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

Part 5

They were kind people, the Inner circle. Not that I doubted that they were, but it's different sitting at a table talking to them.

I kept a keen eye on Cas, knowing he wasn't great at sitting still but Azriel kept him occupied for the most part, between shadows and him being fascinated by his siphons, he was in good company.

We were eating some sort of meat with potato dish, and I spied Cas's devious face in the corner of my eye, catching the potato he launched before it hit Mor, placing it on the side of my plate. He frowned at me, and I gave him a look, seeing Azriel hiding a grin behind his glass.

The end of the meal came around and I was stuffed, and Cas was tired, hanging from Azriel like a koala.

"-I promise I'll buy every single flower in your shop if you pay" Rhysand threatened, his purple eyes shining as my lips pressed together.

"insufferable" I muttered, and a grin crawled across his face, Feyre chuckling at his side.

"Alex, it's been a pleasure" Cassian bowed his head, tickling Cas's side and he giggled, hiding his face in Azriel's shoulder "Us Cas's have got to stick together" he shot me a smile before offering Mor his arm.

"Come by the house sometime, I'd love to know more about your skills" she stated, "or I'll come by your shop?"

"We have coffee mornings on Thursdays, but a few people are a little more partial to the stronger stuff" she smirked, nodding and with that the two of them disappeared.

"Thank you, for this evening. I really appreciate it" I thanked the couple, bowing my head and Feyre wrapped me in a hug much to my surprise.

"anytime" she smiled, "come by at some point, we'd love to have you over" Rhysand nodded in agreement. With another brief goodbye they also disappeared, and I turned to Azriel and the sleeping Cas in his arms.

"He really likes you" I commented fondly "and you handle him very well"

"He isn't any trouble" Azriel said quietly, "although I do wish he had managed to hit Mor with that potato"

I couldn't help the laughter that trickled out of me at the thought, my hand coming to my mouth to cover my smile.

"I think I would've died in embarrassment" my eyes roamed over my brothers sleeping form, warmth filling me "do you want me to take him?"

"Maybe it's best I escort you home, so he doesn't wake up"

"Are you sure?" he smiled, and we began to walk together "thank you"

"How long have you lived in Velaris?"

"it'll be three years next month" I couldn't help but stare up at the stars as we walked, they were right about Velaris at night, it really did the city justice.

"and your liking it here?" he glanced at me

"its like living in a fairytale" I smiled back at him "I'd always dreamed of opening my own shop"

"And that wasn't possible where you were before?" a deep ache made itself present in my chest.

"It was. But we needed a change of scenery I think." My hand soothed the skin above my heart and a cautious pressure rested on my shoulder.

"if you want to talk about it, I'm more than willing to listen" Azriel offered tentatively and I searched his face, finding sincerity.

"Thank you"

"If I had a mark for every time you said those words, I'd be almost as rich as Rhys" he smiled softly, and I mimicked it.

We reached the shop and I opened the back door, letting us inside and I guided him upstairs.

"sorry we kind of have to go the long way around to get to his room" I left the keys on the dining room table, leading him through the hallway and into my room, watching him take it in.

"You painted these?" he gestured to the wall and I nodded, paintings of Velaris, and the Dawn court hung on the wall.

"I'm not as talented as Feyre but" I shrugged, pulling off my shawl and placing it on the bed. His eyes tracked the movement, tracing the skin of my collar bones. I turned away, guiding him to the next room, which was a shared bathroom for myself and Cas, we didn't have a tub but a rather big shower, clearly built for Illyrian wings.

"It gave me some peace, knowing his room was the hardest to reach" he nodded in understanding, and I moved the covers back, Azriel placing him ever so carefully in bed and I removed his shoes, shirt and trousers before pulling the covers over him. I smoothed his hair back softly before we left the room, the door shutting gently behind us.

"you're a good sister" I smiled slightly, looking up at him gratefully.

"you're too kind" his shadows swirled across the room, caressing my face softly and my eyelashes fluttered, watching his jaw feather as he took a step closer to me.

"you look beautiful, I didn't get the chance to tell you earlier" he brushed his knuckles against my cheek and I felt my heart raced in my chest. His wings flared behind him and I could scent the arousal in the room.

"Azriel" my voice was barely a whisper and I reached out to caress his face, his eyelashes dark against his cheeks as his eyes closed, leaning into my touch. "Mother above your gorgeous"

He looked at me now, the dim light from the lamp reflected in his eyes and through his hair, outlining every sharp feature of his face, his wings.

"Alex" his eyebrows pinched like he was in pain, "I want to kiss you, but the problem is" he leaned in slightly and we stared at each other "if I did. I don't think I'd be able to stop"

My lips parted and his gaze dropped to them, thumb dragging across my bottom lip. He leant forward and just as I went to close my eyes, his glossed over. Pausing.

He sighed deeply, removing himself from me.

"I'm sorry. Rhys" he tapped his temple and I smiled, shaking my head.

"no it's okay" I looked to the floor before back up at him "maybe we can start with coffee next time"

"next time?" he repeated hopefully, lips tilting up, shadows dancing around us in a frenzy. "I guess I'll see you around then, Alex"

"I look forward to it, Shadowsinger" his siphons gleamed, and he gave me a final look before he kissed my hand, disappearing.

Cauldron, he was going to ruin me.