The Whispers of Shadows - A&A One Shots

female rage - pt. 1

There was something empowering about unsettling rage. Aurora felt it often, and somehow, she kept it at bay most of the time. She released it during training against Azriel, Cassian, or Nesta, but it still simmered beneath her skin. She had accepted her past, accepted her new life, and tried to accept a calm lifestyle, yet it never soothed the ache deep in her bones. That seemed to completely snap when she received a letter from the Winter Court.

Aurora,

I've heard you've begun a family. Congratulations, I hope we can get together to meet your son Orion soon. Unfortunately, this letter is not being sent with positive news such as that.

Our general, Pyry, appointed after the death of your past husband, Cormac, has recently gathered intel of stories of a female creature hidden beneath the training fields. I've looked into it myself and there is no one there, so I believe the stories of yourself are being resurfaced.

I did not want to overstep, but I ordered Pyry to gather those who claim to have had taken advantage of your situation and they have been gathered in outdoor barracks for your disposal. At the moment, there is a total of seventy-five. I do not find myself to be a High Lady of terror, but I do find it fitting that their lives are ended at your hand.

If you refuse, I understand. I will order Pyry to use their bodies as training for new recruits. Death is a far too generous punishment. Otherwise, I hope to see you soon, sister.

Viviane

Aurora's hands shook with rage, excitement, blood thirst. The faces that haunted her far too often were gathered in one place for her to unleash herself upon them. She had not taken a life since one rebel in the Hewn City over three years ago, she prayed she never had to again, but now, she craved it.

Taking another sip of her tea, Aurora folded the letter and placed it beneath her mug. Azriel would never want her to do this, not after the torment her mind had done to her from the blood that stained her hands decades ago. He'd never want her to do it again, but he knew better than to hold her back. Still, she didn't speak a word as she stood. Her mug in one hand, the other slipping her letter into the pocket of her loose pants, Aurora pressed a kiss to Orion's head. He was growing into a young man and it made her heart ache.

Fifteen now, Orion had done well with his training. The urge to fight any battle had her son at the estate to train with Nyx, Cassian, or his father nearly all day, each day. He did well with a sword and a bow, and had the stealth of an assassin with a dagger. Being small for his age, Orion easily slipped between shadows and through crowds. Even with his growing muscles, he didn't look like a killer, but he had quickly been appointed as one of his father's spies during any gathering that the High family was at.

"Go clean up, Nyx said he'd spar with you today," Aurora murmured, ruffling his tightly bound curls before leaving the kitchen. Even with Nyx being two decades older than Orion, the two quickly became friends after a few bloody fights.

"What's your plan for today?" Azriel asked, shirtless and clad in his sleeping pants. Aurora's mouth watered at the sight. She slid a hand over his hard muscled stomach as she pressed a kiss to his jaw.

"I'm going to go visit Mor and Elain," she murmured against his skin. Azriel wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her back with far too much passion for an early morning. Aurora stumbled back when he pulled his lips away, her cheeks flushed. Cauldron, would she ever get used to this?

"I'll take Orion to the estate. I have a meeting with Rhys in an hour," Azriel responded with a slap to her rear. Aurora shot him a grin before hurrying up the stairs to their bedroom. The anxiety started as she climbed into the shower, and worsened as she pulled on her leathers. Thankfully, it was the end of autumn so it wasn't strange when Aurora pulled on loose long pants and a thick sweater over top of them. No one would think twice about the full coverage outfit. She left her hair down, mostly to let the collarbone length hair to cover the thick neck of her leathers.