Elriel as High King and Queen of Prythian and lord and lady of the Dusk Court??
Minor acosf spoilers
Iâve been seeing a lot of posts about how Elrielâs powers compliment each other; and I really canât stop thinking about how powerful they would be together (not that they arenât already powerful individually).
Azriel is fierce, relentless, and protective. Heâs largely considered to be one of the most lethal Illyrian warriors to exist. He has centuries of extensive training, in addition to the multiple siphons he uses to channel vast amounts of illyrian killing power. We also know that Az is a shadowsinger, which means he can manipulate the shadows in various ways. He is able to travel through them, AND use them to hide himself and different objects within them. Additionally, they whisper to him, allowing him to glean extensive information about his surroundings (including people,places, and objects). This in turn makes him a formidable spymaster as well. However, as impressive as that may be, the full extent to his powers arenât yet clear. SJM hasnât written much about his shadowsinger abilities, which insinuates that thereâs a lot more to be discovered about them.
Elain may not be a full blooded warrior with centuries of training, but she has the strength of character to more than make up for that. Sheâs resilient and enduring and kind. Throughout the entirety of the series, despite all she goes through, she retains her beauty; not just her physical beauty but true beauty found in the depth of oneâs soul. Sheâs said to be so lovely in spirit that even the cauldron, an ancient object of immense power that has doubtlessly encountered countless beings, freely gifts her with clairvoyance (something that likely hasnât EVER happened before). She becomes a seer; sheâs someone that has the ability to see the future and tease glimpses of circumstance at will (as she does when she searches for information on Vassa and koschei). Like Azriel, the full extent of her powers are unknown and still untested.
When you consider the Illyrian shadowsinger and the gentle flower grower together, you get two fiercely loyal, patient, intelligent, powerful individuals. More importantly, you have two individuals that balance each other in all best ways. Thereâs Elainâs innate kindness to soothe the rage Azriel has let fester for the entirety of his existence. Thereâs Azrielâs brutality and protectiveness to counter Elainâs physical vulnerability (although that may change depending on whether she takes up training in the next book). Light shining through the shadows; shadows existing because of the light. Death balanced by life and life balanced by death.
Now consider what this could mean for a High King and Queen of Prythian. I mean who better to rule the fae than the two people who are best suited for it. As a spymaster/shadowsinger, Az can easily gather information on all courts. Elain would be able to foresee any trouble/unrest in the future through her visions (not to mention Elain could become quite the little spy herself with her stealthy and observant ways). Given what we know about their characters, I believe they would be fair and just in their ruling. That being said, I also believe theyâre formidable enough to deter a lot of trouble, and powerful enough to put down any threats to the realm. Especially with allies in the night court feysand, nessian, and the valkyries!
Also, what better place to rule from than the doubtlessly beautiful dusk court we hopefully get to see Elriel restore in the next book!
Elriel as High King and Queen of Prythian and lord and lady of the Dusk Court??
Minor acosf spoilers
Iâve been seeing a lot of posts about how Elrielâs powers compliment each other; and I really canât stop thinking about how powerful they would be together (not that they arenât already powerful individually).
Azriel is fierce, relentless, and protective. Heâs largely considered to be one of the most lethal Illyrian warriors to exist. He has centuries of extensive training, in addition to the multiple siphons he uses to channel vast amounts of illyrian killing power. We also know that Az is a shadowsinger, which means he can manipulate the shadows in various ways. He is able to travel through them, AND use them to hide himself and different objects within them. Additionally, they whisper to him, allowing him to glean extensive information about his surroundings (including people,places, and objects). This in turn makes him a formidable spymaster as well. However, as impressive as that may be, the full extent to his powers arenât yet clear. SJM hasnât written much about his shadowsinger abilities, which insinuates that thereâs a lot more to be discovered about them.
Elain may not be a full blooded warrior with centuries of training, but she has the strength of character to more than make up for that. Sheâs resilient and enduring and kind. Throughout the entirety of the series, despite all she goes through, she retains her beauty; not just her physical beauty but true beauty found in the depth of oneâs soul. Sheâs said to be so lovely in spirit that even the cauldron, an ancient object of immense power that has doubtlessly encountered countless beings, freely gifts her with clairvoyance (something that likely hasnât EVER happened before). She becomes a seer; sheâs someone that has the ability to see the future and tease glimpses of circumstance at will (as she does when she searches for information on Vassa and koschei). Like Azriel, the full extent of her powers are unknown and still untested.
When you consider the Illyrian shadowsinger and the gentle flower grower together, you get two fiercely loyal, patient, intelligent, powerful individuals. More importantly, you have two individuals that balance each other in all best ways. Thereâs Elainâs innate kindness to soothe the rage Azriel has let fester for the entirety of his existence. Thereâs Azrielâs brutality and protectiveness to counter Elainâs physical vulnerability (although that may change depending on whether she takes up training in the next book). Light shining through the shadows; shadows existing because of the light. Death balanced by life and life balanced by death.
Now consider what this could mean for a High King and Queen of Prythian. I mean who better to rule the fae than the two people who are best suited for it. As a spymaster/shadowsinger, Az can easily gather information on all courts. Elain would be able to foresee any trouble/unrest in the future through her visions (not to mention Elain could become quite the little spy herself with her stealthy and observant ways). Given what we know about their characters, I believe they would be fair and just in their ruling. That being said, I also believe theyâre formidable enough to deter a lot of trouble, and powerful enough to put down any threats to the realm. Especially with allies in the night court feysand, nessian, and the valkyries!
Also, what better place to rule from than the doubtlessly beautiful dusk court we hopefully get to see Elriel restore in the next book!
Why We Simp for Elriel: A Memoir (Since Some of You Asked)
Their sense of humor is on par with the other. They both drag Amren in epic ways without being loud about it.
Elain has both light and dark, and so does Azriel. They balance each other out.
THE SHADOWSINGER AND THE FAWN IMAGERY. HADES AND PERSEPHONE VIBES, BRUH. TRUTH-TELLER REPRESENTING THE POMEGRANATE.
Azriel gave a part of himself in giving Truth-Teller to Elain. A part he has never given to a single soul. Not even Mor.
Elain walked amongst Azrielâs shadows to stab Hybern.
Elain is a Seer and could really be helpful for Azrielâs network.
If Elain joins the spynetwork, Azriel will probably have to torture less. Therefore giving up less of his soul in the process. Allowing him the ability to let himself to finally FEEL.
They have the potential to see the beautiful things about the other, and the ugly parts too. Personally, I canât wait to delve deeper into this.
Elain brings out Azrielâs emotions in ways no other character has.
Azriel brings out Elainâs inner strength.
Azriel is the first character that has truly taken time to see Elain for who she is.
Elain doesnât balk at Azriel when many would piss themselves in his presence.
Theyâve held hands.
Azriel bowed. BOWED when he thought she looked damn good in that dusty pink dress.
Elain considers Azrielâs hands beautiful.
Elain can make Azriel blush.
Azriel flusters Elain when he dresses nice.
Elain flusters Azriel when she dresses nice.
Their union would be brought on by choice.
Elain makes Azriel LAUGH.
They have these moments of staring into each others eyes for a long time. They will do this in front of everyoneâs salads, and they donât give a hoot.
Elain DEVOURED Azrielâs presence when he rescued her.
Azriel was willing to die with Elain when he rescued her. He was willing to sacrifice it all on the slim odds he could save her.
Elain killed a king, admitted her faults, walked amongst shadows, and kicked a big ass hound with her BARE feet because of Azriel being in her life.
Azriel enjoys her company enough that he actually seeks it.
Azrielâs shadows brighten when Elain smiles.
They chill out in gardens together soaking up sun.
They protect each other.
Azriel brought out the light back to Elainâs eyes. The only one to do so.
Elain brought out the exact eye color of Azrielâs from the joy she gives him. His hazel eyes have green and gray in them. Thank you Elain for bringing that out!
The midnight whispers Azriel gives Elain. Like, hello.
Elain listens to AND responds to Azrielâs commanding voice.
Theyâre both domestic af. Elain and Azriel are the types to set up the house to make it look nice.
Elain has a passion for living life, and traveling. A character trait often not recognized. How perfect would that be for the spynetwork? Or even better, how perfect would it be to see Azriel finally giving himself a real adventure at her side?
Elain probably has a lot of skills in the art of being a merchant. We know she can negotiate. She also would also always listen intently to her father whenever he spoke about business. This skill could be of use to Azriel in the future.
Elain is also incredibly charming. Again, perfect for the spynetwork.
Azriel will probably end up teaching her to see beyond mist and shadow, so they can defeat Koschei. Elain has seen what Koschei considers precious, but canât see it all. Not yet. Not without training.
Elain has surprised Feyre with how wise and observant she can be. Do you guys see where Iâm going with this?
Azriel and Elain not only would balance each other, but also challenge the other to step out of their comfort zone. Elain with her inner strength and Azriel with allowing himself to feel. Theyâd heal each other. They understand the pain of unrequited love. Theyâd help the plot PROGRESS. On top of that, they could be the most badass spy duo in all Prythian. They would be unstoppable together.
Long post incoming but if youâd like one psychologistâs take on Azriel, please keep reading! This is my first time posting. I came to the fandom ~2.5 years ago, and I thought that everyone had said everything that needed to be said at the time but with a new book, Iâm very interested in participating in the fandom theories and interpretations!
So Iâm a psychologist and part of my job is to take data and interpret what I think it means. I have a specific set of lenses that I look through, and am I sometimes wrong? Absolutely, but thatâs something I always disclose, that it might be trial and error, I try to make all the information make sense, and ask for feedback. I am also always very intentional with my language and word choice in my work. I am by no means trying to say I have the best grasp on mental health or think that my viewpoint is 100% accurate, but I just want to explain some of the psychological things and writing choices that stood out to me.
I think the thing that has bothered me most is people being upset and uncomfortable with Azâs POV and how he views Elain. More so because I think itâs a misunderstanding, but of course, everyone is entitled to their own interpretation and reactions.
SJM is always intentional about what she does so I was curious as to why she left out emotional/romantic words and writing in Azâs POV and maybe that is what bothered others about it (it didnât bother me, give me more horny Az please). He didnât express any longing or emotional/romantic feelings towards Elain (and neither with Gwyn and Iâm not going to discuss shadow interaction at all because thatâs a whole other post). His behavior, to me, definitely did convey longing and romantic interest though. I wouldnât say it was normal, but it wasnât abnormal that he keeps the medicine gift on his nightstand and stares at all the time and hasnât used it once. Itâs meaningful to him in some way (I have my own interpretation as to why but Iâll leave that out for now and just focus on what it does mean behaviorally). He pleasures himself in the dark of night with thoughts and images of Elain after even his Shadows have gone to sleep (which I interpreted to mean that he doesnât want this separate entity but also part of him to know about how he wants and desires Elain).
I think Azriel, who has a history of not feeling worthy of his romantic interests per Mor, doesnât allow himself to be hopeful for himself. As heâs contemplating kissing Elain he thinks, But he could have this. This one moment, and maybe a taste, and that would be it. To me, Azriel just wants this one moment of happiness and to give into his desires and then heâd be satisfied for the rest of his life (I donât think he would, but it still says a lot about how he views himself and what he wants out of life IMO). So I think he hasnât allowed himself to fully be hopeful and give into the growing feelings for Elain because he doesnât think heâs worthy of her and doesnât believe that they could actually have a relationship for whatever reasons (mainly the mating bond it seems, could be more to it). After he leaves Rhys, he thinks, Heâd been so vigilant about keeping away from Elain as much as possible, and had stayed up here to avoid her, and tonightâŚtonight had proved heâd been right to do so. So some internal belief he had (that is most likely untrue because thatâs how anxiety works. Not that anxious feelings arenât valid, just that we overthink or think things will be worse than what is actually real), was âprovenâ right to him.
Furthermore, when Rhys says, âSo youâll what? Seduce her way from him?â (Another word choice example that stood out and bothered me (but is intentional), as if Elain belongs to Lucien, which in this world with the mating bond, it is seen this way, but I think Elain would disagree with Rhys.) the book says Azriel said nothing. He hadnât gotten that far with his planning, certainly not beyond the fantasies he pleasured himself to. Iâve seen plenty of people cite this is as more evidence of Elriel not being endgame because Azriel hasnât thought of a future with Elain. But if we continue down the trail of the psychology of Azriel, I think itâs more representative of him NOT allowing himself to go that far, because if he dreams and fantasizes about this grand love story with Elain, and then it doesnât come true? Thatâs more hurtful for someone like him, to have dreamed and lost, than to have never dreamed at all.
So it just bothers me when people say âElain and Az are so toxic, he definitely needs to be with Gwyn, and she can help him better than Elain could.â Um no, Az the is common denominator in all this (insert TikTok sound: We are not rehab for broke men), so neither of these girls should be seen as more worthy or better for him. Az needs to work through this on his own and unlearn the mental pathways he has in his brain, and if either girl is by his side and makes him realize things, good. But they are not in any way responsible for his mental well being and recovery, they can definitely help if they wish to.
I donât want to say that that Azâs behavioral/mental patterns are unhealthy as in itâs bad (because that conveys judgment in my world and I try to stay away from that language unless something is clearly unhealthy), but I think you could say itâs not healthy as in itâs not good. Because I donât want people to believe that people who have this mind frame or mental pathways (because Iâve seen children and adults that demonstrate this mindset) to think that it is wrong or bad, or that they canât have meaningful relationships while they have this mindset, because itâs possible for people to have meaningful relationships and be on the road to a healthier mindset simultaneously, but definitely something that needs to be worked on so that relationships to be more successful and have less barriers.
Because also saying that he canât be in a relationship with Elain (while simultaneously pushing a relationship with Gwyn, and I know this isnât all of Gwyn and Az supporters) also then disparages all the characters and relationships that SJM has ever written. All of her characters are processing trauma and feelings when they enter relationships. These relationships arenât perfect which is what makes them realistic. When Feyre accepts the mating bond with Rhys, she tells him, âI want you to know that I am broken and healing, but every pieces of my heart belongs to you.â Azrielâs mental state does not make him any less deserving of a relationship. In the real world, is it best for sometimes to take time for yourself, maybe go to therapy? Yes, but this faerie world, therapy the way we know isnât an option and so healing happens in different ways and through relationships.
Do I believe Elriel is endgame? I so want to believe it because I think both Elain and Az compliment and balance each other. Other people have made glorious posts on this, so I wonât go into it. But I think Elainâs journey and book would focus on her identity, standing up for herself, being the person who she wants to be, going for what she wants, being more than just a pretty face and seen as someone who needs to be protected all the time; which I think is something her sisters AND Azriel need to learn (Yes, it was cute and made me squeal when Az told Amren that there was a darkness to the Trove that Elain should not be exposed to, but buddy, Elain is going to surprise us all, you included).
So if this is route that is taken, I think Azriel could learn a lot from Elain being that optimistic fighter and believer in love, that no mating bond itself is going to dictate who she can want and can or canât have. Because whether she ends up with Lucien or Azriel, the only thing I believe is certain is that the mating bond with Lucien will be addressed, and that will require her standing up for herself and being clear about what she wants.
I really really love this. I think it was very well expressed, and I couldnât agree more. I also thought some of the behaviors we see Az exhibit are definitely influenced by his mental state as OP states; but itâs also exacerbated by the possibility that heâs also her mate (her second mate) despite logic telling him it isnât possible. We know that mating is a serious phenomenon, and it affects both parties heavily (especially males). So his mental state, combined with his instincts (instincts that letâs be honest, make all the males a little stupid at times) intensifies the situation. Thus, giving us an unreliable portrayal of his feelings (I mean heâs likely feeling and thinking too many things to fully process. Combine that with the self worth issues, the impossibly high standards he holds himself to, the tight leash he keeps on himself and we see our batboy is in quite the predicament đĽş).
Maybe itâs just me but Iâm getting some Elriel vibes here đ. Elain would totally make Az open up and work through his trauma before and after giving him the best orgasm of his life đđ
Just a reminder that Azriel (the quiet and somewhat solitary member of the IC), voluntarily seeks out Elain. More than that, he initiates contact/touch with her; something that he VERY RARELY does outside of training and winnowing. Azriel is portrayed to be fairly introverted, and while he doesnât always seek to avoid socializing, he usually isnât one to initiate it outside of work related topics. Instead, heâs content to remain just on the outside of things, casually observing/listening. However, with Elain itâs as if he finds any and every excuse to interact with her. So in other words, here we have Az, who is likely uncomfortable with touch (given the untold amount of trauma he faced during his childhood and sense of unworth), actually seeking out Elain.
I apologize in advance, this is going to be one of my longer posts. Iâve put together a list of instances where Az initiates contact between himself and Elain (I also added the scenes where they winnow/fly together because I like to think he chooses to winnow/fly her).
> âAzriel arrived first, no shadows to be seen, my sister a pale, golden mass in his arms. He, too, wore his Illyrian armor, Elainâs golden- brown hair snagging in some of the black scales across his chest and shoulders (ACOWAR).
Azriel smiled faintly. âWould you like me to show you the garden?â She seemed so small before him, so fragile compared to the scales of his fighting leathers, the breadth of his shoulders. The wings peeking over them. But Elain did not balk from him, did not shy away as she noddedâjust once. Azriel, graceful as any courtier, offered her an arm. I couldnât tell if she was looking at his blue Siphon or at his scarred skin beneath as she breathed, âBeautiful.â Color bloomed high on Azrielâs golden-brown cheeks, but he inclined his head in thanks and led my sister toward the back doors into the garden, sunlight bathing themâ (ACOWAR).
âThe two Illyrians paused their inspection of me long enough to note my sisters finishing up breakfast, Nesta in a pale gray gown that brought out the steel in her eyes, Elain in dusty pink. Both males went a bit still... I dragged a hand over my face before going to Elain and touching her too-bony shoulder. âCan I set you up in the garden? The herbs you planted are coming in nicely.â âI can help her,â said Azriel, stepping to the table as Elain silently rose. No shadows at his ear, no darkness ringing his fingers as he extended a hand. Nesta monitored him like a hawk, but kept silent as Elain took his hand, and out they wentâ (ACOWAR). *one of my favorite scenes because theyâre holding hands! I can just picture them still holding hands as he leads her to the garden*
âThen Azriel, gently taking Elainâs hand in his own, as if afraid his scars would hurt herâ(ACOWAR).
Azriel scooped up Elain, looping her bound arms around his neck. âHold tight,â he ordered her, âand donât make a sound.â(ACOWAR).
âAzriel still cradling Elain to his chest. He dripped blood behind him the entire timeâa trickle compared to the torrent that should be leaking out.â (ACOWAR)
âElainâs eyes widened at the obsidian-hilted blade in Azrielâs scarred hand. The runes on the dark scabbard. âIt has never failed me once,â the shadowsinger said, the midday sun devoured by the dark blade. âSome people say it is magic and will always strike true.â He gently took her hand and pressed the hilt of the legendary blade into it. âIt will serve you well.â (ACOWAR)
âElain looked up at Azriel, their eyes meeting, his hand still lingering on the hilt of the blade. I saw the painting in my mind: the lovely fawn, blooming spring vibrant behind her. Standing before Death, shadows and terrors lurking over his shoulder. Light and dark, the space between their bodies a blend of the two. The only bridge of connection ⌠that knife.â (ACOWAR)
Elain just linked her arm through Nestaâs and led her toward the family room, where Azriel stood in the doorway, monitoring them. As if heâd heard Elainâs sharp laugh and wondered what had caused it. (ACOSF)
Azrielâs hand slid up her neck, burying in her thick hair. Tilting her face the way he wanted it. Elainâs mouth parted slightly, her eyes scanning his before fluttering shut. Offer and permission. He nearly groaned with relief and need as he lowered his head toward hers.â (ACOSF)
There were more I probably could have added (especially with the necklace), but those were the the most significant. I also wanted to add one more quote, to point out that Az KNELT before Elain (which has long been associated with mates).
âI shifted my face back into my own, raising a hand to my lips as Azriel knelt before her.â (ACOWAR)
Alright, I need everyoneâs opinion. Iâve thought about this a lot, and I just need to know what other people think!!
So, do yâall think Azriel has slept with either/both of the twins? I want to say no, because I think it would hurt Elain. Finding out that one or both of her two closest friends have slept with a guy she has feelings for would hurt, even if it was in the past ( it could possibly change the dynamic of their friendship), especially if Elriel is endgame like we think. I also want to say no, because it would be unprofessional and potentially cause drama between Az and the twins; which would leave potential for missions to be compromised.
That being said, I still feel like thereâs a chance he has...
What do yâall think?
(Feel free to message me if you donât feel confident making your responses public đ¤đ, all responses are welcome)
His shadows gathered like smoke around them, swirling amidst the embers that had ignited his desire. And amongst that darkness, Elain burned the brightest.
â
Dedicated to my Gardening Tools đš. Special thanks to @insulindsay for helping me create this caption!
âAnd that vision of the future, more beautiful than anything I could have ever wished forâanything I had wished for.â
Yeah, I think itâs still too soon for that to happen. I want feyrhys to live some decades alone and happy and free of babies first. But, ugh, the concept is so beautiful.Â
This is basically a redraw of this drawing I made a year ago.Â
I know this is from a while ago, but itâs so beautiful!! Especially now that we actually have Nyx. The longer I look the more feels I have đĽşđđ
Obviously, Maas is a brilliant author. From start to finish, her books keep most of us captivated. However, her series seem to reach unfathomable levels of awesomeness towards the end of the series. With each book, she takes us higher and higher until weâre left stunned at the utter masterpiece weâve just read. For me, Empire of Storms (and to a slightly lesser extent queen of shadows) in the Throne of Glass series was the best (although not the last) book in the series. This, in addition to the build up over the last serval books, leads me to believe that Acotar will follow the same pattern. As we near the end of the series, I believe that acotar 5 will be the climax of the acotar series. With all of the Elriel,Dusk court, and various other theories floating around I donât think weâll be disappointed with what SJM does next.
I know this seems kind of random and poorly expressed; I struggled with this post, and Iâm still not happy with it. I guess in essence, Iâm trying to say im really excited to see what she does given the journey she took us on with ToG.
Iâd like a scene where Elain is in the garden and it becomes eerily still and she looks around and finds a man there. Koschei sent someone to find her knowing she was the key to getting to her mate. He asks where her mate is and she says she doesnât know where Lucien is, probably in the human lands or the spring court and the guy says not that one the other one, meaning Azriel. He grabs her but not before she manages to tell the shadows to find Azriel.
Elain is often referred to as a âfawnâ (a young deer) throughout the acotar series. Most species of deer are most active at dusk. Similarly, shadows, which are associated with our beloved shadowsinger, are most prevalent at dusk. đ
To Counter the âAzriel Only Wants Elain for Sexâ Argument:
ACOWAR:
Chapter 64 -
âFrom the shadows near the entrance to the tent, Azriel said, as if in answer to some unspoken debate, âIâm getting her back.â Nesta slid her gaze to the shadowsinger. Azrielâs hazel eyes glowed golden in the shadows. Nesta said, âThen you will die.â Azriel only repeated, rage glazing that stare, âIâm getting her back.â
Chapter 69 -
âElainâs eyes widened at the obsidian-hilted blade in Azrielâs scarred hand. The runes on the dark scabbard. âIt has never failed me once,â the shadowsinger said, the midday sun devoured by the dark blade. âSome people say it is magic and will always strike true.â He gently took her hand and pressed the hilt of the legendary blade into it. âIt will serve you well.â âIâI donât know how to use itââ âIâll make sure you donât have to,â I said, grass crunching as I stepped closer. Elain weighed my words ⌠and slowly closed her fingers around the blade. Cassian gawked at Azriel, and I wondered how often Azriel had lent out that bladeâ Never, Rhys said from where he finished buckling on his own weapons against the side of the wagon. I have never once seen Azriel let another person touch that knife.â
ACOFAS:
Chapter 12 -
âBut I strode to my seatânestled between Amren and Morâin time to see Elain say to Azriel, âHello.â Az said nothing. No, he just moved toward her. Mor tensed beside me. But Azriel only took Elainâs heavy dish of potatoes from her hands, his voice soft as night as he said, âSit. Iâll take care of it.â Elainâs hands remained in midair, as if the ghost of the dish remained between them.â
Chapter 7 -
âSend Lucien, then. As our human emissary.â I studied the tenseness in Azrielâs shoulders, the shadows veiling half of him from the sunlight. âLucien is away right now.â Azâs brows rose. âWhere?â I winked at him. âYouâre my spymaster. Shouldnât you know?â Az crossed his arms, face as elegant and cold as the legendary dagger at his side. âI donât make a point of looking after his movements.â âWhy?â Not a flicker of emotion. âHe is Elainâs mate.â I waited. âIt would be an invasion of her privacy to track him.â To know when and if Lucien sought her out. What they did together. âYou sure about that?â I asked quietly. Azrielâs Siphons guttered, the stones turning as dark and foreboding as the deepest sea.â
Chapter 16 -
âAzriel strode to the lone window at the end of the room and peered into the garden below. âIâve never stayed in this room.â His midnight voice filled the space.â
âMy moneyâs on yes,â Cassian said. âWant to make a wager?â âNo,â Azriel said, not turning from the window.â
âAzriel remained at the window. âWill Nesta stay here if she comes?â
âIâd still be surprised if they remember once the storm clears,â Azriel said, turning from the garden window at last.â
(who do you think was in that garden / is usually in that garden ? đ)
Chapter 19 -
âBeyond the windows, darkness had indeed fallen. The longest night of the year. I found Elain studying it, beautiful in her amethyst-colored gown. I made to move toward her, but someone beat me to it. The shadowsinger was clad in a black jacket and pants similar to Rhysandâsâthe fabric immaculately tailored and built to fit his wings. He still wore his Siphons atop either hand, and shadows trailed his footsteps, curling like swirled embers, but there was little sign of the warrior otherwise. Especially as he gently said to my sister, âHappy Solstice.â Elain turned from the snow falling in the darkness beyond and smiled slightly. âIâve never participated in one of these.â
Chapter 20 -
âElain bit her lip and then smiled sheepishly. âItâs for the headaches everyone always gives you. Since you rub your temples so often.â Silence again. Then Azriel tipped his head back and laughed. Iâd never heard such a sound, deep and joyous.â ... âAzriel mastered himself enough to say, âThank you.â Iâd never seen his hazel eyes so bright, the hues of green amid the brown and gray like veins of emerald. âThis will be invaluable.â
Chapter 22 -
âAzriel and Elain remained in the sitting room, my sister showing him the plans sheâd sketched to expand the garden in the back of the town house, using the seeds and tools my family had given her tonight. Whether he cared about such things, I had no idea, but I sent him a silent prayer of thanks for his kindness before Rhys and I slipped upstairs.â (this was at 3am btw)
!! ACOSF quotes beyond this point !!
Chapter 19 -
âYou and Nesta are wanted down there.â âBecause of the shit with Elain?â Azriel stilled. âWhat happened to Elain?â Cassian waved a hand. âA fight with Nesta. Donât bring it up,â he warned when Azrielâs eyes darkened. Cassian blew out a breath. âI take that as a no regarding the meeting topic, then.â âItâs about what I discovered. Rhys said he requires you both there.â âItâs bad, then.â Cassian surveyed the shadows gathered around Az. âYou all right?â His brother nodded. âFine.â But shadows still swarmed him. Cassian knew it was a lie, but didnât push it. Az would speak when he was ready, and Cassian would have better success convincing a mountain to move than getting Az to open up.â
Chapter 21 -
âMaybe youâll become interesting at last, Elain.â Nesta saw the blow land, like a physical impact, in Elainâs face, her posture. No one spoke, though shadows gathered in the corners of the room, like snakes preparing to strike.â
Chapter 22 -
âDo you want a child?â âIt doesnât matter what I want.â Distant wordsâones that prevented Cassian from prying further. He was still happy to be Morâs buffer with Azriel, but thereâd been a change lately. In both of them. Mor no longer sat beside Cassian, draped herself over him, and Azriel ⌠those longing glances toward her had become few and far between. As if heâd given up. After five hundred years, heâd somehow given up. Cassian couldnât think why.â
Chapter 58 -
âWhy donât you sit?â She leaned against the doorway beside the shadowsinger. âMy shadows donât like the flames so much.â A pretty lie. Sheâd seen Azriel before the fire plenty. But she looked at who sat close to it and knew the answer. âWhy did you come if it torments you so much?â âBecause Rhys wants me here. Itâd hurt him if I didnât come.â âWell, I think holidays are stupid.â âI donât.â She arched a brow. He explained, âThey pull people together. And bring them joy. They are a time to pause and reflect and gather, and those are never bad things.â Shadows darkened his eyes, full of enough pain that she couldnât stop herself from touching his shoulder. Letting him see that she understood why he stood in the doorway, why he wouldnât go near the fire. His secret to tell, never hers.â
Azrielâs Bonus Chapter:
âBut sheâd gotten Azriel one last year â a headache powder he kept on his nightstand at the House of Wind. Not to use, but just to look at. Which heâd done every night slept there. Or attempted to sleep there.â
âBecause her mate was here, sleeping a level up. Because her mate had been in the family room and Azriel had needed to stay by the door the whole time because he couldnât stand the sight of it, the scent of their mating bond, and needed to have the option of leaving if it became too much.â
(Azriel was in so much pain from just being around Elain + Lucien that not only did Nesta notice during Solstice, but he also forced himself to stay by the door incase the pain became too much and he had to flee the room.)
âSo you will leave Elain alone. If you need to fuck someone, go to a pleasure hall and pay for it, but stay away from her.â Azriel snarled softly.â
(When Rhysand insinuates that Azrielâs feelings / emotions can be sated by sleeping with someone else from a pleasure hall he snarls because it upsets / angers him, which already ruins the whole âhe only wants her for sexâ argument).
Inspired by the lovely @aelinfeyreisa ! Please support their masterlist as well ! I just wanted to make one that included more quotes, I have the Kindle app so itâs easier for me to search for the specific scene that I need if I have a quote from it.
ACOMAF:
CHAPTER 24 - Elain + Azriel meet for the first time (Elain is wearing a cobalt dress).
⢠âA faint smile bloomed upon Azrielâs mouth as he noticed Elainâs fingers white-knuckled on that fork, but he kept silentâ
⢠âElain said, âItâs all very disorienting.â âI can imagine,â Azriel said. Cassian flashed him a glare. But Azrielâs attention was on my sister, a polite, bland smile on his face. Her shoulders loosened a bit.â
⢠âElain said to Azriel, perhaps the only two civilized ones here, âCan you truly fly?â He set down his fork, blinking. I might have even called him self-conscious. He said, âYes. Cassian and I hail from a race of faeries called Illyrians. Weâre born hearing the song of the wind.â âThatâs very beautiful,â she said.â
⢠âRhys chuckled, Cassianâs wrath slipping enough that he grinned, and Elain, noticing Azrielâs ease as proof that things werenât indeed about to go badly, offered one of her own as well.â
CHAPTER 49 - Feyre discusses how her sisters would fare in Velaris.
⢠âAnd I think ElainâElain would like it, too. Though sheâd probably cling to Azriel, just to have some peace and quiet.â I smiled at the thoughtâat how handsome they would be together. If the warrior ever stopped quietly loving Mor.â
ACOWAR:
CHAPTER 24 - Azriel carries Elain in his arms, no shadows to be seen. Feyre + Rhys discuss what it means to reject a mating bond.
⢠âAzriel arrived first, no shadows to be seen, my sister a pale, golden mass in his arms. He, too, wore his Illyrian armor, Elainâs golden- brown hair snagging in some of the black scales across his chest and shoulders.â
⢠âAzriel smiled faintly. âWould you like me to show you the garden?â She seemed so small before him, so fragile compared to the scales of his fighting leathers, the breadth of his shoulders. The wings peeking over them. But Elain did not balk from him, did not shy away as she noddedâjust once. Azriel, graceful as any courtier, offered her an arm. I couldnât tell if she was looking at his blue Siphon or at his scarred skin beneath as she breathed, âBeautiful.â Color bloomed high on Azrielâs golden-brown cheeks, but he inclined his head in thanks and led my sister toward the back doors into the garden, sunlight bathing them.â
⢠âElain sat silently at one of the wrought-iron tables, a cup of tea before her. Azriel was sprawled on the chaise longue across the gray stones, sunning his wings and reading what looked to be a stack of reportsâlikely information on the Autumn Court that he planned to present to Rhys once heâd sorted through it all. Already dressed for the Hewn Cityâthe brutal, beautiful armor so at odds with the lovely garden. And my sister sitting within it.â
⢠âWhy not make them mates?â I mused. âWhy Lucien?â âIâd keep that question from Lucien.â âIâm serious.â I turned toward him and crossed my arms. âWhat decides it? Who decides it?â
⢠âWhat ifââI jerked my chin toward the window, to my sister and the shadowsinger in the gardenâ âthat is what she needs? Is there no free will? What if Lucien wishes the union but she doesnât?â
⢠âYou know them better than I do. But I will say that Lucien is loyalâfiercely so.â âSo is Azriel.â âAzriel,â Rhys said, âhas been preoccupied with the same female for the past five hundred years.â
CHAPTER 27 - Elain interrupts the ICâs meeting & mentions her visions. Everyone thinks sheâs lost it, doesnât take her seriously, but Azriel does and asks her what sheâs seeing.
⢠âI didnât hear you.â Azriel stepped forward. âBut you heard something else.â Elain seemed about to nod, but only backed away. âI think I was dreaming,â she murmured. âI think Iâm always dreaming these days.â
⢠âWhat did you see,â Azriel said, and I tried not to flinch as I found him at my other side, not having seen him move. Again.â
⢠âI saw young hands wither with age. I saw a box of black stone. I saw a feather of fire land on snow and melt it.â My stomach dropped to the floor. One glance at Nesta confirmed that she felt it, too. Saw it. Mad. Elain might very well have gone madâ âIt was angry,â Elain said quietly. âIt was so, so angry that something was taken. So it took something from them as punishment.â We said nothing. I didnât know what to sayâwhat to even ask or demand. If the Cauldron had done something to her as well ⌠I faced Azriel, exposing my palms to him. âWhat does that mean?â Azrielâs hazel eyes churned as he studied my sister, her too-thin body. And without a word, he winnowed away. Mor watched the space where heâd been standing long after he was gone.â
CHAPTER 30 - Az + Cass pay the sisters a visit, Az takes Elain to the garden.
⢠âThe two Illyrians paused their inspection of me long enough to note my sisters finishing up breakfast, Nesta in a pale gray gown that brought out the steel in her eyes, Elain in dusty pink. Both males went a bit still.â
⢠âI dragged a hand over my face before going to Elain and touching her too-bony shoulder. âCan I set you up in the garden? The herbs you planted are coming in nicely.â âI can help her,â said Azriel, stepping to the table as Elain silently rose. No shadows at his ear, no darkness ringing his fingers as he extended a hand. Nesta monitored him like a hawk, but kept silent as Elain took his hand, and out they went.â
CHAPTER 32 - Seer declaration.
⢠Elain discusses her visions + Azriel listens to her, declares her a seer.
⢠âNesta took a steadying breath, opening her mouth to either whisk Elain upstairs or move on. But Azriel asked softly, taking a single step over the threshold and into the sitting room, âWhat other?â Elainâs brows twitched toward each other. âThe queenâwith the feathers of flame.â The shadowsinger angled his head.â
⢠âLucien murmured to me, eye still fixed on Elain, âShould weâdoes she need âŚ?â âShe doesnât need anything,â Azriel answered without so much as looking at Lucien. Elain was staring at the spymaster nowâunblinkingly. âWeâre the ones who need âŚâ Azriel trailed off. âA seer,â he said, more to himself than us. âThe Cauldron made you a seer.â
CHAPTER 33 - Aftermath of the seer declaration, Feyre says that it makes sense that Azriel was the only one who listened to Elain.
⢠âIt made sense, I supposed, that Azriel alone had listened to her. The male who heard things others could not ⌠Perhaps he, too, had suffered as Elain had before he understood what gift he possessed.â
CHAPTER 50 - Shadows + Scars
⢠âBehind me, Mor took Nesta and Cassian by the hand, readying to winnow them to the camp, while shadows gathered around Azriel, Elain at his side, wide-eyed at the spymasterâs display.â
⢠âThen Azriel, gently taking Elainâs hand in his own, as if afraid his scars would hurt her.â
CHAPTER 63 - Azriel notices Elain is missing.
⢠âBut Azriel asked softly, âWhat about Elain?â Something cold went through me. Nesta was just staring at Azriel. Staring and staringâ Then she broke into a run.â
⢠âAzriel stalked to my side, right into the tent where Nesta had now come to her feet. He tucked his wings in tightly as he squeezed through the narrow space, ignoring Nestaâs snarl of warning, and knelt at the cot. He ran a scarred hand over the rumpled blankets. âTheyâre still warm.â
CHAPTER 64 - Discussing getting Elain back.
⢠âFrom the shadows near the entrance to the tent, Azriel said, as if in answer to some unspoken debate, âIâm getting her back.â Nesta slid her gaze to the shadowsinger. Azrielâs hazel eyes glowed golden in the shadows. Nesta said, âThen you will die.â Azriel only repeated, rage glazing that stare, âIâm getting her back.â
CHAPTER 65 - The rescue of Elain.
⢠âI shifted my face back into my own, raising a hand to my lips as Azriel knelt before her.â
⢠âAzriel gently removed the gag from her mouth. âAre you hurt?â She shook her head, devouring the sight of him as if not quite believing it. âYou came for me.â The shadowsinger only inclined his head.â
⢠âAzriel scooped up Elain, looping her bound arms around his neck. âHold tight,â he ordered her, âand donât make a sound.â
⢠âAzriel still cradling Elain to his chest. He dripped blood behind him the entire timeâa trickle compared to the torrent that should be leaking out.â
⢠âShe let out a sob at the sight of Elain, still in Azrielâs arms.â
⢠âRhys lunged for Azriel, taking Elain from him and gently setting my sister down. Azriel rasped, swaying on his feet, âWe need Helion to get these chains off her.â
⢠âYet Elain didnât seem to notice them as she rose up on her toes and kissed the shadowsingerâs cheek.â
CHAPTER 69 - Azriel lends Elain Truth-Teller
⢠âElainâs eyes widened at the obsidian-hilted blade in Azrielâs scarred hand. The runes on the dark scabbard. âIt has never failed me once,â the shadowsinger said, the midday sun devoured by the dark blade. âSome people say it is magic and will always strike true.â He gently took her hand and pressed the hilt of the legendary blade into it. âIt will serve you well.â
⢠âElain weighed my words ⌠and slowly closed her fingers around the blade. Cassian gawked at Azriel, and I wondered how often Azriel had lent out that bladeâ Never, Rhys said from where he finished buckling on his own weapons against the side of the wagon. I have never once seen Azriel let another person touch that knife.â
⢠âElain looked up at Azriel, their eyes meeting, his hand still lingering on the hilt of the blade. I saw the painting in my mind: the lovely fawn, blooming spring vibrant behind her. Standing before Death, shadows and terrors lurking over his shoulder. Light and dark, the space between their bodies a blend of the two. The only bridge of connection ⌠that knife.â
CHAPTER 74 - Elain stabs Hybern using Truth-Teller
⢠âElain stepped out of a shadow behind him, and rammed Truth-Teller to the hilt through the back of the kingâs neck as she snarled in his ear, âDonât you touch my sister.â
ACOFAS:
CHAPTER 2 - Feyre is discussing Nesta + the war.
⢠âElainâElainâhad taken up Azrielâs dagger and killed the King of Hybern instead.â
CHAPTER 4 - Mor & Feyre are discussing Solstice gifts.
⢠âYou honestly think heâd ever give up Truth-Teller?â âHe gave it to Elain,â Mor said, admiring a moonstone necklace in the counterâs glass case. âShe gave it back,â I amended, failing to block out the image of the black blade piercing through the King of Hybernâs throat. But Elain had given it backâhad pressed it into Azrielâs hands after the battle, just as he had pressed it into hers before.â
CHAPTER 7 - Azriel isnât spying on Lucien & is worried about getting presents for the sisters.
⢠âSend Lucien, then. As our human emissary.â I studied the tenseness in Azrielâs shoulders, the shadows veiling half of him from the sunlight. âLucien is away right now.â Azâs brows rose. âWhere?â I winked at him. âYouâre my spymaster. Shouldnât you know?â
⢠âI donât make a point of looking after his movements.â âWhy?â Not a flicker of emotion. âHe is Elainâs mate.â I waited. âIt would be an invasion of her privacy to track him.â To know when and if Lucien sought her out. What they did together. âYou sure about that?â I asked quietly. Azrielâs Siphons guttered, the stones turning as dark and foreboding as the deepest sea.â
⢠âDo you think he can handle being around Graysen?â Azâs expressionless face was precisely the reason heâd never lost to us at cards. âWhy should I be the judge of that?â âYou mean to tell me that you werenât bluffing when you said you didnât track Lucienâs every movement?â Nothing. Absolutely nothing on that face, on his scent. The shadows, whatever the hell they were, hid too well. Too much.â
⢠âAzriel only said coldly, âIf Lucien kills Graysen, then good riddance.â
⢠âAz ran a hand through his dark hair. âAre we âŚâ Unusual for him to stumble with words. âAre we supposed to get the sisters presents?â âNo,â I said, and meant it. Az seemed to loose a sigh of relief. Seemed to, since all but a breath of air passed from his lips.â
CHAPTER 12 - Dinner with the IC.
⢠âDonât,â Elain said flatly, starting once more into a walk, veils of steam drifting past her shoulders from the roasted rosemary potatoes in her hands, as if they were Azrielâs shadows.â
⢠âAzriel emerged from the sitting room, a glass of wine in hand and wings tucked back to reveal his fine, yet simple black jacket and pants. I felt, more than saw, my sister go still as he approached. Her throat bobbed.â
⢠â- in time to see Elain say to Azriel, âHello.â Az said nothing. No, he just moved toward her. Mor tensed beside me. But Azriel only took Elainâs heavy dish of potatoes from her hands, his voice soft as night as he said, âSit. Iâll take care of it.â Elainâs hands remained in midair, as if the ghost of the dish remained between them.â
⢠âAzriel set the potatoes in the center of the table, Cassian diving right in. Or he tried to. One moment, his hand was spearing toward the serving spoon. The next, it was stopped, Azrielâs scarred fingers wrapped around his wrist. âWait,â Azriel said, nothing but command in his voice. Mor gaped wide enough that I was certain the half-chewed green beans in her mouth were going to tumble onto her plate. Amren just smirked over the rim of her wineglass.â
⢠âAzriel didnât let go. âWait until everyone is seated before eating.â âPig,â Mor supplied. Cassian gave a pointed look to the plate of green beans, chicken, bread, and ham already half eaten on Morâs plate. But he relaxed his hand, leaning back in his chair. âI never knew you were a stickler for manners, Az.â Azriel only released Cassianâs hand, and stared at his wineglass.â
⢠âI donât know what youâre talking about.â Iâd never heard Elainâs voice so cold. I glanced at the others. Rhys was frowning, Cassian and Mor were both grimacing, and Azriel ⌠It was pity on his beautiful face. Pity and sorrow as he watched my sister.
⢠âPick on someone your own size,â Cassian said to Amren, shoveling roast chicken into his mouth. âIâd feel bad for the mice,â Azriel muttered. Mor and Cassian howled, earning a blush from Azriel and a grateful smile from Elainâand no shortage of scowling from Amren. But something in me eased at that laughter, at the light that returned to Elainâs eyes.â
CHAPTER 16 - Solstice arrangements & bets on Lucien.
⢠âAzriel strode to the lone window at the end of the room and peered into the garden below. âIâve never stayed in this room.â His midnight voice filled the space.â
⢠âIf Lucien shows up,â I corrected. No word about whether he would be joining us. Or remaining in that mausoleum Tamlin called a home. âMy moneyâs on yes,â Cassian said. âWant to make a wager?â âNo,â Azriel said, not turning from the window. Cassian sat up, the portrait of outrage. âNo?â Azriel tucked in his wings. âWould you want people betting on you?â âYou assholes bet on me all the time. I remember the last one you didâyou and Mor, making wagers about whether my wings would heal.â I snorted. True.â
⢠âAzriel remained at the window. âWill Nesta stay here if she comes?â
⢠âIâd still be surprised if they remember once the storm clears,â Azriel said, turning from the garden window at last.â
CHAPTER 19 - Solstice begins.
⢠âBeyond the windows, darkness had indeed fallen. The longest night of the year. I found Elain studying it, beautiful in her amethyst-colored gown. I made to move toward her, but someone beat me to it. The shadowsinger was clad in a black jacket and pants similar to Rhysandâsâthe fabric immaculately tailored and built to fit his wings. He still wore his Siphons atop either hand, and shadows trailed his footsteps, curling like swirled embers, but there was little sign of the warrior otherwise. Especially as he gently said to my sister, âHappy Solstice.â Elain turned from the snow falling in the darkness beyond and smiled slightly. âIâve never participated in one of these.â
CHAPTER 20 - Solstice gifts ! :))
⢠âI had Madja make it for me,â Elain explained. Azrielâs brows narrowed at the mention of the familyâs preferred healer. âItâs a powder to mix in with any drink.â Silence. Elain bit her lip and then smiled sheepishly. âItâs for the headaches everyone always gives you. Since you rub your temples so often.â Silence again. Then Azriel tipped his head back and laughed. Iâd never heard such a sound, deep and joyous.â
⢠âElain smiled again, ducking her head. Azriel mastered himself enough to say, âThank you.â Iâd never seen his hazel eyes so bright, the hues of green amid the brown and gray like veins of emerald. âThis will be invaluable.â
CHAPTER 22 - Elain + Azriel stay up late (3am) reviewing gardening plans.
⢠âAzriel and Elain remained in the sitting room, my sister showing him the plans sheâd sketched to expand the garden in the back of the town house, using the seeds and tools my family had given her tonight. Whether he cared about such things, I had no idea, but I sent him a silent prayer of thanks for his kindness before Rhys and I slipped upstairs.â
ACOSF:
CHAPTER 3 - Nesta + Cassian discuss Azrielâs residence at the House of Wind.
⢠âAz is in the room two doors down from mine.â They reached the level of her bedroom and he swaggered along the hall. âYou probably wonât see him, though.â âHeâs here to spy on me?â Her words bounced off the red stone. Cassian said tightly, âHe says heâd rather stay up here than at the river house.â That made two of them. âWhy?â âI donât know. Heâs Az. He likes his space.â
CHAPTER 19 - Cassian tells Azriel that Nesta & Elain fought.
⢠âYou and Nesta are wanted down there.â âBecause of the shit with Elain?â Azriel stilled. âWhat happened to Elain?â Cassian waved a hand. âA fight with Nesta. Donât bring it up,â he warned when Azrielâs eyes darkened. Cassian blew out a breath. âI take that as a no regarding the meeting topic, then.â âItâs about what I discovered. Rhys said he requires you both there.â âItâs bad, then.â Cassian surveyed the shadows gathered around Az. âYou all right?â His brother nodded. âFine.â But shadows still swarmed him. Cassian knew it was a lie, but didnât push it. Az would speak when he was ready, and Cassian would have better success convincing a mountain to move than getting Az to open up.â
CHAPTER 21 - The IC has a meeting about the Trove.
⢠âMaybe youâll become interesting at last, Elain.â Nesta saw the blow land, like a physical impact, in Elainâs face, her posture. No one spoke, though shadows gathered in the corners of the room, like snakes preparing to strike.
CHAPTER 22 - Az & Cassian have a conversation.
⢠âAzriel stiffened. âI know. I helped rescue Elain, after all.â Az hadnât so much as hesitated before going into the heart of Hybernâs war-camp.â
⢠âDo you want a child?â âIt doesnât matter what I want.â Distant wordsâones that prevented Cassian from prying further. He was still happy to be Morâs buffer with Azriel, but thereâd been a change lately. In both of them. Mor no longer sat beside Cassian, draped herself over him, and Azriel ⌠those longing glances toward her had become few and far between. As if heâd given up. After five hundred years, heâd somehow given up. Cassian couldnât think why.â
CHAPTER 29 - IC discussing the Trove , Amren mentions that Elain should be the one to find it (Azriel does not agree).
⢠âAmren said, âWe do not have the time to wait for Nesta to decide. I say we approach Elain tomorrow. Better to have both of them working on it.â Azriel stiffened, an outright sign of temper from him as he said quietly, âThere is an innate darkness to the Dread Trove that Elain should not be exposed to.â
CHAPTER 31 - Nesta is worried that the Cauldron will come to take Elain away again.
⢠âFeyre said, âWe wonât allow any harm to come to Elain. Rhys warded her this morning, and we have eyes on her at all times.â âEyes can be blinded,â Nesta said. âNot the ones under my command,â Azriel said with soft menace. Nesta met his stare, knowing he was the only one aside from Feyre who could truly understand her hesitation. Heâd gone with Feyre into the heart of Hybernâs camp to save Elainâhe knew the risk. âWe wonât make the same mistake twice.â
⢠âShe made ballrooms into battlefields and plotted like any general. Like you two,â she said, nodding to Cassian, and then, a bit more shyly, to Azriel. Azriel offered her a small smile that Elain quickly looked away from. Cassian tucked away his puzzlement. Lucien was certainly not here to snarl at any male who looked at her for too long.â
CHAPTER 58 - Solstice party.
⢠âYou came,â Elain said behind her, and Nesta started, not having heard her sister approach. She scanned Elain from head to toe, wondering if sheâd been taking lessons in stealth either from Azriel or the two half-wraiths she called friends.â
⢠âElain just linked her arm through Nestaâs and led her toward the family room, where Azriel stood in the doorway, monitoring them. As if heâd heard Elainâs sharp laugh and wondered what had caused it.â
⢠âNesta met the shadowsingerâs stare and he gave her a nod. Then his gaze shifted to Elain, and though it was utterly neutral, something charged went through it. Between them. Elainâs breath caught slightly, and she gave him a shallow nod of greeting before brushing past, leading Nesta into the room.â
⢠âWhy donât you sit?â She leaned against the doorway beside the shadowsinger. âMy shadows donât like the flames so much.â A pretty lie. Sheâd seen Azriel before the fire plenty. But she looked at who sat close to it and knew the answer. âWhy did you come if it torments you so much?â
⢠âShadows darkened his eyes, full of enough pain that she couldnât stop herself from touching his shoulder. Letting him see that she understood why he stood in the doorway, why he wouldnât go near the fire. His secret to tell, never hers.â
AZRIELâS BONUS POV - I could honestly include the majority of his chapter in here, but Iâm not going to do that because that would take quite a bit of time...đ
⢠âAz tried not to look at his scarred fingers as they took the gift. She hadnât bought her mate a present. But sheâd gotten Azriel one last year - a headache powder he kept on his nightstand at the House of Wind. Not to use, but just to look at. Which heâd done every night heâd slept there. Or attempted to sleep there. Elainâs large brown eyes flickered, well aware of all that. Just as he knew she was well aware of why Azriel so rarely came to family dinners these days.â
⢠âYou put them in your ears, and they block any sound. With Nesta and Cassian living there with you...â He chuckled, unable to suppress the impulse.â
⢠âBecause her mate was here, sleeping a level up. Because her mate had been in the family room and Azriel had needed to stay by the door the whole time because he couldnât stand the sight of it, the scent of their mating bond, and needed to have the option of leaving if it became too much.
⢠âThe golden necklace seemed ordinary - its chain unremarkable, the amulet tiny enough that it could be dismissed as an everyday charm. It was a small, flat rose fashioned of stained glass, designed so that when held to the light, the true depth of the colors would become visible. A thing of secret, lovely beauty.â
⢠Elain sucked in a soft breath that whispered over his skin. His shadows skittered back at the sound. Theyâd always been prone to vanish when she was around.â
⢠âElain shuddered, drifting closer. So close one deep breath would brush her breasts against his chest. She looked up at him, her face so trusting and hopeful and open that he knew she had no idea he had done unspeakable things that sullied his hands far beyond their scars. Such terrible things that it was sacrilege for his fingers to touch her skin, tainting her with his presence. But he could have this. This one moment, and maybe a taste, and that would be it.â
⢠âYes,â Elain breathed, like she read the decision. Just this taste in the dead of the longest night of the year, where only the Mother might witness them.â
⢠âAzrielâs hand slid up her neck, burying in her thick hair. Tilting her face the way he wanted it. Elainâs mouth parted slightly, her eyes scanning his before fluttering shut. Offer and permission. He nearly groaned with relief and need as he lowered his head toward hers.â
⢠âRhys vanished, and Azriel was left standing before Elain, who still awaited his kiss. His stomach twisted as he pulled his hand from her hair and stepped back. Forced himself to say, âThis was a mistakeâ She opened her eyes, hurt and confusion warring there before she whispered, âIâm sorryâ. âYou donât - Donât apologize,â he managed to say. âNever apologize. Itâs I who should...â He shook his head, unable to stand the bleakness heâd brought to her expression. âGoodnight.â
⢠âWhat if the Cauldron was wrong?â
⢠âAzriel tucked in his wings and left without another word, stalking through the house and onto the front lawn to sit in the frigid starlight. To let the frost in his veins match the air around him. Until he felt nothing. Was again nothing at all.â
P.S. Iâve been working on this for a few hours, and I am so happy that itâs finally completed !! :))) Itâs possible that I missed some moments between these two, so if you notice anything missing please tell me so that I can add it to this post ! :))
