#acowaf

[illyrianbuck]

helion and loa + feysand + elucien

[mermaidchampagne]

My sweet sweet Elain Archeron

A blooming beauty and I can’t wait to hear the rest of her story, we know the soft quiet ones always have the most interesting worlds 😘

[honeybeefae]

A Court of Wings & Fire: Chapter One

Summary// Eris had control of everything in his life. The war was over, he was planning to take the Autumn throne, and nothing was left to surprise him…until he met you. A mating bond with an Illyrian was like a spit in his face and neither of you could understand why fate had put you together. You both swore off relations to each other, refusing to even be in the same court, but you should have known that fate is not to be tested.

(Here it is, Chapter One of the new Eris series! I am so, so excited to get started on this and I cannot wait to take you all on this journey. I hope you enjoy!)

Chapter Two / Chapter Three / Chapter Four / Chapter Five

Chapter One

The sound of swords striking each other echoed off the House of Wind as two Illyrian warriors battled inside the training ring, another one watching from the side. You let out a triumphant laugh as you ducked below Cassian’s blow, swiping his legs out from under him. 

Azriel cheered you on, watching both of your forms as Cassian easily rose back up and landed a hit on your arm, grazing your shoulder. You hissed and glared at him, crouching and launching yourself at him with all of your body weight. He immediately stumbled, trying to shove you off of him as you furiously started to punch at his chest. 

You landed a nice hit on his jaw, sending his face flying sideways, to which he retaliated with a kick to your ribs. A wheeze left your lungs as you fell back, blinking rapidly as you stared up at the sky to try and regulate your breath.

Cassian appeared above you a moment later, a shit-eating grin plastered on his face as he held out his hand. “Did I take your breath away, Y/N?” 

A laugh rang out behind you and you growled, taking his hand and then planting your feet firmly on the ground, using all your core strength to send him flipping over your body and beside you. You shuffled up to your feet and smirked at him, walking to go pick up your sword on the other side of the ring. 

“Don’t flatter yourself, Cassian.” You taunted, wiping the sweat off of your brow. “Besides, we both know it’s not hard to take yours away. I could do it again right now, all I have to do is call for Nesta and-”

He shot up as quickly as a fox, glaring at you while Azriel snickered behind him. “I think it’s best if you do not finish that sentence.” Cassian warned, looking behind him at the door that led to the house before sighing. 

You held up your hands in surrender, flexing your wings behind you as you soaked in the last little bit of sun. “Yes, General.” You smirked, unwrapping the tape from your hands. “Are we still going to that meeting tonight?”

“Unfortunately,” Azriel grumbled, taking your sword from your grasp to put it against the wall with the others. “Is this your first time meeting him?”

“Who? Eris?” You ask with a raised brow, chuckling when Cassian made a gagging sound behind you. “It is. I wasn’t there the last few times you met with him, though I think that’s a good thing.”

“A very good thing. He’s a monster, a coward, and a bastard all rolled into one.” Cass said, his red siphons glowing from just the thought of him. “He’s just like his father. Both of them are better of dead as far as I am concerned.”

“A warning for you,” Azriel murmured, turning towards you. “Don’t let him know what he says affects you. It will only spur him on more.”

“What could he say that would affect me? He doesn’t even know me.”

“Eris has a deep hatred for our kind.” Cassian huffed, laying a supportive hand on your shoulder. “As do most high fae, now that I think about it. But he is much more vocal about it. Just keep your cool and take your anger out in training tomorrow.”

“Maybe we could make a target look like him.” Azriel added, smirking when the three of you laughed in agreement. 

You followed behind them, mindful of your wings as you squeezed through the door, and mulled over their words. From brief conversations here and there you knew how terrible Eris was said to be. With what he had done to Mor, or Feyre and Lucien, it was a miracle Rhys was still letting him walk around alive. 

They bid you goodbye as you opened your door, immediately stripping off your sweaty clothes and drawing a bath. It was still a couple of hours before you had to leave so you made sure to enjoy the water, letting your wings soak as you scrubbed off the dirt and grime of the day. 

Only after the water turned cold did you get out, dry off, and started to get ready for the trip to Hewn City. You despised the place and the people that dwelled inside. They were the worst of the wicked and reveled in it like it was some sort of medal, sneering down at anyone who they thought lesser than themselves.

This of course included you, though it was a mixture of disgust and intrigue. Female Illyrians were rarely, if ever, seen with wings at your age. They were all clipped after their first bleeding but fortunate enough for you, your clan was different. The way they looked at you, at your wings, it made you feel like an animal being hunted for your hide. 

However, you would never show them how uncomfortable they made you, putting up a mask that wasn’t that hard to maintain when surrounded by vermin like them. You grabbed the dress hanging off your closet door, holding the material between your fingers while admiring the beadwork. 

It was a simple black dress that hugged you seductively, accentuating your curves with a very low dip in the front and slit up the side. For all the terrible things that came from the Court of Nightmares, you had to admit their taste for fashion was…freeing.

You glanced out into your bedroom and panicked when you saw the sun almost gone, realizing you were probably going to be late. The dress slipped onto you easily, your wings sliding through the slits on the back as you quickly styled your hair and makeup.

A knock rang out just as you slipped on your shoes, Feyre appearing in the doorway. You gave her a smile and a slight bow, grinning when she rolled her eyes and ushered you out the door. She was like the sister you never had, the two of you becoming close friends as soon as you met. 

Everyone was already waiting outside as the two of you walked out, going to your respective places before Rhys gave everyone a rundown of what tonight would bring.

“Feyre and I have to do our due diligence to the court before the meeting starts but that shouldn’t take long.” He said, glancing down at his mate. “If you all want to wait in the room for us, we should be there shortly after you.”

“What about Eris?” You ask, crossing your arms. “Will he be in the room before you?”

Rhysand shook his head. “Doubtful. If anything he will be in the great hall with us, gathering information.” He looked around at your group, making sure everyone was on the same page. “Ready?”

“Let’s get this over with.” Cassian complained, making you chuckle before you all shot into the sky and made your way to Hewn City.

—————————-

It was as evil and enchanting as you remembered. You wished your High Lord and Lady luck as they made their way down the winding hall, the rest of your group heading towards one of the many rooms off to the side.

“How long will this take?” You asked quietly, grateful no one is in the hallways with you. 

“It all depends on him,” Mor replied. “He could get what he needs and leave, or draw this out as long and painfully as possible.”

“With how much of a pain in the ass he’s in, it’ll probably be the latter.” Cassian snarked under his breath, holding the door open for everyone. 

It was a standard room, with a giant glass table in the middle with several chairs surrounding it. The decor was bleak, blacks and reds, however, there was a small bar in the corner that Mor immediately went towards. 

She grabbed the wine sitting atop and popped out the cork with no problem, taking a swig straight from the bottle. 

“Woah, woah.” Cassian said, swiping it from her hands much to her dismay. “Save some for all of us. We all have to deal with him too, you know.”

He passed around the bottle to you and Az, each of you drinking more than you should have until you heard the doors open. You were the last one with the bottle, the entire thing tilted upwards as you tried to grab the last drop as Rhysand and Feyre stared at you with amusement.

“Isn’t it a little early to start that, Y/N?” Feyre taunted, raising an eyebrow as you smiled sheepishly.

“It wasn’t just me!” You protested, pointing to the others. “They started it!”

And, as you knew they would, they all held their hands up in innocence. 

“We would never!” Mor swore.

“She’s obviously drunk already.” Cassian argued, shaking his head.

Azriel just smirked, watching you desperately trying to plead your case as the argument grew louder and louder.

Rhys finally put a stop to it, taking the now empty bottle and putting it back on the cart. “Will someone at least go fetch some more? It might make this night more bearable.”

You nodded and gave your friends your favorite finger, sticking your tongue out as they grinned in response before you walked out the door. It didn’t take you long to steal two more bottles from the room next door, figuring you were going to need more than one to satisfy everyone.

But by the time you knocked on the door, and Cassian answered with a very serious face, you realized the meeting already started.

Out of the corner of your eyes, you saw red hair, pale skin, and an unmissable arrogant aura surrounding him. You saw Rhys’s eyes glance towards you before he held out his hand, placing the bottle directly in front of Eris as you handed it to him before heading towards Cassian and Azriel.

“Such a gracious host,” Eris said, taking the wine and pouring it into his glass. “I’m glad you are using your Illyrian brutes for more than fighting, servitude fits them quite well.”

Cassian hadn’t been kidding about his attitude toward your race. You could feel your blood heat at his words, clenching the material over your dress as you stared down at the table. 

You refused to even look at him, not wanting to subject your eyes to the hideous sight of such a black soul.

“Watch it, Eris,” Rhys warned, reclining in his seat. “You are my guest but I have my limits.”

“Mmm.” He responded, taking a sip of the violet liquid. “As do I.”

Rhysand’s jaw ticked and Feyre’s eyes darkened at his audacity. “What information do you have for us?”

“I have heard my father talk about expanding his lands, though I don’t have a timeline on his plans.” Eris began, looking towards Feyre. “And if that is true, we need to talk with your ex-lover in order to make sure that does not happen.”

“I find it hard to believe that the man trying to take the Autumn throne isn’t just as interested in that,” Feyre said, her eyes icy with rage. “Do we really want to bring in Tamlin? After all that happened with my sisters, with Hybern?”

“His lands border the human realm, Feyre,” Eris explained, looking at Rhys. “If there is anywhere to expand it would surely be through there. May I also remind you how he saved your mate from death? I don’t really have a hound in that race but surely that would pay any debts that might still be lingering?”

Feyre’s mask cracked at the memory of her mate’s dying breaths, the way her heart felt like it was being shredded into tiny pieces. You recalled that day as well, sick to your stomach as you thought that Tamlin would turn her away.

“You didn’t answer her first question,” Rhysand said coolly. “Why aren’t you supporting your father?”

“My father is a fool. Any court trying to expand their lands would inevitably lead to an all-out war, something I wish to avoid.” 

“So what do you propose we do?”

“See if you can get into the Spring Court, or at least where their border meets the human lands.” He answered, taking another sip of wine. “I also have a reasonable suspicion about him reaching out with Briallyn.”

That piqued everyone’s interest. 

“What?” Feyre whispered, eyebrows furrowed. “The mortal queen that was working with Hybern?”

“The former mortal queen.” Eris corrected. “She’s in search of the Cauldron again, looking to restore the former beauty that was stolen from her. She also seems to have a vendetta against a certain sister in this room.”

Eris’s eyes cut to Nesta, who was next to Elain and staring down at the table. She glanced up at the mention of sister, her eyes immediately finding Feyre only to realize everyone was looking at her.

“Me? What have I done to her?” Nesta asked, her tone cold and lips tight. “The only time I saw her was when we were Made.”

“She went in after you.” Rhysand thought aloud, looking at Feyre before back at Eris. “The Cauldron turned her in a terrible way. Perhaps she thinks it’s your fault.”

“But I did not-“

“It’s not your fault.” Feyre agreed, cutting off her sister. “She’s just vengeful.” 

“How can we even trust a word out of his mouth?” Cassian argued, glaring at the redhead. 

“Did I lie to you during the war with Hybern? Have I not proven myself time and time again, despite that if I were to be found here, plotting, it would be death?” Eris countered, sneering down his nose at Cassian.

“Given your track record with the people in this room, I think it’s reasonable to have suspicions.” Azriel answered before Cassian could, standing to his full height. You remember them telling you not to let Eris know he got under your skin, but they were currently doing the exact opposite. You couldn’t blame them, the man was an arrogant asshole. 

You glanced at Mor out of the corner of your eye, who was gripping her glass as tightly as she could.

“I see Morrigan has not yet told the truth, though I expect nothing less from someone who fucks Illyrian bastards like the lot of you.” Eris snarled, taking note of a third pair of wings. “I’ve seen you’ve added another bastard to your rank. Does this one also need to be muzzled?”

The phrase set your blood boiling, unsheathing the knife that was hidden beneath the sleeve of your dress and finally standing to look at him with the fierceness that most men would cower from.

“Bastard or not, I don’t think it will matter when my knife cuts into your throat. You will die all the same.”

Before Rhys, Cassian, or even Azriel could react to your sudden outburst, Eris’s eyes widened in utter shock. You watched as the wine he was holding clattered to the ground, spilling over his outfit and the table. 

Your face twisted in confusion before you felt something, something deep within your soul open like a door with a key. Inside was a string, a glowing thread, that seemed to go directly to Eris. It was burning with emotion, making you feel as if you were on fire.

No, no, no…

A bond. It was a bond. He was…you were…Mother above.

Azriel gripped onto your arm when you stumbled back, hitting a tall vase behind you and sending it clattering to the ground. But even that doesn’t break your gaze from Eris, his hand over his heart. The room was silent for a moment, everyone watching the two of you until a loud, angry snarl ripped through Eris’s throat.

He looked you up and down, staring at the wings on your back, before making a disgusted face and winnowing away. It broke whatever spell had happened, sending you spiraling back to reality with whiplash. You glanced at everyone, tears pricking your eyes at the realization before you shoved Azriel away and ran through the doors.

You found the exit as fast as you could, gulping in the night air as you took off into the night sky. You had to get away from here, had to find somewhere safe, and try to wake yourself up from this horrible nightmare.

“What the hell was that?” Cassian asked, completely bewildered. “Should we go after her? Or him?”

Rhysand shook his head and sat back down, running a hand over his face in exasperation. He knew exactly what had happened. He knew because the same look Eris gave you almost mirrored his reaction when he learned about his bond with Feyre.

“This just got so much more complicated.” Rhys sighed, rubbing his temples.

“Why?” Mor asked softly, terrified that she already knew the truth.

Feyre sat down next to Rhys, looking at him for confirmation. He nodded, his jaw tensing as she closed her eyes and exhaled through her nose. She took a second before looking up at everyone, frowning.

“They’re mates.”

[themadmorrigan]

... So we're getting a special, NC themed edition of the series through B&N and ACOWAR includes the Feysand bonus chapter. And somehow, this is proof that Elain and Az are fated to be together?

Of course a Feysand book, with a Feysand bonus chapter would be Night Court themed. They live there. They run it. And that bonus chapter - while it does involve them talking about Elain - isn't actually about her.

Just... what?

[sparrowinthewater]

Gwynriel headcanons that must become CANON in the next acotar book

(please skitter away if you hate this ship, thank you :D)

A flashback to Azriel’s POV when he rescued Gwyn from Sangravah

A flashback to Azriel’s POV when he found out that Gwyn had been thrown into the Blood Rite

More Valkyries training scenes with trainers Az and Cass!!!

Spy missions with our spy master Azriel feat. his spy apprentice Gwyn

Detailed depictions scattered throughout the 900-page novel (yes, it better be 900 pages long to compensate for the toll this wait is taking on our mental health or else i am suing) on the evolving relationship between Azriel and Gwyn (trainer/trainee > friends > more than friends > confidants > what are we? > lovers > and finally, mates)

Azriel’s shadows playing cupid for their extremely clueless master

Azriel lets Gwyn take her time in exploring her sexuality and is extremely respectful and sweet and patient throughout her trauma healing journey (trainer Az in the pit and in bed OK BYE)

Badass Carynthian and Valkyrie Gwyn saving Azriel during a mission or in a battlefield

Gwyn feels the first tug of the mating bond before Azriel does and she keeps it a secret because she knows of Az’s unresolved feelings for Mor/Elain (MISS SARAH PLS GIVE ME ANGST)

Gwyn showing Azriel that he is more than worthy of love by constantly peppering him with hugs and kisses and words of affirmation because let’s face it, Az’s main love languages are probably touch and words of affirmation

A deeply emotional scene of Azriel finding out that Gwyn (kind, brave, loving, loyal, and beautiful Gwyn!!!!) is who the cauldron has chosen for him after centuries worth of waiting and yearning (I need this alone to be at least 5 pages long)

Gwyn falls first but Azriel falls HARDER

[mother-above]

The Golden Warrior | Chapter 1

Azriel x Reader

Summary: To you, love was a poison that slowly killed. It was something that could make the strongest of warriors and leaders weak and vulnerable. You had successfully evaded romance and relationships for a century until the day you realized it had been plaguing you from within.

Chapters: 1/?

Warnings: 18+, violence, and swearing

*masterlist*

A/N: Hello! This is my first ever ACOTAR fic and I hope I do Azriel and the other characters justice! This fic will follow the majority of the plotline from the 2nd and 3rd books but please note that I took some creative liberties in some parts and shifted from the plotline in the 5th book.

The towering mountains looked especially magnificent against the blue and pink-hued sky. Crisp morning air whipped around you as you whirled past the horizon, your white and gold-tipped wings beating hard and straightening into a glide. This was always the best part of your day, flying just before the sun rose.

You craved the sun’s soft warmth and glow against your skin. Keeping your eyes on the brightening horizon, you focused on the breeze that swept the scent of the wisteria, lilac, and honeysuckle that adorned the Palace. The beautiful home made from sunstone sprawled below you, its bridges, and towers glowing as it waits to be sun-kissed. You couldn’t believe you managed to protect the Palace for 49 years, a pang of guilt flowed through as your fae eyes focused on a rebuilding village miles away.

You were hoping to catch the sunrise today but then two sharp whistles came from somewhere within the castle. With a groan and a roll of your eye, you dove down with blinding speed. With a swoop, you land gracefully on Thesan’s office balcony. You slammed his door open and glared at the High Lord who perched on his desk.

“Did you just fucking whistle to get my attention? Like one of your birds? A simple shout of my name would have sufficed!” you snapped.

Thesan smirked, “Well it worked, didn’t it?”

You grabbed a decorative trinket from a nearby shelf and hurled it at him, “What are you doing up so early? I thought you and Callon would still be rolling in bed at this hour.”

He crumpled a piece of paper and threw it straight onto your forehead. "I may be your cousin but I'm still the High Lord. You can't say things like that!"

With a mischievous smirk, you sat on the couch and clasped your hands pleadingly. With the grace of a seasoned actor, you softened your features and gave him the most innocent look you could muster. "Forgive me, High Lord of Dawn, I was just wondering why you summoned me. You know I don’t like to be disturbed during sunrise."

Thesan wanted to scold you for being so dramatic, but he couldn't, not when you were his little cousin whom he loved fiercely. "Rhysand and his courtiers are coming for a visit in two days.” He held up a hand and gave you a pointed look. “Before you ask, I don't know how long they'll stay here."

All traces of your playfulness disappeared; the face of a hardened warrior took over your features. You jumped up and stalked over to Thesan, your power, and energy rolling off your body.

“Those evil little Night Court brutes are coming to the Palace. Why?”

Thesan looked at you coolly, deciding he was going to approach this cautiously when he noticed the absence of the usual jewels around your neck. “Rhysand wants to come by and have diplomatic meetings and spend some leisure time here in Dawn Court. I have no doubt he’s here for something else, but we’ll find out eventually, and please, when the guests are here, wear your siphons and glamour them if you want. I can’t have them catching a whiff of what you are.”

You grumbled as you waved a hand over your neck to magically place the necklace on yourself. The necklace had three sapphires strung together by a chain of diamonds, it was gifted to you by Thesan when you reached maturity. The largest jewel sat in the middle flanked by two slightly smaller counterparts. It was beautiful and fit for Dawn Court’s royal family, but it also had a purpose. It helped you contain and conceal some of your magic, you could even see your power thrumming underneath it if you looked close enough.

With your overwhelming magic mostly contained, Thesan lets out a breath and finally felt comfortable enough to bark out orders to you. He wanted you to check on all the wards, secure the vaults that held ancient artifacts, and make sure all the guards and servants were briefed about the Night Court. Even though your guests weren’t due for a couple of days, Thesan reminded you to keep your wings hidden just in case they popped by early. Only the Peregryn’s and a select few people in your court knew that you were half High Fae and half Peregryn. And even fewer people knew the extent of your power. Thesan had them partake in an unbreakable vow to never reveal your true nature until the day you decide to reveal yourself.

By the end of the day, everyone in the Palace was exhausted from their efforts to prepare themselves for the upcoming visitors. Callon, who was Thesan’s lover and the Captain of the Peregryn legion was pissed that your cousin had invited them to Dawn. He was running himself ragged and snapping at you the entire day to make sure the troops were ready and planned all the security around the Palace and surrounding villages. Callon was annoying you so much that you had to remind him that he was outranked by you and to watch his tone. He apologized and you just scoffed, he was, unfortunately, a man in love, and it made him a nervous mess. You expected better from the captain of the Peregryn legions.

The sun had set and you, Thesan, and Callon had settled down by the fireplace and shared multiple bottles of wine. They were laughing at a joke Callon made when you heard a faint whisper in the corner of the room. You look and see nothing; you were about to ignore it when another whisper was heard. You looked at the pair, but they were in deep conversation, and no one seemed to have heard it, you looked back again and saw these dark wisps moving from the corner and going past the half-open door. You excused yourself and quickly slipped past the doors keeping the black wisps in your sight. They were no longer whispering but moving faster through the halls, you keep your footsteps light hoping you wouldn’t startle whatever this was. You stealthily followed it around the castle, and it seemed to be looking for something, it wasn’t until it reached the doors of the vault was when you did something. Not exactly sure what to do, you quickly leaned down and wafted the dark wisps with your hand. It spasmed and you swear it was almost startled to see you, it lingered for a few more seconds before disappearing into thin air.

“Mother above, what in the hell was that?” you said out loud.

With the Night Court arriving in a few days, there was no way this wasn’t their doing. Bursting into a run, you screamed Thesan’s name as you bounded up the stairs hoping it gave Thesan and Callon enough time to separate themselves from whatever they were doing in the few minutes they were left alone. You opened the door and Thesan was already standing, his eyes big at the sound of your panicked voice.

“What?” his eyes looked for any bodily injuries. “What is it?”

“I saw these black wisps moving around the Palace. They were trying to go into the vault before I stopped them,” you said.

Thesan frowned and then his jaw clenched, something he did when was he aggravated. “That must be the Shadowsinger, it’s incredibly annoying that he got through the wards. We'll have to strengthen them now. I’ll take the first half of the Palace and you reinforce the wards in the back.”

You nodded and hurriedly made your way to the south side of the Palace. Shadowsingers were extremely rare, and courts coveted them because they were the best spymasters. People could train for years but nothing would ever beat a shadowsinger. Until now, you honestly thought they were this tall tale they’d tell kids to scare them into behaving. You began to feel uneasy, was the shadowsinger in the Palace or was it just his shadows that he snuck in? Either way, you hated that this person was able to infiltrate your court.

***

The day of their visit finally arrived, and you peered in the mirror making sure you looked perfect, you wanted to make a good impression, this was the first time they’d meet you. Your lavender silk dress hung over your body perfectly, you gave a little spin in front of a mirror and examined the low back. Just in case anything turned hostile, your wings will have no obstructions if you ever need it. You waved a hand over your sapphires and glamoured them to be invisible, they were glowing brighter these days and it was easier to hide them than explain why your sapphires are more than jewels. Reaching for a mauve-colored bottle, you reapplied the color onto your lips and considered dusting blush on your cheeks, but you decided against it.

You lifted your hand and tenderly brushed the scars on the right side of your face. There were two parallel jagged lines, one nicked the bottom of your eyebrow and dragged up to your hairline. The other ran across the top of your cheekbone. You weren’t thrilled that it was so prominent, but you never thought to hide it. It was usually the first thing people noticed when they looked at you, the day Thesan was freed from Under the Mountain, he tried to get rid of it but even the High Lord of Healing couldn’t do anything about it. You could glamour it to make it disappear, but you wanted it there. It was a reminder of what had happened when Amarantha ruled Prythian, of what you endured and did for the people of Dawn Court.

Smoothing down your dress one more time, you left your bedroom suite and walked to the entrance to join Thesan and Callon. You were admiring the wisteria that hung along the arches above when the air shifted. Darkness filled the air for a split second then the High Lord of Night and two other courtiers appeared in front of you. The High Lord’s power hits your senses before you could even get a good look at their faces, your eyes are drawn to the violet-eyed male standing in the middle. Your eyes shift to the female on his right and then swept to the even taller winged male on his left. The High Lord was attractive, his feline smile already told you what kind of man he would be. What caught your attention was the winged male, he was the most attractive person you had ever set eyes on. His hazel eyes flickered to meet yours and it took everything in you not to gasp, you didn’t expect his gaze to be so scrutinizing. Rhysand gives a delicate nod to Thesan and his courtiers bow to your High Lord. Thesan returns the nod as you and Callon bow respectfully to the Lord of Night.

Glowing gold and moving with grace, your cousin opened his arms and swept it to gesture to the Palace. “Welcome, Rhysand. Allow me to introduce you to my cousin who happens to be my 2nd in Command.”

A friendly smile graced your lips as you allowed your golden glow to shine through, it was more subdued than Thesan, but you preferred it that way. “Welcome to Dawn Court, High Lord Rhysand. I look forward to getting to know you and your courtiers.”

Rhysand took your hand and pressed a kiss on top, a customary gesture that was a sign of respect to females in your court. The smile he gave you had you fighting a blush that threatened to bleed onto your cheeks. “Please, call me Rhys.”

Thesan introduces Callon and like the tough Captain he was, his greeting was reserved as he sized up the males and female. Rhysand introduced Feyre Cursebreaker and you threw all propriety out the window when you grabbed her hands and thanked her for bringing your cousin back.

Rhysand then gestured to the tall muscular man next to him, “This is Azriel, my spymaster.”

It was then when you noticed the small wisps of shadows that surrounded the tall Illyrian, you did your best not to gawk at them. He was dressed in all-black formal wear, his clothes just as refined as Rhysand and Feyre. The only difference was he was the one strapped with a weapon, from the looks of it something special and much older than you. That handsome man was the shadowsinger, probably the same one that was spying on you a few days before. You’re not sure if he or his shadows know it was you that disrupted its spying, but he showed no signs of recognition as he stepped forward to kiss your hand. You noticed the significant scarring on the tops of his hands and fingers, averting your gaze, you focused on the way his lips pressed onto your skin.

“Lady Y/n,” he said, his voice low and heavenly.

While he wasn’t as outspoken or flirtatious as his High Lord, his hazel eyes held yours in curiosity. It was only broken when Thesan clapped his hands and gestured for everyone to enter the Palace and have lunch before the diplomatic talks started. You fell into step with Feyre who stared up at the wonder of the Palace. Her eyes traveled from the hanging flowers to the bridges and towers of the estate. She tells you that it was beautiful which filled your heart with pride. This was your home, a place that you bled and fought for.

Thesan had used magic to make the dining table smaller, he preferred his meals with guests to be more intimate. It also made it easier to read them if they were in proximity. Thesan and you sat at the ends, a reminder to Rhysand that he was still in your court, and if this bothered him, he said nothing. Callon and Feyre sat by your cousin which left you flanked by Rhysand and Azriel. The Palace conjured chairs suitable for wings for Callon and Azriel, the spymaster nodded in appreciation. With a wave of Thesan’s hand, a feast appears on the table and the smell of roast beef and stir-fried vegetables filled the air. Everyone eagerly dug into the food and compliments from Rhysand had your cousin smiling in thanks.

Casual conversation flowed and it surprised you, this was not what you thought Rhysand and his courtiers were going to act like. You were expecting arrogant bastards, and you bluntly told that to Rhysand’s face. Thesan almost choked on his wine and Callon’s face blanched. Rhysand’s violet eyes widened in surprise, no one had ever spoken to the High Lord of Night like that. Azriel and Feyre looked at you in shock, they couldn’t tell if you meant to be rude or if you were genuinely curious. You innocently looked at Rhysand waiting for a response, no one at the table breathed until a deep and genuine laughter came from Death Incarnate himself. A beat later, the sound of chuckles comes from Azriel.

“In the spirit of keeping up our alliance, I thought it’d be beneficial if we acted more like ourselves instead of the ‘arrogant bastards’ we could be,” said Rhysand, an amused smile on his face.

Content with his answer, you smiled at him and continued to eat completely oblivious to the situation.

Thesan took a deep breath and faced Rhysand. “While my cousin is a strong and competent second-in-command, she has the horrible habit of saying the first thing that comes into her mind. I profusely apologize for her comments, she has much to learn as a courtier. My cousin hasn’t had a lot of experience in court.”

You stopped chewing when you realized how rude your comment sounded. You apologized and Rhysand brushed it off, he told you that it was a smart observation to make. As mortified as Thesan was and embarrassed you were, that conversation ended up making the atmosphere more casual and friendly. You discover that Rhysand is an overconfident flirt, but his advances aren’t disgusting, you find yourself enjoying the banter. It also helped that the true object of his affection was the woman next to him. You had an inkling of his feelings after observing how he looked at her. Feyre was curious and asked many questions, and Thesan answered them patiently. It was Azriel whom you kept stealing glances at, he looked like the quiet type, but his silence was unnerving. His shadows were calm, but you could swear they twitched every time you looked at them.

You were about to ask Azriel about Illyrians, you had never met an Illyrian and you were so curious to ask about his species of faerie when Feyre cleared her throat.

“Were you there Under the Mountain?” asked Feyre. “I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

Rhysand and Azriel leaned in, they’ve been to Dawn Court a couple of times over the past centuries, but they have never seen or heard of you. They were surprised when Thesan introduced you as his second in command, they were usually well updated knowing who held power in the other courts.

“My cousin,” you said as you shot a pointed look at him. “Is like an overprotective mother hen. He didn’t let me make a lot of public appearances in court until I was about 50 years old and whenever we had visitors, he made sure I was off somewhere doing some training or working with the other healers.”

Feyre’s brow furrowed as she looked at Thesan.

“While suffocating at the time, it was what saved me from being trapped Under the Mountain. I had broken my arm during training the day Amarantha invited the High Lords to that party. I didn’t feel like being a courtier, so I didn’t heal myself and used that as an excuse to stay behind. Only a few faeries knew of my existence, so Amarantha and her people never noticed my absence. The day she drugged the High Lords and used the spell, Thesan used the last of his power to put wards up to protect the Palace and send me a note with instructions,” you said as your eyes clouded thinking of the past 5 decades. “I went crazy the first year, the pressure of protecting the estate and the villages around it was too much. Everyone I knew and trusted was Under the Mountain, I was alone for a while. I raged when I realized I couldn’t leave the court for fear something might happen to it while I was gone trying to get my family back.”

You weren’t mad that he was protective when you were young. Yes, it was isolating but you understood why Thesan did what he did. If they knew the true extent of your power, you’d probably have the biggest target on your back. You sipped your wine and looked at your cousin as his remorseful brown eyes stared back at you. The day Thesan winnowed back to the Palace, you held each other and wept. He promised to never leave you alone again.

Azriel studied your side profile as you talked, he took in every curve of your nose, cheekbones, and lips. You were the female that caught his shadows, they practically ran to him in distress because they’d never been detected while spying before. All his shadows told him was it was a female who discovered them, they failed to mention it was Thesan’s 2nd. His eyes traced the jagged scars that did nothing to hinder your elegance. Your beauty rivaled Morrigan, he even dared to think that you may be more alluring than her. He watched you as you told your story, he could see your radiance dim as if the mere thought of the last 49 years had drained you. He could see the pain in your eyes, it was the same thing he felt when Rhys locked them in Velaris. At least Azriel had his family with him, from the looks of it, those closest to you were trapped Under the Mountain.  

“I understand how you feel,” said Azriel.

All heads turned to him; it was the second time he had spoken out loud since arriving in Dawn Court. Amused, Rhys watched his brother lean closer to you as if he was captivated.

“Something similar happened to me, I can’t imagine not having your family there to help you.” He looked at the permanent marks on your skin. “Your scar—was that from one of Amarantha’s creatures?”

A low warning growl comes from Callon as he glared at the Illyrian, how dare he mention your scar. Rhysand almost spit out his food, Azriel was the politest and most well-mannered person in his inner circle. Azriel hated talking about his scars, yet he blatantly asked you about yours, he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Rhys looked at Thesan to see if he was mad, but your cousin was just as curious as how you would respond.

Your fingers went up to trace the jagged lines, and the memory of torn flesh resurfaced. “This happened about 20 years ago, a Bogge was slaughtering faeries in a village. I’m no High Lord but I was the next best thing for my people. I went and hunted for it or-- at least tried to drive it away but I barely made it out alive, if I wasn’t a gifted healer myself, the scarring would be worse.”

“How did you escape it?” asked Feyre, her mouth opened in shock after hearing that you encountered the wretched monster by yourself.

This was when you had to lie and tell half-truths to protect your other identity. You looked at Thesan and he gave a discreet nod.

“The Golden Warrior came just in time to drag me up into the air. Bogge can’t fly so it wasn’t able to reach me. With teamwork and a miracle from the Cauldron, we were able to kill it,” you replied.

Azriel looked at Rhysand, but his brother was already on it. “We’ve heard about your warrior-- the Golden Warrior,” said Rhysand. “We heard this faerie had deadly power, the ability to bring down armies onto its knees.”

All playfulness was gone from Rhysand’s handsome face, his demeanor was all business. Callon bristled at the change in mood, but the High Lord of Dawn just frowned.

Thesan tutted in annoyance. “You could have waited until tonight’s drinks to bring up politics, Rhysand.” He waved his hand, and the table cleared, and tea and pastries filled the space. “Please continue.”

“We were just curious about the Golden Warrior; his power is something that could be useful in the future.”

Thesan squinted at Rhysand. “You know something I don’t know… what is it? You wouldn’t be visiting me if something big had happened. Is Amara…” he trailed off; he didn’t like saying her name. Especially after he watched her kill one of his Peregryn courtiers and plucked the white feathers of their wings. The next day, she wore a feathered dress to dinner just to watch Thesan and his court try to hide their fury.

“The evil queen is dead and will stay dead,” reassured Rhysand. “I just wanted to visit my allies and make sure everything between our courts is okay. If something or somebody like Amarantha pops up again, I want to know if we can depend on Dawn Court to ally your foot soldiers and Peregryn legions.”

Thesan frowned again and looked at Callon who gave him a small nod. You bit down on your tongue before you could say something that would contradict Thesan in front of the visitors. Your cousin does not like conflict, he tried to avoid it at all costs. He looks at each of his guests who look at him expectedly, his gaze reached yours and you glowed a little brighter as if to beg him to say the right thing.

“My court knows how I feel about war but… historically, you know I’ve always been loyal to the solar courts,” said Thesan.

You exhaled in relief and Rhysand’s relaxed demeanor returned. It wasn’t a clear “yes”, but it was much better than outright rejection. After the table was cleared, you offered a tour of the Palace and its grounds. Feyre gladly accepted and Thesan let you take the lead as you walked through the Palace. Staff, visiting nobles, and citizens both winged and non-winged, waved at your group and you waved back. The Night Court would nod and keep quiet, curious to see how your court was run. They decided that while Dawn Court was a little bit more formal, they saw that they had good relations with their people, and parts of the Palace were open for the public to enjoy, such as the library and gardens.

Rhysand was itching to talk about politics so after leading them to Thesan’s office, they walked in before Feyre insisted you finish the tour while the males talked about some stupid hunt, they had attended in Autumn Court a century ago. The Lord of Night gave her a look of longing before everyone parted ways, it was subtle, but you noticed it. Once the doors were shut and you walked a good distance from the door, you looked at Feyre with a sly grin.

“Is there something going on with Rhysand?” you asked casually.

She looked at you in shock, “No! What makes you say that?”

You made your way to show her the bedroom suites her court would be staying at.

“I can feel the attraction, you’re both constantly looking at each other.”

Feyre’s cheeks turned red. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. He’s the most insufferable person I know, I’m not sure how you can handle all that flirting. Besides, I should be the one asking about your obvious interest in Azriel.”

It was your turn to look stunned as Feyre smirked. “I’ve never met a shadowsinger before, it’s hard not to stare at the shadows moving around him. It’s-- unnerving.” You weren’t lying, it was one of the most peculiar things you’ve seen in your life. It didn’t help that he was the most beautiful male you’d ever seen, but his shadow’s movements and his piercing gaze were hard to ignore. You were still mad he got through the wards, you were hoping to talk to catch him off guard one day and ask him about his spying.

You find yourself getting along with the Cursebreaker even though you knew there were ulterior motives for her visit to Dawn Court. The rest of the day was spent roaming around the castle due to Feyre’s “curiosity”, it was tiring but it was better that you were present instead of Feyre going off by herself. It was becoming obvious that they were letting Feyre look for something and used their meeting with Thesan as a distraction.

***

After dinner, you found yourself feeling extremely restless once everyone retired to their rooms. Wrapping a shawl around your shoulders, you walked out of your chambers for a stroll around the Palace. You were making your way to one of the courtyards when you heard a whisper to your right. Looking at the spot, you see this wisp of a shadow and you huffed in annoyance.

“Show yourself,” you commanded, eyes focusing on a spot in the shadows. You couldn’t see anything, but you swear there was a figure somewhere in all that darkness.

Azriel froze, no one ever saw him when he was in the shadows, he was supposed to be undetectable. The High Lord of Night himself couldn’t see Azriel unless the shadowsinger made himself known but somehow, you saw him. Quickly removing the surprised look on his face, Azriel stepped out of his shadows and was met with your calculating gaze. He couldn’t help but think how beautiful you looked under the moonlight.

“Why were you following me?” Your voice was cold, and all traces of the gracious and friendly host were gone.

As smoothly as he could, Azriel said, “I wasn’t following you, I couldn’t sleep so I decided to go for a walk.” Azriel wanted to cringe, he was capable of infiltrating courts, but he was stumbling.

Detecting the blatant lie, your eyebrow quirked up unimpressed by the spymaster’s skills. You sized him up and then jerked your head towards some cushioned seating in the courtyard. “Come and have tea with me, I need to talk to you,” you said already walking away from him.

His footsteps followed you and it was only until he adjusted his wings and settled down on the cushioned seat that you conjured tea and cookies from the kitchen. You prepared your drink in silence, the both of you eyeing each other in anticipation of who would break the silence. He seemed content to sit there, so you sipped some tea before clearing your throat.

“What is the night court doing here, Azriel? Between you and me, I don’t think the three of you came here to talk about alliances and politics.”

His hazel eyes met yours, he didn’t think you’d be so blunt. “What makes you think that?”

“Your shadows,” you said watching the wisps dance behind him. “I caught them looking around the palace, what were you doing?”

He inhaled slowly, keeping his handsome face neutral. “I was just doing reconnaissance. Making sure no surprises were waiting for us in Dawn Court.”

A muscle in your jaw ticked, “My cousin may be stubborn at times, but we have always been loyal to the solar courts. After 50 years of chaos, how would we even have the time or energy to launch an assault on the Night Court? I don’t know how it is back at Night but we’re still rebuilding most of our cities.”

Azriel’s shadows swarmed around him as he guiltily thought about Velaris. How protected his city was from Amarantha’s wrath. “I was just doing my job. I apologize on behalf of Rhysand; we didn’t mean to offend you.”

“I think you were looking for something the other night,” you continued. “You know…you guys can just talk to us, right?”

The shadowsinger shifted in his seat, squirming under your attentive gaze. “We think Dawn Court is hiding something powerful,” he admitted before realizing what he said.

Azriel wanted to slam his head on the table, he couldn’t believe he just said that. He cursed himself for revealing any information, Rhysand had lectured Feyre on how to deflect questions, who knew the spymaster was the one to need a refresher? He looked at you with this renewed sense of realization, there was something different about you. Were you a siren? A witch? He was the best spymaster in all of Prythian and here he was spouting whatever came into his head. Even if this was his first time meeting you, Azriel felt as if he could trust Dawn Court’s second-in-command.

Fuck. They know we’re hiding something, you thought. Stirring more honey into your tea, you forced yourself to be nonchalant.

“That’s quite an accusation, shadowsinger,” you said coolly. “Something that you shouldn’t repeat in front of Thesan if you want a solid answer for our allyship.”

 This must have been the strangest situation you’ve been in in a while. You and Azriel stared at each other, gazes burning, waiting to see who would reveal their secrets. The visible scars on his hands and wings told you that he has been a warrior his entire life. He was probably the most dangerous faerie you’ve ever met. This male had infiltrated the Palace and spied on you, that act alone should have pissed you off and made you hostile towards the male, but it didn’t. You were only intrigued by the handsome faerie in front of you.

Azriel smirked, “So, you’re not denying that Dawn Court is hiding something?” His voice came out in a taunting purr.

You think about the glamoured sapphires around your neck and the wings that hide beneath your skin, of that dark power that you have. This was why Thesan spent decades hiding you, so other courts and faeries weren’t going to be sneaking around and finding ways to utilize your gifts.

With a bored huff, you lean on the palm of your hand. “We have nothing to hide, Azriel. I think everyone’s just a little on edge after what happened Under the Mountain, scared that someone like Amarantha is going to wreak havoc on our frail country. We’re all feeling vulnerable which is why I think we should call it a night. Politics should be discussed with everyone present in a meeting room, not over tea and cookies.”

The shadowsinger doesn’t respond for fear he would say something stupid again. You had found a way to graciously end what could have been an ally-ending conversation and he was thankful. Who knows what he could have said, he might have even revealed the existence of Velaris or irritated Dawn Court’s 2nd to the point of no return. He stood up and gave you a courteous bow, but not without taking one last look at the strangely magnetic fae with the sharp eyes.

This is going to be an interesting few days you thought as Azriel walked away.

As he sauntered toward the direction of the guest suites, he could swear he could feel your gaze sear through his back. He wished he knew if it was curiosity or if you were imagining driving a knife through his back.

[sirenarts]

“What if elain and azriels love was all they need?”

The last day for elriel month of 2023!!!

Ok let’s just ignore that this isn’t finished even tho today is the last day for elriel month and I really had plans for an entirely different art as a whole🥲

OK SO WOW LOOK ITS OUT BABIESSSSS 😭

So yeah this piece isn’t finished and will most likely be done tomorrow, but you know how it’s kinda late and well I needed to post something for this month. It’s been amazing seeing and reading everything everyone had posted for this month and has honestly been a blast to join in for once! (Despite this not being finished which sucks)

Happy elriel month to all of you✨

[sareeen]

Chocolate cake

Pairing: Azriel x fem!reader

Summary: You are Feyre's sister, the youngest Archeron sibling and when you return home from your run you see that your sister has returned home but not alone. In particular, you are drawn to the silent and mysterious shadow singer.

Warnings: fluff, a little smut, Azriel is just cute and sexy <3

A/N: I have never written anything like this before, so please be nice to me. :D English is not my mother tongue, so don't be angry if there are mistakes in the text. Criticism is welcome, so feel free to write. :)

Something is happening. The sounds of the forest have died away, the birds have stopped too suddenly and the air seems to have become thicker. I began to run faster as the setting sun's rays broke their way through the canopy of the forest trees and illuminated my sweaty skin.

Running usually calmed me down. After my sister Feyre decided to go back to Prythian, I had to do something to get out of the house. Away from my other two sisters, the aristocratic elite and our father. But most of all, away from loneliness.

Feyre was the only person in my life who really loved and cared for me. We had been inseparable since we were little girls, and our impoverishment only strengthened our bond. Many people in the village referred to us as twins because we did everything together - sometimes moving in sync as if we were performing a well-rehearsed choreography.

My legs, shaking with fatigue, began to slow as soon as I saw our house. It was almost completely dark, so light filtered through the windows of the house, shining on the freshly fallen snow. My breath billowed in the air like a thick mist and I got goosebumps from the biting cold that hit my almost completely naked torso, covered only by a tiny sports bra. I hated running in a jacket, so even in winter I wore only long trousers and this bra. Nesta was furious every time she saw me like this.

"A lady can't run in clothes like that, Y/N," she shouted after me the last time. Like I was a lady. This was the furthest thing from my mind, after having spent my teen years starving and as a servant in the houses of people I now meet at balls.

A shiver ran through me as I walked up the stairs to the front door. However, it wasn't the cold that made all my hairs stand on end, but some primal instinct to get out of there as soon as possible. I shook my head to shake this silly warning out of it and went in. I walked quietly down the corridor and when I glanced at the clock in the lounge, I cursed softly to myself. I was late for dinner again. Nesta will certainly have my head for this and tomorrow I'll be the new ornament in her room.

Sighing, I headed for the dining room, knowing that I wouldn't get away with the scolding anyway, so I'd better get it over with sooner. The sound of cutlery died away as my footsteps were heard, and I braced myself for the piercing stares. However, instead of four pairs of eyes, twelve were looking at me. Stunned, I stopped at the sight, but what really caught my attention was Feyre.

"Y/N," she rose from her chair. With bated breath, I watched as she nervously tucked her hair behind her ears, showing off her pointy ears. Fairy ears. Her hands were covered in tattoos, taller and radiating a pulsing power that made you want to bow to her. I, however, stood frozen and watched as my sister stepped to me and pulled my petrified body to her. It took me a few seconds to realize what was happening, but within moments I was hugging her back and now I was squeezing harder.

"Feyre," I whispered in a hoarse voice and tears ran from my eyes. "You're back."

"Yes, I'm here," she murmured. "Just in a different way."

I pushed myself away to see her face. Her grey-blue eyes sparkled with joy, but I also saw a hint of fear.

"Are you all right?" I asked, and then started to turn her back and forth. "Are you hurt? What happened to you to turn you into a fairy?"

Feyre chuckled, then stopped me.

"I'm fine Y/N," she replied, taking my hand and leading me to the table. That's when I saw the three men.

The one Feyre now sat next to had purple eyes and black hair. His watchful gaze swept over me, and all I could think was that I had probably never seen a more beautiful man. The corner of his mouth twitched, and even though my gaze glided on to the next fairy sitting across the table, I could see Feyre giving him a warning glance, but I didn't have time to think about it much.

The long-haired man grinned and even waved, before Nesta started to snort like an angry cat. I turned to my sister with raised eyebrows and smiled faintly. It seemed I had found a partner, because so far I was the only one who could get that reaction out of my sister. My eyes flicked back to the man and I was shocked to discover the wings behind him.

Good Great Mother, it's not a fairy, it's a bat.

The previous man was already grinning too, but I forgot all about everyone else at the sight of the third fairy. I was wrong before, because the first man wasn't the most beautiful, he was. The third man was not handsome, but downright beautiful. His beautifully cut, golden brown eyes were measuring as a lock of raven black hair fell into his forehead. His black battle dress couldn't hide his muscular, tall body and his huge wings made him even more intimidating.

"Y/N," Nesta's sharp voice pulled me back to reality. "Sit down."

I automatically walked to the other side of the table and sat down on the head of the table. Right between the purple-eyed one and the long-haired one.

"Y/n, this is Rhysand the Lord of the Night Court," she pointed to the man sitting next to her, who greeted me with a nod of his head. "And this is Cassian," the long-haired one held out his hand, whereupon I hesitantly took it and squeezed. This brought a smile to his face. Up close, his face was rougher, with scars in a few places and a thicker nose in one, probably from a fracture, but he was still manly handsome.

"Welcome," he greeted me in a kind voice, and I smiled.

"And this is Azriel," Feyre finally finished, pointing to the man sitting next to the frightened Elain.

Azriel. What a beautiful name.

"Welcome to our home," I told them. Nesta, however, did not calm down.

"Our sister and her friends, they have come to visit us because they need our help," she shared with me, her eyes almost sparkling. Feyre gulped nervously and glanced towards me, causing me to smile reassuringly.

"What do you need?" I asked. Rhysand stopped eating and turned to me, his violet eyes gleaming like tiny stars.

"We'd like to send a letter to the mortal queens, because we'd like to meet them," he took his glass in an elegant gesture and took a sip of wine, but didn't take his eyes off me. "We need a place to meet them and your home would be the best place to do that."

"And what's the obstacle to that?"

This was probably where my eldest sister's thread broke, because she jumped up. At this movement Azriel tensed and reached to his side, probably for his knife. Nesta walked over to Elain and put her hand on his shoulder. I followed his example, only I stepped behind Feyre.

"Dangerous," she hissed, like a snake. There was a fury in her grey-blue eyes, now directed straight at me. "We can't allow it, especially with Elain's wedding coming up.

"Yes, we can," I replied, and I was getting angry too. "Our sister has done a lot for us. Now it's time to return the favour."

Nesta pondered my words for a while. A tense atmosphere swept the dining room, and finally Nesta nodded.

"All right," she said. "But if we have any trouble with this, you'll pay for it." She pulled Elaine up from her chair and they stormed out, probably to their room.

"Seriously, only Nesta could be such an idiot as to threaten four elves," I muttered, rolling my eyes.

Feyre's soft hand touched my arm.

"Y/N," she squeezed me gently. "What's that on your back?"

I knew what she was talking about. The scars had healed, but the marks on my skin from that afternoon were there forever. I remembered the mocking smiles, the shouting and the crack of the whip. The pain that burned down my back every time they struck.

"I was whipped in the square two months ago," I said softly.

Tears welled in Feyre's eyes, then she stood behind me to get a better look. My eyes met Azriel's. There was something in his eyes that I couldn't decipher. He looked away first, opened his wings slightly, then closed them again.

"Can you guys really fly?" the question burst out of me, and then I felt a blush flood my cheeks as Azriel returned his gaze to me. He looked a little surprised, but he answered.

"Yes."

I gasped and my stomach lurched at the sound of his voice. It was deep - and like the most velvety silk. I closed my eyes in embarrassment, thinking how much I wanted to hear him as he lay on top of me and pressed me into the mattress. As he kisses every inch of my body. And while he's inside me and our sweaty bodies press together. As if they weren't my own thoughts, but I was so embarrassed that I stepped away from Feyre and after wishing them a good night, I hurried to my room.

I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, a pair of golden brown eyes looked back at me. Distraught, I kicked off the covers and decided to go down to the kitchen and steal some sweets. Chocolate cake has always helped me think.

The wooden floor creaked under my feet as I stepped into the kitchen and took a slice of cake. When I turned around I gave a soft cry. Azriel was sitting at the table with a surprised look on his face, as if he hadn't expected me to suddenly appear in the kitchen.

I can understand that, it's two in the morning, I thought to myself as I glanced at the clock.

"What are you doing here?" I asked as I took a seat opposite him. His eyes followed my every move.

"I'm just going to go over the letter one more time to make sure everything is in there," he cleared his throat.

I took a bite of cake just as Azriel dropped the paper on the table and rubbed his eyes.

He's tired.

With a sudden idea, I jumped up and took another fork from the drawer and handed it to him. He stared at me, startled, and finally took it from me carefully. Our fingers touched, and it was as if a spark had passed between us. I had noticed the scars on his hands at dinner, but up close they looked even more brutal.

I pushed the bowl towards him to take a bite.

"Chocolate cake always makes you feel better."

He carefully stuck a piece on his fork and popped it in his mouth.

"Thank you," he said softly, his golden brown eyes shining like stars. We ate in peaceful silence for a few minutes, then he broke the silence. "Whoever did that to your back is a monster. You have nothing to be ashamed of but him."

The fork fell from my hand in dismay, dropping loudly on the table. My throat tightened, but I tried to swallow the lump that had formed in it.

"I know," I whispered, and then before I could stop myself, I started to tell the story. "It wasn't me who was going to be flogged, it was Nesta. I merely took over for her because I knew she would never be able to live with her back looking like that." I pointed to my back, feeling my face burn.

Azriel put his hand on the table and leaned closer to me. His scent crept into my nostrils, making me dizzy and alive at the same time. My heart began to beat faster and I was sure he knew what he had triggered in me. I closed my eyes in shame and tried to control my emotions.

"You're very brave," he said. "And self-sacrificing. It seems to run in your family."

"What do you mean?" I asked, puzzled, but he just shook his head.

"Nothing."

When our eyes met, my heart skipped a beat, the way he looked at me. His eyes were now like curdled caramel and something sparkled in them. I felt an irresistible urge to lean closer to him and wrap my arms around his muscular shoulders and kiss him, pushing my way into his hair. To sit on his lap and feel his body swelling with strength beneath me.

His shadows were swaying, just like Azriel's breath, and before I could catch my breath, I was up on the chair, reaching over and grabbing his top to pull him to me.

I kissed him.

As soon as I felt his soft lips on mine, I felt an even more intense heat that was now almost unbearable. Azriel froze for a moment, but then groaned and deepened the kiss. His mouth pressed fiercely to mine, then he put one hand on the back of my head and, still kissing me, rose to pull me over to him and sit me on his lap. I felt my heart skip a beat as his tongue slid into my mouth and gently intertwined with mine. Azriel grabbed my thigh and pushed me hard against his lap as I moaned into his mouth and grabbed his hair firmly.

"Your sister would kill me if she knew what we are doing" he panted as he pulled away for a second to let us both catch our breath. His eyes were misty with lust and I was pretty sure I looked the same way.

"Probably, but who cares?" I asked, but I was halfway through mumbling the words into his mouth, because in the meantime our mouths were twisting together again. Azriel's deep, hoarse chuckle rippled through my body and I smiled. He took my face in his hands and kissed me more slowly now, more gently. It was sweet, a kiss I'll never forget until the day I die.

I bit gently into his bottom lip before he groaned and slipped his hand under my top, onto my naked back. I tensed as he stroked my scars, but he just murmured reassuringly.

"You're beautiful," he whispered and kissed my neck, right where my pulse was pounding. "Never be ashamed of them. Think of them as a painting that shows what you've survived."

I nodded, teary-eyed, and stroked his soft curls. His pouty lips curled into a warm smile and he was about to say something, when a voice came from somewhere deep inside the house.

"Azriel, time to patrol."

Azriel didn't take his eyes off me for a moment, he just pressed a kiss to my lips without a sound.

"We'll finish this one day, Y/N," he said, then pulled me off his lap. With trembling legs, I watched as he strode towards the door, but before he turned around. His eyes, glowing with desire, promised much, which made my stomach turn and I could have sworn something seemed to caress my cheek. "Maybe not when I return, but sometime in the future and I'll show you how beautiful every inch of you is."

With that promise he left.