A Court Of Flowers And Shadows {Azriel Shadowsinger}

Chapter Forty-One

As it turns out, falling asleep in the arms of somebody you loved was a perfect way to keep the nightmares away. Then again, in Amara's experience, it was probably a combination of the alcohol, falling asleep in Az's arms, and the fact that another one of her scars had healed.

When Amara did eventually wake up, she was surprised to see that Az was still in bed beside her. It was common knowledge that he always got up really early and that Amara was an insanely light sleeper. If Az had gotten up at any point, she would have known about it. She always knew when anyone was awake in the house. Not something that she entirely enjoyed because Cassian and Azriel always got up before sunrise so she was always awake far too early for her liking. It wasn't that she usually wasn't already awake anyway, it was the fact that whenever someone else was up and she could hear them, she felt like she had to get up as well.

Originally, the pair had fallen asleep with her head against his chest but they had woken up with her back against his and both his arms and his wings wrapped around her. The tiny bit of light that seemed to escape through his wings told her that it was day time so she rolled over in his arms and looked up at him softly. She carefully moved some of his hair out of his eyes and felt his shadows swirl around her body a bit quicker than they had been. It was almost like they were now waking up purely because she had.

Az, it appeared, was already awake because once she finished moving his hair out of his face, his eyes opened and he looked down at her. "Hey... how'd you sleep?" He asked her softly as he rubbed her side gently, which seemed to be the only part of her that was unscarred.

"I slept okay. Better than I have in a really long time," she admitted softly as she looked up in to his hazel eyes. "What are you still doing in bed? I thought you would be up by now."

"Rhys was already here when I woke up. I didn't think it was a very good idea to get up and be around him right now."

Amara nodded lightly and leaned her forehead against his chest. "If I hadn't shown up... what would you have done?" She asked him quietly, slipping her hand in to his. Feeling his fingers intertwine with hers was always such a comforting feeling and she had only just started to be able to feel it.

"I don't... I don't really know. I think I probably would have done something that would have resulted in a lot of family and court politics. I can't say whether I would end up regretting it though. After everything he did to you... everything that he's still doing to you... I don't know if I can be around him without wanting to slit his throat," Azriel admitted as he played with Amara's hair, the blonde contrasting perfectly with the shadows that twirled around them. She really was the light shining through his darkness and he was surprised that it had taken him this long to figure that out.

She looked up at him softly and he carefully cupped her cheek. He traced along the part of the scar that was on her cheek. "I don't think that you should leave my side when he's around."

"Because you're worried I'll kill him?" Az asked her with a raised eyebrow.

"Actually, it's more because I have a lot of pent up Rhys-anger right now and I'm worried that I might kill him instead."

Az nodded and leaned his forehead against hers. "I'd say that's a rather understandable point of view."

"So would I but I think we might both be a little bit biased."

Azriel chuckled softly as he held her close to him. That chuckle soon became a groan of annoyance when they heard very recognisable footsteps coming towards the door.

And in true Cassian fashion, he didn't knock. He just walked in and laid at the end of the bed like a loyal puppy. "So I've been thinking."

"That's never a good sign," Amara said with a sigh as Azriel unwrapped his wings from around her and the two of them sat up, him keeping an arm around her waist as he looked down at his brother.

"Well, actually, I've been thinking about you two and what I've been thinking about will become very obvious if you come with me in to the front room. There are way too many folders and pieces of paper for me to carry in here and I know how Az here is about mess in his room. Which actually doesn't explain why Amara's dress is so messily on the floor but I guess when you're rushing to get your clothes off, cleanliness isn't much of a priority."

Amara rolled her eyes and kicked Cassian off the bed. "We didn't have sex, dumbass."

"Well that must have been a very boring night."

"What do you want, Cassian?" Azriel asked him with a sigh.

"Like I said, I need to show you something. Also you two are the only ones here so it's either that I bother you or I go and find someone a certain tiny demon and I'm pretty sure she'll stab me," Cassian told his brother before he got up. "So hurry up. I have lots to share."

And with that, Cassian left the room, closing the door behind him. Azriel rolled his eyes and leaned his forehead against Amara's temple, pulling her closer to him. She kissed the back of his scarred hand lightly and smiled over at him.

"Remind me to get locks on the door," he said softly before he kissed her cheek and got up.

"Noted."

~~~~~~

Hey guys. Sorry it's been so long. I just started an apprenticeship a couple of weeks ago so with college work on Fridays and work in a primary school during the week, I probably am not going to be able to update a lot. I am really excited to be able to start developing Az and Amara's relationship more though.

On another note, we reached 11k views on this book on Wattpad (since I also post on AO3)! I'm going to be hosting an aesthetic competition to celebrate. Make an aesthetic about Amara and Cassian's friendship and send it to be on my insta: @faithelizabeth_reads . Entries have to be in by the 15th March. If no one sends one in then we will just forget this ever happened.

And now, here is your fun fact for the chapter:

Amara is one of the only people Azriel's shadows are drawn to.