#azriel shadow

It happened so fast.

He snatched you off the ground at the river house, letting out a rough chuckle at your screech. You could hear the laughter of the inner circle follow you on the breeze as he took you higher and higher. You giggled as he swept in a large arc, letting the wind ruffle your hair out of your braid. Throwing your arms out, leaning your head back, you relished in the momentary feeling of weightlessness before the two of you went soaring down. 

It happened so fast. 

Azriel was suddenly upon you, hands dancing over your body, his empty plate tossed to the side. You barely heard it shatter as his lips met yours. The bond sang as you pushed harder against him, seeking any kind of contact to relieve this burn you were feeling - the both of you were feeling. 

He pushed you against the wall, rattling the paintings that hung there. You didn’t register the shout of surprise, followed by complaint, from Cassian until Azriel’s hand unwound from your hair to flip him off before kicking the door shut. 

It happened so fast. 

One moment you were watching Nyx soar through the sky where Azriel taught Feyre to fly when the arrows went whizzing past your head. A mass of black moved through the trees, rattling the ground you stood upon. 

Time slowed as you heard the woosh of Feyre winnowing away with Elain gripping her shoulder, and Nyx wrapped tight in her arms. You saw the glow of blue and red from the corners of your eyes as you reached for the swords you stored in between. With a roll of your shoulders, time returned at full force as you ran forward with your family, taking on the mass of black as a unit. 

It happened so fast. 

You met his eyes across the felled trees and bodies. His pride, seeing your chest heave for breath, sweat dripping down your forehead, arms hanging limply at your sides - A warrior - sang through the bond. He started toward you, perfectly illuminated by the setting sun behind him, golden rays shining as his shadows swirled around him. You couldn’t help but smirk, being able to feel exactly what he wanted to do to you now through the bond. To show you how proud he was of you. You took a step forward, needing to feel his skin on yours. You stepped ove -

It happened so fast.

You didn’t even have the chance to take a breath to scream as a solid wall - no - a body? - crashed into you. You couldn’t even turn to see what had tackled you before you were… weightless. You were staring at the sky above you, completely enamored by the swirls of pinks and purples and yellows and oranges the sun's rays made dance through the clouds. You blinked, and the weightlessness left you. You blinked, and you were staring directly down at the sea, white tipped waves crashing against the ragged shore line. You blinked, drew a breath, and screamed. You blinked, and the dancing rays of color were back in your vision. Blink. Ocean. Blink. Sky. Blink - 

It slammed against you. You waited for the water to enter your lungs, only to be met with air. Solid hands wrapped around your body, crushing you to his bloodied leathers. Him. Your mate. Azriel. You didn’t need to see him to know he had you. You threw your arms around his neck as he rounded up, wind whooshing through your ears. You gasped and gasped for air, nothing seeming to enter your lungs. Your head was pushed into his neck by the force of the wind as his wings sent a mighty beat behind him, and only then could you breathe. Only then could you hear his heart beating in tandem with yours. 

Only then did you let out a sob. A slight thud, and you had landed. Azriel’s knees hit the ground as they gave out - as a result of the adrenaline or the relief, he did not know. He clutched you to his chest so unbearably tight, you barely had a chance to take in the breath that cleared you head enough for the sounds of the world to come rushing back. The sounds of footsteps pounding on the earth, nearing you. The slight breeze whooshing past your ears. And then, roaring louder than anything else, the sob Azriel released as he slouched, folding himself over you. He shook, arms winding impossibly tighter around you, as you shook with him. 

The next moment there were arms on the both of you, soothing, tightening, the mix of worry and relief flooding through their fingertips into your body. 

Azriel leaned back, his hands slowly sliding up your back, your shoulders, and settling on the curves of your cheeks. He lightly pulled your face to his, foreheads touching as you breathed the same air. 

You blinked, the haze of tears leaving your eyes. Blink. Clearer. Blink. Clearer. Blink -