“You love him, don’t you?” Azriel’s smooth, deep voice startled you from your thought.
You craned your neck and squinted into the darkness, making out the sapphire siphons adorning his muscular frame. Sucking in a deep breath of the chilled Velaris air, your mouth quirked up in a wistful smile.
“Who?” You asked as casually as you could manage, before training your eyes at the starry horizon just over the balcony of the River House.
The Shadowsinger scoffed softly, growing agitated at the game you played with him. He took a couple steps forward, standing against the rail of the balcony next to you.
“Lucien.” The first time he’s said the Emissary’s name without an undertone of malice.
You swallowed hard, refusing to meet his eyes.
“Yeah,” you admitted quietly, your voice strained and tinny in your own ears. You dipped your head and took in the scene in the garden below. “I love him.”
The massive wedding celebration was underway; Elain Archeron and Lucien Vanserra becoming husband and wife. Your heart felt uncomfortably heavy nestled above your hollow ribs.
Azriel reached out and took your hand in his, and only then we’re you able to tear your sights away from the scene below. Your eyes welled up as you searched Azriel’s hazel eyes as if they contained the remedy to your heart ache. His gaze was the softest you’d ever seen it. It broke you.
Your face crumpled finally, as you knew it would eventually. Fat, salty tears ran down your cheeks as you whimpered painfully- a sound Azriel would never be able to forget.
“I-it hurts, Az. So b-bad…” you hiccuped out, as the Illyrian warrior pulled you into his arms. He held you tightly as you sobbed into his chest. His fingers danced gently across your back, as he whispered soothing words into your ear.
Your sobs subsided slowly, just as the night sky crackled alive with fireworks. The colors exploded in the air, and you slowly lifted your face from Azriel’s chest. His fingers found your chin and he steadied your face, studying every detail. Your red rimmed eyes, wet checks, and quivering lip nearly broke his heart. Your eyes searched his once again, like he had the needle and thread to sew up everything that was broken in you.
The Shadowsinger dipped his head, resting his forehead against yours. Your breath hitched at the contact, and you let your eyes flutter shut. You were consumed by the scent of cedar and night air. You could hear his ragged breathing- could practically feel his heart pounding. It was almost as if you could hear the gears turning in his head- he was unsure of himself for once. Fighting between his head and his heart.
So you made the decision for him.
You tilted your head upwards, pressing your lips against his, cupping his cheek with your fingers. You felt the male melt into your touch, sighing in relief at the contact he’d waited so long for. He pulled you closer, reveling in your sweet kiss.
The two of your remained that way, wrapped up in each other, oblivious to an onlooker from the event below.
Lucien, from the rose garden where he was dancing with his Bride, spotted you and Azriel in your embrace. In that moment, the Emissary felt something in his chest splinter.
