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

Part 14

Feyre stayed in the shop with me for the rest of the day, drawing away in her notepad.

And then the time came to close up shop and collect Cas. I packed our bags and then the two of us walked to the pre-school.

"Do you find it strange? This world?" I asked as we waited, and she smiled.

"it's got its charm. it's so different, and at times I still believe I'm walking in a dream." Her eyes went distant, smile crawling over her face "Rhys says Velaris is where dreams are born, and he's right. I'd never imagined this life in a million years" there connection was so pure. It was envious.

"I'm so happy for you two, truly. It's so rare to see what you guys have."

"Rhys said mating bonds were rare among fae, but your parents were mated, weren't they?" I took a deep breath.

"so they told me. But I doubt it the more I get older. I think maybe it was obsession with each other rather than a pure, loving connection"

"like what you and Azriel have?" she prompted and I smiled.

"I hope so." Shadows tightened lovingly and I placed a hand over them.

"I pray you two are mated." Her eyes met mine softly and I placed a hand on her shoulder.

"it would not matter if we were or weren't, I love him just as much"

"Al! Al! Al!" Cas cried as he ran towards us and I grinned, crouching down to catch him.

"hey lovey" my hand rested on the back of his head as I smiled at his bright eyes "look who's here!" his eyes looked up at Feyre who crouched next to us with upturn lips.

"Hello again Cas" he giggled against me, and I chuckled, smoothing his hair out of his eyes.

"Are you not going to say hello?"

"Hello" his small voice repeated.

He warmed up to her as we walked, eventually he was swinging between the two of us as he chatted to Feyre who was doing her best to keep up with his rambling.

He talks a lot.

Tell me about it.

We shared a look over his head before laughing.

We spent the evening playing boardgames before I put Cas to bed and then Feyre and I had a glass of wine, talked things over. How she was finding Fae life, having a mate.

"listen, I have to know" she started, a mischievous glint to her eye "you two have had sex right?"

"I don't like where this is going"

"how's he in the downstairs department?" I felt the shadows curl around my breasts loosely, teasing.

"we aren't talking about this" I denied, taking our empty wine glasses to the sink as she groaned desperately.

"Please! I have a bet going with Cassian"

"Goodnight, Feyre!" I called as I walked down the hall towards the spare room that Cas was currently asleep in.

I cracked open the door, seeing him soundly asleep. Some of the shadows were curled around the headboard, keeping an eye on him much to my relief.

The remaining ones yanked on my hand once I seemed satisfied, dragging me back down the hall.

"hey, I need to go to bed" I whispered to them, but they paid me no mind, leading me to a room, the door opening as I approached. I recognised it, it was Azriel's.

"no, I don't think-" I pressed a hand over my mouth as they fluttered over my nipples "naughty things" they pushed me into the room, door closing behind me. It was just as I remembered, and I inhaled deeply. It still smelt like him. "You know you're very demanding" I watched them curl through my fingers.

My eyes trailed across the room, taking it in now that I had time to do so. It was neat, organised and didn't hold any clutter. Weapons lay on top of one of the chests of drawers, small vials, paper piles. Simple. I opened his wardrobe, stealing a sweater that covered my hands before moving back to the door. But it wouldn't budge, shadows swarming at my legs.

"I need to be there for Cas. In case he wakes up" they crawled up my legs reluctantly and I went back to the spare room, crawling into the bed next to Cas and falling asleep.