I was inspired by the lovely little snippet we received this morning. Thus, this thing occurred. It’s a little cracky probably, but alot of fun to do so enjoy!
Azriel landed in the camp with a woven basket in his hands. Elain baked for Nesta and Cassian, requesting he delivered soon as they were ready. Who was he to resist the pleading way she asked and the warmth in her brown eyes when she looked up at him. No matter the task, those eyes always caused him to cave. So here he stood, making his way through the camp. No one approached him as he moved. Young Illyrians on his left kept watchful eyes while sparring. A few women up ahead on his right, nodding as they worked. Cassian and Nesta lived slightly beyond the camp. A secluded cabin roughly fifty feet away.
As he edged the end of the camp, A firm hand dropped on his shoulder, "Devlon?" Az questioned.
"I wouldn't go there if I were you Shadowsinger," he replied in greeting.
"Fortunately for me, I don't answer to you." he retorted.
At that, Devlon pulled, cutting him a sharp look, "Fine, go if you wish. That's your funeral. Not mine."
"They're fighting again?"
"Oh no," an exasperated laugh came from the elder Illyrian, fingers rubbing at his temples, "Surprised you don't know if I'm honest." Azriel raised his brows, fixing a questioning look in Devlon's direction, a muted demand to continue, "They accepted the bond. Haven't left the cabin in almost five days." Oh. Azriel tightened his grip on the basket, starring ahead at the cabin. "If I were you, I'd leave that basket on the doorstep or come back another day. You boys never heeded my warnings in the past; why start now." with that, he took his leave—allowing Azriel to sift through his thoughts.
The spymaster had three options.
Leave right now, go back to Elain and explain. She'd be elated they accepted the bond. Both he and Elain believed it existed between the two. For it to be confirmed, she would be ecstatic. Az also knew deep down. He couldn't fail her. These goods had to be delivered. Today. Right now.
As Devlon instructed, for the second option, drop them off by the door, which was the wisest of the three choices. It would be the smart thing to do. Maybe even knock. So the mating pair would stop. Hopefully, pick up his scent, Elain's, or just the smell of her baking and get the basket. The issue here was, what if the basket sits out here longer than intended. What if bugs got to them. Or the warm rolls hardened, becoming stale. Then all of the seer's hard work would've been for nothing. That wouldn't do. No, that wouldn't do at all, forcing Azriel to do the foolish option. Failing Elain was not a choice.
The final option, to enter the cabin, braces himself for whatever may ensue. Cassian made a joke after Feyre and Rhys' mating. Rhys nearly tore his head off for it. Here Azriel was, readying to waltz in while Nesta and Cassian were up to cauldron knows what. He let out a silent prayer to any god that might be listening. To save him from seeing Cassian balls deep in Elain's sister. He was going to need a drink or several after this. He had a plan slip in via shadows, drop the basket on a counter, and leave. They didn't have to see him; he didn't have to see them. Elain owes him big time for this.
Breathing in deeply then out slowly, Azriel summoned his shadows. The basket began to slip under the sweaty grasp of his palm, causing him to strengthen his hold. His pulse and heart thundering nervously in anxiousness. Gut churning wondering if he would survive the next few minutes or if he would be torn apart by the two. "Why me" is all he spoke to himself as he stepped into the darkness, disappearing in a cloud of darkened shadows.
It took mere seconds for him to land in the living room. Or what's left of it. If he didn't know they were mating, the entire threshold looked as if rogue Illyrians had ransacked the cabin. Everything seemed to be in disarray. Discarded clothes, books, scattered papers, hell, even the damn furniture was moved. He wondered if there was any spot in the cabin that their bare bodies didn't touch. Azriel quickly shook the disturbing thought away. It was a question better left unanswered. Damn his senses. Right now, he wished he couldn't smell at all. The sweat riddled, heady scent of arousal. It was blanketing him like a cloud of smoke. The sounds, mother's tits, the fucking noises. Desperately he tried to create noises in his mind loud enough for him to block out incoherent noises of feminine moans, Nesta commanding him to go deeper, harder, she's so close, just like that. Oh, gods, just like that. Yes, yes, yes. Cassian with a husky, deep throated groan, talking of how good she feels, you like that sweetheart, fuck, oh gods, Nesta, Nesta, Nesta. Azriel noticed the silver glint, a blade on the counter, and thoroughly contemplated stabbing himself. At the least, slicing his ears off, possibly his nose. Anything to rid him of this nightmare he stupidly put himself in.
Set the basket down and leave. That's all he had to do. Unfortunately, the counter closest that had space was on the opposite side of the room, in the kitchen.
The lustful, pitched pantings followed him, like a cursed lullaby, as he carefully toed into the kitchen. Again pots, pans were scattered. As if one of them started to cook, then mating instincts took over. Indeed Az was happy for the male he considered a brother in every way but blood. He didn't want to be here, but this was for Elain. Maybe even them, to keep them eating while they gave into the primal call of their bond. At that moment, Azriel made it to the counter. The noises ceased, thank the blessed cauldron. Now the room was still, silent as a shadow. Quick and quiet, he could do this. As a Shadowsinger, this was what he knew. What he was best at. Gently, Az eased the basket onto the counter. Pushing it back, so it's not sitting on the edge. When he did, the basket hit some cups, causing a clang that rang through the house. He winced, summoning his shadows to get him the hell out.
Before he could completely vanish, a dagger cut through a tendril of cool shadows. Azriel snapped his attention to Cassian. He's witnessed many emotions on his brother's face before. He's seen looks that made faes and men alike quiver, a fiery rage, killing calms, and everything in between. Azriel never feared those looks standing on the same side of him. Now. he felt it. He wasn't sure what looked at him was wholly Cassian, a raging sneer on his face, nostrils flaring, the corner of his mouth turned up as he snarled.
"Get out." he gritted through his teeth, keeping his jaw clenched as he stalked, silent and deadly to Azriel.
Azriel put his hands up in defense. "Hey brother, I'm just dropping things off, a uh, mating gift from Elain."
Nesta came around the corner, hair wild and unbound. At least she had the common decency to throw a robe on, unlike Cassian, who stood there bare in the flesh with murderous intent. Nesta curled her arms around his middle, pulling him back, "Stop, you winged territorial brute." Nesta slipped under his wing, standing in his way. Hands-on her hips, Cassian angled his arm in the space between her arm and waist. His wing pulling over Nesta, shielding her from the sight of Azriel, "You're being ridiculous ."
Azriel felt the crackling energy of the bond, like twin flames heating the entire area. He watched the intense gaze between the two how Cassian's grip flexed, holding onto her. Feeling uncomfortable, Az coughed to break up whatever silent communication they were having. It was Nesta who turned first.
"What are you doing here? And how did you get in?"
Azriel nodded to the basket, "Elain baked." he looked down at his boots before returning to her attention, "Shadows. I can get into places. A part of the profession."
"Clearly."
There was a tense silence around them. Az knew if he left, Cassian would chase him. He wasn't sure what exactly to say either with how protective Cassian was at the moment. Azriel expected it to a degree, not like this. As if he made one step to Nesta, Cassian wouldn't hesitate to kill him. The calming attempt didn't work; he tried a new approach.
"The bond kicked into place, I see. And you cooked for him?"
Nesta snorted, "Please. I told him the only meal I'll serve him is myself."
Az's brows rose to his hairline, "and it worked?"
"Clearly," she responded. Cassian laughed then. His grip on Nesta remained though the wing pulled up.
Azriel glanced around at them, the mess in the kitchen, the living room. He didn't want to know what the other rooms looked like. This method seemed to be working, so he continued. Azriel chuckled. "You two need a chaperone up here? The place is a mess."
"No, we don't. In about five minutes, I'm going to take Nesta against that wall," Cassian pointed directly behind Azriel, "Tell Elain thanks, and if you come back again…" he warned.
"Got it. Send Elain or myself a letter when it's safe. I'm going to go." Azriel summoned his shadows once again.
"Good idea brother," Cassian didn't look his way, heat in his eyes as he stared into Nesta, already hoisting her up around his waist.
Azriel didn't hesitate to disappear into the cool darkness. He couldn't wait to get back to Velaris and far, far away from this cabin.
