The Shadows Have No Face || 𝐀𝐂𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐑

The Ticking Clock of Death Has Stopped

My eyes pealed open and burned as sunlight hit me. My body sprawled out on the couch, my dress twisted around my abdomen. I slowly sat up, suddenly feeling a roaring headache. I pinched the bridge of my nose and groaned.

The House was somewhere between clean and a mess. Glasses scattered around each surface, but the sink was clear of dishes. Glitter sparkled on the rugs, but the floor was otherwise clear. I was sure someone threw up last night.

Mor stretched from where she was sitting in an armchair, lifting her head and wiping away the drool with the back of her hand. The look on her face was one I felt so deeply. Like she was on the verge of death.

"What happened?" I asked, voice hoarse.

She barely acknowledged me, but answered, "you passed out—around four."

"I thought I wasn't going to stay up," I thought out loud.

She rubbed her eyes. "Well, we all did. Cassian broke into the wine vault, and then... I don't remember what happened after that."

I heard a door open and watched Cassian drag himself through the hallway to the kitchen. The sink turned on, and he started walking back to the hallway with two glasses of water.

Mor opened her mouth to ask, but he cut her off. "The Misses is cranky. Don't have time." He disappeared back down the hall, closing the door again.

I dropped my head back down on the couch and curled up, covering my head with a fallen fluffy blanket. I shut my eyes tight and sighed back into relaxation, barely noticing that I was still wearing this itchy dress.

A few moments of darkness passed before I felt warm air on my face. I scrunched my nose and yawned, inhaling a scent that made my stomach ache. No—below my stomach.

Oh.

My eyes fluttered open, and I looked up at the Spymaster, who was smirking down at me. I could hear people in the kitchen, the clanking of silverware and glass. But just in this moment, I felt like all I had ever known—all I had ever seen—was him.

"Hi there," I sighed, stretching.

"Good afternoon," he said back.

From the kitchen, the sound of Cassian's voice made my smile drop. "Is the beast awake yet?"

Azriel chuckled and rose from his spot beside the couch. "Barely. What did you do to her last night?" I had to keep myself from reaching out and pulling back the warmth he brought.

I sat up and stared at Cassian, who said with a shrug, "only the Mother knows that—I blacked out."

Azriel shook his head in disappointment. "You are incompetent, to say the least."

"You didn't already know that?" Nesta said, her brows raised.

Azriel chuckled and picked up the remaining glasses on the coffee table, and brought them to the kitchen for Mor to clean. The whole house was cleaning.

I got up and smoothed out the folds in the dress before walking into the kitchen and grabbing a glass of water, which I practically inhaled. Cassian was watching me with a worried look. I raised my brows at him.

"What?"

He looked me up and down. "You look terrible."

I already knew that and was tempted to spill my water over his head for reminding me. Instead, I glared up at him and finished my drink, setting the glass down in the sink.

I exhaled and said, "I'm going to get out of this thing and when I come back, you better not be here." I shuffled around the island and started walking down the hall.