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The next morning, Illia awoke early. She decided to spend her morning in town with her people until it was time to meet that beautiful winged male that plagued her dreams the night before. Illia dressed more casual for the morning. Wearing an ankle length, skin tight, light blue petticoat. Under the petticoat she wore a cream lace skirt that peaked out from the bottom with a pair of matching cream strapped heals. Illia left her platinum blonde locks in loose curls. Her snowflake crown adorned the top of her skull, completing the look.
She had taken Cree to the stables about an hour later making sure he was fed and happy before winnowing into town. Unlike the castle, the homes of the towns people where varying in wood colors. snow blanketed every inch of the winter court, including the roofs. People bowed their heads as Illia walked past. She sent them a pearly white smile in return. At the corner of the first shop in town, all of the public baskets hung for people to use at the market and various other stores.
"Illia, It's so good to see you" One of the shop owners greeted the future high lady with a smile. Illia was on the hunt for some new fleece lined gloves for her mother. Vivaine had just ripped her favorite pair when she fell of the ice a couple days ago. Vivaine preferred the dark blues where as Illia lived for the cerulean blues. She passed the beautiful rose stand and headed her way to the back. Her browsing was interrupted by the shop owner and the chime of the door.
"you're kind isn't welcome here" Illia didn't mean to snoop but her peaked interest made it difficult. She moved behind a shelf full of human cook books. She looked towards the door to see who the owner was talking so rudely too. Standing infront of the cash register was a tall, muscular male with large black wings. Illia moved closer to the bookshelf to get a better view of him. She couldn't tell from the angle if he was her male or not. She tried to get even closer which resulted in her pumping into the bookcase a little too hard. A couple of the books fell off the shelf, bring everybody's attention to the icee blonde. Illia glanced up from the books on the ground, hoping the male wasn't her mate. She was never the luckiest snowflake in the snowstorm. The winged male moved to help her as she picked up the books. Illia thanked him for helping. Once they were done restocking the two stood awkwardly looking at each other in the small cramped space of the nic-nac store.
"sir I'm not going to tell you again, members of the night court are not allowed in the shops without permission from the High Lord" Illia looked towards the shop owner who was starting to get on her nerves.
"How about his heir?" she said. Illia hated people who were rude to others for no reason. In all her years she had never had an encounter with someone so rude, especially in the winter court. To be fair, Illia had only been out of her court as a child and spent most of her immortal life locked up in the palace her father had warded so Amarantha couldn't hurt his mate and youngling. "he's with me" Illia grabbed the males hand to drag him from the shop, no longer in search of the perfect pair of gloves. Her interest now lied else where. She noticed the texture of his hands. They felt as if the were scared all over. Illia didn't want to make him uncomfortable by looking.
When the two met with the chilly wind of the Winter Court, Illia turned to meet hazel eyes. she didn't know what to say. She felt like "rail me" was too forward for not even knowing the males name. While she was contemplating what to say, the male sent her a tight lipped smile he hoped she wouldn't catch. He thought about how he liked the way her nose crinkled when trying to figure how to talk to him. His shadows danced around the two while they stared at each other, the other hoping the opposite would come up with something to say.
Illia realized she didn't know his name. "I never caught your name yesterday". She silently hoped she didn't sound too stupid. People stopped and gawked at the two currently standing in the middle of the trail. Illia couldn't decide if it was because she was talking to a member of the Night Court who were know for their brutality or if it was because she was wearing heals in the snow. Maybe a bit of both she thought.
"Azriel" Illia smiled at the name. It was just as beautiful as he was.
"Well Azriel, have you ever seen a polar bear?" he looked at the beauty standing in front of him trying his best not to laugh. He had seen them before but only in battle. He shook his head no.
Illia smiled even wider "would you like to see some?" Azriel nodded his head yes. She held her hand out for him to grab. He looked at it for a second, then to her face and back to her hand before grabbing it with his own. Illia could tell he was uncomfortable. The Winter Court was so bright from the sun reflecting off the snow. It always looked like a winter wonderland and was constantly snowing. She figured it was vastly different than the cruel night court. His large hand fit perfectly into her own, making him smile. She winnowed them both to the edge of the town where a series of multiple metal buildings lay. Like the Illyrians, The Winter Court soldiers too, base was in the mountain side at the edge of the boarder. Most of the winter court was made of mountains so they had found various ways to use them. The largest mountain held the palace. The smallest held a school for younglings. The one they stood on was where the animals where kept. The first one, the biggest of the four held the polar bears they used for war. The had a large gated in area outside where they could roam in the snow. The second one held the horses. The third one held all of the animal feed and tacking supplies. The last and smallest of the four held the baby polar bears.
Illia dragged Azriel to the forth one. She was so excited. The guards who stood watch of the stables stiffened at the sight of the couple century's old fae warrior who's hand was attached to the High Lords heir. Azriel could feel their eyes as Illia walked them closer and closer to the stables. She waved her hand in the direction of one of the guards who opened the doors for them. She turned to look at the black-hair beauty the cauldron had blessed her with.
"I know we barely know each other but trust me when I say this is going to be the best experience of your life." Azriels shadows pulsed in response to her being so close to him. His heartbeat was going wild. He doubted her though, he had lived a very long life with some good moments and plenty of bad. She pulled him through the door. The guard pilling the door shut one whey are both in safely.
The first thing Azriel saw was a small tweed basket fulled with fleece-lined blankets. Two small white tuffs of fur were laying in the basket. Azriel didn't step any closer to them, he only watched his mate walk her way towards the small polar bears. He watched as the bears suddenly awoke from their deep sleep, just to come face to face with the second most important person in court, not that they knew that. They were after all just bears. Bears that would one day grow as big and as strong as the ones he'd seen rip armys apart on the battlefield. Illia glanced up from her spot next to the bear to meet the shadowsingers golden eyes. He was watching her, she could feel his eyes on her before she even met them.
Illia sent him a small smile. After a second of studying her, he returned the gesture with one of his own.
