Shadowsinger

Chapter 12

Azriel ignored the lingering pain in his ribs, and insisted that he was fine when Gwyn offered to help, he wasn't completely fine, but she'd just worry unnecessarily if he told her. Besides, she was rubbing her shoulder, he didn't want her to make it worse, whatever she'd done to it last night. Where was his jacket? He glanced around, it wasn't in his wardrobe, or tossed aside anywhere,

"Oh!" Gwyn chuckled to herself as she ran out, returning moments later with his jacket, "I've been wearing it," she muttered, only just loud enough for him to hear, and she looked down at the floor, her head snapping up at his soft laugh,

"You've been wearing it?"

"It smelled like you," she mumbled, and he laughed again, gods she didn't even realize what she was doing to him. She shrugged, trying to pass it off, but he noticed the glimmer of relief in her eyes when he didn't complain that she had taken it,

"Now it smells like you." She started, but didn't complain when he wound an arm around her waist, "I'm sorry, is that okay?"

"Yeah, I just wasn't expecting it."

"You weren't?" He mentally kicked himself for the disappointment in his voice,

"No, Az, it's not that I don't want it, I just wasn't expecting you to, that's all, I like being close to you, really." She twisted to look up at him, and relief swelled inside him at the sincerity on her face,

Talk to her. Ask her what she wants.

He knew he should listen to them, should ask her what she wanted from him, but the words froze on his lips, and he just guided her out of the room,

"We should get to the River House." Still, his mind, even his shadows were roaring at him to talk to her properly, to stop being a coward, she had come to find him. She had found him, she had saved his life, she had gotten him out, and now she was here, in his arms as he flew, humming softly to herself, an arm around his neck, playing with the hair at the back of his head. She was so calm, so relaxed, he couldn't fathom why she had chosen him to trust, but he would not let her down. He cradled her head against his chest, she smiled up at him, and he found himself staring into her eyes, only just avoiding flying straight into a bird as he started to spiral downwards to the River House.

Cassian and Nesta were already there when they landed, someone must have gone to fetch them from Madja's house already. Cassian looked fine, but at the same time he didn't, he was smiling, seated on a couch, with Nesta perched on the arm beside him, an arm around his shoulders. His wings were still bandaged, but he didn't look like he was in much pain, although he was a bit quieter than normal, but that was probably just a pain-numbing drug that Madja had given him. His eyes lit up when he saw Azriel, but there was still a hollowness in them, and he was paler than usual, paler than he'd been in a very long time. Azriel squeezed Nesta's shoulder as he passed, and she shot him a grateful glance,

"Feyre just went to settle Nyx, and Rhysand is getting Cass a cup of tea."

"I'm fine," Cassian muttered, "I don't need looking after." Nesta just shot him a glare,

"You're not fine, and that's allowed, I'm looking after you, whether you like it or not." He huffed again, but didn't argue any more, and Azriel raised an eyebrow, usually Cassian enjoyed verbal sparring with Nesta, he never gave up like that. Before he could question it, Feyre walked in, and collapsed on a couch, rolling her eyes, but grinned when she realized that Azriel and Gwyn had arrived, jumping up to hug him,

"How are you feeling?" she muttered when she released him, "You hurt your ribs, right?" She glanced across at Gwyn, who nodded,

"And his leg, but he wasn't limping this morning, and he's not complaining, but it's Az, so who knows." Azriel poked her in the side, setting her off into a fit of giggles,