{this chapter contains sexual content}

Chapter 7

Instead of pacing the manor for another day, Celeste went to wander the estate. There were flower beds and gardens spread out everywhere; lovingly maintained and blooming. She found a stone bench set amongst some white flowers she didn't recognize. She closed her eyes, taking in their sweet scent and willed herself to feel calm—to trust that Azriel would return to her.

She heard crunching on the gravel walk and her eyes snapped open.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I didn't realize anyone was out here," said a soft voice. It was Feyre's older sister Elain, somehow the most beautiful female Celeste had ever seen. She had a basket full of flowers on her arm and pruning shears in her hand.

"That's okay. I was just sitting here, enjoying the gardens. They're lovely."

"Thank you." Elain said, as she sat beside Celeste.

She regarded the female, her fingers covered in dirt and grass stains on her dress. "You take care of them?" she asked, somewhat incredulously.

"I do," Elain giggled.

"It's impressive. I love it."

Elain nodded. "You're worried about Azriel, aren't you?" she said without preamble.

Celeste's heart clenched at the sound of his name. "I am."

"Don't be. He's strong and good at what he does."

Her neck jerked in Elain's direction at her declaration about Celeste's mate. Before she had a chance to question her, Feyre came down the path. "Hello Elain, I need to speak to Celeste for a moment."

"Of course. It was nice to see you again," Elain said and gave a kind smile to Celeste before she departed.

"Have you heard from them?" Celeste asked eagerly.

"I have." Feyre took the spot Elain had just occupied and turned to her. "Ready?"

Celeste nodded and before she could close her eyes, her mind was filled with images that were not her own.

The portal opened up above her, Azriel and Cassian flanking both sides, their wings splayed out wide. As they got closer to the slit in the sky, sounds familiar to her washed through. Cassian went through first; she watched as the top half of his body went first and then his wings tucked and he dropped back through the hole in a plummet. As he flung his wings open, he looked up at Rhysand and simultaneously opened his mind to Rhysand.

The images that Celeste saw made her gasp. It was the same park that she had wandered through and found the portal that brought her to Velaris. Except now it had been transformed. There were government tents and personnel set up throughout the area. Tanks and spotlights directed at the portal opening, dogs and military men patrolling the space. This confirmed her suspicions that the humans that had attacked Azriel would have used guns.

Feyre was watching her apprehensively, but Celeste didn't know what she could begin to tell them.

"Where is he?" she asked, knowing Feyre would know who she meant.

"Rhysand is setting up a net of magic around the portal, while Cassian gets an aerial and navy support set up around and near the portal. Our mates will be back soon."

They weren't taking any chances and Celeste was glad. Humans from her world were violent and aggressive to any threat. She didn't know how bullets would hold up against magic and she didn't want to find out. Azriel had been ambushed the first time and that was the only reason they had got him, but these humans from her world wouldn't be so lucky a second time.

Celeste and Feyre waited in silence in the garden. Feyre had probably seen most of Celeste's thoughts anyways, and there was no point in having to repeat herself.

She felt him before she saw him and shadows pulled through her hair as his musky scent came from behind her. She twisted around in her seat and Feyre muttered a departure, leaving them alone.

He didn't say anything, but took her hand and in a burst of shadow, winnowed them away. They landed in the yard of his townhouse in the city. Breathless, she held onto him, her legs were still getting used to moving through time and space. He cupped her face and pressed a rough kiss to her lips. Celeste gasped slightly at the sudden heat of him against her and he took the kiss deeper, pulling her bottom lip between his teeth. They stood in the yard, their kisses becoming more fevered, and she should have worried about anyone walking by seeing them, but she couldn't bring herself to care.

He eventually pulled away from her and led her through the door and upstairs. "Are you hungry? Thirsty?"

Celeste couldn't think of food at the moment and she dumbly shook her head. His mouth twitched into a half smile and he pushed her slowly across his bedroom, until the back of her legs hit the bed. She could feel the heat of him through his leather armor and the hard feel of him against her thigh. She ran her hands across his chest. "How do these even come off?" She bit at her lip and half giggled.

His eyes darkened and he smiled as he tapped the top of the blue gem on his hand. The armor feathered away, taking with it anything that covered his body. He stood proudly in front of her, his cock jutting out at attention. She took him in and could barely breathe. Heat quickly pooled in her core and she felt her face heat in feverish anticipation.

Azriel took the hem of her shirt. "May I?"

She didn't think it was possible to fall in love with a man anymore than with that question, but she let out a breathy, 'yes.'

He kept his eyes on her and slowly pulled the shirt over her body. She could feel every place where the shirt touched her sensitive skin and when Azriel's knuckles brushed against her breasts she let out a soft moan that had his naked hips bucking against her.

He was taking his time undressing her and she didn't know how much more she could take.

The shirt pulled over her head, and instead of removing the garment, he swiftly tied her hands with the sleeves.

He looked down at her, pausing to see her reaction. She nodded in affirmation and he laid her onto the bed, his eyes moving over her body. She wiggled her hips up, in a silent plea, but he just grinned. He placed himself between her knees and once again, slowly and methodically removed her leather pants. Shadows simultaneously danced around her, making her skin tingle and warm. His wings were open and wide behind him and it only made him more handsome and enchanting.

Celeste was desperate to reach for him, but he had been effective in securing her hands and she couldn't move. She honed in on the sensation of his calloused hand stroking up the inside of her thigh. Her breath was already coming out in short, rapid pants as Azriel lowered his mouth to the space between her legs. The first touch of his tongue to her made her moan loudly, she couldn't even begin to feel embarrassed at the noise as he continued his exploration. He pulled her lips into his mouth and sucked as he entered a finger inside her. The feeling of a part of him in her with the acute tingle of his mouth quickly built up a rage of sensation in her body.

He brought his other hand under her to grip her ass, pushing her further into his mouth. She called his name as the orgasm built in her body. As he inserted a second finger and circled her clit with his tongue, she tipped over the edge. Her hips jerked into his mouth and he didn't remove himself until she was wholly finished and laid out limp on the bed.

Azriel moved himself up onto the bed and lay on his side next to her. He trailed a finger over the skin of her stomach. Her hands were still tied above her head and she looked up at them.

"Going to let me out?"

"Not yet," he murmured as he circled one of her nipples, making her squirm under his touch.

She bit at her lip and Azriel swooped down to claim her mouth, kissing her deeply, but gently.

Celeste hooked a leg over his hip and pulled him closer and then pushed him down so that she could straddle him.

He chuckled.

She rubbed herself against his length and the chuckle quickly turned into a growl. He moved faster than she could follow. He flipped her onto her stomach so that he now straddled her from behind. She lifted her hips up and he gripped her waist. In a quick movement he pushed into her and she cried out.

He was desperate for her, his hips bucking rapidly against her. One hand at her waist, he reached the other around to grip her breast and his muscled chest pressed against her back. She could feel his breath in her ear, hot and rushed as he moaned her name. She let him have her, her hands useless to do anything but hold her up. Her body was already wanting to explode again. She wanted to see his face, wanted to touch him, but for this first time, she wanted him to have control. His pace increased and she could tell he was getting close to his own climax. She twisted so that she could bring her mouth to his. "Come for me," she whispered into his mouth.

He let out a moan and then in three more thrusts he shouted out and clasped her tightly against him. Still thinking of her, he placed his hand at her clit and gripped her nipple, achieving a second orgasm for her.

They collapsed onto the bed and Azriel gently untied her hands. She rolled quickly so that she was draped across him and could run her hands over his chest.

"That was…" He smiled at her as he played with her hair. "Amazing," she finally got out.

"You are amazing." He kissed her and then stood up. Celeste frowned.

"Just getting you a towel," he said and went to the adjoined bathroom.

He came back and gently wiped the wetness from between her legs. When he was finished he pulled her under the covers with him, letting her resume her position snuggled atop him.

"Next time," she said coyly, kissing his jaw. "I want to touch you."

The shadows danced around them and the gem on the back of his hand flickered brightly as he pulled her closer and his wing tucked them into darkness.

They fell asleep easily together, and a few hours later, in the darkest part of night when they awoke, he did let her touch him. And she took her time, making them both desperate for release by the time she was done. Celeste didn't think she would ever get tired of the feel of him below her, above her, in her. It was so easy to forget any problems that existed outside the room when they were together.

They only got the night though, because by morning Azriel told her he needed to return to his duties. He asked her to stay at the townhouse for the time being, saying he would come back around midday to join her for lunch. So Celeste spent the time reading through history texts, trying to learn more about Prythian.

It unnerved her that the portal had remained open and that other humans had come through. She had thought the portal had been just for her, a door that was leading her heart home. Now she wondered how the others had stumbled across it and what had made them venture through into the unknown.

Celeste played with the necklace Azriel had gifted her, only days ago. It still felt like she had been here a lifetime. As she fiddled with the blue gem, she felt a strong pull in what she now noticed was her bond to her mate; and then he appeared in front of her in all his muscled, armored beauty. She was curled up on a chair and he immediately dropped to his knees in front of her, running a hand through her hair and kissing her cheek.

She gasped at the closeness of him, at the gentle way he kissed along her jaw to her ear and then down her neck. She shifted so that she could straddle her legs around his midsection and return the affection.

Azriel tensed and then Celeste heard someone clearing their throat behind him. She couldn't see who it was as his wings and bulk blocked her view.

"You certainly move on quickly don't you."

Celeste recognized the voice belonged to Nesta, Feyre's older, prickly sister.

"What do you want, Nesta?"

"I'm looking for Cassian."

"He's not here."

"Clearly. I can see why now."

Azriel stood up slowly, still keeping Celeste blocked from view.

"You can leave then."

She heard a scoff and then the sound of retreating feet. Azriel eventually relaxed and turned to her. She kept rolling the comment around in her head that Nesta made, but didn't know how to bring it up. Between Elain's obvious closeness to Azriel and Nesta saying what she did, Celeste once again realized she still didn't know her mate that well. How could she even begin to know someone who had been alive for hundreds of years? The thought sent a bolt of panic through her and her heart constricted. She had accepted this bond to him, without truly knowing him. Instinct had moved her every step of the way.

Azriel obviously felt her distress down their bond and cupped her face softly. "What's wrong?" he said.

"I...I don't know," she said. Everything that was rolling around in her head would hurt him. "Just hungry I think."

"Okay we can get something to eat."

"Sure. Will you take me somewhere you like?"

"Of course." Worry still shimmered in his eyes and he pressed a soft kiss to her temple.

They were seated at an outdoor cafe near the sea and Azriel drummed his hands against the wooden table. Celeste placed her hand atop his, running her thumb against the scars.

"Will you tell me about these?"

Azriel tensed and she suddenly felt wrong for asking, though she didn't know why.

"It's not a story I enjoy resharing," he said quietly.

"I understand," she replied, biting at her lip. "Maybe someday? It just seems like it's a part of your history and...I would like to know more about you." She wanted to add on that she wanted him to trust her, but she didn't want to voice her insecurities right now.

Azriel sighed deeply and pulled her hand to his mouth to kiss her fingers. "I don't know what I did to deserve such a loving mate. I trust you with my past. After I've made sure you've eaten, I'll answer any questions you have."

She smiled at him and squeezed his fingers. He must have picked up on something through their bond and she was grateful for his intuition. "Okay," she said and reached across the small table to give him a deep kiss.

Moments after she sat back down, both of them sitting in comfortable silence, someone brought their plates. Celeste had ordered a seafood plate with some vegetables that sounded familiar. She looked at Azriel's plate of meats, potatoes and some sort of dipping sauce. The food in this world tasted so much richer and satisfying, she couldn't get enough of it. She wanted to try everything on the menu, but something about sitting near the sea made her want to try the fish platter.

Celeste dug into her dish, she hadn't realized how hungry she was. While they ate, Celeste mentioned things she had read about Prythian and Velaris while he had been gone.

"Will you still teach me some self defense? I've always wanted to learn how to properly wield a sword. There was never any use for them in my world but...what?" His eyes were bright and his shadows had darkened, dancing around them and the table. He pushed his chair closer to her and brushed a piece of hair from her face.

"You know I would love nothing more. Would you like to go when we're done here? It's good to train on a full stomach."

She studied his face and drew circles over the back of his scarred hand. "You're not trying to get out of telling me about your past are you?" She tried to make her voice sound coy, but it came out whinier than she intended.

"I promise I will share all of me with you," he said vehemently. "What would you like to know first?"

She didn't want to scare him off, so she started with an easy question. "How long have you known Cassian and Rhysand?"

His face darkened slightly, but in his low, smooth voice she told his story. And he started with the tragedy of how his hands became scarred and how he found his brothers. At one point he reached over and wiped tears from her face. She hadn't noticed when they had started falling. His story was heartbreaking and yet he shared it bravely and with no shame. She loved that her simple question, he had opened up to her and trusted her.

He pressed a kiss to her salty lips. "Ready to train?"

She wanted nothing more. Nodding her head in affirmation, Azriel pulled them away in a swirl of shadows.

*Thanks for reading. I would love to hear your thoughts of what you think so far. Please leave a review :)