𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐫 || 𝐀𝐂𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐑 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐂 ||

19. Verlaris p.t i

Meira:

"You need to go shopping," Mor announces as she waltzes into my room, swiping opening the curtains and letting all of the blinding light in.

"No-n-no, please just shut the curtains!" I groan at her before rolling back over and burying my head in my pillow.

"Anyway, why do I need to go shopping?" I raise my head in question.

"Because you need clothes."

I frown. "But I'm n-"

"Well, Az wants to stay, so..." She squints at me. "Didn't he ask you?"

"Yes," I say slowly, "but what..."

"Well then you need clothes, nice clothes, " before I can say I've got some.

I curse at her silently before burrowing under the covers.

Just a few more moments peace.

*_*_*_*_*_*_*

"So... are you coming or not?" A cocky voice asks from the doorway of my room. That's not Mori.

I slowly sit up, eyeing the Shadowsinger leaning against the doorway, watching as his eyes stray from my face to my nightgown, where it has slightly fallen off my shoulders because it was too big, back to studying my face.

Taking it as an opportunity to study him, he's dressed in simple trousers and a plain shirt, not training material, still looking perfectly handsome.-

"Coming where?" I ask, with a small smile on my face.

"We leave in five." And with one final glance at me, he left.

"Huh," I say under my breath, and I quickly get up and stare at my old dress. The bottom was ripped and stained in mud, probably repairable but I didn't have any kind of sewing materials with me.

Damn it, I curse silently, before my eyes notice another dress hung up against the dressing screen.

It was dark purple, simple yet stunning - long skirts and a simple bodice with beaultiful embroidery.

And sitting on a chair next to it was a pair of boots and my leather satchel.

"Thank the gods!" I smile and grab it, rifling through it as I accounted for everything. But most importantly, in the inside pocket, was the ring.

Relief floods through me, and the shadows hum in my ear. They dance around it - it's a simple rose gold band, with a tiny amethyst framed by the metal.

It was my brother's last gift to me.

And the shadow's siphon.

It was how the shadows were linked to me, and how I could siphon them into something else. I quickly slip it onto my pinkie, and smile at the familiarity of it being there.!

It seemed someone had to gone through it but that was fine, as I'm sure they wanted to see if I was carrying an weapons.

Not that I could anyway, the realisation ebbing away the happiness of having my things back.

Shaking off the cobwebs, I quickly change, and slip out the door in exactly five minutes.

"Perfect. You look lovely." The Shadowsinger greets me at the stairs, and offers his arm. I take it and let him lead me out the door, the shadows along my shoulders finally breaking free of me and dancing in the light, and before long so are Az's.

"Where are we going?" I ask, and he smirks.

"What?" I ask.

"Nothing." He quickly hides his smirk under a mask I know all to well.

I quickly walk in front of him before turning and walking backwards so I can walk and talk at the same time while looking at him, almost just so I can show off.

"Where are we going?" I ask again, and he remains silent, just raising an eyebrow at my open question. We cross a bridge, and I don't even notice, my eyes firmly locked on the male in front of me.

"Anything?" I ask, and he remains silent. I sigh and just as I'm about to open my mouth again, I trip up at something behind me.

The world seems to stop, and just before my head hits the floor, strong arms catch me and hold me close.

A sense of deja vu hits me all at once, and something seems to click. "Meira?" He asks worriedly, eyes scanning my face worriedly. I just stare at him, and he just stares back at me, and there's a tether in my mind, pulling and yanking and for the first time, I yank back.

Azriel flinches.

I rise to my feet, Az's arms still tight around my waist, the shadows quiet for once. My hold on them loosens.

I have a thousand questions, but I decide to ask him later.

"So where are we going?" I ask instead in a weird voice, shutting down the voices in my head and the shadows that have suddenly come to life again.

Azriel just smiles and keeps me tucked into his side, his wings protecting  me from behind as they curl around us.

Wings feel aching familiar, and old grief suddenly hits me, almost sending me to my feet but I just lean closer into Azriel's close and warm embrace.

"I thought," he starts, "that we could go and get you some more clothes. And a few other bits. As, you're staying. Unless you've changed your mind?" I watch as he carefully studies my face, but I shake my head.

"No."

Relief floods his face before he continues, " and I thought we could go and to meet Feyre later at her studio."

"Great," I say with a smile.

He leads me through crowded streets and bustling marketplaces, all the fae with smiles and twinkling eyes, trading laughs and happiness and they seem joyful in a blissful place like this.

Azriel leads me to a small boutique in the middle of the the city, and a kind old woman greets me.

The shop floor is beautiful, with dark oak floors and white walls, barely visible past the stacks of clothes and dresses and shoes and hats and bags.

"Hello, dear." She says with a smile, and she instant reminds me of someone, I'm just not sure who.

"Morning," I return the smile.

"The Lord says you're here for a dress fitting and a few more items too."

But before I can agree, Azriel quickly cuts in, "I'm no Lord."

"The title is earned, not given. You're a Lord to everyone here, sir." The woman quite adamantly replied.

Then she turned to me, "Would you like to follow me? The dressing room is this way." And she leads me through the labyrinth of clothes, Azriel thankfully trailing close behind me.

———-

Hey everyone!

Part ii dropping tmrw!!! Sorry it's been so long 😭😭😭 I'm been so busy and had to take some time to help my mental health, with is worsening by the minute however this defo helped 🥰 - next update tmrw!! Chapter all ready written, just want to give a chance for you guys to read this one before I release to the next one. Also: Playlist also coming for this fanfic soon!!! Got a lot of inspo for this from Lindsey Stirling and the amazing Taylor Swift ✨✨ So I'll share that somehow (don't know how yet but soon!!)

Good night from me & love to u all

B ❤️🫶🏻