A Court of Shadows and Rage (Azriel x OC)

Only the Beginning

a/n: photo is Samweth!

"You get the information we need and you get out of there. Understand?"

The High Lord of the Night Court left no room for an argument in his words. Brinna nodded, stretching her shoulders out against her new leathers that he had gifted to her the day before. Cassian stood behind her, wings relaxed and arms crossed. 

Azriel stood feet behind Rhysand, watching with a frozen mask of calm. 

She was beautiful, dazzlingly so. So changed from the girl she'd been when they'd taken her from Windhaven. Her skin was warmer, more peachy than pale. Eyes brighter, even filled with worry and anxiety as they were now. She had stripped down those walls within her so much that she was shining, even now in the darkness of early morning - before then sun rose. 

Her leathers fit more rightly now, sliding over her curves so delicately. He'd nearly ruined them this morning when she'd bent over for a knife and Azriel had growled at the sight of her backside. Her loving giggles and light moans had nearly taken him all the way with her, but he refused to do so before she knew what this would mean. What it would be between them, and only after she accepted him would he lay her down and consume every inch of her. 

Until he was just as much a part of her as she was of him. 

"Understood," she reaffirmed. Rhys nodded, before ducking his head at Cassian to follow him to the balcony. 

Leaving Brinna and Azriel alone. 

"Hey," she whispered, a smile gracing her lips that didn't quite meet her eyes. "Are you going to be okay?" 

No one had asked that of him. At first, he wanted to scoff and push her on how that question shouldn't be asked of him, but of her. But, she looked concerned, worried for him. He stepped forward, still a few steps away and nodded, his grown-out curls flopping as he peaked up at her beneath his lashes. 

"Remember our deal," he nodded to the edges of the tattoo around her wrist that peaked out from her leathers. "I will always protect you. I will find you, if you need me. I am yours, always." 

His heart tightened as she took off from her side of the room and bounded into him, nearly with enough force to knock him off his feet. She wrapped her body tight around his and tucked her head into the crook of his neck, both drawing in deep waves of one another's scent. Her fingers gripped into his shoulder hard, and he held her back just as hard. 

"I will come back to you."

He kissed the corner of her mouth. "And I will always come for you." 

*****

Cassian landed with a thud that shook Brinna's braid loose from around her ear. They were just feet away from the backside of the camp, hidden in a thicket of trees that she recognized immediately. Trees where Samweth and her had hid and cared for one another's wounds. Trees where she had plotted her sister's escape with Declan. 

After checking in with her one last time, Brinna nodded that she was ready to begin and they stepped forward. 

Her hair was still dyed black, but it was obvious that the Illyrians training around her recognized her, almost all of them ceasing their training. Each and every soldier took in the sight of her, standing hidden behind the proud wings and gait of their commander. 

When they stepped up to Maddox's tent, the guards opened the folds without a second thought as Cassian sneered at them. 

Just being back in the room forced a gulped breath of anxiety from her.