Chapter 7

492 27 20
                                    

Azriel POV

"We only have one room available." The male behind the desk grunted. Azriel would put up a fight in any other situation, but in reality, the ash arrows had taken more out of him than he cared to admit. And it didn't seem like Gwyn needed his help anyways.

After a few minutes of negotiation with the man, he exchanged a key for money and pointed towards the steps, "Third door on the right." Gwyn handed the key to Azriel.

"Go ahead. I'm going to get us some food from the dining hall." Azriel felt uneasy about leaving Gwyn, but decided not to argue. He didn't want to damper the newfound confidence. So instead he walked up the creaky stairs to their room for the night.

He thought it would at least have two small beds. Instead he saw one bed with thin threaded sheets. Sighing, Azriel removed a pillow from the bed and pulled an extra blanket from the old wardrobe and went to work making a bed on the floor for himself. The thought of sharing a bed with the little Valkyrie was too tempting. Everything about her was too tempting, if he was being honest. In the week since they had arrived, he watched her set out each day with renewed determination. Even in moments he knew that she was concealing her fear. And then today, he watched her take down a guard more than twice her size with only a little ribbon in her hands. She was the fiercest warrior he had ever seen because she didn't fight for sport. She fought to protect those that couldn't protect themselves. Because of that, he knew she would never lose. Even so, when he had heard the guard's crude comment to her, he had seen red. He was ready to rip the male's head from his body and his shadows were right behind him. Only her presence had kept him from doing so.

Azriel tried to ignore the impact her presence had on him, but it seemed to be a hopeless task. He found himself thinking of her more often than not. He couldn't pinpoint the moment that this had happened, one day she was his friend, and then next he couldn't get the idea of her in his arms out of his head. It didn't matter, of course. Azriel would never let things get that far. He would never disrespect her by making any kind of move on her as any other male would. He would never curse her to a life with him. She was too pure and bright for him and his shadows.

"What are you doing?" Azriel jumped at the sound of Gwyn's voice at the door. It seemed his shadows had no intention of betraying Gwyn, even to him. No one had ever snuck up on him until her. He blamed it on his injury but knew this hadn't been the first time.

"There is only one bed." He said dumbly, already seated on the makeshift bed on the floor.

"I see that." She walked farther into the room, setting a tray on the bed, "Do you think I would let you sleep on the floor? You are injured." There was a spark of amusement in her eyes.

"I'm not going to let you sleep on the floor, little Valkyrie." She rolled her eyes, coming over to him she took his pillow and put it back on the bed, creating a little barrier in the middle. She crawled over it, pressing herself into the side closest to the wall.

"Problem solved. Don't worry, Shadowsinger, I won't force myself on you while you're injured." Is that really what she thought he was worried about? That he didn't want her and thought she would force herself on him? That was absurd.

"What did you find for dinner?" He changed the subject and moved the the edge of the bed.

"Butternut squash soup and a fresh loaf of bread. I was assured it was not an enchanted squash." She chuckled at her own joke as she handed the bowl to him. Azriel couldn't help the smile that spread across his face.

"I also found a first aid kit. Eat up and then I am going to clean up your wound."

They ate on the bed in silence, Azriel couldn't help but laugh at the situation they found themselves in, remembering the infamous soup exchange between Rhys and Feyre. If only things were that simple.

A Court of Shadow and SongWhere stories live. Discover now