𝐀 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐒-𝙖𝙯𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙡

IX

They landed in the foyer and Lorelei didn't waste any time running up the stairs to her room. She nearly slipped on the shiny floors and she turned into her room, missing the body laying on her bed.

She skidded to a stop in the middle of the archway from her room to the bathing room. She turned and saw Mor standing from the bed. The sight of her cousin in one piece and smiling brought tears to her eyes. She ran to the older female, crushing her in a hug so tight she thought her arms might fall off.

She sobbed apologies into her cousin's shoulder, the fabric soaking with her tears. Mor pulled her back, going to say something and she sniffed, confusion and disgustion scrunching her face. "What is that smell?"

Lorelei was confused for a second and then she blushed, stepping back and fidgeting with her fingers. "Well, uhm..."

Mor gasped, "You guys didn't..." By the look on Lorelei's face, Mor knew they were guilty. "You did!"

Lorelei looked at the still open door, ran to close it, and leaned against it. "No. Not really."

Mor gave her an exasperated look. "What does that mean? You either did or you didn't."

Lorelei felt the blush burn up to her ears, felt like her face was boiling. "Our clothes were still on." She said quietly.

Mor looked like she was holding back a laugh. "You guys had a whole house to yourself and you didn't even go all the way?"

Lorelei threw up her hands in defeat. "We were working towards it and then Rhysand showed up." Mor did laugh now, a howling laughter that had her falling back against the bed. Lorelei watched Mor with a cold look. "You're being mean."

Mor gasped for air, wiping at her eyes. "You're right, I'm sorry." She sat up, tried to look serious and then broke out into another round of laughter.

+

Lorelei had left Mor to her fits of laughter and took a bath. She didn't want to wash away the smell of Azriel on her, but didn't want to hear anything else from anyone.

She didn't know what it had made them. Would they continue the way they were before? Or would it be different? What would they be to each other?

She pulled herself out of the bath, clothing herself in a dress. It was one of the better looking ones. Lorelei tried to convince herself that it was just a coincidence that the fabric hugged her curves.

Mor had disappeared from her bed, where she had gone Lorelei didn't know, so she left her room. Azriel was just passing when she closed the door. She froze when his gaze turned to her, but not from fear. His eyes moved up and down her body, taking in every inch, until finally they settled on her face. The look in that hazel sea had her clenching her knees together.

He smirked, noticing the effect that just his eyes had. She forced herself to stand straight, to scowl at him. "Cocky shit." She hissed as she walked away from him.

"I'm sorry." He laughed, catching up to her. "I'm just teasing." She rolled her eyes but smiled. "What are you doing right now?"

"Walking." She gestured to her feet and stuck her tongue out at him when he gave her a straight face. "Nothing, why?"

"I was thinking I'll take you out for dinner."

Lorelei stopped and stared at him. "What, like a date?"

"Unless you don't want to." Azriel said calmly, his shadows moving closer to him.

"No, I was just making sure." She smiled. "I would love to."

Azriel smiled back and they made their way down the stairs. Everyone was gathered in the living room, except for Elain. Everyone was either in fighting leathers or dresses that showed more skin than Lorelei was used to, especially from Nesta.

Any happy feeling that Lorelei had drained away when she saw Azriel's face go from happy to almost murderous. "No." He said harshly, looking directly at Rhysand. Lorelei frowned. Was there a conversation happening that she wasn't aware of?

"It isn't your choice to make." Rhysand said calmly. He turned his attention to Lorelei who shrunk back slightly. "The citizen's of the Hewn City seem to be in unrest over you living over here."

Lorelei's heart raced, felt the color drain from her face. "What does that mean? Do I–do I have to go back?"

"No. But, if you are up to it, you are welcome to join us to the Court of Nightmares." Feyre answered. Her eyes became determined, staring directly into Lorelei's soul. "You can show them you are strong. Show them how much you've changed while being here."

Something in Lorelei's blood sang at Feyre's words. Awakening. She did want to show them how much she's grown, show them that they were no longer in control of her. She didn't look up at Azriel, knew what he would tell her, and just dipped her chin in agreement.

+

There wasn't a specific dress code that she had to adhere to, she could either wear a dress–one that exposed more skin than she was comfortable with–or her fighting leathers. She thought over which one would prove to them that she was no longer that same child that cowered at their fists and voices.

She could wear the leathers, show them how strong she was physically.

Or she could wear a dress–the one that Mor had bought her–and show that she had control over how and when she would be shown off.

Nuala stood near her vanity, waiting for her to choose, waiting to see what hairstyle she would be doing on her. Up or down.

After another second of thinking, Lorelei chose down.

She hesitated at the top of the stairs, suddenly feeling really embarrassed by her choice, but Nuala had spent so much time on her hair that she didn't feel like turning back. But she couldn't bring herself to walk down the stairs.

She felt the small crown that Nuala had placed on her styled hair. It was made of silver and had blue jewels embedded into it. It matched her earrings and the thin band around her wrists. The blue of the jewels also matched the blue of Azriel's siphons. She wasn't sure if that was a choice Nuala made on purpose.

She heard footsteps behind her and turned her head to see Azriel walking towards her. He was in his Illyrian leathers, all of his siphons on display. His blade was strapped down his back, in the space between his wings, a small blade strapped to his thigh.

His eyes looked her up and down, getting stuck on the parts that were exposed to him. She heard him breath in and saw as his throat bobbed.

"Is it too dramatic?" She asked in a small voice.

His eyes snapped to hers, hunger darkening his irises. "They never deserved you." It wasn't really an answer to her question, but it did have her blushing. She wished that she was wearing some kind of garment under this dress, if only to catch the slick as it fell from her.

He held out his arm to her and she hesitantly looped hers through his. It was a hassle to make sure the panels didn't open enough to flash everyone as she walked down the stairs.

When they got to the bottom, Rhysand clapped his hands together. "Now that everyone is ready to go." He grabbed Cassian's shoulder and winnowed out of the house. Feyre and Nesta were next to go, leaving Lorelei, Mor, Azriel, and Amren.

Mor looked at Lorelei and Azriel and rolled her eyes, holding her hand out to the small female who's silver eyes seemed to dance with delight. "Let's go."

"Try not to sound too happy." Amren said as she gripped Mor's hand. They disappeared. Now it was only Lorelei and Azriel.

"You can still change your mind." Azriel held onto Lorelei's arm, his grip almost begging on its own.

She shook her head. "If I don't go now, I may never go."

"I don't like the thought of you back there." His face hardened, worry etching lines into his beautiful face.

She held his face with her free hand. "I know you guys will protect me. This is something I need to do."

She watched as he considered it, watched every emotion pass through his eyes, and then he looked at her, power in those hazel eyes, and then they were swallowed by darkness.