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Azriel was having a difficult night. It was Solstice — his favorite night of the year, typically. He should be with his family, exchanging gifts and drinking too much. But instead he was underneath the awning of the House of Wind, watching his breath rise through sheets of unending rain. He stared hard at Velaris, glowing cheerfully below him. The balcony provided the perfect vantage point for monitoring. And for brooding.
He should have seen it coming. It was his job to see these things coming. Rhysand and Feyre were called to the Winter Court for an ill-timed diplomatic visit. Cassian and Nesta were still on their honeymoon, god knows where. Mor was in Illyria, of all places, with Emerie. Elaine and Lucien were in Day with Helion. And Armen was in Summer with Varian.
And that left Azriel to stay behind and keep Velaris safe. Safe from what? he thought. Puddles? He had walked from one end of the city to the other before flying up to the House. There was no trouble on a cold, rainy Solstice. Even the seedier parts of town, those taverns typically filled with long shadows and unsavory characters, were quiet. Everyone had somewhere to be, someone to be with tonight. Except Azriel.
It hurt to walk past homes filled with joy so tangible Azriel could taste it. He had heard the cheers and laughter spilling out into the street as he walked by. He half-hoped someone would see him alone in the rain and invite him in. But no one noticed the shadowy figure strolling down the dim streets. And no one would dare invite the Shadowsinger into their festivities, anyway.
It hurt to think of his brothers, spending the holiday with their new families. Once again, Azriel was in the dark, alone. He shook his head. These weren't productive thoughts.
Azriel spotted a flash of copper hair from the corner of his eye. Only one person could waltz into a room without his shadows informing him. Turning from the balcony, Azriel arranged his face into a smirk and crossed his arms across his chest.
“Ah, Berdara,” he said. “Sneaking behind my back this lovely Solstice evening?”
She was flush with the far wall, crouched, and, now, red in the face. A thick blanket was wrapped around her shoulders, and she clutched a small book to her chest. The priestess had not been sneaking, he concluded.
“I wasn’t sneaking,” she confirmed. “I was escaping!”
Gwyn had been coming out of the quiet basement library more and more since she became a Valkyrie. Azriel was no longer surprised to find her gazing out at the city on the balcony, snacking in the kitchen, or even curled up with one of her ancient tomes on the couch. It was nice, especially since Cassian and Nesta left on their honeymoon and he was left alone in the House.
Truthfully, he had come to rely on Gwyn’s daily company. He had wanted to say something, to let her know that he considered her a friend, maybe even more, but the moment never felt right. He knew what she’d been through, and he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable, not when they had such an easy rapport.
“I was reading in the den and must have fallen asleep,” she continued. “I wanted to go back to the library but you were out here, clearly wanting to be alone, so I was trying to get by without disturbing you. Don't know why I even tried.” She laughed. It was an objectively lovely sound, Azriel mused.
“I don't want to be alone,” he said without thinking. They locked gazes, an unreadable intensity in Gwyn’s teal eyes. Azriel forced himself to look away.
Gwyn, thankfully, didn't ask him for more details. She did, however, join him at the railing. They stood there in a contemplative silence. Azriel watched the city lights flicker through the torrents of rain. He felt… warm. And fuzzy. It was rare for Azriel to be as relaxed around another person as he was in this moment, even with a member of his family.
It wasn't until a bell tower in the city struck midnight that he realized any time had passed at all. The majority of homes had gone dark as Velaris’s citizens packed up their dinners and presents and turned to bed.
Azriel turned to Gywn, who’s nose had turned an adorable shade of red in the cold. He cleared his throat, gaining her attention.
“I should get to bed,” he said.
“Me too,” she replied.
Neither moved.
“I have training early tomorrow,” he said.
“Me too,” she reminded him. Again, neither moved. Her lips quirked, and Azriel couldn’t help but mirror her expression.
Azriel didn’t want to go to bed. It appeared Gwyn felt the same way. Could he ask her to join him for a snack? Or perhaps he could offer to walk her down to the library? They were staring at each other again, smiling. Azriel couldn’t bring himself to break the moment.
It was Gwyn who turned away first, although she was still smiling as she said, “Goodnight, Shadowsinger.” She paused as she walked through the doorframe and said softly, “I didn’t want to be alone tonight, either.” She continued down the hallway toward the library stairs.
Azriel was hit with a wave of intense emotion. For a moment, he was grateful that he had been left in Velaris, grateful for the darkness of the night, even grateful for the rain. Grateful to have run into a redhead who was as well-acquainted with being alone as he was.