A Court Of Flowers And Shadows {Azriel Shadowsinger}

Chapter Forty-Eight

"What's that?" 

Amara froze as she realised what Azriel had seen. There were only two other people that knew about the names that decorated Amara's left thigh. Tamlin and Lucien. Those were the only two people that had known, and that was only because they had gotten the exact same tattoos themselves. 

"It's just some names," Amara said softly as she zipped up her dress. She ran her hand through her hair and sighed slightly as she did so. "The names of each of the people we had to send out over the forty nine years... Tamlin and Lucien have the same thing on their legs as well." 

Azriel nodded and didn't question it further. He kissed her shoulder gently and then he cheek when he noticed her smile. "You can tell me about it when you're ready," he said softly. "But right now we have to go." 

Amara ran a hand through her hair as she made her way back to the front room with her mate. She already knew that whoever she ended up flying with would end up being Feyre's choice as her decision would always be the most important. 

"I'll fly with Azriel," Feyre said softly, clearly stopping herself from thinking about something that was bugging her. 

Azriel just nodded and kissed Amara's temple gently, his arm leaving her waist. "Of course," he said softly, ignoring the shocked looks on Cassian and Rhysand's faces. 

"I guess I'm stuck with Cass," Amara commented with a dramatic sigh before she let Cassian sweep her up in to his arms. 

"I know. It's just such a thrilling turn of events," Cassian added with a grin as Rhysand winnowed them. Obviously, Amara could have done it but she was feeling far too exhausted to deal with winnowing anyone more than just herself that morning. 

It wasn't long before they'd reached the Human Lands and the Amara and the three Illyrians were waiting outside for Feyre to tell them that it was okay to go in. Amara was lying in the grass, her legs in Azriel's lap as he stayed alert. She felt him trace over the swirls and grooves of the bargain tattoo on her calf along with the scars that covered it. 

He looked over at her softly and kissed the back of her hand. "Why is Feyre's name on the list as well? The list of names on your leg." 

"Andras' name was meant to be the last one on there but Feyre was meant to be the one to end it all. And she did, eventually, but when Tamlin sent her back so that she wouldn't get hurt, I had her name added on to it as well. I don't know. It just felt... right, I guess," Amara said softly as she looked over at her mate. "I don't know if Tamlin and Lucien added it as well. I just know that I did. We don't really talk about it anymore." 

Azriel nodded lightly and looked over at the front door of the Archeron family home when all of the servants started to leave. "I guess that's the signal." 

Cassian let out a low whistle once they were inside, looking around the place with appreciation. "Your father must be a fine merchant. I've seen castles with less wealth." 

"My father is away on business - and attending a meeting in Neva about the threat of Prythian," Feyre told him. 

Amara would be lying if she said that she was still paying attention to the conversation. She knew that if anything important came up then Azriel would let her know to start paying attention again, so instead she kept looking around. She was taking note of every little thing that reminded her of Tamlin. 

He had tried to match the place to all of Feyre's likings and from what she had said about the home she'd lived in before but that had been such limited information. Tamlin and Amara had stayed up trying to come up with little things that could have been believed to just be with the money that they were sending in the way of the Archeron family. It had taken all night and they'd both been completely exhausted the next day, but it had been completely worth it. Amara was sure of that now as she noticed little bits and pieces that definitely had been sent their way by both herself and her brother. 

Her gaze went back to Feyre and Amara noticed the worry and hesitation in her eyes. Rhysand seemed to notice it as well because he very quickly changed the topic of conversation. 

"Come," Rhysand said, offering Feyre an understanding and subtle nod before he motioned for her to lead the way. "Let's make this introduction." 

~~~~~~~

Okay so chapter one for A Court of Blood and Screams is up. That book is about Amara's time Under the Mountain. 

Fun Fact: it was actually Tamlin's idea to get the tattoos.