AZRIEL

The Spymaster stared at his mate, sitting on the grass with the wolf beside her.

He couldn't help but be transfixed by the beauty she held. The sunlight shined down upon her, making her golden-brown skin glow. He could even see her dissipating shadows dancing around her, but she paid them no mind.

Help her strengthen her shadows, Rhysand said.

His mate was like him, a Shadowsinger. The Daughter of Dawn was of the Night Court. He couldn't wrap his mind around the realization, mostly because it's something that was unheard of. It took every court by surprise, including Beron.

He remembered seeing the expressions on their faces when they had destroyed hundreds of Hybern's soldiers on the battlefield. They were shocked, Rhysand included.

After the war, Rhysand and Helion met many times to discuss what they were going to do with the Children of Dawn. It was clear that answers needed to be found, but there was one obstacle that stood in their way: The High Lord of Dawn.

The High Lords of Day and Night sent him five requests to meet with him in those past three years. Azriel knew that much, but he did not know that Rhysand planned to bring Auriella back to the Night Court. He believed that they were going to have a simple conversation with Thesan, but that was not the case.

Azriel was outside his cabin in the forest, sharpening truth-teller when he felt it. The bond had shifted. His mind informed him that she was close, that she was there.

The Spymaster immediately went into the skies, flying to the House of Wind with her in his thoughts. The emotions that flooded through him were mixed with relief and anger. He was relieved that he was going to see her again, to see those beautiful green eyes that mesmerized him the first time he saw them.

But he was angry that Rhysand and Cassian, knowing that she was his mate, did not let him go along to the Dawn Court, to take her back to Night himself.

During those three years, the Spymaster was in agony. After the war, his mind was jumbled, begging him to go to Auriella, yearning for the sight of her. For a time, his shadows tugged in the direction of the Dawn Court. But all the Spymaster could do was ignore them, even though he wanted so badly to give in.

And as time passed, the Shadowsinger could no longer hide that something was bothering him.

His emotions eventually got the best of him, his anger turning into rage. He would fly to any part of the forest, letting out his rage on the trees, beating them until they were knocked down. Then he would go to another one, doing the same thing.

Azriel had done that for several nights until Rhysand and Cassian found him, covered in sweat and his knuckles bleeding, dripping blood onto the dirt.

Cassian whistled, looking at the downed trees, "Ah, so this is what all the commotion was about. You caused quite the scare, brother." He said, leaning against a tree.

Rhysand crossed his arms, "What the hell are you doing, Az? What is the meaning of all of this? If you need to let your frustration out, beat one of the Illyrians in the mountains, or go have sex with someone." He says.

Azriel takes a deep breath, that single word was enough to awaken his thoughts with her. He pictured Auriella beneath him, writhing, moaning, close to...

He closed his eyes, willing himself not to think about her, especially not like that.

The Spymaster sat on the ground, wrapping bandages around his open wounds. His brothers stared at him, trying to figure out what was wrong.

"So are you eventually going to tell us or do we have to guess? It's pretty hot out here." Cassian asked, putting his hair into a bun, "All of your destruction these past days have caused people to believe that there is a monster terrorizing our court. Everyone, including the males, are scared shitless to come out here at night." He says.

Rhysand sighs, "Azriel, tell us what's wrong. These past few months, you have not been yourself. Everyone is starting to become worried." He says.

Azriel nodded, debating in his mind on whether he should tell his brothers about his bond with the Daughter of Dawn. It was something becoming too difficult to hide.

The Spymaster took another deep breath, his eyes staring at a downed tree. "I found my mate." He whispered enough for Rhysand and Cassian to hear.

Cassian grinned, "Well, shit! I thought the day would never come. I always wondered which Illyrian girl was going to get you. You know many of them talk about you behind their backs. Their conversations are not appropriate at all." He says.

Rhysand's eyes narrowed, "If you found her, why all of this destruction?" He asks.

Azriel looks up at his High Lord, "I didn't just find her, Rhys. I've known for months now," he looks to Cassian, "she is not of the Night Court." He says.

"Then who-" Cassian started, but Azriel immediately blurted out the words.

"The Daughter of Dawn!" He yelled, feeling a weight being lifted off of his chest. He tilted his head back, rubbing his face with his aching hands. Oh, how he wanted to rip another tree out of its roots.

His brothers went silent.

Instead, Azriel continues, "I've known since the High Lords meeting. Once I saw her, the bond snapped into place." He says. Even thinking about the moment was enough to send his mind spiraling. He wished his brothers would leave him be.

Cassian's brows raise, "The Daughter of Dawn is your mate?" He scoffs, "After seeing what she did on that battlefield, I can't say that I'm surprised. She is a very beautiful and strong female." He tells him.

Rhysand kneels on the ground, "Who else knows about this? Just us?" He asks.

Azriel nods, wiping the sweat off of his forehead. "Yes. And I would appreciate it if it stays that way. I don't want anyone else finding out about this, not until I'm ready to tell them myself." He says.

The High Lord nods, "Does Auriella know?" He asks.

The Spymaster nods. His brothers chuckle. "Oh, brother, now I can see why you are doing this. You should have told us sooner. We could have helped you. I can't even begin to imagine how your mind is." Rhysand tells him.

Cassian smirks, "I imagine it's filled with thoughts of her in his bed-" He starts, but Azriel snarls at him, making him close his mouth. He covers his mouth with his hand, stifling a laugh.

Rhysand puts his hand on Azriel's shoulder, "Don't worry, we'll sort this out soon. Helion and I have been speaking about what we are to do with Auriella and Damian, but so far we have not heard back from Thesan. If anything changes, we'll inform you about it." He says.

And in the end, the bastard didn't inform him about shit.

Azriel stared at his mate for a bit longer before winnowing to Feyre and Rhysand's estate. Once he went through the doors, he was immediately greeted by Nyx, whose clothes were covered in red and green paint.

"Hey there, little one." He says, wiping a dot of green paint off of his face.

Feyre rushes out of her painting room, noticing Azriel. She gives a sigh of relief, "He accidentally knocked down two small cans. Can you take him to Rhys for me? He's outside with Cassian." She asks and Azriel nods.

He carries the High Prince, who plays with the buttons of his suit, walking out to the back of the estate, where Cassian and Rhysand are seated around the unlit bonfire, drinking ale.

His brothers immediately notice him, grinning. The Spymaster sits in one of the seats, setting Nyx on his lap, who is still transfixed by the button.

Cassian chuckles, "So how did it go? Did you make her swoon? Or did she reject you on the spot?" He asks, making dramatic faces.

"Ah, like what Nesta did with you?" Azriel claps back.

Rhysand spits out his drink, laughing. Cassian glares at the High Lord, rolling his eyes. "You didn't have to be such an asshole about it." He mutters to the Spymaster.

Azriel rolls his eyes, "You both are the assholes. What the hell was that back there? I told you I didn't want anyone finding out about Auriella and me. But, of course, the first thing you idiots do is make everyone suspicious." He says.

Rhysand chuckles, "Did you expect anything less from us, brother?" He asked.

The Spymaster stays silent, staring down at the High Prince. He coos at the button, wanting to put it into his mouth, but is unable to. Nyx becomes frustrated but keeps trying. His drool was slobbered all over the area, but Azriel didn't care. The little boy was a joy to have around.

Cassian hands Azriel a bottle of ale, which he gladly takes. "So have you figured out what you are going to do? Or would you rather be alone forever, wallowing away?" He asks, taking a swig of alcohol.

No, that was something he never wanted. Ending up alone without anyone by his side was his worst fear. Azriel always dreamed of finding his mate, wondering who she was. And now that he knew, the Spymaster had no idea what to do.

"I want to get to know Auriella. She wants the same. She doesn't care what comes of this. If it's a friendship or relationship or nothing at all, she said she still wanted to know me. I guess I understand, seeing as we are paired for life." Azriel says.

Rhysand raises his brows, impressed. Azriel stares at his High Lord, remembering that he and Auriella were both Under the Mountain together. Cassian had said that Amarantha had tortured her, using her to let out her frustration.

He couldn't help but ask, "What did Amarantha do to her Under the Mountain?" He asked, making Rhysand freeze as if he too remembered.

The High Lord of Night didn't speak for a moment, instead, he stared at his son, who was now asleep in the Spymaster's arms. Azriel immediately regretted asking, but he deeply wanted to know. He didn't want to hear it from Auriella, fearing that he might break in front of her. Rhysand was the only one, apart from her, who knew what really happened.

"Auriella was brought Under the Mountain ten years after her father. She had said things about Amarantha in the Dawn Court that she eventually found out about. After Amarantha confronted her about it," he chuckled, "the Daughter of Dawn did not back down, even though I knew she was scared out of her mind."

"But Amarantha used her." Rhysand looked at Azriel in the eyes, "For thirty-nine years, she used a whip and beat Auriella time and time again. She would always be dragged out with blood dripping down from her back. Then she would be thrown into her cell, where she would have to treat her own wounds." He reveals.

Azriel clenched his fist, rage filling his veins, and violent thoughts overtaking his mind. She was abused at the hands of a monster. He thanked the spirits that she was dead or he would have roamed to the ends of the earth to find her and kill her himself.

I will not waste my time. Enough of it was taken from me. Auriella had said.

Rhysand leaned forward in his seat, "Be careful with her, Az. She might have held a brave face Under the Mountain and during the War with Hybern, but now..." he trails off, "I know she is fragile. Pay attention to her." He says.

The Spymaster nods, standing from his seat. He gently hands Nyx to Rhysand. The little boy stirs in his father's arms, making himself comfortable.

Azriel cleared his throat, "I'm going home. I'll see you both tomorrow." He tells them before walking away.

Once he arrived at his cabin, he could feel the tug of his shadows. His mind tells him to go back to the House of Wind, to go back to her. He debated it for a moment, wondering if she would be content to see him, to speak with him.

He remembered how peaceful she seemed out there in the gardens, staring at the different flowers Elain had planted. She saw how she smiled at the daisies and touched the lilies. She had plucked one and put it behind Perseus's ear, but the flower ended up in the wind.

I am willing to try if only you are, Spymaster.

He would try. He wanted this. He yearned for this almost all of his life.

She hadn't rejected him, but she was giving him a chance. And if it didn't work out between them, then that was that. This beautiful female, who had his abilities, who caught him by surprise, and who had suffered so much as he had, wanted to know who he was.

And suddenly, Azriel was in the skies once more, heading to her.