Morrigan's Mate

1

Soteria laid in bed in wait for the pounding she knew she was going to get from her Captain. Gael, the captain, and the High Lord's lover. She shook away the thought of them together and rolled over, toward the sunlight that streamed through her slightly parted curtains. She bumped into a body. A warm, male body. Soteria groaned softly as she recalled her festivities from the night before, which included, but was not limited to, taking this Night Court visitor to bed. His name was Azriel.

They had met the night before when Azriel had gone out for an evening stroll in the city. Soteria remembered the feeling of his scarred hands on her feathered wings, and the way he had roared when she touched his membranous ones, so loud that it burst through the shield she always had around her quarters. She remembered feeling his mouth on her, his perfect cupid's bow dragging across her stomach as she was splayed on her back, wings exposed and flushed out at her sides. She even remembered the feeling of him inside her. She shook the thought out of her head so that she wouldn't be tempted to relive last night.

Soteria groaned again. This time, it woke Azriel. He stirred, turned towards her and snaked his arms around her waist. His front against her back and wings, he snuggled his face into her hair and shoulder. The late morning light was filling her home. 

"Azriel, you need to go. You'll be late for the meeting." Soteria said as she flipped over so that they were facing each other. She kissed his nose, his cupid's bow lips, his cheeks. His face showed no emotion, but his eyes. Oh, his eyes were spectacular. Gilded with shadows, his hazel eyes flickered with warmth before returning to his unreadable mask. "Az- don't do that with me." Soteria pleaded. She kissed his eyelids after he closed them, and when he opened them, he laid himself bare for her.

She could see into his soul. A broken stallion, that's what he was. Obedient, loyal, but won't take your shit. He was dark, elegant, classically beautiful. He was the loveliest soul, loveliest creature she had ever seen. She told him so, and he chuckled dryly.

Azriel played with her dark brown hair, twisting it between his fingers so it curled. His skin was lighter than hers but still tanned. Soteria, with her ashy complexion, looked out of place among all the gold of the Dawn Court.

Sitting up, Soteria checked her large grandfather clock. She had slept in too late. She hopped out of bed, curses spewing from her lips. Azriel chuckled again and kicked off the covers so his naked body was uncovered and displayed for her to see. Soteria's cheeks burned beet red.

Naked as well, Soteria flitted around her bedroom, adorning skin tight fighting leathers, not too unlike the ones that Azriel had worn. Both warriors, both gentle like they shouldn't be. Both roses on the inside.

Once she was dressed, Soteria gave Azriel a chaste kiss on the forehead before jumping out her open window. As she fell, she saw Azriel's upper half of his body poke out of the window. Hands cupped around his mouth, "You're insane!" he shouted down at her.

Waiting until the last possible second, Soteria flared her wings and they caught on the wind, making her soar. She flew above her beloved Dawn Court, all the way up to Thesan's private residence. The palace cut into the sunstone mountain.

Not a minute later, a dark mass joined her in the sky. Azriel, fully dressed, hickies hidden by his leathers, flew beside her, his grin the most beautiful she had seen.

"What're you doing?" she yelled over the wind. Azriel just held his hand out for her to take. He pulled her to him, cradled her to his chest and flew them the rest of the way to the diplomatic entrance of the palace. Another Peregryn was waiting for them outside of the door, where five others were standing by him. She realized a second too late that it was Gael, her captain. "Shit shit shit." she murmured as they landed. Cheeks red and hair windblown, they struck the ground on their feet hard. Rhysand rolled his eyes at Azriel, as did the other Illyrian, Cassian. The she-devil, or firedrake, Amren, merely grinned at Soteria, looking like a mountain cat stalking its prey. Azriel let go of Soteria and joined his Inner Circle. Feyre, the High Lady of the Night Court, gave Soteria a warm smile. She grimaced back as Gael slapped her between her wings.