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

Chapter XXIV - Cold As Ice

It felt like the warm and welcoming atmosphere around them had subsided upon their appearance, for Brianna could not forget what it had been like when she had first met the High Lord of the Dawn Court. And neither could Azriel, it seemed, since he still stood in front of a Brianna, as if he would shield her from any more verbal attacks from Thesan.

He had been only ever spoken to her in disdain, that Brianna found was rather rude, frankly, when he and Tarquin had both accused her people of being horrible monsters who had laid waste onto their people. Even if such incidents had happened aeons ago, even if it wasn't even the Syrens' doing, but rather that of the Harpies, much like Dorian had explained to them before, it appeared that Thesan still had his reservations about the Syren emissary, for he gave her a cold look. Him and his entourage of Peregryns, for that matter.

But Brianna thought she would be the better person, the bigger person, for she was here in Prythian to be an emissary to her people, and so she was going to act like it. Dorian trusted her to be civil, to be polite and a true representative of her kind, to go and earn the High Lords' trust.

And so, Brianna's hand went to push Azriel aside as she side-stepped him, now facing Thesan, seeing him in all his might, just like how he had portrayed himself the first time they met. He had let his power slip, even just a little, and he almost seem to glow upon the icy-looking walls of the Winter Palace. If Brianna thought Helion looked like sunlight incarnate, Thesan was... something like a product of the sun itself.

She bowed, as courteous as ever, even if her large and thick coat had made it a little difficult. Still, when she straightened once more, meeting Thesan's deep brown eyes that bore into hers, and she mustered up a dazzling smile, masking the fact the had suddenly felt a little overcome with nerves.

"I didn't think we'd meet again so soon," she told the High Lord of the Dawn Court honestly, because she really did not think she would be meeting two High Lords in one day. And neither did Azriel, he had no inclination to this surprise. Then Brianna turned to face Kallias, though instead of shooting him a quizzical look, she maintained that serene smile, "There was no mention of this meeting being extended to others in your letter."

Kallias' expression didn't falter, while Viviane's eyes grew a little wide, almost accusatory toward her husband, like she had believed all their guests would have been informed of this. Thesan was eerily quiet, though he didn't look perturbed. It seemed that he knew that the Syren would be here, even if he too hadn't sent word, hadn't even answered her letter.

Viviane was the one to break the tension, because she was growing rather tired of this strange stare-off between High Lords and a helpless emissary, "We thought it would be a grand idea to have a joint meeting. Kallias and Thesan have their own little business to discuss, so I thought I would steal your attention once you've settled on what it is you've come here to tell us."

Brianna blinked at the lady, a little stunned by this odd change of plans. Azriel shifted a little, his eyes falling on the High Lord of the Dawn Court, noting how he didn't seem wholly in favour of this situation. But still, Thesan was here, he had come, so that could only mean good things. Or so Azriel had hoped.

Brianna looked to Thesan, "In that case I am glad that you've accepted to meet me."

"I am rather curious," Thesan said, eyeing the Syren now, lifting his chin at her, the words rolling off his tongue with ease, "I've only come to discover what more you could possibly say to plead your case."