Chapter 116
Arwen leant back in her chair, eyes drifting over the particularly sour letter from Eris Vanserra on behalf of his father. The letter had sat on the desk for two days unopened and now it would probably sit for two more before she could bring herself to formulate a reply that didn't have the phrase: Cauldron-damned bastard. She wasn't sure what Rhysand would think of that, but she suspected he might smile before telling her off.
Tossing it aside, Arwen ran her hands down her face, stretching the skin of her cheeks. Azriel had left a few hours earlier for something he was working on for Rhysand, and Elain had left for a day in the city. Which left the town house empty.
Her eyes flew up at the sound of hard knocking at the front door. She knew who it wasâknew the heavy thump and the beat of it. A masculine knock but Azriel let himself in and Rhysand, in the two times he has ever had to knock did so rather lightly. No, this was the knock of a male who didn't care to be gentle on a pane of wood. Arwen remained in her seat, letting the banging continue, wondering if the beating could be made into a tune.
Call her stubborn, call her childish, she did not want to speak with Cassian after the dinner party. Didn't want to listen to him tell her she was stupid for her past and future decisions, speak of her like a child who needed to be watched over. Because finally there was some semblance of purpose for herâa position in this court and this family that didn't feel like it was born out of duty and she wouldn't let him pull her away from it.
The banging continued until he must have finally assumed that nobody was home or that nobody would answer. Arwen emerged from the office, peering down the hall just in time to watch him spear into the sky past one of the entrance windows.
Not expecting either Elain or Azriel back for another few hours, she made herself a small lunch and ate it in the garden. It was as she entered through the back door, that the front opened at the same time. Sending her dish to the kitchen for later, Arwen angled herself to watch the foyer door open next, wondering which of the other two residents of the town house it was.
She should have known by the light scuffle of his boots.
"You're home," she breathed, heading toward him. "I didn't think I'd be seeing you until dinner."
"I got what I needed quicker than I thought." Azriel sunk into the embrace she pulled him into but pulled away before she was ready. Lines deepened in her forehead at the purposeful detachment until he held something up between them. A burlap bag of sorts that he carried by the neck. "Actually, I finished hours ago but I passed a store on the way home and thought you might like some things from it."
Arwen blinked as he handed the sack to her. She nearly buckled under its weight. Her eyes widened as she felt what was undeniably inside.
Azriel laughed in that low, sensual way he always did. "Go on," he said, tapping her hip as he walked around her. "Make sure they're ones you want. Otherwise, I'll take them back today."
She clutched it tighter, spinning on the spot. "Have I ever told you that I love you?"
"Once or twice." He walked to the sitting room, pausing on the threshold to glance back at her. "Are you going to stand there all day?"
Leaping into motion, she scurried after him and climbed her way onto the lounge. Sitting on her legs, she yanked the neck of the sack wide open and nearly squealed at just the sight and scent of the new books. One by one she pulled them out, reading the first pages and admiring their covers. Each one coursed a new river of excitement through her, a new adventure awaiting. Soon they laid around her like they were a sea and she the boat that sailed it.
Azriel picked up one. From memory, it was a darker tale. "I admit I picked this one out purely of my own interests." Arwen had rarely seen him read anything but a few books that were not of fiction. "I thought I could read it when you've gone to sleep. I get restless at night but I don't like leaving you alone."
She had indeed woken a few times in the dimness to his side of the bed empty and cold. "Will you read it to me?" she asked, grinning as she already sensed his answer.
But Azriel didn't shy as she suspected. "If that is what you wish," he said, smiling back at her in the same way she did at himâtaunting and bright.
Arwen leant back into the cushioning of the lounge and let her hand mindlessly drift across the covers from the hard and soft leathers to the course fabric and flimsier materials. "I haven't forgotten something, have I?" she suddenly demanded. "I only get one birthday a year and it's certainly not Winter Solstice."
"No," he assured her with a gentle laugh. He thumbed the sharp corner of his book for a moment and she waited, seeing the way his eyes hardened when he intended to speak. "I thought that it is unfair that for our bond to be formally accepted, it is you that must make me something. I wanted to give you something in return to show my own acceptance." His eyes scoured across her mountain of parchment and leather. "Perhaps I should have told you that before you received it."
"Maybe," she agreed in a whisper. "But it would not have changed anything. I... Thank you. It means a lot to me for you to think about that." In all her life's spoils, even she could have never imagined being where she sat now. "I know this is not your favourite thing, butâ" Arwen cut herself off and decidedly launched at him, careful in her manoeuvre to not hurt her new belongings. She landed in his lap, grasped either side of his face and proceeded to pepper it with kisses.
Satisfied with the display of her affection she sat back on his thighs. Expecting to see a small twist in his face , she was pleasantly surprised at the look of adoration that she was met with.
Arwen rubbed her hands across the curve of his shoulders. "There's leftover ham if you haven't had lunch already but there's no bread. I meant to ask Elain if she could bring some home but she left before I could."
Azriel took a quiet breath and laid his hands on her thighs. "She won't be coming back today," he said.
"Oh, you spoke to her?" He had left in the early hoursâbefore even Arwen had gotten out of bed. "Where is she staying?"
He stared at her neck. "She's staying at the House of Wind. Permanently." She felt the trail of his eyes move upwards along her face. Permanently. She knew what the word meant, but it sounded strange and her mind couldn't quite make sense of it. Sitting heavier onto his legs, Arwen cocked her head but Azriel beat her to speak. "It wasn't right, having her live here. I know this isn't my house but I... felt how displeased you were with her around. I knew you would not do it, so I asked her to leave."
Her heart beat in a strange pattern, thumping against her ribs. "You asked her to leave?"
"Suggested," he coughed. "This is your home, and I will not allow you to live uncomfortably in it for anyone's sake. Not my own and certainly not hers."
Arwen could read the unease on his face, painted by the slight wrinkle between his nose and the heaviness in his eyes. "That must have been hard for you. I know that you're friends."
Azriel shook his head. "The decision was easy. But I know that..."
"She harbours affections for you," she finished. "I know. You're right, I don't think I could have brought myself to do that but I am glad that it has been done. I just hope that she doesn't think that I forced you to. It wouldn't reflect well on either of us."
"You care what she thinks?"
Arwen tipped her head to her shoulder. "I suppose not. You know what this also means?" She leant closer, placing a soft kiss on his cheek then spoke into his ear. "We do not have to leave. All we have to do is lock the front door and we can stay here as we please, to do whatever we please. This house has soundproof wards."
His dark laugh sounded against her own ear. "Do not tempt me with such ideas unless you plan on completing them at this very moment."
Arwen leant back with an expression of mock scorn. "And taint these books? Never!" She laughed at his exasperated look in their direction as if they were the new bane of his existence. "I told you; I will choose a morning."
He licked his lips. "I look forward to it."
~
Sun poked at her eye, bright and gilded. Arwen squinted her eyes open, spying the slither of curtain that was left inched open. Early sunrise. She could almost fall back asleep, feeling the weight of Azriel's arm over her waist and though she couldn't feel him against her back, knew that he had to be close. But she could not feel his hand. Out of interest, Arwen pried the top of the blanket up and peeked underneath.
Azriel's hand rested limply on the mattress, outstretched past her stomach. Usually, it would be tight to her, for he was almost always awake before her. No, today he was fast asleep. Already with a smile, she peeked behind her, indeed finding him completely still, lips slightly parted, dark lashes brushing his cheeks.
It took a few more moments of convincing herself to leave the comforts of the bed, but Arwen skilfully slipped free without awakening him and pulled the curtains completely shut so the sunrise didn't reach him. Tiptoeing out, she headed straight to the kitchen and set to work. Knowing he would not eat unless she also did, she filled the wooden tray with two servings of everythingâan assortment of fried food and fruits and cooked tomatoes and eggs. By the time she had finished, the kitchen had become a jungle of scents and she was surprised that he had not awoken.
Gripping the black handles, her stomach twisted. Nerves. Arwen wasn't sure what reason they existed, but they did. The day seemed so... Insignificant. There was no planned celebration nor a series of heartfelt confessions. The date had no importance. But it felt right. Yesterday had not and she couldn't be sure of tomorrow but today she was certain.
With her renewed conviction, Arwen returned to her room.
Azriel still lay asleep, unmoved from where she had left him. Placing the tray down on the nightstand on his side, she moved across the other side of the room and pulled the drapes fully open. Azriel must be exhausted for he still did not wake. A pebble of guilt settled in her but the food was still steaming and she feared waiting would make her too restless to enjoy it.
Sliding back under the covers, she faced him and nestled closer, purposefully moving to rouse him awake. He stiffened, eyes flashing open with the instincts of a disturbed warrior. Within two heartbeats, that tension fled. Azriel brushed his lips against her forehead. "Morning," he said with a hoarse voice. He was extremely tired if he didn't manage the usual 'good morning' that had become a ritual between them.
Arwen smiled and traced her finger along his jaw. "Good morning. I have something for you but you can go back to sleep if you want."
He blinked heavily as if forcing himself more awake for her sake. "What is it?"
She smiled and placed her head on his chest. "I'm surprised you haven't smelt it."
She listened to his heartbeat; one steady, two steady, threeâ Azriel snapped his head towards the teeming tray. Forgetting where she laid herself, he bolted up. Arwen hit the pillow, laughing. She didn't even get to catch her breath before he was hovering over her, kissing her hard.
Managing to push herself up and break apart, she said, "Azriel, I believe you have to eat first."
He looked at the tray again, eyes examining every inch of it, as if making sure it was real. "You will eat with me," he said, still with a hoarse voice. He brought the tray between them. Releasing the handles, his fingers flexed as if gripping two invisible daggers. Slowly, he reached for the silver fork first, then broke the prongs through the omelette. She watched as he brought it to his mouth, hesitating momentarily at his lips. Azriel let out a soft laugh and shake of his head before shoving the egg into his mouth.
Arwen's heart thrummed harder as he chewed. He had never eaten her cooking before. She didn't know what he would do or say.
Azriel leant forward slightly, elbow driving into his crossed knee, fingers covering her mouth. He swallowed. "Fuck that's a good omelette."
She laughed again, throwing herself back and landing on the rest of the mattress. He tugged on her ankle, requesting her to join him. Sitting back up, she grabbed for her own serving of egg. "I'm so glad you didn't go for the toast. I think it's burnt on the other side."
He stabbed more of it and shoved it in his mouth. "Help me eat all this because the quicker we finish, the quicker I can move on to eating you."
Arwen had no response other than stuffing her face.