The Shadows Have No Face || 𝐀𝐂𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐑

Skin of Sunlight

My headache didn't leave until we left for the Day Court. An entire three days of eye-burning headaches that left me tired before noon. I knew I had gone to bed somewhere around three in the morning, but Mor was convinced it was later. Worst of all, I had absolutely no memory of what happened once back at the House of Wind.

Something definitely happened that night, but I had no idea what. That was the scariest part—not having a clue what drunk Niana had done in the night. I rarely ever fell that far over.

Cassian said Azriel and I had gone out onto the balcony for a bit before coming back in and playing a round of games with the others. I didn't want to believe it, but something told me I did something to bother the shadowsinger.

For the last three days he hasn't spoken to me, looked at me—he wouldn't even stay in the same room as me. It was to the point that I had to confront Cassian about it, who told me to bring it up with the High Lord.

So I did. I had Cassian fly me down to Rhysand's office and demanded he tell me what was going on with the Spymaster. What I didn't expect, however, was the sight of Azriel standing in the office.

I opened the door ready to start shouting at the High Lord for an explanation, when I stopped. My mouth shut and I blinked away surprise. It had been days since I was this close to him, and now I was here, and he was there, and I didn't know what to do but stare at him.

Something... happened in the seconds between breaths. Something happened between the seconds of seeing him and then recognizing he was there. The world just seemed to fall away.

It all went still. Life went still. Quiet and dark and slowly watching, waiting for something to happen. For whatever snapped to snap again. And again. And again.

His eyes bore into mine like molten flames of gold, his breathing quick and silent. His heartbeat rang in my ears, drowning out whatever order the High Lord threw at me. My body grew warm, melting away the frozen winter that clung to me. Everything grew still and silent and calm. The calm before the storm.

Rhysand looked between us with a rather furious look. He said something I didn't hear. I couldn't hear anything, really. Not even my own heartbeat. It was strange, and terrifying. I didn't know what was happening to me, but it was. This feeling like everything finally settled, and all became right. So strange and unfamiliar, yet my mind and body welcomed it.

Pitch black magic, reminding me of sand, wrapped around my limbs and pulled me from the room so fast I nearly yelped with surprise. The door shut behind, and I was dropped into a chair in the hallway.

I was forced to wait and listen. Listen, as the two males argued in hushed whispers. Wait as the two finished what was needed, and one left. When silence rose again, I prepared myself for something. The door opened, and the High Lord motioned for me to come in.

He sat in a leather chair behind the desk and sighed, sinking deeper into the cushioned seat. "What possessed you to come barging into my office?"

I sat in one of the chairs and said, "I want to know what's going on with the Spymaster. Clearly you know something I don't."

"What happens with him is none of your business."

"It is when I'm about to spend a week with him in a Court I know nothing about," I bit back.

Rhysand paused a moment, thinking. He raised his brows quickly and said, "Azriel is dealing with personal matters at the moment, and has asked me not to share them with anyone."

I huffed a laugh. "Did he tell you anything? About what happened the night of the Solstice?"

"No, why?" The High Lord seemed to perk up with attention at that.