The Whispers of Shadows - A&A One Shots

time for a change

The scars that littered Aurora's body were no longer a true concern for her. After four decades of them, they were simply just a part of her skin. Every now and then, she'd look at them and remember the way they had been placed there, but no longer did she cry over seeing them in the mirror. That seemed to change one day, a day she never thought would happen.

After so long, Aurora had been poisoned by those memories again. Azriel had been on top of her, pleasuring her in a way they had done countless times before. His hand was wrapped around her throat, her leg thrown over his shoulder, and his hips driving into hers in a ruthless rhythm. Normally, she enjoyed the pain that always came with his impressive length pounding deep within her, and the sensation of her mind growing hazy under his bruising touch, but this time was different.

"Fuck," Azriel cursed above her before his face lowered to hers. He didn't kiss her, but instead ran his lips and teeth along her jaw. Aurora was dizzy with pleasure, clawing at his arm and shoulders as the fire spread within her.

His hand tightened around her throat, teeth moving to her shoulder. Aurora gasped as he slammed into her, teeth sinking into her skin. Somehow, suddenly, visions of the soldiers faces flashed in her mind. In her head, Cormac was grinning down at her, and then Tamlin, and the countless and nameless males of the Winter Court. Aurora whimpered, attempting to bring her leg from Azriel's shoulder.

He didn't notice her withdrawal, and his free hand fell to her thigh to keep her against him. Aurora whimpered again, trying to keep her eyes open to remind herself of the wings, of the shadows, of her mate. Every time she blinked, they appeared. The hand on her throat was too much, as was the heavy thrusts into her.

"Stop, stop, stop," she whispered, hands moving down his shoulders. She pushed against him and Azriel reacted immediately. His hips stilled and he sat up, hand moving from her throat to the blankets beside her. Aurora didn't realize how much her breath had left her, or how tears were sticky on her cheeks. It wasn't until Azriel studied her face that he scrambled away from her.

"Aurora?" He spoke gently, on his knees. A sob released and she crawled back, pressing herself to the headboard. She brought her knees up to her chest and felt her throat for tender spots. Azriel was nothing but a blur in her vision as she checked herself for injury, just as she had done so many years ago.

It had been routine: Endure the pain, wait until they were finished, make herself as small as possible with no open space behind her, check for injuries to tend to. Azriel stayed silent as Aurora closed her eyes and let her hands roam her exposed body. She had nearly forgotten he was there; she had somehow fallen into the mind of the frail creature hidden in shadows.

When no injuries were found, her breathing slowed and she tilted her head back to rest on the headboard. Her fingernails dug into the skin of her other hand, scratching at it. It was a nervous tick she had developed in her earlier years. Slowly, the sensation of the cushioned mattress below her began to sink in. Aurora let her hands fall, feeling the pillows she was now curled up on.

"Aurora?" Azriel repeated, voice low and broken.
Her eyes peeled open, fingers curling into the pillows. Reality set in, and she realized what she had done. Azriel's eyes were wide and brimmed with tears, his fists clenched tightly and pressed against his thighs. He was shaking.

"No," Aurora spoke, straightening against the headboard. Her eyes fell to the sheets she had laid upon. No blood, no pain. Her gaze shot back to her mate, who looked as though he had just slaughtered a village of children. Regret hid behind his glassy eyes and was evident in the white knuckles.

"Did I hurt you? I'm so sorry, I didn't notice. I didn't fucking-."

"No. Az, you didn't. I don't know what happened," she sobbed, moving to her knees and crawling towards him. Azriel shifted back, throat bobbing. Aurora paused, sitting back and watching him. He didn't want to touch her.