I loved being haechansleafblower and in my heart, I will always be haechansleafblower but it was getting harder and harder to share my tumblr w friends irlđ Not being in high school anymore made me realize how crazy I sound when I have to explain who haechan is and why I'm his leafblower...
haechan ur still the loml but I decided on switching to my usual online alias.
Did I drool? Did I kick my feet? Did I scream into my pillow?
Yes
Az is sođ€€đ€€ toxic men in real life repulsive me but Az does it soooo well.
Can you do a slutatious reader meets possessive Az?
Like he refuses to make it official so she continues about her life and he stay hearing rumors about her activities. He doesnât want to be another fuck buddy but heâs also holding back from her and that pisses her off and encourages her to continue w her endeavors.
warnings: toxic relationships, possessive!az, promiscuous girl, swearing, sexual themes, lemme just say thank god for this request, probably typos
â
âYouâre not wearing that.â
âAnd whoâs going to stop me?â The retort comes easily, all too familiar with this dance. You continue as if heâs not there, staring at the material that molds to your curves like second skin. The entire back is out, the sultry swoop accentuating the fullness of your ass even if the front was fairly tame. Curled hair is flicked over your shoulder, lashes flirty and lips glossy as you reach for your clutch.
A shadow beats you to it, sliding the clutch just out of your reach and a slightly agitated smile quirks at the corner of your mouth as you turn to face him. âI mean it. If thatâs what youâre wearing, then you arenât going.â
A brow raises, eyes taking in the perfect structure of Azrielâs face, the strong neckline and tattoos that crept up the left side. Rippling muscles strain against the black top; a pleasant contrast from his usual leathers and you nearly forget his audacity when appreciating his physique. âYou must have the wrong room, Az.â You canât help yourself but to touch, two manicured fingers dragging down the middle of his abdomen. Nails catch on the belt holding his breeches in place and the teasing tug has his pupils dilating. âPossibly confused me with one of those simpering females with damsel in distress tendencies? The ones who actually allow the tone youâre taking with me right now. â
âI know exactly whose room Iâm in,â Unashamed possessiveness radiates from every word and the step he takes to close the distance has an annoying effect on your body. âJust like I know exactly who wonât be leaving it if you donât walk back over to that closet and change.â
âI have no reason to listen to you,â Azriel refused to admit it out loud, but he secretly loved this partâthe pushback. The flirtatious flutter of your lashes and the seductive scent lacing every inch of glistening skin. âYou have no claim over me. Iâm a free female,â You know exactly what youâre doing; goading him with the same implications of the relationship that you and Azriel had been dancing around for the better part of a decade. It couldâve been different, couldâve spent more time making love rather than hate fucking against any sturdy surface after the shadowsingers jealousy had gotten the best of him after hearing yet another rumor about your latest conquest. âFree to do whom and whatever I please.â
Heâs too good at feigning restraint when he truly was grappling for purchase; falling victim to such feminine curves and unwavering confidence. You peered up at him without fear, heart rate steady in his presence and he just barely catches the slightest hitch of your breath when Azrielâs hand wander up the bodice of the dress. Familiar fingers brush over the thick of your thighs, up the soft curve of your belly, taking special time over supple breasts and peaked nipples. Foolishly, you lean into the touch, goosebumps beginning to dot at your spine when the fabric rips in two. âItâs adorable that you believe that.â He doesnât acknowledge your surprised expression, hands hovering over the ruined material as if it would magically sew back together. âDonât ever make me repeat myself again.â
âYou justââ
âI will see you thereâin something much more appropriate, Iâm sure.â
Azrielâs gone before you can respond, a humorless laugh passing glossy lips as you shuck off the remnants of your dress. High heels stomp against hardwood floors as you make your way to the closet, ripping through shades of deep navyâs and obsidian until your sights set on a sexy little number saved for special occasions.
A sinister smirk forms as you slip into it, eyes almost sparkling as you regard yourself in the full length mirror.
The halter neckline crosses at the chest, cupping cleavage with ease as the intricate golden bustier cinches at your sides, creating the illusion of wider hips and ensures nothing less than an elegant posture when you stride inside. Soft silks and chiffon kisses at the length of your legs, grazing over painted toes in painfully high heels but it pulls the attention you were searching for. Necks craning and hungry eyes eat up every dip and curve of your figure, mouths salivating at the liquid gold that pushes up the weight of your breasts. âYouâre late,â Rhysand voice murmurs in your mind, utter boredom creeping into his every feature.
Your eyes slide to Azriel when you answer, anticipation buzzing beneath the surface of your body. âWardrobe malfunction.â
To anyone else, the shadowsinger would appear to be the embodiment of stoicism.
But you knew that hard line of his shoulders, the barely restrained tick of his jaw, the slight flexing of his fingers around the thick arms crossed over his chest. The firelight crackles around him, golden light casting perfect shadows that nearly blend seamlessly to the ones that sang to him. With each step closer to the dias, those shadows grow more agitated, wiggling restlessly at Azrielâs feet, stretching up the length of his back to whisper in his ear.
You play coy too well, nodding respectfully to the High Lord and Lady before taking your place but those shadows shove you in closer. Close enough to feel the warmth radiating from Azrielâs towering form, the wings held high behind him subconsciously tucking you out of view. âAppropriate enough for you?â
âYou are the most stubborn female I have ever met in my entire life.â
âI wouldnât have to be if youâd just admit it.â
He pretends not to care, masking desperate glances with hardened side eyes. The grip on his crossed arms gets tighter, barely refraining from the urge to drag you away from all the eyes greedily eating up your form as if it were a six-course meal with desserts on the side. âAdmit what?â
âThat you want me.â
That you love me the same way I love you.
That you donât want it to just be a game anymore either.
Azriel doesnât answer right away, doesnât even look your way but the sneer that curls at the edge of his perfect mouth was enough to have your confidence faltering. âI have better things to do with my time than chase after some harlot.â
Your brows snap up, nearly blending in with the seam of your hairline. He regrets every word when the teasing spark fades from your eye. Taking a sizable step away from him, your face goes hard like steel, nose scrunching with barely concealed humiliation and your teeth bare like a wild animal when Azriel reaches out to touch. âDonât,â Angry tears make your eyes go glassy but not once does your voice waver. âJust stay the hell away from me.â
Rhys had already dismissed the others, waving a lazy hand and music fills the space. The strong smell of food permeating the air and youâre quick to blend into the gathering crowd, making a beeline for the elegant champagne pyramid tucked on the other side of the room.
Your hands shake when you grab the first glass, taking it back more like a shot than a classy sip of the flute but you just needed your hands to stop shakingâyour heart to stop racing. One drink quickly turns to three and youâre well on your way to a fourth when a hand curls around your shoulder. âFueling up for me?â The familiar drawl of Autumnâs first born heir reaches your ear, halting your display of gluttony.
This was why you were hereâin Hewn City, prancing about the Court of Nightmares. Acting as a pretty faced guide the Night Court provided as light entertainment before Eris would be escorted off to the private meeting room two halls down. Youâd amuse a few dances, allow him to talk your ear off and pretend you donât notice his fingers inching down the curve of your spine. âThereâs not enough alcohol in the world to prepare me for you, Vanserra.â
His brow raises, a sly smirk growing as the lights from the iron-wrought chandeliers casted their shadows against the burnt copper of his hair. Warm eyes trail down the length of your form, a single finger twitching when taking in intricate details of your gold bodice; the rich fabric that was so dark it almost seemed blue in certain light. âAre you flirting with me?â
âNo, Iâm just hot and talking.â
Eris is just as bold as you remember, laughing softly under your breath at his proximity when youâve turned around for another glass but a quick hand has swiped it from your grasp before a single drop can coat your tongue. âYouâre testy tonight.â You can feel the cool caress of Azâs shadows curling around your ankle, a silent claim that has your teeth gritting against each other.
For once, you amuse the Autumn heir and his playful fire, dancing into the thick of his flame when you allow him to finish your drink and guide you to the dance floor with the others. âI double booked,â You lie easily, following his lead effortlessly as if you didnât feel that cool wisp of a shadow steadily clamping tighter against your ankle. Low chatter blocks out the ability for others to eavesdrop but you can feel those golden eyes burning holes into the side of your faceâto the bare strip of skin at your hip where Erisâ hand rested for the entire duration of the dance. âCanât help the attitude that lingers knowing that I have to spend my night prattling about with you when I couldâve been indulging in multiple orgasms.â
A laugh thatâs smooth like whiskey escapes Eris, a hint of a dimple forming on his left cheek and you hate that you notice the perfect lines of his teeth; his bottom lip that was fuller than the top, the slight bump on the bridge of his nose indicating itâd definitely been broken at least once in his life. âThereâs ample time before my meeting if youâd like to have your cake and eat it too.â
âMaybe Iâd agree,â You make a show out of examining him, subtly inhaling the spice of his cologne. Handsome but not Azriel. âIf the âcakeâ was a different flavor.â
Eris doesnât falter for a second, even with the entirety of your Inner Circleâs attention fixed on him and the hands he had on your body. The deep baritone of his voice rumbles against your chest, nipples pebbling at the sensation. âClose your eyes then,â Words whisper at the lobe of your ear and the glittering jewel poked through it. âYou can pretend Iâm whoever you want with my tongue between your thighs.â
A witty remark crawls to the tip of your tongue, readying itself to leap off when that ghost chain around your leg pulls taut. Thereâs only enough time for your eyes to widen before youâre tugged away from Eris like a dog on a leash. It leads you out of the room and into the hall, refusing to loosen even a touch when you stubbornly resist but thereâs no point when youâre cloaked in shadows. You barely notice the scenery change before youâre back at home and tossed over a shoulder. âYou stupid, brutish, ape of a male!â Your shouts echo through the empty halls, bouncing off closed doors as Azriel strides through the foyer like he was on a mission. âPut me down right now!â Every word is coupled with the palms of your hands slapping at his thighs and digging into the back of his knees. One hand cranes back to dig into the thick of his hair and tugâhard.
Azrielâs hand is harder though, pure heat burning against the skin of your ass when it connects with a deafening clap. âShut up.â
Your jostled back into place, cheeks warm and hands frozen where theyâre bunched in the fine material of his dress shirt. âAzââ
His hand comes down once more and this time you yelp, teeth biting into the fat of your bottom lip as he clears the stairs and makes a sharp left. âI told you to shut up.â
Every bone in your body screams for you to comply, primal instincts igniting deep within advising you take the route of self-preservation but your pride overrides better judgement. âAnd I told you, Iâm a free female. Let me go, right now!â You squirm once more, legs kicking and arms clawing for release when youâre roughly thrown off his shoulder and shoved into the wall in a motion so fluid it takes the air from your lungs.
Fuck your pride for letting her mouth write checks your ass couldnât cash.
Youâd never seen such darkness in such a vast sea of gold, the whole pupil of Azrielâs eyes blown out like a feral animal salivating at the mouth. âDo you feel like a free female right now?â He already knows the answer judging by the pleased smirk beginning to creep in the corner of his mouth at the sight of his shadows holding your hands in place.
You swallow thickly, annoyingly affected by his closeness and the hard bulge that throbs at your belly when he curls a hand around your neck, nose brushing your own. âI certainly donât feel like I belong to you.â
âI can fix that.â Itâs a promise. One you silently scold yourself for praying that itâs a promise he makes good on.
The Mother has favorites and tonight you must be one of them.
The kiss Azriel initiates is nothing short of brutal; the drag of his tongue across the seam of your lips his only kindness before gaining access and completely dominating from the inside out. Every touch is claiming; a strong hand calloused from centuries of skilled swordplay is generous when easing off the expensive gold bodice before the delicate fabric beneath is torn to shreds. Pretty strips of dark material spills to the floor, left for the house to clean as your thighs are gripped and your weight is hoisted up, legs cradling the muscular taper of Azrielâs waist.
Heâs sucking marks into your neck, back pressed against the wall as his teeth graze at the sensitive skin there. Breasts spill from the confines of your bra, straps eased down your shoulders to make more room for his mouth to lay claim to. Azriel pinches at your nipples, eating up every sound like itâs offered on a platter. âThose noises sound like you belong to me.â Every nerve burns where he touches, marring your flesh and branding his mark as arousal collects in your underthings.
âAzriel,â You pant, trying to clear the fog of your brain but heâs all consuming; refusing to allow you air if itâs not the same one he breathes.
The flimsy underwear is pushed aside, familiar fingers collecting the slick gathering between your legs and a cruel smile grows on his face. âIt certainly feels like you belong to me.â A thumb pressed firmly on the stiff bud of your clit, rubbing slow circles that has your toes curling. A thump sounds from where your head falls back to the ball, exposing the line of your neck and the dark purple bruises smattered along it. Your eyes close for a second, breath labored and mouth salivating from the promise of more but all that changes when his hands bunch up the elegant curl of your hair. He wraps it around like a leash, forcing you to look him in the eye and the rasp of his voice is devastating. âSo why the fuck canât you get it through your pretty head, huh?â
Itâs a rhetorical question, that much you gather when he moulds his mouth to yours before you can even begin to muster up an answer. Youâre boneless in his grasp, allowing him to take you to his room and share his sheets. The bedside table screeches when Azrielâs boot kicks at it, knocking over lamps and light bulbs shatter on the hardwood. He doesnât even flinch, glass crunching under the soles of his shoes that he kicks off as he eases you down. âAz,â Insecurity threatens to rear her ugly head and ruin the moment, trying to push forth his hurtful words and the years of dancing around this feeling but Azrielâs already there to push that away. âAre you sure you even want to?â
âYou belong to me,â He says and itâs final. Offering up the keys to the locked box filled with everything youâd dreamed about when you closed your eyes and wished on falling stars every year. Off goes his shirt and shortly his pants follow, dragging his underwear along with it and you canât fight the moan when all of that bare skin is exposed and hovering above you. âSay it,â He urges, the hard length of him slotting between spread legs, grinding against warm need until youâre keening soft pleas into his chest, heels digging into his back.
The intrusion makes you gasp, hands greedy and mouth glued to his while he fucked into you like he always did. Itâs a demanding pace; forcing you to take all of him while he watched you lose all your composureâall that beautiful fight that drew him to you in the first place. Az doesnât stop, spurred on by strangled moans and choked words garbled together begging for more of him; harder, faster, deeper. Your clenching around him when the words stutter out of you in a whisper. âI belong to you.â
This literally came out a couple hours ago and Iâm like
âŠ.Where dafuq part 2đ€šđ€šđ€????
Meanwhile Iâm supposed to be writing my on ficđ«Ł
Shadows of the Heart
Part 1
Azriel x Fem!Reader
Summary: After years apart, Y/n returns to Velaris, bearing the weight of sacrifice and secrets from her past. Reunited with Rhysand and his Inner Circle, she navigates the complexities of rekindled friendships and unresolved tensions.Â
Warnings: mentions of blood, but nothing particularly graphic
WC: 1k
[Prologue]
Three days drifted by before Mor finally stirred from her deep slumber, her body frail and still reeling from the mutated faebane she had ingested. Though she nearly fainted again once she saw Y/n across from her, surrounded by an amalgamation of healing salves and blood-soaked bandages. Rhys, looking haggard from days of ceaseless worry, was by her side in an instant, having anchored himself to the room, steadfast in his refusal to leave them.
The inner circle, their family, had rallied around, taking turns to keep Rhys company, with Azriel stepping up more than anyone. He told himself it was because of his duty as the spymaster, accustomed to the long, sleepless nights. Yet, in the quiet moments, it was Y/n who captured his thoughts, her name a whisper in the back of his mind. Rhys had introduced her simply as "a dear old friend," but the weight of those words suggested so much more.
Azriel found himself drawn to her, ostensibly under the guise of safety. He watchedâthe subtle rise and fall of her chest, the delicate flutter of her eyelashes, and the gradual resurgence of color painting her cheeks as Mor's condition stabilized. Rhys's tenderness around her was palpable; he hovered constantly, his hands gently tending to her wounds, smoothing salves, replacing bandages, and even brushing her hair with a care that spoke volumes. The crimson magic that danced around her injuries seemed as lost as she was, at times spiraling along Rhys's arms, at others, drifting curiously towards Azriel's lurking shadows.
Once, her magic reached out, touching the darkness before swiftly retreating, but not before his shadows whispered to him
Beautiful. They said. But tired. Tired. Wants to sleep.Â
Driven by a mix of concern and curiosity, Azriel had just hastened back to the room, alerted by his shadows to Mor's awakening, only to witness her launching herself out of bed in a frantic bid to reach Y/n. His quick reflexes prevented another fall, catching Mor in a steady grasp, and sitting her down.
"Howâwhat happened?" Mor's voice trembled, her eyes wide as she took in the blood-soaked scene. "Why is there so much bloodâwait, is that all her blood? Rhysand!" Her voice climbed, a note of panic threading through her confusion.
Rhysand's face, a mask of exhaustion and worry, softened as he turned to Mor, his voice low and soothing, "It's okay, Mor. You're safe now, both of you are. Y/n... she saved you."
The room was thick with tension, the air heavy as if the very walls were holding their breath. Mor's eyes, wide with disbelief, moved from Rhys to Y/n and back again, as he recounted the ordeal.Â
Feyre and Cassian burst into the room then, their expressions a mix of relief and concern. "How is she?" Feyre asked, rushing to Mor's side, her gaze flitting between the two women laid out before them.Â
"Awake, finally," Rhys responded, his voice threaded with fatigue yet underscored by a tangible relief. He remained anchored by Y/n's side, his hand lightly resting on hers.Â
Cassian moved closer, his gaze lingering on Y/n with a newfound respect. "This is some serious magic she pulled off," he muttered, his voice a mixture of awe and concern, "to save Mor like that."
Mor, gathering the remnants of her strength, attempted to stay seated, her eyes locking onto Y/n's still form. "But... why? Why would she do this for me?" The question hung in the air, raw and laden with emotion.
Rhys's gaze softened, "Itâs Y/n⊠Could she really just stand aside and do nothing, knowing you were in danger, Mor?"
"But sheâ" Mor's voice broke, looking the most forlorn Azriel had seen her in years.Â
"I know," Rhys cut in, his voice firm yet gentle. âAnd you know that it was complicated back then. Promises were made. That doesnât mean she has changed, not really.â
"Centuries, Rhys. It's been centuries. I wasn't even sure if she was... still among us," Mor whispered, the weight of years echoed in her voice.
"Centuries? Hold on, how do both of you know her?" Cassian, ever the one to voice the burning questions, brought the room's focus sharply to the heart of the mystery.
The room's attention swiveled to Rhys and Mor, with even Amren and Nesta quietly joining the circle. A silent communication passed between Rhys and Mor, a shared history in a single glance before Rhys cleared his throat.
"Well," he started, the word hanging in the air as he gathered his thoughts. "Without diving too deep into her storyâout of respect for her privacyâit's safe to say that Y/n and I share a past. We were raised together in Hewn City... She was, quite possibly, my very first friend."
A ripple of surprise and intrigue swept through the group, each member processing the revelation in their own way.Â
âWhy did she leave.â Feyre broached.Â
"It's... complicated, darling," Rhys pondered the best way to explain.Â
"To simplify, her father held a position of significant influence under my father's command, privy to the secrets of Velaris. Given how I became High Lord, he and his family chose to leave, out of respect for my rule, given Keirâs proclivities for rebellion.âÂ
âWhat he doesnât sayâ Mor interjected, her voice laced with a mix of frustration and sadness. âWas that he offered Y/n a position, heâwe requested she stay. Repeatedly.â
âIt was more complicated than that, Morâ
âWas it, Rhys? Mor bristled. âShe left you when you needed her most, Rhys. We all felt the void she left behind.â
"It wasn't just about politics or positions," Rhys's expression turned somber, his usual charm and ease giving way to a moment of vulnerability. "Y/nâŠhad her reasons, tied to her family's legacy and their own secrets.â
Feyre, sensing the tension, reached for Rhys's hand, offering silent support.
âIt was difficult for all of us. I know it hurt you, Mor. We all had regrets.â
Mor sighed, turning around to lay back down. It wasn't easy to concede that her initial shock had morphed into anger, rooted deeply in pain. After all these years, the thought of being reunited with her friend under such harrowing circumstances, indebted to her for her very life, was a reality she hadn't been prepared to face.
A/N: I promise there'll be more interactions between Azriel and Y/n in the next parts, I just wanted to set the scene for her complicated history. I also just love platonic interactions between the inner circle and want build up how Y/n is/becomes a part of their family.
Warnings: none other than the lack of proof reading :p
Word count: 5.5k
(meant to be a blurb lol ig idk how to do that)
Summary: Azrielâs shadows have decided that they found someone far more interesting to listen to.
Thank you @kayjayjwrites for this ask, Iâve had a lot of fun writing it. Sorry it came a little later than I said it would but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.
<3
A yawn escaped Azriel as he stared down the papers on his desk. He was behind, three missions he put off documenting. He honestly wouldnât have done it if Rhys wasnât hounding him saying he wasnât getting another job until he was caught up.
He didnât hate his job, he didnât particularly love it but he took pride in what he did for his court. What he did hate was the bureaucratic end of things, logging his missions in excruciating detail so they can be stored away on the off chance it might need revisited.
He had caught himself nodding off multiple times. The words would blur and his blinks would get slower and slower until his head hit the desk. His shadows, the pestering presence they were, were quick to wake him up.
Finish, finish this,
Keep working,
Sleep after.
At this point it was sheer frustration keeping him awake, werenât his shadows meant to bend towards his will? The thought of snuffing out the fae light and climbing into bed with his hands over his ears was becoming more and more enticing as the night droned on. Azriels eyes began to close for the umpteenth time and just when he thought his shadows would give up they began swirling around him frantically. He almost groaned at their dramatics until their whispering bordered screaming.
Get up,
Quickly,
Y/n needs you,
Hurry, hurry.
The shadows all spoke over each other and their urgency had Azriel standing up so quick his chair hit the floor. His heart moved as frantically as his shadows at the thought of you. The thought of you hurt, the thought of you in danger, the thought of you scared and alone and needing him.
His feet matched the frenzy as they carried him to the shelf that held the truth teller, his shaking hands sheathed it. Azriel was a composed man, only cracking under severity; and you⊠you were severe. You had a way of moving him out of his dark safe corner and into the blinding light of day.
Your eyes could move him to tears, your body would make his hands shake, your laugh kicked open every door he used to keep others out. You were a parasite; infecting every part of him and making it your own.
Azriel was ready to punch a hole through his wall and fly around Prythian raining hellfire until he found you and made you safe again. Where? He thought, where is she?
Her house, his shadows answered dutifully before enveloping him and carrying him there. He was ready, ready to fight off whoever-whatever- was hurting you. Whether the demons were mental or corporeal, he would fight to his last breath. You were everything, everything he wanted, needed, everything he prayed for. You just didnât know it yet, it hadnât snapped for you. He didnât care though, he would spend the next 500 years proving his devotion even if you never felt it.
Within seconds his shadows had carried him through space, into your living room. The scent of you was everywhere, gentle overtaking his olfactory sense and filling him with fierce determination.
âY/n!â The called out as he surveyed the room, everything looked normal, well, for you. Granted things were strewn about, out of order, and placed haphazardly; but not in a way that was alarming.
âY/n,â he called again and was met with silence, he moved through your house swiftly and silently. He kept his eyes peeled for any sign of you.
Bedroom, his shadows told him. At the end of the hall he pushed open the lightly cracked door and slipped into your room. The room held no sight of you, just thick with your scent. The only noise was light shuffling from your adjourned bathroom. He took a silent step towards the door and in that moment you came out. He froze.
You were fine, you were more than fine. His wide eyes met yours and he tried his best to keep them there but they seemed to have a mind of their own. They trailed to your wet hair that was dripping onto your shoulders. His pesky eyes followed the water from your bare shoulder, to the contour of your breast, to your exposed tummy, around its pretty jewelry, down your hips, before disappearing behind your thighs. Your shocked expression matched his as you stood in only a bra and underwear, clearly fresh out of the shower. He felt the heat climb his face, he wanted to run, hide, avoid any implications. But for some unholy reason he stood, petrified, staring at you half naked-absolutely divine- body.
âWhat are you doing?â You asked once you finally got over the initial shock of seeing him in your room. Anyone else wouldâve gotten a more visceral reaction but this was Az, the only one you wanted to see you like this. You also didnât mind the way his eyes tracked every curve and dip of your body. You bit your lip to hide your smirk and that snapped his eyes back to your face.
âI⊠was told there was an emergencyâŠâ he shifted on his feet as his eyes darted back and forth from your body to your face.
You bit back your laugh, the feared shadowsinger, spymaster of the night was red faced and nervous. Definitely a sight to behold. âWho told you that?â You crossed your arms under your chest, lightly pushing up the twins. Something he didnât miss, and you didnât miss the deeper red his face took. His mouth opened and closed like a fish and he seemed to have lost whatever small grip was keeping his shadows in place. They slithered across the floor before circling up your legs, over your bum, around your hips and waist. You giggled at the sensation, seemingly exciting by the shadows as they made their way up, examining the lace that covered your breast. Their boldness elicited a gasp, one that snapped Azriel out of his trance.
âI am so sorry- I donât- I should go,â his words were quick as he fumbled over himself. He dragged the shadows away and before you could speak, tell him to stay, he was gone and so were his shadows.
You couldnât help but laugh, a full belly laugh as you walked towards your bed with a little extra pep. The only proof of the encounter being the goosebumps on your skin and the light smell of his arousal in your room.
Azriel materialized in his room and stood there for- he doesnât know how long he stood there. Trying to come to terms with what he saw, what you saw he saw, and how horrible his shadows had behaved. âWhat⊠was that?â He whispered into the darkness of his room, still frozen in place. He was horrified, completely embarrassed, and confused. His shadows said you needed him, led him there for seemingly no reason. His shadows hadnât defied him since he was a child, scared of his own power.
The shadows didnât answer him, just danced around seemingly pleased with themselves. He wanted to go back and apologize but he was too mortified, convinced he wouldnât be able to face you for a hundred years. He crawled under his covers and cursed his shadows, not even brave enough to deal with the tightness that grew in his pants.
-
It was hot, Velaris was seemingly boiling. That didnât slow down the Illyrians, rain or shine they would train. Azriel had taken off his shirt and the sweat flowed through the contours of his muscles, covering his body in a sticky dew. He had just finished sparring with Cass and was wiping the sweat from his brow when his shadows spoke.
Emergency,
Somethingâs wrong at the south pond,
Get there quickly,
âCass!â He hollered to his brother, as he grabbed a two swords. He threw one to Cass who caught it coolly. âWeâre needed,â. Was all he offered before taking to the skies. Cass followed closely behind as they swooped from the house of wind towards the small forest that was on the south side of Velaris. The boys were already warmed up, ready to face whatever emergency faced them. They circled the sky around the pond and didnât see any immediate threat, it just looked like some fae had met up for a swim.
Cass landed first and Azriel was right behind him. They surveyed the scene and just as they saw in the sky; nothing was wrong. The only thing they saw were females, everywhere.
âAlright brother,â Cass clapped Azriel on the back with a shit-eating grin. âNot what I expected but youâre right, they do need us.â He tossed his sword on the ground and started making his way to the bank, at least three females came to greet him; he engaged happily.
Azriel wasnât yet convinced. Still dragging his eyes all across the domain, trying to spot what called his shadows here. His keen eyes took in everything, every person, until they landed on you.
Walking out of the water you looked like a fae from those raunchy magazines Cass used to steal as a boy. An all too small bikini clung to your wet body as you made your way out of the water, toward him. Three tiny pink triangles covered the important parts but the rest was just string, leaving nearly your whole body one display. He watched your hips sway, your wet hair clinging to your face and shoulders, the glittering belly ring, and the small smirk on your face as you too looked him up and down.
âYouâre not going to use that are you?â You stopped in front of him, referencing to the sword he gripped with all his strength. He watched as you flipped your hair to one side and began ringing it out. The urge to kiss the sensitive spot between your neck was so intense his lips were quivering.
âNo IâŠâ he once again was at a loss for words, âI just brought it.â Lame. He was so lame he wanted to die.
You just giggled, the sound like a cool wave over his hot body. You reached over and gently wrapped your hands around his, pulling it from his hands and discarding it with Cassianâs. His eyes were trained on your face the entire time, you werenât put off by his scars. Your face wasnât marred with disgust or pity, just blissful normalcy.
You smiled up at him, âAre you going to join us?â He just nodded, not even considering no as an option. Cass already discarded his pants and boots and was loudly entertaining most of the ladies. But Azriels eyes were trained on your back⊠side, as he followed you to the water like a puppy. It wasnât until his shoes were sopping wet at the bank that he realized he should probably strip as well.
When he was down to only his boxers and he tossed his pants and boots back to safety. The way you shamelessly admired him gave him his confidence back.
The two of you spent hours, swimming circles around each other, splashing, pushing the other under. He would lift you high out of the water so you could do flips back in. He would put you on his shoulders so you could take turns playing chicken with whatever female climbed onto his brother; he was proud to say you won every time. He followed you all the way to the deep end and despite his distaste for swimming he didnât want to be anywhere else in the world as you clung to him, telling stories of your childhood in this exact watering hole. He couldâve stayed in the water forever, content to grow wrinkles all over if it meant you would stay close to him.
When the sun had threatened to leave the sky was when you had decided to get out. Your friends were going to a diner to finish of the night with milkshakes and gossip, you offered and invitation and despite being willing to follow you wherever you asked he had to decline. Rhys had tried to contact him multiple times, all of which he ignored. Based on the aggravated tone, Cass was doing the same. He knew staying away any longer would only cause an angry high lord scaling the streets in search of them.
Cass begrudgingly followed his lead, after kissing more than an appropriate amount of females on the cheek, bidding them all goodnight with the promise of seeing them again.
The boys flew home, landing in front of the town house. Before facing the wrath of their in the dark brother Cassian stopped in front of Azriel and grabbed both of his shoulders. With a wide smile he leaned in and placed a sloppy kiss on his cheek, before he could react Cass had kissed the other one.
âI love you brother,â he said with so much sincerity Az rolled his eyes. âIâll handle business with you any day,â Cass pulled him into a bone crushing hug that Azriel had to use all of his force to get out of. He wiped the wet spots on his cheeks before shaking his head. He pushed past his babbling brother and made his way to the front door. Cass walked in with an arrogant swagger, one that stayed with him for the next week and a half.
-
The frustration didnât show on Azriels face, nothing showed on Azriels face, as he trailed diligently behind Mor. Yet another shopping spree he was dragged into with the role of being âdesignated bag carrier.â He never complained even though heâd rather be doing anything else right now, he didnât show it. Even though he knew Mor knew that, and even though Mor knew that he knew that she knew that.
âThank you again Azriel, I swear Iâm almost done.â He nodded along, knowing that she was almost done 2 hours ago.
It seemed everyone in the city was out shopping, the streets of the retail sector were jam packed. It was likely that most people were, with a new season approaching all of the soon to be out-of-season styles were on sale. Something that motivated Mor, giving her a much needed excuse for retail therapy.
Azriel kept his wings tucked in tight as he shimmied through bodies crowding the cobble stone. âOkay so weâll stop at Loraineâs, she has the best Jewelry. Then weâll have to hit up that new little boutique, hopefully all of the good shoes arenât gone already. Oh! And we absolutely have to visit Anderson on the end of the block, heâll kill me if I donât come check out his sun dresses. He always holds the red ones back for me. Honestly my closetâŠâ Mor continued to ramble on about each and every store that demanded she visit but Azriel tuned it out. Leaving behind the notion of soon as the math of how long he would be out continued to produce a higher and higher number.
Without trying to think about it, he followed Mor into the little jewelry shop that she just spoke about. The shelves were covered in glittering jewels that sat on display behind glass. Nothing caught his interest, he didnât care for flashy add ons, so he just made his way to one of the plush chairs in the corner. He set the plethora of bags down as he slunk back, enjoying a moment of rest as he knew Mor would be taking her time. His eyes closed but his reaction was short lived when his shadows began of informing him of a situation.
Across the street,
Someoneâs not supposed to be here,
Go quickly.
He cracked an eye open and glanced out the window. The streets looked normal enough and he couldnât hear any commotion over the bustling. Someoneâs not supposed to be here? He would have been notified earlier if anyone got through the Velarian wards. He shouldâve been notified earlier. He stood up slowly, assessing the street. Just because everything looked normal doesnât mean it was.
He abandoned Morâs bags and moved towards the door, when he pushed it open he never stepped out. Instead a shadow slipped across the ground, going unnoticed on the busy street.
He slid under the crack of the door and after clocking his surroundings he determined he was in a womanâs nightwear store. There were night gowns and matching pjâs covering mannequins and racks in the front.
Back,
Behind the curtain.
His shadows informed him of the intruders location and he slid in the corner where the wall met the floor, making his way to the back. The store was relatively empty, only a few patrons; a couple, an older fae, and a young male that looked at the stock like a critic.
Slipping behind the curtain that separated the front from the back he was faced with three small dressing rooms. He materialized and placed his hand on the truth teller that rested on his upper thigh. It was quiet back here, the only shuffling came from one of the dressing rooms. He heard a click and a voice; your voice.
âMav!â You called out as you stepped out of one of the rooms. He moved, trying to run, trying to get out of there. Realization of the stunt his shadows had once again pulled, dawned on him but it was too late.
âAz?â You questioned. The nickname had him stopping before he could escape sight. His heart beat like a war dum against his chest and he felt his hand dampen on the curtain he was holding. For a moment he contemplated winnowing away, saving the embarrassment for another day.
His turn was slow and painful, when his back was against the curtain he looked down and regretted not running. You were clad in a lace nightgown that barley covered the curve of your bottom. The top was push up, covered in shined lace while the bottom was layers of baby pink sheer material. If he looked closely he could see the diamond jewelry on your belly button and your matching shiney underwear shining through. He attempted to swallow the lump that was sitting in the middle of his throat but it didnât budge so all he managed was a straggled gasp.
A devilish smirk, the one that tempted his knees, took control of your lips. You leaned against the stall, popping your hip out with a hand resting lazily on top. You tilted your head and looked him up and down, âDonât tell me thereâs another emergency.â
His eyes almost jumped out of his head and pink brushed from his neck, to his ears, and all across his face. You knew, of course you knew, you were the one he was barging in on. He tried to speak but that was impossible, seeing you in something so intimate, something heâd only dreamed of seeing you in, he could only shake his head back and forth.
âOkay so I also found that in this pretty blue-oh!â The young male from earlier had pushed through the curtain and was standing rigid as he looked between you and Az. He was only stuck for a few seconds before a smile that matched yours in mischief graced his face. âWhat do you think shadowsinger?â
His sultry voice took Azriel back, and the heat in his face doubled, âI- itâs,â he cleared his throat as he looked at the tiny blue dress. Cobalt blue, it was the same hue of his siphons. The thought of seeing you in thatâŠ
âItâs beautiful,â you finished for him. You pushed off the stall and moseyed over, closer to Azâs still frozen stature. âI absolutely love this color!â You took the thin fabric in delicate hands, feeling the material. âIâll put it on,â you took the small thing from your friend before looking Az directly in the eye. You just smiled before walking back into the changing closet.
Azriel let out a low breath before bringing his hands up to drag the course of his face. This had to stop happening.
A snicker came from next to him and he looked over to, Mav, who had his arms crossed over his chest and a knowing glint in his eye. Az briefly wondered if you had told your friend about his little appearing act. The way Mav was looking at him, heâs sure you did. âYou gonna stay for the final result?â
Yes, yes, yes! His shadows chanted in his ear and he shook his head roughly to keep them out of his ear.
âNo, I gotta- busy!â He practically ripped the curtain with the force he pulled it open. He cleared the store in a few long strides before pushing himself free. In his daze he ended up colliding with a smaller frame.
âAz!â Mor yelled, straightening the dress he rumpled. âWhat are you-â he eyes narrowed before glancing behind him, Jaimâs Nightwear was painted in delicate cursive on the windows. âWhat the hell were you doing?â
Az glanced once back at the shop before at Mor, âEmbarrassing myself apparently.â
Mor clocked his flush demeanor before looking back at the window. She squinted her eyes again, tilting her head. She pondered doing some shopping at Jaimâs and Azrielâs speedy âno!â only intrigued her more. She moved to step around him but Azrielâs hands clapped on her shoulder, turning her around and directing her back to the jewelry store across the street.
-
A low hum left the shadowsinger as he climbed up the ramp of the library. He scanned the isles looking for âFiction- Rac.â
He had attended Nestaâs monthly book club with the priestesses, a guilty pleasure only the attendees knew of. He had offered to carry the books back to their rightful spot, an offer he was now regretting. The isle that held the thick fiction books had evaded him, and he had been walking back and forth for a half an hour now. A few priestesses had offered their help but he insisted they return to their work, that he could do it himself.
He decided to try the âRabâ isle, keeping his wings tucked as his presence filled the narrow space. He almost cursed, debating throwing the books on a rack and letting someone else deal with it. His eye had just caught the beginning of âRacâ when his attention was diverted.
You are needed,
Go now,
He ignored the shadows, pushing on towards his destination. He wasnât about to fall into their trap again, he didnât think he could handle another awkward encounter.
She needs help,
She needs you.
They insisted but Az just shook his head, looking for the correct author. âIâm not doing this again,â he whispered back. His luck sheâd probably be in that little blue get-up and sheâd have to clean up the puddle heâd melt into.
Go now!
Or regret it!
She will get hurt!
He groaned as he leaned his forehead against the cool self. The thought of you being hurt, even though he doubted you were, trumped his need to protect his ego. With his shadows whispering in his ear he had to see you were safe, and when you inevitably were he would come back and finish his job.
âFine, but if sheâs in her underwear again-â the shadows cut him of chanting go, go, go! âOkay,â he was defeated, a slave to the torture his shadows were hell bent on putting him through. âWhere is she?â
Home,
Her house.
âGood gods- Iâm winnowing outside and if sheâs half naked I swear Iâm never listening to-â he was cut off again by his shadows. This time it wasnât a whisper, the seemed to bellow, angry at his reluctance.
Now!
With the urgency from his shadows he dropped the books on the floor, leaving them for whichever poor priestess found them first. After moving through space in the blink of an eye he landed on your front porch. He lifted his hand to knock, he wasnât going to barge in and show up in the middle of your room uninvited- again.
Before his fist could connect with the door the sound of you screaming had him stumbling back. âGet out!â Followed by breaking glass. Your voice was shrill and panicked and it lit a protective fire inside of him.
He blinked again and he was inside your living room. Shadows were let loose across the space, crawling from his body to every corner of the room. You were there and so was a clearly unwanted presence. You were pressed against your mantle, gripping a vase like a weapon while the male staggered a few feet in front of you. He didnât need his shadows to inform him about the alcohol that reeked from the man. His blood boiled and metaphorical claws were bared, he was going to kill the male that intruded on your space.
âCrazy bitch! Whereâd you go?â The man slurred out as he waved his hands wildly in front of him; desperate to clear the opaque mist and find his target.
The name you didnât deserve to be called had snapped Azriel into action, like a tensed spring he shot in front of the man. âIâm right here,â he whispered, mere inches from the drunk. The man made a shocked sound, startled by the new voice and its proximity. The man threw a pathetic punch, a low chuckle left Azâs lips as he caught the fist.
With a skilled spin he was behind the man, pressing his wrist between his shoulder blades in an uncomfortable contortion.
A straggled scream left his throat and Azriel cleared his shadows, wanting a proper look at who he was dealing with. The male was nothing special, skinny and pale with dull brown hair. His blue eyes looked hollow and glassy and the stench of alcohol absolutely assaulted Azrielâs senses at the proximity.
âYouâd be wise not to try that again,â Azrielâs dark voice met the shell of the manâs ear. His eyes flickered up to you, wide eyed watching the scene play out. âWhat are you doing here?â
âLet me go! I just want to talk to her!â Azriel pressed his wrist higher and the male made a noice between a grunt and a scream. âPlease!â
Tightening the grip on his wrist Azriel let out a low growl, this male was already too close, Azriel was never going to give him a chance to get closer. âI donât think she wants to speak to you,â his low voice was eerily calm, steady as he leaned down to speak in the strangerâs ear. âDo you, Y/n?â His eyes moved back to you and watched as you viciously shook your head back and forth. âWell,â the grin in his voice was audible, âthat settles that.â
Azriel gave the man a hard shove to which his shadows caught him, they carried him off to somewhere Azriel could deal him later. His eyes scanned the room once more, checking for any lingering danger, any hint of another threat. His shadows scowered the rest of the house, closing and locking any window that could be used as an entry point.
âAz,â you breathed before dropping the vase. The tough glass didnât shatter, instead it rolled away while you ran. Within seconds your arms were around his neck with your face buried in his chest. He relished in your closeness, arms circling your waist with his nose finding your shoulder. A greedy breath reminded him you were safe, in his arms where no bastard would touch or even talk to you unwarranted. âIâm so glad that worked, I was worried that it wouldnât, that I pushed to hard with it when you took awhile to get here but-â
âWait what? Whatâre you talking about?â He pulled back to look down at you. Confusion had knitted his brows together and pushed his head onto an axis.
âOh- I well⊠nothing,â you pulled back and turned away, red dusting your cheeks as your eyes fought to hide from him. Usually he was the flustered one, looking like boy whose hand had been caught in a cookie jar. But the roles were now reversed, you looked like you were dodging trouble of your own creation.
Azriel grabbed your wrist, delicately, turning you around to face him. He caught your chin in his other hand and angled your head to face him, âWhat did you want to work?â
You turned your eyes down but he just lifted your chin higher, your pink cheeks turned positively rosey and you shook your head. âFine,â you breathed before pulling away from him completely. He watched as you moved around the glass you had previously thrown and made your way to the couch. âWell,â you started, drawing lines in your the cushion to keep from looking at him, âremember when we met? At that monster exchange?â
He nodded, âOf course.â He would never forget, catching a dove in an underground tavern full of monsters and the beats they aimed to sell. He had been tracking the traveling convention all across the night court, attempting to find who was running the trade. It was a highly illegal exchange and when heâd found you, you had begged to not be arrested, claiming curiosity brought you there. He let you go, told you to run while he dealt with the others.
âWell when I got home I noticed I had a little friend,â she held her hand out and to Azrielâs surprise, a shadow fell into her hand. It had danced out of its hiding spot in your hair and looped around your fingers, stuck to you like it was your own to wield. He just stared, mouth agape, to caught in his own shock to respond. âI started talking to it, theyâre great listeners.â A giggle fell from your lips as you wiggled your fingers and the shadow weaved and bobbed through your digits. âAnd for some reason whenever I spoke of you, of wanting to see you, you would show up.â
You looked up tentatively, worried to see an angry Azriel. Instead you were faced with pure shock, he looked so lost so you felt the need to go on.
âI didnât know it would tell you to come, not originally. Then after that first night, your shadows told you it was an emergency and I started taking advantage of that. Telling it to fetch you so I could see you again.â You looked back down, clearly ashamed of your admission. You couldnât see the smirk that was growing on Azrielâs lips. âI know youâre busy, and-and itâs unfair to pull you away from your work like that. I shouldnât have used your own shadow against you- gods- Iâm so sorry. Iâll never-â
Your words were caught off by a laugh, a loud belly laugh. Azriel was practically doubled over. The realization had his face crinkled and his hands gripping his stomach as he gasped for air. You laughed nervously, adding him, âYour not mad?â
He stood up, still laughing but controlling it. His dimples were on full display and you melted a little, feeling ease wash over you.
âNo, no Iâm not mad,â he moved for the couch, âIâm glad I finally found out why my shadows are so willing to lie to me. Itâs because theyâre in kahoots with you.â He sat down and took your hand, your full smile matched his, âNever apologize for wanting to see me, Iâll come whenever you call.â
You blushed and nodded, laughing some more yourself. You stuck out the hand that held his shadow, âHere. You can have this back.â
He just shook his head with a smile, pushing your hand back. âKeep it, you can use it to get ahold of me.â
You looked back to him, the look on his face was one of pure ease, happiness and bliss, you loved to see it. You two sat there smiling at each other like idiots when you felt a tug on your heart. The tug got stronger and stronger until it snapped. With a gasp you threw your hand over your heart, as if the bond was tangible, something you could grab with your hands.
âItâs you,â you whisper leaning in slightly.
âAnd itâs you,â he whispered back after following you in.
You felt a tug on the bond, like he was pulling you towards him, you tugged back with a smile. You had always wanted to find your mate and you wouldnât admit it just yet but you had wanted it to be Azriel since you met him underground.
You threw your head back, it was your turn to belly laugh. âGood gods! No wonder you always came running!â
He narrowed his eyes and let out a playful growl before pulling you into his arms. You giggled and wrapped your arms around him, looking at him in his eyes. âIâm glad itâs you,â was all you said before offering him a peck on the lips.
He beamed back, âIâm also glad itâs you.â He pulled you down for another kiss which you returned passionately.
âSoo..â you drawled pulling back, âWould you like to see that little blue number?â He responded with a low growl and nip at your ear. You laughed at his answer before jumping off the couch, you grabbed his hand and he happily let you drag him to your room.
A/N: My first requestđ„°đ„°đ„° this was so fun, literally send more I live live live for them. I rlly hope my requester enjoyed this đ„Č
Also Iâm still working on âIâm Not Crazy, She is!â Pt. 2 but itâs gonna be a long one so give me some time with thatđđœ
As always if you made it this far I LOVE YOUUU<3<3 thank you so much for reading yall I love doing these.
Heyo I was the one that really loved the fluff and pinning in Totally annoying and not funny at all, been thinking about submitting a fluffy/funny request. So what about:
Azrielâs shadows wonât stop coming to him frantically urging him to follow them. He doesnât expect the emergency to be reader in her underwear fresh out of the shower. It keeps happening, much to Azrielâs dismay and growing embarrassment. Bonus points for scheming, matchmaker shadows shenanigans! đ
I love this bro, me and my sister were dying reading itđđ
And I remember you, thank youuuu. Iâll probably get this out by tmrw night or sometime before âIâm not crazy she isâ 2đ
Summary: You werenât trying to kill your neighbor, honestly, you were just defending yourself. But that crazy fae and her antics land you in a holding cell. Luckily for you, getting arrested turns out to be much more fun than you ever anticipated.
<3
My face was set into a hard line as I sat on the curb outside of Ritaâs. The sound of the bar closing early was clearly audible from the spot the lawman had told me to sit and not move. Patrons exited with grumbling and angry faces, some glared as they passed and I could only offer apologetic smiles. I was already uncomfortable enough without the condescending stares and occasional curses.
The cool air pushed my hair around and with my hands magically bound behind my back I was repeatedly spitting strands out of my mouth. My thin dress provided no solace against the cold stone under my ass and the unrelentingly wind was only making it worse. I was beyond uncomfortable but the civil servants didnât seem to care.
This wasnât fair; itâs not like I started the fight, I just finished it.
Iâve never been a fighter per se, but Iâve also never let someone walk all over me and at this point Iâd had enough. The crazy bitch to my left was currently raging against the other two patrols, thrashing around and spitting on their uniform. I scoffed as she screamed obscenities and pushed the female off of her with a hard kick to the chest.
âSee!â I exclaimed at the patrol that was half watching me and half watching his colleges struggle to detain the crazed fae. âSheâs fucking crazy! Obviously Iâm the victim here.â
His eyes moved to mine and I widened them for emphasis, he responded with a scoff of his own. âIt took all three of us to drag you off of her,â he crossed his arms over his chest, ânot to mention multiple witnesses are willing to testify that most of the property damage was your fault.â His eyes narrowed as he dared me to challenge the statement.
I just leaned back and kicked my legs out with a huff. A couple of chairs, tables, some glasses, some bottles, a few bystanders, and an already weak wall wasnât enough. I shouldâve thrown her into or hit her with something else. Even now, watching her childish display had me itching to go put her in her place all over again.
âListen, Iâm a cool fae. Calm and collected, I donât start problems. Her,â I jerked my elbow into the direction of the female that wasnât slowing down, âon the other hand, does. None of this wouldâve happened if she hadnât come up to me. She was pulling my hair and scratching at my eyes! What would you have done?â
I leaned forward expectantly, I knew he agreed. Instead of confirming he just shook his head and looked away. Back-up had finally arrived and three of the four officers assisted in detaining the wild one. One of them used whatever magic they possessed to temporarily knock her out for transport. The remaining lawman approached where I was sitting and looked me up and down.
âI take it youâre the one who fought her?â I looked over at the unconscious female that was being slung over a shoulder and just nodded with a light shrug. âCanât say I blame ya,â he responded in a much more relaxed tone than the first officer.
âThank you!â I exclaimed as he helped me onto two feet. I threw the first patrol a look that said everything I was thinking which he only responded with another shake of his head. I didnât miss the light smile he had and in that moment I felt like I had this in the bag. I assumed I would get a warning, maybe a slap on the wrist and be sent on my way. I hoped that they would lock her up in some far off dungeon and throw away the key.
The new officer grabbed my elbow lightly before winnowing us to the station. I suppressed my groan as I took in the depressing scene. Gray walls, gray floors, gray bars that lined different holding cells on the back wall. The room was packed with multiple desks where about 15 officers sat, some with either with victims or perpetrators in front of them. Every desk though had stacks of papers that threatened to spill to the floor.
I followed diligently behind the officer as he led me farther and farther to the back. I prayed that he would stop at any of the empty desks but he didnât stop until he reached the cells. He opened up the metal door and looked at me expectantly.
âWait, I have to go in there?â My voice was slightly shrill and I couldnât contain the breaths that were coming out rapidly. The cop just raised his eyebrows and nodded like it was the most obvious thing in the world, âFor how long? I have to work in the morning. I canât be here all night!â
The officer just chuckled and shrugged, âWell Iâve got about a hundred other things on my to do list. I guess you shouldâve thought about that before destroying thousands of marks worth of property and assaulting someone.â
My hands shook behind my back and I suddenly understood what made that female rage against the law. I wanted to do anything, everything to keep me out of that cell. Screaming, crying, fighting, biting⊠whatever it would take to keep me out of there. I knew though that none of it would work, it would just make my situation worse. Begrudgingly I forced my heavy feet to carry me into the cell, all the way to the bench on the back wall. I sat with a plop and depression marred my face as I watched the cop lock the door.
I hit my head against the wall with a groan as I thought about what led me here, my stupid crazy neighbor. But seemingly my luck didnât run out, it was still finding ways to make the situation worse. My neighbor didnât just live next to me, her limp body was also parked in the cell next to mine. I cursed the wall for not being solid, instead it was just a row of metal bars keeping us apart.
Eventually her body began to stir as she woke up and I mentally prepared myself. Not only for her grating voice but for the verbal abuse that would accompany it.
âLetâs go! Letâs go!â Morrigan called out to her slow moving family, âWeâre burning nighttime!â
Feyre laughed as she hauled Rhys off the couch and hollered one more time for Nesta and Cassian. Azriel was ready, standing dutifully by Mor as he waited with her for the rest of their family. He only took off his leathers at the persistent pestering of Mor. Donning black pants and a black muscle tank, his dark shadows concealed most of him and he looked more like a black mass on two legs. Mor wore her famous color in a tight dress that flowed beautifully over her legs accompanied by a slit that ran to her hips. Feyreâs dress complimented Morâs but in a deep blue that resembled the night sky, Rhys wore his usual tailored garb that matched the silver detailing on Feyreâs dress.
The couple approached the door and Rhys had a far off look in his eyes before speaking, âLooks like itâs just us⊠Nes and Cass are,â he cleared his throat before flashing a coy grin, âbusy.â
âEww,â Mor muttered Turing around and opening the door for everyone. âWhatever weâll have fun on our own!â Mor screamed into the house and only the sound of something falling over upstairs answered her. She rolled her eyes before closing the door behind her.
The pairs made their way through cobble stone roads aiming for their favorite bar. At least once a week Mor would drag them out demanding a good time and she always got her wish. Her and Feyre linked arms as they skipped and the boys walked in a comfortable silence behind them.
âGonna pick up any ladies tonight?â Rhys nudged his brothers shoulder as he teased, âI know Mor will. Wouldnât want you to have to spend the night listening to everyone else enjoy themselves.â Rhys chuckled as he pondered all the different ways to get Feyre out of that form fitting dress. Azriel shook his head, already knowing where his brothers mind had gone.
A small smirk snuck its way onto his lips, âI suppose I could indulge.â
âOoo hoo hoo!â Rhys jested, âMy brother, the fox.â A low chuckle left Azâs lips as he just shook his head again. The light air that surrounded themselves dropped when the girls stopped skipping to take in the scene in front of them.
All of the lights in Ritaâs was on and crowds of people were formed outside. There were multiple patrols going in and out of the bar and some of them were taking statements from the bystanders. Some of the individuals were with medics, either being bandaged or given ice to sooth wounds. Azriel switched gears in the blink of an eye, going from easing going brother to spymaster as he detached to scope the scene.
âWhat the hell!â Mor practically screeched as she pushed through the crowded street, heading into the pub. Rhys and Feyre shared a glance that conveyed their confusion and worry before following Mor inside.
The place was a wreck. Multiple tables were broken and shards of chairs were strewn about. Wherever there wasnât wood chips there was broken glass and the stench of the alcohol that covered the floor attacked their senses upon arrival. The wall that separated the entry way to the hall looked like it had been chopped up with an ax and Rita was behind the bar surveying the scene with distress.
âWhat happened?â Mor asked after rounding the bar and taking a defeated looking Rita into her arms.
âBar fight.â She said simply, âIâm going to have to shut down for the rest of the week. Some of my best bottles are now in puddles on the floor, and that aloneâll take a month to get a new shipment in.â
Mor looked pissed and Rhysâ expression wasnât far behind. To see his families favorite oasis in disarray and people of his court injured had redness creeping up his neck and threatening his face.
An officer strolled in and bowed to his high lord and lady before addressing Rita, âWeâve taken multiple statements and taped off the scene. Thereâs not much more we can do at the moment but weâll be back to collect damage report.â Rita nodded understandingly but Mor wasnât having it.
âNot much more to do?!â Her voice was loud as she screamed, âLook around! Look at this place! This⊠this is a crime!â She was irrational at the moment, she obviously didnât expect the officers to clean up the scene but she wanted- needed- something to be done.
âYesâŠâ the cop blinked before straightening and clearing his throat, âit is. We are taking this very seriously. The suspects are already in custody so there isnât really anything else we can do.â He seemed nervous as he remembered who he was talking to. His eyes darted between a flabbergasted Mor and his high lord, Rhys just nodded and that seemed to calm him down before he practically ran away.
âI am going to kill whoever did this,â Mor seethed, her hands shaking. Rita was her friend and this was her favorite spot in the city, she felt as though the crime was done specifically to her. âI mean- what? What are we going to do?â
Rita just shook her head but Rhysâ attention was redirected when Azriel materialized next to him.
âBar fight, between two females. Subject A attacked subject B and B used her powers to fight off A. 3 bystanders were injured and by the looks of it,â Azriel keen eyes raked over the room before turning back to Rhys, âthousands in damage.â
Rhys let out a heavy sigh before placing a hand on his brotherâs shoulder, âLetâs go. I want to deal with these females myself.â Azriel nodded at his brothers words and there movements were halted.
âDo you want me to come?â Feyre asked, stepping over broken chairs and around puddles to reach them.
Rhysâ eyes softened as he took in his worried mate, her wide eyes scanning the scene for the hundredth time. âNo, stay here. Do what you can to help and try to comfort Mor⊠and Rita.â His eyes danced over to Morrigan who was walking around the hall waving her hands and still screaming, she looked more distressed than Rita did. Feyre nodded and placed a chaste kiss on his cheek, offering Az a supportive smile before making her way to Mor. With that the men shared a determined look before exiting the hall and making their way to the station.
At this point I was hitting my head against the cold wall repeatedly, not hard enough to hurt myself but enough to drown out the nagging from the cell next to mine.
The crazed female, Gala, had woken up and immediately began screeching. She pulled and tugged on the cage door and verbally assaulted any officer who passed. Her attention eventually shifted and she was now honed in on me.
âYou selfish bitch! You couldnât just let me have one night. One peaceful night without your presence! You had to show up and ruin everything! And now, Iâm locked in a cage like some wild animal because you canât control yourself!â
I didnât want to, but I snapped, âYou are a wild animal! Iâm the one who doesnât deserve to be locked up! You might be too dense to remember but you attacked me, I didnât even know you were there!â
Gala began screeching again claiming that I was put here to ruin her life and I canât help but indulged in her childish behavior. Something about this female irked me to my core and soon I was partaking in the screaming match through the bars.
The officer was who was unlucky enough to have his desk placed closest to the holding cells stood up so quick his chair fell over. He whipped around and glared with bloodshot eyes, âShut up! Both of you! Or Iâm adding disorderly conduct to your already long lists.â
Gala scoffed at that and I mimicked the sound, âOnce again,â I said exasperated, âshe started it!â The officer didnât say anything else but a pointed finger came through the bars. His finger shook with his barely contained rage before he looked to Gala who was mumbling about police incompetence and gave her a finger as well. He turned around and quietly picked up his chair before going back to the gargantuan stack of papers on his desk.
After sitting back down I hit my head against the wall one last time shaking my head. All of the other ways the night couldâve ended mocked me as I closed my eyes.
âDonât look so forlorn, not when itâs your fault,â Gala was determined to keep the argument going as she harshly whispered into my cell. She had her face squished between bars as she glared at me and continued her verbal lashing.
I counted my deep breaths as I tried to control the urge to reach through the bars and wring her neck. Images of me slamming her face into the bars repeatedly was my only solace as I tuned out her low shrieking. Even when she whispers sheâs still incredibly annoying.
The venom kept spewing from her mouth until the same officer that brought me in came and unlocked my cell, I shot up and prayed for freedom. He unlocked Galaâs cell too and had the mind to hold her arm, âThereâs someone here to see you two,â his tone was borderline teasing and he led us away from all the desks. âHe says he wants to handle this himself.â
I followed quietly behind as nerves overtook my body, was it the police chief? Was someone in Ritaâs family a judge who wanted to dish out the worst punishment they could? Cold sweat threatened my brow as we made our way into a private office.
Gala was shoved into a leather chair and I stumbled into my own. The magical binds on my wrists made it hard to sit comfortably and I shifted around while the leather squeaked. The officer closed the door with a smile and at that Gala turned in her chair, glaring.
âCan you stop? Even your shifting is annoying me.â
âIâm annoying you?â I felt blood rush back to my face for the umpteenth time, âWell imagine how I felt when you grabbed my hair and started scratching my face!â Your voices were low but the venom was still there.
âDonât act like you didnât have it coming. You go out of your way to ruin my life any chance you get, showing up at Ritaâs tonight⊠I know what youâre trying to do.â
My eyes widened and realization hit me, âYour crazy. Youâre just fucking crazy.â That was the only answer. Gala was out of her fucking mind, thatâs why even when I breathe she cries abuse.
The word crazy seemed to spark something and the screaming match started up again, this time in a lower tone. Something about the formidable air in the office kept us from getting too loud; but you can still scream a whisper.
I couldnât even hear what she was saying over my own words but I knew it was bullshit so I continued to say all of the nasty things that popped into my head.
Our voices were haulted when a cool black mist came over the room, obstructing everything. I couldnât see an inch in front of me as darkness encompassed the room and my entire body. It wasnât mist, it was shadow, and it clung to me like a second skin. The anger was replaced by fear as I tried to determine what was happening, what had stolen my sight and dropped the rooms degree.
Eventually the shadow cleared and suddenly someone was on the other side of the desk, two someoneâs.
The High Lord of the Night Court and his Spymaster. A shiver ran down my spine as I felt the power rolling off them in waves, pushing me further into the chair. They were the last people I expected to see, and the last people I wanted to deal with. There stoney expressions conveyed the anger that was rippling through them.
Rhysand sat poised in the large chair, narrowed eyes studying me and Gala while Azriel stood behind him, arms crossed over his chest with an emotionless face.
Normally I would drool at the sight. Two of the three most handsome men in Velaris, staring me down. Rhysâ perfectly carved face set to impose intimidation and Azriel⊠Iâd seen the spymaster a few times in passing, but seeing him up close was a different story.
His high cheekbones that contoured into a perfect jaw, his Nubian nose that sat perfectly straight above plump lips, hazel eyes that shone through shadows, and a low taper fade that danced across his forehead lovingly. He was the embodiment of beauty, perfection in fae form, awe personified. I knew I should be scared, shaking where I sat, but something in the hazel warmed me, soothed me. I forced myself to look at Rhysand so I could have the right mind of being scared, and it worked.
He stared at us for a few minutes and the tension in the air grew, Gala was crazy but no crazy enough to lash out in front of her high lord, not yet at least. We both sat uncomfortably in the silence and now it was her leather chairs turn to squeak.
âSo,â Rhys began, picking up the paper that was laid in front of him and looking it over, âDisturbing the peace, public intoxication, assault, aggravated assault, battery, criminal mischief, theft, resisting arrest, evading arrest, assault of an officer, intentional infliction of emotional distress, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct, obstruction of justice, trespassing, vandalism, and last but not least hate crimes.â He laid down the paper and I couldnât help but gape at the list he rattled off, there is no way I was being charged with all of that. Especially not the assaulting an officer or evading arrest, I know that was Gala but hate crimes? They canât possibly believe I fought her because she is a lesser fae.
âThis is quite the list youâve racked up,â he spoke again his eyes zeroing in on me. I just looked down, ashamed. I wished my power was to reverse time. I wouldâve never stepped foot into Ritaâs if I knew it would land me here, a meeting with my high lord who seemed determined to dish out terrible punishment. âDo you have anything to say for yourselves.â
I just shook my head, finding my glittery heels very interesting.
âI do,â Gala spoke up, my head snapped to her and I saw a disgusting determination on her face. âI shouldnât be here! I should be getting medical attention, therapy, a protection detail! I am clearly the victim here!â
I knew it didnât help my case but I couldnât help my eye roll. By the looks of it, I was the one in the wrong. I had a couple marks on my face that probably wouldnât bruise as well as minor scratches around my eyes. Gala on the other hand, had bruises and cuts all over her exposed lilac skin. Her silver eyes were bloodshot and one was swollen with green and dark blue hues, a cut lip, and a nose that suffered a gnarly break.
This was bad.
âAlrightâŠâ Rhys started slowly before glancing at the paper once more, âGala is it?â She nodded fervently, âSince youâre the only one with something to say⊠tell me what happened. And donât lie to me.â
Gala took a shaky breath and I almost groaned at her theatrics, âI have been so stressed, you know, I work really hard, with children, not easy work. But I decided to go to Ritaâs, grab a drink. Iâm a grown woman, you know, I wanted to let off some steam. Then she,â she pointed a crooked finger in my direction as she had some how shimmed her bound hand in front of her. As I looked I wondered if it was always like that or if it was crooked because I broke it. âShe followed me there. Sheâs obsessed with me, you know, always doing whatever she can to make my life hard. Sheâs my neighbor, you know. always pestering me and my pets and plants. Sheâs unrelenting.â
I made a noise somewhere between a scoff and a gasp, if anyone was unrelenting it was her. Rhys sent me a harsh glare and the shadowsinger stepped forward, a warning.
I slunk back into my chair and Iâve never seen Gala look so happy.
âWell she followed me to Ritaâs, and I didnât feel safe. I mean sheâs always sneaking around doing things sheâs not supposed to, you know. As a matter of fact she has- well had- a baby hippogriff. Poor thing didnât survive, she probably killed it. But those creatures are illegal in this court, you know,â Rhys nodded and hummed along, I just threw my head back on the chair and stared at the ceiling. Iâm going to rot in jail.
âAnyways so she was being unruly and loud and that dress, I swear this girl would do anything for some attention. Well I went over there to ask her to quiet down, I wasnât the only one getting annoyed with her, you know. But when I touched her shoulder she turned around and started screaming, I put my hands up because I didnât want her to hurt me or anything, you know. She just lost it, screaming, hitting, it was absolutely insane.
She picked up a chair and whacked me. She threw some glass at me and tackled me into the shards. She threw me through a wall! This woman is a danger to our city! A danger to the night court- hel- a danger to all of Prythian! This woman belongs in a cell with no way out!â
By the end of Galaâs tale I couldnât help but stare, my mouth was practically on the floor. He explicitly told her not to lie and yet she had the gall to do it anyway. If I wasnât facing persecution from the most powerful man alive I wouldâve gave her another black eye.
Rhys hummed, processing the story, his violet eyes turned to me. They were swimming with contempt and I wanted a hole to open up and swallow me. I forced tears to the back of my eyes knowing tears would only egg Gala on. âStill having nothing to say?â His voice was deathly calm.
âYes- no!â I cursed the nerves that had my brain scrambled, I needed to calm down before I made things worse for myself. I took a deep breath before looking up again, my eyes caught Azriel and for a brief second something flashed across his face. His eyes got a far off look that matched the high lords. The conversation that happened between them was brief and when the high lord zeroed in on me I felt like the decision was made before I could even speak. I was guilty.
âI did hurt her- bad. But, I didnât start it. I swear I was at Ritaâs first, I didnât even know she was there. I was drinking with my friends and this guy was looking at me, and I was looking at him, and then well we were looking at each other so I didnât even notice when she came up to me, not until she tapped me on the shoulder. She was yelling about my dress, calling me horrible names. At that point the dude had walked away so I was already pissed when I told her âIâm not doin this with you tonightâ and when I turned around she grabbed my hair. Yanked me down to her level and bop bop!â I jerked my shoulder to try and insinuate a punch, âshe was doing my head in and so I grabbed her wrist and tried to remove her from my hair and when I turned she started scratching at my eyes-â
âLiar!â Gala stood up and screamed at me.
âNo! Itâs true and you fucking know it,â I hissed at her. She opened her mouth to yell again but words didnât come out when Rhys let out a low growl, accompanied by an unmistakable look. She was receiving the same the same warning I got earlier.
Rhys nodded at me and I continued, âshe scratched my eyes and I shoved her off of me, that was when she fell into the table. My powers are⊠interesting so the table broke when I pushed her into it. She got up pretty quick after that, she grabbed a chair and started running towards me with it so I grabbed it before it hit me and I hit her with it. Mind you I had a couple shots in me so I was ready, I turned the chair on her and broke it over her. I thought that would be enough but she grabbed a glass from the table and threw it at me. I know those glasses hit some other people but I think when she missed me it upset her because she was screamed and ran at me-
âYou threw the glass at me! I was screaming running away!â
It was my turn to growl at Gala, she only sneered before shutting up again. âShe ran at me and I dodged her and she ran into another table, thatâs how the second table broke. So I grabbed a bottle off the bar and when she came at me again I broke it, on her face. I really thought she would stop after that but she grabbed a tray off the bar that was full of glasses and threw that at me, some of it hit me and so I threw another chair at her. She was under the chair and tackled me to the floor, scratching at my face again. I hit her and it knocked her off of me, she grabbed the broken bottle and she looked like she would kill me so⊠well I picked her up and threw her. Thatâs what put the whole in the wall, and really, thatâs when I thought she was done for real.
So I turn around and go to grab my things because Iâm trying to leave but she grabbes one of those big bottles from behind the bar and threw it.â
âBitch!â Gala was up again this time moving for my face, âYou stupid whore! You know-â her voice was cut off when the ground beneath her feet began to shake, the whole office was shaking.
Rhysand braced his hands on the desk and glared at Gala, âWe heard your story, now I want to hear hers. If you interrupted a fourth time⊠you will regret it.â Galas eyes were wide and she was smart enough to look afraid. She just nodded dumbly before sitting down, her silver eyes darting between the angry high lord and the unyielding spymaster. I waited for Rhys to nod again before continuing.
âIt hit my head and at that point, it wasnât about defending myself, I just wanted to to beat her ass. So yes I did run at her and slammed her into a table, kinda roughly so thatâs how the third table and those chairs broke. Anyway so yea, I get to her and thatâs when I just started hitting her, some guy tried to pull me off but I think I hit him. I really do feel bad about that, Iâll pay for whatever medical treatment he receives. Anyways thatâs when the cops dragged me off of her, three of them I think, they detained me and when they went to try and detain her she freaked. Started fighting the officers, she threw another bottle at the short one and they dragged both of us out. She fought them the whole time, kicking and screaming at the cops.â
When I finished the high lord just stared face still blank, I felt like I needed to explain more, pleade my case further. But he spoke before I could, âSo you guys are neighbors?â
âYes!â Me and Gala both said at the same time, the dirty look we gave each other also happened at the same time.
âYes,â I repeated, âShe has hated me ever since I moved in. Actually Iâm pretty sure sheâs the one who killed my hippogriff.â
Gala snorted, âI wouldnât go near that thing with a ten foot pole! Theyâre dangerous creatures and theyâre illegal here you know!â
âYes, I know,â I mocked her and the fire that was in her eyes in, Ritaâs returned.
Gala jumped up to scream, âYou insolent bitch! You think youâre above everyone but you ruin lives for fun!â
âHow did I ruin your life?!â I was standing now too, âI never did anything to you!â
âLies!â She screeched, âyou know exactly what you did! Sneaking around my garden when Iâm not home!â
I, once again, gaped at her. âSeriously? Thatâs what this is about!? Because I watered you plants when you were out of town?!â
âTrespassing!â If my hands were able to I wouldâve covered my ears, her tone was dangerously high. âYou trespassed on my property! Not to mention you tried to steal my cat, probably to feed it to you hippogriff!â
âWhat?!â The whole situation was utterly insane to me, âI was trying to be a good neighbor! And your cat followed me home. Probably to get away from you.â
Gala was seething, âYou donât talk about my cat! You stole him after you broke in! Broke into my garden and ruined my work!â
A dark chuckle fell from my lips, âI ruined your work by keeping your plants alive? Youâre fucking crazy,â I turned to the high lord to try and find some support, âYou hear this? Sheâs fucking crazy!â
âIâm going to fucking kill you!â Gala screamed as she shook from rage.
âCome on bitch. Iâll beat your ass- again!â She ran at me only to hit an invisible wall and falling onto her behind with no way to brace herself.
âEnough!â Rhys voice was commanding now and the primal part of me coward at the sound. He was visibly angry. âThis all started over a garden?â His voice held an incredulous tone and I couldnât blame him, the story was ridiculous.
âIt started before the garden, sheâs had something against me since ever I moved in.â My voice was calm as I spoke, I didnât want to anger him more.
Gala on the other hand didnât seem to care much, she rose from the floor before continuing her rampage, âShe moved into my quiet neighborhood, and my life has been hel ever since! Always singing loudly in the morning. Having friends over at night. Prancing around in skimpy dresses. Growing plants that I havenât been able to grow just to rub it in my face! You should see it, sheâs always flicking her perfect hair and smiling at everyone who looks at her. I canât stand it! All the males coming to her doorstep trying to be with her, females flocking to gain a friendship with her. In all my years no one has ever tried to befriend me! I hate how everyone loves her! I hate it! And I hate her!â
I just blinked at Galas out burst and suddenly everything clicked. She was jealous of me. I stepped back and slumped into the chair at my knees. I just shook my head, all of this over some petty insecurities.
âNell!â Rhys called and the officer that escorted us poked his head in, âCan you escort Y/n here back to her holding cell? Iâd like to speak with Gala in private.â Nell just nodded, he moved towards me but I stood up and met him half way. All the anger was lost to me as I followed him all the way to the back of the station.
I sat down in my cell and my eyes were trained on the floor, the tears I was holding back finally found there way out. Nell locked the door and when I didnât hear him walk away I looked up. âI heard everything, and off the record,â he leaned in, âI think sheâs crazy too.â
I offered him a sad smile before looking back down. She was crazy but she was hurting, I knew her jealousy wasnât my fault but I couldnât help but feel guilty. I was trying to be helpful, living my life as happily as possible but for some twisted reason I was hurting her. Tears continued to fall until a small whisper of a shadow nuzzled my face and wiped them away.
The entire scene that played out in front of the brothers was no less than absurd. Almost comical, Rhys might have laughed if he wasnât playing the role of the dutiful high lord. But the most interesting part was what Azriel had whispered in his mind. The girl, the main perpetrator, was his mate.
The second your voice hit his ears, Azriel almost fell to his knees. Your voice was melodic, soft and sweet, reminiscent of a summer breeze. The only thing he could do was petrify himself, to keep from falling in front of you, kissing your minor injuries, and tearing the throat out of the female who spoke ill of you.
He saw the tears threatening your eyes as you stood up to move out of the room. Every part of his body screamed at him to comfort you, hold you, inform you that you arenât responsible for another faeâs bitterness.
When you left Rhys interrogated Gala further, listening to her wild tales of all the times you did something terrible. It truly sounded like you were just living your life and for some reason she hated that. She called you names, names that threatened Azriels resolution. He wanted to rip the spiteful bitch to shreds and finish what you started. He couldnât lie, he felt some sick pride while listening to your side of the story. He knew if he was there things wouldâve ended much worse for her.
Rhysand listened diligently, nodding and humming as Gala went on. Azriel slightly resented his brother for not striking her down where she sat. Rhys eventually cleared his throat, indicating that he was ready to speak. âSo Gala, do you remember the first thing I said to you?â She nodded dutifully, âWhen I told you not to lie to me?â She nodded again, more unsure this time. Rhys just gave her a saccharine grin, âYou wouldnât mind if I checked, would you?â
âI- well-â she shifted under the intensity of the stares, âItâs just my thoughts are my own, you know⊠I would like to keep it that way.â Her confidence wavered and suddenly she was unable to make eye contact.
Rhys chuckled lowly, âLook Gala, I just want to help. That- that wretch has made you suffer enough. Let me in; and Iâll take care of all of it.â
A deep growl came from Azriel his tight grip on his shadows loosened, causing them to swirl around him menacingly. Rhys knew the reaction was for him, he would react the same to hear his brother speak such words about Feyre. Galas eyes widened, taking the scene as a threat to her. She nodded lamely and with permission Rhys slipped into her mind.
Azriel tried to reign in his shadows, struggling against their will, it wasnât until they relayed your voice he relaxed. They carried soft whispers to his ear and a deep breath pushed from his mouth at the sound.
I sat in the cell watching the lone shadow dance around for me, it seemed it was attempting to cheer me up. I chuckled lightly at its antics. An officer walked past the cell and it darted into my hair, hiding. This naughty shadow wasnât meant to be here, I wonder if my power is what called it or if it came on its own free will. I decided to channel my power, hone it in on the male who the shadow belonged to. After a few seconds of concentration, I was connected.
âHi,â I whispered and it circled my head, running across my face before landing on my knee.
Hello, hello, it whispered back. Beautiful, so so beautiful.
I laughed airily, âThank you, so are you.â The shadow whirled around at the compliment, happy to hear praises. âListen, Iâm innocent. You have to believe me, I didnât start this. I didnât do anything to her.â
Innocent, innocent, it chanted and I let out a breath. The shadow believed me, I wondered if it was a reflection of its master or if it had its own will.
âCan you tell your master?â I questioned, leaning down, âCan you convince him?â
Heâs here, it whispered back and I snapped my neck up to find none other than Azriel. He was leaning against the bars giving me a devilish smirk. He looked beautiful, his tan arms crossed showing off rippling muscles as his eyes glanced over me lazily. I pushed my thighs together, feeling hot under his gaze.
He wants you too, the naughty little shadow whispered, causing a blush to creep up my cheeks as I looked away.
He chuckled lowly as he turned to face me completely, his forearm met the bar above his head as he leaned in. The ravishing sight had me licking my lips, something his smirk told me he caught.
âCool power,â he mused, his eyes shone with mischief as he held my gaze.
Busted, the shadow whispered and I rolled my eyes at it.
âVery cool, and very useful.â My voice was confident despite the shaking under my skin.
He huffed a laugh before leaning back and crossing his arm over his chest once more. He doesnât know what heâs doing.
He does, the shadow outed him and it was my turn to laugh.
âIâm guessing thatâs where you got the strength from, you channeled someone elseâs power to throw that poor female into a wall.â
âOh please,â it was my turn to lean back. I crossed my legs slowly and I bit my lip as his eyes tracked the movement. âThat bitch had it coming.â
âOoo,â he purred and the warmth between my legs spread to the rest of my body, âNaughty little girl, donât you know? Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.â His head cocked to the side and I mimicked his movement, a smirk of my own forming. âBad girls need punished.â
I slowly uncrossed my legs and pushed myself up, moving towards him. I was hot, burning under his gaze. Everything tingled as gave into some intrinsic need that command I be closer to him. I pushed my chest against the bars and my low cut dress showed off my cleavage. His eyes lowered to exactly where I knew they would. The shadow danced excitedly through my hair as if it too loved our proximity.
âAnd will you be personally handing out my punishment?â I made my voice sickly sweet, conveying an inappropriate innocence. I looked up at him through my eyelashes and batted them sweetly.
A low rumble left his chest and I hummed at the sound. He knows exactly what heâs doing.
Leaning in he whispered, âI donât think anyone else would do it properly.â His eyes raked the entirety of my body and I thanked the mother for putting on my most flattering dress. The double entendre coupled with his hazy eyes had me ready to tear apart the steel and pounce.
âPromise?â
His scared had gripped the bar so tight his knuckles turned white. Looks like Iâm not the only one ready to tear through steal.
Suddenly he leaned back and crossed his arms again, smirk still evident. A second later Rhysand and officer Nell were at the cell door, and Rhys was looking at me with a pleased look that only garnered confusion.
âWhereâs Gala?â I looked around but she wasnât in the station and I didnât see her exit the office.
âGalaâs not going to be a problem for you anymore,â the simplicity in his words was slightly troubling. I didnât want anything bad to happen to Gala, not anymore at least. I tilted my head and raised an eyebrow waiting for an answer. Rhys noted my concern, âNothing bad. But I looked through some of her memories and- what she felt for you, it was completely irrational. She needs help so weâre going to get her some. Very far away.â
I let out a breath which was followed by an airy chuckle. I leaned my head against the bar and my chuckle turned into a full belly laugh. âThank gods, she was fucking crazy.â
Rhys smiled as he waved his hand and my magical bonds fell. My hands wrapped around my own wrists soothingly and I stepped out of the now open door. âThereâs still the issue of all the damage Ritaâs suffered,â Rhys cocked his brow, interested in what I might say to that.
âWhatever it is, Iâll pay it,â I made hands that conveyed that of a promise.
âThe damage reports come to around 4,090 gold marks,â officer Nell responded, his coy smile ever prevalent. I made an O shape with my mouth and rocked on my heels back and forth. Thatâs about 6 paychecks, without factoring the need to pay rent or buy food.
âIâll pay it,â Azriel said simply. I whipped my head around to look at him, on the cusp of disagreeing. âWell youâll pay it, itâll come out of your check; when you come work for us.â
My shock was evident on my face and my mouth opened and closed lamely before I mustered up a âWhat?â
âYour powers,â he clicked his tongue as he stepped next to me, close enough for our arms to brush. âThey could come in handy, far more handy for us than they do at some desk job.â
I shook my head as I processed everything. How did Azriel know where I worked? I suppose thatâs dumb, heâs a spymaster and I told the police earlier. But was he really able to offer me a job, on Rhysands court?
I looked to my high lord for confirmation and he just smiled, âWay more handy than having you behind a desk,â he shoved his hands in his pocket with a shrug, âplus we already know you can fight.â
I laughed at that and my hand met my head as I mulled it over, I would be stupid not to accept. I knew my powers were unique and I always wanted to do more, I just never knew where to start. âSure, I never liked my job anyway.â I tried to play it off cool but my soul was bouncing on the inside. The sneaky shadow seemed happy too as it whirled around my head and down through my fingers.
âSounds good,â Rhys clapped and turned to walk with Nell, âOh,â he looked over his shoulder, âBe sure to apologize to Rita.â
I brought my hand to my forehead offering a salute, âYes sir!â He smiled before placing a gentle hand on Nellâs shoulder and walking away.
A giggle stole from my mouth as I clapped my hands over my heart and turned to Azriel, he had a pleased look on his face. I decided in that moment I would do anything to keep it there. âWell, that all worked out nicely.â
âLucky you,â he purred, before tilting his head down and whispering, âNot lucky enough to escape your punishment though.â
The darkness returned to his eyes and my whole body lurched, begging to be punished right here, in front of the whole station.
I hummed as I wrapped my hands around his strong forearm, pushing onto my tiptoes and leaning into his ear. âDonât hold out on me shadowsinger.â I giggled as I pulled back and bounced towards the door. On my way out I felt some more shadows, sneaking up and brushing against my thighs before coming up to whisper to me.
Bad, bad girl, they said. I just smirked as I pushed out of the door into daybreak. Who knew getting arrested could be so exciting.
A/N: I didnât plan on writing this but I got the idea and since itâs my day off I went for it :p
If you guys like it I would be sooo down to do a part 2??? Maybe Iâll be brave enough to make a smutty 2 :D
Anywhooo my requests are always open so donât be shy ;)
As always, if you made it this far⊠I LOVE YOU<3<3
Something I've really noticed in SJM's writing of Rhysand:
She'll constantly say one thing about him but the writing will tell us exactly the opposite.
Like she'll tell us that Rhysand is super feminist or some shit and we're just supposed to...agree.
But he hasn't done shit to help Illyrian females who get their wings cut off every day. Making laws without enforcing them is useless.
Which leads into my second point:
She tells us 70 times a chapter how powerful Rhysand is, yet he's unable to force the Illyrians to follow laws? Pls be fr.
She tells us he believes in the equality of all beings.
Yet he sexually assaulted a 19 yo human and he separates the CoN from Velaris? And also says bOtH sIdEs MaDe MiStAkEs. Bitch stfu.
She tells us this man is uber handsome and desirable.
Yet he's had no serious relationship in like 500 years.
Tamlin has had relationships with a ton of people as was stated in book 1. But Rhysand? No relationships or even casual fucks as far as we know. Bro is just celibate somehow.
We KNOW Lucien is hot because everyone in Prythian plus the Children of the Blessed are instantly dumbstruck when they look at him and it ain't because of the scar lovelies. Plus we even have LUCIEN being out on border control "WITH SOME COMPANY!" As in he was fucking someone. Plus he had Jesminda ofc.
And we have Tamlin being insecure (it's a retcon but whatever) of Lucien in ACOWAR when it comes to Feyre.
We have SJM telling us Rhysand is super duper smart and shit.
Yet I've seen no demonstration of even the slightest bit of tact from him. He couldn't even make the High Lords listen to a word he was saying without violence.
But Nesta, a human just turned Fae, was able to make all of them listen without violence.
We've seen Lucien use tact when he played spymaster in book 1, when he used his cunning to try and guide Feyre to the answer in book 1, when he and Feyre together use the Bogge to assert their dominance over the Hybern twins, and when he was able to send a sample over to his friend Nuan about the faebane. Plus there's the fact that he saw through all of Feyre's bullshit and he survived the cutthroat Autumn Court and he currently balances three roles while still dressing immaculately.
She'll tell us Rhysand believes in choice.
Yet she wrote Rhysand forcing himself on Feyre, Rhysand forcing Feyre into a bargain, not permitting her to go back to Spring, not giving her the necessary info to make a proper decision over ANYTHING in Night (biggest example of this is the Weaver scene), hiding her malignant pregnancy from her and restricting her movements, and locking Lucien and Nesta up in houses. I could go on but you know...
Sjm needs to realize that SAYING something doesn't make it true. You have to PROVE IT with the actions and storyline you undertake. ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS.