Have you ever asked someone what love is? - Azriel x OC

Part 3

It was a rare day when I got the chance to go into town for anything other than deliveries.

People bustled around the shops, couple strolling whilst window shopping, but I didn't waste any time lurking, going straight to the children's shop and getting Cas new pairs of trousers along with some jumpers and a hat. He'd loose it I was sure but it was cold out here, especially with pointed ears.

Next stop came food.

I wondered through the market, mulling over food options for this week's dinner. What to make, what to use. Anything I could mush up enough that Cas wouldn't realise it was a vegetable.

A yawn racked my body and I felt sleep wash over me like a curse. I had hours until bedtime yet.

I began the trek home, bags hanging off my arms as I climbed up the hill towards the flower shop. Not far now.

At least the sunset was pretty tonight, casting rays of pink and yellow across the clou-

A rip sounded as one of my paper bags split open, anything round rolling down the hill and I stopped to watch it in defeat. Shit.

I gave up, sitting in the middle of the pavement with my head rested in my hand, shutting my eyes. I suppose it didn't help that Cas woke me up early this morning, something about his lizard toy staring at him.

"Quite some day you seem to be having" the smooth voice commented, and I lifted my head, seeing the couple in front of me. I swallowed the surprise at the sight of my high lord and lady, stood hand in hand in front of me.

"I'm just being dramatic" I sighed with a smile "enjoying the sunset?"

"We were, until we saw the stampede of food falling at us" Feyre joked, waving off my apology. "There is nothing to forgive, although I thought improving your bag might help you" my eyes turned to my newly reinforced bags, food safe back inside.

"You are a blessing, thank you" her lips curved up, as did Rhysand's and as I stood, I heard the running footsteps of little feet. "Oh dear – Cas slow down" I span just in time to catch him as he leapt at me, stumbling back but an invisible force pressed against my back. Madja winked at me before disappearing.

Cas began shouting about his day in school whilst I listened, before he spotted the company next to us, gasping dramatically before wiggling out of my embrace to stand before them.

"hello" Feyre smiled, and Cas looked between the two of them and then back at me.

"No shadows" he frowned, and a smile split across my face, biting my lip to keep the laughter in.

"You have met Azriel" it was more of a statement than a question from Rhysand, and I nodded.

"Cas had quite the time, didn't you?" I prompted Cas gently and the child beamed.

"We played for ages! And then he helped me hide from Al, the shadows were so tickly" he giggled, and the couple smiled, Rhysand crouching to his level, whispering something I didn't catch before replicas of birds in shadow form danced around Cas as he shouted in glee. I couldn't help the feeling of warmth that spread through me at the scene. It was nice to see him getting along with other people, men especially seeing as he no longer had a father figure in his life.

"He is precious" Feyre said from my side, watching the scene with me.

"Most of the time" I agreed "you should see him at bedtime" I blew the air from my cheeks dramatically and she laughed.

"Perhaps you will need Azriel to help ease him into a more relaxed state" the thought of the Illyrian in my small apartment at bedtime was one I didn't dare dwell on.

"Perhaps. I hear happy birthdays are in order" she ducked her head bashfully.

"It is just another year"

"Very true"

Cas began to yawn, wading back over to me and reaching for me. I picked him up, setting him on my hip as he snuggled his face into my shoulder.

"thank you" no doubt the excitement of magic had wore my little one out.

"anytime" Rhysand smiled, putting an arm around his mate's waist "are you going to be alright with your bags?"

"I'll be okay, now that they're not falling apart" my eyes flicked between the two of them.

"Enjoy your evening"

"thank you for the flowers" Feyre winked before they disappeared and I laughed quietly to myself, picking up the bags with a little difficulty and making my way back to home, Cas hanging loosely off of me.

I set him in bed, snuggled up in his pyjamas. Clearly he wasn't hungry.

After cooking something just in case he did wake up, I cleaned up and showered, wrapping myself in a bath robe, wet hair curling against my neck. I brought my plate of spaghetti and the book from my room out to my balcony, sitting on a beanbag I had moved out here. My glasses slipped forward, and I pushed them back onto my face as I browsed through my book.

It was a romance one, one of the priestess's recommended it to me, based on one of her friend's readings. It was good, a little smutty but nothing I was particularly opposed to.

I sat out there for hours, reading under the stars, the soft glow of the fae light casting over the pages.

Distant laughter tumbled through the silence, slowly getting closer and I looked to the sky. Dark shapes flew overhead, voices talking but too far to hear what they were saying. No doubt the inner circle, not many of the Illyrian men dared fly over Velaris. Mainly for most of the women's dislike of them. Or the sane women anyway.