A Court of Souls and Shadows

19. Azriel

I waited outside Raven's room for her to get ready before we would leave to go to the Court of Nightmares. Cassian and I had drawn straws to see who would get to go, and he'd drawn the short straw and got stuck with protection duty at the townhouse. Ever since the Velaris attack, we weren't taking any chances, and we wouldn't leave the city unprotected. Feyre had asked him if he really needed nine swords, and he had only laughed as he continued to sharpen them. I smiled at the memory.

I was uncharacteristically nervous about going to the Court of Nightmares to meet with Keir. I already knew he was going to be difficult, but that wasn't what was bothering me. It was Raven. I didn't want her to go at all. I'd asked Rhys in private if it was really necessary and he had insisted that it was. Something had changed between Raven and I ever since the Velaris attack, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was. She was acting strange around me, and I was sure she was avoiding me as well. Cassian had assured me that it was all in my head and that she was just focused on her training, but I knew better. She barely spoke two words to me these days. I found myself missing the times when we'd first met when we would gently bully each other constantly. She was the only one besides Cassian that did that with me and I missed it so much.

I knocked twice gently on her bedroom door. It had already been fifteen minutes, and she was still inside.

"Yes?" Her voice carried through the door, a note of irritation lingering in her tone.

"Almost ready?" I asked, making sure to keep my tone even.

"Yes, you can come in," she said with a sigh. I swung the door open to find her standing beside her bed, strapping various weapons to herself. She was wearing Illyrian fighting leathers, and had braided her long silver hair down the centre of her back. I raised a brow in question.

"Are we going to war or the Hewn City?" I said sarcastically. Raven lifted her head to meet my gaze and glared at me.

"Isn't it the same thing?" She bit back. I stifled a laugh as she returned to strapping various daggers to her waist and thighs. The holster on her thigh kept slipping, and I stepped forward to help her without thinking. I knelt before her, fiddling with the buckle until it pulled tight and stayed. I looked up at her, my hand still resting on her thigh, to find her staring at me. She cleared her throat loudly. "Ugh, thanks," she muttered, shuffling away from my touch. I dropped my hand and shoved it in my pocket. Stupid. So, so stupid. I knew she had a thing about not being touched, but I found myself drawn to her constantly. The need to be near her, to hear her voice, to touch her, even in the most casual of ways, was almost overwhelming.

I stood to my full height once more and turned towards the door. Raven stalked behind me, falling into step next to me when we made it into the hallway. "I thought a Lady would have worn a gown for this visit," I said casually, sneaking a look at her from the corner of my eye.

"I'm not a Lady," she grumbled, resting her hand on the hilt of the Illyrian blade hanging at her side. It was much too big for her and dwarfed her small form. Anyone that saw her with it would assume it was merely for decoration, but I knew better than anyone how deadly she had become with the blade. I bit down on my bottom lip to hide my smile as we made our way into the dining room to meet with the others. Feyre and Mor both wore stunning gowns, but the gauzy material did nothing to hide the fire in their eyes. They were dreading this meeting as much as Raven and I were. The only one that looked indifferent was Rhysand, whose face was the picture of pure boredom.

I reached for Raven to winnow her to the Hewn City, but she was already at Mor's side, who took her hand before winnowing away. My lips turned down into a frown involuntarily and I found myself wondering just what the hell I had done to anger Raven. It had to have been something I had done. I was certain I wasn't imagining things anymore. She was pissed at me. I tamped down my frustration and disappointment and winnowed to the entrance to the Court of Nightmares to catch up with the others.