In The Mist of Shadows

Chpt. 15

It didn't take Adela long to prove she was ready for hand-to-hand on the rope. Both she and Azriel were thankful that she didn't lose her training with her weeks off so they could now be up in the trees, alone.

Adela however had a learning curve to get by. Trying to remember to balance while fighting an opponent such as Azriel had more challenges than she was expecting. She was however grateful he didn't go easy on her, didn't treat her like a beginner.

His foot swiping hers, something that she knew was payback for all the times she's done it to him, was what made her fall for the trillionth time it felt like. She winnowed back on the platform before walking on the rope again. Winnowing became easier by the day, not even bothering her stomach anymore.

"One more then I have to attend to other duties."

"Like what?" She asked somewhat out of curiosity, mostly to distract him while she thought of a better way to attack.

"I'm going to Hewn City, make sure everything is going well and lined up before Feyre and Rhysand go and visit."

She liked how he was so transparent with her, telling her the whole truth. "What's Hewn City?"

"A city that gives the Night Court the rep it has."

"Why does Rhysand allow such a place to exist in his Court?"

"It protects Velaris I guess. If the Night Court has the reputation it has, who would want to try and attack?"

"Don't others then look at Rhysand with the same 'rep?'"

"He doesn't mind, anything to protect his family and Court. Now are you going to attack my left side or just stare at it?"

Shit. Azriel smirked. Adela lunged for it anyways. He took the hit, but kept himself up right. He caught her hand before it swung and her other. She tried and retrieve them but he wouldn't let go. "This isn't fair! You're stronger than I am!"

"You don't need to be the strongest, you just need to be the smartest." Adela looked down and thought about swinging her leg up to the middle of his legs. "Absolutely not." He warned. She felt something in his tone though, something that begged her to play, play on the line. The line that neither of them have crossed in the days they have been up here. "Adela I am telling you now, if you try-"

She did, and she succeeded. Azriel winnowed both of them on the ground before he doubled over. Adela began to feel bad, was even going to apologize when he lunged for her. She shrieked as they were both on the ground, Azriel on top of her. He pinned her wrists with enough strength to tell her he was in fact holding back a bit.

His face got close to hers, close enough where she could feel his breath on her face. He was trying to intimidate her, but somehow she wasn't intimidated, or even scared. She lifted her head and bit his nose with enough force that he pulled it back and snarled. She giggled however. "Oh you think this is funny?"

"Yeah." She was fully laughing now.

He got back down to meet her face. "Would it be so funny if I chained you to a chair until you begged me to let you go?"

"Pretty sure that's how we met." She pointed out.

"Oh you have jokes now? Fine. Then we'll tie you to the edge of the mountain and let you hang there."

"You'll feel bad within an hour." She tried to free her wrists, but to no avail.

"Will I? I don't know with this smart mouth."

"I thought you like my smart mouth." Something radiated off of Azriel, pure lust. Adela felt it too, wanted to live here forever feeling it.

"Maybe I'll tie a cloth around it then." He was trying to gain some dominance, but he knew he was losing.