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

Part 8

We were stumbling through the street in the early hours, hanging off each other as we laughed.

"and then he- he" she couldn't get through the sentence without cackling and I chuckled at her, admiring the lights reflecting off the water. Everything felt a little fuzzy, in a good way, it felt nice to just relax.

As Mor began another tale, my heel caught on the cobbles and we both tumbled to the floor, tears appearing in my eyes as I laughed until my stomach hurt.

"What in the world" a familiar voice made us lift our heads. Rhys stood in front of our prone forms, arms crossed with a raised eyebrow, purple eyes shining.

"I'm so sorry" I giggled, and Mor pushed me.

"What did we say about that word!" I groaned, rolling my eyes.

"I can't believe you've corrupted our poor innocent Alex" he chuckled, offering me his hand and I took it gratefully, having to hold onto him so I didn't fall over again. "please don't throw up on me"

"I promise" the smile curled on my face and he shook his head, eyeing Mor getting to her feet.

"leave her alone! Do you know she hasn't drunk in years" she leant in like it was a secret, yet she almost shouted it.

"which makes it even worse" he chided her, pressing a hand to my back as I wobbled. "you're both coming home"

Mor whined and I was too busy laughing to concentrate on what he was saying. The next thing I knew we were in a lavish house, roaring fire immediately heating through to my bones, not realising how cold it had gotten.

Rhys sat me on the sofa next to the fire as he took Mor upstairs, telling me he'd be back soon.

I sighed into the plush fabric, feeling a tickling against my leg and reaching down to brush whatever was causing it away absentmindedly as my eyes drooped, watching the fire in fascination. Sometimes the simple things were so pretty.

"I thought you found them cute" my heart fluttered at the familiar voice, eyes trailing across the room to see my favourite Shadowsinger leaning against the doorframe, eyes burning orange in the light from the fire as he stared at me.

"I do, they're lovely" the shadows curled around my bare legs, and I caught them before they slithered under my dress, letting them up my arms instead and feeling them curl up my neck. "a little touchy" I chuckled, the smile coming easily with him, and I studied his relaxed form, the loose top and trousers he wore.

"are you drunk?" his siphons glowed as his voice sparked with amusement, moving into the room to sit next to me.

"mm just a tinsy bit" I squished my fingers together, turning my body to face him, struggling with my heels. "Mor and I got to chatting, watched the sun set on the hills" I sighed, leaning my head against the back of the sofa, gazing at him. "Did I tell you how pretty you are?"

He smiled, tracing his fingers along my cheek to tuck some loose hair behind my ear.

"even drunk you still manage to charm me"

"me charm you? Wow.." I mused with a grin, catching his hand with mine, intertwining our fingers lazily. "you're the biggest flirt I've ever met"

"is that so?"

"yeah I mean your shadows do most of the work, but I get the message" his shadows thrived at the words, curling around my cheek. He watched them do it, reaching out a hand to take their place, smoothing his scarred thumb across my skin and I hummed happily, eyes closing.

"I think you're tired"

"I think you're full of shit" he snorted at my mutter, grinning as he got to his feet.

"come on. bedtime precious" his hands found mine and he pulled me to my feet, wing cocooning my back as I leant against him. Breathing in his woody scent.

"you smell nice" the words slipped past my lips without a thought and his hand smoothed down my back, guiding me forward.

I wobbled on my heels, legs almost buckling but he scooped me up in his arms and we appeared in another room. A bedroom this time.

I inhaled deeply, surrounded by his scent and my eyes fluttered.

"this is your room"

"well I wasn't going to take you to Rhys's" he set me on the edge of the bed and I leant down to undo my heels, overestimating the distance and falling forward into his legs as he chuckled, helping me back.

"sorry" he shushed , kneeling in front of me. His fingers trace the skin of my ankle and my breath caught. He undid my heels, pulling them from my feet gently and I began undoing my dress.

Azriel's eyes widened, using his wing to cover his face as I shimmied it down my body, standing so it could fall to my feet, left in my bra and pants.

"Can we go to bed now?" I rubbed my eyes, and he peeked over his wing, keeping it high enough that it covered my body from his view. He blinked before nodding, and I crawled towards the pillows, hearing his quiet groan before I buried myself under the covers with a sigh. The silk sheets were so soft against my skin, and I squirmed uncomfortably, removing my bra, throwing it off the bed. Much better.

"do you want some water?" he offered, dark eyes crouching in front of me and I shook my head. I could see his jaw feather as he looked at me, shadows curing down my back, and I reached my hand out to him.

"Join me?" he shook his head, my lips pulling down slightly "I can't sleep in your bed alone"

"I don't think you'll be happy with me in the morning" his hands pulled the sheets up to my chin.

"But it's your bed. I can't stay here if you're not" I began to sit up, but he quickly pushed me back down.

"I'll sleep on top of the covers, okay? Just until you fall asleep" he moved to the other side of the bed, laying on his front next to me, wings pulled in.

My eyes traced them, itching to reach my hands out and touch.

"what did you and Mor talk about?" he distracted me and my gaze met his again.

"under the mountain, snow, parents, festivities" I listed off what I could remember.

"under the mountain? You weren't down there, were you?" he sounded concerned, eyes narrowing with worry.

"not me. My parents." I mumbled, closing my eyes to block out the memory "tell me something nice"

"something nice" he mused softly, running his fingers up and down my arm "when I first saw you, the way you held back your smile at your mischievous brother who was playing with my shadows," my lips curved up at the memory "I thought you were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. But then you smiled at me. And I could swear you turned into starlight".

"Really?" eyes opening to meet his and he smiled.

"Really. No wonder these little devils like you so much." He muttered fondly, watching them settle against my skin.

"I thought you were really pretty too" the words were barely a whisper "like a dark angel"

"Angel, hm? I don't think anyone's ever compared me to an angel before"

"that's because you're mine. My angel" our fingers tangled together, and I pressed my lips to his hand, holding it close to my heart.