Azriel leaned back against a boulder, sighing softly as he took care of his wings against the stone, and Inei crossed her arms.
“It’s stale. Just let me go out and find some game, and we can eat much better tonight.” He told her, and she shook her head, her eyebrows scrunched in annoyance.
“Just have a bite or two. If you really don’t want to eat it then contact Rhysand to send Mor with food.”
He stared up at her.
They had spent most of the day in the springs, and the other part of it in the tent, continuing their earlier activities.
Azriel had always heard about newly mated couples being insatiable, but hadn’t fully realized the extent until now.
Not that he cared.
He couldn’t ever grow tired of her skin against his, her soft noises that she would make when he was buried inside of her, or the way she would stare at him with the stars reflected in her eyes, even in daylight.
Those eyes that now stared at him in exasperation.
He would never be able to look at jerky of all things the same way ever again because of her, but he also knew that their camping trip would only worsen if they only had jerky to eat for yet another day.
Not to mention, it wasn’t enough for them both to survive on alone.
“If I leave now I can probably find a couple of rabbits or something for us, but I would really need to leave soon,” He said softly, glancing up at the sky that was beginning to pinken for the night.
Her mouth tipped into a frown, and he sensed a wariness from her that made him pause.
“What is it?” He asked, stepping closer to her, and she tilted her head against his chest.
“I heard stories about these.. Beasts.. While I was at Windhaven. I don’t want you to go out there and get hurt.”
Her shadows hovered anxiously behind her back, and he realized that she was probably remembering the Spring Court incident. He was quiet though, because remembering that she had been at his Illyrian camp for multiple days only made him feel sad.
“We are in the Steppes, but those beasts tend to roam more freely further north, closer to the mountains. You don’t have to worry about them while we are here, and especially not, if I’m with you.”
He ran his hands down her head, his fingers tangling with her dark curls, and her delicate hands came to rest loosely against his back.
“You promise?” She asked, and he nodded even though she couldn’t see, a smile playing across his lips. “I promise. Now will you let me go hunting now?”
He felt her head twitch ‘no’ and he tipped his head back and laughed.
It had been a long time before Inei came around since he could truly laugh freely like this, and the thought only made him smile harder.
“Can we at least go sit by the fire? And eat our stale jerky?” She looked up at him, and the scars at the edge of her face caught the fading light.
She pursed her lips, and he felt her through the bond, her silent signal for ‘yes’ as she stared up at him with her bright eyes.
He tipped his head down, burying it in the crook of her shoulder, breathing in the scent of her.
“All of a sudden I really don’t feel like going anywhere.” He muttered softly and she laughed quietly.
He continued to hide his face, and he moved his wings so that they surrounded her completely, blocking out the little amount of daylight left.
YOU ARE READING
shadows don't lie
FanfictionOnce there was a girl who lived in light. She was strong and smart, and commanded over the armies of the Day Court, until she was burned by one close to her. Then she became an echo, living off the light of her memories to stay alive in the dim cell...
