#acotar ff

This wasn’t the first date. Nor the second. It was the sixth date between you and Azriel. When you downloaded that god-awful dating app your friends had you get, you never expected to match with someone so mysterious yet gentle in unexpected ways.

A quiet blade sheathed in silk.

However, what wasn’t quiet was the rumbling motorcycle engine beneath you two as he drove toward the lookout spot.

His secret, special spot. Azriel mentioned it to you through texts and the thought of something so secretive to him enticed you. Of course, you said yes.

“Closer—“

A demanding tone. Yet it held a sense of carefulness to it. You scooted yourself closer to the male. Your arms locked around his waist tighter while he leaned into the final turn like he trusted the road itself.

The bikes roar simmered as he came to an easy stop. Placing both boots flat on the ground, turning his head to look at you. “Wow… Az, this is breathtaking…” A mere whisper fluttering through your lips as you took the scene in.

From the cliff, the city lights gleamed brightly in the distance, and the stars twinkled ever so perfectly above both of you.

“Isn’t it?”

His voice purring lowly, sending a shiver down your spine as you stared over at him. But Azriel? He was looking at you. Drinking in your beauty. The view that was simply you.

“It’s so sweet of you to bring me here…”

You felt the apples of your cheeks shade into a deep crimson. His intense gaze burning into yours. And for a moment you felt your heartbeat pick up. Perhaps the one between your legs as well.

A sly smirk twitched onto his lips as he hopped off the bike and onto the gravel road. Leaving you straddled on it. “You deserve it. A special spot for a special girl-“

Butterflies filled your belly. So sweet yet so damn smooth. You felt yourself staring at the handsome man, getting lost in those hazel eyes of his. But Azriel? He was doing the same, yet the amber specks were slowly darkening. “W-what? What is it?”

A breath. A tension growing between you both. Feeling a pull to him. That same sly smirk only seemed to spread wider across his features.

“Every time I look at you…I want to touch you…”

So smooth yet again. Warmth ran throughout your entire body as he brushed some of your hair behind your ear. Fuck it. He was gentleman enough. It had been a few dates. You needed him. Fucking craved him.

“Then… touch me.”

The whisper hardly left your mouth before you felt his soft lips slam to yours. His body pressing firm and tightly against your own while his other hand gripped your waist tightly.

Heated. The kiss was instantly turning into one of seduction. Azriel repositioned you, turning you to face him as you sat on the bike. The vibration from the engine only building up that arousal between your legs more so.

“God— I’ve been waiting to taste you.” He growled, his hand snaking down from your cheek to your breast. Firmly grasping it before slipping lower to the hem of your flowy sundress.

You smiled through the kiss. “And? How do I taste?” Teasing Azriel, a small groan emitted low from his throat. “Absolutely sensational.” He husked into your mouth, his hand now massaging the inside of your thigh.

A soft little whimper slipped through your lips, only giving him that approval even more. He traced over your dampened lace panties. “Got you soaked already, hm?”

That damn domineering tone. You managed a breathy “yes—“ before he yanked your panties to the side. Taking his pointer finger and running it along your slit to tease you.

Your breath hitched as he moved his mouth down to your jaw, kissing until he got to the delicate side of your neck. “You gonna be a good girl for me, beautiful?” Again, you gave a quick and eager head nod.

With that, Azriel thrusted two fingers inside of you. The cool feeling of his silver rings only adding onto the pleasurable sensation. “F-fuck!” you cried out while he smirked against your subtle skin.

“You can’t control yourself, can you? Feels too good already?”

He chuckled under his breath before pulling his head back to stare into those submissive eyes of yours. “So good, Az— fuck. You really know what you’re doing.”

“I know I do.”

His thick fingers moved in such ways that it could only be described as otherworldly. A come here motion with both of them before he stretched his thumb out to press on your swollen little bud.

All the sensations were making you melt for the male. But what was really getting you now? When Az reached over with his free hand, twisting the throttle which only made the seat vibrate harder. The motorcycle purring along with you.

“You like feeling the bike's vibration while I finger fuck this slit?” He asked as your body jolted, a sea of moans effortlessly slipping through your now swollen lips.

Again, you nodded eagerly. Euphoric sensations only rising more so. “Y-yes. I do- god it feels— fuck!- it feels so good—“

A mess. You were slowly becoming a mess for Azriel. God did he adore this sight of you. And this was just some foreplay. Nothing crazy. But god, you couldn’t even imagine how great the sex would be with him.

“You feel how close you are to cummin’ from just my fingers? Imagine my cock-“

Azriel moved his head swiftly, dropping his lips back to the crook of your neck. Kissing, biting, and sucking as he pleased. Leaving his mark on his new beautiful conquest. You.

“God— I’m really close. Really fucking close.” Your entire body started to quiver. But the biker used that same free hand to twist the throttle yet again. The vibration from revving up the engine sending you right over the edge.

“I know, sweetheart, I know… That’s a good girl- Fuck— cummin’ on my fingers like that.”

Az talked you through an intense and pleasurable orgasm. His darkened gaze falling to watch as your juices squirted out onto his hand and rings. Drenching the saddle of his bike.

Once you started to catch your breath, you felt your eyes flicker between his. Heart racing as the tension grew. “Az, that was—“ Your words cut off when suddenly bright headlights were zooming in your direction.

“Fuckin’ Hell! Hop on, babygirl-“

Low and demanding yet again, you quickly obeyed. listening to him as you adjusted yourself. Both of you repositioned on the motorcycle before he took off.

Some random people were driving around the spot. You didn’t want them to see anything. And Az? He didn’t want anyone to see you in such a vulnerable position. Because that was only for his eyes.

Possessive and jealous already, though he wouldn’t say that aloud. Not yet at least. He craved you like no other. And even though he didn’t get to feel your walls stretch around his cock tonight, he knew he would soon. Especially hearing the little noises you made for him.

But getting this little teaser? Fuck it made his imagination run wild until the next time he’d see you…

Ahhh first biker!az fic🥹 love making au’s come to life! Hope yall enjoyed this one, plenty more to comeee

As always asks & requests are open!🤍

divider linked in main ml🌙

Cassian

Cider, lanterns, laughter, costumes, the whole All Hallows’s  Eve Festival might as well have been invented for Cassian. He won a ridiculous number of games, cheated only when it made you laugh, and kissed you wet and grinning after an unfair victory at apple-bobbing.

“You’re insufferable,” you told him, breathless, pushing him off you teasingly.

“You love me like this,” he shot back, hauling you into a spinning dance as a band struck up something loud and fast. His hands were everywhere, steady at your waist, teasing at your hips, until the music slowed and so did he.

“You look happy,” you said softly.

He ducked his head, that rare soft smile peeking through the swagger as he brushed his lips against your jaw. “You do that.”

Your heart skipped, and before you could respond, he twirled you around and dipped you the moment you faced him again. It was so sudden you didn’t even have time to gasp before he leaned down again and started kissing your throat right there on the dance floor. 

“Cassian, people are staring!” you hissed, swatting at him.

“Let them,” he murmured against your skin, voice muffled and smug.

You somehow finally distracted him with a pint of ale, which worked, until you regretted  it later when he was spectacularly drunk.

When another drunk tried to flirt with you, Cassian didn’t even glance his way. “Sorry, brother,” he said mildly, drawing you closer. “She’s busy.”

“With what?” you asked, amused.

He pulled you into his lap, brushing his mouth over your cheek. “Me.”

You burst out laughing. He looked ridiculously proud of himself for managing that answer.

You spent the rest of the night dragging him from stall to stall, his arm slung heavy around your shoulders, both of you giggling under the strings of faelights. Velaris shimmered with lanterns and laughter. And Cassian glanced up a few times, eyes half-lidded and soft. “Oh, sweetheart,” he slurred,”we should stay and have fun with the others.”

You sighed, adjusting his weight. “We already did, Cass. You’re barely conscious.”

He grinned sleepily. “Still fun.”

By the time you made it home, you barely managed to shove him onto the bed. But before you could step away, his hand caught yours, tugging you done onto his chest.

“Better,” he muttered, smirking. His arms locked around you in a possessive, heavy, unrelenting hold, so you couldn’t move even if you tried.

And just like that, the Lord of Bloodshed and General of the Night Court was out cold, snoring loud enough to wake the dead, with you stuck on top of him.

Rhysand

Rhysand had insisted on throwing a masquerade ball at the River House, because of course he did. Velaris was alive with lanterns, children running in painted masks, but the real spectacle was the party he’d arranged. Velvet draped the walls, golden candlelight flickered from every corner, and music swelled in the grand hall as half the city danced beneath enchanted chandeliers.

“You do know this isn’t your holiday, right?” you teased as he pulled you onto the dance floor. His mask was black and gold, but you’d recognize that smug grin anywhere.

“Everything is my holiday if I decide it is,” he murmured against your ear, spinning you before drawing you flush against him again. “Besides, what good is Hallows’ Night if I can’t make a spectacle of you?”

You laughed despite yourself, your mask slipping a little as he leaned closer. “So this whole ball was just an excuse to show me off?”

“Obviously,” he said without a hint of shame. His hand skimmed lower along your back, sending a shiver up your spine. “Look at them, all of Velaris staring, and none of them daring to touch. It’s almost enough to make me jealous.”

“Almost?”

Rhys’s grin sharpened. He bent his head, lips brushing the curve of your jaw through the mask. “Almost, because I know how you’ll look later, when the music is gone, and it’s just us, and I have you pressed against the window with nothing but the stars watching.”

Heat curled through you, but you pushed lightly against his chest. “You’re insufferable.”

“And yet,” he purred, twirling you in a dizzying spin before catching you again, “you adore me.”

By the time the music slowed, your mask was askew, your cheeks flushed, and Rhys was looking at you like you were the only one in the room. He reached up to fix the ribbon at your temple, fingers brushing your skin with deliberate slowness.

“Beautiful,” he said softly. No tease this time, no sharp edge, just that voice he only ever used when it was the two of you.

“Happy Hallows’ Night, darling. Now come with me before I forget how to be a gentleman.”

And judging by the wicked gleam in his eyes, you knew he already had.

Lucien

Lucien didn’t need a festival. He preferred a lantern-lit walk through the woods, your hands brushing as he told stories of spirits and old traditions. When you flinched at a whisper in the trees, his fingers found yours.

“Stay close,” he said, his fox’s grin softened by the firelight. “It’s only spirits passing by.”

“Where are we going, Lucien?” you asked, still glancing around warily.

“There’s a field beyond the woods. It’s where the spirits rise to the sky. You’ll see, it’s worth it.”

“And you’re sure these spirits aren’t…harmful?” you pressed, unease still curling in your stomach.

He stopped then, turning to face you fully. His hands came to rest gently on your shoulders. “I’d never take you anywhere I thought you’d be in danger,” he said softly. “And you know I’d never let anything harm you.”

You hesitated, then nodded. “Alright. I’ll follow your lead.” 

His smile returned, small but genuine, as he laced your fingers together and guided you through the last stretch of trees. The forest opened into a quiet meadow bathed in starlight. Colored mist rose from afar, drifting lazily toward the sky.

“Wow,” you breathed, looking up in awe.

Lucien sat down in the grass, tugging your hand to bring you down beside him. “Those,” he said, following your gaze, “are the spirits I told you about.”

“They’re beautiful,” you whispered.

But his eyes never left your face. “They are,” he murmured, a faint smile curving his lips. “So very beautiful.”

The sky shimmered above you, and he watched in silence, content, because seeing you happy had always been enough to make him happy too.

Eris

Eris, as always didn’t ask you to meet him, he summoned you, with yet another ‘urgent’ letter. Same clearing as always, same impatient tilt to his mouth, same attempt at pretending this meant nothing.

“You’re late,” he said, leaning against the same old tree.

“And you’re dramatic,” you returned, crossing your arms. “What now?”

Eris rolled a small wrapped box across his knuckles, then held it out without meeting your eyes. “Take it.”

You stared. “On Hallows’ Eve?”

He scoffed. “It’s a day. Days pass. Open it.”

Inside was a slender, fire-wrought pin, elegant, unmistakably Autumn Court. You looked up; he was already glancing away like he hadn’t spent weeks choosing it.

“It’s not a declaration,” he said smoothly. “Don’t make it one.”

“Of course not,” you said, pinning it just above your heart. “It’s nothing. But just so you know, people don’t usually gift each other things on Hallows’ Eve.”

Silence followed. His gaze dropped to the pin against your chest; something inside him tightened.

“Wear it to the ball tonight,” he said at last.

“The ball?” you echoed, brow raised.

“My father is hosting one. In honor of the deceased, or whatever.”

“Ah, and you want me to attend?” you asked, unable to hide your amusement.

“I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t want you to.”

“You didn’t ask,” you reminded.

“Don’t be a smartass,” he shot back.

“Don’t be a bastard,” you countered.

He exhaled through his nose, clearly restraining a smile. “Fine. You want me to ask properly or something?”

“For starters, yes,” you said, crossing your arms.

He inhaled deeply then exhaled, resigned. “Y/n… come to the ball tonight.” He glanced up, saw you weren’t budging, and added quietly, “please?”

You smirked, amused. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?

“Is that a yes?”

You rolled your eyes. “Yes, Eris. It’s a yes. I’ll come to the damn ball.”

“Good.” His voice softened, the edge fading. “Happy Hallows’ Eve.” 

“It’s not—” you began, but the words were lost as he stepped forward, fast, fingers at your jaw, mouth finding yours in a kiss so precise it felt like a brand. When he pulled back, his voice was a warning and a confession at once. “Don’t read into it.”

You smiled against his mouth. “Never do. It means nothing.”

He kissed you again, rougher, messier,  like he despised how much it meant, how much he craved it.

Cassian had so much to do that day that he cursed himself for not thinking of everything sooner. He had already bought the flowers for Nesta, who lay in the seat next to him, and the smell of the food and spices their neighbor had given him was already intoxicating him. He just hoped it wouldn't get too cold by the time they got to Azriel and Emerie's house. They were all going to be there, as they did every year, to celebrate Nesta's birthday in company, but before joining their family, Cassian had to pick up each of his four children from school.

He arrived almost immediately at the school of the youngest, Alesia and Becan, and smiled when he saw them on the edge of the sidewalk, waiting for the line of cars to flow by until theirs would appear in the parking lot.

They were only a year apart, but Alesia was the oldest, and in the last year she had grown so much that Cassian's heart ached every time he looked at her. She was starting to look like Nesta and he couldn't have been happier, even though she was losing the light blonde hair that was being replaced by the classic light brown color of the Archeron sisters.

Becan, on the other hand, looked exactly like Leka, his oldest son, and both were the exact copy of Cassian, it was as if they weren't even Nesta's children. Both of his little men looked older than they were, and they never failed to have that silly, cocky grin on their faces - as Nesta used to point out.

When the two children saw the familiar car they lit up, pointing him out to the teacher and starting to run towards him. Alesia was the first to catch up and got in right away, pulling up Becan's backpack, which at times seemed to tower over him as big as it was.

"Hello gorgeous." said Cassian turning to his children.

"Hi daddy!" they both yelled.

He reached out a hand to his daughter's head, fixing her hair behind her ear and then turned to his son, "What did you guys do today?"

Becan was arranging his backpack next to him with a frown on his face, "I had English and we got to plurals and the teacher said we're great, but I didn't understand why I can't say foots." concluded the youngest looking directly at him. Alesia beside him giggled, turning to face her father as well.

Cassian's eyes went wide with amusement, restraining himself from laughing, "What do you mean?"

"Why do I have to say feet?" the boy asked, arching an eyebrow, "Why can't I just say foots, or mouses?" then he shrugged, curling the corner of his mouth, "We'll never know."

"It's the irregulars," Alesia beat him to the punch, still looking at him for approval. Cassian smiled at her and nodded slightly, "There are no real rules, you just have to read a lot of texts."

A car in line behind them honked and Cassian huffed, turning back to the steering wheel, "Seatbelts please." he waited to hear the click of both children before driving off towards Xhuli's school, his first daughter. He turned on the radio, keeping the volume low enough to hear what his children were telling him.

He was more relaxed than in years past, oddly enough. He was always so fidgety during this time of year, and when Nesta's birthday came around, he couldn't help but remember all the times they had been young and celebrated for days on the beaches of Adriata, waiting for the sun to go down and rise the next day from over the mountains. He couldn't help but think of all the little gifts he gave her - the shells, the stones, the flowers - that Nesta had kept throughout the years to come and that still sat on the middle shelf of the bookcase in their room.

He thought about how the light from the coastal region was a gift from the gods, the way it had lit up Nesta's clear eyes every holy time, making them shine just for him.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair, focusing on his daughter's words.

"Then during the break Ella gave me a piece of her snack and I gave her a piece of mine," Alesia yawned, then nodded thoughtfully, "She's nice."

"And did you manage to do the geography test or was it too hard?" he asked her, turning into the street of Xhuli's school.

"It went well, I think," she murmured, "although I couldn't remember the name of the mountains in Illyria, what are they called?" she asked curiously, leaning forward. Cassian restrained himself from telling her to sit down in the seat, as an unnatural fear welled up inside him.

He cast a glance at Becan as well, to make sure he was buckled in properly as well.

"Myrmidons." sighed Cassian, returning his eyes to the road as his heart sped up in his chest.

"Yeah!" shouted Alesia, grunting, "The Myrmidons." then slammed a hand on her forehead dramatically.

"Are we going to Uncle Az's?" asked Becan suddenly.

Cassian parked the car under the big oak tree where he always waited for Xhuli to get out of school and unbuckled his belt, turning to face his kids, "We have to pick up Leka first, then we'll stop by mom's and then we'll all go to Az's together, yeah." he replied, reminding them that they wouldn't be eating at home today and they wouldn't have to wait for the oldest to come back with the bus. Becan nodded, yawning as well, and Alesia laughed, reaching over to stick a finger in his mouth until he had it wide open.

Cassian laughed when Becan closed his teeth on her finger and Alesia wailed, retracting her hand instantly afterwards.

The little boy unbuckled his belt, "Can I show you what I made for mommy?" he asked his dad. Cassian nodded excitedly, smiling at him, but feeling his heart tighten in his chest, "It's not beautiful, but the teacher said it's the thought that counts."

At that he snorted, because it sounded like something Teacher Aelin might have said, but the laugh was short-lived, because Becan showed him a drawing of them. It wasn't a masterpiece, as the child had already anticipated, but you could see how much effort he had put into coloring inside the lines, going over the edges with markers. He and Nesta were in the middle of the paper and holding hands, lying on what Cassian imagined were beach towels on the sand, while their four children were all in the water and playing catch.

"It's Adriata." he whispered, swallowing noisily and handing the drawing back to his son, "It's really beautiful, you've improved so much since last year."

Becan beamed all over, thanking him and settling back in his seat, bringing the drawing to his lap. Cassian turned around when he heard his new teenager's voice ring out not far from them and smiled, seeing that she was running to the car, waving her hand at him. He raised his own, waving back.

"And I made this card," the little girl said, pushing something shiny between the two front seats. Cassian wanted to laugh at the amount of pink and gold glitters on that thing. "But I don't know if mom will like this cause it's very sparkly."

"I'm sure she'll love it." he said, smiling reassuringly at his daughter through the rearview mirror. "What did you write inside?"

"That I love her and that I-" she couldn't finish the sentence, because Xhuli had flung the door wide open.

"Hello everyone!" she squealed, picking up the flowers and putting them on her legs, getting into the car. She turned to Cassian, leaving a quick kiss on his cheek and turning to her siblings right after, "Are you ready to play ride or die all afternoon?" she cheered them on with a bright smile on her face.

Alesia and Becan shrieked in delight, jerking their hands in the air and Cassian shook his head, his eyes wide, "Why do you always have to instigate them to play that awful game?" he asked her as he settled into his seat, "Someone always ends up getting hurt and crying."

Xhuli chuckled, shrugging, "It's always Tedian or Daorsa anyway."

Cassian looked at her open-mouthed, "Xhuli."

"What?" she asked equally dumbfounded, then huffed, looking ahead, "Even Uncle Rhys always says they're whiners and should learn to take jokes," she told him with a pointed look, "And he's their father."

He shook his head, running his hand over his face, "If your mother were here-"

"She'd tell me to make them cry harder probably," Xhuli chuckled again, "Come on you go, I can't wait to eat Aunt Emerie's meat pie."

"Belts." laughed Cassian, not leaving until he was sure everyone was buckled in.

The drive to Leka's high school was longer, considering he was studying downtown, but Cassian relaxed a bit as Xhuli distracted the little ones, focusing on the road.

"I got a nine in literature today," the oldest daughter said, catching his attention. Shifting his gaze to her for a moment he noticed that she was torturing her hands, playing with one of the rings Nesta left her.

He gave her a warm smile, "It's a really good grade, I'm proud of you."

"And I finished the correction before the others, so I did something for mom," she said in a more uncertain voice, starting to rummage through her backpack. He couldn't see her face, but he knew her cheeks were red. "It's crap."

Cassian really didn't understand where all the low self-esteem that seemed to be in each of his children that day was coming from. He guessed that the idea of doing something that Nesta might not like scared them as much as it had scared him in the early days of dating.

They stopped at a red light and Xhuli held out the small blue piece of paper toward him.

He opened his eyes wide again, admiring the way she'd folded each corner, where she'd decorated the still visible parts of the paper, until it was a beautiful heron in flight.

"Baby," he breathed, "I know I'm supposed to scold you for doing this at school, but-" he chuckled, shaking his head, "it's beautiful." and a relieved, very short laugh escaped her lips.

"Thanks, dad."

They arrived shortly thereafter at Leka's school, who was standing on the sidewalk and looking annoyed. When the car stopped just ahead of where he was, Becan unbuckled his seatbelt, shifting into the middle seat, but his older brother opened the passenger door, nodding to Xhuli, "Get in the back."

"Excuse me?" his sister asked, genuinely shocked.

Leka clenched his jaw and looked at her with dark eyes. Cassian knew immediately that something was wrong.

The son huffed, "I said go to the back."

"No," Xhuli shook her head, "I got here first and you're always in the front."

"Stop that right now," his father scolded them both. Then he crossed Leka's gaze and his son looked over the car, across the road.

Xhuli had a deep frown on her face, "He started it."

Cassian sighed, looking at the girl, "Could you please get in the back?" when she gaped, he clasped his hands around the steering wheel, "I know, you're already sitting in the front and it would be so much easier and faster if he just got in the back, but it's a hard day for him and-"

"It's not hard just for him," she retorted, in a tone of voice Cassian had never heard her use. She sounded like Nesta at that moment, authoritative rather than condescending.

"Please," he whispered, looking into her eyes.

Xhuli must have seen something in his gaze, because she huffed and gathered up her stuff, before walking out and giving her brother a shove. Leka didn't even seem to mind and dropped into the seat next to Cassian, quickly buckling himself in and resting his hood-covered head against the window.

"Leka-"

"Just drive, please," he murmured, not even looking at his father.

The relatively cheerful air that had been there up until that point had disappeared completely, and even when Becan had tried to get his older brother's attention, he hadn't paid any attention to him at all. Xhuli had tried to point out to him that he was being an asshole, but Cassian had snapped at her, and told her to apologize straight away.

They'd started talking about who would give their mom the gift first, and Cassian had more felt than seen, Leka tense up at his siblings' words. He had taken deep, shuddering breaths and it had taken all his strength for the man not to stop and hug his son in the middle of the road.

The second they pulled up in front of the particularly green and overgrown lawn, the three little ones hopped out of the car without even waiting for their father's permission and started running towards what they knew was their mother's gravestone.

Leka looked away from his siblings, shifting his gaze to his father and then his eyes filled with tears, but nothing fell down his cheeks, "I want to leave."

Cassian felt his heart in his throat, his hands trembling around the steering wheel.

"I want to go home, I don't want to go to the uncles," Leka continued, shaking his head, "I want to get out of here."

"Leka..." he tried again, reaching out a hand toward him. His son smacked his arm, pushing him away. Cassian closed his eyes.

"No!" he shrieked into the silence of the cockpit. His eyes were wide and he was struggling to breathe, "Why do we have to do this every year? It's sick." he spat at him.

Cassian shifted his gaze to his children, the ones who were now kneeling in front of his wife's grave. In front of the grave he took such good care of as he had taken care of Nesta while she was alive. Alesia was opening the card she had drawn at school and he saw a pool of glitter fall on the grass in front of them.

He turned to Leka, feeling his eyes water, "We need-"

"We don't need anything." he interjected again, more angrily, "You, you need this thing, because you can't seem to get away from mom."

Cassian jerked back at those words, opening his eyes even wider.

Leka seemed satisfied with that reaction because he continued, "She died five fucking years ago," he spoke through his teeth, "and you still bring me here and make me stand in front of her grave for an hour like it's going to do me any good, like talking to a fucking stone is going to help me." his son's voice cracked at the end of the sentence and tears slid down his skin. Cassian let go of a breath as his heart tightened in his chest more with every word Leka said.

"Stop it, you don't mean that," Cassian murmured, turning toward the gravestone-covered lawns, catching sight of some other relative who had come to visit a lost loved one.

"Yes, dad, I do," Leka shouted, "and being here so long, it hurts me! Just being here makes me so sick I can't breathe, and it makes me miss mom so much I can't think." a sob broke Cassian's breath, and he forced himself to look at his son. Leka was in no better condition than he was. "We come here and I can't think," he sobbed.

His face flushed, his breathing short, tears now falling without concern. He was opening and closing the fingers of his hands, looking for something to distract him from the pain so deep and inescapable that was grief.

Nesta Archeron, mother of four beautiful children and wife of the luckiest man in the world, had died in a car accident just a week after turning thirty-five. It didn't take long to realize that the news had shattered not only the family, but the entire neighborhood.

Cassian didn't remember much about the first few months after Nesta's death, always in a delirious state between anger and despair, but when it had taken shape in his head, when his body and mind had finally been ready to accept that this was now his new reality, another kind of grief, completely different from what he had experienced up until that moment, had taken over.

His children had needed him. And he hadn't been there for them.

Nesta would have been ashamed of him.

That had made him wake up somehow.

The idea of Nesta watching him, from wherever she was at that moment, and judging him for the way he had abandoned everything - for the way he had abandoned their children - had revived him and made him find his place in the lives of his daughters and sons.

And now, as he looked into his son's pitch-brown eyes, he couldn't speak, just as he had years before.

"Dad." Leka begged him in a broken voice, "Please let's go home."

Cassian shook his head, closing his eyes, "I can't."

Leka burst into tears, bringing both hands to his face to cover the grimace of pain and suffering as his body was shaken by loud sobs. Cassian placed a hand on his back, crying silently in turn, and Leka didn't take half a second before he pushed himself to him and let his father cradle him in his arms.

"I miss her so much." whispered Cassian as he wrapped his son up, "Every day."

Leka made a sound much like an animal that had just been shot before he resumed crying more loudly, "I miss mom."

His heart clenched so tightly in his chest that Cassian thought he was going to die, "I know."

"I miss mom." repeated Leka, pressing his face against his chest.

"We'll make it through, for her." murmured Cassian, clasping his hands around his jacket and bringing him as close to him as he could. He could feel Leka shaking, and he just wanted Nesta to be there with them, to help him fix the mess that was their lives. Watching Becan as he picked up the paper bird and flew it high above them, he thought he could never make it without the love of his life, but he still said, "We have to."

A/N: There’s one thing I always tell my readers, be aware of the winky faces;) I leave them anywhere I plan on destroying people’s hearts, so yeah, you’ve kinda been warned about the fact that this was NOT going to be fluff, I hope you liked it anyway, goodnight guys:)

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Cassian was curious by nature. He knew the saying curiosity killed the cat, but he just couldn't help himself sometimes. The new boy was just another thing he couldn't help himself with. He just had to find out more about him. Plus, he knew that the second half of the curiosity killed the cat saying was that satisfaction brought it back. 

He knew it was going to be difficult. The boy's name was Azriel, which he learnt from overhearing some teachers talking. Cassian watched Azriel a lot since they had a lot of classes together. Rhys kept saying he was being creepy, but he just didn't get it. Cassian wasn't being nosy, and he wasn't a gossip. There was just something about this Azriel that intrigued him. He wanted to know more.

That was why, despite Rhys desperately trying to persuade him not to, Cassian decided to sit next to Azriel at lunch.  Rhys was in the library trying to desperately finish some homework he hadn't done, so Cassian had decided it was the perfect opportunity. When he had text Rhys, Rhys had simply washed his hands of the entire situation and told him that if he got punched in the face it would serve him right. Cassian disagreed but didn't have the time to argue with him.

"Hey, do you mind if I sit here?" Cassian asked, gesturing towards the empty chair at the table Azriel was sat at. The table was right at the back of the dining hall, and nobody really sat there because it was a little creepy and hidden away in the shadows. Also because it was very far away from all the food. Clearly, that didn’t bother Azriel though.

Azriel didn't look up from his phone, shrugging to show Cassian he didn't care what he did. Cassian took that as permission to sit down. He started rummaging in his bag for his packed lunch since he hated the food they served at school. Azriel had some kind of plate of food in front of him, but with the food, they cooked at school, it never resembled what it was claiming to be.

"You're brave, aren't you?" Cassian said, without thinking about what he was saying. Rhys always said he lacked a brain to mouth filter, but now he was really feeling it.

Azriel looked up from his phone this time, those beautiful hazel eyes which looked almost golden meeting his own. Cassian couldn't figure out why he was suddenly blushing, and so he ignored it. It was probably just because he was blurting out dumb stuff anyway.

"Sorry, I just meant that you're brave for trying to eat that school food. I'm not sure what they do in the kitchens but-" Cassian shuddered at the thought of school lunches, "the look vile."

Azriel raised his eyebrow at Cassian in answer and simply studied him. Cassian had never been looked at with such scrutiny before, and couldn't help but blush deeper. Unlike most people, Azriel did not shy away from the fact that Cassian was studying him, while he studied Cassian, he was carefully neutral.

"I don't mind them," Cassian heard the reply and knew it came from Azriel but was still shocked to hear him speak. The shock probably showed on his face, because Azriel looked at Cassian's face and snorted. "What, is it so scary to hear my voice that you're going to pass out now?"

"I, no, wait, that's not why I-" Cassian scrambled, trying to think of an answer quickly. He could feel his face start to heat as he looked at Azriel who looked back, looking unimpressed.

Thankfully, Azriel cut his awkward brain malfunction off with another snort, which turned into a full-on laugh. Cassian couldn't help but feel like the sound of Azriel's deep laugh took the air from his lungs. When Azriel had stopped laughing, and Cassian had managed to close his mouth, Azriel finally spoke. "Listen, I know you've been watching me for a little while now, but I just can’t figure out why. At first, I thought it was because I was getting loads of girls throwing themselves at me, and you were pissed I took some attention away from you, but then I realised you didn't seem pissed off. So what is it?"

"Do those girls bother you? I know they can get a little much sometimes?"

"Is that why you watch me so much? You're concerned that all those girls are bothering me?"

Cassian blushed, looking away from Azriel's intense gaze. "I, no, I just was intrigued by you."

"What about me intrigues you Cassian?" Something in his tone of voice made Cassian look Azriel in his eyes, despite the fact he could feel his face heating.

"Your face, specifically, your lips," Cassian wasn't sure what had made him admit the truth, but he never thought about anything anyway. He was either about to get punched or let down very nicely though, he could sense it. He was just glad that nobody else would be able to see them in this corner of the dining hall.

Azriel stood up, and Cassian sigh. He knew he should've kept his mouth shut. He looked away, not wanting to watch whatever Azriel did, especially if he decided to punch him, which is why it was a complete surprise to feel someone press their lips against his. He let out a little gasp of air as he looked to see Azriel pulling away far too quickly, but the short time Azriel's lips had touched his was enough to have fireworks going off in his mind.

"I hope that your curiosity has been satisfied. If not, then text me," Azriel disappeared, leaving a paper to flutter down onto the table with his number on it. Cassian couldn't move though, he was too busy replaying the kiss in his head. He couldn’t believe it was real, but once his brain had caught up, he quickly saved Azriel's number into his phone before he lost it. He definitely had not been satisfied with just a quick kiss. He knew he needed more.

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The first thing he noticed was the bone-chilling cold that seeped through his skin. He recognized this feeling, only having felt this stinging cold during the Germanic campaigns. The northern tribes drove them into the treacherous forests with mountains touching the heavens surrounding them.

But he was not in the mountains. Looking around at the empty streets, the empty vendor stalls, a loud wind sweeping through the empty buildings all clustered together. No, he was in Rome. 

The silence was deafening as he walked through the moonlit bare streets. No one was seen. Just the cold making him shiver with every step. His breath was visible with every shaky exhale.

This was wrong. Rome was the center of everything-- all roads lead here. But now it was silent, like something wiped out the city in its peak. His feet, he realized, crunched above a thin layer of snow on the ground. 

He spent the next ten minutes searching around the empty city. Nothing. Not a living thing was to be seen. 

But somehow he knew where to go like something was pulling him into its direction. 

Vesta's Temple, except in all the years he’s seen it, there was no sound of flickering flames. The circular building almost glittered like silver under the moon. Dolomite columns wrapped around, towering above Cassian as he stepped closer. 

He descended carefully into the temple, before long he could hear faint footsteps. "Is anyone here?" His voice echoed throughout the halls. When he turned back to the rounded pavilion, there stood a cloaked figure. 

“Hello?” He questioned but the cloaked figure didn’t budge. Cassian cautiously walked closer, feeling a familiar pull in the direction. It was almost as if his feet were levitating towards the figure. And when Cassian was right behind them, he knew who would turn around.

But this wasn’t Nesta. 

In all physical appearance, it would be Nesta but her eyes were glowing deep purple like an ancient flame waiting to burst from within. And when it spoke it was not the soft melody he knew, it was full of sad anger.

Look what he has done. Cassian felt a deep shiver run down his spine as she spoke. Don’t let him take her. He will use her. The fall of Rome is his doing along with the fall of the gods.

"What? I don’t understand..." There was a shift in the atmosphere. The cold was now a growing fire within his skin. 

Don’t be afraid of her strength-- it is not fire it is her warmth. Embrace it warrior, for she will rise anew in flames of gold. It’s time for a new era. 

With that, she vanished in an intense flame, and Cassian awoke.

—

Nesta watched from her carriage as Rhysand and Helion exchanged pleasant goodbyes. Or what she thought were pleasant goodbyes. Helion, the ever playful and seductive host, was tense, his posture rigid. Rhysand didn't look any better. She watched as Helion's eyes drifted to her once again like he was studying her more than just a future bride. Nesta realized he was trying to see what the Emperor wanted to see in her. She wanted to tell him nothing lurked inside her except maybe a calm rage and very confusing thoughts. He looked back at Rhysand and nodded tersely before walking away. 

She didn’t question what Rhysand spoke to Helion about. Though if it included her she supposed she should

But she was distracted as Cassian came into her view. Memories of last night replayed in her mind endlessly throughout her dreams. In some cases, they were never interrupted and she got lost in the way his hands explored her in every way. 

He turned to face her through her glass windows. She swallowed, eyeing his hesitant step towards her. 

She wouldn’t know what to say to him, about her confessing her name to him. It’s rare for anyone outside the Temple to know a priestess’ name. It is one of their bindings to their true selves, a reminder that they are human. 

As if on queue, she could picture the head priestess standing before her now. Her fiery auburn hair blocked from the sun in her white veil. Nesta was momentarily taken back to when they were walking to the Vestas’s temple in Rome from gathering herbs from a nearby garden. On each side of them, stood 2 Roman guards. 

She never got to walk through the streets of Rome, usually, it was veiled to her as she was carried in on a litter. From the corner of her eye she could see the head priestess’ nose scrunch up in disgust as they walked through town.  

Nesta took in the kaleidoscope of colors from the different fruits and vegetables on the vendor stalls. The streets of Rome is a lively place, and Nesta hasn’t heard this much laughter since she was small. Children playing along in the streets, racing each other through the markets. Women chatter among themselves as they eye the various offerings. Merchants and vendors calling out their specialties of the day.

It wasn’t until Nesta felt a brush on her shoulder where time stood still. In a moment the cold hands of the head priestess seized her, pulling her tightly close as she watched the guards slam into a middle-aged man. Their hands holding his face to the ground. All sounds in the street died as they looked towards the scene.

“How dare you touch a priestess so freely.” She heard the head priestess' deadly tone from behind her. 

The man had pure fear in his eyes, they were darting between the guards and her. “Please it was a misunderstanding I was just offering her-“

The head priestess spat in his face. “You can offer nothing to her. Guards give him 20 lashings.”

Nesta gasped and jerked out of the head priestess’ grasp. “No please, he didn’t mean it.” She pleaded but the head priestess ignored her and only nodded to the guards who raised their whips. 

When Nesta ran to intercept, she was jerked back and her face raised towards the head priestess in a tight grip. 

“You are to be pure in all aspects. Untouched, unspoken, unreachable by the commoners. You may all have the same blood but, my dear, you will never be like them.” Her words resonated through Nesta, blocking out the sounds of the man crying out in pain. 

Her memory faded as she watched Rhysand interject Cassian, saying something to steer him away from her. Nesta fought the dejected feeling at the bottom of her stomach and gathered her senses before Rhysand climbed into the carriage.

-

The ride with Rhysand was a little uncomfortable. She noticed that he stared at her, studying her eyes like he knew her from somewhere. But Nesta has never seen this man since before that day on the beach. When she turned her head away from the window to catch him, he swiftly looked away.

 “Is something wrong optione?” She asked, slightly starling him.  

He cleared his throat  “No priestess,  I just thought... uh never mind.”  She raised her eyebrows, surprised Rhysand stuttered.

“Do I remind you of someone?” 

She could see Rhysand visibly swallow and he only nodded. Whoever she reminded him of left swirling emotions in his eyes, anger but mostly sadness. She didn’t press on about it.

The day dragged on as the roads led into dense forests. The blurring greens of her window seemed to repeat itself. 

All of a sudden there was a jolt in the carriage, Rhysand looked tenser than before. He knocked on the carriage and a subsequent tapping from the other side must’ve meant Cassian was fine, we’re fine.

But then the carriage slowed down, Nesta tried to look ahead through her window and her eyes widening at the sight of another carriage, abandoned with visible blood stains from the outside. Rhysand saw the same thing and pounded against the carriage, almost yelling, “Cassian! Go, now!” But there was intense shuffling from outside, and Nesta heard the unsheathing of Cassian's sword.

“Priestess we have to get down now,” Rhysand said in a firm tone. Nesta caught a glimpse of Cassian being thrown on the ground outside but he quickly got up, blocking her window from the outside. Her shoulders were gripped by Rhysand from behind before being pulled to the floor, covering her mouth with a finger to his mouth. Shhh. 

“Five against one? That’s hardly fair…” Cassian said smugly. Nesta’s breath hitched, he must be surrounded and trapped. When Rhysand saw her panicked face he only mouthed, He can handle this.

“Where’s the priestess?” One of the voices said.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m delivering wine.”

“The Lord of Bloodshed is transporting wine in a senatorial carruca?” Another voice sneered, “we’re not fools you bastard.” He spat out the last word, she even saw Rhysand visibly tense.

“It’s very special wine.” Cassian retorted, Nesta could hear his tone shift. “Now I can let you go or you can stay to see how sharp my sword is.” He said sternly. She imagined they were circling him now. 

Her heart was racing, she desperately wanted to look out but Rhysand would probably tackle her. He unlocked the doors on the other side and carefully opened it, gesturing towards it and reached out for her. She ignored it. Go help him she mouthed. His lips turned to a firm line. 

However, a hooded figure appeared behind him, sword drawn already in the air for a blow to the optione. Rhysand sensed them before they could strike and with the quickest reflex, clashed against the figure with a distinct clink. He stood and pushed the hooded figure back with his sword who fell right onto his back. 

This time he didn’t wait for Nesta’s permission as he grabbed her arm and yanked her out of the carriage. 

“The priestess! He has her!” The man yelled. 

Rhysand tried to drag her to the cover of the forest but a dozen men shrouded in dark clothing surrounded them. He shielded her with his sword drawn out, trying to swat away anyone who came near them. “Don’t you dare come closer.” He said through gritted teeth.

But he failed to grab her quickly enough before a pair of rough hands grabbed her from behind, pulling her away. Rhysand tried to get to her but the other men enclosed him like a pack of wolves. 

The arm tightened around her waist, locking her arms and another around her shoulders. His greasy voice sent a shiver down her spine, “Stop squirming girl, or I’ll be forced to violate my contract.” Contract? And then Nesta watched how the men moved, how particular their swords were made of iron and bronze. These were more than petty thieves…

“You’ll be cursed for harming an unarmed Priestess.” She sneered over her shoulder catching the horrible glint in the man’s eye. 

Rhysand tried to fend off the men, swirling about clashing with the swords but she was helpless as she watched one of them slashed across his thigh. His face retorted slightly with pain but he didn’t cry out. He grunted and pushed through the strings of attack.

“Stop it!” She screamed over her shoulder, but the man only smiled in delight as Rhysand struggled hopelessly outnumbered, Cassian nowhere in sight. Her blood started to boil, all her senses were heightened. Her heart was racing like thousands of horses on a battlefield. Without thinking, she swiftly knocked her head back where it made contact with the man who yelled out, “Bitch!” the arm around her waist loosened. She gained control of her arms again and tried to yank his other arm from around her shoulder. Her vision was blurring, but all she could focus on was the color of blood. The merchant crying out in pain, the screams in her visions, her dreams. 

Nesta gripped the forearms of the man until he gasped and yelled. “Agh!” The man behind her screamed, pushing her on the ground before he stumbled back. 

Then she felt Cassian before she saw him, moving like the wind right past her. A quick movement of his sword and Nesta knew the man was dead when he hit the ground beside her, his eyes lifeless.

Cassian knelt in front of her and she could see the blood that stained his armor. She knew it wasn’t his. His eyes blazed fire but it withered when he caught sight of her. Nesta was filled instantly with warmth and her heart calming itself. He reached out to see if she was wounded but she held out a hand to stop him.

“I’m fine. Go help Rhysand.”  She whispered, her skin still felt hot.

“I already did.” He said lowly, and Nesta looked over her shoulder to see all the men slumped, dead. It must have been a dozen men... when did he-

Rhysand limped towards them. And came to a sudden stop when he looked at the man who held her captive. 

“How did that happen?” 

Cassian was looking at Nesta and she realized he never stopped looking at her. Something else flickered in his gaze. But he responded, “I don’t know.” 

Nesta realized they weren’t talking about the attack but the man lying dead beside her. She looked at his corpse and gasped. His arms were the color of dark ash, the upper portions pink as his raw flesh was exposed. 

“We have to leave quickly,” Rhysand said not taking his eyes off the corpse. Nesta sat on the ground in shock and continued to stare at the man.

“They cut the horses loose,” Cassian said and probably gestured towards the horseless carriage. “We’re stranded.” 

“We need to get moving before they send any more assassins.”

Assassins. Nesta let the word sink into her head. “They didn’t want to hurt me.” She said, catching the attention of Cassian and Rhysand.

“What do you mean priestess?” Cassian asked, his tone was so soft. He didn’t call her Nesta. Rhysand was here but it still felt unnatural to hear from his lips.

“This man,” Nesta looked at the dark arms so charred, “he said he couldn’t hurt me because of his contract.”

Cassian's jaw tightened and he looked over to Rhysand. “We’re in Capua, do you think-“

“Yes the cottage is nearby, but we can’t stay there for long.” Rhysand grunted as he tried to move a bit. “It’ll be a good place to rest and make sense of…” he trailed off looking at Nesta still in shock.

“Right. Let’s go.” Cassian said rising from the floor when he offered a hand to her she refused and stood on shaky legs.

—-

Rhysand didn’t know what to think. The man's arms were almost charred black with distinct handprints on either side of his arms. When Rhysand touched his skin it was still burning as if he was dwindling tinder in a fire. He watched as the priestess walked ahead of him through the forests and only had one chilling thought.

The prophecy was true.