A Court so Cruel and Lovely

Chapter Twenty Five

When I walked in, everyone at the table simply gaped at me. Well, except Mor, since she already knew. Cassian was the first to get up. He practically tackled me in a hug.

"Holy shit," he screamed. "You're fucking alive."

"I won't be for much longer if you don't let go," I laughed.

He let go, grinning like a Cheshire Cat. I grinned back.

There was a female I didn't recognize standing right behind him. She was short, with pale skin, silver eyes, pointed ears, and sleek black hair. Her eyes unnerved me. They looked like they were alive.

"You must be Rhysand's sister," she said. Even her voice was delicate. "I'm Amren, Rhys' second."

"Yes, my name is Selene," I smiled. She did not smile back.

I turned towards Azriel. He still looked the same, it looked as if he packed on some muscle, though. He stayed towards the back of the group. Both Amren and Cassian stepped out of the way. His hand twitched as if he was trying to decide if he should touch me or not. I made the choice for him.

I hugged him, inhaling his scent – night-chilled mist and cedar. Azriel hugged me back, his shadows pulled back. I couldn't have cared less if he had his shadows around me.

"I've missed you," I whispered.

"I missed you, too," he whispered back. I couldn't help the smile that stretched across my face as I pulled away from him.

We sat at the table. I sat next to Azriel. I was so fucking hungry, I ate two and a half plates full of food. Azriel's eyes lingered on my wrist, where another tattoo was. This one was the Night Court insignia. I was surprised he noticed it. Then again, Azriel is more observant than most.

I had five tattoos from when I used to sneak into the mortal world with Vivi, Jude, and Taryn. The first one I got was the Night Court insignia on my wrist. The second was the snakes. The third was a Shakespeare quote from The Tempest, in typewriter font, across the bottom of my torso – "Hell is empty and all the devils are here". The fourth was a bunch of flowers spanning from the right side of my waist to just a few inches below my right breast. The fifth was a human heart with a dagger through it – with a quote from Romeo and Juliet: "These violent delights have violent ends" around it – was tattooed on my left forearm.

If it weren't obvious, I loved reading Shakespeare. The only Shakespearean play I hated was Macbeth. I could never quite understand that one. I thought it was stupid that after everything, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth ended up dead. Such a pointless ending. Then again, most of Shakespeare's work ended in tragedy.

Maybe that's why I liked them so much. Because of the bittersweet ending. I used to think I wanted a love like Romeo and Juliet but now I think I want a love like Mara and Cole from There are No Saints – which is where I got the inspiration for the snakes on my back and the waist to breast garden – or Everly and Roth.

Maybe I just wanted to be loved, generally speaking. Not sibling love, but real, true love. That's what I wanted, what I needed.

Perhaps one day, I shall receive it.