A Court Of Moondust And Shadows (Azrielxoc)

Haunted

    As soon as they heard Feyre scream, Azriel stormed out of the house while Cassian drew his weapons, taking a protective step in front of the women. He was too focused to notice neither Nesta or Elain where looking at him for protection, but at Rayna.

  The redhead's hand went to rest where she knew her dagger was hidden under her dress. She moved her feet, ready to jump into action. As adrenaline filled her veins, the quiet, the waiting she realized a part of her had missed it. She cursed herself for that.

  A few moments later, Cassian put his weapons back like nothing had  happened.

   'Rhys said we are leaving.' He looked at their doubtful faces. 'Everything is fine, it was nothing.' He added, trying to sound reassuring.

  They didn't believe a word.

  'Azriel will follow you to make sure you are safe while delivering the letter, glamoured of course.' He told Rayna.

  To make sure you send the letter, the unspoken words. And with that he was gone, leaving the three friends alone.

    'Well that was stressful.' Elain breathed deeply.

 Rayna nodded in agreement as she shoved the letter in the pocket of her coat before putting it on.

    'Will you be back tonight?' Nesta asked urgently, even thought she knew the answer.

 The redhead sighed deeply, buttoning her black coat. She kissed Elain's cheek affectionately in goodbye then turned to Nesta.

   'I already missed yesterday, I cannot be gone for two whole days.' She subtly placed a piece of paper in her friend's hand disguised as a handshake. 'My husband is busy man, someone has to run the household.' She added quickly with a smile.

 With one more look at the two sisters Rayna left the manor. They waited until she exited the garden and was completely out of sight. Nesta unfolded the piece of paper. She recognized her friend's infuriatingly perfect handwriting immediately, only one sentence.

        I have to warn them.

°•▪︎♤▪︎•°

   Azriel trailed after Rayna, Rhys's glamour hiding him from the mortals' view. He looked at the ring on her finger, he had noticed it the night before, but it had only been confirmed that morning when he had witnessed her discussion with the two sisters. It felt weird to him for some unknown reason, her being married. She didn't seem like a married person, but then again he didn't really know her.

   He kept following her through the busy streets, all the way to the sea port. She didn't stop to greet people, didn't even glance at the new products in the market, only walked. They way she moved with pure purpose and determination as if she was a queen making her way towards her throne. He saw it and it seemed the humans saw at it for some glanced her way and others even moved to let her pass. Once she saw it too she made her steps smaller and lowered her head, hiding herself away. She didn't want to be noticed, he didn't know why.

  She stopped in front of a ship, making him stop as well. Azriel looked around confused. Why was she just standing there? He didn't have to wait long for his answer as a young man appeared, leaning over the side of the ship.

   'Good morning, my darling. Come on up.' He called out to her, a smile on his face.

 That's when he noticed it, the matching ring on his finger. He was her husband. Rayna made to start climbing onto the ship, but his next words stopped her.

   'I just got new merchandise.' He informed her.

  She scrunched her nose in disgust, before going back on the ground, moving away from the ship.

   'You know I hate the smell of fish, dear husband.' She responded.

 Azriel raised a brow. He didn't know why he was surprised at her attitude. She was after all a noble woman, a married one. It was almost as the person he met at dinner the other day, who made his brother shut his mouth and talked to him about maddening freedom was gone. He wanted to leave and be done with it.

   He moved his focus on the husband instead, whose attitude seemed to change, no longer insisting she climbed onto the ship. Instead, he quickly got off and ran to her, taking Rayna in his arms. When they were done embracing Azriel watched as she took out the letter from her pocket and handed it to him. She told him where it needed to get and he called someone over.

   'Yes, I am headed that way.' The second man took the letter, got on his own ship that was ready to leave the sea port anyways.

  He only had to wait a few moments before seeing him sail away. Azriel turned his attention back to the married couple who was now making out. He did not need to see that. Something shifted in his chest at the image. His job there was done. With one last look in Rayna's direction he asked his shadows to take him home and so they did.

°•▪︎♤▪︎•°

  As soon as Rayna felt Azriel's presence disappear she let Killian go.

  'He's gone.' She told the man.

 Killian's smile was gone, replaced by a serious look that demanded answers. The two made their way onto the big ship. They stayed silent until they entered the captain's quarters. It wasn't big, just a bed, a table, two chairs and a few drawers, cupboards and a giant map on the wall. He locked the door behind them.

   'Will you?' Rayna asked.

 She moved her hair to reveal her dress's zipper. He nodded before pulling it down. Throwing her dress on the floor, leaving her only in her underwear she started opening drawers under his bed.

  'You might want to sit down for this one.' He protested at her words. 'The High Lord of the Night Court visited today.' She continued.

 He sat down this time, waiting for her to go on, shock clear on his face. She pulled out a shirt and pants that looked her size.

   'The good part is they have no idea about us.' She pulled the pants up her legs, making them fit perfectly with a belt. 

  'Thank the Mother!' Killian let out a breath.

  He threw his Captain's hat on the table, brushing his dark brown hair back with his hand only to reveal pointed ears. They were not as pointed as a fae's but not as round as a human's. A half blood.

   'Don't thank her yet.' Rayna responded.

 She could hear him swear loudly as she buttoned up the shirt. Pulling out weapons and holders from the second drawer, she started securing them around her body.

   'The bad part is the war we suspected is actually coming and all is happening way faster than we thought possible. The Hybren King is wasting no time. We need to think about what it means for us.'

  She took a look at herself in the mirror. For the last two days she had been wearing long puffy sleeves, now, with short ones there was no hiding the muscles on arms. And with the the pants glued to her skin neither where the ones on her legs. She looked more like a warrior than the married noble woman she had been just moments before. She turned to Killian, who looked deep in thought.

   'How many merchandises?' She questioned. 

Killian attention snapped back to her. He raised from the chair and took off his necklace, a key hanging on it. He pulled off the giant map on the wall, revealing a wooden door.

   'Only Fifty this time.'  He responded as he unlocked and opened it.