Cabin in the Woods - Eris is now High Lord of Autumn and his greatest secret has just been revealed. 1.6k
House Guest - Azriel and Eris have found a way to pacify their unclaimed mating bond... or have they? 3k
Cazriel - Cassian x Azriel
Autumn Court's Visit - Cassian found himself in a dark corner of Ritaâs nursing his third drink. It wasnât enough to even give him a buzz yet thanks to his Illyrian heritage but the night was still young. A tall fae male approached his table, slightly shorter than Azr-, nope he wasnât thinking about that. 3.2k
500 Years - How was he meant to reanalyse years, decades worth, of interactions in a moment. How long had he been blind to the Shadowsinger's intentions? 4.6k
Reader insert:
Azris x Reader
Body Heat - Rhysand suspects more hidden caverns could exist underneath Prythian. The inner circle and allies split up to investigate different regions, leading you into the Illyrian Mountains with Azriel and Eris. 1.6k
Bat Boys x Reader
Banter with the Bat Boys - Cassian doesn't think you know a single good pick up line, but maybe you've got something up your sleeve? 923
Cazriel x Reader
Illyrian Males - Cassian and Azriel make a bet to see who can get Y/N first. But is she already seeing someone? 21.9k
Part 1 | Part 2
Azriel showing his hands to Elain, never hiding them :
I canât stop thinking about how much Azriel trusts Elain. The way heâs not afraid to show her his insecurities, like he knows she would never judge him.
"The Cauldron chose three sisters. Tell me how it's possible that my two brothers are with two of those sisters, yet the third was given to another."
What if the cauldron was wrong BUT wrong for Nesta??? What if ACOSF is Nestaâs version of Feyre and Tamlin in ACOTAR???
AND WHAT IF the three sisters are meant for, and stay with me here - High Lords of Day, Dusk and Night. Feyre with Rhysand High Lord of Night, Elain with Lucien son of the High Lord of Day and Nesta with a currently unknown descendant and rightful High Lord of DuskâŠ
Spoilers: For HOFAS if youâre not up to date on canon.
Pairing: Azriel x Reader x Eris
Summary: Rhysand suspects more hidden caverns could exist underneath Prythian. The inner circle and allies split up to investigate different regions, leading you into the Illyrian Mountains with Azriel and Eris.
Word count: 1.6k
Warnings: None
Read on Ao3
a/n: So I was thinking about that one tent scene in Twilight (you know the one) and how that could work so well as the basis of a fic and welp here's a little one shot.
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The wind batters the mountainside, whistling through the mouth of the cave where snow whips horizontally across grey skies. You pull your knees closer to your chest, tucking your fingers under your legs trying to find some semblance of warmth.
Ice flutters from your lashes as you watch Eris relaxing easily against the rocky wall. Long legs stretch out in front of him as he flips a coin between pale fingers. Auburn locks fall across eyes that never lift from his lap, his relaxed face vacant of the usual sneer heâd throw your way. Youâd almost be willing to admit he was attractive if it wasnât for his stuck up princely manner. As if to mock you, a golden sheen that ebbs and flows around him catches your eye, his fire magic protecting him from the harsh elements.
The crunch of Azrielâs boots draws your attention as he crouches in front of you. Your heart swells at the sight of your mate. Large dark wings blocking your view of the rest of the cave ease the bite of the cold only slightly. His hazel eyes quickly assess your shivering form.
âIf it wasnât for these fucking wards, Iâd winnow you out of here right now.â He grumbles.
âThe wards.. mean we- weâre.. getting close.â You manage to reply through chattering teeth.
Azrielâs face pulls into a small grimace which means he knows your right but he doesnât like it. He reaches, as he always does, to slide his hand around the back of your neck, where heâd usually tangle his fingers into your hair but his icy touch forces you to flinch away.
Normally the cool touch of the shadowsinger is addictive. When youâre spending evenings curled in front of a crackling fire the naturally icy caress of his skin or shadows is all you can think about. But in the midst of a blizzard in the Illyrian mountains itâs zapped the last of your warmth.
âAz Iâm so-â You begin apologising.
âYou donât need to apologise love.â He gives you a small smile.Â
When he stands the cold air rushes to meet your flushed cheeks. He walks across the small space and finds a place against the wall that curves away on either side leaving space for his wings. He sinks to the floor mirroring Erisâ posture.
âCanât you be useful and warm the cave?â Azriel cocks his head at Eris. He lifts his head, quickly takes in your icicle state before turning back to your mate.
âThat kind of prolonged power would leave me drained. Iâd never make it down the mountain much less be able to face whatever waits for us under it. Iâm not High Lord quite yet.â He drawls. You can only half focus on their words as a shiver crawls over your skin.
âIf you canât even heat a cave, why are you even here?â Azriel bites.Â
âAnd let the Night Court flit around Prythian unearthing infinite power without me?â Eris sneers.
âS-stop f-f-fighting.â You manage to get out.
They both turn, seeming to forget you were actually present.
âI think her lips are turning blueâ Erisâ eyes assess you but his words are for Azriel.
You glare at him. Words no longer possible as the cold permanently snaps your jaw shut.
âDonât worry sweetheart, it's a good colour on you.â He smirks and if you had the energy youâd go over there and wipe it from his stupidly attractive face.
A shiver wracks your entire body and youâre pretty sure the rattle of your bones is now audible.
âEris.â Azriel sighs. âPlease.â
Erisâ gaze flicks to Azriel briefly and whatever he finds there has him standing and striding towards you at the back of the cave. When heâs only a few paces away he flips open his coat and begins unbuttoning the silk shirt beneath. At the sight you begin to reel back.
âRelax.â He rolls his eyes and then heâs sitting next to you. He wraps heated hands around your wrists and pulls your frozen fingers to his bare chest. The temperature change sends a shock through you. You instinctively dive for his chest, warming the tip of your nose and the peaks of your cheeks. A low chuckle rumbles against your face and you immediately pull back.
Your cheeks warm as you seek Azriel over Erisâ shoulder, realising heâs purposely sat himself between you. You expect to find anger in his gaze but you only find concern for your wellbeing.
âCan you not warm Azriel as well?â You turn to Eris. But itâs Azriel who replies instead. âIâm fine love.â
Eris simply shrugs and shifts so his back is against the wall. You lean into his side and as you settle in you notice Erisâ golden glow now flows around you too. Apparently the whole shirt fiasco was just for Azrielâs benefit. Eris reaches up and gently brushes the back of his fingers along your jaw, warming it further.
âKeep your hands to yourself.â Azriel growls softly.
Eris doesnât even flinch at the threat of the Night Courtâs Spymaster and youâd never admit out loud what that does to you.
âDo you want her to keep her extremities or not?â Eris cocks his head towards him.
âStop fighting.â You mutter, your shivering and chattering finally beginning to subside.
âJust keep your hands where I can see them.â Azriel allows.
âOf what? The self-importance, sheer arrogance or the immensely tight pants?â Azriel crosses his arms over a broad chest. Azriel lives in a perpetual state of iciness so you suppose thatâs why the blizzard doesnât seem to faze him. Youâd always wondered if itâs his Illyrian bloodline, their mountain upbringing or the shadows that made it so, maybe a combination of all three?
âI never said it was me you were jealous of.â Eris continues to bicker beside you. Azrielâs wings ruffle in agitation.
âYouâre lucky she needs the warmth otherwise your ass would be out in the blizzard right now.â Their argument continues but Azriel doesnât move to make good on his threats.
Eris chuckles. âPlease, we both know youâd have better things to do with my ass.â
That catches the attention of your freshly thawed brain.
âWait what?â You look up from examining the glow swirling around your hands.
âOh he hasnât told you.â Eris grins wide.
âEris.â Azriel growls and this time the threat is real. It only urges you on.
âTold me what, Azriel?â Your eyes narrow to him across the cave.
Thereâs a beat where Azriel swallows, his eyes never leaving yours but he makes no indication heâs going to explain further. Suddenly warm fingers are under your chin, Eris pulling your focus back to him.
âBefore there was you little dove, there was me.â He murmurs softly. You blink blanky before it all registers. Their bickering, the animosity, the underlying meaning of comments thrown through the icy air.
âWhy didnât you tell me?â Your head whips back to Azriel, pulling your chin from Erisâ grip.
Eris chuckles darkly âHe was ashame-.âÂ
âI was never ashamed.â Azriel jumps in quickly. Too quickly. You can see the moment he realizes as his eyes quickly jump to you in panic, then back to Eris. âShe is my mate.â
Eris only nods and then silence falls over your small group. The shadows that sat lazily on the cave floor around Azriel only moments ago, now dart about his hands. Your eyes drop to your own, where golden threads continue to keep them warm, giving you a moment to think.
âYou loved him.â You look up at Eris and you can sense Azriel and his shadows go completely still.
Eris wordlessly turns to you and the way golden flecks swim in the auburn drifts of his eyes silently tells you all you need to know, that your use of past tense was wrong.
âAzriel?â You turn to his frozen form.
âYou are my highest priority.â Is all he says.
You detach yourself from Eris, his warm sanctuary slips from you as you pace the width of the cave and crouch between Azrielâs outstretched legs.
âYou could have told me.â You coax softly. Azriel gives you a sad smile.
âI never want to do anything that could jeopardise this.â He reaches up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind your ear and this time you welcome the cool touch that meets your skin.
You nod in understanding. The threads of your mate bond are all encompassing, youâre not sure how any Fae resists their pull, but maybe thatâs only true for the kind of love that you and Azriel share.
You turn onto your hip and relax onto Azrielâs front. His arms immediately wrapping around you are joined by trails of shadow but without Erisâ protection, the cold begins to seep under your skin again.
âGo back, youâre going to get ill if you keep shivering.â Azriel professes, loosening his grip on you.
âNo.â You shake your head in protest as your eyes fall to Eris. Coin back in hand, he idly flips it mirroring how he looked earlier in the mouth of the cave. Only now he appears dejected. Shirt half undone, hair slightly ruffled where he's run his fingers through it and a sadness in his downcast eyes replaces his earlier cool indifference.
Azriel sighs. âLove. Please.â
âEris.â You sit up slightly. âWould you please come share your heat over here?â
Erisâ eyes flick to you. He hesitates, gaze sliding to Azriel and back, calculating how this could be a trick. You simply relax back into Azrielâs arms and raise your eyebrows expectantly.
Slowly he pockets his coin and rises to his feet. He strides across the cave and you can already feel the air warming. He hesitates again when he reaches you but Azriel simply lifts open an arm with the flutter of a wing.
And thatâs how you find yourself drifting off to sleep in the arms of your mate, cocooned in the warmth of the Autumn Heir next to you.
Summary: Azriel and Eris have found a way to pacify their unclaimed mating bond... or have they?
Word count: 3k
Warnings: Smut, Bondage, Angst, Fluff
a/n: Eris is High Lord of Autumn
Read on AO3
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Onyx shadows slip to the dark hardwood floor as Azriel materializes from thin air. Eris doesnât so much as flinch at his appearance, continuing to focus on the paperwork in front of him. Azriel was used to the non reaction by now.
Really he shouldnât even be here. If he thought about it for too long heâd have to admit to himself that he was ashamed to be standing here, week after week, hoping something would change.
âYou can sit.â Eris commands without looking up.
Azriel simply takes a few steps away from the armchairs in front of the desk. A small act of rebellion when his presence in Erisâ room was already an admission of defeat. He continues out of the alcove of Erisâ bedroom study to the large bed that takes up most of one wall.
He settles onto the plush bedding, running a hand along the smooth fabric as his eyes fall to the floor in front of him. A lump begins to form in his throat. Maybe he should just go? His mate doesnât need him here and he only tolerates him being here for one reasonâŠ
âYou're thinking too much again, Shadowsinger.â Erisâ smooth drawl brings Azriel back to the room where he finds the High Lord standing over him.
Azriel looks up into deep amber eyes and for a second he canât think straight. Canât remember why heâd ever want to leave. Eris slides a hand around the top of Azrielâs neck, grasping at the wisps of hair there.
âFuck, the way you go dumb for me is perfect.â Eris purrs. Azriel canât deny it. His mind was usually filled with an ever present buzz, the weight of responsibilities sitting heavy in his mind. But under the touch of his mate the world goes quiet.
Azriel regains a little control as Eris begins unbuttoning his silk shirt exposing a pale milky chest. Mine and please were the two recurring thoughts chasing each other around his empty head.
He leans forward placing his lips to the marble skin as itâs exposed to him, trailing claiming kisses downward. Eris groans softly before using the hand in Azrielâs hair to pull him back sharply.
Azriel doesnât hesitate to pull him into his lap. Eris feeling generous meant heâd get everything he wanted tonight and Azriel was itching to take it before he changed his mind.
One hand pushes his shirt off to the floor while the other gropes his ass, pulling him even closer. His lips trailing kisses down Erisâ neck until he reaches his collarbone, where he slows and sucks, leaving marks in the places Eris has allowed him to. Eris lets out a soft moan as he bucks his hips forward, creating friction where they both want it most.
Azriel gives a possessive growl, pulling him closer just long enough to stand, pivot, and lay him out on the bed before him. Azriel takes only one moment to appreciate rolling muscles under pale skin before reaching to undo his pants. But Eris beats him to it. With a wave of his hand Erisâs pants and all of Azrielâs clothing disappear.
His eyes flick to auburn ones where Eris only cocks an eyebrow as if to say problem? And no, Azriel took no issue in having the High Lord of Autumn bare beneath him.
Mounting the bed he pushes pale thighs apart with his knee. Azriel circles slim wrists with scarred fingers, lowering himself over Eris letting his wings flare behind him. Shadows slip along the sheets, creating their own binds on the Autumn fae.
Erisâs cheeks flush as his cock strains and it drives Azriel near mad to see him unraveling beneath him.
âYou act like you donât need itâ Azriel murmurs into his ear âbut just look how your body betrays you.â Azriel smirks as he trails gentle fingers across Erisâs hip.
Eris arches into Azrielâs touch, silently begging for more.
He returns to his earlier conquest, sucking along Erisâs chest until heâs peppered in blooming red marks. Eris groans as Azriel sucks at a nipple, nimble tongue dancing over sensitive skin. Suddenly the touch of cold glass presses against Azrielâs calf. Glancing down he finds the familiar bottle of oil.
âSo ready for it to be over? Or are you just desperate to take my dick?â Azriel chuckles darkly.
âBetter hurry up before I change my mind, Shadowsinger.â Eris snarls.
Azrielâs eyes narrow in challenge. He wouldnât give Eris the time to change his mind. Not when he needed this so badly, not when he waited so long.
Azrielâs heart feels like it will pound out of his chest as he oils his fingers and circles Erisâs hole. Gently he pushes one finger past the tight ring of muscles, watching Erisâs eyes flutter close. He allows for a couple of slow strokes before adding a second finger, pulling a moan from Erisâs lips.
He carefully works Eris open. He doesnât want to risk hurting him in the slightest, in case it means he never finds himself invited into his bed again. He doesnât know what heâd do if Eris decided he was done with their weekly visits, if he found even this singular use for Azriel was no longer required. He swallows thickly, pushing the thoughts to the back of his mind, instead concentrating on Erisâs soft pants.
Azriel leaves Erisâs wrists to his shadowâs binds in favour of using his hands to part Erisâs thighs further still. He oils himself quickly before lining himself up with Erisâs exposed hole.
As he pushes forward, he canât help the low groan that rumbles in his throat. Heâd never felt warmth like Erisâs before, an all encompassing heat that sparks at every place their bodies meet. Itâs been a month since Eris last let him fuck him and his body wonât let him forget it. His heart races, his mind blurs and the golden threads in his chest sing with every thrust. Erisâs body arches away from him and Azriel knows heâs pounding into that particular spot. That spot thatâs causing Eris to cry out in pleasure with his head tossed back into the mattress.
âYouâre. So. Fucking. Tight.â Azriel pants every time he slides back in.
He leans over Eris propped on a forearm as he reaches down and grips Erisâs neglected cock. With skilled strokes he mimics the pressure heâs receiving from Eris wrapped around him. Azriel watches as pre-cum swells and then rolls from the swollen head. He leans closer still and he can feel Erisâs legs capture his waist, forcing Azrielâs thrusts to become short and deep.
âYou want to come for me, donât you?â Azriel murmurs, his lips barely brushing across Erisâs. He wants so badly to close the distance and capture the soft flesh of his bottom lip between his teeth but Eris had never kissed him. It was like an invisible line Eris had drawn, neither of them acknowledging its existence but lying between them ever present.
Eris only lets out a soft whine in response and that isnât enough. Azriel tightens his grip creating a vice around Erisâs length, building an impossible pressure. He trails his lips across Erisâs cheek, pausing to whisper against his ear.
âMaybe I wonât let you. Maybe Iâll just fuck you and fill you and be done with it. Is that what you want?â Azriel nips at Erisâs neck as he tries to thrash against the shadows keeping him in place.
âPlease.â Eris begs. âPlease I- I want to come.â
âGood boy.â Azriel praises him. He strokes Eris firmly, matching the strokes that fill him. It isnât long until Azriel feels Eris tighten around him and then heâs following Eris over the edge, filling him with everything he has.
Azriel rolls back onto the mattress, keeping his wings tucked in tight, catching his breath. He commands his shadows to disperse, scattering them across the room. Like he always does he hopes for a moment that tonight will be different. That Eris will turn to him and tell him not to bother getting up. That he should stay and in the morning they can do this all again.
But just like every other night theyâve spent together the mattress lifts as Eris rolls off the bed and heads for the bathroom. Azriel just stares at the ornately carved ceiling as he hears the bathroom door click shut. He lets his head fall to the side and finds the familiar sight of his Illyrian leathers neatly piled next to him. He quickly rises, dresses and without a second glance at the bathroom door winnows away.
Azriel absentmindedly pushes his dinner around his plate, randomly spearing stray vegetables to bring them back to the center. His family chatters away up and down the table eagerly discussing their days. Recently heâd felt more and more like an outcast within their inner circle. With each of his brothers now happily mated, and every other member of their family either mated or seeing someone, he was left the odd one out. He would never wish them anything but happiness but these dinners always made his mating bond feel like a hollow pit in his chest.
Itâs been a month since Azriel set foot in the Autumn Court. Heâd missed three of his regular rendezvous with the High Lord, tonight was the night they usually met. He just didnât know if he could keep living like this. Hiding his mate bond from his family, chasing any scrap of recognition from a mate that doesnât want him.
What was he getting out of their current arrangement? Obviously he was getting to fuck his intended mate, big positive. He pushes a pea to the left of his dinner plate. And the sex was really good. He pushes another pea to the side. Okay the best heâd ever had. He forces a third pea to join the first two. But Eris was just using him. He slides a piece of carrot across to the pile. He obviously likes Azrielâs body but not Azriel himself. Another piece of carrot joins the growing pile of vegetables. After all this time it was obvious Eris was never going to want to accept the mate bond. This time he pushes all the carrots on his plate across to the three peas. He stares down at his pros and cons pile of peas and carrots.
âAz, whatâs wrong?â Cassian leans in close from his left side.
âNothing, thereâs just something Iâve been putting off that I need to do.â Azriel stands from the table, giving Cassianâs shoulder a short squeeze and then excuses himself from the room.
Azriel slips into Erisâs room between shadows. Eris pauses his work, briefly gives him a once over and then continues to scrawl along the parchment.
âYou can sit.â Eris gives his usual command.
âWe need to talk.â Azriel doesnât move.
âAre you hurt?â Erisâs eyes flick back to him.
âNo.â Azriel folds his arms across his chest, an attempt to hide from Erisâs assessing gaze.
âThen we donât need to talk.â Eris returns to his work once again and Azriel can feel his blood begin to boil.
Azriel sends shadows skittering along the desk until they slide along the paperwork Eris is working on, completely shielding it from sight.
âFine. What is it Shadowsinger?â Eris sighs and pushes from the desk, making his way around it. In all the times they had been together, Eris had never used his actual name. Always preferring to call him by another title or not address him at all. It only helped to make Azrielâs decision a little easier.
âIâm done.â Azriel explains calmly. âI wanted to let you know that I wonât be attending our little meetings anymore.â
âRight, find someone else to warm your bed, have you?â Eris chuckles darkly, as if Azriel didnât have the ability to find someone else.Â
âActually he keeps it pretty damn hot.â Azriel lies easily. It doesnât matter what Eris thinks after today, he just wants to inflict some sort of pain on him. If Azrielâs body is the only thing Eris cares about then fine, thatâs where heâll aim.
âFine.â Eris shrugs and it has Azriel seeing red.
âThatâs all you have to say?â Azrielâs wings give a single beat in agitation.
âWhat do you want me to say?â Eris leans back against his desk, ankles crossed and arms folded.
âAnything!â Azriel yells. âThat you were worried when I didnât show up for weeks? That youâre mad I found another fae to fuck? That you want me to stay!â Heâd lost all composure and what did it matter now? After tonight he was never coming back.
âThatâs what you want to hear?â Eris growls as he straightens, taking one stalking step towards him. âThat I was consumed by dread when you didnât show up for weeks?â His fingers thrust towards his chest. âThat I couldnât eat or sleep or even think straight not knowing where you were?â He takes another slow deliberate step. âThat Iâm furious you let some lesser male touch you? Hold you? Have you?â His eyes flash with the promise of fire. âThat I want to find him and tear him limb from limb?â He snarls, fingers clenching into fists at his side. âThat every time you were here I had to stop myself from begging you to stay?â Heâs so close now Azriel can feel the heat radiating off him. âThat I had to leave the room because I couldnât bear to watch you winnow away?â He finally murmurs only inches from Azriel. âIs that what you wanted to hear?â
Azriel canât comprehend it all at once.
âYou never asked me to stay?â Azriel cocks his head in confusion. Eris drops his gaze and steps away.
âBecause you wouldnât choose to.â He says over his shoulder.
âWhat do you mean? I-â Azriel steps forward, not wanting to lose the closeness between them.
âNo. To stay.â Eris whirls back to him. âAnd I wouldnât blame you. To walk away from Night for Autumn. To leave the people that you serve. To break your allegiance with one High Lord for another.â Eris lists the reasons through gritted teeth, as if holding them back made them less true.
âI donât have to choose.â Azriel reaches for him and Eris takes another step backwards.
âYou canât be the Spymaster of one and the Mate of another!â Eris growls, begging him to see sense. âI wonât ask you to choose.â
âBut I want the choice.â Azriel professes. âSo that I can choose you.â Eris only shakes his head.
âIâm not choosing one High Lord over another.â Azriel insists, stepping completely into Erisâs space and trapping him against the desk. âIâm not even choosing my mate.â He reaches up and lifts Erisâs eyes to his with gentle hands. âIâm choosing you Eris.â
The fire in Erisâs eyes ebbs to a smolder.
âI thought you didnât wantâŠâ Azriel couldnât bring himself to say me, âus.â He swallows dryly. âI thought I should count myself lucky that I got what I did. But now..âÂ
âDonât.â Eris pleads, tears welling in his eyes.
âWhy?â Azriel begs âWhy wonât you see that I want this?â Shadows dance across Azrielâs shoulders and along the top of his wings, agitated.
âBecause you might not want it tomorrow, or a year from now, or Hel one hundred years from now!â A tear breaks free and rolls down his pale cheek. âI donât think I can survive if you resent me once youâve left your home, or worse, if you turn around and go back.â
Azriel feels his heart throb heavily once in his chest and he isnât sure if itâs from Erisâs side of the bond or his.
Azriel leans his forehead to Erisâs. âYou are my home.â He confesses, pleading with him to understand. âAnd now that I know where we stand,â he continues with a murmur âgood luck forcing me out.â Without verbal command Azrielâs shadows dart out in every direction, embedding themselves in the shadows of the room. Some linger behind to curl around Erisâs wrist and tangle in his hair, claiming.
âSo ask me.â Azriel commands.
âWhat?â Eris says surprised.
âAsk me, Eris.â He brushes his nose along Erisâs. When his brow furrows, Azriel knows he understands. So he reaches down and takes Erisâs hand in his, a silent reassurance.
âAzrielâ Eris whispers and Azrielâs heart soars. Hearing his name pass between those lips is doing all kinds of things to his body. âWill you stay with me?â
âI never wanted to leave.â Azriel confesses before he leans in and kisses him. Their mouths clash fighting for dominance. Azrielâs tongue darts out to taste at Erisâs lips and when Eris returns the gesture he sucks Erisâs tongue into his mouth.
âWait.â Eris pushes against Azrielâs chest, breaking them apart. âThis male..â
Azrielâs eyes drop to the floor, silently beginning the cauldron to swallow him whole.
âAzriel I wonât hurt him, if you care for him..â Eris pauses and Azriel glances up. âFuck you care about him.â Eris slumps onto the desk defeated and Azriel canât bear the sadness that radiates from him.
âEris there is no other male.â Azriel sighs. Eris only blinks at him in confusion. âYou fool, I was mad when I thought the only thing you cared about was fucking me. I was trying to hurt you in some way, the way I was hurting.â He feels the rush of relief down the bond as Eris smiles softly.
âJust to be clear,â Eris growls as his hands claim Azrielâs hips. âI donât share.â
âMy services are yours only, my High Lord.â Azriel watches Erisâs eyes spark as the flames in the room surge where they burn. And Azriel gladly basks in their heat.
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a/n: If Azriel EVER called Eris HIS High Lord in canon I think I'd have to put the book down and walk away for a minute
SJM in ACOWAR: âAzriel had sealed them in, and as his scarred hands wrapped around Eris's throatâŠ
Azriel squeezed, Eris thrashing beneath him...â
âAzriel's eyes slid to Eris, the High Lord's son panting beneath him. And the shadowsinger leaned down to whisper something in his ear that made Eris blanch further.â
Everyone: What does it mean?
Me: No one knows what it means but itâs provocative.
Summary: You navigate a new mating bond, while Cassian and Azriel reveal things they've been keeping from you...
Word count: 8.9k
Warnings: Smut, BDSM, depression, self sacrifice, use of Y/N
a/n: I had a block on this for the longest time, unsure where I would take a part two but it finally fell into place. This is darker than the first part, buckle up friends.
The paperwork pulls in and out of focus in front of you. You rub the palms of your hands into your eyes and let them drop to the table with a sigh. Itâs no good, youâve been sitting here for far too long and nothing is getting done. You shove the papers away and pull one of the library's heavy books towards you.
âY/N Iâve been looking for you.â Rhysand appears from the shadows of the bookshelves.
âWell, you found me.â You smile up from the dusty tome. âTell me that youâve come for something far more interesting than this.â You gesture to the work spread out before you.
âI think so.â He smirks and takes a seat opposite you. âIâve just received word that most of the female Illyrians in Windhaven have agreed to start training.â
âWhat!â You shout and then shrink back as you recall the quiet sanctuary of the library around you. âWhat do you mean? Who convinced them?â
âYou did.â He reaches forward and starts flipping idly through one of the books on the table âApparently the group you were headed to see in the cottage the other week witnessed that trainee lunge at you and then watched you take him down. Seeing your quick reaction and ability to defend yourself convinced them.â He straightens a little then and starts glancing around your small study space between the shelves.
âThatâs amazing, Iâll start working with Cassian on a training plan.â You start searching for a pen so you can jot down some ideas. âHopefully when their training begins news will start spreading to the other camps and we can get those females involved as well.â
âSpeaking of Cassian.â Rhysand leans forward onto his forearm âWhy do you smell like my General?â He grins wickedly at you. âAnd my Spymaster for that matter.â
You can feel the blood rush to your cheeks. âWell, I-, actually what I-â you were sure the blush now tinged your neck and the tips of your ears.
âRelaxâ Rhysand leans back in his chair âItâs none of my business.â He begins picking invisible lint from his shoulder and you smile softly at his little ways of making you more comfortable. You take a deep breath.
âActually you should know.â You exhale to steady yourself. âI was hoping that Cass and Az would be here when you found out, but Iâd rather not leave you to jump to your own conclusions.â You glance up to find his eyebrows raised in a âwho me?â fashion.
âI know that they are mates and, well, I am also their mate.â You bite your lip waiting for his response. His eyes widen in surprise for all of three seconds and then he leans forward on clasped hands.
âA triad bond huh.â He reaches a hand into the air, materialises a book from nowhere and begins flicking. âExtremely rare, Iâve actually never met someone in a triad before. I wonder if there are any additional benefits or detriments when compared to a regular bond.â he begins rambling âOf course Iâll mask your scentâ Without looking up he clicks his fingers and you feel a ripple of his power wash over you. âYou three will make an excellent case study, of course if youâre willing to answer some questions, nothing too personal obviously.â
âWait, you can mask my scent?â You ask.
âOf course, who do you think has masked the scent of those two all over each other for centuries? Youâll be able to scent each other but it keeps it covered for others. Itâs a tiny piece of my magic, a good way to keep burning it off really.â He replies without looking up from his new research.
âWe decided to keep the bond a secret for now, if youâve been doing it for them why wouldnât they get you to do it for me right away?â You try to control the level of your voice. Rhysand looks up at you with a levelled stare.
âY/N, they may be two of the greatest warriors to ever grace the Illyrian legions but theyâre still males.â You cock your head to the side trying to understand. âTheyâre being territorial. They want you to smell like them. Even though itâs stupid and risks the bond being exposed.â
âOh.â You sit back and feel the blush that just started to fade reappear across your cheeks.
You walk into your room and find Cassian waiting in the armchair you keep in the corner.
âFinally, I thought I would have to come pull you from the library myself.â He jumps up and scoops you into his arms as your feet leave the ground.
âI got caught up with Rhysand.â You explain as you dip your head down and place a soft kiss to his lips. A flurry of jealousy washes down the bond.
âReally? Rhys?â You raise your eyebrows at him as he sets you back on your feet.
âSorry.â He chuckles. âMating bond is still chaffing a little bit.â He runs a hand through his dishevelled hair as he ducks his head.
âWell he knows now, about us I mean.â You gesture awkwardly between the two of you.
âYou told him?â He smirks mischievously.
âI didnât have to, he was curious to know why I smelt like you and your mateâ You smack him lightly on the shoulder as you push past and dump your bag at your desk. âWhy didnât you tell me about the scent masking?âÂ
âHonestly it slipped my mind.â He shrugs. âItâs not like weâve really left the house so the secret's still safe.â
He crosses the room towards you until you're forced to lean back into the desk to look up at him.
âAlso is it so bad that you smell of me and our mate?â He dips down and begins to brush his lips along your neck.
Right. Our mate. The one whoâs become increasingly distant. Who trains longer and stays in his study later into the night. The one who let Cassian take over your blade training after one small disagreement.
You drop your head to Cassianâs chest and let a small sigh escape your lips. He lifts your face with gentle fingers under your chin.
âThis is about Azriel?â His dark eyes flick between yours.
âWhat if heâs disappointed Cass? What if he regrets accepting the bond?â You can feel the tears forming in the back of your throat.
âTrust me baby. He doesnât regret it. Heâs justâŠâ His gaze falls to the middle distance above your head, searching for the right words.
âPushing me away?â It had only been a few weeks and whilst things between you and Cassian had never been better the opposite was true for Azriel. Of course the three of you had fallen into bed together numerous times since the bond clicked. But you couldnât help but feel like he was only going along with it all for Cassianâs sake.
âListen, Az and I have been mates for a long time.â He brushes his fingers along your cheek. âWe found a way of⊠managing our relationship. Heâs just still trying to figure out how you fit into that.â
âHe gave up my training. He no longer visits the library in the afternoons. He stopped consulting me on intel.â You pout not convinced by his words.
âLet me show you something. Do you trust me?â A wicked grin appears on his face.
âOf course.â You straighten, intrigued by the mischievous glint in his eye.
âI need you to block out your bond to Azriel. Just like youâve been practising.â
Cassian trails his fingers down your bare ribs, your fingers curl into the sheets beneath you as you focus on keeping the shield in your mind in place.
âGood girl, now if you need me to stop at any point I want you to use the safe word.â He murmurs into your skin as he leaves soft kisses along your hip.
âSafe word?â You squirm a little, eager to have him pay attention to the ache between your legs.
He smirks up at you and though youâve been bare before him so many times now it still sends a flush across your skin. âA safe word is for whe-â
âI know what a safe word is Cass!â You smack his shoulder for the second time today. âWhatâs the safe word?â
âStardust.â He murmurs and then immediately licks a stripe up your core, flicking your clit with his tongue. You throw your head back against the pillow and let out a soft moan.
Youâd had lovers before but had never quite found you enjoyed receiving oral the way you did with your thighs wrapped around the head of one of your mates. Their tongues devoured you in ways youâd never experienced before, soft where you needed, hard where it counted and always so warm.
Cassian quickly works you to the edge and you swear small white spots begin to swim behind your closed lids. You feel your core begin to tighten as Cassian quickly pulls away.
You let out a small whine and glare up at him as he holds himself over you, grinning like an idiot.
âStill have that wall in place sweetheart?â He cocks his head to the side. You quickly check the shield between you and Azriel is still in place.
âYes, but why did you stop?â You pout.
âGood things come to those who wait.â He chuckles, leaning down, capturing your bottom lip between his teeth. He kisses you softly, slowly, savouring the moment and you can taste yourself on his lips. Soon his fingers find your sensitive clit and your hips unintentionally grind up to meet his movements. Your hands grab at thick biceps covered in Illyrian swirls, giving you purchase for more movement. You pant in soft moans as Cassian kisses down your chest, reaching a nipple and sucking it into his mouth. He quickly works you to the edge again.Â
âOh god, pleaseâ You whine at his assault.
He leaves one nipple to nip at the tight bud of the other and just when you feel like you could shatter he pulls his hand away.
âCassâ Your voice a soft whimper at your lost pleasure.
âDo you need me to stop baby girl?â His voice is a soft gravel, almost daring you to ask him to stop.
âNo, I need you to not stop.â You give him a small shove and he tumbles to the side pulling you on top of him as he spins.
âDonât worry baby, Iâm giving you exactly what you need.â His eyes sparkle with mischief but you donât have time to question it as he guides your hips down onto his length. Your head tips back gently with a moan as you adjust to the stretch of him.
It could be centuries and youâd never get used to the feeling of him entering you. His thick length slides into you, filling you completely. You begin to rise on your knees, aching for the friction of him inside you.
âMmmm, ride me baby, Iâm all yours.â Cassian pants beneath you, his eyes screwed shut savouring the feel of you wrapped around him.
You plant your hands on his chest, bouncing up and down as his hips roll to meet yours. Already worked to the edge twice, you can feel the coil tightening inside of you. A series of small whimpers escape your lips as Cassian palms at your hips and your chest. You can feel his head drag across your soft walls, building pressure exactly where you need it. Suddenly Cassian is coming with a groan. His fingers digging tightly into your hips as you feel him pulse inside you. You bite your lip unsure what to do. You're glad you could bring your mate pleasure but heâd never finished before you, Hel these males usually made you come undone twice before they were finished with you.
âRelax baby girl.â Cassian reaches up and releases your bottom lip with a gentle swipe of his thumb. âI said Iâd get you what you needed and I meant it.â
He reaches across the bed to his discarded shirt and begins pulling it over your head.
âKeep that shield in place and go find our mate.â He gives you a wink before helping you off the bed with a small smack to your ass.
You pad down the hall towards Azrielâs office. The soft glow of the rising moon outside reminding you that you were still yet to eat. And you were hungry, famished, but for something that no food could satiate. Your shadow slides along the wall catching your eye and you wonder what kind of picture you paint right now. Bed tangled hair, Cassianâs oversized shirt falling off one shoulder and his cum slowly sliding down your inner thigh.
You reach Azrielâs door, hold your breath a little and push it open without knocking. Heâs bent over his paperwork, hair tousled slightly from running his hands through it, wings slouching a little behind him. At first he doesnât look up from his work.
âIâll be just a few more minut-â You see the moment your mingled scents reach him. His whole body stiffens, his head snaps up to take you in, his pupils blow wide like a predator thatâs just spotted its favourite prey and the pen in his hand snaps in half.
He moves faster than you've ever seen and has you pinned to the wall in a second.
Azriel leans forward and whispers across your neck âI was wondering what you two were up to when the bonds cut off.â
You canât even form words as Azriel consumes every sense. His warm body pressed against yours, his right leg nestled against your core. His scent sends your brain into overdrive and all you can manage is a small whimper as you roll your hips against his thigh.
âI can smell his seed on you sweetheart, did he not satisfy you enough?â His voice is deep and rumbling. His wings are flared out behind him blocking you from the empty room as his shadows make agitated swirls along his wings.
âPlease Az, he didnât let me.â You grab the front of his leathers pulling yourself closer to him as your hips continue to find friction on his thigh.
Azriel freezes. He becomes so still you wonder if heâs even breathing. You pull back and find that his eyes are almost completely black, his shadows have slowed to a crawl behind him, like a snake coiled for attack. A shiver runs down your spine as you realise you're staring into the stone cold eyes of the Night Courts Spymaster. You silently berate yourself for wanting him more for it.
He pushes off the wall and you instantly miss the feel of him against you but he slides his fingers around your wrist as he pulls you from the room.
âIâm going to fucking kill him, I swear.â He snarls as he leads you back down the hall to your room.
Just as Azriel turns to enter the bedroom one of his shadows snaps out and wraps itself around Cassian's neck.Â
âYou wanted my attention?â Azriel curls his free hand into a fist and the shadow tightens around his airway. Cassian sits up in the bed and attempts to pull the shadow away, struggling for air.
âNow you have it.â Azriel snarls, dropping your wrist and striding towards the bed.
âAz donât hurt him!â You cry out and try to tug Azriel backwards.
The shadow loosens but remains looped around Cassian's neck. He pulls in gasping breaths that match Azriel's heaving chest as he towers over the end of the bed.
Iâm okay baby girl, heâs not going to hurt me. Cassianâs gruff voice enters your mind.
Y/N you should go clean up while I deal with him. With the bond now open Azrielâs cool tone slides into your mind as well.
But- You begin a little unsure but youâre quickly interrupted.
She knows the safe word, she doesnât have to go anywhere. Cassian sits up straighter glaring at Azriel in challenge.
More of Azrielâs shadows begin to crawl along the bed.
Why does she know the safe word? Azriel seethes.
You stand frozen watching the back and forth between them.
Well I wasnât going to edge her without the safe word was I? Cassian cocks his head to the side and you swear you see a vein pop in Azrielâs neck.
Azriel spins and you duck a little to avoid his outstretched wings.
âHow many times?â His dark eyes now fall to you.
Cassian replies before you can âIt was onl-â
The shadow around Cassianâs neck slides onto his face, gagging him. Other shadows pounce from the mattress and swirl around his wrists pinning him down.
âI swear to the Cauldron if you fucking speak again.â Azriel growls over his shoulder. He stands before you, the picture of death. Dark wings splayed across the room, hands balled into fists, muscles strung tight. And you're surprised to find your voice does not waiver as you reply.
âThree times.â
âY/N itâs up to you if you want to stay or go.â He nods sharply and turns back to face Cassian, giving you the opportunity to slip out of the room without a fuss if needed. Instead you slip past him, climb onto the bed above Cassianâs head and rest against the headboard. Both their eyes trail your movements before Azrielâs land on Cassian again.
âSo you think you can take pleasure from my mate and leave her unsatisfied?â Azriel begins loosening the top of his leathers as he paces around the bed. He reaches for the sheet that is still covering Cassianâs bottom half and whips it away.
âFigures youâd be hard again, you always were a fucking whore. Maybe youâve lost your touch? Couldnât keep it up long enough for Y/N to get off?â He breathes a sinister chuckle.
A low growl ripples through Cassianâs chest, still gagged and bound by shadows, at the insinuation.
âWould you like to help me teach him a lesson love?â Azriel questions you as he removes the top half of his leathers and undershirt sending muscles rippling.
Your mouth is watering at the sight of him and itâs all you can do to nod dumbly as you reply âYes please.â
Azrielâs eyes spark in surprise and then the mattress dips beside you as he leans towards you.
âShow me how he used you sweetheart.â His fingers brush gently down the length of your jaw.
You send the images flickering down the bond â of Cassianâs mouth on you, his hands bringing you to the edge and finally of you riding atop him.
Azrielâs eyes are completely black as they flick between yours. Wordlessly he reaches for you and pulls you into his arms.
Cut him off baby girl. His deep voice curls in the back of your mind as his soft lips brush against yours. You do as he says, lifting a shield between your mind and Cassianâs.
Cassianâs throat rips open in snarls from where he lays on the bed with the two of you kneeling before him. Your eyes flick across to him, your heart constricting at his distress and you immediately want to reach out to him.
Heâs okay. Azrielâs fingers find their way under your chin turning your attention back to him. Heâs just swearing at me profusely for cutting him off. First I want to take care of you. He begins to trail kisses down your neck. Then we can deal with him.
Cassian watches from the top of the bed as Azriel positions you on all fours. Youâre faced towards him, cheeks flushed and pupils blown wide. Cauldron he wishes he wasnât bound right now.
Give her back. Cassian growls down the bond at Azriel. Furious heâs been shut out from your mind, from your emotions, with you so close.
You can have her back when I think you deserve it. Azriel snarls as he slides into you from behind. Cassian watches your breath catch, feels you clench at the sheets beneath them and heâs slowly going mad. He struggles against the shadows that pin his wrists to the bed and attempts to shift the shadows that bind his mouth. Heâs never been so close to safe wording before. Your proximity but infinite distance pulls and frays at every instinct he has.
Azriel has set a hard and fast pace, bringing you to the edge that Cassian refused to tip you over. And as you come undone with panting whimpers, Cassian bucks his hips into the air with a muffled groan, failing to find the friction his leaking cock is begging for.
Azriel slides out of you, cock still hard and glistening from your release.
Thatâs how you pleasure my mate Cassian. Azrielâs growl filters through the bond.
Fuck you, sheâs mine too. Cassian bites back, the only way he can right now.
Oh no, I think Iâll fuck you. He smirks darkly. Eventually.
Azriel gives you a small nod and you crawl forward towards Cassian, and Hel if he was standing he would have gone to his knees at the sight.
Your plush lips wrap around his head and he throws his head back against the pillow, a groan escapes between clenched teeth. Fuck this might be all he needs to survive, forget food and water heâll live off your touch alone if he needs to.
Your head bobs up and down his length and he can feel the pleasure building. Can feel his muscles tightening, ready to pump his release down his pretty mates throat.
Suddenly Azriel has his hand wrapped in the hair at the nape of your neck pulling you off him with a small pop.
âGood girl, thatâs enough.â Azriel purrs into your ear before capturing your mouth with his, sliding his tongue along your lower lip.
Cassianâs chest rises and falls in deep pants. Release me now Azriel or I swear to the Cauldron Iâl-
Youâll what? Azriel cocks his head to the side. Youâre not really in any position to be making demands.
Azriel releases you then to lie back on the bed. He looms over Cassian, face hovering only inches away, wings flared wide behind him almost blacking out the room.
You have a pretty face General, but I want to hear those pretty noises to match. He punctuates his remark by sliding two long fingers inside Cassian.
Cassianâs skin already feels like itâs on fire and Azrielâs assault on that spot inside him might just cause him to combust. He simultaneously wants to throw Azriel through the nearest wall and kiss his stupidly handsome face. Azriel hadnât let himself take control like this since they had accepted the mating bond with Y/N and Cassian had finally found the right buttons to press -Â Y/Nâs. Now he was both reaping the benefits and paying the price for it.
You lay beside your mates as you take in Azriel at work. The bulge of his arms, the scars that litter his torso criss-cross with Illyrian swirls, the half smirk that graces his lips as he pulls whimpers from Cassian.
Azrielâs eyes are still clouded in darkness, wholly focused on the task at hand which now appears to be Cassianâs punishment.
Long fingers slide in and out of Cassian, stretching him open with every pass. You want to reach out to him, to open the bond and allow your emotions to mingle with his but you donât want to go against Azrielâs command. This was the control that Cassian had alluded to. The side of Azriel they had kept away from you. The night you found out about the mating bond comes back to you...
â You donât scare me, Shadowsinger. You let admiration flow through the bond along with your words. In a blink of an eye Azriel is crowded over you, arms braced on the sides of your chair.
Really? He smirks down at you in challenge â
Should you be afraid right now? Azriel hovers over Cassian propped on an elbow. One hand thrusting inside him the other pulling at the hair from the top of his scalp. Heâs grinning down at Cassianâs muffled cries like he might just sink his teeth into his flesh to make him cry out more. His wings a flare out dimming the room and the shadows that hold Cassian down are joined by others that swirl along the bed, slide over muscled bodies, until they appear to be drowning in darkness.Â
But Cassian doesnât fight for the surface, his head is thrown back as moans of pleasure reverberate through his chest like heâd willingly give his last breath for Azriel to keep going. Suddenly you watch Cassian stiffen, his eyes shooting open as Azriel stills. Youâre sure more violent words are exchanged between them as Azriel once again denies Cassian of his release.
Your skin tingles at the sight and without an ounce of fear, you realise that maybe you want to drown in the darkness too.
Cassianâs eyes flick to you as you move across the bed but you keep your gaze locked to Azriel. You slide a hand across his shoulder and he rises at your gentle command, settling onto his knees. Your focus never wavers as you settle yourself across Cassianâs waist towards the shadowsinger. His grin is gone and he watches your every movement carefully. You let your eyes wander down his toned chest, watch his abs flex under your gaze before landing on his thick length. Azrielâs hard cock brushes his stomach, the thick vein running along the underside revealed to you. His cock hovers only inches from Cassianâs which is flushed red as you watch a bead of precum swell at the tip. With them both straining before you, you canât help but imagine what it would be like to take them both at the same time. To have them filling you, stretching you -
Oh sweetheart, say the word and your wish is my command. Azriel purrs. Your eyes flick to meet black ones as you lift yourself from your perch on Cassianâs chiselled torso, giving him the perfect view of your ass, before sinking down on his length. His hips make a feeble attempt to meet yours but Azriel is upon you, strong calloused hands gripping your hips and holding you down.
Azrielâs mouth captures yours, nipping and sucking at your bottom lip. His rough hands explore your body, sliding over soft skin and cupping your breasts. You let out a small whimper at the all consuming sensation of one mate stretching you open while the other runs expert hands along every nerve. Azriel pulls back, a short growl rolling from his chest.
âWhatâs wrong?â You pant softly.
âHe wonât keep quiet.â His eyes flick over your shoulder momentarily at Cassian. The lord of bloodshed was never one to go quietly, so you can only imagine what heâs throwing down the bond at Azriel right now. Azriel takes up your hands in his and places them on his shoulders.
He leans forward, lips brushing your neck and murmurs âHold on sweetheart.â Your fingers flex into thick muscle as he leans into you.
âYou want more General?â He snarls over you before lifting Cassianâs hips slightly. The movement forces him even deeper inside you and you canât help the moan that escapes your lips. Without warning Azriel slams into him. Cassian lets out a muffled cry that you hope is more pleasure than pain.
âIs that enough for you?â Azriel chuckles darkly. Azrielâs large hands envelop your waist once more as he guides you up and down on Cassian in time with his own thrusts. You let yourself go, let Azriel use your body to pleasure Cassian as all you can focus on is your own. When you find yourself on the edge again Azrielâs gentle purr is there.
Drop your shield, let him feel all of you Y/N.
You do as he says, dropping your mental shield and finally opening the bond to Cassian again. A flood of emotion washes over you, of relief, anger, envy, happiness all swirling together but the prevailing sense of lust is all consuming.
Cassianâs emotions tangling with your own is overwhelming and that coil building inside of you snaps. You fall willingly into the dark abyss of your release. Seeing you reach your climax has both of your mates falling after you and soon the only sound in the room is the mix of panting breaths.
Azriel recalls his shadows and immediately Cassian claims you. He grabs your sides and twists you towards him, lips laying kisses to any piece of skin in his reach.
Y/N? Cassianâs low timbre reverberates in your mind, soft and timid.
Iâm here Cass. You run your fingers through his soft hair, doing your best to calm him. Are you okay?
Never better sweetheart. His fingers trace circles on your back. Just need you here. Need you close.
Having the bond cut off had obviously taken a toll on him, like a carrot on a stick Azriel had dangled you in front of him the entire time.
You are far tastier than a carrot my love. I just need a few minutes to recentre. Also Iâm afraid if I let you go Iâll make good on some of the nastier promises I made Az. His broad chest bounces beneath you with his chuckle.
Yes you were starting to get rather creative towards the end there. Azriel chuckles along with him. Iâll get you both some water.
Azrielâs weight lifts from the bed as you lean down and kiss Cassian softly.
So, this is what youâve both been keeping from me? You slowly trace the Illyrian tattoos along Cassianâs chest with your fingertips. He ponders the ceiling for a moment before responding.
When we first met Azriel at the Illyrian camps, he was untrained, never learnt to fly and had a darkness that trailed after him. His mouth quirks with a smile, obviously remembering the time fondly. However your bottom lip juts out in a pout, recalling why it was so in the first place.
After bein- Cassian paused for a moment After the childhood he had, having never known a sense of control, his untamed power would just take over. He ended up in twelve fights in his first week at camp.
Cassian leaned down, absentmindedly brushing his lips to the top of your head.
Shortly after the mating bond snapped we discovered a way for him to manage. An outlet that gave him full control when he felt himself slipping into the darkness. Everyone thought his new friendship and proximity to the future High Lord was the cause of the change. That he was now able to maintain focus, control and wield his power better than ever. Only Rhys and I knew the truth.
It was very generous of you, to become that for him. You smile softly.
Cassian breaks out into a deep laugh, the vibrations tingling your skin.
Oh no, it wasnât generosity at all. He grins widely. My horny ass got me caught out after Az got in a fight with Rhys one night. His eyes went dark, shadows flying, solid muscle straining in flight leathers. He looked as if death came to walk the earth and I got fucking hard. He laughs again at himself. Az scented it and jumped me, Rhys couldnât winnow away fast enough. I guess you could say the darkness called to me.
I think I know the feeling. You giggled to yourself. Cassian raised a hand to your chin, pulling your eyes to his dazzling grin still wide.
And that is why we are made for each other my love. He pulls you in for another lingering kiss.
Azriel softly pads back to the bedroom with two glasses in hand. Heâd stopped at his room to throw on soft pants and a light shirt even though he didnât want to be away from either of you for a second. It felt strange not being the one comforting Cassian right now but he knew that Y/N was what he needed. Especially after he had made her withhold the bond. Azriel pulls his bottom lip between sharp teeth. He has to admit that was dark, even for him. But Cassian never truly wavered and that scared him a little. One day he was going to do something that caused Cassian to truly snap and there would be no going back.
Azriel reaches your bedroom door and takes in the sight of his mates tangled together. Y/N half sprawled over Cassian, hair fanned across his chest. Cassianâs hand resting possessively on your hip, holding you to him even as you rested in a state between sleep and awake. He doesnât know how long he stands there taking them in. Gods they look like they were made for eachother. Like they were poured from the Cauldron in the same moment and have only now found their way back to each other. Both so beautiful, strong and filled with light.
He catches one of his shadows sliding along the bed to you both and his heart freezes. In your combined blooms of light his shadow is the thorny vine. The weed that is pruned as to not cause destruction and decay to the beauty.
Azriel stumbles back towards the hall. How did he not see it? For so long he thought the Cauldron had made a mistake in giving him Cassian. And of course he never deserved a second mate, especially not one as brilliant as Y/N. And now here was the proof.
Perhaps he was a placeholder until you and Cassian could meet? Perhaps he was a mistake altogether? Whatever the reason, he saw it clearly now. He didnât belong between you, he was a burden to be shouldered and you both deserved so much more. You deserved each other. He slipped from the room completely.
Itâs the suffocating warmth that has you rolling away from Cassian. Youâre sure he runs ten degrees hotter than any normal being. You slide your fingers along the sheets searching for the cool touch of your shadowsinger, only to come up empty. You sit up scanning the dark room but donât find a single shadow out of place.
Azriel never returned with the waters he promised and there are no glasses on the bedside table to suggest he returned at all. Cassian mumbles into the pillow beside you as you pull his discarded shirt over your head for the second time tonight. You swing your legs off the bed and pad down the hall.
You approach the dim light of the kitchen to find a note pinned beneath a blade on the kitchen counter. Panic begins to set in, your heart pounding in your chest. You hear a commotion down the hall and pray to the Cauldron that itâs Azriel who will appear to quiet the noise pulsing in your head.
But itâs Cassian who stumbles into the kitchen next to you. Sensing your distress heâd obviously lept from the bed only pausing long enough to collect his underwear and a blade.
âWhatâs wrong?â He pants eyes darting around the room, assessing for a threat. You nod towards the note on the counter not trusting your voice.
He approaches it cautiously, as if it could jump from the surface and attack at any moment. He pushes the blade aside, picks up the note and reads it in the time it takes for you to figure out how to breathe again.
You watch as Cassianâs wings fall. The tips dragging on the ground. He reads the note again as if that will change anything about its contents.
His hand falls and he steps towards you, handing you the note.
âHeâs gone.â His low voice rumbles.
My love,
Forgive me. I hope this letter remains in one piece long enough for you to read but I can understand if you do not grant me such a privilege. I never thought I would need to say goodbye to you, as you are my home. But I can not jeopardise your safety, Y/Nâs safety, any longer.After centuries my darkness still remains unpredictable and for so long you have been its balm. Somehow you have kept the shadows inside me at bay.Â
But now my darkness threatens your new light. Y/N is everything you have always deserved. She is warmth, calm, serenity and whilst I wish beyond anything to bask in that light along with you I cannot take that risk.
I know I do not have the right to ask anything of you now but I beg of you to take care of her. Be her protector where I cannot, be the strength she needs and the mate I cannot be. Until my last breath I will be yours.
Azriel scratches another line into the rough rock wall. Three months. Itâs been three months since he left and heâs not sure how heâs still breathing.
Originally he planned to flee the Night Court entirely, settle far away perhaps on the continent. But he couldnât bring himself to even cross the border.
He could stay close, he told himself. He could embody the shadows that are loyal to him, become a part of the darkness. From this small cave in the mountainside he could watch over Velaris, monitor for danger. Maybe one day heâd even have the strength to return to the city, moving between the shadows only to catch a glimpse of his mates on an errand.Â
He could see it now, Cassian trailing after Y/N complaining about carrying all of the gifts youâd buy for Starfall. Youâd give some witty reply and then stand on tiptoes to place a kiss on his cheek.
Starfall. It was tonight. Azrielâs eyes traced the sky as if heâd already catch a glimpse of those dazzling lights in the waning evening light. Heâd never been apart from Cassian on this night, heâd never even had the chance to properly spend it with Y/N. But you had each other and you would be safe from him.Â
He rubs at his chest. His heart straining behind his ribs, as if it feels betrayed by him, as if it will leave him here in this cave and return to his mates alone. Azriel takes a steadying breath and steps back into the darkness of the cave. He wouldnât go back. They were better without him.
You stood on the balcony of the eerily quiet House of Wind. On Starfall your home was usually a buzz of activity but this year Rhysand had moved the festivities to his river house to give you some peace and quiet.
But the quiet was suffocating as you stood alone. One mate was missing and the otherâŠ
Cassian had become a shadow of himself. After Azriel left he trained less, took on less missions from Rhys and eventually stopped leaving his room.
Every morning you bought him food, every evening you curled up with him and told him of your day but you could feel him slipping from you.
His once dark black wings had begun to fade to an ashy grey. On the days he dressed his sirens remained dull and lifeless. You were lost on what more you could do. You were losing him.
Tears roll down your cheeks and reflect the first tumbling lights of Starfall. An all encompassing sadness washes over you, your lungs becoming tight and it slowly becomes harder to breathe. It was as if your emotions were too much for one person to hold.
Your breath catches in your throat. It couldnât be?
Azriel? You reach out.
After months of Azriel having the bond shutdown you didnât realise when heâd crept back in. You try to reach for more but you feel his presence sliding away.
No. He had to stay. You couldnât keep going on like this. You throw down the bond the one thing that might get him to stay.
I think Cassian is dying. You let out a sob. Azriel heâs fading and I donât know what to do.
One moment you're watching the stars fall from the sky, the next theyâre blacked out by a pair of wings high above you. The Illyrian drops sharply from the sky and lands heavily next to you, vibrations sent rumbling through the stone.
âAz?â You whisper.
Azriel straightens from his landing. He looks disheveled, hair askew, dark circles permanently embedded under even darker eyes.
âI know I donât deserve-â he doesnât look at you as he speaks. âWhatâs wrong with him? Was he poisoned? Injured?â He stares out over the balcony and you can see his jaw clench.
âYou left.â You growl out.
âThatâs not important right no-â He snarls
âNo! You. Left. Azriel. Thatâs whatâs wrong with him.â You throw the images down the bond. Cassian slumped in his chair. Of his fading complexion. Wings barely lifted from the floor.
Azriel flinches at the sight. Then he finally looks at you. Tears welling in his eyes.
âI had to Y/N.â He swallows thickly. âMy nature is literally the depths of darkness. I skate a thin line of control and I canât afford to fall from that ledge now that there is you.â
âAz-â You move to step toward him.
âNo.â Azriel shakes his head and side steps further from you. âYou donât understand. Cassian is whole and good and light. He is the moon. And you. You are his stars. You are two of the same. Meant for each other.â He grips the balcony's ledge so tightly the scars of his hands bloom white. Your emotions are at war inside you. You are furious that he left, joyful that he has returned and heart broken that he doesnât see himself the way you do.
âIf Cassian is the moon and I am the stars then Azriel you are our night sky.â You move to him now, resting your hands lightly on his forearm. The note he left that night beginning to make sense. âYour darkness doesnât dim our light, itâs the reason for our brightness. Your darkness is the blanket in which we rest, the sanctuary in which we relied upon.â You take a steadying breath.
You begin to step back, to give him some space âBut if your heart does not beat for us the way-â
Azrielâs hand snaps to your wrist and suddenly you find yourself wrapped in his arms, your face burrowed in his chest. His lips brush against the top of your head.
âDo not. For a second. Insinuate that I donât think of you both in every second of every day.â You hold him infinitely closer at his words.
Time stretches on between you as you stand in each other's arms. Eventually you pull back.
âI need to tell Cassian that youâre here.â Azriel releases you from his arms and immediately you want to go back to him.
âYou will stay?â You ask wary that as soon as you turn he will disappear again.
The door clicks closed on Cassianâs room as you step back into the hall. You find Azriel there waiting for you.
âHe saidâ you pause.
âHe doesnât want to see me.â Azriel finishes unsurprised.
âYes.â You admit quietly.
âItâs okay Y/N. Heâs always been a stubborn ass.â His lips lift in a soft smirk. âI deserve much worse.â His wings fall and he turns to walk back down the hall. You quickly follow not wanting to let him out of your sight.
He pulls a chair out from the dining table and slumps into it. Instead of taking a seat of your own, you move to stand between his legs. He welcomes you into his space, hands finding your hips as your fingers brush across a stubbled jaw.
âI want to stay.â He whispers, dark eyes meeting yours.
âThen stay Azriel.â You whisper back. Letting your fingers trail across his face, committing every line and freckle to memory.
âHow will you forgive me?â He turns to brush his lips along your palm. âHow will he?â
âJust give it some time Azriel. He needs to know that you are staying for good. That you are committed to this.â You canât bring yourself to say that you need it too, but you can see in Azrielâs eyes that he understands.
You stand in peace for a moment. Azriel was far from forgiven but he was here, back in your arms, back where he belonged.
âIâll take the dedication.â Azriel nods after a moment, as if all is decided.
âThe dedication?â You take a half step back trying to read his face.
âItâs an old Illyrian custom, the greatest act of commitment of one Illyrian to another.â He stands from the chair and takes your hands in his.
âItâs a sacrifice I will make for him and for you. I donât expect either of you to forgive me right away but itâs a start.â His eyes are determined as they flick between yours.
He brings your hands to his lips and kisses each of them gently.
âI have to go to Windhaven. But Iâll be back soon.â He releases your hands and goes to move away.
âWait.â You put a hand to his chest. âIf this dedication is so important why havenât you or Cassian taken it before?â
âCassian wouldn-â He pauses. âItâs an outdated tradition. Itâs rarely completed anymore. But I promise Y/N.â He steps forward and places a light kiss to your cheek âIâll be back.â
He disappears over the closest balcony and a sinking feeling wonât leave your gut. Azriel is desperate to fix things between the three of you. What if this dedication is dangerous? What if he doesnât return because he no longer can?
Azriel had said it was an old tradition no a sacrifice, but of what? He said that Cassian wouldnât⊠No. This is bad. Whatever this dedication was Cassian didnât want it from Azriel, which meant it was definitely dangerous. And Cassian was in no state to stop him. You did the only thing you could think to do.
Rhys arrived at the house only moments later, his deep velvet suit twinkling with the lights of Starfall. Within the Night Court you could usually always reach him, but given recent events he had been extra vigilant of you and Cassian.
âIâm sorry to pull you from your family tonight.â You apologise.
âYou are all part of my family. Is he okay?â Rhys tilts his head in consideration.
âCass is fine. Whatâs the dedication?â You rush out.
âWhat? How do you know about dedication?â He looks at you with wide eyes and gods that cannot be good.
âAzrielâs back. Cassian wouldnât see him and heâs gone to Windhaven to take the dedication. What is it? Is it another Rite?â The more you talk the whiter Rhysâ face becomes. And then heâs furious.
âThat fucking fool.â Rhysandâs wings burst forth and he pivots heading back the way he came, to the stairs to the rooftop.
âRhys?â You rush after him, taking the stairs two at a time.
âThe dedication is an ancient Illyrian tradition. Usually performed by females.â His low growls echo through the stone stairwell. âItâs the ultimate act of submission of one Illyrian to another.â
Your stomach rolls at the implications. If the Illyrians no longer performed this dedication then it had to be truly barbaric.
âWhat act?â You pant out as Rhys reaches the door to the roof.
He turns to you briefly, âHeâs going to remove his wings.â
You freeze. Your body literally locks into place at the top of stairs as Rhysand bursts onto the roof and takes flight, disappearing into the night sky.
You donât know how long you stand there, frozen in place. Azriel was going to remove his wings? Maybe they were already gone?
No. You couldnât think like that. But why did he think youâd want that? Cassian wouldnât want that, would he?
A thousand more questions run through your mind before your trance is broken by the appearance of two bodies in the sky above you.
Suddenly one body shoves away from the other and two pairs of Illyrian wings are silhouetted by the lights of Starfall.
Thank the Cauldron. Rhysand had reached him in time. You can hear their shouts of arguing far above you, but you canât make out whatâs being said.
You take the moment to reach out to Cassian.
Cass. You feel his warmth wrap around your mind. It always felt like being rugged up near a crackling fire when he reached for you. Azriel took off to Windhaven to take the dedication. Heâs okay. Rhysand brought him back. All the warmth leached from your mind and you felt his side of the bond go cold. You let out a breath. Youâd deal with that issue later, you could only handle one problem at a time right now.
Rhysand and Azriel were finally gliding back to the roof, both looking furious. As Azrielâs feet touch down youâre almost sent tumbling by a black blur flying past you. Cassian collides heavily with Azriel, sending his back slamming into the wall of the house.
Cassian, now dressed in full Illyrian leather's red sirens flaring brighter than you had seen in weeks, has Azriel pinned with a forearm to his chest.
âWhat the fuck are you thinking.â He snarls.
Azriel doesnât even attempt to fight back, he allows himself to be held against the wall, wings flared on either side.
Rhysand takes quick stock of the situation like heâs seen this scenario play out a hundred times before and maybe he had. His eyes find yours and you give him a small nod, giving your thanks and letting him know that youâll be okay. Rhys takes to the sky once again, returning to his family at the River House.
âYou donât get to reappear after three months and then take off to Windhaven for the dedication!â Youâd never seen the fury in Cassian directed at Azriel before.
âWhat were you going to do huh?â He doesnât wait for Azriel to respond. His voice raises as he becomes more desperate âGo through all that pain, retrain for weeks to adjust to the change in balance, just to rejoin a battle and leave yourself vulnerable? You enter a ward and you donât winnow out! Did you think about that? That you wouldnât be able to leave the ground anymore? That you wouldnât be able to get out? That you wouldnât be able to get her out?â Cassian tosses his head back in your direction. Azriel's eyes flick from Cassian to you and you can tell he hadnât thought about it. That type of combat was Cassianâs forte. Those are the things that Cassian would always think about first.
âFor what Azriel?â He lifts his forearm and slams it back into his chest.
âFor you!â Azriel finally shouts back. âFor you and for her. I would gladly deliver my wings to you on a silver platter if it meant you would even look in my direction again.â
âWhat?â Cassian steps back stunned.
âI left because I thought youâd both be better off without me.â Azriel pushes from the wall.
An image of you and Cassian tangled in bed together floods your vision and you realise itâs from the night Azriel left. You watch as his attention is drawn to one of his shadows crawling towards your resting figures and you know that's the moment he decided to leave.
You immediately answer with a memory of your own. With the conversation that directly preceded Azrielâs perspective.
He looked as if death came to walk the earth and I got fucking hard. Casian laughs at himself. Az scented it and jumped me, Rhys couldnât winnow away fast enough. I guess you could say the darkness called to me.
I think I know the feeling. You giggled to yourself. Cassian raised a hand to your chin, pulling your eyes to his, dazzling grin still wide.
And that is why we are made for each other my love. He pulls you in for another lingering kiss.
You let the memory fade and youâre all brought back to the roof.
âYou said we were the moon and the stars,â Cassian cocks his head in consideration as you step forward. And you already know youâll have to fill him in on that conversation later. âBut left to our own devices we burn each other out. You are the diffuser. You are the solace that cradles the light, that controls the burn.â You take his hand in yours, letting all the love and concern you have for him slide down the bond.
âIf you thought she was made for me and I for her you were wrong.â Cassianâs voice is hoarse from the yelling. âWe were made for you.â
Azrielâs eyes well with tears.
âAnd you walked away.â Cassian turns back to the house, all the fight now depleted from him.
Azriel bows his head in defeat.
âCassian.â Azriel begs.
Cassian stills halfway to the door.
âI want to come home.â Azrielâs voice breaks.
âThen come home.â Cassian tosses over his shoulder before striding back into the house.
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a/n: So I think I'm incapable of writing a happy endings at this point, but Part 3 maybe?
Azriel is for the girls who want to be tied up for their pleasure. Eris is for the girls who want to be tied up for his.
Azriel wants to pin you down with silky shadows while going to his knees before burying himself between your legs with soft nips and sucks.
Eris wants to see you begging on your knees while warm flames tie your wrists behind your back before he slides his length over your tongue and down your throat.
Summary: Cassian doesn't think you know a single good pick up line, but maybe you've got something up your sleeve?
Word count: 923
Warnings: None, Flirting
a/n: Just a little blurb, we love seeing the bat boys get a little flustered.
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The fire pops in the hearth as it adjusts to the fresh logs that Cassian threw in. The drawing room grows cozier and as he moves back to his armchair a swirl of warmth meets you. This room is your sanctuary tonight as a strong blizzard billows through Velaris. Youâd come to dinner at the High Lordâs home to provide an update on your latest findings on a cursed object that had found its way onto the marketplace. You were joined of course by Azriel and Cassian. Azriel was eager to hear of your results given he was the one to undercover the artifact and Cassian, well he just had a strong case of fear of missing out.
When the meal wrapped no one was too eager to get out into the chill so your small party quickly moved on to evening drinks.
âSo, you had no better offers tonight Cassian?â Rhysand questioned leaning back in his armchair and bringing his drink to his lips.
âOh plenty of offers, I just like to do some charity work you know. What would guys do without me?â Cassianâs face pulled into a wide grin.
âYes, I canât imagine how weâd get along?â Rhysand rolled his eyes.
âPlease there were no offers, you had no where else to be.â Azriel chimed in. He tipped his glass in Cassians direction before taking a deep drink.
âAnd how would you know?â Cassian lent forward, elbows resting on the corners of his armchair.
âSpymaster.â Azriel simply pointed at himself.
You couldnât help the giggles that bubbled up at their interaction. They truly acted as brothers and your heart felt so light seeing them be so content on evenings such as these.
âWhat are you giggling at over there? Did you have any better offers tonight?â Cassian challenged from across your little circle of chairs.
âNo she didnât.â Azriel quickly said before sipping his drink again.
âHey!â You whipped out a hand from your blanket and slapped it playfully across Azrielâs arm. He grinned at you apologetically. âI happened to have business here tonight and I could have plans if I wanted to.â
âOh really, cause I donât recall the last time I saw you with a male?â Cassianâs wings fluffed behind him as he settled back in his chair.
âSome of us donât feel the need to advertise our every conquest.â You wave your hand in his direction.
âNow, now, you two. Thereâs no competition.â Rhysand places his drink down on the low table between you all.
âOh we know that already, I donât think Y/N has a single good pick up line.â He smirks at you.
âI have plenty of good pickup lines thank you.â You take a small sip from your glass.
âWell do share.â Cassian gestures to the room.
âI donât need to waste them on you.â You retort and resist the urge to stick your tongue out like a child.
âWell tell Azriel, his ravishing good looks mean heâs heard every pickup line from here to Spring.â He nods like it's settled. âHe will judge.â
Your eyes dart across the faces in the room looking for a way out but both Azriel and Rhysand are watching you expectantly. Bastards. Of course they would side with Cassian.
âFine.â You place your glass down a little harder than necessary as you swing your legs off your chair where they had been curled.
You stand and move towards Azriel, he watches you carefully as you step around his armchair. Rhysand picks up his glass again like heâs ready for a show and when you glance over to Cassian he only raises an eyebrow at you expectantly. His cockiness only fuels you and you know what you need to do.
You lay a hand across the back of Azrielâs chair and lean forward so that your lips almost brush the hollow of his ear. Behind a cupped hand you keep your voice low so that the others won't hear.
âI canât decide whether I want to scream your nameâ You whisper to him âor feel you down the back of my throat.â
You straighten with a small smile. Rhysand seems shocked and Cassian now has both his eyebrows raised. When you glance down at Azriel a soft pink dusts the top of his cheeks.
âYe- uh-, I mean, um sheâs got it covered Cassian.â Azriel throws his head back and downs the remainder of his drink.
âOh now I have to know what you just said.â Cassian is grinning again âI havenât seen anyone have that effect on Azriel in a long time.â
âRhysandâ Azrielâs growl rumbles through the room âDonât try and get in my head.â
âHey just thought Iâd see if youâd like to share thatâs all.â Rhysand raises his hands in innocence.
âWell itâs been fun boys, but it looks like the weathers clearing and I should get home.â You turn and grab your long coat from the back of your chair triumphantly.
âIâll take you, itâs still snowing and you can avoid the cold if we winnow.â Azriel quickly stands.
âThank you, I appreciate it.â You give him a warm smile in reply. You bid the others goodnight and make your way to the door.
âItâs still snowing.â You hear Cassian mimic as he brings his glass up to finish his drink. As you make it to the hall you just catch sight of one of Azrielâs shadows tipping Cassianâs glass forward and its contents emptying into his lap.
Eris dusted the snow from his shoulders and hair as he took shelter under the awning of the small cabin hidden along the Autumn and Winter court border. He rarely ventured this far North to avoid the cooler climate, even though technically the land was half his now that he was High Lord.
The worn door only needed a small shove to send it creaking open, but there was no greater warmth waiting to welcome him inside. He felt like the temperature may have even dropped a couple of degrees. Snow skittered away from his boots as he crossed the threshold. He didnât need to scan the small space to find what he came looking for.
Staring out one of the small windows there was no mistaking the form of the Night Courtâs Spymaster. His rigid frame would have blocked out the entire view if he didn't have his wings pulled so tightly to his body. His scarred hands rested on the chipped windowsill and Eris wouldnât have even known if he was breathing if it wasnât for the fog of his breath on the icy glass. Though Azriel didnât move an inch his shadows swirled around him in a flurry. They wove around his arms, slid along his shoulders and curled around his ear. He wondered what secrets they whispered to him. Eris could just make out the mountains of Winter over the Illyrianâs shoulder. Of course Azriel would be peering out towards the North, as if even facing the Autumn Court was a stain on his existence.
âHow long have you known?â Azriel asked quietly. He could have even missed the words if there was any other sound for miles. But there was no mistaking the gravely tones of the shadow singer and Eris knew Azriel rarely had the patience to ask a question twice.
âSomewhere over 500 years.â He replied with complete honesty. Eris watched as Azriel flinched. Eris had never seen him lose an ounce of composure; not when he found himself at the wrong end of a blade, not under the scornful eye of a foreign High Lord, not even at the anger of his own High Lord, one of the most powerful fae in Prythian. But now, at his words, he flinched. Eris wanted nothing more than to winnow away. To open a rip in the world and slip between the folds of space and time and disappear forever. But he didnât. He swallowed the lump in his throat the same way he would swallow whatever Azriel had to say to him, because he deserved whatever was coming.
âSo that day with Mor..â Azrielâs voice was punctuated by the sound of his head falling to the glass. His shoulders slumped forward and his wings hung looser around him. He looked beyond broken. Shattered. Eris would have taken Azrielâs anger over this. He wished he would have met Azrielâs wrath, maybe even ran a blade through him instead. He would have taken anything over this.
âI didnât know what else to do.â Eris dropped his eyes to the dusty floor. He couldnât bare to see the wounds his words could leave. âI couldnât walk away and let her die. I couldnât touch her or call my men for help without laying claim to her. In that moment it was the only thing I could think to do.â
Azriel shoved away from the window and strode across to the small table near the door, where Eris had failed to notice a small silver bottle and two matching glasses. Azriel snatched up the bottle, pulled out the cork and tossed it over his shoulder without a second thought.
âThis will take care of it.â He quickly filled the glasses and slid one in Erisâs direction without so much as a glance.
âThatâs all you want to know?â Eris stepped forward and gingerly picked up the glass. He realised that it wasnât the bottle that was silver but the liquid inside it.
âYou let me believe a lie for 500 years.â Azriel snarled. âYou let me believe that a mate bond had called me to her. What else is there to know?" He picked up his own glass and swirled the liquid around like he was about to taste a fine wine.
âI had no choice!â Eris confessed. âI had to protect you.â It made no difference now, he could finally share everything.
âProtect me?â He scoffed. As if Azriel needing protection was the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard.
âIf Beron found out," Eris took a step forward forcing Azriel to look at him for the first time since heâd arrived. âHe wouldnât have stopped until one of us was dead. He would have sent men to try to kill you.â
Azriel straightened as if he was about to argue the point, but Eris held up a hand and shook his head before he had the chance.
âI said try.â Eris conceded and Azriel simply nodded in response.
âHe would have bet on Rhysand stepping in on your behalf, starting some sort of intercourt conflict he could blame on the Night Court all while ensuring your demiseâ Azrielâs eyes narrowed, more at the mention of his brother's involvement than at his own fate.
âWhen that failed he would have taken me prisoner.â Eris' teeth clenched at the thought. âTortured me in Cauldron knows what ways in an attempt to lure you to Autumn. And when that inevitably failed he would have had me killed.â Eris felt somewhat lighter now that he had given Azriel his reasons. Heâd said his piece and now he could accept his fate.
âHeâd have his own son and heir killed?â Azrielâs eyes darted between Erisâ, looking for any signs of a lie.
Eris couldnât help that his own eyes darted down to Azrielâs scarred hands and then back. âWhatâs a son to a father?â He glanced down at his drink. âWhatâs a son to a High Lord?â
He took a half step closer and knocked the top of his glass against the one tight in Azrielâs grip.
âCheers.â He raised the liquid that looked like molten starlight to his lips when suddenly Azrielâs free hand formed a vice around his wrist. For only a split second the High Lordâs power inside Eris swelled, it recognised a challenge in Azrielâs own.
âYou wouldnât have died at the hands of Beron.â Azrielâs grip loosened a little. âIf you had trusted me, maybe things would have been different.â
âPlease.â Eris scoffed as Azriel allowed him to lower his arm. âI saw the way you looked at me. When Beronâs power ripped through me and I lost control of the bond. I saw that look of disappointment on your face, the way your sword fell and your wings drooped when you realised it was me.â Eris ripped his arm from the last of Azrielâs grasp and lifted Azrielâs burn-scarred hand instead. âAfter all, how are you supposed to love something that tried to destroy you?â
Azriel shoved Eris away with his raised forearm and Eris stumbled back.
âI wasnât disappointed it was you!â Azriel was yelling now. And yelling was good. Eris could do yelling. âWhen it snapped I could see you werenât surprised and that meant you knew. You knew and you said nothing!â
âI couldnât..â Eris began but Azriel cut him off.
âI winnowed out of there because I thought maybe you had known for awhile. That you concealed it because you wanted to reject it and I could be fine with that. But 500 years?â Azriel chuckled darkly. âYou must have had a great fucking time laughing behind my back. Knowing Iâd never find my mate because I already had one.â Azriel exhaled. He pulled out a chair and slumped into it. Letting his hands fall unceremoniously to the table. âThese last two weeks Iâve had to relive every interaction in my mind, every piece of information, the rumours of your numerous conquests, all while knowing what you knew.âÂ
âAnd they were just that.â Eris muttered mostly to himself.
âWhat?â Azriel looked up in confusion.
âThe rumours.â Eris folded his arms across his chest, glass resting on one forearm, suddenly unsure what to do with his hands. âThatâs exactly what they were.â
âYou donât mean⊠in the hundreds of years you never..â Azriel began to slowly stand from his seat.
âYou can feel that golden thread now, wrapped around that intangible place in your chest.â It was at his own chest that Eris gestured to though. âNow imagine taking someone else to bed.â Eris willed his cheeks not to dust with pink as he explained.
He watched as Azrielâs eyes focused on the middle distance between them, lost in thought for only a moment before his face began to contort in disgust.
âExactly.â Eris chuckled softly. âItâs like all your favourite meals turn to ash in your mouth, and sure, you could swallow ash, but why would you want to?â
Azrielâs head tilted slightly as he considered Erisâ words. He slowly took a step forward, as if Eris might disappear if he moved too quickly. He gently reached up and pulled the glass from Erisâ grip.
âItâs like that always?â Azriel barely whispered.
âFor me.â Eris nodded slightly. âAlways.â
âYou just wanted to protect me?â Azriel slid the glass back onto the table.
âThatâs all I ever wanted.â Eris swallowed dryly under his hazel gaze.
Azriel watched his own hand as he lifted it to Erisâ face, he hesitated for a moment giving Eris a chance to protest or shove him away, before his fingertips brushed against Erisâ cheek.
Eris inhaled sharply, it felt like he hadnât taken a breath in hours. Azrielâs eyes met his once again.
âEris?â There were a thousand questions in the one word passing through Azrielâs lips. Eris answered every single one of them. âYes.â
Working on Illyrian Males Part 2 and I'm 3,000 words in. Here's a little taster:
Your shadow slides along the wall catching your eye and you wonder what kind of picture you paint right now. Bed tangled hair, Cassianâs oversized shirt falling from one shoulder and his cum slowly sliding down your inner thigh.
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