A Court of Souls and Shadows

28. Raven

I awoke to a warm hand stroking the scars on my back with gentle reverence. I sighed happily when the memories of the night before washed over me. I rolled over to find Azriel behind me, a sleepy smile on his face. I reached for his face instinctively, stroking the light stubble that had grown in along his jaw.

"Morning," he whispered, his smile growing wider.

"Morning," I replied with a stupid grin. He laughed under his breath and leant forward to peck me on the lips. I shuffled closer to him, resting my hands on his chest as he wrapped his arms around me and placed a soft kiss to my temple.

"Last night was..." he started.
"Perfect," I interrupted.
"Yes," he agreed, his voice coming out a deep rasp. "I never want to leave this bed."
I groaned in response. "I'm afraid I have to," I said, reaching for the covers to throw them back. "Nooooo," Azriel complained, pulling me back to his chest. I laughed as I grabbed at his arms, trying to pry myself from his grip.
"I have to go, Az. Lucien is expecting me."

A low growl emitted from the back of his throat. I turned and raised an eyebrow at him in question. "Don't tell me you've turned into a jealous boyfriend already?" I teased him, poking at his chest. He leant forward and peppered my neck with kisses, trailing up to my jawline and nipping at my earlobe. I laughed and swatted him away. He paused to look at me, his eyes locking with mine.

"Is that what I am, then?" He asked. "Your boyfriend?"

"Oh," I stammered, suddenly feeling flustered. "Well, if you want to be?"

Azriel laughed. "Relax, I'm just teasing you," he said, capturing my chin between two of his fingers to pull me in for a kiss. I kissed him back fiercely, repressing the moan that wanted to work it's way up my throat. I reluctantly pulled myself from the bed and quickly dressed in a pair of black leggings and a simple button-down black shirt. I sat down on the edge of the bed to pull my boots on. Azriel sat up in the bed and moved to kneel behind me, kissing my shoulder blade as I worked on the laces on my boots.

"Be careful today," he whispered.
"I'll just be downstairs in the library," I said, rolling my eyes. "And it's Lucien."
"I know," Azriel replied quickly. "Just. Please. For my sake. Watch out for yourself."
"Big bad Soul Stealer, remember?" I replied sarcastically, pointing at my chest. Azriel laughed and shoved my shoulder playfully.

"I love you," he called after me as I made my way to the door. I paused in the doorway to look back at him, a smile stretching across my face. I didn't think I'd ever get sick of him saying that.

"I love you, too," I replied, before shutting the door behind me and making my way towards the library under the House of Wind.

* * * * * * *

The library beneath the House of Wind was breathtaking. It was unlike anything I had ever seen, and apparently it was small in comparison to the one in the city below. I'd never been allowed in any of the libraries in the Winter Court, but I had always loved to read. My mother had a few tattered novels I had read over and over. Love stories and adventures. The kind of stories and lives I once dreamed of but never thought I would have for myself. How simple things seem to a child's mind.

I made my way through the stacks, hoping the right title would magically jump out at me. Elain's episodes as we had been calling them, were getting worse and worse. Lucien and I had talked at length about what to do and had come up empty, so the only solution was research. If we didn't know what to do to help her, surely there was a book that had the answer. We could only hope. My personal feelings aside, I could not sit back and watch Hybern destroy someone like he was destroying Elain. Her connection to the Cauldron was tearing her apart from the inside out. I was determined to find a way to break her free of its bond, and I was certain magic was the answer.