Elain was waiting outside the door, looking around nervously, when she heard footsteps approaching her. "Cassian, we talked about this. In the human realm, grooms aren't meant to see their bride on the wedding day until the alter," placing herself between Cassian and the door.
"Elain, it is important, please," Elain drew in a breath "my instructions were not to let anyone in." she tried to reason with him. "so you won't let me in?" he asked again.
"no." she held her stance.
"fine, just to remind you this is not a wedding, not yet."
"are mating ceremonies not the same?" she asked, a little confused.
"El, you must forgive me, but you started this" before Elain could ask what he meant, Cassian's hands were tickling Elain and her natural reaction was to jerk away from the door.
"Cassian," Elain called after him as she stepped into the room behind him, but he had found Nesta already. Thank the cauldron, she had not changed into her gown yet.
"What the hell are you doing here," Nesta asked, annoyed, but Elain couldn't place the distraught look she saw in Nesta's eyes. "I figured it out. Here" Cassian said.
"Do you want to call off the ceremony?" Nesta cut him off.
"What? No. I brought this" Elain stepped closer to see Cassian pulling out a box with difficulty from the suit he was wearing. She saw him smile at her sister, who at this point was nothing like her old self; she was in tears; Elain had never seen Nesta like this. Cassian went down on one knee and opened the box to her. In it was an oval-cut black diamond stone. "I know the colour is not-"
"It's perfect," Nesta said between sobs.
"Marry me, Nesta, be my mate and my wife." Silence. Elain moved closer to ensure Nesta was okay. Cassian turned slightly to Elain, still on his knee. "This is how you do it, right? in the human realm," he asked.
"Yes, I will be your wife and your mate." Nesta went on her knees and kissed him.
"Cassian, you are not supposed to be here." Elain turned to see Feyre walking in with Gwyn and Emerie. "Leave now."
"Yes, high lady." Cassian got back on his feet and made his way out the door and down the stairs.
"Nesta, why aren't you changed?" Feyre asked.
"I heard Cassian outside the door with Elain. I was afraid he was getting cold feet," Nesta said with a sigh of relief, looking at her new ring.
"Cassian? oh, Nesta, I am afraid he is never leaving you alone again." Feyre reassured her, "come on now, we must change; everyone is waiting. Elain, will you get the door, please".
"Of course."
Cassian found Rhysand waiting by the altar with Nyx in his arms. "Where is Azriel?" he asked, approaching.
"I am not sure. I have not seen him yet. Did he tell you he was coming?" Rhysand asked, a little dismayed. "why wouldn't he? it is my wedding, Rhysand?" Cassian tensed.
"I am right here." Cassian turned to find Azriel behind him. Of course, they hadn't heard him.
"Cassian. Rhysand." Azriel stepped by Cassian and nodded at Rhysand, who returned the gesture.
"What is going on with you two? It's been months-" Cassian warned, picking up on the tension between his brothers "will one of you finally tell me what this is about?". Cutting him off, Rhysand said, "Did I hear you say wedding?" and Azriel nodded in agreement.
"Mating ceremony, wedding, it is all the same to me, but I will need to know soon." Cassian insinuated.
"Wedding?" Azriel asked with a sneer.
"Don't start. You and Morrigan have had fun. Wait, where is she?" Cassian had never been so nervous, the lord of bloodshed; it made his brother chuckle.
"I saw her speaking to Emerie earlier, she is here," Rhysand said, moving Nyx from one arm to another.
But Cassian's gaze was fixed elsewhere, narrowing his eyes at a distance. Azriel turned to follow his gaze, and there in the space, he saw the man he least wished to see. "You invited Vanserra?" Cassian turned to Rhysand with suspicion.
"He is our emissary and-" looking at Azriel, "Elain's mate."
"Right," Cassian said, unsure why Rhysand had turned to Azriel and the hurt Azriel concealed before walking away as Lucien made his way to them.
Elain was waiting by the door when Gwyn's loud howl shook her from her thoughts. "You look amazing, Nesta. Cassian might not be able to resist ripping that off before the end of the ceremony." Nesta was wearing a deep v-neck black dress, the top made of a corset, fitting her form like she was born for it. Nesta had become healthier, growing back into her curves. The dress' slit was embroidered with the valkyrie symbol, and the back was low, but the bishop sleeve with sparkles of silver flames made the dress different- beautiful. Elain could not help but smile. All she ever wanted was for her sisters to be happy, for them to have a family again.
Feyre had Rhysand, her mate and Nyx. Nesta had Cassian. But Elain, Elain had no one, not in the way it mattered. She had Nuala and Cerridwen in the way Feyre had Mor and Nesta the Valkyries. After the war, she decided she was okay with whatever came. She had survived the worst, but on the night of winter solstice, when she had given all of herself to him foolishly, and he had called it a mistake, the pain she felt was different, worse. After their father's death and Grayson's betrayal- she did not think she could trust another male. The betrayal, she thought, could she even call it that? he had made those promises to a human, and she couldn't blame him if he didn't keep them to a fae. But Azriel had somehow done it; he had won her trust only to break her heart again.
"Elain, we are ready." Feyre's voice shook Elain from her thoughts. "Let's go. we will walk behind Nesta and Gywn and Emerie will walk behind us". Elain smiled and nodded before she turned to open the door. "Mor."
"Hello, darling." Mor said, kissing her cheek, "you look amazing." Mor always complimented Elain, no matter how bad she looked, but her kindness was not unnoticed. "As do you." Elain returned the affection. Elain could have sworn she saw Emerie blush from the side of her eye, but Mor approached Nesta, who was saying something to Gywn but looked at Mor as she stopped in front of her. "This is for you. Think of it as a peace offering," she pressed a smile. Morrigan and Nesta never got along, not in the way Elain and Mor did. Of course, she was Feyre's best friend, but since Elain was always close by, she and Morrigan had formed some acquaintanceship, maybe even friendship. "Thank you, Morrigan," Nesta said, taking Mor's bouquet of white daisies.
"It's time," Nuala said, striding in and standing by Elain. "The priestess is here for the ceremony" with a nod of understanding, Nesta stepped past the door, Elain and Feyre behind her, followed by the rest.
Azriel hadn't been back in Velaris for the past month after Nyx was born, and everything settled down. He had spent all his time in Illyria, the place he hated most. Still, it was better than being in Velaris, being so close yet avoiding her at all costs, reliving the pain he had caused her that night, away from those beautiful brown eyes full of questions, away from the only family he had ever known, from his nephew. Feyre had sent word several times for him, but he could not do it. He could not bare the ache he felt being near her, the agony of not looking at her and turning his back to her again and again. That night he didn't just lose his chance with Elain, as his - he didn't even know what to call it but also as his friend. Azriel had also grown apart from Rhysand, his brother, which meant staying away from Feyre and Nyx. He hated every second of it. Cassian was the only person he had seen, as he visited the Illyrian camps often to do an inspection. Every time he visited, Azriel was pestered with several questions each visit, why are you not coming home? what is going on between you and Rhysand? Will you not even come to my mating ceremony? He had said to Azriel on his last visit two weeks ago. "Of course, I will." Azriel had told him. "You know that.".
"When will you tell me? It's been months." Cassian had pressed for information, and he had been for months now.
"Fine. Don't tell me. I will see you in Velaris," Cassian retorted before taking flight. Azriel was snapped back into the present by a particular smell. "Shadowsinger," Lucien said to Azriel before asking one of the servants for a drink. Azriel had left Cassain's side so that he could drink his anger away, but misery loved his company. "Vanserra." Azriel forced through grinding teeth. Azriel did not understand the emotions that stirred in him whenever he saw Lucien, and he just knew he could not stand him, not even a little bit. "Feyre tells me you and Elain are good friends. If I may ask, how is she doing?" Azriel was furious; why was this male talking to him? He could not think past that smell. Did Rhys put him up to this? He wanted to punch him, but it was Cassain's mating ceremony. He concealed himself, shadows twirling. "I suppose she is doing well, making a place for herself in the night court, though I haven't been here a while." before Lucien could open his mouth again, "If you would excuse me," and Azriel walked back to where Cassian was standing at the altar with the priestess.
Seeing Azriel approach him, Cassian laughed, "did I just see Vanserra making conversation with you?" he mocked. "Don't start, Cas," Rhysand warned from behind him, but Azriel avoided Rhysand's gaze and turned to face the guests invited to the ceremony. Azriel thought there would be fewer people, but his shadows had told him that Rhysand extended the invitation to all the courts to keep their alliances going.
"There they are" Azriel instantly looked up when he heard the priestess announce and saw Nesta wearing a black gown, which he found rather strange. Hadn't Cassian said this was also their wedding? Didn't humans wear white to their weddings? But of course, this was Nesta, and she was no longer human; this shouldn't shock him. Nesta moved closer, and he could have sworn he felt his heart stop for a second, throat bobbing. There she was, more beautiful than anything Azriel had ever laid eyes on, dressed in a cobalt blue gown, brown locks moving with the wind. He loved when she wore blue, which always reminded him of the first time he had seen her. It took everything in Azriel to look away from her; he hadn't seen her in months. Though his shadows kept an eye from afar, for her safety, of course, Azriel had instructed them not to report anything to him unless she was in danger. Her nightmares and visions had gotten worse, but nothing that could harm her. So he stayed away for his sanity.
"I can't believe she chose me. That she will be mine forever." Azriel's felt his heart sting at Cassain's words. Fighting back a burning sensation in his throat, "You are a lucky man brother.".
Elain found Azriel the second she stepped out of the building behind Nesta. The last time she had seen him was a few days after Feyre had given birth. That was six months ago. He had avoided her for six months, with little to no explanation about that night. He left her hurt, with doubts and questions for six months. Elain had cried her heart out that night, but when she woke the next day, she had reasoned with herself. They could still be friends, and they could pretend nothing had happened. She could not lose his friendship because he hadn't wanted her the way she wanted him. But the reality of the situation humbled Elain. Azriel began to ignore her, and he had gone as far as to miss every family dinner and gathering until Nyx's birth. Even then, she was surprised he had come. She hated that that caught her by surprise, that she was getting used to him not being around, no matter how much it hurt. She had lost her first friend, the friend who could understand her without words, with whom she could be herself, the friend she could say anything to without shame or timidity. He hadn't cared for their friendship, not like Elain thought he did. She thought maybe he would come to her, and they would talk about it, she would apologize for misreading the situation, but instead, he had left for Illyria without as much as a goodbye. Elain was so angry-She hadn't felt this much anger since she had been forced into the cauldron. He was just like everyone else, and she was foolish to believe otherwise. Now he just stood there, as handsome as ever in that suit. Cauldron boil her. He was wearing a blue tux, the buttons of the white dress shirt exposing his golden chest. She had to remind herself to breathe. She was so angry with him that he had hurt her more than anyone else.
"Is that Lucien?" Feyre's voice caused Elain to look in the direction of Feyre's gaze. "I asked Rhys to invite him," Elain murmured. Elain could see the confusion in Feyre's mannerisms. "I will tell you after, come now." she gestured to Nesta. As they stepped onto the altar, Cassian came forward, extending his hand to Nesta, who gently placed hers into his. Elain felt a gaze on her right then, and when she looked up, hazel eyes met , those eyes.
