A Court of Three Stars

42: Seashells

The Wraithgrove, Adhira, Solarea

Leur

"Why do I feel like I'm being tag teamed?" I asked, my eyes catching Azriel waiting for us just beyond the ridge.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Tamlin shrugged, a flick of his magic taking a fallen tree out of our path. Its roots threaded themselves back into the earth, a breath of Spring and its dead bark and barren limbs were bursting with life once more. As if it had never even fallen.

I let out a quiet huff. "You two must really be worried if you're working together."

"He's your mate, Leur." He said it simply, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Right now? I think he's a step ahead of even you."

I didn't particularly disagree.

"I'm going to find Lucien." A kiss pressed at the top of my head, "Don't die."

I turned to answer him, to thank him, but he'd already vanished in a rush of rain scented wind, leaving nothing behind but birdsong, the rustling leaves, and the male waiting just ahead—wreathed in shadows, leaning against a tree.

For a moment, I only looked at him.

All black leathers and tan skin, looking out at the woods beyond as if they held some kind of answer. A dream and a memory at the same time, carved into the planes of my mind before the inevitable blood and ash covered him in the spoils of war.

A quiet stream babbling in the distance, the cloudy grey light filtering through the trees, the whispered songs of our shadows and the spirits that dwelled in these woods.

"Are you just going to stare at me?" He called out, not even bothering to look over his shoulder.

I shifted into shadow, swirling quick through the distance between us and drifting across his back, two veins of lavender creeping their way over the tattooed skin of his neck, whispering in his ears, Maybe.

He called his own shadows in response, pulling me with them—a pulse of starlight flaring between us as he rematerialized me directly in his arms.

"Admiring my beauty?" he murmured.

"Always." I pecked a kiss against his jaw, "Have you seen Ruhn?"

He pulled me closer, until I was flush against him, "I just sent him to bed."

My heart warmed so fast I thought it would burst into flames, but I just smiled, "How fatherly of you."

Az huffed out a quiet laugh, "I made him eat, too."

The smile on his face had me kissing him again, was almost enough to completely distract me from both the topic at hand and the hell waiting for us back home.

"Good." I answered, hating that I needed to come back to reality, "We'll have to talk to him when he wakes up."

"About?"

"What he wants to do." The warmth in my chest dimmed. "If he wants to stay or—"

"Already done," Azriel interrupted, pressing a kiss to my temple.

I blinked up at him. "What?"

Another kiss, softer this time. "He's staying."

"What?"

Azriel only smirked. "You're adorable when you're confused." His broad hands cupped my face, "I already spoke to him. Told him it was a risk, no matter where he went. That it was his choice, and we would stand by him either way."