A Court of Shadow and Song

Chapter 11

Gwyn POV

Eris stood, shaking before Gwyn. He knelt beside her, lifting her chin to make sure she wasn't hurt. Gwyn saw him grimace at the burn on her arm. "Azriel." She whispered to Eris. The blood began flowing through her body again and before she could process anything else, she was on her feet and running to the Shadowsinger. She dropped to her knees in front of the shaking Illyrian. She wanted to hold him, to sooth him, but there was no place she could touch that wouldn't hurt him now. His skin was red with burns and his wings were shredded from the flames. "Azriel." She whispered again, placing a hand gently to his cheek.

Even with his wounds, Azriel did not show his pain. Instead, Gwyn followed his glance to Eris, who was standing wordlessly over his father's body.

"What just happened?" Gwyn asked. Her voice sounded pinched.

"His guard reported back to him on you two. He put two and two together that the 'intruders' might be my guests. He had his own people look into it. I guess he found the cottage." Eris's eyes were cold and emotionless. Gwyn recognized the signs, Eris was going into shock. "I didn't know... I came here to warn you both that the guards had talked. I was at the front of the house. I heard you both scream. I tried to come as fast as I could but his guards.... I killed them too... I killed my father." Gwyn understood the words that went unsaid, "I didn't want him to hurt you." He said, eyes on Gwyn now.

"You're glowing." Gwyn said dumbly in response. Eris looked down at his hands, a panicked sound escaping his lips.

"The Autumn Court power transferred to me when my father died. I feel it."

"You're the high lord now." Gwyn said, Eris nodded.

"This wasn't how I wanted it to happen. I am so sorry. So sorry to both of you."

"We don't have time for apologies now." Gwyn said, realizing she had to be the one to take control of this situation, "I need you to winnow Azriel to his room and go find a healer as fast as you can." The state of Azriel's wings made Gwyn's stomach coil. Eris nodded, taking hold of Gwyn and Azriel's arms, he winnowed them to Azriel's room and left without another word.

~*~

Azriel POV

All Azriel saw was fire. Flames engulfed him, even now when he could feel the cotton sheets beneath his back and hear Gwyn putting water into a basin.

He had failed her. Again. Would he ever be good enough to save her?

Beron had the one thing Azriel couldn't fight. The one thing that sent him back to the cell of his childhood. Flames.

His shadows were wild around him, worry for their master, worry for Gwyn. The two feelings were intertwined and caused a frenzy within them.

He watched Gwyn make her way back to the bed with the water. Could she sense his shame now? How disappointed she must be in him. She would have died if not for Eris. Eris, of course. It was Azriel's own punishment. She would have died and he could do nothing to save her. He was frozen in those flames. Then and now.

Gwyn silently took a rag from the water and reached for Azriel's hand. Without thinking, he ripped his fingers from her grip, he felt his stomach turn the moment she touched his open wounds.

"Azriel?" Gwyn's alarmed voice rang through his thoughts.

"Don't touch me right now." Azriel's eyes were closed, he focused on his own breathing, a trick he had learned from the Valkyrie, ironically.

"Azriel..." Gwyn's voice was full of understanding now, it made him want to puke from shame.

"I can't, Gwyn. Not right now. Please." She nodded, and stood, leaving the water beside him.