Chapter 5

"mate" on single word written on paper and all of a sudden that shadowy silver string puled taught and solidified into a solid stricture between us, twisting and winding as a connection from my soul to his. My breath caught in my chest and I just stared at him.

He looked about the same as I did, panting and shaking a little but a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. I couldn't help it but my mouth mirrored his in a small smile that I didn't even realize was happening.

"so what does this mean?" I asked "ive been in a cage the last 20 years give or take, I know nothing about the mating bond and I am still a virgin." I blurted out, then realizing what I just said I felt my face get hot.

'well the best part about the bond is the bridge of communication.' Came a smokey deep voice in my mind. My eyes darted to his, scanning his face as he gave me a wicked grin. I smiled back at him and replied out loud.

"do I have to accept the bond right away? We just met and – I don't know—"

'No' Azriel cut me off in my mind. 'you don't have to do anything you don't want to do, we can get to know each other and now that we can speak mind to mind it will be easier. I would like for you to give it some thought but there is no rush.' He smiled and brushed his thumb over my cheek and lips. 'the bond is considered accepted and permanent when you offer me food. It can also be confirmed by a priestest.'

I nodded my head and yawned, tears flooding my water line as I did. Azriel chuckled 'we should get some sleep.' He kissed me again, this time soft and gentle. His lips lingered on mine as if he just couldn't pull away. He eventually did though and he stood to walk to the door.

'wait' I said down the bond, my cheeks flushing a little. 'stay with me?' he smiled gently at me and crawled onto the bed, I tucked my wings in tight and he laid behind me one arm draping over my stomach the other he snaked under my neck.

'always' he said down the bond 'and if you have any more nightmares I will be right here' he gave a small protective and reassuring squeeze around my waste. It felt so strange. I met this person almost a week ago and I already feel so connected to him. I know this is pretty much how the mating bond is for everyone but it feels like a blind leap of faith to me. And I am already deaf I don't want to blind myself with this bond too.

But we fit to perfectly together, his body pressed against my back with his wing draped over me. I fell asleep to the feel of the rhythmic beating of his heart and the feel of him drawing small lazy circles around my belly button.

When I finally woke the sun was up, and Azriel was still asleep his hand pressed flat against my stomach and his breathing deep and even. I rolled over to face him his hand now resting on the small of my back, and just took in his features. The hard lines of his angular face were so much softer when he was asleep, his lips slightly parted I wondered how long it has been since he has slept this soundly. I brushed some of his hair off of his forehead and he stirred without opening his eyes. He tightened his arms around me and pulled me in closer to him.

'morning.' He said down the bond in a sleepy husk voice. 'I think today is the day you get a tour of Velaris, you will need a new wardrobe and tonight you will be meeting the rest of the court of dreams.' He kissed the top of my head and rested his chin on it.

'the court of dreams?' I took in the scent of him as he held me. Why does this feel so natural, why am I so comfortable already? everything my brain was telling me about being wary of this shadowy stranger was completely over ridden by that shining silvery string pulling me towards him.

'Rhys is the high lord of the night court, he has it split into two separate courts. The court of nightmares that resides in the hewn city where the moonstone palace is, where you were before. And the court of dreams which resides here is Velaris. Our true court.' Winked at me and stood out of bed going to the door. 'get dressed were going to have breakfast downstairs and then we will go see the city.' He gave me a small smile before he left the room.

I flopped back in the bed pressing my hand to my forehead making sure I didn't have a fever and wasn't hallucinating. How in the world had I been transported to this world almost died, had an encounter with a high lord and his inner circle and found a mate. Inhaling deeply through my nose I got out of bed and walked over to the wardrobe, I ended up choosing a grey tunic with black leggings.

I then walked to the bathroom running my fingers through my hair trying to untangle the knots at the ends and get the hairs on the top of my head to lay flat. I brushed my teeth and inspected my face in the mirror, my face was still pale and my cheek boned were a bit to hallow but this fae body was healing faster than I could ever have imagined. I pinched my cheeks a bit to bring some color to them and turned away from the mirror and went back into my bed chamber. Sitting on the be in inspected my frostbite, now just pink healing skin still a little tender but healing fast.

I finally stepped into the hallway looking both ways nervously, I headed towards the stairs and the scent of breakfast cooking filled the air. As I headed down the stairs I could see a golden head sitting with her back to me, Morrigan, and Azriel standing facing her. It seemed like they were having a disagreement, I couldn't read Azriels lips to know what the conversation was about. I stepped off of the stairs and Azriel looked up at me, he game me a small smile and I smiled nervously back. Morrigan turned to look at me and gave me a blank expression, she said something to me and turned back around.

"I'm sorry?" I said aloud to her. "I don't think we have been properly introduced. Im Elida and I cant hear anything, so I didn't catch that exactly." I approached the counter and azriel handed me a cup of coffee and gestured to the containers of sugar and milk. I looked up at him and gave smiled at him "thank you." I said aloud.

'she doesn't trust you yet, and she is protective of me.' Azriel said down the bond, and he slid me a plate with toast eggs and ham. I picked up the toast and nibbled on it nodding as I chewed.

I looked at Morrigan and smiled 'that will get you nowhere' came Azriels smug voice down the bond.

'oh can it I am trying to be nice.' She gave me a halfhearted smile back. "I am really hoping we can be friends, I love this house and Rhysand and Feyre are so nice. I really do hope we can get to know each other." I held my hand out to her and gave a small smile.

She looked at Azriel and he nodded once and she looked back at me. She grasped my forearm and squeezed tightly before dropping my hand and standing up. She said something quickly I couldn't read her lips fast enough to catch it all but I think she said something about the house of wind. Before turning on her heel and leaving.

"is she always like that?" I asked scooping at the yolk of my eggs with my toast.

'Mor can be protective of her friends and her home, she has a very good reason to be wary she has lost a lot in her lifetime and had to fight hard for everything she has.' I chewed my toast nd washed it down with coffee before saying.

"why is she so protective of you? Did something happen between you two?" I asked curiously trying not to et the bond chafe even though I had not accepted it yet I could still feel the primal pangs of jealousy creeping up.

'because I have been I love with her for the last couple centuries. She never reciprocated those feelings, I wasn't sure why but I think she could tell I have moved on and im not quite sure how she feels about that.' I chewed my toast slowly, taking in all of what he was telling me. He loved her for CENTURIES, that's not something that usually just goes away.

'well it did.' I about choked on my toast. 'sorry, your mental shields are pretty much non existent you were practically shouting your thoughts down the bond.' I glared at him as I finished my breakfast and stood from my chair. 'I promise though, as far as I am concerned no one else matters now. Even if you decide to reject the bond.' He put a finger under my chin and made me look up at him as he spoke down the bond. I felt my breath catch as my eyes meet his, his every touch was electrifying as he sent shivers down my spine.

He chuckled as he lowered his hand from my chin and rested his hands on either side of my hips squeezing gently and pulling my body against his. Very slowly he said "I promise right now I am only concerned about you." I shuddered as I read his lips and his breath kissed my face.

He leaned down and kissed me, our breath mixing as I angled my head back to deepen the contact. My heart thudded in my chest as I became breathless. I tangled my fingers in his hair and I ground my hips against his, he moved his hands to my ass cupping each side I could feel him harden beneath me and I felt a growl rumble in his chest. he picked me up and sat me on the counter and I wrapped my legs around his waist, he moved his lips to my neck as he bit at the tender spot at the base of my neck. I felt a moan escape my lips as my fingers gripped the back of his shirt.

Then all of a sudden, he was stepping away from me and I was left panting and unsatisfied sitting on the counter, before I could ask what was wrong he looked at the door. My eyes followed his gaze and Rhysand and Cassian were both standing in the doorway grinning like wildcats. I could feel my face heat up from embarrassment as I jumped down from the counter. Looking between the two warriors in the doorway and Azriel all three of them were grinning.

I could see Rhysand talking and gesturing behind them with his thumb as he shoved Cassian out of the door and closed it behind them.

"please mother tell me that did not just happen." I muttered still staring at the door. Azriel grabbed my hand and gave it a light squeeze before he kissed my cheek and started pulling toward the door.

'come on I want to show you the city. And it seems like we will have some explaining to do at dinner.' He gave me a wink and tugged me out the door.

Sorry I haven't updated in a bit I lost my glasses and I couldn't type while I was waiting for my new ones. Please R&R thank you so much!