Night engulfed Velaris into its embrace hours ago. All were sleeping, or rather, most were sleeping. One Illyrian warrior stayed awake, haunted by the past, the present, and even the future. What could the future possibly hold for him, his family, his home? Training helped. Nights like these, he found himself training, the only company being his weapons and shadows.

Sweat coated his skin, his muscles aching, protesting against his movements. Rest, that's what he needed, but he couldn't.

His shadows wrapped around him, with no news of any kind. All was right in the world, for the moment.

A shadow slithered to his ear, and whispered. Azriels movements halted. There were no thoughts, only action. He was running down the steps, into the house of wind, and towards where his shadows urged him to go.

Screams were heard behind the door. Rage and terror filled him.

Without hesitation he opened the door that should have been locked, perhaps the house unlocked it for him.

There on the bed, tossing and turning. Fighting an invisible force. Gwyn.

"No! Stop! Please stop!" Her cries had his ears ringing, and the pain and fear he scented from her, almost had him bringing down the entire mountain.

Rushing to her side, he debated on how he should wake her. Knowing exactly what it was she was seeing in her dreams, he didn't want to frighten her more in the world of reality.

Kneeling down on the floor beside the bed, he reached a scarred hand out to her. His shadows followed, wrapping around his hand, and slowly guiding it towards her. Finally, his fingers brushed the skin of Gwyn's hand, which clenched the sheets so tightly her knuckles were an unhealthy white. Prying her fingers from the sheets, he took her hand in his. Both hands now held that one hand of hers, her fingers now digging into his scarred flesh. He didn't care, she could skin him alive and wouldn't care, as long as she was okay.

"Gwyn." Coming out as a gentle whisper, perhaps he could ease her out of the nightmare she faced.

"No!" Her cry echoed off the walls, and shook him to his core. Tears fell from her eyes, and the hand he held tightened its grip. "Please...Stop!" The pleading tone, the crack in her voice. Something deep in his chest, not his very soul, felt as if it were slowly being torn to shreds.

"Gwyn, open your eyes." A blood curdling scream left her lips. "Gwyn, it's just a nightmare, wake up." Gripping her hand tighter on his own. Before removing one of his hands from her hand. He gently placed his hand on her head. "Gwyn, open your eyes, look at me."

Her chest was heaving, her heart racing, sweat coated her skin, her nightgown sticking to her. "Stop."

"Gwyn." Gently running his fingers through her beautiful auburn hair, and caressing her face. "It's okay, gwyn. You're safe." Just open your eyes, look at me, open your eyes. He pleaded into the dark. His shadows surrounded him and Gwyn, separating them from the rest of the world. Shadows brushed against gwyns skin, and she whimpered. Her breathing slowly started to slow, her rate followed.

His thumb rubbed against her hand he held, trying to sooth her. "You're safe."

Her eyes opened. Turning her head, she met his eyes.

"Az?"

His heart stopped for a moment, at her calling him. His shadows seemed to flare for a moment, and then continued to caress them both.

"You're safe Gwyn." Her eyes searched the room, to find that his shadows had engulfed them completely. When her eyes went back to him, she realized that he wore only his leather pants. He must have been in a hurry, she thought. It took her another minute to realize that she held his hand, and his other was on her head. His thumbs rubbing gently in a soothing manner.

"Az?" Voice cracking as she called out to him, squeezing his hand, and he squeezed back.

"I'm here." Tears formed in her eyes again, and a sob escaped her lips. She tugged on his hand, and he moved on instinct. Climbing into the bed beside her, and wrapping his arms around her, his wings followed, including the shadows. Gwyn buried her face in the crock of his neck, as a tear fell. "I'm here." He told her again.

They both felt a tug on their souls towards the other. Gwyn looked up at him, as he looked down at her. Their eyes locked, and she reached hand up to his jaw. Azriel never looked away from her, and watched her with those spymaster eyes of his. Every movement, every breath, watched as she took him in.

Realization slowly started to register in them both. Deep within. Azriel felt her fingers dig into the underside of his jaw, tugging him towards her. Their lips brushed together, and Gwyn released a breath she didn't realize she was holding. Azriel leaned his forehead against her own. His shadows moved to graze her back, and pull in closer. Caressing her cheek he searched for any sign of discomfort caused by his actions. He found none.

"Azriel." Barely a whisper. But he heard her. Their eyes searched the others once more, before she tugged his jaw towards her again. He obeyed her, their lips met, and this time, it felt as if sparks flew, igniting something ancient, and primal within them. Her fingers dug into the underside of jaw, and the kiss became more. It was no longer a gentle reassuring kiss the other was there, to let each other know they were safe. But it turned into one filled with passion, lust, and so much more. His tongue grazed her bottom lip, and she opened for him.

He slowed his pace, almost agonizingly slow as he slid his tongue into her mouth. The world around them had faded, and it was as if it was just the two of them floating in the universe, surrounded by his shadows, stars, and the feeling of the other. Pacing her teeth, his tongue met hers.

A moan made its way up her throat and into Azriels own mouth that claimed hers. The action caused Azriel to do the same, and his grip on her tightened slightly. He froze in place, afraid that it would make her uncomfortable or scared; it didn't. Tilting her head a little, to give him a better angle into her mouth. Their tongues met each other, and they melted. Their souls danced with each other, an invisible string was tugged hard, and as they pulled away from each other's mouth, they came crashing back down. They were slammed into the earth again, into each other's arms, and the world stopped turning.

Both rasped out "Mate."

Their breaths intermingled, as they gazed into the others eyes. Gwyn closed her eyes, and sighed peacefully as she snuggled in closer to Azriels chest. Azriel placed a gentle kiss to her forehead, and both felt a calmness take over them, one of peace that neither had felt in a long time.

"I've got you mate." Azriel kissed her head once more as he whispered against her skin. "I've got you."

"I...They were…" a shudder went through her, and she felt Azriel rub soothing circles on her back.

"You are safe now." It pained him, knowing what was done to her. The memory flashed in his mind, at finding Hyberns soldiers pinning her, holding her down against her will. Having their way with her. Taking without permission. He hadn't realized then yet, what she was. He only knew rage, like he had never felt before. This rage consumed his very being, rumbled deep within his bones. No… Deeper than that. He killed those closest to her first, then his brothers arrived, to provide their assistance.

A low growl rumbled in his chest, and he froze. In fear of frightening her, but he did not smell fear. He smelled, oh mother above. The sweetest scent to grace his nose. Her arousal.

"Az?"

"Yes love?"

"Can you just… Stay… Hold me?" Voice small, and a whisper. Nervousness filling her.

Kissing her head again, and she snuggled into him more. His new favorite thing, a habit he knew was blooming. Holding her in his arms, and kissing her head, to let her know that she was loved, that she was safe. That no one would ever hurt again, not while he drew breath.

"I'm not going anywhere." He reassured her. "Sleep, I'm here. I've got you."

"Thank you." Her lips brushed his neck as she said those words and his breath caught in his throat. His member hardening, he felt Gwyn stiffin.

"I will not hurt you." Rubbing soothing circles on her back resumed. "You can Sleep." Too many emotions were flooding her. Her scent changed too fast for him to keep up. Did he just screw this up? Her scent kept changing, then pain filled him, as fear coated her scent. Fear of him. "Do not worry. I will not act upon it." He whispered in her ear. He pulled in tighter to his chest, wanting to calm her, help her, sooth her, protect her, even from himself.

All while in Gwyn's mind too much was happening too fast. She couldn't keep up with her own mind and body. The nightmare, him comforting her, the mate bond snapping into place, a sense of peace washed over her. Then. Fear. Fear of losing him, of not being good enough, of being tainted goods. Then she felt him. Fear overtook her, no. She wasn't ready for that. Wasn't sure if she ever would be. Would he try… She didn't let herself finish that thought. This was Azriel, her Azriel, her Mate. He would never do such a thing. Then another thought. More like a memory.

She remembered hearing Nesta and Emerie talking about Wingspan, and… Oh Mother… How? There was no way that she would be able to… Then the memory of that night flashed across her mind. The pain she felt then. Clenching her eyes shut, so hard she thought she'd lose her eyesight if she wasn't careful. She remembered the look on their faces, on the face of the one that…

Squirming did no good. It caused her to brush against his hardened member once more, and the size of him. Gods… No...No...No! She wanted the thoughts to stop, to go away, to leave her free. Then an emptiness like no other engulfed her. Instinct kicked in, and she reached for Azriel, but he was no longer there. Was that a dream too? Would she never find peace?

The bed was still warm. He was here. But he. He left her. A fear, a pain, far deeper than one she had ever felt, even with the horrible things that she has survived through. This pain was the worst. Was he? Rejecting her? He didn't want her. She was tainted. Impure. Too damaged.

A whimper, and the scent of her tears, had Azriel pause. His fingers on the door knob. He would leave her, let her be. They could discuss things later, when she was ready. He wanted nothing more, but to just hold her in his arms, but she still had things to work through. Frightening her, or moving too quickly would surely end badly. He would give her space, time, and a choice; when, where. Anything for her.