A Court of Flame and Shadow (Azriel x eris)

Chapter 16: Cassian

Rhys had sent Cassian to get Azriel from the ring for dinner. Nesta had accompanied him, but that didn't make the trek up the stairs any more enjoyable.

Azriel was standing near the weapons rack sharpening Truth-teller on a rock.

"Dinners ready!" Cassian called from the top of the stairs. 

"I'll be down in a sec." Azriel replied without looking up.

"Rhys told me to either come back with you or not at all."

"No he didn't." Az finally looked up.

"Yes, he did. I remember because I thought he was joking." Nesta piped up. Azriel scowled at the pair of them, but finally walked over. He shoved Truth-teller back into its sheath, before giving Cassian a vulgar gesture. 

"What is going on with you, anyway?" Cassian asked as they walked downstairs. 

"Nothing. Don't know what you are talking about." 

"Yes you do, c'mon, tell us!" Cassian gave him a playful shove.

"Don't push it, Cass." Nesta told him quietly. 

"Don't tell me what to do, you aren't my real mum!" Cassian cried dramatically.

Azriel turned, walking down the staircase backwards. "How many drinks have you already had, Cassian?"

"Only two."

Azriel quirked an eyebrow.

"Bottles. Mor invited me to Rita's to preload before dinner, and she had an offer, If you can down a whole bottle in one go, it's free. I was about to do a third, then Nesta found us and dragged us back here."

"And you love this guy, Nes?" 

"I'm reconsidering it."

~

Mor had drunk much more than Cassian's two bottles, and she was now lying slumped over the table, a glass of ice water in her hand. 

"So how much did you have?"

Mor looked up at Az and grumbled something unintelligible. 

"Five bottles." Cass supplied. 

"Holy shit, Mor, have you learnt nothing?" Feyre asked from the end of the table beside. Mor snorted something.

"Will Amren and Varian be back for dinner?" Nesta inquired. 

"They said they would be back after. I think they are eating with Tarquin and Cresseida, which I'm sure they will love." Rhysand drawled. 

"It's Amren. They have to love it."

~

Dinner was a delectable spread of various meats and citrusy potatoes. Cassian couldn't have put a name to any of it if he had tried, but Nuala and Cerridwen had bought it out proudly. They had also presented the table with many types of wine and whiskey. Surprisingly, Azriel had been the most eager to start drinking. When Cassian had reached for a bottle, Nesta had slapped his hand an shoved a slice of tomato in his mouth. 

"You aren't drinking any more tonight Cassian, you already had two bottles. It's a disgusting habit." She spoke sharply. 

"Oh yeah, you're one to talk." He grumbled, but relented. She playfully pushed his head, laughing. The quiet buzz of chatter filled the room.

~

By the end of the second course, two hours later, Mor had fallen asleep and was snoring at the table. Nyx had long since been taken to bed. Elain was plaiting Lucien's hair, and Azriel had lined up his empty bottles in colour, size and price order. The only reason any of them were still awake was because of Amren and Varian, who had still not arrived. 

Finally, they heard the sound of them landing on the balcony. The walked into the room beaming at each other, giggling. Amren, actually giggling. 

"What happened?" Rhys spoke for all of them, voice worried. Amren only really giggled when she had just killed someone, and that usually meant a lot of paperwork on all of their parts. 

"We were- walking..." Amren glanced up at the white haired prince beside her. "And it turns out..." She choked on a laugh, alcohol on her breath. "We are mates!" She smiled proudly. Whoops filled the room, waking Mor, who stumbled over and threw her arms around them before getting kicked off. 

"That's amazing!" Elain cried. "Oh, that is amazing!" She clapped happily. 

"Isn't it! So if you would all move so I can reach the food..." She stretched an arm around drunk Azriel, grabbing a prawn cracker and feeding it to her prince. Varian wrapped his arms around her neck pulling her close.

"Now we are officially mates!" Amren smiled.

Azriel gave a low moan and fell sideways of his seat.

"He seems to be happy for you!" Cassian joked, walking around to grab him. "I'll take him to his room."