To the Shadowsinger | Azriel

Chapter 19: Lack of Charm

 Raisa would have slept forever if she could. It was the midday sun finally peaking through the balcony doors that woke her. She squinted an eye open and yawned. When she sat up and looked around the room with a sleepy gaze, she spotted Azriel.

He laid on his stomach with his strong arms wrapped tightly around his pillow. His mouth was slightly open, reminding her of a child passed out after a long day. Then she let her eyes travel down his broad back and to the wings he had splayed out on either side; one draped over the side of the bed, the tip barely touching the floor. It was completely different from how she had seen him before- he always had his wings tucked in close. Seeing him like this, so vulnerable, made her heart soften.

When her eyes went back to his face, she saw a pair of hazel eyes staring back at her.

It took everything in her not to avoid his gaze. She let it consume her- let him see that she wasn't timid. Her cheeks warmed even more when a sleepy smile came to his face and he sat up. Their eyes were locked as he stretched his wings out wide.

"Ready to meet the High Lady?" he asked.

For a moment, she forgot why she was there. She let herself believe the world had faded away and there was nothing but her and Azriel. A selfish thought- people needed her. She didn't have time to daydream.

She stood up and smoothed down the dress. It was a lovely color, one that suited her. It also hid the fact that she left her shoes in the bathing room. She brushed her hair one last time before joining Azriel at the door and following him out.

The closer they drew to the dining room, the more intense the smell of food hit her. Whatever food it was made her stomach rumble. She wondered if they would be eating with the High Lord and Lady- hopefully.

"Azriel," a bright voice called out cheerfully from the dining room. Raisa stood behind Azriel, not yet in view of the room. When she stepped out, she saw a table filled with a layout of food. There were three female high faes seated at the table- one blonde, another with short black hair, and the last with brown hair and a mean face. Beside the last female was an Illyrian with long hair tied in a knot.

"I knew you'd find her," the blonde fae raised a glass of red wine and winked at Raisa.

Raisa met each of their eyes with a straight back. She was expecting just the High Lord and High Lady, not a feast. She tried not to let it show that she was intimidated.

"So you're the Queen of Vallahan," the female with the black hair asked with a cold gaze. Her eyes were unlike anything she had ever seen- like pools of storms.

"Queen Raisa, The First," she bowed her head and gave a polite smile.

The second female studied her. "I'm the High Lord and Lady's Second in Command. Amren." Her lips curled mischievously, "The First."

The golden haired female hid a smile behind a glass of wine as she looked away from the Queen. Raisa found herself biting the inside of her cheek as the rest of the room studied her.

It was the Illryain that spoke next, "I'm Cassian- The First."

"Shut the hell up," Azriel mumbled as he pulled out a seat at the table. When Raisa didn't follow, he looked back and gestured for her to sit in the seat. She stayed still for a moment, blinking in confusion, then slipped past him and into the chair.

Once again, his chivalry caught her off guard.

"You look much better when you're not thrashing in pain from an amphisbaena bite," the golden-haired female filled an empty glass with wine and held it out to Raisa.

Raisa took the glass and smelled its contents, "I'm guessing you're Morrigan."

"You'd be correct, though you can call me Mor. My days of bloodshed on the battlefield are over and I've retired the name Morrigan."

Cassian snorted, receiving a threatening glare from Mor.

Amren cut in though she didn't look like she cared much, "children, play nice."

"The High Lord and Lady shouldn't be too long," Azriel whispered to Raisa while Mor and Cassian continued to argue.

Raisa nodded and looked across the table at the female that hadn't spoken. She had a tiredness in her blue eyes but when her eyes landed on Cassian there was a soft light in them. She didn't smile, but Raisa could tell the Illryian brought her some kind of happiness.

"She's one of the High Lady's sisters, Nesta. Her other sister is with her mate in the Summer Court," Azriel whispered. He must have noticed Raisa's attention.

Raisa couldn't remember the last time she sat at a table for dinner like this. Usually she took meals alone in her room. Meals were meant for politics: something her husband kept her from. It was nice not to be alone- the realization formed a lump in her throat- and she found herself looking at Azriel out of the corner of her eye and smiling. He was looking at Cassian with disappointment yet Raisa could feel love in his eyes.

She leaned into Azriel and whispered, "Is he your brother?"

Azriel nodded, "We share no blood but he and High Lord Rhysand are my brothers nonetheless."

When Raisa looked away to see Cassian, she saw he was already looking between her and Azriel with a proud smile on his face. He was handsome, a wild kind of handsome, but his looks held no weight when she could still feel Azriel's warmth at her side.

"Never thought I'd see the day Az brings a female home," Cassian titled his head to Azriel then gave Raisa a sympathetic look. "He's not very good with the ladies. I blame it on his lack of charm."

"He has more charm than you," Nesta said while sipping her wine.

Cassian turned in his seat as if she stabbed him, "How could you? My sweet darling Nesta, light of my-"

She placed a finger over his lips, silencing him. What looked like an intimate moment turned into her shoving his face away, almost making Raisa spew her wine across the table.

"Children, I tell you." Amren shook her head.

"I hope you all haven't been embarrassing yourselves in front of our guest."

Raisa stilled at the voice. It was the voice of darkness and night. She slowly turned in her seat to see that the High Lord and High Lady of the Night Court had finally arrived.

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