been cooped up in my reading room for a while.” you say as nonchalantly as possible, though it’s not a complete lie, you had been meaning to find a new reading spot for a few weeks now.
Nesta sees right through the thinly-veiled half lie, a smirk playing on her lips. It’s then that you know that Cassian definitely told her about your reaction to his suggestion.
“Are you sure that’s all? You sure you weren’t waiting for me to come downstairs too?” she implores, sharp eyes honed in on your wide ones. “A little bat might’ve told me that you’re potentially interested in some…new reading material.”
You flush at her words, cheeks hot as she gives you a knowing smirk. Your silence is enough for her to know your true answer, so she takes the opportunity to extend two of the books to you. Hesitantly, you take them, placing them in your lap as you study the titles–Fire and Desire and Cloaked in Shadows–before looking back up at her. Nesta looks at you expectantly, as if she’s waiting for you to open them and test the waters.
You carefully open Fire and Desire to a random page, and your eyes nearly bulge out of your head at the words.
“Gods, look at that,” Manon moaned, sharp nails trailing along the swell of her new pet’s peaked nipple, “look how well you take my fingers, such a needy slut.”
The girl whines desperately, bucking her hips wildly as Manon adds another finger and circles her clit with her thumb. The witch kisses down her neck, leaving bruising marks along the exposed skin so everyone knows she’s hers, that she’s theirs.
“P–Please, Masters, I’m so–so close.” she begs, eyes welling up with tears as she stares at the witch; she’s desperate for release, but she can’t get there until they say so.
“What do you think, princeling?” Manon says in a teasing tone after feigning contemplation, fingers never relenting in the female’s dripping cunt.
Dorian stands behind the females, a smirk on his lips as he watches, hands falling onto the girls’ hips to press his ever-hard length against her. A half-surprised gasp falls from her lips when the prince’s hand grips her throat, squeezing lightly as she grinds back against his cock.
“I think she’s earned her right to cum, but, not just yet.” he says with a smirk, Manon grins wickedly at him as his free hand travels to the girl’s ass, “I think I want her to cum while you continue to finger her sweet cunt and I’ll take her in the ass–”
“Oh–that one’s mine.” Nesta’s words pull you from your trance, snatching the book from your hands hastily. “Sorry, I meant to give you this one instead.” she says with a wry chuckle, handing you another one called The Archer’s Attraction. “That one and Cloaked in Shadows are much more beginner friendly. Still very heated, but much better for your tastes.”
You’re almost too flustered to open the other books, but your interest is well past piqued now. So, you opt to flip to a random page of The Archer’s Attraction to see if this one is any better.
Luna is straddling Enos’ chest, hips bucking in overstimulation as he tugs her further and further up his body until she’s hovering over his mouth. His tongue lashes out then, licking a stripe up her core to make her shout in pleasure. He smirks up at her, lips glistening with her arousal as his fingers slide through her folds to lazily pump into her.
Tears shine in her eyes as she tries to free her hands that are bound behind her back, writhing under his touch.
“I know, I know it, sweetheart.” he coos condescendingly, rubbing soothing circles on her hip as she quietly begs for him to let up. “Is it too much? The little slut can’t take it anymore?”
She thinks for a moment, silent turmoil in her mind as she thinks through her next words. She wants nothing more than for him to keep going, but she needs his cock more than anything. Needs him to pound into her and take full control, she needs more than his tongue and his fingers.
“N–Need you, Enos.” she whines, pouting down at the dark-eyed male.
“Has your brain gone to mush with just two orgasms?” he chuckles, “ Silly little girl, you have me right here, and I’ll give you what you want after I take what I want from you, okay?”
Luna nods quickly, hips jerking when his fingers begin their slow attack on her core.
“Good girl, now sit on my face and cum one more time and I’ll give you my cock.”
You can feel Nesta’s smirk before you even look up from the novel, all too aware of the tiniest gasp you let out upon reading the last sentence. This time, the gasp wasn’t from true shock, but from intrigue instead.
“Is that one more your speed?” she laughs as you close the book, you meekly nod at the female, “Well good, it’s yours to keep if you want it. Read away, I’m sure Az will be more than happy to oblige if you find anything you enjoy in there.”
Nesta immediately turns back to her own book, leaving you to read in silence next to her. Instead of asking one of the million questions you have floating through your mind at the moment, you decide to open The Archer’s Attraction to the first page and begin reading. You’re almost immediately hooked, the romance and tension between the two main characters draws your hopeless romantic heart in as soon as you’re through the first chapter.
There’s definitely not a lack of heated scenes throughout the book, and each one leaves you with blushed cheeks and an ache in your stomach. The dominant personality of the male, Enos, is what really gets you, though. Each scene with him and Luna has you desperate for more of his foul mouth. Your mind races as you think of what it would be like for Azriel to talk to you like that, to let him take control and let him degrade you if he wants to.
The majority of the day slips away from you quickly as you finish the book at record speed, desperate to feed the burning desire in the pit of your stomach with each turning page.
By the time you reach the last page, the sun is low in the sky and the drawing room is dimly lit only by fae lights littered around the ceiling. Nesta is still deeply engrossed in her own book on the opposite couch when you look up, but looks up soon after with a knowing grin.
“How was it?” she questions with a raised brow, shutting her own book after stuffing the bookmark in.
“So good,” you giggle, setting The Archer’s Attraction on the table next to her other books.
“Oh, keep it. Re-read it as many times as you’d like.” she offers with a smirk. “And if you grow tired of those two in the next day or need some more inspiration, my personal library is open to you at any time. You know where to find it.”
You smile at the silver-eyed woman while mumbling a thanks to her, and she actually shoots you a genuine smile in return before turning back to her own book.
You excuse yourself quietly after that, slipping from the drawing room to make your way up to your bedroom with your new books in hand. Your body feels like it’s on fire as you set the books down on your bedside, mind racing as you think about all of the new and exciting things you want to try with your mate.
To distract yourself while you wait for him to return, you nearly float into the en-suite bathroom to prepare for bed. Excitement flows through you while you brush your hair and clean up. At some point during your flurry of emotions, you inevitably tug on that bond connecting your soul to Azriel’s, and he in turn tugs back as you’ve finished changing into your favorite silk slip and are curling up under the covers.
One of his shadows slithers into the bedroom then, snaking up your arm and toward your ear. Home late, trouble in Autumn. Don’t wait up, the shadow whispers to you. Your excitement stills then, sadness replacing the warmth in your chest since he won’t be home for quite a while.
You know to heed the shadow’s warning and decide not to wait up for him, knowing he might not even be home until dawn if things go awry with Beron. So, you nestle into the blankets and try your best not to think about the arousal swirling in your stomach as you attempt to fall asleep.
_______________________________
Moonlight filters in through the window as you feel the bed dip behind you, a sign that your beloved mate is finally home. You aren’t sure if what time it is, but know it’s sometime in the dead of night when you peer outside. An arm snakes around your waist slowly then and you groan lightly, rolling over in Azriel’s arms to face him.
He frowns down at you then as your tired eyes begin to flutter open, obviously disappointed in himself for not being able to sneak in successfully without waking you.
“Az…” you mumble, reaching a hand up to stroke his cheek gently.
“Shh, sweetheart. I’m sorry I woke you.” he coos, his own hand resting on the curve of your hip as you inch closer to him. “Go back to sleep, love.”
You only whine in protest then, becoming all too aware of the pit of arousal that’s been brewing in your gut since the morning. Your arms weakly push at him and he chuckles quietly, adjusting to where he’s laying flat on his back for you. It’s not an unusual sleepy request from you, as you often sleep on top of the large male’s chest when you’ve missed him.
You don’t lazily flop down on his chest like you usually do, though. Instead, you straddle his hips and pull yourself up to his lips, kissing him slowly. Azriel’s brow furrows as you wrap your arms around his neck, deepening the tired kiss without a word of explanation. Your hips are pressed firmly against his as you grind into him, making the male grunt in surprise at the feeling.
“Sweetness, what are you doing?” he murmurs against your lips, hands falling subconsciously onto your hips to keep you in place on his lap.
“Need you, Az.” you almost whimper as your hands snake towards the waistband of his boxers. It’s in this moment that you thank the Cauldron that he doesn’t like to sleep in anything other than underwear.
“Need me?” he questions, one side of his mouth quirking up in a smirk as you sit yourself up to look at him properly, waiting for his approval before hastily tugging his boxers off. The look in your eyes is tired but desperate, one he hasn’t seen from you in a while. He can smell the arousal swirling around you as you stare down at him, your lips pulling into the slightest pout as you nod. “Alright, I guess I can’t say no to that when I left you alone all night.”
Your eyes flicker with excitement as he speaks, need roiling deep within your stomach again. He grips your hips more firmly then, attempting to roll you off of him so he can put you onto the bed underneath him, but you don’t budge. He raises a brow at you, but doesn’t protest as he watches closely as your hands finally push the waistband of his boxers down enough to free his cock. In your time mated to the male, you’d never been on top, never ridden him before. You’d always been afraid that the new position might hurt, that you might fuck something up. But after reading about it, you couldn’t get the image of riding his cock out of your mind, feeling so full of him as you cry out his name, it’s the only thing in your brain. You need this.
Azriel props himself up on his elbows while you stare down at his cock, eyes wide with need as you fist the length slowly. You’ve always struggled to take his full, thick length, so you know it’s going to be a challenge to ride him, but you’re up for it.
“Let me get you prepped first, sweetheart.” he suggests, knowing the inner turmoil in your eyes too well.
You shake your head adamantly at his words, pouting up at him. “Need you now, Az.” you retort, essentially begging to ride him as you continue to stroke his hard cock.
“Are you sure you want it like this?” He questions, groaning when you squeeze the length perfectly in response before nodding weakly at you before moving to sit up slowly. “Let me at least help you then, okay?” he says, adjusting the two of you so you’d be able to easily slide down on his length while using his upper body to balance, his back resting against the headboard.
You’re silent as Azriel guides you back onto his lap, watching closely as you grip his cock to line it up with your core. You look up at him when you slide the tip between your dripping folds, revelling in the way he nearly growls when you tease him. A small, yet devious smile is on your face before you begin to sink onto his length, gasping as he fills you perfectly.
“Fuck, sweetheart.” Azriel grunts, hands holding your hips like a vice as he slowly pushes you down onto him. “That’s it, love. Fuck, you feel so good.”
It takes almost a full minute for you to get fully sheathed onto his large cock, tears pricking your eyes as you bottom out, feeling so fucking full but so fucking good.
“Hey, hey,” he says quickly when he notices the tears in the corners of your eyes, hands falling from your hips to cup your cheeks as he frowns, “are you okay, sweetness? Is it too much?”
“N–No,” you say firmly, raising your hips slowly to ride his length. “It—I feel so full. It feels so—so good.”
Azriel watches you with wonder-filled eyes as you start to bounce on his lap, unable to hold back the moans that fall from your lips as you do. He’s quick to wonder what’s gotten into you, what made you so needy today while he was gone. But he doesn’t dare to ask in case he ruins the moment. He lets you take the lead, enjoying the view.
“So tight, sweetheart. Your sweet cunt feels so good, squeezing my cock so perfectly.” he praises in a low voice, eyes clouded with lust as his hands wander over your body slowly.
Your glassy, tear-brimmed eyes light up at his praise, as if his words spur you on even more, and you speed up your hips. You look down between your bodies, core clenching as you watch Azriel’s cock sliding into you easily with every bound. As you stare, his hand comes into view as it slides between your legs, finding your clit with ease to heighten your pleasure. A hedonistic sob leaves your lips then, making Azriel chuckle at your reaction.
“G—Gods, Az.” you whimper, whipping your head up to look at him again, noting how his hazel eyes have gone nearly black with lust. “F—Feels so good. Wanna—Wanna cum on your cock like this.”
A smirk passes over Azriel’s face as you continue to whine and buck your hips frantically, watching you with rapt fascination. He’s never seen you act like this in your time together, and he’s especially shocked that you all but pounced on him as soon as he entered the room this evening.
“Good girl, such a good girl for me.” he says experimentally in a low voice, watching your face for your reaction. His words seem to spur you on even more, you grip his shoulders like a vice as you pick up your pace on his length, babbling under your breath in between moans.
“Look at you, riding my cock so well. Should’ve had you do this a long time ago, sweetness.” he praises, continuing his assault on your clit as you stare at him with wide, glassy eyes. “You gonna cum on my cock like this, sweetheart? Gonna be a good slut and take my cum?”
Your hips stutter almost imperceptibly before picking back up again, shocked by his foul words and the way they make your stomach churn with desire.
“Y–Yes, want you to fill me up, Az.” you whine.
“Keep riding me like this and I’ll fill you up soon enough, love.” he mumbles with a smirk while moving his hands to grip your waist, guiding you to move even quicker up and down his length.
You whimper at the loss of pressure on your clit, but a gasp of surprise falls from your lips when you feel a cold, wispy tendril make its way to your core to replace its master’s fingers. Your heart races as you look down to see shadows snaking around your midsection and between your thighs, focusing on your clit as Azriel pulls you down onto his cock frantically. He’d never let his shadows participate in the bedroom with you, so the sudden sensation is enough to send you tumbling straight to the edge.
“That’s it, sweetness.” Az groans, a smirk plastered on his face as he stares at you, “Such a good girl, so tight around my cock. I know you’re close, love, go ahead and make a mess of my cock.”
His words of praise are your undoing, finally letting the pleasure roiling in your gut come to a head. You let out a loud shout of pleasure as your walls flutter around his cock, hips stuttering as Azriel continues to guide you along his length. The male continues to murmur words of praise as you come down from your high, refusing to let you out of his grip as you squirm against him.
“Just a little longer, love.” he coos as he watches you writhe in his lap. “Just–Just give me a second and I’ll give you what you need from me.”
Your eyes are wide and brimming with tears of pleasure as you stare at your mate, watching as something animalistic takes over as he adjusts you on top of him. He situates you to where you don’t have to move up and down anymore, opting to thrust up into your dripping cunt to reach his own high. One of his hands reaches for your clit once more, rubbing tight circles against it as he holds you in place with his other hand. You try to squirm out of his touch then, overstimulation sending a jolt of electricity to your core, but his firm grip doesn’t let you budge.
“A–Az!” you cry out, taking in the details of his face as he stares at you with lust-filled eyes. “I–I can’t.”
“Do you want my cum, sweetness?” he questions, never breaking as he searches your eyes for any sign of true hesitation but finding none when you nod at him quickly. “Then you’ll take what I give you and cum with me like a good little girl, alright?”
You’d truly made something snap within Azriel by riding him tonight, forever changing your dynamic for the better it seemed. The look in his eyes is domineering but still filled with awe, watching as you nod feverishly at his request. A deep chuckle falls from his lips and arousal swirls in your stomach all over again.
“C’mon, sweetheart.” he coaxes, pressing his fingers into your clit again, “I know you’re close again, so cum with me, baby.”
A loud shout of pleasure falls from your lips as the first wave of your second orgasm washes over you, while Azriel shudders beneath you. His grip on your waist forces you down finally, fully sheathed on his length as his release coats your fluttering walls.
“Good girl, that’s it, take everything I give you.” Azriel praises, pupils blown as he stares at you intently, taking in every detail of your pleasure-filled expression. “Such a good girl for me.”
Once his grip on your waist loosens, you collapse onto Azriel’s chest with a loud whimper. He continues to coo in your ear as you come down from your high, his hands rubbing soothing circles along your back as you fight sleep on top of him.
You don’t know how long it’s truly been when your eyes flutter open again, but you’re no longer in your mate’s lap, but lying face down on the bed as he runs a wet cloth between your thighs to clean you up while continuing to murmur praises to you. He slides into the bed next to you after finishing his cleanup, pulling you against his side when he sees you look up at him.
“Hi,” he says in a low voice, one hand coming up to smooth your hair down.
“Hi,” you reply softly, nuzzling into his side.
“Wanna talk about what just happened?” he suggests, a small smirk playing on his lips.
“No, not tonight.” you giggle, a blissful smile on your lips as you rest your head on his chest and let your eyes flutter closed. “That’s a conversation for another time when I’m not out of it like I am right now.”
“Alright, love.” he chuckles, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. “Rest up.”
_______________________________
Everything about your relationship with Azriel changes after that night, and it’s definitely for the better.
You become damn near insatiable, which makes sense considering you’ve continued to read Nesta’s books instead of your own for the entire week. Every book inspires you to try something new with your mate, who never complains, only takes it in stride as he watches you turn into someone just as horny as him.
Azriel has never experienced anything like this sudden switch-up in his five hundred years, but he definitely cannot complain.
He’s gotten to fuck you in the shower, pounded into you while you bent over the arm of the chaise in your reading room, ate you out on the kitchen counter in the middle of the night, fingered you at the dining table on an evening that it was only you two, and even had you crawl under his desk to cockwarm him with your sweet mouth while he was working late one night.
To say he’s been pleasantly surprised by your eagerness would be an understatement, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t questioned the reasoning behind it at all. The question has been eating away at him slowly, but he hasn’t found the perfect time to ask until right now.
Currently, you’re laying in your shared bed, hands bound behind your back with shadows as your face is buried in the sheets, your ass in the air as he stands behind you.
Azriel has been edging you for a good hour at this point, but only because you asked him to, you wanted to try it out.
Your thighs are shaking, tears brimming in your eyes as you crane your neck to look at the male behind you. His eyes are dark with lust as he looks down at you, a smirk playing on his lips while one hand reaches for your core, fingers swirling against your clit at an agonizingly slow pace.
“A–Az,” you whimper, trembling under his touch, “P–Please, I–I need to–to cum, please.”
“Yeah? My little slut has had enough?” he coos in a demeaning tone, chuckling darkly as you nod feverishly at him. “Alright, you poor thing. I’ll let you cum on my cock if you tell me something, okay?”
You nod again, eager to do anything to please your mate now. You look at him expectantly with wide, glassy eyes, waiting for his question.
“What’s made you so insatiable this week, huh?” Azriel questions in a low voice, sliding two fingers into your heat with ease while twisting his hand so his thumb can stroke your clit. “What’s gotten into you? Last week, you were my shy sweetheart, but you’ve turned into a horny little bunny this week. What changed, sweetness?”
“I–I, fuck.” you whine, hips bucking involuntarily as you squeeze your eyes shut to focus on anything other than Azriel’s fingers pumping into you. “I–I started reading some of Nesta’s b–books and got–got inspired.”
“Is that so?” he chuckles, his fingers coming to a halt buried deep in your cunt makes you cry out in frustration. “Have I helped you fulfill your fantasies about some of those horny little scenes you’ve been reading about?”
“Y–Yes!” you whine, pressing your hips into his hand as he stays still behind you. “Y–You definitely have.”
“Next time, I’ll have to have you read your favorite scenes to me and see how well I can help recreate them for you, yeah?” he teases, finally pulling his fingers from your heat as he positions himself between your thighs, “But right now, I think you’ve been teased enough and deserve your reward. Cum on my cock whenever you’re ready, sweetness.”
A sob falls from your lips as his cock finally nudges into you, your whole body shaking from the pent-up pleasure. You nearly black out when he bottoms out, one hand snaking around to tease your clit as you cry beneath him.
It doesn’t take you long to reach your high, especially after being teased mercilessly for over an hour now. Your walls flutter around his cock, making Azriel groan, following close behind you in his own release, being so turned on by the process of edging you that it takes him all of ten strokes with you milking his cock to coat your walls with his cum.
“F–Fuck, sweetheart.” he groans as you both come down from your high, pulling out of you slowly as you all but collapse onto the bed when his shadows release you from their hold. “Who would’ve thought you being my little bookworm would pay off so well?”
A small giggle falls from your lips as he leans down to kiss your cheek.
“There’s plenty more where this came from, don’t worry.” you say tiredly as he pulls you into his chest and peppers your face with kisses.
word count: 2.1k
content: [ nun crazy just reader having mega insecure thoughts lol ]
summary: Azriel has always been steady, unwavering—but the way you look at him makes something shift. Small moments, fleeting words, a tension neither of you acknowledge… until it’s impossible for him to ignore.
author's note: IM BACK BABEYY!!!!! this ones a bit short but i thought it'd be a good one to help get myself writing again. i really like how it turned out, just a nice, sweet lil fic nothin crazy :) also not beta'd bc i just needed to get something out NEOW. hope this is to your liking anon thank u for the req!! <3
✦ . Masterlist . ✦
The fire crackled softly in the hearth, its golden glow casting shifting patterns across the walls of the House of Wind. The night outside was crisp and quiet, Velaris resting under a blanket of stars, but here, in this small cocoon of warmth and firelight, everything felt still.
Azriel lay stretched out on the couch, wings spilling over the cushions in an easy sprawl. His shadows had retreated for the night, content to flicker lazily at the edges of the room, leaving nothing between you but firelight and the slow, steady rhythm of his breath.
You lay draped across his chest, your weight a comfortable, grounding thing. His heartbeat thudded beneath your cheek, slow and sure, and the warmth of his skin seeped through the thin fabric of his shirt. One of his hands rested at the small of your back, tracing lazy circles under your sweater, while the other curled lightly around the nape of your neck, fingertips brushing idly over your skin.
You sighed, nuzzling deeper against him, letting the scent of cedar and night-chilled wind wrap around you like a second blanket. Your fingers trailed absentmindedly over his ribs, feeling the rise and fall of his breathing, and when you finally lifted your gaze to meet his, your heart did that ridiculous little stutter it always did.
Because Azriel was looking at you like that again—like you were something precious. Something worth holding onto.
The firelight flickered in his hazel eyes, turning them molten, but there was something softer underneath. Something quiet and steady, tucked between the affection in his gaze and the slight curve of his mouth. You weren’t sure you’d ever get used to it.
You exhaled, barely above a whisper, as if afraid you might shatter the fragile silence. “I can’t believe you’re here with me.”
It wasn’t meant to be a confession. Just a passing thought, one that had been lingering in the back of your mind since the moment you started whatever this was—since the moment you realized someone like him could want someone like you.
But Azriel stilled beneath you. It was subtle, just a flicker of tension in his fingertips, a pause in the slow drag of his hand against your back. Gone in an instant.
You wouldn’t have noticed if you hadn’t been laying on his chest, if you hadn’t felt the way his heartbeat faltered for just a second before steadying again. You didn’t call attention to it, just as Az hadn’t. Hadn’t asked what you meant.
Instead, he shifted slightly, adjusting his wings so they wrapped around you both, pulling you deeper into the warmth of his body. His fingers resumed their slow, absentminded tracing, his thumb sweeping over the back of your neck in a way that made you shiver.
“Where else would I be?” he murmured.
You huffed a soft laugh, tucking your face into the crook of his neck. Anywhere. Everywhere. Someone like you doesn’t end up with someone like me.
But you didn’t say that. Just let yourself sink into his warmth, let yourself savor the way his arms tightened around you, as if holding you closer would make you understand.
Because Azriel didn’t know—not yet. But he was starting to notice.
And he didn’t like it.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
Dinner at the River House was always an event. Not a formal one by any means—the kind where the table was too small for all the elbows knocking together where laughter wove itself between the clinking of glasses and the scrape of silverware. Where the air smelled of roasted lamb and rosemary, of spiced wine and honeyed bread, warmth curling through the candlelit room like an embrace.
Nesta and Cassian had somehow gotten into a debate over who was worse at flirting—Rhysand or Azriel—which had quickly turned into a full-blown conversation about all their past entanglements.
“You’re all fools,” Amren said simply, swirling the deep red in her glass. “None of you were half as charming as you thought you were.”
Cassian scoffed. “I was charming.”
Nesta didn’t even look up as she speared a piece of meat. “Debatable.”
Across the table, Mor snickered. “He was charming, in the way a golden retriever puppy is charming.”
Azriel smirked into his wine glass. Cassian pointed at him accusingly. “You don’t get to laugh. You spent centuries avoiding love like the Mother herself would smite you for it.”
“That’s because he’s got high standards,” Mor shot back. “Honestly, I’m just surprised Az’s even dating.”
Feyre hummed, shifting Nyx higher against her shoulder as he dozed, his tiny fingers curled into the fabric of her sweater. “Dating? I’m surprised he’s managed to keep someone around long enough to–”
“Feyre.” His voice was soft, but the weight behind it was enough to cut her off. His expression was still easy, his lips curling at the edges, but there was something there—something firm, something protective.
Your stomach twisted.
The words weren’t meant to hurt. You knew that. They were lighthearted, Feyre smiling at her brother-in-law, the way siblings poked fun without malice. And Azriel had cut her off before she could finish—before she could say something that might have struck deeper.
But it was already unraveling in your head.
High standards.
Avoiding love.
Managed to keep someone around long enough.
Because is that all this is? A fling? Something temporary? Another short-lived thing in a string of them?
Your grip tightened subtly around your glass, the air suddenly too warm, your pulse thrumming a little too fast. And before you could stop yourself, before you could sit with the spiraling thoughts for even a second longer, you laughed. Too loud. Too sharp. A sound that cut through the warmth of the room rather than settling into it.
“Yeah, just wait until he realizes how much of a pain I am.”
Silence, just for a beat.
Azriel’s head snapped toward you, sharp enough that you felt it before you saw it—the weight of his gaze landing on you, the furrow in his brows, the shift in the air between you. But you didn’t look. Couldn’t.
Rhysand chuckled, breaking the brief pause, shaking his head. “Yeah, right. You’re practically a saint for dealing with him.”
Cassian smirked, lifting his glass. “Agreed.”
Laughter rippled through the table again, and just like that, the moment passed—folded itself into the fabric of the conversation, buried beneath the easy back and forth, the scraping of plates, the pouring of wine.
Azriel let it go. Again.
But it lingered.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
Azriel eventually pushed past that uneasy feeling. It wasn’t a big deal—not really. He figured you probably hadn’t even meant anything by it. But something about it rubbed him the wrong way, settled uneasily in his chest, and he couldn’t explain why.
But then it happened again.
And again.
Little things, small enough that they would have slipped through the cracks if he hadn’t been paying attention. The way you waved off his compliments, dodging them with a laugh like they were jokes rather than truths. The way your smile sometimes faltered, like you’d caught yourself enjoying the moment a little too much. The way your fingers curled into the fabric of your sleeve when he touched you, like you were steadying yourself.
And then there was the way you looked at him—that was what unsettled him the most.
Because he was used to being looked at in a thousand different ways—calculating, cautious, reverent, fearful. People looked at him and saw a legend, a warning, a weapon. He’d spent a lifetime standing on the outskirts of things, watching them unfold from the shadows, knowing that no matter how close he got, he would always be separate.
But you looked at him like he was something untouchable.
Like you didn’t quite believe he was real.
Like you were waiting for the moment he’d come to his senses and walk away.
And Azriel—who had spent years mastering the art of patience, of knowing when to hold back—found himself growing more and more frustrated.
Not at you, gods, never at you.
But at the way you’d convinced yourself that you were less.
That he was something more.
It all came to a head one evening in the training ring.
You weren’t training, just sitting on one of the benches, legs tucked beneath you, book resting open in your lap. You liked being here with him, and he liked having you here, even if neither of you’d ever said it out loud. He could feel your eyes on him as he moved through his drills, the steady weight of your attention like a tether pulling him back to earth.
When he finally finished, muscles burning, wings flexing as he rolled his shoulders, he walked over to you. You grinned up at him, eyes warm despite the sharp winter air, and handed him a cup of water without a word.
Az took a long drink before murmuring, “You staring at me again?”
You scoffed, though the way your mouth twitched told him you were fighting a smile. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
He smirked, resting a hand on the bench’s backrest beside you, bracing himself as he leaned down. “Too late.”
You made a face, but the slight pink creeping up your neck gave you away. He kissed you softly, just a brush of lips, tasting warmth and wind and something undeniably you.
And then you said it.
“I still don’t know what you see in me.”
You said it casually. Offhanded. Like it wasn’t a confession. Like it wasn’t the worst thing you could’ve said.
Azriel went still.
The words settled like a stone in his chest, heavy and suffocating. And suddenly, every little moment from the past few weeks clicked into place—the deflected compliments, the hesitations, the way you looked at him like you were waiting for him to wake up and realize you weren't enough.
The frustration that had been simmering in the back of his mind finally snapped.
His voice was quiet, but firm. “Don’t do that.”
You blinked, tilting your head slightly. “Do what?”
“That.” He straightened, looking down at you, jaw tight. “Talk about yourself like that.”
You shifted, clearly thrown off by the sudden change in his tone. “Az, I was just—”
“I mean it.” His wings flared slightly, a flicker of restrained emotion. “You say things like that all the time. Like you don’t think you belong here. Like I’m some…” He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “Some gift the Mother decided to bestow on you.”
You opened your mouth, but he wasn’t finished.
“You don’t think I notice, but I do,” he said, voice softer now, rough around the edges. “I can see it in the way you dodge compliments, the way you downplay yourself like you’re the lucky one—as if I’m not the one who should be grateful every damn day that you want to be with me.”
You swallowed hard, looking away. “That’s not—”
“Look at me.”
You did.
And when your eyes met, something inside Az ached.
Because you really didn’t see it.
Didn’t see what he saw every time he looked at you—the quiet strength, the unwavering kindness, the way you fit so effortlessly into the parts of him that had always felt empty.
Didn’t see how, before you, he had spent centuries standing on the outside looking in, wondering if he would ever have anything or anyone just for himself.
Didn’t see how you were already everything.
Azriel exhaled, slow and steady, forcing himself to find the words. “You are not some… temporary thing I decided to entertain myself with.” He took your hand, curling your fingers between his own. “You’re not lucky to have me.” He squeezed, firm but gentle. “I’m lucky to have you.”
Your lips parted slightly, but no words came out. You looked like you wanted to argue, to tell him he had it backwards, but there was something raw in his expression—something that made you hesitate.
Az lifted your joined hands and pressed a slow, lingering kiss to the back of yours, his lips brushing your skin as he whispered, “Stop acting like you’re less than.”
Silence stretched between you, heavy with everything unsaid.
Finally, you exhaled shakily and leaned forward, pressing your forehead against his. “I don’t know how to stop feeling like I am.”
Az closed his eyes, letting himself breathe you in. And then he whispered, “Then let me remind you.”
Summary: Azriel's shadows have always been loyal, always obeyed him without question. Until now. Until they start misbehaving whenever another man so much as looks at you.
Warnings: None
Word Count: 1,066
Notes: This is my first fic, I hope you like it! :)
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆⋆☾✩⁺₊✩ ✩⁺₊✩☽⋆⋆☾✩⁺₊✩ ✩⁺₊✩☽⋆⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
The first time it happens, you don't think much of it.
You're at Rita's with the Inner Circle, nursing a drink at the bar while Cassian and Mor dance somewhere among the crowded space. The music thrums through the air, and the conversation hums around you when a male slides into an empty seat beside you.
"Didn't think someone like you would be sitting alone," he says, flashing a grin.
You don't even get the chance to respond before a flicker of something moves between you.
The male frowns, swiping at his hair, which has suddenly transformed from being neatly styled to sticking up in wild angles, as if an invisible force had run its hands through it... aggressively.
You blink in surprise.
He mutters a curse, trying to fix it, but the moment he smooths it down, the strands spring right back up. His frustration grows, hands swiping over his head repeatedly.
"I- what the hell?" he grumbles. "Is this air cursed or something?"
You bite the inside of your cheek, fighting a laugh.
And then you feel it.
A cool, familiar brush against your wrist.
Slowly, you glance down—just in time to see a shadow curling around your fingers before slipping away.
Your stomach flips.
You don't even need to turn around to know exactly where Azriel is.
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆⋆☾✩⁺₊✩ ✩⁺₊✩☽⋆⋆☾✩⁺₊✩ ✩⁺₊✩☽⋆⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
The second time it happens, it's harder to ignore.
You and Azriel are training in the House of Wing, and the session has drawn some attention—mainly from a visiting group of Illyrians who very clearly wanted to spar with you.
One in particular, a cocky warrior named DAIN, is relentless. He lingers, circling the ring as Azriel corrects your stance, his gloved hands light against your arms.
"You sure you don't want a real sparring partner, sweetheart?" Dain calls, grinning. "I promise I'll go easy on you."
Azriel stills.
His fingers tighten ever so slightly before he steps back, shadows slithering at his feet. "She's training," he says evenly, but there's an obvious warning beneath the words.
Dain chuckles. "Training is nice and all, but I'd be happy to teach her a few things myself."
Something cold coils around your ankles.
Before you can react, the shadows yank. Not hard. Just enough to make you stumble backwards, right into Azriel's chest.
Your breath catches.
His hands steady you, fingers gripping your waist for a fraction of a second before he forces himself to let you.
You glance up at him, about to ask whether or not that was intentional, but his jaw is tight, hazel eyes locked on Dain.
Azriel's shadows have started to shift.
Not the lazy, fluid movements they usually have—but sharp, possessive flickers that wrap around you. One curls over your shoulder, while another drapes across your wrist, looping around like a claim.
You shiver, pulse skittering.
Dain seems to notice, too. His smirk falters, his eyes flicking between you and the swirling darkness. "Uh-"
The shadows snap toward him.
Not touching—just close. Close enough to make him step back.
You swear you hear them hiss.
Dain swallows hard. "Right. I, uh, should probably-"
Azriel doesn't blink. Doesn't move.
Dain takes the hint. He all but scrambles away, muttering under his breath.
And just like that, the shadows slip away, leaving you cold.
You whip around, crossing your arms. "What was that about?"
Azriel frowns, too casual. "What was what?"
"Oh, I don't know," you say dryly. "Maybe terrorizing a man into running for his life?"
His brow furrows, like he truly doesn't know what you're talking about. "I didn't do anything."
You narrow your eyes. Then one last shadow curls around your wrist before darting away like a child caught misbehaving.
Azriel glares at it.
Your lips part. "You have got to be kidding me."
His expression darkens as more shadows flick around you, playful now.
Azriel sighs. Pinches the bridge of his nose. "They don't usually-"
"Get jealous?" You finish for him, holding back a smile.
Silence.
His throat bobs.
And then—quietly, almost too quiet—you hear his shadows whisper something.
A name.
Your name.
And you realize—maybe it's not just his shadows who are jealous.
Your breath hitches. Azriel's wings rustle. And he looks like he's about to bolt.
Which is just unacceptable.
You cross your arms, tilting your head back to study him. "You know, I think your shadows like me more than they like you."
Azriel exhales sharply. "That's ridiculous."
"Is it?" You smirk, glancing down as a shadow curl lazily around your wrist. You give it a little wiggle, and the shadow clings tighter.
Azriel scowls at it. "Traitor."
A laugh bubbles out of you. You can't help it.
The great and terrifying Shadowsinger, bested by his own shadows.
"Oh, this is too good," you say, beaming up at him. "All this time, and they've secretly been on my side."
Azriel mutters something that sounds suspiciously like a curse. His wings twitch again. His shadows flick in annoyance—except the ones still clinging to you, moving to curl around your waist like they never want to let go.
You bite back a grin. "I mean, it makes sense." You gesture vaguely at them. "They probably just think I'd be a much better master."
Azriel gives you a deadpan stare. "That's not how this works."
"I don't know," you hum, pretending to consider it. "They seem pretty happy right now."
As if to prove your point, one shadow playfully loops around your fingers.
Azriel glowers. "You're encouraging them."
You give him an innocent smile. "Would I do that?"
He sighs, but you catch it—the way the corner of his mouth twitches. The way his gaze softens, just a little.
And then, so softly you almost miss it, he murmurs, "They have good taste, at least."
Your breath catches.
Your teasing falters for half a second before you recover. "So, you admit they like me more?"
Azriel exhales, shaking his head. "You're impossible."
You grin. "And you love it."
He doesn't answer. But the way his shadows linger—curling, warm, content—tells you everything you need to know.
✩⁺₊✩☽⋆⋆☾✩⁺₊✩ ✩⁺₊✩☽⋆⋆☾✩⁺₊✩ ✩⁺₊✩☽⋆⋆☾✩⁺₊✩
Cassian walks in moments later, takes one look at Azriel's shadows practically cuddling you, and immediately points.
"I knew it!" He boasts.
Azriel pinches the bridge of his nose. His shadows flick toward Cassian, clearly unimpressed.
And you?
You just laugh.
Because really—Azriel might deny it all he wants, but his shadows?
Cassian accidentally gives you a concussion, his only request is that you give him time to get away before Az gets home.
------
“Your heads not in the game,” Cassian teased, nudging your feet apart as he examined your form. “Come on, what’s on your mind?”
“Nothing is on my mind.” You mumbled, dropping your fist and turning to him with a pout. “We’ve been out here for hours, can we please be done?”
It was an unusually hot day, and you and Cassian had stripped down to the bare minimum, and it still wasn’t cool enough. His torso was coated in sweat, and you could see the defined lines of muscle lining his abdomen and arms. You, on the other hand, had only joined the inner circle recently, and you couldn’t see any muscle in your abdomen, hence the vigorous training sessions with Cassian.
“Do you think Hybern is going to wait until it’s nice and cool outside to attack us?” Cassian asked, raising his eyebrows and crossing his arms.
“I don’t know… maybe?” You shrugged, he shook his head, laughing. “Spar with me one more time.”
“I always lose!” the grumble left you before you could stop yourself. Cassian laughed again, and you got into position on the mat, and he stood across from you. Past Cassian, you could see the landscape of Velaris, the mountains in the background with the sun high above. Clouds littered the sky but provided almost no shadow.
Speaking of shadows, you wonder what Azriel had been up to. You hadn’t seen him today, where usually you two spoke before breakfast. Seeing him was one of your favorite parts of the day, whilst he was quiet and refined with everyone else, you made him smile and laugh. Your friendship was full of inside jokes, occasional hugs and a lot of pining for him. You wish you were able to move on, and in an effort to, you told Cassian- but that was a huge mistake.
Cassian teased both of you, constantly, and you could tell Azriel was embarrassed. You two would be eating breakfast together in the morning, and Cassian would come in and call you two lovebirds, or a nice couple, or even ask if he was interrupting something with a wink. Azriel would always snap some retort back at Cassian, something along the lines of ‘Not us’, “Not gonna happen”, or, the one that hurt your heart the most, “Not in a million years.”
Sure, Cassian’s teasing was embarrassing, but you never understood why Azriel felt like he had to shut it down so harshly, Cassian was only joking after all.
“You’re not focused!” Cassian snapped his fingers in front of you, and your eyes moved quickly from the mountains to him. “Did you hear anything I just said?”
“Of course I did!” You snap back.
“Lets see about that.” Cassian replied, his fist came at you in the combination you guys had been working on. You ducked to the right and you heard the whoosh of his hand past your ear. You blocked his right knee with your forearm, turning quickly to throw a punch into his unshielded face.
Instead of watching your fist land a satisfying blow to his chin, you instead watched as his fist came right towards you and land an unforgiving blow to your right temple. You flew back on the mat, landing in a heap and losing the air in your lungs.
“Y/N!” Cassian shouted, quickly getting on his knees and standing above you. You saw his shadowed blurried face above yours. After a few moments, you were able to gasp, your lungs finally allowing air in. Cassian’s one face turned into two, then four. “Y/N, are you okay?”
“I don’t know.” You whispered, you reached up for his face to see if there was really four of him. You cupped his cheek. “Cassian, I am literally seeing like- eight of you right now.”
“Fuck Y/N!” Cassian groaned, turning his head away and looking around. “I thought you said you heard what I said, I told you that after the first combination, we were skipping the second and doing the third.”
“I think I lied.” You groaned, your arm falling back down to your side. You reached up to feel your head and could feel that your eye area was swelling already. “The sun is so bright.”
“I’m going to take you to madja Y/N, but please, do not tell Azriel.”
------
Hours passed, and Madja diagnosed you with a slight concussion. She was able to give you something for the pain, but the bruising and eventual black eye was unavoidable. Cassian had tucked you into your chair in the library, making sure you had a snack, a couple of books and a tall glass of water within reach. “Cassian- I’m not helpless you know.”
“Y/N- trust me, this is the least I can do.” Cassian handed you your book, then moved the table even closer to you. “Is this close enough?”
“Yes! I’m fine, you guys get punched around all the time, I can handle it.” You tried to raise your eyebrows in a teasing manner but felt a surge of pain through the right side of your face. Cassian’s face fell, “I’m serious, don’t feel bad. It was my fault for not paying attention.”
“He’s not going to see it that way.” Cassian retorted, and you shook his head.
“Why are so worried about what Azriel will think?”
“I just do not want to be anywhere near here when he comes home, speaking of which, I best be on my way.” He leaned down, giving you a light hug before backing up. “Again, I’m sorry, but I’ll see you tomorrow yeah?”
“Yeah.” You nodded, smiling as he walked from the door. You looked around the now empty room, the fire was roaring in the fireplace, the light leaving shadows against the dark shelves filled with books in varying condition. You nestled into your chair, opening the book and continuing where you left off.
------
The door opened to the library with a groan, and you smiled to yourself, noticing the new shadows flowing around you that were not caused by the fire. “Hey Az.” You hummed, not turning towards him.
“Hey, how was your day?” His low voice reverberated through the small space, making you smile. He sat in the chair next to you. You were sure he looked handsome, like he does every night, but you didn’t turn your head, instead leaving your hair to frame the ugly bruise.
“It was uneventful.” You flipped the page, “What about yours?”
“Just uneventful?” Azriel reached his hand over, grabbing your arm. “What was uneventful?”
“Just did a little sparing with…. Cassian.” You hesitated, “It was hot, very hot, and very uneventful.”
“I feel like you’re not telling me something.” Azriel said, and your felt him get up and go to kneel in front of you. You looked down even further, you probably looked ridiculous. “Why aren’t you looking at me?”
“No reason Az, my eyes are…tried of looking at stuff.” You cringed at your bad excuse. “I mean- I think its time to get to bed. You walk out first- I’ll be right behind you.”
Azriel slowly placed his hand on your chin, and gently forced your head up, causing your eyes to meet his. His teasing smile immediately dissolved into concern, then anger. “Y/N!” Azriel’s voice was sharp, but his hands were still gentle as he cradled his face. “What happened?”
“It wasn’t Cassian’s fault!” You pushed your hair behind your ear, “I was distracted and then his fist just came out of nowhere-“
Azriel stood up, walking out of the room. You got up to follow, trotting behind him as he went to Cassian’s door. He swung it open, not knocking, and stormed into his empty room. “Where is he?” Azriel growled, turning back to you.
“Azriel calm down!’ You replied, coming over and grabbing his arm. His shadows dispersed, probably looking for Cassian somewhere in the house. “He left- I don’t know where.”
“I’m going to kill him.” Azriel looked down at your face, but instead of meeting your eyes he stared at the huge bruise.
You understood why Cassian left in this moment, but couldn’t exactly figure out why Azriel was losing his cool. “Azriel please-“
“Where did he go?”
“I don’t know! I just said that!” You replied, you turned your head back towards the door and winced, the quick motion causing your head to throb. Azriel’s hand immediately fell to your cheek again. “I’m sorry, it just hurts.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispers, “lets go back.”
His hand hovered over your lower back as you walked. “Do you have a concussion?”
“A slight one, yeah.” You replied, deciding that instead of the library, your room was definitely a better destination.
“I’m sorry to cut tonight short Az, but I’m really tired.” You looked up at him, opening your door. He nodded, following you in and sitting in the chair next to the bed as you laid down, getting under the covers. As you settled into your pillow, you expected him to move, or leave, but he stayed put. “What are you doing Az?”
“I’m going to make sure you’re okay.” Azriel stated, leaning back in the chair, his wings awkwardly crunched between him and the wall.
“Not that I don’t enjoy your company, you know I do, but what?”
“Concussions are serious Y/N, even if Madja says you’re okay I’m not taking the chance that you’re not, so I’m staying here.”
“all night?” You retorted, and he nodded.
“Yep.”
“Az please, go to bed. You look uncomfortable.”
“Nope.”
You glared at him, and he sighed, leaning forward and clasping his scarred hands on his knees. “You want the truth?” You nodded, “I would sit here, all night, and watch you sleep just to make sure you woke up. The fact that Cassian hurt you…. Makes me want to tear him limb from limb, even if he is my brother.”
“Az-“ You started, leaning up on one arm and taking a good look at him. His eyes bore in to yours, no trace of humor left in them. “You’re serious.”
“Yes, I’m serious.” He replied, “so don’t ask me to leave again, because I won’t, I physically- I physically can’t leave.”
“Then at least climb in with me.” You whispered, patting the spot next to you. He froze. “Please, you look uncomfortable.”
“That’s the concussion talking.” Az mused, and you shook your head.
“I swear it’s not.” You whispered, earnestly looking at him. “If you were ever hurt, I don’t know what I would do. Do you want the truth?” he nodded, and you sighed. “I didn’t see the punch coming because I was thinking about you, and about…how you would never feel the same way as I do.”
“And how is that?” Azriel dropped to his knees, coming to the edge of the bed.
“I…care about you, deeply. I want to spend every day with you, and…” You felt tears prick your eyes and you turned away, your face flushing in embarrassment. “Honestly it really hurts my feelings when you say you could never see us happening, because I’ve always seen us happening.”
He stared at you, hands falling to his side. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m concussed.” You quickly wiped the tears from your eyes, turning away and plopping on the bed. “Forget I said anything, goodnight, Az.”
After a few moments, the bed creaked and you felt a warm hand on your shoulder, slightly pulling you. You turned, and Az was above you on his side, staring at the non-bruised side of your face.
“I have always thought that you would not be able to love me, for the things that I have done.” He whispered, cupping your face. “I never wanted to offend you with the… insinuation that we could ever be a match.”
“My chest physically hurts when I’m away from you, and my shadows would rather be with you than with me at this point, you are so kind, so beautiful, the thought of us together, the thought of you caring about me, and possibly loving me, just seemed too much like a dream rather than reality.” Tears burned your eyes again as he spoke, “I love you, I’m sorry I ever made you think differently.”
“I love you too.” You whispered, and he wiped the tear from your cheek. “All those comments Cassian made- it was because I told him how I felt about you, he was just teasing me.”
Azriel barked a laugh, turning away from you on his back. You looked at him in concern, and he just shook his head. “I had told him about my feelings for you, I thought he was…I thought those comments were aimed at me.”
You shook your head, laughing as well. “ Az, I won’t stop you if you still want to kill him.”
(I will be writing all of these into my Sloane x Dain fics at some point)
-He’s super touchy with Sloane, he always has his hands around her waist
-He got really good at braiding hair from growing up with Violet
-He has a thing for kissing Sloane’s palm, ESPECIALLY after she starts wielding and is terrified of what her signet can do, he loves to do it to show her he’s not horrified or scared of any part of her
-He wears a deep, woody cologne
-As soon as he marries Sloane, all this man says is “my wife” this “my wife” that, “don’t touch my wife”, “watch how you speak to my wife”, “no I have to go ask my wife”
Aelin being told directly to her face that Aelin Galathynius is raising an army whilst she just stands there utterly confused thinking “when the fuck did I start doing that?!” will never not be funny to me
Purple Butterfies @candypurplebutterfly - Tumblr Blog | Tumgag
yousharknotpass
andulkaphoto
izzy806
snowghoul
baratheonpilled
theartofmadeline
