Azriel landed on the roof with barely a whisper of sound. He surveyed the moonstone palace, slightly grey through the haze of his shadows, which were constantly whispering to him, reminding him of everything he needed to tell Rhys, letting him know of things that had happened here in his absence. Resolute, he tucked his wings in tight and set off towards the study, where he would be sure to find his high lord. Half way there his shadows sang to him, and half a step later he scented her.

Alesea.

His mate.

She was hiding behind the corner, using her wings to blend into the shadows, waiting to ambush him. He swallowed a smile and continued as though he didn't know she was there, letting out a small chuckle when she launched herself at him, pushing them both into a small alcove with a couch. His shadows all but disappeared as her hands ran over his face, his chest, through his hair and half a moment later she dragged him down to kiss her.

"You know you can't sneak up on me," he murmured to her when they finally took a breath, foreheads touching.

"Mmmmm," she said non-committedly, tracing his cheekbone before kissing him again.

"Easy now," he said, glancing around at the semi-public place they were making out in, but his arms readily wrapped around her, holding her close as she kissed up and down his neck, before her fingers greedily grabbed at the neckline of his tunic, dragging him to one of the guest bedrooms on the floor. Once in there she whirled on him, and he easily caught and held her as she wrapped her legs around his waist, dug her fingers through his hair, and kissed him until they were both breathless.

"I missed you," she whispered when they once again came up for air. Azriel just kissed her again, earning a satisfied sigh when he eventually pulled away resting his forehead against hers, enjoying the moment of peace, of silence.

"I missed you too," he said.

A knock on the door interrupted them. Alesea huffed an impatient sigh and Azriel bit back his grin. Though she had been living in the night court for several months now, it was no secret that she merely tolerated the others in order to be with Azriel. Azriel made to move for the door, but Alesea shoved him backwards hard enough that he fell back onto the bed. She raised a teasing eyebrow.

"You can stay there until I'm done with you." she turned to the door and opened it. Mor peeked in. Alesea all but growled at her. Mor bared her teeth in return. Azriel jumped up, darting to the door to put a steadying hand on Alesea's shoulder.

"What is it?" he asked Mor.

Mor tore her attention away from the territorial Alesea long enough to glance at Azriel. "Rhys mentioned you hadn't given him the report of the mission yet. I said I'd chase you up."

"He's been back all of five minutes, give him a gods-damned break!" Alesea hissed.

"He'd be halfway through his report already if you were still-"

"Tell Rhys I'll be there in five minutes," Azriel interrupted, knowing that if Mor finished that particular sentence half of the house would soon be in rubble. Mor shot him a look that was somehow both apologetic and irritated. He pulled Alesia back and shut the door before the two got into an all-out brawl. Azriel turned to Alesea, who was still tense.

"Are you ok?" he asked.

"I don't like her."

"I know, but this is her home too, you probably shouldn't snap at her every time you see her."

As far as Azriels friends went, Alesea put up with most of them with indifference. She quite liked Elaine, and got on ok with Feyre and Cassian. She avoided Nesta like the plague, and Rhys she gave the respect due his status and little else. She and Amren completely ignored each other, but Mor… Alesea and Mor had been at each other's throats since the day Azriel had brought her home.

Alesea clenched her teeth, reaching up to run her fingers through his hair. "I just don't like the way she-"

"She had her reasons."

Alesea stepped back and shook her head. "be that as it may, all it would have taken was one conversation." She looked at him, raising her eyebrows as if daring him to question her logic.

"She made it pretty clear. It was me who couldn't let go."

"Don't do that!" Alesea's voice was getting louder, and Azriel approached trying to calm her. "Don't take all the blame on yourself like you always do! She broke you. You were broken!"

Azriel drew her in, rubbing his hands up and down her back. She melted into him and he kissed the top of her head. They had had this conversation half a dozen times in the last few months, and he was thankful, so thankful for this spirited female who loved him more than anything and anyone else, this female who fought for him, even in the smallest things. And despite this antagonistic relationship with Mor, Azriel knew Alesea would defend her and any of this family to the death, because of who they were to him.

"None of that matters anymore."

Alesea looked up at him. Looked up at the quiet joy in his eyes, looked at the slight smile at the corner of his mouth.

"I just want you to be happy." She said. She couldn't breathe sometimes when she thought about all he had been through. All he had endured.

"I am."

She reached up and tucked a stray strand of hair behind his ear.

"Go give your report to Rhys," she said quietly before smirking suggestively, "and then come back to me. We have plans for this evening."

Azriel dropped a quick kiss on her nose before doing as she bade.

KC

AN: I just want to say that I love Mor :) But I think after everything Azriel will have quite a bit to work through, and didnt want to ignore that here.. anyways.. hope you like it, leave me a note if you did :)