A Court of Light and Darkness

Twenty-Six: Azriel/Cassian

Hey guys!! Thank you so much for 5K reads AHHH I'm crying! Also, sorry it took so long! Schools been a killer but I'll try to update more! Love y'all! xx
-Faith xx

Azriel

He didn't know how much time had passed. Enough time for Mor to bring him some food and leave it on his bedside.

He just sat at his desk, watching the sun go up and down, thinking and not thinking about everything and nothing.

He didn't know what to feel. How to feel. What to do. How to do it. He didn't know anything.

Except for one thing.

She didn't want him.

Of coarse she wouldn't want him. He was... him.

He didn't know how he fooled himself into thinking any different. He was such an idiot.

Cassian

Four days. Cassian had stayed for four days after Freesia had rejected Az before going back to the camps with Nesta, who was also upset about Freesia completely ghosting everyone.

She probably just needs space, Cassian told himself. If she didn't show up sooner then later he would go find her, just to make sure she was okay.

Cassian and Nesta landed in the living room of the cabin they lived in on the outskirts of the Illyrian Camp.

"I should probably go to the elderly tent and find Meg." Nesta said, turning towards the door, still in her pissy mood.

She reached her hand to the knob, about to open the door when she paused. She turned back to Cassian, who was still looking at her.

Without saying anything, Nesta walked back over to Cassian and wrapped her hands around his waist, burying her face in his chest.

Cassian was thrown off guard for a second before wrapping her into his arms, resting his chin on her head.

"What's this for? Not that I'm complaining." Cassian whispered, taking in this moment in fear of it never happening again.

"Freesia's magic. It could have killed us. It made me realize- realize how much it would suck if you died." Nesta replied. Cassian chuckled lightly at the confession. She wouldn't go as far as saying she cares for him but would admit that him dying would bother her.

"I saw my father." Nesta whispered, barely loud enough for Cassian to hear. He reached down, taking her chin in his finger and thumb to lift her gaze to his.

A tear slipped from Nesta's eye as Cassian wiped it from her cheek. "I saw my mother." He said back, placing his forehead to hers.

"We are so fucked up." Nesta laughed, shaking her head.

"We can be fucked up together." Cassian replied, his hands on her cheeks. Nesta inhaled deeply, letting it go as she stepped back from Cassian.

"I should really get going." She said. Cassian hid his disappointment as Nesta walked out the door, closing it behind her.

——

It had been a few hours later when Cassian walked into the spacious cabin again after a full day of overseeing training.

He had decided to make dinner for himself and Nesta, so Cassian started for the kitchen to get everything ready.

He didn't know what to think about his and Nesta's moment a few hours prior. It was definitely progress, but he couldn't shake the feeling that maybe Nesta felt the same for him as he did her.

Cassian whistled to himself as he stirred the beef stew in a pot on the stove as a loaf of bread baked in the oven.

After he finished cooking and baking everything, he set the table and sat to wait for Nesta to return from training.

He sat. And he waited. And soon, the food was cold and the clock said he'd been waiting for 45 minutes.

Training had ended an hour ago and Nesta was still not back.

Maybe she went out with Meg or got caught up with training. Cassian was pacing now, his nerves stretching his patience thin.

After another 10 minutes ticked by, Cassian was done waiting. As fast as his feet could carry him, he bursted out into the chilly night, set on finding Nesta.

She wasn't at the training mats, or any of the bars and restaurants, or shops. She wasn't even at the elderly's tent. She was no where to be found.

Cassian was running circles through the camp, causing hell all around. Yelling at males to find Nesta, demanding female's if they had seen her. No one had.

He was standing outside of the elderly's tent now, having gone back to it 3 times, hoping she would be there. She was not.

Cassian dropped to his knees, burying his head in his hands as he tried to control his breathing.

Please, Nesta. Just this once, please talk to me. Give me a sign that you're okay. Tell me where you are.

Cassian knew she was his mate, even if he never said it to her. She knew as well, having screamed at him to stop tugging on the rope binding them together.

Cass?

Cassian leapt to his feet, his eyes scanning all around for the female he loved so much.

Yes, sweetheart, I'm here. Tell me where you are and I'll come get you.

Her voice was weak, even in her own head. Cassian could feel her pain. Her weakness and exhaustion.

I don't know. I- I think I'm underground? She has me tied down, I can't get free.

Cassian freezes at that. Underground? Where could she be? Wait, did she say someone had her tied down?

Who, Nesta? Who has you?

Cassian waited for her to answer, his palms sweating even as he shivered in the chilly wind. He scanned his brain for any place that could seem like it was underground. A basement of some kind. Any bar and shop could have one but they were all filled with alcohol and food.

Where could she be- It clicked for Cassian just as Nesta spoke to him again.

Meg.

He was already stomping towards the elderly's tent, ripping the flaps apart and storming towards the cellar doors that led to the basement.

Taking the stairs two at a time, Cassian sprinted down into the drafty, dark room. He could smell Nesta. The scent of her blood making his own boil.

He saw her then as he reached the bottom step. She was strapped to a metal chair with barbed wire that cut into her flesh as she tried to get free. She was covered in blood and bruises. Her cheek was black and blue and her lip was split.

She looked up then, her eyes wide and full of anger. But there was also fear in her eyes. Cassian was thrown off by that look. He had never seen such fear in her eyes before.

He raced towards her, determined to make that fear go away. "Cass." She whimpered, her voice breaking as she spoke.

"Shhh it's ok, sweetheart. I've got you." Cassian soothed as he reached up to ripped the barbed wires from her wrists.

But before he could free her, he felt a pinch in his arm and turned to see what caused it.

Meg towered over his crouched body, an empty syringe in her hand. Cassian's head started to swim as he lost his balance, falling back onto his butt.

Nesta screamed as she struggled in her chair, trying to get free and causing the wires to dig more into her skin.

Cassian looked back at Nesta, her eyes still filled with that fear and now filling with tears. And it was then that he realized, that she wasn't scared for herself, but scared for him.