Gizelle

I gaped like a dead fish at the warrior before me. Had I heard him correctly? Mate? No way. No way he was my mate, the Mother wouldn't be so cruel as to saddle an honorable warrior like Azriel to the likes of me.

"Say something," he said quietly, kneeling in front of me as my gaze jumped back and forth between his hazel eyes. I felt hot tears welling up from the injustice of it all and turned away to hide my shame from this male. From my mate.

"Are you sure?" I whispered, not trusting my voice any louder than the faint sound. Maybe he was confused and thought we were mates, but really maybe he just found me... attractive? I snorted internally at the thought. Yeah, no way he found my hideous scar and rat's nest for hair attractive.

Azriel lifted my hands from where they clutched at the arms of the chair and held them tightly in his as he gazed up at me.

"Believe me, there's no mistaking what I feel for you for any other emotion." He took a deep breath. "When your eyes met mine, I felt weightless, like I was adrift in the ocean and the only thing keeping me anchored in place, to the very earth... was you. It was like everything else paled in comparison, nothing else mattered to me in that moment. Rhys probably could have cut off my arm and I wouldn't have noticed nor cared."

"But why?" I gasped as the tears finally spilled over, still not ready to accept what he was saying. It sounded all well and good, but he didn't know what he'd just been signed up for...

I had to tell him. He deserved that at the very least. Then, once he knew the disgusting truth, he would realize what a mistake it was to see me as his mate and finally knock some sense into the male. I took a deep, shaky breath, ready to spill my guts-

"Shh," Azriel made a gentle shushing noise as he pressed one of those large fingers to my lips, halting any confession that was about to emerge. "You may not see it now, but I promise you, Gizelle, I am your mate, and you are mine. I know you experienced horrific things while in Hybern, and I hope one day you will feel comfortable enough with me to unburden yourself of those memories. But until that day, I will be here, supporting you, and you don't need to justify yourself or try to push me away or deny what's between us. Please," he said with a firm sort of desperation. "Just give us a chance."

I just stared blankly at him in shock, not knowing what to say to his declaration. He arched a thick black brow at me.

"All right?" he asked. "Can you promise to at least give this a chance? Give us a chance?"

My lips trembled as I gave a shaky nod, hope fluttering in my chest like a swarm of butterflies. His sensual lips pulled into a small grin as he stood, giving my hands a squeeze before settling them back in my lap. I leaned back in the chair at his prompting and allowed him to run warm water over my hair from the sink and work vanilla-scented shampoo into my ratty hair. I sighed, letting my eyes drift shut when he started massaging my scalp, a small moan slipping passed my lips when he kneaded the muscles at the base of my skull.

"Little flower?" A deep, masculine voice rumbled, startling my eyes open as I sat up in a daze. I glanced around, noting the male in front of me with the hairbrush in his hand and quirk to his lips as he studied me.

"What...?"

"You fell asleep," he said with a little smile and indicated the mirror behind me. I stood a little shakily, thanking him when Azriel steadied me, and glanced in the mirror. I gasped as I saw my snarl of hair had been tamed into shimmering waves of burgundy that slipped over my shoulders like curtains of silk. He was a miracle worker. Truly.

"It looks amazing," I said in wonder, running my hands through the lengths, letting them fall over my shoulders and frame my breasts that were still angling for the opportunity to pop out of this borrowed shirt. I felt the heat at my back warming me down to my very soul as I looked up and caught the hazel gaze of my mate in the mirror.

"My mate..." I whispered in awe as I stared up at that strong jaw, thick raven hair and full, sexy mouth that quirked up at the side. He seemed to appreciate my obvious perusal of him. The cocky male.

"As you are mine," he said gently, eyes burning hotly into mine as we stared at one another through the mirror. He blinked, his eyes looking far away for a moment before they blinked again and refocused on mine.

"We're needed downstairs, little flower."

I nodded my head, blushing slightly at his new nickname for me and following him out of the bathroom on bare feet. He was walking deliberately slow for me, I suspected, and I fell a little more for him at that. Without prompting, this male was so thoughtful and caring. How did I get this lucky? Surely the Mother was rewarding me for some good deeds that had obviously canceled out what had happened in the bowels of Hybern's castle. I wondered how many good deeds I had to have committed for it to tip the scales in my favor. I mean, I hadn't performed any miraculous feats or daring rescues, but I always tried to help Tam when she needed it, do my part around the palace. Oh, Tam! What must she think about my disappearance! She must be worried sick, and now that Father was gone, I inhaled a shaky breath, she would need someone to look out for her. I just needed to get one of them to take me back to my court so I could set things to rights. Yes, that's it, I nodded my head to myself, my wings beginning to buzz rapidly at the thought of returning home.

"Gizelle," Azriel's voice broke through my swirling brain as he waved a hand in front of my face. I blinked a few times before my gaze focused on his.

"Hmm?" I asked innocently, smiling a bit now that I had some semblance of a plan in place. Azriel just studied me for a second before shaking his head and letting us out into the hallway. When we reached the staircase I had to grip his arm tightly for support and waved him off when he looked like he was about to sweep me into his arms again.

"I'm okay, big guy," I chuckled and patted his bicep. "I can make it down on my own if we go slowly." Azriel looked unsure at my words, but let me traverse the staircase under my own power, lending his arm for support when I needed it. When we touched down at the base of the stairs I had to suck in a few breaths, surprised at how winded I felt. Maybe I should have taken him up on the ride down. I glanced up at my muscled giant, the word ride sending all sorts of dirty thoughts flooding my brain before I could stop them.

Azriel glanced down at me with a cocked brow and my cheeks flamed as I looked away quickly and made for the room I had seen the others go into earlier tonight, or was it morning by now? The windows held that grayish tint that told me dawn was on it's way, so it must be very early in the morning, and I'm sure everyone was probably tired of waiting on me, so I hurried as much as my exhausted limbs would allow.

"About time," Cassian's muttered remark confirmed my suspicions as I spied the group lounging in the sitting room. Rhys and his stepmother were sipping drinks on one of the couches by the fire, Cassian leaned against the wall, wine bottle dangling from his fingertips as he took another pull from the bottle, and a blonde female I recognized as the scout from earlier tonight was draped over the arm of one of the chairs with her bare legs dangling over the other arm. She had a glass of amber liquid in her hand as well, and suddenly I felt like I needed some liquid courage myself.

Rhys sat up straighter at my arrival and got up from his seat with a grin. I smiled brightly at my best friend and rushed toward him, wrapping my arms tightly around his waist and buried my face in his strong chest. I sighed. He smelled just like I remembered. A cough shattered our peaceful moment and we both looked up to see Cassian pushing off the wall and heading toward us.

"Cassian, my lady," he said with a roguish grin, obviously having indulged in quite a bit of wine while we had been upstairs. "General of the Night Court's armies and a member of Rhys's inner circle."

I glanced up at Rhys in confusion.

"What does he mean your inner circle? Doesn't he mean your father's? When he said that back in Hybern I thought it was some joke I wasn't clued in on." I asked. Rhys just shook his head with a sad smile.

"Ella, there is a lot that's happened since you were taken, and I promise to explain all of it, just come have a seat first and get off your feet. I'm sure your legs are about to buckle underneath you," he said with a knowing smirk. I elbowed him in the ribs and grinned up at him as he led me over to an unclaimed couch that faced the one Feyre, the High Lady, was still perched on. I took a seat, and rather than Rhysand taking the seat beside me, Azriel took the seat and Rhys went over to the other couch and took Feyre's hand in his, letting it rest on his thigh as he settled into the cushion. My brow furrowed at the obvious familiarity.

"What do you remember, Ella?" Rhys asked, Cassian and the blonde female dragging their own chairs over to where we were gathered.

I looked up at Azriel and he gave me a reassuring nod, laying his hand palm up on his thigh next to mine, a clear invitation for comfort if I wanted to take it. It was then that I noticed the hints of scars on the tops of his hands, and I wondered why I hadn't noticed them until now... Shaking myself of the tangent those thoughts would certainly form into, my throat felt thick with emotion as I laid my hand in his, thanking the Cauldron, the Mother, and whoever else was out there, that I had been paired with such a considerate male.

I took a deep breath as I began, "I was taken from the palace about a year ago I think," I glanced up at Rhys who nodded solemnly as he remembered the events of that night. "After that, I was brought to Hybern where he performed the spell that made everyone forget...

Azriel gave my hand a gentle squeeze as my gaze grew watery and my breath stuttered out of me. I tried to rein in my emotions and cleared my throat to continue.

"And after that, he locked me in that room you all found me in, only sending in healers to tend to me and servants to bring me food and water while he left for the front lines. He only visited a couple times...

My vision grew hazy and my voice trailed off as I remembered those visits, what they had ultimately lead to...

"Ella," Rhys said, so softly, as if he were speaking to a frightened animal. "That... was over 500 years ago." I blinked. And blinked again.

"I'm sorry, what now?" I gave a mirthless chuckle as I stared up at the faces around me, waiting to see a hint of the joke they were trying to make, but I saw nothing. Not a hint of humor, only serious conviction and pity. My jaw clenched at the last emotion. I didn't need their pity. I stood abruptly, my handing yanking out of Azriel's in my anger.

"What are you saying, Rhys?" I practically growled, my hands fisted at my sides.

"Ella, we have reason to believe that you... You died, at some point, during your captivity in Hybern." I sucked in a sharp breath so fast I nearly choked on it. How did they know about my death?

"How?" I whispered, not able to meet any of their eyes. I felt Azriel's hand touch my clenched one, trying to get me to latch onto his again. With a sigh I allowed it, opening my fist and letting him twine our fingers together. When he tugged me ever-so-gently back toward the couch, I surprised him by taking a seat right on his lap rather than the seat beside him. I heard his sharp inhale before he relaxed back into the cushion, his free arm coming up to rest lightly at my waist as it draped over my thighs. I leaned against his large frame, soaking up his heat and letting my head rest just below his chin. Azriel was such a large male, dwarfing my small stature easily, making me feel almost like a small child in his arms.

Rhys studied us with a look of tenderness that made my heart squeeze before he answered my question.

"Jurian informed us that Hybern had resurrected someone using the Cauldron he reassembled, and that whomever it was was being held captive in his castle. We assumed this person had to be of more importance than some common prisoner, so we devised a rescue team. It wasn't until I met your eyes that whatever spell he cast wore off and I remembered you. It was like a dense fog clearing from my mind with such a powerful reminder right in front of me to jog my memory." His eyes had this sad, a torn up look in them and I found it hard to sit still, wanting to go to him and wrap him up in my arms.

"It's not your fault, Rhys," I said shakily, giving him the best smile I could muster. "No one could have fought the spell he cast."

Rhys nodded solemnly and took a steadying breath before meeting my eyes once more. "There's a lot to catch you up on, and we'll get to all that soon. For now, I think we all should get some much needed rest and meet again in the morning to go over the finer details." I nodded my agreement, my cheek scraping gently over Azriel's fighting leathers with the movement.

"I've had a room prepared for you and tomorrow we can get your wardrobe sorted. I've also asked Cerridwen and Nuala to bring some food up to your room in case you're hungry."

"Thanks, Boggy," I said softly, stifling a yawn. At the mention of a bed, despite the fact that I had been lightly napping on and off for most of the day already, I was bone-tired and wanted to deal with all of my questions tomorrow. There were far too many of them at the moment to try to crack that box open right now.

"I'll take her back up," Azriel offered as he wrapped those muscular pythons for arms around me and stood in one swift motion.

"We stayed up all night for that?" Cassian grumbled as he finished off his bottle of wine. "Waited hours for her to stuff herself into Feyre's clothes, wash her hair and come downstairs, just to say, "Let's talk about everything tomorrow"."

At his words, stuff herself, I glanced down at my breasts nearly spilling out of the top and grimaced, hiding my face in Azriel's chest. I knew my frame wasn't similar to the other high fae females, being that I was only half high fae, but I'd never been made to feel... shame? over my figure. I didn't like the feeling.

"Don't listen to him, little flower," my mate whispered in my ear as he strode for the staircase once more. "He's a nightmare when he doesn't get his beauty sleep and is taking it out on you." I nodded, not knowing what else to say to that, when I felt soft lips graze the tip of one sensitive ear.

"Your figure is lovely."

I shivered at the heat in those words, glad to know that at least my mate didn't seem to find issue with the shape of my body. Feeling like I should return the favor, but not used to flirting with males, I tried my best for a compliment.

"Your... muscles are lovely," I said lamely. No, that wasn't good enough. Plenty of males had muscles, and I didn't want him to think I was only interested in his physique, so I rushed to correct my gaff. "And your smile!" I practically shouted in a frenzy. "The way your lips curve at the corner is really cute! Well, not cute, as in childish cute, but the masculine kind of cute, you know? Not that anyone would ever compare you to a child, you're much too tall for that!" I rushed to explain, digging myself deeper into a hole of embarrassment as I tried to recover. "Tall like the everlorn trees from my court. They're the biggest trees in all of Prythian I think, thickest too. Not that you're thick! I mean, at least not in a bad way. I wouldn't know if you were, in a good way. What I mean to say is-

"Gizelle," he said quietly, cutting off my rambling. I tucked my burning face closer to his chest as he made his way down the upstairs hallway we had come down earlier. Wisely, I kept my mouth shut as he lead us into a room at the end of the hallway, opening the door without issue and entering the room. The area was simple in design, a decent-sized bed, a sitting area with a couple armchairs, a fireplace that was already smoldering with crackling fire logs. The overall effect was cozy. Almost... romantic.

I glanced up at my gentle giant, noticing the tightening of his jaw as he made his way to the side of the bed. He deposited me gently on the soft mattress, straightening up and clearing his throat as he glanced around the room.

"Is there anything else you might need?" He said it like he couldn't wait to get out of here, and that puzzled me. He seemed like he was in good spirits just a moment ago... what changed? Was it my rambling? Oh Mother help me, was he put off by me calling him thick by mistake? Did he think I was calling him fat? Because if so, I needed to rectify my mistake immediately!

"Azriel-"

"Cerridwen and Nuala left a tray of food for you," he cut me off, still looking anywhere else but at me. He swallowed thickly as he took a couple steps back. "My room is across the hall, yell if you need anything. Otherwise, I wish you a peaceful sleep and I will see you at breakfast in the morning. Goodnight, Gizelle."

Gizelle, not little flower. I cringed internally and nodded mutely.

"Night," I whispered at his retreating back, watching helplessly as he stepped out into the hall and shut the door softly behind him. My stomach twisted. I'd really just messed things up between us.

I sighed, squeezing my eyes shut, and fell back against the pillows, wishing a hole would just open up and swallow me whole.


Azriel

Azriel blinked tiredly at the ceiling, trying to force his mind to quiet so he could get at least a couple hours of rest before breakfast. His mind, however, was too busy replaying the conversation between him and his mate.

When she had compared him to the trees... and then the part about thickness... he knew she didn't mean it disrespectfully. No, instead his mind had gone straight into the gutter, imagining that she was referencing a different... thickness, and how pleased it would make his mate when they finally reached that stage of their relationship. But then that reminded him that she had endured horrific nightmares at the hands of Hybern and she would not appreciate any sexual advances he made right now, and seeing the outline of his stiff, thick, cock through his leathers might terrify her.

He had tried to stop her rambling politely, before he did something incredibly stupid, like kiss those plump red lips to silence them, then attempted to put her to bed as quickly as possible. He was probably too short with her, but he had to get out of there before she noticed his growing passion for her tenting his pants. And then there was the fact that when he deposited her on the bed... he swallowed dryly, remembering the sight of that fabric squeezing the life out of those perfect breasts...

When she had shifted slightly on the bed, just a hint of one small, delicious rosy nipple had peeked out and he had to use all of his willpower to step back from her. He wanted nothing more than to fall to knees and worship at her body's alter for hours, teach her that pleasure could be had between a male and his mate, erasing the damage Hybern had done and replacing those bad memories with ones filled with passion and pleasure.

But she wasn't ready for that. So he left. And now he was laying here in his bed, unable to sleep with thoughts of his delectable little mate in the next room. He considered taking himself in hand to douse the raging desire, but knew from experience that it would only make things worse in the end.

Another half-hour passed, and he finally felt the drooping of his eyelids as sleep pulled him in, when he heard the faintest noise. His lids shot open when the noise sounded again. It was coming from Gizelle's room.

Without a second thought, he hurdled out of bed, sprinting across his room and nearly yanking his door off of its hinges to get to her. He thought about using his shadows to get there even faster, but didn't want to scare her by just appearing in her room. He bolted across the hall, roughly pulling her door open and rushing to her bed. Gizelle was tangled up in the bed sheets, slick with sweat as she fought invisible demons in her sleep.

"No! Stop! Please...

The whimper of despair she let out as she thrashed around broke his heart. His little mate had endured something no female ever should have had to experience, and she was likely reliving those horrors. Wasting no time, Azriel knelt next to the bed, shaking her shoulders gently.

"Little flower, wake up," he said softly, coaxing her from her nightmares. "It's Azriel, wake up for me now, love." Her head tossed back and forth as she tried to fight his grasp.

"No!" she cried out, tears leaking from her eyes now as he shook her a little more fervently. His heart squeezed painfully as he shook her again.

"Gizelle, wake up. It's just a nightmare, honey."

Gizelle's green eyes flung open, swiveling wildly around before they settled on him. She gasped and jerked back at first, but then recognized his form a moment later and sagged with obvious relief. He felt his own body relax slightly as well now that she was awake.

"Az," her voice cracked as her bottom lip trembled, trying to hold back the tears he could see building up. Letting his instincts take over, he settled on the edge of her bed and opened his arms wide. As if his body had known exactly what she needed, his little mate scrambled out from under the twisted, sweat-soaked sheets and flung herself into his embrace. He squeezed her tightly to his bare chest, careful of her delicate membranous wings.

He could feel the tear tracks rolling over the planes of his chest and stomach and held her a little tighter.

"Shh," he soothed her, running his fingers through the thick, silky tresses of her burgundy hair.

"Az- riel," she hiccuped his name as her fingers dug into his heated skin.

"You were having a nightmare, honey," he explained, the term of endearment rolling off his tongue without thought.

"It w-was h-him. Hybern. H-he...

"Shh," he shushed her again, rocking them gently as he cradled her against him. "You don't have to explain." They were silent for a few moments, Gizelle letting him hold her and comfort her, the way any honorable mate would, and his chest swelled with pride that he could offer this to her.

"Thank you," she whispered shakily. "You d-didn't have to come in here for me, I must have woken you up, I'm so-

He stopped that train of thought by giving her small frame a tight squeeze, reassuring her that she didn't need to thank or apologize to him. He just wanted to be there for his mate. Be there for her now like he hadn't been when she had needed him the most. When he had failed her the first time. He wouldn't let that happen again, he vowed.

"Would you like to stay in my room tonight?" he whispered softly, stroking her hair rhythmically. "My sheets are clean and dry, and I'll be there to watch over you if you'd like. There's a couch I can sleep on if that makes you more comfortable."

She nodded immediately, her arms snaking out and around his torso, hugging him tightly to her. He had to ignore the soft crush of her breasts against his bare skin as she straddled his thigh in only a thin nightgown that was soaked in cold sweat. Mother have mercy...

Azriel stood slowly, Gizelle's toned thighs wrapping around his hips instinctively and causing his cock to pulse in his pants as he strode quietly from the room. He walked them into his sparsely decorated room, setting her gently on his bed and watched in satisfaction as she collapsed against his pillow, breathing in his scent as a serene smile graced her full red lips. Mother above, this female tested his will like no other.

"Stay with me?" she said nervously, biting those pillowy lips as she gazed up at him. He found himself nodding before he could think better of it and walked around the side of the bed before slipping between the sheets. He held them up silently for her to slip under as well and she did so without hesitation, sidling up to him and nuzzling her cute little nose against his pecs. She was almost child-like this way, so eager for comfort and trusting despite the fact that they had only met earlier that day.

He stroked her hair away from her face, the little wings laying feather light over his arm as she pressed further against his side. Within moments she was asleep again, little puffs of air ghosting over his chest. He studied her face in the dark, memorizing the sweet shape of her cheeks and elegant line of her brows. She wasn't regal-looking like their High Lady, or sweet-faced like Elaine, or harsh angles like Nesta. No, Gizelle was something else entirely. A mix of sweet, soft and elegant all rolled into one. And her body... well, he'd have to pummel their general into the dirt for insinuating that she was anything but perfect. The way her eyes had fallen to the borrowed shirt and the slump in her shoulders made him burn with need to reassure he that she was the most lovely female he had ever laid eyes on. And that wasn't just because they were mates.

Azriel closed his eyes as he listened to the soft sound of his mate's breaths, letting it lull him finally into sleep. Tomorrow they would answer all her questions and sort out any of her needs, but for now... for now he would relax and enjoy the comforting weight of his mate in his arms.