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

Part 12

Soft kisses pressed to my face and I smiled, nestling further into his warm chest, feeling his knuckles brush down the length of my naked back.

"morning" I whispered, his hand stroking through my hair.

"morning" he echoed, and I pulled back to look at him, amber eyes caught in the early sun rays, the light from his siphons bouncing off my skin. A smile spread across his lips.

Cauldron I loved him. So much.

The admission made my heart pound in my chest, and he tilted his head, brushing my hair away from my face.

"what's wrong?"

"I-" was it too early to say the 'L' word? I didn't want to freak him out. He searched my face, shadows soothing my body.

"I love you too" my eyes widened in surprise. "they don't call me spymaster for nothing" he added softly, smile never ceasing.

"I love you, so much" my fingers curled into the nape of his neck, pressing my lips to his, feeling love flow through us like a tidal wave. "I would say let's continue from last night, but Cas is going to be waiting" he smiled against my lips, stealing a final few kisses before we rolled out of bed.

We did our teeth, I had my tonic, before we put some clothes on. Az put on the stuff he wore yesterday, and I went for a pink skirt with a cropped white jumper. If the shadows were touchy before, they were in overdrive now. Constantly curled around my waist or thighs, nothing sexual, but more intimate.

We walked around Velaris hand in hand, Madja's house wasn't far, but I relished in our walk. It was nice, walking in the early light of morning down the beautiful city with my...lover?

"Al!" a little voice cried as Madja opened the door, Cas sprinting towards us at full pelt in his school uniform and I crouched down to catch him. Laughing at his giggles whilst I span him in my arms, pressing kisses to his head as he squirmed.

"Al no kisses"

"oh okay sorry, I forget your such a big boy now" I teased, setting him on the ground where he peered up at Azriel who was stood just behind me.

"Shadow man" Cas beamed, shadows curling at his feet in greeting.

"you okay to keep an eye on him whilst I talk to Madja?" Az nodded with a smile, crouching in front of Cas and I went up the steps to a smiling Madja.

"was he okay for you?"

"an angel" we shared a look and I grinned "he was fine, just apart of growing up." She patted my arm, casting her eyes over to the two of them "I trust it you had a nice relaxing week"

"the best, thank you again" she pulled me into her arms and I relished in her motherly embrace.

"you look happy" she held my face in her hands and I smiled.

"I am happy" she nodded contently "I brought you something"

The bag of treats appeared in my hands and she brightened, taking them from me gratefully.

"you didn't have to"

"I wanted to" I assured, taking Cas's bag from the floor "we better get him to school"

"have a good day dear" she waved us goodbye as I walked back to the boys, Azriel scooping Cas up in his arms as the boy laughed in delight, shadows tickling his face. If there was any time I would want to commit to memory, it was this. Azriel smiled down at the white-haired boy before looking up at me, eyes shining. The shadows beneath my shirt squeezed me lovingly and I smiled as he winked at me.

"Is Shadow man coming to school too?" his little blue eyes peered at me as I joined them.

"Yeah, Shadow man is coming too" I tucked a curl behind his pointed ear. We began to walk to school, Cas and Azriel teasing me lightly as we walked, and I pretended to be annoyed which made Cas giggle even more.

"here we are" Azriel set Cas down much to his dismay.

"Can I take them with me?" Cas stared at Azriel with his best puppy eyes and the man looked at me in panic. Who'd of thought that was all it took to get the great Shadowsinger to cave.

"Azriel needs his shadows to keep Velaris safe. Like a superhero" Cas gasped as I crouched next to him, catching sight of some of the other mum's watching us and muttering to each other. "So do you think Azriel should keep them?" he nodded in confirmation, and I smiled, patting his shoulder. "Good job" we all looked towards the door as the bell chimed, Cas running away with a wave, being ushered in by his teacher who sent me a smile before shutting the door.

"That was a close call" Azriel's arm wrapped around my front, and I smiled, leaning my head back against his chest with a sigh.

"doesn't take much to make you melt, hm Angel?" his lips pressed to my hair and my hand rested over his.

"Alice! How good to see you!" we both turned to Katie, Brandon's mum who had walked towards us, smile plastered on her pretty face.

"Hi Katie" I greeted, squeezing Az's hand as it moved from my front to my side.

"Quite the catch you've got with you" her eyes roamed Azriel and something deeply possessive stirred in me, eyes hardening as I moved in front of him.

"Bye Katie" I smiled falsely, turning away from her with Azriel by my side.

"Alice!" she called after me and I rolled my eyes, Azriel chuckled next to me, slinging his arm over my shoulders.

"All yours, Starlight" he murmured into my ear, and I shivered, shadows nipping me playfully.

"Don't do this before I start work"

"Do what?" he asked innocently, and I shot him a look to which he grinned at. "you know you love it"

"I love you. But I can't spend the whole of my shift thinking about unsavoury things"

"like me?"

"I'm always thinking about you"