The Illyrian Warrior

Chapter Six

Azriel ended up falling asleep in the early hours of the morning. He was not happy when Cassian woke him up at 6:00am, looming over him with a shit eating grin. Azriel groaned and rolled over.

"I talked to Rhys this morning", Cassian said, Azriel could hear the smirk in his voice.

"Fuck off, Cassian".

Cassian laughed and proceeded to bound out the room like an over excited puppy, but not before calling back.

"I think Davina will be at training today, make sure you wear your tightest fighting leathers".

"Is that how you won over Nesta!?" Azriel shouted back, a smirk of his own on his face.

Cassian hadn't spoken about him and Nesta. But for anyone with two eyes and a nose it was pretty obvious. Cassian didn't say anything, pretending he was too far down the hallway to hear him. Azriel sighed and sat up in bed. As much as he wanted to lay down and get a few more hours rest, he had duties. Slowly, Azriel dressed, thinking of what the hell he was going to do. His desire to find a mate had made him dig a hole he couldn't get himself out of. Last night he had gone to Rhys, half drunk and slurring his words, he asked for advice. Rhysand merely laughed and gave the same advice he always gave Azriel. "Stop worrying so much, you'll find your mate eventually". Azriel had three crushes. His crush on Mor was long gone but it was taxing to try and figure out who he wanted now. Elain is complicated, he likes her a lot, enjoys her company, but she had a mate, Azriel wouldn't kid himself into thinking that he would be able to beat Lucien, a High Lord's son, in battle. But, until recently Elain had been all he could think about, he loved the way she smelled of roses, the way she'd look at him and smile at him. In his chaotic, and sometimes brutal world, a sweet face like Elain was something new, something fresh, it gave him life. Gwyn was sweet and kind, she had shared interests with Azriel, but he didn't feel as strongly about her as either Elain or Davina. Davina was beautiful. His thoughts were plagued by her striking brown eyes, the way she said his name, the way she smiled and her determination, her strength despite everything. He wanted to run his fingers through her soft, brown hair, wanted to hear her call out his-

"Are you coming to training today?"

It was Davina. Standing at his bedroom door. Azriel blushed as his previous thoughts, what was he doing, what was he thinking. He fumbled over his words as he quickly threw a shirt on. Unfortunately, he missed the deep red Davina turned at the sight of him shirtless.

"Yes, I'll be there", he said finally, "are you training with the others today?"

Davina shrugged, "maybe".

"-T-Then I'll be there".

Davina nodded and turned to continue down the hall, probably to get breakfast before training. Azriel wanted to slam his head into a wall or punch himself in the face, he doesn't stutter over his words. Azriel was the smooth talker, he had always been known for it, Cassian had always been jealous of it. But Davina made him fumble, her beauty was so striking, her smile so heart warming, he was at a loss for words. Surely if this was the way he was reacting, then it was Davina who his heart wanted, but his head disagreed, he didn't know Davina very well, didn't know if she was a threat to his family. As strange as that may seem, Azriel was always the spymaster first.

Azriel willed himself to calm. Later, he would kill Rhys for blurting to Cassian, but right now he had breakfast and training to endure. He made his way out to the dining room. Nesta, Cassian and Davina were eating silently, not a tense silence, the silence that came with good food and hungry people. Cassian looked up as Azriel entered, a smirk on his face. Azriel ignored it, walking into the room and slumping in the chair next to Davina. Calmly, Azriel buttered his toast, avoiding Cassian's gaze.