The battle had been long over, and Azriel lay flat on his back, wings mangled, his siphons cracked and dimmed. Beside him, barely breathing, Eris stared up at the summer sky.
Neither of them spoke. There was no strength left for words, and now they both lay there breathing with the knowledge that they’d both nearly died saving each other. They both had felt it— When what had lain unspoken for so long finally refused to be ignored.
“I had no idea this is where we would end. On the most beautiful day, with the sun shining as our blood mingled on the grass beneath us,” Azriel said.
"We...", Eris answered softly with a chuckle. “We were never meant to have it easy.”
A breeze stirred the grass, carrying the scent of wildflowers tangled with blood from the battlefield. It was a mockery, really—how beautiful the world looked while they lay broken in it.
Eris turned his face toward Azriel, blinking against the light. “Funny, isn’t it?” He murmured. “How I spent my whole life trying not to feel. To run away from you—and yet, this is where I ended up.”
Azriel’s fingers twitched, and he lifted his hand, barely brushing against Eris’s chin—the first gentle touch they had shared.
Eris smiled. For once, his guards were lowered, his fire nothing but a soft ember inside him. “Then maybe we’re not doomed after all,” he said, so quietly Azriel almost missed it. “Maybe we just needed to bleed to remember we’re alive. Perhaps we needed to break to remember what it means to feel. Just like the wildfire destroys the trees and leaves everything in ashes. Sometimes it’s only after destruction that something new can grow.”
Eris reached out and took Azriel's hand, and slowly, Azriel’s shadows curled around their entwined fingers, dancing and fluttering around them, connecting them like a promise of a shared future.
Some interview questions for Rhysand (& inner clique) to address in the next book 🎤
-Three of you have powers to extract the truth from prisoners. Why does Az have to get his hands dirty for your confusing moral high ground? His self esteem is already nonexistent 🪦
-When will you learn/say the LOA's godsdamned name? One of many names y'all should know as diplomats🤡💢
-How have you ancient fae not noticed that Lucien is a swan? 🦢 A 20 yr old who's been in Prythian a little over a year cracked that case for ya 🕵️♀️
-Why have you been so willfully ignorant regarding Eris and all his sacrifices?
You of all people know what game Eris is playing 🎭 and how much he has done right by you- given his circumstances. You left UTM, he's still stuck in his own 🤧
-How do you plan to govern the Hewn City long-term?
Many of your citizens are stuck underground without sun or starlight who live in fear of your iron fist. Mor used to be one of these poor souls; and most of you know what imprisonment in the dark feels like 🧟♂️
Anyone would be a cranky citizen under those conditions. Ending your daddy's old traditions should start with your citizens before your romantic assertions, no?
-All of your lavish estates and riches
Why can't you accept spring court refugees, send relief etc? We can understand geopolitical ramifications, but surely all that extravagance could be invested more wisely? Not to say that all other courts aren't liable too (except you Tarquin baby)
-Why must everyone suffer over your animosity towards Tamlin?
When will you show the appropriate MErCy? Set your boundaries and send an unbiased party to deal with negotiations and affairs.
For the sake of Prythian's citizens and diplomacy- we are all sick of hearing about it in the grand scheme of things. He saved Feyre and your own life and put Prythian ahead of himself during the Hybern War. When will you stop beating a dead horse that's down while you're so up high? 🐴
-Why do you withhold important information from your circle for their 'benefit'?
Eris holding baby Lucien 🥹!! I wanna thank @xo.hikka extremely much for working with me again,and I can't express my emotions while watching this amazing artwork 🥺🥺💖 I'll always commission for Vanserra family moments since we haven't seen anything in the books 🥲
I finally sat down and decided to do refs for my fem!Maxley designs! I tried to keep the fashion as y2k as possible. Though I didn't change Max's that much, partially because I think his original design fits him so well.
I also didnt wanna give Bradley the pigtails BUT I couldnt find a y2k hairstyle that fit him OTHER than the pigtails sooo we ball. If anyone has any advice or anything that you would think would work better for these designs please let me know!!!
(I doubt many people will read this, and few will want to do this, but feel free to use or reference my designs as long as you properly credit me)
tangentwithtanner
ellievsbear
turnnoffyourmind
gummygunk
kianamaiart
2087
