A Court of Scars and Shadows

Troubled Mated Couple

AZRIEL'S POV

"Would you participate in Fire Night with me?"

He must have hallucinating. His heart stopped as he repeated her words in his head. He thought about the time of year and realized that Calanmai was coming up fairly soon.

"Azriel?" Her voice was timid. He must have been silent for too long.

"I'm just processing what you said," he confessed. "Fire Night is when exactly?"

"In five days," she paused before continuing. "Tamlin told me about in the reminder he sent, but I brushed through the note quickly so I didn't really know about it until he told me when I arrived."

"And you want to participate" he repeated, not sure if he fully understood her.

"Yes," she didn't hesitate to respond.

"Berdara, you do know what happens during that night... right?" Azriel wished he could be with her to gauge her reactions.

She scoffed, "I was a priestess, Shadowsinger. My life purpose used to be to participate in the rite." His shadows snickered at him for forgetting this.

"What I meant to say was, are you ready for what the magic of Calanmai entails someone to do? I don't want you to force you into anything you aren't ready to do?" He would much rather slaughter others than bring Gwyn harm.

"Az, I know you wouldn't force me into anything," he could picture her in front of him, giving him a loving smile. "I just thought as the Daughter of Spring, maybe I should take part in it. And use it as an opportunity to... well, do more with you."

"And what does more entail exactly," he found himself smiling, proud, that she felt ready for more.

"Not sex," she clarified. "I don't really want to plan what I want do, I just know I want more."

"Then, if this is truly what you want, I'll gladly participate in Fire Night with you," Azriel concluded.

"Alright then, I guess I will see you sooner than we thought."

"I can't wait. Goodnight love," Azriel whispered through the bond and she whispered it back.

Azriel finished preparing himself for the night. His day had gone by slow, if someone had told him years ago that his life would become centered around one female, he wouldn't have believed them.

He was entranced on everything to do with his mate, with Gwyneth Berdara.

He laid in bed, staring at the ceiling. The apartment felt cold and empty. After attempting to fall asleep several times, he concluded it was fruitless and decided to go train in the House of Wind. Even his shadows where silent at Gwyn not being near them.

When he landed at the top of House of Wind, he immediately went to practicing defense and attack stances with Truth-Teller. His shadows formed a figure that Azriel fought. Block, parry, attack.

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An hour later and he was drenched in sweat but still found it pointless to go back to his apartment and try to sleep. His shadows had started to beg him to go asleep.

He heard someone walking up the stairs and sent his shadows to see who it was.

The grey-eyed witch approaches, Azriel snickered at the name his shadows gave Nesta.