#alliance maker

“Get off me.” The words left your mouth in a scream. You thrashed against the chains that held you. The laughs from the men surrounding you had bile rising in your throat. You jerked your head forward, snapping your teeth at the man in front of you. His fingers halted in their movement between your breasts momentarily. 

“Shut your fucking mouth before I do it for you.” His breath was atrocious as he spoke, it smelled of something rotten. His hand moved away from your skin for just a moment only for a knife to be placed within it. 

“No, get the fuck away from me.” Your voice was more frantic this time. The chains groaned as you yanked on them. The man's eyes narrowed on you. 

“Give me the lenroot.” fear struck every part of your body at the mention of the paralytic. The thought of not being able to fight against them had the bile from earlier rising again, this time it actually coming up into your mouth. But you quickly swallowed it, knowing if they saw you get sick it would only make what they were going to do to you worse. Lenroot was something they used on you frequently, it left you unable to move but still able to feel everything they did to you.

The root was brought up to your mouth but you clenched your teeth together tightly refusing to open your mouth. He tutted you quietly, before looking to his right. The same man that handed him the knife and the lenroot stepped up to you. Tears started to steadily work their way down your cheeks as he pried your mouth open. 

Then the man in front of you was shoving the root into your mouth. You gagged at the taste of it, trying desperately not to swallow it. Though you knew that just the act of your tongue touching it was enough to paralyze you for a few hours. It had happened so many times before so you knew what to expect. Your body grew slack against the iron chains around your wrists connected to the ceiling above you. 

You watched as they took turns with you. Some dragged knives along your skin, leaving small trails of blood anywhere they desired. Then some of them had their way with you. They had left you naked since they brought you here. Deciding the clothes were just too much of an inconvenience to them. That left you in a constant state of freezing. The man that shoved the lenroot into your mouth came back with a whip in hand and you knew the pain would be too much for you to handle. You were right because with the first lash against your stomach you were losing consciousness. 

You awoke with a sob, a cold sensation was weaving through your hair. A soothing touch was smoothing along your cheeks. As the tears tracked down your skin they were wiped away just as quickly. You let out a shudder at the not yet familiar feeling. Bringing a hand up to your face a black tendril wrapped around your scared skin and down to your wrist. You glanced around the room and didn’t see any more of them or the spymaster they belonged to. 

“Will you come with me to the kitchen?” You didn’t wait for a response, not that you necessarily thought they could respond. There were slippers waiting for you as you dragged your legs out of the warmth of the blankets. You stood and moved out of the room slowly. Deciding to take your time and savor the emptiness of the house. The walk to the kitchen was easy as you remembered the tour Nesta and Emerie gave you earlier. 

The shadows had both worked their way down to your hands at this point, dancing across the skin slowly. The feeling of them soothed you as your mind kept replaying the nightmare from just moments earlier. The memory was one you were desperate to forget. 

As you rounded the kitchen you were slightly startled. It seemed to be your luck to run into males in the room. But this one wasn’t at all like the red haired one before. His hazel eyes pierced through you as he took in your form. His eyes went to your hands and you winced. But as your eyes moved down to them you noticed that the shadows had wrapped around them much like the fingerless gloves you typically adorned. A smile came to rest upon your lips at the action. 

Then your eyes came back up to their owner and you gulped. You didn’t think that he would harm you. But you knew of his reputation as a fierce protector. His court and the people within it came above all else. And to him you were an unknown threat, an anomaly he was struggling to figure out. He had sent shadows out to every corner and crevice of the land and yet they came back with nothing. It worried him immensely, but with the liking his shadows had taken to you he wasn’t sure they were being truthful in their discoveries. 

He moved to the sink with the plate, cup and silverware he was just using. He grabbed a sponge and soap and started to wash them. You took the moment to take him in. He was wearing loose pajama pants much like your own. His hair was wet and you could see the drops of water slowly running down his neck and to his naked chest and torso. You took in the lines and curves and swirls of the tattoos marking his skin. Your body fought against itself. A part of you was desperate to wipe away the trail of water being left on his skin, to feel the scars you could see against your fingertips. The other part was desperate to get away from him, to flee from the doorway you were standing in and never look back. 

You shook the thoughts from your head and moved around the large island placed in the middle of the room. You didn’t miss the way Azriel tensed, readying himself for an attack that wouldn’t come. The black and gray marbled countertop was filled with different fruits and vegetables. You took a moment to decide on what you wanted and started on a cup of tea. As the water boiled you reached for an orange and started to peel it. The shadows started to help you. Pulling on the peel as you worked on the pith. 

The glass that Azriel was drying with a towel smashed in his hold as he took in the way the shadows worked with you. You and the shadows both froze in your actions. You looked from the orange to the shards on the ground then to the male that was standing above the mess. Your eyes widened as you noticed he was already looking at you. You took a hesitant step back, hand unconsciously gripping one of the knives in the knife block beside you. 

The nightmare from before flashed through your mind. Your chest started to ache as anxiety ate away at you rapidly. The angry look of the man with the whip seemed so similar to the look Azriel was giving you now. Your hands started to heat up, your fingertips throbbing as you dropped the orange. One of the shadows however caught it. The other that was against you started to work up your arm under your shirt until it was touching your face. Another one slipped away from the already seething Illyrian and swept across your hand holding the knife calmly. 

You slowly let it go, a single tear worked out of your eye and down your face as you blinked. The shadow that sat along your cheek wiped at it before it could pass your jawline. A shaky breath slipped your lips as you calmed yourself. Your hands stopped throbbing and your chest stopped aching. Azriel was looking at you curiously when you finally met his stare again. But your eyes broke away quickly when the water started to whistle. 

You made fast work of getting out two cups and making two cups of tea. You left one on the counter, looking up at Azriel for a moment. The shadow holding the orange placed it back into your empty hand. The fruit was bare of rind and pith and you gripped it loosely. You whispered a thank you to the shadow and it swept across your hand in response. Then you finally fled the kitchen. 

The three shadows stayed with you and Azriel bristled at the disrespect. But then a few of his other shadows were bringing the tea cup towards him. He waved them away but they insisted on him taking a drink. When he finally brought the peace offering up to his lips he was blown away. The tea was made the exact way he liked it, down to the amount of sugar and the spoonful of honey. He almost choked as the thought settled in his head.

A/N: I hope you guys liked this part! I was so happy to finally write an official interaction between Az and Reader! I'll be posting the next part next week! As always likes, follows, reblogs and comments are much appreciated.

It had taken you six days to wake up after being placed in one of the guest rooms in the house of wind. The wound to your abdomen had been deep. Three long angry bloodied gashes. Madja did her best to heal some of it but in the end had to stitch it up. The healer stayed monitoring for improvements or setbacks the first day. Nesta was by your bed side as you lay unmoving. Feyre was the only one allowed inside the room other than Madja. 

“Rhysand listen to me. We will be safe I promise. Go and help Elain watch after Nyx. I will be back down in just a couple of hours.” Feyre had said, finally coaxing the male out of the room. 

Standing right outside the room Rhysand had however once again tried to enter your mind but was met with the same inferno of flames and screams as before. His head throbbed like it had been burnt. He had sent Azriel in to see if maybe his shadows could pick up anything. Nesta had refused to let him inside the room. So as he stood in the hallway he sent the eager shadows slipping under the door towards your bed. They swept across the floors and walls hastily, desperately trying to reach your frozen form. But they had pulled back as soon as they touched your skin. Like they too had been burnt. Nesta had also scolded him for what he did.

“I told you to stay the fuck out of this room. That meant your shadows too. I don’t know what happened to them but that’s a mercy compared to what I would’ve done.” She had shouted at him in the doorway of the room after having flung the door open. Cassian, who had heard the commotion from inside their shared room not far from your own, wandered into the hall. 

“Az, just go to your room. I’ll talk to her.” He had to pull her back from jumping at his brother. The shawdowsinger rolled his eyes before roaming off to his room. She quickly steeled herself before shrugging Cassian off her and slipped back into the room. 

“Nesta, can you please come out here so we can talk?” The illyrian knew the likelihood of that was slim to none but still figured he’d ask. The only response was silence so he left her alone to go back to a lonely room. Sleeping in a bed without his mate had left him restless. He had been trying to understand what was going on with her but knew that prying wouldn’t get him anywhere. 

They were at a loss on how to get anything from you especially with Nesta protecting you like a guard dog. She stayed by you day and night. Sleeping in a chair next to your bed. She changed your bandages as Madja instructed. It was on the third day that things took an odd turn. Nesta had been reading you a book and eating the roast and potatoes the house had given her when she smelled something in the air. As she sniffed again she finally figured out what the smell was. It was something burning. 

Her eyes whipped around the room quickly seeing if the house had lit a candle or a fire in the hearth. But she found not a flame in sight. Her eyes then snapped to you. Laying on the bed perfectly still you had smoke radiating from your body. 

She quickly jumped into action, the house sending her buckets and buckets of ice as she poured them all over your body and the bed. As the smoke cleared she shouted for her sister in her head. Minutes that felt like hours passed before Feyre was in the room with her. She could hear Rhysand outside begging to be let in. But Feyre insisted they were safe. 

“Just let me in. Maybe I can help.” The High Lord pleaded from the other side of the door. He hated the thought of his mate, his high lady, the mother of his child being in a room with a stranger. He hadn’t wanted you in Velaris in the first place. But he knew he still owed Nesta for the life she helped bring into this world. He would never be able to fully thank her for Nyx. He also knew he could trust his mates' judgment. 

Feyre looked at her sister asking her silently if she could let him in but the cold look in Nesta’s eyes had her thinking better of it. So Feyre sent Rhysand to go and fetch Madja while the sisters talked. She asked the eldest sister what exactly happened but she didn’t have a good answer, just that there was smoke coming from your body. Once Madja arrived she gave you a thorough exam. Coming up empty as to why you were smoking.

“I’m so sorry, High Lady, I have never seen a case like this before. I haven’t an idea what to do about this other than the ice if it’s working.” She exclaimed hesitantly, staring at your body. You were proving to be one of the most peculiar cases she's ever seen.  

“That’s alright Madja, thank you so much for coming.” Feyre reassured the healer with a comforting smile adorning her features. 

On the fourth day Lucien arrived as a favor to the High Lady. Because who better to explain someone suddenly radiating smoke then a fire wielder themselves. Nesta let him in the room but watched him closely. Snarling through her teeth when his hand got too close to you. He backed up quickly before he finally spoke up. 

“She has fire coursing through her veins. It’s similar to the fire in mine yet different. It’s hard to explain. It’s almost like it’s fighting to keep something at bay.” The red haired emissary told the two sisters a hint of doubt in his voice. Nesta went to spit an insult his way but was met with a glare from Feyre. 

“Thank you for your help Lucien. We know more than we knew yesterday so that’s a good thing. Right Nesta?” The youngest sister spoke with authority in her voice as her glare sharpened upon looking at her sister. 

“Sure whatever now get the fuck out.” Was Nestas curt reply as she turned back to your bedside. He just shared a look with Feyre as she nodded at him, before quickly exiting the room. 

“Nesta there was no need to behave like that. He gave us information that we didn’t have. He helped us. I expect you to apologize next time you see him.” Feyre scolded her sister. 

“Are you ordering me as my High Lady or suggesting me as my sister?” Nesta spat out, wincing slightly at the tone of her voice. 

“I’m suggesting you give him a break as your sister.” Feyre softly spoke, a small seed of regret forming in her stomach. She hadn’t an idea why her sister was so attached to the female lying on the bed. But Nesta only ever cared for few so openly so she decided to stop pressuring her sister. 

The fifth day Madja returned and gave the all clear on bathing you as your skin had cooled. So with the help of Feyre they somehow carefully got your unconscious form into the large bath in the washroom. The warm water had a dark hue instantly from the dried blood and dirt caked onto your skin. Nesta was the one that bathed you. Noticing the scars littering your skin. She had worked the braids out of your hair and washed it. She noticed the way you had lost weight in the short time you’d been here. 

“We should probably throw these away. I grabbed a nightgown while you were bathing her.” One hard look at your leathers had them both coming to the same conclusion. They dressed you in the nightgown before placing you back on the cleaned bed. 

“Do you need anything else from me?” Feyre asked her sister as she placed a hand on the doorknob. She was desperate to get back home to Nyx and Rhysand but would wait if the oldest Archeron needed her to. 

“I’ll be okay. Thank you for helping me, Feyre.” Feyre nodded her head at Nesta’s reply before exiting the room. Nesta grabbed another book and started to read to you. 

The day you woke up had been going smoothly. Nesta had decided she wanted a change of scenery so she sat in the library. Gwyn and Emerie were with her, deciding that their friend needed them too much for them to wait for her to come to them. They had been respectful of her space but had been growing increasingly worried. 

“She helped me once.” Nesta broke the silence lingering in the library. The Valkyrie’s looked at her then each other waiting for her to continue. 

“It was years ago, we had been poor for a while at that point. Feyre had gotten a few coins for us to spend and I had wandered up town by myself. I desperately wanted out of the house. Away from the sadness of my father and the optimism of Elain. So I just sat there at the old dingy fountain for hours. It was when night began to fall that I started the walk back home.” Her voice shook as she spoke the words. Her fingers started to twist into her nightgown. 

“There were men waiting for me. I didn’t see them or hear them as they snuck up on me. They had grabbed me and were dragging me along. Speaking of doing awful things to me. I was fighting as best I could but they were so much stronger than I was. She was so quiet that if I hadn’t seen it for myself I wouldn’t have believed she was there.” At this point her hands were fists by her side, her tone becoming cold and empty. 

“She killed them all, quickly and efficiently. They were so drunk they didn’t even notice what was happening until the third lay dead in the dirt. The last two tried to run but she was quicker. She flipped the dagger she had in this weird show off kind of way after she slit the last throat.” A shiver ran through her as the scene flashed through her mind. The image of bloodied bodies laying across the dirty ground was something she had once been completely disgusted by. Now however she'd barely blink at the scene. 

“When she was done she turned to me. There was a fire in her eyes that I craved to have. I had never seen someone so angry yet so calm and calculated. But the angry fire turned into a playful ember when she looked at me.” She had sat down on one of the couches at this point. Gwyn beside her holding her hand. Emerie was across from them in a chair, wings spread out behind her a look of understanding in her eyes. 

“After I was done throwing up she led me back to her and her fathers cottage and fed me. Watched over me for a couple hours making sure I was fine enough to go home. She walked me back home that night.” A smile formed its way onto her face as the story started to come to a close. 

“I’d see her occasionally after that and she’d give me a warm smile. She was always clad in a tunic and trousers. She looked so out of place amongst the girls in dresses. It reminded me a lot of Feyre.” Gwyn and Emerie thought about what it would be like in a world where females didn’t often wear tunic and trousers. 

“We would talk every so often. She never asked for anything in return. When I saw her again in those woods I knew I had to help her. That this was my time to return the favor.” As her sentence finished they shot up from their seats. The walls of the house started to shake as a loud roar was heard from inside your room. They quickly moved towards your room, all eyes looking to the bed. But the bed was empty.

A/N: Not much of Azriel but he's coming in soon I promise. As always; likes, comments and reblogs are much appreciated!

Training the next morning started out well. You impressed the group quickly with your advanced skill and ability to work in a team. Even though Nesta trusted you without hesitation Cassian had been wearily eyeing you all morning. You could feel his eyes practically burning holes in your skin. Emerie and Gwyn had been quick to trust you however, full faith in the judgment of their best friend. 

“Here, why don’t you show me what you can do hand to hand?” Emerie took the sword you had been slashing a dummy with and set it on the sword rack. You gave her a thankful smile for saving you from the lull of boredom you had found yourself in. She grabbed a few bandages from the table and divided them between herself and you. You slipped your gloves off and began to wrap your hands as you spoke to her about the camp she came from. She gave you a few mild answers not yet ready to dive into the full conversation of the hell she went through there everyday. 

“I’m ready whenever you are.” You placed yourself in a casual position, feet shoulder width apart and your hands on your hips. The winged Female came to stand in front of you and took up a defensive position. Her wings spread out behind her, feet spread apart and hands at the ready. You quirked one eyebrow up at her before nodding at her, giving her the go ahead to attack. She was rushing forwards in an instance, you sidestepped her first swing throwing your leg out grazing her shin enough to have her stumbling for a few steps. 

“Come on now Emerie, you don’t need to go easy on me. I can handle it.” The tone of your voice was teasing as she let out a sigh. Her feet finally steadied her and she was twirling around ready to attack again. You could see Nesta and Gwyn out of the corner of your eye, watching you both as you bobbed and weaved past each other. You had your wings out but kept them tightly tucked in behind you.  

“I’ll buy the first one that lands a hit, a drink at Rita’s later.” Nesta’s steely voice spoke up as you dodged another punch from the female in front of you. 

“What is Rita’s?” You threw the question out for one of them to answer. But your eyes remained on Emerie. You could feel sweat starting to coat your heated skin. 

“It’s a pleasure hall down in town.” Gwyn’s light voice spoke from beside Nesta. A good balance from the coldness that Nesta’s voice held. A numbing sensation started to prick along your limbs. 

“I could definitely use a drink.” You and Emerie both said at the same time, causing a laugh from the four of you. You urged the ache starting to develop inside you to dull. The sensation wasn’t new to you but it didn’t make it any better when it happened. 

“Sorry Emerie.” As the words left your mouth Emerie hesitated, you used the opportunity to grab the front of her shirt. Your fingers fisting the material tightly before you shoved some of your weight into her and she slammed against the floor. 

“Fuck.” was the only word that came from her mouth as she struggled to catch her breath. The impact of the fall had knocked the air right out of her. You let out a muffled grunt as you fell to your knees beside her feet. Your hands wrapped around your middle as your wings unraveled and enclosed you within them. 

A burning sensation started to overtake your body. You could feel something trying to claw its way out of your skin. Desperate for air to brush against it. The clothes laying upon your skin started to feel suffocating. The leather seemingly choking the oxygen from within you. A sob wracked your body as your fingers flexed and your nails itched. Your vision went in and out of focus as you tried to ground yourself back to your body.

“She’s burning up.” You weren’t sure who said it, or where they were at but all that you knew was that the words rang true. You could feel yourself starting to lose control. Your teeth ground against each other in an attempt to clamp down on the fire within your veins. A shaky breath left your body, steam coming out as the air left your lips.   

“Can you hear me?” A voice that seemed to be much closer than before asked you. But the only answer you could give was a twitch of your wings that were still placed around you. A black and blue shield, guarding you from prying eyes or guarding the prying eyes from the wrath you were fighting against. The hands wrapped around your middle came up to squeeze the sides of your head as a pounding throb smacked into the insides of your skull. 

Then your body shuttered in relief as cooling touches surrounded you. Brushing along your skin and weaving through your hair. Your lips parted in a moan as one of the cooling touches laid upon your sweat covered neck. The fingers that were squeezing your temples slipped away as more of the cooling touch came to rest upon them in their place. Moments passed as you basked in the icy feeling against your skin. Your hearing became clearer, the whispers from around you making you nervous. 

The cooling touches started to frantically move along you. Seemingly fighting against an unknown source. Then you felt the touches almost reluctantly pulling away from you. You blinked your eyes open slowly, catching a glimpse of black tendrils slipping underneath your wings. You fluttered the makeshift shields open hesitantly. You scanned your surroundings quickly, eyes landing on the forms of three females kneeling in front of you worry, hesitation and determination held within their respective gazes. 

Then your eyes flickered behind their crouched forms and took in the two males standing behind them. You shot back as your eyes connected to the unfamiliar one standing besides Cassian. You had gotten used to his apprehensive gaze throughout dinner last night and training this morning so it didn’t deter you now. However the look of fury that was being directed at you through hazel eyes had fear spiking through you. Your body was on high alert as you stared at him. The black tendrils that were with you moments before raced along his skin, grazing his ears. He stepped forward and even with the Females dividing you from him you still found yourself scooting farther away from him. Your entire being humming, wings twitching anxiously. 

“It’s okay you’re safe.” your gaze finally broke away from the stranger to the Females kneeling in front of you. It was Emerie who had spoken, her hands held out in front of her, showing you she wasn’t a threat. Her voice was dripping with worry. 

“What happened?” Nesta’s determined question had you digging your nails into the rock beneath you, welcoming the pain the action caused you. 

“That happens sometimes when I go too long between exerting all of my energy.” You knew it would be a waste of time and breath to lie to her so you had decided to go with the truth. 

“Are you okay?” A hesitant Gwyn piped up between Emerie and Nesta. 

“I am now, but I’m going to need a place to blow off some steam soon. If not, I'll go through that again.” You could still feel a dull ache within your body, a reminder to expel the pent up rage boiling within you soon. Cassian and the handsome stranger shared a look before they both nodded their heads. The silent conversation caused your stomach to twist in knots. 

“Let’s go and get clean and we can have lunch. Then maybe we can show you around the house.” Nesta stood from the floor and extended a hand your way which you immediately accepted. She helped to pull you up and you steadied on your feet quickly. You let her lead you away from the training space, Gwyn and Emerie both hot on your heels. As you slipped out however you heard two voices behind you. 

“I thought you were away Azriel.” You knew that deep voice was Cassian as you’d already accustomed yourself to the sound of his voice.

“I was in the middle of an interrogation when all of my fucking shadows slipped away from me in a mad dash. I followed them to see what was happening and it landed me here.” He had an annoyed edge to his tone. Clearly upset with being interrupted while he was close to getting the information he needed. That was the last you heard of the conversation before being whisked away.

A/N: I gave you guys some Azriel!!! I hope you all liked this part. As always likes, reblogs, comments and follows are welcome. I'm excited to get into the next part soon! I might go through and rewrite a bit of this because I wrote this so late in the day so it might be a little delirious at parts lol.

“This is the kitchen.” Emerie waves her hand in front of the doorway to the large space. Your eyes took in the room quickly. You noted the exits and all the knives unconsciously. Then your eyes landed on a red haired male standing at the island, a piece of toast covered in pumpkin jam in his hands. He noticed you the same time you noticed him. 

“What are you doing here?” Nestas' cold voice spoke at the same time you did. Gwyn’s calming voice wasn’t there to sooth it this time as she had retreated to the priestess’s. 

“You’re Lucien.” His surprised yet curious gaze met your own and your face was almost split in two as you smiled at him. He seemed a bit taken aback, he wasn’t used to anyone being pleased with his presence now-a-days. So to see a stranger so unabashedly happy had him preening a bit. 

“I am here because Elain and Nyx have been spending more time at the town house with Nuala and Cerridwen. With their absence at the river house Feyre and Rhysand have decided to start practicing for a second.” His eyes both Fae and machine, stayed on you as he spoke to the seething female beside you. 

“I figured you wouldn’t want me bothering Elain. I refuse to enter that house when it reeks of them everywhere so I decided this was the best place for me.” His gaze slowly slipped from your own onto Nesta. He looked perfectly calm and poise. To Nesta and Emerie he looked just like the emissary he was but your eyes slipped to his hand not holding the toast, where a small spark of fire danced between his fingertips. 

“Would you happen to be free tomorrow afternoon Lucien?” Your question caught everyone off guard, even yourself as you asked it. His head cocked to the side as he sized you up, taking note of the wings adorning your back that weren’t there the last time he had seen you. You had been warned he could see through glamouring so you were happy you were covered head to toe. The various tattoos adorning your body were hidden well. 

“I don’t have anything that comes to mind. Why do you ask?” Nesta went to speak but you cut her off before she could. You didn’t pay the two females any mind as your soul focus remained on the fire wielding Fae in front of you.

“I need your help with something.” You did the same little trick with your fingers that you had noticed him doing moments earlier and he caught it just as you knew he would. A spark of intrigue lit up in his eye as well as your own. 

“Then I am at your service. Nesta can show you to my chambers when you are in need of me.” With that he was slipping past the three of you and off down the hallway. When he was out of sight you let your gaze fall back on Nesta. Her eyes held utter rage behind them which you simply shook your head at. 

“What the fuck was that about?” You didn’t falter as you took the piercing gaze and words in. You simply gave her a smile that was all but reassuring. A seed of doubt started to form in her mind. She had put blind trust in you. But had she been stupid to do so? She shook her head at the thought and decided that until you did something to make her not trust you she would stick by your side. 

“Like I said I need his help with something.” You shrugged your shoulders before moving to where Lucien had just made a piece of toast and started on your own. You offered some to the females but Emerie was the only one to accept a piece. 

Dinner that night was tense. Emerie had to go back to her camp. Lucien had holed himself up in his room. Azriel went back to interrogation. Rhysand and Feyre were both busy with each other. That left you with Nesta glaring holes into you and Cassian giving you weary looks. 

“You know Nesta. If you don’t want me to go you can just tell me.” You punctuate the sentence by stabbing a piece of your food and bringing it up to your lips. You slipped it between your lips and savored the amazing herbs and spices that enveloped your taste buds. 

“I don’t want you to go.” Her voice was as sharp as her gaze was and you nodded at her words. You chewed your food, swallowed it and then gave her a smile that had Cassian squeezing the fork in his hand anxiously. 

“Thank you for your input. But I’m still going.” Cassian choked on the bite of food he had in his mouth, giving you both an incredulous look. Nesta’s eyes only narrowed at you, like she could pin you to the chair forever. 

“Where are you going?” Cassian finally asked after getting his breath back. You took a sip of wine before replying to him. The bitter taste was soothing as you swallowed it. 

“I asked for Lucien’s help to expel my power tomorrow afternoon. Nesta doesn’t seem to be keen on the idea of me being within fifty feet of him.” Nesta huffed a breath of exhaustion at your statement. Cassian's eyes darted between the two of you before he spoke up again. 

“Would you mind if we were in attendance?” You shook your head at his question, giving Nesta a reassuring smile this time. She finally let out a small breath, calming down every so slightly. 

“I figured The High Lord, The High Lady, you and Nesta would like to be there.” You stabbed another piece of food and brought it up to your mouth. Cassian's eyes glazed over and you waited, chewing your food slowly. 

“Rhys said that he and Feyre will be there. He’d like Azriel there as well.” You gulped at the response. Not expecting the male from earlier to be in attendance as well. He had been aggravated at the interruption you had caused him earlier so you didn’t think he’d be happy to have to shell out time for you again. 

“The angry guy with the shadows from training?” You asked him even though you already knew the answer. He gave you a loud laugh at the question and gave you an enthusiastic nod in response. Then that was the end of the discussion, the three of you returning to eating. 

You had slipped off to your room shortly after you were done eating. Mostly because after the tension in between you and Nesta was cleared, the way Nesta and Cassian were eyefucking each other had you wanting a reprieve. You bathed and slipped into a pair of pajama pants and a loose tunic that the house set out for you. 

The sheets were cold as you worked your way under the covers. You shuddered at the feeling. Your mind flashing back to your time within Hybern. Before you could try to heat the room yourself the house had lit a fire in the hearth. You uttered a thank you, then you were slipping into sleep.

A/N: This part was short and lacked Az I know. But the next chapter is both longer and has Az. So please just be patient. There will be significantly more Az in later chapters. Right now were just building up to that.

Azriel met you on the landing to leave just after breakfast. Brok and Zas were with Lucien in the library. He’d been more than willing to take care of the hounds while you were gone. Nesta and Cassian were training with the Valkyrie and then would be going out to Velaris for the day. You’d be meeting them for a late lunch, early dinner after you and Azriel were done at the black smiths shop. 

Azriel watched as you climbed up onto the railing. You looked down on Velaris and took a deep breath in. He waited for you to bring your wings out but you didn’t. You simply turned around, sent him a wink and threw yourself backwards. His shadows pulled him to the railing before he could protest or go to the ledge himself. But as he looked over the side he saw that you had brought your wings out and were soaring through the air calmly. 

Azriel followed you soon after, taking the lead and guiding you to the blacksmith shop. He explained to the blacksmith that you were here to make a few things. What exactly you wanted to make he wasn’t sure. The blacksmith was obviously hesitant about letting another cauldron made Fae make anything after what happened with Nesta. But as he eyed you and noticed how at peace you looked he couldn’t say no. 

You thought about keeping the gloves you wore on your hands. But you knew that you wanted to feel the fluid motions of forging in your bare palm. As you slipped the gloves off you focused on not letting your hands shake. Out of the corner of your eye you noticed the way Azriel surveyed your hands. The wounds that marked them were plenty, tiny scars here and there but Azriel’s eyes narrowed in on the large almost perfectly circular angry scars in the center of your hand, the palm and the back. He wasn’t sure what they were from; it was obvious it had been brutal though. 

The shadows that seemed to remain a steady presence with you wrapped around your hands quickly. You let them wrap through your fingers and over the scars and you did not flench. As they slipped back up to your wrists you thanked them. 

A low sigh left your lips before you started on an art you had mastered years ago. Azriel watched you move through the room silently. It was as though you were dancing across the room, like this is where you were most comfortable. With every motion you seemed to slip farther into a trance. He wondered how you had learned to be so silent. Your feet didn’t make a noise as you parried around the room. 

The blacksmith stood in the doorway and watched you. He was surprised to see someone moving around his shop like they owned it as well. He hadn’t seen someone with such natural talent in a long time. 

You pounded away and before they knew it you had made two daggers, a short sword and a scythe. The daggers both held a single siphon in the pommels. He hadn’t questioned why you chose to put them in the daggers instead of on leathers like he and Cassian had done. They were your siphons and yours to use how you saw fit. 

You brought a towel up to your face that the blacksmith had brought you and wiped the sweat away from the skin. The shadows had helped you stay cool for the most part but you had been working hard and steady so sweating was inevitable. You stood back with both hands on your hips and surveyed the weapons in front of you. You ran your hand along the scythe before nodding your head in approval. 

“Could I please get the bill?” Your eyes were laid upon the black smith now. Who gave you a truly bewildered look. 

“You don’t have to pay for any of this.” He seemed utterly surprised you’d even asked. You were the one that had put in all the work afterall. 

“I used your materials. I would like to pay for them.” You didn’t leave it up for debate and with a huff the blacksmith was off gathering a bill. 

“How did you learn to be so silent?” Azriel asked you, you blinked at him in surprise as this was the first he’d spoken to you all morning. 

“The only time I was able to move around freely was when my parents were asleep. So I learned how to quiet my steps.” Your hands flexed and Azriel spied a flame in both before they disappeared like they’d never been there at all. But he realized that was all you were going to say about your childhood so he didn’t press further. 

“After I escaped Hybern my friend helped me master the changes being a fae brought me. He showed me how to mask my heartbeat and scent as well.” You thought back to the months after you had escaped Hybern. The way you had to heal and the High Fae that had helped you through it all. Azriel seemed inclined to ask you another question but shut his mouth as the black smith walked back in. 

“Here ya go.” He handed you the bill and you surveyed it quickly before signing the bottom. 

“Who is Archibald Tolsin?” Azriel piped up from behind you as he eyed the name you signed. 

“My friend.” Was the only answer you gave him and he could tell you wouldn’t say anything else about the matter. 

“Can this stuff be sent to the house of wind?” You asked Azriel as you once again eyed the weapons before you. 

“I can arrange for that.” Azriel’s voice carried through the room and you nodded your head at him in thanks. You snatched up the daggers and pocketed them both in smooth calculated motions.

“We outta get going or we’ll miss lunch.” You had already started walking through the building to the doors. Azriel followed after you quickly. You threw a thank you over your shoulder to the blacksmith before slipping outside. Azriel arranged for the short sword and scythe to be sent to the house of wind and was slipping out the door you had disappeared through moments earlier. 

You were leaning against the wall, gloves back on, eyes scanning the busy streets around you. A group of kids came barreling around the corner laughing loudly and you smiled at them softly. Your wings had been gone since you landed outside the blacksmiths shop earlier that day. The shadows that seemed to be more so yours rather than Azriel’s swept along your cheeks and neck and through your hair languidly. You didn’t even flinch as one wrapped along your ear. Azriel knew that while the shadows seemed to favor you, you weren’t able to hear them. 

“You ready to go?” You turned your head in Azriel’s direction and he gave you a stern nod. You followed him through the streets and to the restaurant Cassian had picked out at dinner last night. Nesta and Cassian were already inside and sat at a table when you entered. 

“I wanna see.” Nesta rolled her eyes at Cassian as he made grabby hands towards you. You pulled the daggers from your pockets and handed them over to him. He studied the blade and pummel before a large smile worked over his face.

“Very good craftsmanship, I might have to commission you to make my weapons in the future.” You gave him a mischievous smile and he matched it. Azriel and Nesta both eyed you wearily.

“Why don’t we make a bet.” Cassian’s wide smile grew as a flicker of curiosity glinted in his eyes at your proposition. He handed you the daggers back and you pocketed them once again. 

“What do you have in mind?” He leaned back in his chair and flung an arm across the back of Nesta’s. 

“A drinking game. First one drunk loses. If you win I have a short sword I made today with your name on it and I’ll make you however many weapons you want in the future free of charge. But if I win you have to get me a custom set of leathers made and pay me for any weapons I make you in the future.” He eyed you up and down, assessing you, the hand that wasn’t on Nesta’s chair rubbed at his chin. You waited patiently, even though you knew he would agree. The look in his eyes gave his answer away before he even spoke. 

“You have a bet.” He pulled the hand from his chin and held it out to you. You shook it tightly watching as surprise worked over his face from the strength in your grip. Then the game began. When either of you ordered a drink the other followed suit. It had been many years since Azriel had seen Cassian lose a drinking game so he figured he had this in the bag. Azriel sat there watching as his brother became more and more inebriated. 

The group of you ate and talked about anything you could think of. They asked you about your time before they found you. You gave them little pieces of information, but nothing that would give away the many secrets you held. Cassian finally pulled a piece of leather from his pocket and tied up his hair. He was trying to hide the fact that he was getting hot as the alcohol worked through his body. 

“How am I supposed to get up to the house of wind if you’re too drunk to fly us Cassian?” Nesta crossed her arms narrowing a look at him. He hiccuped as he looked at her, processing her words and then he shrugged. 

“I’ll carry you up there Nes.” You gave her a reassuring smile, like you had already planned to fly her up. The only response from her was a curt nod. But Azriel eyed you curiously. You had kept pace with Cassian easily but you didn’t seem even slightly tipsy. 

“You’re staying at the River House tonight. I don’t want you throwing up on our rug again.” Nesta sent Cassian another pointed look and he gave her a pout.  

“That only happened-” He hiccuped again “one time Ne-“ another hiccup “-sta.” He swayed in his seat a little bit. You smiled at him as you gestured to the waitress that you’d take two more drinks. She made quick work of bringing them over and you chugged the drink quickly watching as Cassian tried to do the same. The constant hiccups made it difficult for him to do. 

You waved the waitress down for the check which she brought over with a smile. You didn’t miss the way she eyed the Illyrian shadowsinger sitting beside you. Something she had been doing all night actually. Nesta went to protest you paying but you waved your hand at her in dismissal before once again signing the name Archibald Tolsin. Azriel would have to send out shadows tonight in search of the mystery male. 

“Let’s go Nes. Azriel is going to take Cassian.” Azriel almost choked on his last sip of whiskey as you stood and gestured for Nesta to do the same. 

“Why am I taking him?” You gave him a beaming smile and there was that ember flickering away in your eyes. 

“Are you saying you can’t handle it?” Azriel felt his chest involuntarily puffing out at your question. He scoffed at you before standing up as well and rounding the table. He pulled a swaying Cassian up from his seat and narrowed his eyes at you before they were slipping through his shadows. 

“That was easier than I expected. I saw a really cute bakery yesterday with Lucien that is open late. Let’s stop there on the way back.” You were practically pulling Nesta out of the restaurant and through the streets. She was utterly surprised at your steady steps and steady words as you asked her questions about the city. 

“How the fuck are you not drunk?” She asked you when you finally stopped in front of the bakery. She had watched you down an equal amount of drinks as her mates. There is no way you should still be conscious. 

“I have fire in my veins, I can burn alcohol away as soon as it enters me.” You gave her a lazy smile and swaggered off into the bakery.

“So you cheated?” Her question didn’t surprise you as you scanned the cases of pastries and baked goods for anything that caught your eye. 

“It would’ve been cheating if he had specified I couldn’t use my fire to my advantage.” Your eyes lit up as you spied a specific cupcake. 

“He didn’t know.” Nesta was leveling you with a stare that would’ve made a lesser fae quake but you simply rolled your eyes at her. 

“He didn’t ask.” That was that, Nesta realized that what you said made sense. It was her mate's fault for misjudging his opponent. You went up to the counter and ordered three cupcakes and waited for Nesta to order as well. You signed the bill and were making your way back out the door into the street after being handed your bag of baked goods. 

Your wings popped up behind you and you opened your arms letting Nesta settle against your chest before you were shooting for the sky and towards the house of wind. The flight there was quiet as you both took in the sight of the city below you. Once you got to the house of wind you went in search of Lucien who was still in the library before giving him one of the cupcakes. You asked the shadows that had stayed with you to place one in their masters room which they did quickly before finding their way back to you. 

Nesta sat with you and Lucien for a while as you all read different books. As the night grew later the three of you parted ways towards your respective rooms. Brok and Zas followed you dutifully. With the comfort of the shadows and the hounds you had a nightmare free slumber.

A/N:So sorry this wasn't posted around the time it usually is! Thank you all so much for reading. As always likes, comments, reblogs and follows are much appreciated.

“We got you a gift.” Was the first thing you heard as you sat down for dinner. You glanced at the others sitting around the table. Nesta and Cassian sat by each other, Azriel on the other side of Cassian. Lucien had just wrangled a ball from Zas and plopped down in the chair beside you. 

“I don’t think it’s my birthday.” You never really knew when your birthday was. Had never celebrated one when younger. But you did celebrate the day your dad had saved you. Though that was a day that only the two of you had knowledge of. The day had also not been celebrated since before you were taken from the woods in the mortal lands. You thought of your father as you often did. Thought about hopefully seeing him again one day. 

“Ember, are you ready for dinner?” You heard your fathers deep voice coming from the kitchen. You put a placeholder in your book and got up eagerly. Your footsteps were silent as you made your way through the small house. Your father was standing with his hands on his hips behind the table.

He had a wide smile on his lips as he looked at the spread he had made. There were all your favorite foods lying out on the table. An equally wide smile adorned your lips as you took in the sight before you. He pulled a chair out for you before settling in on his own next to you. Then you both dug into the food in front of you. It wasn’t much but you wouldn’t change this for the world. You’d just finished the dishes and were walking out of the kitchen when your father came into sight. 

“I love you Ember.” The sentiment had a lump forming in your throat. You tried to hold back your tears but they ran down your face like a steady stream anyways. He held out his arms and you shot into them. 

“I love you papa.” He ran a steady hand along the back of your head and you took in a big breath. Smoke and leather clouded your senses and your sobs grew louder. He had been a safe place for you since he saved you the night you were left for dead. He held you until your sobs stopped and then you both read in the living room by the fire in the hearth. 

When your name was called you broke out of your memory. “Sorry.” You muttered the word quietly, the skin on your chest had started to heat and you rubbed at it soothingly. Until a dark tendril came to wrap around your wrist and you let out a refreshed sigh. 

“After your display of power we thought it wise to get you something to help control it.” Azriel’s shadows brought a box to the table at Cassian’s words. They slid the box across the table until it sat in front of you. It looked simple, black obsidian with a few intricate designs of swirls adorning the sides of the box.  

“Are you going to open it?” Nesta was becoming impatient, you brought a gloved hand up to the box and ran your fingers along the material. You were happy for the gloves lacking fingers as you felt the material that was smooth along your fingertips. 

“No one has ever gotten me a gift before.” While you and your father had celebrated before it had always been with your favorite food and dessert. You had never been well off enough to afford gifts. His job as the town blacksmith was only so rewarding. You flipped over the latch that was on the front keeping the lid closed and set your eyes upon three gems as the lid rose. 

You looked at them curiously and realized the resemblance to the siphons you’d seen Cassian and Azriel wore. Though the ones lying within the box were black, a beautiful obsidian, that matched the partial color of your wings perfectly. That matched the shadow wrapped around your wrist just as well. You picked one up delicately and sent a flame up through your fingertips, a gasp left your lips as you saw the flame get locked within the stone and pulse. Another wave ran down your arm into your fingers then was once again locked in the stone. 

You had expected it to feel like your power was being dragged from you but instead it felt like it was being amplified and dulled all at the same time. You blinked as you realized what exactly was happening. It was being honed for use, it was building up until you needed it, building up within the stone so you wouldn’t fear losing control again. A single tear slipped down your face that another shadow was quick to wipe away. A breath left your lips as relief slowly ebbed into you. You gathered another one into your other hand and let your power slip into it. Your shoulders sagged with the weight of some of what was bottled inside your body locked itself away in the stone. 

“Thank you.” The words fell from your lips as you grasped the stones within your hands. You finally looked up and Azriels eyes were studying you. Studying you in a way that made you feel small yet bigger than life all at the same time. He nodded his head at you once and you mirrored the action in return. 

“Let’s eat.” Cassian’s deep voice rumpled and you were thankful for the distraction as you slipped the stones back into the box and closed the lid. 

“Do you guys have a blacksmith in town? I don’t think that was on the tour today.” The question came from you after dessert had passed and the group of you sat around sipping on wine and whiskey. 

Cassian had been feeding Brok and Zas pieces of food off his plate which had earned him their interest and now they wouldn’t leave the Illyrian alone. Brok had climbed into the large males lap and settled in nicely. Which was a funny sight because the hound was massive and you were surprised the chair hadn’t snapped under his added weight. But Cassian didn’t falter and had taken joy in petting the hounds head as he napped. 

“We have one in town, yes.” Nesta’s eyes worked over your frame curiously and you looked at her in a bored yet mischievous manner that was so completely you. 

“Why do you inquire about one?” You shrugged your shoulders at her question. Cassian and Nesta glanced at each other as they remembered the weapons she had made not long ago. How deadly they had turned in her doing so. 

“Miss the art is all.” She gave you a nod, she knew how much you had helped your father around the shop and she was sure you missed the attachment to the man. 

“I can take you tomorrow if you’d like?” Lucien spoke up beside you and you were going to turn and accept his offer when another voice spoke up. 

“I’ll take her.” Azriel said simply and the discussion was left at that. No one dared question the order from the spymaster. His shadows danced along his skin excitedly.

A/N: Not very long but I'll make it up to you with some Az and reader next chapter. Thank you all for reading as always likes, comments, reblogs and follows are much appreciated.

The next morning was easy. Nesta came to wake you up for training and you explained to her you needed to sleep as much as possible before releasing so much energy later. She was going to argue with you but Cassian had shook his head at her from his spot next to her in the hall. Then they slipped away to the rooftop for training. The house gave you breakfast and lunch when you woke up to use the bathroom. You only awoke two more times due to nightmares, which was a miracle. Each time you did the cooling touch of the shadows soothed you back to sleep. 

Before you knew it you were standing in a large field, the grass was soft, flowers of all colors sporadically sprouted across the ground. The trees stood tall in various shades of green seemingly caging in the field. The sky above you was a perfect shade of blue, clouds sparsely present. Then there was the Fae you were with. Nesta and Cassian stood together, not too far from you. Feyre and Rhysand stood farther away, deep in a silent discussion. Lucien stood awkwardly beside you and Azriel was leaning against a tree on the edge of the field. 

“So how exactly are you going to disperse this energy?” Cassian piped up as you pulled a piece of carefully wrapped cake from your house provided pack. 

“You’re just going to have to wait and see, lord of impatience.” You shrugged as though it was the simplest thing, taking a large bite of the cake. A groan rumbling in your chest as the flavor of it coated your tongue. 

“Where’d you even get that?” Cassian asked and you could sense a bit of jealousy in his words. Nesta rolled her eyes at him and Lucien held back a snort. 

“The House gave it to me before we left.” You broke the piece in half and handed the rest to Lucien who curled up one eyebrow before shrugging and grabbing the cake and taking a bite. 

“You’ll need the bit of sugar rush for your help that I’m going to need.” He nodded his head in reply, then you both took another bite of the cake. You burned the wrapper in your hand after finishing the cake, the ashes falling to the ground as you turned your palm over and shook your hand off. 

“Let’s get started.” Rhysand said as he and Feyre walked towards you. That’s when all of the nerves set in. You had dispersed your energy countless times but had never done it in front of such a big crowd. The process was normally so robotic but you didn’t have your normal accomplice with you this time. You nodded your head before dancing your fingers in the air, then much to everyone's surprise two hounds made of flame tore through the grass. They yipped and played with one another before bounding towards you and licking your hands. The shadows wrapped around your skin danced excitedly as they watched the hounds. 

“I’ve missed you both as well. I won’t wait this long again, I promise.” You knelt down in front of them, petting them both gingerly. You missed the look of pure shock on Lucien's face as you gave both the hounds a kiss before they went back to playing. Not a burn mark was in sight in their wake, but the fire coming from them waved in the air as they ran. Some of Azriel’s shadows had slipped away from the shadowsinger and chased them through the grass. 

“I decided to start small, meet Brok and Zas.” You told the group as you stood up from the ground watching the two playing with a look of adoration and love in your eyes. 

“Do you need us to do anything?” Feyre’s calm voice spoke up from her position beside Rhysand. Everyone stood a little straighter ready to help if needed.

“Do any of you have the gift of water or ice?” You asked them hopefully, eyes scanning them quickly, Feyre perked up at the question.

“I have both.” You gave her a beaming smile and opened up the pack and took out a blanket. The material was dense, a spell that had been weaved into the object made it fireproof. 

“I will need Lucien to form a barrier of fire around me. Once I drop I will need you to immediately douse me in the coldest water you can make.” Your eyes didn’t leave hers as you spoke. Anxiety caused the next instruction to leave your mouth awkwardly. 

“I will end up passing out and my skin will still be too hot to touch. I will need someone to take me back to the house of wind. Since Lucien is staying there it’ll be more convenient for him to take me.” Your eyes then flicked over to his waiting form. The anxiety of having a male touch you started to eat away at your chest but you took a deep breath centering yourself. It had been a while since you had trusted a male enough to touch you but you knew you could trust Lucien. 

“You will be the only one from the house of wind that will be able to lay a hand on me. I am putting my full trust in you to get me back safely.” He could see the hesitation in your eyes but he did not back down. He gave you a look that looked so familiar, a feeling of home settled within your chest and you gave him a small smile. 

“I will be asleep for the rest of the night and all day tomorrow. Could you and Feyre wrap this around me carefully before he carries me?” Your eyes moved to Nesta as you spoke, wanting to reassure her you’d be okay. Not wanting her to worry when you knew she would. She held her hand out for the blanket. Her eyes that had pinned Lucien to his spot in a silent threat met your own. They were cold, but you knew she was worried with the way she took in your form once and then twice. 

“Can everyone please back up?” They did as you asked. You looked at your hounds rolling around in the grass, before looking over where Azriel was still propped against his tree, he was just a little straighter than he was before. You felt a cool reassuring touch on the back of your neck. Then you scanned the group quickly, the anxiety finally bubbling over. You had to beg the shadows that had been attached to you to return to their master. 

“Lucien?” That’s all you had to say and a barrier of fire was wrapped around you. A large dome like structure that you were praying to the mother wouldn’t waver. Your wings disappeared as your fingers flexed. You rolled your head back and then forwards, shaking out your arms once. Your skin became rapidly hot. With one shaky breath you exploded.

Fire hit the barrier in aggressive waves. You could feel that thing inside you once again trying to claw its way out. Every fiber of your body felt like it was being torn apart and put back together. But you wouldn’t let it. Wouldn’t let yourself lose control in front of these Fae that you barely knew. 

Minutes that felt like days passed and you dropped to your knees. Your head thrown back between your shoulders, eyes looking up at the sky through the combined fire of yours and Luciens. Had someone been inside the ball of fire with you they would have noticed that your eyes were changing. They were the perfect match to the fire coming from your body.

A scream erupted from your chest as you flung your arms out to your sides. You weren’t able to see the reactions of those around you. The way that Nesta held onto Cassian's arm tightly. The way that Cassian's siphons started to flare a protective shield coming up around him and his mate. The way that Rhysand looked at you with pure and utter surprise. Yet he was ready to take you down if things got out of hand. Feyre stood ready for the task you had given her. 

Then there was Azriel, whose shadows yanked him towards the group. They were whipping across the grass frantically. Desperately trying to reach you through the shield Lucien was maintaining steadily. The Illyrian however sat there frightened yet intrigued. Your hounds whined as they looked upon you, but they sat at the edges of Cassian's shield patiently. They knew that once your power drained they would disappear for a while. Going back to the in between until being brought back out. 

Memories of your life flashed through your head rapidly. The childhood you were lucky enough to escape. The love of your father that helped to heal you. Then there were the memories of your time within the walls of Hybern. The fear soared through you causing another scream to rip from your throat, your hands growing taught as fire continued to rapidly escape you. Getting dumped into the cauldron was the next memory. The gentle caress it gave you forever seared into your brain. 

You let that slowly ease you. You could feel the last bit of energy starting to leave the chest of power inside of you. Your body shaking as your limbs grew heavier. Lungs rapidly trying to take in air. Blood poured from your eyes, nose and fingertips. A pounding sensation smacked through your head. Black dots started to pop up in your vision. Your throat burned as you let out a roar, fire scratching up your throat and releasing from your mouth and then you collapsed. The lid to the chest that was normally sealed tightly slammed shut.

Brok and Zas:

A/N:Not much Az but there will be in the next chapter! As always likes, comments, follows and reblogs are much appreciated.

When you woke up you were surprised to see Lucien sat at the desk by the large window in your room. You sat up slowly and let out a deep groan as you did. Even though you knew you’d slept for a while your body was still exhausted. You went through nightmare after nightmare without being able to wake yourself. Lucien wrote down something on the paper in front of him before slowly turning your way. He sat looking at you waiting for you to speak before he said anything. 

“Good morning, or maybe afternoon, I’m not sure which one.” Your eyes gazed through the window trying to gauge when in the day it was. Lucien seemed to relax at your words, almost like he had been preparing to be yelled at. 

“Good afternoon.” His smile settled the nerves within your chest. The smell of pumpkin, a mix of different spices and something uniquely Lucien filled the air.

“How long has it been?” You looked under the covers and noticed you were in a clean pair of trousers and a clean tunic. Nesta must have changed you when you cooled down enough. You knew your clothes from before would have been burnt except for the fingerless gloves you had left in your room on your bedside table. Which you reached for and slipped onto your hands. 

“Day and a half.” He brought a hand up to his hair and moved the strand that had fallen in his face. You let out a relieved sigh at the answer, it was the expected time so you were happy for that. 

“Where is everyone?” You had expected for Nesta to be there when you woke up so the fact she wasn’t had you slightly worried.

“There was an issue that arose in Windhaven that she, Cassian and Azriel were sent to deal with.” You nodded your head understandably and stretched your arms out over your head, a deep satisfied groan leaving your lips as you did. 

“I’m starving, do you want to go to the kitchen with me?” You cocked your head at the male curiously. He nodded at you eagerly as though he just realized he was starving as well. 

“I’m sure the house will give us dinner if we go and wait at the dining room table.” The house answered by opening the door. 

“I kind of forgot about that.” You let out a nervous laugh as you both stood and walked out to the dining room. The house had already set the table with soup, bread, salad and tea. You both uttered a thank you as you sat and started to devour the meal in front of you. As dessert was laid out you both settled into comfortable conversation. 

“I’m surprised that Nesta left you here with me.” You took a sip of your tea as Lucien took a bite of his pie. You knew of her protective nature over those she cared for. You also knew that you were one of the few she did care about. 

“She threatened to cut me up into little bitty pieces if I let anything happen to you. Not that I would’ve let anything happen to you.” He cringed and you weren’t sure if it was from the memory of Nesta’s threat or if it was at the thought of letting harm befall you.

“How long are they expected to be gone for?” You took a bite of pie this time as he took a sip of tea, he gave you a shrug in response. Moments went by of comfortable silence before he spoke again. 

“How did you know who I was?” He asked you as you sipped on your tea. You knew he was referring to your first meeting in the kitchen just days ago. 

“Do you know many other fae with red hair and a golden eye?” The sarcasm was clear in your voice and he gave you a quiet laugh in response. 

“I guess that is kind of a dead giveaway isn’t it?” You nodded your head rapidly, a smile adorning your lips at his rhetorical question. You both talked in quiet voices until you retreated to bed. 

When you awoke due to a nightmare that night there wasn’t a shadow to keep you company so you had flicked your wrist out towards the end of the bed where the bodies of Brok and Zas formed. Brok curled up at your feet and Zas came clambering up to give you a rough lick on the face. You groaned lightly before pushing him away softly. He huffed as he laid down roughly on the bed beside you. Both boys' fire was just a crackle as they slept. But the warmth they radiated was enough to keep you company as you slept. 

Lucien was surprised to see the hounds sitting at your feet the next morning when he crawled out of bed for breakfast. You had looked up at him and down towards them in a silent question on if he was okay with them or not. He gave you a shrug that all but screamed “I don’t care” and sat down across from you. 

“Do you have any plans today?” He took a large bite of the apple the house placed in front of him, you let out an obnoxious snort at his question. 

“I know all of one person well enough to make plans with them and they are not here.” You waved your hand around the room, a playful look in your eyes. 

“Would you like to go into town with me?” You contemplated his question, cocking your head back and forth before giving him a nod. While you didn’t usually keep males as company you had a feeling you could trust him with your life. Plus the last day spent with him had made you comfortable and trusting. 

“Can Brok and Zas come with us?” The answer wouldn’t be a deal breaker but you had missed them and didn’t have the heart to send them back to the inbetween. 

“Of course they can.” He didn’t even hesitate to tell you they could and that had your heart warming. Not many people accepted the hounds so you were happy that he was. You both finished breakfast before getting ready to go. You sent Brok and Zas to the in between while you flew down and Lucien winnowed. Upon your feet hitting the ground you let them out again and a group of children just so happened to round the corner as you did. You paused for a moment afraid they would be afraid of you or the hounds but instead they squealed and chased the hounds through the streets gleefully. 

“You already seem to fit right in. That’s a good thing.” Lucien whispered to you as you watched the children play with the hounds. That was something you would cherish forever, the happy sounds of children playing gleefully in the street. 

“Do you have anywhere specific you’d like to go to, Lucien?” You turned to him slightly as you asked the question though you kept your eyes on the hounds as you both started slowly walking behind them. 

“I figured we could just walk around. I can give you the grand tour of Velaris. Maybe we can eat lunch down here.” You hummed in reply and that was exactly what you did. You slipped in and out of buildings, Brok and Zas would wait outside patiently as you did. You eventually found a place to eat lunch that had outdoor seating where the boys could lay at your feet. You had many eyes on you, for not only being someone new but for the hounds that accompanied you. But with Lucien giving you the occasional reassuring smile you eased the worry away. 

“I’ll race you back to the house.” Lucien gave you a bewildered look as he tucked his hands into the pockets of his pants. His eyes both gazing in the direction of the house of wind. You had just gotten done eating and were just walking away from the restaurant. 

“What do you mean by race?” You gave him a shit eating grin before replying.

“I bet I can beat you to the house of wind and all the way up the stairs. Without using my wings and you can’t winnow either.” He seemed to contemplate what you said before shrugging, deciding he didn’t have anything better to do. 

“What are we racing for?” You watched as Brok tackled Zas to the ground and rolled around with him for a moment. You were thankful that their fire wasn’t harmful unless they intended for it to be. Because if it was always harmful the grass around them would be burnt to ash. 

“Loser has to tell the winner a secret.” You looked at him in question on if the prize was enough and his only reply was taking off in the direction of the house of wind in a blur. You tore after him, the boys followed you instantly. You bobbed and weaved through the crowd making sure not to bump into anyone. Laughs filled the air as you chased after him. He stayed a good pace ahead of you for a while until you caught up. You went neck and neck all the way up the stairs. 

Until you skifully tripped him and he yelled after you and grabbed at your ankle. Your fingers were at the landing to the house and you kicked your foot in his general direction trying to push him farther down the stairs. You were finally able to stand up and had just opened the door when he tackled you and you both fell on the floor in a fit of breathless laughter. The boys bouncing up and licking your faces as you fell onto your backs. 

“I totally won.” You both said at the same time and then glared at the other. Zas huffed at your competitive nature. 

“You cheated.” You were pointing fingers at each other, jaws both falling open at the accusations flying from the other one. 

“Where have you two been?” Nesta’s voice had you both wide eyed, like kids caught with their hand in the cookie jar before dinner. Cassian was standing behind her with a small smile on his face. 

“I gave her a tour of Velaris. This house can be quite stuffy.” The house answered his complaint by smacking him with the door he was lying beside. You took that as your cue to stand up, then offered your hand to Lucien which he gracefully accepted. Nesta watched every movement and when Lucien was standing tall beside you she spoke again. 

“I am sorry for how I have treated you in the past Lucien.” Her eyes narrowed on him and his face showed his clear surprise. His eye was wide and his mouth was gaping open and closed. You nudged him with your elbow and he shook his head.

“I accept your apology.” With his words you could see it clear, that was the first of many alliances you’d help forge.

A/N: I am so sorry for taking so long to update this series. The last couple of weeks have been insanely busy! I already have the next part of this written so I should be able to update it on Thursday no problem! As always likes, comments, reblogs and follows are much apprectiated. Thank you for reading!