A Court of Shadows and Thunder // AzrielxOC SlowBurn Romance, ACOTAR FanFiction

Chapter VI - An Invitation

Azriel didn't let his emotions falter, even as he watched how Brianna's lips parted ever so slightly, a ghost of a smile upon her lips. Subtle, so very subtle, that no one else in the room had noticed while they engaged into conversation.

Apparently, all that Dorian had told them was enough to appease the High Lords, and they began to share their own stories with him. Particularly stories of the war, with Dorian giving them insight on his battle against Rask, Vallahan and Montesere on the seas.

But Azriel wasn't paying attention, for all he could hear was his heart pounding in his ears, as Brianna studied him curiously. Watching him, his every breath, as if waiting, and Azriel quickly realized that she actually was waiting to see what he would do next.

It would have been very easy for him to reveal to the room the secret Brianna had told him the night before, exposing the Syrens instantly, for their deceiving nature, for the half-truths they had fed to the High Lords. Perhaps their people weren't monsters anymore, that they were no threat to Prythian, but then Brianna was, for she had triggered her curse. And now she was in Prythian, had been invited in under the guise of peace, a monster in disguise right before them.

Azriel thought of last night, how she had been flying around the mountains, in the Night Court. He thought of how she had dined with them, shared drink with them, slept within the walls of this palace. But then he thought of their conversation, how she had been open to him, talked to him of a possible alliance between the Night Court and the Syrens.

And now here she sat, in a war room amongst the most powerful beings of Prythian. She knew very well who these High Lords were, how they were capable of tearing her apart the instant they found out the truth.

I'm not like the other Syrens. The words echoed in Azriel's mind.

A bit of truth, that she had told him rather casually, Azriel remarked, though he hadn't known the meaning of it until mere moments ago. And when she did, much like she appeared now, she was wearing only a nightgown, her hair flowing freely down her bare arms. She had been vulnerable to him last night, had admitted something that she probably shouldn't have, based on how Dorian had carefully not revealed that detail when he had spoken. She wore a dress that wasn't fit for battle in any way, bore no weapons whatsoever. Dressed and looking as she was, she had made herself completely unguarded whilst harbouring such a secret. So why, why did she tell him?

"You seem to be taking particular interest in my spymaster." Rhysand's voice broke the semi-trance Azriel was in, and found that his High Lord was curiously glancing back and forth between the two.

Brianna only let out a half-smile at the High Lord, "It's just that I find those shadows so interesting," she told him, eyeing Azriel once more, "It's as though they are dancing on his shoulders, whispering little secrets to him."

She had used those words with him last night too. Had alluded to knowing what those shadows did, how they would gather information out of Azriel's will.

Stop sending your little shadows after me, no matter what little secrets they whisper to your ears about me or my kind.

Azriel's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. She knew that he would have found out the truth anyway, sooner or later. And it was like she was openly taunting him now, pushing him to see if he'd say it. Azriel looked hard into those blood red eyes, noting how otherworldly they were, and how now, knowing what he knows, it made perfect sense. How she could see his shadows, sense them, when no normal fae could. This was why.

Almost as if she could read his thoughts, her head angled ever so slightly, almost as if to say to him - go on, tell them what you know. Tell them that I have a little secret too.