I would've been out of place in my black wool dress. We'd landed on a street surrounded by beautiful, large houses. Town houses, I corrected myself. On the streets children danced around with the Night Court wildflowers in a performance, others danced with ribbons. Males and Females watched over them, drinks in hand, as musicians played. The sun had come out to play too and its warmth coated my skin as Mor greeted people, her arm looped through mine. Families sat in their front gardens, some on picnic blankets and others around tables and chairs. It reminded me of home.
She stopped us in front of a Town House and led us round the side to a garden. It wasn't a huge garden, not with the large table there and the chairs, but it was beautiful. Planted flowers and shrubs, fruit trees, a small waterfall into a pond. Benches were tucked around it, a beautiful little paradise. I spotted Feyre talking to another female- she looked like her, but wore the pink to the light blue gown the High Lady wore.
"Elain, Feyre," Mor smiled, kissing each on the cheek in greeting.
Elain looked over at me then, cheeks rosy, the colour of her dress. "Hello Mor and-"
"This is Mayar," Mor introduced me and Elain shook my hand.
"You look wonderful," Feyre beamed and I felt myself blush as I wrapped my arms around myself.
"This garden is lovely," I said.
"All down to my wonderful sister," The High Lady smiled at her and she blushed, before excusing herself.
"No sign of-"
"No," Feyre shook her head. "I don't imagine she'll be attending."
I could feel eyes on me then. I wasn't sure how, but I could. I turned around and spotted Azriel where he stood with Cassian and Rhys. He was dressed smartly in a light blue dress shirt and smart trousers. And he was staring right at me, his mouth ajar, much like mine had been when we'd shown me Velaris for the first time. I smiled at him, a shy smile, as Cassian and Rhys realized that Azriel hadn't listened to what they'd just said. They both grinned from ear to ear and I heard Mor and Feyre quietly excuse themselves behind me as Azriel approached.
"Wow," He whispered. His eyes scanned me and then met my own. "You look… beautiful." His voice was soft, quiet, and I knew that it was for only me to hear. I blushed, glancing down at the floor, but his hand caught my chin.
You do not have to look away, not from me.
How had that been just days ago I wondered as the shadowsinger looked at me, right into my soul. Music started up on the streets, this time louder and more upbeat, snapping us both back to reality and Azriel took his hand away from my chin, "Can I get you a drink?"
"Please," I said. An excuse to catch my breath and retrain my legs to walk, I realized. He returned with a glass of some kind of soft drink with flowers floating in it and then he offered me his arm as we walked to join the others at the table.
Mor and Cassian were drinking again, despite their complaints that morning, and I couldn't help but smile about it, knowing exactly how they would feel the following day. We all sat together and enjoyed the feast; platters of meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables all spread out, welcoming in the spring. This time I joined in with the conversation as comments were drifted my way and I felt less of an outsider. Whether it was the dress or something else, I wasn't sure but I didn't question it. I realized, as I looked around then, that these people had chosen their families. They'd come from different backgrounds, yet they'd found one another and had started their own family. And maybe one day I would find a new family too.
The music was more upbeat after the food and we all drifted to the street, watching the band playing their folk music. Children still danced but adults were joining them now too. I glanced over at Mor, watching her talking and laughing with two females. Elain had vanished and Cassian was sat with a drink, talking to Amren, another member of their Inner Circle who had been at dinner, with Varian, a Prince from another court. I watched as Feyre dragged Rhys to dance, not that he particularly resisted and I smiled at the sight of the mates- they reminded me of my mother and father. I let out a sigh.
"Everything okay?" Azriel asked from my side.
"They remind me of my parents," I replied with a small smile.
"Were they mates?" He asked and I nodded.
"He was dispatched to the Autumn Court many years ago for some business," I explained, "And when he saw her, they just knew." I watched as Feyre and Rhys laughed together. "What was it like for them?"
"Oh, Rhysand suspected it, knew it before Feyre did," He said, "But he wanted her to make her own choice. Things were… complicated… it needed to be her decision."
How nice it must be to have a mate, the missing piece, I mused as I watched them smiling and laughing. But how awful if it all went… I bit my tongue. My parents were lucky, I supposed. They'd gone close together; they hadn't had to spent time without one another. Although an immortal life together would have been a much better ending.
"Would you like to dance?" Azriel's voice distracted me and I blinked away the tears that threatened to fall. I glanced up at him, still taller than me even in my short heels, and placed my right hand into his left. "Properly this time," he murmured as he led me off of the path and onto the street. He kept my hand in his as he placed his right hand on my waist and I moved my left hand to his shoulder. I'd not learnt to dance like this. Not without standing on my father's feet.
"I don't know how to dance," I admitted as we started moving.
"It's just like a duel," He murmured, "back and forth, back and forth." I did as he said and when the music tempo sped up, so did our steps. "See, nothing to it." I wondered how he'd learnt to dance. Not in Windhaven, I doubted. Perhaps it came with attending parties with the High Lord…
He spun me then, a gentle one, and I was glad the drink had been non-alcoholic as dancing like this and in heels was enough of an experience. I glanced up, no longer staring at Azriel's chest. Around us there were more dancers now and I spotted Feyre and Rhys smiling our way as Azriel spun me again. We continued our steps and then, just like that, the song ended. Everyone applauded the musicians and I moved to walk back towards the garden, but the shadowsinger pulled me back into his embrace. "We're not finished yet," He said softly and then we were dancing again.
As the sun started to set, the songs became slower and children were starting to head home for the night. Soon only adults were left dancing and I couldn't help but notice Azriel holding me closer to him than he had before. My body had certainly noticed. I was sure that every hair was stood on end as my heart raced. Oh no, no, no. My mind screamed at me. I'd not even been drinking and my heart was betraying me.
But that doesn't mean you have to lose anything else. Lina's voice echoed.
"Do you fancy a fly?" Azriel asked and I took a little step backwards, putting some distance between us.
"Okay," I nodded. I caught Mor's eye and she winked at me as we both launched ourselves into the sky.
The breeze was cooler now and I definitely felt it as we soared through the air. But I felt free. Freer than I'd ever felt, soaring over this city I'd known nothing about just over a week ago. I looked out at the ocean ahead of us, turning golden as the Sun started to tuck itself in for the night. We turned slightly and landed on the hillside, the ocean to one side of us, the city below us. With Spring here, the snow had melted from this hilltop and little white and blue wildflowers were started to bloom. I slipped my feet out my heels and sat down, my legs spread out in front of me and my wings tucked behind me.
"Not a fan of heeled shoes?" Azriel asked, his voice a soft chuckle, as he sat down beside me.
"Mor's idea," I told him. "She had me trying on heels higher than these."
"The audacity." A smirk.
I gave him a playful shove and his eyes sparkled with challenge. But I shook my head and looked out at the ocean, the sky starting to turn shades of amber with hints of red and purple. Sunset. I'd seen sunsets before but this view, on the first day of Spring… A cool breeze whipped around us and I moved closer to Azriel. He didn't move away so I decided to push my luck further. I rested my head on his shoulder, still watching the view and I let out a sigh as his body seemed to relax.
"Thank you for bringing me here, Az."
"You're welcome," He murmured softly, wrapping a wing around me and tucking me in closer.
Author's Note: If you're enjoying this story and would like to know more, check out my prequel- "Thornhill". It's a series of one-shots about Mayar's life BEFORE this story.