A Court Of Shadows and Sin

Chapter 12

I cannot believe I didn't catch on, I mean the shadows and everything are right in front of me.
His darkness is so alluring, it's almost as if it's pulling me towards him.

I recall Rhysand telling me a bit about him, not too much but small things. Other pieces I heard off the streets, he's known to torture, to kill in beyond brutal ways.

People have always made Azriel out to be someone with no remorse or empathy, they say he's good at what he does but to always keep at a safe distance.

My eyes are drawn to his golden ones, shadows dancing inside of them too, 'your the spymaster' I think out loud.

Azriel's eyebrows crease together in confusion as he adjusts his wings behind his seat, 'who did you think I was?' His voice still as dark as night.

'If I'm completely honest...I thought you were just a random Illyrian who picked me up off the beach. I thought your name was Aaron.'

Azriel shakes his head in disbelief, suppressing a small smile, 'unbelievable'

A few moments pass by before he speaks again.

'Your welcome for that by the way.'

'For what?'

'For saving your life.' He states, stabbing at his hot pasta with a fork.

'Well I'm sorry I would have said it earlier but I was kind of busy dying.'

Azriels face hardens at my words, eyes darkening immediately. He turns away so quickly it's almost as if looking at me pains him.

Was it something I said?

I ignore his unusual behaviour as a plate of food appears in front of me.

A sandwich, thick bread holding it together.

A moment of silence passes by, I physically cannot bring myself to eat it.

'please, take it back.' I ask the house gently.

Nothing happens.

I feel Azriels eyes on me so I stop talking, gently pushing the plate away.

I don't want to be ungrateful.

'Is there something wrong with your food?' He asks carefully.

I must look like a fool.

'It's stupid don't-

'No, what is it?' His words are soft, the opposite to his other persona. Azriels mask slips as his face softens, eyes boring into my own.

I think back to the stale bread that was slid under my cell door once a day, one single piece if I was lucky enough to even eat.

What's it to him anyways?

'Like I said it's stupid, forget I said anything' I give him a fake smile that he can no doubt read before the sound of doors opening pull my attention away.

Multiple pairs of footsteps sound down the hall, some light and quick, some heavy and long.

Azriel dosen't push the matter at hand as he too looks at the four people walking towards us.

I recognise two of them, Amren and Rhysand, but the other Illyrian and Blonde female walking alongside them I don't recognise.

The golden haired female glides throughout the room, her sun kissed skin glowing in the mid day light. 'Hello!' She chirps, her full lips break into an award winning smile. Her large warm brown eyes are fixated on me as she nears.

This women even gives Azriel a run for his money, her beauty is unlike anything I've ever seen. Different from Amrens, but just as beautiful.

To her left is an Illyrian, who also possesses 7 siphons. Though his are red. He's tall, with long black hair that stops just atop of his broad shoulders. His large membranous wings float behind him, not as big as Azriels but still far bigger than the average Illyrian. This male is pure muscle, he is a rugged beautiful, a 'I just woke up' kind of beauty.

'Well, well, well, looks like we are just in time for lunch' Illyrian smirks, his voice strong and confident but also full of mischief.

The four of them pull out chairs around Azriel and I, the Illyrian sitting between us, Rhysand at the head of the table, Amren to his right and next to her, across from me sits the beautiful blonde.

Everyone's eyes are on me, staring at me, waiting for me to say something.

I claw through my brain, reaching for something- anything to say but Rhys breaks the silence.

'Aliera, allow me to introduce you to my inner circle.' He drawls, a smirk pulling at his lips.

He gestures his hand to the female in front of me with a flick of his wrist, 'this is Mor, my cousin. You may recall me mentioning her once or twice, please do not feel obliged to answer the hundreds of questions she will ask.'

She wasn't just Mor but The Morrigan, she is quite literally a living legend. I am sitting at the table with a living legend.

What has my life even become.

She throws her right hand out and across the table, her red painted nails catching my eye. I debate shaking it before I feel Amrens stare to my right. Amren dips her chin to the table, signaling for me to shake her hand.

those who cannot shake your hand are not worthy

I swallow the bile in my throat as my hand meets hers, she dosent flinch or shy away, Mor grips it tightly giving me a sweet smile.

'It's a pleasure to finally meet you Aliera, it'll be nice to finally have some good company around here'

A gasp comes from beside me as the Illyrian squints his eyes at Mor, 'I'm going to pretend you didn't say that for the sake of our children!' he clutches his chest dramatically.

Mor rolls her eyes at him, releasing her grip on my hand before giving the male next to me a small smile.

'Oh you have children? How many?' I ask genuinely before the table erupts in laughter, even Azriel tries to suppress a smile.

'No no Aliera' Rhys chuckles again, 'the imbecile next to you is just being his usual self. Meet Cassian, who for some reason I allowed to be the general of my armies. He is most definitely not a father.'

The male I now know as Cassian swings his heavy arm over my shoulders, squeezing me in a tight side hug. 'It's nice to finally put a name to quite a pretty face.' He mumbles beside me, giving me a quick wink.

I try to hide my blush at his words and fail miserably.

'By the looks of it, you've already met Amren, my second in command and my spymaster Azriel.' Rhys continues, nodding to both Azriel who sits on the other side of Cassian and Amren to his right.

'Great! Now that introductions are out of the way, let's eat.'

And with Amrens words, plates of food begin popping up in front of everyone, I go to look down at my untouched sandwich but it's gone,
Instead I find a steaming plate of pasta..

I look past Cassian to where Azriel sits, he doesn't look up as he takes a bite into a thick sandwich.

My sandwich.

The Shadowsinger must feel my eyes on him as his gaze darts to mine, slicing across the room. I mouth a small thankyou to him but he doesn't acknowledge it.

Azriel looks back to his plate and continues to eat.

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