Chapter Text
“Well there’s obviously more to this than a picnic,” Gwyn grumbled as he walked her forward, battle-roughened hands covering her eyes. The shadowsinger chuckled as she continued to pelt him with questions about what they were really doing and why it was such a secret.
“You are relentless, Berdara,” Azriel grumbled, leaning in to brush her ear with his lips. “But you know I can be just as stubborn. Just a little longer, and you will see.” She groaned, but didn’t try to wiggle free or ask again what the surprise was. She was so clever that he figured she would probably have an idea of what was coming. They’d even talked about it, albeit months ago. But it was inevitable that a mated couple would want to stop sharing a home with another pair of mates - one that was even louder and more salacious than the Valkyrie and the Spymaster.
Yes, privacy couldn’t come soon enough.
The two of them shuffled out from the shade of the trees, the cool breeze from the ocean ruffling their hair and brushing against his wings. Shadows danced around them, the wind a graceful partner.
“We’re… near the sea?”
With a roll of his eyes he removed his hands, revealing to his mate the cabin that was built upon the cliff’s edge - peering out over the sea. There were huge windows on all sides, and he could hardly wait to take her through all the rooms he’d helped create.
“Azriel.” His name was a breath on her lips, and he could feel her disbelief and joy through the golden tether that linked them. Gwyn bounced forward a couple steps, delighted laughter bubbling into the air, before turning to him. “It’s incredible! Is this…?”
“Ours?” He arched a brow at her. She nodded and he scoffed. “Who else would it belong to?” His irreverent mate just shrugged.
“Rhys and Feyre have many homes. It could have been theirs.” She reached to him, beckoning him to join her, and his heart squeezed. His playful scowl softened to contentment and he walked to her, twining their fingers together.
“Well, it isn’t. This is ours, and ours alone.” Azriel kissed her knuckles before leading her through the arched front door and into the open space that included a living room with a grand fireplace, a dining area with a table large enough to feed the entirety of their family should they choose, and a rustic kitchen large enough to support such a meal, even if he knew that he would be the one that spent the most time there.
“It’s already furnished?” Gwyn’s voice was laced with wonder and the faintest chord of emotion as she let go of him and paced around the space. His eyes followed, noting how her fingertips traced so lightly over the cool stone of the countertop and the smooth wood of the dining table. The shadowsinger cleared his throat.
“Yes. There are a few personal things that I’ll have to bring down from the House of Wind, including the books you’ve collected -” he would never have been able to move them without her knowing “- but it is ready for us.”
“Oh, my gods.” His shadows mingled with her whisper as she strode toward the floor-to-ceiling windows lining the living room wall. Azriel followed, coming to a stop behind her and placing his large hands on the curves of her hips. “This is… it’s incredible, Azriel.” He kissed a stray tear that had begun it’s descent down her cheek and peered with her past the balcony to the stunning, glittering sea.
“I hoped you’d love it,” he murmured into her ear.
“I do love it. It’s… I’m speechless,” she laughed, and he pulled her impossibly closer.
“If I can render you speechless, I should either be very proud of my efforts or very concerned.” They were words he had spoken before, after their first foray into Velaris. That seemed like a lifetime ago, and maybe it was. It was difficult for him to imagine a time when he wasn’t completely enamored with the woman in his arms. “Would you like to go out onto the balcony?” She turned her face to him and he pulled back to look at her.
“Will it mess up your tour?” Her nose crinkled in amusement, and he kissed the jumbled freckles there.
“I can adjust. Come on.” Keeping an arm around her waist, he pulled her a few paces to the right and pushed open one of the large doors, ushering her into the warm light of the sun and walking her to the balcony’s edge. Waves crashed against the rocks below, and Azriel spread his wings to let the sea breeze tickle the sensitive skin. “There’s a path down to the shore. It’s rocky, but there are little outcroppings here and there that would be a nice place to relax or read. Or picnic.” Her chin tilted back, laughter tangling with the sounds of the water. Azriel took back his arm, but took her hand and pulled her down the length of the balcony. “Our bedroom has the same windowed wall as the living room, and also has a door to the balcony.” He opened another door and led his mate into the room where he imagined they would spend… a great deal of time. But it was truly nothing particularly special, aside from the fact that it was theirs. A couple bookshelves, a sitting area, a fireplace, and a large bathing chamber - also with a wall of windows to gaze at the sea.
The two of them walked down the halfway arm-in-arm, Azriel occasionally waiving a hand as they passed a closed door.
“There are a few spare bedrooms and bathrooms, for guests and eventually for when we decide to start a family.” His heart stuttered as he uttered those words, recalling the conversation they’d had before they were married and mated. Children were never a part of his vision for the future - not because he didn’t want them, but because he had not been able to imagine a world where he would be deserving of such joy. And, even though he wanted, the concept of being a father intimidated him immensely. As he and Gwyn had talked, though, he couldn’t help but be warmed by her absolute faith in him. The shadowsinger hadn’t had anything close to a good example of a father, though his mother had loved him as much as she was able. But his Valkyrie had never known her father, and had lost her mother when she was a child. Neither of them had a lot of experience to draw from, but they did know that any child of theirs would be loved unconditionally and would be brought up in a home where there was singing, laughter, reading, music, and protection.
“There’s one more thing I need to show you,” he said, his pace quickening. He couldn’t wait for Gwyn to see the library and study that took up the entire second floor of the house. It was where he’d spent the most time perfecting every plan, evey furnishing, every fabric, every detail.
“You’re really excited,” she crooned, her hold on him tightening. “I can feel it.”
The mating bond, for all of it’s miraculous wonderment, made it even harder for him to hide from her than it usually was. He gave her a playful scowl. “Quit snooping.”
“Snooping?!” she balked. “Your shadows and the bond are practically screaming at me - you’re over-the-moon giddy. And I am thoroughly intrigued.”
“That’s something, at least,” he conceded as they approached a curving stair at the end of the hall. At the top they came face to face with a large set of ornately carved, heavy oak doors. The shadowsinger stepped in front of his wife and mate and cupped her cheeks between his rough palms. “Of all the things in this house, this is what I’ve agonized over the most. And, outside of our room, I think this is where we will spend the vast majority of our time. So if there is anything you want to change or add, please don’t be afraid to tell me. I think I know you quite well, and I’ve put so much thought into this. But this is our home, not just mine. I don’t want you to just love it… I want it to be a dream come true. Alright?” Her mischievous grin softened, and she lifted one of her hands to cover the ridges of his own as she nodded. Azriel dipped his chin, kissing her softly on the corner of her mouth before letting her go and turning to push the doors apart as theatrically as he could muster.
A delicious, contented warmth spread through him - the bond expressing her awe and delight. Perhaps snooping wasn’t so bad. He watched Gwyn walk through the space, wonder painting her features as she turned to face every different direction, taking everything in. The same far wall was all windows, framing that view of the shimmering sea. A sleek grand piano reflected the midday sun, just to the side of the fireplace that created a stone-covered column through the center of the space. The wall opposite the window was a line of bookcases, only half-filled, with a rolling ladder and track down the entire length. On his side of the fireplace was a sitting area with two overstuffed chairs and a large, round chaise that was large enough to be a bed. And on the other side of the fireplace: a study. Two matching desks of lacquered cherry wood where they could work, warmed by the fire and the reflection off the water.
Shadows twisted over his shoulders as he studied her reaction - freckled cheeks reddening, eyes growing glassy. And then his lips lifted into a huge grin as she ran to him and flug herself into his arms, legs wrapping around his hips as she captured his mouth with her lips. The kiss was deep and full of promise, but she pulled away too soon and wiped at her tear-stained face.
“It’s perfect, Azriel. Absolutely perfect.” She leaned her forehead on his as she giggled, her joy a light in his soul. “I have a surprise for you, too.”
Now that… that was surprising.
“Alright…” he responded warily, walking them over to the enormous cushioned lounge. He set her down before sitting next to her, finding her quirking an eyebrow.
“What is this, by the way?” Her hands rubbed over the velveteen upholstery, and Azriel found himself sporting a hit of a blush.
“Well, we often end up falling asleep in the library. So…” He drug his bottom lip between his teeth. “I thought I’d make sure we were… comfortable.” Gwyn’s eyes narrowed as she finally lifted her satchel from over her shoulder and set it on the ground, giving him a calculating look.
“Are you saying you don’t want me falling asleep on you anymore, Shadowsinger?” Her lips pursed as she tried to give him an intimidating glare that only made her look fucking adorable, and he laughed, tapping her on the nose.
“I wouldn’t dream of it, Songbird. I’m just saying that you can fall asleep on me on here instead of a normal couch.”
The corners of her mouth turned down, appraising his expression as well as the rest of him. Seemingly satisfied, his mate shrugged and gave a little ‘hmm’ before digging into the bag and drawing out a leather-bound book. At his questioning look she sighed dramatically. “You said we were going on a picnic and told me to bring a book so we could read together, remember?” His brows rose, nodding as he realized. “Besides, this is also the surprise I have for you. I think you might have outdone me with a whole house, but it’s still worth sharing.” The redhead handed the book over to him and he began flipping through, stopping on a page near the front with a heading of Dear Azriel . It looked almost like a letter, but it was dated nearly two years prior. His eyes darted back up to her face, her cheeks turning rosy.
“After… after the Blood Rite - after I’d realized that you were more important to me than I’d thought - I started writing letters. It was more like a diary than anything. You know how I am. Sometimes I have… a lot of words that need to get out. And when I wrote to you it felt more like I was talking to a friend. To someone who would understand.” Gwyn shrugged, staring down at her own handwriting with a warm grin. “As we became closer, it changed. It still felt like I was speaking to a confidant, but sometimes it became more… romantic.”
“Are you giving me a book of love letters, Berdara?” he crooned, his voice dripping with smugness. She slapped him across the chest.
“They’re not all love letters, you arrogant ass,” she hissed, even as her eyes twinkled with mirth. “But I want you to turn to the last page and read it.” Azriel stared at her for a moment, wispy black tendrils making themselves very comfortable as they wove with her hair. And then he flipped to the back of the book, finding a letter that was dated only a few days prior.
To my mate,
It’s been nearly a year since we uttered our first I love you, and I never would have imagined that by now we would be married, much less mates. And even though it has only been a year, it is hard to even recall what it felt like not to trust you implicitly and love you completely. I was so grateful to have you in my life as a friend, and then as a partner, then as a husband and lover and mate. I have been able to overcome so many fears with you holding my hand, even though you never shielded me or became overbearing. You believed in my strength and my heart and my mind, even when I could not.
We have experienced so much, and have both felt the fear and pain of potentially losing the other. We have battled demons and basked in sunlight. I have shared everything that I am with you - every part of me. Except for one.
Which is why I’ve been down at the River House so often these past few weeks (it hasn’t been for my research, as I’d said). Elain has been helping me learn how to bake - only one thing, so don’t go thinking that I’ll suddenly be some sort of magician in the kitchen. But I want to prepare something for you. Serve it to you. I want to give you that last piece of me that you do not yet have.
I’m ready, Angel.
I accept the bond.
Wholeheartedly and with no reservations.
You are my mate, and I am yours.
Forever.
Azriel had forgotten how to breathe, surely. He hadn’t expected this so quickly after they were wed - maybe even never. And he had accepted that with no ill will. He loved Gwyn, no matter what. He felt the moisture building on his lower lashes and blinked rapidly, finally lifting his gaze to face his beautiful mate.
She wore a satisfied smirk, those ocean depths shimmering with genuine want and determination - not a sign of trepidation in sight. And in her lap was a small open box, a small slice of a chocolate cake inside. He tried to say a word, croak her name, but the lump in his throat choked him.
“It’s not pretty - I’m no professional - but it tastes pretty good. And nobody said it had to be perfect. We’ve never worked that way, after all,” she began to ramble. She looked away and took a breath, and he felt the tether between them melt into something akin to warm, contented comfort. She lifted the box and held it out to him, her teal gaze a burning brand on his soul. “I know you’re going to ask if I’m sure, and I swear to you I am. So please, Az…”
He could never say no to her. She knew that. But her eyes and the bond between them showed no inkling of fear or uncertainty. So Azriel leaned over to press his lips to her brow, then took the cake in his hand and took a large bite. As he ate, their stares remained locked on the other, as if they were both waiting to pounce the very moment he’d swallowed the last morsel. Gwyn grabbed his hand as soon as it was emptied, gazing up at him as she licked the remnants of frosting from his fingers. He was hard instantly, and suddenly the golden tether inside him burst into flame. In a second she was laying upon the tufted cushions, his lips devouring hers hungrily. The sound that rumbled out of his chest was purely animalistic, and his cock strained against his breeches as his mate giggled at the display.
“We’re lucky, you know,” she gasped as his mouth nipped and sucked at the curve of her jaw and started a path down her neck. He needed all of her, needed to feel every inch of her - to memorize and claim it.
“And why is that?” he groaned against her pulse before setting his tongue and teeth upon the crook of her neck. The noise he drew from her was pure heaven, a whimper so full of desperation and need it was any wonder he didn’t shred every item of clothing they were wearing in an instant.
“We’re lucky that this house is already fully furnished, since I don’t think we’ll be leaving anytime soon.” Azriel pushed himself up for a moment, taking in her cheeky grin and the way her eyes seemed to smolder with desire. His mouth tilted into a wicked grin as he grabbed her waist and pushed her body so that all of her was laying on the couch… bed… whatever the hell it was.
“Indeed,” he growled, crawling back over her. “And I must admit, I wasn’t entirely truthful about why I picked this enormous chaise.” Her fingers crawled under his sweater, a cool touch against his fevered flesh as she gave a sultry response.
“Then why, pray tell, did you purchase such a comfortable piece of furniture that would easily fit the both of us?” The Valkyrie - his bride and mate, dragged her bottom lip between her teeth, and he was a goner. His mouth descended upon her again, their tongues licking and lashing against each other.
He stopped long enough to whisper, voice dripping with suggestion and heat, “Let me show you.”