Not just mortal and Fae book I (Azriel x Suree)

EXCLUSIVE

When they arrived at the Night court Azriel was immediately embraced by the inner circle including Nesta, Elain and Gwyneth, which surprised him. They were mad but mostly relieved, he assured them he was fine, but his words seemed empty and he couldn't hear a word anyone was saying. When Rhysand approached him, he rested a hand on his shoulder and welcomed him back, but some dark part of Azriel wanted to give Rhys a good beating. He must of picked up on this because a second later, he heard Rhys voice in his head.

Lets talk in my office.

Azriel nodded, and after finally convincing the others to give him some space with the help of Feyre who no doubt also sensed something was wrong, he made his way to Rhys office. He took his time to compose himself for the confrontation he was sure to face from his brother. He knew it was not his fault, he did not even know where Azriel had been, still Suree's hurt expression burned at the back of his mind, like a cruel reminder.

When he finally reached Rhys office he slowly pulled open the door to find him sitting behind his desk, his face expressionless. Azriel closed the door behind him and walked over and stood in front of the desk, thinking he should give some explanation but Rhys spoke first.

"Where were you Az, what happened, you where gone for two weeks, you were only suppose to be gone for one."

His face was calm but there was an angry anxiousness laced in his words. "There was a storm, the ship broke, we lost the prisoners."

Rhys rubbed his temples in frustration before asking, "did anyone on your crew make it out?"

Azriel froze. After everything that happened he had no spared a single thought for the warriors that had not made it during the wreck. Guilt and shame washed over him like a blanket of darkness as he shook his head slowly. Rhysand cussed and rubbed his face.

"Shit, Az, what the hell happened, and better yet, where the hell have you been, you didn't think to let us know you where alive or morph back here?" Rhys started to rise and soon Azriel's impatience did to.

"I have nothing else to say." He said trying to keep his voice calm and cold. Rhys slammed his hand on the table and yelled, "stop lying to me!" Azriel shook his head, he couldn't deal with this right now. He turned to go when Rhys spoke behind him.

"I know about the girl, Az." Azriel stiffened and slowly turned around to face Rhys.

"Cassian told me when he found you, you where with a girl, a mortal girl, one of the prisoners I assume, was she who you where with the whole time?"

Azriel domed the cold mask he had so long perfected and stared down Rhys. He shook his head running a hand through his hair.

"First Mor, then Elain, now this. Your so desperate to fuck somebody you'll settle for a mortal whore who might be working for Hybern."

Azriel's rage hit him so fast he almost stumbled back from the impact, his shadows feeding him images of Rhys bloody body.

"Don't you dare speak of her that way, she's not like that, we never..." he took a deep breath, trying to compose himself, and worked to hide his emotions the best he could. "When the ship got torn apart by the storm I got taken with it, the girl...she saved my life. In return she asked me to take her to the Faerie realm, so I did." This caught Rhys attention and he gaze softened ever so slightly.

"Why would she ask that of you?"

Azriel shook his head. "I don't know, she wouldn't tell me."

He hated lying to his brother, but the thought of Suree, confiding to him by the fire, instilling him with the trust he did not deserve, made him hesitate. Besides, that would not be the first lie he had told to Rhys tonight.

Rhysand sank back down in his chair, his fingers clasped together in front of him as he stared down at his desk contemplating.

"Do you think she works for Hybern?"

Azriel answered without hesitation, "no, they wouldn't be stupid enough to send a mortal in alone, where even a lesser Fae would be able to snap her neck, effortlessly." The words sounded like vile as he said them and he imagined Suree, lying on the ground, lifeless. He pushed the image aside, worried even showing a slight bit of emotion would give him away. Rhys nodded and rubbed his temple, looking stressed and exhausted.

"I'm sorry."

Rhys looked up at him and a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"It's okay, now get out of here you, look like hell."

Azriel smiled slightly and turned to leave, when Rhys spoke behind him.

"Az."

Azriel half turned to face him.

"If you ever pull a stunt like that, I'll kick your ass." Azriel chuckled slightly and smirked at him.

"I'd like to see you try." Without waiting for a response he left the room. When the door shut behind him, his shoulders slumped and he let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding. A moment later, he was obscured by shadows and when he opened his eyes again he was in his room. He made his way to the bed and sat at the end of it, letting his mind wander to Suree. He had left her, he had abandoned her. He thought about her making her way through the mountains further and further into the darkness. Was she alive, was she okay, or was she already dead, lying in the dirt somewhere, thinking she had failed? No, no she couldn't be dead, he'd know, somehow he'd know. His thoughts trailed away to the cliff of the snowy mountain, the moment he had grabbed her before the cliff had taken her over. It was then that they had looked at each other for the first time with something other then resentment and hate, something of understanding, and as he stared into her bright emerald eyes he felt the mating bond snap into place.