shadows don't lie

Chapter Fifteen

Azriel was high above the House of Wind on an updraft that kept him floating in the air even when he wasn't actively flying.

He was vaguely keeping an eye on Inei to make sure that she didn't 'accidentally' stab Cassian, who insisted on being the one to teach her how to hold a sword.

She had woken early that morning and had begged Azriel to fly her up as soon as possible, and if only to stop her from getting on her knees, he agreed.

Now as he hovered above the ruddy colored building, he wished that he had warming magic like Rhys or Feyre. His wings were beginning to go numb in the chill but he didn't pay them much attention as he tilted down, wind rushing around him as he aimed for the roof.

Inei stopped mid swing to watch as he slammed down onto the roof, his shadows skittering around, and they began their chatter once more.

He glanced at Inei who quickly turned back around and continued her fight against his brother, who was once again grinning ferociously. Azriel knew that look though. It was often one that Cassian would wear when he was backed into a corner.

The thought made him smile. Inei stumbled across the ring and Cassian spun around, bringing his Illyrian blade up to her jaw with deadly presicion.

"Eyes over here." He ordered, and she pushed his sword away, raising her own, and they began their dance once more.

It went on well into the morning like this before Inei finally called for a break.

Azriel marveled at the progress she had made, from barely winning against his brother to now holding her own, and even winning a few fights here and there.

He nudged one of his shadows and it procured a mug of steaming hot chocolate that the House had created for him.

Walking over to where she now sat with her legs dangling over the edge of the house, he crouched down beside her silently and offered her the steaming drink, and she took it with a grateful look on her face.

She sipped it once and returned to looking over the whole of Valaris, and Azriel seated himself as well, his wings brushing against the ice-cold ground.

"I don't think swords are for me." She finally said and he didn't respond, sensing she wished to say more.

"Back during the war, I was always carrying one at my side but it was always a dagger that I held during battle." He looked at her to find her staring at her lap with a sad look on her face.

"When I was.." She trailed off for a moment, and one of her shadows that was trailing around his wing whispered, "When I was ambushed, I fought with the only weapon I had near me- My dagger. It was the only reason I resisted as long as I did."

She looked up at him and her startling green eyes were rimmed with some deep pain and he felt a cold fury for the ones who had caused it.

"How many did you take down?" He asked, and she raised her chin as she overlooke the horizon, her face a cold mask.

"Thirty-seven, plus the other four I injured." Azriel hid his amazement. She had been ambushed by a force of forty-one and still managed to almost kill them all.

It almost made him want to ask how she lost in the first place.

"Do you want me to tell Cassian to find something else?" He asked her and she looked down again, that cold mask melting away.

"No. It's okay." She leaned over on his shoulder without saying anything else and he enjoyed the warmth of her skin in the cool air.

They stayed, and watched the sun rise until it was well into the skies.