Accidental Chemistry - Coming Soon!
Summary: Azriel had his whole life figured out. He was the head of his department at work. He had a nice house with his own space. He could pick up any woman he wanted for a good fuck before moving on. He didnβt need commitmentβdidnβt want it. But when his brother and sister-in-law ask for a favor, he finds his whole life turning upside down in the blink of an eye. All because of his new roommate: recently divorced Elain Archeron.
And her three-month-old son.
~~~~~
I'm very excited to announce an upcoming fic, Accidental Chemistry. I have to give all my love to @duskwhisperer for sending me this idea and letting me run with it. Thank you, babes! π I'm working on building out parts right now and don't have an official launch date, but I couldn't not use @elriel-month to announce this new project. Can't wait to share it with you! And to tide you over, here's a little bit of a sneak peek at chapter 1. πππ
Feyre sighed, sitting forward in her seat like she needed the strength to speak. βAz, weβor Iβneed to ask a favor of you.β
Ah, finally. The reason they invited him over for dinner tonight. He indicated for her to go ahead with a wave of his brutally scarred hand.
She took a deep breath, settling her nerves. βI was wondering if Elain could move in with you, into the loft you renovated over your garage? Until sheβs back on her feet, at least.β
His brows shot into his hairline. Frankly, out of all the favors she couldβve asked him for, that was not even one that crossed his mind. Before he could get out a word in edgewise, Feyre barreled on.
βI know itβs inconvenient for you and that itβs totally inappropriate for me to ask you of this, but Elain has so much going on right now and her husband is taking advantage of the situation, and she has nowhere else to go, and Iββ
βFeyre,β he interrupted her run-on sentence. βItβs okay. She can stay with me.β
Silver lined those blue-gray eyes that made him suspicious that other hands were at play here. Had her husband been abusive? Feyreβs relief that he agreed to allow her sister to live with him seemedβ¦so out of place, he supposed.
βThank you, Azriel. Truly. Sheβs going to be so relieved.β
This could be good for him. Once Elain was back on her feet and at a good point in her life again, there would be no harm in trying to pursue her, right? Obviously, heβd never take advantage of her, especially when she was in a vulnerable position after her divorce, but if she showed interest, there wasnβt any reason he couldnβt ask her out.
Right?
Rhys subtly nudged his wife, though it did not go unnoticed by him.
βThere is one more thing.β
That had his stomach tightening in knots. Now what? After a beat, he finally said, βWell, spit it out Feyre. Donβt leave me hanging in suspense.β
βShe has a son.β
All thoughts emptied from his head. βWhat?β he asked in confusion.
Her hands folded together as she leaned her forearms on the table. βElain? She has a three-month-old son.β
~~~~~
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βtis the damn season my friends. and what do you know, i actually have something to share this year, itβs a christmasΒ elriel month miracle! so without further ado, allow me to presentβ
elriel month, week 1: shy glances & restricted touches
summary: elain and azriel share a dance at nesta and cassianβs mating ceremonyΒ
tags: post-acosf, established relationship (they worked things out ok), forbidden love, meddling sisters, feyre being a busybody and rhys being a pillΒ
wc: 2.1k
read on ao3 here!Β
While decorated every bit as ostentatiously as Nesta had promised, the ceremony itself had been small and intimate. The same was true for the celebration that came after. The structure at the heart of Rhysandβs gardens shone like a beacon against the darkening sky. To call it a tent would be doing it a disservice. Although the walls were made of sheer, breezy fabric, the space was as grand as any ballroom. The cobblestone paths were lined with faelights, all winding their way through flora and statues, leading up to the large fountain at its center. The water itself seemed to glow, the streams reflecting the light of the candles floating in the water. Faelights and flowers hung above, moving with the waves of fabric high above everyoneβs heads.Β
Despite knowing mostly everyone, Azriel was standing alone, quietly uncomfortable. He sipped his sparkling wine out of a gilded flute, as close to the corner of the space as he could get without getting his wings tangled up in the gossamer panels.
And he was watching Elain.Β
He watched her through windows and over dining tables. Across ballrooms. The place didnβt matter. Azrielβs eyes could pick Elain out of any crowd, bring her to the foreground of any landscape. She was hardly more than a blur of lilac chiffon and bronze curls as Cassian whipped her around and around and around. Petals fell out of the laurel around her head, getting whisked around her by the moving air, as if they were dancing with her. Elainβs laugh was breathless and manicβAzriel shouldnβt have been able to hear it over the music and the conversation. But he could.Β
When the music slowed to a stop, Elain stumbled out of Cassianβs grasp and into a wobbly curtsy. She wasnβt looking at Azriel when that grin stretched across her face, but he felt his own lips twitch in response. A near smile, small and involuntary.Β
A shadow curled around his ear, whispering. Azriel schooled his expression back into neutrality, but it was too late, because when he looked to where the shadow had indicated, Feyre was already looking from him to the dancefloor. Her brows flicked up at him as she took another sip of wine. Azriel looked away. Busybody.Β
But his shadows restlessly tugged at him, urging his attention back to Feyre. Azrielβs stomach dropped at the sight of his High Lady weaving through the small crowd toward him. Azriel debated melting into his shadows, and as if reading the decision on his face, Feyre disappeared. Within a blink, she was standing right beside him. Her posture deceptively casual, arms crossed and a hip popped.Β
She angled her chin to look up at him, eyes dancing. βIβm sure sheβd say yes if you asked.βΒ Β
As if asking was even an option.Β
βI donβt know what youβre talking about,β Azriel said, not looking at Feyre, but rather at Rhysβs approaching figure. There was no doubt the bastard had been poking around in Feyreβs mind. She tended to let her guard down when spirits were involved.Β
Feyre rose a brow. βYouβd think that half a millenia of experience would make you a better liar, Az.βΒ
Rhys stopped behind Feyre, encircling her in his arms. They both relaxed into one another, making it impossible to tell who was supporting who. Rhys playfully chided, βLeave the poor man be, Feyre darling.βΒ Β
βWhy? So he can brood alone in the corner?βΒ
Azriel wished it had merely been a joke at his expense. He looked to Rhys, all but pleading with him to pretend it had been. But the High Lord had straightened, and was regarding Feyre with a slight frown when he answered her question, as if it had been in earnest, βNeed I remind you that LucienβElainβs mateβis here?βΒ Β
Azriel felt himself flinch at the word, but Feyre was utterly unmoved. She rolled her eyes, turning to face her mate.Β βSheβs already danced with Cassian.βΒ
βThatβs different,β Rhys said stiffly. βWeβre at his wedding.βΒ
Feyre took a step closer to her mate. Her voice was low and serious, βThey havenβt spoken all night. All year, even.βΒ
Β Rhys looked ready to argue, but Azriel cleared his throat. βDo I need to be a part of this conversation, or may I find another corner to brood alone in?βΒ
Feyre at least had the decency to blush, but it didnβt stop her from answering him, βNo, you may not. Itβs my sisterβs wedding and as your High Lady, I order you to at least act like youβre having a good time.βΒ
Azriel was tiring of being ordered to do things.Β
βI am having a good time.βΒ
Feyre rolled her eyes at his flat tone, but instead of calling him out on another lie, she grabbed him by the elbow, and grinned up at him, βThen letβs make it a great time.βΒ
She started walking without any agreement from Azriel, and before Rhys could make another argument. Although he did have enough time to level a warning glare over Feyreβs head. Azriel met it blankly, and allowed himself to be escortedβor rather, draggedβacross the floor.
Elain was still breathing heavily and fanning herself when they approached her at the refreshment table. Her eyes widened when she noticed them, darting between Feyre and Azriel a few times before she seemed to remember the drink she was pouring. Another second and the glass would have overflowed.Β
βFeyre!β She greeted her sister cheerily, before turning to him, as if he were an afterthought, βAzriel.βΒ
Feeling Feyreβs keen eyes on him, Azriel kept his response equally bland, dipping his chin in a polite nod.Β
βAzriel was just telling me how much he wanted to dance.β Feyre lied, about as convincingly as he had to her. He resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose and sigh.Β
βIs that where youβre headed?β Elain asked. She was much better at this than Azriel. βTry not to step on his toes too much.βΒ
Feyre graced her sister with an obscene gesture, but was smiling when she continued, βHe wonβt have to worry about me or his feet, because I told him youβd be happy to accompany him.βΒ
βDid you see the way Cassian was spinning me? I might lose my meal if I go for another so soon,β Elain deflected, polite as anything.Β
βAzriel is a gentleman,β Feyre said, simultaneously reassuring and dismissive, as she took her sister by the wrist.Β
He barely had time to wince apologetically behind Feyre as she all but tossed Elain into him. And as they took to the floor, Azriel saw Feyre out of the corner of his eye, looking like the cat who got the cream, before she winked out of existence. Azriel did a double-take, looking again to to spot sheβd disappeared from.Β
A shadow nudged his attention to the string quartet, and Feyre, talking to the violinist. He watched the musician nod with a smile before signaling to her band. The strings sighed through the room, a slow, tender melody.Β
Azriel couldnβt decide if Feyre was trying to help him or punish him.Β
Elainβs face was still flushed from her wild dance with Cassian, and the front pieces of her hair had come loose. All he wanted was to tuck it behind her ear and let his fingers linger. Instead, he reached for her hand. The other hovered over her waist, touching only the fabric of her skirts that fluttered with each step. The music flowed, but they were a branch caught in an eddyβstiffly spinning, every step jerking and awkward and so unlike the easy, fluid movements of the other couples around them. Nothing about this was easy.Β
Azriel struggled to look at Elain while she was regarding him with carefully polite indifference, and with imitating the expression himself. Especially as her hand gradually traveled from his shoulder to the back of his neck, drawing herself infinitesimally closer. Her thumb gently stroked the sliver of exposed skin just above his collar. The gestureβundetectable through the shadows that clung to him like smokeβwas small, but it sent a shiver down his spine. His eyes fell closed, indulging in it.Β
With everything else blocked out, it was tempting to pretend it was just the two of them. That they were swaying to a music box's tune in low lamplight, no steps to count or guests to sidestep. No High Lord, who would almost certainly be suspicious Azriel was using his shadows to obscure something forbidden. Coming back to himself, Azriel banished the shadows and took half a step back, nearly out of her range. Cool air replaced her touch on his neck as her hand slipped to his bicep.Β
The lovely veneer of Elainβs faceβher maskβfell. Azriel could read the anger and frustration in the twitch of her jaw, and the resigned understanding in her eyes. Those eyes, impossibly expressive and rich as freshly-tilled earth. Sometimes, looking into them felt like being buried alive.Β
He managed to break her gaze, only to find himself looking instead at Feyre, engaged in conversation with Lucien Vanserra. Azriel almost had to admire the craftiness of his High Lady, even if he knew it was in vain.Β
This waltz would lead nowhere, and Vanserra was far from distracted. Azriel didn't want to look at him, eitherβhe was all too familiar with the shadow looming in the Autumn prince's remaining eye. He too knew the ache of longing; it crept up in him even now.Β
His hand was on the small of her back, but in the way that mattered, Elain was out of his reach. Less distance, more timeβthere was always something to long for, some part of her he couldnβt have. Even the warm pressure of her hand in his was dulled by his damaged nerves. Her voice was distant, too, as they talked about the food and how much Cassian cried during his vows. Dull, safe topics that could be overheard by anyone. Until there was nothing left to comment idly on, and silence stretched between them, tight as a bowstring. Azrielβs eyes drifted up to the heavens for help. Or at least some inspiration. He marveled at how he could have everything and nothing to say, all at once. The stars were hidden by gauzy panels of fabric, swooping overhead, decorated with the elaborate floral garlands Elain had spent the last few days constructing.Β
βThe flowers are beautiful.β Heβd already said as much, while he watched her work on them late into the night. But she still beamed at him.Β
βI should hope so, after all that work,β she said. βI don't think I'll ever get the smell of gardenias off my hands.βΒ
Azriel lifted a brow, painting an expression of skepticism as he drew their joined hands in. Adjusting his grip so her hand covered his, he pressed his nose gently to her knuckles, his lips brushing her skin as he inhaled. Elain smiled. Her fingers unfurled, smoothing over his cheek and until his face was cradled in her open palm. Azriel leaned into it, kissing the delicate skin of the inside of her wrist. She was warm and soft and definitely smelled faintly of gardenias. His hand covered hers, holding it against his cheek.Β
The hair on the back of his neck prickled with the chill of his shadows coming back to him, unbidden, as they did when there was danger. Heβs coming. In the same breath, Elain went completely still, except for her heart. Azriel felt her pulse quicken against his bottom lip right before she snatched her hand away. With a vise-like grip on his hand, Elain hauled them back into a proper waltz for all of six counts before Rhysand tapped him on the shoulder.Β
His drawl was charming as ever, but his eyes were cold as he said, βMind if I cut in?βΒ
It wasnβt really a question, so Azriel didnβt answer. He merely stepped away, ducking into a cursory bow. Elainβs curtsy was smooth and elegant, but her eyes were on Rhys. He was smiling at her, all of his fury banished from his countenance. βAfter seeing you with my brothers, I must confess Iβm starting to feel a little left out.βΒ
Elainβs returning smile was so lovely, it was almost impossible to tell that it didnβt reach her eyes. βWell, we canβt have that, can we?βΒ
Rhys offered his elbow, and Elain's fingers had barely brushed his sleeve before he was whisking her away, further into the crowd of revelers. She knew better than to look back, but Azrielβs eyes followed her until he was left staring blankly at gap the High Lord of the Night Court had left in their wake.
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