A Court of Fanfictions: Azriel

Chapter 17

I blinked my eyes open to no one in my bed. Or my room. Azriel had slept next to me through the night, so I could only assume he was now downstairs.

I wasn't sure what this was or what any of it meant. We had sex, we cuddled, we kissed, and he even cried over me. I knew that he meant a great deal to me, and I felt like I meant a great deal to him. I wasn't sure what we were, but I knew I was enjoying it.

I rose and slid into my leggings and boots, not bothering with my hair. We're leaving today after a few errands. Azriel told me late last night after he returned from a discussion about potentially having Illyrians in battle again with Devlon and his brothers.

I could hardly remember his words. All I remembered was his arms wrapping around me before I drifted into one of my most peaceful slumbers.

I walked down the stairs in near silence once I heard the tone of voices coming from the kitchen. I came around the corner of the stairs to find all three of them glaring at each other. Azriel's back was to me, Cassian to the left of him, and Rhys to the right. All of their hands on the table as they spoke.

Rhys noticed me first, offering a smile. "Kortnee," he smiled, likely signaling the other two I was present. I could see the stress on Azriel's shoulders at my name. Cassian grinned delightfully. "Where's Feyre?" I asked, trying to get out of the kitchen as quickly as possible considering they were about to be at each other's throats.

"Well, you have perfect timing," Rhys grinned, "As per usual." His eyes darted to Azriel. Who didn't let out a sound as he turned to face me and dipped his head towards the table, telling me to join them.

So I did.

I walked up hesitantly and stood next to Az.

"Your face is good as new!" Cassian smiled. "I still looked better than you in that state," I joked. He chuckled, but I could tell by the stiffness of Azriel that whatever was at hand was not a joking matter.

He swallowed. "Kortnee." He spoke with such a seriousness, such neutrality, a tone I had never heard him use for me before. It made my heart falter as if we had somehow backtracked in this relationship that I wasn't even sure was a relationship.

I looked up at him, but his eyes wouldn't meet mine.

"We need you to start training your powers," Cassian broke the silence. Azriel's head snapped to him; Rhys leveled a stare. "What? You weren't going to say it," Cassian defended himself. "No we don't," Azriel growled. Rhysand sighed.

"What these two boneheads of my brothers are trying to relay to you, Kortnee, is WOULD you like to start training your powers?" Rhys interrupted their bickering. I chewed on the inside of my lip as I blinked, debating.

Azriel's knuckles brushed against the back of my hand behind the table. "It's your choice," he assured me. I looked up at his brothers.

"Why now?" I asked. Cassian smirked. "I told you she'd have questions."

"Well, if I'm going to be quite honest with you, Kort," Rhysand started, "I had no idea you had any of this..." his hand fiddled in the air, "grit in you. I had no idea you could fight and when you remarked to Cassian you were worried you were going to kill Tybalt, I felt it too. I could feel the power in you. Plus, we have a potential war on our hands with Briallyn, which would be helpful to have you by ours sides on."

I slowly nodded, taking in his words. "But it is your choice," Azriel added firmly. Rhys nodded. "Indeed."

I nodded. "I know. I'll do it. And can someone please teach me to fly?" I answered. Cassian and Rhys loosened a chuckle at the desperation of my last sentence. Azriel, however, remained unmoved.