The beginning of Gwyn and Azriel

The Night We Met

  And so, Gwyn finally revealed the truth...after so long.

  She finally told the Shadowsinger when the the mating bond had hit her.

 "The very second you looked at me for the first time in Sangravah."

  He did not speak...

  Could not speak...

  Azriel simply went to go sit on the grassy hill...because his knees gave out. 

  Gwyn wordlessly went to go sit beside him.

  They sat in silence while gazing out into the sunset.

  And then Gwyn parted her lips, and began her tale.

 "I was a very romantic child," she smiled at the thought. Azriel was barely breathing beside her.

 "The Priestesses used to always remark on how completely different my twin sister and I were. She was as fiery as fire itself...while I would make bracelets and daydream about my books," she paused, trying to collect herself.

 "Catrin was fire and I was her water."

  Azriel bowed his head at the words...that dug deep into Gwyn's chest.

 " I would sit by my window, and dream of my perfect future, with a perfect mate," she almost sobbed out. Her fingers pulled on the grasses beside her.

 "I dreamed the moment that I met my mate would be...unforgettable," she gulped.

 "And...it was...very unforgettable," she bowed her head, trying to even her breathing.

 "So I never lay with another. I was so gullible and so hopeful and so stupidly romantic..."

 "I just sat with my books and my dreams...wanting to stay pure for him...only him."

 "I loved my mate even before I knew he even existed."

  She closed her eyes.

 "Catrin and I spoke hours along hours about the days we would have with our mates...how our children would be best friends," tear began to leak down Gwyn's face.

 "We were so hopeful," she placed her head in her hands. Azriel now carefully placed his hand on her back, rubbing smoothing circles on her skin.

 "And then that night happened and all I cared about was protecting those children," she sobbed out.

 "And then my sister was killed so viciously right in front of my eyes."

 "And in that instant...my entire life's future had changed. Because I would never get to see her off at her mating ceremony...I would never get to meet her children...and she would never get to meet mine," Gwyn cried out in her hands.

 "I barely had time to even recover from her death...the blood was still warm," her chest was heaving.

 "Then he took me on that damn table," Azriel held her to his chest.

 "And he took the very thing that I was saving..for my mate," Gwyn began to shake so intensely.

 "There was just so much blood and pain and agony....I was feeling it all at once."

  Gwyn began gasping.

 "And I told myself that I could not carry on if all three of them had me right after."

  Azriel held her so tight.

 "Then you came...and you killed them in seconds..."

 "And when you finally turned to me..." she wiped her eyes and  looked up at Azriel.