To the Shadowsinger | Azriel

Chapter 78: A challenge

Azriel was distracted. He tried to hide it as he led Rai into the riverside house, but she had this way of capturing his whole attention. He could read her nervousness from the sweat forming in her hand despite the cold weather, but her awe was evident as well. The house took her breath away, just as it once did when he first witnessed it. This home was beautiful to any eye, but Azriel took in the details- the paintings, the stories carved into the mantles, even the damn spelled ceiling- it was all a reflection of Rhys and Feyre's hearts. A part of Azriel wondered if Rai saw past the beauty and analyzed the deeper meanings of the house as she stopped in front of a painting. Feyre had captured her mate realistical. It felt like Rhys was truly there, sitting in an armchair after the birth of their first son without a shirt. The child clung to his skin for warmth and Rhys' face showed no resemblance of a High Lord. He was only a father in that moment, staring down at this precious life he and his mate created- his smile was grateful and his eyes filled with tears and love.

"Feyre painted it," Azriel said from Rai's side.

She gave him a crooked smile, "I know."

Her back straightened and she took a deep breath before looping her arm through his and pulling him further into the house. The sound of his family gathering hadn't led her there, magic kept the sounds contained to the dining room, it was as if Rai had been here before and knew where they would be.

Azriel tensed as he and Rai looped around the pillar that brought them in full view of the large dining room. They were early- he should have known. Leave it to Azriel to be the only one in this damn family that knew how to be punctual. But that didn't mean they were the first to arrive.

Rhys and Orpheus, who spent most of his time in the Illryian training camps than home, were already seated at the table. Between them was a spread of cards and neither looked up from their intense game.

His mental shield has been lacking, Rhys chuckled in Azriel's mind. I may have seen something no parent should ever witness. I'll never be able to look at him the same way again.

Azriel's chest shook with his low laughter before his shadows whispered of someone approaching. Feyre had a shield around her, so his shadows had only picked up Elain entering at her side. Both sisters had a glass of wine and humor on their faces as they entered from the backyard.

Rai didn't so much as tense as Feyre paused at the sight of her, that humor in her eyes leaving and shifting into the polite smile of the High Lady. "Queen Raisa," she bowed her head. When her head lifted, she scanned the length of Rai's beautiful dress the way she did when she thought about painting something, and then a true smile lit up her face as her eyes settled on the place Rai was holding onto Azriel.

"Just Raisa, High Lady Feyre," Rai bowed her own head with a smile teasing on her lips. It wasn't what Azriel expected, not after their last encounter, but it warmed his heart to see his mate comfortable around his family. He considered what it would do to him if they disliked his mate and he wasn't sure what he would do. His family was everything to him, he would do anything for them, but if he had to choose between them and Rai- no... he wouldn't consider that. He would pray to the Mother that it never came to that.

That light returned to Feyre's eyes as she said, "Just Feyre."

Would you mind if I talked to her alone? Feyre's voice came into Azriel's mind.

He considered for a moment, looking at Rai, who was looking at the game being played between father and son, before saying back to Feyre in his mind, It's up to her.

Feyre nodded her approval, but before she could ask Rai to talk in private, his mate laughed as Rhys snatched up a knife that had suddenly appeared on the table and Orpheus groaned.