#but it's completely obscured because he's curled up against az's chest

[bassboosted-moon-chao]

Our friends have all but left us. They departed many years ago.

Alt versions under the cut!

[lalacliffthorne]

mornings are for laying in bed, talking in hushed voices and tracing Azriel's tattoos.

(hhrrrrggghhh... *buried in pillows in single* this writer is touchstarved. proceed with caution.)

The morning sun filtered through the curtains as I soundlessly slipped into Azriel's room, crunching my nose in concentration as I slowly closed the door as quietly as possible.

It was Sunday morning, early Sunday morning; the flat was completely quiet just like the street outside, and the only reason I had woken up and slipped out of Azriel's arms was that I had desperately needed the bathroom.

Wincing when the door handle squeaked the tiniest bit, I looked over my shoulder, and my heart did a backflip.

The morning light illuminated Azriel's bare back, sculpted muscles relaxed under his even skin. He was stretched out on his stomach, the blankets pooling around his waist and his shoulders rising with his even breaths as his hand curled into the pillow where there was an empty, me-shaped spot in the sheets. His dark hair was a mess, and even from where I was standing, his head turned the other way, I could see the tousled strands curving over his forehead and his peacefully calm face, brows smooth and lips parted slightly.

Trying to breathe against the sudden violent flutter in my chest that I really should get checked, I quietly turned around and tapped over to the window, the wooden floors cool under my bare feet when I peaked through the curtains. The sun was just peaking over the houses on the other side of the street, the city still quiet, the sky bright blue.

Turning to quickly slide back under the warm covers and curl into Azriel's chest, my gaze landed on his desk, and my heart dipped and fluttered.

Quietly stepping closer, I reached out, and my fingers brushed over the pictures strewn over the wooden top. They must've been freshly developed, because they were still unsorted. Gently pushing them apart, I felt something rise warmly in my chest and a smile slowly spreading over my face as my gaze moved over the pictures. A few first warm rays of sun tickled the side of my face, and I brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, staring at a picture Azriel had taken in the mirror, with me standing in front of him and his arms wrapped around my shoulders, half obscuring my face as I tipped back my head to look up at him. I could just see the upwards tilt of his lips peaking out from under the camera.

There was a soft click behind me, and I jumped a little, my head dipping and missing a beat when I quickly looked over my shoulder, and Azriel pressed the shutter release button again. Then he raised his head, his tired eyes glowing amber in the sunlight as one corner of his lips curved upwards slowly.

The flutter in my chest grew into something that stole my breath, warmth rising into my cheeks, and I lost the fight against the ridiculously wide smile pushing onto my lips.

Turning around, the bed creaked softly when I clambered up onto the mattress. Azriel rolled onto his back, his bright eyes following me, and I plopped down, my shins bracketing his lean sides when I settled on his hips and sent him a slow, cheeky grin.

My big sweatshirt slipped up my thighs as I reached out and carefully pulled the camera from Azriel's fingers, considering it curiously. His hands sank down, slowly beginning to travel up and down my thighs. His rough, warm skin left a trail of tingles in its wake before his hands settled just below my hips.

Squeezing one eye shut, I looked through the viewfinder, and my heart staggered and tumbled.

Lowering the camera a little, I squinted at Az, feeling my nose crinkle in a sheepish, cheeky smile as I said softly: "Can I -"

Azriel's eyes flickered over my face for moment before he blinked and nodded lightly, and it almost looked a little like his throat worked to suppress a small swallow.

My lips curved into a wide smile, and I raised the camera again, looking through the viewfinder. A few first rays of sunlight were falling through the curtains and made Azriel's iris look like molten gold as he watched me, dark hair tousled and messy, broad chest bare and hands on my thighs, warm and scarred and fingers slow tracing shapes on my skin, and my heart rose in a thrum as I pressed the shutter release button.

Raising my head again, I caught the bright light in Azriel's tired eyes as his gaze flickered over my face. Then he blinked; his hands slid up my sides, and he tugged me down.

Quickly craddling his camera against my chest, I inhaled softly when his warm breath brushed my lips. Then Azriel's nose gently traced over mine, and he lifted his chin to kiss me, slow and warm and causing my heart to shudder.

A soft sound escaped me, and I could feel Azriel beginning to smile slowly against my lips. Then one of his hands slipped to the small of my back while the other closed over mine, and he gently tugged the camera from my grip. His grip tightened, and he pulled me down flush onto his chest and rolled us over.

My breath hitched and heart rose when his warm, solid body pressed mine into the mattress.

Without breaking the kiss, Azriel reached out, a small clonk indicating him setting the camera back onto the bedside table, and breathing out, my heart rising, I slipped my fingers into his hair and kissed back.

A soft sound broke from my throat, and my back arched up into his chest when Azriel's arm slipped around my waist to pull me closer. Slinging my legs around his sides, I buried my fingers in his hair, and something turned over in my belly when Azriel exhaled softly and deepened the kiss.

The sun started to peak through the curtains, Azriel's hips lodged between my legs locked around him as he kissed me and I kissed back, until my lips were tingling and the world was spinning.

When Azriel finally slowly broke away, his nose softly nudging against mine, a small, involuntary sound of protest left me, and Az chuckled against my lips, the sound, deep and soft, sending tingles through my whole body when he mumbled, low voice hoarse and raspy with sleep: "Morning."

Exhaling as something rose and began to flutter in my chest, I felt a smile spread slowly over my face when Azriel brushed his nose gently over mine, then I pulled my head back just a little to open my eyes.

My breath hitched, and my gaze flickered over Azriel's face just a few inches away, drinking in the sharp line of his cheekbones and jaw, the golden spots in his amber eyes and the way a few strand of his tousled hair fell into his forehead. I could feel the warmth radiating from him, the weight of his tall body on mine grounding instead of suffocating. The muscles in his shoulders shifted a little as his grip around my waist tightened and his eyes stared back, calm and steady and with the trace of a twinkle growing in his iris that made something pound against my ribs.

"Hi,", I whispered back with a slow, wide smile, and a soft crease appeared in Azriel's cheek. His eyes, warm and still full with sleep, slowly dragged over my face, then he dipped down a little, his arm wrapping closer around my waist as he rolled back onto his side, pulling me with him.

Wrapping my arms around his neck with a content sigh, I buried my nose in Azriel's neck and felt his hand slide to the back of my knee, dragging my leg over his side until the length of my body was pressed flush against his, and my heart dipped and rose. Then his fingers slipped under my sweatshirt, up and up until his arm was wrapped around me, and Azriel dropped his head to bury his face in the crook of my neck, nuzzling his nose against my skin.

"You smell good,", he mumbled, the low, hoarse rumble of his voice reverberating through me and causing my my breath to hitch.

"What?" I felt my smile lips curve into a soft grin as my fingers carded through his hair.

"You smell good." I could hear the trace of a smile in Azriel's quiet, raspy voice, his shoulders rising as he breathed in slowly and his grip tightened around me, and something warm swelled in my chest, beginning to flutter when he mumbled: "Really good." His rough fingers began to trace slow patterns onto my shoulder blades. "Even my bed smells like you."

My heart suddenly raced, and I squinted, barely biting back a giggle. "Sorry?"

Azriel's lips curved against my neck, then he raised his head to lean his forehead against mine, his nose softly nudging against mine when he mumbled, his deep, slow voice vibrating through me: "Wasn't complaining."

My heart fluttered and soared, and Azriel's chest rumbled as his arms slipped tighter around me, then he dipped his head, and something in my chest simply tipped over when he kissed me, warm and firm and causing the world to tilt. I exhaled softly and a little shakily, and Azriel's lips curved up against mine, causing me to bury my fingers in his hair.

"Shut up,", I grumbled softly against his lips, causing a chuckle to vibrate through Azriel's chest.

Sliding my hand over his warm chest, I pulled back slowly, brushing my nose over Azriel's and causing a small sound to build in his chest. My eyes got caught on the ink on his shoulder, and feeling something begin to rise in my chest, I pushed myself forward.

Azriel complied, rolling onto his back as he stared up at me, a gentle curious crease between his brows, and I settled on his hips, a strand of hair falling into my face as I stared at the tattoos on his shoulders and carefully brushed my fingertips over one of them.

Azriel's breath seemed to grow uneven as my fingers started to carefully follow the lines swirling over his warm, smooth skin, gently tracing the shapes. I could feel the muscles shift under my fingers when my hand slowly moved over his chest with featherlight touches, his eyes piercing my face, his fingers digging lightly into my knees. Then I leaned down, my heart beating steadily against my ribs, and a small, deep sound left Azriel when I pressed my lips gently against his collarbone.

My fingers stilled as I started to follow the lines and curves of the intricate shapes, my nose brushing over Azriel's skin, and my heart rose every time I lingered to slowly press my lips against the ink. Something began to thrum against my ribs when one of Azriel's hands slipped into my hair and a soft, shuddering breath left him that made me smile slowly against his warm skin. He smelled woodsy and earthy like his cologne and something beneath, warm and dark and good, that was just him.

My fingers traced over his ribs as I brushed my nose over his shoulder and softly kissed his collarbone, my nose tracing over the shifting muscles in his neck before I gently pressed my lips against his warm skin, and Azriel gave a low, shaking sound. His hand slipped further into my hair, pulling my head up, and my heart dipped when he caught my lips in a deep kiss.

My fingers curled into his sides as a soft sound escaped me. Then I kissed back, and Azriel pulled me closer towards him, his breath heavy against my skin when he deepened the kiss, almost a little feverishly.

Digging my fingers into his bare skin, I sucked in a soft breath when Azriel slowly broke the kiss, my heart thrumming as the world spun. His thumb brushed over the side of my neck as Azriel swallowed lightly, and a gentle hum vibrated through his chest, the deep sound a little hoarse when he softly nudged his nose against mine.

Opening my eyes with a flutter, my heart rose into my throat when my eyes met golden ones, bright in the morning sun, golden specks melting together as they dragged over my face. Then Azriel blinked, and a soft surprised sound left me when he rolled onto his side and slid me off his torso onto the mattress; his arm snuck around my waist, and in one smooth move, he dragged me over the sheets into his chest.

My breath hitched, and something rose in my chest when I felt his tall body curve around mine, fitting together like two pieces of a puzzle, his solid chest pressing into my back as Azriel buried his nose in the crook of my neck.

A breathy giggle bubbled in my chest as my heart dipped, and I felt Azriel's lips curve upwards a little. Then he tugged me closer, thighs sliding into between my calves and arm tightening around me like I wasn't already tightly pressed into his body. Reaching out, I crunched my nose in concentration as I tried to get a hold of the blanket, tugging at it and pulling it over us.

A wave of Azriel's scent washed over me (everything smelling like me my ass), and snuggling into the heavy sheets, I slipped my fingers through Azriel's resting right over my chest. His hand shifted, his fingers linking gently with mine, then his thumb started to slowly brush back and forth over my skin.

Something thrummed warm and steadily against my chest as I stared at the sliver of sunlight falling onto the sheets, my eyelids beginning to feel heavy again, Azriel's scent rising into my nose with every breath. I felt his body pressed against mine, warm and solid, the weight of his arm draped over me and the way his thumb slowly brushed over mine as he buried his nose at my neck, and something began to flutter gently against my ribs as I breathed out softly and allowed my eyes to drift shut.

@azrielshadows1nger @waytoomanyteenagefeels @secret-ly-here @knmendiola @luvmoo @azriels-mate123 @bookishbroadwaybish @maybe-a-winchester @stayinglow-exploringworlds

[courtofsapphiresandshadows]

Chapter Seven- Rhysand

Rhysand stared at the Illyrian in front of him. Aegan, slouching enough that it must have been uncomfortable, stared back.

They had been like this for minutes now, neither of them daring to spur up a conversation. Rhysand contemplated simply searching her mind for the information that he needed, but if she really was as powerful as Cassian suggested... He'd prefer that his office remain somewhat tidy.

"So?" Aegan said finally, arching a blonde eyebrow. "Are we going to talk, or..."

Rhysand leaned back in his chair, loosening a sigh. This was going to be a long conversation.

"Tell me about yourself."

She snorted, but seeing that he was being serious, she cleared her throat. "Where do I start?"

"Start with basic information- we know absolutely nothing about you, even our shadowsinger."

"Well, I do have a remarkable ability to lay low", she joked, cracking a smile. "But, my name's Aegan, as you already know. Aegan Malum. I lived in Ironcrest, and... I left."

"You left?"

Aegan frowned. "It wasn't my choice- as much as I hated living there, Ironcrest was my home at the time."

He nodded. "Where did you go?"

She shrugged. "I don't know."

"You don't know where you went." Either Aegan was going insane, or she was lying.

"Exactly- well, I'm pretty sure that I didn't leave the Night Court, but I'm not sure where exactly in the Night court I was."

Rhysand pinched the bridge of his nose. "So you're telling me, that you were in Ironcrest one day, and the next you were somewhere else?"

Aegan dipped her head. "It's strange, yes, but it did happen. You'll have to trust me on that one", she told him.

"Trust goes both ways, you know", he reprimanded. Rhysand didn't miss the wary gaze she threw at the others, how her shadows seemed to form a protective wall around her every time one of them got near. It surprised him that she wasn't doing it now- possibly, since he told her she could leave whenever.

Aegan threw him a cold smile. "Forgive my wariness from previous experiences of men with power."

A pause of silence passed. "Care to elaborate?"

That smile dropped, her face going dark. "Not really."

Rhysand prodded her mind, surprised to find a thick adamant wall surrounding it. She obviously had practice- from who, he didn't know. Daemati were rare as is, and he doubted that there were Illyrian daemati roaming about.

He nudged gently against her shields, locking eyes with the young Illyrian. "May I?"

Her eyes flashed, but she relaxed in her chair once again, dropping her shields, allowing him to slip through. She murmured to be careful, before everything went dark.

Aegan's mind was nothing but inky darkness. It was cold, so cold that it could make Azriel's usual icy demeanor seem warm.

Something brushed against Rhysand. He grasped it, surprised to feel a small warmth emitting from it. Peering into it, he saw a woman's face- Aegan's face, but older.  Her mother, most likely.

"What is my little song bird doing today?" She murmured softly, brushing his face- Aegan's face- with a soft hand.

Suddenly, the memory began to fade, and Rhysand was in the dark again. He continued his search, reaching out with his power to find anything that might show Rhysand who Aegan was.

The next memory was not as warm.

He heard the Illyrian war drums first. Then he smelled the blood.

Looking around, Rhysand saw the bound wings, and the naked chested young males surrounding him. It was the rite- and Aegan was in it.

The Illyrian war drums sounded again, and Rhysand felt Aegan tense up, ready to bolt to the top of that mountain. And judging by the hard glares the males were sending her way, they were determined to prevent that from happening.

A horn blared, and they were off.

It didn't take long for the first male to jump at her. It also didn't take long for her to take him down.

She was already coated in blood by the time she reached the foot of the mountain. But no matter how many Aegan had left dead, more just kept coming. Obviously, the males had yet to learn that there was nothing more deadly than a female on a mission- Aegan would make it to the top of the mountain. Rhysand was just glad that he didn't have to face her when he completed the rite with Cassian and Az.

Rhysand could feel her shiver against the harsh wind, but she kept running. Exhaustion was creeping in, Aegan stumbling through the knee deep snow. Still, the Illyrian, the only female Rhys had ever heard of  compete in the Rite, pushed her way to the top.

Where someone had been waiting for her.

At first, he didn't recognize the male, but his nasty smile instantly showed him that it was Dircon, the current war lord of Ironcrest. He was just as ugly as he was now.

"Step aside, Dircon. You are not apart of this rite" Aegan growled, Rhysand feeling her fists clench. "What are you doing here anyways?"

Dircon smiled, both Rhysand and Aegan snarling back. "To preserve tradition, my dear. You are a threat to our way of life."

"Our way of life is a threat to everyone!" She shouted over the wind. "We pit children to fight against themselves for crying out loud! Me completing the Rite won't change anything- only the fact that females might be able to do something other than clean."

Dircon growled at her. "Move, Malum. Before I cut you down."

"Weren't you going to do that anyways?" Aegan pointed out, but dropped into a crouch, her fingers curling slightly before diving to the left as Dircon swung a mace at her. He was powerful, yet slow enough that  Aegan had just enough time to push herself to her feet. She practically hobbled for that stone, it was just an arm's reach away-

Something slammed into her side, knocking the wind out of her as Aegan went flying across the stone platform. Dircon's mace had embedded itself in her ribs- at least one of them had to be broken, judging by the crunching sound she heard as she hit the ground. Rhysand screamed at her to get up, as Dircon paced closer, but she couldn't hear him. Of course she couldn't- this was just a memory.

"Getting slow Aegan?" He taunted, crouching next to the girl, before roughly grabbing her hair. "Pity. It seems like you inherited that from your mother- she couldn't fly fast enough to avoid losing her wings."

Aegan snapped. Whatever had been holding back her powers was not enough- Rhysand feel something cold, yet fiery, wash over Aegan's body. Dircon must've felt it too, because he suddenly backed up, feet shuffling through the snow.

Cold fingers brushed over the even colder metal mace in her side. Aegan growled, and ripped it out, whatever pain she should've experienced washed down with pure anger. She rose, stared down the retreating male, and unleashed herself upon him.

Dircon screamed- actually screamed- as she tackled him to the ground. Something erupted from her fingertips, and claws- much like Rhysand's- found themselves embedded in his chest. She then slashed them across his body. He whimpered and begged for mercy, but she didn't stop- Rhysand wouldn't either.

She was about to gorge his eyes out when he winnowed away. Aegan stared at the patch of snow where he once laid before her, and roared. It shook the mountain, shouts of alarm echoing throughout the mountain range as shadows burst from her skin, the sound of leather wings ringing through Rhysand's ears-

Then there was nothing.

Rhysand looked around- he had returned to the dark abyss. At least, he thought he did, before he heard the shrieking.

Whipping his head around, he took in a forest, tall trees obscuring the sunlight that desperately tried to pierce through. The grass under his feet was dead, and no animals could be heard. Those tall trees, after a second evaluation, were actually shards of rock, blood coating the tips. Where was he?

He finally found the source of the shrieking. A woman laid next to one of the shards, her nails digging in her scalp as she rocked back and forth. Rhysand crept closer, his feet making no sound as he watched Aegan cry.

"Get out of my head", the girl sobbed, pounding her head against the stone behind her. Rhysand crouched next to her, reaching out a hand to place on her shoulder to assure that everything was okay, when he suddenly heard laughter.

He recognized that sound anywhere- Hybern. His fingers instantly reached for a sword, but found none. Panic raced through him as he heard it again, Aegan loosening another sob. It was hell- how she managed to not go insane was beyond him. Maybe she was insane, but was able to keep it hidden from view.

"Aegan", he whispered to her, briefly glancing over his shoulder to look at her.

"Get out of my head", she repeated, her hands shaking.

"Aegan, look at me-"

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" She screamed, her face twisted with anger. As Rhysand looked at her fully, he noticed the cuts her nails created on her arms, and how her eyes couldn't seem to fix onto anything. He had blinded her.

Something sharp yanked at his spine, and he found himself flying away from the memory, and away from her mind. He saw a small light, and desperately reached for it, horror racing through him when he thought he could hear the echo of Hybern's laugh in his mind-

Rhysand gasped suddenly, gripping the arm rests of his chair tightly. For some reason, he didn't expect her mind to be so dark and cold.

Aegan looked at the floor, her face white, as tears leaked from her eyes. "Please", she whispered softly, "don't make me go through that again."

He reached across the table, and gently squeezed one of her hands. "No", he agreed, "never again."

When he stood up to leave her, Aegan whirled in her chair. "Don't tell them."

He cocked a brow. "Who?"

"Your friends. Nesta. The Illyrians. I don't want their pity", she told him, before shakily standing up.

"It's incredibly brave to go through that experience, Aegan", he assured her. "There's nothing to be ashamed of."

She shook her head. "No, it's not that. I don't want Ironcrest finding out that they managed to break me."

He had no words for her. He meerly nodded his head, before walking out, not before seeing Aegan walk to the balcony, spread her wings, and take off into the darkening sky.