AN: Sorry I couldn’t add the keep reading cut off on mobile it’s a bit long.
Azriel had gotten permission to take the middle Archeron sister on a mission with him. It was low threat work and Montevere was made for her. It had rolling hills, exotic flowers and surrounded by water and forest, it was truly breathtaking. It was their fourth day here and they were doing some light treading in the forest. He had to make a more detailed map for his spies of the path leading to the waterfall.
He was in his Illyrian leathers with just light weapons. He could see Elain glancing over at him every so often from the corner of her eye before biting her lip and looking away. It shot his nerve for some reason, making him self conscious. They strolled in companionable silence. Occasionally he’d lend his hand to help her climb over fallen stumps and rocky boulders. Those brief touches heated him to the core. He couldn’t deny that their time spent together here created an even closer bond between the two. He almost forgot she was mated to another and he was supposed to be in love with the same female he had been for the last 500 year. Though as the day passed his affections for Mor became more of an afterthought. God he was incorrigible. A bastard really.
He heard Elain let out a sharp gasp and he came to attention and he saw a majestic bird fly overhead. It had every colour of the rainbow on its feathers.
“It’s stunning.” Her voice laced with awe. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” The smile that tug on his own lips was instantaneous, though it had nothing to do with the bird but the female at his side.
“They are known as Laetus avem. They are one of the few species that mate for life and said to be unable to survive without their partner. A lot of them die from sadness from such a loss” He gazes up at the sky too and analyse them with interest.
Elain’s hands covered her mouth with emotion and continues to stare at them with wonder
“The coloured ones are actually males whereas the females tend to have a deep blue colouring. Sorry I’m rambling.” He apologised a faint blush covering his cheeks as Elain surveyed him from head to toe, a strange look crossing her face, his shadows weaves closer to him from the sight.
“This whole trip has just made me realise how amazingly smart you are and how brilliant your mind is.” She said, flashing him one of her heart stopping smile. The colour on his cheeks deepened even further. He ducked his head in embarrassment, not used to such a compliment. Shrugging his shoulder he tucks his hands in his pocket.
“It’s just a bunch of random stuff bouncing around in there.” He said sheepishly.
“I could spend hours picking your brain apart.” She said playfully. “The things you know is so fascinating.” He didn’t know what to do with himself from all the compliments.
“Thank you.” He said curtly. “You’d be one of the few people.” He said rather sardonically.
“You’re wrong.” She said stubbornly. That’s another thing that surprised him about Elain, her resolution. His attention wavers to a doe in the distance. His hand curls around Elain’s bicep, bringing her to a halt as he quietly motions towards the small animal, grazing. Her eyes grow even larger. They are enraptured by as it brambles around before releasing a distressed sound, it stumbles back to the safety of its mother.
Its only a short journey before they reach the waterfall. The force of the water crashing below fills their ears. The scent of minerals and earth laces the air. Sunlight streams through the canopy of the trees and butterflies flutter in the breeze. It’s an oasis, like something straight out of a dream. For once Elain seems at a loss for words. She walks around the ice blue water, taking it all in. His wings rustle behind him, unwittingly, her beauty in contrast to the little slice of paradise surrounding them. His thoughts flicker for a second and he briefly wonders if he is actually dreaming.
“Shall we go in for a dip?” She has the most downright sinful look plastered on her face right. She was already unlacing her shoes and dipping her toes in, her gown hiked up slightly, exposing her ankles and calves, that alone had his heart racing he couldn’t bear anymore skin showing. Satisfaction covers her features at the cooling sensation.
“You go ahead. I have work to do first.” She pouts at him slightly before huffing and starting the process of unlacing her dress. His eyes widened slightly as she starts pulling it down, he turns on his heels so fast that he almost stumbled. He busies his hands with his satchel and starts absentmindedly marking things down, finding it very hard to concentrate as he hears splashing and sounds of ecstasy escaping Elain’s lips. It takes all his years of training in self control to not turn around and just go to her with reckless abandon.
He manages but barely as he continues his work for a good half an hour. Elain’s lilting voice breaks him out of his revere.
“Az, c’mon. It’s not as fun without you here.” The muscles in his back tense and he peers over his shoulder at her. Bad idea, Azriel. He swears expletives in his head, taking the glistening sight of her. The water is up to her shoulders and her hair hangs in damp tendrils, the shade a touch darker. The restraint he’s notorious for is torn to shreds and lays in tatters at his feet as he starts unlacing his own boots.
A sound of delight escapes her mouth and she splashes around some more. He works at tunic next and Elain suddenly falls silent, which shots his frazzled nerves more. The expanse of his tanned chest exposed, he watches Elain do that thing she was doing earlier where should would glance at him and bite her lip. It made him have downright dirty thoughts, things he had no such business in even entertaining.
He removes his leathers next, he expects Elain to turn away with a blush on her cheeks but she continues watching with a dark glint in her eye. He’s never been the self conscious type but right now he’d will his shadows to reveal all the secrets and thoughts that were running through her mind. Only in his undershorts he glides into the water, stopping inches from Elain. Her caramel eyes reveal nothing yet everything at the same time. He realises she’s only in a white shift which is transparent now. He does his best not to stare, the blood roaring in his ears is deafening.
“Hi.” She utters, small smile on her face, peeking at him through her lashes.
“Hi.” He replies, the answer rumbling deep from within his chest, making his voice sound husky. Amusement glimmers in his hazel depths. They swim around each other for a while, just revelling in the sounds of nature around them. At one point Elain’s damp hair brushed against his chest and he thought his heart might actually jump out of his chest. It didn’t escape her notice though.
“You’re so restless today, Az.” She had a mischievous smile on her lips. He merely arched a brow in response to her, praying she didn’t put it together that she was the reason he was so tense. Her finger traced the delicate edge of his wing and he sucked in a deep breath.
“These especially. They won’t stop rustling.” Her voice laced with ponderment. He felt her body shift closer, till he could practically feel the heat of her chest against his back. Those clever fingers not relentling on their deliciously, tortuous journey.
“So beautiful.” She said absentmindedly. He felt her fingers trace the scars from the night he saved her. His was practically heaving now, fist clenched at his side, the muscle in his jaw twitching. She was heading towards dangerous territory, he was fighting to keep his desire at bay. They traced the upper part of his wing and there was no mistaking the anguished moan that escaped through his lips.
He flipped around so fast, she didn’t have didn’t have time to react as he grabbed the wrist that was inflicting such excruciating pleasure to him. His eyes were dark and damn near unreadable but there was no hiding the effect she had on him, as his briefs strained to contain him, the wet fabric clinging tightly to every inch.
“Enough.” He whispered in a guttural tone. Her eyes widened at the sight of him, his own features were laced with devastation. They stood at a standoff for what felt like hours before she took a hesitant step toward him, like he was some wounded animal that would easily scare off. Her eyes never left his, the colour like molten honey as they pierced through his soul, until each crevice of his black soul was mixed with her golden.
“Elain.” He warned, surveying her warily but that seemed to motivate her more. She rested her hand above his heart while the other one cupped his cheek, her thumb gently caressing his jaw. His eyes fluttered shut for a brief second and that was all it took as something whizzed through the air. The arrow pierced through his wing and the roar he released scared off all life surrounding them.
“Azriel!” Elain screamed, fear coating her voice.
The second one just missed him by inches. He pulled Elain roughly to him, shielding her as he tried to reach the shore where his weapon and their clothes lay. He felt a second arrow enter his side, he let out a grunt. The were laced with Ash and he could feel it entering his system, slowing his movement. There was no chance he could winnow them out of here now.
He had grabbed Elain’s stuff first and tossed them to her. He had barely managed to slip on his pants when he saw the figures approach them from all sides of the forest. He swore and swiped his Truthteller off the ground. Fuck, so stupid. He was so stupid. He should have never let his guard down and had his weapon on him all the time.
“Run.” He bellowed to her, lacing his fingers through hers as he tugged them towards the only opening. They covered good ground but he was progressively slowing them down, the blood from his wounds started turning black.
“Go, I’ll catch up. I need to take care of him first.” The shooter notching arrows was perched on a tree top.
“Az please.” Elain whimpered. He cupped her face as they come to a stop.
“Trust me.” He whispered to her as their foreheads touched for a split second. Her whole body was laced with pain and fear as she gave him that deep stare again before her eyes shuttered and she nodded, letting out a deep breath.
Though it was excruciating to flap his wings, he did so, swerving the arrows soaring towards him. He looked like an avenging angel sent to deliver death. The soldier's eyes widened as he got within range of him and flung the truthteller straight through his head, right between the brows. His body fell with a thud. Azriel banked on the ground, shaking the forest floor. Icy rage laced his feature but also cold blankness. The promise of death covered his features as he approached the dead body and yanked his blade back out swiftly.
As the rest approached him...those who were smart knew to look at him with fear. His shadows were ferocious, blinding his victims and he finished the job, swiftly and brutally, slicing them with his notorious blade. Hand to hand, he knocked down an army of soldiers. He lost track of how many fell. Everything was starting to blur and he knew that he couldn’t go on like this for much longer.
Azriel was taken off guard as Elain’s chocolate eyes peered out from behind a tree from afar. She was dangerous to him because with that split second of hesitation, someone had him in a chokehold from behind and a knife was dragging through the centre of his chest. He snarled as he was forced on his knees. A hand twisted his, forcing his grip of the truthteller to loosen and it fell to the ground with a clang, along with any hope of him getting out of this alive. A cry of pain got caught in his throat as his fingers were stomped on and then further broken in several places to ensure he wouldn’t be able to do any more damage with his blade. That was only the calm before the storm. Multiple people approached his hunched form. A blow was landed on his head, making his already cloudy head, spin in several directions. He felt something trickle down from his temple and realised it was blood. Even though his head was pounding and was starting to feel like it was filled with cotton, the only thought that kept running through his mind was hope that Elain had escaped from all of this.
He scanned the forest again, spying out where he’d seen her last but was relieved to find there was nothing there anymore. Maybe his Ash induced self was delirious and imagined her face there. He shot his captors a bloodied smile. Azriel had felt pain and torture in his life, this was nothing compared to what his half brothers cooked up for him. They were real sick fucks.
“Well what are you waiting for?” He choked out, spitting blood out while doing so at the mens feet. “I’m not afraid of death.”
Someone grabbed him by the root of his hair and tipped his head back to meet a pair of brown eyes covered by a mask. The person tutted.
“What’s the rush, Shadowsinger.” His own smile was so twisted that something in his stomach lurched.
He made a motion to what was left of his men and with that the two of them grabbed his arms, holding them secure while a third plunged a dagger down his wings shredding it from top to bottom. His hold body seized and strained. He felt like he was on fire. His wings were connected to so many nerves that everything was thumping with agony. He thought he was going to throw up. The scream that escaped his mouth didn’t even sound like him.
“Illyrians ... so sensitive.” The man said with a pleased look on his face. Azriel’s breathing was stunted and ragged.
“Is that all you got?” He choked out. Anger passed over his features before he reared his fist back and with a sickening crunch it met his cheek. From there it was amped up several notches. He didn’t even know what to focus on. The wound on his side and chest was long forgotten about as the integrity of his wings was obliterated. He could barely hold himself up, let alone his head up.
He felt himself drifting in and out of consciousness as more pain was being inflicted upon him. The last bits of his will was slipping away, like sand through his fingers. He found himself embrace his demise and the death awaiting him as more blood trickled out of his mouth, coating his black blade. It was the sound of her sweet, lilting voice that had him fighting to keep his eyes open.
“Don’t you touch my Shadowsinger.” She said it in such a calm voice that it was eerie. He tried to say her name, to get her to go, leave him but all that left his mouth was a bunch of gurgling noises. Her figure was blurry to him but there was no mistaking that scent. He heard the chorus of laughter ring out from the men.
“Is that supposed to scare me?” He scoffed, even the sound of him addressing Elain had his nerve grating and he wanted to rip his off. She merely walked up to where they had him grasped and picked up his fallen blade. The red droplets against the blackness was oddly striking. The man laughed some more.
“Do you even know how to wield that?” A sinister smile crossed the once innocent flower growers face.
“Why don’t we find out?” As quick as a deer, she was in front of him. It was because of the man’s underestimation of the doe eyed women that she plunged the blade into his chest, where his heart lay as seasoned as an Illyrian warrior would. She twisted the blade over and over. She made sure to look in his eyes as she did so.
“Oh...did I forget to mention? I’m the bitch that took down Hybern.” An innocent look was plastered on her features. Then she proceeded to stab his body in numerous places even after it was obvious he was dead. The remaining men all flinched around him, dropping his body after seeing their fellow leader fallen. They couldn’t scramble away from him fast enough. When she was satisfied with the damage she carried out upon the asshole she turned her attention to her Shadowsinger who was barely conscious.
She ran up to his sprawled body, a sob getting choked in her chest. He felt her smooth back his hair, trying to staunch some of his wounds but there was too many. It would be of no use. He would be of no use.
“Go.” He uttered out so weakly he wasn’t sure she even heard him but she had.
“Never.” She said fiercely as tears started falling from her eyes.
“You’re….you’re...wo-worse...th-than...Cassian.” He choked out, trying to lift his mouth in a smile but unable to do so. He heard her a soft laugh in between her tears.
“Sssh...don’t speak. Save that energy.”
“I know, ssh, I know Az.” She tried to lift him in a sitting position and with some grunting and upper body strength she managed to do so.
“I’m going to winnow us out of here.” He wanted to protest but everything around him was starting to fade rapidly. She had never winnowed anywhere let alone trying to get them both to Velaris together but she did exactly that. The last thing he remembers before blacking out completely was Rhys’ voice roaring his name and Cassian hands carrying him through the mansion. All he kept thinking was man... the Madja seriously needed a pay raise.
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