A Court of Shadows and Lies / ACOTAR FF

Chapter 49

"You never answered my question," Azriel murmured, guiding me to our temporary bedroom so I could freshen up slightly. The world around me was fuzzy and Az was looking extremely fuckable at this moment in time. Sitting on his lap, his dick pressed against me, hadn't done wonders for my self-restraint, despite watching everyone open up their presents giving me a moment of freedom from thinking about him and his promise.

I licked my lips when he opened the door to a dark room. The things I'd let him do to me tonight was endless. I was very aware Cherry's wine would do this but Gods was I anticipating what Azriel wanted to do. With a click of his fingers, the oil-based lamps flared to life and I stalled at the entrance, my jaw dropped.

In the corner of the room, on a mannequin, was my Starfall dress. It wasn't just any of my Starfall dresses, it was the Starfall dress. "Az," I gasped, pattering over to the floor length tulle dress that seemed to sparkle like the night sky. "Gods above, Az, oh my fucking Gods." I lifted one of the arms, feeling it as if I were going insane. I turned to look at the male who was leaning against the doorframe, the corner of his lip ticking upright.

"That's my gift to you, Jez," he told me, his shadows dancing around him. "I was being serious when I invited you to Starfall. I also know how much that dress meant to you."

My attention shifted back to the dress, the softness of the material sliding over my fingers. I trailed my fingers up the sleeve, the sparkling diamonds embedded into the material so it was smooth. Gods, I hadn't felt or touched the dress in several millennia. The lives this dress had from me to the daughter of Vel, to finally Rhysand's sister and back to me. It saw love and heartbreak, drunk and sober nights, sweet and intense moments, and everything else in between.

Rhysand's sister.

I spun on the spot, warily looking at Azriel. "But what about-"

"Rhysand's sister?" he guessed. I nodded. "I talked to Rhys about that."

"And?"

"We agreed it's time for it to go back home, to return it back to its rightful owner," Azriel smiled. "Happy Winter Solstice, Jez."

I squealed and nearly ran at Azriel, throwing myself at him. He chuckled, catching me in his arms. Grabbing the sides of his face, I kissed him repeatedly on the lips, laughing in between in each kiss. "Thank you, Az," I said.

"How did it end up with his sister?" he asked, moving us back towards the bed. He laid me down gently, hovering over me. This was far from what I had expected to do when 'freshening up' yet here I was. I ran my fingers into his soft hair that had grown out enough for me to play with.

"I gifted it to Vel's daughter when she went to her first Starfall with her mate," I smiled. "Then she gifted it to her daughter, and so on. I just never thought I'd see it again. Lost to time."

"You give a lot," he said quietly, his eyes searching my own. I shrugged.

"Not really," I replied.

"But you do," he pushed, "all those gifts today, you didn't need to."

"Are you a shit gifter?"

Azriel stared at me for a moment, seemingly incredulous that I had said that. "I'm going to ignore you said that."

I sat up, propping myself up with my forearms and making Azriel move back. He was now stood over me and I half-scoffed, half-laughed at him, the realisation hitting me. "You are a shit gifter."

"No, I'm not," he argued. "I got you that dress-"

"Hold on there, batboy," I said, raising a hand to stop him. "You gave back my dress. That was my dress."