A Court Of Moonlight And Shadows (An Azriel/ACOTAR Fanfiction)

Chapter 21

Arcane stood over the boiling pot, the steam hitting her in the face and making her sweat. Azriel stood behind her with his arms around her waist and chin on her shoulder.

He asked, "Are you sure that's how it's supposed to look?"

"I've never made it before." Arcane said and Azriel pulled back.

"What do you mean? I thought you knew about this?" He stared at her wide eyed.

She faced him, "Contrary to what you might believe, I do go around breaking shields and repairing them. This is the first time." Her eyes were still tired but after having a light meal, Azriel was no so worried about her anymore.

He shot a worried glance towards the green and red mixture that was boiling and then said to his mate, "I think we should....not do this then?"

"It will be fine. Don't worry." Arcane pushed past him and dragged her feet to the windowsill. Leaning against it, she crossed her arms, "I know what I am doing." She assured him as he kept glancing worriedly at the pot. At last, she clicked her tongue and held her arms out and so he relented and pulled her towards his chest. "I'll fix it." She mumbled as he kissed her temple.

"I'm sure you will." He rested his head on top of hers and gazed out of the window. The seashore was visible in a distance and Azriel sighed thinking about the tear that needed taking care of but he could not let Arcane work too much. Right after visiting her father that morning, she had collapsed on the bed for almost half an hour before dragging herself to work miserably.

"Azriel?" She broke the chain of his thoughts and he hummed a response. "I cooked something for you."

Letting the words sink in, he pulled back. "I don't think this is the-"

"I don't think there is anything to wait for." She shrugged. "Why delay something we both know is bound to happen?"

"No, I don't think you understand what I'm saying. You're sick." He put his hands up, trying to explain why accepting the bond right then would be a bad idea given that she was not doing so well in terms of her health.

"I'm not cooking again." Arcane glared at him and he shut his mouth.

Still looking for an argument to make against this, he watched the hot curry that seemed almost decent. "You made that?" He asked meekly.

"Why? You're not going to eat that if it's bad?" Arcane glared and he furiously shook his head.

"No. No, I was just asking."

"Obviously, I made that. Who else would accept this bond?" She flipped her hair over her shoulder and leaned back.

Azriel again contemplated the pros and cons of eating that and decided that he would just have to trust himself to stay away from Arcane until she was well enough. He knew himself enough to know that he would never do anything to hurt her but that restrain was already flimsy and so, it shattered as soon as, after his fifth bite, Arcane pulled him into a kiss.

Gentle at first, the kiss grew passionate soon as enough as Azriel pulled her closer and flipped her over so she laying on her back on the bed and he was on his elbows above her. He didn't realise a tear had slipped past his eyes until Arcane  abruptly pulled back. Cupping his face, she asked worriedly, "Is something wrong?" She searched his face for any sign of distress but he took her hand in his and kissed her palm.

"Not anymore." He whispered and Arcane smiled at that. Wiping the stray tear away, she pecked his forehead.

Azriel lowered himself, gathering her into his arms and sinking his teeth into her soft flesh. A moan slipped past her lips as the cool fabric of the dress slipped off her skin and his fingers dug into the bare skin of  her thighs. He whispered her name against her skin, each time like he was marking her as his own. At first, his touch was like a whisper but after some time, as his fingers pulled out of her and he's massive length slid in, the grip tightened between their gasps.

The soft and slow pace gradually turned faster and the bed creaked under them. The sweat dripping down from his hair slid down her chest when she threw her head back and he roughly pushed her shoulder down as she reached for him.
"I'd rather enjoy the view." He whispered and his scarred fingers sank into the supple flesh of her breasts, leaving small red marks that made her moan and grip onto the sheets.

When she finished before him, he watched her come back to her senses, sweat glistening all over her and a complete mess before gently gathering her into his arms and pulling the covers over their bodies. She mumbled his name and rested her hand on his cheek.

"I'm right here." He let her fold her naked body against his own and gently brushed her hair that were sticking to her shoulders. A bit of red blossomed over the pale skin of her neck from where his teeth had been and then it started appearing on her chest, her breasts, the middle of her stomach and she looked at that with half-closed eyes before sighing and whispering, "I love you."

"I love you too, moonshine." Azriel kissed the spot behind her ear. "In this life and any other."