❝ Sometimes I feel like I have changed into something unrecognizable, but then I see you, and the love I feel tethers me back to this earth ❞
Maiya was walking a fine line. On one side was safety; her brother and mother and love, but the other was c...
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𝔚hen I awoke, I was in pain. My hand was wrapped in bandages and ached whenever I moved even a finger. Faintly, I could feel someone untangling my hair gently and I opened my eyes to find the hulking figure of an Illyrian beside me. A shadow wrapped around my hand as I felt a wave of relief wash through the bond, the emotions almost choking me.
"Az..."
"I'm here." His voice was soft as he reached up to brush the hair from my face, leaning forward to rest his head against mine. "I'm here."
"You weren't there." I hissed, as my fingers tightened on his leathers. I could feel him flinch next to me, and I turned to look away from him, eyes narrowed. "You weren't there."
"I'm so sorry, Maiya, please." Azriel begged, pleading with me. "Your father had me elsewhere, I didn't know until it was too late. I'm sorry."
"I couldn't feel you." All Azriel could do was keep apologising as I stared at the wall. His hand traced mine, pressing a kiss to it as more shadows seemed to cradle me, holding me close. We said nothing for a while, my mind needing a bit of time to process what was going on, before I pushed myself upright. Azriel was up in a moment too, as I swung my legs over the bed, biting down the pain that I was feeling. "Where's Rhysand? I need to tell him..."
"That it was the Spring Court?" Azriel appeared in front of me, watching me with those large hazel eyes, worry clear in them as I hummed. "He already knows. He and your father went to the Spring Court to deal with it."
"They should have waited. I could have helped." I pushed myself to stand, wincing in pain at the feeling in my back. It turned out having a man push his knee into your back caused a lot of pain.
"Let them handle this, please." His hazel eyes were wide, shadows curling around both of us as I paused. "I know you want revenge, but you're injured. Please, stay here."
"Azriel-"
"I thought you were dead." He shook his head as I finally let his hands hold onto mine, clutching tightly to my fingers as he towered over me. "I was calling down the bond for you and there was no response. I thought they'd killed you as well when they started talking about your mother being dead. I know that I am at fault for not answering, and I'm sorry, but please, I need to know that you're alright."
I truly looked at him for the first time since I'd woken up, taking in the sight of his dishevelled hair and wide eyes, the slight tremor in his hands and the agitated state of his shadows. I'd never seen him like this in all the years that I'd known him.
So I reached up to hug him. That seemed to be all it took, for he grasped me close, fingers holding onto my skin, as he buried my face into the crook of his neck. He pressed kisses to my skin as I relaxed slightly, both of us staying as we were.
