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

Chapter 32 - Warm Bodies

When they had emerged from Azriel's shadows, the first thing Brianna felt was the sudden warm breeze that tousled the few loose strands of hair off her face. And then there was the salty smell of the ocean, and the unmistakable sound of its waves crashing upon the shore, coupled with the screams of hungry seagulls.

And when she had turned her head to take a look around, Brianna could almost believe that she was back in Allegrya, back in the Strofades. For the ressemblance was uncanny, with the white stone buildings, the air and sounds of a seaside city bustling with life. And if Brianna wasn't looking at all sorts of different faeries wandering round the pier they had arrived on, she would have believed that Azriel had made a mistake, and they didn't winnow into Adriata.

But, the shadowsinger never made mistakes, and he had been cautious to winnow himself and Brianna to the precise location within the Summer Court that Tarquin had mentioned in his letter. He had even sent a spy to scout the area prior to the meeting time, and what that spy had discovered was perhaps the reason why they had been coerced into dressing up so elegantly by his High Lord and Lady.

Besides them, rocking gently with the calm waves of the sea, was a large ship, decorated in fae lights that sparkled in the reflection of the deep blue ocean. There were servants climbing up and down the main ramp leading onto the ship, some carrying trays filled of varieties of sumptuous dishes and drinks, others hauling last minute ornaments to be added onto the already well-decorated ship. There were banners, flowers, what looked like ice sculptures and statues, and it all looked like a myriad of colours and life with numerous High Fae all dressed in their finest, glimmering with the light of the setting sun.

Brianna's eyes had gotten wide, not expecting for one moment that this was the simple dinner she had been invited to, for the more she looked at what was happening around her, until a voice had caught her attention. Or rather, the voice was calling out to her.

"And here I believed the sunsets were most beautiful in my court-", the booming voice came from behind, though Brianna could tell that it was not that of a stranger. But Azriel, having heard that deep sultry voice countless times before, could not stop the roll of his eyes.

And he was right to do so, because when Brianna turned round, and then looked up at the person who had spoken to her, she was met with the unmistakable dazzling grin of the High Lord of the Day Court.

"Though now," Helion went on to say, casually leaning on the banister of the ship, "Seeing you dressed like that, I see how wrong I was."

It was then that Brianna finally stepped out of Azriel's grasp, only now realising that they hadn't let their hands go upon arriving in the Summer Court, just so that she could properly turn to face the High Lord.

But then Helion was gone in a flash, having winnowed from the ship to now stand besides her, and the hand that was clasped in that of the shadowsinger's was now being held by him. Helion bowed deeply, to Brianna's utter surprise - as well as to all the High Fae who happened to pause and witness this strange moment between them - going still as the High Lord of the Day Court's lips pressed firmly on top of the Syren's hand.

He lingered there far longer than what could be deemed appropriate, even making Azriel shift slightly, before Helion finally rose to his full height, flashing Brianna with yet another grin.

"What a delight it is to see you again," Helion told her, eyeing her from head to toe, almost as if admiring the way the Syren was dressed tonight, an almost immaculate copy of the sun setting behind them. Though, it was clear to all who looked their way, Helion was far too preoccupied looking at the areas in which the gown did not cover Brianna's body.