A Court of Flame and Shadow (Azriel x eris)

Chapter 28: Azriel

Their lovemaking was fast, but passionate. By the time they lay wrapped around each other, the sun was far below the horizon. Bird song dulled to occasional chirping, and the steady buzz of crickets filled the comfortable silence between them.

"Are you okay?" Azriel asked the heir snuggled tightly in his arms. 

"Hm." Eris nodded, pulling himself in closer.

Azriel raised an eyebrow at Eris sad eyes. "You sure?" 

He sighed deeply. "No."

"What's wrong?" The shadowsinger whispered.

Eris shook his head. "Nothing, its really nothing, I just don't want you to go." He confessed.

Azriel ran a hand up his back and over the scars left by Berons cruel whip. "Maybe I don't have to go."

Eris gave him a puzzled look. 

"Well, obviously I have to go back to my room tonight, but maybe we wont have to say goodbye again. This could be it."

"It could also be it for us." He whispered sadly.

"No need to put that kind of negative energy out there." Azriel chuckled slightly.

Eris frowned and climbed out of Azriels arms to walk over to the balcony. Azriel promptly joined him, placing a broad hand on his lower back. 

"Are you taking this seriously?" Eris asked him tightly.

Azriel frowned. "Of course, my love."

"I mean, are you taking us seriously?"

"What?" Azriel paled.

"You heard me. Are you taking us seriously." Eris's face became somber and tight. Azriel turned him around be the shoulders to face him.

"Of course I am, my Eris. You are my world, I have told you many times before, and each time I say it I mean it more than the last. When the time is right, we will officially become mated, and married, and we will live together here. I've never taken anything more seriously."

Eris's brows furrowed. "Are you sure?

Azriel cocked his head. "As sure as I ever have been." He slipped his arms around his mates back, pulling him into a warm hug, swathed in shadows. Eris rested his head of Azriels chest, hooking his arms around his mates neck. In that moment, right then, as Eris stood bathed in moonlight, Azriel decided he was the most beautiful male on the planet.

~

A knock sounded on the door, and whoever it was slipped in. Eris's strange state of calm was the only thing that stopped Azriel from leaping back as the mysterious knocked neared.

"Beron would like to speak to you, sweetheart." The Lady of Autumns humming voice carried over.

"Kay." Eris sighed, taking a heavy breath and looking up at Azriel. "I tell her everything. She would never tell Beron, Azriel." He explained quietly. 

Azriel glanced over at his mates mother where she leaned on a pillar, proud, loving look on her face, but a peculiar sadness behind her smile. She smiled gently.

"It's okay, my Eris."

Eris reached a hand up to Azriels face. "I have to go, my love." Azriel nodded, placing a last kiss on Eris's soft lips. As Eris winnowed away, an emptiness filled him right to his very core, and he found himself staring blankly at the place where the love of his life had stood moments ago.

The Lady placed a hand on his shoulder. 

"Are you okay?" She whispered tenderly. The beautiful woman was barely older than Azriel, but seemed so much wiser, and so much more caring than he would ever be.

"I'm fine." Azriel choked as he wiped away a tear. She frowned.

"You lie, Shadowsinger."

Azriel shook his head. "I miss him, very much. You have raised such a wonderful male, and it is making everything quite painful." He laughed sadly.

Lady Autumn sighed. "I must ask something of you, Shadowsinger." He nodded, urging her to continue. "I must ask you to take very good care of my son. He is the only joy I have left here, his brothers are corrupt by their father, and my Lucien never visits. He is my last string of happiness." She smiled sadly. "I need him as much as you."

Azriel swallowed deeply. "I will, Lady. Of course. Eris is the only person I could ever love."

~

The Lady of the Autumn Court dropped him off with a kiss on the cheek, but her words rattled around Azriels head as he crawled into bed.