Chapter Text
Azriel sat on the roof of the townhome monitoring the perimeter, having agreed to cover Cassian’s security duty for the night. Dusk was settling over Velaris as he watched the transition of people move throughout the city - some on the way home, their days at an end - others their nights just beginning. As the sun set and the moon rose - Azriel’s shadows danced; as though they were seeking something they could only touch in the space between sun and stars.
Since the winter solstice, as the summer approached and twilight lingered - Azriel’s shadows had become increasingly agitated. In his 500 years, he had never known them to act this way. There were times he even thought he heard them whisper her name.
Elain. Elain. Elain.
Azriel closed his eyes and shook his head to try and clear his thoughts. She was always there - pulling at him, his shadows. A pull that seemed to be growing every day, despite his attempts to stay away since that fucking order from Ryhs last Winter Solstice.
A frustrated growl escaped Azriel's lips as he thought back to that night - to his High Lord's commands not to touch her, to the utter devastation he felt at being so close to her lips, her breath and having to walk away. Lost in his thoughts, in his cold rage, he didn’t notice the complete stillness that settled over the air .. the momentary absence of his shadows.
A bright light flashed from the townhouse below and suddenly his shadows swarmed - screaming at him.
He sees her! Go to her! Bring us to her! Hurry or she will be lost!
Without hesitation or true understanding of the fear and trembling radiating from his shadows, Azriel walked the space between light and dark and was instantly standing in front of the french doors that led from Elains’ bedroom to a balcony that looked over the gardens.
He stilled as he took in the sight before him.
Elain stood in the middle of the room, surrounded by a faint, golden light. She was dressed in a dark blue dressing gown, her dark, golden hair loose and flowing beyond her shoulders. Her hazy eyes seemed to both pierce Azriel’s soul and look past him as if she was looking at something far, far away.
And then she spoke words that sent chills rippling across Azriel’s wings like a cold, winter gust.
He knows. He senses it. He is coming for us. And our truth will set him free.
Suddenly the glow around Elain flickered and she appeared translucent as if she was fading away. Fading from the townhouse, the Night Court and this world.
Azriel’s shadows lunged for the last of her golden light as he heard Elain whisper his name, an echo of his own cry. And as he reached Elain, his hand grabbing for hers, something snapped like a tether tying Elain back to this world, to this room, to him. Her eyes cleared and tears began to stream down her face as she collapsed to the floor. Azriel fell with her, holding her tightly to his chest as he sent a silent promise to the Mother that he would never, ever let her go.
Minutes passed. Maybe hours. Azriel wasn’t sure how long he sat there holding onto Elain, softly stroking her back as she wept, listening as she whispered over and over, He knows, He Knows, He Knows …
When Elain finally quieted, Azriel released his hold on her and gently placed both hands on her face, lifting her eyes up to meet his.
“Are you alright?” he asked, his voice strained as he let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding.
Elain placed her hands on top of his and barely nodded.
No.
She didn’t speak it aloud, but he could see it in her eyes. Feel it in his chest.
“You can tell me what you saw. You are safe now”.
Elain’s fingers slowly moved against his, tracing the scars on his hands as though she were making sure that he was real. That she was truly safe before she spoke.
“I saw Koschei covered in blood, standing over a shadow. He was holding Truthteller. There was so much blood and he was …” she closed her eyes and shuddered “he was free, Azriel”.
Azriel felt Elain’s grip on his hands tighten as she continued.
“I was frozen in place, I couldn’t move and that’s when I realized that the shadow he stood over - Azriel, it was you!”
Tears started to stream down her face and Azriel reached out to wipe them away as he whispered, “Elain, it wasn’t real. I am right here. I am alive”.
Elain shook her head and whispered, “No, you don’t understand … Koschei saw me. He looked right at me and … “
Azriel didn’t let her finish before he said with quiet alarm, “What do you mean he saw you?”
“When I realized who was on the ground surrounded in blood, when I realized it was you - I screamed. I screamed and he looked right at me and he smiled.”
Realization dawned on Azriel and his voice was strained as he asked, “Did he touch you?”
Panic filled Elain’s eyes as she nodded and whispered, “He said, I know, I sense it, I am coming for you and your truth will set me free … then he reached out for me”.
Azriel’s siphons flared and he pulled Elain closer.
“My shadows - they were screaming that I had to come find you. When I got here you were saying … He knows. He senses it. He is coming for us. And our truth will set him free … And then it was like you started to fade … “
Elain’s eyes went wide. “Koschei wants Truthteller and he knows you have it Azriel. He’s going to kill you to get it”.
“He’s not going to get it.”
“Azriel, you have to hide it. You have to protect yourself” Elain pleaded.
Heat burned in Azriel’s eyes as he looked at her “Elain, that knife has never left my side in over 500 years, I’ve never even let another soul touch it. Not Rhys, not Cassian. No one … except once.”
A small gasp escaped from Elain as she realized what he meant, “You gave it to me” she murmured.
Silence filled the room but neither one needed to speak words to understand the other. Azriel leaned forward, gently resting his forehead against Elain’s as they both placed a hand on the other's heart. And in that moment, a silent bargain was struck between two souls.
They felt heat bloom against their chests where cobalt blue, rose tattoos formed, and golden threads and shadow laced together, spreading across the floor, past the walls of the townhouse and into the streets of Velaris.
It was as if time had paused as Azriel and Elain sat there in awe and silence until the door to the room was thrown open and they heard Rhys’ unmistakable growl, “What the fuck did you do?”