A Court of Watchful Shadows

Velaris life

Another day of training with Azriel except this time Amren was there to oversee it. Her and Azriel were both ripping into me so much that I actually managed to channel enough rage to use a flicker of my power in my favour.

Though I think Azriel saying the word "again" is permanently etched into me. He was especially harsh on me today, probably because I'd thrown the book he'd suggested across the room. He can't be mad about that though, I agreed to train with him not bond.

As I was working on 'squeezing oranges' he'd made one too many comments calling me pathetic but my last straw was "you'll embarrass your family trying to fight with that power." I had no family.

I whirl my power at him which he blocked so I charge and grab his dagger that had been strapped to him. 'Truth teller' he calls it.

He just mocked me as always "you don't even know how to use it."

Icy rage burned in my chest "stab them with the pointy end."

Amren just watched in amusement.

I try to take a couple of swipes at him with the knife, which he dodged with ease "Why would I need to know how to fight anyway, this training was just to stop the power from consuming me."

He turns to look at Amren, as though silently speaking to one and other. I let the dagger fall limp, putting my hands on my hips. "Well?"

"There's a war coming girl.." Amren begins. "Amarantha dying," I winced "wasn't the end of Hybern, it's more or less fuelled their rage and they're ready for war." I know of Hybern, the king who wanted to enslave and torture humans, which was wrong but better them than me I suppose.

"So you expect me to fight in your war?" I ask Amren, though Azriel replies for her. "Unless you'd rather stay in Velaris like a 'coward'" he used my own words against me. Fair.

I stride over to him, shove his dagger back into its strap, the sharpness in my eyes imitating that of the dagger. "No, let's train." His eyes danced with intensity.

~~

A few more weeks of that day to day training went by quickly, mainly because I was always too drained to use up the rest of the day, save for maybe an evening swim in the peaceful water that I'd make someone fly me down for.

The days melted together, most were bad but some were bearable. I'd figured the secret to my power wasn't as straight forward as Azriel's, he said it was like squeezing an orange but crushing would be a better term for my power, whether that's based on the crippling grief that hibernates in that darkness I'm not sure.

I began to eat two meals most days rather than just one now, aside from the days where I'd let my thoughts dwell on my mother. I couldn't even avenge her as Amarantha was dead thanks to that idiot Tamlin who should have just restrained her and let the rest of us have at her.

I began to figure out Rhysand's inner circle, and decided to throw them a bone about my past...not. I told them I came from the summer court as well as the winter court, though they knew about the second part thanks to my giveaway power. I had my reasons for lying though, I always did and have never lied without reason.

I knew that winged freak Azriel being Rhysand's spymaster was skilled with finding out information and would dig around in whatever court I claimed to come from. I didn't want them knowing a slither of information about my past or why I was really in Velaris, people take your weaknesses and use them against you.

I had slightly bonded with Amren and Mor as the latter insisted I go for dinner with them in Velaris, I just wanted to be out of the house of wind and away from his shadows if I'm being honest.

As the days flooded by it had felt as though our shadows were communicating and it was impossible to escape it. I knew there was nothing to be done about the fact we were mates but cauldron I wish there was. Though in my mind I didn't want it perhaps....no. No I wasn't even going to think about caring for someone, not after what happened to my mother.

Regardless, I'm not exactly the sweetest cake in the bakery, I'm not even a cake I'd probably be some type of sharp edged pastry. Lucien had been sure to point that out to me.

Aside from the dinners with Mor and Amren they'd also taken me shopping. I do love shopping but I'd never let them see it. Amren had helped a lot by showing me the shops she knew I'd like based on how I dressed majority of the time after seeing the expression on my face at the shops Mor had taken us to. Bright coloured clothing wasn't exactly my thing. Although Mor had been spot on with the Jewellery, the jewellers Amren wanted me to look around were very extravagant.

The shopping trip also had a purpose behind it, for me to acquire some more evening clothes as Rhysand would be bringing a guest to come for dinner, someone who was staying in his townhouse who he wouldn't let any of us go in to meet. Not that I was in any particularly friendly mood, and definitely not for another one of Rhysand's friends the rest were all insufferable.