#Elain definitely saw Tarquin coming!

[bookofmirth]

I just realized something; when Azriel & Elain were about to kiss but Rhys interrupted them by speaking into Azriel’s mind, wouldn’t that mean since Rhys was inside Az’s mind that he could see how Azriel truly felt about Elain? Rhys said “if you need to fuck someone” he didn’t say love. I think if Azriel did have actual romantic feelings for Elain and told Rhys that, then his brother would be more understanding and want Az to be happy.

I think Azriel is scared his brothers are straying away from him and if he has Elain he’ll stay close with them. He’s so focused on three brothers and three sisters. Do you think Rhys saw/felt Azriel’s true feelings and do you think in some way that Az is taking advantage of Elain holding off on her mating bond?

Anon, this is such a great question and I'm so sorry to make you wait six weeks for an answer! I have thought about turning my inbox off just because I feel bad about making people wait, but I like checking it for little treats like this.

I think it's definitely possible that Rhys felt what Az was feeling, and that's why he stopped Azriel.

It begs the question, what was Rhys doing prying in the first place? How long was he "watching" Azriel, and for what reason? (If it's just for the sake of plot and drama I will pull my hair out.) Perhaps it was intentional. Perhaps it was something Rhys does every night, doing a quick little psychic scan of his house before bed. Or perhaps acosf really did take everything we thought we knew about Rhys and turned it on its head *coughpregnancyplot* because...

The only thing is, Rhys has said before that he sees going into someone's mind like that as a violation. Feyre views it the same way, as an inherently negative thing, an abuse of power, and we see that when she goes into Tarquin's mind, Lucien's, and when Nesta gets angry when she realizes that Feyre did that, asking if she'd (Feyre) ever done it to her (Nesta).

However... Azriel has been clenched tighter than... really tightly clenched things, every analogy I came up with was inappropriate bordering on offensive lmao. So I can see a scenario in which Rhys noticed Azriel being more uptight than usual during Solstice, and then deciding that he needs to keep a closer eye on his friend. It's worth noting that it's not just Solstice. Azriel's fight over spying on Briallyn occurred before Solstice, obviously the High Lord meeting occurred before that night, so Az has developed a pattern of losing his shit at inappropriate times. Rhys has probably been concerned about his friend/brother/sex-in-the-same-room buddy for quite a while now.

And that's the thing, right? During Solstice, when everyone was together and happy and Az was definitely Not, he acts out that night, with Elain. I don't see it as romantic for a bajillion reasons, but one of the major ones is that we saw him being tense and standoffish all night and the result of that wasn't a declaration of feelings or affection or caring, it was more akin to a teenage boy throwing a temper tantrum (rather than a man in love with a woman he can't have). That's how he acted when Rhys confronted him. He got angry, and rebellious, and fuck the consequences - which is exactly how he has been reacting to every other situation thrown his way lately (the high lord meeting, being told he can't spy on Briallyn). It isn't about Elain.

Eris slutshames Mor in the High Lord's meeting - Az loses his shit and attacks Eris

Rhys and Feyre tell him he can't spy on Briallyn - Az loses his shit and fights them all afternoon ("I wasn't asking permission" lmao jackass)

Rhys tells Az to back off of Elain - Az loses his shit and throws snowballs

There's something going on here, and it's not about one person. It's deeper and more personal than that.

Whether Rhys was in Az's mind and prying around in there intentionally, or just really observant of Az's behavior, I think he could have come to the same conclusion that there are no romantic feelings there. It'd definitely be interesting if he had been able to glean Azriel's emotions and that's why he put a stop to things in the first place. I'm not sure it's something we'd ever know, unless it gets referenced at some later point, but... that would be awkward for anyone who hasn't read it.

I don't know if I'd say Az is taking *advantage* of the fact that Elain hasn't acted on her mating bond. To me it more seems like he wants a mate of his own and is incredibly jealous of those around him who have one, it's playing into his feelings of not belonging. I can see him being frustrated that people (Elain and Lucien) who have the one thing he wants (a mating bond, belonging) are basically squandering it. Imagine someone who has something you want, and taking it for granted. IMO that's at play here.

[acourtofthought]

Hello!

About the Azriel you were talking about him, I have to say that part in the extra that he says: that he showed Rhysand that side of him said a lot. It is normally closed and has multiple peaks. Girls find men that sexy, but in SJM's books it was always a warning.

I wanted to know why people find the way he refers to Elain as an object of possession beautiful, I wanted to see if it was Lucien giving the necklace to someone else...

Another detail, from acomaf we know that Azriel needs to exercise when he is frustrated. By the time he gets to that ring, he's broken, and he's fine and slept as well as he could.

I love the language of Gwynriel: provocative, competitive, and understanding at a glance.

I loved when Gwyn said he saw Azriel's aggressive side that slaughtered everyone, WITHOUT HESITATION. She was there at her worst moment, but proud that her attackers suffered. I'm looking forward to the broken parts of the two coming together.

What do you say about Gwyn saying she did bad things too. Do you think there's something beyond the fights she had with Catrin?

The reason Feysand worked is because Rhys showed Feyre the worst of him from the start. The reason Nessian worked is because Nesta never put on airs around Cassian, she let him see the most bitter and angry parts of who she was from their first interaction. Rowealin were endgame because they were complete assholes to one another in the beginning. If you can weather the worst of someone than you can definitely handle the best of them. We don't get that with E/riel though and that's not a good thing for an SJM book because as we see above, that's not how she writes her endgame couples. Azriel refuses to let Elain see the darkest parts of him and that right there spells their demise. I know Gwyn hasn't seen everything bad about Az just yet (i.e., his obsessive tendencies with females, his defying orders) but, she has seen the ever present rage that is a part of him. She did not seem bothered at all by his savagery. Anti's like to use the excuse that "of course she was fine with it since he killed the people that were harming her!" but honestly, that doesn't seem to make a difference to Elain. The people of the Hewn City are examples of horrible beings yet the cruelty that exists there still bothers her. Why would she care about what they do to one another since canonically, they're bad? Why would it matter to her since they deserve it? Elain seemed shocked by Nesta's beheading of the King but didn't he deserve it? Did Elain herself seem to enjoy taking credit for her part in his demise? After everything he had done to her and her sisters? It does not matter to Elain who is bad or good, who deserves cruelty or not, it still bothers her. So no, when Anti's try to argue against Gwyn's response to Az slaughtering everyone, their argument doesn't hold up. I think when Gwyn had the conversation that she didn't want to make any more mistakes she was referring to what happened at the temple which she carries a lot of guilt for. And when she was referring to the faults she had with Catrin, it was probably referencing the normal sister squabbles that sisters tend to have (just as we've witnessed with the Archerons). Do I think it's possible she could do something bad in the future? Only in the way that Feyre does bad things (like the destruction of Spring for the good of her Court and revenge on Tamlin and stealing from Tarquin). In the way Cassian razed an entirely village for revenge. In fantasy books, no one really looks at those things as "bad" because if there's a "evil guy or girl", readers tend to feel they deserve whatever is coming for them. But if we want to get technical, I guess revenge at whatever cost can be considered somewhat of an issue. Feyre and Rhys were willing to make an enemy out of a good person so long as it served their purpose in the end (it bothered them to do so but they were still did it anyway). She's meant to be Azriel's equal and that means the good and the bad have to somewhat align. Which to me means she could develop a bit of a bloodthirsty, vengeful side just like he has, just like Nesta has, just like Rhys has and so on.

[flowerflamestars]

THOUGHTS about the mate bond in shoreless sea though. Like we know it's motives are wobbly, Rhys' parents didn't get along, but it seems like the goal was that he be born. In Daylight, yes they're compatible, but also we get Illyria and the freeing of the gods, BUT if Nesta can break the bond and Elain can see multiple possibilities (I see Elain's power working similarly to the bond), I LOVE the implication that they chose this timeline from the start like Elain has to step in when bonds fail :P

Hi!! SO so very many thoughts:

I don’t like the way the bond is handled in the books. We get this vague framing for it that’s destiny sure, but more specifically, it’s biological destiny. And that’s gross, on a multitude of levels. Wildly reductive of what we’re supposed to think is this rare, beautiful thing. It’s a soulbond, and I can’t treat it like it’s all about babies.

So the through-line in Daylight, what makes Starlight, and is VERY featured in Shoreless Sea, is that love is a choice. Real love is always also, freedom.

There’s a part played for laughs in Daylight where Lucien keeps telling Cassian the bond is magical phenomenon. It’s made of you, it’s what you make it.

And that’s how I like to use it. Fate exists, but the destiny you run head first into is your choice. Elain can see every possibility, but there will never be infinite possibilities.

The bond itself is fated- there’s no path where, for example, Nesta didn’t meet Cassian- but what you need shapes what that bond becomes.

It happens like a flashpoint, the snap.

For example, Rhysand’s parents (who I, for the record, think Rhys very heavily projects his issues onto), but who this works for: they literally meet while she’s being dragged off. What does she need? Someone to save her. Someone strong. Someone who will never take away her wings, never deny her any part of herself. 

What did Rhysand’s dad need? Someone who was all his and not the crowns. Someone to be ruthless for. A counterweight to his rigidity.

Rhys says they had a bad marriage. But all we really know is that both sides of that were served well- Lady Night flew her whole life, lived in a palace no one, not even her husband could winnow to. Rhysand’s hardass dad was completely the kind of person to walk down ten thousand steps every day, and probably did. His heir was raised in Illyria. I would bet money he knew about the weaver test. 

I think they just...weren’t soft? with each other? they were both pragmatic people, looking to the future, and probably an incredible team.

Elain and Lucien: Elain needed someone to understand her, when she went too deep. Needed someone who wasn’t the Night Court, wasn’t saddled by war the same way. A companion, an anchor to life. 

Lucien needed a family. Someone that was his to protect, a reason to keep going, to even imagine the future existed. 

They’re family, they’re like siblings, because that’s the bond they chose and so it became the bond. 

The matebond is a tie between souls who always meet- magic, the whatness of a person- of course it’s love. But there’s so very many kinds of love to be experienced.

I love that you see Elain’s power that way! Because it really is that. She sees the Shoreless Sea timeline in Daylight, sees the mistakes.

This is absolutely magical fuckery I made up, but stay with me: mates always meet. There’s a sameness between them. (Feyre and Rhys, both nothing the world has ever seen before, ect)

Human Nesta is no less Cassian’s mate than she was as a God wearing a faery face- because there’s no future where she doesn’t become fae, in some way.

But the path diverged. A Cassian who chooses Rhys, who doesn’t know how to stop fighting, who won’t ever fight for himself- stops being a Cassian who becomes Nesta’s equal, remade by the rage of the mountain gods into something more.

He picked wrong- he’s never going to be her godly equal, the circle is never going to close.

Why? because this time he didn’t ask Azriel to go after her. And with Az there, they were too busy fighting about peace vs slaughter for Cassian to find that scrap of silver silk he carried for bravery. Because he’s so worn down that by the time he goes to see Morrigan he stays, and lets her say all that bullshit, almost believes it.

Cassian stays as mortal as immortal faeries can be, and the future breaks. 

He rejected the bond- shut Nesta out so soundly be can’t even find her when she leaves.

Even Gods can have mates, but Nesta’s mate is not God like her. She can bring back the dead, she can swallow the world. She could probably build a new one entirely, if Elain helped. 

We know even normal faeries can reject the bond so soundly it breaks. 

I think Nesta, who has built a life, who hasn’t heard a whisper from Cassian since, jesus, that horrible Solstice long ago, who knows now that she deserves better, would tire of the idea that there’s one last tie that can pull her back. Rein her in. The he never wanted her as she really was, even if she’d been willing to die for him.

Because they lived. 

They lived and isn’t that a new life? this whole new world, an entire eternity. Cassian doesn’t just not come to find her, he leaves her alone immediately. 

Nesta, bloody, trailing behind on a battlefield while Cassian is supported by Morrigan.

I think Nesta plucked up that thread of soul like a life that could be cut and broke it, shattered it like the chain it was when it became clear there was no going back.

[velidewrites]

I saw we are doing rankings so: the high lords as dads (fuck Beron though)

Adding Eris and Lucien as usual:

9. Beron. Like you said, fuck Beron. 0/10

8. Thesan. Would definitely make a good dad but for some reason he gives me rich uncle vibes instead. Shows up once a year with a mysteriously hot boyfriend (are those wings on his back??) and showers you with expensive gifts. 4/10

7. Tamlin. Good dad but too overprotective. Finds a hickey on daughter’s neck, kills the boyfriend. 5/10

6. Kallias. Intimidating to the point where his children’s friends are too scared to come over. “Don’t worry, he won’t freeze you. He’s actually a big softie at heart” “No I’m not. Go to your room” 6/10 because he actually IS a big softie

5. Helion. Finds out he’s a dad only AFTER his kids reach adulthood. Immediately turns into the dilfiest DILF the world has ever seen. Attentive but overeager. Crosses a line when he throws his son a birthday orgy. 6/10

4. Eris. Takes a while to accept that the child is indeed his. “We used protection.” Not for that firedick you didn’t. Once he comes to terms with the fact, he becomes a DILF that could easy rival Helion on the dilfness scale. Will not hesitate to kill you if you say one bad word about his kids. Hot, mysterious and unhinged. 8/10

3. Tarquin. The kind of dad that raises world leaders but too laid back to adopt any discipline. No curfew, no rules, no bedtime. “Just do whatever makes you happy, sweetie, I’ll see you tomorrow. Or not! Have fun!” Somehow, the children turn out okay anyway. 9/10

2. Rhysand. The kind of dad children respect even when they’re actively trying not to. Caring, will shower his kids with love and attention and nurture any hobbies they want to pursue. Gives ridiculously long lectures about compassion and responsibility when they act too spoiled. Think the Lion King. Can get boring but the kids listen anyway. 10/10

1. Lucien. Takes after his father in dilfness, embraces it with pride. Has a dad joke ready for literally any conversation. They land every single time. Loves the kids, the kids love him, absolutely zero flaws. 15/10, one for each kid him and Elain have

Give me something to rate!

[meher-sumedha]

Gwynriel Headcanon - The Summer Court

Azriel, Elain and Gwyn finally arrive at the summer court after 15 minutes but felt like eternity to Gwyn. They were right outside Tarquin's mansion. "Excuse me" Gwyn said while putting a hand over her mouth and dumping out her insides in a nearby bush.

She heard Elain laughing and when she finally turned and cleaned her mouth with her sleeves, she saw Elain wrap her arm around Azriel's. Oh how much Gwyn would like to kill her with her knives.

She went walking towards them and they both quieted, apparently Elain was laughing at something Azriel said. Those fucking bitches.

"So how the hell do we do this? " Gwyn asked, her gaze not faultering from Azriel's. "Well you leave that up to me Gwyn, you needn't worry about charming someone, it's definitely not worth making an effort either, " Elain replied for Azriel.

Gwyn would have retored back but they were suddenly interrupted from a voice behind them. "Well, welcome to the summer court, " The voice said and Gwyn thought it could be the young high lord.

Gwyn finally turned around and saw a person standing not 10 feet away from them. "Hi Tarquin-, " Elain was interrupted by the High Lord rushing to Gwyn and hugging her fiercely.

Gwyn didn't know what to do and Azriel almost pulled the High Lord away from her. "You don't remember me? " The lord asked. His view was being blocked by Azriel so she pushed him aside a bit, not knowing what that action could mean to Azriel.

"I'm sorry, I do not-" She stopped herself when she recalled the light brown eyes and brown hair. Her best friend at Sangravah even though he was 2 years younger. She almost sprinted towards Tarquin and hugged him fiercely. "QUINN" She shouted while hugging him. He hugged her back. "How long has it been-" She took her neck out of his shoulderd and looked at him.

"Almost 6 years" He replied, with his hand still wrapped around her waist. He was smiling. Azriel was burning. All he wanted to do was burn the entire summer court down with the help of the sun and unleash his shadows. He wanted to rip apart Tarquin slowly and torture him. But Gwyn's thoughts were completely the opposite.

"I came back for you, you know" He said, looking at her and taking her in. "You did?", she asked, not believing a word he said. "Yeah, when I was made high lord I came back for you". He said.

Gwyn stepped back then. "High Lord?? YOU'RE THE HIGH LORD". Tarquin immediately regretted saying those words, but she would have found out, sooner or later. "Gwyn I searched for you, I really did. I-I'm sorry, I would have told you but my mom-she came to Sangravah so I wouldn't have to rule. I came back to the summer court because the others were hungry and I couldn't provide for them. And then my dad was killed by Amarantha and, " Tarquin stopped speaking, he couldn't complete whatever he was about to say. "I'm sorry" He said.

"I understand" Gwyn said while taking one of Tarquin's hands in her own. He had the same ring which she had on her middle finger. Tarquin had gifted it to her almost 10 years ago, when she was 12. He also bought himself a similar one. Except Tarquin's had a golden one, and she had a red one. "You still have it" He said while taking her hands in his.

"You still have yours" She said. They hugged again. Just staying like that for a few minutes.

Azriel wanted to kill everyone and every damn thing in the world. His shadows were crazy. They didn't come out but Azriel could feel their rage under his skin to see Gwyn with someone else, hugging someone else, being friends with someone else and whatnot.

Gwyn had to ask the question which was in her mind. She couldn't stop it from coming out. She knew the answer could hurt her but she had to know. "Are the others safe? " She asked Tarquin. Pulling her head from his shoulders to look him in the eye. "Yes" He said and Gwyn couldn't be happier. Her smile was more brighter than the sun and then Tarquin tucked a piece of Gwyn's hair behind her ear.

The ear tucking was the last straw for Azriel. He finally went up to them and asked "what the hell are you two talking about? " And Gwyn finally pulled herself away from Tarquin and wiped her eyes. "No-nothing" She said.

"I'm sorry I have to leave right now, but my people will direct you to your rooms, I have to urgently deal with something" Tarquin said. "Now? " Gwyn asked like a little child. "Yeah, it's pretty important, but if I had known you were coming, i would have cleared out my schedule, but we can spend all the time together tomorrow. " He said.

Best friend my ass. Azriel thought to himself.

"I'd like that very much" Gwyn replied. They all were directed to their rooms. Azriel's room was in the middle of Gwyn's and Elain's.

Gwyn went to her room and didn't come out for Lunch or Dinner. Azriel thought he should go to her room but then again he thought, he shouldn't.

He finally went up to her room and saw that she was sleeping. She fluttered her eyes when the door creaked and Azriel said some pretty colourful curses. "Az-shadowsinger" She said. Stopping herself from calling him Az. Again, breaking his heart once more.

Azriel came to the corner of her bed and sat down on his knees. "Is something wrong? " He asked. "I'm just a little unwell after winnowing, that's all. You shouldn't be here in the middle of the night anyway. " She said. "I'm sorry about that. Do you, do you need anything? " Azriel asked.

Gwyn was just about to answer when Tarquin came rushing into the room with a huge chocolate cake. Gwyn started giggling. Tarquin was wearing normal clothes, clothes a normal fae would wear and he came and sat down on the opposite side of Gwyn's bed. Gwyn tried to take it but Tarquin took it out of her reach.

"Give me it" She said trying to get the cake while crawling in his lap. Tarquin started laughing and gave her the cake.

Doesn't he know about Gwyn? How can he just come and sit on her bed? I swear I'm gonna kill this son of a bi-

Azriel's thoughts were interrupted by Gwyn savoring the cake and moaning. Oh how many times he thought and dreamt that she would moan the same way when he-

"Oh my god, Quinn this cake is amazing. You have to teach me how to make it" Gwyn said with chocolate all over her lips. She can call him Quinn but she can't call him Azriel.

"I promise I will" He said while taking the same fork as Gwyn and eating the cake. Azriel then got on the bed. It was big enough was 10 people to sleep in, but him and his shadows took the place of four people.

Gwyn was surprised by his action but didn't say anything. Mostly cause she didn't know what to.

"Are you all having a midnight feast without me? " Gwyn turned and saw Elain at the door. She came and got between Gwyn and Azriel and put her hand under his shirt. "No, I was uh-I was just going for a walk" Gwyn said before getting of the bed and keeping the cake on her bedside table.

She started walking out of her door and Tarquin followed. Azriel wanted to follow but Elain's hands was in his pants already, he couldn't move.

Gwyn and Tarquin walked out of the room and got in front of the house door. "Wait, I forgot my robe" Gwyn suddenly said and walked up the stairs to her room and as soon as she opened the door she saw Elain in her underwear kissing Azriel's bare chest. Elain noticed and suddenly wrapped the blanket around herself. Azriel then noticed and got up.

Tarquin suddenly came behind Gwyn and saw Azriel and Elain. "Gwyn I think it would be better for you if you took the room beside mine as this room is already-already in use. I'll get your things to your room tomorrow. " Tarquin said. "Yes, yes please that would be great" She said and they both got out.

Azriel's shadows were begging him to say anything, anything to Gwyn but he couldn't. He just couldn't.

But he did hear Tarquin's and Gwyn's conversation. "Was there something going on between you two? Because you were so up-"

"No, there was nothing between us" Gwyn interrupted Tarquin before he could complete his question.

"Then why were you so angry and upset? " He had asked.

"Because he used to be my friend, but he chose her over me when I needed him". She said and Azriel heard the sound of a door closing...

[elliepassmore]

A Court of Mist and Fury Review

5/5 stars Recommended for people who like: fantasy, Fae, vague retellings, Persephone & Hades, found families At the start of the book, we're back in the Spring Court, though some things have changed since Feyre brought Amarantha down. For starters, there's a lot more people around than there were in the first one. We get to see a bit what court life is like in Spring and the kinds of people who reside there. They turn out to be pretty similar to what we'd think of when we think of snobby human nobility, so, naturally, they grate on Feyre's nerves. Unlike ACoTaR, we also get to see two of the other courts: the Night Court and the Summer Court. The Night Court is...definitely not what it was set up to be in the first book. Not to give too many spoilers, but it has two faces. One side, Velaris and the moonstone palace, is luxurious and vibrant, but peaceful. The other side, Hewn City, is dark and cunning and cruel, the side that Amarantha modeled her domain after. I really enjoyed seeing the stark differences between the two sides of the court, especially since they provide us with two kinds of cities, both beautiful in their own ways, but so completely different from one another. We also get to see a part of the court that's somewhere between the two, which is the Illyrian camps. The camps are mostly tents with a few stone buildings, and they fit more with the cunning and darkness of the Hewn City, but not nearly as cruel. Seeing so much of the one court definitely helps get a better grasp on the feel and nature of the place, which I really liked. The other court we see is the Summer Court, and only for a couple of chapters. Similar to Velaris, we get to see a city in the Summer Court that's vibrant, with the people there enjoying their High Lord's presence and aid in recovery. Unlike Velaris, the city feels more light. It definitely has the feel of a city on the sea in a way that Velaris doesn't, despite it also being located on the water. They have obviously different feels and tones to them, and I liked the subtle details Maas added to make these cities different despite their similarities. We also get to learn a bit more about the traditions of Prythia in this one as well. Having seen Calanmai and Nynsar in the first one, we now get to see the solstice and the Tithe of the Spring Court, as well as Starfall in the Night Court. Each holiday has its own background and their introduction through Feyre feels natural. I think there's a tricky balance when it comes to authors introducing world building to their readers and characters. Adding the information too obviously makes it feel forced, but including too little information too subtly can make it confusing. I think we get a good balance here, with Feyre having the holidays/events explained to her as they're happening or having her give a little info and brushing off the rest as "I wasn't really paying attention," the latter of which can only really be accepted because of her state of mind at the moment the holiday is occurring, but it works.

The plot amps things up a lot. If we thought Amarantha was bad, Hybern turns out to be so much worse, and they’re cunning enough to get their claws in in places we wouldn’t expect. I love how the tension was built up over the pages and there were times of ‘wtf is going on’ sprinkled throughout. Since the main showdown wasn’t until the end of the book, most of it was spent strategizing and hoping against hope that things would go right for once.

In terms of Feyre's state of mind, Maas once again does a brilliant job of showing the different ways people deal with trauma and depression. Feyre, for one, definitely has symptoms of PTSD--nightmares, triggers, feeling trapped, needing a distraction, inability to do things that once brought her joy, apathy--as well as, separately, symptoms of depression. She starts out having a pretty rough time and the switch to healing happens gradually and over months at a time, so despite her body's quick healing, Feyre isn't completely better until near the end of the book, and 'better' doesn't necessarily mean 100% okay. I especially enjoyed how Maas showed Feyre changing as she healed, because, let's face it, we're probably all aware (and it you're not, you're about to be) that trauma changes people and that, equally, healing from said trauma can also change a person. Both of these things hold true for Feyre, so she isn't the same person at the beginning of the book as she was at the end of the last one, and she's not the same person at the end of this book as she is at the beginning of it. In terms of healing, we also get to see Feyre separating from the mentality of abuse that Tamlin had her in. For physical growth, Feyre discovers she holds powers from each of the High Lords who gave her life, and it's super fun to read the scenes where she's training/experimenting with them (like most people who've read the book, I'm especially partial to the water-wolves scene). Tamlin is another character who has to deal with his trauma in this one...though maybe we should accept now that just about every character in this book has trauma they're healing/have healed from. Anyway, Tamlin desperately tried to protect Feyre in the first book, and we saw how jealous and possessive he could get, but what happened with Amarantha just pushed him overboard. He's now 1ox worse than in the first book, and basically smothers Feyre trying to keep her safe, continually triggering her PTSD and leading to the events leading into Part 2 of the book. What I like about this is that there were signs in ACoTaR that Tamlin could very easily turn into an abusive person and a lot of people ignored them or fell into the trap of believing them to be romantic--I'm not saying everyone did, but a lot of people definitely did, myself included--so his attitude and behavior doesn't come from nowhere. It's a good example of how trauma causes different people to react differently, though it's not an excuse, especially when Tamli does some pretty terrible things in this book and tries to play it off as "it was rough" or "I love you" or whatever else he says. We get to see more of Rhysand in this book, as well as more of his court. As previously mentioned, he's one of the many characters dealing with his own traumas from Under the Mountain, and we get an explanation for his actions in ACoTaR, proving he wasn't just being a massive dick to be a massive dick, but to protect people and to help Feyre bring Amarantha down without Amarantha knowing. Knowing he was against Amarantha the entire time adds a rape/sexual assault element to his servicing her Under the Mountain, which is addressed by both him and Feyre during the book. It's clear he has trauma from that, it's expressed multiple times throughout the book, and Maas handles the situation well. It isn't romanticized or trivialized, and his reservations and trauma from it are considered valid and aren't brushed aside or made fun of. Rhys ends up being a very complex character, with different sides to him, much like how his court has many different sides. He has the cunning, cruel side he shows to Hewn City; the relaxed, kind side he shows to Velaris; the warrior he shows to the Illyrians; and the caring and friendly side he gives to his Inner Court alone. Inside Rhys' Inner Court are Mor, Cassian, Azriel, and Amren. Mor is his cousin in that loose sense that Maas has when it comes to cousins being related, and grew up in Hewn City. She's funny, acts irreverent, and fun-loving. She's willing to give people the space they need, but she's also willing to go to the mat for her family or push them when they need it. Like Feyre and Rhysand, she's survived darkness and trauma and came out the other side, though her healing was done centuries ago. Cassian and Azriel are both Illyrian warriors Rhysand befriended when they were kids. Cassian is fiery and pushes, but is unceasingly caring and would do anything for his family. He's the jokster of the group, definitely. Azriel is the more quiet of the two, the spymaster, and has a quieter method of caring for his family. Amren is a creature from another world who took the form of a High Fae. She's a bit scary, definitely otherworldly, and is surprisingly understanding about what others need in order to get things done. I wouldn't say she's caring, but she definitely cares for her family and people. We don't really see a lot of Lucien, but when he is around he mostly acts like Tamlin's lackey and not Feyre's friend. Nesta and Elain are in this book a bit more than the last one, and play a pretty crucial role in the middle and the end of the book. I liked the both of them by the time the last book ended, but Nesta's reactions toward Feyre and the rest of the Night Court made me dislike her a little, though her sparring with Cassian was hilarious and I treasure their interactions. Likewise, both Elaine and Nesta showed fire when it came to protecting each other and their people from the looming threat of Hybern. Tarquin, the High Lord of the Summer Court, makes a reappearance in this one too, along with some of his still-living family members. He seems like a decent enough guy, new to the whole ruling thing, but as he himself says, he hasn't quite learned the cunning tricks and backstabbery that High Lords and their courts often employ. This one's my favorite book in the series because we get to see more of the world of Prythia and we get to meet a lot of new, pretty awesome characters. I love the Inner Circle, they all fit together so well and have different methods and ways of doing things, but it works. I also really like the Feyre and Rhys we see in this book, so different from the ones we saw in the last book, but better for it. And Tamlin....when I first heard that he and Feyre were having issues(*SPOILER* and wouldn't end up together*END SPOILER*) I was disappointed, but after I read the book for the first time, I liked how it worked out much better. It’s a vague Persephone and Hades retelling, which may or may not have something to do with why I like it so much. The P&H myth has so many different renditions from ancient times to now and it hasn’t really been all that explored by YA fiction, so I love whenever there’s a nod to it somewhere, and if you know the more popular versions of the myth, there are more than sprinkles of it in the frame of the book. Honestly though, I think this is the best book in the series. ACoTaR was good, ACoWaR was pretty good too but with an...odd ending, and ACoFaS was an awesome bit of fluff, but this one is the richest in characters, world building, and plot.

[scorbleeo]

A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #3) | Book Review

by Sarah J. Maas

Synopsis

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin's manoeuvrings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit – and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well. As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords – and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

Source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23766634-a-court-of-wings-and-ruin

Thoughts

You know when a book is SO good, emotions just overwhelm you as you take in the book’s content? You know when a book is SO good, you become utterly lost and empty upon finishing the book? You know when a book is SO good, the book does not only reach your high expectations but exceed it? A Court of Wings and Ruin is that said good book.

I was afraid to go into this book because A Court of Mist and Fury gave me such unrealistic high expectations, I really did not want to be disappointed (not even a tiny bit) by this book. Which was why it took me a while to pick this up. I can only say, I am glad I did not let my skepticism put off me picking this book up for too long.

If it’s not obvious enough, I LOVE A Court of Wings and Ruin.

Plot (storyline, writing style, and flow of story etc.)

I lowkey had to pause writing this review for a day to collect all my thoughts. And if this does not further emphasise my point that A Court of Wings and Ruin is one of best out there, I don’t know what does. With that down, let’s proceed shall we?

Considering A Court of Wings and Ruin is the “last” book for this part of the story, there really is not need for anymore character building and whatnot. The book mainly focused on the politics of this fantastic fantasy world, Prythian, and the preparation for the war against Hybern.

I did wonder myself if it was wise to have such a thick book circling around the war. Having read many books with wars or battles in them, some authors really screwed their books up because they tended to go on and on, tended to build the hype around this big battle. Yet when it happened, the battle is finished within a blink of an eye (in this case, perhaps a chapter). Fortunately, Maas is an expert. She built so much hype around the battle and it did not disappoint at all, not even a tiny bit. You want action, there was plenty. You want magic, more than half of it was magic. You want romance, oh, there was. You want emotions, the entire battle scene overwhelmed me with all sorts of feelings. There really is nothing bad for me to talk about in terms of the entire storyline for A Court of Wings and Ruin.

Which brings me to the flow of the story. I really do not know what magic Maas has because this book kept me on edge the entire time I was reading it. It did not flash through nor was it working through the book with a snail’s pace. Let me repeat this once more, the book circles around politics, preparation for the war and the war itself. One would think Maas would beat around the bush and slow down the entire story so as to make the book such a thick one. Yet NO, none of that happened whatsoever.

I cannot stress this enough. Sarah J. Maas is a genius writer.

Characters

Initially, I really contemplated whether to review the characters or not. I love so many of them, hate a couple but at the end of the day, I have so much to say about majority of characters in this book. But, I am going to try to keep this short and sweet if I am indeed planning to review most of said characters.

If you had read this review up to this point, I believe you would have scanned through an earlier statement made by me. I know I said there really was no need for anymore character building. When I said that, I was referring to the main characters of this series. However, what surprised me was the big roles the other High Lords played in A Court of Wings and Ruin. Apart from Tamlin, Beron and Tarquin, we really did not see much of the other High Lords until this book. Yet Maas was able to bring in Kallias, Thesan and Helion without so much as stumbling with their character development. Needless to say, I fell for Helion immediately, even before he shed his mask. You know what? Not only that, Viviane’s character was such a pleasant addition too. How does Maas do it? I have absolutely no idea.

Okay, there is one character I really wanted to talk about: Tamlin. Back in A Court of Thorns and Roses, I liked him despite his attitude problem. Then in A Court of Mist and Fury, I was so frustrated with him. However, I must say, I never actually hated Tamlin. I do not like his temper but I understand where his temper comes from. Just remember, Tamlin was not meant to be High Lord of the Spring Court, he was never prepped for it. He had family issue and a lack of friends. The Amarantha curse problem was brought down on all of them because of him. For that, I can oversee his anger. What kind of annoyed me was that Feyre made him out into the worst villain out there. Tamlin and his dead family murdered Rhysand’s mother and sister but Rhysand still believed Tamlin. Feyre on the other hand, she just judged Tamlin on all his worst qualities. Don’t get me wrong, I love Feyre and Rhysand together but let’s not forget Feyre GHOSTED Tamlin after everything they had been through. Sure, Tamlin was not empathetic with Feyre when she was suffering from PTSD but it was like Feyre did not realise Tamlin had to fight his own demons too. Feyre broke Tamlin’s heart (which led to making the wrong mistake of allying with Hybern), ruined his entire court and took his best friend away from him too. Yet with all that, Tamlin still saved Feyre (along with Azriel, Elain and Briar) and helped her revive Rhysand. I think he deserves more than what he got from Feyre.

Next on my list: Lucien. I am going to keep this shorter than Tamlin’s bit. How is he so f***ing under appreciated? I loved that Feyre hugged him like a friend would at the end of the book. I liked that the Inner Circle listened to his inputs and would ask him what he thought about their plans. But Maas did him dirty. Lucien can be so much more. He is beautiful, intelligent, humble, kind and a skilled fighter. Yet he was off finding Vassa because he was not essential among the Inner Circle. He was mated to Elain, everybody knew it but he stepped back because he was empathetic like that. Many want Azriel with Elain but you know what I am seeing? I see Azriel and Elain as close friends. And I want the Lucien-Elain mating bond to click in place already.

Finally, last on my list: Eris Vanserra. I don’t know how I never truly hated him, even before we saw a sliver of his true personality. Some of the things he had done were absolutely cruel. But Eris (a bit like Tamlin) is a true cinnamon roll there. I want to keep this part short because this review is long enough but I see Eris, I see why he is who he is today and I do not hate him. In fact, I like that bad guy.

There’s so much more Maas can do to so many of her overlooked characters and I will be looking forward to it in her next three/four books.

Conclusion

Yes, I am a little annoyed at Maas for her negligence on some characters. However, that does not mean she is not a genius writer. And I am definitely still in love with A Court of Wings and Ruin. It had been two/three days now that I finished the book but I am still replaying what I read, scene by scene. How is that not a good book, right?

Rating: 5/5

PS: This review is dedicated to the magnificent monsters in A Court of Wings and Ruin. To the Suriel, your death made me tear up. To the Bone Carver, it was a bittersweet moment for me but I am happy you finally get to go to the place you are oh so curious about. To Stryga, the Weaver, you annihilated that bitch Ianthe and cleared a path for some of our heroes, ultimately, you died a hero. To Bryaxis, my dear, my beautiful adorable dear, where are you enjoying life at right now?

[romanparrishlynch]

For the first time-Chapter 6

"Well that's impossible " Amren said as she turned around from the burning mess.

Of course the gaki would burn into flames before they could question it. It wouldn't be his life if it was that easy. " There goes our only lead " Azriel stated the obvious as they made their way into Amren's living room.

" At least now we know whoever's controlling the demon is powerful enough to navigate it through your wards " Amren stared at him flatly.

" I mean you are the most powerful witch in velaris and I thought no one could get through your wards unless you wanted to let them "

"First, If you hadn't forgotten, the demon broke through your wards without you even realising it " Amren glares as she continues "and here I thought you were supposed to be the most powerful creature in this continent "

Bitch

"Wards aren't my speciality amren. The last time I checked it was yours considering you've been practising witchcraft since you shredded your horns eons ago." Azriel smirked as Amren raised a eyebrow. Neither of them made a move as they stared each other down.

"Are you having a staring contest?" Mor asked as she watched them from the door. Azriel hoped she hadn't heard their conversation.

"So I take that you are done interrogating the demon . Cassian was really interested about it "

"I'll let the siren explain it to you "amren said she gestured toward the door .

--------------------

"I can't believe she kicked us out like that " Mor grumbled.

"It's Amren. what did you expect?" Azriel said as their arrived to the table.He looked around and they were the only ones there .Azriel took a sip of the coffee and grimaced.He pushed the cup towards Mor." How can you even drink that ?"

"Not everyone has a sweet tooth like you. " He shrugged as he took a sip of his strawberry milkshake.

" What happened at Amren's?"

" The demon combusted. Spontaneously. We didn't do anything. We couldn't even get a word out of it ".

" I meant , you and Amren . You two looked like you were fighting ? " Mor asked leaning across the table.

" It looks like it's gonna rain today" Azriel commented as he looked outside the window and saw that it was sunny.

"Wow. Subtlety, Az . Try it. It will help you. So the demon was a dead end." Mor said and paused , looking at him horror " And you broke amren's table for nothing. The table was a gift. Form me . Az, did you know how much it costs?"

Azriel was not feeling guilty. His house has gone through so much remodelling thanks to the conclave meetings. Modern furniture and angry alphas don't go well together. He contemplated about what to tell her. It's not like you know anything his siren provided much to his dislike.

" It wasn't a typical gaki demon. We think someone was trying to control it " trying was a lie. Who ever was behind this had complete control of the gaki. From his house to Amren's. Till it died.

" Like navigating? Az , I thought demons can't be navigated . " Mor said .

Oh demons can't be navigated, can they Az ? You should know. We did it before . We could do it again. His siren provided.

He let out a sigh and said " I don't know who did this but they are more powerful than we thought "

"Damn, Cassian's gonna be so dissapointed though. He was really excited."Mor talked as if that's the most pressing issue right now.

"Maybe I'll tell him that the demon escaped"

"From Amren's dungeon? As if anyone is going to believe that."

" Maybe I'll just get him another one?" " Are you gonna summon another demon because your boyfriend wants to play with it? "

" How about I don't tell him anything and Cassian is not my boyfriend. "

" When are you gonna tell the others about the demon ? I can do it instead. I'm going over to invite them" Mor looks at him and realises that he doesn't have a clue.

" It's the summer solstice party Azriel. And I should be leaving . Do you want me to drop you off anywhere?"

"No. I'm gonna finish this "Az said as he pointed at his milkshake. She waved as she left.

Azrirl took a look around the cafe. It was crowded. He sighed . It always happened. He noticed people trying to take subtle glances at him. He took out his phone to check his messages. Not that he did this often. There were a lot from cassian which he ignored because he knew what it would be. The next was from elain.

'Hi'

Azriel blinked at his screen.

Now he had no idea what to do next. Maybe he should have texted his friends for practice. Now it's too late . He sighed and put his phone down. He picked up his drink and looked out the windows.

Azriel was trying to find an answer to give the alphas about the demon's sudden combustion. He wasn't sure how they would react to it or if they would even believe that. Even more bigger problem was finding whoever's controlling that damn thing. His drink ran out before he had done listing his problems. He paid for it and left wondering where his feet would take him next. Maybe he should have taken his car. He was walked back to his home. It was a long walk and it helped clear his thoughts. Not that he had gotten answer for any of his problems.

--------------------------

Azriel was fixing his tie when he heard a honk. He took the flowers. Azriel saw Rhys waiting for him. He got in the passenger seat.

"You bought flowers?" Rhys asked in a amused voice.

"Of course I bought flowers. It's a funeral. The question is why didn't you ?"

"I'm not going for the funeral " Was Rhys's reply and Azriel left it at that.

Five minutes. That's all it took for Rhys.

"So is your siren ..... okay?" Azriel laughed at that.

Wow. Tell him I'm doing okay

" Well, in a way"

" What happened at that conclave ?"

" You were there too" Azriel smiled as he answered.

" You know what I mean ?"

" What do you mean ?" Azriel really wanted to see how far he can take it .

Rhys sighed.

"You shifted "

" Partially. It's not a problem. "

"You grew scales Az. It's the first time we've have ever seen it "

" It's the first time you saw it ."

" Who else has seen you shift? You shift in front of people ?"

" Yeah I do that. Often. At The Gemini. Every Thursday. After 11 special. It's a private show. " Rhysand looked really offended.

"Will you take it seriously?"

" Then why don't ask the questions you want to ask?"

" Fine. Is Elain your mate ?"

" No?"

"Is that a question or a answer?"

"There's company " Rhys looked annoyed but didn't say anything as we passed the gates.

"I don't know. "

" You don't know what, if Elain's your mate ? I think the mating bond would be pretty obvious. "

" I've never heard of siren's having mates. But I'm drawn to her. I dont know why."

"we are here . We'll continue this conversation later" Rhys announces as he parks the car.

The pack house was filled with people he unfortunately recognized, which meant he had to greet a lot of people. He placed the flowers near tamlin's photo. He stood there for a few seconds, Tamlin was an asshole but he wasn't evil.

Azriel searched the crowd for cassian. He already met Tarquin and kallias. He wanted to leave this place soon. He finally spotted Cass talking to someone. He made his way across the room when he felt something weird. Cass introduced him to people he didn't care about.Azriel was listening to Cass when his eyes wandered to Lucien or rather the person next to Lucien.

It was Elain .

That's why he was feeling strange. He wondered if he should approach her but noticed she was talking to Lucien. Azriel could feel Cassian smirking at him as if daring him to go to Elain.

"If you are wondering whether you should or shouldn't go, the answer is you definitely should. " Cass spoke up.

"I don't remember asking for your opinion."

" I can see it in your face. "

" I'm gonna go get something to drink " Azriel left cassian as went to the kitchen.

"Hello azriel " It took all of azriel's self control to not teleport away right now.

" Hello" he replied curtly.

" What are you searching for ?" Ianthe asked as she entered the kitchen.

"Water. I need some water " She looks confused but pointed towards the fridge. Azriel nodded and left before she could open her mouth.

Azriel took a sip of cold water. It calmed him. Azriel's eyes found elain again and he had to remind himself that he was at a funeral. It was getting tiresome. He looked around for Rhys and found him talking to Elain's sister. Azriel walked around the place avoiding people he knew and made conversation when he couldn't avoid them. His usually chatty siren was oddly quiet now. He didn't know if that had anything to do with Elain's presence. His mind was buzzing with questions again. He moved away to the garden. The rose garden was in total contrast to the building next to it. The place seemed like it was used to be something enchanting and now it looked haunted with overgrown rose bushes and broken statues. He could still hear every voice inside the house and somehow he couldn't track Elain's voice. He was frustrated with himself and then he was weirded out that even tried to track her. Azriel sighed heavily. He has been doing that a lot lately.

"Azriel "

Azriel was startled to hear Elain's voice. He was conscious not to turn abruptly towards her. His breath was coming in uneven gasps . He wiped out the shocked expression off his face before addressing her.

" Elain, what a surprise! " he winced at his own words.

" what are you doing out here?" Elain asked curiously.

" It's too crowded inside. " he replied as if he wasn't used to crowds. Elain smiled at him and his mood improved .

" It's so pretty, don't you think so? " Elain said sweetly as she reached to touch a rose. She looked so pale next to the vivid red of the roses but she seemed so in place next to the plants that had grown wild. Azriel noticed that he had moved closer to her unconsciously. He plucked out a rose and offered it to her.

" I think it pales in comparison to you" Azriel blurted out and then wondered what the hell was wrong with him. Elain smiled at him again and reached for the flower. Her fingers brushed his hands and Azriel wondered if she could feel the pull too, being a human. "I think you're being too obvious " A new voice interrupted their quiet moment.Azriel turned to look at Tarquin who looked curious as he stalked towards them. Of course someone had to come and ruin it.

"Tarquin " Azriel greeted with a nod towards Tarquin's general direction and turned back to elain. "I was looking for you----- oh you have company " Tarquin said as he stumbled towards them.

"I'm Tarquin. The king of Merfolk" he said with a smile and extending his arm .

"Hi. I'm elain and --"

"And you are drunk , my friend" Helion said in a weird tone." Are you sure he's the only one who's drunk?" Azriel asked annoyed by their interruption. Elain looked confused, looking from one face to another." Azriel, I need to talk to you. "

" I don't azriel is available. But I am. you can talk to me. "

"How about we continue this inside?" Cassian said as he came behind them and draped his arms over both Helion and Tarquin shoulder and guided them inside." But I need to talk to azriel about the... what was it about?"

Azriel heard Tarquin muttering as they made their way inside." King of Merfolk ? You have interesting friends" Elain said , laughing. He noticed her eyes crinkled ."I'm so sorry about this. They are not usually like this" Azriel said obviously lying , they were so weird.

"It was nice talking to you but I'm afraid I should probably go and find Feyre. See you next time" Elain starts walking away as she says goodbye.

" If you are free tomorrow, we could meet up for coffee. If you would like to.. If you want to? " Azriel blurted out. " Elain! Feyre's been looking for you. " Lucien, the next interruption, called out from the door . Azriel sighed.

"Let's go in " Azriel said to Elain and stared at Lucien who was glaring , Azriel wasn't sure what it was about. Elain walked in first and Lucien guided her away. Azriel watched as she left. Maybe he shouldn't have asked her out. Azriel watched as Tamlin's pack members left one by one until a few remained. All the alphas remained too. Azriel took his place next to Cassian. Azriel watched the ceremony quietly. As it was ending, Eris walked up to Lucien.

"Not to steal your thunder or anything, but our father might be dead "

"What the fuck ? You waited this long to say that " Cassian said as he stood up.

[twinklefaerie12]

Azriel Fan Fiction Chapter 8

Azriel sat in his room, his wings splayed out over the bed as he looked down at his lap. The memories of the night replaying through his mind over and over again. Every little detail playing through as he smiled. 

        She had enjoyed it, and that made him happy. He hadn't expected her to act the way she did, as though she might also be interested. Someone might actually be interested in him and it made him so happy. He still didn't know for sure, so he did not plan on pushing it but...he had a feeling she would soon sense the bond too and it would not be rejected. 

        He climbed into bed, unable to sleep as he only thought of one thing. Of the mating bond and the woman on the other end that had so easily captured his heart. 

        Amara sat at the table, having a moments rest from her daily shift scouting through the city. Cassian had shown up and taken over to let her get some rest. 

        She sat with a book in hand as per usual, flipping through the pages that did not stick into her memory. No, she had been scanning over the words without really thinking about them. Her mind had been glued to Azriel for the past few days. 

        She had not seen him since the night of the dinner. He had to go off on a mission for a little while and she missed him. Every time she walked into a meeting with the Inner Circle, she looked for him but he never showed. 

        Her hands shut the book she held and sighed wondering when he would finally come back. She had asked Rhys but he didn't know. He just said a couple of days but it had already been more than that. 

        Footsteps sounded from the balcony, the doors opening on a phantom wind. Her head immediately turned and her heart skipped a beat at the thought it might be Azriel. She sighed in disappointment when it was just Feyre. 

        Feyre raised a brow, "Sorry to be such a disappointment."

        "No I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else." Amara said, looking back down to the book she had shut into her lap. 

        Feyre walked over and sat down beside her. "Someone like Azriel?" 

        Her cheeks flushed pink and she looked over at her. "Why would it be Azriel?" She said trying to deny it. 

        "Amara, we all know you have feelings for him. You've been asking about him at every meeting." Feyre said resting her arms onto the table. "He'll be back soon, and when he does come back you should just tell him how you feel." 

        Amara chuckled lightly, "Oh? You're one to talk."

        "Haha," She said sarcastically. "Just tell him how you feel."

        "What if he doesn't feel the same? What if, I'm not good enough?" Amara said with worry in her voice. 

        "You're kidding right?" Feyre raised a brow and shook her head. "He's the one that asked you out remember?" She leaned over seeing her friends concern, placing a hand over Amara's. "You're a beautiful woman Amara, Azriel would be lucky to have you." Feyre gave her a reassuring smile and Amara nodded softly. 

        "I promise, he definitely feels something for you. Just tell him and you'll see. Or just kiss him, that always works." 

        Amara smiled softly and huffed out a laugh. The feeling of Azriel's lips had entered her mind many times since the dinner. The feeling of his arms around her and that warmth, she had missed it. Every night she woke up feeling those arms around her but he was never there. 

        Feyre's eye lit up and Amara raised a brow. She quickly gripped her hands and Amara was being dragged from her chair and she giggled. "Hey what's going on?" She laughed as Feyre ran her towards the balcony. 

        "Just hurry up!" Feyre said excitedly, pulling her friend out onto the balcony. 

        She looked prepared to winnow away until a blood curdling scream filled their ears and they froze. Her eyes immediately flew towards Velaris. 

        The city had gone up into flames. 

Azriel sighed, winnowing back to the town house. He had finally finished his mission and even though he had to report to Rhys, all he wanted to do was find Amara. Explain to her why he had to leave so suddenly. To ask her to forgive him and possibly ask her to dinner again. Anything to just see her face. 

        He emerged from shadow as Rhys sat with Cassian on a couch, Cassian hunched over with Rhys feet resting on the coffee table. "You two are animals." He said flatly, walking further into the room. 

        Cassian's face was stuffed with food of some sort while he chuckled. "We are men Azriel." 

        Azriel chuckled and walked up to Rhys who's face turned serious. "How was it?"

        "Not too difficult. The area still hasn't changed since we last visited. No signs of rebellion or picking up where Hybern left it. They have begun to accept out ways, slowly but they have no other choice. For now we are safe." 

        He reported back to Rhys who simply nodded and returned his face back to its usual smirk. "Now that's dealt with, tell us about you and Amara."

        These two were such gossip girls. Azriel sighed and sat down on the couch across from the one the two men had sprawled themselves on. "What about?" He asked looking over at them, sprawling his wings and his arms along the back of the couch. It felt good to rest for once. 

        "How was it?" Cassian asked with a smirk, having finally swallowed his food. "Take any of my advice?"

        "That's none of your business." Azriel said, knowing he didn't have an answer if he did. 

        "Amara has been missing you." Rhys said and Azriel's attention went straight to him. "She has?" He asked a little too eager to know. 

        "Very, all she does is look around and ask for you." Cassian said leaning back against the couch. "It's a surprise she didn't go searching after you herself." 

        She had missed him? His lips threatened to tug up into a smile. He had to go find her. He went to stand but Rhys shook his head. "She's coming to you." He said and looked out one of the windows, towards the House of Wind. 

        His stomach twisted in knots again. It wasn't the bond, no, but he was nervous. He was so nervous to see her again. 

        "Azriel, how do you feel about Amara?" Rhys asked seriously, resting his elbows on each of his knees. 

        "Isn't it obvious? He's in love with her." Cassian mumbled, his hands gesturing to Azriel. 

        "I want to hear it from him." Rhys kept that serious nature to his voice, staring the male down. 

        Azriel sighed and simply nodded, hoping that was enough. They usually could guess how he felt about a women and rarely were ever wrong. But it must have been plastered on his face when he learned Amara had been thinking of him, of missing him. 

        "I need to see her." He didn't want to wait for her to arrive. He would fly to her in a second. He just had to see her. He stood up quickly and was halfway towards the main hallway when that scream echoed through the house. 

        All three men glanced at each other then moved to the balcony. They watched their city burst into flames and Azriel immediately have Truth Teller in his hands. Azriel, still covered in armor turned to his High Lord and Commander. "Get your armor on. I'll deal with the fires while you hurry." He made sure they ran off to dress themselves. There was no reason for them to get hurt. 

        He turned to look at the city and froze. Down in a sea of monsters, all running in one direction. Towards Amara who stood with swords in hand. No armor or anything to protect herself except those swords. And Feyre, his High Lady, dousing the fires with her water from Tarquin. 

        But they didn't notice from down there the mass of soldiers that ran towards the city. They were coming at their backs. They were going for Amara's back. 

        He shrouded himself in shadow and threw himself down into the center of the soldiers. His syphons blazing as he sent the men falling to their knees. He slashed them down with his sword, hoping it was enough to keep her safe. To keep his mate safe.

        Rhys finally joined with Cassian, dropping down into the crowd of soldiers. Cassian cutting them down like wheat with a sword. Rhys misting large numbers of men until he cut them down, slicing men in half. 

        Azriel felt his syphons blaze as he shot a shield up around Amara, to protect her whatever happened. He saw Cassian doing the same for himself and probably for Nesta and Elain somewhere in the city. He dodged and hid in the shadows as he ran through men with his blade. He shot a burst of his power at them, sending them to the ground and threw shards of his power through their chests until they stopped moving. 

        As he cut through the men, the only thing he could think about was Amara. How she was fighting like a skilled warrior with him. Her smiling face, that giggle he would forever cherish in his memories. He would fight for her, cut down the men to protect her. She was his mate and he would die for her. 

Amara winnowed with Feyre down into the city as it burst into flames. Whatever Feyre had been dragging her off towards had been forgotten as she summoned swords for both of them. She had rarely even shown her magic, her powers, but they were similar to Azriel's. Only, she summoned anything and everything she wished into her hands. If she could carry it she could summon it.

        "Deal with the fire!" She screamed as she spotted the eery looking creatures ahead. She couldn't stop the fires but at least Feyre could. She tried to argue but Amara gave her a stern glare that sent her on her way. 

        She stood, double swords in each hand as they spotted her and began charging for her. She prayed Azriel was no where near this mess. It was her fault his had been allowed to happen. She hadn't been on patrol when she needed to be. Cassian must have missed something that she would have noticed, and gone back to Rhys since he was no where to be found. Azriel, Azriel, Azriel.

        As the creatures came for her, she readied her swords and had started slashing through a few of them once she heard a loud thud from behind her. She didn't dare turn back, knowing full well she would get jumped and killed if she did. 

        She summoned her armor onto her body just as one got past her defenses and raked its elongated claws where her bare skin had been along her ribs. The sound make an ear cringing clash and she shoved a sword through the monsters chest after slicing off its arm. 

        Amara knew how to fight, she wouldn't have been an Inner Circle member if she didn't. Cassian himself had started training with her the first week and they spared almost equally. The only downside was he had years of experience and those damn syphons. 

        She kept cutting down more and more and gasped when a creature lunged for her, but crashed against a blue shield covering her body. She immediately knew who had placed the shield around her to protect her. "Azriel..." She whispered and snarled at the creatures, getting back onto her two feet from where she had been crouching down onto one knee. She fought, hard and merciless as she cut down the monsters until there were none left to kill. 

        Blood splattered the shield and when it finally cracked she went wide eyed and turned around. Rhys and Cassian had finally joined the battlefield, and she noticed the groups of men they cut down. Where had all these people come from?

        Her eyes scanned the men, looking for those familiar eyes and those blue syphons. As her eyes frantically searched she caught it, that glimmer of blue and her eyes ran back and she froze. He was standing in the middle of the men, cutting them down with Cassian just a few paces to the right of him. 

        He must have sensed her stare because he glanced back at her, blood splattering his face. 

        She ran. She ran as fast as her feet could carry her until her calves were burning and screaming at her to rest. She didn't stop, running over dead bodies and men still half alive. She had to get to him, she had to help him. 

        But it was that smile, that sad, soft smile that had her running faster. His arms dropped, he wasn't fighting anymore. "What are you doing!? Fight!" She screamed so loudly her throat burned. Cassian didn't seem to hear or notice them as she rushed through the people. She was so close, just a few more steps. 

        But it was the force that knocked her off her feet that took her off guard. The bright light that blinded her and obscured Azriel from view. 

        The world went silent and slowed down as her mind replayed those last few seconds over and over again. The smile on his lips that formed the words she couldn't hear. The look in his eyes that told her he had done what he could. 

        She fell back against the ground, mixed in with the dead bodies. Her vision blurred and her head hit the ground. 

        Then that tug, that feeling she had around Azriel at all times. That strong connection she had been told about between two people. She felt it. Just as her eyes began to shut and her mouth whispered out his name, and her ears rang so loudly she heard nothing else. She felt the mating bond snap into place. And then her world went black. 

[moiraineswife]

16 and 23 for ACOWAR asks.

16) Mor’s power - what would you like it to be?

I’ve made a theory about this before but I like the idea of Mor having some kind of foresight. The truth magic is more complicated but also interesting. Feyre has a few superstitions about the fae in ACOTAR and I think most of them are foreshadowing:

‘That was the first rule we were taught as children, usuallyin songs or chants: If misfortune forced you to keep company with a faerie, younever drank their wine, never ate their food. Ever. Unless you wanted to windup enslaved to them in mind and soul.’

This bit obviously foreshadows the mating bond and the way that it’s sealed - the female offers the male food and this seals the bond. So this superstition is definitely rooted in fact. 

‘And faeries couldn’t lie.’

I think this part might hint at the Suriel and its truth when captured (something Lucien mentions as a throwaway comment in ACOTAR before we see it) but I also think it speaks to Mor/the Vertias’ truth magic. There are a couple of ways I could see this manifesting - she can’t lie to humans if she’s invoked a certain piece of magic ‘You know I speak the truth’ OR: 

“You try to break the bargain, and you know what willhappen,” 

[…]

“He said there were consequences for breaking a magicalbargain.”

There’s quite a palava made over bargains in this series, specifically magical fae bargains. Rhys mentions several times the consequences of breaking a magical bargain - Tamlin seems incapable of breaking this one or finding a way to break it (apart from going through the King of Hybern) and Amarantha we saw was compelled to hold to her bargain - the magic broke when Feyre answered her riddle as she had no loopholes worked in there to save her. 

I wonder sometimes if Mor’s ability is something along the same lines - if she can compel people to hold to their truths, even if it’s not made in the form of an official bargain, or if breaking a bargain bonded by her carries even stronger penalties than Amarantha breaking her word. In that case the magic simply circumvented her will and granted what she had promised. 

I don’t think she can compel others to speak the truth to her (otherwise she’d probably have Azriel’s job tbh, magic is a heck of a lot easier and more reliable than torture) but maybe she can sense lies? Or maybe she can see/sense other people’s truths (the Bone Carver can do something like this so we know it’s possible) Or maybe she can state things/people exactly as they are - and the people she speaks to really do know that she’s telling the truth and that she isn’t lying to them. ‘I am the Morrigan, you know I speak the truth.’ maybe she’s literally told us what she can do. Or maybe she can compel people to believe that she’s speaking the truth even if she’s not (though I doubt that - she gets called out on lies and too much stock is placed in the Veritas which is said to carry a similar kind of magic to Mor) The truth is (ha) that SJM is so vague about this that tbh she could do pretty much anything even remotely related to truth, we don’t have enough to properly guess, or even have a reasonable stab at it. 

She probably also has a serious amount of power there too, beyond her truth magic, given that she survived a fight with Amren and that everyone was so desperate to breed said power into their bloodlines (ugh). And she’s a war veteran, she actively fought in the war and she’s more powerful than Cassian and Azriel and...entire armies of Illyrians SO. Someone give me the goods, please and thank you. 

23) Babies - yea or nay? If you had to pick one couple to have a mini, who would it be?

No. I have Strong Opinions on this topic. You didn’t ask, but you’re getting them anyway: 

Moriel: No. None. Never. Not now. Not in ten years. not in a hundred years. not in a thousand years. Never. A)- I don’t think either of them would actually want them? They want to be free, they want to just be with each other and enjoy each other and just be allowed to do what they want and neither of them really feels that urge. B)- I don’t think Mor actually can have children. (This is one of those headcanons were at this point I don’t care what canon does because this makes too much sense to me for me to let go of it.) But it just..it’s horribly fitting in a twisted way - she took away her value to Keir, her ability to marry Eris and gain him wealth and power by association, so he took away the only thing he saw as giving her any value or worth - her ability to bear children. Which probably upsets her a little bit when others start having smalls but...She and Az are quite sure. They are enough for each other, they don’t need children to be happy or to love and want and need each other. So. No babies here ever. Moriel are a baby free zone on this blog. 

Feyrhys: tbh....I can go with them never having any really easily. Like...they’re immortal?? They don’t need them in theory? I mean...Tarquin inherited his position as High Lord as the cousin of the previous one. So the previous one died without issue so it just jumped to the next suitable dude in the family. It’s not essential is what I’m saying. Rhys would never pressure Feyre into having them and to be honest...I can’t see Feyre wanting them. She parented her family for most of her childhood and every time she’s considered pregnancy/children it’s been a case of ‘do not want them’. She makes it very, very clear she’d have nothing to do with Isaac without a tonic ensuring that she can’t get pregnant; she implies she was taking a tonic while she and Tamlin were together (she tells Rhys at the cabin that she isn’t taking one anymore - implying that she was) despite Tamlin’s mentioning them having children/heirs some day. She deliberately speaks to Rhys about it after their sex marathon chapter 55 and makes it clear that the only way she’d thought about having them would have been as an obligation. If she’d been obliged to provide him with children as his mate which Rhys shuts down. She then admits that she wants Rhys to herself for a good few centuries. 

This is not a girl who can’t wait to have children and honestly, I’d like it if she never did. Yes, yes she might change her mind but tbh I hate that line of thinking the ‘oh you’ll feel incomplete without them some day!’ Fuck that. A woman can be entirely complete without children and without the societal pressure/expectation to have them..I honestly don’t think Feyre would fancy it. (They will probably have a baby in canon but in my head...they’re baby free.....at the very, very, very, very, very least for like 500 solid years. Maybe more. Probably more. But not like 50 years after the war just N O. Let the girl live.) 

Nessian: Nessian are funny. I can see them going either way but...I think I’d like them to have maybe one or two, actually. I think Cassian would be pretty up for it, with some proper talking and planning. It’s not something he’d rush into impulsively but...I think he would get quite broody and I think this would happen before Nesta. I think Nesta might feel a little guilty almost that she doesn’t want this at all but Cass, like Rhys, is very firm in that he’s not pushing her into this at all and that she has absolutely nothing to feel guilty about. He’d like kids, maybe, some day, but they are not necessary at all.

 I think Nesta has a bit of a turning point with them and she genuinely goes from ‘over my dead body’ to ‘Cassian knock me up immediately’. I think maybe elucien are onto their third, maybe fourth, and she holds this little one in her arms and she just...bonds with it. And then she starts feeling things that she’s never, ever felt before and she looks up at Cassian and she knows that she loves him so much and that....She wants this. She really, really, really wants this. She wants a baby. She wants to be a mother.  

I think the thought of it still kind of terrifies her and she bottles this up for a while thinking it might go away (it doesn’t. It just gets worse.) Finally Cassian coaxes it out of her and she admits she’s been thinking about it and he’s overjoyed and they agree to start planning and preparing and then trying. Nesta is probably quite insecure once she does actually get pregnant but Cass is very gentle and reassuring and it’s just something they both want so desperately after a few centuries together. 

Elucien: Probably get pregnant during the mating bond sex marathon tbh. No, no not quite but I do think they talk about it early on and both agree that they want it. They probably, very sensibly, agree that they have plenty of time, no need to rush anything, they can wait, just enjoy themselves, they don’t need little ones, they should just calm down. They probably give themselves a time restriction of like a century to just be. I don’t think they make it through half of that before they’re actively trying because they just...Need to be parents, it doesn’t feel right otherwise. 

They have a large brood, they just keep having more, it just feels right. And then once they get to the point where they stop having little ones of their own they just start adopting other little ones. (Right, listen, I’ve definitely talked about this before but I love the heck out of this headcanon so have it again: Azriel is grudgingly in the war camps for some time and while he’s there he finds a little baby girl being mistreated by her family. Obviously given Azriel’s history and his general...well self he’s not too happy with this so he just. No. I am taking her away (he really doesn’t think this through at all, bless him, but he’s trying to do the right thing) So he scoops the little one up and takes her away and basically Mor comes home like.........Azriel.....why exactly are you trying to quieten a screaming baby?? So Az explains and Mor is very touched but also a bit o.O Az we cannot keep her, this is a child, not that stray cat you adopted last week, okay, it’s a bit different. So, naturally, they do the only sensible thing and they send for Elain. Elain who has only recently found herself with an empty house that just feels entirely too empty and too quiet. She goes to see them and within seconds the baby is quiet and happy in her arms and she’s in love and taking her home. (Lucien is a little bit !!! about this plan because ‘uh, dove, she has wings.’ but Elain insists happily that they’ll just have to figure it out because they simply must take care of her. This sparks a little tradition of them taking in unwanted little ones from all over Prythian and taking care of them.) 

So, to summarise and actually answer the question: Moriel: no. Feyrhys: if you put a gun to my head. Nessian: after many, many, many centuries. Elucien: why do they not have babies already!? 

[flowerflamestars]

Eep I love asks...M: What’s the weirdest AU scenario you’ve ever come up with?  Did it turn into a story? & W: Favorite pairing to read?

Thank you for the ask, especially because it means I can go on an AU tangent!!

Arguably, there are a few major contenders: in red & gold, these ways of old is wall to wall rarepairs (come for the Armorer ferociously loving people she never met in canon, stay for....Alpha-17/Jon Antilles romantic gestures??). Shoreless Sea was, at the time, the only Nesta/Tarquin fic in the tag. Carnassial has that whole mimic-faery-predator thing going strong.

but my absolute favorite of the improbable is the back-burner, slow-simmering draft I've been working on for ages: Course Correct.

Nesta/Tarquin, modern au, one night stand that turned one that got away, trapped at Feyre's destination wedding to weirdo billionaire Rhys after a tropical storm. 

Feyre is a youtuber! Morrigan is an instamodel! Nesta almost became a surgeon and DIDNT because Tarquin inspired her to try to happy. Papa Archeron is in JAIL, where he belongs! Cassian is some dude Nesta briefly hooked up with in undergrad who went on to write several hit indie rock songs about her that she has never heard (red dress, bone saw, trigger), and is furious to run into at the wedding. Eris is a bitchy divorce lawyer who definitely did not fuck Rhysand's personal council (Azriel). Elain/Lucien childhood friends to college sweethearts to the bi/bi marriage the world deserves! Rhys went to Eton and proposes to Feyre after knowing her for two weeks! Tarquin is ALSO a rich boy, but of the grew up, became a scientist, cannot give money away fast enough, became a meme (and sex symbol) after addressing Congress about climate change, variety.

I’m not sure it’s literally the weirdest, but it has by far, the most going on

Favorite pairing to read: I’m drawing such a blank on this! I don’t read very much fic lately? historically I’ll try nearly anything that isn’t a ship I’m actively writing, the more shouty/repressed/devoted the better

[rowanismybae]

Under the Stars (Nessian Fanfic)

So hello guys!! I was reading this AMAZING fanfic from @modernbookfae and Nesta sees a picture of Cassian hiking and I thought to myself: why not do one where everyone goes hiking/camping in the mountains? So this is how this fanfic was born. Also, I had help from a great friend of mine @deathbytitanium that also writes the most amazing/cute fanfics ever to help me with this one. So go check her out as well!  It’s a Nesta POV fanfic and contains smut, be warned of that! You can also read this at AO3. Enjoy! _____________

I was fucking tired but everyone else looked like they were having the time of their lives; all sweaty and spent, but happy. I was definitely more cranky than happy. But I liked the air of the mountains. But also loved showers, clean and warm beds and tons of blankets…

“So what if we camp here tonight?” Cassian asked. I turned to face him, eyes wide open in shock. 

“What?” I asked, surprised. 

“We set out camp here tonight. It’s close to a river so we can bathe, has trees to cover us so we won’t get too cold and also, it’s beautiful and peaceful. Seems like the place to stay the night.” He sounded proud of himself; in fact, his chest was swollen with pride.

I frowned and Feyre looked at me in confusion. “What’s wrong Nesta?” she asked, coming closer while the others were already setting up their tents. 

“I – I didn’t bring a tent.” I said in a low tone. “I thought we were going to crash in an inn or something. No one told me we would sleep outdoors…” I felt stupid. This was Cassian’s idea. Of course we would sleep in the wild. 

Feyre’s lips formed a thin line and her forehead wrinkled in a frown while she thought this through. This was an annual trip for Az, Cassian, Rhys, Mor and Amren. They always stay in Rhys’s family cabin and go hiking while in there. It’s a small village near a great forest filled with mountains and lakes and all that crap. And since Feyre and Elain started dating the boys, we were all doing it this year. She looked around: she would sleep with Rhys, obviously, Amren and Mor would share a tent, Az and Elain would share another one and Lucien was sharing with Tarquin. So the only one left there was…

“No. No way in hell I’ll sleep with Cassian.” Feyre’s look was torn between amusement and caution. 

“You would only share a tent Nesta. Not sleep with him.” She said, like that changed everything. “You seem to forget that I also don’t have anywhere to lay down on either.” I was knee-deep in shit and Feyre was trying really hard not to laugh at me.

“You know he‘s your only option, right? And he is always prepared. Like, for anything. Wanna see?” I was about to say no when she shouted: “Hey, Cass, do you by any chance have an insect repellent?” He looked up and nodded. “What about a first aid kid?” He mumbled something that sounded like of course I do, we’re in the wild. “What about…” she stopped to think about something really hard for him to have brought. “An extra sleeping bag?” Of course she would ask that. I sighed and rolled my eyes. 

He turned to face her. “As a matter of fact, yes, I did bring an extra. Who forgot it this time?” He looked at Amren. “Was it you Tiny Ancient One? You always forget your things… can you once get …” 

Amren faced him with a wild grin. “Shut up Cassian. It’s not for me.” 

He sighed in relief and turned to Feyre. “Why are you asking me those things?” 

I blushed. “Nesta said that no one told her we were going to camp.” She said and I cursed her mentally. He faced me and his expression became amused when he realized what she was implying. Everyone else was looking at us now. 

“I’ll be glad to sleep with you, sweetheart.” He said with that shit-eating grin he always had. 

“I’m not sleeping with you, I’m sharing a tent.” I repeated Feyre’s words and she chuckled and patted my shoulder when she left to help her boyfriend. 

“Sounds like the same thing to me, sweetheart.” He said with that stupid smile that turned my insides into a melted glob. “Come help me out then.” I set my feet in motion. 

I helped him out and when everyone had finished, Amren, Mor, Feyre, Elain and I went for a bath in the river while the guys set up the fire. Or, actually, Lucien did it. Apparently he was very skilled with fire. 

That damn river was freaking freezing! We all cursed during our bath and Mor kept talking to me about Cassian’s … arm span. They laughed themselves hoarse when I asked about what the actual fuck that was. Looks like that the arm span corresponded to the size of other parts of a male. They also said that Az’s was bigger. Elain blushed but smiled and added a low yeah baby that made us all cry of laughter. 

They all turned to me when Mor said that Cassian’s were pretty impressive too. I cursed them and sent them all to hell. I was not going to find out if that was true. We got dressed and went back to camp. The males left after asking what was so funny that made all the birds around flying away from our laughter. Amren simply said “We were talking about… science.” And that sent us all into a fit of laughter again. They all shook their heads and left for their baths. 

We sat around the fireplace as they went looking for food. By the time they came back, the meal was warm and we all ate together.  I never saw the stars shine as bright as they did that night. I was staring at them when I heard a deep voice in my ear. “They’re amazing, aren’t they?” I felt a shiver down my spine, but pretended that hadn’t happened. “Yes, they are” I said simply and felt him sit beside me. I dared a look at him and almost lost my breath at the sight. His face only lit up by the oranges of the fire, peaceful and warm. Somehow, he fit in the forest; like it was his place in the world. He turned his head to me as he felt me staring at him; his eyes shining brighter that night. 

“What?” He asked. No jokes, no playful smirk, no sarcastic comments, just him. I wanted to touch him, stroke his hair, his cheeks, his lips… oh those god-damn carved lips. I felt my face turning red and hoped the darkness covered it up. I said nothing and turned to face the sky again; it was safer than looking at him. What the fuck was going on with me? 

I felt that his eyes were still on me and turned again towards him. “What?” It was my turn to ask.

He had no intention of hiding his thoughts; his voice was almost a whisper though. “You are more exquisite than the stars. And I feel like I can’t stop being around you.” 

I swallowed, my mouth and my throat going dry; my breath hitched and my heart started beating frantically. I watched as the others were going to their own tents and saying their goodnights. “I – I’m going to bed.” I got up and he said nothing as I paced to our tent. I changed into my pajamas and went in the sleeping bag. 

I was awake for another 30 minutes, his voice on my mind, his words warming up my body, especially between my legs. I needed to release that tension, but I was not going to do it when he could come in at any second. Ten more minutes went by and I had to pee. I cursed, put on my boots and my jacket and went out, cursing my bare legs on the cold wind.

Cassian, Lucien and Tarquin were still at the fire and said nothing when I went deeper in the forest to find a safe place to pee. When I got back, they were all saying their goodnights. Cassian approached me so quietly that I startled at the sound of his voice. “Someone, apparently, also forgot her pants.” He chuckled; his hands on the pockets of his jacket. 

“Like I said, I didn’t know we were staying in the woods.” I sighed and got in. He followed me lighting up a small light that wasn’t exactly a flashlight. “And I’m wearing shorts, so stop staring at my legs.” He raised his hands up in surrender and went to his bag to pick up some shorts. He started taking off his clothes. “What are you doing?” I asked sitting on my sleeping back quickly after he took his shirt off and was loosening the strings of his pants. 

“Changing.” He said simply. He did a single movement and downed his pants. I let out a little cry covering my eyes and he barked a laugh. “Come on Nesta, it’s nothing you haven’t seen before.” He was still laughing. Thank God the tents were apart from each other! The girls would annoy me to my sad end if they managed to hear him saying that. 

“You could at least warn me!” I said with anger. “And no, I’ve never seen... you naked, Cassian.” I heard the sounds of clothes and a few seconds later, I felt his hands on my wrists. 

“It’s okay, you can look now.” I did not trust him. 

“Are you dressed?” 

He laughed. “Considering that I sleep naked even in the cold weather and I did the favor to put on shorts, yes, I’m as dressed as I can be to sleep.” I let him down my hands and looked at him. Worst decision I’ve ever made. Of course I knew he was a piece of art: his muscular body, his defined abs, the strong and defined legs (seriously, his calves were a thing to start drooling at and calves are not that sexy), his strong jaw, his longish black hair, his burning hazel eyes, those delicious pouty lips and his perfect smile… oh crap. He was hot beyond imagination. And he was also kind, funny, easy going, smart as hell, sexy, friendly, adventurous and courageous, not forgetting, an annoying pain in the ass, of course.

I didn’t even notice I was biting my lips until he faked a cough and I turned my eyes to his. Damn, he was grinning. “I can see you’re enjoying the view, sweetheart.” 

I let out a sigh and rolled my eyes. Yes, a pain in my ass indeed. Before I could notice, he was leaning forward and his knees touched mine, his hand landed on my left cheek. I jolted back and his smile was soft and amused. “Come on Nesta, we’ve been here before. In this situation, I mean.” Of course I knew what he was talking about. The first time we got closer and alone was in Feyre’s birthday party. We were fighting over something and suddenly he leaned for my neck and I let him. I was lost in his touch and when his tongue touched my neck I realized what was going on and ran back before anyone could notice. 

The other time, we were all at some club and we were tipsy. He went for more drinks and I used that moment to go to the bathroom. When I was getting there, I saw him leaving the men’s room and without a second thought, I threw myself on him. His lips were soft and gentle, but I wanted more, so I had grabbed his hair and he’d moaned and deepened the kiss, his hands sliding over my back and I had led them to my ass where he gently squeezed and slid his hands to my thighs lifting me up and I intertwined my legs on his hips when he pressed me against the wall. We kissed for about good 5 minutes and I backed away and went back to the table. We never spoke of it afterwards, of course. And no one knew.

His touch was gentle and I closed my eyes as he leaned forward to place a delicate kiss on my right cheek. I felt his lips on my ear and he whispered “Don’t worry Ness, our secret is save and my lips are sealed. And of course, I’d never do anything you didn’t want me to, especially tonight.” 

I felt my whole body surrendering to his voice and touch, my blood calling his name, my breath was uneven and my heart was a mess. And, of course, the heat between my thighs was almost impossible to bear. I opened my eyes and saw his intense gaze. He backed away to his own bed and I felt cold instantly, it was almost painful; I wanted him so bad that my whole body ached with his distance. I could no longer pretend I didn’t want him. 

“Fuck it” I said and threw myself on him; my hands went to his soft hair, still cold from the wind outside and my mouth crashed onto his. For a second he did nothing, but then, his hands went to my waist and the nape of my neck. He kissed me back slowly and I surrendered to him, following his pace. His tongue slid into my mouth and it set me on fire. I barely felt myself sitting on his lap, I felt his hot body pressed against mine and I moaned. 

His hands were gentle but firm and when one of them slid under my pajama shirt, his calloused hand caressing my bare skin, I lost all control. I released his hair and help the hem of my shirt pulling up as he stopped the kiss and looked at me with wide eyes “What are you doing, sweetheart?” 

I chuckled. “What does it look like I’m doing, Cass?” I never called him that, even after months knowing each other. He was serious and I saw him pause, like he was questioning my sanity. “I want you Cass.” His eyes sparkled with desire but he still did not move. I let go of my shirt and asked. “What?” He held my face with both hands; his gaze was so intense that I felt naked instantly.

“I want you too Ness, but I don’t want you to regret this.” I opened my mouth to say I wouldn’t but he cut me off. “I know we’ve been playing and teasing each other endlessly, but one thing is to kiss pinned to the wall of a crowded bar and another is having sex. I don’t want you to feel like this is a mistake.” I closed his eyes and leaned so our foreheads were touching. “I – I don’t want this to feel like I’m pressuring you. I want you to want me as much as I want you. To need me as much as I need you. And I’ll be happy to wait until then.” He said and I felt like I was choking. 

I felt my heart break with his words. I wanted him since that first time we touched, but I was too stubborn to admit it. And now, listening to his words, I knew that this was something I’d want for the rest of my life. But like hell he would know this now! So I let out the most as I could give him. “Cass, I want you.” He opened his eyes and our noses were almost touching now; he studied my face as if he was looking for any sign of restrain. “I’ve wanted you for a while now.” The corners of his lips were starting to turn up. “I’m not going to admit how much I want you, because you’re already an insufferable prick and I don’t want your ego knocking this tent down.” He laughed and his breath caressed my lips and I smiled. I touched his face and placed his hair behind his ear. “And I won’t regret this. I won’t regret us. I’ll never regret choosing you.” I smiled softly. And somehow my heart burned watching his eyes narrow due to his giant smile; he looked so free, so sure, so happy that I couldn’t stop myself from pressing my lips against his again. 

This time, he didn’t stop me from taking my shirt off. He looked at my naked torso and awe took over his expression. “Enjoying the view, sweetheart?” I said with a grin, using the nickname he always called me by. 

He laughed but added whispering “Yes, you’re too perfect not to admire and praise.” I ran to his lips again and his body was a furnace! No wonder he slept naked. He lowered his head to my neck, my clavicle and gently he leaned us onto the sleeping bags, my back against the floor; my legs never letting go of his waist. 

He lowered himself to my breast; I gasped at the first touch of his mouth. I couldn’t think straight, all I had in mind was his tongue on my nipple, him biting me carefully and his hand on the other, squeezing and running his thumb on the nipple. 

He let go of my breast and went for the other, my hands going to his hair once again and he moaned when I pulled it a bit too hard; the sound sent shivers down my spine and his mouth left my breast and started to trace a line of gentle kisses to my navel. His tongue played inside of it; every caress was like electricity. His fingers started to play with my shorts and I had no idea if I was gasping, asking him for mercy or saying his name. I looked at him at the moment he stopped licking my navel; his face was devilish. Oh that stupid prick was going to make me beg! 

He smiled and his fast hands took off my shorts and panties together at once. His hands slid from my feet to my hips, his callous scraping my skin in a delicious way. He help both of my legs and placed my ankles on his shoulders; he started to kiss my left calf, the sensitive area behind my knee and going up my thigh and when he was next to the spot I wanted him to stay, he went for my right inner thigh and I released a growl of disappointment. 

He had the audacity to laugh but kept going until he reached my right calf. He looked at me, lowered himself and managed to place my knees on his shoulders, his gaze never leaving mine. My breath was irregular and I could not take this anymore. He was inches away from me and instead of digging into it, he blew softly, hot air touching me instead of him. 

My back arched and I let go a sob. “Cassian…” I whispered. 

“What sweetheart?” Damn him. 

“Please Cassian, please!” I could not take this, I needed him to touch me. 

He smiled and lowered himself. If the kisses on my navel were electricity, this was a lighting. I moaned in delight and he chuckled. “You’re going to wake the others, sweetheart.” For the briefest second I was able to care about what the others would think… then it was gone the second his tongue touched my clit. Oh I was falling into the brightest place of the earth. It felt so good I had to hold myself into something. One hand found his hair again and the other found a sleeping bag. When his finger slid inside her, she thought she would die. After a few gentle and slow thrusts, he slid the second finger and she let out a loud moan. Let the others wake up. And they were away anyway. 

He was too slow. “Cassian…” I whispered and looked at him, his eyes turned to me. At the sight of him devouring me, I almost lost my shit. What? He seemed to ask. “Faster… go… faster!” I managed to say between breaths. His fingers obeyed and … Oh, yes. His tongue followed his fingers and a minute or a second later I shattered on his mouth and fingers. He eased my tremors sliding his tongue up my folds and he lifted his body until his lips were on mine again. His mouth tasted like me and I liked it. I managed to turn him on his back and he looked confused but he allowed me to do it. 

I kissed his neck and traced lines on his chest with my nails, his hands wandering on my back and my hair. I reached his nipple and softly kissed and licked it. He chuckled. “Oh… that’s different.” He said in heavy breaths. 

“Good different?” I asked, my mouth never leaving his skin. 

“Hell yeah!” I trailed his abs with my hands first, devouring the sight of those powerful muscles and then kissed his exposed skin. I moved to be on his left side so I could take his shorts off. “You don’t need to do it, Ness…” he said like I wasn’t going to enjoy it. He was so wrong! 

“I want to taste you Cass…” Before taking it off I noticed that he was hard for me. For me! I bit my lip and smiled at his glorious sight after I released him. I didn’t care about the arm span shit or if Az’s was bigger. He was perfect! Perfect and big and large. Oh I’d love to play with him.

I went between his legs and kissed his thighs. I felt his breath hitch. “Nesta” My name was a prey on his lips and I loved the sound of it. I held his cock and stroke it gently. I dared looking at him. His eyes were starved, his hands holding the sleeping bags and he was biting his lip so hard I thought he would hurt himself. I lowered myself while my thumb stroke the head that was already wet. Instead of taking him in my mouth, I went for his testicles. He groaned loudly and I couldn’t help myself. “Now who’s being loud?” I chuckled. 

His head was thrown back and his hand flew to my hair; his chest going up and down rapidly. I took his cock on my mouth and I felt him repress an even louder groan. My teeth gently scraping his dick, and with every movement I felt him tense up. I looked at him and he looked back at me. “Ness…” He breathed and groaned, his leg muscles tightening. “Ness, you need to stop… I won’t be able to hold any longer…” 

I let go of it with an indecent pop and said “You can only come when I do, understood?” If he could play devil, I could too. He only nodded and I crawled up until our faces were leveled. With one hand he held his cock and the other he held my face. 

Before I could lower myself, he asked “Are you sure?” Fear still in his eyes. How could he be so blind? I smiled and leaned to kiss him the same moment my hips downed and I slid him inside me.

We both moaned and I arched my back breaking our kiss; my hands were in his chest. He was so large and big that I needed some time to adjust. He held my hips and my arm, his thumb stroking my skin. “Are you ok?” He asked breathless, concern dripping his words. 

I looked at him. “Yes. I just – I … give me a minute.” He nodded and waited patiently. “I didn’t expect you to be this… large.” I said honestly and he chuckled. I thought I heard a female laugh for a second. I was too caught up on the feeling of him inside me, fitting so tightly, so perfect to care about anything else. 

“I’m sorry” he said. 

“Don’t ever say that again. This is perfect.” I started to move up and down slowly and he let go of a low moaned. I threw my head back, my nails digging into his skin. I was sweaty and my hair was clinging to my skin. 

“Nesta… you’re so perfect!” He praised me and when I looked at him I saw the truth in his words. I took his lips on mine and he broke us apart. I felt so empty for a second that my heart ached. 

He must have seen it on my face because he smiled and kissed my cheek when he went behind me and gently positioned me on my knees and hands. “Is this okay?” He asked and I nodded, needing him inside me again. He lowered my shoulders until I was almost face first on the ground. He traced kisses on my lower back and when he moved away, he thrusted slowly; too damn heartbreakingly slowly. I groaned loudly again and he waited a few seconds before pulling out and thrusting again, faster this time. I felt like I was about to break apart with pleasure. 

The sound of our skin touching, our uneven breaths and moans were the only sound that filled the earth. The symphony of our bodies, of our souls. I could die of wanting him, having him. I was already on the edge again. “Nesta…” my name was now a plea; he was waiting for me like I told him to do. “God, you’re so perfect, so tight, so wet…” he mumbled.

I was breaking, I felt every muscle in my body tense. He lifted my torso up so his was touching my back; I rested my head on his shoulder and with one hand he held me up  and with the other went between my thighs. “Cassian!” I breathed. 

“Yes, Nesta. Come for me, please!” With that order - plea - I shattered. He followed me a second later with a loud roar. Our tremors sent me back on my hands as he rested on my back, still inside me. 

He kissed my back, our uneven breaths and the sound of my heart was all I could hear and I had never felt happier. He slid out and laying down, the satisfied smile on his lips the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. 

I touched his face and lay beside him, my head on his chest, listening to his pounding heart. He hugged me and kissed my forehead. The sounds of nature around us started to come back to my ears. I felt him stiffen, “Nesta…” I looked at him noticing he was worried, feeling worried myself. “We didn’t use protection.” I let out a laugh. “This is serious! As much as I love you, I’m not ready to be a father yet!” I let the words sink in. Love. He loves me! 

I touched his cheek and said softly “I know it is serious, Cass. I’m sorry. But there’s no need to worry.” He looked puzzled. “I’m on birth control pills.” He released a sigh. “And I love you too, worried prick.” He looked confused at me first then he realized what he said and what I said and smiled. I small tear rolled out of his eye and I kissed him. 

“Look at us, all sweet and loving. No one would ever believe it.” We laughed. “Let’s hope we didn’t wake the others, or tomorrow we’ll hear about it until our ears bleed.” He added and before I could say anything, I heard a female voice. 

“Ha. Too late to care about that isn’t it Cassian?” I froze and Amren laughed. Damn! I forgot that our tents were close to each other and away from the others since we were supposed to just sleep, unlike the couples on the other side of the clearing. I buried my face in his chest and let go of a shameful groan. 

He laughed. “Sorry about that girls… Hope we didn’t turn you on too much though.” I pinched him and he laughed again. 

“Just be quiet now the two of you. Yes, you’ll hear about it tomorrow. And Nesta?” Mor asked and I wanted to die, but still answered. 

“Yes?” my voice was filled with shame. 

“I told you didn’t I?” I cursed and she only laughed and said goodnight, followed by Amren who was clearly smiling.

“What was that about?” He asked. 

“Nothing… just…  girl talk.” I tried really hard not to smile. “We should sleep.” 

He nodded and kissed my forehead. We heard a female voice saying a painful finally while he pulled the blankets up, to cover us. “Sweet dreams, sweetheart.” He kissed me softly. 

“I love you Cass. And sweet dreams.” As I nestled in his arms and fell asleep fast, feeling happier than I’ve even been before.

[meher-sumedha]

Gwynriel Headcanon : Summer Court - Jealousy Jealousy

Alright so, I had not posted all week so here is the compensation.

Over the last few days, the crew and Gwyn had gotten pretty close. They talked and were finally frank with each other. But it happened that night, when Gwyn had finally found the courage to wear a neclace which had a small red stone in the center.

They were at the dining table and were talking politely to each other. Jack making a joke saying that Azriel is getting sloppy but everyone knew that wasn't true, including him. Suddenly Elain noticed the red neclace on Gwyn's neck and jealousy filled her.

"Where did you get that necklace? " She had asked. Knowing where the situation was gonna go. Azriel had noticed the neclace on Gwyn and only hoped Elain wouldn't notice. His hopes were gone unheard by the gods. He was happy to see the neclace on her.

Happy to see that she wore his necklace, constantly touching it to make sure it was there, it made her feel comfortable. Azriel knew all that and it made his chest fill up with pride. But right now, everything was going downhill.

"Clotho gave it to me, i don't know who had give-", Elain cut her off by saying, "Azriel gave me that neclace on the night of the winter solstice, I want it back".

Gwyn looked towards Azriel, hoping that whatever Elain said wasn't true. But Azriel looked down, not meeting her gaze. That was enough indication for Gwyn to know she was true. She was so hurt.

She thought that this neclace had found her, it had always given her comfort. The nights which she had nightmares at night, and the days which were nightmares.

It was her only source of comfort and to find that it was never meant for her made it even more difficult.

Gwyn's eyes were swelling up with tears now. Before she let any of them fall, she took out the neclace and handed it to Elain before walking out.

The tears took the best of her as soon as she walked out of the front door and into the huge ground. She knelt down on her knees and let the tears flow. She cried and cried until she felt a hand on one of her shoulders. She looked up and so Jack, he sat down on her right.

Then came Tom, who sat down on her left. Then one by one, all the others came and sat down in a circle. Not one of them speaking a word, just offering that they were their for her. Gwyn stopped crying and just hugged her knees and hid her face in them. Unable to meet what she thought would be the judging eyes of them. She was wrong.

Jack finally broke the silence and said, "He's not worth it" He said. "You knew? "Gwyn innocently asked. "Of course we knew Gwyn, If I may call you that", One of the girls, Samantha said. Gwyn nodded.

"W-we see the wa-way you look at h-him during practice" Tom said. Gwyn smiled and said, "It's that obvious? ". "Yeah, you fucking right it is, you're love struck, you're like what, 22, just 4 years older than us" One of the girls, Molly said. Gwyn liked Molly the best, because she always said the truth and never sugar coated it. All the other girls hated her. Mostly because she was the best at practice.

They all just stayed there for the night and that's how their friendship started. They all became really good friends. Like "really good" like Molly and Tom, who just glanced at each other secretly. It was no secret for Gwyn, she knew they liked each other but never interfered. Every night, they started coming outside and starting a bonfire. They talked about their pasts and hopes and dres, it was like a new family, even Tarquin started coming.

Today was supposed to be no different, but Today was. Elain and Azriel were here. Hand in hand. They sat down in a corner of the ground and started their own bon fire. Sometimes Elain glanced at Gwyn and then kissed Azriel, while looking at her. Gwyn had had enough. She got up and Tarquin asked, "Where are you going? ", "I need a drink" She said.

Tarquin and everyone chuckled. "Since when did you start drinking? " Tarquin asked, while laughing. "I can drink" She said. "No you can't" Tarquin said, still laughing like crazy.

"I'll prove it to you" Gwyn said and went inside the huge mansion. She then went to the kitchen and brought a bottle. Tarquin stopped laughing now, "Gwyn calm down, that's Faerie wine, you'll have a terrible headache" He said. Even Azriel was looking in her direction now.

"Really" Gwyn said and popped open the cork. She then started drinking straight from the bottle. She didn't stop until Tarquin finally came up to her and took the bottle from her. Gwyn was feeling very drowsy now, but it felt like all the problems in the world had disappeared. She then sat down. Her mind still fuzzy.

Tarquin noticed she had almost finished half of the bottle, and even a quarter of Faerie wine was very dangerous. Gwyn noticed that Jack and the others were playing a game.

"Hey! What game are you playing without me" She asked, her voice very slow. She saw Tarquin go back to opposite her and rub his head but she could care less.

"Truth and Dare, wanna play? " Jack asked. "SUURE" She replied. "Fine, Gwyn, Truth or Dare?", Molly asked in her usual tone. "Mhmm, DARE" Gwyn said. Before anyone could say anything else Jack said, "I dare you to kiss me" And everyone gasped. "It's not like she's gonna do it, Chill out" Jack said.

"No, no, I can do it" She said and got up. "Really? " Jack got up with her. "Yeah" Gwyn said and everyone started whishpering to each other. "Fine" Jack said and started coming towards her to kiss her.

Tarquin suddenly pushed Jack to the ground and put her hands on Gwyn's face and kissed her. Her lips were the softest. They were the definition of perfect. He then stopped himself before it became too obvious. When he pulled away, he saw a smirking Jack on the ground, he knew, this smart son of a bitch knew.

He also saw a red Gwyn. Her cheeks were completely red and she was just staring at him with her eyes wide open. WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED, Her rational self said. But she was too drunk and the started thinking if it was really that bad.

"You're a good kisser" She blurted out while touching her lips, the realization never kicking in. Everyone had quieted by now. It was Tarquin's turn to blush now. "Well Goodnight" She said and hugged Tarquin before sliding away from the bondfire and skipping.

Tarquin had no idea what the hell just happened. He then saw her skipping and smiled. He then went back to his room without telling anyone, to think about how soft her lips felt on his.

Azriel was burning, like literally burning. He was so infested in watching Gwyn skip away that he didn't notice he walked into the bonfire and his shoes had caught fire. After multiple shoutings and shakings from Elain, Azriel finally came out of his trance and put out the fire.

His shadows were wrathful and ruthless. He knew today he wasn't gonna get any sleep tonight, his shadows won't let him. Gwyn had once told him that she had never kissed a guy, she wanted to wait for her mate. But she just wasted her kiss on a FREAKIN GUY WHO DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO STAY IN THE REAL WORLD.

He was gonna kill someone tonight. He was sure. He then just walked out of the ground and into his room. Remembering that he had wanted to be her first kiss, he had wanted to see her blush after their first kiss. He had kissed her before, a little peck she had given him on the lips before falling asleep. He knew Gwyn wouldn't remember it and thought he wanted it to stay that way.

He didn't. He didn't want that memory to be of his and his alone. He wanted to share everything with her but now, it was too late...............

TAGLIST - @trashforazriel @imsointobooks @hlizr50 @shisingh @katiebellf

[bookedeverynight]

A Court of Wings and Ruin Review

Title: A Court of Wings and Ruin (ACOTAR #3)

Author: Sarah J Maas

My Rating: 3 Stars

Goodreads. Book Depository.

While this book wraps up the story of Rhysand and Feyre nicely, I had a lot of issues and problems with the final instalment of this series. This may turn into a bit of a winge, so be aware that these are my own opinions and this will be a VERY SPOILERY review!

Synopsis:

A nightmare, I’d told Tamlin. I was the nightmare.

Feyre has returned to the Spring Court, determined to gather information on Tamlin’s maneuverings and the invading king threatening to bring Prythian to its knees. But to do so she must play a deadly game of deceit—and one slip may spell doom not only for Feyre, but for her world as well. As war bears down upon them all, Feyre must decide who to trust amongst the dazzling and lethal High Lords—and hunt for allies in unexpected places.

My Thoughts:

With this pegged as my predicted top favourite book of the year, I was unfortunately very disappointed with this book. While I loved the beginning two thirds of the book and returning to the world Sarah J Maas has created, there were more questions than answers in the final third and I felt that the build up to the giant war did not deliver whatsoever. ACOMAF was an absolutely amazing book (and was very hard to follow) and I feel very flat whenever I think about this book. I have read it twice and these thoughts are ones that have been pondered on very deeply.

At the end of ACOMAF, we are left with Feyre in the Spring Court, 'a fox in a chicken coop', Rhysand and the Inner Circle back in Velaris, Cassian and Azriel both injured and Tamlin unaware of the fact that he has let the High Lady of the Night Court into his territory. Such a good set up for the book. I really enjoyed reading the beginning of the book. It was a bit slower than I would have liked but seeing Feyre mess with Ianthe and Tamlin was awesome. It was very Aelin-like planning, where you don't see it till the end but being in her head and seeing her plotting was really satisfying. The way she was going about it was so unexpected and not at all what I had predicted so I loved it. Feyre stealing the spotlight during Ianthe's moment was 100% perfection. I would have liked to have more time in the Spring Court with plotting Feyre but all good.

When Feyre and Lucien escape the Spring Court, the story steps up a bit with the return of Cassian and Azriel. The moment they were back on the page I was cheering - I was very worried Cassian would have lost his wings. The Feysand reunion was beautiful and lovely and I really loved being back with the Inner circle and all the planning for the war against Hybern. A lot happens during this part of the book. We have visits to the Bone Carver, lots of conversations between Rhysand and Feyre, war councils with Keir and the Court of Nightmares and a lot of different character interactions. There is too much for me to mention but so much happened in this part of the book. The war in the Summer Court was intense, especially with Tarquin and Hybern appearing and I loved the reveal of Feyre being High Lady and seeing how different people responded to it. Some of the plot points were all over the place and I think that there may have been too much shoved in this book. Was Tamlin good or bad? What was going on with Jurian? What was happening with Elain and Nesta? Why was Eris even playing a role? So many unanswered questions!

The final third of the book was so unimpressive. We have the big war happening, and Feyre doesn't even play a role. The whole of ACOMAF and beginning of this book talks about her skills with the power of all High Lords and she is on the sidelines doing nothing. I understand that she doesn't have practice being in war, but we didn't see her use her power very much at all! She goes to see the Suriel (an interaction that I really loved and that cut my heart to bits) and uses her skills then but unless I am missing some key parts, the men in this book are the ones that do the majority of fighting. For a series that was so focused on female empowerment in book two, this final third fell short. I would have loved to have seen her use the skills she had, especially considering that Rhysand spent so much time training her in ACOMAF. The war happens incredibly quickly, the allies that were brought forward were not actually helpful (what was the point of the Bone Carver and the Weaver?) and don't even get me started on the return of the Archeron Father. So unnecessary. It all happens so quickly with no time to breathe (Maas' mode of operating) but it wasn't enjoyable. Amren was unleashed, Feyre told to fix the cauldron and Rhys gave his life for everyone - a move that didn't worry me for a moment. After all the discussions about sacrifice in this book, I knew that something would happen, but it felt very predictable that Rhys would give his life. The book ended way too quickly and way too neatly for my liking. I like tied up endings, but this was too perfect. There should have been some sacrifice on somebody's end. Losing Feyre's father was such a non-event - honestly, had he not shown up in the book, I would not have missed him. While the story wrapped up with Rhysand and Feyre, I can't help thinking it would have been nicer to have more happen. I understand that Maas has set up the series to continue with another three books, but I feel that Rhys and Feyre's story was done a disservice in this book. I would have preferred to read a complete story with some things left hanging, rather than this one which had so much left unanswered.

A little bit on the characters: I love Rhysand and Feyre. Their reunion is every bit of perfect and I love the connection and chemistry between the two. Despite this,  I can't help feeling that their relationship was a bit too perfect. They had a lot of conflict in the previous books and this book they didn't fight and didn't disagree at all - I missed their banter and conflict! However, they were still wonderful and I loved seeing them have each other's back through the meetings, through discussions with the Inner Circle and through the war. I just missed a bit of the spark they had in ACOMAF.  Cassian and Azriel were fantastic as usual - I loved seeing them healed and better but also loved seeing the banter between all of them. They are such a good family and you can see how much they love Feyre as High Lady. I also really enjoyed seeing the character progression of Nesta and Elain and the gifts that they have.

I did, however, have issues with Amren and Mor in this book. I felt that Mor was out of character the whole book. In ACOMAF, Mor was not scared of Keir and very happily watch him get hurt and hurt him. She is described as “A queen who owned her body, her life, her destiny, and never apologized for it.” In ACOWAR, she is scared of him, frightened of Eris and announces that she has been hiding her sexuality from her family for decades. For a world that is very accepting of various relationships and a family that is even more so, I found it very unbelievable that Mor could hide this for so long, particularly when she doesn't have a real reason to. I also feel it makes a mockery of Azriel and her relationship - it turns it into something awful and horrible. Why would she tell Feyre this as well? I felt it was Maas' attempt to add diversity into the Inner Circle but done a little too late. I'm also really disappointed by Amren's character. Not only does she compare Feyre to Tamlin (HONESTLY) it is also never explained what or who she is. I thought she was a dragon but from what I've read she's somewhat an archangel? I don't even know and that is so frustrating. I wish we had heart less about Jurian, Drakon and Vassa, and more about Amren, someone we all cared about.

And finally Tamlin. I hate that Tamlin didn't ever get told what he did and received somewhat of a redemption arc. He never understood what he put Feyre through, and he never saw what he did to Lucien either. I believe it would have been better for him to give up more and understand what he put Lucien and Feyre through rather then being the one to save Rhysand. He is left believing that Rhysand is at fault, not him which is so frustrating and really bad for people who related to the story of Feyre's abuse. I really hope that he is not part of the other books because he does not deserve to be.

Despite my issues with some of the plot, Sarah J Maas does have a wonderful way with words. She can weave them into great quotes and great stories and you can't help but feel like you are in another world while reading. I adore some of the quotes in this book and I feel that the concept of dreamers is absolutely gorgeous. I've read this book twice, and when I pick it up and read it again, I love being in the world.

Now while I have explained that this book disappointed me quite a bit, let me give you some things I loved in this book (this is just a small list!):

Seeing the Suriel was wonderful (and heartbreaking!) I love that he is described as a dreamer, like so many of us.

The diversity in this book definitely stepped up with all the High Lords in one room - so much testosterone!

Azriel's sarcasm and sassiness was awesome. He really stepped up in this book and reading his interactions with Feyre while he taught her how to fly was great.

Feyre and Azriel going in to save Elain is one of my favourite scenes. I love how Rhysand is so formal when he is giving orders to them and my favourite quotes come from that chapter.

Feyre hurting Ianthe and stealing her thunder is amazing and such a good scene.

Cassian being mad at Feyre for leaving them was such a gorgeous scene - I really love how he explained how he felt and that it wasn't ok. It was such a family moment and I love seeing the love between them all.

Lucien experiencing the family dinner of the Inner Circle was such a precious moment. Considering everything he has gone through with Tamlin, it was great to have him see what another court could be like.

The Rhysand and Feyre reunion was wonderful and I loved how Rhys explained that while he missed sleeping beside Feyre, he also missed her as a friend. This is what I want in life. Their relationship is truly romantic and fantastic.

Recommended for: If you have loved any of Sarah J Maas books, then you should definitely read this. Also, if you enjoy New Adult fantasy, you should check out the whole series! Please be aware that there are a lot of sex scenes in this series.

Quotes (Spoiler Free):

“Only you can decide what breaks you, Cursebreaker. Only you.”

“Remember that you are a wolf. And you cannot be caged.”

“I would have waited five hundred more years for you. A thousand years. And if this was all the time we were allowed to have... the wait was worth it.”

“Night Triumphant - and the Stars Eternal. If he was the sweet, terrifying darkness, I was the glittering light that only his shadows could make clear.”

“No going back now,” Cassian said to Rhys, gesturing to his wings." "Rhys slid his hands into his pockets. “I figure it’s time for the world to know who really has the largest wingspan.” Cassian laughed, and even Azriel smiled. Mor gave me a look that had me biting my lip to keep from howling.”

“You do not fear. You do not falter. You do not yield. You go in, you get her, and you come out again.”

“You belong to all of us, and we belong to you.”

Buy it here.

I hope this hasn't been too much of a doom and gloom review!

What did you think of ACOWAR? Do you agree or disagree? I'd love to hear your opinions!

x Maddy x

[meher-sumedha]

Gwynriel Headcanon : Training at the Summer Court

Trigger Warning - A bit 18+

..... Gwyn said and walked out of the room. Elain was on the verge of tears. She had never been so humiliated by anyone. She started stomping out of the room hoping Azriel would follow her.

Azriel was shocked but impressed too. He had never thought Gwyn would actually do something against Elain because she was so kind.

Guess everyone has their limits for Elain's shit. He thought to himself and walked out of the room.

Gwyn couldn't be more proud of herself for standing up for her sisters. She then went outside as Tarquin had asked her to train some of the people, to train them. Gwyn had no problem with that.

When Gwyn got outside she saw 15 guys and girls each standing in a horizontal line. On her left were the girls and on her right were the guys. Tarquin had prepared a lot of training equipment for each.

She went towards them and stood with Tarquin. Not letting her gaze falter or seem under-confident.

"Meet Gwyn" Tarquin said while gesturing towards Gwyn. "She is your new trainer"

She was ready to train them all but then she saw some of the guys snickering and whispering when they saw her.

"HEY! " Gwyn shouted. "WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM? " She shouted again. "It's nothing, we didn't know that the situation was soo bad that we had to hire female trainers, but it's fine, you can train the girls" One of the guys said, continuing to laugh.

"Step forward" Gwyn said in a deadly tone. "Or what? " The guy asked, not knowing the outcome.

Gwyn then went up to the guy and punched him. "BITCH" The guy said while holding his hands to his stomach. One of the guys tried to slap her and she held his wrist in an easy movement and twisted it around his back, turning him and then kicked his knees. Making him fall to the ground. "Who's the bitch now" She whispered in his ear, loud enough for everyone to hear.

She then left him and went up to Tarquin, who well, couldn't hide his surprise. "I didn't know Valkyries were so brutal" He whispered in her ear while smiling. Before Gwyn could reply she saw Azriel, frozen in his spot right in front of the mansion and smiling.

Gwyn gave him a winning smile before turning back to the guys and girls.

Azriel was so proud of Gwyn. Especially because he had tought her that move and he was happy to see that she could use it.

He then went up to Gwyn and Tarquin. Standing besides Gwyn.

"Well I guess that proves I can train both the Bitches and the girls" Gwyn said and the girls started laughing a bit but were too distracted by Azriel's half naked body. "But I guess I'll train the Bitches cause they definitely need much more help than the girls. "

"Fine" The guys said. None of them laughing now.

"We already know defensive but, Tarquin had been teaching that to us. We would like to learn the offensive now. " One of the guys said.

"Alright, I'll teach you offensive then. I'll teach you how to handle knives, guns and arrows. " Gwyn replied now. "But I will not handle any shit from any of you. If you go out of line even once or disrespect anyone, Don't even doubt the fact that I won't make your life hell. "

"YES MA'AM" The guys shouted and went into attention position.

"But then who will be training us? " One of the girls asked. "My assistant Azriel will be training you" She replied and Azriel looked at her with his eyes wide open in a dramatic way. She just smirked.

They went to train. Gwyn decided to start with arrows with the guys to train them but they couldn't be more bad at it. "Listen you gotta balance the arrow correctly" She said to one guy and then shouted towards the other. "HEY! DON'T LEAVE YOUR HAND HANGING, PICK. IT. UP". But that guy wasn't even looking at her.

She followed his gaze and saw that he was looking at the girls who were training. She then went upto him and snapped her fingers and he suddenly moved like he had just come back to reality.

"FOCUS" She said to him and then he hurriedly took his arrow in his bow and shot. It literally fell on the ground just before the target.

Gwyn then rubbed her forehead with her palm. But then an idea hit her. "HEY! " She said to all the guys and they paused to look at her. "What? " One of the guys asked, already tired after training for two hours.

"LISTEN. TO. ME. ALRIGHT? " She said. "Fine" The guys muttered. "Do it all in once, alright?, do it together" She told them. "But we won't be in synch. " One of the guys said. "Trust me, you will be" Gwyn said while smirking.

When the guys got ready Gwyn shouted. "On your mark, get set... " The guys got ready and put their arrows in their bows. "DICK IN THE VAGINA" She shouted and all of them fired their arrows, landing right at their targets on their bullseye.

All the guys started shifting uncomfortably. Azriel saw what Gwyn shouted and even he was surprised. "Come here" She said to all of them. They then formed a circle.

"Imagine that the arrow, is your dick, and the target, is the girl's vagina. Now, you want your dick to go in the girl's vagina don't you. So just focus on that whenever you're shooting an arrow. I won't always be there to shout 'dick in the vagina'" She said and smirked.

The guys smirked too at that and went back to their targets. Even though they didn't hit the bullseye, they still got pretty better at it.

They all then went to eat Dinner. "He-hey" One of the guys said to her. "Tom right? " She asked. "Yeah, Ar-are you sure ab-about what we-we're ab-about to do at di-dinner" He asked. "Yes Sam, they deserve it, don't worry, just trust me" She said.

All of them went to the dining room. There was a huge table. Gwyn sat at the head of the table along with Azriel at her left and Tarquin at the other head of the table. The girls sat on her right and the guys sat at her left.

"Ahh, I can't wait to eat" One of the guys, jack, said. "Me neither" The one beside him said. The food came and Tom stood up. He then started smelling the food, he smelled everyone's food as he was an expert in poisons.

"See, look at him, Tom the dog" Jack said and ruffled Tom's hair when he went to smell his food. Tom then went back to his seat. Jack started to dig in but then Tom interrupted. "Wait" He said towards Jack.

"Or what" Jack said while bringing the folk to his mouth. "Yo-your fo-food is poisened" Tom said but Jack ultimately took another bite. "No it isn't, they would never poison us, they need us" He said while taking another bite.

"Maybe you should trust him, he is an expert in Poisons. " Tarquin said to Jack.

Jack smiled bitterly and said. "Tom here can only stutter, he ISN'T an expert fighting and definitely not at poiso-" Jack was interrupted by the sound coming from his own stomach.

"Say that again, I couldn't hear you" Gwyn said while placing her hand behind her ear. Azriel was smiling at Gwyn, amused by her. She just smirked and said, "Maybe you should have trusted Tom the dog, if you did, you wouldn't have to spend the entire night in the bathroom. " She said to him.

"What poison was in it? " Jack asked Gwyn, still clutching his stomach. She didn't reply, just kept eating her food. "Please" He said. "Apologize and ask from Tom himself. He will decide whether to tell you or not". "I apologize, Just please tell me what poison was in it". Jack said to Tom.

"It wa-was just per-perlexia, yo-you have to tr-treat it with lem-lemon water. " He said and Jack rushed out of the room.

Gwyn just smirked.

[romanparrishlynch]

For the first time

Chapter 5

His siren was insistent.

Azriel reluctantly left his bed and walked to the door.

Duck his siren said as soon as he opened his door.

' duck? What do you mean duck? '

Duck

A stream of fire headed straight for him and he barely had enough time to dodge it. The next one headed for him almost immediately and before he could duck, it caught him in the gut. Pain laced through his body. His siren manically laughed in his head. Azriel swore and slammed the door close. He tried to sense what attacked him. There was no scent nor a presence. Whatever attacked him was cloaked.

You're pathetic his siren voiced.

'And you're really helpful'

He closed his eyes and tried to sense the intruder again. There was a crash and the door shuddered from the impact. A second later it was ripped clear off the hinges.

Azriel could see the outline of something larger than six foot and wings billowing behind. Definitely not a witch.

"Which circle of hell did you crawl out of? " Azriel muttered.

It was a demon Azriel was sure now . It walked into his house as if there were no wards. Azriel stared into the firey red eyes of the demon. It was a seven foot tall nightmare. Vaguely humanoid. Expect for the wings. Azriel didn't know if the wings were functional or merely a show. He hoped it was the latter. It's hide seemed thick. Any physical attack wouldn't do him much good. He sunk his power into the demon's mind. The demon staggered a few steps and grimaced.It shook it's head as if flinging off his power.

He tried to stare down the demon.

Two seconds passed and the demon took a running start.

Shit shit Shit.

Azriel ran to the kitchen and threw a knife at the demon. The knife hit the demon square in the chest and fell to the floor with a clang. He threw another knife and the demon caught it. Oh well . Azriel smirked at the challenge. He ran straight towards the demon and it threw a punch straight at him. Even from the distance, that fist looked like it could smash him. He dodged and went straight for its head. Perfect. He locked his hands around it's head and slammed his full power into it. The demons grip tightened and went lax. He jumped to his feet and thought about what to do.

You ruined all the fun. It's not often you get to fight a demon. Not fair. The demon could have lasted for another hour his siren whined.

Azriel sighed and took a pan form the kitchen and hit the demon until the pan dented, while his siren cackled.

" This one's for the door " Azriel said as he hit the demon for one last time.

Azriel dematerielized along with the demon to amren's house. He landed just in front of the coffee table and saw his friends sitting around it. He heard the satisfying sound of glass shattering and concluded that the demon had arrived. Unconscious though. The shock on his friends faces made it worth it. After all he had a reputation to uphold.

" I had a visitor " Azriel said.

Amren recovered first and sneered at azriel " You broke the damn table. Was that really necessary? "

" Maybe " Azriel replied.

" What the hell is that? " Rhys asked " it's a demon obviously " amren answered.

" It looks ugly " Cassian said with a scrunched nose " it smells even worse" cassian made a gagging noise.

" You can smell it? " azriel enquired. " oh my god azriel , what do you mean can you smell it? It smells rotten. You can smell it from a mile away" Cassian asked incredulously. He could also see the others scrunching up their noses. " It was probably cloaked " Azriel said as he tried to figure out why he couldn't smell it.

" Demons can't cloak their powers or their presence. It didn't try to kill you?" amren asked " Well it did throw balls of fire at me. But other than that it didn't seem all that excited about killing me. It just stood there, like it was stalling. " Azriel shrugged. He hadn't encountered many demons to know about their behaviours. Demons this caliber was rare.

" we need somewhere to store this thing " Azriel mused.

"Dibs " cassian called out.

" What the hell are you gonna do with that? " mor seemed outrageous .

" You seem way too excited about a demon" rhys commented.

" is it dead?" cassian asked .

" No" Azriel answered.

" Sweet " cassian said with a manic grin which earned him disgusted looks from amren and rhys . Mor looked at cassian like he had grown horns.

" Amren do you know anything about it? " rhys asked pushing the demon with his foot.

Amren who already was prodding the demon answered " It's a gaki demon. Second hierarchy. Very Powerful. Whoever summoned it must've been more powerful than the demon so as to control it. These things are hard to summon and tricky to deal with. "

" Just what are we dealing with? A witch? " Rhys asks staring accusingly at amren.

" What are you implying rhysand ? I'm not the only witch in velaris that can do this. If you think only witches can summon demon , then you are wrong. "

" Do you know anyone powerful enough to Summon this demon? " Azriel asked.

"I know a total of three powerful people who can summon this demon within this town and none of them are stupid enough to do this " amren said .

Not three but four . Why do they always leave us out of it. His siren crooned.

" Let's have a conclave meet" Rhys said.

" Why? " Azriel asked

" Because a gaku demon just attacked you. In your own damn house. The place where we usually have a conclave meet. So yeah we do need to have a conclave meet. Can we do the meet at my place this time? " cassian asked excited at the prospect of hosting a conclave meeting. Azriel would never understand why cass wanted to put that many hostile creatures in his house. Probably the werewolf thought it was fun.

" First of all it's a gaki demon. Not gaku. Second, we have the meet at my house because I'm a neutral party. You are not exactly neutral " Azriel said.

" How am I not neutral? " cass said, feining hurt.

" Do you really wanna let beron in your territory? " Azriel grasped at the only thing that came to his mind. Even he wasn't all that excited to have beron at his place.

" Well you got me there " cassian nodded thoughtfully.

" We can have it at the Gemini, they have a soundproof room at the back which is big enough. " azriel suggested. The Gemini was a bar, owned by nuala and cerridwen, it was usually quiet during the day .

" How do you know they have a back room which happens to be soundproofed?" Cassian asked.

" Any other questions?" Azriel continued over cassian as if he hadn't spoken.

" Isn't it too open?" Rhys wondered aloud .

" Maybe then you'll try to be civil" Azriel shrugged. -------------------------------------

Azriel and cassian dragged the demon to amren's dungeon.

"I can't believe she didn't tell us about the dungeon " Cassian remarked .

The cage, that cassian liked to call a dungeon was located in amren's basement. Azriel noticed the bars were made of iron. They put the demon in and locked it.

" You are staying at my place tonight " cassian said to him .

"I don't need a babysitter . I'm more than capable of protecting myself"

-----------------------------

Azriel pushed open the door and quickly shut it behind him. He walked in and saw everyone was present expect beron. Apparently beron had more pressing matters to attend to. In his stead, Eris had come and was glaring at Lucien with a scowl . Lucien did his best to pretend like his brother did not exist. He took the seat next to Rhys.

"Finally. Now that everyone's here, let's cut the chase, yesterday there was a demon attack in the siren's territory " Amren said flatly.

Azriel had to admit that their reaction was priceless. Tarquin had look of disbelief. Eris had a face that said ' That concerns me how '. Thesan seemed doubtful. While Helion was looking at azriel with concern.

" Hence the new venue. It was a gaki demon. We know neither it's intention nor it's origin. " Rhys started "I think whoever's behind this might be targeting the alphas. Azriel barely survived the attack---"

A startled noise left azriel's mouth as he stared at rhys in disbelief. A laugh broke out from cassian.

" Where is the proof ?" Eris asks .

"We have no proof. We have no proof that the demon exist. Hypothetically, if the demon did exist, we can't be sure that it was targeting the alphas. For all we know, he had done something to piss off that demon before. " Thesan said . Cassian threw a stack of photos on the table.

" Is this the same demon that killed tamlin? "

" This proves nothing. " Eris said, not even bothering to look at the pictures. Azriel wanted to pummel him. He refrained himself. His siren gave him mental picture of how satisfying that would be .

" Why are you even here? " Cass asked Eris. To which Eris shrugged. They argued some more which Azriel tuned out. He decided it was not worth his while. His siren seemed to agree. Cassian was in a heated argument with Eris and Lucien. Azriel thought he should intervene. They were getting too loud. Azriel opened his mouth to say something. But decided to leave them to their own devices. Azriel wondered what Elain would be doing right now.

You could call and ask her his siren said.

He decided to text her. He pulled his phone out and sent a text to Elain's number which got from cassian.

'Hello' Azriel couldn't remember the last time he texted anyone.

Sure Cassian had texted him a lot of times but Azriel never replied. Probably because his powers didn't work through text. Now Azriel wondered if she knew his number.

He sent ' it's azriel ' just in case. He checked if his phone was on silent. It was. So he put it back in his pockets.He noticed the curious glances rhys kept sending him. But neither he not rhys voiced anything. Cassian and Eris were still going at it. He noticed tarquin was conversing with Thesan.

"Can we leave now? " Azriel asked rhys, his voice was low but when you were in a room full of vampire and shape shifters it's hard not to be heard.

"You were attacked in your own territory but you don't seem so concerned about it? It makes one wonder why." kallias asked with a questioning stare, speaking up for the first time.

" Is that question or an accusation? " Azriel wanted to be clear before he started throwing punches.

" What if it was? " Eris challenged him with his gaze. Azriel was more than ready to meet it. The demon didn't prove much of a fight. His siren was practically begging for some chaos. Eight pair of eyes turned to look at him. He could see the outrage on Cass's and Rhys's eyes. Azriel knew they would defend him if it comes to that but they would let him fight his own battles. Besides the question was directed at him.

Azriel laughed. Because he really found it hilarious. His siren wanted out and for once he didn't object. " Do not forget that I'm older and more powerful than you. Besides I had you in my territory for more than two centuries now and if I wanted to kill you, I would have done it ages ago." Azriel knew this wouldn't ease their minds but he didn't care. He had to give it to Eris because he held his stare even though even though he knew he was no match for Azriel. But Azriel could see the fear in his eyes.

" Az" Rhys said it casually but it had hint of urgency to it. Azriel realized he was practically glowing white. Of course his siren had gone the extra mile. He knew without a doubt his eyes had gone white. His hands grew scales and claws. He hadn't fully shifted . He had only done this twice and it was long time ago. Azriel looked at Eris and saw that there wasn't going to be a fight. Azriel smothered his siren's request. At this rate, his siren would probably kill someone just to prove it's power . He had grown tired of their alpha bullshit nonsense a long while ago. He noticed everyone was on the edge waiting for his next move.

" I'm out " Azriel said and made to leave .

" Maybe you might wanna wait till you stop , you know....." Rhys trailed off, giving him a knowing glance.

" I agree . I do not want to walk into an orgy on the way out . As amusing as that would be. Humans are still loitering around. " helion suggested with a wink. At this cassian howled with laughter as rhys said " I thought you'd be interested in that " Azriel looked around and then at himself . The glow has reduced and the scales retracted. The tension in the room turned down a notch. The alphas began to leave the room.

--------------------------

Azriel stared at the demon face. Amren's basement was poorly lit. He had to squint. It did look like a dungeon.

" Here we go " amren said as she lifted the sleeping curse. The demon groaned. Azriel looked at it and it stared back.

The eyes. Azriel knew that there was something wrong with the eyes. He expected rage. Gaki demons were violent . The eyes were blank . The silence beside him indicated that amren thought the same thing. The eyes might be the demon's but the one looking through those was something else. The demon smirked as it's skin started glowing and cracks formed emitting fire. Before azriel could figure out what was happening it burst from the inside out.

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Sorry for the late updates

If you are still reading this , thank you so much. ♥️♥️♥️