About 30 minutes I got in the water before I sensed the shadows I'd briefly escaped in my peaceful swim.
"If you're trying to leave Velaris overseas, I'm sorry to tell you it'll be a long swim." Ugh of course he'd have to open with that.
I was floating on my back with my eyes closed, not bothering to rise to his quip "I can't get 5 minutes of peace without you turning up, what are you doing here anyway I thought you went off in a strop."
"You can't shake me that easily Ziláa, I know what happened during under the mountain, the fact I had no choice, and you know it too, you're just trying to drive a wedge between this bond." He finished in a steady tone.
"One of your 'inner circle' cronies get you to say that?"
He ignored it. "You know normal people usually don't swim fully dressed, were the customs in your old court different?"
I deadpan back "Very funny. Actually I usually don't wear anything to swim." His jaw tightened. "But it seemed a bit public to do that wouldn't you agree?" I smirk knowing exactly what's on his mind.
He loosened a breath "well time's up sunshine, it's nearly dark and there's all sorts of things crawling the streets at night here."
"Yea like you."
He laughed.
I narrowed my eyes up at him "I was being dead serious batboy."
"Of course sunshine."
~~
Back up at the house of wind I went straight to my room and stayed there, I wanted to put the pottery plates I'd acquired in safe keeping, my reminder of Orelia.
I used one as a place to put all the jewellery I'd been using, no outfit is complete without jewellery no matter the circumstances and I'll die by that belief.
The other I put in the bathroom, even if I had to stay in this silly wind house then I'd at least want some reminders of home around my room. Not winter court but my real home at Dawn court.
I wash and change into some looser black silky night court attire when there was a light knock at the door.
Too light to be Azriel who probably would've felt entitled to walk in, much too light to be Cassian, can't be Rhysand because you can feel his power radiating down the halls...so that leaves Amren or...
"It's only me" Mor spoke in a sing song manner as I opened the door. I glance down at her hands, she's holding black clothing. Hmm.
She takes a light step past me into my room. "I brought you some Illyrian fighting leathers, I've since outgrown them but they should be able to fit you as you're quite small..." she drawled out the last word, wary of my reaction to being called such a thing. I had no energy to be a bitch right now though.
"Thanks Mor." I tried to smile but it felt as though my face were made of glass and would shatter at any movement.
Her eyes wondered around my room, she half frowned at the drawn curtains.
"The darkness is...comforting" I half explained. She made a silent "O" with her mouth, still studying the room.
"Look, Mor about the dinner, I'm sorry if you and...everyone...thought I was rude, in all honesty I probably shouldn't have attended since I was quick to react like that." I was being genuine in the apology, there's a first since I've been at the night court.
"No Ziláa, I feel like we all rushed you into that, you don't need to apologise to me for that." I felt relieved. "But," oh cauldron. "I feel as though if anyone deserves an apology, it's Azriel."
Well that's annoyed me. "But I didn't say anything to him at the dinner." My eyes sharpen.
"Not about the dinner, about today..." cringing as she said it.
I let out a humourless laugh "Oh of course he went to all his inner circle cronies for comfort because I shamed him for the part he played with Amarantha, or lack thereof"
She sharpened her tone, leaving no room for argument "He didn't have a choice in that Ziláa, none of us did, the cost was greater than you can imagine, Azriel is beating himself up over it, over the fact his own mate thinks him a coward."
I'm sick of this mate business! "I'm not his mate." My eyes burned, tears threatened to spill. I wouldn't cry.
"Whether you like it or not, the cauldron decided you are so cut him some slack because he's been nothing but nice to you." She snapped at me.
I've only met her once but my gosh this is a drastic change from the bubbly female at dinner, is this how cold people felt around me?
"Thanks for the clothes, you can go" I stated, pointing at the door.
"I want us to be friends Ziláa, I really do but I don't like seeing my friends hurting, and will jump to defend them, if we become friends maybe I'll be able to defend you someday.."
She strode towards the door.
"I don't need defending, I'm quite capable of doing that on my own." My shadows flick hungrily in anger.
"That's where you're wrong." A small smile was thrown my way and she padded out of the door.
YOU ARE READING
A Court of Watchful Shadows
Fantasy"I don't need to tell you pricks anything, I have my own reasons for being here and they don't concern three idiots who won't-" I was cut off as a force came slamming into me. I look up in anger at the man who was now towering over me, his nostrils...
