Bloom and Destruction (ACOTAR - Elain + Azriel)

Chapter 22

Elain

I slowly open my eyes. Azriel's arms tightly hold my naked body against his with his wings engulfing us both. I feel something wet drip onto my scalp so I look up to make sure he's not drooling on me. "Hey," I pull back slightly when I see his tear stained cheeks. "What's wrong?" I reach up to cup his cheek.

His eyes connect with mine. "Nothing, my love," he whispers with a smile.

    I swipe away a tear from under his eye. "Azriel," I place a small kiss on his jaw. "Confide in me, let me carry the weight of what bothers you. You don't have to carry it alone anymore."

     He shifts us so I'm laying on my back with him and his wings hovering above me. My eyes trail to the shadows dancing on his wings. I trace a finger along a vein, making him shudder. "Illyrians consider it you signing your death warrant when you touch a man's wings," his deep voice sends a shiver down my spine. He chuckles at the motion. "Oh, Elain," he brushes my hair away from my face. "The only thing I'm carrying right now is the weight of the love I feel for you," he lets out what seems to be a breath of relief. I bring my arms around his neck, tugging him closer. "I felt myself dying every time someone mentioned you were Lucien's mate. I broke me all over again each time. I never thought I'd have you in my arms, let alone call you my mate and planning a wedding with you, now the High Lady. I am beside myself right now."

I smile up at him and let out a sob as tears slide down my cheeks. He lets his own happy tears flow before he dips down to kiss mine away. I giggle as he kisses up and down both of my cheeks. "I love you," I manage to breathe out. Azriel lifts his head to look at me. "Mate or not, Azriel," I nudge my nose against his. "I would've chosen you."

He leans his forehead against mine. "You are so beautiful," he grins. "For everything you are, everything you do for others - so selflessly - and how elegantly you do everything. I fell head over heels for you the moment you looked at me." My heart swelled at his words. I lean up to press a tender kiss to his lips.

♡ ♡ ♡

Azriel and I walk hand in hand down the cobblestone pathway. His shadows dance behind us. I smile up at him, leaning my head against his bicep. He keeps his stone cold glare poised agreed, but he squeezes my hand gently. I look around us, my eyes connecting with a female walking across the other side of the cobblestone path.

     Suddenly, I'm looking through her eyes. Azriel towers over me by just under a foot, his left wing outstretched like an umbrella over me with his siphons gleaming that beautiful blue and the pouch across his body bouncing with every step. Her eyes snag on my pale green gown that flows behind me while we walk. I watch my hand lift to send her a wave. She smiles back at me and I'm back to looking through my own eyes. The woman turns her head and continues walking.

"Are you all right?" Azriel's voice makes me turn to look up at him.

I nod, "yes, yes, I'm all right. I was... looking through her eyes."

     Finally, he turns his head to look down at me. "How peculiar," he hums, looking back to the path ahead of us. I open my mouth to say something but he cuts me off. "Here we are," he drops my hand to open the gate for me.

I smile as I walk along the sidewalk, up to the small house. Azriel follows behind me until we get to the steps. He comes to my side and takes my hand, helping me up the stairs. His calloused hand knocks on the door before reaching down to pull a small pouch from the bigger bag slung across his chest. He hands me the small pouch just as the door knob twists.

    A short female opens the door, looking at us quizzically. "Can I help you?" Her voice hoarse.

    I give her a gentle smile. "I am Elain," I press a hand to my chest before gesturing to the Illyrian warrior next to me. "This is Azriel."

    She opens the door fully and shifts uncomfortably on her feet. "Mabel," she clears her throat.

     I extend my hand, the small pouch of gold sitting in my palm. "It's lovely to meet you, Mabel. My mate and I are bringing some gold to all of the people in the Court to help account for what damage may have been done," I smile at her.

She looks at the pouch wearily. "When do I have to pay it back?"

Azriel replies, "never. This is a gift. Something small, but something that will help you survive."

I nod, "should you need anything else, we will be at the Rose Garden Inn tonight. The manor should be ready for us next week, the doors will always be open to everyone in the court."

     Finally, her skepticism breaks and she smiles at us. "Thank you, My lady," she takes the pouch and bows to me.

      "Thank you, Mabel, for allowing us to have the chance to rebuild this court from the ground up."

♡ ♡ ♡

    Azriel and I went around the village for the day, offering anyone and everyone some gold and help with some of their daily tasks, just to give them a break. At one point, I looked over to see Azriel standing in the middle of a group of children. They watched in awe as he started flapping his wings and hovered above them. I heard his laughter as he set himself on the ground. The love of my life, was all I could think at the sight.

We stopped in a few shops, Azriel was busy talking to the owner of one shop in particular while I slipped out to another store we'd passed and gone in to buy something special for him.

I slide on the lacy undergarments, admiring the way the sapphire blue popped against my skin. I pull the matching stockings up my legs and sigh happily as I stare in the mirror. I take a deep breath before opening the door.

Azriel sits in a chair across the room, his arms resting on the arm rests with his legs slightly spread. He straightens his back when he sees me in the doorway. I could've sworn, was it not connect to his face, his jaw would've hit the floor.