Azriel's Heir

15: Kova

For the first time in her life Kova was dressed in silks. The dress she was wearing...well not dress more like fabric that covered parts of her body. The silver fabric curled across her chest with a band connecting the small skirt that just covered her backside. Her white hair was pulled back, tumbling down her back curled and wavy.

It had not been a comfortable experience walking into Valaris dressed in these clothes but she had done it for Ash. Ignoring Feyre's pitying look and Cassian weak joke that she looked, "Hot as hell".

Her heart had stopped when she had sat down beside Ash who was mumbling and writhing, his skin radiating heat. What had guided her to pull him back to the world of the living she had know idea but she had realised that he made up a huge part of her that she would never forget even if he did.

On her return Keir although he had always acted politely to her even kindly at times. As soon as he saw her position within the inner circle he had used her to get back at Rhysand. She hadn't looked at her father. She couldn't look into those brown eyes. Not after seeing her mother. She could see where her looks came from but her personality mirrored Azreil's more closely.

She was standing in the shadows as Keir lounged in his throne. He had loved taunting Rhys after the war, in the throne that Rhys had placed for him next to Rhys' own throne. His eyes were black and burning as he watched the entrance like a cat waiting for its pray to wander into its trap. Kova knew that any action she took against Keir would result in the inner circle never being able to see her again. She knew she was being selfish but she couldn't live without being able to see her father occasionally even if she couldn't talk to him. And Ash. The boy that now meant more to her than her own life.

"Hello Rhysand" Keir drawled as Rhys stalked towards them, holding Feyre's hand, the high Lady was stunning, wearing a dress of starlight. They were flanked by Cassian and Azriel . Followed by Mor and,

Ash.

Kova's heart leaped at the sight of him walking, his beautiful black wings glistening healthily. He was looking around, seemingly for someone, her?

"Keir" Rhysand more growled than greeted. A flux of dark power shot at Keir but bounced off invisible shields. Kova's shields. Surprise was mirrored in all the inner circles' faces, while Keir's deep laugh resonated around the room. "Kova's power has come in extremely useful Rhysand", he motioned for her.

Her footsteps caused the inner circle to turn to face her. Their faces ranged from shock to sympathy to straight out disgust in Cassian's and Rhys'. Her clothes slightly different from the ones she had worn to Valaris, without the shawl and her shadows covering most of her. She was indecently exposed.

Her face remained impassive as though she didn't see them. Purposefully not looking at Ash. She took Keir's hand as he helped her into the throne on his left. Feyre's throne. She hated this, it was a monstrous breach of etiquette, she couldn't meet Feyre's eyes.

"She cleans up well doesn't she Asher?" Keir directed at Ash whose gaze hadn't left Kova's form. A warmth seeped down the chain that linked them, she felt no disgust only anger and something else. A fire that ignited in him as he looked at her.

"You cannot reach me Rhys, nor you High Lady or your bastard borns. Not even your son can break though this barrier." Cassian tried to step forward but Azriel held him back, "I hold the main card now Rhysand. And I'm going to play it" his hand rested on her thigh, everything tunnelled to his cold hand and the horrible shivers of dread it palpitated. A growl echoed into the silence, Ash's green eyes were fixed on Keir's hand. "Ash" Feyre whispered but Ash continued to glare at Keir, every muscle tense.

"This must be killing you more than your father" Keir stated lazily.

"Your mate so close and yet so far"

Mate. Her mate. Ash.

Kova's blood froze and boiled at the same time, heat spreading across her skin but her blood was cold. Her face must have changed slightly because Cassian jerked at her look as they made eye contact. "Kova" Rhys tried,
"How long?"
"Kova, Ash was..."
"How long Asher?" Her voice was cool as she looked into his emerald eyes,
"Months".
"And you were going to tell me when?"
"I don't know! How would I tell you we were fighting for our lives!" His voice rose, panic disguised by anger.

Keir's hand was now twirling in her hair. A wicked smile upon his lips, "Kova please come home" Ash pleaded, her heart sunk. He was asking for something that she could no longer give. "Your too late" She whispered sliding to her feet. A thud of metal boots sounded.

The man who walked in towered over Kova's small physique. His hazel hair dipped a few stands down to his deep brown eyes. He was not human. He was Armens' younger brother that her older sister had sent after being pushed out of Kova's body. Even Rhys took a step back at the power radiating of him.

"Yama" Keir greeter as Yama's hand curled around Kova's waist. "She's mine" his deep voice ring out as he looked plainly at the inner circle. "Where is Armen I would love to say hello to my little sister?". Ash's hand moved to his sword but Kova shook her head at him. The immortal golden blood that ran through Yama's veins would overpower them. Ash however did not shrink back, he took a step forward. "I think you'll find she's mine" he growled.
"I am not a prize to be won" Kova snapped at the two males, "Ash back down. This is a fight you can't win".

He must have seen the softness in her eyes but the emerald only flashed in answer to her plea. He took another step towards Yama whose hand was wrapped tightly around Kova. Feyre called out to Ash but he ignored his mother.

"Take another step boy" Yama taunted as he rubbed his chin against Kova's neck. "Ash please", she was pleading with him now. She had never begged anyone before, "Don't do this to me. I can't loose you too" she couldn't hide the fear in her voice or how it cracked at the end.

Yama only laughed cooly, "Seems that the shadowsinger does have a weakness"
"Kova" Ash was only looking at her now ignoring the rest of the world. "You say you can't loose me. Well I can't loose you too, I want you to come home with me. To be my mate in Valaris"
The bond between them flared, as he finally spoke it out loud to her, giving her the image of the future. Of hope. "You can't win this boy" Yama growled he had released Kova now stepping a few feet infront of her.

Ash gazed at Kova for a few seconds images flashing between them. Fear ran through he like a cold river. "No I can't" he agreed turning to face Yama. His blade raised to connect with the golden scythe that Yama had materialised next to him. Ash was still weak from his injury. "But she can"

Truthteller sunk deep into Yama's right eye. Wings burst from Kova's back, her shadows swirled around her a tendril wrapped itself around Ash's wrist.

A tether to the world of the living. As immortal blood filled Kova's veins.

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A/N But of a twist. What do you guys think?

Thank you for all the reads and comments, they inspire me to keep writing.

Tess