Warnings: abusive relationship and descriptions of SA - MINORS DNI
Prompt: you’re Nesta and Cassian’s mate and yet you are so different from them. From day 1 you tried to be a good mate and do as they wanted and liked but they like it rough and you just don’t. Not only is it not enjoyable for you it is actually painful. And not just in bed. You always excused their behavior as being overprotective but recently you started calling it something else: controlling. And one night, all changed as you uttered the words you had tried so hard never to say, but always thinking if you ever did they would listen. But they didn’t. And that night, everything broke.
(A/N: it's my first time writing for ACOTAR - English isn't my first language)
Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
Please, stop.
You couldn't remember exactly how many times you had said it. It hadn't mattered. You weren't sure if they just didn't hear you or didn't care. You couldn't bring yourself to think they had just ignored it, ignored you. But you didn't know if the alternative was better. Maybe they just didn't care.
You cried and Nesta called you a brat. You asked them to stop the first time and Cassian shoved his large cock down your throat to shut you up.
You had almost passed out then. Not because of the way you were choking on his hard length but because you had asked them to stop and they hadn't listened. They had ignored you. They had kept going.
You were crying and begging and it just didn't register. Like it didn't matter. Like you didn't matter. All that mattered was them and their pleasure.
They had gone to bed after they were done, leaving you to care for yourself. And it was then, when you were sitting in that cold bath alone, that you realized. Your mates didn't love you. They loved each other, but you were nothing more than a sex toy to them. You who had tried so hard to be a good mate. Nesta had called you a brat and a bad girl. You who had tried so hard to please them and give them whatever they wanted. It hadn't mattered. They would have taken it anyway, no matter what you wanted.
Your heart broke. You wondered if they felt it through the bond. They didn't stir from their sleep.
You silently exited the bath and put on clean clothes. You packed lightly and quietly and didn't look back at your mates before stepping out of the bedroom.
You went to Azriel, because you really didn't have any other choice. Azriel never asked too many questions. It was as much a quality as it was a flaw. That first time he saw your bruised neck for example, he didn't say a thing. Nor did he mention it the second time, or inquire after your well being the third time. He never asked. Because it wasn't his business. But Mor never mentioned it either. Neither did Feyre or Rhys. Your friends, your family. They all had seen it at one point or another. The bruises. The look in your eyes. The flinching when either of your mate raised their voices or got anywhere close to you.
Nesta and Cassian like it rough. That was the end of it.
Azriel brought a dagger to your throat as you approached him. That didn't surprise you. You apologized for waking him up and asked him if he could do you a favor, no questions asked. You weren't sure he would. His loyalties would remain with Cassian. But, maybe it was the look in your eyes, maybe it was the tears, maybe it was the bruises, or the sound of your broken and desperate voice, but when you asked him to bring you to the Day Court in the middle of the night, he had just looked at you and your packed bag for a few seconds, then silently nodded.
Helion wasn't mad you had his guards wake him up at 2AM. No, Helion was concerned. Even more so when he saw you. You knew you probably looked exactly like you felt. Like complete and utter shit.
Helion had always been nice to you. What was there not to like? You were smart, gentle, caring and beautiful. You had similar interests and powers and had become good friends while doing some research with his healers when you were looking for a way to help Feyre when she was pregnant with Nyx.
Helion had become a true friend. The only one you had left after Nesta and Cassian had restricted your outings so much your old friends had more or less forgotten about you.
Helion made you feel safe. You had nowhere else to go.
He opened his mouth, but you spoke first.
"I request asylum."
Both males stilled. Your small and weak voice broke as you said the words but they had heard you loud and clear. You had never seen Azriel so surprise. You wondered if he would try and take you back to the Night Court by force.
"What?" was all Helion managed to say.
"I ask for refuge in your court, please," you said, voice trembling, tears filling your eyes.
"What happened?" he asked, hurrying towards you, checking you for any injury, eyeing you from head to toe, noticing the bruises on your face and neck.
"Please," you begged, falling apart, your knees giving up on you as you collapsed at his feet.
He knelt before you, taking you in his arms.
"What happened?" he asked again, but not to you.
Azriel's face was grave. He knew exactly what had happened. You'd had enough. You'd reached your breaking point. Like he knew this would happen. And yet he had done nothing.
You were sobbing in the High Lord's arms and he embraced you gently, running a hand up and down your back.
"Please," your voice nothing but a whisper. "I request asylum."
Helion's eyes landed on Azriel once more and the High Lord's silence had you panic.
"Please!"
"Granted," he said and you fell apart once more.
You buried your face in his lap, letting your cries and tears flow out of you. Helion looked at Azriel like he would tear him apart, as if he were the one who had hurt you.
"Y/N is now under the protection of my court. Inform your High Lord as soon as possible."
Azriel paused, as if considering not leaving you here, no doubt thinking about his brother, your mate. But, eventually, he nodded.
"Take care of her," was all he said before he vanished.
And as the spymaster disappeared, leaving you behind, your broken cries filled the halls of the Day Court.
Summary: Anon Req: Hear me out: alphas are super possessive anyway, but imagine high lord/future high lord - way more protective right? Especially in a scenario where there’s other ‘big bad alphas’ around e.g. other high lords at a ball, or at the court of nightmares
Warnings: Alpha/Beta/Omega dynamics, smut, Rhys using his daemati powers, fireplay maybe.
Word Count: 6,337
Notes: IS ERRHYS MY NEW FAVORITE THING? This is prob the best smut I've written tbh i'm obsessed with these two.
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The ballroom is spinning as you make your way towards the nearest wall. You’re sweating, body hot as you retreat, and it’s not the faewine or the dancing that has you feeling this way, you know it.
You stumble on the sweeping tail of your dress, tugging at the high collar of it as you go because it’s suffocating you and you don’t know why.
People are giving you weird looks.
You slump against the wall, knees locking as you try to stay upright. You don’t know what’s happening, your mind swirling as the intoxicating scents of alphas, betas, and bonded omegas throughout the ballroom sharpen, and your cunt throbs when you pick up the hint of the Night Court patrons within the mass of fae.
An unbonded omega will always be invited to a High Lord’s ball like this, especially one of Beron Vanserra’s parties, a feeding ground for worthy alphas to lay claim to their submissive species.
You’d begged Rhysand to come. As another set of eyes, you’d offered to protect the omegas who were being forced into bonds they didn’t want. It was the only reason Rhysand attended these things, though you weren’t entirely sure why the unbonded alpha High Lord of your court never took one of the preening omegas home.
Probably because some of them were spies.
As a beta, you didn’t have to worry about ruts or heats, letting lust and the urge to be bred make your choices for you. You were free to fuck who you pleased and lived how you wanted, the unlucky female of Rhysand’s Inner Circle who never presented as either of the desirable genus’.
So you don’t have an inkling of understanding of what’s going on. Someone would have had to poison your drink if you’re feeling this way, which isn’t entirely off of the table of possibilities. Being a member of Rhysand’s Inner Circle meant that you were an asset to him and a threat to everyone else.
“Shit,” you groan, clenching your legs together. But why would it be a poison that’s making lust burn your senses into a fiery oblivion. Why do you feel the need to follow the strong scents within the room and jump onto the cock of the nearest delicious smelling one?
You’re trying to clear your mind, focus on one thought at a time but it’s draining. It takes more effort that you’d like, you’d always prided yourself for your quick mind and battle solutions. But the only battle happening right now is the war within your body, fighting for something to exude the swelling pressure between your thighs.
You blink harshly, once, twice, as someone approaches. Their height covers the bright faelights that have been stinging your eyes and making your swirling head pound, and their scent nearly brings you to your knees and have you whimpering like a pup.
Eris Vanserra, eldest alpha of his siblings, stands before you, curiosity gleaming in those caramelized eyes of his.
He leans forward, and you feel the sharp tips of his teeth as he drags them over your covered throat. The sound of him lapping up your scent makes the hair at the nape of your neck stand. You hunch lower, sweat beading at your brow as you desperately try to make eye contact with anyone else in the crowded ballroom, but Eris’ shoulders are too wide, blocking your view.
“Ah, little omega,” he drawls, the silken taunt of his voice is a low rumble, all alpha. Your thighs clench together as instinct tries to take over and your heart pounds in your chest. You shouldn’t be this much of a mess beneath his caramel gaze, pupils so wide you can nearly see into the depths of his soul. “You shouldn’t have come here all alone–”
His words catch up to you through the haze of your mind, cutting through the clouds like a lightning strike. Your brows pull tight into a furrow as your hands slap against his chest, trying to shove him off to take a gasp of air. The room is much too hot and your dress sticks to your skin in the most uncomfortable way.
“I’m not! I’m just a beta,” you plead to the lordling. He’s all but touching you right now, caging you in with his hands pressed firmly to the wall on either side of your head. Eris falters for a moment, but then his eyes narrow and he’s scenting your neck again to be sure.
You’re overwhelmed by his proximity and the palms you’ve laid flat against his chest curl into fists, his finely pressed emerald shirt crumpling in your fingers as the heady scent of firewood and bourbon rushes your senses. It takes all of your self control not to pull his body into yours, not to let the cocky alpha heir slide his knee up against your dress-covered cunt so you can grind down on him like your body wants. Your arms shake with the effort to keep him at bay, both his and your own self control quickly dwindling. No. You need to find Rhys or Azriel or Cassian, someone from your own court who will know how to help you because this…this is not how betas are supposed to act.
“Don’t lie to me,” Eris hisses, pulling away slightly, just enough for you to catch the swirling black mass of darkness forming over his back. Your shoulders relax slightly, but Eris doesn’t take notice, too enthralled by the scent of your hormones spilling off of your body. “I know you want my knot, little omega, that you need it like the bitch in heat you are…”
Rhysand’s hand clamps down on the Autumn heir’s shoulder, sharp talons of onyx piercing the expensive shirt. The sharp twinge of blood has you drooling. If only it were up a few more inches, right on his throat and made by your teeth. The High Lord of darkness all but roars at the rivaling alpha. “Don’t fucking touch her.”
Eris doesn’t like being told what to do. He is an immovable force as Rhys squeezes with warning, pristine, red blood staining the dark fabric. Eris snarls and shoves off Rhys’ grip, lips curled in disgust from the way the Night Court swill has mottled his fine silks.
“I’ll touch whomever I please,” Eris spits, turning that heated gaze on you once more. His eyes are lit with not only the throes of lust, but anger as well. “Especially an unbound omega who wants my knot.”
Rhys falters at the lordling's words, smoldering violet gaze flicking to your pleading one. You see his lips part in response and the moment he catches a whiff of your new scent, pupils tightening to pins before blowing wide with darkness, shadows crawling up his skin.
“She’s mine,” Rhysand growls so low it makes the floor beneath you rumble. The sensation crawls up your legs and straight to your cunt. You clench your thighs together and keen softly, unable to control yourself.
You even almost bare your neck to him.
“She’s not,” Eris answers, flicking a dismissive hand in Rhys’ direction, attention fully on you.
“She will be,” Rhys fights, sidling up to your side. His arm brushes yours and you almost crumple in your spot, body screaming in response to the two hot-headed, unbonded alphas fighting to be the one to see you through your heat.
Eris seems more than pleased to taunt your High Lord. “And what if I were to claim her right now?” he drawls, stroking a flaming finger down your neck. You have to bite back the whimper threatening to slip from your mouth at his delicate touch. Damn your omega senses right now, you can’t be trusted with yourself because of how badly you need his knot. “I could just lean over and mark her right here…”
“Then I’ll kill you and fill this fucking court with so much darkness that you suffocate,” Rhys snarls, his tone predatory. It makes the alpha caging you in go stiff, muscles rippling in response to the threat. Let him go, and I will get you out of here, Rhys tacks on, slipping easily through your weakened mental shields.
I can’t, you cry in response. Your knuckles are white with the effort you’re using to hold onto Eris. If you let go, surely your knees will give out and you like the way that his body is up against yours, how his threatening words make your skin dance with pleasure. He’s protecting you.
You chance a peek up at the towering alpha and it's the biggest mistake you can make right now. His amber eyes are bright with fire, the ring around his pupil gleaming hot white. It makes you shrink lower in response, your body submitting to the male before you. Eris grins sharply.
“Are you threatening the future High Lord of Autumn?” he taunts. He doesn’t move, doesn’t even flick a glance to the brewing King of Night at your side. It infuriates Rhysand even more.
“No,” Rhysand responds easily, his fingers twitching to unwind yours from Eris’ shirt to take into his own. He wants you clinging to him like that, and by the Mother will he do absolutely anything necessary to take you home. “I’m threatening the fucking prick who’s trying to take what’s mine.”
Rhysand hadn’t ever told you, but you’d always caught his eye, since Cassian had introduced you to him centuries ago. But as a High Lord and an alpha, he hadn’t ever made a move, needing to find an omega to bear an heir. Old rules created before his own time. But now that you’re clearly an omega, and one in desperate need of an alpha's knot…the beast raging inside of him is moments from breaking free and claiming you for his own.
He will spill Eris’ blood in your honor. To prove to you that he is a male worthy of your time, deserving of the spot to knot you and see you through your first heat.
“And what does the little omega want?” Eris asks, twirling a strand of your hair around his finger. Rhysand watches with dark eyes. You’re sure that you look a mess right now, damp with sweat, your legs shaking as they try to keep you on your feet. Your fists are still twisted in Eris’ shirt and you can’t seem to force yourself to let go. All you want to do is lie down and take his knot, let him fill you up and breed you until there’s a whole pack of firelings running around these halls.
But Rhys’ arm brushes against yours, his scent drifting your direction. It makes your eyes roll back into your head, the crisp scent of night and fresh cedar sharpening your senses. You want him too, want him wrapped around your body like the tattoos twisting up his arms, want to carry his darklings and see how he frets.
They are not safe thoughts but your body demands it of you. You hadn’t known that being an omega was so difficult, that you’d go into heat and would want all of the things you didn’t ever think you’d have some day.
You need to get out of here.
Eris tips your chin up and you don’t know when you’d buried your nose deep into the crook of his neck. The glistening skin of his throat shines and you know you’ve been licking over his scent glands but you’re too far gone to be embarrassed.
Through the haze, you make eye contact with Rhys, nervous that he’ll be furious with you for how you’re acting. His face is set in stone but you can read the rage in his eyes all too well, having seen it many times before. It isn’t directed at you. All he wants to do is rip the alpha away from you and take you home, back to the Night Court where the cool air will sate your senses and his cock will ease your pain.
“Both,” you gasp, choking on it as the thought floods your mind. “I want you both.”
“Fuck, darling,” Rhys curses. His hand finds your back, knuckles stroking down your spine in a motion you want to keep moving further south. “We can’t. We don’t have clearance to stay in Autumn longer than the night.”
You whimper loudly and their hands tighten on you, Eris’ falling from the wall to your hips to pull you closer. You nuzzle into him, the warmth delicious as the fabrics between the both of you brush the sensitive skin of your body as you writhe. His scent reminds you of cozy autumn nights spent before the fire with ciders in your hands and spices wafting through the air. He smells like comfort and protection.
“Take me back, then,” you pant, rutting against the autumnal heir as he slides a thigh between the slit of your dress to relieve some of the pain. You groan at the feeling. The friction is good but not nearly enough. Your hand finally melts away from Eris’ chest only to tug Rhysand closer behind you. The sharpness of night and forest reminds you of home. “Need you both.”
Caramel meets violet in a thunderstorm of anger, splintering apart when your panting turns uneven. You’re going to pass out if they can’t calm you down, and people are starting to whisper and stare at the sight of you pressed flush between both High Lords, making both of the alphas hackles rise.
“Like hell I’m letting her go,” Eris snarls, fingers brushing across your tight nipples as he slides them down your body. He wants to settle them on your hips but Rhysand is already there, trying to tug your hips to meet his straining cock in his trousers.
Eris bypasses Rhys’ grip on you in favor of slipping it between his leg and your sex, brushing against your clothed clit. He loves the way that your nails claw in response, nearly shredding the rest of his shirt, and he wants you to leave burning red marks across the planes of his pale back, wants to revel in the needy omega from Night.
He smirks at Rhysand as your head falls backwards onto his shoulder.
“Then give us permission to stay,” Rhys says darkly, hands sliding down your sides in wanton. His breath puffs against the sensitive skin of your neck and he takes the moment for a teasing lick that you want to turn into more, a claim on you, teeth deep in your flesh and drawing blood until you’re his, and then you want Eris to do so on the other side until you’re theirs and no one else can tell you any different.
The Autumn Court male would rather burn, but the tears in your eyes has him cussing and agreeing, “Fuck. Fine. You can stay until her heat is over. No longer.”
Rhysand’s eyes blaze at the terms, how the copper haired alpha hadn’t mentioned anything about you returning with him. His jaw clenches so hard you think you hear his teeth crack. “Agreed.”
The Night Court High Lord grunts as the pact is made, a deep purple burn branding his skin with an autumn rope of vine like cattle. Eris shudders with you in his hold as whispers of menacing nightmares slither across his skin like ice, wrapping around his wrist like a vice, locking the agreement into place.
As soon as the deal settles in his bones Eris winnows you away. Rhys growls in warning, his fingers are barely brushing against the Autumn Court heir at all, but the copper haired alpha smirks, not at all minding if Rhys gets lost along the way.
Asshole.
Dickhead.
Rhys tenses as the room whispers into view, prepared for any trap the eldest Vanserra may have taken you to. He knows it’s no longer the Woodland House, the massive estate built for Beron in the clearing of orange and crimson leaved trees. This place…is quaint, warm sunset filtering through the soft curtained windows. It smells like fresh cotton but he can scent the underlying staleness in the air.
Eris has never brought anyone here.
His gaze follows Rhysand like one of his shadowhounds, his grip on you tight like a vice. This is his home, and he will not be made to feel vulnerable nor ashamed of it when he’s the one who’s allowed the Night Court miscreant to stay.
“This is Briarhome,” he murmurs softly, the only reprieve he’s going to give the other alpha, who's still drinking in the room, “My home.”
Not the Woodland House. He never knots in the Woodland House. Not with his brothers and father so close, where everything can be – and is – used as a weapon. He hasn’t even brought an omega to this home, no, this is his sacred spot for him and his bonded omega…or future bonded omega.
And apparently Rhysand, for the night.
Maybe the High Lord has been wrong about him.
His bed looks like the perfect spot for nesting, filled with soft quilts and a mass of pillows that makes you want to climb into and never leave. Warmth fills your stomach and drips down your thighs at the thought of knotting the both of them in such a safe place. Your heart swells and Eris lifts you into his arms, the alpha all soft and gentle now that he’s in the privacy of his own home.
You whimper when he settles you and draws away, only to his knees to start undressing. The pain is overwhelming, and you’d feel bad for being the sweaty, needy mess that you are but it’s your new nature, and neither of them will let you feel bad about it.
Eris unbuttons his shirt, fingers moving deftly across the buttons as Rhysand circles the bed, searching for the best vantage point to grab at you. Your gaze moves to his violent purple ones, your breath catching in your throat at the predatory way he’s looking at you and Eris on the bed, nostrils flaring as your body reacts with a wave of arousal at his face.
You zero in on Eris as the silk shirt slips in rivulets down his pale skin, showing off an impressive set of muscles, adorned with freckles. Your hips buck and his smirk goes soft at the snivel you release, hands snaking down to relieve the ache between your thighs.
Rhys tuts from the side of the bed, slipping into your mind. It’s like walking through fog, with the amount of desire clouding your mind. He opens himself up, just for a moment, and is flooded with your intoxicating thoughts. The feeling floods straight to his cock and he groans, shutting himself out of your mind before his knot expands in his trousers.
He climbs onto the bed, fingertips dipped in night reaching for the high collar of your dress as Eris glides his hands up your exposed thighs, grabbing a fistful of the black fabric making up the bottom of your dress. You arch under their touch, moaning wildly and they haven’t even begun to touch you where you need.
Together, both alphas growling in response to your call, they tear the front of your dress open, collar to hemline, exposing your flushed, creamy skin. The air of the room laps at your overheating skin and you gasp as your nipples tighten.
Hands instantly find your body as yours fist into the sheets, Rhysand caressing your cheek as he turns your face to capture you in a blistering kiss while Eris tugs your panties down your legs in haste.
You jolt against Rhysand’s mouth as something flicks against your throbbing clit. The primal groan you hear in answer to your taste sends shivers up your spine, and Eris is diving in without warning, trying to bury himself in your cunt, sloppy tongue lapping at your slick, wetting his cheeks and marking himself with your flavor.
Rhysand’s teeth are sharp as they nip your lip, drawing your attention back to the Night Court alpha who’s demanding your time. He coaxes your fingers from the sheets and they immediately latch onto him, just as he wanted. His fingers trail across the tight skin of your breasts, dancing over your sensitive nipples as he licks into your mouth.
You don’t like the amount of clothes he has on. How the alpha is supposed to mount you with his body covered is impossible, and you tug at the collar of his shirt, showing your utter frustration through your actions because your mouth can’t form words.
Careful, omega, his voice reverberates in your skull and then he’s everywhere all at once. I’m the one in charge.
Are you sure? You pant against his open mouth, like he’s your will to breathe. And with the way that the alpha hands move, how he’s playing nice with the other High Lord right now, he might just be. Because Eris is the one–
I can be anywhere, be anything you want me to be, he purrs, power licking up your spine as you arch off of the bed. I can have you thinking that he is me, he continues darkly, and you know Eris is the one licking through your folds like a starved alpha, but when your head is forced up on Rhysand’s whim, it’s his face you see buried between your legs.
Off, you beg, pulling at his collar again. But perhaps your mind is so muddled with lust that he’s the one slurping at your cunt. Maybe it’s Eris who looms above you fully clothed…
A strangled cry spills from your mouth as the tongue licking at your clit burns. Your head clears and your gut coils at the sensation and it’s definitely Eris that’s down there, branding his mouth to your cunt.
Rhys slips out of his shirt but you hardly notice because you’re careening over the edge into a deliciously warm orgasm, gushing on Eris face as he holds your thighs open so he can continue flicking his tongue fervently. You drag his abandoned shirt to your nose, inhaling the roguish scent of him as you cum and Mother above if it doesn’t want to make the alpha fucking bond you right then.
But the orgasm hasn’t sated the heat that's burning through your body, the reprieve only lasts a moment before it hits you twice as hard.
You need one of their knots, and you don’t care which one gives it to you.
Rhysand steps around to the end of the bed, eyes pinned on the way Eris’ head is still buried deep in your snatch. He growls, getting a fistful of his copper locks and he rips the lordling away from your throbbing cunt. You let out a whimper so loud that it nearly makes him submit to you, but he cranes Eris’ neck backwards to admire the red of his swollen lips and your slick glistening across his cheeks.
You scramble to your elbows to see what’s happening and are entranced at the two alphas glaring at each other. Your heart and pussy throb in time with each other.
They must be having some sort of mental chat because Eris has a wicked gleam in his eye as he licks the remnants of your slick from his lips, making a show of it. Rhysand’s lip curls into a snarl and he jerks the Autumn alpha back, his neck straining at the unnatural angle as his unoccupied hand reaches for his belt, flicking the buckle open with ease.
Your hand snakes to your clit and you desperately need one of them but you’ll force your body to wait to be able to watch them like this.
“Finish it,” Rhys growls down at the alpha on his knees so that you can hear. Eris doesn’t like it, wants to send his flames licking up the Night Court King’s arm, but the look in those violet eyes makes it known that his darkness will only smother him to smoke. He reluctantly starts moving when you whine and Rhys cranes his neck further when he tries to look at you, undoing his leathers and pulling them down the strong columns of his thighs.
The High Lords prick bobs, head pink and shining with precum, and Eris’ throat works to swallow.
You think the male might take it into his mouth, and you know Rhysand would enjoy it too, because the fireling sure knows how to use that wicked mouth of his, but the alpha towering over him leans down, pompous and arrogant as ever, and kisses him.
It’s hot and heavy, the tension in the room thickening as the two alphas grapple for dominance. They’re all wide shoulders and primal growls, licking into each other's mouths like warriors meeting on the battlefield. Eris shoves his way to his feet without breaking the bruising kiss, and their bodies mold together in a striking image of chalk and bronze.
Your gasping breaths tear them apart, fingers fisting and manhandling each other in brutal lust. You’re working yourself through a second orgasm, just the sight of them aiding your heat, the need for them almost unbearable. You’re a shaking, sweating mess, but beautiful nonetheless as they stare down at you writhing on the bed.
Eris is the first to slip away and Rhys curses, following the heir but he’s too late because Eris is consoling you with a gentle kiss as he presses his cock into your needy cunt with a groan. He presses all of the air from your lungs, stifling you in the best way. His body is warm, cock hot as he pistons his hips in and out and in again.
His name is a prayer on your lips as he works, his hands everywhere, sending flickers of flames up your body every time he pulls out. He loves it, wants to hear you saying his name for the rest of forever, and he holds back a bark of ownership, body shaking with the effort it takes to keep himself from biting into the exposed skin of your neck.
Rhys climbs onto the bed again, watching with keen eyes how the lithe body of Eris Vanserra drags you to your edge. He’s muscled in all of the right places, ass flexing as he pumps into you, giving you everything your body so desperately craves.
The High Lord can tell that the other alphas knot is forming, from the sounds that he makes and the look in his eyes, the barring of his teeth and the offering of his own throat as your nails leave pink scratches down his back as you cum on his cock, so close to having what you want.
But the heir freezes and you scream, tears leaking from your eyes as you’re overcome with blistering heat – no longer Eris’ doing – and the fact that his knot is no longer growing inside of you, trying to lock the both of you together.
Rhysand is a greedy bastard and even though he’s in the home of the Autumn heir, he will never be second.
Eris’ chest heaves against yours but he can’t move, couldn’t if he wanted to, and damn the Cauldron does he want to. Fear slithers through his veins like the darkness in his mind before his fiery anger tries to flush the High Lord of the Night Court from his mind. He can only blame himself, letting the brick walls in his head crumble for you, an offering to let you into his mind as part of the bonding.
Get the fuck out of my head, he spits at the other alpha, who’s smirking down at him with lethal intent.
Are you sure you’re an alpha? Rhys teases, using his powers to tug the coiled male from your body. His limbs are locked, clutching to you like a vice as you squirm beneath him, chasing the knot that’s not expanding. You should be able to push me out.
Your words make no sense, coming out in high pitched noises and cries. Your body is burning, your bones hurt with the aching need for a knot, for their seed to spill into your womb like it's the only thing you need to live.
I’ll fucking kill you, Eris threatens as Rhys forces him away from you. He’s like a puppet, and he hates every second of his betraying limbs as he slides away. He’s frozen, on the edge of his knot growing and it will be painful the longer he holds it but Rhys is cradling you to his chest and playing every part of the hero he wishes he could be, soothing you and letting you clutch to him as he settles between your thighs.
He’s forced to watch the smirk Rhys tosses his way, paired with a wink that lets him know he won’t be moving unless he forces that alpha out, before the High Lord softens, turning to you and silencing your whimpers with a stroke of his tongue.
Rhys wastes no time, bucking into your slick cunt with ease. He shudders as you tighten around him, a whispered moan of his name crosses your lips like it’s your last breath and he can hardly take it, pistoning his hips faster for every sound that you make.
Your legs clamp around his waist and your hand falls away from the deep planes of his back, seeking out the other alpha who you can feel roiling on the other side of the bed. Your fingers find his hair, giving a light tug, showing him that you want him nearer, and it’s all Eris needs to break the chains of his mind with a growl so domineering it makes your cunt clamp and Rhysand’s knot form as he lies claim to your thrashing body.
“Yes, yes, please,” you gasp desperately, the feeling of his hot seed spurting into you, filling you up is everything. He’s so big, his cock expanding inside of you and trapping his cum there. Your mind spins with it and you let yourself go pliant when you’re sure that the alphas won’t kill each other over you.
Eris finds you, laying claim to your mouth as you slip into the blissful sensations of your omegaspace, feeling full and protected by the two alphas you’ve brought to bed. Later, you’ll need to knot again, and your heat will last for days on end, but with the both of them here you know you’ll be more than satiated.
The copper haired alpha murmurs into your ear but you’re too relaxed to make out his soft words but your hand tightens around his at the mention of him knotting you later.
“I’m going to give you everything you need, fawn,” he brushes the damp hair from your forehead as Rhysand strokes your cheek. He may not have daemati powers like the alpha Night Lord, and he loathes that the smug male can hear his vulnerable admissions, but he needs you to hear them. “Just give it a little time.”
“You know,” Rhysand croons when you doze off. He gently rolls the both of you so you’re more comfortable, lying on his chest. You nuzzle your nose into the crook of his neck while you sleep, reveling in the scent of the alpha that’s giving you everything you need. His fingers stroke down the length of your spine and he nearly preens when you melt against him. His gaze shifts to the Autumn royal. “I could make you stop again.”
Eris' eyes blaze and his teeth flash in warning but Rhysand stops his speech before he can argue.
In your head, asshole, the Night Court native warns and the other alpha glares.
Not all of us have fancy mind-speaking skills, his voice is rough with flames.
Another reason that she belongs in the Night Court with me.
Copper eyes slash to his and Rhys can see the fury rippling from the alpha beside him. Eris knows that he can’t react how he wants to, to rip Rhysand off of you and steal you away. He makes a show of taking a calming breath, but when he lets his eyes trail down your sleeping form does he truly relax.
I want her, he says.
Me too, Rhysand counters, his grip on your tightening as another wave of his cum releases into you. Only a single thought of you had triggered his ruts before, sealing himself away in the hidden cabin in the mountains because he wouldn’t be able to stop the beast inside of him if you had been nearby.
And you don’t know Eris, not truly anyway. You’d met him in passing, at meetings where he’d done nothing but snark by his father’s side, but you’d always known that there was more to them in that burnt caramel gaze.
She wants the both of us, Rhysand continues, but Eris’ temper is still hot.
Me too, he blurts, and the entire room plunges into stillness.
Rhysand’s body goes stiff at the admission but you let out a pleased sigh like you’re agreeing with Eris. You want the both of them, and his accidental admission says he’s willing to share you, to share himself with the both of you, if Rhysand should want it.
Violet eyes rake across heated cheeks and red lips that part in nervousness, Eris’ tongue flicking out to wet them. He’s devastatingly handsome like most High Fae, but there’s an aura to him that makes something in the Night Court alphas gut churn.
But when he tries to catch the other alphas' gaze Eris won’t look his way. He’s busying himself by playing with your hair, fluffing the mass amounts of pillows on his bed, and gathering drinks and snacks from a nearby closet stocked specifically for this. You’ll need to keep your energy up and both alphas will have to coax you to eat, even though all you’ll want for the next few days is to fuck.
Eris, Rhysand calls and the lordling stops. He takes the moment to stare, eyes dragging down his pale skin from where his copper hair curls at the nape of his neck to his tapered waist and down. He knows that he’s hung, even if he couldn’t see the head of his cock between his legs from the way he’s standing stock still across the room, he’s seen it as it plunged into your body at a pace that made his cock bob.
Slowly, the Autumn alpha looks over his shoulder, heart pounding like a drum in his chest. Rhysand waves him closer, he’s already too far away from the both of you, if the whimper that Rhysand wants to mimic slips from your slips.
She’ll need you soon, Rhys says. He can feel the way that your body is already heating up, how his knot has started to deflate. We’ll need you soon.
⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅
You wake to soft voices and even softer kisses. You’re sweating, body hot as you’re pinned between two muscular bodies, the alphas you’d begged to knot you.
Craning your head upwards you catch the sight of Rhysand and Eris, lips locked in a much sweeter kiss than the one they’d shared earlier.
They look glorious, tongues lapping lazily as limbs brush across each other and yours in between. You don’t know what’s happened while you were asleep but it’s nice that they’re finally getting along.
You watch for as long as your body will allow. You know that they both know that you’re awake, but you’re not sure if their kissing is a reaction to your pheromones driving their alpha senses while they waited for you to wake or their own doing, but Mother is it a sight to see.
Eris’ hand strokes up Rhys’ cock softly, twisting firmer as he reaches the head and runs a thumb over his slit. The High Lord’s breath shatters, body vibrating beneath the fiery grip of the Autumn male.
You moan softly, hands slipping down your body to relieve yourself but Rhys’ hand is catching yours and dragging it to his cock with Eris’.
“Both of you,” he pants, voice raspy with need. Your cunt gushes at the vulnerability in his voice, the soft way he’s commanding your motions. “Eris will take care of you, darling.”
“Yes, fawn,” the lordling breathes, rolling so he’s flush to your back. You’re manhandled onto your side and receive no warning as Eris shoves into you with a keen of his own, filling you to the brim with his throbbing cock.
Neither of you has to worry about being stopped by the High Lord of Night.
He aides your sex, slipping into the both of your minds and sharing images of the both of you together, feelings of each other and how your hands feel around his weeping cock, how tight and hot you are clenching around Eris’ cock, sharing how full you feel with him so far deep inside of you.
None of you last very long.
You cry out at an image created of Rhysands imagination; you pressed between the two of them as they both drive into you, sharing you like you never knew you needed. You bare your throat to both of them, begging the alphas to bite into the flesh of your neck, to mate and bond and love you forever.
And they do, sharing a look with each other that says they’ll figure out all of the details later, but for now, and the next few days, they have you, and they have each other. They solidify the bond in the soft bed of Briarhome, and let you mark their necks the same way in the throes of your heat, the Mother allowing your souls to forge together like the deadliest weapon.
And with both High Lords by your side, you know you will be.
Summary: As requested by a few different anons...You're in heat and it's so insufferable that all three bat boys see you through it.
Warnings: SMUT!!! 🥵 Alpha/Beta/Omega dynamics.
Word Count: 5,351
Notes: Um...so this might have gotten a little out of hand.
_________________________________________
You’re not entirely sure how you got to this point, Rhysand fucking deep into you while Azriel and Cassian watch, cocks stiff in their own hands.
Only that you do, and you’ve never been more thankful for a heat in your entire life.
Through the writhing and whining haze of your heat, desperately needing an alpha to knot you, the three Illyrians you’d been friends with for so long had debated over who was going to help see you through your heat. Their brotherly bickering was taking too long and you were too distraught, your hormones going crazy, that you’d suggested all three of them take care of you.
Suggested was a light term, begging was more correct.
Cassian shoves into Rhysands shoulder roughly, jolting the future High Lord from your soaking cunt before his knot locks the two of you together. Jealous prick. The violet eyed male shoots the warlord a look that makes you shudder with arousal as he hisses, snapping at the warlord's shoulder with sharp teeth but Cassian doesn’t even spare him a glance, utterly consumed by pushing his neglected cock into your dripping hole. Rhys grips the tip of his own prick as his knot fully forms, gasping and curling in on himself, muscles pulled taut.
You give the Night Court heir a gentle caress to his forearm with a choked moan as Cassian’s hips meet yours. Rhys sends you a forced smile as his cock continues to spurt in his hand, taking yours in his other to intertwine your fingers, holding onto you tightly.
Azriel, still pressing soft kisses to your forehead, gentle as ever, sees his future High Lord in need and offers him a helping hand, literally. His assistance eases the pain for Rhys slightly, his knot misinterpreting his shadowsingers hand for your cunt as it pulses, thick ribbons soiling the bedding.
The two of them will be occupied until Rhys’ knot shrinks, just like Cassian had wanted. A jealous male through and through, he can’t even share with his brothers.
You didn’t know you could stretch further but it's happening as the alpha slowly shoves his way in, then pulls out at the same pace, biting his lip harshly. The scent of blood stings your nostrils in the most delicious way and you swirl your hips, encouraging him to start moving.
“Cass,” you gasp, arching off of the bed as he slides in a touch faster. Your slick coats his prick and drips down your legs onto the sheets below, the air heavy with your sweet scent, driving the males into a frenzy.
He pounds into you mercilessly, and you let out a cry of pleasure when he hits the bundle of nerves inside of you that makes you see stars and your head spin.
There’s no thoughts in your mind as he pounds into you. You feel too fucking good to be worrying about Rhysand’s unbound knot or Azriel waiting patiently for his turn. Right now it’s you and Cassian and Cassian’s enormous cock splitting you in two.
He hooks his hands beneath your knees, pinning your legs to your chest and Gods you didn’t know it could feel any better but it does and you’re on the verge of unraveling beneath him.
Rhysand’s knot must have shrunk because Azriel’s placing his palm in front of your mouth, dripping with come. The scent of it drives you mad and you need to be knotted, it hurts so bad. The tease of the heir’s forming knot had nearly sent you over the edge, your pussy clenching, trying so hard to hold onto it before Cassian had pushed him away.
“Knot me,” you whine, licking the spymaster's palm fiercely. Azriel watches intently, his own dick twitching at the feeling of your tongue lapping at his marred skin. His hazel eyes gleam with lust as you slurp his brother's seed from his hand.
Cassian curses, holding your hips with a bruising grip as he pounds into you with abandon. Rhysand latches onto your nipple, licking and suckling at the pebbled nub, pinching and twisting the other. You shove your hand into his hair, fisting the midnight locks which spurs the alpha on. Azriel shoves his fingers into your mouth and you gag, but it shifts into a moan as you feel the warlord's knot forming, growing and brushing against your walls while he plays with your clit.
It’s too much, it’s all too fucking much, you need to be knotted, claimed, by any of them, by all three of them. You twist your head to the side, exposing your neck and you’re sure you hear them moan at your desperate display.
Azriel noses at the column of your throat as Cassian’s knot forms, his guttural moan causing the other two alphas to be on alert, the hair at the napes of their necks standing at attention because of the one who’s trying to assert his dominance.
They might tear each other apart before the night is over.
The shadowsinger’s nearly drooling at your sweet scent and he lets his teeth graze over the delicate skin, pushing you over the edge into your own orgasm, milking the come from Cassian’s cock. He’s pulsing hot inside of you, the two of you locked together until his knot shrinks, and right now you’re hoping that it never does.
You can feel yourself falling into your omega space, reveling at the feeling of an alpha spilling into you, your pussy convulsing around his cock, his hot seed trapped inside of you. It’s utter bliss and you don’t feel like you have to worry about the three possessive alphas latched onto you. Their scents mix together and you let your body go lax into the bed, eyes falling shut. They smell like home and you feel protected, like nothing can get to you as long as you have your alphas.
__________
When you wake you’re no longer connected to Cassian. You’re feeling hot, writhing and whimpering in the bed because even though you’ve gotten knotted your heat is still at its peak and you need to be filled again, immediately.
But Azriel’s not having it, holding you close to his chest. His willpower is immaculate, letting you lean into his side as he forces you to drink and eat while you pout and try to rut against him.
“Please, Az,” you mewl, “It’s unbearable.”
“I know baby,” he whispers, giving in and pressing a firm kiss to your lips, “But you need to eat, keep your energy.”
“I don’t want to,” you huff, snaking your hand down to your clit. If he won’t help you you’ll just have to do it yourself.
He smirks, watching as you do just that. He’s toying with you. He knows you won’t be able to get off the way that you want by yourself, won’t be able to recreate the feeling of a thick knot deep inside of you, and after you drag an orgasm from yourself you collapse against him, begrudgingly eating the food he holds to your lips.
Your climax has sated you slightly, enough to finish your meal, gulping down a few hearty sips of water from the glass he’s handed over.
“Where are Rhys and Cass?” you ask, wiping an escaped drop of water from your mouth. You don’t really care, having one alpha here with you is better than having to go through your heat alone, and you know that Azriel can more than handle himself in the bedroom if the size of his wings are anything to go by, but having the three of them here makes you feel completely at ease.
“Fighting out in the yard,” he replies with a shrug at your concerned glance. He kisses the frown from your lips, and your breath catches in your throat as he makes his way down your body, settling himself between your legs, licking his lips at the sight of your dripping core.
His eyes flick up to yours and the slash of a smirk on his face has your cunt throbbing. “Rhys wasn’t too pleased about Cass pushing him off of you. Now that you’re awake and casting your hormones to the entire camp, I’m sure they’ll be joining us sooner than later.”
The ever so quiet alpha knows how to use his voice when he needs to, but now, dipping down for his first taste, burying himself into your wet pussy, his skilled tongue flicking against your clit, he’s saying everything that he needs to just by his actions.
“Uh, Az,” you moan, threading your fingers through his hair and holding him in place, jerking your hips against his mouth, chasing that orgasm that seems to be constantly looming. “Right there, yeah, I’m going to come!”
With a cry of pleasure you topple over the edge, panting as you try and catch your breath, head hazy from the shadowsingers wicked tongue.
The alpha doesn’t give you time to relax your thrumming heart because he’s pushing deep into you, so deep that it presses all of the air from your lungs, your fingers scrambling to grab onto him in any way possible.
He towers over you, wings splayed wide in a display of pure dominance leaves you shivering, keening for him to move. All you want to do is submit to him; you’ll do anything for this male above you, in any capacity he wants.
“I could fucking mate you right now,” he growls, licking a fat stripe against the juncture of your neck where he thinks his bite would look the best, “Just fucking clamp down and claim you.”
“Yes, please,” you drag your nails down his back, spine curving up to press into his muscular body. That sounds like utter heaven, being his.
“But that wouldn’t be fair, would it?” His question is a growl in your ear that has you trembling to your very core. He jerks his hips once and you gasp at the feeling, some of your slick slipping out as he moves back.
You wonder if Cassian’s come is still inside of you, and the thought makes you clench around him, body quivering. You’re not sated yet, won’t be for days to come, when your heat breaks. They’ll all get their turns, filling you up with their seed.
You want them all to breed you. You can picture it now as Azriel thrusts his hips. Your belly swollen with a pup. Any one of them would be an amazing father, and you know that they wouldn’t treat the babe as anything but their own.
Could you actually have all three?
“Want–” you pant, words swallowed by a moan. The door to the bedroom opens and the two missing males of your party arrive, skin smelling of salt and blood and power. The pair strip out of their clothes hastily, not wanting to waste a mere second without you again, jealous that Azriel’s got his dick nestled inside your perfect little cunt.
“What’s that you want?” Rhysand whispers, climbing up onto the bed and kissing you passionately on the mouth, a hand in your hair to keep you still, having caught the first word of your plea.
Cassian assesses for a second – trying to figure out the best spot to wedge himself – to get as close to you as he can. He opts for lying against you, pressing himself flush to your side, body hot and tender from the brawl with his brother.
“Want you all to mate me, claim me, breed me,” you beg and the three alphas groan in unison, Azriel’s knot forming at your words, pouring into you. Rhysand’s cock throbs in his hand again and he presses his forehead harshly against yours, taking calming breaths so he doesn’t orgasm again, his heavy breath cool against your dewy skin. Cassian ruts against you with a grunt. He needs to come again, preferably inside of you.
“(Y/N),” Rhysand’s shuddered whimper of your name ignites that feeling inside of you, your cunt convulsing around Azriel’s prick as he’s nestled inside of you. He chokes on the moan threatening to spill from his lips, planting his hands on your hips harshly to keep you from writhing.
“Please,” you cry, wrapping a hand around the back of his neck, forcing him to look at you while he tries to pull away. You lock your legs around the shadowsingers hips although he isn’t going anywhere and loop your arm around Cassian, keeping him pulled tight to your chest.
“You’re just saying this because of your heat, Darling,” Rhysand’s voice is soft, sad, like he wishes that you could really mean the words. “If we did that you’d be regretting it as soon as your heat breaks.”
“No,” you protest, shaking your head slightly, mouth dropping open in bliss as Azriel’s cock twitches inside of you. Unfortunate timing, but through the hazy lust you’re feeling and the undeniable feeling to succumb to your omega nature is the truth. You love all three of these males. “I won’t.”
Cassian, who’s rubbing your stomach soothingly, looks like he might just bite you anyways, fuck the pact he’s made with his brothers. Here you are, begging for all three of them, whiny and needy and craving their seed in you. He can hardly control himself around you when you’re not on your cycle, but now that he’s had a taste, he’ll never let you go.
Az and Rhys share a look, having a conversation through each other’s minds as Cassain catches your mouth with his, distracting the both of you. It’s all he can do to not clamp down on your already bruised neck and mark you.
The spymaster’s knot loosens and you gasp into Cass’ mouth when he slips out of you.
“We’ll discuss it when your heat ends,” is what Rhysand tells you and you huff. You want to throw a tantrum at his words but Cassian’s pulling you closer to his side, his warmth enveloping you in a gloriously comfortable hug. You let your eyes drift closed as he murmurs softly into your hair, telling you to rest while you can.
You’re sure they’re going to talk it over while you sleep but you can’t help yourself, nuzzling into his neck and breathing in the familiar scent of the alpha as you drift off.
__________
It must be the middle of the night when you become desperate again. The three alphas are asleep and you’re still curled in Cassian’s embrace, his slight snoring rumbling through you to your bones.
Rhys is pressed up behind you, wings nowhere in sight with the spymaster behind him, laying on his back, shadows trailing lazily throughout the room. It’s nearly pitch black, the glow of the moon drifting in through the sliver between the curtains.
You want him, oh Gods do you want him. The tease of his knot when Cassian pushed him off of you was not enough, you need to feel that powerful cock pulsing inside of you right this second.
You straddle across his hips, whimpering and grinding against him, giving him kitten licks across his neck. You’re soaked, slick coating the apex of your thighs and you just know that the spot where you'd been lying is sopping wet.
“Rhys,” you plead, swirling your hips again. He’s rock solid against you, groaning sleepily as he blinks the sleep from his eyes, his hands automatically caressing your sides.
“(Y/N)?” he slurs, clearing the grogginess from his throat, “Need m’knot?”
“Yes please,” you sniffle, nosing at the column of his throat and running your fingers through his hair desperately. The texture of his soft locks feels incredible against your sensitive skin.
“Go on Darling, take what you need.”
You sink down onto his thick cock without hesitance and Rhys groans quietly as you begin to ride him with fervor, bouncing up and down on his length, swirling your hips. Your back arches and you let a loud moan slip out when you get that perfect angle, the male beneath you palming at your breasts.
The noises and movements rouse the other two alphas from their slumbers, dicks thick and heavy and dripping at the sight of you riding their brother.
Azriel is up and behind you in an instant, whispering in your ear and pressing featherlight kisses to your skin, asking if you can take two cocks shoved up inside your pretty pink pussy.
You nearly scream at his words, craning your head around to capture his filthy mouth with yours, teeth clacking as you fiercely kiss. The shadowsingers hand snakes around your front to your clit, flicking furiously at the nub as you grind down on Rhys.
You come on Rhys’ cock with a cry that’s swallowed by the alpha behind you. Your hips slow against the Night Court heir who grabs your thighs like he’s going to plant his feet and start jackknifing into you because he’s that desperate.
Az places a hand to your spine and you arch under his touch, shivering as his cock teases your hole, before he shoves it right beside Rhysands, the three of you moaning in pleasure.
You collapse against the alphas chest, utterly blissed out on both of their huge pricks as Azriel starts moving, sliding against Rhy’s dick and your walls. Your fingers fist the sheets, the feeling of both of them filling you up has you seeing stars, but it’s still not quite enough, you need more.
And the childish whimper of being left out from the largest of the three alphas has you taking his cock in your hand, sliding it up and down the silky shaft, thumbing at the beading precome at the tip and slicking your way down.
When you catch your breath you struggle to lift yourself from Rhys’ chest, arms shaking, trembling as you rise, looking up at Cassian through your fluttering eyelashes.
You mouth at the head of Cassian’s enormous prick, sucking at the tip before swallowing the alpha down as far as you can.
Your mouth is wicked, wrapped around him, your moans going straight through his dick. He gasps at the feeling of you tonguing your way down his cock, the head of his prick inching further and further down your hot throat as you take him in.
This, this is what you wanted, feeling full to the brim, your three alphas taking care of you through your heat. If they couldn’t see how perfect you all are together they had to be crazy.
Every thrust from Azriel has you sliding further down Cassian’s shaft, choking on him. The delicious, wet sounds of his dick squelching in your throat and the other two in your dripping cunt have them all on edge, ready to come at any second.
“Ah, fuck,” Cassian hisses, pulling out and gripping the base of his dick harshly, squeezing his eyes shut. He can’t come, doesn’t want his knot to form if it’s not inside of you. It had happened once before and it was not something he wanted to relive, ever.
He might be feeling slightly bad for doing it to Rhys earlier.
Azriel and Rhysand fuck into your with abandon and it’s euphoric, being sandwiched between the two powerful alphas as they get off. Their knots form fast, sensitive and sliding up against each other, against your walls, your slick making everything so messy, so pleasurable.
Rhysand comes first, locking himself into you with a loud bark of a moan, eyes rolling back in his head as Az overstimulates him, still thrusting.
The shadowsinger kisses down your neck, shoving his forming knot up into you as far as he can with Rhysands cock stuffed into you, bursting in you with a strangled cry.
__________
Your heat breaks three days later.
You’re utterly exhausted, draping yourself across whichever alpha is closest, letting them thread their fingers through your hair and hold you close, reveling in the scent of their seed on you, soon to be washed off until your next heat.
You force yourself to clean up, standing from the bed early in the morning while the three males are still fast asleep. You yawn, stretching your arms over your head as you make your way to the washroom, swearing you can still feel days worth of come seeping out of you.
Good thing you are on the tonic.
You take your time, relaxing in the hot water with your eyes closed, letting your muscles loosen from the week of activity. It was everything you could’ve asked for and more, the three alphas sharing you, giving you everything you needed while only fighting with each other on a few occasions.
A lazy smile crosses your lips, Possessive alphas.
It’s Azriel who finds you first, no doubt his shadows alerting him that you were no longer in the bed with them. He’d rolled over and draped an arm across Cassian’s broad shoulders instead of you, pulling back with a faint dust of pink on his lips when he realized.
He washes you carefully, those skilled fingers taking their time, caressing your aching body softly. Maybe you’ll convince the spymaster to give you a massage later, after you’ve eaten and hydrated a bit more.
And maybe they’d let you take a walk, smelling like their individual scents: cedar and smoke, earth and wind, and sea and citrus. They wouldn’t let you go alone, no way would these overprotective bats let you wander the camp alone. They’d go with you, flaring their wings and glaring at any other male who set their sights on you.
But you are not theirs, and they are not yours.
The words that had slipped from your mouth during your heat were still at the forefront of your mind. You want them, all of them, so badly that it makes your stomach twist with fear. What if they didn’t want you or weren’t willing to share? Rhys said that you would all discuss it, but when?
Az helps you from the tub once he’s deemed you clean enough, wrapping you up in a large towel and sending you off with a kiss to your forehead so you can get dressed while he bathes next.
Stomach growling, you shove yourself into something comfortable. You’ll change if they decide to let you out of the house, your hormones still seeping from your pores on your first day off of your heat.
You begin working on breakfast, an idea forming in your mind.
One by one they lazily trek into the room. First, a freshly showered Azriel, who pressed up behind you with a kiss to your cheek, murmuring if you’d like any help. You smile gratefully but decline his offer, telling him to take a seat and that breakfast will be ready shortly.
Next comes Cassian, hair disheveled and not yet bathed, too hungry to do anything other than follow the smell of food, stealing a piece of meat on his way by and stopping your protest with his lips against your own.
Finally, after taking his time in the bath comes Rhysand, dressed to the nines as always. He’s brushing his arms from the invisible lint no doubt and he greets you with a dazzling smile and a wet kiss to your throat.
Maybe he hadn’t forgotten afterall.
Placing each of their plates down in front of them you take a step away, trying to calm your breathing. None of the three alphas touch their food, sensing the emotion in the air, looking towards you with worried eyes and furrowed brows.
“What is it, Darling?”
“Are you okay, sweetheart?”
“What’s going on, baby?”
You flush at their worried questioning, heart thundering in your chest so loudly you’re sure the entire camp can hear it, smell exactly how nervous you are.
“Um, I know it may not be the bond, but it’s still a bond of its own, and I know I feel it with the three of you. Will you have me?” You blurt, gesturing to the full plates in front of each of the alpha males. You refuse to look up at them, worrying your lip between your teeth as you await their responses.
“Oh, (Y/N), Darling,” Rhys smiles up at you, violet eyes sparkling like the night sky, “It is the bond, can’t you feel it?”
You twist your fingers nervously. That’s what that was? You had felt it during your heat but you’d been too overstimulated with pleasure and instinct that you hadn’t been able to differentiate the two.
“But you said–”
“I said that because I didn’t want you to make the decision based on impulse,” he slides from his seat, caressing your cheek with his hand as he gently tilts your face to look up at him. “You’re ours, (Y/N). If you’ll have us.”
You try to bite back the smile creeping to your lips but you can’t. Azriel and Cassian stand, flanking Rhysand on either side, peering down at you with twin smiles.
“Will I have you?” you laugh, utter joy bursting in your chest, reverberating in each of their chests. “Of course I’ll have you! How many times do you need to hear it, alpha?”
The heir goans, heat sparking low in his groin. He’ll never stop needing to hear it, you moaning his name, the feelings you let pulse freely down the bond.
His brother’s too, catching the arousing scent wafting from you. Their pupils widen, eyes darkening at the thought.
As much as you’d like to take this back into the bedroom, you’re sore, tired, and hungry. Your stomach growls, breaking the lustful tension into something more relaxed. Rhys leads you to a spot at the table and you watch as they each stare down at their plates, then at you, tender and in love.
Each of them accepts your offer, taking a bite of their breakfasts.
You can feel the air sparking as you eat, the silent breakfast filled with anticipation for what’s to come. Cassian’s leg won’t stop shaking beneath the table, Az’s shadows keep twitching around him, and the fork in Rhys’ hand keeps twirling in circles nervously.
It’s too much, you can’t finish your food. Setting your fork down on your half eaten plate you offer with an erratic heart, “Ready?”
You puff a breath of laughter as the three males shoot up from their chairs, ushering you into the bedroom you’d all locked yourself in for the past week. The sheets are fresh but the smell of sex still lingers in the air and it sends a shiver of arousal down your spine.
They situate you on the bed, lying back comfortably as they all climb in around you, maws nearly drooling at the sight of your perfect neck, analyzing where they’ll leave their bonding marks.
“I want you all at the same time,” you gasp softly as Cassian noses at your neck, searching for your scent gland. He can’t wait to taste you.
Rhysand chooses one side of your neck, the two warriors on the other side, and they all share a look between each other, their pact hanging heavily between them. Not a single one of them were to be mated with you, they all loved you too much to see one brother win out, but the three of them, together…this could work.
There are already tears of joy in your eyes and Azriel kisses them away before they settle in, teeth scraping against your neck, a gentle tease that has you shivering in anticipation, before the alpha's bite down.
You let out a ragged moan as their teeth sink into you, drawing blood and throwing your hands into their hair, scrambling to touch any parts of them that you can. The feeling is surreal, you don’t even think you’re in your body anymore, you can see parts of yourself through each of their eyes, back arching off of the bed in pleasure. You keen, overwhelmed by feelings that aren’t even yours, tears slipping freely from your eyes.
You try to pull them closer, their growls of pleasure have their teeth sinking in further, marking you for good.
When they tear themselves from your neck you can’t help but let out a sob. But then they’re each kissing you, taking turns and you can taste your blood on their mouths but it’s heavenly and you don’t think that you could be any happier than you are right now.
“Well?” Cassian asks when you’ve calmed down a bit. He’s looking at you with anticipation, nervous and needy, and so are Az and Rhys.
“C’mere then,” you whisper, letting him help you sit up. On your knees before him you brush away the hair at the nape of his neck, fingers brushing over the tan skin lightly. You give the spot a teasing lick and his hands grip your hips for stability, exhaling a shaky breath.
You don’t hesitate further, biting into the soft skin, completing the mark. The metallic taste of his sweet blood is overwhelming, and you feel a rush throughout your body, like you’re drunk off of him. You sway at the feeling and four more hands hold you up, grounding you.
You gasp, pulling away but his lips are pressed against yours in the next second, body flush against yours in hunger. Your hands frame his head, reveling in the feeling of his bond nestled in your heart.
But there are still two more males waiting patiently for your mark.
Azriel is next. Kissing him softly, sharing the blood of his brother with him, the shadowsinger growls at the taste of another alpha on you, gripping you tighter to his chest.
His hazel eyes are dark, and he guides your mouth where he wants you to mark him, right where everyone can see. You moan against his hot skin, clamping your teeth down harshly because you know it will get him a bit bothered.
And it does. He groans out your name, shadows sweeping around the both of you in excitement, his cock hardening in his pants. You palm him roughly before you pull away, the taste of him dizzying you. His chest heaves and it takes both of his brothers to pry his hands off of you because of the look you’re giving him – unfinished business.
You smirk at Rhysand who’s already giving you that look, that hunger in his eyes is the exact kind he gets when he thinks about ruling over the Night Court, powerful and dominating.
You wrap your arms around his neck and he dips his head down, licking over your lips for a taste of his friends, of you, all mixing together as one. He never thought he’d share a mate, and with two people no less, but you are worth it, even only having a third of your heart is worth it to him.
You already know where to bite him, you’d thought about it so many times, pictured it the first time you met him. You want it right at his collar, where it would peek over his clothing for his future peoples to see, a mated alpha marked by a territorial omega.
He lets you. He’d let you do anything you wanted to him if you batted your eyelashes the way you’re doing now.
With a nod on his behalf, you dig in, tearing at the skin with your teeth, drinking down a few gulps of his blood, making a mess across your lips. It’s not as neat as you’d like, but the feeling of him spreading through your body has you power hungry, staking claim of what's yours.
He hisses in pleasure, letting you take as much as you want, and you pop off from his skin, soothing over the torn flesh with your tongue as it heals, lapping up every single drop.
“You cruel, wicked, thing,” he purrs once you’ve pulled away, collecting a stray drop of blood from your lip with his thumbs and sucking it into his own mouth, violet eyes glowing.
Krissy, Amanda, and I are so thrilled to finally be able to share this art!
The lovely wictorian_art did such an incredible job drawing Elain and Lucien. The charged looks, tension, and angst in this art is top tier 🤌
Thank you so much wictorian_art for creating this magnificent artwork. It’s always a pleasure to work with you! 💗💗
Commissioned by @amandapearls, @norabraveseeker, and myself
Artist is: wictorian_art
Characters belong to @sjmaas
A Crescent City (slight) AU in which everything is more or less the same except the wolf shifters have an Alpha / Omega dynamic
And now imagine a CC / ACOTAR crossover in which Azriel meets his mate in Lunathion as he’s visiting Bryce with Nesta
The OC (or reader) was kidnapped when she presented as an omega as they’re rare and put for sale in the Meat Market and Bryce bought her to save her (add that to her debts to Jesiba) so she’s been living with her and hiding in her apartment and Bryce has been giving her suppressants so she can avoid going into heat.
But when Nesta and Az come to visit she’s surprised that he’s her mate cause he’s not an Alpha and he wouldn’t be able to give her what she needs.
Ensues an awkward conversation during which she has to explain to him what’s an omega and what she’ll need during her heat and she’s embarrassed af and thinks he won’t want her but then he says he’d do anything for her and that three or more days of intense sex with her every month really doesn’t sound that bad.
I find it really interesting how Aegon and Rhaenyra are both turning into Viserys in some form. Rhaenyra is turning into him mentally, especially with how she treats Jace and her delusion that everything will be okay with his ascension. Just like Viserys did with her. And Aegon is turning into him physically. He didn't even slowly evolve into Viserys, he did a mad dash downward when his traitorous brother crippled him. He's even lost his hair, one of his eyes is fucked up, his knee is permanently shot so he will walk with a limp or a cane now.
Summary: Anxious about how your lack of experience compares to Azriel's, you ask him about his body count. Unfortunately for him, he misunderstands the question gravely.
based on this funny lil request!
Warnings: angst if you squint, miscommunication, silly az and silly cassian making fun of silly az, mentions of death/killing, a sweet lil kiss! fluff!
Word Count: 3.3k
✹ ✶ 𖧷 ✶✹
You’ve always had a soft spot for Azriel.
It wasn’t just his mysterious aura and brooding looks that made him irresistibly attractive to you— though those definitely added to the appeal. Azriel was thoughtful. He was attentive. He seemed to understand you and your needs in a way that none of your other friends could.
Your feelings for him had grown over time, blossoming into a full-blown crush.
And for the most part, it seemed like Azriel enjoyed your company too.
There was a playful flirtation between you two, a spark that you hoped would ignite into something more. It had grown even hotter these past two months, through conversations that were held entirely too close to one another, stolen glances, and brief touches that sent shivers down your spine.
But deep down in your stomach, there was something holding you back— a bitter, nauseating feeling. You weren’t just nervous, you were insecure.
It wasn’t a secret that Azriel, Cassian, and Rhysand had their fair share of lovers. After all, they were all extremely attractive and had lived for centuries longer than you. But the idea of Azriel’s love life had begun to spin itself into an anxious, terrifying web in your mind. You weren’t experienced in such matters— at least, not nearly as experienced as Azriel must've been. The thought was daunting to you. Terrifying, really.
It was late at night now, and the last of your family had bid their goodnights, retreating to their respective rooms and homes. You found yourself alone with Azriel in the dimly lit living room, the small crackling fire mixing with the remnants of the celebration that lingered in the air— the heady scent of wine and the distinct smells of each of your loved ones.
You stole a glance at Azriel, noticing the way his cheeks were slightly flushed, eyes bright with mirth. His shadows were calm, dancing playfully around his feet and his arms. He caught your gaze instantly, offering you a lopsided smile, the corners of his lips turning upwards in a way that made your heart flutter.
This was your chance— a perfect, quiet moment to confess something to him. To tell him how you felt.
But the nauseating feeling in your stomach bubbled up once more. You bit the inside of your cheek. Perhaps it was the perfect moment indeed. Not to confess your feelings quite yet, but to get rid of the spider web of overthinking you’d created.
Summoning up the courage, you leaned closer to him, the alcohol emboldening you. "Hey, Az," you began, your voice soft and hesitant.
Azriel turned to you. "Yeah?"
You took a deep breath, your heart pounding in your chest. "Can I ask you something?"
Azriel’s face seemed to soften. "Of course."
You held his gaze for a moment, taking in the hues of his eyes that seemed more golden in the firelight. A small blush rose to your cheeks and you swallowed nervously, your fingers fidgeting in your lap.
"What is your body count?"
Azriel blinked. His cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink as his mouth slightly parted, and you watched as his gaze seemed to dance around your face. He opened his mouth to respond, but a hiccup escaped him instead of words.
"I'm just... I was just wondering," you stammered, your cheeks burning hotter with heat. "If you're comfortable sharing, that is."
Azriel smiled at you, letting out another small hiccup as he repositioned himself to lean closer. His shadows seemed to reach out towards you, a subtle, almost subconscious gesture of reassurance. "It's alright," he said, his voice gentle. "I don't mind sharing."
He took a moment to compose himself. “8,754.”
As if you’d been doused in icy water, your alcohol-induced haze dissipated instantly.
"Oh," you breathed out, your eyes widening in shock. "Oh."
You would’ve tried harder to hide your shock, but the only thing you could focus on now was the large, heavy, number. It hit you like a ton of bricks, the weight of it settling heavily in the pit of your stomach.
You expected a large number, sure. You told yourself that you could come to terms with it, learn how to be comfortable with the gap in your experiences. But you hadn’t prepared yourself for this large of a number, and suddenly you felt… uneasy.
Azriel watched you closely, his expression quickly filling with concern. "Are you alright?"
Azriel had been with over 8,754 people?
You nodded slowly. Unable to meet his gaze, you casted your eyes towards the carpet in front of him. "Yeah, I'm fine," you murmured, "I, uh, I think I need to go home. I must’ve drank too much."
Azriel seemed to sober up immediately. His shadows, which had been lazily swirling around his feet, suddenly grew still, sensing his shift in mood. He sat up straight, a look of worry crossing his features. "Here, let me walk you to your room," he offered, his wings slightly unfurling as if ready to rise.
You avoided his gaze once more, shaking your head quickly. "It's alright. I got it," you insisted, standing up a bit too quickly. You swayed slightly, and his wings twitched as if he wanted to reach out and steady you. You quickly regained your balance. "Goodnight, Az."
Azriel watched you go, shadows trailing after you slightly before retracting back to him. His wings sagged, a sense of helplessness washing over him as he watched your retreating form disappear down the hallway.
✹ ✶ 𖧷 ✶✹
Azriel was tense. Every muscle in his body, every movement he made, it all felt constrained– stressed. Troubled. His shadows swirled restlessly around him, their hurried movements perfectly mirroring the deep agitation he felt in his gut.
Days had passed since his last proper conversation with you. He missed it— missed your presence, missed your laughter. He’d grown so used to your company, had begun to look forward to your conversations and the small flirty banter that he’d gained the confidence to indulge in. But you were distant now— awkward, even. And it was driving him mad.
It was hot out, the afternoon sun blaring down on him and Cassian as the sound of clashing blades filled the air. Heavy sweat trickled down their faces, to a point where Azriel’s hair clung to his forehead like glue.
But Azriel’s mind was anywhere but the training ring. And his brother quickly noticed.
"Alright," Cassian said, stepping back and lowering his weapon. "Either you're losing to stroke my ego, or something's going on."
Azriel grumbled, parrying another blow. "I'd never lose for your ego.” His wings twitched in annoyance.
Cassian frowned, a scrutinizing gaze watching Azriel's movements closely. Something was definitely off. He tied his hair back up, securing it tightly. "Alright, spill it."
"No," Azriel replied curtly, his grip tightening on his weapon. His shadows seemed to wrap tighter around his form, as if trying to shield him from the conversation.
"No?" Cassian echoed, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm not going to talk about my feelings with you. We're not twelve.”
Cassian let out a small scoff, raising his hands in exasperation. "By the Cauldron, Az, just tell me why you've got a stick up your ass."
Azriel glared at him. A moment passed. And then he sighed, sheathing his weapon.
"Y/N has been avoiding me, it seems."
Cassian frowned. "Are you sure?"
The question only brought a scowl to Azriel’s face, who threw Cassian a glare.
"Yes, Cassian. I'm sure."
There was an itchy, prickling feeling of annoyance filtering through Azriels skin. His shadows flared out briefly before settling back into their usual orbit.
"Well, what did you do?"
Azriel’s shadows twisted tighter and his wings rustled uneasily.
"I didn't do anything.”
Cassian gave him a skeptical look, crossing his arms. "Really?"
Azriel threw him another withering glare. But when Cass only responded with a raised eyebrow, Azriel’s shoulders sagged slightly. "At least, nothing that I'm aware of."
"Alright," Cass said, "Maybe you offended her somehow. What happened the last time things were normal? Can you remember?"
Azriel paused. He remembered quite clearly despite the drunken haze he had been in. He grimaced as the memory drifted into his mind, bright and clear as day.
"She asked me for my body count.”
Cassian’s eyes widened. He stilled, leaning forward slightly. "And?"
"And I told her.”
There was a pensive look on Cassian’s face, a furrow forming between his brows as he processed Azriel's words. He narrowed his eyes at his brother. "What is your body count?"
Exactly like that other night, Azriel replied without hesitation. "8,754.”
Cassian coughed, his eyes widening in disbelief. "I-I’m sorry?" he spluttered, caught off guard by the staggering number.
Azriel's confusion deepened, a frown marring his features. "You know this.”
"No," Cassian countered, shaking his head emphatically. “I do not know this.”
Azriel clenched his jaw, offering Cassian a cold unamused and irritated stare. “Yes, you do.”
"Apparently not.” Cassian let out a scoff. “Hell, I would’ve remembered if you slept with almost nine thousand people, Az. That's more than me."
Azriel’s face twisted into a scowl, a deep crease forming between his brows. His wings flared slightly.
"Slept with? What the hell are you talking about?"
Realization flickered in Cassian’s widened eyes, and suddenly, an understanding dawned on him. "Oh," he breathed out, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. He let out a hearty laugh. "Got all the skills in the world but that brain still fails ya, huh Az?"
Azriel fought the urge to send a swift hit to his brother's jaw, if only to knock the amused grin off his face.
"Can you be serious for one godsdamned minute?" Azriel snapped.
Cassian's laughter subsided, his expression sobering as he met Azriel's gaze— only slightly. The grin still persisted. "Body count doesn’t refer to your kill count," he explained, "It’s how many people you’ve fucked."
Azriel's face dropped and the color drained from his cheeks. From behind him, his wings fell limp. "You can’t be serious.”
"Deadly serious, brother.”
Azriel glanced to the ground, his mind racing through that moment with you. He thought back to your response, to that small “Oh” that haunted him, to the way your eyes widened. He’d simply assumed that you were disgusted by the amount of lives he’d taken, that you’d spent the night imagining how much blood was on his hands. For some reason, this new reality of what the question meant— it felt even more intimate. Oh gods.
"So does Y/n think that I..." he trailed off.
"That you've fucked almost nine thousand people?" Cassian finished for him, a subtle grimace painted on his features.
"But I haven't," Azriel protested.
"Well, you should probably be telling her that."
Azriel didn't waste another moment. He turned on his heel, desperate to immediately find you and explain the very apparent miscommunication.
"Wait!" Cassian called out. Azriel paused, turning around with an impatient glare.
"Take a bath. You stink," Cassian said, wrinkling his nose for emphasis.
Azriel's glare deepened, and he flipped Cassian off before continuing his stride toward the exit.
Cassian's laughter boomed behind him, the sound trailing after Azriel as he walked away. "eight thousand seven hundred and fifty-four," Cassian muttered to himself, still chuckling in disbelief.
✹ ✶ 𖧷 ✶✹
Azriel rushed down the hallway. Following Cassian’s unasked for advice, he was freshly bathed, hair still damp and clinging to his forehead. His shadows flitted nervously around his feet, his wings twitching restlessly at his back.
He had no time to waste. Azriel really liked you. He needed to find you and clear up the misunderstanding before it began to fester into something deeper, something much harder to clean up.
He found you in your room, catching you just as you were about to leave. “Y/n,” he said, as he came to a stop in your doorway. His voice was a bit louder than he intended.
You jumped, letting out a small scream as you spun to face him. You caught his gaze as your hand flew to your heart. “Azriel,” you breathed out, a nervous smile playing on your lips as you steadied your breathing. “You scared me.”
He gave you a sheepish smile, his wings shifting slightly– a small, but clear sign of his embarrassment. “Sorry,” he said softly.
You let out a small laugh. “Hi, Az.”
His smile grew. “Hi Y/n,” he responded, walking further into your room. “Are you heading out?”
You blinked in an attempt to break away from his gaze, casting a quick glance down towards your window. “Oh, yeah. I was just gonna go walk about Velaris, get some fresh air.”
Azriel hesitated for a moment before asking, “Would you like some company?”
You hesitated too, a part of you wanting to say yes. But then the infamous number came to mind, and the bitter, nauseating feeling returned. “Maybe another time?” you said, trying to sound as genuine as possible.
Azriel could tell you meant it, but the disappointment was clear in his eyes. “Alright,” he responded softly, his wings drooping slightly. “Enjoy your walk.”
A wave of sadness rolled through you at his response, at the way his shadows seemed to still at your rejection. Your eyes scanned his face, taking in his wet hair and the way his eyes seemed to plead with you.
“I’ll see you later,” you said, offering him a small smile before making a move to side-step him.
Before he could overthink it, Azriel reached out and gently grabbed your arm. The touch was soft, but it stopped you in your tracks. You turned back to him, finding yourself suddenly very close to him, faces only inches away.
His shadows wrapped around your wrist where he held you. A giddy flutter spread through you as his touch sent warmth racing through your veins. You melted into his grip, feeling a hunger for his closeness after just a few days without it. His gaze held yours, intense and searching, before flickering down to your lips. You took a deep breath.
“I’ve taken 8,754 lives,” Azriel finally spoke, his voice low and hesitant.
Your eyes widened in surprise. You took a step back, properly facing him now, trying to process his words. “What?”
Azriel looked sheepish, his eyes flickering with a mix of embarrassment and uncertainty.
His shadows fluttered around him.
“The other night, you asked me what my body count was. I told you 8,754.”
You nodded slowly. “I remember.”
“I thought you were asking how many people I’d killed. Not—” he paused, a small blush reaching his cheeks. “Not how many people I’ve slept with.”
Your lips parted in an O of realization. You took in his face, observing how his shadows swirled tirelessly around him. Azriel offered you a small, unsure smile. A small laugh left your lips.
“Why would I be asking you how many people you’ve killed?” you finally asked. Your voice was soft with confusion and a hint of amusement. A small gleam grew in the shadowsinger’s eyes.
“I don’t know,” Azriel responded honestly. “Why were you asking how many people I’ve slept with?”
You blushed, feeling heat rise to your cheeks. “It’s silly.”
Azriel reached forward, gently grabbing your hand and pulling you closer to him. His shadows wrapped around your wrist where he held you. You fluttered at the sudden closeness, feeling a rush of warmth and nerves flow through your body.
“It’s not,” he insisted softly, his eyes holding yours with unwavering sincerity.
“I just wanted to prepare myself. I haven’t… I’m not experienced in these types of things.” You paused, holding his gaze for a moment. And then the corners of your lips tugged into a smile. “But gods, it’s good to know I don’t have to compete with the experience of almost nine thousand previous lovers.”
Azriel’s expression softened, a fond smile tugging at his lips. “You never have to compete with anyone, Y/n. Especially not with me.”
A warmth settled in your chest. His thumb stroked your hand, a soothing rhythm that seemed to cause butterflies in your stomach with every touch.
“Well, that’s good to know,” you replied softly, meeting his gaze.
“Yeah?”
Azriel’s voice was soft now, a low cadence that made you feel like puddy in his hands.
“Yeah,” you confirmed with a small smile.
The smile on his face grew further. You traced the movement with your eyes, taking in the small smile lines and dimples that formed. His smile dropped slightly as he frowned, brows furrowing slightly.
“Wait.”
You tilted your head curiously. “Hmm?”
“It doesn’t bother you that I’ve killed 8,754 people?
“I know you have your reasons.” You shrugged gently. “Also, I don’t have to compete with dead people.”
Azriel’s shoulders relaxed slightly at your words, as if a weight had been lifted off him. A chuckle left his mouth. It was warm and genuine, and the sound resonated deeply within you. “Just one of the many reasons why I like you.”
Your heart skipped a beat.
“You like me?
Azriel nodded, his gaze unwavering— something soft, almost sacred. “I do.”
A rush of warmth spread through you at his confession. You took a moment to let the words sink in. Your grin widened. “I knew it.”
Azriel shook his head, a smile of amusement tugging at the corners of his lips. “I wasn’t really trying to hide it.”
Your grin widened even more and you met his gaze with a playful glint in your eyes. His thumb continued its gentle rhythm on your hand. “Do you feel the same way?” he asked.
“I wasn’t really trying to hide it,” you admitted, mirroring his previous words with a soft smile.
Azriel’s expression seemed to soften further, his eyes reflecting a warm sense of longing. His eyes flickered from your eyes to your lips.
Slowly, he leaned in, closing the distance between you. His hand cupped your cheek delicately, his touch sending a shiver down your body. You took a deep breath, feeling his scarred fingers run alongside your cheek. He met your eyes again, his gaze heavy, seeking something— permission.
“Can I kiss you now?”
Words eluded you for a moment as you met his gaze, your heart pounding in your chest. You simply nodded, breath catching in your throat as you whispered, “Please.”
For another fleeting moment, his hand cradled your face delicately, thumb brushing over your cheekbone with a tenderness that made your heart ache. And then he closed the remaining distance between you, his lips meeting yours in a kiss that was sweet and fervent.
It was shy at first— a hesitant, tentative meeting of lips that conveyed unspoken feelings that had never been fully addressed until now. You welcomed the warmth of his lips against yours, the sweetness of the moment overwhelming your senses. You pressed yourself further into his touch, fingers moving to tangle themselves in his hair as you pulled him closer.
Azriel let out a sound of content as the kiss deepened, his shadows wrapping around you both like a protective embrace. You felt their cool, feather touch around your body, felt as lone tendrils weaved through your hair.
When you finally pulled apart, breathless and smiling, Azriel rested his forehead against yours, eyes still closed as he savored the closeness between you. His fingers traced gentle patterns on your cheek.