To the Shadowsinger | Azriel

Chapter 11: Brighter

Once again, Azriel was on babysitting duty. This time, instead of a child knocking everything over with his wings, it was the damned Queen of Vallahan. Just his luck. He kept his eyes on her back as she walked a few steps in front of him.

Since he burnt their only food and they were both starving, he suggested dining out. He didn't expect her face to light up with the brightest of smiles. She was like a damned dog, practically bolted out the door as soon as he dropped the ward. He was right on her tail just in case she decided to run again.

"What's your favorite thing to eat?" Her voice was light as she spun around, her dark hair flying out around her, and gave him another one of her smiles. It was hard to keep up with her moods. One second she looked ready to plot murder and the next she was all smiles and charm. He struggled to tell if she genuinely was happy or if it was one of her masks.

Queen of Masks, the name popped up in his head and brought a tug to his lips. Then he remembered her question. He sighed and took a large step to be at her side, "I don't have a favorite."

She narrowed her green eyes and gave him a knowing smile. Even though she walked backwards, she was completely aware of her surroundings, casually swerving her way around the people they passed through Palace of Hoof and Leaf.

His wings twitched under her full attention, though his face remained emotionless. Usually he hated answering strangers' questions, but he found himself wanting to tell her, "It's a pastry with nuts and honey that's popular here."

He watched her eyes lighten. He couldn't help but think she had a kind face, not as kind as Elain's, but it was gentle. One that made him want to speak with a softer voice or even smile.

"I didn't think you would say something sweet," she faced forward, her smile still not leaving her face.

Azriel was hyper aware of her movements. He blamed it on his anxiousness of making sure she didn't winnow out of his reach, but he had to clench his hands to make sure he didn't grab her. Holding her arm- or even a leash- would have made him feel better.

The sun had already set and stars had taken over the sky. People were roaming the market for dinner. Rai's attention shifted from Azriel to the stands filled with assortments of spices, pastries, butchered meat, and prepared food. Her wide curious eyes made something in his chest warm.

"Anything smell good?" He asked as they stopped at a shop with scents of meat, zest, breads, and rich spices.

"All of it," she held a hand over her stomach and stared at a large bowl of steaming rice. "Is it spicy?"

He wanted to laugh. If she wanted spicy, she was in the right place, it was enough to make even him sweat sometimes. Cassian and Rhys were the ones that loved spicy foods. "Can you handle spice?"

Rai was the one who ended up laughing, it was light hearted, causing her cheeks to flush. She shook her head as she looked at him, "Vallahan is the biggest importer of spice around the world. You could call me the Queen of Spice, if you wish."

Five minutes later, Az hid a smile as she was begging for water after inhaling a chunk of chicken that had been roasted in different peppers and dry rubs. He bought a bottle of wine from a vendor and handed her the bottle. Her eyes watered as she chugged the liquid.

"The Queen of Spice has such a high tolerance," Azriel smirked when she met his eyes over the bottle.

Her voice was raspy, "I wasn't expecting to inhale fire."

They took a seat on a bench that overlooked the Sidra where he showed her the proper way to eat it. The rice balanced it with mint and lime, making the spice tolerable. After knowing this, her smile remained as she ate and watched the people all around. The city was alive with performers, shoppers, artists, and even children running.

"I like it here," she said after swallowing.

Azriel looked at her, expecting that confident and playful smile, but instead she looked far away. Her eyes were distant. A smile remained but it was faint, broken almost.

"Velaris is one of a kind," he found himself saying. "But I'm guessing Vallahan is nothing like it."

She took another bite, watching the reflection of the moon ripple on the Sidra. "In many ways, it's like the Night Court. We were sister countries before the continents drifted a long time ago, but you're right. Vallahan is nothing like Velaris. I'll be sad to leave."

He didn't want to think about her leaving, so instead he silently ate his own food and sipped away at the bottle of wine until he felt warm inside.

Azriel didn't drink often, but when he did, the world was a much funnier place. He still had an even head, but his checks were warm and the thought of him sharing a bottle of wine with the Queen of Vallahan made him want to snort.

Life had been boring lately. He had always felt like a bystander, watching from the shadows as his friends lived lives filled with color. His world was so gray, not that he minded most days, but with the Queen sitting right next to him, his world felt brighter. The music playing on the street was more vibrant. The wine in the bottle even sweeter. The food in his stomach more filling than ever.

"If everything works out," his voice was louder than it had been, causing her to look at him with parted lips. "Maybe you can return."

That smile of hers he decided he liked returned, making his heart skip. "It will work out. I've lost so much in this life that I can't lose this too."

He wasn't sure what "this" was, so he asked.

She shrugged, swallowing the last of her food. "Hope, I guess. That I'll be free. That my people will have a fair rule and the humans can safely return to their land."

It was easy for him to keep talking. There was so much he wanted to understand when he looked at her. And when he heard the words "I'll be free", he was suddenly a boy trapped in the darkness once again whispering to the shadows that told him stories of the world "maybe one day, I'll be free."

And he was free, but he wasn't smiling like the female beside him. He wanted to know what her cage was like. Was it dark? Filled with monsters? Did they hurt her? These questions came in the form of panicked shadows racing around his body. She gave him a worried look as she noticed them.

"Are you alright?" She asked.

He swallowed and looked to her hand on the neck of the bottle between them. His eyes going to the thick band of scars around her wrist and to the series of scars under the translucent sleeve. He had seen them before, when she was unconscious, but he didn't think about them. He couldn't imagine anyone chaining her down after seeing her slip through his own chains with ease. And why would a Queen be chained?

He hated himself as he asked, "Did the king give you those scars?"

She pulled her hand away, instantly covering the one on her wrist with her fingers, but he saw the other wrist bore the same. It only made him angrier. No wonder she wanted her husband dead. What kind of sick bastard chains up his own wife?

He couldn't sit still any longer, he busied himself with picking up the trash and dumping it in the nearest bin. Rai looked tense as he returned and stood leaning against the railing.

"If you want to know about my scars, you have to tell me about yours." Her eyes pointed to his hands.

He should have seen it coming.

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