Wind Wielder

Chapter 35 - Wicked Games

Zara watched The Shadowsinger of the Night Court observe the throne room around them, not bothering to keep the hatred he had for this wretched place off his features. The two of them suddenly had a wide berth around them as fae scattered like insects under his vengeful glare. When his amber eyes met hers, she felt every hair rise on the back of her neck. He drank in every piece of her, his angular faced line with the determination and concentration of a male prepared to devour her mind, body and soul.

Zara had been a fool. Rhys and her had schemed together, and planned her role during this visit. And it had been explicitly agreed upon that if Kier was to believe the ruse they would set out for him, she would need to play her role quite convincingly. And she was comfortable with that, as she had assured Rhys countless times. But Zara had been a fool for believing Cassian would be the one coming to her now, he had already done his part for this ruse on the steps of the dais. It was Azriel who still needed to put on a show.

And Azriel... with the way he eyed her now, she knew he had no intention of letting Cassian be the one to play this part. Some part of her mewled in relief and unending satisfaction... if only for the excuse to be able to touch him.

So Zara greeted him boldly, raising her chin. "Good evening, Shadowsinger." Her voice rang above the surrounding chatter like crystal. It was intentional, meant to announce the start of the show.

Azriel dipped his head noncommittally, as was expected from a Lord greeting his whore. He extended a mock hand of greeting. "Wind wielder," Azriel drawled, not even bothering to greet her with her proper name. A clear reminder to those surrounding of her power, and a clear intonation of his impersonal nature with her.

Zara smiled to herself, pleased with his acting skills. She stepped forward and placed her hand into the palm he offered her, and watched as he raised it to his lips, his warm mouth pressing against her hand in a claiming, lazy kiss.

She watched the line of his mouth pressed against her skin, remembering the way those same lips had looked when he had panted her name last night.

Her heart leapt into her throat, and she watched in rapt fascination as the brown in Azriels eyes began to snuff out the veins of gold, clearly feeling her emotions down the ether. He removed his lips from her hand and stepped closer to her, tossing her hand carelessly over his shoulder as his hands came to follow the curve of her arm, down her shoulder and side to her rib cage, where he settled on the bare skin. But his brows lowered imperceptibly and his thumb twitched on her side... right over the scar Zara had meticulously glamoured out of sight. But one that Azriel could still undoubtedly feel.

Her lips were moving before she could properly settle into her alarm. "I trust you are enjoying yourself this evening?" She asked cordially. Every word was laced with deeper meaning, as her eyes implored Azriels consent. She was tense as a bowstring beneath his thumb as Azriel moved his hand, feeling the scar in its entirety before moving his hand lower to her waist. Zara made sure to relax her muscles, enough to clearly show him she felt far more comfortable with his hand anywhere but where it had been. His eyes glinted with curiosity, but he did not dare to push her.

Instead Azriel understood exactly what Zara was looking for, and squeezed her waist firmly in confirmation—Both that he would not touch where he clearly was not wanted to, and that Rhys had already spoken with him about what this evening was meant to accomplish, and he was prepared to perform such a ruse. "As much as I do every time we visit Rhysands seat of power," Azriel said noncommittally, a clear blow to those listening too closely. "And yourself? Is it what you imagined?"

Zara leaned into him slightly, and felt every one of his muscles stiffen, a fact that pleased her to no end. But Zara said aloud. "I can see the inspiration others have taken from this city. It is most astounding."