Apples the Pink Bunny
Did someone ask for this?
No.
Did I have an anxiety/emotionally overloaded evening?
Yes.
For this reason I am awake at 2:44 am on a school night to write myself a 13 page comfort fic. So, enjoy or don’t enjoy, but here’s Legend being a soft bunny with the chain for 6,268 words.
(Inspired by this and this.)
There is a bunny on the edge of camp.
It crouches in the shadows, eyes glinting gold and red in the firelight, nose twitching as it watches them.
Wind watches it back.
He doesn’t think that the others have seen t, no one’s said anything, and they all know how Warriors hates rabbits. So, he doesn’t say anything, not to them, he only wanders around the camp casually before settling down close-ish to where the bunny hides.
There aren’t many wild animals in his Hyrule, aren’t many animals at all, but Four’s taught him how to convey that he’s friendly to the minish and some of the forest life, so he tries to employ that knowledge now. He doesn’t look the rabbit directly in the eye, but he does force his ears forwards towards it, letting them flick away here and again, fingers rubbing softly as he glances casually as velvety pink paws.
He waits until he can see the rabbit watching him before he begins to whisper soft and quiet. “Hello, hello there lil’ guy.”
There’s a huff from the bunny, but it takes a single agonizingly slow step forwards, body stretched out and nose twitching as it watches him, ears pricked up curiously. When Wind doesn’t do anything different, just keeps speaking low and soft, the bunny lops its way over, ears up and attentive as it stops beside him, eyes turned up to stare into his own with a surprising amount of boldness for a creature close enough for him to smash in one blow.
“Hello.” Wind murmurs softly, moving slowly as he raises his hand over the rabbit, only to find himself starting as the bunny simply stares at him with the most unimpressed expression on it’s fuzzy face. Even Wolfie, who is strangely intelligent even for a dog, or so he’s heard has never looked so unimpressed with something, and the sailor finds himself lowering his hand sheepishly as if scolded, meeting the rabbit’s eyes and starting when it doesn’t flinch away, instead watching him intently with shivering nose and twitching ears.
“Hey Wind, watcha got there?” The rancher calls over, drawing the attention of the rest of the camp and making the sailor’s heart race.
The bunny’s going to be startled! It’s going to run away! All that work to get it to come over and he won’t even get to touch it!
But the rabbit doesn’t move, or rather, it doesn’t bolt away. Soft lavender eyes stare across the camp, unusual in their shade but lovely to gaze into as Wind finds himself transfixed with watching the silky sheen of the petal-pink fur and the glimmer of stars in lavender and golden eyes.
“Wind?” The rancher’s voice rings with concern, and the sailor snaps bac to attention, a warm smile easily falling over his face as he turns to the camp. “It’s a rabbit.” He says quietly, careful not to startle the beast. “Twi, do you think it’ll let me pet it?”
The rancher’s brows furrow as he looks over, markings shifting with the rest of his face as he stares at the rabbit warily.
To their surprise, and apparently the rabbit’s too, the tiny animal freezes in place for all of a second only to have the slight tilt of Twilight’s head sending it diving into Wind’s lap, startling the sailor enough for his to blink in surprise, but not so badly that his hands don’t instantly bury themselves in the pink fur.
And oh! It’s softer than he thought it would be! It’s nothing like Wolfie’s rough pelt or the feathers on Wild’s winter gear. The bunny’s fur is like fine down, or maybe silk, or- He runs his hands through it again, eyes widening with every stroke as the rodent shivers in his lap, eyes fixed on Twilight and ears pressed low as he huddles in the space left between the sailor’s legs as he sits criss-cross on the ground.
“I guess that’s a yes.” Twilight chuckles, low and deep. It’s a sound that makes warmth flow through Wind’s chest, but the rabbit only shivers, huddling lower the longer Twilight’s gaze rests on it.
“I think you’re scaring him.” The sailor hums softly, gently pulling the rabbit into his arms with an ease that comes from years of cradling his baby sister when she was small. The rabbit nestles close, eyes still on Twilight as it seems to shake itself, bt its doesn’t struggle against him, and Wind takes that as his cue to pull himself gently to his feet and cross the camp towards where Time and Wild sit playing a card game.
The champion is explaining the rules for the nth time as Time chuckles low and soft, purposefully asking questions that Wild’s already answered and earning pointed stares in return. The sailor’s approach lands just as Wild looks instants from pulling out his hair, and instantly cornflower blues are locking onto him with a strained smile, the champion apparently desperate to escape the game he’d asked for in the first place. “Hey, Wind, watcha have there.”
“A rabbit.” He replies, moving one arm to let lavender eyes peek out and stare at the champion, who’s eyes fall open in awe as his cards spill from his hands.
“It’s...you’re...” Wild’s eyes sparkle with awe as he looks from Wind to the rabbit in his arms. “How did you catch it?”
The rabbit shuffles closer to Wind’s chest as the words are spoken, and the sailor has to settle a hand on it’s back to calm it again as it edges away from the cook’s glimemring eyes.
“It was on the edge of camp.” Caution leaks into the pirate-hero's voice as he scrunches up his nose. “You better not ask if you can cook it.”
Blue eyes shoot wide as Wild shakes his head violently, earning a soft laugh from Time as his apparent orrer at the idea. “No! It’s-” Wild’s fingers twitch. “I couldn’t- Can I hold it?” The second-youngest's eyes travel up to stare up into Time’s leadingly, wide and innocent and so terribly like Aryll’s face when she’s asking Granny for another bowl of soup or piece of bread that Wind can’t help but giggle as he gently scritches the rabbit’s ears.
“That’s up to Wind.” Time answers gently. “But I don’t see why not.”
Softly glowing blue turns to meet his own as Wild stare up, pleading, at him. “May I?”
“Sure” He giggles, crouching low in front of the champion. “Have you ever held a baby?” Wild’s brow furrows, considering for a moment before shaking his head. “Okay, how about a kitten? A pup?”
The champion only shakes his head, and Wind finds himself frowning as he looks first at the bunny in his arms and then up at Wild, who’s face is quickly falling to one of disappointment.
“Here,” Time offers, gently arranging Wild’s arms properly. “It’s like this.”
Between the two of them, they get the bunny situated in Wild’s thin arms, and within seconds the champion’s free hand is dragging through plush fur as awe shines across his face, Time and Wind both laughing fondly as they watch and occasionally reaching out themselves to scritch the rabbit’s long ears.
Between them, there are eight heroes, and as of late, a rabbit has joined the mix, slung easily in Sky’s sailcloth as they travel.
The creature didn’t seem keen on leaving, and while it’s in no way fond of Twilight, the others find that they can’t resist sneaking to the back of the group to gently scritch it’s ears, or laugh as it hops about exploring the land around them when they stop for a break.
The Hyrule they’re in isn’t one that anyone recognizes, the forests strangely rich and the land both better kept than Wild’s while still more wild than the others. Fights in this world are intense, and only their two wanderers seem to be able to battle the insane variety and numbers of monsters with anything resembling ease.
It’s strange too, having to hide the rabbit whenever battle comes, but the creature is smart, darting away when battles come, a scowl in its fuzzy face as it burrows beneath tree roots or into the brush, waiting until the battle is over to re-emerge, hopping slowly across the blood soaked ground without trepidation, not once blinking at the blood and grit that gets in its fur as it hops from one hero to the other, eyes flickering between violet and lavender as it analyzes them, chirring angrily at any of them when they try to hide wounds, and nestling in the laps of the younger hero’s with a put upon look when Warrior’s has to stitch something up.
...
“He needs a name.” Wind declares after the second battle, his good hand petting the rabbit’s long ears while Sky helps to wrap the sprain in his wrist.
“Isn’t bunny enough?” Warriors eyes the rabbit disdainfully. “You didn’t give the wolf anything fancy.”
“He’s not just a bunny though!” Wind protests with a well-placed pout. “He’s our bunny-friend!”
“And the wolf isn’t your wolf-friend?” Twilight cocks a brow, something like hurt flashing through his eyes before he actually winces, hissing softly as Warriors continues to stitch him up.
“The wolf comes and goes. Besides, he’s a wild thing, so it’d be wrong to name him like a common dog.” Wind explains, shrugging lightly but stopping when Sky pushes his shoulder back down with a whispered reprimand for moving. “The bunny stays with us though,” Wind continues, holding still this time save for the hand that continues along the bunny’s pelt. “He needs a real name.”
“Agreed.” Wild sounds, shuffling over with a leafy vegetable in his hands that their rabbit friend takes with a pleased chirr, glancing up at the champion appreciatively before setting his sharp teeth to the plant, earning a smile from the champion.
“Any ideas?” Time starts, glancing around camp and earning a flick on the ear from Hyrule, who’s still trying to clean a wound on the man’s face.
“Seriously Time?” Warriors protests, but it’s too late, the others are already musing quietly and beginning to consider ideas.
“Petal?” Sky tries, glancing down at the rabbit in Wind’s arms. “Like, cherry blossom petals?”
“Cherry!” Wild gasps, eyes glimmering hopefully.
“Pinky.” Warriors snorts distastefully, earning an angry chitter from the rabbit, but the captain only glares back at the animal, as if it had just insulted him, mimicking the chitter pathetically and drawing laughs from the others.
“It’s a boy, right?” Twilight questions, cocking a brow, and the others exchange looks. “I think so? I’m not sure I want to check....”
“Nothing too feminine then.” Sky nods slowly.
“Floor.” Four suggests solemnly. “Floof the Poof.”
Eight sets of eyes, including the rabbits, turn to stare at the smithy disbelievingly. Red glimmers in his eyes for all of a second before he starts and flushes. “Sorry,” The smith rubs at his neck nervously, red blooming over his face and down his neck. “I was thinking aloud, Intrusive thoughts, you know?”
“What about Apple, for apple-blossom?” Time speaks slowly, eyes still on the smithy as he speaks, concern but fondness in his eyes.
The rabbit in Wind’s lap looks up, staring at Time and munching in a way that almost looks considering, violet eyes fixed on the eldest hero’s single one, the two locking gazes, neither blinking until Warriors sighs and snaps his fingers, startling them both.
“Aaaand, that’s a yes for Apples.” Warriors rolls his eyes. “No angry chitter, no arguments against.” The captain’s gaze levels them all. “Unless anyone has any objections?”
“Nope!”
“I think it sound’s cute?” Sky chuckles, patting Wind’s arm to signal that he’s finished and scratching the newly named Apples behind the ears. The rabbit huffs in his rabbit way, but they've all grown too used to the grouchiness of the animal to do anything other than laugh at it.
...
Apples is a wonder, and they are so very happy to have him.
There is nothing so convincing to make Sky finally relax than to have a pink mess of fur barrel into his lap and force heavy eyes to close under the soothing feeling of fur on his fingers and a small warm body pressed against his own.
Sky’s restless sleep and eternal exhaustion ease with every night and Wind giggles as each evening after dinner the bunny climbs resolutely into Sky’s lap, glaring pointedly up at the Skyloftian until long fingers are dragging through his fur and crystal blue eyes are falling shut contently.
When Sky shoots awake at night, there's a rabbit there that presses tiny paws to his chest, dark eyes staring up into his face in the darkness as ears flick and a tiny nose twitch, worry in the rabbit's expression as Sky sighs, a light smile on his face as he raises a hand to run through long fur. “I’m good, Apples, it was just a dream.”
The rabbit always snorts, scowling lightly and buffeting Sky’s chest with its head, but the Skyloftian only chuckles lightly, wrapping the bunny in his arms and shifting to lie on his side, the rabbit held close as he fades back into sleep.
...
When Time broods, brows low and frown lines pulling at his features and aging him by decades, most of the others know not to disturb him. They let each other have their space and they never press. Wolfie will, at time, curl up at the old man’s feet or sit at his side, allowing callused fingers to run through his thick fur as Time sits and stares at the ground, mind a world away where none of them ever wish to see, if the pain and sorrow in his gaze is to be read properly.
Perhaps a rabbit cannot be expected to understand this law of privacy though, even if he is unusually intelligent.
Time’s hair falls into his face as he perches on a stone on the edge of camp, gaze fixed on Lake Hylia below them as his elbows rest on his knees, face downcast and frowning as pain glimmers in his single blue eye.
Apples, who had been stretching his legs after being carried in Sky’s arms during their traveling that day, pauses, ears flicking up and towards the old man, paws freezing just off the ground as he watches, nose twitching.
The heroes watch, Wind darting up worriedly as the bunny lops closer to Time, but he freezes when the pink ball of fur pulls himself up next to Time with surprising agility, head butting carefully against their leader’s armored thigh as a soft squeak break through the air. Time doesn’t stir, not at first, but then the rabbit settles next to him, one paw on the old man’s leg, eyes following Time’s down to Lake Hylia.
Scarred hands twitch before finally landing in silky pink, pulling through the long fur as tension bleeds from Time’s shoulders, a breathy sigh escaping their leader before a soft tune begins to drift through the air.
The rabbit gently settles down, head resting beside his paws as Apple allows Time to pet him slowly.
The others are to far to understand the words, but Time’s soft murmurs break the silence, Apple’s ears twitching while an intelligent bunny face stares up at the tear-streaked face of the hero of Time.
When Time rejoins the rest of them for dinner, it’s with Apples nestled in his arms, a sad sort of peace in the hero’s gaze as he settles down to join in the meal, never once releasing Apples while they eat and joke, and by the time the meal is finished, the pink bunny is soundly asleep in Time’s arms.
...
It’s Four that seems the most curious about their little friend, and while the rabbit doesn’t seem particularly playful, the smith will occasionally catch up the animal, laughing s Apples sighs in an almost reluctant manner, and carry him off into the woods near where they are.
The Minish love Apples, and Four himself delights in diving amidst the pink fur or the first time while the bunny looks at him in utter shock.
Air enough, it was unlikely that Apples had ever seen a Hylian shift into a Minish before. But at this size, Four can enjoy Apples’ fur far better than as a Hylian, and it’s delightful to lead the rabbit around, chattering lightly as Apples lops along behind him, ears pricked and nose shivering as they move through Minish towns and groves, exploring the tiniest nooks and crannies they can find and having all sors of adventures.
Of course, there are dangers to being smaller than a rabbit, and the first time a spider attacks them, freakishly big and easily big enough to rip off Four’s head, it’s Apples that darts to his rescue, chirping and scolding in his rabbit way as he thumps his feet and pins back his ears in a strange imitation of Wolfie’s growl.
The spider is in no ways eager to give up her prey, and Four finds that, despite killing monsters on the daily, he has to turn away in disgust as Apples tears the spider apart, eyes flashing with gold as the seemingly harmless pink rabbit unleashes mass destruction on not only the one spider, but also her sisters that emerge from the burrow beside them. Long legs and venomous maws stretch over the top of him, reaching out to grab the Minish Hero, only to have a rabbit dart over, teeth flashing and harsh chatters sounding as legs and bodies are torn asunder.
When the spiders stop emerging, the small patch of grass is full of the remains of spiders, and Apples is rubbing at his nose and sneezing softly, absolutely covered in the remains of the monstrous insects.
“Thank you...” Is all the smithy can breathe out as Apples’ eyes meet his own.
He’s replied to with a sneeze.
Four shifts back as soon as possible, carrying his bunny savior back to camp and carefully helping to clean the rabbits long fur, murmuring softly and thankfully all the while. And if he shares a but about his previous adventures, and Ezlo, who while being a hat shared some things in common with the grouchy rabbit, well, it’s not like Apples will be able to tell anyone!
...
It’s Wild that seems the most enraptured with their new little companion. Always asking the older hero’s questions as he sorts through his inventory, offering all sorts of foods and treats to the rabbit and cooing in delight each time something is accepted. No one knows what it is exactly what it is about watching Apples eat has Wild so happy, but there’s no denying that the easy grin that steals over his face is better than the solemn frown and sad thoughtfulness that takes over on occasion.
The first time they see Wild go into a memory, it’s Apples that catches their attention, the rabbit shrieking worriedly as he bumps against the champion’s still hand, concern filling his violet eyes as he stares up at the champion, paws raised to press against the hero’s stomach while ears and nose twitch and shiver worriedly.
Apples doesn’t even panic when Twilight steps over, although he does shrink back, wary as the rancher gently shakes Wild’s shoulder before sighing and sitting next to him. The rabbit mimics the motion, but on the other side, eyes flicking from Twilight to Wild with nervous concern and wariness, but when neither move he contents himself with gently rubbing against the champion’s limp hand.
When Wild blinks awake again, eyes darting too and fro to take in his surrounds and breathing harsh, Apples jumps up, paws settling on the kid’s thigh and catching his attention, making the young hero still and stare. Tears well in cornflower blue eyes, and the rabbit doesn’t even sigh when Wild scoops him up, burying his face in Apples’ fur and sobbing quietly.
Were their hearts not aching for their brother, soft chuckles would have sounded around camp when Apples had freed a paw to gently pat the champion’s cheek.
...
After the first few weeks and a few more switches, Sky will come to find Apples every time that bedtime draws near, scooping the bunny out of the lap of another hero with a chipper “My turn now!” as he almost skips over to his bedroll, bundling both himself and his emotional support bunny into his sailcloth with a smile as Apples rolls his rabbit eyes and presses his paws to Sky’s own blue eyes, pushing them closed before settling against the Skyloftian’s chest. The Chosen Hero is always asleep within minutes, sleepily singing Zelda’s lullaby between snores as Apples’ violet eyes watch the rest of the camp.
When Time need space, the rabbit will follow, gently resting a paw on his leg and sitting with him, eyes filled with an understanding that is ridiculous in a rabbit, but somehow believable as Time’s callused fingers work through pink fur, songs and stories drifting from tired lips as long ears twitch ever so slightly to catch the words.
When Wind is playful, he’ll dart up and after the rabbit, who will always sigh in his rabbit way and either dart away or give chase, running the youngest hero ragged until Wind collapses, giggling and breathless, with Apples hopping up on his chest to bat at his face, as if to say “I win, I beat you, you lost so give me pets” and Wind does, eventually hauling himself up, and inevitably knocking Apples over before administering thankful ear scratches and pets until Apples springs free and continues going about his rabbit business.
Hyrule, though quiet, will often be found with the rabbit beside him, sometimes with Apple’s pushing his nose against the traveler’s hands and guiding them to better hold a knife while he’s carving, or a needle while he sews. It’s strange to see a bunny of all things unroll a bandage and offer it to the healor, but be it Hyrule or someone else that’s injured (provided it’s not Twilight) the rabbit will be springing over with his bunny brows furrowed as he scolds and fusses, nudging things over to Hyrule before the traveler can even ask someone for them, and climbing into bags and pulling out potions when the Hyrule’s healing glow begins to fade.
Sleeves are tugged at when the Traveler is exhausted, unreleased until Hyrule agrees to rest, and when they eat the bunny will chitter and fuss and kick up a riot until Hyrule will humbly ask for seconds or Wild will offer them, stern indigo eyes following the travel’s movements until his bowl or plate is empty.
When Wild is cooking, the rabbit will sit at his side, watching the process and chittering or nipping when the champion goes to add something dubious to the food, or begins to spice it too much for the younger ones to handle. Wild only ever laughs, offering bits and bobs of food as he works, and chuckling with delight when the bunny accepts them, Apple’s sharp teeth working away at leafy greens as stern violet eyes watch the young hero work.
And when memories strike, harsh and horrid and often sad, the bunny climbs his way into Wild’s lap and sits until the hero stirs again. Apples’ fur is drenched time and again with tears, and every time, without fail, tiny paws gently pat the Wild’s head, lavender in normally violet eyes as a tiny nose nuzzles against a reddened and drooping ear.
Four delights in exploring with Apples, and whether it be carrying the bunny off with him and chattering, or shrinking down and riding on Apples’ back, the two never fail to find something interesting to do.
Through all of it, Twilight will gaze sadly at the rabbit who avoids him like death, and Warriors will scoff and roll his eyes, although fondly, as the younger heroes all fuss over their new friend.
It’s only so much time before the captain breaks.
It’s a nightmare, blood and blades and shrieks of two little boys and many trusted friends echoing in the captain’s mind, making him start awake with tears in his eyes. Warriors shivers in the night air, drawing his scarf around his neck and wrapping himself in his arms as he moves towards the fire.
To his surprise, Apples sits before the flames as well, ears flicking towards the captain’s movements but gaze fixed on the flames with an almost sad air.
The captain merely snorts and dismissed the rabbit in his mind, but with ever second the world around him presses closer and Warriors becomes more and more agitated. And still, the rabbit doesn't move, doesn’t look at him, Apples only sighs deeply as he stares into the fire, and when Warriors shoots the rabbit a confused look he starts when he sees what looks to be tears in lavender eyes.
“You too huh?” Exhaustion loosens his tongue as he hunches before the fire, watching the flames dance. “Bad hunt? Lost mate?” The rabbit chitters something unintelligible, tiny body stiffening almost like Twilight’s does when he gets defensive. It draws a laugh from the captain’s throat, barking and bitter as his gaze rests on the burning remains of a log. “I feel you there, didn’t expect a rabbit to have trauma though.”
An unimpressed glare is leveled his way, this time drawing a genuine but startled laugh from the captain. “So it’s like that huh? Too tough to talk about it?”
One ear twitches Apples wrinkling his tiny nose before stomping one of his feet agitatedly and huffing a short and sharp little breath at the flames.
“I hear you.” Warriors laughs, a little broken and a little teary, eyes returning to the coals, shimmering with the ghosts of memories as screams echo in ears too used to their calls.
Apples twitches, hesitant, ears flickering and feet stomping grouchily for a moment, before Warriors finds himself with a lap full of rabbit as the pink bunny pushes his head into Warriors’ hand, nearly demanding to be pet.
“Oh,” Warriors scoffs, voice wet and harsh. “That’s how it is, huh? All your other Hylian’s are asleep, so because I’m awake from nightmares and goddess darned trauma, you figured I was available to pet you?”
Another insistent nudge, and Warriors is rolling his eyes, pushing his hands through long fur with a sigh.
It’s like silk, he muses to himself, blinking in surprise and running his hands through again. Like the finest of fabrics in the castle, like Artemis’ dresses that she wore when the war was over and they celebrated with dances and feasting and speeches of honor to the dead. Apples’ fur is like glinting red hair, oiled and brushed every night before bed. It’s like baby’s hair, impossibly soft and delicate.
There’s a small body curled in his lap, and Warriors’ hands run over it curiously, stroking impossibly soft fur as he becomes lost in the wonder of the color, in the texture. Screams and blood fly from his mind as the captain’s fingers trail through the fluff, and warmth floods trough his chest when he takes Apples’ face in his hands and rubs at the rabbits' cheeks, laughter bubbling in his chest, warm and bright as the bunny scowls up at him.
The next morning, when the heroes awake, its to find Sky shaking his head as he looks down at his usual sleeping companion held tight in Warriors’ arms, a blissful smile on the captain’s tearstained face. Apples scowls up at them, but he’s curled close to the man’s chest, with ample room to escape, and no one believes for a minute that he’s there against his will.
The jabs and eye rolls continue from both parties, but on long nights, when the others are asleep and rabbit and soldier both find themselves awake, Warriors will scoop the bunny into his lap, losing himself in Apples’ fur before drifting off again.
Wild has the pictures to prove it.
...
Twilight sulks the entire time, the sadness in his eyes turning into a full-blown pout as he tries time and again to win Apples’ affection, earning teasing from all parties, but especially Wars.
“I didn’t even want the thing, and he insists on climbing all over me!” The captain jests. “Yet you court him with more care than a knight with a lady he favors and he still rejects you!”
The rancher’s scowl and accompanying growl always sends Apples closer to whatever other hero is nearest, the rancher’s eyes narrowing as he huffs out retorts that go from being teasing to being genuinely hurt. The captain stops after a time, apologizing, but Twilight blows him off, excusing it as teasing while clearly looking hurt.
No matter what he tries though, food, cuddles, gentle words and careful movements, nothing will win the rabbit over, and when they again land in a world that none of them recognize, it’s too late to keep trying.
...
Ravio blinks down in surprise as the rabbit that sits in his living room. It’s raining wildly outside, and the animal is positively soaked, so he can hardly deny it access, but even so, it’s not every day that woodland creatures are entering the house.
…..Alright, not anymore. Not with Mr. Hero having gone missing.
Only Sheerow flies about the house, chirping and singing as he helps Ravio with the housework and keeps the merchant comfortable, and while he doesn’t ind in the least being with only his bird friend, he does rather miss the constant presence of birds outside the windows and deer wandering in from the forest to graze in the front yard. Mr. Hero never minded them, claiming that the beasts kept the grass short, but Ravio knows his friend, and he’s seen Mr. Hero dozing while surrounded by woodland creature enough times to know that the affection the animals feel for his friend is mutual.
Even so, Mr. Hero isn’t here, so there really shouldn’t be any forest creatures flocking into his house, especially not one that’s going through his things.
“Hey! Stop!” The merchant protests, darting forwards and scooping up the creature in his arms, only to be met with familiar violet and golden eyes staring back at him. “Mr....Hero?”
The bunny squeaks something that sounds like it might be in the affirmative, and Ravio stares.
“How did you...” He’s leveled with an unimpressed stare that is all he needs to see to know for sure it’s his friend. “Were you cursed?”
There’s a firm nod in return, and concern bubbles in his heart as the merchant holds his friend a bit tighter. “Can you reverse it?”
Violet eyes roll, but Mr. Hero isn’t panicking, and he even points towards the chest in the corner where he keeps most of his adventuring things, which itself is enough reassurance that one of his many items (some of which are Ravio’s own handiwork) will do the trick to turn him back.
“Oh good.” Ravio sighs, sagging in place and taking In his friend properly. Again, Mr. Rabbit Hero points at the chest, and he’s getting the idea that his friend wants him to let him go so he can change back but...
Soft fur rubs at his fingers and the feeling of a small body held in his hands is just so pleasant!
“One minute, please? Just one?” He pleads, turning on all the power he can as he aims a sorrowful look at his friend. “Your fur is so soft and I- can't I pet you for just a little bit, before you change back?”
Mr. Bunny Hero sighs, but the huff and nod are easy to read and Ravio clutches his friend to his chest with a cheer. “Thank you Mr. Hero!”
...
“Apples? Apples?” Wind’s voice is breaking by now as he calls out into the underbrush. The last switch had them all separated, and while the heroes have successfully regrouped, they’ve failed to be able to locate their fuzzy ninth member.
“He’s got to be here somewhere!” Wild whispers, scratching at his scars worriedly and prompting his mentor to gently push his hands back down again, it does no good, the habit that died with fur to play with reappears in its absence, and Twilight’s pelt is too cumbersome and heavy to be carried and stroked while they walk.
“Apples?” Sky chokes out, staring at the path before them, but nothing can be seen except a lone traveler who stalks along stiffly towards them.
“We’ll ask this traveler.” Time sighs, eyes heavy with worry as he pushes to the front of the group, raising a hand in greeting. “Ho there.”
“Ho.” The traveler returns, sharp violet eyes staring at them all from under pink and rose-gold bangs that peek out from beneath a blue cap. “What brings fighters like you into these parts?”
“we’re looking for a rabbit.” The captain says, taking no consideration for how ridiculous he sounds. “Normal size, but as pink as a cherry tree, you can’t miss him.”
Hopeful gazes turn to the stranger, who’s gaze darts away for a brief moment. “Sounds like my boarder’s pet.” There’s a strain to the man’s- or is he a boy?- voice as he speaks. “He disagreed a few months back and only came back yesterday. His-His owner was delighted.” The stranger speaks slowly, flushing slightly as he meets their eyes with an awkward attempt at a smile.
“He...he already had a family?” Wind and Wild both droop, and the other’s all sigh in collective disappointment as the stranger shifts before them, the light catching in the hilt of the sword on his back.
“Yeah... Sorry if you got attached.” The stranger winces, incredibly awkward as his eyes dart over them all, as if desperate to find anything else to talk about. “Why so heavily armed, just to look for a bunny?”
“Monsters.” Sky answers softly, eyes downturned as he twists his cloth in his fingers.
“Aren’t those for heroes and soldiers to bother with? Not common folk?”
“We aren’t exactly common.” Time explains. “Monster fighting is sort of our job.”
“Uh huh.” The stranger shifts back on his heels. “Last I checked, the only person the royal family was hiring to get rid of monsters was me, and I don’t recall hearing any changes about that recently.”
“Why you?” Wild tilts his head to one side, curiosity mingling with his sadness as he takes in the stranger.
“Hero’s duty.” The other drawls,, scowling slightly as his nose scrunches up, wiggling the tiniest bit in distaste.
“You’re a hero?” Warriors deadpanned, disbelief tainting his voice as he looked from pegasus boot clad feet up to red and green tunics, fluffy golden hair and sharp violet eyes. Said eyes stared back with an intensity that was strangely familiar, irritation glinting in their depths.
“Unfortunately, yes.”
And just like that, the Hero of Legend joined their group.
...
BONUS
Twilight blinked down at the pink rabbit in front of him in shock. “Apples?”
Apples- Legend? -The pink bunny- shuffled his feet, ears twitching as violet eyes flickered from the rancher's blue eyes and back down to the ground. “Um...chances that this is kept a secret?”
Disbelief pained the Ordonian’s face. “Do you know how much they’ve missed you?”
“I was right there.”
“And you never told them?”
“Well, you never owned up to being Wolfie, not last time I checked!” The bunny hero shot back, nose shivering in frustration.
“They don’t need to know about that,” The rancher dismissed. “That sort of power isn’t something I feel comfortable sharing.”
“Well newsflash,” Legend scowled. “I didn’t either. And it’s not like I could change back to prove myself or something, I was cursed! Anyways, can you imagine how absolutely off the hook crazy I’d sound if I just waltzed up to you and said ‘hey I’m the Hero of Legend and I’m also the bunny that’s been with you for the last two months. was cursed but now I’m not, want me to join?’”
Twilight scowled. “Fine. Valid. One question first.”
“Deal.” Legend groaned.
“Why did you never let me pet you?”
“I’m sorry, what?” Violet blinked up at the rancher in confusion.
“Why did you never let me pet you.” Twilight repeated simply.
The veteran bunny stared up at him, blinking slowly. “You are a freaking wolf. Did you not notice? I may not have known it at the time, but do you think a rabbit can look at a wolf and go ‘hey look! New friend’?” At the wolf shifter’s silence, Legend scoffed. “Yeah. That’s why.”
“Okay, valid.” Twilight nodded. “But one last thing, why didn’t you never talk?”
“Cursed.” legend rolled his eyes. “The nature of this one is different, I’m just my soul's reflection, not an actual animal, there’s a difference, and it’s one I’d like to not have to worry about for much longer. Now, how do I change back?”
“Well,” The rancher offered a weak smile. “We’re gonna have to ask Sky for help.”
That night, rather than sitting by the fire until he drifted off, Sky settled down next to Legend, pulling the hero into his arms happily as the vet had put up token protests before snuggling against him. Sky hadn’t slept as well in months, and Twilight took no small amount of joy in being able to play with the vet’s silky hair all through his watch.
172 notes
·
View notes
Just Breathe
Of Fawns and Shadows
Chapter 7
I know it’s been 3 weeks, but this is almost 60 pages and 23,000 words!
Summary:
The twins teach Elain something about the brothers, and Illyrian males
Elain flexes her magical muscle
We learn much more about Azrie’s background and his mother
Some Prythian history is explained
Elain pleasures Azriel in a variety of ways that he enjoys
Heavy NSFW elements
This is a long chapter, but also is a set up for many things that will happen in the future, hints are dropping like bombs!
Tell me what you think. I love reading comments and reactions.
Just Breathe
“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.”
Pabo Neruda
Elain woke up groggy and tired. ‘Woke up’ was probably the wrong term, because she barely slept at all last night.
Yesterday, after the four of them woke up after their impromptu nap, Azriel took her back to the orphanage and stupidly, she almost cried. They stood at the gates, swathed in his shadows to keep the two of them from prying eyes.
He stroked her hair, then her face, brushing his thumbs over her cheekbones, as he murmured endearments to her.
“Do you want me to come to the River House for dinner tonight?” he asked, hoping to placate her before she unraveled in front of him. But she shook her head stubbornly and pressed her lips to the inside of his palm.
“They are leaving tomorrow,” he reminded her, and then leaned in and gently kissed her neck. “And you should wear a scarf,” he chuckled.
“I think that I left it at the House,” she looked around, suddenly feeling lost.
She was returning to the real world, at least for tonight, and it’s not where she wanted to be. She didn’t want to live her regular boring life. She wasn’t interested in going back home after her time with the children, then possibly meeting with city planners, while Feyre and Rhys smiled at her politely, their expressions telling--they were indulging the strange sister who had her singular interests. In exchange for their tolerance, she cooked and baked, and looked after their estate, now that Feyre was busy with their boy. How did she, Elain, become the odd, spinster sister? She didn’t know.
Up until two days ago, she was utterly miserable. Every day, she’d wake up hating her life, the monotony of it all, while cursing herself for being so selfish and ungrateful. She was living a comfortable, well-tended life where she lacked nothing, where she had people who cared for her, where she could make herself useful, and where she wasn’t burdened by societal expectations. Despite all that, inside, she was hollow. Only her children brought a spark of joy into her life, her children, and the shy, pointless glimpses at Azriel, whenever she managed to lay her eyes on him. Her damn bond pushed and pressured, though over the past few years she’s become accustomed to it, to its tug, its phantom presence which floated inside of her.
She held Azriel’s hand in hers, unwilling to let go. He kept stroking her face, his thumb on her lips, under her eyes, over her chin and nose.
“Don’t be sad, emani,” he begged. “I hate leaving you like this.”
She wasn’t going to lie to him and say that she was just fine. She wasn’t.
She wanted her life with him, where it was the two of them and happiness. Was she envious of Cassian and Nesta? Of their wild, passionate, maddening devotion to each other? Perhaps. But she didn’t want what they had. She wanted her own.
“Ahh, I want to come in,” muttered Azriel, looking longingly at the crazily-painted building.
She chuckled sadly, “If you do, they won’t let you go.”
“Maybe I don’t want to be let go.”
He looked down at her, into her sad eyes the colour of amber and then leaned to kiss her hair.
“I will see you tomorrow,” he promised.
She kissed his hand and then he watched her walk inside the gates.
Something empty and cold settled inside his stomach.
It was late when Elain was walking home. She opted to eat dinner with the children, and then they all had story time and finally, she helped with nighttime rituals of bathing, dressing, tucking and hugging.
Lex floated next to her, its presence suddenly a comfort to her. She never thought about, never considered that she was unsafe here, in Velaris, but when she turned around, she noticed a trail of shadows. To an untrained eye, they were just that--shadows that spread over walls of the buildings, the cobblestones beneath, stretching and moving the way all shadows did. But now, they were her friends. Her protectors. They were not just an empty, thoughtless, natural entity, but a mysterious sentient thing that cared for her, because its master cared for her.
“Lex, what do you like?” she asked, surprising herself. She wasn’t intent on having a conversation with a shadow.
“I like stars,” said Lex simply.
“Stars? That’s beautiful, Lex. But why?”
“Because that’s where I am from. Stardust. The song of the wind and stars created us. Here, we were born at dusk. There were so many of us once before, free to roam and live at dusk, amidst the oncoming darkness and the fading light. Now, there are very few left,”
“Where did the shadows go?”
“Dusk left and the shadows left with it. Only a few remain now. The master and those who serve him.”
“Are you talking about Azriel?” she was confused. Lex was prone to wax lyrical and talk too much, or too little.
“Yes, lord Azriel. My master. The last master of all shadows.”
“Hmm,”
“So I am here, with you and my master. Until maybe we return to the dusk with my master. Maybe with you too.”
Elain had no idea what Lex was rambling about, so she let it drop.
With the shadows slithering behind her, she felt safe, protected even, so she walked slower than usual, taking in the evening sights and sounds. Envious again. Envious of all this life around her. Life that bubbled and spilled on the sidewalks; laughing Fae stumbling from bars and public houses, distinguished couples out on their evening walk, lovers holding each other’s gazes and bodies, not seeing and not caring about anyone else. But she...she was invisible. Not because of the shadows, but because that’s what she’d become. Elain the Beautiful. Kingslayer. She now trudged quietly and lonesomely down the streets, wondering when in the world she became a shadow herself? A shadow of her former self, an invisible entity that no one paid attention to?
The human Elain did not want this sort of life--she enjoyed the balls and the outings, she enjoyed attention and beautiful things, lovely gowns, male company and compliments. And the Fae Elain wasn’t sure if that changed very much--he still liked parties and balls, and nice dresses and dancing. She didn’t want to be quiet and lonesome and obscure. She wanted to glow and sparkle and love and live with adventures and travels.
She felt a beast of wonder prowling under her skin. A beast that wanted to unleash and see the world turned, and reforged. She felt the beast, but feared it--it was her new Fae self, this untamed wild thing that the Cauldron gifted her. She didn’t know what it was, and why it was there, but it beckoned and seduced her with its presence and the thoughts that she had.
By the time she got home, Feyre and Rhys already retired for the night and she walked to her suite. She sat down on her bed, looking around.
“Go to sleep, Lex,” she said.
“I am not tired.”
“Then do whatever you want,” she plopped down on the bed, and looked up at the ceiling.
“Why are you sad?” inquired Lex.
“You are the shadow, you tell me,” she muttered, annoyed.
“You are in love with the master.”
“Very astute observation,” she said tartly.
“Master is not rude like you,” noted Lex.
She threatened, “I am going to ask the master for a different shadow.”
“No you won’t. I am going to sleep.”
For something that shouldn’t have had emotions, Lex sure seemed like he was angry.
There was a knock on the door just as soon as Elain changed and put on her robe. The last thing she wanted to do right now was to talk to Feyre, but she hid her grimace and said ‘come in”.
To her great relief, it wasn’t her sister who stood at the door, but the grinning wraiths. What’s more, Cerridwen held a bottle of brandy and a glass, while Nuala held two glasses, which she raised as a peace offering and an invitation.
Elain burst out laughing.
“You seemed in a right mood tonight,” grumbled Cerridwen, as she pushed past Elain and made her way to the small sitting room.
“So we came to cheer you up!” Nuala followed her sister.
...Thirty minutes later, the three of them were deep into the bottle, buzzed and laughing.
“Aww,” Elain rubbed her temples. “I am not used to drinking every night! I got drunk yesterday,”
They snickered and Nuala winked, “we know!”
Elain blushed, remembering that one of them had been to Azriel’s house to deliver her clothes and toiletries. They knew where she spent the night.
“So,” Cerridwen, stretched out on the sofa, was sipping her drink slowly. Among the three of them, she was an expert at holding her liquor. “Did all that pining between the two of you amount to anything?” she inquired bluntly.
Elain blushed and mumbled about being given a shadow.
Cerridwen rolled her dark eyes and shook her head, “Honey, that’s not what I wanted to hear. Is he any good? As good as they say he is?”
Confused, Elain nodded, “he is good. He is very nice.”
Cerridwen bubbled her lips, shaking her head. Nuala smiled into her glass and said, “Elain, what my sister is so rudely trying to ascertain is whether you’ve made love. I am going to go with a ‘no’, but,”
“No!” exclaimed Elain, blushing profusely.
The three of them had discussed males, and bedding them, without going into explicit details, but this was different. While Cerridwen preferred women, but also enjoyed discussing males and their ‘shortcomings’, Nuala was, used to be, Azriel’s lover.
“Elain, I don’t care,” assured her Nuala, seeing the panicked discomfort on Elain’s face. She waved her hand, “it’s in the past. Whatever happened,”
“So you can go and jump his bones!” encouraged Cerridwen, raising her glass in a salute.
Still hot, from embarrassment and alcohol, Elain murmured, “it’s not like that...We haven’t,”
“Well, why not?” shrugged Cerridwen. “With those wings of his, he ought to know what he is doing,”
Elain’s brow furrowed. “His wings? what do the wings have to do with anything?”
The twins exchanged meaningful glances, and Nuala laid her head on Elain’s lap, saying, “El, there is still much that you don’t know…”
Elain recalled all the offhand comments that her sisters, Mor, and even Amren had made about wings over the years. The knowing glances and the smirks.
“Is it something sexual?” she sighed at last.
“Of course it’s something sexual!” cried Cerridwen with a laugh. “Have you touched his wings?”
“Why would I touch his wings?”
“Just try it,” encouraged Cerridwen, “see how he reacts!”
“Don’t,” Nuala shook her head, and then pointed an admonishing finger to her sister, “you stop that!”
“Why?!” laughed Cerridwen.
“Elain,” Nuala stroked Elain’s hand, “don’t listen to her. And don’t touch an Illyrian’s wings without permission. They are...sensitive,”
“I thought because it hurts them,” started Elain.
“Oh no. It certainly doesn’t hurt them.”
Elain shrugged. “So, that’s the big deal? Their wings are sensitive to touch?”
“Nu, tell her!” pleaded Cerridwen.
Elain looked down at the sprawled Nuala with expectation.
“It’s the size, honey,” finally blurted Cerridwen, choking on her laughter, “the bigger the wings, the bigger,”
“The cock,” concluded Nuala.
“What?” Elain snapped, blushing deeply. Feyre’s comment from earlier today came back to haunt her. “You two are just teasing me,” she folded her arms on her chest, “it’s not true! You are just saying this because you know that I haven’t been with a Fae male,”
“And what a fine Fae male you’ll get to be with,” Cerridwen whistled and Nuala smiled.
“Well, I am sure that Cassian is,” she began, but Nuala interrupted, shaking her head,
“Oh no. Cassian wants to be the biggest,”
“But our shadowsinger got him beat by a margin,” said Cerridwen meaningfully. “A measurable margin.”
“And Rhysand?” Elain blurted, immediately regretting her outburst. Oh gods. Now she was going to be walking around and eyeing the males’ wings!
“The High Lord,” said Nuala, “possesses a High Fae endowment.”
Elain waited, knowing that they weren’t done. So Nuala added, “The Illyrians are naturally,”
“Better equipped,” supplied Cerridwen. “Why do you think that the High Fae hate them so much?”
“And some Illyrians exceed even Illyrian expectations, like a certain shad-,”
Elain buried her face in her hands, yelling ‘stop it, stop it, stop it!”
The sisters were laughing at her. “Don't tell me this!” she exclaimed. “I have to face him! What am I supposed to think about now?”
“Probably his cock,” offered Cerridwen unhelpfully.
“Ugh, I hate you both!” she moaned.
Nuala slid her arm around her and butted her shoulder, “Well, take consolation in that he knows what he is doing!”
“Well, I would hope that at 500 years old, he’d know what he is doing,” groaned Elain.
Cerridwen gave her a look. “Hmmm. Don’t bet on it. Males don’t always learn...”
“539,” said Nuala casually.
Elain glanced at her. “What?”
“He is 539 years old. He will be turning 540 soon.”
“When is soon?
“Imbolc,” said Cerridwen. “He and Cassian celebrate it together.”
Elain sat up, asking, “They were born on the same day?”
“Azriel was born on Imbolc.”
“I don’t know what that is,” Elain admitted.
“A holiday to celebrate the Mother. It’s halfway between Solstice and Spring Equinox. It’s a lovely little holiday, without much fanfare...Anyway, he will be 540. Cassian will be 539.”
“But they were born on the same day??”
Cerridwen, despite the alcohol, became serious, almost wistful.
“Well...No one knows when Cassian was born. He was taken from his mother so young and the records were lost, if there was ever even a record of his birth. So, from what we’ve gathered, when they were boys, they’d celebrate together, since Cassian was also born in the winter. After they survived and won the Blood Rite, Azriel offered Cassian his birth day--so they’d always share it together. So ever since they were boys, they’ve celebrated their birth day on Imbolc.”
So, Elain woke up groggy and tired. ‘Woke up’ was probably the wrong term, because she barely slept at all last night. Her head was heavy with the aftermath of the drinking, though she paced herself last night, and wasn’t suffering, unlike yesterday. She knew there wouldn’t be a tonic prepared thoughtfully for her and waiting on the sink counter, so she exercised self-control and let the twins drink. She even promised to make breakfast today, for Cerridwen begged her, knowing that there would be a price to pay for their late night shenanigans.
Sleeping alone, without Azriel, even after only two nights together, was strange. At least three times during the night, she caught herself reaching for him, for the feel of his hard, warm body in bed with her, only to find cool sheets. It unsettled her. Was she being needy and so dependent on him too quickly? Or was it something else? Was it the Mother, or the Cauldron telling her that she was correct to seek him out--to search for him in her sleep, and when she was awake, and that it was right to need him and want him?
The house was still quiet, the servants moving silently about the wide corridors, dusting and wiping and watering pants, and curtsying in front of Elain, which was not something she wanted them to do, but they insisted. She snuck into the nursery.
“Good morning, my baby boy,” she cooed at Nyx, who was sitting in his crib, playing with Brute, waiting to be picked up. He knew his aunt was the first one who usually got him roused in the morning, and the moment she entered, he was up, holding onto the slats of the crib, his little wings fluttering excitedly.
It took Elain a bit of time to learn how to hold him properly, and the wings, their delicate soft bones, their thin, silky membrane scared her and made her terribly nervous.
By the time Nyx was about to be born, Azriel ‘allowed’ himself back in the house. The relationship between him and Rhys was still strained and oftentimes tense, aggression simmering beneath their skin, that Fae male call for dominance still very much present when they were together. But Azriel, for the sake of other relationships, for the love of the Inner Circle, kept his rage in check, as he always tended to do. But there was happiness, there was a new and beautiful life that came about after so much strife and sorrow and danger that it would be petty and dishonest not to celebrate it. So Nyx was responsible for patching things up between the adults, at least on the surface.
That day, after the brutal birth and Nesta’s sacrifice, Feyre finally fell asleep, with Rhys by her side. Nesta was recovering, and Cassian was freaking out, worrying about everybody. He and Mor were running around, arranging for things and taking care of formalities, but Elain was left to oversee Nyx. That’s how they bonded, Nyx and his aunt, who loved him from the moment he emerged into the world. But she was scared to pick him up, unsure of what to do with the wings, and how to position him in the crook of her arm.
“Like that,” said Azriel softly, emerging from the shadows, watching her try to pick the baby up. His scarred hands gingerly cradled Nyx, and then he laid him into Elain’s waiting arms. “Make sure that the wings drape over your arm, like this,” and he showed her. Nyx settled at once, quiet and content. “Perfect,” Azriel almost smiled. “You are a natural with an Illyrian babe.”
Those words haunted Elain to this day.
“Lana!” Nyx yelled, lifting his arms in the air. She picked him up, and he threw his short arms around her in their morning greeting. She changed him, dressed him and then, following his command ‘Boot!’ grabbed Brute and went downstairs.
But she soon became aware that she wasn’t the only one awake.
Passing by Rhysand’s office, she heard familiar voices--the three males. Colour flooded her cheeks as she quickly scurried by the door, hoping that they wouldn't hear her and she could avoid them. After last night’s conversation about the wings and the wingspans and all those other things, she really had no desire to face them. Had no desire to stand before them and sneak peeks at their wings and compare.
However, as soon as she put Nyx down in the kitchen, a dark shadow tapped on the reeses of her mind and she allowed him in. ‘Elain, please join us in the study,’ said Rhysand. Before she could even respond, he added, ‘His nanny is coming.” Unsurprisingly, Nyx’s nanny appeared in the kitchen the next moment. Elain greeted her with a forced smile and then walked to the office. She smoothed her skirt before entering, without knocking.
The three males were standing around the desk, all had their arms folded on their chests. What in the seven hells did she walk into? Cassian looked at her, his eyebrow arched and then smiled his spectacular smile and somehow, immediately, eased her worries.
“‘Morning baby girl!” He greeted her, and then went to hug and kiss her cheek, when Rhys cleared his throat. A formal conversation then. No room for informalities. Elain therefore, reached on her tiptoes and kissed Cassian’s cheek. “Good morning, Cass!” she said cheerfully, and then with great pretend indifference she inclined her head towards Azriel. “Az.” He was in full uniform, which jolted her somehow, for she was used to seeing him in normal, civilian clothes lately. Him in uniform always made her a little uneasy.
“What are you doing here, petal?” asked Cassian.
“I asked Elain to join us,” explained Rhys. Perhaps for her sake, he went behind the desk and sat down. Crowded by three enormous Illyrians, she looked like a tiny flower in a dark forest. Azriel and Cassian were the same height and she only reached under Azriel’s armpit with the top of her head. Rhys was only just a tad shorter than the two. Or maybe he sat down to assert dominance and remind everyone who was the High Lord. Either way, Elain did not care. She and Rhys played these little power games all the time. She, for example, wore blue exclusively since Solstice. Every shade, every hue, but always blue. Just so he’d be reminded whom she loved. Gone were the pink and pale gowns of her human life, now replaced by her Fae wardrobe, which spoke volumes about where her allegiance lay.
Cassian and Azriel exchanged somewhat confused glances, but did not say anything, waiting for Rhys to explain.
“You are aware that Feyre and I are leaving for Winter Court later today.”
She nodded.
“Mor is coming along.”
He tapped his fingers on the shiny mahogany surface and then stated,
“You are the only remaining person with...power,”
Both males whipped their heads at him, then at her.
“What do you mean ‘power’?” asked Cassian.
Shadows wafted around Azriel, his face inscrutable, but his posture tense.
“Elain is the only one who still possesses Cauldron-given powers. Nesta’s have been considerably diminished, and Amren doesn’t have anything of significance left. Unless one of you wishes to escort us to Winter, and leave Mor here, Elain is the only remaining Fae with extraordinary powers. Hence, I’d like to ask you,” he looked at Elain, “to consider protecting Velaris should the need arise.”
“Rhys,” began Azriel, but Elain interrupted him and nodded, “Of course. I’ll do whatever needs to be done, though I hope we have no need for it.”
Cassian glared at her, “What kind of powers you got, El?”
“And how do you know that she has powers?” challenged Azriel, his face darkening, hazel eyes boring into Rhys.
“We had a conversation,” said Rhys calmly, “and Elain chose to...showcase her powers.”
“Showcase them?” repeated Azriel. “Wonder what sort of conversation the two of you were having?”
“That’s between my sister-in-law and myself,” began Rhysand, but Cassian stepped in and said, “cut the horseshit, everyone. What is going on? How do you know that she has powers? She never demonstrated them,”
“He pressured her,” Azriel gritted out. His siphons came to life, flickering and filling with their cobalt life, and in response, Rhys’s power woke up, slithering around him and then extending into the rest of the office like a dark beast. Azriel took a step towards Elain. She, in turn, remained unfazed by the display, her icy Archeron flame blazing in her brown eyes.
“I did not pressure her,” corrected Rhysand, “I simply made a request as her High Lord and she did not take kindly to it,”
“I reminded Rhysand that he is not my High Lord,” Elain chimed in coolly.
“It seems that I am,”
Azriel raised his hand and ordered, “Back off, Rhys.”
“You shouldn’t force her to reveal her power, Rhys,” Cassian said, all amusement and humour gone from his voice. “Especially alone--it’s unchecked. Do you recall what happened with Nesta?”
Rhysand shrugged, “I wasn’t asking Elain to scry.”
“Rhysand,” Azriel’s voice was grave and so cold, it sent an actual chill down Elain’s spine. “You want to ask something of me, go ahead. Hells, if you want to order me and pull rank,”
“I don’t pull rank,”
“You pull rank all the fucking time,” growled Azriel. “But I swore an oath to you and I will serve you to the best of my abilities. She,” he jerked his chin in Elain’s direction, “is off limits.”
“Not when it concerns the stability and safety of my court,” parried Rhysand.
Elain glanced at him with disdain and almost wrung her fingers, before stopping and simply dropping her arms at her sides. Somehow, the movement centered her.
“I have never jeopardized the stability of your court,” she almost snarled, but stood still and tall. “If I may be so bold, but I remind you that without me, you wouldn’t have won the war. I was the one who found the Suriel for Feyre, which resulted in turning the tide of the war. I stabbed the King of Hybern. Because of my vision, my mate located Vassa and forged alliances with the humans,”
At the word ‘mate’ Azriel flinched. It did not escape Cassian’s attention.
“And,” she stopped abruptly, pursing her lips. “I’ve said enough,”
“What else did you do?” asked Cassian, turning fully to her, his eyes narrowing.
Elain felt herself bursting with strange, tingling energy. The males’ wings twitched, almost flaring, as they all glared at each other and it felt stifling in the room, despite its vast size.
“Nothing, Cassian,” she snapped at him. “Think!”
Power rumbled. The air filled the scent of jasmine. Siphons flared, just as shadows swarmed. Elain barely felt Lex’s cool touch against her hand, as it tried to calm her and bring her back. Lex did not lunge to protect her, only fluttered about, serving as a diffuser. Azriel’s shadows went wild, concealing him almost entirely. He remained steady, but she noticed his thumb stroking the hilt of Truth-Teller.
“Aright!” Cassian stepped forth, arms raised, “alright. That’s enough. From you, Cauldron Princess,”
At that, Azriel snarled and Elain rolled her eyes.
“And you, Your Darkness,” Cassian glared at Rhys. “Settle the fuck down everybody. You want to take it outside and have a go at it,”
“No,” snarled Azriel. “You wait with Elain outside. And I will have a talk with my High Lord.”
Cassian chewed his lip, but made to take Elain’s hand, following Azriel’s order. Yet, she did not budge.
“I am not a girl to be ordered around,” she shrugged Cassian’s hand off her shoulder. “I am a woman, and you’ll all treat me with the same deference that you afford your mates. As I promised,” she looked at Rhys, “I will protect and defend Velaris and its people to the best of my abilities, if I am called upon to do so. You,” she turned to Azriel, her gaze unflinching, “are not asked to fight my battles for me. I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions and standing by them. And yes, I know that my power is untapped and largely undiscovered, but I don’t need to be provoked into displaying it. I am not a wild beast to be poked and prodded in order for me to unleash. Now,” she glanced at the clock, “I am late for my children. Have a nice trip.”
“I’ll fly you,” offered Cassian softly, gently stroking her shoulder.
“Thank you, but no need. I’d rather walk.”
Without a second look at both Rhys and Azriel, she turned around and left the room.
Azriel’s face remained impassive and he made no move to follow her, but Cassian saw it--Elain’s cold indifference would torment his brother for the rest of the day. Elain’s rejection, however small, her denial of Azriel’s protection, her calling Lucien her ‘mate’ would grate on Azriel’s psyche with relentless self-flagellation. They all had their demons to fight, but Azriel, perhaps, had the most.
Elain grabbed her jacket, so riled up that she couldn’t get her arms into the sleeves. A sleepy Feyre appeared at the top of the stairs, but before she could ask, Elain walked out the door and into the cold. She shivered. Her body felt hot, still brimming with that energy, the anger and whatever else floated inside of her. Unlike Nesta, she didn’t hate her power, for it gave her a measure of self-control, or protection, even if she wasn’t entirely sure how to use it just yet. Sooner or later, she’d have to learn.
“You’ve upset the master,” announced Lex. It trailed her faithfully, sort of latched onto her shoulder.
“I am not discussing this with you,” she snarled.
“The General is also upset,”
“Alright, wonderful, everyone is upset with me. Great. You happy?”
“Not particularly.”
“Mind your own business.”
But Elain was upset. She didn’t mean to lash out at Azriel. She didn’t mean to call Lucien her ‘mate’. But, like all Fae males, Azriel was over-protective and became aggressive when she was challenged, instinctively standing up for her, as she was his female. But she did have powers and she could handle Rhys herself, and didn’t need Azriel’s involvement. Especially if it created bad blood between him and Rhys--Mother above there was already plenty of it.
She walked quickly, cooling off with every step, her emotions running high, and
feeling both sad and cold, as she huddled in her jacket. She forgot her scarf. She’d upset Azriel. She sort of fought with Rhys. She was hungry. She didn’t feed Nyx, leaving him behind with the nanny. So far, this was a fantastic morning!
The children greeted her happily, hugs and kisses, and for a moment, she forgot everything, lost in the sense of familiarity and joy, the loud tales of their petty squabbles, the who did what, what they had for breakfast, and much more. She forgot everything, until Temal bounded and wrapped her around the legs in his usual fashion.
“Good morning, love,” she smiled at him, trying to smooth his thick, black hair. He looked at her with his perpetually eager enthusiasm and quickly asked, “Lain! Where is Az? You know, Lain, I read so much myself and I have to show him, because I have to read with him. And then we go fly. Where is Az?” he kept looking around, holding her hand, chewing his lip, his eyes darting about the hallway. He was used to having Elain come with Az every morning now, and Azriel’s absence perplexed him.
He tugged on her hand and demanded impatiently, “Where is Az, Lain?”
“Good morning to you too,” she said softly. “Let’s all go outside for our morning,”
“Where is Az?” he asked again, concern-lacing his voice now, his eyes dimming.
He kept looking around.
“Is he coming?” he asked impatiently, still hopeful.
But Elain’s slight hesitation was all that Temal needed to murmur sorrowfully,
“He don’t want to come no more?”
“No, he does,” Elain began, but he interrupted her, angrily, throwing her hand off his shoulder,
“No he doesn't! He doesn’t want to fly no more. He doesn’t like us,” his eyes were instantly brimming with tears.
Now other children were overhearing them and their faces were showing the same disappointment as Temal’s, though there was something like devastation written on his.
“Go get your jacket,” she told him, and he let go of her entirely, head hanging low, shuffling to the coat racks.
Other children came over to her, asking the same question, looking concerned and upset. Elain felt terrible, hating how this made them feel, being abandoned and feeling unimportant, again. She didn’t know what to say to them. How to explain.
“Azriel will come back,” she assured them, but he wasn’t here, and her assurances fell on deaf ears.
Slowly, the children shuffled outside, the mood subdued. It was quiet, as they meandered along the courtyard, some of them climbing and others getting on the swings, swinging halfheartedly.
Temal went all the way to the back of the yard, towards the wall, and absently dragged a stick in the dirt, drawing something in the mud. Elain left him be for the time being, as she sat with the younger children around the table for their lesson. But attention wasn't on her. Every time a shadow passed by the door, all heads turned that way, necks craning, and then--a wave of disappointment. While Elain helped the little ones with their tasks, Lex informed her “your boy is very upset.”
“I know, Lex,” she sighed.
“He thinks that the master’s abandoned him.”
Elain did not respond.
Lex offered, “do you want me to go and play with him?”
“No, I’ll go and talk to him,” she got up and walked over to Temal.
“Temal,” she called out to him, but he wouldn’t face her and just mumbled, “I don’t wanna talk, Lain.”
“Why not?” she asked gently.
“I don’t want to,” he shrugged, digging deeper into the mud with his stick.
“Is it about Azriel?”
Silence.
“Tem-,”
He turned to her, his face stained with tears.
“Why he don’t come, Lain? Why?”
Temal, like all Illyrians, was not much of a crier. Whether hurt, in a fight, or upset, he never cried, and simply walked away and dusted himself off. This much emotion was completely foreign to him, yet tears ran down his sharp cheekbones.
“I don’t know why he leave me, Lain,” he sniffled. “Everybody leave me…” he added. “My ma--I don't know her. Maybe she was good, but she leave me,”
“Your mother did not leave you, Temal,”
“She did,” he argued. “But you know, I am happy with my mali. We have a good life, and then my mali go away and he...He go to Vallahalla, and I never see him again. He leave me too,”
She paled, not knowing what to say.
“Your mama and mali loved you though,” she said softly, “so much,”
He wiped his tears with his palm and said, “why they leave then? They don’t love me,”
“My mama and mali also left me,” she told him, “but I know that they loved me,”
“I like Az and I think he like me too, but now he doesn’t even come,” Temal shrugged. “And I think that Sunni is sad too, because she likes him, and she don’t even talk.”
“Temal,” Elain said firmly, “Azriel never goes back on his world. If he said he will come, then he will,”
She sounded so confident that Temal looked up at her, at last.
And then, his face broke into a thousand smiles or pure joy and awe. Sprinting past Elain, he rushed to the other side of the yard. She was smiling, even without looking, sensing the commotion.
“Well, hello Illyrians!” bellowed Cassian, “and the rest of you, future warriors! Are you ready to train?”
A deafening scream of ‘yes!’ was the response.
Elain turned around. The two gigantic Illyrians swaggered through the doors, and stood, arms folded, observing the mass of children before them.
The children stared. Stared in awe. Stared at the Commander General. In front of them, in the flesh. Even these orphans knew who he was, recognised him immediately, and now gawked, unable to tear their eyes from him, from his colossal, towering presence.
“Elain here said that some of you want to learn how to fight?” he asked breezily.
Eyes lit up and waves of eager nods rippled across the gathered children.
“Well then,” he decided, “I guess you got yourself a teacher. Az and I are going to be teaching you how to fly and how to fight. Is that good?”
Oh, it was good.
And then Elain snorted a laugh, when Sanaai came upfront, ignoring Cassian completely, as she raised her arms in silent command before Azriel. He picked her up and she immediately found her place against his chest.
Cassian began commandeering at once, while Azriel quietly made his way to Elain.
“Hello,” he said.
“Hello,” she looked at him and then there was an uncomfortable pause. Then he reached into his jacket and withdrew her scarf that she’d left behind in the house, when she was so eager to escape. Wordlessly, he draped it over her neck and then wrapped it around carefully, watching her the entire time. She shuddered from the warmth. From his thumb brushing against her jaw.
“Az!” Temal wrapped around Azriel’s legs, “you came!”
“Of course I came,” said Azriel, surveying the boy’s face. “Were you crying?”
“No!” Temal flushed. “I don’t cry. But I happy. You came.”
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” assured him Azriel. “Now run and get in the formation.”
Once Temal was gone, Azriel looked at Elain and asked her seriously. “Why was he crying?”
She brushed her fingers against his own and said, “He thought that you would not be coming.”
Sanaai shifted in his arm and looked up at him, indicating that she, perhaps, thought the same.
“And you?” he asked.
“I’ve never doubted you. In anything.”
Elain stopped at the Palace of Bone and Salt after she’d left the orphanage.
Feyre informed her that everyone was in Winter, that it was beautiful and there were ice castles and sleds and ice rinks everywhere, and that Nyx took well to his first winnowing and was now ogling polar bears and eating a cinnamon and cranberry scone.
It all sounded very nice, but Elain secretly winced--she hated winter. She didn’t like the cold, and no amount of mulled wine, snowmen, pine decorations or spice cakes could ever change her mind. Winter always harkened back to the days of their poverty, the freezing cold in the hovel, the dark, dreary evening, endless, endless nights spent in silence or bickering.
No, Elain loved the light, the sun, the warmth of spring and summer. She loved the scent of flowers, the regeneration of earth, the waking of all life. She dreamt of visiting a beach one day, especially after Feyre had described Adriata to her. So polar bears and roasted chestnuts could stay forever in Winter Court for all she cared.
“What are you going to buy?” asked Lex, flitting and gliding nosily the produce stands.
“Ingredients for dinner obviously.”
“What are you going to make?”
“Shouldn’t you know? Isn’t it your job?”
“No, I don’t know. But once you select something, then I will know.”
Dealing with Lex was often akin to talking to Temal, yet Elain enjoyed it. She came to depend on her gossipy, opinionated shadow in the past few days and somehow, having it near her brought her a sense of camaraderie, almost a friendship. She began understanding how Azriel felt with his shadows, how they took him out of his unbearable loneliness once he learned their language, and how something similar was happening to her right now. Because she’s been lonely, so lonely and hopeless, and solitary, and if it weren’t for the twins, she didn't know what she’d do. Perhaps, the male who’s been just as lonely most of his life knew how to recognise the signs, knew how to read her and her emotions and saw inside. He was always the only one who saw. When nothing made sense in her life, he was able to offer a semblance of peace, or normalcy. Even something as simple as treating her respectfully and kindly, without looking at her with confused concern was sometimes enough to bring her out of her emotional stupor.
Elain’s made her decision as soon as Feyre told her about the trip to Winter Court.
So, as she loaded her basket with chicken, rosemary, lemons, bread, apples and pears, her resolve only grew. Once she paid, she told Lex ‘take me home’.
“You don’t know where your home is?”
She sighed and clarified, “Your master’s home’.
“Oh good, let’s go,” Lex perked up at once. “Master will be happy if you are there. He always wants you to be there, you know.”
She didn’t know. She didn’t know if Azriel, in fact, wanted her there. Yes, he gave her the key, but was it appropriate for her to just barge in and make herself comfortable? She didn’t know. Elain was a polite and proper person, with good manners, who always behaved appropriately in all situations. She wasn’t the snarling Nesta, or, at times, incomprehensible Feyre. She was Elain, who’d let the three Fae males into her house, who cleared it for them to conduct their business and who convinced Nesta to host the queens. She even managed to charm the Cauldron--whatever that meant. She could do many things, but this step was something entirely different. She was taking it for herself.
She vaguely recalled where the building was located, but Lex led her along the streets with confidence, yakking away the way only it could, while she barely paid attention, growing more and more nervous the closer they came. And then, at last, behind a little square, she eyed the building decorated with etched jasmine and moonflowers. She stopped and looked up. It was a long way up to the….she counted...twelfth floor. This must have been one of the tallest buildings in Velaris.
“Let’s go,” urged her Lex.
Elain swallowed and then crossed the little square and opened the door into the building’s foyer. There was a wide, winding marble staircase. She sighed, bracing herself for the climb. With her basket it was going to be a trek.
When she climbed to the fourth floor, Elain stopped, panting. Was she out of shape? Probably. Perhaps Cassian was right, and she needed to come to her senses and do some exercises, but she was never going to tell that to him. Admitting any kind of defeat to Cassian meant a lifetime of taunts.
“Are you going to go all the way up on your own two feet?” asked Lex casually.
She was huffing, and waved him off, muttering, “whose feet am I going to be going on?”
“I can just take you there,” Lex suggested.
She looked at its dark form, floating playfully around her. When it was just the two of them, Lex did whatever it wanted and didn’t stay true to the laws of physics, so it bobbed and bounced however it wished.
“You can?”
“Yeah,”
“Why didn’t you tell me this earlier and made me,”
“You didn’t ask,” it reminded her.
“I really hate you sometimes,” she groaned, while it enveloped her in its dark mist and the next moment, they were upstairs, standing by the door.
“Thanks,” she said. “Why didn’t you just take me inside the apartment?”
“I can’t,” Lex admitted. “Only you and the master can enter. No one else, without your permission. Even us.”
“Oh,” Elain didn’t know if she was surprised, flattered or proud, or maybe all of the above, as she opened the door and entered.
Azriel and she only exchanged a few words today, after the children’s training, when they were all moaning and groaning from their aches and pains. Elain pulled Cassian and Az aside and warned them to be gentler and more careful, and that this wasn’t an actual Illyrian training camp. Cassian tried to argue, but she gave him a brief ‘Archeron stare’ and that was the end of the conversation. Luckily, the two did bring two bags full of balms and salves with them, for all the scratches and tender muscles. They had stopped at the apothecary and that is why they were late coming in the morning.
Azriel only said that he’d see her ‘later’, and that he was going to work. No indication of when and where he’d see her, and considering that he was in uniform, with at least four siphons, ‘work’ didn’t sound like a relaxing endeavour. But she didn’t ask, and only smiled and hid her worry inside.
So she hung her jacket, removed her boots and her scarf that Azriel always insisted on, because she ‘could get a cold’ without it, according to him. She wasn’t even sure if Fae got colds, but his obsessive protectiveness was still adorably endearing.
“Lex, can Nuala or Cerridwen understand you?” she asked as she walked to the back of the spacious apartment and stopped in the bedroom.
“Yes. Why?”
“Can you go and ask them to bring me my clothes?”
“No.”
She whipped her head and stared at the dark stain in the corner of the room. “Why not?” she demanded.
“Because I am not permitted to leave you,” Lex explained.
“Even if I order you?”
“You can order me to do other things, but I can’t leave you.”
She gave an exasperated snort, but Lex announced in his usual, non-chalant way “If you need clothes, they are already here.” It flew to the closet and Elain followed, and when she opened the door to the impressively enormous wardrobe, there they were--a rack hung with some of her dresses and skirts, and inside a glass lined cabinet, there were personal items, stockings and hose and tights and underthings. Everything was arranged simply and precisely, in a way that implied that she was expected, wanted and belonged here. It somehow made her belly soft and warm, like a cluster of butterflies skidded over her skin, though she ordered herself to think rationally. This was hardly different from when Nesta moved into the House of Wind and began living with Cassian and Azriel. It was probably just as,
Oh, gods, who was she kidding?
Of course it was different!
Nesta didn’t move into Cassian’s room.
Cauldron, was she really about to live with a man? well, a male? Just...live with him? Sleep with him in the same bed? She had no idea what she was doing! She’d never lived with a man...and, and, surely he had expectations. What were her own expectations? She certainly, well, she certainly desired him. Wanted him. But beyond her mild fantasies, she didn’t even know what she wanted precisely. A part of her yearned to live that wild, unbridled passion that she saw with her sisters, but her sisters were more experienced by the time they’d met their mates and then there was the damn mate bond. Theirs, surely, worked very differently from hers. Yet all that screaming, and panting, and moaning -- she truly had no idea where it came from with them. Whatever she felt with Greyson was reasonably pleasant, especially the second time around, but it certainly didn’t inspire any groaning or panting from her. She’d seen Cassian’s lacerated back, raked over with Nesta’s nails. What could inspire such passionate violence? Besides, she didn’t even have nails--hers were trimmed rather short, though she at least put varnish on them.
And now she was here. Awkwardly taking off her skirt and cardigan, to change into something...well, he liked her in his shirt, so she searched to locate a stack of plain, informal shirts, which were all kind of the same and took one. Paired with leggings, to which she grew rather accustomed lately, taking after Feyre’s penchant for them, she figured that she looked decent. She’d never worn trousers or pants outside, or when she knew that there would be visitors, but alone with Nyx, or when it was just Feyre and Rhys and her, she didn’t care. Rhys cared even less. Three nights ago, she noticed Azriel’s utter shock, mixed with such obvious desire when he saw her in her tights, for the first time. She didn’t think that he even tried to hide it. So if that is what made him happy, then she was going to wear it.
She didn’t dwell in the bedroom for much longer, lest it made her too nervous and bombard her with unwanted thoughts.
Without Azriel’s perfectly distracting perfection to scramble her brain as it always happened when he was around, she took the time to look around, though she still didn’t allow herself to touch anything. Back in the kitchen--her domain--she began unloading her purchases on the sleek marble counter, and then spotted a familiar item on one of the side tables--a Symphonia. She turned it on and as she began preparing dinner, the music selection came as a surprise to her, an interesting insight into Azriel’s mind.
The Symphonia wasn’t filled with waltzes and minuets of Nesta’s preference, but with lots of dance music--not something she’d expect from the quiet, solemn Azriel. There was folk music, and fast, melodious songs, as well as music from what Elain assumed were other courts. Curiously, she definitely heard songs and dances of Human Lands, some of which she used to sing as a girl, as well as Illyrian melodies--haunting and glorious. Lex, as it turned out, liked music as well, as it informed her ‘I like stars and music and flowers!’ Lex, apparently, was a romantic and a dancer to boot, because the faster the musical numbers, the more Lex bounced around the kitchen. “You dance well!” Elain complimented it, as Lex swooshed and bobbed and floated, wrapping itself around Elain’s hips, as she ground and writhed against the counter, waving her knife and her tasting spoons in the air. It was probably a good thing that Lex was a shadow.
‘Master doesn’t dance like you!’ Lex half-complained, half-praised.
“We’ll get him to dance with us,” promised Elain.
Behind them, a male cleared his throat and Elain and Lex halted their dancing abruptly.
Azriel was standing, propped against the wall, arms folded on his chest, a smile on his lips.
Elain flushed. Happy.
“Glad to hear that the two of you are conspiring against me,” he chuckled.
“You are home,” she whispered.
“You are home as well,” he said, peeling away from the wall. He extended his hand and she came over to him and took it, and he pulled her to him. Elain slipped into his embrace and he murmured into her hair ‘dance with me?” His jacket was still cold from the flight and she shivered when she wrapped her arms around his torso. He pushed her head into his chest and they swayed to the music, he leading her into a slow, languid spin across the room. The melody switched to something slower and more sensual just in time, and he smiled against her head that smelled so delicately of jasmine. Perhaps the gods were smiling upon him today, after all.
“Are you tired?” she asked, her voice muffled by the press of her face into his chest.
She held him so tightly, so desperately, it was as if he’d just returned from war, and not a day of work. Granted, he had to make a quick trip to the human lands and back, but she didn't even know that.
“No, love,” he said, “not tired at all. Especially not when you are here.”
It did not escape him that Elain had called this place ‘home’.
“I am just glad to see you here,” he admitted, and then finally pulled her face away from his chest and gently grasped her chin in his scarred fingers, making her look up.
“Is it alright?” she asked, unsure. “That I am here?”
“Is there any other place you’d rather be?” he challenged, his eyes twinkling with a teasing delight. “Is this not the place where you belong?”
“With you,” she gasped, reaching up and stroking his cheek in her warm hand that smelled of apples. “Only with you.”
He kissed the inside of her palm and concurred, “only with me.”
“I only want to be with you,” she nodded. Whatever happened between them in the morning seemed to have been forgotten. Azriel didn’t forget, but he was going to bring it up later.
He slung his arm around her shoulders, knowing that she would not be happy if he released her.
Gods, he was leashed! This golden pink girl with her chocolate-brown eyes wrapped him and wrung him and remade him into something utterly new. With her, he was a man reforged. A sharp, brutal edge that always lived inside of him, that cut deep and unflinching, was somehow dulled by her, as if she managed to tame the cruelest parts of him, at least when they were together.
“So, what smells so fantastically?”
Her soft small hand was stroking his back continuously, and Azriel wondered if it was to remind him that she was with him, and that she was his. Or, perhaps, to reassure herself that he was with her.
“Chicken!” she announced, burying her face in his arm, smelling the delectable scent of him, mixed with cold air and wind. He began unbuttoning his jacket, as they made their way into the kitchen but she swept his fingers aside and took over the task. She wouldn’t release him, and Azriel...well, he never wanted to be released. She was soft and warm under his arm, fitting into him with some inexplicable, magical precision, as if she was wrestled out of his body once and now they were put together again. He, who detested human touch with such vicious dislike, he, who did not enjoy the feel of anyone’s hands on him, often not even in the bedroom, he couldn’t get enough.
She pulled his jacket off at last, while he stroked her petal-tender cheek with the backs of his fingers, “Chicken?”
She nodded, and then kissed his cheek. “It’s the best chicken you’ll eat!” she promised.
“I bet,”
“No, it’s so good, you’ll want to marry me!”
He laughed, amused by her excitement and this self-praise that was unlike her, “Well, I’ll still marry you, regardless of the merits of this chicken,”
Elain’s eyes shot up and she looked at him, biting her lower lip.
It was the second time in just as many days that he said that he’d marry her. The words fell from his lips with ease and confidence. As if he really wanted to do just that. As it was inevitable. He looked down at her, reading her question, the hopeful expectation in her eyes.
He gently pressed his thumb to her lower lip and pulled it down from under her teeth.
“Just say the words,” he murmured, kissing her forehead.
She snorted and said, “I am not marrying a man who hasn’t even kissed me yet!”
Azriel laughed and nodded his agreement. “I wouldn’t either,” he said, taking her hand and leading them to the bedroom.
She plopped on the bed, tucking her legs under and watched him chuck off his layers. The shadows swarmed and picked everything up, with each item disappearing in the dark smoke.
“They are useful,” she noted, somewhat amazed at what she was observing.
“They are indeed,” he nodded, and then asked, “how’s Lex? Is it,”
“I am good!” interjected Lex.
“Really. And was I asking you or Elain?”
“I am good,” repeated Lex, with even more conviction. “You can ask her, but I am very good and nice too.”
“Nice and good,” hummed Azriel, while Elain was trying to stifle her laugh.
“So, is Lex nice and good?” Azriel asked at last.
She could almost sense the shadow’s nervousness and therefore, said,
“Lex has its moments.”
Hiding his smirk, Azriel proposed, “You want another one?”
“No!” Lex whirled right in front of them, jumping back and forth between the two. “Elain likes me!” it insisted. “Elain, tell the master that you want only me.”
She sighed and nodded, “Yes, Lex, I only want you. We are good friends.”
Placated and smug, Lex calmed down and rested on Elain’s lap.
Azriel was laughing softly.
“So how did this wearing of my shirts come about?” he inquired, watching her watch him. He undressed slower than usual, for her benefit. But secretly, he couldn’t get enough of those huge innocent eyes looking him up and down, glaring at every bit of revealed skin, raking him with a hungry gaze. Her lower lip was clamped between her teeth again, and it drove him insane...to be watched like this, with those brown eyes so filled with desire and that plump, pink lip. Perhaps he should just pull that lip with his teeth, kiss it, lick it, bite it...marry that plump lip and its owner, everything be damned.
Elain shrugged, “It wasn’t anything romantic, if that’s what you are hoping for,”
“Oh, you wound me,” he clutched at his chest dramatically. “And here I thought that you were so starved for my scent that you hunted down my shirt,”
“Pfff,” she rolled her eyes, “dream on, batboy!”
Azriel couldn’t remember when he laughed so hard. Her pure, absolutely delectable dismissal of him was just precious. And ‘batboy’?
Once he finally stopped hollering, and she snickering, Elain said, “Nyx puked on my dress one time, so as I was carrying him, while he was screaming, and we were both covered in vomit,”
“Yes, that is not a romantic story,” he agreed.
“I saw your shirt on the chair, and grabbed it, and since it’s long enough to basically be a dress, I just changed into it and that’s how it came about. Also,” she ran her fingers over the sleeve, “you have very nice shirts,”
“Yeah?”
“Soft and well-made. Such fine material, even for this simple shirt.”
“Small pleasures,” he shrugged, now completely undressed, save for his black undershorts. His wings fluttered loosely behind his back, relaxed.
Elain cocked her head, watching him.
“I’ll go wash up,” he said, though didn’t move, enjoying her unblinking, intense scrutiny. “Care to join?” It didn’t hurt to offer. One day, she might just surprise him.
“I would,” she whispered, her throat bobbing at the sight of him, “but my chicken says otherwise.”
“Ahh, well, the chicken,” he nodded. “It needs more tending to than Nyx.”
Once Elain returned to the kitchen, she let out a long, ragged breath. Watching Azriel--an almost naked Azriel--was the best, and the worst experience. He was almost criminally handsome, and when he extended his casual invitations to her to join him she fought the urge with every fibre of her being. She had to still her breathing, recalling every detail of his bronze body; the dangerous cut of all his muscles, that powerful chest, arms so thick with muscle and sinew that back in the human lands someone would call them ‘tree trunks’. The tapered waist, and that vee that slid smoothly away from his narrow hips...gods...And that gorgeous nonchalance of his entire bearing--who ever thought that Azriel was bashful and demure? But perhaps, it was just for her. All of it was just for her. His relaxed easy confidence was reserved only for the person that he felt utterly comfortable with, which was her. He never hid from her, never pulled his hands away, never shied away from his scars in front of her.
She really needed to pull herself together, yet a dull, but pleasant ache blossomed inside of her and she shifted and pressed her legs together, as she attempted to busy herself at the stove. But when Azriel was around, all rational thought left her and all she wanted to do was sit and stare at him like a fool. How could she have thought that Greyson was the epitome of manliness? She chuckled to herself, slightly shaking her head at the preposterous thought. Greyson. A boy. A boy full of hot air and exaggerated self-importance. What a fool she’s been. What a fool.
She gasped with surprise when strong, warm hands squeezed her hips. Azriel’s walk was so soft, he was almost entirely soundless. Even her new, acute Fae hearing couldn’t pick up his movement. He turned her around slowly and she found him on his knees in front of her, his face pressed into her stomach.
“I am sorry,” he whispered, kissing her belly through the fabric of the shirt. His hair was damp, and he was wearing his usual black and gray, a short-sleeved shirt that revealed all of his musculature, as well as the black ink of his tattoos, and soft slacks that he usually favoured at home.
His hands stroked her sides, her ribs and then landed back on her hips, stroking and squeezing, until he looked up at her and cupped her bottom, not in any sort of playful manner, but intimately, tightly.
“Sorry for what?” she gulped, as she caressed his face with her thin, calloused fingers.
“For earlier today,” he explained, kissing her stomach again, his lips finding skin beneath the shirt and brushing over her navel. Those large, brazen hands kneaded her behind, unrestrained, cupping and massaging, and Elain’s breath hitched in her throat, as she felt her breasts grow heavy and aching. “It’s very difficult for me to stay calm when I feel like you are being placed in an uncomfortable situation and Rhys,”
She pressed her finger to his lips and said, “I can deal with Rhys,”
“He has no right to force you to reveal your powers or use them,” Azriel insisted, looking her over with a serious, displeased expression. “And you should’ve told me that he,”
“When we initially had that conversation,” she recalled, “I was angry with you anyway,”
“Which I hate,” he interrupted, his look stern.
“That’s in the past.” She shrugged. “It didn’t last long, I’ll have you know. I don't think that I am capable of staying angry with you for a long time,”
“That’s a relief at least,”
“But he forbade me from seeing you,”
His handsome face darkened even further at her words, but she added,
“And that made me very...let’s just say that I was much angrier with him than I was with you. I understood then what had happened. That you didn't stop seeing me on your own volition and that the order came from him. I couldn’t control my temper,”
He smiled softly at her and teased, “you have a temper?”
She chuckled and nodded, “I do have a temper. But when I lost it, I revealed my hand,”
He kissed her knuckles.
“Not that I was hiding it, but the power, it rumbled. It resurfaced and it faced his power. And both--fought.”
“Who won?” he inquired, genuinely curious. His arms were banded around her, hands still on her behind, still stroking and squeezing, and she grew hotter and more heavy-lidded by the minute.
“We didn’t challenge each other to a fight,” she snorted. “But my power felt strong. Like it could respond to him. It didn’t like the challenge, if I am being honest.”
“Hmmm,”
“What?” she took his face between her hands and made him look at her. “And why are you still kneeling?”
He grinned and kissed the inside of her palm, “I like it here. You feel nice in my arms.”
He pulled down the waistband of her tights, just until it reached her hip bone and kissed her there. Then he pulled the other side, and kissed her other hip bone. She swayed on her feet and he held her up, those strong hands holding her bottom, supporting her.
“Feels good?” he teased, winking at her and she let out a soft moan, as he trailed kisses down her bare belly, burrowing under the shirt.
“No!” she moaned at last. “It feels terrible...because I want more,”
“I can give more,” he offered with a twinkle in his eyes.
This was nothing but light kisses. Not sensual, open mouthed kisses. No. Just soft little pecks and nips on her skin. Both of them were completely dressed. Yet Elain felt as if she was melting in his arms, as if his lips were branding her skin and his closeness slithered over her flesh in a silken caress and an invitation.
“Az,” she gasped.
“Yes, love?” he sounded innocent. As if he wasn't driving her veritably insane with his every touch, as if she wasn’t yearning to have him spread her right here, on this cold tiled floor and plunge into her, quickly and roughly.
He tsked and shook his head, flicking her nose playfully, “what are you thinking about?”
“How I am annoyed with you right now,” she gritted her teeth and he laughed in response.
“I rather like keeping you a little on edge,” he confessed and then finally rose to his feet. He leaned over her, his hand gently squeezing her throat. His warm breath caressed her ear and he whispered, “I should love to hear some of your naughty thoughts,”
Elain flushed, shifting against him, breath uneven and heavy.
“Will I?” he pressed, his thumb stroking her neck slowly, his face at her ear.
“Will you what?” she managed.
“Hear them?”
She swallowed.
He did not release. His thumb swept against her tender skin, and he remained stooped over her, waiting.
Gods...he expected an answer.
“I…” she babbled, not knowing what to tell him. Yet she wanted to tell him everything. Every, undoubtedly, juvenile, uninteresting fantasy that she had.
He kissed her ear and waited, patiently.
“Yes,” she breathed at last. “Yes.”
“Good,” he said simply and then kissed her ear again, the new, elongated tip, to which she was still unaccustomed.
“Will you?” she asked suddenly. She didn’t expect to ask this, but here it was. He watched her intently, and she clarified, “Will you tell me? of your...needs?”
He gave her his usual amused look and then, “Yes”.
Simple. No arguments.
“You will?” she stuttered.
“Do you not want me to?” He sat at the table, and crossed his long legs in front of him, feet bare.
She flushed a deep, lovely pink--Cauldron damn him, but he loved making her blush--and then murmured,
“I do. But,” she swallowed, “I am very nervous. Is that alright for me to admit?”
In one long, graceful swoop, he tugged her to him, and made her stand between his legs.
“You know you should never worry, right?” he asked, squeezing her hips in his hand. “Never. I will never,”
“I am not worried about that,” she waved him off. “Never you.”
“Then what?” his brow furrowed.
She licked her lip and her blush deepened, “I don’t know anything,”
He waited for her to speak her mind, without interrupting.
Centuries of conducting interrogations taught him patience, taught him when to push, and when to pull back. Eventually, everyone broke. And it didn’t always involve pain. In fact, using Truth-teller or any other methods of ‘enhanced interrogation’ was the last resort, typically utilized in most stubborn, or desperate cases. Azriel did not resort to torturing anyone unless he absolutely saw no other option. Not due to any sort of kindness or mercy--it was not his job to be merciful or emotional--but because allowing someone to simply speak and unburden yielded better, more truthful results.
“I don’t know how to do this,” she murmured, her voice hoarse.
His thumbs only brushed against her hips, soothing and encouraging, his hands still holding her tightly.
“Do what, baby?” he asked at last.
“You,” she sighed. “This...I want this,” her voice fell even lower, “more than anything. I want us--you and me and everything that comes with it. But,” she shook her head in frustration.
“But you are inexperienced,” he offered.
“Utterly,” she confirmed. A deep blush flooded her cheeks, “It’s embarrassing, but I’ve never even seen a naked man,”
His brow lifted just a tad in surprise.
“But…” he stumbled, “aren’t you...are you a maid?”
“No,” she muttered, “I am not. But I didn’t see it. We...we weren’t naked.”
Azriel whooshed a breath and swore softly. “You mean to tell me that that fool had you to himself and didn’t even manage to get you naked?”
She smiled shyly.
“I know that I am awkward and probably too proper, and you are gloriously beautiful and desired by everyone. So, I would understand,” and her voice broke at this, “if you don’t want to take this further. I would...I don’t want to burden you with my inexperience. My complexes, which I am sure that I have,”
“Shhhh,” he bubbled his lips and shook his head in admonishment, “shhh. No. No. You,” he looked her up and down, slowly, measured, “are everything I’d ever wanted. Beautiful beyond words, yes, but so much more than that. If it was only your beauty that enticed me so, that would be one thing, but all of you makes me...crave. I want you like I’ve never wanted anything before. Elain, you are magnificent and exquisite in every possible way. Loving you is no burden,”
Her eyes brimmed with tears, as she stroked and stroked his face nervously,
“I worry...that I won’t be enough,”
She almost-
Almost.
Almost wrung her fingers, but he tracked the movement and she just dropped her hands onto his shoulders.
Azriel was absolutely fine with the idea of doing whatever Elain was partial to. He was perfectly aware that she was an innocent, not that he’d compare her to his own experiences, which would be laughable, but even in human terms, she was barely touched. It didn’t stop him from imagining how he’d love to teach her in the ways of love and pleasure, slowly, patiently, but thoroughly. Until she came into her own. And he understood her hesitation, the undercurrent of fear and uncertainty that he tasted in her scent. Which would simply not do. But the gods knew--Azriel was a patient male.
He pressed his cheek to her hand and gently stroked the sides of her torso.
“Will you trust me?”
She nodded.
“You will always be more than enough. Just remember--take whatever you want from me, take away bread and water, take my peace, just never take yourself away from me. And,” he paused for a moment, as if hesitating, but she stroked the back of his neck and he whispered, “don’t...please, don’t call him your mate. Even if he is.”
She made a move, to step back, but he held her tightly, his hands almost spanning the width of her hips, and looked at her.
“I can handle your anger,” he assured her. “And I can attempt to be less,”
“Territorial?”
“Hmmm.”
“Domineering?”
“Hmmm.”
“Over-protective?”
“Hmmm.”
He chewed his lip and then said, “No. None of those things will happen, I was just joking.”
She couldn’t help but chuckle, for he was completely serious, and deep down, she knew that he wasn't going to change. If this was the path she was taking, she needed to accept him the way that he was, and that she was always going to be his primary concern.
“I don’t know why it slipped out,” she admitted, and bowed to kiss his head, laying her cheek on top of his skull, in his soft, thick hair. “I am sorry,” she begged.
He was quiet.
She pulled him closer, wrapping her arms around his solid, thick shoulders, pushing his face into her chest.
“I never think of him that way,” she continued. “I think I wanted to snap at Rhys. Stand my ground to him, but it came out so wrong,”
“But it’s true,” Azriel sighed.
“I don’t think so,” she argued.
“It is. I’ve come to accept it. That you will never be fully mine,”
“That’s not true,” she interrupted him and then tipped his chin up, looking down at him with her luminous amber eyes. “I will never be his. Yours, it's a different story. I will always be yours. In every way.”
She cupped his face and added, her voice urgent, “The thing is that, I’ve always wanted to be yours. I think from the time I ever laid my eyes on you. It seemed like an impossibility back then, but you were breathtaking… Nesta was smitten with Cassian. And I was smitten with you, and now I am free to declare it.”
She kissed his forehead and added, “And I am sorry. I know I hurt you, unintentionally, but I know it was the wrong thing to say. You are right, I don't ever want us to fight.”
He smiled, relieved. This morning’s tension sat in the pit of his stomach, even after he’d seen her again, during training. Even after they were done, he was still thinking about it, about her calling Lucien her ‘mate’, and about her ignoring him. When he and the too-excited Cassian left the orphanage and Cassian was in the throes of planning entire training sessions for the children, Azriel still couldn't concentrate, turning the morning’s events over and over in his head. Only when Cassian interrupted his brooding contemplation with a ridiculous question, did he manage to snap out of it.
“So, is he yours?” asked Cassian.
“Is what mine?”
Cassian sized him up and then jerked his chin, “The boy. Temal. Is he yours?”
Azriel couldn't help, but roll his eyes. “Are you insane? What are you even talking about?” Cassian shrugged.
“You can’t deny that the resemblance is uncanny.”
“He is an Illyrian,” Azriel snapped. “I am an Illyrian. He had parents.”
“Alright. If you say so. Elain sure is doting on him like he is yours.”
“She just likes him,”
“She doesn’t like anyone else like that,” observed Cassian. And then, added, “It’s alright. I get it. But it would be funny if he was yours.”
“I don’t fuck Illyrian females,” reminded him Azriel. “We, don’t fuck Illyrian females.”
“True,” Cassian nodded and smiled. “But I’ll be damned! Does she love you or what….She even got a youngling who looks like you.”
“Fuck off.”
Azriel got up and kissed her head, while he began setting the table, and she busied herself with her famed chicken. It was the first time ever he was having dinner with someone here, in his house, and for some reason, it made him both uneasy and so excited, it felt like when he was a youngin, with his first kiss.
The chicken, Elain’s presence in the kitchen, his shadows resting, except for the ever-present Lex--this was home. Never before, ever, did he feel at home. Even here, in this house of his, which he loved, he always felt a visitor. Now, there was something grounding him, making him stop and savour the moment, live in the now, enjoy every scent, and touch and sound. Even the clinking of dishes.
“Can you please sit down,” she ordered him.
“But I want to help,”
“You are here to relax and...adore me,” she shrugged and he grinned.
“I do adore you,” Azriel sat down compliantly and propped his chin, watching her intently, his one siphon slumbering on his wrist. His lovely, darling girl. He truly was a fool for her, but he didn’t care. He smiled to himself, thinking what an obedient, good hound he was now.
She finally arranged the dishes on platters and delivered them to the table.
“Oh,” he inhaled the delicious blend of spices, of lemon and herbs and Elain watched his eyes close with delight. A whiff of something familiar and dear washed over him. Home. Childhood. But not his childhood and not his home. This--this is how he imagined home, with these smells and with this female.
“So,” she sat down and began to serve him, “I know you don’t like Illyria,”
“But this is Illyrian food,” he said quickly, recognising the dishes.
“Butuzuli,” she said, her accent pretty and precise when she pronounced the Illyrian word. A glorious concoction of crispy, golden rice studded with pistachios, Illyrian spices and dried apricots.
“How did you know?” he wondered, amazed. The look of the dish was exactly the same as if it came from the cook in his father’s keep.
“Shashlama,” she gave him a heaping pile of roasted eggplant that was smothered in parsley sauce. Then, he began carving the gorgeous, brown-skinned chicken and the smell of lemon and rosemary was intoxicating.
“I’ve been learning,” she said, pleased by his reaction to the food.
“From who? How?”
He tucked into the rice and the vegetables and barely stifled a moan. This was divine.
“Alright, I am going for the chicken!” he warned and Elain giggled, watching him.
The meat was perfumed with garlic, the woodsy scent of rosemary, the fruity, tangy addition of lemon and it truly was the best chicken Azriel’s ever tasted. He was normally a polite, elegant eater, with good manners, who was able to pace himself, but tonight, he wanted to gobble everything down like Cassian.
“Baby, this is…” he could barely string coherent words together. “May I curse?”
She burst out laughing, almost choking on the wine that he’d poured, but nodded.
“This is fucking delicious!” he groaned.
“Good chicken?” she was laughing merrily.
“Magnificent chicken!” he looked at her and then winked, “I might very well have to marry you after all,”
“Told you!”
As they settled comfortably over their plates, the Symphonia still playing something softly in the background, Azriel asked,
“So you’ve been learning to cook?”
“I know how to cook,” she tore a piece of flatbread, and popped it in her mouth,
“Well, I know,”
“but I’ve been reading up and learning about Illyrian cuisine. The cook in the orphanage is Illyrian, so she’s been offering me recipes and showing techniques,”
“But this is not just Illyrian,” he noted, “this is,”
“Bagratian?”
“Yes.”
She smiled at him.
“Well, here is what I figured--I have a brother, and a brother-in-law, who are Illyrian, and my child and the man who is my whole world are both Illyrians from Bagratia, and my children will be Illyrians with Bagratian blood, so how could I not learn of their culture? Their food? The language? Histories?”
He put his utensils down and stared at her, “You know that I am from Bagarat?”
She shrugged, “I guess I do. Does that surprise you?”
“You surprise me every day,” he bit his lip, awed. “But...Did Cassian tell you?”
She placed more rice on his plate, since it was something that disappeared almost immediately, and said, “No. But Temal looks like you,”
So she knew. And noticed.
“I read up on the Iron Eagle camp,” she continued her explanation, “where he is from, and then learned that it was in the province of Bagratia, and then Rhys confirmed that you are indeed from there. Are you impressed with my investigative initiatives?”
Very few people knew of Azriel’s background, of where he came from, which House, what province, and it struck a different note in him that Elain was interested, and that she took the time and effort to learn about his roots. Illyrian history and traditions, even its geography were not easy to come by. Illyria was a world of its own, with little written lore or documents, therefore, it couldn't have been just a simple book that she picked up to read up on Illyria. She must have gone to the Library for additional research.
“I truly am,” he nodded, and then took her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it.
“The cook’s husband is from Bagratia, so she learned about the foods once she married him. She explained that Bagratia is different from the rest of Illyria--more open, with more trade, hence the varied and spiced cuisine, and different customs as well.”
“Culturally, it’s much more diverse than the rest of Illyria,” he suppressed something dark inside of him at the memories, willing himself to separate his own history from the actual place.
Elain paused for a long time, watching his darkening expression, the recollection of whatever was plaguing him.
“Will you tell me?” she finally braved the question.
He didn’t require an explanation of what she was asking.
“Tell me the good things,” she offered.
He scowled and shrugged, “very few good things to tell, if I am being honest.”
She waited, allowing him to make the final decision.
“Bagratia,” he said at last, his voice even lower and more gravelly than usual, “is the one province in Illyria that could be considered ‘wealthy’. There is even a capital city--Bagarat. Most of the Illyrian Lords come from there and the breeding of Illyrians for Killing Power originated there,”
“Why?”
“Well, a smart and cunning Illyrian lord, millennia ago, spun a crafty tale,”
He chuckled and helped himself to more eggplant.
“Honestly, this is so good,” he muttered, as if the food was a welcome distraction from the tale he was telling.
Elain smiled and then, to his utter delight, she stretched her legs out and placed them on his lap, as per his previous request. She said nothing, as she relaxed against the back of the Illyrian chair, which was probably less than comfortable for her, and played with her food.
“I am glad you are enjoying it,” she said sincerely.
He gently stroked her calves and perhaps it gave him some internal stability, but he continued,
“That lord, he spun a wild, but believable tale of Enalius being from Bagratia. You know who Enalius was?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “I’ve read about him...Cassian gave me a book,”
“Cassian gave you a book?”
“It surprises you?” she chuckled.
“A little. What book?”
“The Histories of Illyria. He said that if I learn Illyrian, he’ll give me the original, written in Illyrian.”
“That’s Cassian,” Azriel sighed. “Always trying to drum up support for his favourite cause.”
Now fully satiated, Azriel allowed his wings to droop around him, as he stretched his legs out and absently played with Elain’s bare feet.
“So naturally, an entire profitable industry was created out of the lore of Enalius, and suddenly there were all these markers, conveniently found around Bagratia.” He snorted, waving his hand and announcing, “This is the cave where Enalius spent the night before the battle! This is the stone upon which Enalius sharpened his sword! This embankment was where Enalius and his followers feasted on roasted goats!”
Elain laughed at his performative demonstration.
“But, eventually, it led to the honing of power that Illyrians became famous for. Unsurprisingly, Bagratian lords tried to usurp most of it, and breed it into their lines. That’s how the siphons came about--the breeding pool was too limited, too narrow and the power couldn't be controlled anymore. The siphons managed to direct the power output through magic, though it took a while to perfect the system and the usage. When an Illyrian male comes of age, fully comes into his power, there is a period of trial and error with the siphons--too few, and you can destroy everything around you, break the siphons, unleash the power incorrectly and sloppily. Too many siphons, and they put a damper on your strength and might, essentially tying your hands.”
“And you have seven…” it wasn’t a question, but Elain stared at his brown, scarred arm with its leather band around the wrist and the dully glimmering cobalt stone.
“Yeah,” he glanced at the siphon. “Seven.”
He smiled, recalling, “I kept breaking them, because they couldn’t contain the power. I received two right away, because the Commanders saw that one would never be enough, but I broke them. They added another, and another, and I broke all four. Finally, landed on five. It lasted for a bit, but the five broke during a battle in the first War, which really wasn't ideal,” he said mildly. Elain couldn’t even imagine. No siphons meant no shields, no protection, no ability to heal, and no actual power, beyond the physical prowess.
“So you fought?”
“Hand to hand combat…” he nodded, “for over four hours. Took me ten days to recover the use of my arms afterwards.”
He stretched his arms in front of him, flexing his fingers. Elain was probably the only person in the world, except for Cassian, in front of whom Azriel felt secure enough to do that.
“So, you were born in Bagratia,” Elain began, but he interrupted, shaking his head,
“Not only born. I am half Bagratian,”
Her brow furrowed in confusion.
“You are an Illyrian,”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “For all intents and purposes, I am. I winged, dark-skinned Illyrian. But to Illyrians themselves, I am not only a bastard-born, but also a half-breed. Cassian, for example, is fully Illyrian. Devlon, whom you've met, too. Emerie. Me--I am a little different.”
“So what does it mean?”
Azriel drew his scarred thumb over the rim of his wine glass and then said, his gaze flitting absently about the open space of the apartment,
“My mother, she is unusually beautiful,”
Elain looked at him, as if a mystery was solved—the mystery of his own unbelievable handsomeness. Because Azriel was just that beautiful. Rhysand might have preened and claimed the title of the ‘Most Handsome High Lord’, but Azriel was indisputably the more classically, elegantly handsome one.
“In Bagratia, besides its claim to Enalius and a high concentration of power and Illyrian wealth, there are a number of other people that have settled there over the centuries. Some just comprise small settlements, but others have entire subcultures, because their numbers are quite large. My mother—she came from such a people—they call themselves Hiberions—who claim to have escaped a great cataclysm, back millennia ago. No one really knows where they came from, as they had no written record, but whatever did happen, it caused this nation to disperse around what is now the Night Court. Some settled in and around the coast, but many ended up in Illyria.
There are speculations that Hiberions were invited by an ancient High Lord to the Night Court, and offered sanctuary. Hiberions themselves claim a different story, and say that they were the original founders of the Night Court, and that they allowed others to settle on the land, but over time, they were weakened due to internal struggles and were pushed out of the seat of power. Kier, Mor’s father, claims that he is a descendant of the Hiberions, and that Hewn City was their original capital,”
Elain’s eyes flew wide open, but Azriel shrugged with his usual nonchalance.
“What?” she murmured. “Is it true?”
He scratched his chin and said, “Hard to say. I haven’t investigated it very closely. But rumour has it that the ability to wield shadows and that shadowsingers as a phenomenon originated from the Hiberions. Because they might have been the inhabitants of the Dusk Court,”
“What is Dusk Court?”
“A Court that perished, they say. A great Court, but….it doesn’t exist anymore. Don’t you find it strange that there is a Night, Day and Dawn, but no Dusk?”
“I’ve thought about it,” she admitted truthfully. “But I wasn’t sure what to make of it.”
He drew his palm over her foot, and she squirmed a little, giggling.
“So, your mother?” she reminded him, wanting to hear the rest of the story.
“My mother is a Hiberion. Well, mixed—Illyrian and Hiberion,” he tugged on his lip for a moment and then said, “if you think that Illyrians are horrible and treat their own like shit, then you should only see how they treat those who aren’t pureblooded Illyrians. Less than nothing. Therefore, Hiberions who live in Illyria usually keep the most menial jobs, and live in great poverty, with almost no rights at all.”
Elain bit her lips, but did not say anything, wanting him to continue.
“The one thing that Hiberions have is that they can breed with Illyrians, and that they are, generally speaking, very good looking. Hence the women are prized and valued, and typically can obtain employment in a Lord’s keep. Unfortunately, their beauty is usually their downfall as well—they attract unwanted attention.”
Elain swallowed, understanding perfectly well what he was implying.
“Is that what happened to your mother?”
He nodded.
“My father was a Bagratian Lord, wealthy, with a training camp located on his lands. That always brought him steady income. He was married to a female—an arranged marriage—and they had two sons.
“My mother was engaged to be married to a hunter, also a Bagratian, who traded in pelts. She worked in the training camp, and that’s where she’d met Rhys’s mother. Because my mother was a half-breed, she had wings, but they were lame, and did not develop as quickly as normal wings do. Therefore, flying was always very difficult for her, and that’s how she avoided being clipped. They didn’t bother with her, seeing that she couldn’t fly away anyway.
The hunter, he was wounded the winter before they were set to get married, and couldn’t support himself or her, while also needing a healer, at least for a period of time. So they decided that she would seek employment at the Keep…my father’s Keep, just for that winter, until the hunter recovered. She was hired as a maid, and all was well for a while, but that was until my father saw her and became smitten at once.”
Azriel cleared his throat and considered for a moment, before continuing,
“I don’t know if ‘smitten’ is the right word. Infatuated? Obsessed? Enthralled? I don’t know…But whatever it was, he pursued her relentlessly, spurned even further by the fact that she had no interest in him and was in love with the hunter.
“But my father was a Lord and she was a poor half-breed in his employ, with nothing to her name and no protection. The hunter tried to come and take her away, but my father hid her and wouldn’t release her.”
“He forced her?” Elain sounded broken, her face paling.
He nodded.
“Surely. Perhaps he wasn’t violent, but it was not her intention or desire to be with him. The wife might not have cared, for it was common enough occurrence for a lord to keep women available for sexual pleasure, but then my mother became pregnant.”
“With you?”
“No.”
Elain sensed that he was about to tell her something horrible, and she didn’t want to hear it, yet she knew that she had to. That this was something that he probably didn’t share with anyone. He was trusting her with his family lore, broken and terrible as it was, filled with pain and suffering, but she felt a sense of kinship, as it was an honour to hear his story.
“The wife beat that babe out of my mother.”
Elain sucked in her breath as her hand instinctively went to her stomach. He tracked the movement, but didn’t comment.
“Hiberions aren’t like the Fae,” he explained. “They are Fae, but like Illyrians, they are a separate race. So certain common traits of the Fae don’t apply to them—females get pregnant easily, or at least at the same rate as humans.
“So, within months, my mother was pregnant again—this time with me. The wife threatened my mother again, but the Lord overheard and broke the wife’s arm in a fit of rage. So, she, more or less, left my mother alone after that.”
He stopped speaking and looked out the floor-length window in front of which they were sitting.
“And then?” Elain asked softly.
“And then it became a different story…mine.”
Which meant that he didn’t feel like discussing himself or his childhood. She understood and did not push.
But she did ask,
“What happened to the hunter?”
“I found him,” Azriel said, still looking out the window, his jowls working hard.
“And?”
“And he was still alone, waiting for my mother. He knew that somehow, he’d get her back, and one day, she’d return to him and they’d be together. It was after the War and I had my seven siphons by then. Rhys, who was very gravely injured, and almost lost his wings in the war, had recovered, and so we went together, back to my father’s Keep. Cassian and Rhys and myself, and the hunter.”
“Your mother was alive?”
“She was. We let the hunter take her away…”
Elain didn’t need details about what had happened afterwards.
Nesta had mentioned what the three brothers did to Cassian’s village and the males who had destroyed his mother’s life. How they laid waste to the entire settlement, barely sparing the females and children. She imagined that something very similar took place at Azriel’s father’s Keep.
So, she bypassed the question and the details.
“And your mother?” she asked instead.
“She and her husband, the hunter, live together to this day.”
Elain’s face sparkled with genuine happiness, and somehow, that made all the difference.
Azriel wasn’t sure if he should share his background, and even as they started to discuss Bagratia, he didn’t think that he’d veer off so deeply and completely into his family history. Now, he felt like some weight had been lifted off his shoulders. There was lightness, even despite the topic of the conversation and all the memories that it brought up. Perhaps, it was Elain’s gentle, contemplative acceptance, or the sorrow written on her soft, flower-like face, or this happiness that she was displaying right now that made his tale tolerable and worthwhile. She reached and grabbed his hand and asked, “Your mother lives?”
“She does. And it pleases me that she is happy. She deserves it.”
Elain threaded her fingers with his and then, quietly, inquired, “Will I be able to meet her? Not now, of course, but,”
“I think she’d love to meet you as well. I think she’d love to meet you anytime. You have similar qualities, even similar interests,”
“Like what?”
“She is an accomplished baker—actually, that’s what she does. She has a pastry shop in the town where they live. It’s very popular,”
“Is that where you got your sweet tooth?” she joked.
“Probably. Even if I’d never eat anything sweet until I was an adult.”
“Why?”
“My childhood did not allow for sweets,” he answered blandly, not wanting to return to that place in his head.
Instead, Elain asked, “what else?”
“She likes flowers, like you. They have a lovely garden.”
He smirked then, and made a wide gesture with his hand,
“And speaking of flowers...I see we have all these weeds now in the house,”
“Weeds?” she shrieked indignantly, while he nodded and laughed.
“Weeds?”
“Yeah, weeds...I’ve never had flowers in this house,”
“That’s weird but also untrue,” she cut him off.
“Is it?” he was laughing.
“I saw two jasmine plants--in the bedroom and in your study. Are they weeds that you allow?”
He got up so swiftly, she barely registered it with her own eyes. And then he was on his knees in front of her, cupping her face between his rough palms. She slid towards him, wrapping her legs loosely around his torso, just under the wings. She smiled at him, and nudged her face to kiss the inside of his palm.
“What?”
He looked at her long and hard, as if trying to drink in her loveliness, memorise every line of her face.
“I must have jasmine,” he said at last, leaning in and kissing her cheek. Then the other cheek. Then her temple. And then tenderly, slowly, each eye.
“Az,” she breathed, wrapping her hands over his thick, strong wrists. His thumbs brushed along her face, and he said, “you are my jasmine, my beautiful flower. The scent is you. The day I returned from the human lands, from your estate, after meeting you for the first time, I had to go to Hewn City and perform some unpleasant tasks.”
Elain guessed, but did not question what those tasks might have been.
“And then I went and bought a jasmine plant, because all I wanted to do was think about you.”
Her breath halted and she stared at him.
He sighed apologetically, “I didn’t have anything of you, so I figured that maybe I could have your scent,”
“I smell of jasmine?”
“You don’t know?” he seemed surprised.
She shook her head.
“Jasmine and honey. You are a cross between a flower and a pastry,” he smiled and kissed her face again. “My favourite scent. So whenever I slept here, I’d always wake up to your scent and it made for a good day…”
He reached behind her and then scooped her in his arms.
“I am proud of myself, because I managed to keep these plants alive this whole time!”
She chuckled and wrapped her arms around his neck, while he rose to his feet.
“What about dessert? And the dishes?” she protested unconvincingly.
He nuzzled at her neck and growled, “You are my dessert.”
She shivered with pleasure, and he added, “and dishes...that’s what I have the shadows for. They’ll take care of it. Lex,” he barked. “Make yourself useful and clear the table.”
“I don’t know how,” Lex immediately protested.
“Then learn,” Azriel suggested, as Elain laughed into his neck.
“I don’t want to. Don’t you have others to do the dishes?” Lex argued.
“How about doing what I tell you?” Azriel proposed.
Lex floated to the table, apparently surveyed it and then declared,
“I am tired.”
“That’s the shadow you gave me?” Elain whispered into his ear. “A shadow that is lazy and that gets tired?”
“I can hear you, Elain,” Lex pointed out.
“If you are so tired, go to sleep,” she told it.
“I don’t want to. I am not so tired.”
“Lex is only so tired when it comes to clearing the dishes,” Azriel huffed and released a cloud of his own, less problematic and temperamental, shadows. “You can do whatever you want, but don’t bother us until the morning.”
Elain stroked and scratched the back of his neck, laying her head on his shoulder, as he carried her slowly to the bedroom, his face buried in her hair.
“Did you like dinner?” she asked, sighing softly and happily.
“It was perfect. Perfect. But, one request, if I may?”
She looked up and smiled, “you may?”
“Raisins in the rice...lots of raisins,” he requested.
“A little side of rice with a mountain of raisins?” she laughed and nodded. “Raisins it is.”
He kissed her cheek and she pouted, “But I really wanted you to have my dessert!”
“Breakfast? Dessert pastry for breakfast?” he offered, giving her a conciliatory kiss.
“I suppose.”
They finally made it to the bedroom, and Azriel closed the door behind them with his foot.
There was a sleek, comfortable leather chair in the bedroom that stood by the wall of windows, and Azriel headed straight for it, sprawling easily, his wings splaying against the wide back. He did not release her, but sat her on top of him, so she straddled his hips. His large, warm hands immediately migrated to her lush bottom, perhaps his favourite feature of hers, at least so far. He was hoping that he could explore many, many more parts of her, slowly and thoroughly, and soon.
She looked at him, her face soft and rosy, that delicious blush of her spreading slowly over her cheeks. Gods, he thought that he’d never get enough of that blush, would never want to stop making her blush like that, because of how his proximity made her feel.
She placed her hands on his shoulders and he tugged on the silk ribbon that tied her long, thick braid.
“You haven’t called me ‘baby’ today,” she reminded him, her voice warm and husky, and the sound of it made him shift beneath her.
“No?”
She shook her head, his tongue slowly brushing her lower lip, before she clamped it in her teeth, watching him from under her lashes. Slowly he released the thick golden strands of her hair from the plait and it fell like a silky curtain around her shoulders and her face.
His finger lightly pulled at the collar of his shirt that she was wearing and he leaned and kissed her collarbone.
“Well, that’s my fault then,” he breathed against her neck, and kissed the other collarbone, before he unbuttoned the top button. “Will my baby forgive me?” he then kissed between the collarbones and proceeded to unbutton another button.
“I don’t know,” she gasped, “what will you do?”
“As penance?” he smiled, watching her pulse quicken, and the vein under her pale skin fill with blood.
“Let’s hear it,” she welcomed coyly.
He smiled, amused and secretly entertained. It was adorable when she took a little bit of charge, and decided to be in control. He liked it. She was quiet and unobtrusive, but she knew when to stand up and be heard and when to step back. She wasn’t as shy and retiring as everyone assumed she was, but that was probably because very few actually paid attention and learned about who she was. She did. He paid attention to everything.
“I undress you?” he proposed simply.
She squirmed just a bit, but then gave a single nod.
He found the buttons for the back slats of the shirt and then asked casually, as he worked them with his fingers,
“Tell me what you want, my darling girl.”
His voice was soft, but there was something imperative in his tone, which left little room for debate.
“I-I...what do you mean?” she stammered.
He was cool and steady, as he pulled the shirt off her shoulders and repeated, “Just tell me what you want?”
“You?”
He smiled,
“Are you unsure?”
“No! I am very sure. I just don't know what you are asking,”
“I think that you do,” he said evenly.
“What do you want?” she then asked in turn.
He sighed and placed a soft, chaste kiss on her lips. She gasped, but he pulled away before she could even react.
“You, emani,” he said simply. “I want you, just as well. But I also think that I want more…I think that I want everything. Everything you can give me, anything you are willing to share with me. I’ve had a lot of time to think about it, and I think that I want to be greedy this time around. For the first time in my life, I want a woman, a female,”
“A woman,” she murmured.
“A woman,” he agreed easily, “to give me all of her.” He cupped her cheek, his eyes bright and almost entirely green in the dim light of the bedroom. “Body--yes,” he looked down at her, and almost groaned, “gods yes, I want this body. But so much more. I don't want to sound like a feral Fae male,”
At that, Elain smiled softly, wordlessly giving him permission to be just that.
His hands grabbed her hips, grounding her on his thighs and he said, “But I don’t care. I want you to be mine. I want to know every day, every moment that you are mine and that you feel something for me. Because I want to be yours. I don’t give a fuck about your bond, the lack of our own,”
“We don’t need a bond,”
“We don’t,” he nodded, “because you are mine and I'm yours.”
“And that’s more than enough for me. Also, you are already quite feral, so I don’t think I need any more ferocity.”
At that, Azriel laughed openly and she giggled, liking when her jokes made him laugh. Then, more seriously, he added, “I think that after 500 years, I am ready for something new. This nomadic existence is nice, but honestly, I think that I am tired of wanting...of hoping. I have you--if you’d have me--and I am ready to,”
“Oh, no, am I making my shadowsinger settle?” she mused.
“I think the shadowsinger doesn’t mind settling at all. When I built this apartment,” and he jerked his chin, “it was the first thing that was my own. I’d always shack up in the House of Wind, or at Rhys’s, and it was fine. I felt busy, and I didn’t feel like….” he stumbled. “Like I deserved good things. Any things, really. But then Rhys was Under the Mountain, and we protected the city, kept everything running, and I started thinking that there had to be a reason for all of this sadness and when I looked at the people who lived, who had families and some semblance of happiness, who found joy in the very day, I thought that maybe I should try to strive for the same. It took me another half a century to meet you,” he chuckled tensely, and stroked her cheek with his knuckles. “But here we are. And honestly,” he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, “coming home tonight, and finding you here,”
For the first time, perhaps ever, Elain watched him being emotional about something. Or at least as emotional as he ever got.
“It was the best feeling,” he concluded at last. This was also probably the most Azriel’s said in his entire life--tonight, when he told her of his mother, when he was making this confession to her right now, was the most verbose that Azriel’s ever allowed himself to be.
“I like being here. With you,” she said simply and sweetly. And then she leaned in and kissed his eyes softly. “Cooking for us. Being in this house…”
Azriel knew that Elain’s nature was domestic, nurturing, and she was happiest when she had control over her life, over her domicile, over her surroundings. He wasn't the only one who needed control in his life--in their desire for planning and order, they matched very well. The upheavals of the past decade certainly pushed her to crave a sense of stability and ownership, and he accepted that. Liked it, since that’s what he was lacking in his own past.
For her, he’d wrestle and wrangle the peace and tranquility that they both craved.
“Now...will you undress me already?” she ordered impatiently and he grinned.
“It’s your turn,” he reminded her, “I’ve said more words in the last fifteen minutes than I’ve in the past century.”
As he slipped his shirt down her torso, baring her pale skin, so in contrast with the dark bronze of his own, she said quietly, barely looking at him,
“I like it when you tell me what to do.”
He did not press, waiting for her to speak. His heart lurched with secret satisfaction at her words, but he tried to keep his excitement muted.
“Not in everything,” she continued, her head inclined towards her chest, watching her breasts, covered with a lacy wrap.
The Fae, as she quickly learned, did not wear corsets. And thank the Mother for that. Their clothes were practical. No petticoats, no unnecessary shifts, no hooped skirts, no scarfs or flounces to cover the bodice. No issues with females wearing trousers or pants either. The Night Court fashions were on a more scandalous side, so much so that Elain and Nesta often bucked at some of the dresses that were presented to them. Feyre and Mor favoured scraps of translucent fabric and some strategically placed belts and straps and that’s about all. Elain still wore dresses, but none required half an hour of cinching and tying to get into them. Undergarments were simple as well, elegant and well-made, for the Fae took pride and care in their immortal bodies and their underthings. She grew to love the uncomplicated breast wraps, that supported everything quite well, but allowed for easy movement and only needed a satin tie or a few pearl buttons to stay put.
“But I don’t want to even pretend like I know anything,” she lay her hands on her lap, to prevent herself from squeezing her fingers. “And I…” she licked her luscious lip, “I think that you would enjoy telling me what to do.”
Her gaze fell on his mouth, the sensuous line of it.
“I would.”
His throat bobbed just a bit, excitement coursing through his veins.
“So you’ll have to tell me,” she decided. “And I will listen.”
“You’ve been listening to me already,” Azriel noted, his hand sliding to the back of her neck, as he stroked the nape lightly. “I’ve noticed you are not wringing your fingers anymore.”
“I don’t,” she nodded. “Thank you for that. I didn’t think much of it when you told me, but now I understand. Surprisingly, it centers me. My mind doesn’t race when I do it.”
“A concentration technique,” he smiled.
“But also a test, I think. To see if I would listen?” she cocked her head at him.
He didn’t want to lie, so he nodded.
Softly, she wondered, “Is that what you like?”
“Control? Yes.”
“Pain?” she blinked nervously.
“No. Not pain. I certainly prefer pleasure to pain, but it doesn’t mean I haven’t indulged in both. With you,” he ran his thumb over her mouth, “I think pleasure is the way to go.”
She kissed the pad of this thumb, its rough skin and decided, “I trust you. I think that I would like to listen to you and do what you tell me.”
“Thank you, my sweet,” he unbuttoned the rest of the buttons with his available hand and tossed the shirt on the floor. Without breaking eye contact, he said, “open up” and Elain, a little unsure, parted her lips. “Lick.”
She made to reach for his wrist, but he only moved his head and guided her, “Mouth only.”
She acquiesced, and slowly pulled the thumb inside her mouth, swirling her tongue over it, watching him watch her with a content, pleased expression on his granite-hewn, perfect face.
“Lick,” he said again, without any further prompting. She licked. She dragged her tongue up and down his thumb, secretly marveling at the fact that his hand was the first thing that he allowed her to touch so intimately. Despite the intricate network of thick, mottled scars that covered his hands, snaked up all the way to his forearm on his left arm and reached his bicep on his right, his hands were beautiful, like the rest of him. The fingers were long and strong, with well-cared for nails, and the palm itself wide and large and powerful, his fist frighteningly enormous.
Elain licked, as thoroughly as she could, finding that it made her pant a little, squirm atop of him, and she didn’t understand why. She hoped that he was enjoying it, because she certainly was.
“My good girl,” he stroked her hair, dragging his other hand over her head, and at the name, she felt her nipples strain against the silk and lace of her wrap, “suck now…”
Barely giving her time to pause, he fed two fingers in her mouth, index and middle, and she gulped on air, sucking them inside. “Nice and slow,” he coached softly, rubbing them against her soft, wet tongue, “show me, how much you like it.”
She liked it. Even if the fingers took up most of her mouth, there was something sensual and primal, having his hand in her mouth. It was daringly intimate, and while she dreamed of kisses and caresses, somehow, with this one gesture, he brought her into a different realm. It was a place where she yearned to step into, and explore the possibilities that she hadn’t even imagined yet.
She sucked, slowly, as instructed, acquainting herself with the feel and the taste, watching him prod her mouth rhythmically, in and out, while she met the shallow thrusts with her tongue and lips.
“Good,” he approved, and she loved the praise on his lips, and how he watched her, her face, the workings of her tongue, and the even, languorous bobbing of her breasts within the confines of the wrap. She propped herself on his shoulders, as his arm wrapped around her waist and he squeezed her behind. He increased the speed ever so slightly, reaching almost all the way to her throat, and she dripped on her chin, but as she attempted to wipe the saliva, he shook his head and she stopped.
“Messy is good,” he whispered into her ear, leaning closer, so that her breasts slid and bounced against his chest, and the brush of her nipples over the silk became almost painful. A wave of heat rolled over her entire body, and for the first time in her life, she felt an ache. An ache deep inside of her, a ravenous hunger, which remained unsatisfied.
“Keep sucking,” he muttered into her cheek, his lips pressed to it tightly, as he lightly bit the hollowed spot, the teeth scraping over her skin. She dug her fingers into his shoulders, probably more strongly than she anticipated, perhaps even hurting him, but she didn’t care. She didn’t want to stop, but gods, the ache inside of her was horrible.
Azriel felt the powerful drip of her arousal against his thigh, as she writhed against him, warm and wet and panting in his arms. He loved watching her become this excited, offering him her mouth, giving him pleasure, her swift little tongue working tirelessly and hurriedly over his fingers. His sweet, beautiful girl. It wasn’t particularly difficult to keep himself in check right now, though he definitely considered taking this a bit further...perhaps undressing her more. But then he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to remain so composed if she was naked. Perhaps tomorrow.
He allowed her to suck for a bit longer, until, without warning, pulled his fingers out of her mouth.
She was taken aback at the loss, and stared at him, looking alarmed.
“Baby, was that good?” he smiled at her, and seeing that he wasn’t upset, she nodded eagerly.
“I can suck more, if you’d like,” she offered.
He wiped her wet chin and then brought his fingers to his mouth and licked them. The gesture caused her to bloom with a delectable blush that he loved so much.
“Did you...did you like it?” she almost whispered, and he teased her,
“Why are you whispering?”
She chuckled, wiping her chin.
“But yes, I absolutely loved it,” he said, relaxing back in the chair. “You did so well.”
She smoothed her hair and then straightened out, a small smile on her full lips, and watched him easily, but assuredly slide his palm between her legs.
She was warm and damp, and he brushed a knuckle along the seam of her sex, soliciting a little yelp of surprise and enjoyment from her.
“I am wet,” she blurted, and then stopped, eyes wide.
“You are,” he said simply, approval lacing his voice. “Have you not been wet before?”
He cupped her, holding his palm against her leaking core, but did not press further. He wanted her to open up to him, and somewhat surprisingly, she did,
“I don’t think I have. Not like this.”
It pleased him to hear that he’d made her this wet, but a question gnawed on him nevertheless,
“But when you gave him your maidenhead, you must have,”
“Not like this,” she said shyly, shaking her head.
“It hurt then?”
She nodded.
Annoyance rippled over his face, and he bit the inside of his cheek. Usually, he was not this expressive of his feelings, whatever they were, but with her, it was different. He cupped her cheek and then pulled her to him, so she sprawled on his chest, her head tucked under his chin.
“It’s a shame that he didn’t make the experience better…”
“They say it always hurts,”
“It doesn’t have to,” he argued. “It has to be pleasurable.”
“I guess I was expecting it,” she shrugged. “It was...alright.”
“Alright should never be the experience, especially not the first one,” he sniped, but didn’t push.
She ran her fingers over his chest, feeling the thick, hard mass of his pectorals beneath the thin knit fabric of his shirt. Azriel stroked her bare back, walking his fingers along the spine.
Suddenly, she murmured, “I want to shout.”
He waited, wondering when she meant.
She didn’t move, didn’t look at him, but remained tucked into his chest.
“I want to shout,” she repeated at last. “From pleasure. I’ve heard them...Nesta and Feyre. They scream.”
“And you haven't?” even though he posed it as a question, it was more of a statement. It did not particularly surprise him that she hadn’t had a climax, but internally, he felt a twinge of sadness. Yet, there was also a hopeful feeling of anticipation fluttering in his chest--for he’d be the one to provide her with her pleasure. He’d be the one who’d make her ‘shout’.
A plan was already forming in his head. Even when it came to sexual matters, Azriel preferred to plan ahead, have a path to follow, but then again, most of his encounters were pre-arranged in some way, so it was easier to accomplish. With Elain though--his Elain was special. She was his heart’s desire, and for her he felt many things, including passion. Passion was not something he dabbled in frequently, since he was not one to be quickly overcome by it, and never did he lose himself or his senses in a female. Sure, there was an occasional tumble against the wall with a panting, willing, nameless female, but it was an itch to be scratched, and nothing more.
“No,” she ground briefly against his hand, pushing into him. “But I want to. I think it would be nice to let go...to feel that free. So unburdened.”
She fell quiet and then, after a lengthy silence added, “With you. I want it to be with you only.”
“I should hope so,” he smiled. “Now, I would like to take you to bed and sleep in your arms. The entire night. Because I am fucking tired!”
Elain laughed and sat up, before jumping off him and tugging him off the chair.
“I want you to sleep in my arms as well!”
Elain loved getting ready for bed alongside him.
Needless to say that she’d never done that before. Even back in their hovel, she tried to carve a few minutes to herself, in privacy, even with her sisters banging on the privy door. But she never felt uncomfortable with Azriel, and even now as she washed her face, combed through her tangled hair, brushed her teeth, she watched him do the same next to her, and it felt inexplicably normal.
“I’ll finish undressing you,” he warned, before she headed into the closet. She paused, and sensing her hesitation, he added lightly, “You know, I can undress a female without baring her.”
“Is that a shadowsinging ability?” she joked, picking out a nightgown from the stack that one of the twins had delivered.
“No,” he called out from the bathing room. “It’s a male’s ability.”
When she emerged, he was standing by the bed, reading some document which he somehow fished out of somewhere. He was naked, save for his black undershorts, which contoured everything with egregious explicitness. Elain glanced down his torso. Those well-defined hip muscles, as well as the ridged abdomen were nothing but a mouthwatering temptation. But then she snagged another look,
And he caught it.
A smirk appeared on his lips and he said,
“You can look, you know.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” she declared primly, but her eyes sparkled with mischief.
“You are right, not at all,” he jerked his head to have her come to him. He sat down on the bed and she approached, stopping in front of him.
“This will be my job, from now on,” his voice was heavy with promise, “to undress you. Every night.”
“Alright,” she agreed. “What if I want to undress you?”
“Then you should.”
He easily rolled her tights down her thighs and legs, until she stepped out of them and stood in front of him, almost nude, in only her silk underwear.
Elain was more supple, more voluptuous than her sisters. Nesta was rail thin, with surprisingly large breasts, a ramrod straight back and long, skinny legs. Feyre was both feminine and boyish at once, pretty, lithe, but unremarkable, at least to Azriel.
Elain, his Elain, was a delicious pastry incarnate. She was correct, he did have a sweet tooth. And she satisfied all his aesthetic cravings, and possessed all the qualities that he enjoyed. Contrary to what others thought, Elain was not small or petite--she was as tall as Feyre, and both were just a tad shorter than Nesta. But compared to an Illyian, these girls were small and delicate.
He couldn’t stop himself, and placed his hands on her hips, drawing a scrutinising gaze over her luscious body. Then, he placed a soft kiss on her belly, before rubbing his cheek over her soft, full breast. She stroked the back of his neck, down his spine and sighed with enjoyment.
“I have a proposal,” he looked up at her, and then drew a naughty finger along the cleft of her cleavage. She rolled her eyes slightly and he laughed at the reaction. “Don’t trust me?”
She did. And she was always intrigued by his ‘proposals’.
“Every night this week,” he began, punctuating his words with mellow, light kisses up and down her chest and the valley between her breasts, “you’ll show me a new piece of yourself...What do you think?”
“Naked?” she breathed.
“Yes, baby, naked.”
He pressed his lips to her nipple, suddenly biting it through the silk of her wrap. Her nipples were thick and plump and he easily caught one between his teeth, considering how overstimulated she already was. She hissed softly, when he bit. He bit. Not particularly painfully, but he bit and tugged the nipple with his teeth, watching her the entire time.
She gasped a mewling ‘oy’, and he released, but only slightly.
“A little bit every night, until nothing is left. Until you are bared to me in all your loveliness.”
“Yes,” she groaned, as he nibbled and tugged on her nipple. “Yes.”
“Good girl.”
“Is this what you want to wear,” he went to take the nightgown from her hands, but she dropped it on the floor and said, “I don’t want to wear anything. Just this.”
He scooted back and pulled the covers and the blankets for her.
“I won’t argue. Come here.”
She slid in bed beside him and he moved on his stomach, which was his preferred sleeping position. His wings draped over the two of them, and he pulled her closer.
She kissed his shoulder, and settled under his arm.
His breath evened out, and she thought that he fell asleep, until
“No one’s made dinner for me before,” he murmured.
She stroked his forearm and then kissed his shoulder again.
He was warm and solid next to her, a veritable wall of muscle and she never felt more comfortable and content in her life. He slipped his heavy, large leg between hers, and her thighs wrapped around him instinctively.
“No one?”
He tucked his face atop of her head and kissed her face.
“No.”
“I will cook for you,” she offered, “and we’ll cook together. And you’ll cook for me. Because no one’s cooked for me either.”
“Thank you. I’d like that.”
Elain smiled and then asked,
“What’s your mother’s name?”
“Gulchatai.”
“Now I feel like I know something about you...something personal. It’s nice.”
“Elain, wake up!”
A cool whiff of air bounced up and down her face, and Elain swiped Lex away, only to have it come back momentarily. “Wake up!”
“Leave her alone,” she heard Azriel’s hiss. “Right now.”
“Why can’t she wake up?” complained Lex. “I am bored!”
“She doesn’t exist to entertain you.”
“I am awake, I am awake,” she moaned. “Stop sitting on my face.”
Eyes still half closed, she made her way to the bathing room, took care of her needs and appearance, and splashed her face with cold water.
She glanced at herself in the large mirror. She couldn't say what it was, but she looked different. Confident? Perhaps. But more like ripe. Ripe for the taking.
As always, Azriel was propped against the headboard, swarmed with shadows, wearing his glasses and reading pages of reports.
“Come here, baby,” he called, “morning kisses.”
She smiled and bounded towards the bed, immediately giving him a kiss on the cheek.
“My gorgeous girl,” his hand swiped over her bare stomach, then her naked thigh. “Did you sleep well?”
“I always sleep well with you,” she kissed him again. He wrapped his arm around her and pushed her head into his chest.
“Morning news?” she smiled, watching the swirling mass of dark shadows around him. He nodded.
“Lex, do you have any news for me?” she then inquired.
“I don’t know anything!”
“How come everyone else knows something and you don’t know anything?”
A pause, and then Lex sat on her chest and asked, “what do you want to know?”
“Tell me about the children,” she proposed.
Azriel was listening to them absently, smiling.
Shadows, just like horses or puppies, had to be trained and cultivated. Elain was learning that lesson right now.
“Temal’s got into a fight,” reported Lex. Elain rolled her eyes. “Is he hurt?”
“No. But he was put on time-out.”
“What about the other boy?”
“He has two back eyes. Temal has one. And then Kira ate a big slice of cake before dinner.”
Then Lex rattled off her schedule for today, and asked, “You like this news?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Aziel was stuck dealing with some issue, already sending his shadows on some investigative mission when Elain threw on his shirt from yesterday--the first thing she found--and padded to the kitchen. Lex, as alway, was now yapping nonstop, giving her unnecessary gossip about the Fae that she barely even heard of. But as it was the case everywhere, there were famous Fae, scandalous Fae, notorious Fae. There was Anselma, a very popular singer, who was married, but her husband has been seen with another singer, Gunda, who was also sporting a pregnant belly. Whose babe do you think it is? pressed Lex busily.
“Well, I don’t know!” Elain shrugged, as she began preparing coffee. She didn’t bother with tea, because she actually grew to like coffee quite a lot. Azriel had the best, finest variety, all the way from Day Court, where the soil produced the best coffee crops.
“How can you not care?” exclaimed Lex, “everyone is talking about it! It’s news.”
“I think the babe is Coast’s,” she humoured the shadow, even if she didn’t care.
“I think so too!” Lex agreed immediately.
Elain set the table, when Azriel entered quickly, shaking his head, looking at the clock.
He, nevertheless, slowed down, and came behind her, sliding his hand under her shirt and pulling her to him.
“I am sorry I am not helping,” he murmured, kissing her neck tenderly.
“It’s fine,” she smiled.
“I’ll cook dinner tonight?” he offered.
“I’d like that.”
“Or would you like to go out?”
She pointed to the table and said, “How could I forget--you are supposed to be courting me.”
“I am courting you,” he reminded her and poured them both coffee.
“Human courting is all about balls and being seen in society, and picnics and Tea,”
“Do you want to go on a picnic?” he teased. “It’s late autumn? But, if you insist,”
She laughed and took a sip of her drink. “I like this courting more.”
“Oh thank the gods.”
He dug into the pear tart that she’d baked yesterday, and groaned with delight and pleasure, as he polished off the first slice and then moved on to the second right away.
“This is glorious,” he grumbled and Elain smiled a soft, secret smile, watching him enjoy himself.
“Why didn’t we eat this last night?”
“You took me to bed!” she exclaimed, indignant.
“You should’ve insisted.”
“Oh, so it's my fault?”
“I feel like it kind of is,”
She threatened, “I will take it away!”
“Fine, try,” he challenged. “But don’t think that I won’t fight you for it! Just because you are a girl and I like you. And I’ll win.”
She bubbled her lips and parried, incredulous, “I have Cauldron powers! You are just some little Illyrian soldier…”
He burst out laughing and then grabbed her hand and kissed it. “We’ll have to have a discussion about your powers later. But, baby, there is nothing little in this Illyrian soldier.”
She immediately glanced at his wings that were peaking behind him.
“Now he is Cassian,” she muttered.
He laughed, but then tipped her chin and tsked, “no, no, no. You won't weasel out of this that easily. You’ve been eyeing my wings since last night. Don’t think I didn’t notice. You’ve never paid them that much attention before.”
“I did no such thing!”
“Hmmm.”
“You are the one saying that you are huge!” she threw.
“I never said any such thing,” he took a slow sip and raised his brow at her. “But tell me...you and the twins have been gossiping about the wings?”
“No,” she lied.
“Hmmm.”
“Stop humming!”
“What did Cerridwen say?” he inquired. Cauldron damn him. Was there something he didn’t know?
“She said absolutely nothing. Other than that you are...well-endowed.”
Elain blushed at his amused smirk.
He looked her over, lazily, seemingly forgetting that he was in a hurry.
“The tart was delectable,” he said.
“Thank you.”
Then, he tugged on his lower lip and mused, almost to himself.
“But I am still hungry.”
“I can make you eggs,” she proposed.”Toast,”
He ran his finger along her arm and murmured, “I have something else in mind. A Bagratian breakfast.”
But if Elain expected him to move and prepare this breakfast, he didn’t shift from his chair.
He thought and then moved his plate and patted the spot that the plate vacated.
“Come here, baby. My beautiful sweetheart,” he urged her off her chair, until she sat, a little stiffly on the table in front of him. “Let’s spread your legs a little, so we are both comfortable,” and he parted her thighs, while pushing himself closer to her, settling between her legs.
“May I have my breakfast?” he asked her, kissing her cheek softly, watching her sink and melt against him.
“Yes,” she gasped.
“This breakfast,” he whispered against her skin, placing slow, open-mouthed kisses on her neck, as he undid the few buttons in the back of the knit shirt, “is very, very popular…”
Elain could barely breathe, let alone pay attention to his explanation. Not when he tugged the shirt down her body, not when his scent washed over her, and not...oh, gods…
Azriel didn’t take his intense gaze off her when he pulled on the silk string of her breast wrap and it parted easily for him. Elain stopped breathing, pink and gorgeously hot in front of him, her hair a halo of dark gold around her, her knuckles white, as she gripped the edge of the table. He smiled and kissed her neck again.
“Why are you so tense?”
“I...I don’t know,” she panted softly, her breasts rising and falling, just barely covered by the silk. “I, Az...oh...I just want you so badly,” she admitted nervously.
“Good.”
And then he flipped the flaps of the wrap off her breasts, baring her completely for himself.
“Why are you so beautiful?” he muttered wholeheartedly, looking at the lovely pink nipples that swell before his eyes, at the soft, generous roundness of her breasts.
Her back arched just a bit, as she displayed herself fully for him, no longer shy, once he laid his eyes on her and took her in with such unabashed hunger in his eyes.
“Taste,” she breathed and at once, he was a male unleashed. He brought her breast to his lips and bit her fat pink nipple, like he did last night. But there was no silk barrier between them today, and she felt his hot breath and the sharp clamp of his teeth over the nipple, as he pulled it deep in his mouth.
She almost tumbled on top of him, but he held her still, threading his fingers with hers, pressing her hands into the table.
“Oh gods,” she moaned, “Az...gods…”
“You are so delicious,” he vowed, working his tongue over the nipple, wrapping it over the little knob, licking and licking with relentless determination. Elain squirmed and panted next to him, but he kept her hands firmly in his grasp, not allowing her to touch him. Her arousal hit him like a wave of pure ambrosia, the scent indescribable, her whole body melding into him. He wished he could adjust himself within his pants, but that would mean releasing her hands and he didn’t want to do that. So he bit the soft flesh of her breast again, sucking on the tender skin and watching tiny purple marks bloom along the trail of his teeth, until he returned to the nipple and sucked it deep into his mouth. She buckled and cried out, babbling something, and grasping his fingers painfully, while he sucked harshly, feeling the nipple grow and firm up in his mouth, lapping on it with ravenous determination.
“Fuck, Elain, baby,” he grunted, licking the underside of her breast, before covering the whole globe with kisses.The kisses were not soft or gentle, but candidly lustful, his mouth possessive, claiming, marking her. “Feels good, my sweet?”
“Az, my love, I need to…” she whined, almost in tears of frustration, especially as he pulled on her nipple with his teeth again, offering her the sweet, lacerating pain that she was craving so much. “Let me touch you,” she begged.
“Right now, it’s for me,” he declined. “If you're touching me, I can’t concentrate on you. Or what I want from you. And your tits are magnificent!”
“Suck more,” she begged, “please…”
“Good fucking girl,” he groaned, and then ordered, “don’t touch,” when he released the grip of one of her hands. Obediently, she pushed her hand under her thigh, so as not to be tempted. He cupped her other breast, squeezing it tightly, quickly learning that gentleness was not something Elain needed. In all his previous fantasies, his assumption was that she’d like a sweet, tender approach. And truth be told, he didn’t expect to unleash on her quite so ferociously right now, surprising even himself. But she took it all, and she wanted more. So when he dug his scarred, strong fingers into her supple flesh, and when he brought the two glorious globes together, to suck her swollen tight nipples at once, he knew that she wanted him to do just that.
He loved breasts. He especially loved Elain’s breasts. But as he worked his mouth on her, sucking both of her lovely nipples, he also loved her response. She almost fell back on the table, and he caught her just in time, before her head landed on the hard surface. He cupped the back of her head, and stretched over her, kissing each swelling breast, and dragging his tongue thoroughly over each nipple, while she leaked and trembled under him.
“Good?”
“Oh good,” she admitted breathlessly. “Why didn’t you do this to me before?”
A smile touched his lips and he tongued her nipples leisurely, watching her, as he reminded her, “This is a forbidden romance, my love.”
“Oh yeah...I forgot,”
“I think that our High Lord doesn’t want me to do anything to you.”
He winked at her and she grimaced. She was ridiculously wet between her legs, but she no longer cared. Actually, she lost all inhibitions and all sense of propriety. She didn’t care about anything, other than his beautiful, demanding mouth on her breasts, his tongue working magic on her nipples.
Before she could do anything, he pulled her up, so she sat back up in front of him.
“I haven't forgotten my breakfast,” he winked at her again, and then, unexpectedly, dipped his fingers in the butter jar, and smeared a generous layer of fatty, creamy sludge over her breast, his thumb teasing her aching nipple inexorably.
“Oh,” she gushed, as he settled on the chair, between her legs, and held the breast in one palm, while concocting something enticing.
“The Bagarat Breakfast Bun,” he explained casually, as if he wasn’t sprinkling her buttered tit with a dash of cinnamon, and then a pinch of sugar. “Who needs pastries, right?” he pondered, and then gobbled her whole breast up, swallowing a good part of it, licking off the sugary spiced butter with his tongue, scraping his teeth over the skin, the nipple.
Elain almost fainted. Her vision darkened and were it not for the support of his massive arm, she surely would have fallen over.
“Sit still, baby, and let me enjoy,” he commanded with pretend sternness, as he treated her other breast with the same care and also added a dash of cream, which leaked obscenely into his mouth off her nipple.
“Oh, I think I like this version more,” he concluded, dribbling more cream over her breast and sucking it off her nipple, along with the butter.
“It’s a lot of fat, this early in the morning,” she protested, “you will have a heart attack!”
“I am immortal,” he reminded her. Then, he ordered, “hold your titties for me, please. So I can enjoy them in peace.”
She smirked, but cupped both of her breasts and presented them to him, as he dipped her nipples in even more cream and sucked hungrily.
“My love,” she cooed to him, after she dipped her nipple into the cream herself and sprinkled it with sugar, “I think that I like your Bagarat pastry.”
“Bun,” he pinched her behind, “Bagarat Bun.”
He sucked a little more.
The little jar of cream was empty.
“Tomorrow, we’ll share it,” he promised, but did not elaborate.
She nodded. She’d agree to anything right now.
“By the end of the week, you’ll be feeding me yourself,” he added and then softly kissed her lips, securing his promise with his mouth.
He straightened and got up, brushing his thumb over her lips and popping it inside, for her to suck. She sucked, willingly, eagerly, watching him.
“And you will be naked,” he concluded, running his hand over her head.
She nodded.
“Would you like that, my good girl?”
She nodded again.
She looked ravaged and he loved it. Swollen tits, dripping with sugar and cream, and coated in the remnants of butter, her hair a mess, her mouth wrapped around his thumb, sucking noisily.
The idea of his cock in that glorious mouth, sucking just as noisily made his unbearably hard. He was already hard as granite, his cock aching and demanding, but when she sucked his fingers, it released a beast within him.
Reluctantly, he pulled out and bent to kiss her.
“Thank you, my love,” she murmured, her brown eyes looking at him with complete adoration.
“It was a perfect breakfast, Lainey,” Azriel smiled. “Thank you. I’ve got to go, but I will see you later?”
“Of course. But I have a request for you to mull over,” she jumped off the table, not bothering to cover up.
“I am listening.”
“I’d like for you to teach me how to handle a dagger.”
61 notes
·
View notes