The Symphony of Shadow

5: 'The Shadow's Shadow'

Possible triggers in bold: SA reference

A Z R I E L

By the time Azriel emerged from the library, his eyes had grown heavy with fatigue, the conversation with Gwyn having lasted longer than he'd originally anticipated - a conversation which had taken an unexpected turn into a direction Azriel was now rethinking over and over in his head, questioning the actions of his past self.

Talking about bondage? With Gwyn? And so casually - they hadn't gone into any specific details, but he was starting to question the new levels of familiarity he and the priestess shared. His shadows certainly were acting unwarranted around her.

It had taken all his concentration to pull the singular rogue shadow back to him after it had disentangled itself from the rest, to go to her. Never before had they escaped from him like that.

Azriel took a few long strides across the training ring - all it took for him to cross the area with the length of his powerful legs.

He wanted to sleep. All he could think about was his bed, and how he longed for dreamless slumber. This was an oddity for Azriel, usually he slept only because he had to, after he'd worked for as long as his body physically allowed him to, then only resting for long enough for his head not to hurt. Maybe one day he would wake up naturally, and not because of a nightmare...

But his mind seemed to be calmer now. Amren was researching into Koschei, and the possible locations of the old God's soul. Rhys had removed the rebel Illyrian's tunnels - all with the snap of his finger, High Lord power and all. Things seemed to be falling into place again.

In place of the tunnels, a trap had been set. The next time an Illyrian breeched the entrance, Rhysand would immediately be alerted, and the determined Illyrian would be exposed to what was behind Rhys' glamour: a dark chamber in the mountain, with no way in or out without Rhys' magic.

It seemed impossible, but not with the power of the Night Court's High Lord, and his five centuries worth of experience in casting glamours.

Hopefully in the next couple of days, a rebel would be caught, interrogated, and the rebellion would be over before it had even started.

Hopefully.

A hand of midnight trailed along the shields he held over his mind. That would be Rhys, only his aura felt like pure darkness, like night itself.

Azriel knew Rhys could invade his mind with little thought, but his brother only forced his abilities if it was a matter of life or death. He didn't even use his power on those he didn't trust: Eris was a perfect example of that - and that certainly hadn't turn out well for them. Sometimes Azriel thought Rhys' apt for honor was a little inconvenient at times, even if the trait was one worthy of respect.

Azriel opened his shield a notch.

"A group of Illyrians have been caught, come to Illyria now - bring Cass with you." Rhys' voice echoed into his mind. And that was it.

Azriel was slightly disappointed that this progress with the Illyrians had come around so quickly - he had been somewhat eager to sleep tonight, for once.

He sighed, now having to look forward to knocking on the door to Cassian and Nesta's room - which could result in an unwanted repeat of the dining room fiasco. It wasn't anything he hadn't seen before, but it was something he hoped to avoid all the same.

Arriving in front of their doorway, he muttered a silent prayer to the Mother, in hope that the mated pair were engrossed in sleep and not each other. Azriel of all people, preferred the privacy the shields offered to the bedrooms, but now he wished he could use his senses to listen out for a warning of sorts.