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

Part 27

Walking into Dawn was like smelling something from your youth. Deadly nostalgia.

But now wasn't the time to focus on what was, we needed to find Cas. Gods I prayed to the Mother he was here, unharmed.

"Rhysand, Feyre" Thesan appeared with his lover to his side, both of them dipping their heads.

"Thesan" they echoed, and I was practically antsy from the formalities.

Az's hand rested on my shoulder as he sent me a look and I took a long breath, calming.

"Come, he was calling for you. Although they were insistent that he was theirs"

The words coming from the High Lord sent a wave of confusion over me, Az echoing the feeling as we followed quickly.

Great wooden doors were pushed open and as we stepped through, I could feel my shoulders drop in relief.

"Alley!" Cas cried, wiggling in a set of arms and my gaze turned to the women holding him, freezing.

Matching eyes stared back at me, the male at her side almost identical to Cas.

Liars.

I snarled at the sight, my skin blazing as I began towards them, Cassian and Az holding me back quickly.

"They are your parents?" Thesan's lover asked and I tore my eyes from them to look at him.

"No. not anymore."

"flower-" my dad began but Azriel growled so low it almost shook the walls.

"let the boy go" Rhys instructed with a practiced smoothness, his gaze predatory.

"He's our son!" my mother protested and ice pearled across my skin at the words. My heartbeat was steady but my body was tense with rage, every muscle screaming at me for violence.

"he hasn't been your son since you left" I snapped at her, "let him go!"

"don't speak to your mother like that" my father scolded and my teeth practically grinded as I pulled against the Illyrians.

"that's enough" Thesan demanded, gaze moving between us "let the boy go"

"but High Lord-" Cas interrupted our mothers protests by finally breaking free, sprinting straight over to me and I scooped him up protectively, my eyes glaring over his hair at our parents.

The message was clear. He's mine.

"Where have you been?" Feyre asked for me and I was glad for her composure. I was still torn between wanting to murder them and going home to bundle Cas in as many blankets as I could find. "All this time, why have you waited so long?"

"We agreed that Alexandrite would look after him for some time until we returned" my father said as he comforted my mother who was practically weeping against his chest.

My scoff was matched, and Az stepped closer to them, wings flared as his shadows twisted around him, a few sticking close to Cas and I.

"a few days is different to almost 6 years" his tone was laced with anger and disbelief, practically shouting at them "you let them believe you were dead, you abandoned them!"

"Watch your tongue" my mother hissed at my mate "you have no idea of what you speak Illyrian scum"

I hissed back at her at the way she addressed him, our family seethed around us.

"you have no right!" she shouted at me "no right to take him from us! He is ours, our son!" she drew her sword and Azriel, Cassian and Mor matched her action as Rhys scowled at her.

"He is mine" the words rebounded off the walls and they looked at me. Saw my eyes. Smelt my anger.

"don't let them take me away" Cas mumbled against my shoulder, blue eyes pearling with tears, and I stroked his hair, holding him closer to me.

"never" I pressed my lips to his temple in promise, pushing the anger from me.

My eyes turned to Thesan and his lover, who had watched this whole ordeal quietly.

"we're free to go?"

"he's yours" Thesan nodded, and he sent our parents a sharp look at their protests, silencing them.

I tugged the bond and Az moved towards us, stopping to peer down at me and I nudged Cas's head with my nose.

"you gonna go with Az for me lovey?"

Cas peeked his big blue eyes up at Az who smiled with softening eyes, his face hidden by his wings. The little boy reached for him, and Az cradled him against his chest, shadows flittering over him like they were checking for signs of injury.

My eyes moved from them, from my life, to my parents. I took two steps forward before winnowing in front of them, my face a mask of stone as my skin heated.

"you ever call my mate something like that, kidnap my child, or seek us out again" my tone was low "you will wish you never came back from the dead"

I let the words hang, the sincerity of them, practically daring them to say something back. But they didn't, they just looked at me with something I never thought I'd see from them. 

Fear.

Good.

Az tugged at me, and I was by his side quickly, his wing pressing to my back.

"I trust this will be dealt with?" Rhys looked to Thesan who nodded.

"of course, we'll deal with this accordingly" he promised, looking to me "they won't come near any of you. And I'm sorry"

I shook my head.

"thank you" I bowed my head before we disappeared.