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“What are you doing here, Shadowsinger?”
Eris’ smartass drawl was a relief as Azriel took quick strides into the Autumn Lord’s bedchamber, his eyes wide in a crazed frenzy.
“What happened?” He hissed. “Where are you hurt?”
“I am fine,” Eris said flatly. “Sit down.”
“No,” he seethed. He went over to Eris, pulling back the male's sleeves to asses for injury; the contrasted gentleness of his actions stark against the frigidity of his tone, the wrath on his face. “Where?”
He'd been flying back home from a long-winded trip in Illyria when there was a sudden, sharp flash of emotion from the other side of the bond. He'd almost fell out of the sky in shock, in panic, shadow-stepping faster then he ever had directly into the Forest House, scaring several servants as he did so.
Eris sighed—a long, theatric thing. “Could you please calm down? I am unharmed.”
“Then why did I feel so much fear down the bond?”
They both stared at each other. After a moment, Eris looked down, an unreadable expression on his face.
“It was an assassin,” he admitted, so soft only Azriel could have heard it. “I… wasn’t expecting it. I suppose it startled me.”
Azriel let himself still, analysing what he’d been told. “Where are they now?”
“He got sent to the dungeons. I’m still deciding what to do with him, to be honest.”
Azriel let out a ragged breath. Eris did the same, a shaky laugh tearing from his throat as well. “I’m sorry. Truly, Azriel.”
And, Gods, if his name spoken from his mate’s lips didn’t snuff all the fight out of him.
A gentle hand rested on his arm. Azriel found those amber eyes focused intently on his own. “I missed you,” Eris whispered. “It’s been a while.”
“Yeah,” he said roughly. “It has.”
Azriel leaned down to rest his forehead against his mate’s, the two of them taking a moment to simply be. He felt his breaths begin to slow, his frame relax at the knowledge Eris was safe, was with him.
Eris’ lips met his, their kiss softer than their usual ones. They broke away after some time, the two of them not moving far from each other’s holds.
“I was going to bathe,” Eris murmured into Azriel’s collarbone, his breath tickling Azriel’s skin. “Although, from the smell of things, it appears you should too.”
Azriel scoffed in disbelief. “I just got back from a mission in Illyria. I didn’t really have the time.”
Eris hummed. “Join me?”
Azriel trailed a hand through those auburn locks, brushing away his hair from his face. “Is telling me I smell your new method of getting me naked?”
“I’d never have to resort to such measures.”
Mother, he’d missed that smart mouth.
The water was pleasantly warm as Azriel climbed in behind Eris, sinking to the floor of the tub as he let out a low groan. His mate had put in some of his preferred oils, and although the scent was strong on Azriel’s nostrils he found he didn’t especially mind. Eris’ lavish luxuries calmed him, and Azriel would be damned if his mate didn't feel as relaxed as possible after the ordeal of today.
At that thought, Azriel began to press soft kisses up the male’s spine, tracing the light dusting of freckles along his back. He felt his mate sigh, leaning more comfortably against him.
“What was the mission?” Eris murmured after some time, his head resting under Azriel’s chin. “In Illyria?”
“It's wasn't really a mission," he answered. "Just some skirmish that needed sorting. Posturing on Rhys’ behalf.”
“Hm.”
A kiss to the top of Eris' head. “Could I do your hair?” He asked.
“You know how to?”
He was already reaching for the array of products. “I’ve seen you do it before.”
Eris didn’t put up a fight, and Azriel calmed his remaining nerves by lathering shampoo in Eris’ hair, taking more time then was really necessary to massage his scalp, the soft noises of the soap lulling Eris into a half-doze. He rinsed it out and applied conditioner, ensuring it was all done to Eris’ standards. And then he spent some time just holding him, listening to his heartbeat, to his breaths, feeling the content thrum of the bond between them; satisfied they were together at last.
He kissed Eris’ nose, watching the leaves fall to the ground outside the window. Whilst the Autumn Court wasn’t where he was from, wasn’t the brutal village he was raised or the star-kissed city he lived, he found this court homely all the same. Every copper colour, all the golds and reds of the trees, all the scents and spices wafting from the markets—everything here reminded him of his mate. Of his home.
“I’m tired,” Eris whispered into his ear.
Azriel kissed his jaw in response, quickly rinsing out the last suds from his hair and gently lifting his mate out of the bath. Eris made a small noise of complaint at not being able to get out himself, but made no actual effort to leave his arms.
Azriel towel-dried Eris, hair first and then his body. His mate was propped against him on the bed, head resting on his chest as he fought back sleep.
He changed the pair of them, putting Eris in one of his shirts he’d left purposefully the last time he’d came. A primal part of Azriel keened at the sight of his mate in an item of his clothing, at his scent covering him.
Then they were both under the covers, legs tangling, noses pressed against the others. Azriel brought his wing around, cocooning them.
“You don’t have to stay the night,” Eris murmured after some time, when Azriel had thought he’d already drifted off to sleep. “’S getting late.”
“I don’t care,” he said. “I’m staying.”
Eris huffed. “'M fine.”
“Sleep.”
He pressed a delicate kiss over both of Eris’ eyelids, emphasising his words.
“Are you sure?” He asked after a while, and Azriel glimpsed down to see the uncertainty in Eris’ gaze, the thinly veiled hope.
“Yes. I’m not leaving you tonight. I don’t care they were apprehended, if you think for a second I’m leaving my mate undefended after an attack on his life then you’re wrong.”
He felt Eris’ lips twitch against his shoulder. “Undefended?”
He rolled his eyes in amusement. “You know what I mean.”
“Mm.”
Azriel let himself listen to the crackle of the fire, breathing in his mate’s woodsmoke scent. He ran his fingers through Eris’ hair again—one of his favourite pastimes—and smoothed the space between Eris’ brows.
His mate’s breathing began to slow, and Azriel pressed a hand to the back of Eris’ head so he was more firmly against him. He could never get enough of this closeness between them, even though he’d never consider himself much of a cuddler.
With his mate, everything was a hundred times better.
Both of their breaths eventually slowed, and after some time the two of them drifted into a calm, dreamless sleep.
When morning came, Azriel ensured he’d dealt with the perpetrator, Truth-Teller slicked with blood upon his return to their chambers. He’d taken time to speak thoroughly with the security details, to ensure his mate was safe within his own walls, as he should have been from the beginning.
Then they’d spent a whole day together locked in Eris’ room, making love to each other again and again until Eris felt Azriel’s affection in the ache in his backside and the sting of bite marks over his skin.
After a week, Azriel had reluctantly left, his brother and duties in the Night Court calling and they’d kissed each other firmly on the balcony.
Azriel would come back soon. And he’d vow his mate never felt that same fear again.