shadows don't lie

Chapter Six

Azriel left her alone on the veranda before he could talk himself into staying for any longer.

Rhysand and Feyre were expecting him for a meeting soon to talk about something that had occurred, and they hadn’t told him what it was about, which almost always meant it was something serious.

Disappointment had shone in Inei’s eyes as he left, but Azriel knew it would be stupid to ignore his High Lord and Lady, even though some part of him just wanted to stay up in that quiet palace.

Winnowing up into the skies over Valaris, he tilted into a dive over the sparkling city, angling himself towards the River house.

Azriel savored the late spring air that rushed around him, drawing closer and closer to the ground below. He slipped his wings open, slowing into a satisfying glide over the sparkling Sidra, wildflowers in bloom along the banks.

The Fae that lined the streets waved as he swooped by, and he made himself smile in return. They always seemed to be doing better since the attacks, but Azriel knew that some stores and homes would remain empty for years to come.

He gathered his shadows tightly around him as he approached the manor, slowing to a stop as he dropped down onto one of the many pathways near the river that would bring him through the grounds and up to the back door. Taking care to avoid the gardens where he knew Elain would be working, Azriel entered the house, stopping for only a moment to remove his boots.

Strolling through the brightly lit halls with those exotic blue carpets underfoot, Azriel followed the direction that his shadows had pointed him in, heading towards one of the more formal sitting rooms.

Knocking lightly on the dark wooden door to announce his presence, he breezed into the cozy room that was full of his family, plus a few others.

Mor sat on an emerald green couch having returned from yet another trip to the continent, with Amren and Varian sitting on top of each other to her left.

Across from her, Feyre was seated in a matching cushioned chair rocking Nyx in her arms with Rhysand perched over her shoulders looking down with a wide smile at the baby.

Cassian stood at Nesta’s right, both situated almost directly in front of Azriel. The only other person in the room was Lucien who remained close to the fire.

“Ah, Azriel. Perfect timing.” Rhysand looked up from Nyx, smile still on his face, and waved him forwards.

“There’s something we have to talk about.” Azriel kept moving forwards until he was side by side with Cassian, who looked slightly nervous.

“What happened?” Azriel asked the group, loosening his shadows a bit. Rhysand brought a hand to the back of his neck before speaking.

“I need you to get Inei to open up. I need you to get her mentally stable, or at least as close as possible.”

"Why? She’s doing just fine on her own.”

Rhysand winced and Feyre just pulled Nyx closer to her. 

“She's already had a few.. incidents.. and she doesn’t seem to be getting better mentally, only physically. I’m worried that with a possible war coming up, plus tensions with some of the other courts, she may grow worse.”

“You think she's a threat." Azriel answered quietly, glaring at his brother and Feyre chimed in. “It’s not necessarily that we see her as a threat, we are worried for her wellbeing when it comes to the fighting too.”

“I won’t trick her into trusting us, Rhys. Feyre.” but Azriel sensed he was being backed into a corner though, especially when Amren opened her mouth to add,