ACOTAR oneshots

Bite-Sized (Gwynriel)

Overview: Azriel sees someone flirting with Gwyn- and he doesn't take particularly nicely to it.
Rated: T
Words: 1545

Gwyn stood at the edge of a table, twirling a piece of her dress in her hand. She hadn't gone to any parties or even public gatherings, but this was Cassian and Nesta's mating ceremony. She had to be there.
No, correction-
She wanted to be there.

The ceremony was beautiful. Gwyn was nearly in awe. The love in the two mates eyes was incomparable. She wondered what love would feel like. True love. Being chosen as someone's person. A first choice—A priority. Being someone's whole world.

Gwyn watched as Nesta and Cassian and many of the other guests danced and ate, occasionally taking the time to congratulate the two mates. It wasn't a huge ceremony but there were enough people that Gwyn had to brush the sweat off her palms, or bite down on her lip.

Nesta shot her glances every once in a while, asking if she was okay. Gwyn brushed it off with an 'I'm fine' or 'don't worry'.

Gwyn sighed as she twirled the necklace she was gifted anonymously. It was a comfort, though she didn't know why. She just liked it.

She looked across the room, averting her gaze to different people until her eyes landed on a certain shadowsinger. He turned towards her, as if sensing her attention.
Gwyn turned away before she could embarrassingly stare at his face any longer, heat flooding her cheeks. His gaze was quite intense. And his god-like face with that pitch black hair and—
She shook off those feelings, the heat in her cheeks going down. What was she thinking.

"Well if it isn't Gwyneth Berdara." she heard a voice from behind her say.

Balthazar.

"I- didn't know that you were coming, to their ceremony." Gwyn's cheeks slightly darkened as he looked her down. She had talked with him after he completed the rite. While they were freaking out over Nesta—she still managed to be friendly with him.

"Well, they were pretty grateful for me saving your friends' asses, so—"

Gwyn laughed, then rolled her eyes. "So, you're an Illyrian warrior now."

"And you're a Valkyrie."

They stared at each other for a couple moments, some unsaid challenge glowing between them.

"Would you -maybe- care for a drink?" Balthazar suddenly asked.

Gwyn startled. It couldn't hurt, she told herself. "Sure, why not."

He smiled, leading her towards the bar.

—————————

Azriel felt a gaze on him—well, a more noticeable one than the few others. His eyes silently searched the room of the ceremony until he latched stares with a certain red-haired priestess. His eyes twinkled with a sort of surprise as she quickly looked away. He could have sworn her cheeks darkened just slightly.

She's wearing the necklace.

Yes she is. But it wasn't like she even knew it was from him. He hoped she didn't know. Because if her and Elain met—
He didn't want to think about that. Not about the fact that Elain might see what happened with that necklace. And he really didn't want Gwyn to think less of him. He didn't want her to think anything bad about him.
He didn't want her to find out the true, horrible, cruel male he is. For some unsaid reason—he didn't want her to ever view him as a villain.

He rid his head of those thoughts as he picked up a bite-sized cupcake, and stuffed it into his mouth. Honestly, it really wasn't bite-sized.
More like two or three bites. That's what they should be called—it was honestly sort of a rip off.