Gwyn struggles to master her covert feelings for Cassian, but no secrets are hidden from the spymaster's careful observations. Azriel struggles to overcome his own interest in Elain, as any love affair between the two would amount to disaster. Gwyn and Azriel find solace in one another based on their similar heartaches, and find that they share something else far more profound... **Ranked #2 in ACOTAR on 10/20/21!** ** Ranked #1 in ACOSF on 10/9/21** **Ranked #1 in Gwynriel on 6/5/22!**

Gwyneth had always felt connected to her faith, a higher power presiding over her. That faith had shaken that devastating day those years ago, the day that went on to haunt her every nightmare for years to come. She's still trying to come back from it, to not only restore her faith in life and love, but her faith in herself. The sanctity of her spirit- she prayed for resolve. Every punch was a prayer. Every mile was a hymn. Until her knuckles bled and her knees gave. Azriel had been surrounded by darkness his whole life, a poison on his world, on his being. He exercised restraint in his every waking moment, banishing that darkness within himself. Some guessed of the strain it put on him, but no one knew the extent of it, how deep his scars ran. It was better this way, he was sure. He had always thought that if there were a higher power- which he wholly doubted- such deities must loathe him to have burdened him such darkness. He hadn't much faith in the gods anyway, much less faith that he could sway their opinion on him. But Gwyneth and Azriel did have one thing in common: the quiet fight within themselves. They only knew one way: to go about it alone, couldn't fathom letting another in. But there's a magic in finding someone who is your equal but opposite, something transforming. And frankly, Gwyneth and Azriel could both use a little magic. All characters owned by SJM in the ACOTAR series. Story takes place after the events of ACOSF. Aligns with the events in my other fic: A Storm of Flames and Deceit. I haven't finished Crescent City, so this story takes place outside of the events of those books as well. CONTENT WARNING ⚠️ Mentions of r*pe, use of profanity, explicit content, sexual content, violence, torture, mentions of suicidal thoughts and depression, mentions of self harm

Follows story line of the ACOTAR series.... picks off right after ACOSF, so of course spoilers are meant to be said in this story. For people who haven't read ACOTAR, read at your own risk, but fair warning you might be just a tad bit confused. ALSO... I will not be trashing any character, expect for assholes like Beron and his sons (expect for Eris). STORY DESCRIPTION: Gwyneth Berdara has spent her last year still not being able to leave that gods-damned library. She wants to leave, but every time she is about to reach the outside world, she freezes and goes back to Sangravah. She tells herself that she is safe, she is in Velaris, but nothing works. She feels as if she's still stuck in the same place from when she entered the library two years ago. One incident makes her leave the Night Court and into another court. How will she react? Azriel was there in Sangravah, but he had arrived too late. Ever since the incident, Azriel has been slipping farther and farther away from his family. He doesn't know why the incident had been eating away at him, it wasn't his first time failing at his job. Azriel finds shocking news that he must keep from Gwyn. The plot line derives somewhat from the initial description. P.S. : I do not own this art, I just made it as my cover! Same thing goes for the characters, Sarah J Maas, wrote these character from scratch. Except for my OC!