Chapter Text
Gwyn
There were times when things felt like a dream, and Gwyn couldn’t help but feel like she would wake up any moment and find herself alone again.
But being in Azriel’s arms while he read over his spy reports and she had a book in her hand reminded her that it was all real.
Azriel’s hand creeped up her back, weaving into her hair, “You’ve been staring at that page for ten minutes, what are you thinking?”
She smiled, nuzzling his bare chest, “I’m happy.”
“Me too.” he confessed, “But it’s something more.”
She turned her head to meet his eyes, “Is this real?” she whispered.
“It is love.” he assured her, “It’s all real.”
It was, wasn’t it? She was in the arms of the shadowsinger, both of them wearing barely anything, snuggling in his room. He huffed a laugh, lifting her in his arms and discarding his papers. He dropped her on the bed, smiling as she swatted him.
She laughed as he tickled her sides, holding himself over her. “Stop struggling, Berdara.”
She kneed him lightly in the stomach, “Never, Shadowsinger.” she flipped him so that they were on top, but he caught her hands and pulled her down for a kiss.
She relaxed into his hold, allowing her body to mold to his as he continued to kiss her.
“We should be productive.” she whispered into his lips.
He chuckled, “We can be productive right now if you want.” his hand went to her lower back, grinding his erection into her.
She groaned, “Azzz.”
“Yes, love?”
She sighed, sitting up on his lap, holding his hips down, “I’m ready,” she whispered.
“You sure?” he asked, his eyes showing concern.
She smiled, nodding her head, “I am. I want to take this step with you.”
He leaned up, brushing a tender kiss over her mouth, “Okay.”
He pulled her dress over her shoulders, kissing a trail down her neck. She drew in a sharp breath as he swirled his tongue over her breast. “I love these,” he whispered.
She smiled, pushing on his chest and tugging at his shirt. He undid the pieces under his wings and pulled it over his head, shoving off his pants just as quickly.
He stroked her hips for a moment before placing his hands above his head and laying back. “Take the lead, love.”
She took one of his hands in hers and kissed his scars, “There is nothing that will make me think you are anything but beautiful, Az.”
He closed his eyes, a tear slipping down his cheek. He could feel her grab his other hand, placing it on her breast. She stroked his wrists, “I like how they feel,” she said softly, “It reminds me it’s you, that I’m safe.”
He bit his lip, trying not to make a noise as his heart swelled. Nobody had ever related his hands to being safe. They always made people fear him, or caused disgust.
This beautiful female above him felt safe with his hands on her skin, with his scars touching her.
Her fingers glided over his eyes, “Look at me.” He did. She leaned down and kissed him, “No part of you is ugly, or worthless. Okay?”
He nodded, “Okay.”
~ ~ ~
Cassian
In a world that was perfect, Cassian would be in bed with his mate right now. But alas, Nesta was charging through their house looking for Gwyn.
“Nes, maybe she fell asleep.”
Nesta threw an annoyed look over her shoulder, “You actually believe she would have fallen asleep this early? We haven’t even had dinner.”
He sighed, “Okay, well have you thought that if you can’t find her, she might just be busy with something else?”
Nesta continued down another hallway, ignoring him. He grumbled under his breath, wondering why they were headed to Azriel’s room.
“She trains with Az,” Nesta said, “Maybe he knows where she is.”
Which would be a good guess, and even if he hadn’t seen her, Cassian had no doubt his brother could easily find the priestess.
Cassian was about to knock on his brother’s door, but Nesta didn’t even give him a second before she was barging into the room. So he followed her lead, passing by Azriel’s small living space and going straight to his bedroom.
“Hey Az do you know where-”
Naked.
His brother was in his bed, naked. And Gwyn was sitting on top of him, her tan freckled back on full display.
He turned away a second too late, Azriel already having noticed.
~
Azriel
Azriel was going to kill his brother. Upon their loud entrance, Gwyn had stopped moving on him, completely freezing in his arms.
He growled, his wings snapping out to cover her, his shadows surging up around them for further coverage.
His brother had turned away, his hands up in placation, but Nesta was gaping at them. “Get. Out.” he said softly, but firm.
Cassian was trying to blindly grab at Nesta, “Nes, we should go.” he whispered to her.
Gwyn let out a tiny sob at Cassian’s voice. Azriel leaned back a little, gently pulling her off of him, “Gwyn?”
She surged off his lap, stumbling into the bathroom and slamming the door. His shadows formed a wall, pushing his brother and Nesta back while Azriel went to the bathroom door.
“Gwyn? Love I’m coming in.” he turned the knob, slowly peeking in. She was leaning over the toilet, throwing up and sobbing.
He closed the door behind him, Taking her hair in one hand and rubbing her back with the other, “Breathe, Gwyn, breathe.”
~
Cassian
He needed to get Nesta to leave, before Azriel came back out and decided to kill them.
“Nes.” he begged, “Please, we should go.”
Nesta was shaking her head, still staring at the bathroom door, “They… she…and he…what the hell.”
Azriel’s shadows lunged at Nesta when she tried to go to Gwyn. He pulled her back, “Sweetheart we just walked in on them and gave Gwyn a panic attack. You can see her later, alright, but right now we need to let Az handle it.”
He managed to get her out of the room, dragging her to the outdoor training ring. “Nes-”
She punched the post in the center ring, making it shake.
When she turned around he could tell she was more worried than annoyed. She took a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing, “Do you think she’ll be okay?”
Cassian took her hands, kissing her shoulder, “I’m sure Az will calm her down. He can be very helpful in these situations.”
She snorted, “Yeah right.”
“I’m serious. He knows how to calm her down, she'll be alright.”
~ ~ ~
About an hour later, Cassian heard wingbeats. He was ready with an apology for his brother, knowing the fact that they were in the middle of having sex wouldn’t make Azriel less angry at him.
Before he could even open his mouth though, Azriel had landed and his fist was connecting with Cassian’s nose.
There was a crunch as his nose dislocated. Nesta cried out, catching him as he stumbled back.
She glared at Azriel, opening her mouth to yell at him-
“Say a fucking word Nesta and I’ll punch you next.” he threatened.
She closed her mouth. He spat out some blood, wiping the rest on his shirt, “I’m sorry, Az, we didn’t know she was in there with you.”
“That’s why you fucking knock.” his brother said.
He nodded, he knew Azriel liked his privacy and had asked them all to knock. That was Cassian’s fault.
“If you want to take it out on me that’s fine.” he said sincerely, spreading out his arms wide.
Azriel turned away from him as Nesta protested, rubbing his face. “I told her I would only do one for the door.” he sighed, “And I have no interest in beating you to a bloody pulp.”
“Good. How’s Gwyn?”
Azriel stared at his feet, “She stopped throwing up.”
Nesta suddenly seemed to forget the punch because she was surging towards Azriel, concern in her blue eyes, “Is she okay? Can I see her?”
“She’s fine, and no. She needs to decompress.” he said, “But she said she’d talk to you tomorrow.”
Nesta had tears in her eyes, “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
His brother was fidgeting, “I know. She knows. It’s fine Nesta, just give her a few hours.”
~ ~ ~
Gwyn
The next morning Gwyn was feeling better. She had showered and felt very refreshed. Azriel hadn’t slept, he never did when she had these attacks.
She brushed that thought away, brushing her hair out for the fifth time. “Az, we have to talk to them.”
He wrapped his arms around her middle, “We could just stay here.”
She spun in his arms and he pinned her to his bed post, hoisting her legs around his waist.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” He asked for the hundredth time.
Gwyn was fine, and she told him as much but he didn’t really believe her, and she knew it was just him trying to be sure.
“I was just startled. And it was all a lot while we were together like that, but I’m fine now I promise.”
He sighed onto her lips, “If you’re sure.”
“I am,” she said, even as she was dragging his shirt down his shoulders.
~ ~ ~
When they made it down to the dining room, Nesta immediately embraced Gwyn, “I’m sorry we walked in on you, I was just worried because you were late and I couldn’t find you anywhere.”
Gwyn bit her lip sheepishly, “I um, sort of forgot about book club.” She looked away blushing, “I was.. ahem.. occupied.”
Nesta smiled a little, “Banging an Illyrian is hard work, I know.”
Gwyn choked on air, “Oh goddess.”
She glanced at Cassian, noticing that he lingered further away from them. “Are you going to say hello, Cass?”
Cassian turned to her, then to Azriel, and stayed put.
Azriel rolled his eyes, walking over to Gwyn, “I’m not going to kill you for hugging her Cass. She’s cut my dick off.”
Gwyn smirked, “I would not.”
He leaned over, placing a kiss on her brow, “You would if I tried controlling the people you love.”
She huffed, “Yes but why take your dick when it brings me so much pleasure.”
In the heat of the moment, she had forgotten her friends had never heard her be so filthy. Azriel had opened her up to new things, and normally she liked talking dirty — in a more private setting at least.
Nesta and Cassian had fallen silent.
“So you’re together?” Nesta said finally.
Azriel nodded, putting an arm around her shoulders.
“How long?” Cassian dared ask.
Azriel nudged her, allowing her to relay the dates. “Well we made it official about two months ago, but we’ve been… umm…” she looked at Azriel pleadingly.
His lips turned up in the corners, “Before it was official it was sexual, mostly.”
“So you’ve been sleeping together and decided to date?” Nesta asked, “When did that start?”
Gwyn blushed a furious red, “It’s not like it was emotionless or anything. He was helping me… get up to a point.”
“A point which they sorely interrupted last night.” Azriel mentioned offhandedly.
“Which is why you both smell?” Cassian hazarded a guess.
Gwyn waved them both off, looking her sister in the eyes, “It started a few months after Nyx was born, during the Summer.”
Nesta nodded, looking around the room, “How the hell didn’t we notice?” She murmured to herself.
“Probably couldn’t hear us over your own screams.” Azriel said.
Cassian snorted, “You wish you could make a female scream like that brother.”
Azriel just grinned.
Gwyn scoffed, “It took you literally five minutes to start measuring dicks.” She rolled her eyes, taking Nesta’s hands, “We should talk alone.”
As the two of them left, Cassian came over to Azriel and slapped him on the back, “I’m happy for you brother, she’s a keeper.”
Azriel gazed after his fiery redhead, “Yeah, she is.”