Chapter Text
The woods that surrounded the little hideaway cabin felt weighed down by the morning dew, Elain could relate. Elain lay in the bed watching Azriel button up his leathers. How he convinced his high lord that Him and Elain being gone for a week was not going to be explicit in any manner was a mystery to her, but she did know that she was happy when it started, and now sad that it’s ending.
“Any chance we can stay a little longer?” Elain helplessly said, she asked almost anytime they could get away if they could have more time, but Azriel had a predictable answer.
”They’ll start to suspect something,” he leaned down to kiss her head, “I’d rather have you in secret…”
“Then not at all. Oh yes of course, because sneaking around our friends and family is so much better.” Elain gestured dramatically. It wasn’t a secret to them that Elain was not a fan of their secret dates and getaways. “How did you manage to get us away for a whole week this time?”
Azriel’s face took on a forced natural expression, “Oh nothing crazy, just some business that needed to be done.”
“… makes sense.” Elain shrugged off the blanket and began putting on her clothes. It was hard to find clothes that Elain liked in Valeris, really the whole court. But, with such a rich brother-in-law and subsequently, boyfriend, it made it easy to get something more her style. She particularly liked the silks and cottons imported from Day and Autumn. From what she’s seen on the fae from the court, Day’s normal clothes are far too revealing for Elain, but the fine silks they make can become beautiful, modest dresses. The cottons from Autumn made the cold, wet mountains of Night bearable, with the bonus of rich colors. Nevertheless, she would dress in Night Court colors, and Azriel would wear something more casual. It would make Elain so happy then those days came along. She felt like they could be an actual couple out in public together, but now they had to get back to life, so here they were, dressing back up to be normal.
Az tugs on the bottom of his leathers and holds out a hand, “Let’s go home.” He says. Elain takes it and they shadow walk back to the Manor.
— — —
Elain always wondered what her family thinks about her and Az’s relationship. She thinks Cassian and Rhysand believe them to be friends. More like Elain is a little sister to Azriel than them on equal footing. Sometimes she thinks Feyre is onto them, asking how trips went and searching around for those secret answers, but Feyre never asks outright and Elain will never tell. Elain knows Nesta doesn’t care, she’s been so busy being a Valkyrie that Elain never really sees her. Or at least, not enough for Nesta to question her on Azriel. This time is no different, they walk into the mansion, distant. Feyre and baby Nyx approach first, “Say ‘welcome home!’ Nyx!”
”Hm.” Nyx hums, He takes after Azriel, being the quiet type.
“Hi, Sweet Pea.” Elain takes the baby out of Feyre’s arms and gives him a light nuzzle. He leans in, also taking after the Shadow Singer in his love for Elain.
Az leans in and kisses Feyre on the cheek, “High Lady.”
”Ugh, don’t remind me,” she groans. “I’m starting preparations for my tour.” Elain had already started walking away with Nyx to hear what Azriel had to say.
While heading towards the kitchen, Elain passes the open door of Rhysand’s office. Nyx’s head perks up from her shoulder, and whispers “Down.” Elain giggles softly as she puts the kid down and he trots over to his dad, and as Elain watches him go, she locks eyes with… Him.
Lucien. His golden eye whirs as they look at each other. Elain is the first to look away, walking off. She hadn't seen him since, well, what? Nyx’s first appearance as Prince? Or was it the Winter Solstice party 2 years ago? Her pace quickens to the Kitchen, trying to think about how his shorter hair looks good on him. She’s so distracted, she runs right into Carridwen. “Oh, oh my gods, Cerri. I’m glad I ran into you.” She immediately pulls her right back into the kitchen.
“Elain?” Cerridwen gasps as she sets down the tray as Elain pushes her in and closes the door behind them, Nuala looking up from chopping something.
“Why is Lucien here?” She said, slumped against the door.
“He’s accompanying the High Lady on her tour of the courts?” Cerri replies, taking Elain’s hand, “He’ll only be in the house for a few days, we can make sure you avoid him.”
“What?” Elain snaps back to reality, “No no it's fine, I'm fine, just shocked.” She straightens back up, brushing back her wavy hair into a knot, “Anything I can help with?”
– – –
Nuala, Cerridwen, and Elain spend the rest of the afternoon doing what they do every time they work in the kitchen. They made an absolute mess. Not that they wanted to, it's just that, when you get Cerridwen laughing, she doesn't stop, and Nuala, who frightens easily, jumps a little every time Cerridwen lets out a sudden laugh. It’s impossible not to make a mess, being surrounded by friends. Elain was having so much fun, she almost forgot about the problem sitting down the hall, until he joined the family for dinner. Luckily, when Nyx needed to be put to bed, no one objected when Elain offered to do it.
“Alright, Sweet pea,” she asked him, “what kind of book do you want to read tonight?”
“Fox please, Ellie.” Nyx waited in the plush chairs, his little wings sprawled out across the back.
“Again Sweet pea? I read it to you last time.”
“Fox, Please.”
Elain smiled, another similarity between him and her Shadow Singer, demanding, “Of course, Sweet pea.” As she walked towards the bookshelf, out the window she saw the inner circle walking towards town. She never felt excluded from Rita's trips, drinking and loud parties aren't her thing. What surprised her, was seeing Gwyn with them. Of course, Nesta, Emerie, and Gwyn are as tight-knit as ever, and Mor and Emerie have recently started seeing each other publicly, but Gwyn was a rare sight for Elain to see. Azriel was chatting her up, which also wasn’t weird in its own right, but the whole combination gave Elain that sick feeling. But, she put it away, it was story time with Nyx right now.
“Alright dear,” She settled into the chair with Nyx, and they cuddled in close.
— — —
When Elain finished the story, she realized Nyx was already completely out cold, having fallen asleep during it. She picked the pup up, and gently placed him in bed. She looked down at him, and silently promised like every Archeron in this house has, that he would never face the challenges she had to face as a child.
She left his room to retire to her own, when she heard Cassian’s booming voice as the front door opened, “She obviously likes you!” There was the sound of hands connecting with leathers, “Why not go after her?”
There was a reply, but it was too quiet for Elain to hear. So it was probably Azriel Cassian was talking to. What girl did he mean? Someone at Rita’s? Gwyn?
“Brother,” It was Rhysand this time, “you deserve someone.”
“Why does it have to be my friend who you fall in love with?” Nesta said, so it was definitely Gwyn.
“What? You were ok with Mor and Emerie.” Cassian replied. Azriel said something, again to quiet for Elain. She decided that just returning to her room would be better than continuing to listen. She would just ask Azriel about it later, she reasoned that it was just Cassian messing with him, it’s certainly happened before.