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kindasleepywriter · 1 year ago

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Bird of Prey - Chapter 7: A New Resolution

Bird of Prey masterlist. Azriel x Reader.

Chapter summary: You lash out at an old friend and find comfort in a new one.

Warnings: None.

Word count: 1.9k

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You’d known the House of Wind was an exceptionally tall building long before you’d stepped foot in it. Up on the balconies, however, you could feel the height of the house down to your bones. Settled cross-legged on a low iron railing, your mind melded with the power of the wind, it’s song calling to you, the closest thing to what you could call home. You felt the tremors in the rock, the barely audible snap of a falcon’s wings, the whistling of the trees.

Peregryns and Illyrian need to fly like a fish needs water, and staying on solid ground for so long had you in a fidgety state no matter what you did. Up here, you could feel the slightest relief.

“Mind if I join you?”

You startled at the sound, almost slipping off the railing. You looked over your shoulder and met Lucien’s eyes, the man approaching carefully as if you were a deer that might spook at any sudden movement. You didn’t have it in you to be annoyed at his behavior.

You shrugged in greeting, and he settled at your side, his feet staying on firm ground and leaning sideways against the metal barrier. He knew better than to jump into asking questions when you were like this. You both gazed at the horizon for a few moments in silence, the soft wind caressing both of your faces. He’d stay here until you spoke, no matter how long it could take.

“I assume Feyre shared what happened with everyone during the meeting she called for this morning.” you grumbled.

“It would’ve been difficult to explain the splintered floors and destroyed furniture, Rhys and Feyre don’t hold back in their lovemaking but even they wouldn’t go that far.”

“I mean what she saw, don’t play dumb with me Lucien.”, you snapped. He frowned at the use of his full name. He could probably count on his fingers the number of times that had happened since he met you. He sighed.

“She was hesitant to do so, but Rhys… He said it was important that everyone knew… that they knew you were hiding things from them.”

You scoffed. You hadn’t expected any different. You never were a person in their eyes, only ever a danger to be tolerated at best.

“If it means anything, the idea wasn’t supported by all parties present.” he continued.

“Who.”

“What do you mean, who?” Lucien asked.

“The names,” you gritted out, “of those who didn’t support him.” Your friend normally helped you in situations like these but at that specific moment he was inadvertently pushing every button that made your head feel like it was going to explode. You simmered with anger as is and he was stoking the flames despite his good intentions.

“Of the people there, there was me, Morrigan and Nesta that tried to convince him it wasn’t everyone’s business.” he said.

You nodded. You’d keep that information tucked away for later.

“And of course, Azriel.” he continued with a snicker.

You shot him a questioning look.

“You should’ve heard the argument he had with Rhys. I don’t know what you’ve got going on with Az, but I’ve never seen him act so aggressively towards a member of the inner circle before.”

“We don’t ‘have’ anything.” There couldn’t be. Not anymore.

“Try telling that to the guy. He looked like a kicked puppy when you kicked him out of your room this morning. He doesn’t quite seem to agree.” he laughed. “Anyways, it almost came to blows. Cassian had to physically remove him from the room.”

You blinked. He really went against his brother, and all of it for you? It was basic decency to defend someone’s privacy, you reasoned, but to the point of a physical confrontation with his High Lord… A flicker of warmth spread through your chest. For someone to take your side that assuredly despite the possible consequences was perhaps a too new experience for you.

You did not comment. Your suspicions had been right, in the end. You couldn’t trust those here. Well, most of them, you corrected yourself. As if reading your thoughts, Lucien spoke up again.

“I know this wasn’t exactly the best move on their part, and I’m sorry-”

“Sorry for what, Lucien,” you snapped, “For telling me they wouldn’t hurt me? That their reputation was all an act? Rumors must’ve start somewhere.”

“It was an accident, Feathers-”

“I’m thinking it’s really convenient that you lowered my guard right before they set a time to violate my mind.” you said. Hurt flashed across his face and your nails dug into your palms so hard they drew blood. “I’m thinking,” you continued, “that you should’ve been the most outspoken opponent in that room, that you are the one who knew best what this might do to me.”

You sniffled and drew a breath, warm tears slowly trickling down your cheeks. Lucien turned on you, he was with them now. They were his family, and you’d been left behind, again. The hurt ran so deep, you felt it in your very soul. He was all you had left, and you hadn’t been enough. You never were.

“You’re just like them all,” you spat, “I got inconvenient, so I wasn’t worth the effort to you anymore. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, Vanserra.”

Silence. You saw the pain in his eyes. You’d cut where you knew it would hurt the most, in a way that there would be no coming back. A wound too deep to describe.

“You know,” he said coldly, “We always said one thing. ‘From the ashes and smoke rises the fiercest fire’, right? Right now, the only thing you’re doing with that fire is burning yourself. When you end up gasping for breath, you’ll have no one to blame but your own decisions.”

You turned back to look up at the sky once again, without commenting. He could go to hell, him and all the others. You’d make it on your own, you had for the last 300 years. It didn’t matter what he thought. He hadn’t even chosen to be here, the Mother had made that decision for him and most of the people in this cursed house, pushing them into mating bonds. You couldn’t bear the thought of being linked like your parents had been, losing your sense of self to another against your will.

Still, you felt empty. You were alone, once again. You hadn’t let yourself admit it, but you’d unwillingly felt a flicker of hope these past few days. Here, with Lucien, you were safe, you’d thought. You cleared your mind of the thought. If the only thing you had left was your freedom, then that’s all you would need.

You barely noticed when Lucien stepped into the house.

If you looked up for long enough, one could almost make out the curve along which the stars travelled across the midnight black sky. So many of them, light years apart from each other, all hurtling away and towards each other. Even the stars were destined for a lonely life until they met their peers, only to inevitably combust into unsignificant dust at their crossing. You didn’t let yourself reflect on it either. You’d be gone by dawn, you concluded.

While you stared unmoving, the inky black shrouding the city gave way to indigo, gradually obscuring the bright paths you had been studying for hours now. The early morning air had a bite that had been absent the previous day, but you did not move an inch. You had lost feeling in your limbs long ago, and only the iron grip of your thighs on the railing kept you still upright.

Despite the sun’s prelude nearing its end, strokes of darkness danced in your peripheral vision. For a second you believed you might be losing consciousness, tensing at the idea, until you glanced to the side and were met with the shadows you’d grown accustomed to during your stay here. They looked almost hesitant. You swung your legs back over the rails, sitting upright with your back to the city.

Azriel was leaning slightly against the frame of the balcony doors, watching you carefully with his hands in his pockets. His face was pinched, and you couldn’t determine if it was the result of controlling his shadows or remaining irritation at being shoved out of bed at morning light. You stared at each other, both at a loss at what to say. God, those eyes. Even in the low morning light, you could make out the golden flecks that spread from his pupillae. Azriel was beautiful in a different way than the Illyrians you’d seen before. He didn’t exude brute and unrefined force, though he still looked like he could snap your spine with barely a touch. He had the kind of beauty you’d only seen in the marble statues that adorned Dawn’s royal grounds, idealistic depictions of heroes from long ago, with near perfect symmetry and angular features. It was a beauty you couldn’t look away from.

It was he who spoke up first.

“Are you interested in astronomy?”

You tilted your head. Not exactly the question you expected, but a welcome change of pace from the heavy vice choking your heart.

“It doesn’t matter how I feel about the subject. Without magic, it’s the only guide for travel. When I left Dawn, I didn’t have a choice but to learn.”

Azriel nodded, deep in thought.

“I can answer some questions, if I have to.” you added. “I know my past is a complicated mess, and I can barely make sense of it myself.” He shook his head in response.

“You don’t have to do anything. Rhys- He means well, but it wasn’t his place to share that. He’s wary even at the best of times. Your past remains your own from this moment forward.”

You looked down, slipping from his gaze. You weren’t going to waste your breath on Rhysand’s politics. You had no fight left in you, but you were so overwhelmed that you feared what would happen if you didn’t make sense of the turmoil in your heart. You feared leaving, you feared staying, but most of all you feared yourself. The destruction you’d caused, based only in your emotions and pain. Would you lose control again? What would be the cost then?

Azriel remained the one person who might be in your corner. You had no idea why, you’d given him no reason to like you, but it was like you were magnets that couldn’t help but drift towards each other.

Lucien’s words rang in your mind, doubt echoing through you. Were you causing your own pain, was it all your fault, after all? Insecurity had always been an enemy of yours, but you’d thought you mastered wielding it as a shield, not a weapon.

You weren’t one for experiments, but you were losing yourself in your efforts at self-preservation and you needed to figure out some part of you that wasn’t ravaged by your trauma, if it still existed.

Azriel. You’d trusted him the night before and he had played his hand well today. Maybe… Maybe he could manage it again? A trial run, so to speak. One last ditch effort at proving Lucien wrong, to show you could open up.

You tried to rummage through your thoughts, trying to put into words even just one concise emotion. Vulnerability wasn’t your forte, evidently, and every scene you played out in your head ended with your soul in pieces. You knew you were risking it all. Could you live with another heartbreak, another betrayal?

If there was one thing that you’d never thought you’d share to anyone, it was your childhood. Only Lucien had been granted that knowledge and even then, you’d been light on the details like you always were. Now that its hardest part had been laid out in the open, perhaps it would be easier to recount the rest.

You glanced up at hazel eyes. “I think,” you voiced hesitantly, “that I want to tell you about my parents.”

Our girl couldn't name a single emotion to save her life. Relatable.

Couldn't help but find a title that themed with the New Year! I wish you all a great 2024!

(P.S.: Next chapter is going to be fun >:) )

Banner created by the amazing @saradika!

Taglist: @sapphenaa @minnieoo

#azriel x reader #azriel #acotar #acotar x reader #acotar fanfic #azriel fanfic #azriel POV #azriel x you #azriel x y/n #enemies to lovers #bird of prey

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the-savage-garden · 10 months ago

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Nitpicking ACOWAR Ch 19

Hey, long time no see. I'm back to doing this again, I actually kinda forgot I was doing this, also lost motivation to read this book too. In this chapter Feyre and Cassian have a confusing conversation, then Feyre for some reason needs Azriel to help train her to fly. I probably could've cut down the notes more here, it's a little long, but I have 2 things I'm doing, critiquing and summarizing. With how many chapters I have to go through I definitely need to narrow things down but it's gonna take me a bit to adjust, sorry.

Chapter 19

-Next morning Feyre gets up and helps ‘wake’ up Rhys. He then drops her off at the sparring ring in the House of Wind. The top of the ring is open and the walls are made of red rock.

-[...] Cassian only said, “I hope you didn’t exert yourself too much already, because this is really going to hurt.”] I really hate that Cassian just talks about sex all the time, it makes him a really boring character.

-Feyre pointlessly has a flashback of what she did with Rhys. Look, I get that a sexually active relationship is going to find this stuff important to them but that doesn’t mean reminding readers of it constantly. I got it the first few times already, can we move on?

-[...] his eyes got that glazed, purely male gleam in them.] What does a “male gleam” even mean?

-[...] his mockingly chaste kiss on my cheek had sent a red-hot line through me. Later. I’d torture him later.] I know Feyre means more ‘spicy torture’ but that doesn’t mean I’m not a little confused how one thought leads to the other. I know, nitpicky.

-Feyre focuses back to Cassian and says this; “Two Illyrian males making me sweat in one morning. What’s a female to do?” It annoys me how often sex is brought up in conversations in this book series, like I get sometimes doing it but there’s not many normal conversations that happen. Still hate how insistent the “male” and “female” terminology is used, never letting that go.

-[He jerked his chin toward the ring etched in white chalk behind us. “It’s been a while since we trained. We’re spending today going over the basics.”] I don’t know a lot about training but this is a little confusing to me.

-Feyre notices weird behavior from Cassian and asks if it’s Nesta. Cassian says no, then Feyre asks if it’s about the Court of Nightmares. Feyre admires Cassian when he takes his shirt off, then takes note of how his tattoos are Illyrian markings for luck and glory. Feyre realizes he’s angry.

-[“You and Rhys hid the truth from us. And we went into Hybern blind about it.” “About what?” “That you’re High Lady.”] I still don’t get why this matters.

-[“What difference would it have made?” “It would have changed everything. None of it would have gone down like that.”] It literally wouldn’t have changed anything that happened, the end of ACOMAF was so dumb.

-Feyre questions Cassian on why it matters if she’s High Lady or not.

-[“Because … because as his mate, you were still … his to protect. Oh, don’t get that look. He’s yours to protect, too. I would have laid my life down for you as his mate—and as your friend. But you were still … his.” “And as High Lady?” [...] “As High Lady, you are mine. And Azriel’s, and Mor’s and Amren’s. You belong to all of us, and we belong to you. We would not have … put you in so much danger.”] The whole High Lady thing is so confusing, in the end it doesn’t even matter to the overall story so I don’t see why I should care at all for it.

-[“Maybe that’s why Rhys wanted to keep it a secret. It would have changed your focus.” “This is between you and me. And trust me, Rhys and I had … words about this.”] If only the High Lady stuff actually made sense, this could’ve worked as tension between friends.

-Feyre says he’s mad at her, Cassian tells her that she’s essential, not sure why but whatever. Feyre tells him that she isn’t and yeah, she’s not tied to the NC like the others so it makes sense for her to think of herself like that. I know this is more insight into Feyre’s character but this whole conversation is confusing and pointless.

-“You all have a … duty—you’re all vital. Yes, I have my own abilities, but … You and Azriel were hurt, my sisters were … you know what happened to them. I did what I could to get us out. I’d rather it was me than any of you. I couldn’t have lived with the alternative.” Half of this is confusing because of the dialogue, this should’ve been reworded, like maybe have Feyre instead feel that she’s not a part of the NC still or something and is more willing to put herself in danger, and that could be explored more but whatever.

-Cassian thinks that something could’ve happened to Feyre in the Spring Court. Feyre gets annoyed with the overprotectiveness from him. Cassian tells her that everyone was worried about her. Something about Rhys and how Cassian wanted to kick his ass but couldn’t because he was healing.

-[“Of course you did. We knew you would. But …” Cassian crossed his arms. “Rhys pulled the same shit fifty years ago. When he went to that damned party Amarantha threw.”] Ah, we’re bringing back the confusing plot from ACOMAF.

-[“I’ll never forget it, you know,” he said, blowing out a breath. “The moment when he spoke to us all, mind to mind. When I realized what was happening, and that … he’d saved us. Trapped us here and tied our hands, but …”] I find it funny that Cassian praises Rhys for saving them but says he “trapped us” and that part is exactly what Tamlin did, he locked Feyre up to “save her” from going to Hybern but he’s treated as a bad guy for doing it while Rhys gets a pass for locking his friends up.

-“It went quiet—in my head. In a way it hadn’t been before. Not since …” Huh? Is Rhys always in his friends’ minds? Because that’s kinda… invasive of him to do that.

-Cassian says after Hybern he woke up 2 weeks later and Mor told him what happened to Feyre and that his mind was quiet. Really long explanation for Cassian telling Feyre how upset Rhys was but ok.

-[“You can rely on us, you know. Both of you. He’s inclined to do everything himself—to give everything of himself. He can’t stand to let anyone else offer up anything.” That smile faded. “Neither can you.”] I really hate this new characteristic of Rhys, even though I complain about him being an asshole it is what I expect from him. I miss when he was just a dramatic, selfish asshole.

-[“It’s not easy, but yes. I’m general of his armies. [...] Wait, how is Cassian the general of multiple armies? As far as I know there’s only the Nightmare army, the rest of the court does only voluntary enlistment, I don’t know if the Illyrians have their own army, so what exactly is he the general of?

-[And the thought of Rhys, in this war, trying to take on all that faced us … Nausea churned in my gut.] Feyre always goes on about Rhys being the most powerful High Lord to ever live so why exactly does it matter that he does a lot?

-Feyre and Cassian still talk about Rhys because I guess he’s more important to talk about than anything else.

-[Rhys would survive—he wouldn’t dare sacrifice everything to make sure we— ] Welp, I know where this is leading to already.

-[Rhys would. He had with Amarantha, and he’d do it again without hesitation.] But he hadn’t sacrificed anything with Amarantha, this doesn’t make sense.

-[Something drew Cassian’s attention behind me. And even as his body remained casual, a predatory gleam flickered in his eyes.] Oh no, not this predatory shit again.

-[“Care to join?” Cassian purred. Nesta said, “It doesn’t look like you’re exercising anything other than your mouths.”] Alright, I enjoy what Nesta said.

-[My sister was in a dress of pale blue that turned her skin golden, her hair swept up, her back a stiff column.] Still noting the outfits along with mentions of skin too.

-[I scrambled to say something, to apologize, but … not in front of him. She wouldn’t want this conversation in front of Cassian.] Huh? This is confusing me, oh, does it have to do with the last chapter? Should've been written clearer.

-[“Scared?” [...] “Why should I be scared of an oversized bat who likes to throw temper tantrums?”] Something I actually like, how rare.

-[I choked, and Cassian shot me a warning glare, daring me to laugh. But I felt for that bond in my mind, lowering my mental shields enough to say to Rhysand, wherever he was in the city, Please come spare me from Cassian and Nesta’s bickering.] Feyre tends to be nosy (at least that’s my impression) so I’m a little confused why she wants to leave but whatever.

-[A heartbeat later, Rhys crooned, Regretting becoming High Lady? I savored that voice—that humor. But I shoved that simmering panic down again as I countered, Is this part of my duties? A sensual, dark laugh. Why do you think I was so desperate for a partner? I’ve had almost five centuries to deal with this alone. It’s only fair you have to endure it now.] What does being High Lady have to do with anything? Huh? And why is Feyre panicking because of Cassian and Nesta?

-Cassian flirts with Nesta, I guess that’s why Feyre doesn’t want to be there. She continues to mind-speak with Rhys

-[I’m in a meeting with the governors of the Palaces. They might be a little pissy if I vanish.] But aren’t the Palaces just the merchants of Velaris? Why exactly would they need governors and why would a High Lord need to be in a meeting with them?

-Apparently Nesta is going to train with Amren then Azriel interrupts them.

-[I tried not to blush at the image Rhys sent into my head detailing precisely how I’d repay him, and slammed down my mental shields. On the other side of them, I could have sworn talon-tipped fingers trailed down the black adamant in a sensual, silent promise. I swallowed hard.] I hate all of this so much, ugh.

-Azriel takes Feyre to a lake because I guess it’s somehow better to fall into when learning to fly.

-[My stomach clenched. But I let Azriel scoop me up, his scent of night-chilled mist and cedar wrapping around me as he flapped his wings once, stirring the dirt of the courtyard.] Apparently everyone gets their own scent, not sure why but whatever.

-[Neither of us missed Cassian’s barked, filthy curse, though we didn’t deign to comment. Cassian was a general—the general of the Night Court. Surely Nesta wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle.] Not sure why the book is making such a big deal out of Nesta here.

-[“I dropped Amren off at the House on my way in,” Azriel told me as we landed at the shore of a turquoise mountain lake flanked by pines and granite.] I could swear that Amren had floated in the air during the battle of Velaris in ACOMAF but maybe I’m misremembering that.

-[I snorted and stretched my arms. “Poor Cassian.” Azriel gave a huff of amusement. “Indeed.”] Is this supposed to make sense?

-[“I appreciate you making the effort to pretend that it wasn’t because I was desperate to avoid Cassian and Nesta’s early-morning bickering.” “I’d never let my High Lady suffer through that.” He said it completely stone-faced.] Why are they making such a big deal out of bickering of all things?

-Feyre asks Azriel if he’s ready to meet with Lucien later in the afternoon. Azriel is confused by the question. She changes the question to when he’s going to leave to gather information about the High Lords instead. Azriel realizes that she’s stalling and is amused.

-Feyre gets hung up on using Tamlin’s powers (that’s how she’s able to form wings).

-[Even as something sharp and vicious in my gut preened at what I’d taken. All that I’d taken.] This is referring to how she has all the High Lord powers but I’m confused, she hadn’t taken them so I don’t know why she’s proud of it.

-[“The frame needs to be a bit thicker,” Azriel offered as a weight began to drag at my back. “Strengthen the muscles leading to it.” I obeyed, my magic listening in turn. He provided more feedback, where to add and where to ease up, where to smooth and where to toughen. ] I’m really confused why shapeshifting is described this way.

-[“I know you’re not Illyrian, but … amongst their kind, it is considered … inappropriate to touch someone’s wings without permission. Especially females.”] Wait, the same Illyrians that mutilate their women’s wings so they can’t fly? That’s confusing.

-Something about wings and muscles that still confuses me. Azriel checks over her wings. [I gritted my teeth, the sensation like … like having the arch of my foot tickled and poked.] Something about Feyre being an artist about details with her wings, not sure what shape-shifting has to do with that but whatever.

-[“First lesson: don’t let them drag on the ground.” [...] “Why?” “Illyrians think it’s lazy—a sign of weakness. And from a practical standpoint, the ground is full of things that could hurt your wings. Splinters, shards of rock … They can not only get stuck and lead to infection, but also impact the way the wing catches the wind. So keep them off the ground.”] Keeping note of this.

-[Knife-sharp pain rippled down my back as I tried to lift them. I managed getting the left upright. The right just drooped like a loose sail.] I know Feyre is getting used to forming wings but how exactly would it give her pain?

-[“Why do you think Illyrians are so fit?” “Why did no one warn me about this cocky side of yours?”] Oh no, not another cocky character, there’s already so many as is.

-Feyre tries to spread her wings and tuck them in and feels pain along every muscle of her back. Azriel gets her to do exercises with her wings. Feyre wonders if flying lessons are a waste of time.

#anti sjm #anti acowar

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olenvasynyt · 1 year ago

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Literally this! I can easily debunk everything Lucien haters say.

"Lucien was mean to Feyre in ACOTAR, he hates humans."

Feyre literally murdered and skinned his best friend. I would also fucking hate her even if what she did was meant to be. His comments on humans being dumb and petty felt like it was more directed at his anger with Feyre. He also said he would have fought on the side of the human-fae alliance if he was alive during the War.

Chapter 3 of ACOWAR: “‘If you’d been alive for the War, would you have fought on their side? Or fought for the humans?’ ‘I would have been a part of the human-Fae alliance.’ ‘Even if your father wasn’t?’ ‘Especially if my father wasn’t.’”

"Lucien sent Feyre to the Suriel to have her killed."

Feyre literally asked him and would have probably gone to look for the Suriel anyways. And also Lucien felt regret and Feyre said she was mad but also understood because again, she killed his friend and now she's living in his house. And after this situation their friendship started to truly develop.

Chapter 18 of ACOTAR: “‘You can’t possibly forgive me that easily for sending you into danger.’ ‘No. And part of me would like nothing more than to wallop you for your lack of warning about the Suriel. But I understand: I am a human who killed your friend, who now lives in your house, and you have to deal with me. I understand.’ ‘Tam told me that your first shot was to save the Suriel’s life. Not your own.’ ‘It seemed like the right thing to do.’ The look he gave me was more contemplative than any he’d give me before. ‘I know far too many High Fae and lesser faeries who wouldn’t have seen it that way—or bothered.’”

"Lucien only helped Feyre Under the Mountain because of Tamlin."

He literally said that Tamlin had nothing to do with it:

Chapter 39 of ACOTAR: "I risked my neck for you during your task. Was that not enough? His metal eye whirred softly. "You still offered up your name. Didn't you realize I would help you after that? Oath [to Tamlin] or no oath?"

But okay, he just gets whipped, tortured, chained up and almost murdered, and his brain almost fried because he's emissary to Tamlin and not because of any friendship we' saw before've seen between them??? Sure.

"Lucien didn't do enough to help Feyre with Tamlin, he let her get abused."

I think this criticism doesn’t take into account how complicated, painful, and dangerous this situation was for Lucien. It is forgetting or ignoring many factors that came into play that made it very difficult.

1, I don’t think we should blame a person for not doing enough to help someone who is being abused when they are also being abused by the same abuser. People often forget that Lucien was being shut down and dismissed. And Tamlin has also hurt Lucien with his powers. When Lucien says that he believes that Feyre should be trained regarding her powers, Tamlin lashes out and physically attacks him.

Chapter 13 of ACOMAF: Then a vicious snarl, and a shutter of magic rocked the house. Tamlin’s voice had been low, deadly. Do not push me on this. I didn’t want to know what was happening in that room, what he’d done to Lucien…

And Lucien is very used to abuse in general with Beron and his mother and his brothers.

and 2, Tamlin and him were friends, so Lucien believed that an option to help Feyre is to reason with Tamlin, to try to calm him down, talk some sense into him. That was all he could do. Which as we all know, can be quite dangerous to do, not just because Tamlin is a powerful High Lord but also because Tamlin has anger issues and he doesn’t want to admit fault, he doesn’t want to talk about emotions. And he doesn’t enforce rank but Tamlin just wasn’t putting their friendship first. We can see this in in ACOWAR with Tamlin’s reaction to him wearing Illyrian leathers and in ACOFAS. Tamlin seems to put loyalty first, and Lucien is loyal to a fault.

And I think Lucien definitely held onto the fact that Tamlin is his friend, not only high Lord. But he was really trapped. He was stuck in the middle of this situation and had no idea what to do.

and 3, what else could he have done? Even if he got Feyre out of the house went to a neutral court, or he had allies with someone powerful, Rhys says that there are laws surrounding taking property from Tamlin and that Tamlin had every right to go after whoever stole Feyre from him. When Rhys sends Mor to rescue Feyre, they do it very carefully so that they don’t break any laws.

Chapter 13 of ACOMAF “By law and protocol, things would have become very complicated and very messy if I had been the one to walk into that house and take you…or else Tamlin would have free rein to march his forces into my lands to reclaim you.”

Even Cressida reiterates this later in Summer:

Chapter 32 of ACOMAF: “Think that all you want, lady, but the law in the law. You are—were his bride. So it is a very good thing that he respects your decisions. Otherwise, all it would take would be one letter from him to Tarquin, requesting your return, and we would have to obey. Or risk war ourselves.”

If two High Lords have to follow the laws to avoid war with Tamlin for stealing his bride, then what could Lucien have done??

"Lucien tried to kidnap Feyre and take her back to her abuser."

Chapter 47 of ACOMAF: Lucien lunged, hand out. One touch, that was all it’d take… Lucien’s finger grazed the sleeve of my leather jacket. And I became smoke and ash and night. I stopped, and time resumed its natural flow. Lucien staggered, catching himself before he went over the cliff—and whirled, eye wide to discover me now standing behind his sentinels. Born and Hart flinched and backed away. From me. And from Rhysand at my side.

It think calling it a "kidnapping" is a little ironic when Rhys is standing next to her, but okay, I understand the question, “Why would Lucien bring Feyre back to the male who abused her?"

But I will answer it: in Lucien’s eyes, Tamlin is a much better option than Rhys, who he and Tamlin believe is evil and is torturing and manipulating Feyre.

Chapter 47 of ACOMAF: “What did he do to you? Did he take your mind and—“ “Enough,” Rhys said, angling his head with that casual grace. “Feyre and I are busy. Go back to your lands before I send your heads as a reminder to my old friend about what happens when Spring Court flunkies set foot in my territory.”

And he also asks Feyre if the Night Court is any better to Spring. And Feyre wants to keep up Night's evil mask, so her response is absolutely terrifying in Lucien's POV.

“I begged you…And you left me alone, or shoved me into a room with Ianthe, or told me to stick it out.” Lucien said too quietly, “And I suppose the Night Court is so much better?” I remembered—remembered what I was supposed to know, to have experienced. What Lucien and the others could never know, not even if it meant forfeiting my own life. I said to Lucien, low and quiet and as vicious as the talons that formed at the tips of my fingers, as vicious as the wondrous weight between my shoulder blades, “When you spend so long trapped in the darkness, Lucien, you find that the darkness begins to stare back.” Lucien backed up a step. “What did you do to yourself?” “The human girl you know died UTM. I have no interest in spending immortality as a High Lord’s pet.” Lucien started shaking his head. “Feyre—“ “Tell Tamlin if he sends anyone else into this lands, I will hunt each and every one of you down. And I will demonstrate exactly what the darkness taught me.”

It kind of looks like Rhys made Feyre his dog. Hunting dog, lap dog...even though Feyre says she’s not a high lord’s pet, it kind of looks like Rhys turned her into one. It looks like Feyre went to Rhys to spite Tamlin and Rhys turned her against Spring. She is doing what Rhys would do and would hunt down anyone who steps on these lands.

I understand Feyre’s anger with him. And I also really like the idea that she was hurt so much by someone she was abused by that she turned against him and wanted revenge. But why are we blaming Lucien for his limited view on this? And Feyre is also forgetting and ignoring important aspects of this situation. And readers are forgetting to look at this situation from Lucien’s point of view.

The last thing he says before he leaves is him telling this to Rhys. He believes that the Night Court has tortured and manipulated Feyre.

Lucien lingered for a moment. He said softly to Rhysand, “You’re dead. You, and your entire cursed court.”

"Lucien and Tamlin were the reasons why her sisters were Made. They allied with Hybern."

When they were at the Cauldron in Hybern, it was so obvious that Tamlin and Lucien did not know the sisters would be a part. If anyone remembers, Lucien and Tamlin fought to free the sisters after Hybern put a spell on them to halt them.

Chapter 65 of ACOMAF: The king nodded. "Why do you think I asked my dear friend Ianthe to see why Feyre Archeron would appreciare having with her for eternity?...consider it my wedding prsent to you both," he added to Tamlin. But Tamlin's face tightened. What?" I was going to vomit. Tamlin, to his credit, looked like he might, too. Lucien's face had slackened. "She sold out--she sold out Feyre's family. To you."

And then a majority of their time in the Spring Court, Lucien talks about how much his mistrusted Hybern and hated their alliance.

Chapter 1 of ACOWAR: “What I saw in Hybern,” Lucien said, gripping the arms of his chair hard enough the carved wood groaned. “Any promises he made of peace and immunity…” He halted, as if remembering that Ianthe might very well feed this back to the king. “We have to be careful.”

"Lucien feels entitled to Elain."

Where was this implied in the books? Please fuckng tell me, because when I read the books (and I have read them multiple times over the span of years) Lucien has been nothing but respectful; when he and Feyre arrive in the Night Court, he is not demanding to see Elain. Feyre sets up rules that he's not allowed to see Elain and he obeys those rules. Their one-on-one meet up was an accident.

Chapter 24 of ACOWAR: He hadn’t expected her to be here. The other sister—the viper—was a possibility, but one he was willing to risk…he’s been cooped up in this wind-blasted House for two days. He just wanted a walk—and a few books. It had been an age since he’d ever had free time to read, let alone do so for pleasure. But there she was. His mate.

And this quote when he and Feyre are walking in the Autumn Court:

Chapter 12 of ACOWAR: “I want to see her. Just once. Just—to know.” “To know what?” He hitched my damp cloak higher around us. “If she is worth fighting for.”

This doesn't sound very entitled to me. And after almost two years of knowing that Elain is his mate and seeing that she is uncomfortable, he is still respectful, he still gives her gifts on holidays and stuff. There isn't a hint of possession.

Idk what other criticisms anti-Luciens have besides like...he is snappy to the IC? And even then 1, I would be too, and 2, after Rhys and Feyre explain to him everything--that Rhys and the NC is actually good and that he loves Feyre---Lucien believes them and doesn't hold Rhys against it.

Anyways, Lucien deserves better and I'm excited to get his POV because it's the one reason why I'm still reading this series if I'm going to be full honest.

If yall wanna a good laugh, just ask Lucien’s haters why they hate him and they will list some of the dumbest things you guys will ever hear 😭😭😭😭

#lucien vanserra #pro lucien vanserra #acotar #anti feyre #anti inner circle #anti elriel #pro elucien #elucien #lucien deserves better #dana metas

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gwynrielendgame · 4 years ago

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Gwyncien headcanon

Okay so my headcanon is that Lucien would try to be understanding about Elain and Azriel being together. The mating bond would be the only thing that would make him want to enact the blood duel but he would fight it cause he knows he isn’t owed Elain. Anyways this was the outcome of that.

Gwyn did not know why she was here. She told herself it was for Nesta, but she knew her friend would be occupied with her mate for most of the night. It was true torture to endure this night at the court of nightmares. She insisted that if she couldn't handle the court of nightmares there was no way she could handle the rest of the world. It was a test for herself. She couldn't tell if she were passing or failing though.

"Could definitely be worse." Gwyn whispered back. She tried not to stare. It only made her pathetic she told herself. Luckily though, no one was watching her too closely. No one knew that Azriel and Gwyn were mates which meant they weren't over analyzing the situation right along with Gwyn. When she had dreamt of finding a mate, she never imagined this. The way the bond could actually hurt Gwyn was almost too much to bear. No wonder mates never rejected each other. Gwyn had been so lost in her head, she hadn't noticed Lucien approaching her.

"You look beautiful tonight, Gwyn." The male gave her a shy smile before bowing. Gwyn frowned while looking down at herself. She was wearing her priestess robe with the hood pulled down to cover most of her face for once. She wasn't sure what he was playing at, but decided to play along. Anything to distract her from that wretched couple. Only then did it hit her that perhaps he was doing the same.

"Thank you. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?" Gwyn lifted her hood off her head and smiled at the red head. Similar in color to her own hair.

"I was hoping for a dance." He held out his hand. His smile turned more confident. He truly was handsome even with that terrible scar running down half his face.

"I don't know how to dance." Gwyn didn't want to make a fool of herself, especially when Azriel and Elain looked so graceful together.

"I'll lead. Don't worry. I won't do anything crazy." He sent her a smirk that told her he would, in fact, do something crazy.

"Okay." She found herself agreeing. Emerie sent her a wide look while nudging her. Gwyn sent a casual smile back. Lucien would never hurt Gwyn. She had over heard the story from Feyre herself. Lucien was one of few males who understood her pain.

He led her off to the floor and swept her into the ongoing waltz. He was close, closer than she had let any male before. Yet there was still a respectable distance between them for a dance. He kept his hand high on her back and she knew it would never veer from that spot. Her heart picked up out of conditioned fear. She took a deep breath to calm herself. He would not hurt her. They were slow and clumsy, but they were dancing which was surprising enough for Gwyn. She figured she would have stepped on his toes by now.

Azriel tried to ignore the mate bond as it tugged sharply. It didn't help that his shadows were angry about the situation as well. He kept making brief glances as his mate ineloquently danced along with the autumn lord. He knew Lucien was doing this on purpose. Azriel was unaware how the other male learned of his ties to Gwyn, but this was Lucien's payback for Elain and damn did it make Azriel feel guilty.

"What's wrong?" Elain spoke quietly. She glanced up at him through her lashes before focusing back on the dancing. She looked beautiful tonight, opting for red instead of black which he had to admit suited her much better. He hadn't told Elain that the mating bond snapped into place for Gwyn and him a little over two months ago. He didn't know how to tell her, although if anyone could understand, it was Elain.

"Just keeping surveillance." Azriel wished he had his shadows right now, so that they could keep track of Gwyn. Unfortunately, they still disappeared around Elain. He thought that had been a good thing. Now he wasn't so sure. "What is it like to watch Lucien dance with someone else?" He couldn't help but wonder if it felt the same for her as it did for him. He felt miserable yet had no right to be. Gwyn gave him an option. He just hadn't realized how insistent this bond would be.

"Uncomfortable." Elain decided after a long pause. "I don't really know him, so I should feel indifferent. But I can feel the bond tugging as though it's mad at me." He hadn't expected her to be so honest. He appreciated it anyways. Azriel did know Gwyn though. She was his friend which could be the reason the bond is much more painful than a mere uncomfort. He twirled Elain once more before she announced she was tired of dancing. They both retreated back to the dais where their friends were joking.

"It's not funny." Nesta groaned with a scowl gracing her face. Feyre, Rhys, and Mor were all laughing.

"What's not funny" Elain asked looking towards her oldest sister. Mor decided to answer when Nesta refused.

"It appears that the first man to pique the priestess's interest also happens to be the man that annoys the shit out of Nesta." Amren drawled after taking a seat. A bloom of anger rocked the bond so hard that Azriel's shadows came to life for a brief second before hiding again. The tight squeeze of Elain's hand into Azriel's let the Shadowsinger know that she felt the same way he did. It angered him to think that the first male to catch Gwyn's eye would be Lucien rather than him.

"It's not like that." Elain squashed any relationship theories right then. "Lucien wouldn't parade another female in front of me like that." While Elain's proclamation was true, it still made him frown. Perhaps Elain felt a little more than just uncomfortable seeing the pair dance. The rest of the group eyed Elain, but it was Feyre who came to Lucien’s defense.

"You refuse to talk to Lucien and are in a public relationship with our spymaster, Elain," Feyre was frowning as she spoke. "I think he can ask Gwyn, of all people, to dance with him." She finished by rolling her eyes at Elain. Azriel didn't like the insinuation Feyre made but kept it to himself all the same. The conversation quickly cut off as the group watched the pair end the dance with a bow.

"It sucks, doesn't it? Watching them be happy together?" Gwyn eyed Lucien. He couldn't know. Gwyn refused to tell anyone, mainly out of embarrassment. She supposed that didn't mean Azriel kept quiet though.

"I'm unsure I understand." She would play dumb for all it was worth. It made Lucien chuckle. He twirled her before pulling her back and continuing the conversation.

"I guessed you two were mates awhile ago. But you confirmed it for me tonight. You watch him like I watch Elain." He gave a sad smile before twirling her again. "I'm surprised he rejected you though. Azriel has been waiting more than 500 years for a mate."

"Not for A mate." Gwyn snapped. She couldn't control her rising anger. Not when it came to the mate bond. "He waited 500 years for the mate bond to snap in place with Mor and then Elain." She used her mind-stilling to calm herself. Lucien watched her intently with his one russet eye.

"He didn't technically reject me." Gwyn started the story she hadn't uttered to anyone before. "I knew he was still hung up on Elain though when the mate bond snapped into place. I told him I didn't want him to feel forced into this. So if he wanted to be with Elain, I wouldn't hold any resentment." Gwyn chuckled along with Lucien at that. The mate bond was not as forgiving. Gwyn hadn't realized how painful it would be to watch him with Elain when she uttered those words to him.

"The bond can be a fickle thing can't it?"

"Why didn't you challenge him to the blood fight? You had every reason to?" Gwyn couldn't stop herself from asking. She was glad he hadn't. It still didn't make sense to her though.

"Besides the fact that he would kill me and Elain would feel that pain? Would finally understand the true torture of the mating bond? Same reason you told him he could be with Elain. I don't want someone to be with me out of obligation." He twirled her once more and she was suddenly overcome with such sadness for the autumn lord. He deserved a mate that chose him. His eyes softened as they made eye contact again. Neither said a word for a solid minute.

“You are quick to underestimate yourself. Is that on purpose or do you truly believe you would lose?” Gwyn believed that at the very least, Lucien would put up one hell of a fight. He was raised by high lord Beron of all people, who was known for his cruelty. A sly smile quirked Lucien’s mouth.

“You’re the first to call me out on that.” It wasn’t technically an answer, but it told Gwyn all she needed to know. He allowed everyone to underestimate him. To believe he is only proficient in fighting. It should have made her nervous, but for some reason it had her laughing.

“I would love to see you kick Azriel’s ass.” It would be the kick to his ego that he needed quite honestly. Lucien laughed before a round of silence fell over them. Lucien was the first to break it.

"You could come with me. We call ourselves the band of exiles. It's just Jurian, Vassa, and I, but it would be better than watching their love story unfold." She was shocked by the invitation. She knew her face showed it as well. She knew she couldn't accept. At least not right now. She didn't want to leave Nesta and Emerie. She didn't want to stop her Valkarie training. The song was coming to an end and Gwyn knew that as soon as it did that this conversation would have to end with it.

"I have something I want to do." Lucien's brows furrowed in confusion, so she elaborated further. "I want revenge. But I'm not ready yet. Would this invitation still extend when I am ready?" Her voice was unsteady due to nerves. She hadn't mentioned her revenge plan to anyone before. A gleam entered Lucien's eye. He knew what she wanted and he would support her through it. The song ended causing Lucien to step away from Gwyn and bow once more.

"I'll be waiting." And then he was walking away. Gwyn floated back to the dais, to her spot by Emerie. She was so lost in her new plans, new plans that Lucien helped establish that she hadn't realized the entire inner circle staring at her. Including Elain and Azriel. Both had unreadable expression but both made her skin crawl uncomfortably. One of Azriel's shadows whipped out at her, barely grazing her wrist. It barely stung, but enough for Gwyn to know the shadows were upset with her. She frowned at them.

"What?" Redness rushed to her cheeks at the attention. She knew it wasn't good attention either.

"What was that about?" Nesta inclined her head to the dance floor. Gwyn didn't want to talk about it especially in front of the inner circle.

"He asked me to dance so I said yes." Gwyn shrugged as though it meant nothing. Truly the conversation had meant a lot to Gwyn. Finally being able to talk about it to someone lifted a weight that she hadn't known was there from her shoulders.

"Is that why you were making goo goo eyes at him?" Emerie teased while nudging her. Gwyn didn't see why this was being openly joked about. Azriel and Elain only went public with their relationship a month ago. Before then the entire inner circle was sure that this would cause war. Gwyn chanced a glance at Azriel, but his face gave nothing away. She looked to his shadows because she knew that those were much harder to control around her. Unfortunately the shadows had disappeared.

"Lucien is my friend." The words were colder than Gwyn had meant, but it turned the teasing air into awkward silence. Nesta and Emerie were searching Gwyn's face for any tells. They came up empty though. It was Rhysand to respond next.

"Sorry Gwyn. We weren't trying to imply anything." His words were kind but it only made Gwyn's face flame brighter. Of course they wouldn't imply anything like that with her. It reminded her of how they all see her. Trauma first. Person second.

She wondered if any of them, besides her two sisters, would ever look at her and see anything other than that day in Sangravah. She peeked a glance back at Lucien and saw him for what he could be. A fresh start. He knew about her experiences, but he wasn't there that day. He didn't see with his own eye what they had done to her. Perhaps Azriel's rejection was a blessing in disguise. Azriel himself had saved her that day. Maybe one look at her face and he found himself back in Sangravah, lifting her weak body into his arms. Before she could sink too far into the memories, she felt the mate bond being tugged at. Her eyes snapped to Azriel's where he was already staring softly back. It only fueled her anger though. She knew he had done it to pull her away from those memories but he had no right. He didn't get to use the mate bond unless he wanted to be with her.

"Stop looking at me like that." It was meant for Azriel, but applied to most of the group as well. Gwyn pulled her hood up and turned back to the dance floor. Her silent way of telling them to fuck off. She felt Emerie link their arms together. Nesta found herself on Gwyn's other side, grabbing her hand.

"I swear if you like Lucien I'll rip all my hair out." Nesta muttered in her ear. It had Gwyn laughing out loud. She gripped her friend's hand harder.

"I'd expect nothing less."

#gwyneth berdara #gwynriel #lucien #acotar #acosf #fanfic

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vidalinav · 4 years ago

Note

One of the main selling points for nessian was that cassian saw nesta so when sjm made him so obtuse to her suffering,really weakens his character imo.

Yeah... I mean. I think so too. Because there’s definitely a difference between ACOMAF/ACOWAR Cassian to ACOFAS/ACOSF Cassian. It’s very odd to me.

I know someone commented on one of my posts that they didn’t think Cassian lacks emotional intelligence like I claimed and I wrote a giant analysis so to speak, about emotional intelligence and Pre-ACOFAS Cassian and Post-ACOFAS Cassian, but I never posted it because at that point I was like ehh... wtf cares. I’ve ranted enough. It doesn’t matter in the slightest. It was way too long.

But there was a time I remember before ACOFAS, where a lot of the fandom was like the IC treat Cassian like he’s dumb. Like he’s just the comedic relief, or he’s just the person who sleeps around, who would sleep with Feyre yadda yadda, who don’t really validate his own feelings either, because with Feyre he was this lovable person who was very charismatic and I dare say emotionally intelligent. But with the IC, he was set in a role. There was a good amount of dialogue in ACOMAF about how they perceived Cassian, and it could of been friends speaking to friends, but it definitely didn’t seem like it.

But in ACOFAS and beyond, it really felt like the ignorance set in. Like he was made to be the dumb character. I don’t know if that was because conflict needed to be made, because the whole of the IC was unempathetic and that was a theme. I don’t know what it was. But there are many instances that I feel ACOWAR Cassian wouldn’t have been like that. There are so many times where Nesta is so obviously hurting that I don’t see how you wouldn’t connect dots and then change your own behavior accordingly, if nothing but being more sympathetic or even pitying or considering that Nesta is a victim of circumstance. But the theme as I’ve said many times in nicer ways of ACOSF, was “we’re not going to change, you’re going to change.”

Prime examples of Cassian’s lack of emotional intelligence was “Starving won’t bring your father back to life” HHAAHA I have to laugh, and then being given the evidence in three books that Nesta is a prideful, private person and then knowing she is suffering, knowing that she has suffered some sort of assault, which he himself has acknowledged and then bringing her to train in front of a bunch of men who are misogynistic and who’s own women won’t train either, and then being like WHY NESTA? WHY AREN’T YOU TRAINING? Why sit on that rock? and then not even asking her. LOL. Stupid.

And then... the fire. He literally notes in his own POV at least twice that she stays away from it, or she asks to move away and he doesn’t connect that she has some problem with it... until she explicitly tells him. MmmK.

And then with the marriage vs. mating bond, he notes that she is uncomfortable, he says “what spooked you?” or whatever so he knows that she’s obviously troubled in some way and she’s literally trying to tell him, and he’s like.... nah, I’m going to keep pushing and then he’s like “shackled.” Oy.

And in ACOFAS, the whole scene with the present for solstice and her “bullshit behavior” when they literally didn’t talk to her the entire time. They didn’t even try, and he’s over here like “I hope you try next year” or whatever. HAHAH. Cue maniacal laughter.

Like I understand you certainly wouldn’t know what goes on in Nesta’s head, but... is he that stupid to not connect dots from what he already knows? Especially from the male who visited the families of soldiers who died, who mourned them, who felt guilty, who understood Mor’s discomfort in the triangle to be the buffer, because he explicitly says that he played the buffer in ACOSF, so he was aware of the situation, who was actually a lot nicer and sweeter and patient with Feyre, offering in turn to train with him, because he understood the poverty, what she did, the killing of the fae, how that might have affected her, who literally kept going back to Nesta even after she was like get away from me in ACOWAR, because he understood that she had been violated, and no one else validated that except him. Where was the validation in this book?

Where was that Cassian?

He was kind I admit after moments of stupidity in ACOSF, but that doesn’t make him emotionally intelligent. Caring is not the same thing as empathy. But yeah... I really don’t understand why that was his MO in ACOSF, obliviousness... I would have appreciated it more if it was Cassian showing explicitly that he cared about Nesta and understood her pain, even if he didn’t understand why she was pushing him away, if it was less of Amren telling him to keep reaching out his hand, and him just being like No I need to reach out my hand, because she’s been through a war and I have known war all of my life. I’ve been through that aftermath many times. I’ve seen what it does as any kind and charismatic general would. But unfortunately no critical thought went into this book and the Cassian in ACOWAR is no longer.

#cassian #nesta archeron #nessian #anti sjm #anti acosf

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parcai · 4 years ago

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thinking abt how feyre was chill in rhys' pov and rhys was snazzy in feyre's pov but they're both dumb as rocks in their own

#it isn't FAIR 😭 I'M SO 🤬🤬🤬#HATE!!!! HATE HATE 🔪#the books could've been so sexy and it's ruined and for WHAT for WHATTTT 😭😣😖#i am unwell.#🚶‍♂️#k #acotar

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abraxos-is-toothless · 5 years ago

Note

Batboys shenanigans

You want shenanigans, I give you shenanigans:) Side Note it became AU I’m sorry.

-------

“No, we’re not doing it.”

“Please.”

“No.”

“I’ll tell Feyre about that time I caught you in her underwear.”

Rhys hesitated and then, “Fine, okay.”

Cassian let out a loud ‘whoo!’ and ran off to to grab the stupid shopping trolley. Azriel just stared at him with a disapproving look. They were all at Azriel’s cabin that his mother owned for summer break and the girls were all inside for ‘girl time’, shoving them outside. They’d been out here for a a week now and the other night, the boys had gotten drunk before they all went shopping for food, somehow bringing the damn trolley home.

It was a private Cabin with a long drive leading up to it, and further down the hill on the other side, at the bottom of a ridiculously steep path, was a smaller little summer house and a hottub. Cassian had the stupid idea of sitting in the trolley and asking if he and Az would push him down. It was going to end badly, he knew, but Feyre could not know about the underwear incident.

“He’s going to crash, go flying out of the fucking thing, and the girls are going to kill us. The last time he did dumb shit like this, Elain cut me off for a week because I didn’t stop him. Rhys, a whole week.” Azriel complained, moving to Rhys’ left side as they watched Cassian bring the trolley towards them, face full of glee.

“Cut you off from what?”

“Sex. No sex Rhys. I had to sit there one day as she walked around in some very revealing night gowns, teasing me as she-”

“Okay! I get it. I do not want that image, thank you very much.” Azriel was the only one that didn’t live at the college dorms, being able to afford his own apartment. Rhys did not want to know what they got up to, for the fear of seeing it when ever he went over there.

Cass was finally back in front of them, climbing in his new death contraption, before eagerly looking towards them both. “C’mon lets go!” Rhys walked behin him slowly, grasping it with his hands, swallowing hard as he turned his head back to Azriel. The other man was shaking his head almost begging him not to do it. Gods help him.

“Ready Cass?”

“Yes!”

“Three, two!” He didn’t give Cassian the chance to prepare for it, just pushed before he could expect it.

“Fuck, shit!” Cassian shouted the whole way down, acting as if he was on a damn rollercoaster. Azriel was muttering under his breath, complaing about blue balls and skimpy blue night gowns. There must have been a rock on the path, as they both watched, holding theirs breaths as their friend screamed and was flung from the trolley, disappearing between some trees. The trolley crashed into the small fence at the bottom quite loudly. The shouts of “what in the flying fuck?” that were getting closer alerted him that the girls had heard.

Not good.

“So help me god, Azriel, if that’s Cassian screaming then you are so dead.” Azriel let out a little whimper, burying his face in his hands and Rhys winced, meeting the gaze of his own girlfriend. Hell, she was pissed. Nesta was worse, already storming down the path, straight for Cassian who’d come out of the treeline grinning and was covered in cuts.

Elain had just clapped Az over the back of the head, about to drag him back inside when his brother stopped and looked between Feyre and Rhys a few times before he smirked.

Oh no, no, no, no.

“Feyre, dearest, how would you like to hear about Rhys in your underwear?” Feyre cackled beside him, and he wanted so desperately for the ground to swallow him whole.

That was the last time he listend to Cassian.

-------

Heheh, silly boys;)

#acotar #acotar fic #drabble #a court of thorns and roses #bat boys #rhysand #cassian #azriel #elain archeron #nesta archeron #feyre archeron #shenanigans #big idiots #haz writes #prompts

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wingsofanillyrian · 8 years ago

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Jealous?

Anonymous asked: “ Prompt Request! Cassian and Rhysand coincidentally ending up in the same bar as Nesta and Feyre during their GNO and end up seeing all the guys that hit on their ladies. lmfao jealous af “

Enjoy two of our favorite bat bros being jealous Illyrians! There’s more Nessian than Feysand sorry not sorry

Send me a prompt to help celebrate reaching 800 followers!

Masterlist

Nesta

“So I told him exactly what he could do with that jellyfish.” I put my hand over my mouth as a giggle bubbled from my lips, which quickly turned into a hearty laugh. Feyre followed suit, doubling over and clutching her stomach.

“Oh by the Mother, Nes, I can’t believe you actually said that to an emissary!” She swiped at a tear that had resulted from her breathless laughter. Gods, it felt good to laugh. Life as emissary to the human lands wasn’t exactly a fun job; most humans now cowered at the sight of me. It was a steep, rocky slope to earn their trust, and I usually returned home from visits completely drained and in need of some fun.

Hence, girls night was born. Feyre and I would go out to the various bars in the Rainbow while Elain stayed home, saying she didn’t want to drink. Feyre and I would talk and laugh, and enjoy being two regular females for a night, leaving our titles of High Lady and emissary at home.

As our giggles died down, I spotted the two dark skinned Fae over her shoulder. One was tall and slim, but clearly still had the lithe muscles that were typical of Illyrian warriors. His attention was fixed on me, while his stocky friend threw glances at my sister. The stranger grinned at me, and I felt heat rise to my cheeks. He was actually quite striking- if you appreciated twig thin males. He nudged his friend, and they rose from their seats.

“Looks like we have visitors,” I stage whispered to my sister, turning back to the bar. She raised her slim brows, taking a swig of her drink.

The males swaggered over, positioning himself at my right. Leaning casually on the bar, he held up 2 fingers to the barkeep.

“And what are you two beautiful ladies doing in a place like this?” His dark eyes sparkled as he regarded us both. Normally, I would scoff and wave him off, but after all the liquor that Feyre and I had already consumed that night, I decided to play along.

“Oh, nothing, just having a little girls night,” I said, twining a lock of golden hair around my finger. Feyre threw a questioning look over the male’s shoulder, and I winked at her. She nodded, a barely perceptible movement that told me she understood my plan.

The male nodded appreciatively. “Mind if I sit?” He gestured to the empty stool to my right. “I’m Jax, by the way.”

“Nesta,” I said, a tiny smile on my lips.

***************

Cassian

Rhys and I stumbled into the tavern, our last stop on our night of bar hopping. By that point, Rhys was grinning and swaying on his feet, and I was feeling mildly buzzed. By some miracle, we managed to find our way to an unoccupied table in the corner without falling. Rhys yelled for a round, which was brought over by the barkeep immediately, free of charge.

“’S good to be High Lord,” he remarked, leaning back and propping his feet up on the sticky table. I grinned, raising my ale mug in mock salute before chugging half. Rhys rocked forward, squinting in the direction of the bar.

“Feyre?”

I quirked an eyebrow, turning to follow his gaze. “Sure shit,” I said, crossing my arms over my chest. “Feyre and Nessie. Aren’t they supposed to be having a ‘girl’s night?’” I made quotes with my fingers, taking note of the males on either side of them. The one on Feyre’s right said something, and she threw her head back and laughed.

“They’re flirting with our ladies,” Rhys noted and frowned. He made a move to stand, but my Commander instincts kicked in and I pushed him back into his seat.

“Neither of us are in any condition to go over there,” I said, even though I wanted to send that soldier scurrying back to camp with his tail between his legs. “Let’s just see what happens.”

***************

Nesta

I tipped my head back and laughed, much to Jax’s delight. As soon as he’d ordered me that drink, I’d informed Jax that I was in a relationship, and he’d respected that. He didn’t push or get pissed and walk away, but shrugged and sat next to me anyway. It was refreshing to talk to someone new and not have them hit on me.

We’d been talking for a while before I felt the lingering presence of a pissed off male. I brushed off the feeling, chalking it up to another liquored-up Illyrian looking for a bar fight. Warm arms snaked around my waist, and I yelped, cutting Jax off midsentence. I growled, readying to claw out the eyes of the male that thought he-

“Cass?” I asked, catching a whiff of his distinct cinnamon and leather scent. A nose nuzzled my neck and dark curls tickled my shoulder.

Cass growled at Jax, who had paled considerably at the sight of the Commander. Great. I’d finally made a friend, and now he would be too terrified to ever talk to me again. I irritably tried and failed to shove Cass off, a fact he completely ignored as he stared Jax down.

“Hello, baby,” he said, his wings flaring ever so slightly.

“Hi Cass. This is my new friend Jax- Oh, would you quit being jealous? He knows I’m not interested.” I shoved lightly at his shoulder.

Gathering his wits, Jax straightened in his seat. “It’s an honor to meet you, Commander.” Cass looked the warrior over with an expert eye, probably taking note of his stance and any possible weaknesses. I elbowed him in the stomach, shooting him a look that told him to play nice.

He grumbled under his breath, the only form of acceptance he’d show at the moment. I sighed, knowing that Cass wouldn’t even remember this in the morning. I gave Jax an apologetic look and untangled my mate’s arms from around me.

“It was nice meeting you, Jax. Let’s talk again soon?” I stood, grabbing Cassian by the arm before he could do something really dumb, like pick a fight.

“Sure thing.”

I turned to drag my idiot home, but not before I noticed Rhys standing menacingly in front of Feyre, who shot me a desperate look that said Save me!

“You’re on your own, sis,” I said, smirking. “I have to make sure this one gets home safely.” I jerked my thumb over my shoulder at a very confused looking Cassian. Feyre huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Illyrians,” she grumbled, shooting the High Lord a glare as he sized up Jax’s friend.

“Tell me about it.”

#nessian #nessian fanfiction #feysand #feysand fanfiction #feyre archeron #rhysand #cassian #nesta archeron #acotar #acomaf #acowar #a court of thorns and roses #a court of wings and ruin #a court of mist and fury #a court of thorns and roses fanfiction #sarah j maas #sjmaas #my writing

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radientwings · 8 years ago

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A Different Fate (Elriel Fluff)

So I read these elriel pregnancy headcanons by @fck-tamlin and @sparkleywonderful again the other day and I couldn’t stop myself from writing this little drabble. (Starts off a little angsty but ends up fluffy.)

Elain knew the pain of heartbreak well. She’d suffered through the loss of a mother and a father. She’d lost a mortal life. She knew what it was to lose love.

But this… this pain was another thing entirely. Nothing could quite explain this kind of heartbreak. Her chest felt like it had been cleaved open, her entire body numb with realization. It was one thing to lose something she’d already had… but to never even have it in the first place?

By the Cauldron, it hurt.

She should’ve known. She should’ve known. There had been nothing in their future. Even when she’d first gotten her visions, she’d seen her sisters grow big with children. She’d seen Feyre glow with her pregnancy, Rhysand always close at hand. She’d seen Nesta grumble through hers and bicker with Cassian for causing her so much discomfort. (Though their hands were always linked through this, a show of unity for all – including for their unborn child. Both her sisters hid surprisingly soft sides.)

But she’d seen nothing of pregnancy or children in her and Azriel’s future. There would be no babies with Azriel’s beautiful wings and her pointed ears. There would be no brood of children running wild around them, their laughter helping to heal their parents’ oldest wounds.

Mother above, she should’ve known. After all, both her sisters now had children and yet Elain and Azriel had been trying for longer than both of them combined with nothing to show for it. And the future, always open to her, had been suspiciously blank in just this one regard.

Their visit to the healers only confirmed what Elain and Azriel had begun to suspect.

Incompatible. The word rang in her ears. They were incompatible. Infertile. Barren.

And so Elain’s heart – the heart that had ached for children and family ever since she was little girl – broke.

And Azriel, he was just as distraught and blamed himself. He thought it was his fault – after all, he wasn’t the mate the Cauldron had chosen for her. The worst part of it was that, in a way, he wasn’t wrong. They were incompatible in this base sense… But she and Lucien wouldn’t have been, not in terms of children.

Still, that was neither here nor there. That future was long gone. Because when Elain pictured home, she saw wings wrapped protectively around her and felt scarred hands holding her tightly. She saw smiles wreathed in shadows and heard a gentle, patient voice coaxing her through her every vision.

She saw Azriel, every part of him, good and bad – her constant, loving companion throughout their eternity.

So even in the midst of her heartbreak, of her grief, she held on tight to him. She would not let this break them apart. Neither, she was sure, would he.

And they didn’t. There were hard days of course, when their house was too empty and when the nursery they’d so lovingly prepared years before seemed to taunt them. They had each other, however, and they had all their nieces and nephews to fill their hearts.

Feyre and Rhys’ son was first – a fickle boy with all the sass of his parents combined, who always drifted to Elain’s soothing presence. Feyre and Rhys’ daughter was quiet in comparison, but could throw a tantrum like no other. She’d been a fussy baby as well, though that was quickly solved with Azriel’s magic touch – Cassian laughingly called his Illyrian brother the baby whisperer. Elain’s brother-in-law quickly stopped laughing when his own twins were born, however, especially when it seemed that Azriel was the only one who could keep both babies calm at the same time.

Soon enough her and Azriel’s house became the go-to place for all their nieces and nephews, the children always happy to spend time with their favorite aunt and uncle. Despite not being the future she’d always wanted, Elain found she was happy, content. She wouldn’t mind spending her forever like this, a guiding hand for a her sisters’ children and with Azriel – her husband and her dearest friend – always there with her.

No, that wouldn’t be a bad life at all.

But then Azriel came back home one day with something that Elain had never seen in her visions. A baby. A little Illyrian boy with hazel eyes and a wrecked wing. Abandoned in the forest for his perceived imperfections.

“They left him out there. They left him for the wolves… all because he isn’t like the rest of them,” Azriel explained, growling. He cradled the child with the utmost care, his eyes shadowed with anger and grief. But there was also hope in that gaze. Hope that Elain found echoed in her own heart. Hope that she thought long lost. Azriel raised his eyes to her. “They left him to die because they think he’s weak. But they never even gave him a chance. He needs a chance to live, to grow up and become strong… he deserves that much.”

Elain saw the pain of her husband’s past in his expression, in the protective way he held the baby. And when she turned her eyes to the little boy, to his deformed wing and his perfect baby cheeks, she knew. She felt it in her very bones.

“Then we’ll be his chance. And he’ll be ours,” Elain said, feeling the rightness of it in her chest. She laid a hand on top of where Azriel’s lay on the boy’s little chest, leaning into his side as she peered down at the baby – their baby.

“He is ours, isn’t he?” Azriel asked her, voice raw with hope. Elain could practically see him falling in love with this little boy.

She smiled. “Yes, he is. He’s our son.”

Azriel grinned back at her, his entire face alight with his joy. “Our son,” he repeated, almost dumb with happiness. “We have a son.”

As if he couldn't help himself, he cuddled their son closer, dropping a lingering kiss to his little forehead. Elain’s heart ached viscerally for her husband. He never thought he’d have this. Finally, Azriel looked back up at her, his eyes shining.

“I think it’s about time he met his mama, don’t you?”

Elain felt overcome with emotion, her throat thick with tears as Azriel handed her their son for the very first time. Her baby curled instinctively in her arms, slowly blinking open beautiful hazel eyes. “Hello there, baby,” Elain whispered, utterly awed. “I’m your mama. We’ve been waiting for you for a long, long time.”

Her son cooed at her and then the future opened up with thousands of possibilities before her very eyes, visions flying past as if tied to the life she held so delicately. But there was one thread that Elain yearned for. Because Elain saw their family in that thread… and it was not just built up of their friends and siblings and nieces and nephews. No, their house could be filled with the laughter of their children. Not just this beautiful little boy in her arms – their son who Azriel would teach to fly despite the odds – but several others. She saw a little girl for them one day, with Illyrian wings and a wicked smile. She saw another girl, this one High Fae, her ears delicately pointed and bearing the scars of mistreatment on her back. And then she saw their last, a third girl who was neither High Fae nor Illyrian, but rather a so-called lesser fairy with skin that glowed like the stars. (Estelle, they’d call her, star.)

And their son would love all of his little sisters with the fierce loyalty he learned from his father and the gentle sweetness he learned from his mother. He would take to the skies with the oldest, help their second girl through her nightmares, and defend the youngest from all those who would call her ‘lesser’.

Elain saw the family of her future clearly for the very first time… tears of happiness rolled down her cheeks, unstoppable. She hugged her boy a little closer. He would have a beautiful life. She would make sure of it.

Eventually, Azriel’s soft voice brought her back to the present, back to the boy she was rocking gently.

“What should we call him?” he asked, coming to stand behind her and wrapping an arm around her waist. He ran finger down their son’s downy tuft of brown hair.

Elain leaned back into her husband and smiled. “Let’s name him Darien,” she said. “It means–”

“Gift,” Azriel whispered. “Yes. That sounds right. Darien.”

Our gift.

Because, that’s what he was. A gift. One she would treasure for all eternity. And one day his sisters – Semira (who would fly faster than she would walk), Isa (whose scars would never batter down her strength), and Estelle (who would learn to be proud of her star-blessed skin) – would join them. But for now, for now, Elain simply held her son and leaned into the endless comfort of Azriel’s hands.

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missbrightsky · 5 years ago

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Velaris National Park

Fics Masterlist

Previous Chapter

Chapter 3

Rhys left to check on the other campers in the park to make sure everyone was okay and there was no damage. The downpour continued but if he was right, it shouldn’t last too long.

I watched him ride off into the park and simply enjoyed the sounds of the rain for a few minutes.

I turned and pushed my way into the office, the small bell letting off a ring, announcing my entrance. It seemed like other people had the idea of seeking shelter with Mor. The was a handful of others milling around, chatting with each other in quiet tones or looking at the gift shop. Ray was there, deep in conversation with a short woman that had her straight, black hair cut in a severe bob, probably discussing new ways to improve the park. Mor was behind the counter in conversation with what looked to be the mom of a family.

I wandered over and gave her a smile in hello, not wanting to interrupt them, in which Mor returned.

I pulled out my sketchpad to check if there really was no damage. The water that had splattered on the pack hadn’t seeped through and my book and pencil case were completely dry. A small smile crossed my face, my mind mulling over the events of the last half hour.

Flipping to the drawing of Rhys on top of Mona, I deepened the color of his eyes and added more shadows to the background, sharply contrasting the images. I absently continued working on the sketch, thinking back on how close we were.

Even though it was a warm day, I could feel the heat radiating off of him when he joined me on the rocks. He was so easy to be around, I felt no pressure to hide my work like I did when I was dating Tamlin when I was an undergrad. He would get so possessive and jealous if I did a character study of someone other than him. My work (and my mental health) suffered from it and eventually, it became too much to bear. Breaking it off with him was the most gratifying experience.

But with Rhys…. He had nothing to offer but praise, even if he had seen only a small sample of what I can do. His praise felt genuine, like there were no strings attached. As if he would have said the same thing if it was hanging in a gallery.

And then there was the ride to the office. The surge of adrenaline wasn’t just from racing through the forest at breakneck speeds. There was no inch of space between our bodies. Even with the wind whipping around us, I could still smell him, like citrus and jasmine and something wilder. Like his time outdoors had become a part of him.

He was so solid. Yes, because I was holding onto him, I could feel the steel bands of muscles shifting in time with the beat of the horse, but his presence was steady, secure. The world could have faded away around us and I wouldn’t have noticed.

“That looks like my cousin.”

The words broke my internal monologue, causing me to jump slightly and ears to redden with the embarrassment of being caught.

I looked up to see Mor had finished her conversation with the mom and decided to see what I was so enraptured with.

“I… uh..,” I cursed myself inwardly for not being able to respond, my head still too wrapped up with thoughts of him instead.

Mor had a dangerous glint in her eyes, like she knew exactly what I had been thinking about. She started with a feline grin at my flustered state which soon morphed into full-blown laughter that caught the attention of everyone in the room.

My ear burned even more with everyone’s attention on us. “Mor,” I hissed through my teeth.

She clamped her lips closed, her chest still shaking with contained giggles. Thankfully, the attention melted away as everyone went back to talking or browsing.

Even though I had only one conversation with her, I shot her a glare that I couldn’t hold before a small smile played on my lips and I looked back down to my drawing.

I let out a sigh, “Yes, that’s your cousin. I saw him after we left the office yesterday.”

“So you saw him only yesterday?” she smirked with a raised eyebrow.

“And last night and just now,” I muttered, defeated.

“Mhm,” she hummed with a nod, triumphant at my admittance. “Every girl that has come to this park has noticed my cousin.”

“Great, add me onto the adoring fans.”

“Honestly, I don’t know what they see in him, he’s a giant dork.”

I laughed at that, the color starting to fade from my ears and cheeks, it was nice to know that I wasn’t the first, and probably not the last, to gawk at him.

“Yeah, well he’s a dork who saved me from the rain. My backpack isn’t waterproof, and I was worried that I wouldn’t make it back in time to save my sketchbook.”

“Oh really. Well, that sounds like my stupidly, chivalrous cousin,” she confirmed.

“Fucking phenomenal,” my embarrassment morphing to anger. Mor saw my change in emotion and knit her eyebrows together in question. I glanced at her and then away to bore my eyes into my sketch. Of course it was too good to be true, his quiet and helpful attitude was just a front to get me alone and probably try to get into my pants. Stupid, stupid, stupid agreeing to go somewhere in a big park with a guy I barely know at night.

“Your ‘stupidly, chivalrous cousin’ said that I could say ‘thank you’” putting air quotes around the words, “by going stargazing with him tonight, which was probably just codeword for blowjob,” I finished, gritting my teeth to stop myself from yelling the words.

He probably does this with any girl that comes into the park, performs a good deed for her and then tries to get payment in kind.

“What? Feyre, no, no, no,” Mor hastily said, trying to calm me down from my inner and outer rant. “He is stupidly chivalrous, but he has literally never asked any girl to go stargazing with him, or anywhere else.” She blew out a breath and muttered a prayer to the Caldron under her breath.

“Ok, I’m only going to tell you this because I think you’re a good person who would be good for Rhys and my cousin is a little dumb sometimes so here it goes.

“In college, Rhys was this sweet, kind, naïve boy who thought the best in everyone. A TA in one of his classes saw that and took advantage of it. She knew our family had money and influence and thought she could use it to further her academic career. A lot of ugly shit went down but he was forced to mature too fast and he hasn’t dated anyone since. It’s a little hard since he’s out here a lot but if someone had come along, he would have figured out a way to date her. But he hasn’t. With anyone,” she emphasized that last word, willing me to understand.

I released a slow breath, cooling down from my jump to conclusions. I met Mor’s golden brown gaze and almost flinched with the raw honesty I saw there. She was telling the truth. This wasn’t some dumb, masculine play to get some action. This was a risk he was taking with me.

“Ok,” I said with a nod, “I shouldn’t have assumed so fast.”

“It’s ok, you didn’t know. Hell, if a guy had done that to me, I would’ve kicked him in the balls right on the spot. I’m glad you didn’t though,” she finished with a laugh. It was so infectious I couldn’t help but join in.

I turned my eyes back to the drawing, I had been so angry I was ready to rip it out of the book and tear it to pieces but that would have been a big fucking mistake.

At that moment, the rain started to slow and then die off. Just as quickly as it had come, it was over and the sun was starting to peak out again.

Other campers saw the change and began to file out, back to their tents or to resume the hike they were on. I hope Elain and Kevin were ok and didn’t get too wet.

“Thank you, Mor,” I turned back to her, “I’m going to go make sure we didn’t lose anything at the campsite.”

“Of course, Feyre. Have fun tonight,” she said with a devilish wink and smile. I shook my head at her and exited the building.

By the time I was back at the campsite, the sun was out in full force, scaring away the offending clouds. Rhys was right, it was looking to be a clear night.

Our tent had survived the downpour, just covered with a few scattered leaves from the wind, all of our stuff was still dry inside.

It was getting to be late afternoon at this point, the others should be returning soon. I had forgotten all about my sandwich and chips I had packed for lunch and it was too close to dinner time to eat them.

I ducked into the tent and sorted through the clothes I had packed for the trip. It was just shorts and t-shirts, not much of a choice and definitely no makeup. Rhys had already seen me sweaty and still thought I was attractive so confidence would be my best outfit. I changed into a fresh shirt with fewer paint stains and tied my hoodie around my waist. Hopefully, it won’t be too cool tonight.

From the car, I grabbed tonight’s dinner of ground beef stew with prechopped veggies, fresh fruit salad and French bread that could be wrapped in foil and left to heat on the stove. Ray had appeared when I was in the tent and already started up his grill.

I dumped my stuff on our slowly drying table and turned to start up my grill.

“Hey Ray, hell of a thunderstorm, huh?”

“Yup, just glad I was in the office already when it came through. I got to talk to Mor and Amren about that swimming hole. They weren’t too excited at first, but I assured them that I know some good people who would be willing to invest, and I would love to design it pro bono. Amren is scary so I didn’t dare lie to her about anything, she could sniff out blood a mile away if she wanted to,” he chuckled.

“Oh, was that the short woman with the black hair you were talking to?”

“Yep, she and Rhys are the main people who keep the park running. Even though it’s national land, they mostly take care of it. Rhys keeps all the campers, hikers and environment safe while Amren handles the logistics of it all.” I nodded along, listening to his plans and what he wants to put whereas I got the stew mixed and warming in the pot and wrapped up the bread. It would be at least an hour until everything was ready, so I got to draw more while Ray went on.

“And how was your day?” he asked.

“Good! Really good, Elain and Kevin led the way to the Starfalls, they were truly beautiful. I stayed behind to draw the valley while they went on. I hope they’ll be back soon, I feel bad leaving them behind when the storm came through,” I flipped to the page to show Ray the rendering of the valley I had yet to finish. He murmured his appreciation and studied it.

“Truly amazing, Feyre. I hope you get a gallery all to yourself someday.”

I blushed at his praise, I hoped so too.

“And what do you mean left them behind?”

“Oh, umm,” I had made a mistake. “Rhys was with me when the storm had come up. He may have given me a ride back to the office.”

“Uh-huh,” Ray hummed with a humorous glint.

“And he may have asked me to go stargazing with him tonight.”

“UH HUH,” he said, his lips bursting into a full-blown smile. “I thought I saw something between the two of you last night. So tell me more…” his grill now forgotten about.

“Nope, nope, no, I don’t need this from you right now, I’m already nervous enough,” I backpedaled, there was no way I was going to pick over every detail with Ray.

“Awww come on, I never get any good gossip around my coworkers, they’re all a bunch of nerds with no life!” Ray pleaded, giving me big, brown, puppy dog eyes.

I almost gave in, there was no way I was going to spill every detail with my sisters, they would just tease me too much or tell me not to go with a guy I just met.

“No, I can’t,” he looked so disappointed I nearly gave in again, “Maybe tomorrow morning at breakfast, how about that? I want it to go well first.”

“Ok, fine, I’ll have to accept that,” he pouted, sulking surprisingly well for a full-grown man.

I laughed at his disappointment, some of the nerves disappearing at his display.

We chatted more about our days until Nesta, Elain and Kevin finally showed up.

Azriel had checked on Elain and Kevin, they were fine, just a bit wet but thankfully the trees and a well-placed awning on the trail kept them dry. Nesta was a bit luckier and an outcropping of rocks kept her out of the rainstorm.

More conversation flowed as the night set in and dinner was eaten. I kept shooting glances at the entrance of our campsite and listening to the familiar pounding of hooves. Thankfully, only Ray noticed my distraction and gave me conspirator winks.

Too soon or maybe not soon enough gravel crunched, indicating the arrival of Rhys and Mona. He appeared into our circle of light. Rhys had changed out of his ranger uniform to dark pants and boots, with a navy three-quarter sleeve shirt that was cut to show off the underlying muscles that I had felt earlier. His hair was casually mussed up, making him look younger than when he is in his uniform. Mona had a pack strapped to her saddle.

Rhys grinned when he saw me, I returned the smile, ignoring the questioning looks from my sisters and Kevin. Ray looked like he was just about ready to burst out of his skin with giddiness.

“Ready?” he asked me.

“Yep. Can y’all handle clean up tonight?” I asked my sisters. The mutely nodded yes, still unable to find words to respond to Rhys’s sudden appearance.

I turned back to him and took his offered hand. It felt so natural to slip mine into his, like it was an everyday occurrence. He led the way back down the path and to the trailhead. The very last of the light was fading fast and more and more stars broke through. I thought that the sky at the end of the day looked just like his eyes, endless blue and perfect.

The moon was full and provided light to show the ghostly path, but I could see a massive flashlight strapped to the front of the saddle in easy reach.

“I’ll hop up first and then pull you up, similar to what we did earlier today.”

“Sounds good.”

He swung up into the saddle, the motion easy and fluid. Mona stood still at perfect attention. I firmly gripped his hand and put my foot into the open stirrup. A good hop off the ground and his arm had me situated behind him in no time, the strapped-on pack acting as an extra seat. I hooked my legs around his like I did earlier, and we set off down the path.

The night was a bit cooler than I expected from the rain, but he and Mona radiated heat. I told him about the others and how they avoided the rain today, and he told me how flustered Az was when he was asked to check on Elain. We laughed at the two’s painful shyness and secretly plotted in own our heads on how to get the two to talk more. He told me of how Cas was actually the one to point Nesta to the rocks that kept her dry and I made a mental note to question her about it on the way home tomorrow.

The trail sloped gently upwards, smooth and well-kept; no doubt part of what Rhys did to keep the park beautiful. I caught glimpses of the stars between the trees and soon we climbed high enough to where we broke out of the tree.

I gasped as the whole valley laid out in front of my, framed by the wide, night sky sparkling with millions of stars. We were so far from any light pollution that I could even see the faintest beginnings of galaxy dust weaving through the stars.

“You like it?” he asked, his voice husky and barely above a whisper.

“I can’t even begin to look at it all. I could spend years just taking in every constellation,” I whispered back.

He gave a low chuckle at my amazement. “Trust me, I’ve tried and I’m still finding new shapes up there.”

We continued to climb, the moon even brighter up here that Mona had no trouble sticking to the path. I thought that I would be more scared to trust my life to an animal, but she was steady and sure in every step.

Rhys stopped her at the top of the hill, “Here we are.”

He slipped down first and turned to help me. I balanced on the pack and swung my leg forward, careful not to hit Mona on the head. Before I was ready to dismount, I started to lean too much to my left.

Rhys saw that I was about to eat shit off his horse and reached to catch me. His right arm ended up around my shoulders and his left supported my knees.

To my eternal gratefulness and embarrassment, he only let out a small “oof” and barely even stumbled, like he caught girls falling off his horse every other day.

“Well, well, well, falling for me already, darling?” his voice brushed across my ear. I couldn’t suppress the small shiver that ran down my spine.

“Maybe,” I shot back, doing nothing to squirm out of his embrace.

He hummed his amusement and gently lowered my legs to the ground, making sure I was steady. His arm around my shoulders was slow to leave and I missed his warmth as soon as he removed it.

He moved to undo the pack from the saddle while I took in our surroundings. We were on top of one of the highest points in the park, the mountains flowing away into the distance to our right. The river and meadow from earlier were laid out in the distance, the Starfall flowers glowing white in the dim light.

There were so many of them, it looked like the whole meadow was made of moon rock, perfectly white and smooth with shadows acting as the craters. I couldn’t bring myself to look away, even when Rhys’s heat appeared at my back.

His head hooked over my shoulder, his temple resting against mine. “The Starfalls are gorgeous in the daytime, but they’re really meant to be seen at night. Not a lot of people know that.”

I had no answer for him, the beauty of the night had taken away any speech.

Then, a bit quietly, “This is my favorite spot in the park, I like to come up here alone when it’s been a long day or a particularly frustrating one. The stars always seem to know how to relax me.”

I leaned back into his frame, simply enjoying him and his warmth and the world around us. We stayed like that for a few minutes, breathing in the night air.

“This way,” he entwined our hands again, taking me to the far edge of the hill. Mona gave us the side-eye and decided to continue grazing where she was.

There was a flat expanse of rock that dropped maybe 20 feet below to where the hill flowed down into the valley. It was still warm with the days’ heat, even the rain wasn’t able to wash it away.

Rhys unfurled the pack and laid out a thick blanket, a camping pillow expanding back into its normal size.

“There’s no alcohol allowed in the park, but I did bring M&Ms and water,” he said a bit sheepishly.

I joined him on the blanket and popped some of the chocolate into my mouth, “I love M&Ms,” crunching down on them.

I could see his smile glow in the dark, almost tempting me forward. He followed suit and started to munch on the sweets with me. We sat crisscross, his shoulder pressed into mine, already becoming familiar and easy.

It was just so easy to sit there in the quiet and listen to the sounds of animals settling in for the night and the nocturnals come out.

“So, what’s your favorite constellation?” I asked him.

“Oh man, I’m going to sound really basic but it’s Orion.”

I hummed to encourage him to continue.

“When I lived in the city, you can’t really see any stars there,” a glance at me, “you know, of course.” I nodded.

“I was really obsessed with space when I was little but unable to see many constellations but Orion’s belt is super bright, so yeah, I was always able to look up and pick it out of the sky and then find Betelgeuse…” he trailed off, lost in the memories of old.

“It’s one of my favorites too,” I said softly, leaning into him more.

“What’s your absolute favorite then?”

“The swan, Cygnus. As a child, I was absolutely obsessed with Barbie Swan Lake. When I got older and listened to more classical music when I studied, Tchaikovsky was my go-to. All of his works are beautiful, but Swan Lake broke my heart every time.”

“If not for the Barbie part, you would have beat me with deepness,” he teased.

“Shut up!” I shoved his shoulder away with mine.

His laughter rang out across the valley, filling every crevasse with light and happiness even in the dark. I laughed right along with him, our shoulders shaking with renewed fits.

Eventually, we died down, occasional giggles escaping our chests. His eyes glinted in the moonlight, the silver flecks shining, making it seem like the universe was trapped in his irises. He captured my gaze, they dipped down to my lips that were still wrapped around a chuckle. I noticed his attention and the giddiness died down.

We were so close now, our warm breath tinged with chocolate mingling in the cool night air. I shivered, goosebumps raising on my exposed legs.

His violet eyes took in my every move, flitting around my face like he was trying to memorize every detail. As he watched me, I watched him. Taking in the exact shape of his slightly parted mouth and how the moonlight played along the edge of his high cheekbones.

I angled my head towards his, my eyelids dropping in a silent request. A small puff of a laugh greeted my lips before he closed the last amount of space between us.

Electricity shot down my body, urging me to bury my hands into his soft hair, the air suddenly trapped in my chest. To return the favor, he encircled one arm around my waist, his other hand grasping the back of my neck.

He swallowed my gasp, his lips bruising into mine. Not to be outdone, I leaned back and pulled him onto me. He followed me down, pressing me into the blanket and rock below, trying to close every single gap between us. His lips moved to my neck, nipping a trail up and down.

I groaned, arching into him, begging him to not stop. I could feel his grin against my neck, enjoying my request.

He found his way back to my mouth, taking in every sound I emitted. If I was cold before, there was no way I am now with him covering my body. His heat unraveled every thought in my head, his lips banished any rational thinking.

All sensation pinpointed to him and him only. The stars were forgotten as we forged a new universe between us. I nipped at his lip, my tongue traced the sweetened edge of his mouth until he yielded permission.

Deeper, harder, I asked for more and he gave all he could. The sky could have crashed down and we wouldn’t have noticed.

I came up for air, out of breath. I had messed up his hair fair beyond repair, his lips were swollen from my attentions. I’m sure I looked the same, mirror images of each other.

He brushed his mouth against my cheek, tender, sweet, after the wild nature of our kiss.

I released a small laugh, gazing up at him.

He smiled in response, “What?”

“Nothing,” I replied breathlessly, “I’m just happy that it rained today.”

His smile widened.

“Me too.”

#acotar #acomaf #acowar #acofas #sjm #sjmaas #sjm books #sjmaas books #feyre #feyre x rhysand #rhysand

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iamnesta · 8 years ago

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A Court of Witchcraft and Wizardry: Part II

The ACOTAR Hogwarts AU that nobody asked for.

A/N: Thank you all so much for the kind comments and feedback! I hope this chapter lives up to the previous one. I am very sorry to say that I am currently on vacation and will therefore not be updating for about another week or so. (It will probably be next Friday or Saturday that the next chapter is posted.) Again, please feel free to comment/leave constructive criticism. Enjoy!

Part One | Read on Ao3

Cassian woke before the sun. He sluggishly rolled out of bed, dragging himself down to the Quidditch pitch in the early morning light. He woke himself up by flying laps around the field, looping and swerving and practicing all the maneuvers he’d learned over the summer. By the time the fog had lifted and breakfast had been served, a gaggle of groggy Gryffindors with broomsticks in hand had joined him for tryouts.

In the Great Hall, Rhys and Feyre languidly filled their plates with toast and eggs. Mor, despite school policy, was still in pajamas. With a yawn, Mor said, “So what’s the plan for today, Rhys?”

Rhys hummed pensively. “I’m not sure. Maybe Az can sneak us into the Shrieking Shack. Any opinions, Feyre darling?”

“We should all go down to the lake for lunch. We can practice nonverbal spells,” Feyre suggested.

“Or maybe,” Rhys purred, nipping at Feyre’s ear, “We could stay behind and practice something else, just the two of us.”

Mor rolled her eyes and poured a glass of orange juice. “Seriously, Rhys, save it for the bedroom. I don’t want to hear about your sex life, especially not at eight in the morning.”

“My apologies, cousin,” Rhys said with a grin that suggested otherwise. Arm wrapped tight around Feyre’s waist, he continued, “Although, speaking of romance…has anyone caught the Morrigan’s eye, recently? Any hot guys?” He wiggled his eyebrows teasingly at the last part, taking an amused sip of coffee.

Mor and Feyre exchanged an uneasy glance. There were still some things that had yet to be revealed among their Inner Circle, despite how often Feyre assured her friend no judgements would be made. But Rhys, oblivious to whatever secrets were being kept, did not pick up on the glance shared between the two women. He looked at Mor expectantly.

Pushing a long breath between her teeth and forcing a strained smile, Mor said, “Not yet.”

There was a jarring clatter as Amren slammed her silver goblet on the table, red liquid splashing out over the rim as she jammed herself into the sliver of space beside Mor. “Gods, Amren,” Mor said sourly, “Don’t bother asking before you sit.”

“I never do,” Amren quipped.

Mor scowled, using her napkin to soak up some of the spilled drink. Peering at the stained cloth with mild disgust, she asked, “What the hell even is this stuff?” If she didn’t know better, she’d say it looked like blood.

Amren gave a feline grin, sharp as knives. “Juice,” she answered vaguely.

“Ever the drama queen,” Rhys said wryly.

“Worried I’ll steal your title?” Amren taunted. She patted his hand with false comfort. “It’s okay, Rhysand, everyone knows the queen has more power than the king anyway.”

Rhys snorted, but it was Feyre who replied, “And don’t let him forget it.” The three girls clinked their goblets together in a toast and burst into laughter.

Nesta was waiting by the entrance of the locker rooms when Cassian walked off the pitch, his new team lagging behind. “Nesta,” he said when he saw her, surprise coloring his voice. He leaned his broomstick against the wall and combed his sweaty hair back, tying it in a sloppy bun.

“You,” she acknowledged, sounding tired.

Cassian seemed to notice that the usual venom in her tone was lacking. He frowned, eyebrows furrowing with concern. “What’s wrong, Nes?”

“Don’t call me that,” Nesta snapped on instinct, her spine straightening. Any hint of previous vulnerability had vanished, leaving only ice in its wake.

“Sorry,” Cassian said with a grin, holding his hands up in mock surrender, “Old habits.”

Nesta pursed her lips, but decided against arguing any further. “Elain told me that you didn’t eat breakfast so – here.” Her words were rushed, as if nervous, though her face revealed no emotion. In her hand, held out as far from her as possible, was a sandwich wrapped neatly in foil. Cassian tried to catch Nesta’s gaze, but she refused to meet it, opting to stare intently at a spot just above his shoulder.

Taking the sandwich gingerly, Cassian let his fingers hesitate on hers. He watched her delicate throat as she swallowed, her eyes now drawn down to where his hand dwarfed hers, the rough callouses of his palms snagging against her own smooth skin.

Then, quick as lightning, Nesta yanked away sharply. “Okay,” she announced, straightening her already pristine robes, “That was all. Goodbye, Cassian.” She spun around to leave.

“Wait!” Cassian called out after her, taking a few stumbling steps forward as if to follow.

Nesta glanced over her shoulder, a single eyebrow arched. “Yes?”

“I –” There was a pause as a jumble of words got stuck in Cassian’s throat. He finally settled on asking, “Where are you going?”

“The library,” Nesta answered. “Morrigan and the others will be expecting you at the lake for lunch.” And with that, she disappeared back inside the castle.

Cassian let out a long sigh. He wondered if he would ever get to see Nesta Archeron as she truly was, without all her armor and defenses. He couldn’t explain why, but he desperately wanted her to trust him – gods knew he already trusted her with his life.

“That’s not fair!” Mor bellowed, face flushed with embarrassment. She was still recovering from Amren’s silent cantis jinx, the thunderous laughter of her friends echoing in her ears.

Amren smirked. “You really are wonderful singer.”

Mor growled, arcing her wand above her head in a counterjinx. A quick shout of “Protego!” came from Rhys before any damage could be done, leaving the two females to glare at each other from their respective side of the invisible shield.

“Well, well,” a silky voice slithered over the group and a blonde with calculating turquoise eyes emerged from behind a neighboring grove of trees. Everyone instinctively tensed, and Rhys subtly moved to stand in front of Feyre. “Having issues within the Dream Team, are we?”

Bristling, Feyre pushed past her boyfriend. Now mere inches away from the other girl, she threatened, “Get lost, Ianthe, before I hex your toes off.”

Ianthe wasn’t fazed. She shrugged. “I’m not scared of you, little mudblood.”

“Maybe you should be,” Feyre snarled, wand sliding out of her cloak sleeve and into her palm. Her fingers gripped the wand handle so hard her knuckles were turning white.

“Feyre darling,” Rhys began with an air of warning.

Pursing her lips, Ianthe peered over Feyre’s shoulder. With a sigh, she bemoaned, “Oh, how disappointing. I thought for sure my dearest Lucien would be hanging around you lot.” She grinned wickedly. “Lucien and I have recently become quite…close.”

With a ferocious battlecry, Feyre abandoned her wand and launched herself at Ianthe, opting to tackle her to the ground instead of using magic. Feyre’s knees rested on either side of Ianthe’s hips, fingers seeking out the blonde’s throat. Ianthe choked out a laugh, provoking Feyre’s grip to tighten.

Azriel and Rhys dove at Feyre, tugging her away by the back of her cloak. “Don’t you dare,” Feyre spat, absolutely venomous, “Don’t you fucking dare talk about Lucien ever you filthy –”

“Feyre,” Rhys murmured, his thumb ghosting across her cheekbone, “She isn’t worth it.”

Still laying on the ground, Ianthe rasped, “Go on, mudblood. Run away like the coward you are.”

It took all of Az and Rhys’s strength to hold Feyre at bay, though neither of them would have been particularly heartbroken if she had gotten free and hurled herself into another attack.

In the end, it was Elain who stooped, grasping Ianthe’s shirtfront and forcing her to her feet. “Leave,” she commanded, so quiet and menacing that even Ianthe had the good sense to look afraid. Elain shoved the conniving bitch in the opposite direction, sending Ianthe stumbling off.

“Conniving bitch,” Mor declared.

“I hope she rots in Hell,” Amren agreed.

Feyre was still trembling with rage when Azriel released her. “You okay?” He asked.

She shook her head, feeling sick to her stomch. “No. What Ianthe does – it’s disgusting. It’s a violation and someone needs to stop her.”

Rhys gently wrapped her in a warm embrace, stroking her hair comfortingly. “We’ll talk to one of the professors. The headmaster, perhaps.”

“I’ve already tried,” Feyre sighed, “And nobody believes me.”

“We could always cut her hands off,” Amren suggested.

Unamused, Rhys instantly responded, “Absolutely not.”

Amren shrugged. “It was just an idea.”

“And it’s not half bad,” Feyre mused, tilting her head in consideration. Amren grinned.

Rhys let out a sound of exasperation. Placing a delicate kiss on Feyre’s cheek, he simply said, “Please don’t do anything stupid.”

Feyre drew back. “Are you calling me dumb, Rhysand?”

“No! I would never!”

As the couple bickered lovingly, Azriel drifted over to Elain. He knelt, plucking a small white daisy from the ground. He held it out to her in silent offering, and she beamed. Instead of keeping it, however, Elain rocked onto her tiptoes and reached up to tuck the flower behind his ear.

“Perfect,” she whispered.

Azriel’s lips parted as if he were about to say something, but then he clenched his jaw shut as he reconsidered. He took a step backwards. “Where’s Cassian?” He wondered.

Elain ducked her head, peeking through her golden eyelashes at Az with a mischievous smile dimpling her cheeks. “The library,” she answered.

Part Three

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