Azriel winnowed in the guest room at the Archeron manor like they had planned. All the servants had to be away by then. Sighing, he ran a hand though his hair. It was late and he was exhausted, not that he would ever willingly admit it to anyone. Rhys needed him capable and strong, not useless as he seemed to be at the moment. He couldn't remember the last time he got a good night sleep. Oh, how he craved one. There was no time for resting, he reminded himself as he begun descending the stairs. He hid his shadows from view as to not scare the mortal women.
The Shadowsinger heard her this time. He made himself hear her. Her steps where lighter, lighter than most people's as she walked behind him. He didn't move, didn't turn around, gave no sign he knew she was there.
'Hello, Spymaster.' Her voice was soft, but strong. A demand in it that made him finally turn around.
The woman he had met at dinner was back. Her red hair was let free, creating waves on her back. She wore a black night gown and over it a silk robe. He respectfully tried to stop his eyes from roaming over her body. The way she was watching him, leaning on the wall, arms crossed. She was waiting for his answer, his words, see if he was gonna take the bait. Spymaster, she had called him and yet he had never told her his position once. His eyes met hers, a challenge. In front of him wasn't the noble wife he had met, but the woman at dinner telling Cassian off. A wild storm forming in her gaze.
'Hello, Mrs. Castellan.' He bit back, nodding his head in greeting.
A playful smile made its way onto her face. She didn't move from her place leaning on the wall.
'Spymaster? Is that so?' He questioned.
Rayna watched him step closer, the way his wings moved with him, a painful reminder he was anything but human, how dangerous he truly was.
'Well, all moody and mysterious, sitting alone in the dark and talking little. Also the way you asked your questions at dinner might have given you away, subtle, but not subtle enough.' She straightened her back, keeping her tone firm but friendly.
Azriel titled his head to the side, a curious look. Quite observing she was. The same way he noticed she had been when he had followed her to the sea port. Maybe if she was fae he would have trained her as a spy, though with that wildness behind her eyes she would have made a better general. His eyes fell on the book in her hands, when she moved her arms.
'That novel is written by a fae.' He didn't think before speaking, too surprised.
Rayna looked at the book in her hands. The cover was worn and some pages folded in the corners. She scrunched her nose.
'Oh, then I must throw it in the fire.' She put a hand over her chest as if it truly pained her. 'Such a shame it was one of my favorites, really-'
She stopped to stare at Azriel, who threw his head back and laughed, fully, without restraint. She couldn't help but stare. Hadn't realized such a melodious beautiful sound could be made by someone like him. She found herself wanting to hear it again.
'I am sure Chaol would agree with you, might want to throw some iron in the there.' His tone was playful, much more casual than before as he spoke.
Rayna looked surprised at the mention of one of the characters in the book who happened to hate the novel's version of fae.
'My, my, didn't picture you as a romantic, Spymaster.' She teased.
He raised a brow.
'It's a murder mystery.' He stated.
Rayna pointed to the book.
'A romantic murder mystery.' She contradicted him.
He huffed arms crossed over his chest, his leathers doing nothing to hide his muscles.
'Finding a murder mystery romantic? Maybe I should hide the butter knives.' He shook his head, a feral smile on his face, making him look less human.
Rayna's brows furrowed. She placed the book on the table right next to her.
'You remember a joke I made more than a week ago?' She questioned, genuine curiosity in her eyes.
Azriel walked passed her and into the big room that served as the library she came through when he had arrived.
'It's hard to forget the first time I was threatened to have my eyes carved out.' He responded, turning away for the books to look at her.
She was still in the doorway, looking conflicted about going inside. He didn't understand the reason.
'Well I am glad to be the first.' Her teased.
Rayna finally took an unsure step in and that was when he understood. His smile fell as he watched her limp into the room. She hid it well, he had to give her that. But he wasn't a spymaster for nothing. He could see the small shift on her features with every step she took. And still she forced her injured leg to hit the ground again and again so she could walk.
'What are you doing?' She asked, a brow raised as she watched him slowly walk towards her.
Something closed to concern flashed in his eyes. He took another step her way, just like Cassian the other week. Giving her time to back off, to tell him to stop.
'Walking towards you very slow.' He answered honestly.
She didn't back off, but stopped next to the sofa, not sitting down. Her eyes were watching him curiously.
'Why?' She asked, lifting her head to look at his face as he got closer.
He stopped at a safe distance, his arm reaching out to her.
'Because if I ran I would scare you.'
She allowed him to hold onto her arms and for once he didn't even notice his scarred hands brushing on clean skin. He helped her sit down on the sofa.
'You are hurt.'
Rayna pushed his arms away, her gaze becoming cold.
'It's nothing.' Her voice was harsh. He didn't even blink at her tone.
'Where is the medical kit?'
She contemplated not telling him, but her leg hurt. She couldn't change the bandage and clean the wound by herself. Nesta and Elain wouldn't be back until the next morning. Rayna held Azriel gaze, both of them stubborn for their own reasons. She didn't really have much of a choice, she knew she needed help. So she swallowed her pride and made the dangerous decision.
'In the second drawer.' She pointed to a cupboard.
Azriel wasted no time, moving quickly to get it. Meanwhile she lifted her night gown to her tight and unwrapped the bandage. He froze for a moment at the sight of it. It had been stitched up, but he could still tell how deep the long cut was. He had seen plenty of wound in his long life, caused most. But oh, he had forgotten what it meant for a human. They did not heal as fast as fae did. They had to feel the pain or their flesh gluing back together for months even. Truly cruel.
He didn't even realized he had knelt before her as he wet a cloth and started cleaning the wound. She didn't even make a sound when the alcohol hit the unhealed flesh. The only sign of the pain she was feeling was the tight grip she had on his shoulder that was sure to leave marks even though his leathers, Azriel let her.
Rayna just watched him for a while. Despite being a fae warrior his hands were surprisingly gentle.
'Does you home in the Night Court have a library like this as well?'
He almost didn't hear her, her voice barely above a whisper. He smiled as he applied a cream to her wound and the skin around it. Now, a stunning male massaging the skin or her thigh would have made her feel things if she wasn't in such pain.
'They have a giant one in Rhys's house where I am sure you can find all the books in the world.' He paused for a moment, contemplating his words. 'But I prefer the one in my apartment, having chosen all the books myself.'
Rayna pushed his shoulder gently, making him look up in surprise.
'So your apartment is full of smutty romance mystery murder books?'
He rolled his eyes, turning his attention back to her wound, but he couldn't help the smile appearing on his face. Which he tried to hide, but she did see.
'If by that you mean very complex murder planning mystery books then yes.'
Rayna chuckled, leaning back on the sofa.
'Do you have one? A library I mean, in your house? I assume you don't live full time here.' He asked after moments of silence.
She stopped for a moment thinking of how much or what she could say without really lying. Her gaze rested on his concentrated face as he tended to her wound. His question didn't seem to be a Spymaster's question, but Azriel's.
'I don't really have a house or a forever place, so I can not have a library.' She spoke in truth.
Azriel shook his head.
'That must be very hard, not having a completely safe place you can always go to.' He answered frowning.
Rayna took in a deep breath, pushing herself into a seating position.
'Do you have one?' She almost hesitated to ask.
Azriel's usual answer came to mind.
'I do have my own apartment.'
Rayna shook her head, her red hair blocking her view.
'Owning an apartment or a house doesn't make it a safe place to go to.' She told him.
He was quite for a moment, his hands stopping from tying the bandage around her thigh. His first instinct was to say yes. Rhys's inner circle was his family, his safe place as they have always been for each other. But were they really. he knew they loved him. And yet all those nights coming back from the Hewn city, them leaving him alone cause his darkness would be too much to deal with. Him locking himself into the bathroom of his apartment and scrubbing his skin raw. Having to keep the light off just so he would have to look at his hands...
'Then no, I don't believe I have one either.' He finally spoke, his voice so low and full of emotion Rayna hadn't heard before.
Azriel didn't realized he had dozen off, lost in his own dark memories and thought until a warm hand touched his, bringing him back. For once he didn't retreat it to hide his scars.
.