Beron huffs and plops down into his chair at the dining table as the three younger sons file in behind him, taking their own seats. Aurelia looks up and smiles at them each sweetly as they sit, all with similar snarls on their face, and drawn faces of exhaustion. They barely pass her a glance and she sighs silently at the other head of the table, hoping Eris shows up soon so nothing happens to him.

She can't help the guilt that overwhelms her soul when she thinks about the way that Beron has treated their children. She could stop it, but it very well may cost her; her life and theirs. And if the options are them having a bad life or having no life at all, she will choose the badness, because it can't last forever. It simply can't. Everything will be okay when Eris takes the throne. That is all she can pray for.

Just as she looks up again, Eris walks in, a picture of perfect poise and grace, his long red hair partially bound behind him, loose tendrils framing his cheeks, bringing out the freckles on his face.

She smiles at him and he half-smiles back at her, inclining his head politely as he takes his seat to her right. "Good evening mother, father", he greets them.

Beron grunts. Aurelia pats his hand and meets his eyes. "Good evening, Eris."

The servers come out with their food, and like usual, Eris and his mother are the only two to thank them for their work.

It is another family dinner of silence aside from chewing and the occasional mentioning of things Beron has to get done the next day.

As she eats, Aurelia suddenly feels a tugging in her chest and flushes pink, keeping her gaze lowered to her dinner plate. Feeling a slight change in the air, Beron glances up and narrows his eyes. "What's wrong with you, Aurelia?"

She lifts her gaze to her husband and raises an eyebrow, feigning ignorance. "Hm? Oh, nothing darling. This food is very delicious. I was just peckish." She smiles a bit too sweetly.

Before he can gripe about the tension and get angry, Eris interjects to take the attention off of her.

"So, father. I haven't heard from any of the other courts that they have had any issues with either the human queens of Koschei himself yet. Which could either be a very good thing, or a very dire thing. I'm going with the latter. They are taking their time to plan their attack on Prythian. Unfortunately there is no indication of there whereabouts. Most likely glamoured with Cauldron magic gifted to them by the fallen King of Hybern."

Beron grumbles and swallows his food. "They will come when they're ready."

'Okay, that was cryptic.' Though it was no shock that his father would allude to being allies with the enemy, Eris wonders if there is a troubling truth to it. Glancing outside, he can see the light rain make way to heavier downpours, the rumbling echoing through the dining hall as the room darkens.

'Like calls to like', Eris thinks. Bad omens. Bad High Lords. He just hope that Beron can be taken down or stopped before he commits to a treaty or bargain with Koschei and the queens, leaving the rest of Prythian to rot. Quite literally. He has heard many, many tales of the Cauldron. Including one that if a human was ever infused with its magic, it would rot them from the inside out. But not before turning them into power-craving monsters who would search to no end until they have it.

Sliding out of his chair gracefully, he summons his power forward, fire making his irises glow a blazing orange hue. He walks around the dining table and ignites the tip of his pointer finger, carefully lighting the candles along the center of it. The glimmering gleam of the flame casts a beautiful aura of golden light which reflects off of his ruby hair.

Aurelia sinks into her chair while the attention is on Eris, allowing her eyes to slip closed for just a moment in the fleeting seconds of darkness to send a small tug on the bond back to Helion.

Resuming her poised position, she casts a small smile up at her eldest. "Thank you, Dear."

"Not a problem, Mother", he replies curtly, returning to his seat to resume eating his meal. Seeing the flash of adoration flicker in his mother's eyes, he knows intrinsically that Helion just be tugging at their bond with longing. It makes his own heart ache, a wish of what could have been with Marina. All of their lives could have been filled with happiness and love and light, had Beron never been a stain on Prythian, and especially his own family. But alas, he is.

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.

A loud, feminine grunt resounds as Gwyn practices dagger combat with Azriel. Currently, she has the upper hand, though it's hardly his fault that the way her leathers fit her like a damn glove is so distracting.

Why hadn't he noticed the contours of her body before? Was it because he was ashamed of having those thoughts due to seeing her at her most vulnerable and violated in the past? Or was it because even though he was the Night Courts Shadowsinger, he was utterly blind to matters of his own heart? Either way, it was difficult to allow them to run through is mind without shutting them down. He must have programmed his brain to do previously, though he couldn't remember when.

But Gwyn had made it abundantly clear that she did not want to be treated like a helpless victim. That she was a fighter, a survivor, a brilliant mind, a Carynthian, and yes, a female. Prone to all the same desires as anyone else.

Not that it wouldn't take her some time to overcome the trauma that comes with intimacy; though what she went through was the farthest fucking thing from intimate.

Azriel gasps a bit as the dagger lunges for his throat and he dodges it just in time. Unfortunately, not before Gwyn sweeps her leg out and takes him down—hard—onto the training ground as he groans.

Glancing up at her, she beams and squeals excitedly at her first official 'win' against him, and he can't help the overwhelming joy that blooms in his chest as a sheepish smile comes to his face. The dusk sun gleams behind her like a halo, casting a glow to her copper hair.

She looks like the epitome of fire, and he wonders why he never put two and two together. Her look is pure Autumn, aside from her big, teal eyes. Eyes of a water nymph. For a moment, his thoughts pull him in again, and he wonders about everything he still doesn't know about his mate. Like how fire and water magic can reside in one person and not cancel the other out. That is, if she does possess either of those, which he has never actually seen yet.

Gwyn giggles and lowers herself over him, straddling his waist, the flush of her face making her freckles darken in contrast to the pink. His attention immediately drags back to her as his breath noticeably hitches. She grins mischievously, lightly stroking down his jaw with the flat of the dagger and continuing very tenderly down his throat and collarbone.

Fuckkk.

Before he can even think for a split second to get a grasp on his desire, goosebumps erupt on his chest and exposed arms, and a very uncomfortable bulge forms within the terrible confines of his lower leathers. His breaths quicken and he has to bite down on his cheek as to not allow the very dirty string of words that he wants to express to slip through his lips.

Gwyn raises an eyebrow, a terribly shy look on her face before she replaces it with a more confident smirk. Leaning forward more, she gazes deep into the depths of his hazel eyes. He's utterly captivated and rendered speechless as he stares back with equal intensity.

"Mm, careful shadowsinger, your inner turmoil is clear as day in those dilated eyes of yours", she murmurs. Azriel's hands twitch at his sides, the need to grip her hips becoming close to impossible to contain.

Then she finally—finally—presses her lips to his as she sets the dagger aside and grips his face in her hands.

All his control loosing, he groans into her mouth and kisses her back with a burning ferocity, kin to her fiery heritage. Azriel has no doubt that her aquatic heritage could also drown him in beauty and song and feeling until he was rendered kneeling before her, and he'd thank her for it, he would thrive within her control. Because they have trust. He is hers, as she is his.

His hands grip her waist as he feels Gwyn give herself over to him freely, her muscles relaxing and her tongue darting out to tangle with his; breath for breath, stroke for stroke as she slowly makes him come unraveled like her prized white ribbon.

Mates. The perfect match. Her brightness will cast his playful shadows and his darkness will soothe her never-ending radiance. His yin to her yang. A spark of her glow in his soul, and a speckle of his umbra in hers. Their perfect dance of contrast; indifferences that fit like a puzzle, sewn together with unbreakable threads of black and white.

"Az—", she murmurs, sucking in a breath between kisses before greedily kissing him again, eliciting a deep groan from him.

Azriel pulls away gently and gently slides his hands up her body until they cup her cheeks, the pads of his thumbs brushing over the plush skin. They both pant hard and blush.

"You are my every dream come true, Berdara."

Gwyn brushes her nose over his lightly. "And you are mine. You've made me come alive in ways I never thought I could, Erebus." She smirks then grins brightly, her eyes sparkling like the waters of the lake under the sun.

"I don't want this to move too fast for you."

"Az", she whines a little. "I appreciate you being protective. I really do, it's very sweet and you're a very good male for doing so. But I know my own limits. I told you before, if I'm uncomfortable, I'll let you know. Although, I'm sure you'd be able to sense the shift in the bond anyway."

"Still", he mutters breathlessly, his eyes darting from her lips back to her eyes. "You're my mate, Gwyn. It's my job to protect you, even if you can protect yourself. I feel that strong urge to wrap you up and keep you safe. I know it's intense and sometimes crazy, but I know it's worse for me because I—"

Gwyn tosses her leg back over to stop straddling him and leans on her elbow, gently fingering his wispy dark hair, listening.

Azriel takes a shuddering breath. "I can't lose you. I've just got you. I've waited...centuries for you, Gwyn. I never thought I'd be worth the kind of love that comes with having a mate. I never thought I would have one. And I'd do anything in my power to keep you. Even if that meant letting Prythian rot. Maybe I'm a terrible person for saying that but...I've done so much in my life for other people. To other people. Because of other people. I feel like it should be my turn to want and need and covet, and I think I have a right to be selfish with you and beside you. I think that if you love me, that's all I'll ever need in this life. As long as I have that, I can do anything. I can never let anything happen to you. I won't survive that, and I've survived a lot of shit, Gwyn."

Tears slowly roll down Gwyn's cheeks and he sniffles, tracing Azriel's cheekbone. "I am yours, Az. And you are mine. We have a right to be selfish with one another because you're right. The shit had taken over. It's your turn, and my turn. I want you and you want me, so together we will be. I don't plan on going anywhere, and I understand your anxiety about loss, and even about love."

Az furrows his brow a bit. "Love?"

"Yes. You're afraid of it. I was afraid of it, but I know how to handle most of my demons. But I think that you use me as an excuse to not handle yours."

"Gwyn...I'd never use you."

"No, not consciously. And it's a bad thing for you. I think that you are so afraid to let me love you fully and so afraid that I will see so far deep within you. Because you believe that if that happens, I'll go away or something bad will happen to me, and you'll be left feeling abandoned or unloved again. I think...maybe you use my trauma to make sense of your own, when you don't realize it. Like when I straddled you. You stopped yourself from touching me until I kissed you. I think you're masking your fear of having love ripped away by telling yourself that I'm not ready for it. It wasn't about me not being comfortable enough with you touching me, it was about you being afraid that if this goes further and gets serious, that the other shoe will drop and it'll all be some sort of dream, or that there will be someone who has seen every part of you. I don't think anyone has ever fully seen you, and I think you're absolutely terrified of that."

Az swallows the lump in his throat and the tightness is his chest clenches his heart uncomfortably. "I—I'm sorry."

Gwyn scoots closer and hugs him tightly, stroking his hair. He grips her back tightly and sniffles. "I'm so sorry, Gwyn."

"Shh...it's not your fault. All your life you've been treated like an outsider; by your family, by residents of this Court. And all your life you've known you were different. But Az...", she whispers. "You are my insider. And your differences are what made you my mate because I'm different too. It's not always bad", she smiles tearily. "I adore you. Your shadows, your quiet intensity, your dry humor, your strength, your wit, your work ethic and brilliance, your defensiveness of those you care for, and even your insecurities. They're all a part of the mate that I never believed I would ever have either."

Tears spill down his face and he looks away. She was right. He was terrified of his own vulnerability, especially matters of the heart. How could he not be? He was caged as a child in darkness, spat on, beat by his brothers, verbally defiled by his stepmother, burned as a game, and not allowed to fly even when the urge was so great it physically hurt him, and his wings atrophied. Then his mother moved away to deal with her trauma. Yes, he had Cassian and Rhys's family. But then they died, leaving only them three. The residents are scared of him even still, and his job is literal torture. Torture he knows all too well what it's like to be on the receiving end, especially when it comes to fire. But that's another thing he will learn to overcome. With Gwyn.

As if she knew what he was thinking, she gently takes his scarred hands in hers. "I've been in the library so long that I haven't used much of my magic. Only the occasionally telekinesis to shelve the books. I don't even know which side of the family that came from. Probably Autumn. But I want to learn it again, try to use it again, at least my water powers that I've always known. My point is...we will heal ourselves together. You will become stronger in confidence, and I will become stronger in power. We're both misfits, and that's why we fit together. I want to show you all of me Az. Every vulnerable, scarred, and mismatched part of me, if you will do the same."

He nods weakly and nuzzles her neck, breathing in her scent. His shadows no longer lurk in the background, but they shimmy close, whirling and twirling around them, a few brushing over Gwyn's cheek and arms as she giggle softly.

Az pulls back from the hold and looks at his shadows interacting with her. "Y-You can feel them?"

"Yes, they're like little wisps of air, can't you?"

"Yes, but usually they just whisper things in my ear and are generally little spies, they don't really play much when it's just me, unless they're scolding me for my actions."

Gwyn chuckles and smiles. "Well, I think they're very nice. They've always been polite." A few of them wind between the loose strands of her hair and she snorts. "I think they like me."

"I think I like you too", he smiles cutely and stands up, helping her up as well and beginning to shed his training leathers and put away the weapons.

"So you can become one of them?", she asks, shedding hers as well.

Azriel blushes but nods. "Essentially. They cloak me within them so I can become invisible to enemies or whoever I'm scouting. I can move through them undetectable that way. I become the shadows on the wall."

"Wow", I'd love to see that some time. I wonder if it works for two people", she grins.

"I honestly have no idea, I've never tried or brought anyone along. I'm sure they would've refused, as they are animate, but ultimately an extension of me. That's why they can't leave the area I'm in unless I give them a direct order to do so. They'll get the info I want and feed it back to me."

"Woah...that's so cool."

"Yeah?"

"Definitely." Gwyn beams and blushes once they're only in their thin undershirts and long underwear bottoms.

He grabs the clothing they came with and gives her hers.

"Thanks."

"Of course", he replies, slipping his trousers on and then his chest, leaning back to button the fasteners under his wings.

Gwyn watches curiously. "I could help you...if you wanted. I mean, I know you can do it obviously it just looks difficult. I helped before."

Azriel blushes and for a split second wonders just how undone he could become if she strokes his wings. He supposes he will have to explain that uncomfortable secret eventually. "Umm, I know you did but I'm all set this time."

"Okay." Her cheeks flush brighter as she passes a glance over the rest of his body, noticing a particular area that goes well with a tale Nesta and Emerie had told her. That wingspans correlate...

Shaking her head of the tantalizing yet scandalous thought, she quickly re-dresses herself, pulling her small silver necklace out of her shirt and stroking the small, round, deep blue stone set in the same silver, smooth on both sides.

Azriel looks at her. "I always noticed you wearing a chain, but I've never seen what was on the end of it. Is it important?"

"Yes", she whispers, a mix of sadness and defiance in her voice.

"Do you want to tell me the significance? It's beautiful. Same shade as my siphons", he smiles. "Coincidence?"

Gwyn smiles back and shrugs. "Maybe, but that's a good point. It is."

"Is it similar to your invoking stone?"

She shakes her head. "No. My invoking stone is simply because I am a priestess. I can use it to aid in healing and protection. This...is for an entirely different reason."

"You don't have to tell me if you are uncomfortable. But you had appoint earlier about the showing all of our selves to one another."

"I know I did." She tucks it back into her shirt and lifts her chin. "So then let me show you."

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.

.

Azriel holds her close as they fly over the city of starlight, Gwyn becoming much more accustomed to soaring through the air in the last handful of months. She clings to him and tucks her body lose to his chest, still afraid of weighing him down despite his constant reminders that she is lightweight to him. Just my looking at his biceps she knows he's telling the truth, but she still feels responsible for flight safety any way she can.

He chuckles deeply and presses a kiss to the crown of her head. "Relax, love. You're so tense."

"I didn't think I was that tense."

"You are, but it's okay. You should know I would never drop you or let anything happen to you. And on the off chance I did have to drop you to protect you, I'd catch you."

"What!?"

He laughs heartily and she can't help the blushing grin that comes to her face as she smacks his chest softly. "Not funny, not funny!"

He laughs a bit more and she can't help the joy that thrums through her nerves like a live wire. "I suppose it was worth it to hear your incredible laugh though."

His cheeks pinken and he gets quiet as he flies, his large wings catching the drift of the wind.

She smiles and glances around at the spectacular view, the hub of the city all lit up in the dark, lights and stars sparkling from every direction. "You never told me where we were going exactly, but I wanted to show you what my necklace was for."

Az smiles and glances down at her. "We're going to our—wow—our home. It's not fully finished yet, but the bathroom and the bedroom but a few of the kitchen items are in it. I wanted to show you how it's coming along and get your opinion. It need your touch."

Gwyn gasps. "The house? Our house? That came along so fast."

"I know. And I stick to my word. If you aren't ready, I will wait as long as you need to be ready to take that step. I know it's a huge one, and I'm sure Clotho and some of your fellow priestesses will be saddened by the loss of your presence."

Gwyn presses a soft kiss to the side of his neck where she can reach. "I'm getting more accustomed to being outside the library. Thanks to Nesta and Emerie and Cass, and you. You've changed my life. All of you."

"I'm glad to have been part of that, however small my part has been", he says as they land, Azriel's boots clunking against the ground.

Silence surrounds them as she looks up at the house—their home—in awe. Perfect. The pale blue panels seem to glow faintly in the moonlight and navy shutters adorn the front four windows. The front door is white and the small, adorned porch and balcony are painted black.

"I'm not much of a designer", he admits, rubbing the back of his neck. We can change anything you like, just so you know. Anything."

Turning to him, she leans up on her tiptoes and tosses her arms around his neck. "It's perfect. Not only because you chose it, but because its very 'us'. I love it. It's whimsical and different, like we are."

He grins proudly. "Yeah?"

"Yeah", she grins, pecking his lips.

.

.

.

"Wow", Gwyn marvels, looking around at the interior of the home. Their home. Her and Azriel's. 'Gods, this is like a dream.'

"Az", she breathes out.

He grins and blushes softly, slowly wrapping his arms around her, the deep sapphire siphons on his hands glowing and glinting in the recessed lights.

"The open concept, the color scheme, the...the bookshelves!", she squeals happily.

"It's not the library, or even the House of Wind, but I thought you may want your own collection at your own home too."

She turns towards him and wraps her arms around his neck, her eyes reaching his. "I love you", she says sweetly.

He leans down and places his lips on hers, brushing them together. "I love you too, my Gwyn."

"Your Gwyn?", she smirks lightly.

"Mhm. And I am your Az", he replies, kissing her properly. She kisses back and giggles into his mouth.

"Az."

"Yes?" He cups her cheek and smiles genuinely.

"Your pure, genuine, unforced, and uninhibited smile is the most beautiful view I will ever see. No matter where I am, if I have you with me and you're smiling, I'll always be in awe."

"Gwyn", he mutters, turning red.

"It's true, Azriel." She takes his face in her hands and they stare at each other for a moment.

"Now...I told you that I wanted us to be completely open and honest and that I wanted to show you something about myself, especially if we are to be mates. And I trust you completely. May I?"

"Yes, of course."

A pink tinge comes to her face and she takes a breath. "It will have to do with the bathtub. But it—it's not like...what you'd expect. It's not what you're thinking. Not yet anyway."

"You know what I'm thinking?"

"Well, no, but you're my mate, and a male, and I know that...that comes with er...urges."

"Oh gods, Gwyn, I can control myself. I love you. You are safe with me. I told you before, nothing will happen until you are good and ready for it to happen. It will be your choice. Until then, I am simply thrilled to have you in my life. In my heart. My mate. My mate, that I spent centuries longing for and happiness I had never reached. Until you."

Azriel pulls her close and kisses the top of her head. "Show me what you need to show me. You are totally safe with me."

"I know I am", she whispers, leaning her head against his chest and listening to his heartbeat. "It's just me being nervous, that's all. Not about you, just because I have never showed anyone this part of me. I haven't—been this part of me since Catrin", she says quietly. "So it may be difficult for me."

"Whatever it is, I am here. I am with you, and I will comfort you to the best of my ability."

"Thanks, Az."

"Always, my little Carythinan."

She smiles and takes his hand, lacing their fingers together. "Okay...let's go."