We slept on and off most of that day, only waking up to eat and to clean my wound. It was healing quickly, I had noted. It was close to just leaving a pink scar on my arm.

When I woke up the following day, just as the sun was streaming through the window, Azriel was still asleep beside me. With the beams hitting his face, it gave him a soft glow, even with the shadows tucked over his shoulders and around my wrist. I sat up in bed slowly, careful not to wake him, and I removed the bandage. The pink scar sat there, as healed as it would be. I ran a finger over it. A slightly raised bump. I threw away the bandage in the bathroom and had a wash. I rolled my shoulder, moving my arm. Thankfully, no permanent internal damage.

Not wanting to wake Azriel, I slipped out onto the balcony to watch the city. It was calm and quiet and I watched as birds flew overhead, chirping and singing their morning song. The warm breeze ruffled my dress as I looked out to the Sidra. My head drifted to my sleeping mate and the relief that he'd got out of the battle unharmed. If anything had happened to him… I ran a hand through my hair and reminded myself we still had time.

He came out onto the balcony a short while later, wrapping his arms around my waist as he stood behind me. I relaxed into his touch and a shadow curled around my ear.

"Good morning," He murmured. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better," I told him, "I think the sleep helped."

His fingers gently caressed the scar on my arm, "And this?"

"No longer an issue," I shrugged and turned in his arms, letting him hold me against the railings. I slid my hands up to his shoulders and his dark eyes looked into mine.

"Gwyn," His whisper was like a sigh and one of his hands moved to cup my cheek. He stroked it gently, this thumb against my freckles.

"Yes?"

He sucked in a breath and I felt the nerves that were there. "I… I love you." His cheeks flushed as he said it.

I looked up at him too, feeling my breath catch in my throat, "I love you too, Az."

He smiled, his eyes watery and I knew mine were close to being the same. He bent his head and kissed me in the sweetest, softest of kisses.

"I think," He murmured against my lips, "If anything had happened to either of us yesterday without me saying that…" He shook his head, "I'd never have forgiven myself."

"But we're both here," I reminded him, kissing him again, "And this is all real." Another kiss. My heart thundered in my chest and as I took a deep breath, I realised I'd made a decision. I took his hand and led him off the balcony and back into the bedroom. He raised an eyebrow as I closed the door.

Then he went still as I removed my dress in front of him. He swallowed as I slowly removed my underthings. And then I was standing there before him, fully naked. I tried to hide my nerves as his eyes scanned my body, from my eyes down to my toes and then back up again.

"You're beautiful," He whispered. I walked over to where he stood and unbuttoned his shirt, removing it and letting it fall onto the ground. Next, I removed his trousers and then his undershorts. He stood before me, also naked, watching, waiting.

"I'm yours," I told him and his nostrils flared. I pressed my body against his as I kissed him. The kiss was passionate and sent goosebumps across my body. Even the feel of his bare skin against mine… It had me wanting more. His hands skimmed along my skin, along my back, down to cup my butt. I broke the kiss, taking his hand again and leading him over to the bed. I pushed him down onto it and I laid down beside him. His eyes darkened as I moved my hand to grasp his cock.

Azriel shuddered and moaned at the touch, his wings flaring behind him. I smiled and kissed him again, his hand now moving between my legs to caress that sensitive spot. This time I moaned at the touch and my teeth grazed his mouth. His fingers moved then and I gasped as they slid inside me, teasing, taunting. Azriel smiled at that and then I tugged him over me.

He seemed to stop breathing as he looked down at me. Resting on his arms. Not pressing his weight against me, but every inch of his body rock hard. "Gwyn," He murmured, gently stroking my hair. "What is it that you want?"

"All of you," I told him, keeping my voice as even as I could manage. Because I did. Even if it scared me.

"Are you sure?" His eyes searched mine.

"Yes," I whispered, "I love you."

"I love you too," He whispered back. He kissed me gently, so very carefully and then just as carefully, he entered me. It was slow at first, as I adjusted to him and I knew from his concerned eyes that he was trying his best not to hurt me. And then he was in, filling me. He still moved gently, holding his own weight over me, kissing me, and I relaxed, enjoying every inch of him. I moaned against his mouth and he smiled as I ran my fingers along his shoulders. This time he moaned and increased his speed ever so slightly. My body heated and seemed to tingle everywhere. More. It seemed to call out. More. How… how could it even feel like this?

I wrapped my legs around his waist, craving more and he moaned again, "Gwyn."

"I'm yours," I told him and he flipped us over so I was on top of him.

"And I'm yours," He said, his nostrils flaring. I rode him into oblivion, increasing my speed as we both moaned and then I shuddered, moaning loudly, as I felt my release spreading through me. This sent Azriel over the edge too and his moan was louder as he came. We stayed like that for a moment, catching our breath and then I climbed off of him and laid beside him.

"Was that okay?" He asked, running a hand through my hair.

I smiled over at him, "More than okay." My body felt relaxed but something in me still seemed to ache, wanting more. I ran a finger down his chest. Lower. Lower. And then we made love again.

I had fallen asleep sometime after that second time and I woke in Azriel's arms, our naked bodies intertwined with one another. His breathing was relaxed and his eyes darted to mine when he realised I was awake.

"What time is it?" I asked him.

"Hmmm not sure," he replied. His eyes looked over to the window, "Early afternoon maybe?"

"We've spent half the day in bed," I pointed out and he grinned.

"And?"

I laughed softly, "I was right when I said you'd be a distraction. Now it looks like we're never leaving this room."

A lopsided smile, "That can be arranged."

I sat up then, eyes wide. "Erm … I'm going to need to go and get some tonic." As if listening, the house deposited some onto the bedside table. "Well, then." I drank it, wincing at the taste, Azriel laughed softly. I leaned against the headboard, pulling up the satin sheets and savouring the feel of them against my bare skin. My mate sat up too and tucked a wing around me. His eyes looked at mine.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked, nudging my shoulder with his.

"I think I'd quite like a mating ceremony," I told him. "Not an extravagant one like Nesta and Cassian's but … a small one in the library temple. Close friends only … family only," I corrected myself. "Then maybe dinner and some dancing up here." I looked over at Azriel, who sat quietly beside me. "Would that be okay?"

"You want to publicly declare me your mate?" His eyes were lined with silver.

"Yes," I told him, "I want everyone to know that the Shadowsinger is mine." A tear escaped down his cheek and I brushed it away with my thumb. "Now and forever, Az." I told him. "You and me, against the world."