The library definitely felt warmer a couple of afternoons later, even with fewer fireplaces lit as Spring started slowly drifting towards summer. I sat in an armchair, reading yet another book about the Autumn Court's families. How was I to know where I came from? Unless it specified my grandmother, which I doubted they'd want to do as it marred their history, then how would I know?
The Daria family are distantly related to the High Lords of the Autumn Court. They too possess some fire magic but it is limited and not passed into everyone in the bloodline. Their house is on the border between Autumn and Spring Court, where it has been for centuries.
"What are you reading?"
I closed the book at the familiar voice and glanced up to see Azriel standing there, a small smile playing on his lips. "Oh just some history about the Autumn Court."
He raised his eyebrows in surprise, "I thought Merrill had finished her research, at least that's what Rhys said."
I nodded, "She has." I stood up from my chair, "I'm trying to find out about my grandfather."
"Your grandfather?" His eyes moved to my hair. "Your family are from the Autumn Court?"
"Ah so the Spymaster doesn't know everything," I grinned, placing the book on the nearby desk, adding it to my pile. "My grandmother was a river-nymph," He nodded, knowing this information already, "But she seduced some High Fae male in the Autumn Court. My mother wasn't able to live in the waters of the Spring Court and didn't do well confined in the Forest house, so she was given to the priestesses at Sangravah."
Surprise crossed his face, "And you don't know who your relatives are?"
"I wasn't sure I wanted to know," I admitted, "I wanted to choose my own family." I bit my lip and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, "But I think it would be nice to at least know some of my family history." I paused for a moment, "Please, don't tell anybody I'm looking into it yet though, will you?"
"I won't," He held his hand over his heart in promise and I gave him a small smile. "Do you ever get a day off?"
"Tomorrow," I told him.
"And now?" He looked hopeful.
"I could escape a little early, what did you have in mind?"
Azriel carried the books I needed to my room and waited outside whilst I changed into a less dusty dress. I gave my face a quick wash and then put on a blue blouse and some trousers that Emerie had given me as a gift when she'd started making new styles of clothing the previous month. Opening the door, it was strange to see the Shadowsinger there, waiting for me. I wondered if perhaps this was some cruel dream.
"Shall we?" He asked and I gave a nod before leading him along the corridor. I noticed a few other priestesses glance our way with surprised expressions and I gave them a sheepish smile as we headed out of the library area and up to the House of Wind.
Azriel led me down to the floor he called home and I smiled as we walked into the small seated area. There, by the windows, a small table and two chairs had been set up. A bottle of wine sat atop the table, alongside a candle.
I turned to look at him, "Is this a date?"
He swallowed, looking nervous, "If you'd like it to be."
I gave him a smile and a nod, "Maybe I should've dressed fancier."
"No need," He signalled to his casual attire. He held out a hand and I gave him my own, letting him lead me onto the balcony. It was almost sunset. The sky was a pinky orange hue and the sun was over the ocean, ready to make its journey beyond the horizon. I leaned against the railings as I had at Starfall and looked at the marble and sandstone buildings below. In the golden light they looked like orange and yellow gemstones. Was there a time of day when Velaris wasn't beautiful? Azriel moved to stand beside me, wrapping an arm around my waist and tucking me in next to him. I smiled as I felt a wing drape over my shoulder.
"What does it feel like to have wings?" I asked him and he laughed softly beside me. "Was that a silly question?"
"Not at all," He smiled and pressed a gentle kiss to my cheek, sending that familiar tingling across my face. "I suppose it just feels like a weight on your back, here," He touched my back where he felt it. "You feel it more when you're younger and trying to grow into them as they can throw you off balance. Now I'm used to carrying them so it doesn't really ache and I only really feel them if they're injured or if… someone touches them."
"Oh," I raised an eyebrow and glanced at him, "Nesta's told me about that."
He laughed, "Of course she has." He shook his head. "Do Valkyries tell each other everything?"
"To an extent," I replied, "Although I believe some things should be kept private."
He nodded in agreement as I glanced over at him again. His face was suddenly very close to mine and I bit my lip. His eyes tracked the movement and he leaned forwards, kissing me. The touch of his lips was gentle but this time the kiss lasted longer and I turned into it, draping my hands over his shoulders as his arms wrapped around my waist. My heart thudded in my chest and my blood seemed to sing at the touch. Did he know how flustered he made me feel? And about the sparks that seemed to shoot through me? The kiss ended and he rested his forehead against mine.
"Hmm I brought you up here to watch the sunset," He murmured, "And you're going to miss it."
I turned around to see the Sun sinking close to the horizon, the sky now red like fire. Azriel moved behind me, placing a hand either side of the railings and pressing his front against my back, cocooning me in warmth as I watched the sunset. His breath tickled my neck and I savoured his scent…cedar and mist. I gasped in awe as the sun disappeared beyond the water, leaving behind a deep red glow as night started to creep in. Overhead the first star was starting to make an appearance, the one on the Night Court Insignia that I'd seen over Ramiel those months ago.
"Are you hungry?" Azriel asked.
"Yes," I replied softly and he moved backwards, my body already missing his warmth.
"Good."
The Shadowsinger led me back inside. He walked over to a chair and held it out for me. I blushed and moved to sit in it, letting him tuck me in before he sat across from me in the chair that had clearly been designed for his wings.
"Has this come from your romance novels?" I teased as he poured me a glass of wine.
"It's good research," He replied, a smile on his lips. He clinked his glass against mine and then we both sipped our drink. "You'll be pleased to know that I didn't cook it myself."
"Not a good cook?"
"I'm… okay," He shrugged, "But I had some help from Nuala with this one." Nesta had once said the wraiths answered to both him and Rhysand, I recalled. The food appeared on the table. Some kind of steak with a sauce I couldn't name and potatoes and roasted vegetables. Whatever it was, it smelt absolutely divine and my stomach grumbled. We were quiet as we both ate and I savoured every bite. Whatever was in the sauce, whatever spices had been used were delicious and a treat for the tastebuds. It made the food in the library bland in comparison. I doubted I would ever eat something so delicious again.
When we'd both finished eating, he poured each of us another glass of wine as the plates disappeared.
"So I've told you today that I have no idea about my family history," I paused as I took a sip of my wine, "What about yours?"
"Mine?" He looked sheepish and almost awkward.
"Only if you want to share, of course," I said, giving the option to back out. But he didn't. He told me about his father and his stepmother and his half brothers, who had treated him awfully when he was only a child. He told me how he had gotten the scars on his hands and when he flinched at the memory I took his hands in mine and gently rubbed my thumbs over them. And then he told me how he'd met Rhysand and Cassian, how they'd become his brothers and how they'd got to where they were now.
"Well… there we are," He let out a sharp exhale. "That might have been a bit too much for a first date."
"Not at all," I shook my head, "And I asked."
"Would you like some dessert?"
"Usually it would be a yes, but I'm quite full." I admitted. "The food was amazing."
"We could share?" He offered and I smiled, giving him a nod. A slice of chocolate cake with cream appeared on a plate in the middle of the table and two spoons clattered beside it a moment later. "Nesta said you love chocolate cake."
"How much did you ask Nesta?"
"Not much," He admitted, his cheeks blushing, "Just about some food preferences. I didn't want you to dislike what you were eating."
"I'm pretty easy when it comes to food," I admitted. I paused to eat a spoonful of cake. "Although I can say the food I eat with the other priestesses isn't anywhere near this divine."
He laughed softly at the joke, "I hope that Clotho never hears you say that."
"Oh goodness, no," I shook my head and helped myself to another spoonful. "I'm very grateful to her and even to Merrill for taking me in. I guess maybe I've just been a bit spoiled recently." I met his eyes across the table and smiled.
"You deserve to be," He said, returning the smile.
When we had finished the chocolate cake, we moved to sit on the small sofa next to the lit fireplace. The hearth crackled quietly and warmed me where the air was cooling off slightly. I kicked off my boots and sat on the sofa beside Azriel, my legs tucked up on the chair beside me. He draped an arm and wing around me, pulling me in closer and I relaxed into the warmth as a shadow wrapped around my arm.
"What was it like in the Blood Rite?" He asked.
"You've been in there, you know it's a bloodbath," I replied.
He shuddered at the memory, "Yes, but you all got out." His fingers were in my hair, gently stroking.
"As did you," I laughed softly and took a deep breath. "Like you three, we were separated," I told him, "And somehow the bracelets acted as beacons and we used them to find each other." I paused, "I didn't enjoy killing them. I didn't want to, but I needed to defend myself and they underestimated all of us. They thought because we were female, we were easy prey. But they were wrong. And then my leg was injured," I winced at the memory. "I wanted Emerie and Nesta to go on without me but they wouldn't. I knew I was going to slow them down and I just wanted them to finish, to get to safety." Azriel tensed and I realised one of his fists were clenched. Darkness covered his features and his shadows retreated. "I'm glad I got out, though, and that Nesta bought me that time," I told him and his eyes moved to meet mine. I gave him a small smile, "My story obviously wasn't over, not yet." I reached a hand up to gently cup his face and he seemed to shiver under the touch. His face softened again, he relaxed his fist and as he blinked, the darkness seemed to drift away.
"Sorry," He whispered, "I hope I didn't scare you."
"You would never scare me," I told him, my fingers gently stroking his face as his shadows had done to me several times. I pressed my lips to his, just for a moment, but as I did so, he caught my lips again. His hand tangled in my hair and he pulled me over his lap so that he could hold me tightly as we kissed. This kiss wasn't as gentle as the others had been and the sparks felt more electric this time and it suddenly became more like the romance novels I'd been reading. My heart raced in my chest and no touch seemed to be enough as we continued kissing. His hand moved from my hair to cup my face and I moved mine instead to the back of his head, gently stroking his hair. He seemed to shudder at the touch and then the kiss ended, both of us breathing quickly as he rested his head on my forehead. His eyes were dark as he looked into mine and I wondered how it was possible to feel this way so… quickly. Unless, of course, as Emerie has said, this moment had been a long time coming.
"What time is it?" I asked, suddenly, and Azriel's shoulders dropped as if in disappointment. I glanced over at the clock on the wall and sighed. It was getting late. "I need to get back otherwise I'll wake the other priestesses."
Azriel's grip on me momentarily tightened but then he nodded in understanding as I got to my feet. I let him walk me back to my room though, hand-in-hand, and with a peck on the cheek, I said goodnight.