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

Part 26

Another long day at the flower shop had me begging for sleep.

We were 2 days away from our mating ceremony and surprisingly Rhys had been the one to nag at us about getting ready.

Feyre had kept true to her promise and had kept everything to herself, but that didn't stop her from checking in on me constantly. Az had found it more than amusing to come home to find her fussing around me.

We were also due to talk to Cas about the whole situation. As much as I knew he'd love someone to play with, he needed to know that there were big changes coming. But he was a good kid, smart too.

"Hey I'm home!" I called up as I started going up the stairs.

Az was picking up Cas from school seeing as Madja was busy with a meeting, and we had plans to make a cake after tea so he could bring it to school tomorrow.

My eyebrows furrowed as I set my bag down, checking the apartment for my boys. They would've come in through the back door, or balcony but everything was dead silent. Shadows wound around me as I tried to feel for Az, but nothing.

My heart picked up a few paces before I was winnowing to the townhouse, finding the others in the living room talking. All chatter stopped as I walked in, but I quickly noted the absence of the two-winged Illyrian's and my lovey.

"where's the boys?"

"Al come sit" Feyre coaxed, and I did as she asked, looking at them in confusion.

"what's going on?" I looked to Rhys, and he took a deep breath, eyes flicking from me to Feyre and back.

"Cas wasn't at school when Azriel went to collect him"

It felt like the whole world stopped, and I blinked slowly.

"what?"

"They're out looking for him" Feyre soothed quickly, and I shook my head.

"wouldn't you have known, I mean the wards- he- he really wasn't there?"

"breathe" Feyre rubbed my arms as I took a deep breath, panic clawing through me.

Cas was gone.

"someone winnowed out of the city a few hours ago," Rhys crouched next to where I was sitting, Mor bringing me a glass of water. "they're going to find him, Alex." He assured fiercely.

Hours ago. He had been missing for hours.

"his teachers, they didn't see anything?" the glass shook as I sipped the water, trying to stay calm despite my blood rushing under my skin, hearing my heart thundering in my ears.

"nothing they could recall"

Tapping sounded as the discussion of what could of happened came back in full force, and we turned to the window where a barn owl was perched patiently.

With a flick of Rhys hand the window opened and the owl swooped in, perching on the top of the sofa making the letter attached to it's foot apparent.

"it's from Dawn" Rhys's eyebrows furrowed as he broke the seal, reading over the information and I was itching to stand up and do anything. Just something. I know they had looked around the city but I just felt so-so helpless.

"they might know where he is" he told the rest of us, and my heart leapt, standing up quickly to read the letter in his hands.

We have some information that might interest you, about a small boy.

"you're sure?"

Azriel and Cassian appeared quickly, reading it too.

"we'll go talk to Thesan" my mate assured quickly, his hair was a mess, eyes slightly wild as he studied the paper. I nodded; it was a start. Even if Cas wasn't there.

"we're going to find him" his hazel eyes met mine and my eyebrows drew together.

"I'm going with you" I said it like it was obvious, but Az was quick to shake his head,

"it's too dangerous"

"don't you dare" I hissed lowly "he's mine. My blood. I'm going"

He met my gaze defiantly, feeling the anger radiating through me. I was briefly aware of the others looking between us tensely.

"you don't leave my side" the words were reluctant and final. I nodded. I could deal with that.

"let's go"