The Spymaster's Assassin (An ACoTaR Fanfic)

Chapter 33

I woke up, this time finding Azriel not in bed. I sat up, yawing and stretching my arms and wings.

Azriel? I asked down the bond.

The shadows tightened around my ankles in response and his reply came back, I'll be there in a moment.

I sighed heavily and fell back into the pillows and grabbed his, hugging it to my chest and breathing in his scent. I had almost forgotten about yesterday and the discoveries I made. I rolled over on my back and sat up, rubbing at my temples.

Rhysand was my real father. Hybern and Beron were not. But Ravenna is my mother. It was enough to make someone go insane. Rhysand signed the verdict that I would be given permission to kill the people who watched over me and sold me, but I needed a second opinion. Do it in secret, or publicly? What would that look like for Rhys? Would people judge him? I didn't want to be responsible for that.

But with his plan for Feyre already in motion...

I needed to speak to two people about what to do next, and the first was my mate, and the second was Feyre.

I sat up and got out of bed, going into the bathroom and drawing a bath. I took a quick bath, then got dressed. I chose simple fighting leathers, then laid my weapons out on the desk, thinking.

Azriel came back and closed the door behind him. I turned and smiled at him, then frowned when I saw the look on his face. "Az? You ok?"

I walked over to him and lifted my hands to his cheeks and he leaned his face into my hands, his own coming up to hold my wrists.

"I'm fine." He said with a weak smile. "Truthfully, I'm just having a day. Some days are harder than others."

I stroked my thumb over his cheekbone, then said, "Rhys and Feyre and Amren are going to Summer Court to meet with Tarquin. Last I heard, Cassian pulled a lot of bullshit there, so we're leaving him with Mor here. Why don't you come with us? We can just go sit on the beach and relax while they do the searching."

"Hm." He says as he moved closer and drops his head on my shoulder, arms wrapping around my waist. "Perhaps a beach would be relaxing. Perhaps my mate might humor me?"

"Oh?" I asked with a sly grin and moved my arms around his shoulders and kissed his head. "And how might I humor you, my love?"

"Well," he said and kissed my shoulder, lifting his head and any trace of sadness from before gone from his face. "Perhaps we could make the most of our time alone."

I smirked and grabbed the collar of his shirt. "Oh? Could we?"

"Yes." He said with a matching smirk and leaned in and kissed me.

******

I stood that evening in the courtyard and leaned against a pillar, looking out at Velaris. A bag of supplies and the promised swimsuit for Azriel hung off my shoulder, while at my sides were my twin blades, knives on sheaths one my thighs. I would wear my fighting leathers, and wasn't too keen on wearing anything else, but Rhys I insisted I bring dinner clothes, so Mor got me to begrudgingly accept two of her dresses.

She was all grins and teasing as she remarked on how the red one would make Azriel drool. I merely replied she should find herself someone to drool over her. She had laughed and said she'd find someone eventually and had all the time in the world. I hoped she did find someone. Mor and I had become closer these past weeks, and I was relieved we had been able to have such a turn in our relationship.

I was also dead set that I'd beat her and everyone else in this castle to destroying anyone who dared to hurt her. I was entertaining the fact of disguising myself and visiting Autumn Court just to make sure Eris died and it looked like an accident. It wasn't like Autumn didn't have other heirs, and evidence planting was easy.