A Court Of Moondust And Shadows (Azrielxoc)

Something new

    When Rayna woke up she felt more rested than she had in months. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt so comfortable or had a dreamless peaceful sleep. She wasn't laying on cold stone, but wrapped in warm blankets. She rolled over to the side of the bed three times her size. It was made to fit illyrian wings. Oh, how she wished to stay in this comfortable place forever.

   Reality came back to her as she realized she wasn't sure where the fuck she was. Her heart started racing as she scanned the unfamiliar room in panic, until her eyes landed on the armchair right next to the bed. Azriel was asleep in what looked like an uncomfortable position for his wings. His chest was bare, but most of his skin was hidden by the many bandages around his chest. There was a wool blanket over his grey sweat pants, keeping him warm. His head was falling to the side, resting on his shoulder. His dark hair was messier than she had ever seen it and he seemed to have grown a beard. Rayna hadn't had the time to take his appearance before, her mind had been on other issues.

  He looked like hell, but somehow still managed to look absolutely beautiful. From his scarred hands to the tips of his wings he was stunning. Rayna hadn't allowed herself to admire him before, getting too close was too much of a risk. But the truth was out and they had made a bargain...

  No, there were more pressing matter than her need to get laid. There was a war starting. Everything was a mess, she couldn't focus her energy on silly obsessions.

  She slowly rose from the bed, even though she wanted nothing more than to lay in it the whole day. Grabbing the corners of the wool blanket, she covered Azriel with it until his neck, to make sure he didn't freeze to death. Rayna hesitated before taking a small pillow from the bed and putting it between his shoulder and head, so he could be more comfortable.

  The shadowsinger stirred in his sleep and buried his nose in the pillow, the frown on his face instantly disappearing. Rayna hated the way her face heated up as she wondered if it was her scent that brought him comfort. After all that had been the pillow her head had rested on.

 Silly thoughts she couldn't afford. She left the room and made her way down the hallway. She was in a house, that was for sure, not a mansion but big enough. Stopping to look out of a window, she was surprised to find it half covered in snow and ice. She could make out tall mountains in the distance, no cities, just white cold snow. The view was absolutely mesmerizing.

   After inspecting the house, she paused in what Rayna assumed was the living room. Her eyes landed on the table where a few empty papers and writing instruments were. Azriel wouldn't minde if she used some, right? She could get him new ones.

  Sitting down she paused before beginning writing.

    To my all too clever fox,

°•▪︎♤▪︎•°

    'You are awake.' Azriel's panicked eyes immediately calmed down after finding her wrapped in a blanket on the sofa.

  Rayna smiled softly, but it didn't quite reach her eyes as she continued staring out of the window, watching the snowflakes fall. She felt him hesitating before taking a seat on the other side of the sofa, putting enough space between them so she wouldn't feel uncomfortable.

  It was like being around a completely different person. They were both too aware of what the other was and what it would mean in the upcoming war.

   'How are you feeling?' Rayna asked, her eyes dropping to his wrapped in white bandages chest. 

Azriel's eyes widened.

   'You nearly died and yet you are asking me how I am feeling?'

   'That's what friends do.' Raya stated without meaning to.

 Azriel watched her turn her head away from him. He knew she hadn't meant to say it out loud.

   'But I understand with our current positions and what we are that it can't be true. Everything has changed.' She declared, but Azriel was having none of that.

  The female before him could have been Death herself and he wouldn't have given a damn. When he looked at her it wasn't her position or power he saw. It wasn't just because she was his mate, he had known her before the bond snapped. Azriel knew Rayna, knew her desires and dreams, knew her soul just like she knew his. And what if they hadn't spoked about dark pasts and carried secrets, those were titles and experiences, it wasn't who he was and it didn't define who she was either.

  After 500 years someone had cared enough to see him, truly see him. And he saw her too, even if he wasn't so sure she had realized that yet. It was clear to him something else was going on in her life, a burden on her shoulders Azriel wanted to take away. He couldn't call her out on it and demand answers though, he would wait until she chose to tell him. He could wait, for her he would wait forever.

  Friends, she had called them. Friends, it warmed his bleeding heart.

    'Did your love for caramel change?' He asked.

 Rayna frowned in confusion. She turned her head to look at him, only to find him closer to her than she had expected. His head was inches away from hers, she could almost feel his breath on her face. Rayna had to force her eyes to remain on his and not slide down to gaze longingly at his lips.

  She wasn't sure when she had begun to care for him. Rayna had tried so hard not to, but she had let her guard down around him since she assumed she wasn't going to see him again or that he wouldn't care to remember or view as important a mere human. But now, staring into his hazel eyes that always seemed to become a shade warmer when they were alone, she realized he had gotten under her skin without her approval. The selfish part of her didn't mind it.

   'No, it didn't.' She found herself responding.

 Azriel smiled and Rayna found herself unable to look away. His real smiles and laughs were so rare that she needed to remember every time it happened, mark it down as another success. The way his face lit up and his dimples showed, it made her heart warm.

  'Then nothing has changed.' He paused before taking her hand in his.

  It was a big step for him, taking someone's hand into his own scarred one, Rayna realized it too. He seemed to hold his breath for a moment.

  'You never have to hide from me. Your beauty could never scare me.' Azriel used the same words she had told him weeks ago.

   'Fuck it.' Rayna replied.

 Azriel blinked in shock and confusion.

   'Fuck it? Wh-' His words died on his tongue as Rayna closed the distance between them.

  Their lips were almost touching but she didn't move, she was waiting, Azriel realized. Waiting for him to say he was fine with it. It warmed his heart.

   'Yes.' He whispered before crashing their lips together.