𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐫 || 𝐀𝐂𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐑 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐂 ||

BONUS 900 VOTES CHAPTER

In celebration of 900 votes, this is my gift to u all...enjoy!!!

*unedited*

** SET AFTER THEY RESCUE MEIRA FROM THE PIT **

Azriel:

I watched her as she slept, peacefully now, her chest rising and falling, a flutter of breath making her hair blow up out of her face.

I gently reached over and tucked it behind her ear, the soft feel of her cheek against my hand made he greatful all over again,

She's here. She's alive. She's safe.

I dread to think what could have happened, if we had not gotten there sooner, what had happened.

How far the scars would run.

She fell asleep in my arms, and I couldn't bring myself to lay her down on the bed. So here she sits, laid across my lap, asleep.

She sleeps soundly, not like before. Not like when I first bought her here and all she would do is flinch and turn and cry out.

But now she sleeps peacefully, fitting perfectly against my chest.

I turn my gaze to the iron chains on her wrists, the iron not in contact with my skin, but I can feel it radiating from here. A human custom and myth, one that spoke the rare truth. Rowan berries still had not immediate effect, and neither did wearing clothes inside out.

She mumbled in her sleep again, pressing her face in my chest.

"Shh, sweetheart," I whisper to her, gently stroking her hair. "You're alright. You're safe."

She mumbles a bit more, before I hear her breathing even out and she quietens, and lays peacefully in my arms.

I could stay like this forever, I really could.

But then the door creaks open, and a small face pops their head into the room.

Leila.

She shyly smiles at me, her blue-grey eyes bright and her dark hair loose around her shoulders,  before stepping into the room and wandering towards Meira.

She climbs onto the bed next to me, studying a sleeping Meira. "She's pretty, Uncle Az. Is she your mate?"

I freeze then, taking in what Leila just said. Is she your mate?

"She saved my life. That's what Mama and Papa say. And I know she healed me. But." She stops then, and tilts her head at Meira, gaining the same look Nesta got when reading. "She feels like Mama does. And Auntie Feyre and Auntie Elain."

I bristle at the mention of Elain, but Cass and Nesta's daughter continues on, "She has the same Aura."

"What do you mean, Little One?"

"She has the same feel. Like a darker magic. More ancient." She shivers then, before brushing a finger along Meira's cheek. "She's in pain."

"Not physical. It's in here," She taps on Meira's head.

Before I could ask, Nesta gently opens the door.

Relief floods her face when she sees her daughter, "There you are Leila! I've been looking everywhere for you!"

"Sorry mama," Leila bows her head.

"How is she?" Nesta indicates to Meira, who's sleeping soundly in my arms. She frowns at me, taking in my position, my face...

"Better, I think." But I glance back at Leila. "What do you mean about Auras?"

Leila shrugs. "Everyone has different feels. Think of going up to a tree...the touch of bark, compared to the touch of smooth stone, a page of a book. But in a atmosphere."

"I read it in a book somewhere," Leila shrugged.

"Alright, that's you off to bed," Nesta told her daughter, and as Leila jumped off the bed, she asked, "Who's Sirius?"

Me and Nesta share a look.

"Bed. Now," She guides Leila back to the door, but not before she says over her shoulder, "Goodnight, Uncle Az."

"Goodnight, Leila,"

Nesta softly smiles before quietly shutting the door.

I run my gaze back to Meira, who looks angelically peaceful in her sleep, like a fallen Angel. 

Is she your mate?

Maybe. Yes. No.

Don't lie to yourself.

Meira looks exactly the same as I saw her last time, just without her memories and drained of magic, as well as white hair.

What did they do to you, baby?

I press a gentle kiss to her temple before settling back and watching the sun rise up, over the mountains and into a new day.

*****

New chapter almost here 😉😏 xx