Bloom and Destruction (ACOTAR - Elain + Azriel)

Chapter 35

Azriel

     After waking to an empty bed, I bathed and pulled on a pair of pants. I tossed a shirt on the bed before opening the balcony doors. I stepped out and grinned at the sight before me.

    Elain kneels beside Feyre, her son sitting on her knee grabbing at the flower Elain holds. She picks the thorns off of the stem and hands him the deep blue rose. As if she knew where I was, her eyes met mine. I wave at her with the stupid smile still plastered across my face. She waves back, Feyre turning to follow her gaze. She points to me and Nyx waves at me. I chuckle, waving back at him excitedly. He pulls his hand back toward his face, beckoning me to come down.

I climb onto the railing of the balcony and flap my wings, lowering myself to the ground. Nyx's giggles fill my ears as I approach them. He reaches for me. Feyre stands up, handing the child to me.

"Hello," I squeeze his cheek. "Someone slept well last night," I chuckle as I look over to the females.

Feyre nods, placing her hands on her hips. "Oh yeah, he slept great."

I smile down at Nyx. He shoves his fingers in his mouth. "Az," he mumbles around his hand.

My eyes widen. "What?"

"Az," he laughs, clapping his hands on my cheeks. "Az."

I look to Feyre and Elain. "He's been asking for his uncle Azriel all morning," Feyre beams.

    "Oh," I chuckle, lifting my nephew closer to my face. "Cassian is going to beat my ass," I whisper as I lean my forehead against his.

    "Az," he squishes my cheeks together.

    I kiss his nose. "I'm here, buddy. Az is here."

    "What's all this?" Rhys stalks his way into the garden. "Why is she shirtless with my kid?" He points at me.

     Nyx and I look at him and Nyx laughs loudly. "Az-e-al," he squeals.

     Rhysand's eyes widen. "Oh, Cassian is going to kick your ass," he bellows a laugh.

"Why?" Cassian walks down the steps. "What'd you do, you prick?"

     Nyx turns his head back towards me, his wings fluttering as he grabs my face again. "Az-e-al," he repeats.

     "What the fuck?" Cassian snaps making everyone laugh. "No, no no," he takes Nyx from my arms. "Cass, say Cass."

     Nyx tucks his wings in and shoves his fingers in his mouth. "No," he grumbles.

     "Oh, come on, Nyx. Say, uncle Cass."

     "No!" Nyx's wings flap and he lifts himself out of Cassian's arms.

     Feyre stumbles as she runs over to the babe now flying. Rhysand crosses his arms over his chest and laughs. "Gonna need a leash now, Feyre darling."

     I turn my attention toward Elain to see her covering her mouth as she giggles uncontrollably. I take a few steps towards her and grab her by the waist. My wings lift us off the ground and I grab Nyx midair. He screeches a laugh as we shoot up to the sky. He wraps his small arms around Elain's neck as Cassian, Rhys and Feyre dart toward us.

     "Let's show him how it's done," I smile to my family before taking my chance to soar through the late morning sky.

     Elain holds onto me tightly, my arm securely around her waist. Nyx laughs uncontrollably as the wind pushes his hair back. Feyre and Rhysand soar beneath us while Cassian hangs by our side. "I'm going to go get Nesta," he yells before grabbing Rhys and winnowing away.

A few moments later, he appears next to me with Nesta gripping his neck as tightly as Elain holds onto mine. Nyx starts flapping his wings again and I look down to Feyre and Rhys. "Go ahead, we see him!" Rhysand shouts.

I slow down as does everyone else and release Nyx from my grasp. He flaps his wings quickly and Rhys rises to him. "Slow down," he grabs onto the child.

      I look over to Cassian to see him smiling like a fool. He jerks his chin ahead and I immediately know what my brother is asking me. I look down to see Rhys and Feyre flying with Nyx, each taking a turn to hold him while he flies. I nod to Cassian and he shoots forward.

I hold Elain tighter as I race toward him. Nesta looks back at us with a gleeful smile. Elain's laughter fills my ears while she throws her head back. I grin and flap my wings faster. Just as I catch up to Cassian, Rhys comes to my other side with Nyx and Feyre close behind. The three of us laugh with our hearts.

Yep, it's perfect.

The end.