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clockwork-ashes · 2 days ago

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From the Ashes the Beast Will Rise Ch. 8

Pairing: Azris | Ch. Rating T | Word count: 4072

Master Post | Previous Chapter | Read on AO3

Warnings: Mentions of Blood, Canon typical violence, near death experience

Fic Summary: Months after that one encounter, Eris receives demand for response to his summons to visit the Night Court. He ends up with a warning for the future and a certain shadow singer back under his skin.

Chapter summary: It wasn’t supposed to end this way. Eris would not let it end this way.

A/N: as before I broke my promise. I got depression but I’m doing better again. I think I can wrap this up in two more chapters. We will see.

Tagging: @mybestfriendmademe @secret-third-thing @pit-and-the-pen @ysmtttty @hieragalbatorixdottir @thisblogisaboutabook @acourtofladydeath @daycourtofficial @slytherin-pen @ninthcircleofprythian

It wasn’t supposed to end this way. Eris thought, as the pain from his mate ripped through his body.

He would not let it end this way.

Nothing had gone correctly as planned. When Azriel winnowed to his office, Eris ripped open the letter from his brother. His stupid, stubborn little brother. Elain had written him her plan with a riddle- a prophecy. To offer herself over willingly. The humans went with Lucien after the Seer. Right to Koschei. Before he would have called him reckless. He still did but he understood now, with a mate of his own. Eris would have ran off without a word if it was Azriel.

It took all but ten minutes to notify his brother Asher that he was in charge as Az explained the Night Court’s plan of action. Eris felt guilt for not saying anything to his mother but he didn’t have time. Better to save the favorite son than to tell her what was happening and risk those precious moments causing his death. At the same time he notified his troops to stand by. There wasn’t enough time to get them to the continent but in the event things turned out poorly, they would be ready.

“No armor?” Azriel had asked when Eris came out of his study to leave.

“I’m High Lord now,” Eris had replied smugly. “I don’t need armor.”

Now Eris had wished he’d worn it.

A spear of darkness was shot at him and Az had stepped out of the shadows to shove him away. As if he known the spear was coming. Eris heard it rip through skin. Heard the painful scream leave Azriel’s mouth.

Eris saw red.

He shifted, the beast inside him blinded by rage and pain. Instinct took over. Fire spewed from his throat, incinerating the dead soldiers Koshei had called to fight his battle. He tore more with his teeth, his claws. He raged until darkness swarmed him, whispering. Azriel. He turned to see his mate on his back in the mud. The spear had been pulled but blackness marked his veins all over him- poison. He scooped Azriel up with his mouth. He could taste blood stronger than the mud.

A bright light blinded him from deeper in the lake.

Koschei is dead. The darkness whispered.

Eris ran in his beast form to the camp they had set up. It was only then he placed Azriel on the ground and shifted back.

“I need help!” His voice rang out while he spit out blood and mud.

He picked Azriel up, his mate unconscious. The weight of his limp wings made it hard to hold him steady alone. Panic ran through him and Eris yelled again. Blonde hair appeared- it was all Eris could see through his tears. They helped him into a tent, helped him lay Az on a mat. He blinked enough to help stretch out Az’s wings. Then Eris finally wiped his eyes clear. It was Mor knelt beside Azriel, her hands glowing as healing magic poured out of her. She glanced up and flinched.

“I need you to leave.” She said through her teeth, eyes closed as she kept working.

“He’s my mate.” Eris whispered.

“I can’t work with you here!” She squeezed her eyes tighter and a tear fell down her cheek. Her fingers curled inward, the light flickering from them. “Please Eris, if you want Azriel to live, then leave. Please.”

The fraying bond in his chest screamed as he forced himself to move. He stumbled out of the tent, landing on his hands and knees somewhere in the grass near the entrance. Vomit, mixed with more mud and blood, followed as the pain in his chest tightened. He closed his eyes and prayed the ancient prayers he learned from the priestesses. Prayers to the Mother hoping she would hear him. He didn’t know how long he muttered prayers. Only that his hands ached when another touched his shoulder, pulling him up and away, back to the post at the entrance.

“He’s going to be okay,” a female whispered.

His vision was blurred too much to know who was beside him.

“It doesn’t feel that way,” he whispered back.

It felt like centuries passed as Eris sat there, staring at nothing and praying the bond growing tighter wasn’t his imagination. An elderly woman came at some point, rushing past him into the tent. Another fae- Feyre, came shortly after. She paused to look at him but Eris couldn’t speak. The sun started to set when Rhysand walked up and stopped in front of him. Eris didn’t utter a word when Rhys stared forward for a moment, then stepped up to sit beside him.

“Feyre says he’s stable,” Rhys said softly.

“And yet they’re still in there working on him.” Eris' voice was rough, his mouth dry from sitting for The Mother knew how long. He didn’t look over at Rhysand.

“Feyre was with Lucien. He used a lot of magic to make a path for Nesta.” That made Eris look over at the fellow High Lord. He looked as exhausted as Eris felt. “He’s fine now. He’s awake with Elain.”

He should have felt guilt, for not checking on his brother. The battle had lasted for days. His men arrived at the tail end of it, aiding them with fighting back the dead. Eris was on the outskirts at the end of it and still didn’t know what fully transpired. He needed to write to his mother. He needed to check on his own men. He needed Azriel to be okay.

Rhys continued, “Elain found his soul and let Nesta took the final blow.”

“How fitting for a Seer and The Lady of Death.” Eris replied. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a shadow move, he felt the coolness of it wrap around his wrist. With renewed hope he added. “I should have demanded you let me marry Nesta when I had the chance.”

Rhys snorted. “Cassian would have stormed Autumn.”

“I imagine Azriel would have too.” Saying his name hurt Eris more than he willingly showed. Centuries of hiding his emotions kept him from sobbing.

They fell back into silence. The sun had fully set when someone from the tent emerged. It was the elderly fae and Feyre. The elderly fae glanced at Eris and looked between Feyre and Rhys. Eris got to his feet on shaky legs from sitting so long and Rhys followed.

“Is he awake?” Eris couldn’t stop himself from asking.

“No,” the elderly fae replied. “He is mostly healed. The poison was something I have not seen in a long time. But he will be fine. His body will handle the rest.”

“Thank you, Madja,” Rhys said aloud.

The flap to the tent opened again. Mor stepped out, still in her muddy leathers. She paused with wide eyes when she saw Eris. Rhys, Feyre, and Madja stepped aside to let her through but the air was heavy around them, as if everyone was afraid to move.

Eris was the first to speak. “I owe you.” He meant it.

Mor relaxed, but only just. She scoffed as she quickly passed him, hissing. “This changes nothing between us.”

“I never asked for it to.” He replied. He looked over at the other three. “Can I see him?”

“Yes,” Feyre replied quickly. “I’ll have food brought over. You’ve been out here all day. You too,” she looked pointedly at her mate.

Rhys smirked at her. He then told Eris, “let us know when he wakes.”

Eris nodded. “Send my General to me, if you will. His name is Rowen.”

With Feyre agreeing to retrieve him, Eris went into the tent for the first time since he’d arrived with Az in his arms. It was a Night Court tent. Azriel had been moved to a mat in the corner. Eris’s chest hurt looking at him. The shadow on his wrist tightened. The other shadows came out from around Azriel, as if they were hiding.

Eris could hear a whisper. So faint he almost couldn’t make it out. One of the shadows came to him and passed across his vision. He heard another noise as it passed, like a faint whistle.

“I can’t understand you,” Eris whispered back. The shadows came and swirled around him silently. He thought for a moment. “But you spoke to me at the lake.” The shadow on his wrist pulsed. “Interesting.”

The noises stopped as he went closer to his mate. There was a bandage around his chest, most likely from the spear wound. He noticed additional bandages in a bucket nearby, blackened like they were covered in ink. Eris did not hesitate to burn them to ash. He sighed heavily looking back at Azriel. He knew it was going to be a long night.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Azriel had been close to death more times than he could count and he survived more times than he should have. He was certain this was meant to be the last. Shadows took him in the middle of battle- took him to his mate. Az saw the weapon barreling towards him and winnowed to him. It felt like the time he was stabbed in the heart, lying on the floor at Hybern’s castle.

Until the burning came.

He didn’t remember much after.

He was meant to die in battle. And if Death took him, he knew at least he’d saved his mate. A mate he’d prayed for since he’d first heard the tales his mother would whisper to him as a babe during that small window he could see her. He dreamt he was outside his body. Watching Eris and Mor, of all fae, lay him out on the floor of a tent. He dreamt Elain stood in front of him, her lilac dress out of place, looking him right in the eyes and whispered ‘it’s not time’. He felt a tug in his heart, a rope being held tightly and prayers being whispered.

Then it went black again. Az was certain he had died. He didn’t realize dying would feel so painful. The ache in his body, his chest made him wince. Maybe it was punishment. A penance for making others suffer.

Not dead. A chorus whispered in his ears. Open your eyes.

He tried. Everything, even his eye lids felt heavy. Too heavy. His mouth was dry and tongue cloth-like. With a deep sigh that sounded like a rumble in his chest, he opened his eyes slowly. Another soft groan at the light, though soft still felt too bright. It took him a moment to get his bearings. Shadows swirled around him, dimming the light enough to let him open his eyes.

He was in a tent, judging from the roof. The joints of his wings ached from being laid on. He pushed himself up slowly. It was a tent. A night court tent, judging by the fabric. Faelights lined the parameter of roof, and he could smell a hint of jasmine mixed with-

“Shit,” he muttered as he pushed himself up.

It took his breath away to do so. He panted, wincing as his wings stretched out. He rolled his shoulders and looked around. It was a large tent, the bed mat in the back corner so he could see the layout. There wasn’t any light from the tent flaps- which meant the sun had set. A small table just a bit in front of him with a covered plate.

Azriel wiped his face. He was only dressed in his leather pants, his shirt and shoes missing. He looked down to see he was wrapped in a bandage on his chest. He ran his fingers across the linen, flashes of the spear hitting his chest coming to mind. His shadows wrapped around his wrists, pulsing in a calming motion.

Then he saw movement out the corner of his eye.

Looked over to see Eris slumped over in a chair, one arm resting across what could have been a cabinet for medicine with his head resting on his arm. He was in different clothes, a loose white shirt and tan trousers, his shoes were missing. His vibrant hair fell over his face, covering some of it.

He shoved the urge to go brush it back.

Getting up was a hassle. He moved onto his knees and grunted as he tried to keep himself balanced. By the time he stood, Eris must have heard him.

Azriel’s gaze met flaming amber.

He waited, watching Eris stand and not even bothering to stretch- save the roll of his neck. There was a rage flooding the bond between them. He could see it build as Eris walked up to him. Azriel didn’t say a word when he stopped just short of an arms length away.

“You fucking fool,” Eris yelled. He was so angry, flames appeared and ran up his arms. Azriel recoiled, flinching at them and looking away. “The hells were you thinking?”

Azriel couldn’t answer. The heat disappeared, Eris’s flames gone. Azriel finally looked back to see Eris’s shoulders slacked, silver lining his eyes.

“You almost died,” Eris said through gritted teeth.

Azriel knew that. He knew that he might when his shadows took him to Eris in the middle of battle without warning. He didn’t care. If Eris had- he shuddered to think of it.

“So could have you,” Az whispered.

His throat hurt from being out for so long. He looked around and found a pitcher of water on the cabinet. Eris watched him stagger over and drink directly from it. He expected a smart remark when he sat the pitcher down.

When none came, he turned to Eris and added, “At least I’m expendable.”

Azriel waited- for a punch, a blast of flames, anything. He could feel the rage in the bond in his chest while Eris stood there deathly still. He didn’t know why he said it. Maybe he was looking to be hurt again. For a fight to make sense of his own emotions. He staggered up to Eris with achy limbs, close enough he could smell the rage as well as feel it.

Az tilted his head, “tell me I’m wrong.”

“You’re wrong.” Eris reached up, grabbing his face roughly. “You’re so fucking wrong.”

Eris pulled him forward into a bruising rough kiss. Azriel kissed him back, reaching up to tangle his hand in his hair. The bond between them sang, Azriel's body relaxing into Eris’s hold. As soon as it started it was over. Eris pulled back, caught his breath and looked Azriel in the eye. The flames were still present in them.

“If you ever do something that reckless again, I will kill you myself.”

“I’ll hold you to it.” Az replied.

Though the flames in Eris’s eyes died down, neither of them stepped away. His hand remained on Azriel’s face, his thumb brushing along his cheek. And he let it him. The touch was more grounding than anything he’d ever felt before.

“Your shadows spoke to me,” Eris whispered. As if confirming, a few swirled up and around his arm. “They can’t now. But they did when I, well, transformed.”

Azriel raised a brow. “Transformed?”

“I could feel you dying.” Eris said it like it still pained him. “The beast came out.”

“You transformed for me?” Az tried and failed to stifle his grin.

“Of course I did.” Eris finally dropped his hand from his face but only to place it on his shoulder. “I had to carry you here somehow. Your wings make it difficult.”

His Beast used his mouth to carry you.

Azriel laughed and immediately regretted it. He cursed, doubling over from the pain in his chest. Eris caught him and held him up. Azriel was very aware of every point Eris touched on his body and the scent coming off his mate. It stirred something low in his belly.

“Absolutely not,” Eris said sternly. Az felt his cheeks warm. “That old fae healer I’ll murder me. You also need to eat.”

“Okay, okay,” Az got his balance and sighed with a wince. “But I don’t think you can serve me food. I’m still not certain how that works.”

It was Eris’s turn to flush. “Right. Well, luckily the food on the table was brought by your family. They spelled it to keep it fresh.”

Az hummed and thought for a moment.

“Who all was here?”

“Morrigan helped me carry you in.” Azriel’s eyes went wide. “An elderly fae came. Madja? Feyre showed up at the end.”

Azriel would need to find them later. He stepped back from Eris, despite the urge to stay close. He mulled over the words while he walked to the small table at the front. He picked up the lid and took a piece of bread from it. He turned back to Eris.

“Did Elain come in?”

Eris went quiet for a moment. He looked off thinking.

He finally said, “I don’t know. I wasn’t very… coherent while they were working on you. Why?”

Az took a bite of the bread. Thankfully nothing happened. It hit his stomach like bodies sinking into the mud of that lake. He put the bread back down.

“No reason.” Eris gave him a look. “I just. I dreamt I saw her, that’s all.”

The next hour was not awkward, but Azriel felt restless. Eris tried to convince him to sit. To eat. To rest more. It was so unlike any interaction they’d had previously. It made the bond hum in his chest and that terrified him. He finally convinced Eris to take the bed and he would join him shortly. Azriel waited until the male’s breathing evened out before finding shoes and leaving the tent.

The camp was humming with post-battle activity. Those who couldn’t sleep were running between tents, helping healers with linens. His shadows whispered updates- who had died, who was injured. He wandered through the tents, no goal in mind other than to stretch his aching limbs. He shouldn’t have been shocked when he reached a tent just as Mor was exiting it.

They both stilled.

He drew his wings in tight. His shadows hid in the folds of them. She finally loosened her stance, looking him over. He did the same. He noted she still had on muddy leathers- most likely from battle. He also noticed the purple under her eyes, a symptom of when she overworked herself.

In an instant she frowned, glaring at him. “He was supposed to tell us when you woke. How are you feeling? You should be resting.”

“So should you,” he looked her in her eyes. He could see a flash of recognition- of being seen. “You saved me.”

“Of course I did,” she crossed her arms and shifted on her feet. “You would have died.”

Az didn’t reply at first, he simply studied her. After two heart beats he said, “you’re going to burn yourself out. You need rest too.”

“Have you,” she paused and looked around.

She then motioned for him to follow her. They walked a few tents down, before she turned to the right and entered one. He realized it was empty medical when he followed her in. When the flap was closed she threw up her arm, casting magic- a barrier.

She looked at him with hurt in her eyes. “How long have you liked males?” He started. “Or is the mother just cruel to mate you to one?”

“I’ve liked males for as long as you’ve liked females.” She paled, her mouth dropping open a little. He held up his hands. “Why do you think I let it look like I never let you go? No one is going to question a male who looks like he’s hung up on a female. No one is going to question the female either.”

He could see tears build, silver lining her eyes as she took a deep breath.

“Why didn’t you tell me? That you knew?”

“I didn’t think it was any of my business. I never told a soul, Mor. I swear it.” He lowered his hands when chest muscles started to ache again. “I won’t ask you to forgive me. Or Eris. But he’s my mate whether I like it or not. If you never want to speak to me again, I understand.”

She was quiet for several beats. She sniffled, tears breaking free.

“You almost died, Az,” her voice cracked. “I spent hours holding off the poison until others could come. All I could think about is how much I would miss you, if you were gone.”

He stepped close to her and held out his arms. She didn’t hesitate to close the gap between them. He ignored his pain to hug her tight. She sniffled again while he rubbed her back gently.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered and kissed her hair. “I am.”

“Don’t think this means I’m friends with him.” She pulled back and laughed, wiping her eyes. “He did say he owned me. I might tell him to stand still and let me punch his face.”

Az barked out a laugh, and held his chest where it hurt. “I’ll ask him about it.”

He felt lighter now, even as they both gained back their composure.

“I should go. And you need to go get some rest.” She wagged her finger at him.

“You really should change, Mor.” He didn’t suppress his grin. “You smell.”

She gave him a foul Illyrian gesture, which had him laughing and clenching his sides again. She left the tent while his laughter died down. With as deep of a breath as he could muster, he went to exit and go back to the one he shared with Eris.

With his mate.

Sunlight approaches the shadows whispered.

He didn’t know what that meant until he turned. He didn’t show his surprise when he found Elain looking up at him. She almost glowed in the chiffon yellow dress she wore. Her jasmine scent was sweeter- it used to make him yearn. Now all it did was make him nauseous. He could also smell Lucien on her.

“Elain,” he nodded his head to her.

“I’m glad you’re well,” she said, her brown eyes studying the bandages on his chest. “We were worried.”

“You have no room to talk about worry.” His tone was colder than he intended.

He didn’t realize how angry he was with her for what she did. He knew his scent soured with it. His shadows hissed in his ear. She didn’t flinch nor did she shy away. She met his angry glare with that steadfast resolve he used to find attractive.

“I don’t regret what I did,” she replied softly. “Just as you don’t regret your choice.”

“I didn’t have a choice,” he said through his teeth. “My mate would have died.”

To his confusion, she smiled.

“I told you it wasn’t time. That would have applied to him as well.” A chill went through him. She came up and patted his arm, still smiling at him with her knowing eyes. “Get rest, Azriel. I will tell my sisters and your brothers you’re awake when the sun is up.”

Az watched her walk away, mentally noting he would need to keep an eye on her. His shadows protested the thought, but he shooed them away. He exhausted himself by the time he got back to the tent he left Eris in. His body was indeed weak even if he pretended it wasn’t.

Join him. He won’t mind.

A shadow swirled its way to the spot on the mat that Eris had conveniently left open. Or maybe his shadows moved him. Azriel didn’t have it in him to argue. They helped him get down on the mat without jostling his wound. He took a risk lying on his stomach, but it didn’t hurt. He actually sighed from being able to spread out his wings, one over Eris and the other on the carpet of the tent. Just laying there helped even if he didn’t sleep.

He tried to not think about how right it felt lying next to Eris like that. Or how Eris seemed to relax in his sleep with his wing over him. Az wasn’t looking forward to the questions in the morning from Rhys and Cass but for this moment, this moment he could cherish.

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