The Love We Deserve - Azriel x OC

Mother this is strange

My eyes shot open with a gasp, body moving off the bed before I could register, falling onto the carpeted floor with a grunt. I crawled forward, chest no longer full of pain but something else, something strong weighing me down in its place.

"Alex! Shit" Wings fell into place in front of me, and Cassian held my shoulders.

"Az! I need to make sure he's okay! His heart- it was too slow" my eyes searched his with panic and he pressed my hand to his chest.

"hey-hey-shh" he soothed, brown eyes peering at me in disbelief "deep breaths for me"

My heart hammered, and I realised I could hear his too.

"Cass" my hand gripped his arm to ground myself as I studied him desperately "where is he?"

"he's fine," he promised "he's on his way here. pretty soon I'd imagine"

He's fine. He's fine.

I nodded, calming down considerably.

"he's fine?"

Cassian nodded.

"He's fine. Feyre's blood works a charm. Almost thought we'd lost you both there for a second" he jokes but the pain was evident in his voice. "I owe you my life, little warrior"

"you don't owe me anything" I dismissed, hand tightening on the leathers against his chest "Like Rhys said, we're family"

Crashing sounded followed by a curse down the hall and my head picked up, not used to being able to hear this well.

"Mother this is strange" I muttered, rubbing my ears, shivering at the pointed tips. Strange indeed.

"Alex?" Azriel slammed into the door frame, eyes wild as his shadows curled around me and I sighed at the sight. Thank gods they were back.

There was no sign of the injury on his chest and as Cassian moved back so Az could take his place, I listened to his heart. It beat wildly in his chest, lungs pulling in air as he panted, hair mushed up from the wind. He smelt like air, cold air.

Our knees touched and I lay my ear against his chest, shutting my eyes as I sighed, feeling his fingers brush through my hair shakily.

"don't you dare scare me like that again, you hear me?" my voice was thick with tears, sniffing and he pressed his lips to my head.

"I promise"

I pulled back, searching his face, hazel eyes doing the same. Az's eyes were lined with dark circles, his face hollower than I remembered. His hand stroked down my cheek and my eyebrows furrowed, my fingers pressing to the skin as I searched for the scar that lay there.

"you haven't looked yet?" he said, and the corner of my lips twitched upward.

"You'll have to forgive me for having slightly more pressing matters on my mind"

Cassian grinned in the corner of the room.

"you were pretty before Green but damn" he whistled lowly "does fae suit you"

Azriel hissed and I rose an eyebrow, rubbing my chest lightly.

"territorial male" I scolded playfully, huffing as I used the bed to get to my feet, hands supporting my back as Cassian stepped forward too. "Fuck, how long have I been in bed?"

They shared a look and I scowled.

"now is not the time to be withholding information from me"

"five weeks" Azriel answered and my heart stuttered in my chest, eyes widening with shock.

"five weeks?" I repeated, pushing that back for the mean time. "how long were you out?"

"he left his bed after a few days," Cassian tattled, gesturing with his head to the make shift bed that lay on the opposite side of the room.

"Az" I wasn't sure whether to feel frustrated or flattered. "you should've been resting" my eyes softened, brushing my fingers under his eyes and he leant into my touch with a sigh, eyelashes fluttering against his cheek.

"I couldn't leave you. Not again"

A shared ache echoed between us, and I nodded in understanding. I couldn't say I wouldn't have done the same in his position.

He pushed me towards the bathroom gently and nerves climbed through me. For what I was about to see, for what it meant.

My eyes rose to look at myself once I reached the mirror, lips pressing together as I held back the shock.

They were my eyes, green as ever. And my hair was still white, but the rest was...different. Like someone had brushed away my blemished, and my scars. Well, most of my scars. The lightning streak still remained, and I lifted the bottom of my shirt to see similar patters trailing across my front. No doubt from where I had stood in front of Cass. So, it seemed only magic ones remained. Imagine if that had been his wings.

The thought made me wince.

"you were glowing in Hybern" Cassian added, the two winged males watching me from the door "you did it when you were asleep sometimes too"

"I don't know how I feel about you lot watching me sleep" I muttered, allowing myself a final examine before turning to them, "what...what am I?"

"High Fae" Azriel smirked lightly, "maybe a little more"

I sighed deeply, pushing my hair behind my pointed ear as the shadows wound up my legs, curling around my shoulders.

"Missed you, naughty things" they tickled my cheek and I smiled, gentle warmth carrying around me from the house.

"they missed you." Az commented, shadows tickling against his ear, and he tilted his head to listen to them before a smile grew across his face "hm yeah she is."

"I'm what?"

"beautiful. Very beautiful"

"flirts" I accused, listening for anyone else in the house "where is everyone?"

"in the town house, Nesta and Elaine are out with Amren inspecting something in her apartment"

Gods. Nesta and Elaine. They wouldn't take this well.

And Feyre.

Something stirred in me.

"do you want to see the others?" Cassian asked, and I nodded. I couldn't hide from this.