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lunarxcity · 9 days ago

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Why Search? (Part XIII of Why Me?)

Azriel x rhys sister! reader! ao3 link

angst/eventual comfort (it seems that we are in the midst of chaos now)

Summary: When you walk in on Azriel and Elain the mating bond snaps leading you to flee to Autumn with Eris so you can be free of Azriel. Your absence causes Azriel to come to some drastic realisations, but is it already too late and has your time in Autumn led to you moving on?

Parts I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and XII if you missed them!

According to the laws of the universe, it is a known fact that nothing can be created or destroyed. All forms of energy, life, and matter adhere to this law. Magic is no different.

What humans know as "magic" is nothing more than a harnessing of energy - energy that is stored in the blood and body that the "children of blessed" have learned to manipulate and through adaptation they have got what is known as "magic".

Magic is stored in the blood, which is why certain poisons and elements can nullify the magic, if it's exposed to it. Fae magic is so imbued into their systems that if the magic is weakened enough, their body will slowly decay from the inside out and if no solution can be found and well...

The deterioration of magic is a brutal process, one that destroys you from the inside out. You will know the instance your body turns on you and the magic that has saved you countless time, will be a weapon against you aiming to kill.

At least that's what Azriel was telling himself. There was no way his magic could be breaking down because he would feel it. He wasn't weak and felt completely normal - except for the nightmares, the phantom pain in his chest, and the times he's tried using his magic only to find that he couldn't reach it almost as if he was trying to grasp smoke.

He normally needs 7 siphons to contain the raw strength of his magic; he's down to 2. One on each of the silver cuffs around his wrist and one in the centre of his chest. If his family had noticed, they hadn't said anything, but he's seen your not-so-subtle glances.

He hasn't told anyone yet. Azriel's bravery is limited to battlefields, and this is not a problem that he can make go away by wielding a sword. When he fights for the Night Court, he is fighting other people's problems; he believes they are worth saving and fighting for. When is comes to his own problems, Azriel doesn't share that same belief for himself; he will suffer in silence, even if it kills him.

"Azriel, are you with us?" You look to him, moonlight dancing on your face, a bit of moonlight reflecting in your eyes.

Right.

This is why he needed to make it through this. This is why he had to overcome this and make it to the other side. For he had seen the Mother and had learned what the other side had to offer, and he knew that it was nothing compared to what was right in front of him.

"Sorry." He gives you an apologetic look.

It's half past midnight in the library of the House of Wind, you have been trying to find anything in your family's private collection about Koschei, death gods, and mysterious ancient shadowed figures.

Amren said she had to go consult with some old friends. That means she knows more than she's led on, but he has to confirm her suspicions before she tells everyone.

Rhys, Feyre, and Nesta went to the priestesses, asking them to collect all the books they could find that might be helpful. So far the search has been fruitless on all ends.

Elain has been pushing herself to exhaustion, trying to force visions that might give a clue about the future; about what you're all up against.

She just sees the same vision over and over again. A blade with a cobalt twisted hilt adorned with a purple gemstone flies through the air, thrown into a cloud of darkness. The cloud is vanquished, but on the other side of the darkness is a shadowed figure; the blade lodges in their stomach, and they crumple to the ground.

Her vision seems promising enough if you take it at face value - the darkness is vanquished and the shadowed figure is slain. Elain's visions have never been direct before; they have always been symbolic and undecipherable until they come true - you have a sinking feeling that this one is no different and the shadowed figure may be one of your own.

"We've been at this too long, haven't we?" You asked.

You guys have been here since the late afternoon, hours spent together spent talking about anything but your own predicaments. In the light of the possible end of the world, yours and Azriel's problems seemed very minuscule.

"And yet we don't have any answers." He says, quiet disappointment lacing his voice.

"Okay, fine, let's brainstorm then. Maybe there's something we're missing." You close the book you were reading.

"We've looked through every book of relevance. I don't think we will find our answers here."

"Don't be so pessimistic." You chided.

You take a breath. "Maybe the issue is that we're looking at the wrong books. Let's stop focusing on what we don't know and look at what we do know." You paused.

"What about Elain's vision? That has to mean something right?" He visibly tensed at the mention of her name, coming from your mouth it's probably a reminder of a not-so-distant past.

"We've already tried to analyse it, we couldn't find anything about blades that relates back to Koschei." His features were slowly slipping from their mask, tiredness becoming evident on his features.

"What about blades that can vanquish shadows? Blades that can cut through darkness? Have we tried looking for blades based on the physical description Elain has given us?" You pause for a moment and then jump up in excitement.

"If a blade that powerful of Night Court origins exists, there must be a record of it. After the prison was built, all the High Lords of the Night Court were very cautious about powerful beings and objects. That's how the library was started, it was originally used for bookkeeping."

Azriel looks at you, confused. "Why has none of this ever been mentioned?"

"Well if you haven't noticed, my ancestors liked their secrets." You give him a small smile.

"I'm pretty sure everyone in Velaris for the last 3000 years noticed." His tone is dry, but you can see the latent mirth behind his eyes.

You know that this wasn't a strong lead, but it was better than nothing.

Azriel sighs. "Okay tomorrow we can start looking through the records in the library and see if we can get anywhere. I think we should call it a night.

His movements were slower than usual, and his shadows were the colour of smoke, much lighter than the jet black that they normally were. Dark circles rimmed his now duller hazel eyes; Azriel didn't look good.

The bond feels relatively the same, but the magic on his end of it feels muted as if a blanket was thrown over his magic.

Your stomach feels like a rock in your chest. Your smile not quite reaching your eyes as you walk with Azriel back to your rooms. You bid him goodnight and lie down in bed, tossing and turning, trying to forget the feeling that wouldn't go away.

Something was terribly wrong with Azriel and you were scared that he wouldn't tell you until it was too late.

The next day was spent in the library. You had forgotten just how many volumes the library housed, an endless maze filled to the brim with books. You look up and see that the countless number of floors, almost tunnelling in.

You and Azriel searched for hours, starting with the old records, but it seems that your ancestors were very meticulous recordkeepers. After the Night Court was first established, every single magical artifact within its territories was required to be recorded and tracked.

Each artifact would receive a page with a detailed drawing, its origins, and the intended use for the object, along with any additional information available. It seems like a lot of these objects were either lost or destroyed, on the bottom of a good number of the pages under the category "Number in existence," there would be a red line going through the numbers until they dwindled down to none.

The records were an entire floor themselves, at the very base of the library. The farther down you descend, the darker it gets and the records are at the very base of the library. The candlelight is dim and the enchantments are blaring. This was the oldest part of the library, ancient magic radiating off the walls, warning it's visitors of the potential consequences of disobedience.

You pawed through the records and while there were a myriad of ancient, enchanted blades none of them had fit the description that Elain had given from her vision.

Ledger after ledger sprawled out onto the desks. You, Azriel, and his shadows meticulously combed through the pages scrutinising every detail of these artifacts. You were racing against time and you could count the grains of sand that were left in the hourglass.

Night fell the mountain, keeping you and Azriel suspended in time for there are no clocks or windows in the library. Everything was going well, you guys had gotten into a good rythm doing research, not bringing up anything about mates or your relationship.

Azriel suddenly clutches his chest. His face scrunches, eyes shut tight in pain - breathing ragged and shallow. He falls to his knees, and you go down to the ground catching him before he could fall forward onto the ground.

Night fell and Azriel felt it. The shadows screamed - a warning siren of the looming threat surrounding Prythian. Night shuddered and the moon hid, dark shadows obscuring it's bright surface as if they were trying to shield it from the horrors of the land.

The ground lurched, and a few stories higher, the high lord fell to his knees. You felt the magic from the earth screaming out in fear, your ancestral magic warning you to hurry.

This had been the third night you had all felt it, a dull stream became a roaring waterfall. It lasted a few minutes before it ceased, leaving buzzing in your veins and a deep-rooted fear in your heart.

Even after the pain had ceased, you stayed there with Azriel in your arms. Allowing yourself the small moment of reprise before the claws of reality rip your world apart.

The chessboard viciously rattled despite there being nothing to attribute it to. The pieces shook and not even a steadying charm would get them to stop their menacing vibrations.

The Mother sat in her chair hands crossed over her chest while pinning Fate down with her stare.

"We have already meddled enough in the liminal space. There will be a price to pay for direct action in their world."

He implores her to see reason;. The possibility of her paying for the consequences of her action was a risk that he was not ready to take.

The Mother's rebuttal died on her tongue, her eyes going wide in shock. She jolts up from her chair and starts stalking the room, like a cat circling a mouse.

"What is it?" Fate tried to keep his tone as steady as possible, but there was a slight tremble in his voice. If the Mother was afraid of something then that meant the world should brace itself for the end was near.

The Mother stopped in front of an empty wall; Plain white and unsuspecting. She drew a large silver sword from the air, the long blade appearing in her hand.

Fate runs to her before she could strike.

She prepares to strike, but Fate runs to her before her blade can hit the wall. He grabs her by the arm and yanks her back before the wall blasts them back.

The room rattles — a wave passing through the very fabric of this reality. Amidst the wreckage, a dark voice begins to cackle maliciously.

"You thought you had seen the last of me?" In place of the wall that was blasted inward was a black hole. It looked like the surface of a lake in the night - large and rippling with a sinister power.

Purple magic emitted from its maleable edges.

"We've imprisoned you before. We will do it again." Fate stands tall as he pulls the Mother to her feet, keeping her behind him in protective stance.

"Don't be so sure of that." He chuckles lowly and darkly, acid dripping from his lips. They did not have to see him to know who he was.

"Oh Fate how far you have fallen from grace. You used to be respected, feared, and now you've fallen victim to her self-righteousness. Does it ever get boring only crafting fates to follow the path she has laid out for them?" He was provoking, as he always is. Happiness a repulse, he revels in chaos and malice.

"I will follow her wherever she pleases. If it ends in my eternal damnation, I will walk down to hell with a smile on my face. I understand you cannot comprehend that kind of devotion, love is not something you're familiar with." Fate says coldly.

The darkness did not shudder at his words. Fate did not want to give him the satisfaction of getting under his skin, so he stared down his reflection in the pools of the darkness.

"Ah, devotion is a fickle thing. Remember when you were so besotted with me? You can still leave him and join my cause, you could rule the cosmos as my queen instead of lamenting over the bones of this world once I'm through with it."

His focus shifts to the Mother, the purple tendrils of dark magic radiating towards her as if they were reaching out to grab her and drown her in their murky depths.

"Over my dead body will I ever go with the likes of you." She threateningly points her blade at him, a viper readying to strike.

"Well, that can be arranged, my dear. Don't worry I will spare your little shadowsinger and have him spread your ashes in my next world."

No reaction. They would not give him the validation he craved so intently.

"A part of his soul already belongs to me; it won't be that difficult. It would also be such a shame to waste such a valuable asset.

The Mother was enraged. Before Fate could stop her, she swung the blade in a perfect cut down the middle. A white line intersecting the black pool, light emitted from the slash and began to spread outwards. The darkness tried to fight back, but the light only grew brighter and eventually swallowed the darkness whole.

His maniacal laugh slowly drowned out as the darkness dwindled from the wall. The sound sending shivers throughout the space.

Fate turned to the Mother, catching her as she fell to her knees. "What do we do? We have to help them."

Her eyes were beginning to water, and he held her in her despair. He has spent so many years of his life in the darkness, fighting internal battles and losing to the worst parts of himself. It took a lot to get to this point, he would not allow the darkness to wrench everything away when he has just found his happiness.

"We will." He tells her with certainty.

She looks to him, "But you said-"

He shushes her gently. "There are some things worth the risk, if there is a price to pay for changing their fates, I will pay it gladly knowing that it took you out of harm's way."

Before she could rebut, he walked over to the chessboard and closed his eyes. He moved his hands in a series of circular motions, a golden light emitting from his palms as he muttered an incantation.

The light extended out from his palms, wrapping around the two chess pieces - the Shadowsinger and Princess of Night - tracing the bond between them.

The pieces shifted on the board by themselves, their movements uncontrolled, before they settled into their new places on the board. The play had taken them out of danger but put them into an indiscernible position—a game with no clear winner.

The Mother ran to the board and immediately noticed the shift of the pieces.

"It's too late, it's already done. Don't worry I didn't do anything that grand." He grabs both of her hands into his own.

"I put the answer in front of them, but they still have to solve the problem. Their fates have been changed; even I can't see them, but at least they have a chance.

In the depths of the library, a book began to stir. The volume had not been touched for centuries, dust and cobwebs adorning the oldest bookshelf in the library.

The splintering wood creaked at its movement, as the spine poked out from the shelf. The book fell with an unceremonious with a soft thud that couldn't be heard beyond the walls of the alcove that housed the other ancient and more dangerous volumes.

Even fae ears couldn't detect the fall of the book, but the shadow that was now circling it did.

It curiously darted around the worn edges of the leather binding, trying to slip into the pages.

The large oval purple gem on the cover started to glow slightly, the gold setting holding it in place reflecting its glow. The shadow straightened in surprise before darting to it's master.

The pulses of light emitting from the purple gem started going faster - a warning signal telling the shadow to hurry. Its master has already defied fate twice; he was racing against the clock, running from a fate that was trying to defy him.

note: Hello my loves long time no see... again... I have been in the absolute trenches of life, but I will hopefully be in the headspace to continue this particular story again as my schedule clears up at the end of the month. I got my first comment critiquing the quality of my work, which should not be that significant in the grand scheme of things, but it made me really self-conscious of my work and as a result I doubled down on editing and planning. I have since moved on(fuck what other ppl think!!), and will continue to keep writing as I please. I apologuse for we are still wading through the waters of exposition, but we will be in the midst of the action going forward. Until next time my darlings and remember good things come to those who wait!!

note note: I did look over this one, I know I know you should all be proud, but always remember that this is just fanfiction written for fun there might be a typo or a few errors we will both live, so let's be kind to our authors.

note note note: I appreciate all the love on this story and thank you to all my readers that have been here since the beginning and all my newer readers <33

my lovely taglist: @alimarie1105 @chaosabroad @bbontenswhhore @tele86 @ashblooddragons @circe143 @i-am-infinite @princesssunderworld @thestartitaness @tiffany-xx @cpfantasybooks @lucia-valentinaa @jennigsonl @ivy-34 @firefly-forest @k-homosapien @coeurdeveea @cherryjain17 @bckynatt @becstersworld @rcarbo1 @gojospearlycim @atluky @juliebluehufflepuff @willowpains @abadfantasybook @neverendingstay @hellohauntedturnstudent @highladyofhogwarts @littowl @iluvyewman-blog @lunaticpotatoe @justlivinginadaydream @julesiebean @shylahstarzz @olive-main @lreadsstuff @noonenuts @sourapplex @aquellaspequenascosas @anuttellaa @honethatty12 @moonlwghts @kittymeyers @beabogsims @sillyfreakfanparty @starswholistenanddreamsanswered @lilah-asteria @chicaconfundidaycuriosa @florencemtrash @violetscar656 @ania-swissweet @jasmineee05 @fxckmiup @plants-w0rld @lou-diaries @syyyy4ever @undercover-rebelx3 @mitziix @naturakaashi

#wm series #azriel x reader #acotar fic #azriel #azriel fic #azriel x you #acotar #azriel acotar #azriel fanfic #azriel shadowsinger #azriel fanfiction #azriel spymaster #azriel x female!reader #azriel x f!reader #acotar fanfiction #acotar fanfic

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lunarxcity · 10 days ago

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updates!! Its been been busy lately but I got the newest chapter of why me done I just have to edit it and since be careful what you wish for got so much positive feedback I decided to continue it! I'm about halfway done with the second chapter and updates may be slow, but she has been upgraded to series status.

Keep an eye out for the new chapters soon and hopefully by the end of the month I can go back to writing more frequently!!

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lunarxcity · 10 days ago

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When an enchanted Black family heirloom binds Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger together, they begin to share more than just magic. As they grapple with the unpredictable bond and the flood of shared emotions, Hogwarts itself begins to unravel under the weight of an ancient curse triggered by Voldemort’s dark legacy.

To survive, they must uncover the secrets lurking in the castle’s shadows or risk being torn apart by the bond and each other. Between reluctant partnership and simmering resentment, can they break the bond before it consumes them both?

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lunarxcity · 1 month ago

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unable to reconcile with the fact that to finish a series i have to keep writing it and can’t just move on and start writing another series

#writers rambles #writing #im sorry guys #new series in the works #body doubling to get my new chapter done before ppl start knocking my door down

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lunarxcity · 1 month ago

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Hopefully it was constructive criticism and not just criticism flavoured hate

I hope so too!! Some truths may be hard to hear and bluntness is the enemy of truth. In all fairness you guys do deserve more than typos, if you’re choosing to spend your time reading something I wrote it’s only fair I look it over to maximise your experience.

Just a reminder to be kind to your fic writers, we want to do right by you but this is just something we do out of pure passion. To all those that continue to read and enjoy my writing thank you for being here and I appreciate you guys more than you’ll ever know 🫶🫶

#my asks #writers rambles #writing #fanfic

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lunarxcity · 1 month ago

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Hermione had everything she’d dreamed of: a meaningful Ministry job restoring rights to magical creatures, the boyfriend she always wanted, and freedom from the darkness that had plagued the Golden Trio throughout their school years.

So why didn’t it feel like enough?

After a year under house arrest, the Ministry decrees that disgraced Death Eaters must earn their freedom by working within its walls. Suddenly, her enemies are mingling with her friends, and her world is turned upside down.

Thrown together with unlikely allies, Hermione finds herself caught between loyalty and distrust. In a moment of spite toward Ron, she begrudgingly promises a notorious ex-Death Eater she’ll help him earn his freedom.

As lines blur and alliances shift, she must decide who to trust – who’s a friend, who’s an enemy, and who’s something more?

#dramione #dramione fic rec #dramione recs #dramione fic #harry potter #hp #hp fic #hp fic rec #draco x hermione fic #draco malfoy #draco malfoy fic #dramione fanfic

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lunarxcity · 1 month ago

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next why me? part in the works, editing is a doozy and somehow takes twice as long than to write but let’s all practice patience and we’ll be rewarded by a longer than usual next part

#wm series #sorry ive been in the trenches #in honor of the acotar6 draft

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lunarxcity · 1 month ago

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just got my first taste of criticism for my writing 2/10 experience would not recommend but this is the price we pay for improvement hopefully my quality of writing will be much better from now on!!

#writers rambles #I need a beta reader/team of editors

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lunarxcity · 2 months ago

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apart from my normal acotar works I have also started a dramione fic on ao3 if you guys want to go check it out! I will be continuing my updates of why me? as soon as the chapters are done and will be cycling back to my other works as well

#wm series #updates

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lunarxcity · 2 months ago

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The Wizard in the Clocktower

https://archiveofourown.org/works/67125595/chapters/173330062

It has been five years since the Battle of Hogwarts. Two years ago, Hermione Granger was captured in a last-ditch, large-scale attack on Voldemort. The Order has suffered major losses and has been heavily weakened. Harry Potter is in hiding and the Wizarding World is in disarray. As a reward for their service, Voldermort is allowing his most loyal followers to pass around the prisoners of war. After two years of narrowly avoiding his clutches, Hermione is sent to Malfoy manor where she discovers an artifact that could not only turn the tide of this war, but turn the tide of reality as she knows it. Will she be able to fix everything or will her unlikely ally betray her, leaving her plans to crumble and burying her in the rubble?

#dramione #enemies to lovers #forced marriage #more like blackmail #draco x hermione #hermione granger #harry potter #dramione fic #draco malfoy #draco malfoy fic #dramione fic rec #dramione fanfic #dramione recs #dramione wip #draco x hermione fic #kind of

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lunarxcity · 2 months ago

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Be Careful What you Wish for - part i

Azriel x Inner Circle!Reader

When you begin to grow tired of constantly being surrounded by so many happy couples and dealing with a one-sided affection from the shadowsinger, you catch a suriel and it insinuates that Rhys is your mate. In light of this information you make a wish that completely flips your world(quite literally). Will you go back home or is this new world everything you dreamed of?

Wc: 7,803 ao3

There are many ways to catch a suriel. There are a slew of traps, enchantments, and magical objects on the market that all claim the ability to ensnare the elusive creature for what is more powerful than truth?

While many have tried, very few succeed and those who have paradoxically did not have too sacrifice such strenuous efforts for their moment alone with the magical creature for it is said a suriel catches you as much as you catch them.

From this finding, rumours had begun to spread that a Suriel is only caught when it wants to be for their is nothing more dangerous than the truth. They are more powerful than high lords and oracles because if there is one thing in this world that has power it would be information and the Suriel is a never ending fountain of it.

You remind yourself of this as you trudge deeper into the evergreen forests on the outskirts of the Night Court in pursuit of the mythical being.

For you needed answers and unlike those who have come to these woods, weapons pointed and ready to strike their bloodthirst bordering insanity, you believe that your intentions were pure and the Suriel would see that.

You have been working at the Night Court for hundreds of years since you escaped the Court of Nightmares with your childhood best friend Mor.

You adored each member of the Inner Circle profoundly, but you had always been closest to Mor. After all you have gone through the bests and worsts with one another and that's a bond that once forged cannot easily be broken.

Second to Mor is the shadowsinger. You two were unnaturally quick friends, which had surprised everyone, including yourself. While Azriel's tall walls and prickly nature made him accustomed to the adverse initial reactions he's used to receiving, you had showed him a compassion and care that he had not been used to.

You enjoyed each other's presence which then led to you guys actually talking, which is something Azriel doesn't sincerly do much. You discover that beneath the mask of the shadowsinger, Azriel does possess emotions like a normal person.

A rustle in the leaves snaps you out of your thoughts. You whip your head around.

There.

You dart towards the fleeting figure, whispy shadows and tedrils of black cloak emanate off it's figure. You feel it in your gut.

It's a real life Suriel.

You run towards it, leaving reason and your senses behind, driven by a desperation for truth. For answers. For this was a matter of life and death and you had become rather tired of losing people.

So you run, continuing to chase the figure into the depths of the forest. That's until you trip over a stray branch.

You feel the blood soaking your pants before you register the sharp pain in your knee. You don't have to look to know that there's a gash there now.

You're on the ground in what looks like to be a clearing in the forest. The trees form an unobstructed circle around a wall of shimmering crystal.

The sun shone down on this wall, amplifying the iridescent sheen of the purple and ivory coloured crystal.

You feel it before you see it. The hairs on the back of your neck prick up and the air suddenly feels heavier.

Suddenly, a voice as powerful as the cosmos and as ancient as the very dust of this world speaks to you.

"For what reason do you disturb me? I thought we made our disdain for your kind clear as day."

You feel a whoosh of air as the Suriel hovers over so it's directly in front of you. All bones and a malicious kind of magic, the Suriel is a legend of it's known. While the truth may not be evil in nature, it has the potential to unravel the very threads of all that we know.

"I had a vision. I need clarity if you are willing to offer it. We can discuss payment if needed, you will find I am very well connected."

Your mind floats back to the dark room. The feelings of despair and helplessness. A lingering suspicion that you already met your mate and hadn't known it.

"You are the first being I have seen in a long time that has not pointed a weapon at me." The Suriel comes closer, but this time you don't fear it.

"Daughter of Night, I will oblige your request. I only ask that after all is revealed that you may return to me so we may discuss your payment for you have nothing to offer me now."

You look up at the Suriel and nod your head.

"I oblige to your conditions."

The Suriel grins at your response and worry blooms in your chest. What does the Suriel know that you don't to be so glad with this deal?

You get ready to divulge in the dream you had. The feelings of restlessness in your chest. The bleeding of dreams and feelings that weren't yours.

"So I hear you have been having visions of your mate."

You go still. This bastard-

"Ah yes your mate, a lord of Night and commander of the darkness. One of the fiercest in the Night Court your life will not be easy as his mate, but it will be rewarding. He's nearer than you think, but there is a major obstacle in your way."

You begin to go over the Suriel's words. Lord of Night? No it can't be. Rhysand is already mated... but that would be a major obstacle.

A sinking feeling is suddenly present in your stomach. You think you're going to be sick.

"Your high lord is aware of your mating bond."

You feel the world slow to a stop. After all these years? Rhys? Who you thought of as a brother. Rhys? Who had been your close friend and confidant? Who knew of the mating bond and hadn't told you.

You begin to wonder, when Feyre turned into fae did it alter the mating bond that was supposed to be yours? Is she living the life you are meant to have?

"I know the look very well. Everyone always wants the truth until they learn that reality is not as kind as their hopes and wishes." The Suriel responds.

"Speaking of wishes..." You could almost hear the Suriel grinning underneath it's large black cloak.

Suriel's are trickster spirits, it's in their nature to yearn for chaos. They don't do it out of maliciousness, but rather for their own sense of entertainment.

They are deeply philosophical and love to make you jump through hoops to get the true conclusion.

You try to keep this in mind as you hang on to this Suriel's every word.

"It is said that the magical properties of the Crystal behind me can sometimes have the power to grant wishes. It's made of the same magic that keeps a Suriel's life force going as long as it does and your wish can only be granted if a Suriel allows it."

Suddenly a tendril of shadow snakes around your knee which is still gushing blood. You hear the beats of wings.

"It seems your mate is coming for you. I will see you sooner than you think."

Suddenly the Suriel is off, disappearing into the wind.

You hear rustling in the bushes behind you and see a flash of blue siphons fly overhead going into the direction of the Suriel.

You turn around to the rustling and see none other than Rhys emerging from the bushes.

"Hey, you're alright. I'm going to tell Az and Cas that I found you."

Your mate. Your bastard of a mate who had betrayed you. Who still knows about the reality of your mating bond.

"We should get you to Madja. Can you get up?"

The cut is a lot deeper than you initially thought. It would definitely need stitches.

Before you could respond to Rhys your hit with a gust of air from the landing of both Azriel and Cassian.

Cassian looks to Rhys and informs him, "The perimeter is secure no sight of the Suriel."

Azriel's eyes are on you, betraying his neutral face with the slight worry you can see shining in the hazel, "Are you alright?"

He immediately kneels down next to you and does a complete scan of your body for any other injuries. His shadow assists him swirling up and down your body and then going directly to his ear to whisper something to him.

He then does something that shocks you. He rips off the cuff on his bicep that houses one of his siphons, and underneath is a strip of cloth. A shadowsinger always has to be one step ahead of death for it will always try to find him when he is least expecting it.

He wraps does to wrap the cloth against your knee. He stops and looks up at you, his eyes asking for your permission. You give him a nod and he begins to wrap it around your wounded knee.

"I'm going to winnow her to Madja through my shadows, the magic is weird in this part of the forest it's the quickest way."

Rhys and Cassian nod.

Rhys looks to you, "Update me on how you are feeling and when you're feeling better, we can discuss later why you were in a forest that's known for its danger."

You're immediately swept into Azriel's arms and enveloped in a swarm of shadows.

As the shadows begun to block out the outside world you turn your head to where the Suriel had stood, backed by the crystaline wall, only to see that it was no longer there. Where the wall had been was just more forest.

The world goes dark and you become one with the shadows as Azriel sweeps you away.

Madja quickly works on getting you patched up and this was not the first time by any means she had to stitch you back together. She threads the needle through your skin while muttering to herself about the carelessness of the Inner Circle and how one day she would pack her bags and leave you all for the Day Court.

You couldn't blamer the head healer of the Night Court has seen a lot of things in her time. If she wanted to go and leave Rhys for Helion and you might ask her to take you with her.

Madja gives you a smile like she could read your thoughts. It wasn't a normal Madja smile, but rather a mischievous fox like smile you would have never expected to see the older lady bear.

She looks and you and then looks to Azriel who had been silently sitting in the chair next to you the entire time.

"Shadowsinger sitting there and brooding isn't going to help anyone. If you want to provide her company, maybe try holding her hand?"

She was no better than a petulant child making fun of their friend for having a crush, but you and Azriel weren't children and there was no crush to be found here.

You scoff. "He doesn't need to do that. I can handle it I've gotten stitches before."

You turn to look at Azriel expecting him to back you up but you're met with an outstretched hand.

He shrugs. "Doctors orders."

"Seriously?" You reply, confused by his behaviour.

"Physical contact is known to reduce pain."

Why was Azriel entertaining Madja's antics? You sigh and put your hand into his much larger one.

Scars lined his skin, you had always wondered what had caused them but never had the courage to ask. You didn't want to make him uncomfortable or reopen old wounds.

His grip was firm, but gentle in a way a reliable constant in the way you knew him to be. There is something about Azriel that calms the storm in you. His presence is a comfort that you can never get enough of.

You look at your intertwined hands, and one of the shadows, likely finding this whole ordeal amusing. Azriel gives his shadow a death glare but it only encourages it and the little shadow starts swirling excitedly around your hands.

"And done." Madja says while snipping the remaining thread.

You look down to your leg and see that your wound had been fully stitched together. How didn't you feel the needle go in?

You look back to Azriel, confusion written across your features and he gives you a smug look that's clearly saying I told you so.

The moment is interrupted by Rhys barging into the room. His quick footsteps striding towards you.

"Goody, now that you're feeling better, you can tell me why you were trying to catch a Suriel." He clasps his hands together in anticipation.

The man who was meant to be your mate. A good friend of yours whom you were supposed to spend eternity with. You had almost forgotten about that little revelation earlier.

"I had questions that needed to be answered." Your response is dry but adequate.

"If they were questions about this court you should have just come to me."

"They were... personal questions." You hope this would make him give up, but it's Rhys.

"What kind of personal questions? Surely not so personal you wouldn't tell your family."

This is the side of Rhys you never liked. When he would switch from your friend to your boss.

"The kind that I don't need to share with you. It isn't anything to do with the Courts or any matters of security so what's the big deal? Feyre went and trapped the Suriel twice and no one said anything of it."

You're annoyance is apparent to the spymaster who is now on edge eyes darting back and forth between the two of you.

"Feyre was a hunter she could fend for herself but you-"

"But I what? I also caught a Suriel on my own. Just because you don't believe in me doesn't mean I'm not accomplished. I don't need your approval about what I can or can't do with my life."

You storm off from the med bay, slamming the door behind you leaving the high lord in your wake. Leaving your mate behind.

You were done with everyone and everything. You blew up at your mate who was already mated to someone else, tripped on a branch, and offended a being that's likely as old as the bones of this world.

You winnowed to your room only to see Azriel sitting there waiting for you.

Why is it when you were always at your worst, Azriel was right there.

He opened his mouth to say something, but you cut him off.

"If you're here for Rhys, I don't want to hear it." You tiredly trudge over to your bed and lie down.

He comes over and lies down right next to you. "No I'm here for you. I wanted to make sure you were alright."

You sigh and let out a defeated laugh. "Do I look alright?"

He turns his head to look at you, "You've looked...better?"

You burst out laughing. Everyone thinks that Cassian is the comedian, but Azriel had that dry humor that was effortlessly funny.

"I'm sorry, I was always told to refrain from saying anything bad about a woman's appearance, but I didn't want to lie to you." He quickly says, trying to take it back.

"Oh Azriel ever the gentleman." You say sarcastically while holding his hand in faux comfort.

His eyes immediately darted from your face to your now joined hands back to your face.

"Unlike the other heathens in this court I do try to be one."

You are almost crying of laughter at this point. "Heathens? Who says that. By the mother Azriel we need to get you to talk to some women."

Those words left a sour taste in your mouth and you didn't know why. Azriel deserves to be happy with someone, but you just couldn't picture the shadowsinger with anyone. You didn't even want to try, the idea of it left a pit in your stomach.

"I prefer to stay where I am." Azriel calmly responds.

"In the shadows? Does it ever get lonely there all by yourself?" You try to let your curiosity be an anchor to keep you awake, but lying down on your bed with Azriel's thumb stroking your hand was beckoning you into the realm of sleep.

He pauses for a moment. Trying to think of a proper answer to your question.

"The shadows are not cold and brash, like most think, they are soft and comforting and make for good companions. I'm not by myself as long as you're around with me."

He takes a long, drawn-out breath. "That reminds me, I have something to tell you-"

He's cut short by the sound of your deep breathing and by the slow, steady rise and fall of your chest you are fast asleep.

"Every time." He mutters.

At the sound of his voice, you turn around in your sleep and bury yourself into his arm.

He looks up and asks the Mother to help him. She smiles down at him, a silent promise that one day she would grant his wish.

He tries to outrun sleep for as long as he can, not knowing if he will ever be in this position with you again.

Sleep finally catches him when he starts listening to your heartbeat, wondering if would ever beat for him the way his heart does for you.

You wake up cold and alone. Azriel must have left before you had fallen asleep.

You finally had time to process everything, in your first moments alone, everything had hit you all at once. The realisation of finding and losing your mate all at the same time.

You don't even know why you were devastated you don't even have feelings for Rhys, but the feeling of having something that was meant to be yours taken away from you without you even knowing it was devastating.

For you had always struggled with feelings of worthlessness. You had watched all of those around you fall in love and get married, do whatever their hearts had desires, all while you had been alone tethered to the same job for centuries.

While Azriel's affections had been one-sided for Mor, at least he had the opportunity to feel something. All you have known is nothingness and it seems like that will be all you would ever know. For the cauldron decided that there would be no one for you in this lifetime.

You have yearned before, but it was not the yearning of lovers but rather the yearning of the dreamers. The ones who dream of a love so great that it will fulfill all the stories they have read and justify the abstinence of openness for so long.

In the soft light of daybreak you realise you have been played for a fool this entire time for what was a mate, if not a scam? Why should a force other than yourself tether you to another being for all eternity?

You don't want to deal with this. You can't for you deserve better than some half assed mating bond.

You were desperate and in your distress you did the only thing your addled mind could think of in the moment.

You winnowed back to the forest. Wherever that wall was, you would find it and wish for a new mate.

You land in the forest with a thud and look up to see the Suriel looking at you expectantly. It had been waiting for your return.

"It took you long enough, oh, young one." In that same ancient voice that sends shivers down your spine.

You take a breath. "So you know why I am back then?"

The Suriel gives you a smile that is anything but warm. "Any wish your heart desires if you decide to pay the price."

Fae were not generous creatures, especially trickster spirits; magic like this always has a hefty price.

"It's not much, dear, for I was young and misguided once. I've made my mistakes and I see myself in you, so I will take pity on you." You try not to believe a word that comes out the Suriel's mouth.

"One night of your life. I get your assistance with anything I would like for one night and you cannot refuse me."

You're about to interject worried for your future safety.

"I vow that it will not cause you harm or be cruel in nature." Both of those statements are extremely subjective, but this is about the best you will get from a Suriel.

"Deal." The Suriel begins to grin and raises it's hands, the ground rumbles in response and the Crystal begins to glow. The pristine lilac is suddenly marred by a giant crack that splits down the middle of the wall to the ground.

The crystal crumbles, and in its wake is what looks like a doorway. Although the crystal is glowing the doorway is pitch black, no light is coming inside of it and no light is escaping.

Whatever this led to must be otherworldly.

"Okay, now you are going to say your wish and go through the doorway. Your wish will come true on the other side."

You hesitate. "But everything will b the same right? My family will still be there?"

The Suriel shakes it's head. "Yes, your family will still be there on the other side."

"And you? WIll you be coming along?" You curiously look at the strange creature who you are placing your life with.

"I will need a bit to recoup from such a large use of my magic, but I will see you on the other side."

You're a bit more on board now, but there's still a blaring horn in the back of your head telling you to turn back now and just go home.

You wonder if Azriel was awake and what he would think of this story.

You're snapped out of your thoughts by a rustling in the bushes, someone was coming.

"Now or never dear, just say your wish and go through the gate or turn around now and never return." The Suriel hurriedly told you.

You nod your head. Oh gods you didn't exactly plan out the semantics of your wish, but you could hear footsteps approaching meaning you had to hurry.

"I wish I had a different mate." There you go, you'll have a do-over and leave it up to fate for another chance.

The Suriel's hands begin to glow with a wispy white magic you have never seen before.

"Your wish is my command. See you on the other side oh little one."

You run to the doorway, straight into the darkness and immediately realise that you are no longer in the same world. This darkness was not the darkness you knew, the comforting blanket of Azriel's shadows, it was dark and powerful and so ancient that it settled on your skin like a later of dust rather than a blanket.

You look over your shoulder and see nothing but abyss behind you and decide to keep going. You take a step and are blinded by the light.

Azriel knew something was wrong the moment he was yanked from his sleep, senses on alert. He is a very light sleeper, he has to be, for sleep is vulnerability and Azriel and vulnerability are not well acquainted.

His shadows wail your name and he already knows that you had left. He checks the bond and the feelings that had once been so vibrant were now muted and strained.

He checked on the bond, went down the pathway that connects you two and he realised that your end spans out far. He can't see you anymore. Wherever you had gone it was not in this world and he prays to whatever gods will hear him for your safe return to him.

The air was warm, and the sun was out. Those were the first signs that something had gone terribly wrong. The chill of winter was nowhere to be found and neither was any of the surroundings you were accustomed to in the Night Court.

There were no towering snowcapped mountains, no evergreen trees, and no beats of Illyrian wings coming for you. Azriel had a sixth sense for finding you whenever you were in peril, he would have been here by now.

You take a breath and the smell of the air catches you off guard. Cinammon and Maple, why were you in Autumn? You looked at the trees and saw the golden and orange hues of maple trees in the distance.

You hear a rustling behind you coming from the wall. You quickly turn around, only to see that the wall was no longer there and in it's place stood Eris Vanserra.

While he is technically no longer an enemy of the Night Court, he was still on shakey ground so why did he look so elated to see you.

You don't think you had ever seen Eris smile the way he was smiling at you right now. No mischief or bite, Eris Vanserra had actually looked happy for once.

"Next time you run off my love, please at least tell me where you're going off to."

My love? Oh this is not happening and definitely not with Eris of all people?

He walks up to you, cups you face with his hands, and places a kiss on your forehead. His hands aren't smooth the way you would expect a nobles to be, but they felt nothing like the hands you had fallen asleep holding which sent a wave of disappointment down your chest.

"I can feel you're distraught. Did something happen?"

The weight of everything became much too heavy to bear and the interworld travelling had taken such a heavy toll on your body.

You fell to the ground before you could answer and Eris caught you and yelled for his guards.

You had the weirdest dream while out that Eris was your mate and you were in a strange new world. You turn over to tell Azriel about your brain's antics when you're greeted with the sight of Eris doing paperwork.

You look down. Red and white sheets with the emblem of the Autumn Court. It was real. You were here in Eris' bed, in Eris' court, and you were his mate.

You rustled with the blanket, and Eris suddenly turned around. He comes over and hands you a mug with a steaming hot liquid that smelled suspiciously like tea.

"Are you alright? Should I postpone the meeting with the Night Court tonight until you are feeling better?"

Night Court? You could see your family and go home? All you had to do was tell Azriel and he would get you out of this like he always does.

"No!" You say suspiciously quick and then try to backtrack.

"We can't cancel on our guests because of such a minor inconvenience." You try to brush it off, hoping he takes the bait.

"The health of my mate is anything but a minor inconvenience, but you know your body and if you say you will be fine I won't postpone then." He grabs one of your hands in his.

"I will give you a few hours to rest and I will see you right before we greet our guests tonight. Have a good rest my lady." He kisses your knuckles and gently sets them down on the bed and goes through the door that likely leads to his office.

Wow. So this was a side of Eris you never thought anyone would ever see. You can't say you hate it, maybe you guys were put as mates for a reason.

This doesn't feel right without your family though. Without Azriel. Hopefully when you see him tonight you could talk to this Azriel and figure out what is going on and where you fit into this world.

Right now your body needs to recover, you let sleep find you. You dream of large wings and snowball fights.

You were awoken by two hand maidens lightly shaking you awake.

"My lady. Your guests will be here within the hour." They open the blinds which didn't do much since the sun had already began to set. The soft glow of dawn was a comfort that had only beckoned you back to sleep.

"We are running a bit behind my lady. Eris told us he would have our heads if we didn't let you rest for as long as possible." The smaller one of the two says as she zips around your room, grabbing an assortment of jewellery, hairpins, and clothes to speed run your getting ready.

You get up groggily, eyes bleary and hair in knots - a hallmark of a good sleep. You are hurriedly dragged into a tub and dunked with water and scrubbed clean.

They were really rushing, you would commend them for their efforts but you were half-drowning as they poured a bucket of water over your head to wash out the shampoo in your hair.

You were quickly dried and dressed in your undergarments, it seems like picking a gown would be last.

You were sat down at the large oak vanity while one maid did your hair and the other your makeup. You now realised that you had no idea what kind of meeting you were stepping in to; You have no idea the current political climate between the Night Court and the Autumn Court let alone if Beron was still the high lord.

You had no clue what the norm was in this reality and you didn't know how to ask without being deemed insane.

"Remind me again, how is our relationship to the Night Court?" You tried to slyly ask the maids and the smaller zippier one who was doing your hair looked at you like you had lost your mind.

"Our relations have been generally good considering they helped us remove Beron from power." She eyes you up and down, stopping her movements to better assess your current state.

If Beron is removed from power, that makes Eris the high lord. Does this mean you're lady of the Autumn Court?

"Miss are you feeling alright. We can just tell the Night Court delegates that you are still suffering from exhaustion and you can skip this meeting to rest."

"Forgive me, it's just my sleep-addled brain. I will be alright, thank you for your concern." You say as nonchalantly as possible.

She nodded, going back to sewing jewels into your pinned up hair.

"Alright, my lady. Well then, we must decide what gown you are to wear."

You had no idea what your current closet housed; it wasn't what you were accustomed to in the Night Court so you did the easiest thing you could.

"I am too exhausted to decide you two may select whatever you wish for me to wear."

They both perked up at this statement. I guess in this reality, you had never let them choose your outfit for such an important event.

"Really? We won't let you down we swear it." She borderline runs out in joy, squealing when she reaches the hallway the calmer taller one right on her heels.

She comes back a moment later with a navy dress with silver sparkles that make's it look like the Night Sky.

"I know you're usually dressed in Autumn Colours, but this dress is magnificent and you have never had such an opportunity to wear it."

You nod your head, it is gorgeous. The flowing tulle skirts and a corseted top made it a dress worthy of a queen or high lady.

They adorned you in matching silver jewelery and with a wave of a hand, the jewells in your hair turned into dark sapphires and diamonds.

You looked positively regal, nothing like how you would normally look at these functions.

You were beyond impressed with the work of these two handmaidens.

"You both did a splendid job." They smiled in response.

"What are your names?" Their faces shifted to surprise.

"I'm Portia." The calmer of the two responded.

"And I'm Nara." The very energetic one said.

Before you could say anything else there was a knock on the door.

Eris came in, decked out in the regal finery you could only expect from a high lord. His entire outfit was jet black minus the golden adornments on his coat.

You could make out symbols of Autumn; leaves, foxes, and branches all adorned his jacket. His hair was swept back cleanly and he looked every bit the gentlemen that you knew he wasn't at least in your world.

"I should be disappointed that you decided on sporting the colours of your old court instead of the ones of the court you preside over, but I cannot say that when you look this beautiful."

He walks around you, admiring you and your cheeks flush.

"I'm not going to give up my home court." You were about to say that your family is there, but you don't even know if they know you any more.

"And that's what I love about you. You know yourself, and you wouldn't change yourself for anyone."

You just smiled in response. You didn't know what to say because how much did Eris actually know about you? The current you, not the you that he thinks that he knows.

He holds his arm out to you. "Ready to face the wolves my love."

You take a breath, both excitement and fear flooding your senses.

"Always."

He winnows you to a doorway and from the shadow peaking from under the doorway, you know exactly who is inside.

The double doors open to a large dining room with a large table right in the middle. The entire room was dark wood, almost reminding you of a lavish tree.

The table was an even darker wood with a large strip of royal blue piped with yellow on the table.

Your eyes immediately find Azriel's and you know that this isn't your Azriel. While you understood that yes this is a different reality and not everything would be the same, the look of indifference he is giving you now plunged a dagger right through your heart.

You look to Rhys and Cassian and it was the same. No friendly smiles or hugs just pure diplomacy. You were getting the mask of the high lord, the general, and the shadowsinger.

You were a stranger or worse, an enemy to your family. The realisation had you wishing you had just stayed in bed.

"High lord and lady of Autumn it is a pleasure to make your Acquantice." Rhys bows and Cassian and Azriel follow.

You really didn't like this. Eris returns the polite gestute with one of his own.

"And you as well Rhysand." Eris bows back and you follow.

You can feel Azriel's gaze bearing into your soul, but you're afraid to look, scared you will break the instant you guys make eye contact.

The moment is broken by the opening of the doors. Lucien rushes in, slightly frazzled and very light.

"Apologies. My travels took me longer than anticipated." He looks around, trying to survey the state of the room.

Eris clasps his hands together and says, "Well now that everyone is here lets eat!"

He waives his hand and all the trays of food on the table are open to reveal a lavish feast.

The table has two seats on each side and one at each head. Rhys took one and Eris the other. Eris pulled out the chair next to him for you and Lucien sat on the other side of Eris.

You really were hoping Cassian would sit next to you so you don't have to face such close proximity with this Azriel so soon, but it seems fate had another plan.

Azriel was sitting directly next to you. Okay no probem you can just ignore him, you focus on your food easy enough.

The food was divine, succulent meats mixed with fresh wild grain and the best seasonal produce Autumn had to offer. One small problem, you didn't like tomatoes and it was in half of the food.

You tried to eat around it as subtly as possible, but you really hoped that no one would notice.

You looked at Lucien to see that he was putting some veal with cherry tomatoes on his plate. Azriel would definetly like something like that. You reach over to grab it when Lucien is done and hand it to Azriel.

You immediately realise your mistake. Rhys, Eris, and Lucien were too engrossed with talks of diplomacy to catch the significance of what you had done, but Azriel was looking at you with pure bewilderment.

You knew he had been eyeing that dish that was being hogged by Cassian and Lucien's side of the table. You had specifically gotten it for him and at this point Azriel has probably picked up that you don't like it.

This is a gesture that is way too intimate for colleagues who allegedly don't know each other. Cassian looks to Azriel and raises a brow, and you know he suspects you.

"Where did you say you were from again?" Cassian asks you, probably trying not to look too suspicious.

"I'm from Night, actually. I only came here after well, you know." You say as you point your head towards Eris.

"Where about in Night?" Azriel looks to you.

"Hewn." That spoke for itself and Cassian goes quiet and Azriel gives you a nod of acknowledgement. You really needed this dinner to be over with.

You take a sip of your wine, plotting your escape when you're snapped out of your thoughts by the feeling of something on your wrist.

You knew it was Azriel's shadows, but these weren't the shadows you had become accustomed to. This shadow was sharper, it didn't flow the way your Azriel's shadow did it seemed that it was more used to striking.

It was circling your hand and wrist and you looked at Azriel in curiousity only to be met with a wall of indifference. You knew Azriel though and you could tell from the whites of his knuckles and the way his right hand was gripping the stem of his glass that he was having trouble reeling in his shadows.

You look to the tips of his ears and see a bit of red blooming there, barely visible unless you know what to look for. He was embarrassed by the lack of control of his shadows.

This may not have been your Azriel, but this was still Azriel, and you learned his language, you know his tells like the back of your hand.

"It's alright, you don't have to hold them back. Shadows aren't meant to hide, not be hidden." You give him a small smile, not wanting him to know that you want him to leave his shadows, that they were the only sense of comfort you had felt in this strange new world. \

Azriel refuses to look at you for the rest of the dinner but he leaves his shadows to wander. They stray to your hands and your hair and although they are different from the shadows you knew, they were still a comfort.

Dinner finished then dessert came. This must be a completely different world because Rhys and Eris are getting along so well.

You were getting so sleepy, you had such a long day and your body needed to recover. You've been pulled in so many different ways in the past 24 hours and you were so emotionally drained.

Dinner ends, and Eris invites Rhys to go to his study to discuss something about post-war court logistics. Cassian volunteers to join because as general he knows the most about the armies. Eris tells you to go rest and they all bid you goodnight.

This left you, Lucien, and Azriel standing in one of the large hallways.

The redhead lets out a large yawn. "Well I'm going to bed goodnight you two."

He saunters off down the large hallway, presumably to his room.

This leaves just you and Azriel. You had been hoping for a moment alone with him all evening and now that you got it you were speechless.

"It seems everyone has left us." You try to make conversation with this Azriel, but you already know that while his walls are up it's a futile effort.

Almost a minute passes in silence.

"That does appear to be the case." He actually responded to your surprise.

"Your shadows, they are very lovely why do you stifle them?" If it was something that your Azriel needed to hear then it was probably something this Azriel needed to.

He looks away. "Many are averted by the idea of shadows running around loose, especially with my... reputation."

"Well, they must be fools for people fear what they do not know." You see bits of a broken soul in those hazel eyes. Oh how you wish you could do more.

"You don't know me and you didn't fear me." He says gently.

You wanted to tell him that you do know him, more than he will ever know. That you had seen the good and bad parts of his soul and still believed in him.

Your cut off by a shadow darting forwards and wrapping itself around your wrist in a protective fashion. This was not the dark, cold shadows ready to strike. No, this shadow was all smooth movements and comfort.

It was Azriel's shadow. Your Azriel's shadow.

Azriel looks at you confused and inspects the shadow.

"This is not one of mine." Cauldron boil me the shadow is going to tell him.

"No it's not." Really? That's the best you could come up with right now?

His shadows come up the shadow slowly, like they were approaching a feral cat.

They started whispering in the language of the shadows, dancing around each other.

Azriel's shadow goes to his ear and begins whispering something to Azriel and his normally stoic face turns into one of pure shock.

"I think you will want to sit down for this, come with me." He looks at you questioningly, but obeys nonetheless.

You walk him into the library and onto two of the couches that are facing each other.

"Explain." He looks at you in the way of the spymaster, which would intimidate anyone, even though you know him so well right now he does not know you.

Right now you are more enemy than friend and you're backing him into a corner and if you know anything about Azriel you know that when he feels like he's being backed into a corner he bites.

You don't know how your Azriel's shadow followed you or why it left it's master. His shadows rarely leave his side, especially for long periods like this. Could the shadow travel between worlds?

You hadn't really thought of the magical capabilities of the shadow's, and why does this Azriel's shadows differ from the one you know.

You're snapped from your thoughts by your newly adopted shadow tugging you into the library.

It is a large library filled with colorful books and oaken bookshelves. Tree trunks and roots adorned the walls and it felt as if you were in the hollow of a tree itself.

The library was built in a circle with desks and chairs placed in the middle and couches on the furthest side, against the windows.

The shadow led you to the couches and Azriel followed.

You sat and he sat directly across from you pinning you down with an icy stare. It's really not fun being on this side of his interrogations, you'll make fun of him for it next time you seen him. If there ever is a next time.

"Okay so the shadow is my friend's. He is also a shadowsinger, it must have followed me home." You knew he probably wasn't going to believe your lie but there was no harm in trying.

"My shadows tell me that this shadow comes from another world and considering that you haven't left Autumn's territory in months, and the fact that there is no other known shadowsinger, I would say that you don't belong here either?"

Azriel was nothing if not good at his job.

"How did you?" You look at him wide-eyed in disbelief.

"I am a spymaster, it's my job. The shadowsinger is he your mate? I can't wrap my head around a shadow straggling off on its own..." He looks at you borderline uninterested. Only Azriel would find someone who has crossed worlds and would find not even a hint of amusement in it.

"Oh no, we're not like that, I mean it's not like I haven't thought about it, but we're just very good friends. I actually ended up here because I wished for a new mate after I found out that my mate already had a mate it's very confusing I don't even know how that happened it's not even possible and-"

You cut yourself off when you saw the look on Azriel's face, like he was contemplating flying away and never returning.

"Pardon my frankness, but do you always talk so much? Your friend, the shadowsinger. He has no complaints of the agitating nature of your voice." Okay this was definitely not your Azriel.

"He enjoys the sound of my voice, thank you very much. We would have such lovely conversations that went on for hours."

"Were you holding him hostage?" Azriel has always been unintentionally funny, which got on Cassian's nerves more than he would like to admit.

"Excuse me-" You huff.

"So what is your plan to get home?" Azriel abruptly asks, making it very apparent how much he wants to get rid of you.

"I have no clue, the Suriel-" He cuts you off.

"Wait pause. You got here by making a deal with a Suriel?" There's a slight flash of worry in his eyes and your heartbeat begins to pick up.

"Yes." You look at him half wary half questioning.

"By any chance did you come through a crystalline gate?" He was bracing himself for an answer and your heart dropped at the question.

"Yes, how did you know?" His head drops to his hands, the darkness dances with his shadows and with the large wings behind his back, he looks as if he could be a fallen angel.

"You may have just doomed us all."

note: This piece has been sitting in my drafts for a month and I finally decided to let her see the light of day, she is extremely unedited and this was honestly for fun(I saw Irish Wish and was hit with a bout of inspiration and disapointment for allowing myself to be inspired by such a movie). I'll write a part 2 if this gains enough traction, but like always until next time my darlings!

note note: did we really expect me to have any semblance of editing?

#azriel x reader #acotar fic #azriel x you #azriel fic #azriel spymaster #acotar fanfiction #azriel fanfic #acotar x reader #azriel acotar #acotar #azriel #azriel angst #but only kind of #azriel fanfiction #azriel shadowsinger

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lunarxcity · 2 months ago

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Moon Bows

A moonbow, also known as a lunar rainbow or white rainbow, is a rainbow created by moonlight rather than sunlight. It's formed when light from the moon refracts and reflects off water droplets, like those in rain or mist, creating a visible arc of light in the sky. Moonbows are generally fainter and less colorful than regular rainbows, and they are much rarer due to the need for specific conditions like a full or near-full moon, clear skies, and dark skies.

#the moon #there’s a lunar in my username for a reason

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lunarxcity · 2 months ago

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Chapter 12 of why me is up!! This one is short but go check it out

#wm series

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lunarxcity · 2 months ago

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Why Hide? (Part XII to Why Me?)

Azriel x rhys sister! reader!

angst/eventual comfort (This got really scary real fast! We love some good plot! Also sorry for the short chapter it's been a minute since I've written...)

Parts I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, and XI if you missed them!

Azriel was yanked out of sleep by a horrifying nightmare, the fourth one this week. They always ended the same, with a dark figure holding an onyx blade emanating an evil magic to your neck and no matter how hard he tries you're always either stabbed, poisoned, or some combination of the two.

For Azriel may have beaten death, but he may have paid the price with his soul. The Mother fought to save his life but the unknown darkness fought harder to claim his soul.

After Eris purged all the darkness from his chest with his fire and he had his outburst, Azriel passed out. You monitored him while he slept and he woke up nearly 2 days later screaming.

You guys have barely spoken, cordial small talk and tense silence filling the gap between you now that everything was out in the open. Azriel can't bear your rejection, so for now he will take your silence.

Footsteps in the hallway snap him out of his trance, everytime he wakes from a nightmare he can hear you hovering by his door. He had had gone from feeling a dull trickle of your feelings to now a roaring waterfall as the bond was formally acknowledged.

He knew he woke you up every night and he could feel your hesitation and desperation in his own chest, the same way you felt his fear.

The first night you had been pacing in your room and had ultimately gone to bed after he had lightly tugged on the bond to let you know he was okay.

The second night you had made it out of the hallway after hearing a crash and pretended to get water and do other mundane tasks until you couldn't hear any movement from his room anymore.

The night after that you slipped one of his shadows a sleeping potion so he could go back to bed without being plagued by nightmares.

This was the fourth night and you had made it to his door. The shadows were telling him that your hand was up, ready to knock, but you had been standing there for nearly 5 minutes and yet nothing.

He decided to put you out of your misery and he opened the door to your shocked figure.

"Can I help you? You're hovering like a vulture." Your expression shifted from surprise to embarrassment.

"I just- I didn't- " You stammered out.

Azriel raised a brow and you took a deep breath, steadying your voice.

"I just wanted to make sure you were alright, I could uhm feel your terror." You mumbled the last part out.

You were tired of beating around the bush with him, he already knew that you knew and you had been dancing around each other for days. It didn't feel right, but again nothing did these days.

Azriel did not expect you to acknowledge the bond so openly. You said nothing about acceptance or rejection, just acknowledged it's existence. Maybe after everything is done with you guys would have that conversation, but for now there were more pressing matters at hand.

"I'm fine." An answer so short and unrevealing, how Azriel.

"You've been different since your return." You were trying to get him to talk about it, everyone else was blinded by the joy of having him back but you felt the scars that his soul now beared.

You felt the darkness emanating off of him when he was contaminated with that black magic.

"Yes that tends to happen when you come back from the dead." His response came out a bit harsher than intended, but Azriel's facade has been crumbling.

He has tried these past few days to put on a mask and put away his suffering from his family, but he hasn't slept in days he was exhausted.

You flinched slightly, but you just looked at him and waited patiently. The look in your eyes let him told that you were listening and his resolve was finally crumbling.

"I feel the scars of the darkness on my soul. It was slowly taking over me, eroding who I was until all I knew was pain and the only thing I yearned for was power and revenge."

He took a breath and you grabbed his hand and dragged him to sit down on his bed.

He reached for his chest, where the darkness used to be like he could still feel it eating away at himself and everything he knew the world to be.

"I almost lost myself and if I did, I knew that whatever dark master I would serve would use me and that twisted magic to defeat Prythian so I brought myself to the one person who could save me."

He looked at you with vulnerability and pain and as you looked into his eyes, the same hazel eyes that have plagued your mind for Mother's known how long, you started to feel a seed of fear being planted in your stomach.

The golden flecks in Azriel's eyes, the eyes you knew better than your own, were gone. They were replaced by a darker green, the warmth consumed by this unfamiliar darkness.

Something is wrong with Azriel.

"I swear to the Mother or whatever gods will listen to me, we will get answers and find a way to fix this, Azriel."

You hold both of his hands in your own and look him in the eyes, determination coating your features.

"It makes no difference if the gods turn their backs on us, for you are the only deity that I answer to. For I would forsake all of them and eternally damn myself just to be by your side, whatever you give me will be enough for me. "

Almost dying really changes your priorities, well in Azriel's case at least. He would rather leave knowing that he told you how he was feeling, instead of leaving without telling you once.

He has already died with regrets once and he would worse than a fool to do it again.

You dragged him to the library and started to research.

The dark figure was out again, the night freed him he could ebb and flow through the darkness as he pleased. The sun was a hideous thing that he abhorred, for light reveals all in its presence. There was no hiding in the light and no room for his sinister schemes in the light of day.

He had been trying to get through to the shadowsinger all week, but the most he could do was plague him with measly nightmares.

Pathetic.

He had once started plagues that took down civilisations, started wars that had broken apart nations, and now he was no more than the boogeyman.

He had corrupted a few others, watching as they gave into madness and took others down with them but it didn't give him the satisfaction he craved.

What he craved was power. He wanted to bring Prythian down to it's knees and mere fae could not do that.

He needed the shadowsinger or the high lord, but Rhysand was so heavily guarded he couldn't even make it within a hundred feet without being slaughtered.

He'd had the shadowsinger in his clutches and he lost him along with is plan to take down Prythian.

First it was Prythian, then Hybern, and finally the mainland until the entire world was consumed by terror and chaos and he would be standing on the ruins.

He hears a song over the horizon. It's a song of enchantment and one that beckons to him, which is strange since he cannot stand the screech of music.

He follows the sound and is met with a white strand of twisted magic that flows through the woods. A trap of some sort, a normal fae would be ensnared, but he is not fae and the magic of this world doesn't effect him the way it should.

He follows the magical strand to the source like it's a stray piece of yarn.

He weaves through the forest until he feels the world slip away from him temporarily. When he comes back he notices that the trees were much taller than they just were and the trunks a deep shade of red as if trying to warn him from coming any closer.

The yarn ball ends up being a lake. While it looks like it should be picturesque with towering trees along the shoreline, there was something eerie that could only be explained by a sinister type of magic.

It's pitch black, even though there was a full moon and the only light source is the unnatural blue glow of the lake.

Welcome follower

The lake whispers to him in a voice that sounds like tar.

He walks up to the lake to see the source of this voice.

"I am no follower of yours."

My how interesting and I was told you had left this world long ago

"You are a child compared to me. I am as old as the dust of this universe."

It appears that your age has caused you to grow weak

Anger roared in him. "I WILL-"

Calm down, I am not trying to insult you, but rather convince you to take a deal of sorts

"I do not make deals with those beneath me."

I have the power you need, and my price is low. I only ask for one simple thing.

The scowl that is normally plastered on his face shifts to intrigue.

When we have the world on it's knees, you give me Prythian once you are finished ravaging it.

That was a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things and while he did not work well with others from the power of this being alone he knew that he could deliver what he was promising.

All you have to do is free me from this lake and we can destroy everything together

He pluges his shadowed arm into the lake and pulls this being through whatever enchantments were holding him there until he breaches the lakes surface.

He now stands in front of him, an evil grin on his face, laughing to himself relishing in his freedom.

"My name is Koschei, it's lovely to meet you in person."

The winds cry and the shadows retreat back in fear.

It's the middle of the night and you and Azriel, are researching in the library when Azriel's shadows begin to scream.

He falls to the ground, clutching his head screaming out in pain.

You fall to the ground with him, trying to figure out whats wrong when Rhys and Feyre winnow in.

Rhys was in the same state as Azriel, clutching his head and on the floor.

Feyre was running through the stacks, urgently looking for a book.

This continued on for 10 minutes until they both snapped out of it. You looked out the window to see the first light of dawn.

Feyre was adamantly flipping through the large book she had and Rhys and Azriel were catching their breath.

You looked at both of them, "What happened?"

Rhys shuddered. Azriel replied, "I'm not sure it was almost as if Night itself was screaming, my shadows were terrified."

Cassian and Nesta burst through the door.

"He's out." That's all Nesta managed to say.

Rhys and Azriel froze and you saw a look in their eyes that you haven't seen since the first war. It was fear. Pure, icy fear.

"Who's out?"

Eris came running through the door followed by Lucien and Elain.

"Koschei! He's free, he's trying-" She started swaying on her feet.

"He's trying-" Elain immediately falls unconscious and Lucien catches her.

"She had a vision, she was screaming about Koschei and the lake." Lucien slowly says.

The room was silent,all the air sucked out. The threat to Prythian was greater than they could have imagined.

They say death always has a price and Azriel prayed to the Mother that Prythian was not about to pay it.

part xiii

note: Hello my loves long time no see life got pretty chaotic and has prevented me from escaping back to my stories(i know i know). I hope everyone is well and the story has not slipped from anyones mind in the meantime, but personally I believe that suspense only makes the story that much impactful (that's what im using as an excuse for my lack of activity). This chapter is short and a bit darker than usual which I hope is not too out of the blue for anyone but it is pure plot which we have not really seen yet. I'm excited to dust off this story and get right back to it so enjoy and like always until next time my darlings!

note note: One day I will get a beta reader, but until then in the spirit of magic and make believe lets pretend like my grammatical errors and typos don't exist!

#wm series #azriel x reader #azriel fic #acotar fic #azriel acotar #azriel fanfic #acotar #azriel x you #azriel shadowsinger #azriel spymaster #azriel fanfiction #azriel x reader fanfic #azriel x reader hc #azriel x yn #azriel x female!reader #acotar series #azriel series #azriel

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