AZRIEL

Azriel could see it as if forgotten memories were flooding his mind.

Auriella unknowingly let him see what she was thinking, showing him what was making her shadows spring to life to allow them to find him.

He had appeared beside her as she played her orange-colored piano. The song was written out in front of her, making sure she pressed the right notes. He had seen a smile rising on those beautiful lips, resisting the urge to pull them to his.

The room glowed as if the melody made it come alive, vibrant with life.

But nothing, not even the stars, compared to the utter beauty that Auriella held. Her skin glowed in the sunlight that shined through the windows, her head moved along with the music, and her face filled with pure happiness.

He would stare at her for the rest of his life if he could.

As her melody died down and she came at the end of the song, Auriella abruptly stopped, looking over to him. Her green eyes were gleaming with tears but filled with content.

Suddenly, she grabbed his hand. Azriel's heart leaped, unsure of what he should do. Even in this fantasy she created, he could feel the warmth of her hand, sending chills down his spine.

Auriella had placed his hand on the piano keys, silently showing him how to position it. He looked at her hand, making sure it was the same. Then, Auriella had pointed to the second-to-last note on the paper, pressing down on the key.

Then she pointed to the last note, tapping the key for Azriel to press. And with his eyes on her, he did, bringing them out into reality.

Auriella stood in front of him, her eyes closed and breathing steady.

He could see their shadows swirling in the air together as if they had waited for this moment to happen; to see her abilities being used.

Azriel stared down at his mate, seeing a stray tear falling down her cheek. He didn't hesitate when he put his hands on her cheek, wiping it away with the swipe of his thumb. She looked so beautiful, her face etched in his mind, unable to be forgotten.

"Open your eyes, Ella." He whispered, wanting to see the shining green that always mesmerized him whenever he looked at her. There were times when he thought that this wasn't real, that he hadn't found his mate, that he had made it all up in his mind.

A year after the war, Azriel had to leave the House of Wind. He didn't want to be in the familiar space, as if the realization of the bond had changed him somehow. He couldn't stand the hugeness of the House, feeling like it knew his deepest secrets. He supposed it did, but he didn't pay it any mind.

Instead, he had come to the forest in the outskirts of Velaris, constructing his own cabin. It took him a month to build with Cassian and Emerie helping him. Before he told his brothers about Auriella, they had been nagging him with questions, but Azriel gave simple answers.

I didn't want to be at the house.

I need my own space.

Things are different.

Leave me be.

All of those answers were true, but with Auriella being in his mind constantly, he was afraid that he would implode in front of his family. He didn't want that, especially when everyone was still trying to get back to normalcy after the war.

Once Auriella opened her eyes, he felt his thoughts wither away. They gleamed with tears as if coming back to reality saddened her. He could feel it through the bond, a tug of pain that he wished he didn't feel.

In the imagination, he saw how she glowed when she was playing the piano. Her smile was big and bright as if it was a core memory that she had forgotten.

He remembered when he showed her around the House of Wind, opening the doors to the music room. It was filled with various instruments, but her eyes had landed on that starlight piano, transfixed by it. He saw how her facial expressions had changed; her tan skin going pale at the sight of it.

When she had touched it, he saw her relax, like she was remembering everything. He remembered her saying that the High Lord of Dawn had taught her how to play, that she always had a passion to play it when she was a youngling.

Then she had mentioned that she hadn't touched it in a long time.

He had no doubt that it was because of everything she went through in Under the Mountain.

Azriel remembered the day when the Son of Dawn, Damian, was pleading for help from all of the courts. He had come to the border between the Night and Day Court one time, begging on his hands and knees to try and get his sister and everyone else out. Mor was the one who confronted him, only being able to give him consoling words.

After the reason as to why Auriella was captured and taken Under the Mountain was revealed, people found it best to keep their mouths shut and move on with their lives. No one dared to go up against Amarantha, knowing that their fate would be death.

He remembered when Mor had announced Auriella's capture to the remainder of the Inner Circle, including Azriel. When he heard the words, he couldn't help but feel a flare of anger and panic. He wasn't able to sleep most nights, but that day, he couldn't do anything but sit in cold water, hearing Mor's words repeat in his mind.

"The Daughter of Dawn was taken Under the Mountain."

Even then, there was something.

Even then, when he had never laid eyes upon her, he was unable to breathe. That day, his shadows had stilled, sensing the conflicting emotions running through him. He started to question himself, wondering why it had affected him so badly.

And now, several decades later, he finally realized why.

"It's rude to stare, Spymaster," Auriella says, nuzzling her head into his hand that was still on her cheek.

He scoffed, remembering the words they had said earlier in the morning.

It's rude to stare, Spymaster.

I only stare at what I like, Ella.

Azriel had meant it.

When he landed on the snow-covered ground, sweating in his attire from looking all over Velaris to find her, taking one look at her was enough to send his mind spiraling with unholy thoughts.

She was wearing a tight black suit, showing off every beautiful curve that she had. He felt his skin come ablaze, tightening his fists to restraint himself.

Azriel had no shame looking at her up and down, letting himself imagine ripping the fabric off of her while he was kissing her skin. His mind held no boundaries as he took it a step further, wondering how she would look and sound as he fucked her in it...

He was glad that she sent the words down the bond, reminding him that he was out in the open, where anyone could catch him staring at her.

When his eyes had locked onto hers once again, he could see her lips tug, as if she knew exactly what she had done. He needed to get out of there, not just because of the growing erection, but because their stares were too intense, coming alive each time they looked at one another.

But before he walked away, he sent his words down the bond, wondering how she would retaliate. Instead, he could feel the sense of surprise flicker through the bond, but she hadn't said anything else.

"I am just assessing you, Auriella. Forgive me if this is bothering you." Azriel says, his voice low.

Auriella rolls her eyes, walking away from him. His hand grows cold without her skin, already missing the contact between them. Even his shadows tug at him to get closer to her again, but he ignores the yearning feeling.

The Daughter of Dawn looks around at herself, seeing her brightened shadows swirling. She smiles, looking back to Azriel, "How could they brighten so quickly? It's been years since I've used them... I thought that it would take longer." She says, admiring them.

Azriel nods, "They may have brightened and helped you find where I was, but they still need to be trained. This one session will not magically strengthen them, but if we keep at it, I'm sure that you will see and feel the difference." He tells her.

Auriella turns to look at him, "Thank you for helping me, Azriel." She says.

He gives her a small smile, "Don't thank me yet, Auriella. By the end of this, you might hate me. The ability of a Shadowsinger isn't easy to wield, especially when you have to dig up your deepest memories to help you. It can be torturous, but I have full faith in you." He says.

"Because I am your mate?" She asks. His heart skips a beat.

He didn't know if he would ever get used to the realization.

Azriel shakes his head, "No. It's because I see that you are determined. You want to learn this, to master this ability, and that is what's most important. You are trying." He tells her. She nods, staring down at the ground.

Moments later, Perseus comes up to his owner, carrying a stick in his mouth. He looks up at Auriella and she takes it, showing him the stick before throwing it. The wolf immediately runs after it, making her chuckle.

The small sound was enough for Azriel to put his eyes on her once again.

For a long time, the Spymaster was unsure of how his future would look like. He knew that he would still be in the Night Court, but he never thought much beyond that. His brothers and his companions were everything to him. He'd do anything to protect them, especially his High Lord, High Lady, and the High Prince.

Even though he had experienced how it was like to be with both sides, he had still felt hollow inside, wishing he had that one person with whom he'd spend the rest of his life with.

As the years passed, he thought he'd never find them. But now, staring at his mate, he could finally get a clear picture of how it could be... and the Spymaster was not disappointed at all.