Azriel's POV
Azriel gazed at Gwyn's departing figure, his brain addled. He didn't know what he was feeling, didn't know why his shadows were acting the way they were acting, and nor did he know why he felt alive.
Before he could let himself overthink, he got up from the chair, groaning and stretching his cramped neck. Though his sleep had been fitful, he was glad he had slept. Azriel had promised Rhys that he would help with the final preparations of the mating ceremony, and he needed to be fresh and merry for what was gonna be the happiest day of his brother's life.
Lifting his wings and walking to his room, he collapsed on his bed. He knew he should go oversee the preparations but he couldn't convince himself to. The memory of Gwyn's laugh at his unintentional and horrifying grunt was playing over and over in his head.
He couldn't help the small smile that came to his face then, and he buried his head in the pillows embarrassedly.
He didn't know what was wrong with him.
He lay in bed for about an hour, trying to sleep again but miserably failing. After another half an hour, he gave up.
Getting up and changing into some clean clothes, he walked out of his room to see Nesta quietly shutting the door of her dark room. When Nesta looked at him, he saw complete and utter panic on her face and he opened his mouth in apprehension, meaning to ask her what was wrong but she put a finger to her lips and gestured for him to follow her.
Confused, he followed her to the dining room, where she shut the door behind her quietly. As soon as it clicked close, Nesta burst out, "I don't have a dress for the ceremony!"
There was such panic on her face that Azriel couldn't help his quiet chuckle. Before he could let his own surprise administer at him laughing, Nesta stomped to him and slapped him on the arm, hard. He gave her a dirty look and rubbed his arm.
"What am I supposed to do?" He asked exasperatedly, and she glowered at him. "Give me a gown."
Azriel looked at her ridiculously, fighting the smile his lips were pulling into. I'm in a really good mood today, he thought.
"And why, may I ask, have you presumed I have a stash of hidden gowns with me?!"
"I don't know!"
Azriel shook his head sorrowfully. "You'll have to go naked then."
Nesta gave him a death glare. "Now's not the time for jokes! I need a gown, and I need it now, and I need you to do something about it!"
"Should I take you to Mor?" He inquired. "She'd probably have the hidden stash you thought I-" He continued but Nesta interrupted him. "Yes, take me to her right now."
And without waiting for a reply, she grabbed his sleeve and viciously pulled him to the balcony. Throwing herself into his arms, she told him, "Move it!"
Muttering under his breath about dominating Fae females, he bent down on his knees, preparing for take off, when he heard Gwyn's voice yell out from behind them. "Wait!"
Azriel froze unintentionally, exhaling a breath and turning around with Nesta still in his arms to see her upset face.
Nesta gasped melodramatically and ran to Gwyn, jumping out of his arms. He looked over Gwyn's body in alarm then, blowing out a relieved breath when he realized she wasn't hurt. Then he saw that Gwyn was holding a beautiful teal dress in her hands, and then he saw that the sleeves had been torn off and the front was ripped and was hanging to the rest of the dress with pieces of thread.
"What happened?!" Nesta exclaimed, taking the dress from Gwyn's hands and sweeping her eyes across it from top to bottom.
"I don't know! I came back from service and opened my cupboard to get the dress ironed and saw that it was shredded!"
Azriel raised his eyebrows at the anger in Gwyn's voice.
"Who's the suspect?" He inquired, and received glowers from both of the girls.
"Azriel's taking me to Mor so that I can get a gown. You can come along too." Nesta told her without asking Azriel, and then she jumped into his arms again.
"Can you hurry your lazy ass?!" Nesta practically shouted in his ear, and wincing, he jumped up into the air.
Nesta's arms tightened around him as he flew downwards really fast, and she slapped at his neck where she was clutching him tightly when he made to go even faster.
"Do not!" She hissed, and fighting the smile on his lips, he winnowed the rest of the way to the town house where Mor was staying.
Then he went to get Gwyn.
When he landed smoothly on the balcony, Gwyn walked to him and uncomfortably put her arm around his neck. Ignoring the slight change in the beating of his heart, he picked her up and pulled her flush against his body.
He them murmured hold on against her ear, and ignoring the slight satisfaction he felt at her shiver, he launched up into the cool air. She immediately tightened her arms around him, and buried her head in his shoulder, her heart pounding against him. There was a slight stutter in his pulse then, which he also ignored.
He shot downwards and, instead of winnowing, decided to fly her the entire way.
As he swerved into an updraft, Gwyn's knuckled brushed the inside of his wing and he shuddered against her. "Sorry!" She squealed embarrassedly and Azriel slowed down his pace slightly, goosebumps on his arms.
"My wings are very.. sensitive." He said tightly, uncomfortably.
"I know." She said, red faced. "Nesta told Emerie and I about how she makes Cassia-" She shut her mouth, pink on her cheeks. Azriel had to pinch his lips together then, to avoid the laugh that was bubbling in his throat.
"I see." He said, and the corners of his mouth turned up when he saw her blushing profusely.
"Go faster." She mumbled, looking over at Velaris.
Azriel obliged, gliding through the air with no more talking between them. They flew towards the heart of Velaris, and as they reached the town house, Gwyn's shoulders started shaking in silent laughter.
"Look." She pointed, and Azriel looked downwards to see Nesta banging on the front door of the town house, and as Azriel flitted downwards, they heard another female voice yelling from the inside.
Gwyn and Azriel looked at each other simultaneously, both of their lips pinched together as they repressed their laughs.
Just then he realized how close they were, Gwyn's smiling flushed face right in front of his. All he had to do was move slightly to get their lips touching and as Gwyn's heartbeat changed, and the smile started to go from her face, and as Azriel leaned forward just a millimetre, Gwyn looked away.
He immediately closed off, the laughter gone from his face.
Was he so desperate for love that he was gonna start kissing each and every one of his friends? Was this how low he had stooped over the past few days?
There was a churning hole in his heart, a deep and empty abyss. He landed on the ground fluidly, dropped Gwyn, and said to Nesta, "I'll tell Rhys to pick you girls up after an hour."
Nesta waved a hand at him in dismissal as Mor finally opened the door with Elain behind her. This was the first time he was looking at her since Solstice, and he realized he missed her. Not only did he want her, but he also missed her quiet, soothing company. As Elain met his eyes, and as her mouth opened to talk to him, Gwyn's fingers brushed his arm in concern, clearly oblivious to his inner turmoil.
He looked towards her, keeping his face blank of any emotion, and her teal eyes looked at him in concern.
"I'm gonna go now." Was all he said before he launched up into the air, ignoring Elain's shouted "Wait!"
He looked back once to see both girls looking up at him flying away, one wistful and the other concerned.
And then not turning back again, he went to oversee the preparations of the mating ceremony, Gwyn's faint vanilla and rosy scent lingering on his clothes.
Word Count: 1504
This was a random chapter lmao. I didn't really like Gwyn's gown and I wanted Nesta and Azriel content because I absolutely love their friendship, so I wrote this.
Anyways, do you guys want a chapter dedicated to the girls getting ready for the ceremony together or should I skip that..? I kinda want to write it but if u guys want me to skip out on it, I'd do that.
And I have hit 5K VIEWS. That's unbelievable! Never thought that would happen to me! Thank you guys!!
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-BookAddict79