I'm the one who asked if the part of dark thraller you posted ended in a cliffhanger. I just wanted to say I'm excited for the next part after reading the sneak peak you posted but also excited that Elain is friends with the reader and isn't gonna be the bad guy and written super out of character to the point where it feels like she's a different character entirely. (Or where they cheat on the reader with each other cuz I feel like Azriel and Elain would never do that).
Sorry I'm rambling I just have a lot of feelings and opinions about this and a lot of other things. I guess this is a really long and off topic way of saying I actually really love Elaine 💝 (and obviously Azriel or i wouldn't be reading fics about him 😂) and was happy to see in your comment that you do too. It makes me love your writing even more and more excited to see what happens in the next part (or parts I'm not sure how many you planned on writing) of dark thraller 😊
P.s sorry again that this ended up being really long and hope I didn't upset any writers with the first part.
Omg! Hi!
First, I apologize, I have been in a depressive state of avoidance and a major writing block for like a year but I’m FINALLY coming out of it. Well, the writer’s block portion anyway. I recently wrote chapters for two fics in another fandom in order to help warm up my writing fingers and I’m ready to finish this chapter of dark thriller very soon.
Second, I am an Elain lover so this made my day (I love Gwyn too, ofc) 😭 I don’t care who she ends up with so long as she as loved, accepted, and happy and so long as whomever she ends up with is too.
P.s. my new fan cast for her is the actress that plays Francesca Bridgerton 😍
Eris Vanserra never intended to have a one night stand with the daughter of the Shadowsinger, he certainly didn’t intend for it to become a recurrent thing, and he absolutely didn’t intend to fall in love with her.
But the Mother only knows that things never go according to plan. When the sneaky rendezvous between the two is discovered by the Inner Circle, chaos and tension ensue. A bargain is struck between the Autumn and Night Court High Lords under the condition that Spymaster and his daughter are not to be made aware of the details. Unfortunately for Eris, the Night Court has eyes and ears everywhere.
When a particularly nosey (albeit adorable) little Illyrian spreads word of the bargain, Y/N must decide whether this hook-up is worth all of the secrets, and if there could be something more between them.
Pairing: Azriel/Eris/Reader | Rating: G | Word Count: 1121
Read here on AO3 | Neapolitan Bonds Master List
Summary: Your cycle showed up and you hid yourself away in your temporary chambers. Az and Eris are not having it.
A/N: HI!!!! Surprise. For my ACOTAR peeps who have put up with me not posting for forever and then when I did, it was stranger things. I am hoping this year is kinder to me.
You knew your cycle would come eventually. It was only a matter of time before you dealt with it while visiting with your mates. It came the second day of your stay. You didn’t bother to tell them, just declined to sleep in their bed and stayed in your chambers across the hall. They didn’t like it, but they didn’t argue and gave you your space.
The next day, you ended up staying in bed all morning with nausea and a headache. You only got up to use the bathing room and change into a soft green sweater and leggings. Near noon, you requested a servant to retrieve the Healer and have something blander brought in from the kitchens. You should have known they’d also tell your mates you weren’t well. You got back into bed, pressing your fingers to your forehead to try and will away the ache in your skull.
You heard the knob turn and the door was thrown open. You sat up wincing to see Eris wide eyed with panic standing in the doorway. Azriel was right behind him, shadows slinking along the carpet. Eris in his more courtly blue coat and Azriel in (from what you could see) a soft black tunic.
You huffed through your nose, wincing. “What?”
“Isabelle said you were ill and asked for a healer.” Eris’s eyes raked over you but he still didn’t approach.
“I asked for a healer but I’m not ill. I’m fine.” Neither of them responded or moved. “I’m not contagious.”
“You don’t know that,” Azriel muttered.
“I do know that, just go away.”
You really didn’t want to explain it to them. Nor were you in the mood for any more questions. You laid back on your pillows, head throbbing and stomach rolling again.
“Boys. Move.” A female's stern voice came from behind your mates.
You opened an eye and a curly red headed female was beside you. Edith was a younger healer- a few decades older than Eris, but the best in Autumn. She held up a purple vial.
“You’ll want to drink this for the nausea.” She helped you sit up. You downed it quickly- wincing at the taste. She had handed you another vial from her white apron. “This should ease your pain for a few hours.”
“Only a few?” It was Eris who asked with a glare, based on his tone.
Edith ignored him. The other vial tasted a little better.
“Drink you some tea,” she added and held up two extra vials. “I’m going to leave these here. If you still feel unwell by nightfall, take them.”
“Thank you,” you said softly, already feeling the tension in your eyes ease.
“You did not answer my question, Edith.”
“You know as well as I potions only do so much. Think with your mind, not your mating bond.” She walked over to him. Even being over a head shorter, she still looked him up and down, her curly hair swaying as her head moved while she did so. “You could put those hands to use and help your mate instead of fussing at me.”
Eris and Az stepped aside and watched her leave, confusion etched in their faces. It wasn’t until a shadow swirled around Azriel’s head that his expression changed.
“Oh.” His wings tucked in tighter.
“Oh?” Eris turned to him.
“It’s um,” Az peered around at you, looking for permission to continue.
“I’m on my cycle,” you rolled your eyes. “I wasn’t going to bother you both about it.”
“Oh.” Eris’s face scrunched up.
You furrowed your brows. “If you both are disgusted then leave.”
“I’m not disgusted,” Eris replied quickly, clearly offended at the implication. “I only have brothers and a male mate for a decade. I forgot it was something that happened.”
“I wish that was me,” you laughed but it sounded hollow.
“Is it always this bad?” Az asked.
“No,” you laid back, putting your arm over your eyes to block out the light. “Maybe? I never remember.”
You heard soft steps on the carpet. You pulled back your arm and Eris was beside you. He’d shed his coat and was now only in his loose white shirt. He sat on the bed beside you and brushed his fingers along your forehead.
“Do you want me to help?”
“How?” You were getting sleepy with the pain in your head gone.
“Warm hands.”
He put his palm against your forehead, a pleasant warmth radiating from it. You hummed and closed your eyes. After a moment he went back to rubbing his fingers above one of your brows.
You yawned but didn’t open your eyes. “Is it strange if I ask for you to put your hand on my stomach?”
“No. Move over for me.”
You moved to lay on your side in the middle of the bed. You felt the covers lift and Eris curled his body against your own. You sighed once he slipped his hand under the band of your leggings and rested it on your lower stomach.
“Why have I never thought to ask you to do this before?” You whispered. “You’re doing this every time.”
“Gladly.”
After a moment, you heard the door knob turn again.
“Az?” You opened your eyes and sat up a little. “Az, don’t go.”
He was at the door, hand on the knob still. He tucked his wings in tight and looked back at you.
“There isn’t much I can help you with, baby.”
You pouted. “You can still cuddle.”
”That bed is not big enough for the three of us.”
“Please?” You felt Eris let out a soft laugh behind you. “Just for a little bit?”
Even in the dim lighting you could tell Az rolled his eyes. There was silence for a moment, and he sighed. You grinned when he let go of the door knob and walked over to you. You laid your head back down and he lifted the covers to climb into the bed. You put your arm around him when he scooted in close.
“If my wings get a cramp I will hold you responsible,” he said with no bite in his tone. You hummed and he kissed the top of your hair. “Happy?”
”Very.”
You don’t know how long the three of you laid there, but with your nausea gone, you were suddenly very hungry. Az and Eris agreed to have something brought in but only if you moved to their chambers. You also had to promise to never try and hide from them again. You agreed. If anything, it was the easiest trade you’d ever negotiated and very much worth the extra apple tart Az had the shadows sneak out of the kitchens.
Rhys returns from under the mountain and Azriel’s life is changed forever as a bond snaps with the female his brother brings back with him. After an unexpected pregnancy is revealed, Azriel strives to show his mate just how much she and their child mean to him. Please read warnings below.
Bonus Chapter/Part 2
Warnings: discussion of rape and S/A, pregnancy resulting from rape, mentions of trauma, language, mention of pregnancy termination
“We should get up. My stomach’s growling.”
“And I thought it was just the little one chatting with my shadows.” Azriel teased, flushing beneath her gaze as his scarred fingers traced lightly over the growing swell of her abdomen, becoming more apparent by the day. He’d been nervous touching it for the first time, like he’d desecrate that precious life force growing underneath with his hands that had inflicted so much pain. But the way her eyes lit up the first time he touched it, he never wanted to forget the feeling of love and joy radiating into him through that newfound bond. It was beautiful - made him feel worthy of helping raise the beautiful life she was bringing into the world.
Though her stomach growled again, she made no move to get up, and by the way her hands were holding onto him, Azriel knew better than to go retrieve a plate from the House of Wind’s kitchen for her. So he sent a shadow beneath the door to see if Nuala or Cerridwen were there and if they could bring leftovers in, that is if Cassian and Mor hadn’t devoured the entire breakfast already.
“How’s she doing?” Rhys asked into his mind.
“Better than some days but not great, Rhys.”
There was a pause before Rhys’ guilty voice reentered his conscious.
“She’s the most selfless person I know, Az. I’m glad you two have eachother. But if she needs anything, if you need anything, let me know.”
And she was. Selfless in a way that Azriel couldn’t fathom. Selfless in a way that made his gut churn, a way he wanted to roar at the moon and the stars, and anyone who would listen. Selfless when she should have never had to be. She was bright and radiant and kind. The world looked at her and saw ethereal sunshine, walking starlight, unfathomable beauty both inside and out. But there was darkness and pain there too, so buried down deep that only Azriel could feel it in the middle of the night as whimpers disrupted her sleep.
So many nights Rhys would have to come in and cradle her mind, send her soothing thoughts and visions of anything beautiful that could mask the perils that haunted her dreams.
Azriel hated himself for it, the jealousy. He wished he could soothe her in that way but no matter how much love he sent through their bond, that darkness rooted itself so deeply within her that sometimes it took significant power from Rhys to reach it.
As if Rhys wasn’t already fighting his own trauma and waging against the insurmountable guilt he carried after being under the mountain, plus worrying about Feyre in the Spring Court. And that wasn’t to say Y/N was a burden in any way, though she felt she was. It killed Azriel to see both his mate and his brother fighting so much grief and not being able to do anything about it.
She’d have been better suited to be Rhysand’s mate than Azriel’s own by their intertwined traumas, by their ability to put themselves aside for a better world. Azriel, of course, fit into this court of dreamers but she… despite only being here for such a short period of time, she was the biggest dreamer of them all.
Another rumble from her stomach snapped Azriel out of his thoughts, mentally noting to Rhys, “She could use breakfast.”
“I’ll send some for both of you. You need to take care of yourself too.”
Azriel smelled the salt of her tears before he saw the silver lining her eyes. Propping himself up on an elbow, draping a wing over her, he began to ask softly, “Hey-“. Her head immediately shaking and she choked on the word, “No.”
“Baby, I know what you’re thinking and it’s not a burden. He just wanted to know if you needed anything.”
She took a few deep breaths, willing away those tears. “He doesn’t have to check on me. It’s my f-“
“Stop that. Listen to me, I’m always here to listen to you and I know that you’re dealing with complex emotions and trauma that I cannot even begin to fully fathom but this.. it’s not your fault.”
Her eyes welled up further as Azriel continued,
“I don’t want to lecture you or invalidate what you are feeling. Your emotions are justified but… these thoughts will eat you alive, they’re vicious lies that have been conditioned into you, and I can promise you that nobody blames anything on you. This entire family is so fucking grateful to have you as a part of it. In a world of darkness, where you had every right, every reason to bring that darkness with you, you chose light.”
He choked on his words as those tears flowed down her face. “You chose light when it only brought more darkness upon yourself.”
She cut him off. “She’s not darkness.”
Azriel raised an eyebrow. “She?”
And through her tears, he saw the slightest gleam of radiance in her eyes. “I can just feel it. Feel her.”
Azriel pressed a kiss to Y/N’s belly. “Yes, you are absolutely right. She is not darkness - she’s a beacon of light, the brightest star in the sky, perhaps aside from her mother - but the mental load you are carrying, it is dark and it’s heavy. And yes, you would carry darkness with you regardless of this spark of hope” he rubbed her belly in tender circles for emphasis. “But I know that mind of yours. That you are telling yourself that you’re a burden, that you made the wrong choice, when there was no wrong choice.”
At this point, the tears were streaming down her face, his shadows dutifully whisking them away, but only gratitude and love flowed from her.
A knock came on the door. Azriel’s eyes glazed over as Y/N recognized the telltale signs of what was happening. A line creased in his brow before she placed a gentle hand on his arm. “It’s okay, he can come in.”
“You sure, my love? He understands when you need space.”
She nodded. “I know but I think I need to see him today.” Azriel brushed his thumb in soothing ministrations across her abdomen until she pulled her night gown back down to cover herself.
The door creaked open and Rhys padded over to the bed, guilt and adoration limning his features. “Hey, starshine.” She blushed at the term. She hated her own name after Amarantha had called it so many times under the mountain. Rhys had begun calling her Starshine in secret due to her Day Court origins and the fact that he was convinced she’d been more suited for the Night Court.
Rhys had been drawn to her under the mountain, something about her reminding him of his brother. Rhysand could admit that Azriel was the most beautiful of the three brothers, his features seemingly crafted by the gods themselves. But if Azriel’s features were crafted by the gods, Y/N’s were crafted by the Mother herself. Aside from that, she had a quiet presence, though far less stoic and broody than Azriel’s, it was more of a quiet, gentle grace. A grace that Amarantha had tried so hard to shed her of but was never quite successful.
Amarantha, of course, made it her mission to both seek pleasure from her and torment her. When she never fully broke, Amarantha decided that instead of throwing her to the dark corridors she stuffed most lesser fae in, she’d make an excellent play thing. She looked mostly High Fae after all, yet had enhanced sexual appeal due to her nymph ancestry - perfect high and round breasts, long legs, a firm yet supple ass, and an arousing scent - needless to say, Amarantha delighted to add her to her roster of bed chamber accompaniment.
Y/N and Rhys developed a quiet understanding of each other and the roles they were forced to play in the year that she’d been under the mountain before Feyre arrived. They did not grow close enough for Amarantha to become concerned but enough that she knew her play things got along well enough to bring them both into her chambers at the same time.
Rhys would never forget the first time Amarantha had forced he and her into her chambers at the same time. Y/N tried to be strong, and she was. Another aspect of her that reminded him of his brother.
But she began to crack slightly, and Rhys knew Amarantha would make it so much worse for her if she did. So he did the only thing he knew to do and held her mind. He showed her visions of the Night Skies of the Night Court, the spirits of Starfall, the laughter of a family surrounding a table in a beloved restaurant, anything that could help her through it.
As he held her mind, she’d unwittingly sent visions from throughout her twenty-two years of life prior to being captured and brought under the mountain. She was loved deeply by her family who had little more than love to give. Eventually they had been murdered by Amarantha’s cronies at the age of nineteen - she’d been able to escape and live among the High Fae who sneered and objectified her, but offered enough coin to sleep with her to keep a roof over her head.
Rhys had determined that night that if they ever made it out of there alive, he was taking her to Velaris with him. She’d never live like that again.
He even smiled at the thought of introducing her and Azriel when she was ready to meet his family, already picturing his brother’s rose-dusted cheeks in her presence.
“Thank you” Azriel’s low voice withdrew Rhys from his thoughts, taking the plate from his hands.
A familiar scent wafted off of Rhys to Y/N. Pregnancy had heightened her sense of smell substantially.
As she sniffed the air Rhys gave a soft, sad smile at the eye brow she raised at him before asking, “Where is she?”
He shook his head, darkness rolling in waves off of him. “Tamlin locked her in his fucking manor. She had a breakdown.”
Her face drew tight. “That bastard!” Azriel flinched at the rage flowing down the bond. “She must have been terrified.”
“She certainly terrified the servants in his manor. She shrouded herself in darkness and nobody could get through to her.”
“He doesn’t deserve her.”
Rhys nodded. “He doesn’t.”
“You didn’t answer my question, Rhys. Where is she?”
“At the Town House.”
Her eyes blew wide. “Cauldron boil me, is she staying?”
Azriel smiled as he felt her excitement flow into him. A bit of that Day Court sunshine returning to her.
“I don’t know. She knows she can’t tell anyone if she goes back, but…”
“I felt it through the bond, Y/N. I think she’s here to stay.”
Azriel’s shadows agitated at the pause in verbal conversation, chattering back and forth,
“Secrets”
“Secrets”
He rolled his eyes and dismissed them, already knowing there were some things that remained between just Y/N and Rhys. He’d accepted it the very moment he’d shown up after he received word that Rhys was finally home and the bond snapped as soon as he laid eyes upon the radiant female by his side. He knew it snapped for her too when she walked right up to him, touched the hands he tried to hide behind his back, her eyes speaking everything she couldn’t. “I see your scars. I bear them too.” And pressed a kiss to each hand.
“Do you want me to leave? I assume she’s at the Town House but I’m sure she’ll be visiting here too, yes?”
Azriel bristled. No way in hell was Rhys going to make his mate leave, whether this home was his or not, she had a right to be present wherever she wished.
“Easy brother.”
Azriel shook off the feeling. The mating instinct was still so strong that he had a hard time not jumping in to defend her at the thought of any threat, physical or emotional.
“Y/N” Rhys took her hand.
“Don’t bite my head off for holding her hand, either.”
Azriel huffed before firing back to Rhys’ mind “I can’t wait for you to find your mate someday so you can see what it feels like to be so wound up like this.”
Rhys only gave a small, secret smile in return.
Y/N interjected. “Are you two done gossiping or can I know whether I should pack up or not?”
“This is your home just as much as it is my home. You are my family and I want Feyre to meet all of you. Cassian has already barreled through the door of the Town House along with Mor begging to be fed. Feyre went up to nap and recollect herself.”
“Can we have dinner with her… if she wants to?” She asked softly with a mixture of excitement and nervousness to her voice.
Rhys gave a nod. “I was thinking that same thing. Would you be comfortable?”
She nodded before the reality of the situation caught up with her.
“Y/N.” Rhys leaned in, gently tilting her head up to look at him. “I am not ashamed of you. I will never hide you or the life you are selflessly bringing into this Court of Dreamers.” His eyes lined with silver. “And I will always be so proud of the love that you both share. I knew from the moment I met you that my brother would adore you. And the fact that you two are mates? It’s one of the greatest things to come from that shit hole of a mountain. A reminder of the beauty that can prevail, even after the most dreadful of circumstances. I love all three of you.”
Azriel held his mate closely, ensuring she felt just how loved she truly was.
“She kicked for the first time the other day.”
Rhys raised a brow.
Y/N let out a sigh. “Ugh, you two are so skeptical. I really believe that this baby is a girl.”
Rhys eyed the scarred hand protectively placed over her round bump, so many complicated emotions running through him, with love being the strongest.
“Feyre will likely ask questions tonight regarding all of us, our stories. Nobody has to share anything they do not wish to, but you also may share if you are comfortable doing so. I would really like for Feyre to become a member of the Inner Circle-“
Rhys looked to Y/N rolling his eyes at the smirk and waggling eyebrows she gave him.
“Stop that. My point is just that, I would like for her to know all of you. I know she’ll love you all just as I do. Hell, she’ll probably love all of you before she’s ready to even fully tolerate me.”
Azriel let out a chuckle as his mate quipped “Tell me the story of the time she threw a shoe at you. It’s my favorite!”
“You cruel, lovely little thing.” Rhys laughed. “See you both for dinner.”
As Rhys exited them room, Y/N sighed. “You were awfully quiet.”
Az nudged her. “And that surprises you?”
“Okay, quieter than usual.”
Azriel pulled her in close, peppering kisses across her forehead. “I just don’t want you to do anything you’re not ready for. You are still healing and now you’ll be facing someone else that was under the mountain with you.”
“She saved us all, Az.” She looked up into his hazel eyes with nothing but genuine adoration. “Without her, I never would have met you. And what kind of existence would that be?”
She began picking at the plate Rhys had brought in. Letting out a moan as the flavors burst on her tongue.
Az couldn’t help the involuntary twitch of his wings at the sound.
She laughed. “Don’t get any ideas until I’m finished with my food.”
Azriel raised his palms. “I’d never get between my pregnant mate and her meal. With the way she’s started moving, she’d likely kick me away anyway.”
She took another bite while nonchalantly commenting, “I thought of a name for her.”
“Oh yeah?” Azriel’s brows raised in anticipation of a potential name for their child.
“Azure. The same blue as the skies. I thought…”
Azriel cut her off, marveling at the name. Whispering more to himself than her. “Blue like the Day Court skies, blue like the skies that I love to take you flying in.”
She flushed. “Yes, exactly. And though it’s a different shade of blue, like your siphons.”
A lone tear escaped his eye. “And,” she continued with a coy smile. “We could call her ‘Az’”
Azriel sat still for a moment. And she would have thought he didn’t like it had it not been the rush of pure shock and awe flowing through the bond.
Suddenly he took her face in his hands, barely giving her time to swallow the bite of bacon she’d just taken, and crashed his lips into hers. And after her lips were swollen and puffy from the heat of his lips, he began pressing kisses all over her belly, whispering between them, “I love you, little Az. I love you more than the skies I fly in. More than my own name. More than any dreamer could dream of being loved. I can’t wait to fly you through the open skies, and show you every shade of blue this beautiful world has to offer. Nothing in this world matters more than you and your mother. I couldn’t be more proud to be your father.”
And he meant it. Every single word. The blood running through the baby growing inside of his mate didn’t need to be his, what mattered was the love flowing within the child and he intended to pour every single ounce of love he had into their baby.
It was Y/N though who broke down at those words. She and Azriel had spent every free moment together since meeting. He’d healed her in ways that she never could have dreamed. Finding her mate changed the time after Under the Mountain from the lonesome trauma reckoning hellhole she’d anticipated and into a time of healing. He listened to her, understood her, let her set the pace in every aspect. And he’d shared his trauma with her, all of it.
The child who had been abused by a wicked stepmother and horrid step-brothers, overlooked by his own father had grown up to be loving, caring, and patient in every way. And now, he was going to be the parent of a child that was not his by conception, choosing to love the child just as he would his very own. A vow he’d sworn in their mating vows and sealed with a bargain.
“What is it, love?” Azriel wiped away her tears.
“Stupid hormones. I just love you so much and I need you to know that you are so much more than I ever could have dreamed of. If I had to, I would go through it all again as long as it led me to you.”
Azriel’s eyes began watering again. “Look at us, Y/N. We’re quite a sight. Whatever you say tonight, just don’t let Cassian know that I’ve gotten so soft.”
Her glassy eyes sparkled as she gave a sweet smile. “I have a feeling that softness has already been there, my love, I just had the privilege of coaxing it out of you.”
He smiled. “Truth Teller personified.”
————————-
“We’re heading up now.” Rhys’ voice cut into Y/N’s mind.
“Are you sure about this, Rhys? Most of them do not know what all happened under the mountain. What if it’s too much for Feyre to take in?”
“She’s my mate, I have to hope that she will love and accept us all in time. It may be a lot to meet us and hear our stories but they’re a part of us, a part of loving us. I’m worried about Cassian scaring her off more than anything.”
“Valid concern. See you soon. Despite the circumstances, I’m so happy she’s here.”
“You know,” Rhys chuckled. “I feel the same way about you, Starshine.”
“You flatter me. Now enjoy your flight with the literal girl of your dreams.”
“She’s glaring daggers at me right now. Pray I make it there alive.”
“Where’d you go?” Az nudged.
Leaning into her mate’s side, embracing the warmth of his arms wrapped around her shoulders she replied, “Rhys and Feyre are on the way.”
“Are you ready for this?” He asked.
“I’m sure you can already feel my nerves down the bond but I appreciate you for asking.” She teased.
Azriel kept his pace slow as they wound through the hallways of the House of Wind toward the dining table. “If you’re not ready…”
She took a steadying breath. “No, he needs to get off on a solid foundation with her. And Cassian, Mor, and Amren have eyed us for a while, they realize that something is off. Plus, I mean, look at this thing.” Her delicate hands found her stomach. “They’re going to figure out that the timelines don’t match up soon enough.”
“Our girl IS growing.” Azriel spoke, not missing the opportunity to feel the life growing within his mate.
She teased, “You’ve referred to the babe as “her” a few times now. Coming around to the idea?”
“I know better than to go against your intuition.”
With that, Y/N gave a wicked grin. “Mother knows best.”
As they approached the dining room, Azriel pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll be right by your side.”
She beamed. “And I’ll be by yours too, with whatever you may share tonight…and forever, of course.”
As everyone arrived and gathered at the dining table, Y/N couldn’t help but admire how lovely Feyre and Rhys were together. Though she hated the situation that brought her there, that Tamlin tried to hoard her away in his manor, she couldn’t help but feel joy knowing that she was finally beginning to see the true Rhysand.
The Inner Circle kept up with the typical antics and plenty of laughter filled the space, but the conversation eventually turned more serious as everyone took turns giving Feyre insight into themselves.
Feyre looked to Y/N with curiosity. “You were under the mountain, but Azriel was not?”
Her hands shook as she prepared to share. A warmth covered them as Azriel gave a gentle squeeze, sending waves of that reassurance in abundance. She took a breath.
She began by sharing the background of her family, their deaths, that she’d sold her body to survive afterward, how she’d only been under the mountain for a year before Feyre arrived.
“You didn’t know Azriel before they took you?” Feyre asked. Not harshly, just inquisitively.
Y/N held her head high. Her story was not one to be ashamed of.
“I did not. Rhys was one of the only souls to show me kindness under the mountain. I have nymph ancestry with primarily High Fae features. Amarantha took an interest in me and….”
An unreadable expression covered Rhys’ face. This was his trauma too, but he gave a reassuring nod.
“She began taking me to her chambers. I had no choice. It was warm her bed, or face physical torture until death.”
Feyre flinched along with Rhys. Y/N recognized that they were remembering the human girl Amarantha had tortured to death just before Feyre’s arrival.
“She also, against our hopes, realized that Rhysand and I had an understanding of eachother - serve her or die. Being the lust-driven wretch that she was, she began taking us both to her chambers. There was no room for weakness in there. She wanted us just weak enough to submit to her, but we had to remain strong in every other aspect. The first time she had Rhys and I, together,” she cleared her throat, giving pause before continuing, “Rhys saved me. I began to crack, and he held my mind. I will let Rhys speak on his own trauma and the mental load he carried, but he didn’t hesitate to help me get through it. It was not the last time he had to help me through it.”
The table was completely silent. Heart-wrenching expressions filled each face at the table. Palpable rage could be felt radiating off of Amren, though her face remained straight.
Her voice began cracking. Azriel pulled her close into him. “When you saved us,” She looked to Feyre. “I don’t mean to fawn or gawk over you, but Feyre, you did save us.” Feyre gave an empathetic look, nodding to Y/N to continue. “Rhys brought me back to Velaris because he couldn’t bear for me to return to the life I was living, because this Court of Dreams is made up of individuals who have lived through terrible traumas and, despite every reason to lead bitter lives- have chosen to dream of a better world. To fight for a better world. And he knew a certain Shadowsinger and I would get on quite well. In fact, he’s been a smug bastard ever since over just how well things went between us.”
“When I met him.” She stared lovingly to Azriel who swallowed a lump in his throat. “The bond snapped between us immediately. The same day I was brought here, I met my mate.”
Instinctively she placed her hands on the swell of her abdomen. “Rhys gave Azriel leave to spend time with me, for him to help me through the aftermath of what I’d been through…”
“But two weeks after arriving back, my scent began to shift.” Mor’s brows furrowed in contemplation.
“I became very sick shortly after that. Rhys called in a healer, Madja, who confirmed that I was two and a half months pregnant.”
Cassian audibly gasped and Mor murmured “Oh my gods.”
Azriel kept his composure for the sake of his mate, but this was killing him. His brother and his mate being forced by that fucking witch. “Azriel is not the biological father of this baby. The child was conceived under the forced coupling of Rhysand and I by Amarantha.”
Feyre’s face was a mix of sadness, and rage, and sympathy.
“There were options to terminate the pregnancy. However, due to my Nymph ancestry, such options can have negative, potentially deadly effects. Aside from that, though I never planned to have a child - I couldn’t bear the thought of losing another family member. Rhys, after losing his family, felt the same, which he only expressed after I shared my feelings with him. He was completely supportive of any decision I made.” Feyre looked to Rhys and then back to Y/N, no negative judgement written on those lovely features.
Y/N looked to Azriel with a loving grin “And Azriel- he took me to a priestess that night. We both wanted to accept the bond from the moment we met, the connection was unbelievably strong, I never believed in the power of the bond until I found him. And now because he’s ever the romantic, though I see him already blushing at the mention of it, he wanted to make a vow before the Mother - a vow to love me no matter what choice I made, a vow to love the life within me as his very own child, to love and cherish us both until his last breath.”
She pulled the sleeve off of her shoulder, revealing the intricate tattoo solidifying his vow.
“And Rhys,” She gave a soft smile. “He made a bargain to love and care for this child and to recognize Azriel as its father. We will not hide the parentage from our child. And Rhys, I know, already loves them dearly, but mine and Azriel’s decisions for our baby come first and will be respected as any biological parents would.”
She’d left out the part where Azriel had gone under the mountain to investigate later on and found that Amarantha had begun supplying a fertility tonic instead of birth control to Y/N after the Calanmai that Rhys had gone to the Spring Court and seen Feyre. Though she didn’t know who Rhys saw, she likely suspected he’d developed interest in someone else and become jealous, hoping an accidental pregnancy would either create a rift in any potential relationship or, even worse, that the baby could be used as leverage against him.
The table remained silent until Rhys chimed in. “So my brother is my child’s father. I’m sure stranger things have happened.”
Despite that sadness the Inner Circle felt, Rhysand’s comment elicited smiles. Azriel gave his brother a nod of thanks for breaking the tension while affectionately caressing his mate.
Mor eased the tension further by chiming in “Y/N! You are further along than we realized which means….. we get to go shopping for our newest family member sooner!!!”
Feyre decided soon after that she would like to work with the Court of Dreams.
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Epilogue
Because his mate was always right, Azriel was indeed the father of a beautiful little girl, clever and stubborn like her mother, and the light of his life. Her mother the sun, and she the moon.
He and Rhys had just returned from taking “Baby Azzie” who was now a toddler to get pastries along the Sidra. Azriel returned with his half-asleep daughter in his arms, who perked up upon seeing her baby brother cooing in his bassinet. “Nyxie!!” She yelled, hurrying over to the winged babe. Rhys, however, arrived with numerous shopping bags in his own arms.
Feyre, who had been lounging with her head on Y/N’s shoulder gave the two a big smile. Y/N raised an eyebrow. “All of that better be for Nyx.”
Azriel and Rhys shared a laugh before Rhys spoke. “Well, half of it is, but only because someone batted her little lashes at us repeating ‘Brother, present. Brother, present’ until we took her into what is conveniently her favorite toy store.” Az cut in, “And because my brother is getting soft in his old age” before Rhys could remind Azriel that he was, in fact, the older of the two, Az continued, “Rhys had to buy something for her for every item she picked out for Nyx.”
Y/N groaned. “Cassian literally just bought her five new toys and six new outfits on their last outing.”
The raven-haired toddler with her mother’s nose and radiant skin, Rhys’ smile, and by some gift of the Mother - had Azriel’s golden-flecked hazel eyes, toddled up to Feyre, giving her a big hug. She then turned to her mother, leaning in to whisper something, that came out as quietly as a yell. “I got something for sissy too. Daddy has it in the pocket realm.”
Y/N’s face flushed as Rhys and Feyre gaped. “So much for keeping that a secret for a little longer.”
Feyre squealed leaning in and throwing her arms around Y/N. “I thought that maybe I was getting allergies, your scent hasn’t been as strong but you were glamouring it!”
Rhys pulled Azriel into a long hug, then walked over to Y/N with a wide smile, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
Azriel placed a hand on his chest as he took in the sight of his blended family. It wasn’t what he’d ever expected but, to him, it was everything.
Just drinking coffee and imagining a dom Tamlin shapeshifting and making “it” just a little bit too big after you’ve been bratting, to where there is a bit of discomfort (while still being pleasurable) when he thrusts in.
Very demure first thing in the morning thought of me, I know.
Flora had stood up fast, turning to Elain with wide eyes. Before, they were working in silence. Flora picked herbs for one of her new experiments, while Elain sat on a stool in front of a portable table, propagating some tulips from the continent. They both started early while the greenhouse was still cool.
Elain glance up thought for a moment. “I’m not sure. Should be before dinner.”
Flora sighed deeply, dumping her herbs into her basket. “I doubt that will be in time. I forgot to tell you, Ez wanted to speak with you both today. Knowing him, he’ll find you first.”
Elain gently tilted her head. “What for?”
“For that,” Flora pointed at Elain’s round belly hidden by the table. “He’s worse than me with his worries. He told me last night he thought you and Lu would be leaving and not love him anymore.”
Elain’s eyes instantly watered, shock etched into her features. “Why would he ever think that?”
“I don’t know,” she sighed and placed her herbs in her basket. “I asked if it was nerves from not being the only youngling anymore. He said no, he was still excited. I think someone in court said something in front of him. You know, because of Lucien’s real father.”
Elain instantly angered. “They have no right to gossip in front of our boy like that. It’s none of their business who Lucien might be tied to. We talked to Helion half a century ago. He isn’t going anywhere any time soon. By the mother, if something happens the magic might even choose Elios instead of Lucien.”
“Cauldron knows it but these old fae like gossip.” Flora sighed heavily again. “Remember when I had Ez? I just knew they were whispering behind my back.” Then she laughed. “Maybe that’s why Ez worries so much.”
“Maybe.”
A flood of emotions hit Elain hard. It was easy to be overwhelmed with the babe growing inside her. She rubbed her stomach, the babe gently kicking back. Ez had been the most excited out of all of them when Elain’s scent changed. Once he knew what that meant anyways. He’d help her pick out the colors for her announcements and theme for the nursery. She didn’t understand why he would suddenly think they would leave.
Sure enough, he found her later while she was sitting by the fountain in the afternoon, soaking in the sun and cool breeze in the swing. Judging by the ink on his hands, he’d finished lessons for the day. She smiled at him as he approached, trying to not giggle as she watched him brush his blond hair out of his face from the wind.
“Lainy?”
“Yes, my little beastie?”
He smiled bashfully, stopping in front of her. “Mama said I should talk to you.”
“Did she?” Elain feigned ignorance. “About what?”
“Well, you and Lu are having a baby.” He glanced down at her stomach.
“We are.”
“And you said I was your baby.”
“I did.”
There was a long pause between them and Elain rocked the swing with her foot gently while Ez looked at the ground.
He finally whispered, “So you, you don’t need me anymore?”
It hurt Elain’s heart to hear him say it. More so than she thought it would. She blinked profusely before asking, “What do you mean, Ez?”
“You have your own baby now. You don’t need me anymore. I’ll just be mama and papa's.”
“Why would you think that?”
“I know you love me and mama and papa. But you aren’t my mama.” He frowned, with tears in his eyes. “Are you going to leave and have a new house? For your new baby?”
Mother help her.
“Come here,” Elain stopped the swing and reached out to him. He hesitated, but stepped forward. Elain cupped his face and brushed his cheek with her fingers. “Why do you think we are going to leave?”
“Drax moved away.” He whispered.
Right, Elain thought. Drax was one of the few younglings Ezyrn’s age. Soren was expecting again and announced it right as her husband agreed to take on governing duties in the village in the east. They’d left a week ago, which explained Ez’s sudden thoughts.
“We aren’t going to leave. Ez, look at me.” She tilted his chin up gently. “You are just as much my baby as this one. I will always need you, my little beastie.”
“Even Lu?”
“Lu especially. We love you very much. We aren’t going anywhere. Understand?” Ez nodded. After a moment she sat back and added. “Do you want to know a surprise?” His eyes widened and he nodded again. “It’s a boy. Which means you’ll have a brother in a sense. Your mama doesn’t know yet. Do you want to be the one to tell her?”
He grinned.“And papa?”
“Papa knows.” She couldn’t help herself laughing. Ez didn’t know it was payback for when he was in his mothers belly. “It’s a surprise for just your mother. The court doesn’t know yet either.”
“Can I go tell her now?” His face was lit with excitement.
“At dinner. I want Lu and your father to see the look on her face too,” Elain replied, with a cryptid smile of her own. She stood from the swing and held out her hand to Ez. “Let’s go for a walk. Tell me about what you learned today.”
Any fears Ez had were gone. He took Elain’s hand and they walked to the gardens together while he told her about his studies of the day.
Here’s a lil excerpt from the next part of Dark Thraller! 🥰
“Do you live here?” I question softly
The middle Archeron sister hums in confirmation. “We all do. Well, most of us. Cassian and Nesta live at the House of Wind up on the mountain. I- could stay there but if you only knew the things they do at the dining table.”
An involuntary giggle erupts from me. “Oh gods!”
Elain smiles. “You should ask Azriel about what he walked in on them doing once.”
My laugh falters at the mention of my new husband. “I don’t see myself discussing such matters with him but I’ll be sure to find you for all the latest gossip”
Azriel walks past catching a glimpse of the two of us tittering and I could almost swear the incredulous look on his face includes the faintest sense of amusement. Elain and I giggle before settling into a contented silence. “
You are a world walker and bring Azriel to your modern fae world. Shenanigans occur.
The Internet
- Upon arriving to your world Azriel was suspicious as hell of you. You knew SO much and could figure out so many things without even leaving your apartment.
- Literally, he pouted. This male who had mastered the art of unreadable facial expressions sat on the couch, arms crossed, brows furrowed, pouting.
- You had to convince him to open up to you (which was not easy, btw) by straddling his lap and teasing him with flirty kisses all over his face and neck.
- “You’re a spy.” He finally mutters.
- Completely taken back by THAT gem of a statement you reply, “Azriel, I cannot shut up to save my life and you think I could be quiet enough to be a spy?”
- “Then how did you know which restaurant location to go to based on the amount of people there during the specific hour we were going? Who gives you that intel?”
- “Oh honey” You try to keep a neutral expression but your traitorous lips twitch upward. “The internet. It’s called the internet. You can find so much information on there.”
- After you’d explained the concept of Google to him, the first thing he tried searching was “Is Beron Vanserra allied with the Queens on the continent?”
- Resisting the urge to become this emoji (🤦🏻♀️) you placed a loving hand on his shoulder. “Let’s sign you up for a beginner computer class, babe”
- The first thing he properly searched was “advanced snowball fighting techniques”
Airplanes
- You knew he was competitive but he took it to a new level when he found out about airplanes.
- Why would we ever need to take one when he could just fly us himself?
- “Oh, because they’re faster? I’ll believe that when I see it.”
- That was a direct quote from his mouth
- The day you took him to the airport so he could see for himself that they were indeed very fast, he took off without warning, trying to race one.
- He had to shroud himself in shadows and sneak home afterward as the aerial force mistook him for an enemy.
- The plane won.
Vibrators (NSFW)
- Azriel is a certified freak. Always down to try anything new in the bedroom.
- Until you introduced him to vibrators.
- “Why is that necessary when my fingers, mouth, cock, and shadows can achieve the same result?”
- Honestly, he had a point.
- You gave him the excuse of “For when you return to Prythian on missions and I’m lonely.”
- That made more sense to him but….
- He’s still very competitive.
- You had to do a trial of what could bring you to completion first: Him or the toy.
- Azriel won 😈
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Thank you for reading! If you’d like to see more headcanons of Az in the modern world - lmk!
I wanna write more of these but I refuse to write anything new until the next part of Dark Thraller is out (which btw I spent time working on yesterday 😌)
I hope your doing ok 😊 just wanted to ask if dark thraller gonna have more than one part? I've been holding off on reading it in case it ends in a cliffhanger for another part but I read the ask for it and am already invested 😂
I hope this doesn't sound rude or pushy or anything I was just curious
Not rude! Not pushy!
And honestly? Even if it were, I need someone to push me rn bc it’s partially written in my notes app and I’ve just been in sad girl mode.
I definitely plan to finish it soon though. Thank you so much sending this ❤️
heyy, how are you?? i just wanted to say, i love you and your writing. you are one of the best people i have come across and i love you. if you ever feel bad about your writing, just know that only you can put that story out there so NEVER GIVE UP!! hehe okay bye ily 🤭😘
Idk how I missed this but honestly I’m glad I did bc I needed this today 😭🥹
