What if I lived? ✔️

Family

I had expected Azriel to bring me to the town house, instead, when the darkness cleared, we were standing in a beautiful foyer, winged stairs on either side, pictures- nay, paintings all over the walls. Only I didn't care about any of it, because in the middle of the room stood, his eyes wide with shock, my big brother.

He looked older, more regal, than last time I saw him, but happy nonetheless. There were sparks in his eyes, no dark circles indicating sleepless nights, filled with nightmares of the horrors he'd had to endure only a few years ago. In every other aspect nothing had changed, those dark violet eyes, the tan skin, the hair as black as the darkest night, even his stupid black-silver tunic was the same.

Beside him a beautiful female with creamy skin and brown-golden hair held his hand tightly. If the dress, woven by my Mother's capable hands, wouldn't have identified her as the first ever High Lady, the crown atop her head would've clued me in. I had heard my brother had found his mate in the midst of his... time, with Amarantha. That he had found the missing piece to his soul in a hell like that... the Mother really had a cruel sense of humor.

On his other side; a gaping Morrigan, her blond hair in disarray, same as her tight, blue dress, one hand resting on the elbow of a gorgeous, dark-skinned female, as if to steady herself. Cassian had planted himself next to Feyre, panting as if he had run here, his eyes as wide as Morrigan's, wearing his fighting leathers plus, same as Azriel, had grown even taller and definitely wider since I last saw him.

Mor was the first to move, hurtling through the room, throwing her arms around me, crushing me against her chest.

"Thank the Mother" she whispered.

A moment later she let me go, her watchful eyes scanning me from head to toe.

Then, stroking a loose strand of hair out of my face, she commented: "No offense, but you look like hell."

Despite myself I snorted, whispering: "And you look exactly the same."

The blond giggled, a tear running down her cheek: "I feel like that's supposed to be an insult."

Seeing her like this broke my heart, the laughter in her eyes, my eyes began stinging too.

"Don't hog her, Mor, there are other's who want to say hello too" that was Cassian.

A sound, halfway between sob and laugh, came out of both our mouths while Mor said: "Shut up."

Cassian came around Mor, sliding one hand around my shoulder to give me a kiss on the top of my head: "Don't listen to her, you look marvelous for a dead girl."

"Still a shameless flirt, I see" trying to steady myself, I wiped at my eyes.

Cassian grinned: "Well, those two won't take the job and one of us three better be a little bit charming or we would never get anywhere."

I could feel a cold smolder from behind me, where Azriel stood.

Mor slapped him on the arm, very lightly: "Hey, that's my job."

"I beg to differ" a cool, deep voice echoed through the hall when the chocolate-skinned female came up behind Mor, sliding an Arm around her waist, "Hi, despite so rudely being not introduced, I'm Falballa, Morrigan's mate."

I blinked. Her stance, the knives at her side, even the shaved sides of her brown hair, which gave her a roguish kind of beauty, everything spoke to one fact. This female could handle herself in combat. That was Mor's mate?

Throwing a glance sidelong at Azriel I saw only joy in those eyes, beholding the female he had loved for centuries with her lover. No regret, no hurt, apparently, he had moved on. Oh, how much I had missed.