AZRIEL

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN

ADELINE

Following Azriel's promise, Cirse had helped me in getting ready to go down to the city - having ran me a bath and then proceeding to touch up my makeup while I slipped into a florally silk dress which reached above my ankle.

"Have you been down to the city before?" I casually asked Cirse while she puffed a brush padded with blush across my nose.

She shook her head. "I've never really had the chance. I lived on the outskirts growing up - the struggling areas. I've never seen the actual city of Velastille. I hear it's amazing."

I shrugged, "We will see. Why don't you get Julian to take you one day?"

Cirse's eyes flickered towards me before returning back to the brush against my skin. She remained silent for a couple moments before letting out a hesitant laugh, "No..no, I don't think me and Sir Julian are... like that."

A teasing smile picked up on my lips which had been blushed a gorgeous nudey pink colour, "Are you sure?"

"Yes!" She answered almost too quickly, and I let out a small laugh at the sight.

She ran her long fingers through my chestnut hair. We had decided to keep it down today, leave it in its natural form with gentle waves.

"You will need a pin. Let me grab one for you," She suggested, and spun round to head to the dresser. However, as she did something small and silver fell to the ground.

Curious, I knelt to the floor to pick it up. It was a silver- plated necklace, the charm shaped in the form of a feather with what looked like carvings inside it - almost like an emblem or flag. Slowly rising with the necklace in my hand, I asked Cirse, "This fell from you."

She turned around to face me, holding a couple gold pins in her hand - but I noticed how her expression immediately dropped when she saw me holding what was in my hand. As quick as I'd ever seen her, she rushed towards me and almost snatched the jewellery from me, shoving the pins into my hand.

"Sorry," She muttered, shoving the necklace into her pocket again. "I didn't realise."

I blinked at her behaviour, confused. I was curious as to what the necklace even was, but having caught sight of the time behind her on the huge clock which stood in my room - I knew I had to go and meet Azriel downstairs.

"Is everything okay Cirse?"

She nodded quickly, forcing a smile. "Yes ma'am. Everything is fine!"

Still confused at her odd behaviour, I nodded, slowly taking her word as I head to the door. "I will be back before midnight."

Making my way down the marble staircase, I saw Azriel waiting for me by the main door of the estate. His wings were out, dark and big behind him and  he was dressed in a casual black button-up and black jeans. He eyed me, his gaze flickering over the silk dress which clung to my body - midnight black, as per Velastillian fashion, then to my hair - natural and long, and then my face.

He hummed, perhaps out of satisfaction at my look as he took a step closer to me. "Kept the hair natural today?"

I nodded.

"I like it."

I held eye contact with his gold orbs before rolling my eyes and looking away, much to his amusement. He casually lifted a hand and swirls of fog and smoke began to engulf us, and I bit my lip to hold in the squeak when I felt my feet come off the ground. It was a sensation I still wasn't used to.

And once I had touched ground again, and the swirls of smokes and mist began to clear I had finally understood why Azriel had called Velastille the most beautiful district of all.