In The Mist of Shadows

Chpt. 14

It was all the same. The time she woke up, the clothes she put on, the french braid, the way to the steps, the walk to the dining room... The people in it. But for some reason it didn't feel the same. It just felt, different. Not a bad different she realized as she walked up the stairs, just different, like it was never going to be the same... Because she wasn't the same.

They were conversing over breakfast, no doubt almost done when she went to the archway. Adela had to pause and take a breath, reminding herself that she cares about them, they care about her. Two weeks is not going to change that. So she waltzed in.

They all went silent. It was not only Cassian, Nesta and Azriel. But it was Feyre and Rhysand, Nyx and Elain. Adela gave a small smile to them before sitting in her usual spot next to Nesta. "You're back." Cassian stated.

"I am." Her cheeks burned as they all watched her. Scooping some food on her plate she prayed they would just move on already.

But they didn't. "Are you training with Nesta today?" Cassian asked, noticing her clothes.

Adela glanced at Azriel who raised his eyebrows, as if to say 'it's up to you.' "No. I'm going to continue my training with Az." The shortened name shot through him. For some reason coming out of her mouth he wanted nothing more than to be this 'Az' she spoke about.

"But-"

"It's fine." Rhysand explained. "I may have been a bit harsh." Adela smiled in thanks.

"Thank the mother for that!" Elain spoke, like she was holding her breath the whole time. "Honestly Azriel was absolutely miserable without your training. He would go on and on about- OW!" Nesta had kicked her leg under the table. Adela stifled her laugh as Azriel felt a blush creep its way up.

Luckly after Nesta and Elain's arguing they all fell into a comfortable silence. Adela was almost done with her breakfast when she felt someone's foot kick her own leg. She looked up at Azriel who mouthed 'my mind.' At first she was confused until she tried to look in his mind and he slowly let down his walls.

She could have seen anything, taken anything, destroyed anything. But yet here he was fully trusting her. She didn't take anything, she just talked. "What?" She asked.

"Gods took you long enough." He spoke back.

A smile crept on her face. "Sorry."

"Are you sure you're up for training? We can just run, or take another walk through the city."

"I'm sure... Thank you."

There was a pause. She wondered if she did something to him accidentally like melt his mind but he finally spoke again, "for what?"

"For sitting with me every night. For listening to me and allowing me to go through things. And for pushing me when the time was right."

Another long pause. But this time he gently pushed her out. She let him, didn't fight against it. But she was worried she said something wrong, or got too personal with him. But a whisper of his cold shadow wrapped around her legs threatening to make her laugh. He smiled and continued to tease her until Rhysand cleared his throat and excused himself somewhere.

~

"How did you get the scars on your hands?" Adela asked as Azriel wrapped them. They were getting ready for hand to hand, wrapping a simple safety measure but Azriel assured they wouldn't get too rough. But seeing him do so, knowing what they were about to do, she was nervous. Some part of her told her not to do it, she never wanted another males hands on her like this. But if she got to this place with Roen, she could get to it with her supposed mate. So she asked him something about himself, get them talking to ease the tension.