#a court of witches and warriors

[arinbelle]

A Court of Witches and Warriors

A/N: I know it’s been a year since I updated this fic. I am so very aware. 🤦🏽‍♀️ 

~*~

Chapter 20

Cassian awoke to darkness. 

At first, he was sure he was back in his home. In Windhaven. Instinct had him reaching to his right, feeling for Nesta's warm body that always seemed to mold into his side as the night wore on. But Nesta was not there.

Nothing was there. And upon further inspection, Cassian realized nothing was there at all.

He breathed out sharply, panic slicing through him suddenly at the eerie nothingness he was in.

The sound echoed around him, as if he was underwater in some cave, bouncing around aimlessly until finally fading into more silence. Something was wrong. He needed to think. Where was he? And how had he gotten to where this was?

The forest. Martaxes. Nesta.

“Nesta!”

But there was no response save for the echo back of his own voice.

Bits and pieces of disjointed memories came back to him slowly. All the while, the inky blackness around him didn't dissipate once. He flung himself though it in the lapses between his memory, when no new visions of what had happened in those woods would enter his mind. It was always the same end result. Cassian would try to fly, try to jump, try to walk, but he always ended up on some flat, soft surface that he could only assume was a bed. He couldn't see much to verify it himself, although strangely enough, he could see his own hands. His body. 

Cassian startled as he looked down at his torso again, taking in the newly formed gashes that slithered over his stomach, scraping over his chest, healed but barely. Strangely, mangled as they looked, he did not feel pain.

Something from long ago he'd heard in his lessons popped up suddenly in his mind. A tutor that had gone over the various monsters in Prythian. It had been Rhys' father's decision to have them all educated on the topic, as the Illyrian camps only gave battle training and weaponry for Fae counterparts. Not their hidden monsters. The lecture had droned on for so long that Cassian had given up on paying attention and instead had gotten into a spitball contest with Rhys. Az, ever the faithful student, was the only one who had glared at their antics and tried his best to absorb all the tedious knowledge they were being given. Until the spitball landed on the teacher's face and Cassian had been given three sharp lashes on his knuckles for the infraction. His next monotone paragraph had etched itself into Cassian's memory, with the sting of the whip still smarting on his hands.

"The martax has potent venom in its bite- remember that. It renders its prey weak and motionless, and the paralysis eventually chokes off their ability to breathe. Their heart to pump. The only saving grace is that the prey do not feel pain when bitten or clawed. It is a steady but painless death, with the prey often times comatose while they are eaten or slowly dying."

Everything began clicking back together again, as if someone had fixed up the jigsaw puzzle in his head on the last few days and suddenly Cassian could think again.

"I'm dying," Cassian breathed out, realizing the horrible truth as he looked at the bite bark accompanying the slashes on his torso.

"Indeed you are."

Cassian jumped at the voice, somehow everywhere and nowhere around him. He still couldn't see anything. 

Cassian instinctively flared out his wings and called his power up to his hands. It rumbled as it awoke, and Cassian felt the charge of the Killing Power push through him, revitalizing every fiber of his being in a way that the past hours aimless rest hadn't done. But for all its bravado, nothing surged to his fingertips, his feet, his wings...nothing.

"That won't work here." The voice was back.

Cassian tried to figure out the source, but once again, his search proved futile.

"If you wish to see me, you need only ask." It was a voice that reminded him of Amren, young and yet ancient enough for Cassian to know this was no ordinary being. No Fae, no human, or a monster. It was something Otherwordly and now that she'd made it clear how to see her, Cassian wasn't sure he wanted to.

"Fine. Where am I?"

For a moment there was only silence. And then, Cassian heard a whoosh of air behind him, and could see light emanating from there too, drawing flickering shapes in front of him and expanding his shadow onto the ground. Cassian was careful when he turned, but he did turn, and he did look, bizarre as it all was.

She looked younger than he had expected. An angular, olive skinned face, one of beauty, was framed by dark curls and a thrumming energy of changing colors.  And yet...something in her was off, utterly wrong. As he stared at her longer, he realized that her teal eyes held too much weight, too much age, for her face to look so youthful.

"I am older than you'll ever be able to guess child. I suggest you worry about more pressing matters." Her voice felt both like relief and worry, like a nightingale's cry and nails on a stone wall. Right and wrong mixed into a spellbinding mix that had Cassian rearing a few steps back. The woman...thing had a black robe wrapped all around her, cinched tight at the waist with a strange, shimmering belt that reminded Cassian of a snake. 

Was it actually a snake? Cassian swore he saw something like moving scales, but then he'd blinked and it had passed.

Cassian's mouth had dried out as realization struck that no matter how much she may almost look like a woman or a female, she was neither. There was more to her and her strange presence that had Cassian asking, "Who are you?"

She cocked her head and serpentine smile wreaked onto her face, and even though he'd been alive for more than five centuries, had seen and ended all sorts of monsters in the world, it sent shivers down Cassian's back.

"Scared already?," she mocked with chilling amusement. "You won't fare well with that attitude. Especially not in this world."

Cassian steadied his mind, "What world would that be? Who are you? What are you?”

She flashed her teeth again and Cassian realized he may have asked the wrong question. "You know where you are. At least some sense of it. Don't expect me to comfort you from the truth we both know. As for me, I'm known as many things. By many names. We don't have time to sort through all of them."

"Are you Fae?," Cassian ventured to ask. He knew she wasn't, but he needed to know what was churning behind her eyes, because it sure as hell wasn't the same immortality that ran through him.

"No." A moment of fitful silence went by so she added, musing as she did, "I did have a hand in creating them though, so I suppose I could be considered a mother to your race." 

If she'd created them, had been alive long enough to have helped bring forth the Fae, she had to be a deity of some sort. Some type of Goddess though he wouldn't know since she refused to tell him her name. Horror sluiced through him at the thought of being toe to toe with an unknown immortal, possibly another Death god like the one they'd tried to keep imprisoned in Velaris.

She began walking towards him, and Cassian's battle training had him planting his feet in a fighting stance, ready for her to attack. Even though she was a goddess and Cassian would likely die for real from the fight, he stood strong. All for nothing, because she breezed right past him and into a blazing white circle that had opened up in the middle of the dark nothing around them.

Cassian gaped at the blinding circle for only a moment.

"Well, are you coming or not? I could leave you there to rot, but if you're wise, you'll follow me Cassian." Her voice came from beyond the white circle, a portal no doubt leading to somewhere away from the stygian contraption of wherever he was.

Cassian didn't like the sound of his name on her tongue but he followed dutifully, the portal sucking him in the rest of the way when he was near touching it. It turned his stomach inside out, almost like Winnowing with Rhys but worse, and soon enough he found himself lying facedown in the grass, all the breath completely knocked out of him. 

When he looked up, a pair of shiny boots were pointed towards him. Cassian got up, groaning as pain spiked in random parts of his body, and the portal's journey took its physical toll. She waited patiently for him as he caught his breath and then straightened up, only raising an eyebrow at him in an amused way.

When she turned and began walking away, Cassian heaved himself to keep up. 

"It seems the poison has taken quite a toll on you. I would think a centuries old Commander of the supposedly best army in Prythian could handle a small bit of portal travel." She smirked at him as he caught up to her, looking him up and down before turning straight again. "Guess not."

Cassian wanted to argue it but deep down he could feel his strength had waned considerably. How long did he have? He hadn't even been able to say goodbye to Nesta.

Nesta. His fierce and loyal Nesta, who had returned for him even though she shouldn't have. He had no idea how she was faring? If she was also hurt like him...or worse.

"Nesta is fine." She stopped, peering at him carefully. "Well, she's alive. She's not at all fine."

"Why?," Cassian demanded, a sick feeling of dread sluicing through him for what Nesta may have suffered. The Mother did not react to his brusque change in tone.

"She weeps at your bedside everyday. Asking for you to wake up. Come back to her. Foolish girl wants time. Some sort of promise you made her?" 

The goddess said it like a question but there was something wrong in her tone. As if she too knew the weight of those very words and just how deep those wounds ran between him and Nesta.

I will find you in the next world - the next life. And we will have that time. I promise.

Cassian's words came roaring back to him and his world began splintering. He needed to get back to her. Needed to -

"No!" Cassian's head whipped towards her. "There'll be none of that here. I don't have time for you to lose resolve already. We don't have long. Come with me." She began walking away, at a far brisker pace than Cassian thought was possible, and he struggled to keep up, panting every so often.

"What is this place? Where were we just before?"

She didn't reply right away. Cassian wanted to rip his hair out. He needed to leave, if he could, and somehow find a way to speak to Nesta. If he didn't live, at least speak to her one last time and tell her everything she meant to him. 

"You're dying," she finally stated, halting suddenly and leaving Cassian scrambling.

Cassian had been on the brink of Death many times, had been brought back many times as well. It shouldn't have felt like such a slap in the face when he heard the damning words, but it did. Shuttered his eyes and made his too weak heartbeat pound just a bit faster.

"You were in a waiting place earlier." The dark place that he'd woken up to. She nodded as if to confirm his thoughts. "All the souls that are caught between the two worlds are stuck there, in their own version of it, until someone can bring them over to the other side."

"And that someone is you," Cassian stated, not a question but to confirm.

She blinked at him before slowly replying. "No...it's usually not. There is another here who tends to lost souls." Another God or Goddess no doubt. Cassian still couldn't believe that he was speaking to an actual deity at the moment. "Well," she started again, as if sensing the direction of his thoughts. "There are many of us here in the Afterlife that aid in bringing the dead to their final resting place. Usually the Goddess who runs this place is the one to do it. Especially if the soul is...important." Cassian didn't like how she said it, as if there was something off about him that needed to be studied. 

"Where are they then?," Cassian demanded. 

She tutted at him not answering. Instead she waved her arms and Cassian felt a hook under his navel, jerking him. He yelled out at the foreign and unpleasant sensation. Except when it really began to feel unbearable, it was over, and Cassian was no longer in a field. Instead, they had arrived someplace underground, a cavern of some sort, and the only source of light was a glaring white sphere in the center of the room. As it moved inside itself and the opalescent substance of whatever it was twirled, the goddess walked up behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder. 

"I am usually not the one who deals with lost souls or the ones who need helping crossing. I do deal with ghosts and souls and ghouls and all other manner of dark creature, whether by death or by their own choice. But I heard of your arrival and wanted to see you."

Cassian's mouth went dry. "Why?" What could she possibly want with him? What interest could he serve for her?

"It isn't you," she assured him calmly. "It's your mate."

"You know Nesta?" Cassian turned his head to look at her.

A sly smile overtook her face. "I figured you wouldn't know," she mused aloud, tapping her lips with her fingers. "But I thought she would eventually tell you..."

The woman trailed off and Cassian resisted the urge to demand her to finish what she was saying. She didn't and Cassian couldn't help but let out a growl of frustration.

"Keep those noises to yourself boy," she admonished sharply, and Cassian somehow found himself shirking back. It had been a long time since someone had scared him enough to do that. Sure Nesta had always had her moments where she'd unnerved him. Set him off. But he'd never been afraid of her. Never.

This woman though, with her cruel stare and serpentine smile, scared the hell out of him.

"Yes I know Nesta," she finally spoke. "I met her briefly. Once, long ago I suppose. Or not long at all. Time is so very different for me than you Fae."

"I don't understand," Cassian admitted reluctantly. She'd spoken in riddles from the moment he'd met her but the lack of clarity in her eyes, the haze that seemed to cloud them suddenly left him feeling unsteady.

She nodded after a moment. Cassian unintentionally found himself walking backwards as she moved towards him. But she ended up moving past him yet again, stopping some distance away and throwing her hand out into the air. The air seemed to ripple where her fingers hovered, and suddenly colors began moving, shapes began forming and before he knew it, a scene he'd been on the other side of began playing in front of him.

Nesta lay over him, scratched up, blood leaking from her mouth where Hybern had struck her. He'd never paid much attention to how he had looked that day, more focused on getting Nesta to safety, making sure she survived even if he didn't. 

It was a wretched sight, Hybern advancing on them, Nesta sobbing, clinging desperately at Cassian's leathers to get up. And then she said the words that had seared into Cassian's mind from the moment she'd uttered them.

"I can't. I can’t.”

Not "won't." 

Can't. Could not.

She refused to leave him. Cassian had known in that moment, as he'd pressed his lips to hers, in what he was sure was going to be their last moments, that she was his, and he had always been hers.

Cassian had not seen Elain from where he’d been, with Nesta’s face and chest covering him. But he’d heard the sound of the blade singing through the air before it hit its target. Had heard Hybern choke .

To see it from this new perspective was jarring. Delicate Elain who felt faint and awkward around blood and gore, sweet Elain who blushed at the crude jokes he and Rhys made around Feyre, had slayed a king for her sister. 

“I was here for this,” he bit out as he watched Nesta begin twisting the blade, severing Hybern’s head off. Every bit the warrior queen he’d thought her to be from the first time they’d met. 

He saw the goddess smirk. “You were here for this part boy, but I promise you the rest will be quite a surprise.”

Elain had begun screaming over her father’s corpse and Nesta would soon be pulled from her bloodletting stupor to comfort her sister. He remembered it clear as day because all he had wanted to do was for her to come to him instead. For him to hold her and breathe in her scent to know she was real. But Nesta did not.

Nesta walked over to where Cassian was still laying, all bent bones and broken wings, and fell to her knees beside him. Laid a hand on his shoulder and shook it.

No.

That wasn’t right. She was shaking all of him.

“Cassian,” she called out, shaking him again. Elain’s sobs quieted as she looked over.

“Cassian…,” Nesta tried again, panic overtaking her lovely face. “Cassian wake up. Cassian. Wake. Up.”

But to his horror, he had stopped moving.

“No,” he breathed out. “That’s not possible. That’s not what happened.”

Because he had been there. Nesta had held Elain besides their father while she’d wept and wept and wept. Cassian had lain there grateful to be alive, praying that no new foes emerged while Nesta and Elain had sat there undefended. Soon enough, Mor had come looking for him and with Azriel’s help, they’d hauled him away. He’d tried to catch Nesta’s eye as he had been taken away, all for nothing. She’d avoided him in those first moments of victory, and that distance had only widened in the year to come.

But that was no longer happening. There was no Mor. No Azriel. Instead, Nesta was shaking Cassian, calling his name over and over asking him to wake up.

But he didn’t. And if he looked closer, he could see his own chest, and how obvious it was that it was no longer rising or falling. He could see his eyes had shut and his wings had tucked inwards, not even twitching here and there.

“I died.” He spoke the heavy truth, poisonous as it was to spit out.

“Indeed you did,” the snakelike female confirmed. “Tragedy too since you would have survived had Hybern not broken so many bones.”

He’d broken scores of bones in his life. It had never brought him to the brink of death, let alone fully crossed him over its threshold.

“He broke all your ribs, and one of them pierced your heart. It was internal bleeding along with all the other bleeds you had already suffered that I believe did you in.”

Cassian could only nod in horror as he watched Nesta start to sob. To scream. For help. For someone, anyone, to help them.

Elain watched transfixed in horror, sitting beside her father’s corpse as Nesta sat beside a corpse of her own.

Cassian had no idea what was going on, how he could watch his own death unravel only to be alive in the future that was today.

Nesta had laid her head down on his chest, sobbing softly, murmuring something.

“What is she saying?,” he demanded hollowly.

The goddess didn’t respond, only pressing a hand to his lower back, pushing him forward. Suddenly Cassian was no longer looking at the memory, he was in it. The smell of death and war loomed over him and the battlefield thrummed beneath his feet as he got closer to Nesta. He looked over at Elain, panicked, sure that she would go mad if she saw two Cassians in front of her.

“They cannot see us,” the goddess assured him from behind.

So Cassian took another step closer. Closer. Closer. Until he heard the words falling from Nesta’s mouth.

“Please, please, please, please, please, please,please, please.”

She whispered it brokenly, over and over and over again, all to no avail.

“She sat there like that for an hour,” he heard the goddess say. “You were going to cross over very soon with the one who takes souls over. But he saw your mate sitting there over your body, pleading for so long, so eventually I was called over.” She walked over until Cassian could feel the Otherwordly power emanating from her and into him. “I almost left her there. Almost. But as it was pointed out to me by my…colleague, she was no ordinary grieving girl.”

Cassian wanted to say that Nesta had never been just ordinary but he bit his tongue.

Nesta was still pleading. Sobbing, begging and pleading her woe. 

“Please.”

Please , she had just begged to Hybern just moments ago. Please , to spare her at father. Please , to let them go. And here she was again, doing it for Cassian. 

He recognized the blinding white light of the goddess before Nesta even noticed it. As a duplicate of the female beside him walked onto the battlefield and surveyed the scene before her. It was Elain’s gasp that had Nesta lifting her head from Cassian’s prone chest to look at her.

“Well, you certainly have raised quite a storm haven’t you Nesta Archeron?”

Nesta didn’t respond, only narrowing her eyes with contempt. Cassian laughed. The goddess from his time glared at him but Cassian couldn't’ help the small smile he kept on his face. That was his Nesta, even in the face of calamity.

“You need to let him go.”

“No.” Cassian could feel the ancient Fae command in her tone. Could practically feel Nesta resonating with ire and power as she staked her claim.

“You were not allowed to steal from the Cauldron for this girl. Not this. Anything but this.”

Cassian didn’t understand so he looked to the goddess at his right to explain.

The only answer to his question was another question.

“What is her power, Cassian?”

Cassian snorted. “Hell if anyone knows. She’s damn good at making a fire. Still shitty as hell with water, but she can pull it off. Not too great with potions, terrifyingly good with spells.”

He was graced with a withering smile that sobered him up. “I don’t know honestly. None of us do. We, well I, figured out that she’s a witch. You know witches control the elements.”

“Yes,” she affirmed, nodding, “but she is a witch by nature. She was turned Fae by the Cauldron, which created an immortal from the very fabric of her being. Who she was to her core. So she is a witch simply because she was made Fae, and those powers are what all witches have. But she stole from the Cauldron as well. What did she take, Cassian?”

Cassian shook his head. “I don’t know. She won’t say. Her power from the Cauldron is like fire but cold, almost like ice. None of us can figure out what it means.”

“Then look closer.”

So he did.

The goddess from then surveyed Nesta with a serpentine smile. “You cannot hold him here. That is not what you are meant to do. You are breaking the very laws of the world to do it.”

Holding him here. She was holding him back. From what?

Nesta growled. “I don’t want the Cauldron’s power to be your puppet. I already told you that once before.”

“And I told you that is not how our world works. You cannot take from us and pay no price. And there is always a price girl. You know this.” Then, the goddess’s face softened considerably, in a way he didn’t know was possible. “I cannot let you keep him in your world. He is dead. He cannot be tethered here anymore. Your powers will drain if you push this any longer.”

“Gods above,” he breathed out.

She was stopping him from crossing over to death. Nesta’s power…was Death. 

The goddess only nodded at him once before she turned away to stare at her counterpart ahead of them. 

Nesta visibly struggled, something like panic and agony slicing through her lovely features as she grappled with what she’d just been told. And then, as if ice melting on a spring day, the anger dissipated from her face. All that was left was hollow sorrow.

“Please. I will give anything.”

“No,” Cassian shouted out. He felt nauseous as he watched on. Knew that no good could come of this.

“What is he worth Nesta Archeron?”

Not even a moment’s worth of hesitation before Nesta was already answering. 

“He is everything.”

“So he is,” the goddess had declared with a knowing smile.

And then Cassian suddenly lost all sense of sound. He saw Nesta speak to the goddess, saw them nod at each other as some sort of agreement was sparked, all mute to him. He saw a curling mark appear on Nesta’s wrist, black as night at first form, only to glow brighter and brighter until it burned silver and then turned to nothing at all. Hidden away from the naked eye, but the bargain would remain. The goddess disappeared, and time seemed to move backwards around.

Nesta was again besides Elain, Cassian was suddenly jerking awake, no looming death for him anymore. But this time he saw the change in Nesta. Saw how she snuck glances over to Cassian as he lay there in the memory he had originally had of himself. And it became clear to him that whatever had transpired that day between Nesta and the goddess, was only privy to the two. Cassian and Elain had no recollection of it and he likely never would have had he not been shown what he had just now.

Cassian was suddenly terrified as he was ripped away from the scene before him. Terrified as the world fell away from him until he was again in that bright, clear, open field with the goddess beside him. Terrified as he wondered, what had Nesta given in exchange for his life. 

~*~

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#nessian #nesta acheron #cassian #nessian fanfic #nesta archeron #acosf #acotar #nesta #nesta x cassian #a court of silver flames #nessian fanfiction #a court of witches and warriors

[ranwing]

Note to the Supreme Court and the anti-choice movement.

This is not over. Not by a long shot. If you think that we're just going to meekly give up and accept this as the status quo, you are only fooling yourself. Because my Mom (blessed be her memory) didn't raise me to be a handmaiden. She raised me to be a warrior.

#reproductive rights #abortion rights #women's rights are human rights #fight back #fuck the supreme court #warrior witch

[sinner-as-saint]

not without you

Viking Chief!Bucky x Witch!Reader 

Run-through: You’re a powerful witch, famous and respected for your mastery of magic and ability to control the elements. Naturally, people always need you. Vikings, kings, and common men alike, be it to magically save dying crops, help them win battles, or to protect their people by manipulating the weather. One day, a certain blue-eyed Viking chief asks for your help. Bucky Barnes – one of the strongest, most feared of his kind, known for his ruthlessness and brutal nature. He offers your wandering self shelter and protection in return for your help in keeping his people and crops alive and well with the harsh winter approaching fast. And you can’t seem to refuse his offer… 

Themes: witch!reader, viking chief!bucky, smut, fluff, mild knife kink, cosy winter vibes, metal arm, tatted!bucky, possessive!bucky, slight angst, HEA, 

a/n: thank you for 28k. I love you.

The wind whispered that he was on his way to you. 

By the time the Chief and his men made their way to your makeshift shack on the edge of the woods, you were already out waiting for them. 

Hidden under your billowy cloak, with the hood hiding most of your face, you stood and faced the men with confidence. You couldn’t see them, given the hood, but you sensed the way the Chief got off of his horse, clutching his sword in hand as he took a step. Not in fear, no. But in that arrogant way you’d expect a Chief to move. 

“Witch.” He greeted you. It was the only way he could greet you anyway, nobody knew your name. 

You smirked. Finally peeling your hood off your head. You gave him a brief nod, “Chief.” You looked him right in those ocean blue eyes of his and judging by the look in them, you could tell he wasn’t used to people maintaining eye contact with him. He was an important man after all, and most people feared him. 

But your magic had a way of reading people for you and… there was nothing to be afraid of. Not of him. He did look every bit of the fearsome viking he was known as though. Thick furs couldn’t hide the tall, muscular body. His shoulder length brown hair braided in some places. His handsome face was serious, like he rarely smiled. And all that ink all over his neck, and arm – just one arm because the other one was made of pure metal. 

You had heard stories of how he’d lost his arm in battle, and how a great, benevolent king – also a close friend of his – had the metal arm constructed for him. 

But above all else, the Chief was devastatingly handsome. You’d known, courted, and befriended quite some men. Hunters. Lords. Warlocks. Princes. Kings. Yet none were quite as devastatingly handsome as the Chief. 

You quickly looked behind him and saw two men standing taller and prouder than the rest of the warriors. The wind whispered their names to you. Sam. Steve. Both were just as handsome as their Chief, however there was something about the male standing in front of you with a sword in hand. Thick white fur wrapped around his shoulders. Clear, icy blue eyes. Pink mouth. The cold made his cheeks and nose red. 

“We heard rumours that you were close to our village, and we’ve come to ask for your help.” The Chief said, gracefully, calmly. 

You gave him a nod. “I know.” You said quietly. “The north wind brings news that this winter will be exceptionally harsh.”

Bucky gave you that look that most people gave you when they figured out that your magic was indeed real. He was just a little surprised, but composed himself. “We desperately need your help.” He spoke again. 

You agreed to help of course. This was your purpose with the magic you had. 

And since you had little to pack, you went with them immediately. They didn’t bring an extra horse so you rode with the handsome Chief back to his village where you would be spending the entirety of the coming winter. 

You never asked for anything in exchange. Some witches did, most of them did not. Mainly because you never needed anything, you had magic and you could conjure anything you wanted out of nothing. But you liked having company of people. So you considered that payment. 

And after spending months on your own, you were looking forward to meeting new people, helping them. 

During the ride back to the village you’d be calling home for the coming months, you felt the Chief tense behind you. His muscular arms circled around you as he held the reins but he was respectful enough to keep a few inches between you and him. You could only assume how much stress he was putting on his back to keep him from slouching forward. 

You hid your smile as you sensed that he was nervous. “You don’t have to be so tense.” You said, turning your head to the side a little. “Witches don’t bite.” You spoke quietly so that the men behind you wouldn’t hear. 

“I don’t…” He let out a huff of warm air. “I don’t want to be disrespectful.” 

You smirked, but he couldn’t see it. “I’m just saying, you could use the warmth.” 

He didn’t know what you meant until he slowly inched closer, his chest pressing against your back. Even with the multiple layers separating the two of you, your body heat wrapped around him in a way that had him sighing in relief. 

Without another word said, his metal arm wrapped around your middle as he pulled you against him even more. You smiled as he leaned in to whisper into your ear, “You’re very warm.” He sounded a little surprised. His deep, gravelly voice making you shiver despite the warmth. 

“Magic, remember?” 

He hummed in response, keeping his arm loosely around your waist as he took you to his village. The tension between you two felt electric. 

—

The ride wasn’t too long, and soon you arrived at the village. It was larger than you had imagined. Busier, but tidier. 

Once you got past the tall, wooden palisades you could see more of the daily activities. Hunters sharpening their weapons, warriors training, children running around. You spotted the vast crops, the rivers. 

There was so much you couldn’t see, but the elements spoke to you. You knew there was a lake here somewhere. The Chief’s hall was beyond the wooden houses which were scattered all over. You knew there were people gathered somewhere near the beach, working on building a new boat. Multiple boats in fact. 

“Welcome to my home.” The Chief whispered as he led you deeper into the village. 

Judging by the relieved smiles on people’s faces as they spotted you, you knew they were aware that you were here to help them. You smiled back to as many as you could on your way to the main area, in the middle of the village. 

The Chief helped you off the horse and when you thanked him he said, “You can call me Bucky. All my friends do.” 

You gave me a smile, “Alright, Bucky.” 

He nodded, then pointed at a wooden house, not far from his residence, and said, “I hope you’ll be comfortable here.” 

One of the ladies was beside you immediately, saying she wanted to help you get settled in. So with one last glance at Bucky, you made your way to your new, temporary home. 

–

The moment he walked into his home, sighing in relief at the feeling of warmth, his two best friends rushed in after him, grinning like they were up to no good. Bucky rolled his eyes at Sam and Steve as he poured wine into three cups. 

“What?” He barked at them, handing them their cups before he sat on one of the few stairs that led to his seat. The one he sat on when he had to act as Chief. But when he was with his friends, he didn’t like sitting on it. 

“Are we going to address the heated looks you and the witch have been sharing or are we going to pretend nothing’s happening here?” Sam teased, leaning against a nearby table. 

Steve chuckled, sitting down near the fire in the middle of the room. “Yeah Chief, what’s going on?” 

Bucky glared at them both. He loved them to death, would die and kill for them in a heartbeat. But gods, they could be so annoying. “Enough,” He grumbled as they both laughed shamelessly at him, “She’s our guest. Most of all, we need her to survive this winter. Be respectful.” 

Sam smirked and said, “Is that what that was on the ride back? The two of you as close as lovers? Was that you being respectful?” 

Steve’s laughter echoed around the hall. Bucky wanted to chuck his cup at both of them but he didn’t want to waste the wine so he just rolled his eyes again, “Get out both of you.” 

“Oh come on, Buck.” Steve spoke up, “With her as your wife we would be unstoppable.” 

Sam nodded, “Exactly.” 

“Both of you, shut up.” 

“I mean, she is beautiful. If you’re not interested, I might check out what else her magic can do when-,” Steve stopped talking the moment Bucky threw his cup at him, wine and all. 

Sam choked on his drink and laughed even harder. 

Shortly after, Bucky kicked both of them out of his home. He was surprised at how it suddenly got hard to breathe or think the moment Steve even jokingly hinted at getting intimate with you. Bucky felt so protective over you despite having met you just hours ago. 

He just wished he could keep that under control for the coming months. You were his guest after all. He couldn’t be inappropriate. 

— 

He couldn’t sleep that night. The village was quiet, dark. The night was cold given winter was approaching really fast. The next day, he had plans to give you a tour of the village and thinking about spending hours with you was making him nervous. But in a good way. Gods, he was turning into a little boy with a crush. This was bad for his image. 

He couldn’t sleep, so he figured a walk might tire him out. So he layered up in his favourite furs, grabbed a torch and stepped outside. It was dark, save for the moonlight. And also light coming from your temporary home. 

Bucky was walking towards the wooden house before he even realised it. His hand was knocking against the door before he could talk himself out of it. He should let you rest. He should act like a grown up and walk away right now. Being Chief he should– 

He stopped functioning the moment you opened the door and looked up at him. Dressed in a beige night dress, a woollen blanket wrapped around your shoulders, and the dimmed light of the torches made you look ethereal just standing there at the door. 

You spoke first, “Bucky.” You didn’t sound surprised. You knew he was coming over the moment he stepped out of his home. “It’s rather late, is something wrong?” You couldn’t help but ask. You knew he was coming over, but you didn’t know why. Your magic, fortunately, didn’t allow you to read minds. 

Bucky placed the torch on the sconce by the door and cleared his throat, standing proud and tall like one would expect him to. “I saw your lights were still on. I couldn’t help but worry so I… uh, came to check.” He paused, awkwardly. “Do you… are you comfortable? Do you need anything?” 

You sensed his slight nervousness even without using your magic. You tilted your head to the side and smiled at him, “I’m very comfortable. Your people were kind enough to–” You stopped, noticing how foggy his breaths were, “Please come in,” You opened the door wider, “It’s cold out.” 

Bucky accepted the invitation. As soon as he stepped in, you placed your hand on his chest. Bucky blinked and in the fraction of a second, he felt comfortably warm. He gave you a thankful smile. 

You smirked playfully and whispered, “Magic.” Then you moved towards the makeshift kitchen, “Tea?” 

Bucky grimaced and said, “I don’t like that bitter stuff.” He mumbled, avoiding eye contact. 

You chuckled, “I bet you will like this one.” You went ahead and made him chamomile tea, with warm milk and a generous dollop of honey. 

By the time you brought the mug to him, you found him bent over your little desk. He was looking down at the map you were currently making, your special black ink on special parchment paper. 

Bucky whispered his thanks as he took the mug, then said, “You’re making a map of the village?” He sounded both amazed and confused. “No one has been able to make one this accurate. You haven’t even… “ He paused, “Of course,” He smirked, “Magic.” 

You smiled. “Maps help me control my spells better. It’s enchanted parchment you see,” You pointed at the map, “I can even work from here with the help of the map.” You looked back up at him and saw the look of delight on his face as he took his first sip of the tea. 

He raised an eyebrow at you, “You laced this with magic as well?” 

You giggled, “No, just milk and honey.” 

Bucky just stared at you with soft eyes. In the dim, golden lights his eyes twinkled like that of a wolf. You stared into them, neither of you spoke. Until he finally blinked, pointed at the map and said, “It must be incredible, being this talented.” 

You couldn’t help but chuckle in a self-deprecating way. “Talent.” You repeated, looking down at the map. Then quietly said, “I was always taught and told that my magic was a great weapon. But thank you, I guess.” 

Without another word said, Bucky placed his half empty mug down and grabbed both of your hands in his large, warm ones. He tugged you closer, gently. Just the slightest bit so he could have your undivided attention. 

“You’re not a weapon. You won’t ever be one, not here.” He said, softly. Slowly. “You are our salvation.” 

You had been repaid in many ways throughout your life. Chests filled with gold. Jewels. Feasts and balls thrown in your name. Even a few marriage proposals from influential families. But no one had ever told you that you were their salvation. Something about Bucky saying it, even before you got him and his people through the winter, made you tear up just a little. 

His face softened as he wiped that tear away from your cheek with his slightly cold metal arm. “I mean it.” He whispered. Then he leaned in and kissed you on the cheek, whispering, “You are so beautiful.” Then a little closer to your mouth. “So warm.” Then finally pressed his lips against yours as his arms wrapped around you, pulling you closer and pressing you against the soft furs he was wearing. 

You couldn’t help but moan quietly into the kiss. That made him growl, made him deepen the kiss. His warm hand cradled your face as his metal arm wrapped around your waist. His lips were surprisingly soft, and his kiss was gentle. Sensual. Your hands wandered over his chest. You could feel his heart racing. You could feel him breathing deeper, but refusing to break the kiss. 

You gasped in pleasure when his mouth left your lips briefly to kiss along your jaw, making your heart flutter in anticipation. But then, he stopped and pulled away. He was breathless, frowning, his lips wet and pink. 

“I… I shouldn’t.” He licked his lips and you almost moaned again. “You’re…” He took a deep breath. “You’re my guest. And you only just got here.” He shook his head, as if disappointed in himself. “I shouldn’t have pounced on you like an animal like that.” 

You fixed the blanket around your shoulders, giving him a playful, though disappointed, smile. “I’ve heard a lot of things about you, but no one even mentioned you were such a proper gentleman.” 

Bucky cleared his throat, then gave you a heated look that screamed that if he didn’t get out of here right this instant he would surely be pouncing on you again. “I should go.” He mumbled. “Thank you for the tea.” 

You nodded, “You’re very welcome. I will see you tomorrow, for the tour?” 

He nodded. Then as he turned to leave, he paused. He turned back around and unwrapped the thick white fur from around his shoulders and placed it on your desk. The tunic he wore was loose around his neck so you could see the ink on his skin peaking through. “Keep this,” He said, “you might need it for tomorrow.” 

You smirked, understanding what he was playing at. He knew you could keep yourself warm. But he just wanted you to wear something of his while he showed you around tomorrow. He wanted everyone to see you wearing something of his. You had heard of vikings being territorial, and truthfully, you didn’t mind this one bit. 

You played along, pretending to be oblivious. “Won’t you be cold then?” 

As he stepped out of the door, he turned to look at you. Smirked and said, “I think your magic will keep me warm enough.” 

You chuckled as he shut the door behind him, took his torch and left. Who knew the Chief would be such a flirt? 

— 

Bucky had never been this excited to give someone a tour of his village. He was at your door the next morning, early and ready. He knew you already had a map, but he wanted you to see the place properly. 

You caught the approval in his smile when he saw you wearing the fur he left you as you stepped out to join him. He was wearing black furs, and looked just as majestic. 

“My people are delighted that you’re here to save us from the winter,” He said as the two of you began walking towards the centre of the village, the busiest part he told you. “So expect a lot of gifts along the way.” 

You didn’t know what to expect. And even after politely refusing many, many tokens of thanks from his people, you already had baskets filled with cheese, berries, fresh bread and you were even done with the tour yet. Bucky, of course, carried the baskets for you. 

He was in a good mood, you realised. He was showing off a little as he gave you the tour. Showing you all the new warehouses, the new boats that were being built near the beaches, the new houses being made as the number of people grew. 

He showed you the hall where himself, Steve, and Sam often trained young kids. They taught them how to fight, to defend. They’re vikings, they need to be ready, he said, for anything and everything. 

He had a glow on his face as he spoke about the kids, and you couldn’t help but ask, “How come you don’t have any?” 

Bucky gave you a faint smile. Then said, “After my father died, I had to take care of everything around here. And I guess I never had time.” He paused, “I also never found the right person.” 

You turned to look at him and he was looking the other way, surely hiding a smirk. You decided to drop the subject. 

Bucky led you deeper into the village, near the lake. “It looks incredible in the summer, but–,” He stopped talking once the two of you heard male voices shouting. It sounded like it was coming from the lake. 

You followed Bucky as he rushed to the lakeside and let out a groan. You chuckled once you saw what he was looking at. His two friends, Steve and Sam, arguing in the water about who pushed who first. 

Bucky sighed and said, “I apologise, I wish these two would act like adults.” Then he yelled at them, “Hey! Stop trying to make me look bad. And get out of the water both of you, I can’t have you both freeze to death!” 

You watched how the two of them swam towards the shore and eventually got out, trembling. 

“Gods, I hate you.” Sam said, shivering. 

“You pushed me!” Steve argued, shoving Sam. 

Sam shoved him back, “You pushed me!” 

“Enough!” Bucky turned to you and said, “My useless friends,” He introduced, “I wish you would’ve met them in more normal circumstances.” 

You laughed, then walked up to the two men. “Hello,” You said and placed your hands on each of their shoulders, your magic would keep them from shivering. And the moment you touched them, they both sighed in relief. “There, that should keep you warm until you get home.” 

You couldn’t help but check them out. They were both muscular and fit, and the way the wet tunics clung to their bodies… their muscular torsos, and biceps bigger than– 

Bucky cleared his throat and you quickly looked away. You were almost certain Sam and Steve were smirking as they mumbled their goodbyes and hurried home. 

“We should get back.” Bucky said, his mood immediately turning sour. 

When the two of you did head back, he walked you to your home, handed you your baskets full of food and gifts, whispered a brief goodbye and left. You had planned that you would ask him to join you for dinner, as a way of thanking him for the tour. But he was just so grumpy on the way back that you decided not to. 

But then you were restless the whole evening. You made yourself a quick dinner and sat by the fire to read but something didn’t feel right. 

As it got later, the village got more and more quiet. And dark. When the wolves began howling you knew it was very late, but as you looked through the window, you saw that the lights inside Bucky’s home were still lit. 

He was awake. 

You debated walking over to his place, but then decided not to. You had to get to work the next day and surely you’d get a chance to talk to him then. 

—

You visited the crops first, drawing your runes in the dirt. That’s where you ran into Steve and Sam. They wished to introduce themselves properly, and the three of you began talking. They showed you around for a little while, making you laugh at their jokes and stories of their childhood. 

They kept you company while you worked and at some point, you sensed that someone was watching you. You knew who it was before you even turned around. 

There was Bucky standing, proud and tall, quite far from the crops. The same broody expression on his face as the day before. 

You almost lifted your hand to wave at him but then he walked away. 

“We better leave,” Steve said with a mischievous smile. 

“I’m afraid if the Chief sees us around you again he might behead us in public.” Sam winked at you and then walked away. 

So Bucky was jealous. 

After you were done with the crops, as you made your way home in the afternoon, you ran in Bucky in the village centre. He was on his way home as well, you realised, so you walked a little faster until you caught up to him. 

Once you were beside him, you said, “Hello, Bucky.” 

“Hello.” He mumbled. 

“I worked at the crops today, I drew my runes.” You told him. 

“I know, I saw you earlier.” He said.

His voice held enough distaste that you couldn’t help but ask calmly, “Why are you angry at me?” 

He threw you a look and mumbled grumpily, “I’m not angry. I’m very grateful that you’re here.” 

"Then why won't you talk to me?" You asked. "You look like you're angry." You paused, then asked, "Is it because I was talking to your friends?" 

He stopped walking immediately. Turned to face you and said, "What were the three of you talking about anyway?" 

You had to hide a smirk as you answered, "Nothing in particular. They were just keeping me company." Seeing he still had that broody look on his face you asked, “Does that bother you?” 

He scoffed. "No." He frowned. "Why would it? You're free to talk to whoever you want, you're our–" 

You cut him off, "Guest, yes. I know." You smiled. "Well then, how would you like to have dinner with me tonight?" 

Bucky's bright blue eyes stared at you, an unexplainable expression in them. "Another time." He said much to your surprise. 

The rest of the walk back was filled with awkward silence. 

That night, you were restless. After a quick dinner, you sat by the fire to read but you couldn’t quite get into it. Then you got up and looked through the window and saw that the lights in Bucky’s home were still on. 

Again. He was awake. This time you didn’t think twice before putting your cloak on and walking to his front door. It was so quiet that you could hear the knocks echoing. Two knocks later, Bucky opened the door. 

His braids were undone, yet he looked just as handsome. “It’s late.” He said. 

“Also very cold, you should let me in.” You said. 

Bucky opened the door wider, letting you in before shutting the door. 

You walked into his home and took it all in. The place smelled like him, and a little smoky. Probably due to the fire that burned in the middle, keeping the place nice and warm. You saw his seat. His swords and weapons hung on the walls, along with artworks. Furs and rugs scattered on the floor, the place was cosy. 

“Nice place.” You commented as you turned to face him. You found him leaning against a nearby wooden column, with a drink in hand. 

He gave you a curious look. “Surely you didn’t walk all the way here to comment on my home.” He said. He looked good. The dim light from the torches made him look like a god. Long brown hair, pretty blue eyes. His tunic was loose now, showing a lot of the ink on his skin. His metal arm caught the light a few times, shining occasionally when he moved. 

You felt your heartbeats echoing louder in your ears the more you looked at him. And then… then he had the audacity to slowly lick his lips. 

That did it. You walked up to him, carefully took the cup from his hand and brought it to your lips. You held his stare the whole time. You took a careful sip because whatever it was, it was very strong. Then said, “No, no I didn’t.” 

Bucky gave you a heated look. One that was familiar from the other night when he kissed you. “You know, it’s rude to snatch someone’s drink. Especially the Chief's.” 

You smirked at him. “Do something about it then,” You added mischievously, “Chief.” 

“Oh?” Bucky’s metal arm was around your waist in no time, pulling you into his warm, muscular chest. “Now you want my attention?” He taunted, his voice deep, his eyes narrowing at the sight of the smirk on your lips. “What about when you were shamelessly staring at other men right in front of me? Or what about earlier, when you were–” 

You cut him off with a chuckle. “Just say you are jealous.” You took another sip from his drink. “And if this is how you treat your guests then I think I can imagine why everyone fears you.” 

“I’m not jealous,” He mumbled, nuzzling your cheek. “I just don’t like seeing you with other men.”

You gasped, and almost dropped the cup in surprise as he kissed along your jaw softly, biting you playfully while he’s at it. “So possessive,” You whispered, “We only just met.” You teased. 

His grip tightened around your waist before he pulled away to look at you. His blue eyes now dark with desire and longing. “Yet I haven’t been able to think about anything other than wanting to have you all to myself ever since I kissed you that night.” He said. 

He looked down at your mouth as he spoke, and it only made your heart race faster. “Bucky…” You weren’t sure what you wanted to say to him, you just… wanted. “Please.” You found yourself whispering. Pleading, which you had never done before. 

Bucky clenched his jaw and turned, pressing your back into the wooden column he was leaning against earlier. The cup fell to the floor, neither of you paying much attention to it. His metal hand cupped your face and he stared into your eyes as he spoke. 

His voice was dangerously low as he spoke, “You must understand, if we do this there’s no going back.” He said, looking down at your parted lips. “If we do this, you’re mine.” He reiterated, “If we do this,” He leaned in to brush his soft lips carefully against yours, making you gasp and whimper, “You belong to me and only me. Are we clear?” 

The rasp in his voice and the feral desire lacing his words already made your brain foggy. “Yes,” You whispered, placing the palms of your hands pressing against his warm chest and partially exposed skin. 

He wasted no time in undoing your cloak and letting it fall to the floor and pool around your ankles. Bucky had a devilish smile on his face once he saw that you were wearing nothing beneath the cloak except for flimsy undergarments. Near transparent ones. 

Bucky’s eager hand trailed up your body, gently, starting from your thigh all the way to your breasts. The warmth of his hand made you shiver in pleasure. “So this is why you were complaining about being cold?” He whispered in your ear while his hand ran up and down your sides. “I thought you could manipulate elements to keep yourself warm.” Your body felt like it was on fire under his touch. 

“Well, I can manipulate the elements.” You said. Bucky pulled away to look into your eyes. “But there’s nothing quite like body heat.” He smirked at the sight of the look of mischief in your eyes. 

Then he gently tugged on the delicate necklace around your neck, toying with the crystal pendant leisurely as if he had all the time in the world. As if he couldn’t see you squirming under his touch, wanting more. 

“It’s…” He frowned at the crystal, now holding it between two metal fingers. “It’s moving.” He whispered, and sounded so genuinely confused that it made you smile. Who knew this tall, muscular, godlike man could be adorable? 

You nodded, looking at the crystal. It was clear mostly, except for a greyish, dark, flowy mist moving around inside it. It looked like smoke trapped inside the crystal, but it was just energy. “I was given this by my family the day I left my home when I was a young girl. As a gift. For protection.” You explained. 

You looked up to find him looking down at you with a heated, wild look in his eyes. “I’m here now,” He said. “I’ll protect you. Always.” He pulled you closer, pressing your barely clothed body against him. 

You smiled, sliding your hands up until your fingers slid into his soft hair. The light from the burning torches began to dim, making the room slightly darker but still golden. The smirk on Bucky’s handsome face signalled that he knew you were messing with the torches. 

“I want you,” You whispered, pressing your lips to his cheek. The slight stubble felt rough against your mouth. But it only made you wonder where else it would feel rough. And you couldn’t help the quiet moan that escaped your mouth. 

As if he could read your mind, Bucky chuckled. He grabbed you by the neck, tightening his grip just a little, enough to make you feel warm all over. “I don’t think I could be gentle…” He whispered, his metal hand reaching for the fine dagger he kept on him at all times. 

He carefully pressed the tip flat against your lower lip. Your heart began racing faster. Bucky slowly dragged the tip of the dagged down your chin, down the side of your neck, down in between your breasts before he cut the fabric, slicing it in two and letting that fall down to the floor as well. You hissed as the cold air hit your now exposed breasts. Bucky seemed pleased as he let go of your neck, his hand trailing down to fondle with your breast instead. You tipped your head back and moaned at his touch. 

He kept the dagger pressed against your skin as he leaned in to kiss your exposed neck, “I don’t want to be gentle.” He said. 

You let out a gasp as he slid the tip of the dagger sideways, circling your nipple with it deliberately slow. “Good,” You whispered, “I don’t want you to be gentle.” 

Bucky chuckled. “Oh, you’re perfect.” He dragged the tip of the dagger down, sliding it slowly across your abdomen, right above the waistband of your undergarments. Over and over again until you were squirming, and gasping, and grinding on nothing. 

“Please,” You said, looking at him with soft eyes.

Bucky held your stare as he slid the dagger under the fabric of your undergarment and sliced that off of you as well. Fuck that sound of fabric tearing off of your body did something to you. 

“Please,” You begged again. You were unable to ignore the wetness in between your legs anymore. Neither could he. 

Once there was not an inch of fabric shielding you from his hungry stare, Bucky threw the dagger onto the pile of your clothes and next thing you knew, you were being pushed down onto a nearby pile of soft furs. 

He pinned you down by your throat, as he hovered above you, leaning over with his metal hand wrapped around your neck firmly while he stared down into your eyes. “You look so beautiful like this.” 

You gave him a smirk and said, “It’s your turn. I want to see you.” You wanted to see the ink on his skin, trace it with your finger. You wanted to see him naked on these furs with you. You had never longed to touch someone like this before. 

Bucky held your stare, arrogant grin on his face as he pulled away to take off his tunic and lower his pants. 

You let your eyes feast on him. Ink covered more skin than you thought, but it suited him. He looked every bit the fierce Viking he was. You wanted to take your time and admire the artwork on his body but… later. Right now, you wanted him. 

You grabbed him by the neck and pulled him closer, pressing your mouth to his and kissing him deeply. “I want you,” You whispered again. 

“I know, sweetheart,” Bucky’s hand was back around your throat as he growled into the kiss, “I know.” 

Guess he could take his time and caress every inch of you like he wanted to later, right now though, he needed to have you. He was hungry for it. So he pulled away from the kiss, parted your legs and slid a finger inside you, reassuring himself that you were ready for him. 

Bucky groaned when he found that you were dripping for him. “All that for me?” He teased, settling in between your legs and pressing the tip of his cock against you. You gasped and whined as he slid the tip of it up and down your slit. 

“Please,” You begged, whining. “Hurry up or I swear to gods I will make sure your house is always freezing throughout winter.” 

Bucky couldn’t help but laugh, leaning down to press a kiss on your forehead. “No need for all that, little witch.” He whispered as he pushed his cock into you, stretching you out in a way that made it hard for you to even think about anything else. 

“Do I feel good inside you?” He questioned, teasing and knowing full well you weren’t in a headspace to answer him. His hand was around your throat and his cock buried so deep inside of you that he knew you couldn’t even think straight. 

And fuck did he feel good snug inside you. You just whimpered in response, staring up into his pretty blue eyes. “More,” You whispered, “I want more.” 

He smirked, digging his knees into the furs before he pulled out and pushed back into you. He set a hard and fast pace that made your head spin with pleasure. He was just as passionate as you expected him to be, his kisses were messy and his grip on your body was tight. He growled and moaned against your mouth as he sped up into you. 

You were a moaning mess under him. Your legs locked around his waist as he pounded into you, “You feel so good,” He said, “Look at you, all wet and open for me.” He slowed down for just a moment, looking down to where his cock disappeared into you each time he thrust it. “Is this what you wanted? Hmm?” He asked, slow fucking you until you felt a tear escape your eye. 

Fuck, he was keeping you right on that edge. It drove you mad. 

“Tell me, sweetheart.” He kissed along your jaw, nibbling on your skin. “When you walked all the way here tonight, wearing basically nothing as you knocked on my door in the middle of the night,” He chuckled, “Is this what you wanted? To be full of my cock?” 

You nodded, more tears falling down. It was so good, almost overwhelming. His words, his deep voice, the heated look in his eyes as he fucked you slowly, his weight on top of you, his warmth… 

“Yes,” You whispered, “It’s all I wanted.” 

Bucky sped up again, taking you by surprise and you couldn’t help the sinful moans that escaped your lips. He released your throat and placed his hand on your abdomen instead, pressing down on your front so he can feel himself inside you with each thrust. “Well there you go,” He said, as if taunting you, “Here I am. Deep inside you.” He stared into your eyes while he sped up into you again. “Just how you wanted.” 

You whimpered desperately as he fucked you deeper. You felt your walls clenching around him. You felt the familiar feeling, the pressure down there just waiting… waiting to explode. Your back arched off the furs as he brought you right to the edge again before slowing down. It was brutal.  

You gasped in shock, and the now ruined orgasm. Bucky smirked. “That’s punishment,” He said, “For talking to other men right in front of me.” 

You frowned, “You’re cruel.” 

Bucky kissed you one more time before he flipped you around and pulled you onto your knees and pushed into you again from behind. You moaned out loud, not expecting that but welcoming the feeling of being full again. 

You laid your cheek down on the furs, the softness of them a stark contrast to how rough Bucky was being, handling your body like you were just a toy. It made you smile in pure bliss as he gripped your hips and slammed in and out of you incessantly, sighing and groaning in the process. 

More tears escaped your eyes as the pleasure became too much to handle. You felt the pressure at your core forming again as Bucky pounded into you mercilessly, fucking you like an animal. Bending and contorting your body however he liked. Pressing your head down as he sped up into you until you came, crying out loud and clenching around him so hard it took him everything not to finish inside you. 

He quickly pulled out and came all over your lower back and thighs. He took a moment to admire all the marks he’d left on your skin before pulling you into his arms as he laid down beside you. 

You placed your ear right above his heart, listening to it gradually calm down like yours did. Only then did you have enough energy to keep your eyes open and admire the ink on his skin. You traced the closest one with a finger. 

“A dragon?” You asked. 

Bucky chuckled softly. “I like to think they might have been real at some point.” 

You pulled away, holding yourself up using your elbow. You looked down at Bucky and said, “Of course they were. They were magical beings, they got along well with witches and warlocks in fact.” 

Bucky looked pleasantly surprised. “You are so full of secrets.” He said, lifting a finger up to your face and gently traced the shape of your mouth. “Tell me more,” He pulled you back into his arms, nuzzling your neck and making you laugh, “What happened to the dragons?” 

— 

Sleeping in each other’s beds became part of the routine. 

Some nights he would come over after the village had gone dark and quiet. Other nights you’d go over to his place and stay till early morning. 

Nobody knew about you and Bucky, except for Steve and Sam who couldn’t stop grinning like mischievous devils each time they ran into you. 

Days passed this way. The weather got colder, and you kept the village in perfect shape. The rivers kept flowing even though they should be frozen. The lake as well. The crops stayed healthy. As did the cattle.

Your magic had created an invisible dome over the entirety of the village. A vast dome that only you could see. 

The people were safe from the intense cold and they were warm, fed, and happy. 

But doing all that always made you extremely tired. Usually you’d hide it well behind faint smiles and blame it on it being a long day. But even at night you had to use your magic to keep the dome intact. And although you did your best to hide it, sometimes your weariness would show. 

Like the one time when Bucky caught you by the lakeside late at night. 

You were sitting on the jetty, looking down at the dark water. The moonlight made the surface shine, and just beyond the lake, right where the dome ended, you could see the harsh winds of the blizzard that you were currently keeping away from Bucky’s people. But from within the dome, no one could even hear it. 

And just when you thought of Bucky, you heard him walking on the jetty and on his way to you. 

“I looked for you everywhere.” He said, sitting down next to you on the edge. “Are you alright? You never come here this late.” He sounded genuinely concerned. 

You smiled at him, his pretty face glowing under the moonlight. Then you pointed at the blizzard, and Bucky swore under his breath when he saw what was happening beyond the dome, “I came to make sure everything was safe.” You said. “I had to draw some of the runes again.” Then you added, “Everything’s fine, don’t worry.” 

Bucky loosened the furs around his shoulders and opened his arms for you to snuggle up to him. 

You gave him a smirk as you slowly scooted closer to him, “I can keep myself warm, remember?” 

“Yeah, but there’s nothing quite like body heat.” He teased, wrapping his arms and the furs around you, holding you close to him. He leaned down and kissed your cheek softly then said, “You seem tired. I didn’t realise magic would take such a toll on you.” He sounded a little embarrassed. 

“Hey,” You placed a gentle hand on his rough cheek. “This is how it is. Magic has a cost, it feeds on my energy and that’s just how it works. I should be okay after a few hours of sleep.” You smiled up at him. “Can I ask about the arm?” 

He smiled, tapped you on the nose with his metal finger and said, “Bravery has a cost, my lady.” You laughed, and he eventually told you the story. And by the time he was done, he noticed you were just about to fall asleep. “Hey, come on. Let’s go to bed.” 

You let him help you stand up and said, “I’m tired tonight, maybe–,” 

He cut you off. “That’s not what I meant.” He pulled you closer and kissed you gently, “I won’t do anything, I just want you in bed with me. You’re doing so much for us, let me take care of you and do what I can.” He added, pressing another kiss on your lips, “Please.” 

You smiled and gave in. 

And turns out, sleeping in his bed, in his arms was enough to recharge you. 

— 

One day, a messenger came with urgent news for Bucky. 

A little far from this village was another one, and the news said that their Chief had died leaving behind no one to care for the people. Since Bucky was the closest, they were begging him to help them last this icy winter. 

Bucky held a meeting with his inner circle – his friends, and now you as well. Everyone gathered near the fire in the middle of Bucky’s home. Outside, the weather was getting colder. Your magic kept everyone here comfortable but those people who had asked for help… they wouldn’t last long. 

“We can’t help them.” Bucky said, surprising everyone in the room. 

Tony, the one who created weapons for every warrior in the village and also part of Bucky’s inner circle, spoke up first, “What do you mean here, Chief? Those people will die.” 

Steve nodded, agreeing, “There are children, cold and starving. We can’t leave them.” 

“Think about it,” Sam said, “We could have more people in our army to fight for us, with us.” 

Bucky stopped his slow pacing, then turned to all of you. “How are we going to care for these people? I mean, I guess we’ll have enough food for everyone but what about shelter?” 

Peter, Tony’s apprentice, spoke up this time, “We have enough material to build houses. I mean, we could always pause on the boats for now and use those materials for houses. You’ll have to go bring the people over anyway, and by the time you’ll be back I suppose we could have houses ready by then.” He looked over to Tony for approval. The latter nodded in agreement. 

“That will cost too much.” Bucky said. Then sighed. “I have to care for the people here.” 

You spoke up this time, “I could help.” You said. “I have more gold than I could ever use. And I could help with the building, and–,” 

Bucky cut you off gently, “No, I cannot ask you for all that. You’re already helping us, and this wasn’t part of our arrangement.” He paused for a moment, only the crackling logs filled the silence, “Besides, I’ve seen what using magic constantly does to you.” 

You rolled your eyes, “That’s just how it works,” You repeated. “It’s like when you complain about being tired after a whole day of training. Doesn’t mean you won’t ever train again.” You reasoned. “And as for our arrangement, I agreed to help. So let me.” 

Bucky sighed again, walking over to you as if the rest of the people in the room didn’t exist. Honestly, the moment you stared into his clear blue eyes, it didn’t matter who else was in the room. 

“It’ll wear you out.” He said softly, almost in a whisper. 

You gave him a faint smile, “Guess you’ll just have to take better care of me then.” 

He was about to reach out and cup your face in his hands but then Steve, Sam, and Tony all cleared their throats to get your attention back on the current issue. You avoided all their eyes awkwardly while Bucky smirked shamelessly. Peter just seemed confused. 

“Fine,” Bucky said. “We’ll bring the people. We’ll take the boats.” He announced. “We leave today itself.” Then he proceeded to assign the work of building additional houses over to Tony and Peter. Sam and Steve, along with other warriors, were going with Bucky. 

Then the men left, Tony and Peter went to gather people to help them start building immediately and Sam and Steve went to get the other warriors to prepare for their journey. Once they were out of the house, Bucky pulled you close. 

“That was generous of you.” He said, nuzzling your neck and kissing it. “I’ll be gone for two weeks at least, you know?” He said. “I’ll miss you.” His lips brushed along your neck, stopping at the corner of your mouth, “I’ll miss this.” His arms tightened around you, making you gasp. 

“I’ll miss you too,” You said, pulling away to look at him. “The sea will be rough,” You said, “Take this.” You took the crystal necklace off of your neck and put it around his, hiding it under the layers he wore. “That should keep you safe.” Then you looked around and said, “You should start packing your things. My magic won’t work given the distance so you’ll need more furs to keep you warm.” 

He looked at you with soft eyes. “Usually no one fusses over me like this.” He said, “I like it. I like it a lot.” 

You smiled and gave him a quick kiss. “Now hurry up. Those people need you.” 

“Hmm,” He leaned down for a kiss again. “If anyone touches you while I’m gone I will behead them.” He said, half-joking. “One more thing, I want you to stay here while I’m gone.” He said, referring to his house. “Sleep in my bed every night. Oh and think of me. Miss me. A lot.” 

You laughed. “Understood, Chief.” 

— 

You went to see Bucky off when he left later that evening. He looked like a King and his armada, setting off for battle. 

He was barely out of your sight and you missed him already. You whispered a prayer to the strong winter winds, telling them to keep him safe until he comes back. 

—

For the entirety of the two weeks which followed, you worked harder than ever. The dome, the crops, the cattle, the rivers and lake, and now the construction. Your magic fortified the wood used for the new houses, all the gold you had accumulated over the years helped the village immensely. 

The people were so grateful. And you did your best to keep their spirits up while their Chief was gone. 

It made you feel all warm inside whenever people would gush about how incredible of a leader Bucky was. You wondered if he knew his people loved him so much. Then, almost always, quickly followed by that warm fuzzy feeling was intense worry. 

You never had anyone to worry about this much. So this was new for you. 

By the end of the second week, each morning you’d wake up and go by the beach to see if you could see the ships coming. They didn’t. 

You slept in his bed like he wanted you to. And that just made things worse. Because now not only did you worry about him, but you missed him like a mad woman. His scent was all over the bed and the covers. 

But then one morning, as you went to the beach to check, you saw them. The ships, tiny little dots near the horizon. They were coming back. He was coming back. 

Great timing in fact because the houses were just done building as well. And the crops had just been harvested. 

Some hours later, the ships docked. And the new people had arrived, with their entire lives packed into trunks. While everyone showed the new ones to their houses, you looked for Bucky. You couldn’t even hide the smile on your face as you spotted him, running to him. 

Bucky smiled as you ran into his open arms, hugging him tightly. You didn’t see the approving smiles on the faces of people around you, all you cared about was that Bucky was here, safely. 

“Hello to you too, sweetheart,” He whispered, kissing your forehead. “I’ve missed you.” 

You pulled away to look up at him. “You’re back.” You whispered, delighted. 

He cupped your face and leaned down to press his forehead against yours, sighing. “I wish I could take you to bed and show you how much I missed you, but…” 

“Later,” You finished his sentence. “There’s a lot of work to be done right now.” 

He nodded. Then you felt something moving near your ankles, getting tangled up in your flowy cloak. You looked down and saw a small ball of white fur. Bucky chuckled as you bent down to pick it up. 

“The mother and the rest of the litter didn’t survive the cold,” He said, “But I found this little guy as we were evacuating the village. He was hiding under a pile of hay, all hungry and trembling. And I thought, who else would take better care of him than a certain generous witch I know?” He explained, a little flustered, ”So I brought him along. For you.”  

You looked at the fluffy, white wolf pup in your hands. You already loved him with all your heart. Then you looked up at Bucky again, “Thank you. I love him.” You said, kissing him on the cheek, “And thank you for not leaving him behind.” 

He smiled, “Oh well,” He looked around to see his people helping their new guests get off the boats, offering to carry their luggage for them. He looked beyond proud. “What’s one more addition to our village?” He shrugged, smiling at you. 

–

It took some hours, but by nightfall everyone had a bed to sleep in and roof over their heads. Bucky was so pleased he insisted they celebrated this feat. Plus he wanted the new members to feel welcomed and comfortable so he held a feast. 

Food and ale makes everyone feel at home, he said. 

So the feast was held. The village centre quickly became a vibrant, bustling scene. And the music was the best part. You had travelled to so many places but you had never heard such rich music and singing. 

As you walked around, enjoying the atmosphere, everyone thanked you for your help. Usually by this time well into winter, food was always scarce. But with you and your magic here, everyone was happy and their bellies were full. 

You caught Bucky’s stare from across the crowds of people a lot of times. His heated stare that held promises which made your face feel all hot and made your body tingle. But he was busy catching up with his people right now, he made sure to speak with each and everyone of the new members of his village, he spoke with the kids and promised them that they would be restarting training soon. He even held some of the babies that had been born while he was away. 

And you watched him with fondness. Watched how he smiled, watched how he let the kids mess with and admire his metal arm, watched how gentle and kind he could be, as well as how stern and assertive. 

And then he caught you staring. He smirked at you while you pretended that your entire being didn’t come alive under his attention. You tried to hide the way you clenched your thighs together as he began walking over to you, finally. 

The music rose to a crescendo as he made his way to you. Tall, strong, with a confident and slightly arrogant gait. He stopped when he was right in front of you, the lit torches made his skin look golden, and his eyes… oh his eyes. 

His metal head reached out to touch your face, slowly caressing your warm cheek. “Did you get a chance to eat?” He asked. 

You nodded, lost in his eyes. You didn’t even remember what you ate, if he asked you you wouldn’t know. 

“Good. Then let’s go.” There was enough raw desire in his voice that it made you move immediately. 

As you walked you asked, “Won’t they notice you’re gone?” You referred to the ongoing festivities. 

Bucky smirked as he took your hand in his, the two of you making your way through the dark, to his place. “Judging by the way you threw yourself into my arms earlier, I think they expected us both to disappear at some point.” 

After the short walk, you could still hear the music from the feast even after making your way into Bucky’s home. You could hear some vocalising, and it sounded… magical. Raw. Intense. Much like the look in Bucky’s eyes. 

“I see you did sleep here.” He noted, appreciating that you did as he’d asked. 

You took your cloak off near the fire and then followed Bucky into the sleeping area. “It was the closest I could get to you while you were gone.” You whispered, taking the layers of fur off of him. You carefully placed it down and began undoing his tunic. “Your bed smells like you.” You said, “Some nights I couldn’t sleep until I made myself come while pretending it was your hand touching me.” 

A sound resembling a growl left his mouth as he grabbed both of your wrists in one hand, ceasing your movement. “Show me.” He said, low and deep, “Show me what I missed.” 

A sly smirk formed on your lips, “Sure you don’t want to do it yourself?” 

He shook his head. “I want to see.” 

You turned and gave him your back, “Undress me then.” You expected him to undo the laces and buttons. But no. You felt something cold against the nape of your neck, and then the sound of fabric being ripped filled the room. 

You gasped in pleasant surprise. He’d torn your dress off instead. With the dagger. You let the ruined dress fall to the ground and faced him again, naked because you hadn’t been wearing any undergarments, “That was one of my favourites.” You said, looking into his lust-drunk, hooded eyes. 

“I don’t care.” He answered, truthfully. Stepping closer he raised the dagger up under your chin, pressing it gently against your skin. “If it were up to me, I’d keep you naked in this bed at all times.” 

You giggled. 

“Hurry up,” He said, “Show me.” His voice was a mere whisper. 

You could still hear the music and the singing in the background as you held his stare and laid down on his soft bed, on your back. He stood at the end of the bed looking down at you like an old god looking at a sacrifice. With hunger in his eyes like you’d never seen before. 

He watched as if in trance, as you bent your knees and spread your legs. His breaths got deeper as he watched how wet you were, your finger slowly sliding up and down your slit. He inched just a little closer as you began gasping and whimpering, your finger slipping in and out of you. 

Your other hand toyed with your nipple, twisting and tugging. You held his dark stare as you moaned, back arching off the bed, the slightly chilly air hit your bare chest and caused your nipples to erect even further. 

“Oh gods…” Bucky whispered, watching as you put on a show. Watching as you whined in pleasure as the pace at which your fingers effortlessly slipped in and out of you increased. You looked down and saw the bulge in his pants. He was barely holding back. 

The way he watched you, the feeling of anticipation knowing he would fill you up soon, all of it made your heart race. Outside, the music rose to a crescendo again and you moaned louder, fingering yourself faster, the palm of your hands rubbing against your sensitive clit over and over again as your middle finger slipped in and out of you. 

You gasped, “Bucky…” You moaned quietly under your breath, imagining it was his fingers that were touching you instead of your own. “I need you…” you mumbled in the haze that you were in, “Please… I need you.” 

He wasted no time in grabbing you by the thighs and dragging you to the edge of the bed as he knelt to the ground. He placed your legs over his shoulders and leaned down to kiss your belly. He was rock hard, barely able to think straight. But fuck he needed to hear you moan as you came. 

“I fucking missed you,” He mumbled as he kissed around where your shaky fingers were buried in your wet cunt. “Let me taste you.” He whispered before gently slipping your fingers out of your hole and into his mouth. He sucked on them like they’d just been dipped in the sweetest honey. 

“Oh fuck…” You moaned, looking at him. The great Chief, kneeling in between your legs, sucking your taste off your fingers… it was heady. “Please,” You murmured again when you noticed that he was teasing you, keeping you waiting on purpose. 

He let go of your fingers, smirking as he looked up at you. “I’ve been wanting to taste you.” He whispered, his warm breath making you squirm. Chuckling at your restlessness, he parted your folds and buried his mouth in between them, eating you out like he was a starving man and moaning at your taste. 

Relentlessly, passionately. His warm mouth wrapped around your clit and sucked on it occasionally. His tongue teased your entrance as he took his time to feast in between your legs. 

Your fingers slid into his hair, it had gotten slightly longer you realised as you grabbed a fistful of it, tugging on it gently as his mouth teased you. 

“So this is what you did, huh? While I was away, rescuing people and fighting rough seas…” His tongue slowly circled around your clit and he earned more and more moans out of you. “You were here, touching yourself.” 

Your legs trembled as he locked his arms around your thighs and pushed your core further into his mouth and made you cry out of pleasure. You whined. “Please, Bucky…” 

He chuckled, darkly. “No.” He pulled away, licking his lips. “Not so easily.” 

He stood up, got rid of all his clothes before climbing into bed with you. His glorious, inked, naked body hovered above yours as he looked down at you with nothing but fondness and desire in his eyes. You looked down, whimpering at the sight of him stroking his hard cock, it was leaking already. 

Bucky looked down at you and smiled before leaning in for a kiss again. He nibbled along your skin, from your mouth to your neck, “Are you ready for me, sweetheart?” 

You cried out, “Yes! Please, Buck–,” 

He cut you off by sliding into you, filling you up. You gasped as your walls welcomed him perfectly and he growled under his breath as he filled you up entirely. “Look at me,” He said. When you did, he smiled and laced your fingers together and pinned both your hands above your head as he sped up into you. “Fuck,” He swore, “You feel like you were made for me.” 

Your eyes rolled to the back of your head once he started rocking in and out of you with your legs locked behind his back. He leaned in and kissed your lips again, groaning and panting against your lips as he fucked you hard and fast. 

The music outside felt like it echoed inside your head. It made your heart race, like a soundtrack to this ethereal union. 

“Tell me you belong to me,” He whispered, lips brushing against yours as his cock stroked your inner walls perfectly. “Tell me you’re mine.” 

“I’m… I’m yours,” You said, breathlessly. 

“That’s right,” He breathed against your mouth. “All fucking mine.” He repeated, kissing along your skin and moaning into your ear, “Fuck, you feel so good.” He said as he sped up again, fucking you nice and deep to show you that you belong to him. “Come for me,” He said, knowing he wouldn’t last too long, “Come on sweetheart, come for me.” 

You cried out as you did, coming undone as he kept pounding into you until he finished inside you. Bucky nuzzled your neck, kissing your skin as he caught his breath. You wrapped your arms around him lazily, feeling his heart racing just as fast as yours was. 

He sighed in bliss as he finally laid down beside you, taking you with him so more than half of your body was on top of his. He kissed the top of your head and whispered, “I missed you like a madman.” 

You smiled, kissing his damp skin as you replied, “I did too. It felt… empty without you.” You lifted your head up to look at him. “Your hair is longer.” You pointed out. 

Bucky chuckled, “You like it?” 

You nodded, “It suits you.” 

He smiled, caressing your cheek again. “I like you in my bed.” He murmured. 

You smirked, lifting yourself up to straddle him properly. You grabbed his semi hard cock and slid it inside you again, gasping as it went in easily. Bucky groaned in pleasure, his hands holding you by the waist, ready to lift you up and down his cock. 

“I really like me in your bed too.” You said, and began riding him until you both came once more.

—

And so, winter passed by. 

You kept everyone safe and warm. Your bond with Bucky was not a secret anymore given you were always seen together. Judging by the smiles on people’s faces when they saw the two of you together, you’d say they were more than happy for Bucky. 

You spent more time in Bucky’s house than the one you were assigned when you first got here that Bucky suggested you move in, and let someone else have the other home. 

“I like having you in my home.” He said one night as he pulled your worn out, bare body into his. He kissed your shoulder, and made sure you were properly warm under the soft furs, in his bed. “Come live with me.” 

So you moved in. 

Your days started and ended with Bucky. With his soft, loving, often demanding touch. His merciless and passionate kisses. And you wouldn’t trade it for anything. 

He was a stern, just, and caring chief to the rest of the village but only you saw the softer side of him. 

The way some evenings he would lay his head in your lap and grumble until you played with his hair until he fell asleep. 

Or how much he loved it when you braided his hair, he’d wear it proudly. 

Or how he always gave you the best bites of food when you dined together. 

The way he would always make sure you had enough fur and blankets on your side of the bed at night. 

Or how he’d always accompany you when you took your little wolf for walks in the woods. 

Or how he’d often tempt you into going for midnight swims with him at the lake. How he’d kiss you under the moonlight, smiling like a lovesick young boy instead of the great chief he was. 

During those moments, you often wanted to freeze time and just stay with him forever. 

Forever… but that wasn’t possible, was it? 

—

The weather, naturally, didn’t stay freezing cold. It got warmer, and warmer as winter faded into a gentle, barely there spring. 

Your little wolf grew, and kept growing. Time, you realised, moved and with it came time to say goodbye. 

Winter was nearly over. Everyone knew, everyone could see it. But nobody said anything. You were still greeted with the same grateful smiles and infinite gifts whenever you stepped out. Steve and Sam never mentioned it, they kept filling your days with stories of their youth and more laughter. 

Bucky, it seemed, had forgotten all about what the end of winter meant. 

And it hurt you more than you thought it would when it came time to confront him about it. It took you two days to build the courage to break both of your hearts. You didn’t want to leave, but you had to, didn’t you? 

He was home early that evening, in a good mood too. As soon as you opened your mouth to say something though, he announced, “I’m going for a swim, come with me?” 

You shook your head. “I don’t feel like it. You go ahead.” 

He smiled, kissed your forehead and left. The sunset as soon as he was out of the door. He’d been going on a lot of swims lately, which again indicated that the weather was getting warmer. 

You waited for him to get back. Your heart breaking in the meantime. 

–

“We need to, um, talk.” You said, once he’d put on clean, dry clothes again. You watched as he dried his hair with a piece of fabric as he turned to face you. 

The buttons of his tunic undone with the tattoos on his chest peeking through, his hair was a damp mess, his blue eyes shining. He was so beautiful. So beautiful it hurt. 

“What about, sweetheart?” He tossed the fabric aside and placed his hands on either side of your waist. “Everything okay?” 

You looked up at him. Didn’t he notice? Couldn’t he see you were wearing the same cloak you wore the day he met you? Couldn’t see you were ready to leave? You spoke with tears in your eyes, “Winter is nearly over, Bucky.” You whispered in a shaky voice. 

Silence. Only the few nearby torches. And the crickets outside. 

Bucky clenched and unclenched his jaw. You could see it through the stubble on his cheeks. “What do you mean?” 

He knew what you meant. You could tell. He was just giving you a chance to rectify what you said. But you didn’t. Instead you said, “Winter is over, it’s time for me to go.” The tears fell. Hot and burning, much like the tension between the two of you even after all these months. 

Bucky was quiet, then he let out a humourless chuckle. “What are you saying? You want to leave me?” 

You sighed as he made this difficult for both of you. “You know what I mean. We had a deal, remember?” You swallowed a sob. “We–,” 

“I swear to gods,” He cut you off, pulling you closer and growling, “Do not fucking test me right now.” 

More tears fell down your face. “Bucky…” You whispered. “I can’t stay here. You know that. It’s what I do, I help people. It’s what I’m meant to do with this…” You sighed, “This magic.” 

“Who said that?” He argued. “Who said you couldn’t choose what made you happy? Who said you had to keep wandering? Huh?” He leaned closer, the tip of his nose touching yours, “Who said you can’t stop once you found a home? A real one?” He gently kissed the corner of your mouth. “You have a home here, you have me. Stay.” 

You breathed in the manly scent of him. Felt the roughness of his stubble against your skin. Felt his body heat. Why couldn’t you stop? Because it scared you. “I can’t.” You mumbled, even as your heart screamed stay, stay, stay. 

Bucky pulled away. His face was stone cold. Emotionless. His hands left your waist and clenched into fists as he stared at you. As Chief, he wasn’t used to people disobeying him. 

“Fine then,” He spoke with a bitter voice. “You want to leave? Then I’ll follow. And my people will follow me no matter where I go.” He spoke with a confidence that only a true leader can have. “So wherever you go, you’ll find me behind you. And a whole village behind me. Is that what you want?” You could hear the stubbornness in his voice, the determination. The promise. 

“You can’t.” You reasoned. “You have a duty here, Bucky. My work here is done, I lifted the dome yesterday and no one even noticed. That just goes to show I’m not needed here. You have a life here,” You said, “Not me.” More tears streamed down your face. Your mind and heart were screaming in contradiction. 

Bucky just stared at you, his heart slowly breaking. Then he said, calmly but fiercely, “I have nothing without you. Nothing.” He stepped closer to you again, “You made me feel alive again, you made me feel like I was more than just a chief, like I was a man again. Just a man who is madly in love with the woman of his dreams.” His words made you weak. “You’re… everything. Don’t leave me.” He pleaded, quietly. 

You couldn’t help but hide your face in his chest as you sobbed. He cradled your head, kissing the top of it. 

“I will send word.” He said, as you sobbed quietly. Your tears drenching his tunic. “People will know where to come find you if they need you.” He reassured you. “Stay with me, be my wife, let’s have children together,” He cupped your face and made you look up at him. His ocean blue eyes staring down loving into yours. “Let’s have a life together.” 

You sniffled. “You’re awfully stubborn.” You said. 

He smiled, his own eyes tearing up. “And you love me for it.” 

You sniffled again. “I do.” You confessed. “I do love you.” 

“And I love you.” He leaned in for a gentle kiss. “Stay with me. You have a home here.” He whispered against your lips. “You’ve helped plenty of people all over this world. It’s not selfish if you choose to settle down now and choose your happiness.” 

“I’m scared.” You admitted. “I’ve never… I don’t know if I can… I mean, I don’t know if–,” 

He cut you off with another loving kiss. “Shh, I’ve got you. We will figure it out. Together.” 

You gave him a faint smile through the tears as you nodded. “Together.” 

And choosing to stay back with him, for him, ended up being the best decision you’d ever made. 

—

Fin.

#viking!bucky #bucky barnes #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes smut #marvel au

[iprobablyshipit91]

iprobablyshipit91 Fic Recs

So this started as me keeping links of all my favourite Dean Winchester fics that I finally decided to share so others could hopefully find some great stories and the authors would know how much I love their work. It’s kind of grown to a very, very huge list, but I love everyone of these works, they’re amazing and deserve so much love. I hope you find something you love on here 💕

There’s a mix of fluff, angst, smut, au etc. Please make sure you read the warnings for each story on it’s own page.

Beautiful Dividers by @firefly-graphics

Dean Winchester x Reader

Should I Stay or Should I Go by @daisythekitty

Sweet Dreams by @deanssweetheart23

Slip Up by @deanwritings

Bad Moon Rising by @hintsofhoney

Not the Planned Delivery by @lazydoodlesandfanfic

Unnamed by @lostdreamr-blog1

I’ve Got You by @spnexploration

Broken Ribs Against Fingertips by @the--blackdahlia

Motel Diablo by @waynes-multiverse

Sharing is Caring by @zepskies

Mini Date by @avanatural

The Talk by @avanatural

And Baby Makes Four by @carryonmywaywardone-shots

Nows the Time by @crashdevlin

Down on Dean by @deanwanddamons

The Prettiest One by @dean-winchester-is-a-warrior

Always You and Me by @deanwinchesterswitch

Bullets and Bands by @deanwinchesterswitch

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[theostrophywife]

middle of the night.

masterlist (azriel x reader) author's note: inspired by middle of the night by loveless. i'm pretty sure i blacked out 90% of the time i spent writing this so please enjoy. warning: smut. smut. and more smut. i can't warn you all enough. summary: when you're forced to share a room with the shadowsinger at the moonstone palace, sleep is the last thing on either one of your minds.

“Do I have to share a room with her?”” 

The shadowsinger crosses his arms and frowns, the permanent scowl etched on his face setting in even deeper while he glares at you from across the room. You roll your eyes in response, leaning against the pale stone wall for support while removing the death traps strapped to your feet. You had half a mind to take a page out of your High Lady’s book and chuck the heels directly at Azriel’s head. 

“Oh relax, shadowsinger. This wicked witch has no plans of tainting your innocence in the middle of the night.” 

Beside you, Cassian tried and failed to suppress a snort. Azriel shot his brother a withering glare, which the Illyrian general returns with an apologetic smile. While you weren’t exactly keen on sharing a room with the shadowsinger either, his reluctance and aversion made it that much more enticing. Besides, it wasn’t like you had a choice. With Keir renovating the Moonstone Palace, you and your friends were all required to double up. The mates would obviously share, leaving your options between Azriel, Mor, and Amren. 

You assumed that Mor would room with you, but the blonde picked Amren in a swift act of betrayal and winked as she left you to deal with the shadowsinger. Traitor. 

“I’m sure you two can manage to get along for one night,” Rhys says with exasperation, weary from the earlier festivities.

Visiting the Court of Nightmares was always an ordeal and tonight was no exception. Eris had been invited to the All Hallows Eve ball and the High Lord had tasked you with obtaining information about his dealings with Keir. With the help of a tight fitting dress and a few flirtatious smiles, Beron’s heir was nothing but putty in your hands by the end of the night. 

Not only had he divulged his plans of opening trade between your courts, but Eris also inquired about your diplomatic ties to the west, which told you that the Autumn Court intended on extending business to the Continent. It was an overall successful mission and all you really had to do was bat your eyelashes and dance with the handsome lordling. 

Still, those waltzes had really done a number on your feet and you were ready to collapse into the nearest available bed, shadowsinger be damned. 

“Will you please just stop being a giant Illyrian baby and do as we’re told so I can finally get some godsdamned rest?” 

Azriel huffs in annoyance and stalks away in the direction of what you assumed would be your shared quarters. Dangling your heels in one hand and the heavy skirts of your dress in the other, you bid Rhys and Cassian good night before following after the Illyrian warrior. 

“Try not to kill each other,” Rhys calls over his shoulder. 

“No promises, Rhys.” 

The High Lord mutters a prayer under his breath as he and Cassian head towards the opposite side of the palace. With a sigh, you push open the door that Azriel had disappeared into. To your annoyance, you found him sprawled out on the bed with his hands behind his head. 

“Absolutely not,” you say, stalking into the room and discarding your shoes onto the wooden floor. “You’re not getting the bed.” 

He sneers, sitting upright to face you. “Can you at least attempt not to make a mess everywhere you go?” Azriel strides over to the door and deposits your shoes by the wooden dresser where his boots were currently neatly perched. Peculiar male.

His dark head perks up as he stands to his full height, towering a good foot over you. “And I am absolutely claiming the bed. First come, first serve.” 

You snort. “Yeah, I’m sure you know all about coming first.” Striding over to the ornate vanity by the window, you settle into the wooden chair and began pulling out the jewels pinned to your curls.

Azriel rolls his eyes. “Do you have to be so crude?”

The crimson slash of your smile is nothing but predatory as you shake your unbound hair over your shoulder. “My apologies to your virginal ears,” you retort with dripping sarcasm. 

The Illyrian warrior sighs as though the fate of the realm rests solely on his shoulders. Nothing in the entirety of Prythian irritated you more, but that was just the nature of your relationship with the shadowsinger. To say that you and Azriel didn’t get along was a massive understatement. Pairing you two together was like dropping a lit match onto a field soaked with gasoline. Someone was bound to get burned. 

“I meant what I said about our sleeping arrangements,” you announce, meeting Azriel’s gaze in the mirror. “I will get that bed one way or another. I didn’t endure a night of blisters just to sleep on the floor.” 

Azriel scoffs. “You weren’t complaining when you were on the dance floor with Eris earlier.”

You made a show of gathering the jewels into a neat pile while glaring at him. “Well, I’d be pretty shit at my job if I were. At least the Autumn lordling made it worth my while.” 

“Clearly, you have no problem fraternizing with the enemy.” 

A surge of magic crackles through your fingertips. It wasn’t like you enjoyed flirting with Eris. Sure, the male was handsome and charming, but you took your job seriously and you didn’t appreciate Azriel questioning your motives. You knew that playing the political game at hand was necessary to keep the Night Court safe.

“I haven’t forgotten who Eris is for one second, but unlike you, I’m able to control my emotions so I can gather intel for the good of this court.” You rose to standing and though you barely reached Azriel’s shoulders, you didn’t balk from his intense stare. “Would you rather have me maim our honored guest?”

“It sure as hell would’ve been less sickening than having to watch you two fawn over each other all night.” 

You pause, taking in his features. The cold mask of indifference faded away and you could see the tension in his jaw as he spoke. A slow smile spreads across your face as realization dawns on you. 

“Are you jealous, shadowsinger?” 

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Azriel exclaims. “Why would I ever be jealous of Eris?” 

You shrug, fully reveling in the irritation flashing across those hazel eyes of his. “Maybe you have a crush. I mean, I can’t say I blame you. I heard that Autumn Court males have fire in their veins and that they fuck like it too.” 

Azriel gapes at you, shadows peering over his shoulders in amusement. There were only a few things in this realm that you enjoyed more than the sight of his flustered expression. The feared spymaster of the Night Court blushing like an innocent maiden thanks to your dirty mouth. 

“The filth that comes out of your mouth would bring the males in Illyria to their knees.” 

You smirked. “Good, it puts them in the perfect position to kiss my ass.” 

Despite himself, Azriel laughs. It was full and rich, the sound reverberating through your skin as his laughter filled the room. You realize with a jolt that tonight was the first time you've actually heard his real laugh. Maybe that’s what possessed you to say what you said next. 

“I am serious about taking the bed, whether you’re in it or not.” 

Azriel raises a brow, but says nothing as you stride past him on the way to the bathroom. As you close the door behind you, the shadowsinger calls out with an amused voice, “Don’t use up all the hot water, witchling.” 

“Bite me, batling,” you retort with mockery, throwing a vulgar gesture over your shoulder. 

His dark laughter trails after you as you enter the bathroom. With a hand on your hip, you examine the porcelain tub positioned in the middle of the marble floor, its size large enough to accommodate Illyrian wings. Steam rose from the bath and it was all the invitation you needed to strip out of your clothes.

You carefully unclasp the sapphire necklace hanging around your neck and set it against the counter. Reaching towards the back of your dress, you tug on the button securing the halter top, but it wouldn’t seem to budge. You tried again, attempting to maneuver the clasp to no avail.

After angling your arms in a dozen uncomfortable positions, you let out a sigh of frustration. You were almost tempted to use your magic to unfasten the damned thing, but you were too afraid to ruin the beautiful dress.

An abrupt knock at the door nearly made you jump out of your own skin. “What’s taking so godsdamned long? I’d like to actually bathe and sleep before dawn.” 

You roll your eyes even though Azriel couldn’t see beyond the wooden door. “My dress is stuck.” 

There was a pause of silence on the other side. Hesitantly, Azriel spoke again. “Do you need help?” 

You gaze into the enormous mirror, blowing out a tendril of dark hair from your eyes. The reflection that peered back had a sheen of sweat coating her olive skin and frustration at the inability to undress was written all over her dark kohl rimmed eyes, but you weren’t ready to admit defeat. You'd find a way out of this dress one way or another. Tugging at the fabric once again, you overshot your aim and banged your elbow against the marble countertop with a loud smack. 

Azriel curses from the other side of the door. “Oh for fuck’s sake-“ With a frustrated sigh, he stalks into the bathroom and found you clutching your arm in pain. “Just admit you need my help.” 

“No thanks, I’m not providing free material for your spank bank.” 

The shadowsinger rolls his eyes. “Your stubbornness is going to get you injured.” He came closer, but you took a step backwards and unwisely cornered yourself into the sink. 

“I don’t need your help.” 

“Stop being a godsdamned brat and come here.” 

The authority laced in Azriel’s command made you stand upright. A glimpse of the feared spymaster leaked out then, his hazel eyes beckoning you forth as though he could see right through you. You understood then why his victims always talked. One look and you were damn ready to spill all of your deepest darkest secrets. 

Silently, you turned around and suddenly found the ceiling quite interesting. Azriel came up behind you and swept your hair over your shoulder with ease, his shadows sweeping over your skin in a gentle caress. You involuntarily shivered, willing yourself to stay still while his fingers found the culprit of a button.

Through the mirror, Azriel met your gaze. His eyes swept over your form, taking in the tight dress adorning your body. Mor had truly pulled out all the stops for your mission tonight and it showed in the elegant drape of the lace fabric. The high neckline came up to your throat in an uncharacteristically modest cut, but the small opening at the front dipped dangerously low, allowing a generous view of your cleavage. The shadowsinger's eyes traveled down your exposed skin, a slight smirk adorning his lips while you held your breath.

Azriel gripped your waist firmly with his left hand while his right traveled up your back. He took his time, humming softly while his fingers danced up the column of your spine. Even through the fabric, an electric jolt awakened every nerve ending while he painstakingly took his time. Languid and unhurried, his touch brushed the back of your neck and elicited a wave of desire to pulsate in your lower abdomen. Suddenly, your mouth felt uncomfortably dry while your skin burned with a flash of heat. You licked your lips instinctively while trying not to notice the effects of the shadowsinger's touch.

In one swift move, the hook came undone and you barely had time to gather the fabric to your chest to avoid flashing Azriel. His fingers grazed your bare skin before his hand retreated back to his side. 

It was only for a split second, but you could’ve sworn that you saw a flash of something predatory in Azriel’s reflection. 

“Thanks,” you murmur quietly. 

You needed to get away from his touch and the onslaught of arousal it stirred within you.

Turning around, you ran right into the solid wall that was Azriel’s chest. A scarred hand gripped your arm to keep you from stumbling and the overwhelming scent of night chilled mist and cedar invaded your senses. You wanted to blame your sudden outburst of clumsiness on the faerie wine you’d consumed earlier, but it had been hours since your last drink and you currently felt alarmingly sober. As you look up into those familiar hazel eyes, the flush that spreads over your cheeks betrays every bout of logic within you. 

Shit. Were you turned on by the shadowsinger? 

You’d be lying if you said you’d never thought about it. All the verbal sparring and tension between you and Azriel had been brewing for some time. Sometimes you wondered if all the arguments were just a precursor to your own fucked up version of foreplay. 

“Never thought I’d live to see the day that you’re thanking me for undressing you,” Azriel says in a low, cool voice. There was something flirtatious and suggestive in the husky tone of his words, awakening a familiar ache in your core. 

You swallow thickly. “Now who’s being crude?” 

“Don’t worry, witchling. I never start anything I can’t finish.” 

Cauldron boil and fry you, the rush of arousal has shot straight to your head. 

Azriel smirks, locking you in place as he leans closer. You hold your breath as his face dips towards yours until only a wisp of air separates your mouth from his. The tension was palpable in the air and you felt a surge of electricity thrum through your veins when his gaze flickers to your lips. 

A beat passes as your eyes meet. It would be so easy to give in and allow yourself to taste him, but before your hormone addled brain could make you do something you’d undoubtedly regret, Azriel reaches for the robe behind you and tosses it over his shoulder. 

“Hurry up or I’m taking the bed for myself.”

With that, the shadowsinger disappears through the door while you stare back at your reflection once again. You had a crazed look in your eyes and your cheeks were flushed as though you had just finished running up the ten thousand steps at the House of Wind. Shame was written all over your face from the desire wafting off of you in waves.

A cold shower. You needed a godsdamned cold shower. 

Apparently, a working hearth was not part of Keir’s plans of renovation for the Moonstone Palace. The cold blooded lizard probably had no need for a fireplace anyways given his reptilian nature. You sighed, wrapping the thick blankets over yourself in a desperate attempt for warmth. 

After your much needed bath, you were surprised to discover Azriel setting up a makeshift bed for himself on the floor. Whatever anomaly of sexual tension that passed between you in the bathroom quickly dissipated as weariness threatened to take you under. You were all too glad to climb into bed and let sleep claim you, but the freezing wind had other ideas. 

“Will you stop your tossing? I can hear your teeth chattering from all the way down here,” Azriel grumbles in the dark.  

“It’s not my fault that it’s bloody freezing,” you respond in equal annoyance.

“Use a blanket.” 

“No shit, shadowsinger. If only I’d thought of that,” you buried yourself further underneath the sheets. “Oh wait, I did and I’m still likely to lose a leg to frostbite.” 

“So fucking dramatic,” he muttered under his breath. You could hear him rustling in the darkness. Then, a dip in the bed. 

“What the hell are you doing?” 

Moonlight streamed through the windows, reflecting the red and gold membrane of Azriel’s wings as he stood over you. With his dark hair perfectly tousled and eyes glowing golden in the night, the arousal from earlier came rushing back with a vengeance. Suddenly, sharing the same bed with the shadowsinger felt a little too close to tempting fate. Unaware of your wayward thoughts, he lifted the sheets and gestured for you to make room. 

“Scoot over.” 

You clutch the blanket to your chest. “Not a chance.” 

Annoyance was written all over his face. “I’m warm, you’re cold. Do you want to freeze to death or not?” 

It didn’t take long for you to mull your choices over. You were rather fond of your limbs and had no desire to lose them to the glacial temperatures. That was the only reason you allowed Azriel to climb into bed with you, or so you told yourself. 

Azriel shifted beside you, trying to settle into a comfortable position to accommodate his large wings. Wordlessly, he pulled you into his arms. His body warmth was deliciously satisfying and you shamelessly pressed against him, effectively using the male as your own personal heater. 

“Shit, you weren’t kidding. You’re as cold as ice.” 

His arms circled around your waist, pressing your back firmly against him. Azriel pulled the blankets over you, enveloping your bodies in a warm, comfortable heat. 

You sigh in relief. “I told you. I always knew Keir was a sadist, but this is another level of cruelty.” 

Azriel’s soft laughter fans over the crook of your neck as you unabashedly snuggle into his warmth. “You’re a greedy little witchling, aren’t you?” 

You press your cold toes onto his bare legs, earning a yelp from the shadowsinger. 

“Brat.” 

“Prick.” 

You could practically hear the smirk in his voice. “I might be a prick, but you’re the one using me for my body.” 

“Don’t let it go to your head, shadowsinger. I’d easily cuddle with Bryaxis if it meant not freezing to death.” 

That dark laughter again. It swept over you like rumbling thunder and suddenly the temperature in the room spiked. You tense, freezing in place against Azriel’s arms. He must’ve mistook the action for a shiver because before you knew it, Azriel was pulling you closer, the warmth of his hands slipping over your midsection. 

“Better?” He asks in a low, husky voice. Was it just you or did his voice dip an octave deeper? Azriel’s fingers hover over your stomach, rubbing soothing circles into your skin. 

“Mhmm,” you mumble in response, entirely distracted by the small ministrations he was unknowingly torturing you with.

A small whimper crawled up the back of your throat and you did your best to hide it with a yawn. Azriel seemed entirely oblivious to his effect on you as his hands inch further and further up your ribcage, darting dangerously close to your sternum. Every sweep of his fingers against your skin had you clenching your thighs together. 

Mother save you, you truly needed to get a hold of yourself. This was Azriel, for Cauldron’s sake. You hated the male with every fiber of your being. If only your body could get with the program instead of leaning into the sweep of his large hands.

Sleep. You needed to sleep. Whatever delusional thoughts currently running through your oxygen deprived brain would soon correct itself after a good night’s rest. 

Shutting your eyes close, you willed yourself to wind down. You would not let horniness dig its sharp claws into you. Eventually, your wired mind gave way to the invitation of hazy thoughts and blurry dreams until you felt a strange sensation. 

“Azriel?” 

“Hmm?” His sleep coated answer echoes in the darkness.  

“Please tell me that’s Truth-teller digging into my back.”

Because there it was, his hardness pressing against your backside. 

“Shit,” Azriel curses loudly at the same time that you squirm in place. The sudden movement made you accidentally grind your ass into him and the growl that came out of his mouth was utterly unholy. “Do not do that.” 

His hand curls around your arm, keeping you a safe distance away from his erection. You turn over to face him and while you made a conscious effort not to glance down, you still caught a glimpse of the bulge protruding from his underclothes. Azriel sat up and instantly covered himself with blankets, but it was a wasted effort. You’d already seen everything. 

You mirrored his movement, pulling yourself up into a seated position and crossing your legs underneath you.

Azriel began to say “I’m sorry” at the same time that you blurted out “It’s fine.” 

For once in your immortal life, you found yourself speechless. The only sound that you managed to make was a choked giggle that Azriel instantly glared at you for.

“Now is not the time to laugh,” he grunts. 

You hold up your hands. “I’m sorry. I swear I’m not laughing at you. It’s just been a very weird night.” 

The flush on Azriel’s cheeks made his golden brown skin glow underneath the moonlight. “No shit,” he blew out a breath. “An unexpected erection wasn’t exactly part of my plans.” 

You tried your best to tamper down the nervous giggle rising in your throat. “Can I do anything to help?” 

Azriel bowed his head and groaned. “No, I think you’ve done enough.” 

“Are you honestly blaming me for your hard-on?” you ask incredulously. Leave it to Azriel to make his erection entirely your fault. 

“I wouldn’t have a hard on if you weren’t grinding your ass into my dick.” 

“I was cold!” you exclaimed. “Besides, if I was truly grinding my ass into your dick, we wouldn’t be sitting here arguing.” 

“You’re making it worse.” 

The pained expression on Azriel’s face confirmed the statement. 

“I’m just talking!” Crossing your arms, you readied yourself for the oncoming argument. Any chance of sleep had gone entirely out the window. As always, the shadowsinger was being a colossal pain in the ass. “You’re the one shoving your greedy little hands underneath my shirt.” 

“We wouldn’t be in this position if you’d stopped your damn complaining. You were freezing. I was trying to help.” 

“Well, you helped too much.” 

Azriel’s brows rose. “What is that supposed to mean?” 

Shit. You’d definitely revealed more than you intended to. “Nothing, forget it. Can we just go to bed?” 

“If you hadn’t noticed, I’m not exactly in a resting mood right now.” 

“Godsdamned it,” you mutter. The Mother was honestly testing your sanity tonight. “Fine, just think about things that will turn you off. Rusty daggers? Unkempt rooms? Oh, I know. Cassian in a dress!” 

He huffed in frustration. “You’re not helping.” 

You tittered. “No, you’re right. Cassian in a dress is definitely a turn on for you.”

Azriel grits his teeth. “For the love of gods, stop talking.” 

“I’m just trying to help. Clutching your crotch is not going to get us any closer to sleep.” 

He rolls his eyes in response. “Please, like I didn’t smell your arousal earlier in the bathroom and in bed. At least I’m considerate enough to not mention it.” 

“Considerate is the last word I’d use to describe you. Asshole is particularly high on the list.” You paused, narrowing your eyes as his words slowly dawned on you. “Wait. You could tell that I was turned on earlier? Is that why you kept touching me?” The shit-eating grin on Azriel’s face was response enough. “Oh you’re dead, shadowsinger.” 

“You didn’t seem to be complaining when I was doing it.” 

“Prick.” 

“Brat.” 

You stared at one another, cheeks flushed, eyes wild, and chests rising and falling in harmonious rhythm. Whether the palpable tension filling the room was from your verbal sparring or something else entirely, you couldn’t tell. All you knew was that a familiar sensation of desire was now pooling in your core, igniting your entire body with desperate need as Azriel’s gaze dips lower to your mouth. 

“I might be a brat, but you’re obviously turned on by it.” 

The depths of his hazel irises were nearly swallowed by his blown out pupils. “Shut. Up.” 

“Why don’t you make me?” 

The expression that bloomed on Azriel’s face was entirely primal. A shock of electricity crackled in the air, summoning a magnetic pull to the stubborn male before you. Warning bells blared within your mind, but you ignored it. The desire surging between you was impossible to resist. 

You wanted to taste him. 

You needed to taste him.

Against all logic and sense, Azriel surges forward and hungrily presses his mouth against yours. You tilt your chin up to meet his lips, fingers greedily intertwining into his dark locks. Azriel tasted like sin. His lips were soft, plush, and entirely intoxicating. The shadowsinger pulls you closer, his warm mouth pressing kisses onto your lips, neck, shoulder, and whatever surface he could reach. 

“You are the most stubborn, frustrating person I have ever met,” he declares as he tilts your head back to allow access to your neck. 

“You’re no walk in the park either, shadowsinger.” Your eyes flutter close as he sucks on your soft flesh, leaving marks against your collarbone. “Never in my life have I argued with anyone as much as I’ve argued with you.”

His hands crawl up your spine, pulling you into a tight embrace while you nipped at his neck. “The fact that you’re arguing with me right now, while I’m actively kissing you is a testament of how unwilling you are to let anyone else have the last word. Do you even know how insane you drive me?” 

You whimper as he takes your face into his hands. “I can’t even get through an entire day without thinking about you. Your smile, your laugh, your smell. You’re intoxicating.” 

He kissed away whatever sarcastic remark you had sitting on the tip of your tongue. Azriel wasn’t the only one feeling euphoric. You were drowning in him, but you couldn’t get enough. The fights, the arguments, the tension - it was all leading up to this. Because the taste of him in your mouth felt like the answer to a question you didn’t even know you’d asked. 

“I think about you all the time,” you admit. “It’s absolutely fucking maddening. I think I might be a masochist.” 

“You?” Azriel asks in disbelief. “I have been in misery since the moment we met. All those months I’ve spent depriving myself of you, fighting about stupid little things, arguing about anything and everything just to get a sliver of your attention. It’s been torturous, hoping that this feeling would go away, but it hasn’t. I’ve thought about this moment. What you’d taste like. How you’d feel against me. The sounds you’d make,” he pressed an open mouthed kiss underneath your jaw. 

A soft moan escapes from your lips and Azriel growls in response. 

“Fuck, you have no idea what you do to me.” The guttural sound swept over you deliciously. 

“Then show me.” 

Whatever restraint Azriel had before was completely unleashed as he took your lips into his once more. His tongue swept over your bottom lip and darted into your mouth, testing and tasting every inch of you. Your tongues swirled and sucked, fighting for dominance as though this was one of your heated arguments. Azriel pulled you into his lap and you straddled him, your thighs resting on either side of his. 

His hands wandered underneath your silk negligee, deft fingers tugging at the hem. “Is this okay?” Azriel asks. 

You nod, too drunk with lust to even form words. 

Azriel smirks. “Use your words, sweetheart.”

You pull the thin dress over your head without hesitation, throwing it behind you with careless abandon. “Is that enough of an answer for you?” 

He laughs, taking in the sight of you in nothing but skimpy lingerie. You’d never been more glad in your life that you’d packed the matching black lace set that left very little to the imagination. Azriel cups your breasts in his large hands, squeezing softly as he trails kisses along your cleavage, pulling away to whisper against your exposed skin. 

“Such a brat.” 

You grin. “You like it.” 

“More than you know.” 

Azriel finds the sensitive spot beneath your ear and presses open mouthed kisses along your neck all the way down to the column of your throat. You arch against him, displeased to find a barrier of fabric separating you. 

You impatiently tug at the hem of his shirt and he smiles into your neck, murmuring softly. 

“Whatever happened to not tainting my innocence in the middle of the night?”  

“I’ve seen the chains in your bedroom, shadowsinger. You’re definitely not innocent.” 

His eyes crinkle with amusement. “Those are for official spymaster business, but if you’re truly that interested, I can make an exception for you.” 

With that, Azriel discards his shirt, giving you a full view of the swirling tattoos etched onto his golden brown skin. You trace the Illyrian markings, taking in the opportunity to admire his naked torso. 

“Beautiful,” you breathe. 

Azriel breaks out into a smile. Not a grin or a smirk, but a smile that made your heart ache. He was so beautiful it was almost unfair. 

“I mean it, Azriel. I know I can be an asshole sometimes, but I’ve always thought you were beautiful.” 

He kisses you, slow and sweet this time, as though he were savoring the moment. “Thank you,” he whispers tenderly. “I’d say the same about you, but beautiful seems like an understatement. You’re the most exquisite thing I’ve ever seen, sweetheart. I’ve thought so since the moment we met.” 

You laughed, hiding the blush creeping up onto your cheeks. “Don’t go all soft on me. You hated me.” 

“I’ve never hated you,” he says softly. “You’re a pain in the ass and you constantly call me out on my bullshit, but I think that’s what I like most about you. You challenge me and I find your combative personality incredibly sexy. You had me wrapped around your finger the moment I laid eyes on you. I was completely, absolutely fucking done for.” 

“I knew you secretly wanted me,” you jokingly interject. 

“Didn’t think it was much of a secret. Cassian and Rhys knew this whole time. Mor too, which is probably why she chose to room with Amren tonight.” 

If you thought about it, truly thought about it, all the signs were there. You were just too deep in denial to admit it to yourself because once you did, you wouldn’t be able to deny the fact that maybe you felt the same way about him too.

“Why are you telling me this now?” 

Azriel brushed a strand of hair from your face, tilting your chin up. “Because, seeing you dance with Eris tonight made me realize that I couldn’t bear the sight of you with anyone else. I want to be the one that you dance with. I want to be the one that you argue with. I want to be the only one to make you smile the way that you’re smiling at me right now.” 

“I’m not going to stop being a pain in the ass,” you say with a grin. “And I can’t promise that I won’t argue with you about stupid little things. Most of all, I’ll probably keep on being an annoying brat for the rest of my immortal existence.” 

Azriel laughs. “You may be a brat, but you’re my brat.” 

The butterflies in your stomach threatened to fly right into your heart. Gods, this male. One minute you were arguing and the next he was turning you into nothing but a mushy pile of a person. 

"I want you," Azriel breathes. "And if tonight is all you're willing to give me, I'll take it. I'll take whatever I can get from you, but I'm done pretending like you don't completely consume my thoughts."

"I want you too, Azriel." You caress his cheek, tracing a sharp cheekbone with your thumb. "So fucking badly it hurts. Now that I've tasted you, I don't think I could ever give it up. What I’m saying is, I feel the same way about you too and I’d like to give this a try beyond just this night.” 

"Good, because I'm pretty sure you've ruined every other female for me."

You shift in his lap, a grin breaking out on your face when you realize exactly what you were sitting on. “Is emotional intimacy turning you on, Azriel?” 

“Fucking hell,” he swears. “I’m never going to live this down, am I?” 

“Not a chance in hell.” 

Azriel grins. “For the record, I don’t expect you to stop being the ill tempered, foul mouthed female that I fell for in the first place. I’d rather fight with you than get along with anyone else.” 

His lips ghost over yours. “The only thing this changes is that I now know the secret to shutting you up,” he sucks at the soft skin underneath your ear again, eliciting a breathy moan from you. 

“Fuck you,” you hiss playfully, practically melting into his lap. 

Azriel grips your waist, grinding his erection into your backside. “If you insist, sweetheart.” 

You roll your eyes, greedily licking the hollow of his throat as you roll your hips into him. Two could play that game. Azriel curses under his breath and you decide that it was your favorite sound in the entire realm. 

He wasted no time in unfastening the clasp of your bra, releasing your breasts from the lacy constraints. Azriel gave you a wicked grin before pinching your nipple, taking your right breast into his mouth while you moaned loudly. Ever the equal opportunist, he gave your left breast matching attention, releasing each nipple with a popping sound that left your legs trembling. 

The last remnants of hesitation faded away as Azriel flipped you on your back. You bounced against the mattress with an amused giggle, propping yourself up on your elbows to watch the shadowsinger crawl towards you. Powerful wings spanned the entirety of his back while his shadows crowned him in darkness like some fallen angel. You knew then and there that this beautiful male would be your undoing. 

As if reading your mind, Azriel grinned before pinning you underneath him. His fingers toy with the waistband of the skimpy lingerie, pausing for your permission. You shrug out of your panties and Azriel nearly tears them off in haste. 

He spreads your legs open while his dark head disappears between your thighs. Azriel trails kisses on your skin, his hot breath fanning over your already soaking core. 

“Fuck, so wet for me already. I’ve been dying to taste you all night,” Azriel licks a stripe of your needy core and your eyes nearly roll to the back of your head. “You taste even sweeter than you smell.” 

His mouth was on you again, licking and sucking like he’d been starving for centuries and you were a feast spread out especially for him. When Azriel’s fingers plunged into you dripping wet cunt, it was almost too much to bear. He sucked at your clit and your back arched off the bed. Without warning, he plunged a second finger inside you while you tugged at his hair.

The moans coming out of your mouth didn’t even sound like you. They belonged to someone else, a needy, seductive side of you that no one had ever unleashed. You had no idea how Azriel learned how to do that with his tongue, but you prayed to the Mother that he wouldn’t stop. 

It might’ve been minutes or hours since Azriel first started eating you out. You couldn’t keep track of anything else besides the Illyrian male between your legs. Never in your life has anyone made you come from their mouth alone, but there was a first time for everything. 

The tension in your needy core unspooled and the warmth of an oncoming orgasm had you gasping for breath. 

“Azriel,” you moaned loudly. “I’m so close.” 

He plunged his fingers inside you once more, pressing down on your abdomen with his free hand while he curved his digits within your walls. The combination of his mouth on your clit and his fingers in your pussy had you chasing after that familiar high. 

“That’s it, sweetheart. Come for me.” 

At his words, you completely unraveled. Azriel watched as your eyes rolled to the back of your head, his mouth dripping with your arousal. He licked up every drop before kissing you. You could taste yourself on his tongue and you immediately wanted to return the favor.

As you reached for his boxers, Azriel gripped your wrist. “Another time. Tonight is about you, sweetheart. What do you want?” 

“I want you,” you breathe. “All of you.” 

His nose brushes against your cheek in a gentle, intimate manner. “Are you sure?” 

You nod as his eyes meet yours. From this close, you could make out the golden flecks within his hazel irises. He grins as he kisses the tip of your nose. 

“What did I say about using your words? I want to hear you say it.” 

“I want you to fuck me, Azriel.” 

Azriel kisses you, hungry and desperate as he positions himself over you. He tugs at the waistband of his boxers and mirrors your move from earlier, discarding the fabric over his shoulder. You laugh and he captures your lips once again, hiking your legs around his waist. Azriel moves slowly, filling you up with his length with careful consideration. 

He searches your face as you wince, feeling him deep inside you. Deeper than you’ve ever taken. Your eyes water from the sheer size of him. His shadows wipe away your tears and you chuckle, nuzzling into the cold reprieve they provided. Azriel caresses your cheek, whispering encouragement into your ear. 

“You’re doing so well, sweetheart. Taking all of me,” he moves slowly. "That's it. Open your eyes. I want to watch you taking every inch of my cock."

Your eyes flutter open as his shadows twine through your wrists, binding them to the headboard behind you. Azriel gripped the wooden post, plunging himself deeper inside you until his hip bones touched yours. He releases a shaky breath, tendrils of inky night pulling your ankles around his waist. The shadows felt cold against your skin and your legs trembled as Azriel traced your lips with his thumb.

"Can I move?"

“Shit, fuck. Yes.” 

Azriel chuckles. “Such a filthy mouth with a pretty little cunt.” 

“I thought you liked my filthy fucking mouth -“ 

The air was knocked out of you as Azriel slammed his hips against yours, burying himself deep into your walls. If you ever had a doubt about the correlation between wingspan and dick size, it died at that moment. He plunged into you over and over again, his thrusts hitting the sweet spot with each fluid stroke. Pain and pleasure combined, you were seeing stars as Azriel continued his relentless pounding.

The slap of skin against skin filled the room and the smell of sex was heavy in the air. You clenched your walls around his member and Azriel groaned in response.

"You're so fucking tight, sweetheart. Feels so good. Is your pretty little cunt all for me?" The dirty words flying out of his mouth made you blush uncharacteristically. He rutted into you, holding your hips in place while he watched you squirm in pleasure underneath him. "Can anyone else fuck you like this? Make you beg and whimper for my cock while you clench your pussy around me like the greedy little brat that you are?"

"N-no, only you. Only you could fuck me like this, Azriel."

He smirked, pumping in and out of you slowly. The action was painstakingly driving you insane and you bucked your hips to take in more of him, but Azriel tutted in response. "If you want it, you'll have to beg for it."

Fucking hell. You whined, desperate to feel him thrust in you again. "Please, Azriel. I want you. I need you to fuck me senseless."

Azriel kissed your neck, smiling. "Good girl."

With that, he plunged into you once more, filling you up to the hilt. His control slipped and his pace picked up, fucking you so deliciously that you couldn't even remember your own name. You wrapped your legs around his waist, fingers digging between his shoulder blades.

Beads of sweat kissed his golden brown skin from the effort, giving him the appearance of a dewy, glowy, dark angel. Azriel’s wings flared behind him and you ran your pointer finger over the sensitive membrane. The shadowsinger buckled above you, a deep moan ripping through his chest. He nuzzled into the crook of your neck, nipping at your soft skin with his teeth. 

“Az?” you ask shyly. 

Azriel perked up, catching your gaze. “Yes, sweetheart?” 

“Can I ride you?” 

His blown out pupils were swallowed by desire as he wordlessly flipped you over. Bracing yourself against his chest, you straddled Azriel and rocked against him slowly. Shadows wafted over you, snaking through your hips as they guided you to ride him in a steady rhythm.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he repeated under his breath while you sank into him. 

Azriel’s large hands cupped your ass, guiding you over his cock with a tight grip. The sight of him bucking desperately underneath you while a sheen of sweat coated his perfectly toned form made you smirk. His hands traveled up to your hips, fingertips briefly digging into your skin before softly cupping your breasts. 

"You're so big. I love taking every inch of you. I'd never get tired of riding your perfect cock," you say as you grind into him, filling yourself up with the girth of his velvet wrapped steel.

“You’re going to be the death of me,” he says huskily. 

You smirk in response, slamming your hips against his and taking him in even deeper. Azriel’s hand wraps around your neck, lightly squeezing as you ride him into oblivion. You took his scarred hand into yours and kissed his fingertips. 

“Beautiful,” you repeated. 

"So fucking perfect. I love watching you ride me. Feels so damn good," He sat upright, letting you roll your hips into him while his forehead pressed against yours. “Such a good girl,” Azriel hummed into your neck. "Is this pussy mine?"

"It's yours, Azriel. All yours."

Your movements were slow and languid as you melded together. From this angle, the curve of his member hit your cervix with perfect precision. You didn't even know sex could feel this good. Never had anyone else coax and tease and make you submit like he could. At this point, you couldn’t tell where Azriel began and you ended. 

The grip around your neck tightened, cutting off your circulation at just the right amount to feel pleasurable. "Gonna come for me again, sweetheart?"

"I want you to come, too. I want to feel you filling me up."

“You fucking kill me when you say things like that. I'm so close, but I'm not coming until you do too. Can you do that for me?"

He swept the dark curtain of your hair over your shoulder, taking you in with tender eyes. 

“Yes,” you rasp. “So fucking close.” 

Azriel flips you over gently, his thrusts sloppy and waning as you both lose yourselves in each other. You moan his name so loudly that it would be a wonder if the whole palace didn’t hear. His fingers rubbed circles onto your sensitive clit and pushed you over the edge. 

Just as waves of pleasure slammed into you, Azriel moaned your name into the night like a prayer. Together, you rode out the high as skin slapped against skin. 

Azriel spurted into you, filling you to the brim with his orgasm. His lips found yours and pressed a gentle kiss against your mouth. The gesture was oddly intimate, more personal than the fact that he was currently balls deep inside of you. The act of coming together was entirely euphoric. For the second time that night, you found yourself seeing stars.

The shadowsinger pulled out of you slowly, taking great care not to disturb your extremely sensitive sex. Azriel rolled over in bed, your panting breaths the only sounds filling the room while you both recovered from the strenuous effort. Afterglow cast a shimmering haze over the both of you and you were content to bask in it while Azriel settled in beside you.

Despite the fact that he'd just given you two orgasms in a row and undoubtedly fucked you into next week, Azriel blushed as you turned over to examine him. Coming down from the high of the best sex of your life, you smiled at his bed hair and swollen lips. Azriel grinned shyly, resting his head on the pillow as he faced you.

“Fuck,” he said with a laugh. “That was…” 

You nodded in response. “Fucking amazing? Remind me to thank Mor for rooming with Amren.” 

Azriel smirked. “You can thank her in the morning. We’re gonna have an early start, so try and rest sweetheart.” 

He pulled himself out of bed, eliciting a groan of protest from you. Azriel chuckled. “I’m just getting a towel to clean up. No need to be a brat,” he adds with a wink. 

You stuck out your tongue, but watched in appreciation as Azriel’s naked form walked towards the restroom. He looked back at you, raising a brow at your blatant ogling. 

As promised, Azriel cleaned you up with a warm towel. Since your negligee was nowhere to be found, he draped his own shirt over you and smiled at the sight of the fabric nearly swallowing you whole. Azriel pulled you into his arms and you rested your head on his chest like you belonged there all along. Despite the wind howling outside, you no longer felt its cold sting. The shadowsinger’s warmth and wings cocooned you in his safety. 

You yawned. “Goodnight, Azriel.” 

Azriel presses a kiss to your cheek, enveloping you into his arms. “Goodnight, sweetheart.” 

The banging at the door is the first thing that greeted you the next morning. The second thing was Azriel’s sleeping form. The shadowsinger had an arm draped over your stomach, his naked chest rising and falling as he snored. You could’ve watched him all day if it weren’t for the repeated, aggressive knocks echoing throughout the room. 

“Get your ass up, Az. You promised you’d train with me this morning.” 

Azriel opened one eye, groaned, and pulled you closer to him. “If we ignore him, maybe he’ll go away,” he says in a gravelly morning voice that sounded so incredibly sexy that it nearly sent your heart into a cardiac arrest.

“This is Cassian we’re talking about. He once eavesdropped outside your door for a whole hour because he thought you had a female over.” 

The pout on his lips was so adorable you wanted to kiss it off. Gods, what the hell was this male turning you into? 

“Well, I do have a female over right now and I much prefer her company over training with my brother.” 

Another bang. “I can hear you in there. I know you’re awake.” 

You snorted. “I can get rid of him if you want.” 

Azriel propped his head up in one hand, surveying you carefully. “As amazing as last night was, I don’t want to force you into anything you’re not ready for. If you want to wait to tell the others, I would completely understand.” 

With the way Azriel was looking at you, it was almost like he was shyly asking you if you truly meant what you said last night. This soft, nervous side of him was entirely new to you, but you could already tell that you’d grow to like it. 

“When have I ever done anything that I didn’t want to?” you ask with amusement. “It’s sweet, Az and I appreciate it, but this is our friends we’re talking about. They’re the biggest group of busybodies to ever grace this realm. Besides, I’m not one to keep secrets. I’m all in if you are.” 

Azriel breaks out into a smile, genuine and tender, just for you. He places a chaste kiss on your lips. “I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge, especially if it’s you. I’m all in too, sweetheart.” 

You grin. “Good, because I’m about to kick Cassian’s ass for waking us up so godsdamned early.” 

The shadowsinger leans back, watching as you pad across the room. The cold air bites at your bare legs, but Azriel’s shirt kept the rest of your body warm. Swearing, you fling the door wide open while Cassian nearly stumbles over the threshold. 

“What the hell do you want, Cas?” 

“I- you -“ His gaze quickly scans over you. At his brother’s shirt covering your body. At Azriel’s dark head peeking out under the covers. The gears in his mind seemed to put the pieces together as he let out a hoot. “Fucking finally!” 

He flags someone down in the hallway. Mor and Amren peek their heads into the room, a smile breaking out on both of your friend’s faces.

“You owe me twenty gold marks, boy,” Amren states. 

“Well technically, Feyre’s guess was the most accurate,” Mor supplies. 

As if summoned by her words, the High Lord and High Lady strolled past. Rhysand’s brows disappeared into his hair line as he took you in. Beside him, Feyre’s eyes widened before she dragged Nesta into the fold. 

“I told you I was right.” 

Nesta groaned, grumbling under her breath about losing twenty golden marks to her youngest sister. 

“You guys bet on this?” you ask incredulously, half offended that your friends were this invested into your love life. 

“Oh, please,” Nesta says with a roll of her eyes. “You two reeked of sexual tension. It was inevitable. The fact that it took you this long is the only surprising thing about this whole situation.” 

“Kinda reminds me of us, Nes,” Cassian says with a grin.

Nesta shakes her head, but you clocked the fond smile on her face. 

“Get a room, you two,” Rhys teases playfully. 

“Save it, Rhys. You and my High Lady were just as unbearable during your honeymoon phase,” Mor shoots back. 

You place a hand on your hip, shaking your head in disbelief. “Are we done having this fucked up little gathering?” 

Azriel saunters up beside you, his tousled hair sticking up in a dozen different directions. Shadows twirl into your hair while he casually drapes an arm over your shoulder. 

“Can we take a rain check, Cas? We’re a little busy.” 

The Illyrian general’s eyes nearly bulge out of his head as he nods. “Of course, brother. You two look like you need the rest.” 

Rolling your eyes, you shot Cassian a vulgar gesture. The rest of your friends snickered, attempting to hide their beaming smiles at the sight of you and Azriel side by side. You simply shut the door on your nosy friends, knowing that they would undoubtedly hound you for details later. 

As you turned around, Azriel pressed your back into the door, taking you completely off guard as he kissed you hungrily. You kissed back with fervent passion, smiling against his mouth while he hoisted you in the air. Wrapping your legs around his midsection, Azriel kept a steady grip on your waist while he peppered kisses onto your cheeks.

"What was that for?"

Azriel shrugs. "Just saying good morning."

You chuckled, tangling your arms behind his neck and kissing him once more. "Good morning."

Azriel responds by lifting you in his arms bridal style as though you weighed nothing. He discarded you into the bed with ease, pinning him underneath you once more. You giggle, kissing the tip of his nose and reveling in the peace and quiet. It was ironic to think that mere hours ago, Azriel was complaining about sharing this exact room with you. 

Now, he kissed you deeply, awakening every nerve in your body. With his body pressed flush against yours, Azriel smiled. 

“Now where were we, sweetheart?”

tags: @i-opened-the-chamber-of-secrets @gxdsmonsters @ofelia-writesxox @harmeetk @chickmeowt @bankerfrog @ktmylady

#hey hi hello i'm sweating are you #azriel #azriel shadowsinger #azriel smut #azriel fic #azriel acotar #acotar smut #azriel x reader #azriel fanfic #azriel x you #acotar #acomaf #acosf #sjm #azriel fanfiction #masterlist #jess writes

[shadowriel]

ACOTAR Couples & Halloween Costumes: Headcanons 👻 🎃

Feysand: Feyre and Rhys definitely have a cute family costume planned with Nyx, but as soon as they leave him with a babysitter, they have to be the hottest couple in a 25-mile radius. Think Mr. & Mrs. Smith, think mafia AU, think Feyre in a slutty dress and Rhys unable to keep his hands off her

Nessian: Nesta and Cassian start planning their costumes at least a year in advance. No expense is spared, no detail is overlooked. Sure, they get into semi-heated arguments leading up to their favourite day of the year, but it’s well worth it. My vote goes to them being sexy pirates, or a gender bent Hades and Persephone.

Elucien: The thing about Elain Archeron is that she will always be that bitch, so well-dressed that people can’t help but stare. Lucien LOVES it! He’s also more than happy to take off his shirt at Elain’s request. A Greek god (or warrior) and goddess definitely works for their day court vibes (bonus points if Elain is Aphrodite).

Azris: Eris and Azriel famously refuse to put effort into Halloween. Azriel has been known to throw on cat ears. Eris has worn a mask or used fake blood on more than one occasion. Yet, somehow they end up surprising everyone by dressing up as a cop (Eris) and sexy criminal (Azriel). Yes, the handcuffs are fully functional. And, yes, Azriel wears a crop top.

Emorie: Our fave girlies have one goal on Halloween, and that’s to look ridiculously hot. Mor lives by the fact that “hoes don’t get cold” and usually makes a costume out of lingerie. Emerie’s been known to follow her lead or dress in something’s that more comfy. I think they would absolutely slay as an angel and demon.

Bonus addition: Emerie as a witch (and Mor can tag along as a black cat)

Gwynriel: These two always go with a costume that’s ridiculously niche or nerdy. Sometimes, Gwyn will get Azriel to dress up as her favourite male characters. Sometimes, she’ll wear a gorgeous costume on her own (and Azriel will just be there, looking at her with hearts in his eyes). Batman and catwoman is a fan favourite, but Gwyn loves the year she found her new favourite book and got them to dress up as a priestess and shadowsinger.

Elriel: Elain is hot (see above), and Azriel is more than happy to take a supporting role when it comes to couples costumes. Elain wants to wear a fancy dress? Azriel will offer to hold her purse. It’s an Elain Archeron world and Azriel is loving every second of just being in it. I feel like a flower and gardener costume would be cute couples costume for them.

Jassa: Jurian and Vassa are here to have fun. All of their costumes are easy-going and definitely bought last-minute, but they still look amazing. They’re known to find things around the house, and wear a costume that they insist is a pun. Some years, they remember they have these race car outfits at the back of their closet.

Gwynlain: Gwyn and Elain are for the Pinterest girlies. They always have the most gorgeous costumes, and their makeup is impeccably done. Dare I say, they’re the second hottest couple in a 25-mile radius. My brain is literally malfunctioning at the thought of them dressing up like Bloom and Flora from Winx Club.

I honestly could go on and on (and on…)

[All images were found on pinterest]

#acotar #feysand #nessian #elucien #azris #emorie #gwynriel #elriel #jassa #gwynlain #basically all the ships #a court of thorns and roses #acotar headcanons #acotar halloween

[the-bi-library]

Bisexual books coming out in 2024!

Let me know of the books I didn't include!

Here is the goodreads list link. You can add books to this too!

Books listed:

Dear Bi Men: A Black Man's Perspective on Power, Consent, Breaking Down Binaries, and Combating Erasure by J.R. Yussuf

Breaker of Fates by Vaela Denarr, Micah Iannandrea

Fake Dating a Witch: A Magical Summer Solstice Romance by Brigid Hunt

The End Crowns All by Bea Fitzgerald

Rupture in Total Eclipse by Sem Thornwood

The 7-10 Split by Karmen Lee

Every Time You Hear That Song by Jenna Voris

Not for the Faint of Heart by Lex Croucher

Better Left Buried by Mary E. Roach

Rani Choudhury Must Die by Adiba Jaigirdar

The Afterdark by E. Latimer

Truthfully, Yours by Caden Armstrong

The Only Light Left Burning by Erik J. Brown Don't Be a Drag by Skye Quinlan

Digging for Destiny by Jenna Jarvis

Exes & Foes by Amanda Woody

Under All the Lights by Maya Ameyaw

Off With Their Heads by Zoe Hana Mikuta

An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

Lavash at First Sight by Taleen Voskuni

Court of Wanderers by Rin Chupeco

The Loudest Silence by Sydney Langford

Practical Rules for Cursed Witches by Kayla Cottingham

The Sins on Their Bones by Laura R. Samotin

Mewing by Chloe Spencer

London On My Mind by Clara Alves, Nina Perrotta

What Is Love? by Jen Comfort

Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings

Hearts Still Beating by Brooke Archer

The Phoenix Keeper by S.A. MacLean

Road to Ruin by Hana Lee

Rise by Freya Finch

The Dark We Know by Wen-yi Lee

Truly, Madly, Deeply by Alexandria Bellefleur

Honeybloods by I.S. Belle

The Girl in Question by Tess Sharpe

Saints of Storm and Sorrow by Gabriella Buba

The Phoenix Bride by Natasha Siegel

The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste

The Perfect Guy Doesn't Exist by Sophie Gonzales

One Killer Problem by Justine Pucella Winans

Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao

Lulu Sinagtala and the City of Noble Warriors by Gail D. Villanueva

Redsight by Meredith Mooring

Finally Fitz by Marisa Kanter

The Last Love Song by Kalie Holford

Trouble by Lex Croucher

Playing For Keeps by Jennifer Dugan

Something To Be Proud Of by Anna Zoe Quirke

#My posts #bisexual #bisexual representation #bisexual pride #bi books #bisexual books #sapphic books #achillean books #booklr #book blog #queer books #lgbt books #lgbtq books #bi4bi #bi4bi books #bisexual romance #bookblr #book tumblr #Bi rep #black books #asian books #indigenous books #bipoc books #Queer bipoc books #queer bipoc

[drinkingcoffee-inthedark]

In The Glade

Summary: Emissary to the Spring Court is sent to investigate reports of strange happenings in the forest bordering the Autumn Court. There, he discovers a curious creature long lost to ancient Prythian lore: a Woodland Witch.

Pairing: LucienxReader

Warnings: None

Your favorite thing about the Spring Court was the weather. Warm sun, a balmy breeze, and the bright blue skies teaming with fluffy white clouds was an absolute dream. The icing on the cake was the stunning display of plants in every shade of green, peppered with flowers of buttery yellow and soft pink. The entirety of Spring was a beauty, but your home in the Glade was by far the most stunning. It was if it has been carved out in the forest by the Mother herself.

In the clearing of the trees sat a mossy pond of brackish waters teeming with crystals and creatures – for anyone who dared to look. The Glade was, thankfully, mostly untouched by Fae and Humans alike. Your small stone cottage was the only sign of human life in miles, and that’s the way you liked it. It helped preserve the natural resources, allowing the land to replenish and thrive. Being of the last of your kind, a Woodland Witch, you felt responsible to protect the land that you called home.

The Glade was seldom visited, located deep into the dense forest bordering on the Spring Court and the Mortal Lands, so you rarely encountered anyone else. On occasion, Spring Court Fae would make their way through, but you kept a watchful eye from a distance. Your Earth Magic was like an added sense – you could feel the land in your bones. You could feel their magic through the wind.

There was a comfortable warmth in the breeze on a day just a couple of weeks passed the Vernal Equinox when you found yourself at the edge of the Glade, high up in a tree. You were plucking sweet, ripe cherries from the branches. You sat on a branch, arm wrapped through the handle of a wicker basket, and as you reached to pick the berries.

You popped a cherry in your mouth and burst the delicate flesh of the fruit with your teeth. You hummed softly as you savored the flavor. After sucking the fruit away from the core, you spit the pit onto the ground. Instead of the soft rustle of the pit hitting the grass, you were startled by a grumble from below.

“What in the name of the Mother…” A male voice sounded. You felt your blood run cold. Your magic did not sense anyone around. And yet…

You peered down at the forest floor, and you took in the sight of a Fae male with blazing red hair sitting against the tree. His russet eyes met yours, as he looked up at you incredulously. You felt a swell of panic in your chest at the unknown person so close to your home. The rare times that you did get visitors, you usually sensed them quickly enough to hide. But this Fae male, you did not sense at all.

He was intriguing, of course. Long, red hair, tan skin, sharp features. He was enchanting. But just because he was handsome did not mean that he was harmless. In fact, his warrior-like wardrobe, featuring a host of weapons clear on his person, screamed the opposite.

The site of the jewel encrusted sword across his lap was enough to have you scrambling further up the tree. It wasn’t exactly the best defense, especially for a Fae, and a fit one at that, who could easily climb after you. It was hardly in your nature to use your magic for harming others, so you mostly trained in defense. You knew he could kill you in a second if it was his wish.

You abandoned the basket of berries, sending it crashing to the ground. Your expert fingers gripped the bark of the branches as you pulled yourself up the tree quickly.

The male below you stood, and you glanced down and took in his intimidating frame. He was lean, but muscular, and stood at over six-feet tall. He was a good foot taller than you, and you knew he could make it up the tree must faster.

You began blindly reaching for branches in the tree, climbing quicker.

“What in Gods name are you doing?” The male questioned, exasperated.

You deigned not to answer him as you reached again for a higher branch. The bark cut into your hand, and you yelped. The pain startled you, and you lost your balance in the tree. You tumbled down the tree, hitting several branches on your way down.

You managed to catch yourself, gripping on to a limb in the middle of the tree. Your feet dangled, and you kicked at the air trying to pull yourself back up on the tree.

“Be careful!” The handsome stranger called out, “What are you trying to do get yourself killed?”

You glared down at him, “I’m perfectly fine! I know how to climb a tree, thank you,” Your sarcasm was always your mother’s least favorite thing about you when you were a child. But you just couldn’t help it. The male did not seem to want to harm you, but that doesn’t mean you were about to just trust a stranger.

“Looks like you know how to fall out of a tree,” He retorted, “Let me help you before you splatter on the ground.”

You grimaced at his harsh depiction, but you still did not need the assistance of a Fae. This was your home, and you could manage just fine. Or you thought you could.

The branch that you were hang from creaked and you looked up to where the limb met the tree. You watched helpless as the wood splintered beneath under your weight.

“Oh, shi-” You were interrupted by a resounding crack from the branch as it finally released from the tree and sent you crashing to the ground.

You couldn’t stop the scream from erupting out of your chest as you squeezed your eyes shut and braced for impact. Instead of the cold, hard thud of the ground, your body made contact with a dense, warm object. You opened your eyes and found the dark eyes of the handsome stranger staring at your face. He had a curious look on his angular features – a mix between pain and amusement.

You had knocked him right to the ground, landed right on top of him, a mess of smashed berries and leaves surrounding you. Your cheeks flushed red, but you couldn’t help but study the face of the male. He was even more attractive up close. Your heart pounded against your ribcage so hard that you were sure he felt it.

The corner of his lips curled up in a smirk, “So it seems you do want to make my acquaintance after all.”

#acotar #lucien vanserra #acotar fanfiction #a court of thorns and roses #lucien x reader #lucien spell cleaver #pro lucien vanserra #pro lucien #acotar lucien #lucien acotar #Lucien / Reader #lucien/reader

[15-lizards]

GENDER SWAP RENLY AND STANNIS OUTFITS PLEASSSS. And maybe Robert too

SISTERLY DYSFUNCTION WE LOVEEEEE even tho the character of Robert is kinda tricky bc his character is rooted in his manhood but fuck it we ball maybe we can just make Westeros a matriarchy #Feminism

Fem Roberta (definitely named Roberta) (also the middle Katie McGrath pic is the fc) is the kinda the biggest lesbian bait ever. Non-dutiful eldest daughter set to inherit storms end but she does NAWT give a shit she wants to go play around in the Vale with fem Ned and drink and whore etc etc. Rides and fights like a man and even wears men’s armor but still dresses and (sometimes) acts like a noble lady when the situation calls for it. She’s not a tomboy who chafes at nobility she’s a rowdy noble girl who LOVES her status she loves excess. Charismatic girl who managed to get men to follow her into war to get back Fem Ned’s little brother even though she loves him like a prize. And she loves the idea of being connected to Ned more than that. But other than her homoerotic obsession with her best friend and she is totally and completely heterosexual 👍🏻

Fem Stannis (Stana? Castana?) is kinda so Eva Green do we see the vision people. She’s a flop daughter who dresses like a utilitarian, very little room in her looks for comfort. Internalized misogyny for days bc she thinks if she were a son she could be so much better than her sister is. She’s kinda like if Cersei slayed a little less. When Roberta dies she can’t garner any support bc even though they were both women, her elder sister was always more persuasive and well liked, which is half the reason she became queen. So now she’s behind her bastard nephew and nieces who aren’t even related to her in the line of succession (let’s pretend masc Cersei and fem Jamie swapped the kids or smthn idk 😭). And her new red witch is not doing favors for the people who think magic = dark and womanly and evil. She’s such a flop and gay for the older pirate lady who saved her life and she can never do anything right ily girl

And Fem Renly/Rena/Renia is kinda the baddest bitch in the seven kingdoms. She’s even prettier than Roberta was at her age, and just as charismatic, and far more agreeable, acting more like a “proper” lady. Though she rides as well as her eldest sister, and even took up the sword too, wanting to be a warrior queen when she was little. Her fits always go crazy, a fourth of the treasury at storms end is set aside for her favorite green enameling and gold accessories. She’s kinda the star of court and thinks Roberta has gotten lazy and Stana has too much of a stick up her ass to be a good queen. Ofc in true Baratheon fashion she has a gay who worships her like a god, her trusted lady-knight Lora Tyrell, who gives her the support of her house before she unfortunately gets merked. Rip queen I wish you could’ve been mean on the internet

#asoiaf #lesbian Baratheons my beloved #Stannis was already a lesbian without gender bending him but that’s neither here nor there

[insufferableprotagonistpoll]

Please note that a character currently needs at least 3 submissions to make it into the poll

That said:

Has 3 Submissions or more:

Aang - Avatar: The Last Airbender

Anakin Skywalker - Star Wars

Batman - DC

Bella Swan - Twilight

Bloom Peters - Fate: The Winx Saga

Bojack Horseman - Bojack Horseman

Brambleclaw - Warrior Cats

Clary Fray/Fairchild - Shadowhunters

Coriolanus Snow - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Elsa - Frozen

Evan Hansen - Dear Evan Hansen

Frank Reagan - Blue Bloods

Gregory - FNaF Security Breach

Harry Dresden - The Dresden Files

Harry DuBois - Disco Elysium

Heywood Floyd - Space Odyssey

Holden Caulfield - The Catcher in the Rye

Kazuya Kinoshita - Rent-a-Girlfriend

Kiris - On the Emperor's Lap

Mal - Descendants

Peter Pan - Peter Pan

Rand al'Thor - Wheel of Time

Rintaro Okabe - Steins;Gate

Scott McCall - Teen Wolf

Stolas - Helluva Boss

Ted Mosby - How I Met Your Mother

Tim Jackson Drake - DC

Tony Stark - MCU

Walter White - Breaking Bad

Wanda Maximoff - MCU

Xander Harris - Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Zoey Redbird - The House of Night

Has 2 Submissions:

Ash Ketchum - Pokemon

Bloom Peters - Winx Club

Claire - Ship It

Dawson Leery - Dawson’s Creek

Duck Dodgers - Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2 century

Dr Gregory House - House MD

Elizabeth - Bioshock Burial at Sea

Ezra Bridger - Star Wars Rebels

Ferris Bueller - Ferris Bueller's Day off

Feyre Archeron - A Court of Thorns and Roses

Harry Potter - Harry Potter

James Bond - James Bond

Jaune Arc - RWBY

Kyouya Sata - Ookami shoujo to kuro ouji

Netsa Archeron - A Court of Thorns and Roses

Odysseus - The Odyssey

Owen Grady - Jurassic World

Piper - Orange is the new Black

Pucca - Pucca

Quentin Coldwater - The Magicians (books)

Rey - Star Wars

Richard Rahl - Seeker of Truth/Legend of the Seeker

Riley Matthews - Girl Meets World

Robin - Teen Titans Go

Shen Qingqiu (Shen Yuan) - Scum Villain’s Self Saving System

Tom Paris - Star Trek: vVyager

Velma - Velma

Wade Watts - Ready Player One

Has 1 Submission

Achilles - The Iliad

Akiyama Shun - Ryu Ga Gotoku/Yakuza

Alexander Hamilton - Hamilton

Animal Crossing New Horizons' Player Character - Animal Crossing New Horizons

Aquamarin Hoshino - Oshi No Ko

Aragorn - Lord of the Rings

Arek - So This Is Ever After

Artemis Fowl - Artemis Fowl

Arthur Pendragon - BBC Merlin

Ataru Moroboshi - Urusei Yatsura

August Landry - One Last Stop

Ayin - Lobotomy Corporation

Bakugou Katsuki - My Hero Academia

Betty Cooper - Riverdale

Billy Buddy/Dr. Horrible - Dr. Horrible's Sing Along

Blake - Pokemon Adventures Black 2 and White 2

Blitzo - Helluva Boss

Bubsy - Bubsy 3D

Charley Pollard - Doctor Who

Charlie Morningstar - Hazbin Hotel

Choromatsu Matsuno - Osomatsu-san

Colin Bridgerton - Bridgerton

Corrin - Fire Emblem Fates

Cory Matthews - Boy Meets World

Dal - Star Trek Prodigy

Damian Wayne - DC

Daphne Bridgerton - Bridgerton

Data - Star Trek The Next Generation

Dr. Hanna Heath - People of the Book

Ebony Darkness Dementia Raven Way - My Immortal

Ellison Oswalt - Sinister

Elric of Melniborne - The Elric Saga

Emma Nelson - Degrassi: The Next Generation

Equality 7-2521 - Anthem

Eren Jaegar - Shingeki no Kyojin

Faust - Goethes Faust

Frasier Crane - Frasier

Galadriel Higgins - The Scholomance Trilogy

Geralt of Rivia - The Last Wish, The Witcher books

Go Siwon - A Guy Like You

Gray Wing - Warrior Cats

Haruyuki Arita - Accel World

Homer Simpson - The Simpson

Howard Roark - The Fountainhead

Jaypaw - Warrior Cats

Jean-Luc Picard - Star Trek The Next Generation

Jeff Winger - Community

Jim Hopper - Stranger Things

JJ - Cocomelon

Joaquin Monegro - Abel Sánchez

John Proctor - The Crucible

Jughead Jones - Riverdale

Kai - The Witch King

Kang Jinha - A Guy Like You

Katara - Avatar the Last Airbender

Katnis - Hunger Games

Khai - Theory of Love - Thai BL Show

King Arthur - King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)

Korra - Avatar: Legend of Korra

Koyomi Araragi - The Monogatari series

Kun-chan - Mirai

Kvothe - The Kingkiller Chronicles

Lelouch Lamperouge - Code Geass

Leroy Jethro Gibbs - NCIS

Lionblaze - Warriors (Power of Three and Omen of the Stars)

Luna - Retro

Luffy - One Piece

Lyn - Fire Emblem

Makoto Naegi - Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc

Mal - Firefly

Manaow - Love Senior

Mark Watney - The Martian

Mary Poppins - Walt Disney's Mary Poppins

Meliodas - Seven Deadly Sins

Merlin - BBC Merlin

Mia - La La Land

Mike Wheeler - Stranger Things

Miyo Sasaki - A Whisker Away

Mordecai - Regular Show

Nick Carraway - The Great Gatsby

Nightheart - Warrior Cats

North Italy - Hetalia

Okajima ""Rock"" Rokuro - Black Lagoon (Anime)

Oscar - Shark Tale

Otis Milburn - Sex Education

Patrick Bateman - American Psycho

Peppa Pig - Peppa Pig

Piper McLean - Heroes of Olympus

Pippa Fitz-Amobi - A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder

Rebecca Bunch - Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (TV show)

Robert Langdon - The Da Vinci Code

Rodion Raskolnikov - Crime and Punishment

Rorschach - Watchmen

Ruby - Max & Ruby

Ryo Saeba - City Hunter

Sabrina Spellman - Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Satou Kazuma - Konosuba

Shiori - Six Crimson Cranes

Shiro Emiya - Fate/Stay Night

Shrek - Shrek

Skullduggery Pleasant - Skullduggery Pleasant

Snow Villiers - Final Fantasy 13

Star Butterfly - Star vs The Forces of Evil

Stiles Stilinski - Teen Wolf

Sydney Atherton - The Beetle

Tai Kamiya - Digimon Adventure

Takao - Garden of Words

Tara Webster - Dance Academy

Tarl Cabot - The Gor Chronicles

Violetta - Disney's Violetta

William Afton - FNaF Ultimate Custom Night

Yu/Ai - Final Fantasy Unlimited

Yuri Zhivago - Doctor Zhivago

Yuusaku Godai - Maison Ikkoku

Zack Morris - Saved by the Bell

Available for Resubmission (needs at least 1 resubmission to participate)

Atsuko Kagiri/Akko - Little Witch Academia

Beca Mitchell - Pitch Perfect

Elena Gilbert - Vampire Diaries

Izuku (Deku) Midoriya - Boku no Hero Academia

Katarina Claes - My Next Life as a Villainess

Scott Pilgrim - Scott Pilgrim

Sophie Foster - Keeper of the Lost Cities

The Tenth Doctor - Doctor Who

Wei (Ying) Wuxian - Mo Dao Zu Shi

Currently unavailable for a new Round:

Aelin Ashryver Galathynius/Celaena Sardothien - Throne of Glass

Alex Eagleston - YIIK

Caillou - Caillou

Dean Winchester - Supernatural

Eragon - Eragon/Inheritance Cycle

Erika Shinohara - Ookami shoujo to kuro ouji

Kirito - Sword Art Online

Light Yagami - Death Note

Marinette Dupain-Cheng - Miraculous Ladybug

Naofumi Iwatani - The Rising of the Shield Hero

Peter Griffin - Family guy

Rachel Berry - Glee

Ross Geller - Friends

Tori Vega - Victorious

Victor Frankenstein - Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus

Y/N - Fanfiction

#insufferable protagonist tournament #insufferable protagonist poll

[spacebarbarianweird]

Death, Worthy of a Barbarian

Synopsis: Tiriel and Astarion had a good life together, and now it's time for her to go.

TW: Tav's death

Thanks @tragedybunny for beta-reading!

Tags: main character's death, Astarion mourns his wife.

Read on AO3

Masterlist

Headcanons

Tiriel raises up her face to the skies. Her  legs are numb after a long walk in the mountain, and her  throat burns with panting.

She feels a strong hand on her back - in case she falls down, Astarion will catch her. 

"So, my sweet, what are we doing now?”

Tiriel smiles at her husband.

It's been 150 years since they met. 130 since they became parents to a wonderful dhampir woman they named Alethaine. Thirty - since they decided to become adventurers once again.

Astarion hasn’t changed a bit. Frozen in time, he looks the same as he did decades ago. Short silver curls, his roguish smile, pale skin, crimson eyes, still the most beautiful man she’s ever seen. And all hers.

Tiriel stopped aging at twenty-five. Her elven blood didn’t let her wither , but a year ago the human ancestry finally took a toll on her. Within a year the red hair got pale. Wrinkles covered the face. Tiriel was still strong enough to wield her ax and travel through the wilderness.But -

"Let me relax a bit." Tiriel sits on the ground. Astarion immediately kneels beside her the same way he did for all these one hundred and fifty years. "Don't look at me like that! I am not an old wreck."

He plants a kiss on her cheek. The winds howl like hungry wolves, and a group of warriors who joined them look scared.

All young humans, not older than forty. For them, Astarion and Tiriel are the relics of older times. People who remember Baldur's Gate before the ocean washed half of the city into the dark waters and who can tell about the Cult of Bhaal and many, many other things they witnessed.

"If you are a wreck, you are the most fierce and beautiful wreck this world has seen."

Tiriel touches Astarion's curls and he closes his eyes like a content cat. She wants to tell him a lot of things - that she is sorry they haven't found him a way to walk in the sun, that they haven't found his family... How much she loves him, her very own elven prince she saved from monsters.

Gods know she doesn't have much time left.

They've discussed it many times. Tiriel is mortal and though half-elves often live up to two centuries it's still not much in comparison with Astarion's immortality.

And he knows Tiriel doesn't want to die in bed, old and helpless. She is a warrior, with rage in her blood - she must die in a battle, fighting and killing the most ravenous monster Faerun has seen.

She is Tirirel the Barbarian of the Sunset Mountains, after all.But she is sometimes so weak, she can't lift her ax up for days.

"What do you think she's doing now?" Astarion suddenly says.

Tiriel doesn't need to ask who he talks about.Alethaine, their daughter.

Silver curls, dark eyes, a pair of fangs. She used to be a monster hunter - but sixty years ago she was invited to the court of the Grand Duchy of Shantal. "They prefer to have a dark witch of their own", Alethaine said, changing her light travel armor to a black dress of a noblewoman. She always had mannerisms of royalty and the life at the castle suited her more than sleeping in the dirt while hunting yet another monster.

"It's night, Astarion, she probably walks around the woods."

"Or reading"

"Maybe both at the same time"

Astarion laughs. "When we deal with that dragon, let's visit her. I understand we live so long that years mean little to us. But it's been a decade since we last saw our little princess."

"Our little princess is one hundred and thirty years old"

"Which makes her a young elven maiden. Though, of course, she would have been considered an adult among Tel’Quessira but still."

Tiriel touches Astarion's cheek. "Agreed. Once we get a reward, let's sail to the Border Kingdoms. I suppose the High Necromancer can offer her parents both a shelter and a job."

Astarion grabs Tiriel’s hand and kisses the knuckles.

"Beware! The beast is here!", a warrior yells, and a loud rumbling sound pierces the air.

Astarion prepares his bow and arrows - he will hide in shadows, somewhere he can distract the beast with annoying shots and small fireballs.

Meanwhile, Tiriel will rush ahead right into the beast's maw. To slaughter it like countless monsters she's killed in her life.

Starting with a wild bear she butchered at the age of fifteen.

Tiriel’s family never loved her. They even didn't bother to give her a name rather than calling the girl “a fairy bastard” and “a pixie”. As if it was her fault, a married woman who dared to call herself "mother", couldn't keep her legs shut.

Her siblings, all of whom are long dead, just pushed Tiriel down the cliff, hoping she would never come back. Tiriel still remembers pain, embarrassment, anger, and sorrow. Why? Why me? Why do they hate me?

And the sorrow transformed into rage. Her blood boiled and Tiriel cried out like an animal, like a wild beast attacking the bear with a small knife she had.

Rage.A skill of primal warriors, fury nothing can compare to. It gave Tiriel strength, faith, and bravery.

And ever since then, her blood boils the same way before the battle. When suddenly the two-handed ax gets as light as a wooden stick and the monster in front of Tiriel becomes just a pathetic animal

"I will go first!" Tiriel says to the warriors, lifting the ax.And suddenly it feels too heavy.

Pain pierces her  body, from spine to legs, and Tiriel almost collapses to the ground.

Human ancestry dictates its rules.

You are old, Tiriel. You don't belong to the battlefield. You belong to a safe bed in a cozy home which will be your grave soon enough.

Pale hands grab Tiriel’s waist and help the woman to stand up. Astarion looks at Tiriel, with no smirk or tease in his eyes.

"IT'S HERE!"

The massive body of the beast lands, ready to burn down everything to the crisp. A dragon. A Death, worthy of a warrior.

Tiriel isn't scared. She smiles at Astarion and presses her wrinkled forehead to his."Astarion, tell the bards to make a song about me."

Whatever he answers drowns in the dragon's roar.Tiriel walks right to the beast. Then she runs.The blood boils with rage. The lungs burn. The adamantium ax feels as light as if it was  made of hollow bones.

Tiriel has no complaints and no regrets.

She had everything she could ever wish for. A life full of heroic deeds. Friends to drink ale with. A family. A daughter to be proud of.A man to hold in arms.

She will be remembered. She will be loved.That's her own immortality.

Tiriel the Barbarian runs faster and faster, holding her weapon above her head.

"RAGE!!!"

***

It all ended in a blink of an eye. The dragon which spent its last minutes trying to get a shadow figure who dared to cast "ig-nis' ' now lies dead among the burning trees.It won't attack the city, and the people will spend the next days honoring the heroes who killed the dragon, not hiding from it.

Astarion jumps down on the ground."Tiriel! TIRIEL!!!"

No, she couldn't die. Not now. He needs her. He will always need her. And they agreed to visit Alethaine together, she must be alive!

Astarion waits. Waits to hear her voice, to see her. "It's just a scratch" she will tell him, visibly bleeding and he will carry her in his arms to a safe place.

Tell the bards to make a song about me.

What did he answer? What was his response?I love you.

Yes, that's what he told her. That is what he has been telling her for decades. Every day, these words never lost their meaning.

"Tiriel!" Astarion grabs a warrior's hand. "Damn, where is she?!"

"She... died."

Astarion pushes the man away and runs to the dragon's corpse. It's so hot it’s impossible to be there but blessed by his immortality Astarion barely feels the heat.

"Tiriel! Tiriel!"He keeps calling, hoping to hear the answer. She must have been wounded. Of course, fights aren’t easy for her anymore. She is getting older. But she still... She has time to spend with him.

Then he stumbles over something.

Astarion makes a step back and sees the plate of her armor, melted in the dragon fire.Red hot.

"I am sorry", one of the warriors says. "She just jumped into it like a fucking dragon slayer. She cracked the beast's skull in two and disappeared in the flames. We will remember her. She saved us."

Astarion drops to his knees still holding the piece of armor in his pale hands. He feels numb. Is he supposed to yell? To scream? To curse? What do people do when they lose their hearts?

He sits like that staring in the distance. He will never see Tiriel. He will never hold her warm hands. He will never talk to her. He won't spend hours motionless while Tiriel, sound asleep, clings to his cold body.

She will never kiss him. Or caress his elven ears.

He will never taste her blood, so divine and sweet.

He will never read to her, will never say how much he loves her just to see a smile on her face.

Tiriel made him feel redeemed, innocent, and alive. She brushed away his terrible past with a tender touch of her fingers. Now when he thinks about his scars, they don't hurt because he remembers Tiriel's kisses along his skin.

But it's over now.

Her mortal life came to an end. She died as she desired. In a fight. The bards will make a song about her. People will remember her.

"You need to go, it's almost sunrise", a young woman tries to make him stand but his legs don't obey.

"I-I... Need to tell... my daughter..." Astarion mutters.

Alethaine... She was attached to her mother. Ever since she was born. Always clinging to her like a kitten. Astarion remembers Alethaine crying - when she was six Tiriel was severely wounded and though she was all right the  little Dhampir realized what mortality was for the first time.

Of course, that six-year-old girl is long gone. The woman he will have to talk to has a century's worth of life experience. But a mother is a mother. And Astarion will have to be strong when he meets the High Necromancer, Alethaine Ancunin.

Gods know, he doesn't want to deliver this news to her. But who will? 

Astarion looks around trying to memorize the place which became a grave for his beloved.

He will grieve. He will mourn. Once his mind makes peace with what happened. He just doesn't know how to live without Tiriel. He started living at his grave 150 years ago, with her by his side. Her smile, her warmth, her kindness.

Which are all gone.

Astarion gives out a cry, pressing the melted plate to his chest.

--

Tag list

@tugoslovenka @marcynomercy @wintersire @vixstarria @not-so-lost-after-all @ashiro20 @theearthsfinalconfession @herstxrgirl @starlight-ipomoea@micropoe10 @astarion-imagine-archive @veillsar @elora-the-slutty-songstress @fayeriess @lumienyx@astarion-beloved @tallymonster @caitlincat-95 @tragedybunny @valeprati @lynnlovesthestars @marina-and-the-memes

#astarion #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 astarion #astarion bg3 #astarion romance #bg3 #baldurs gate 3 #astarion hurt #astarion fics #astarion fic #astarion fanfic #spacebarbarian fics #astarion angst #tiriel of the sunset mountains #tiriel the barbarian #astarion x tiriel #oc tav: tiriel

[lorcandidlucienwill]

Look, I have no problem whatsoever with Nesta learning how to fight. I think she has a warrior-like spirit, and I love the Valkyries as well, they're her real chosen family not the IC. It's not that aspect of it exactly that irks me. It's the intention behind her learning to fight. For one, it was forced on her as a "therapy" tactic by people who hate her yet act like they know what's best for her. For two, the whole idea of it was to water down Nesta and change her into someone who is correct for Cassian, which is so forced and icky (also what was with them calling her "Illyrian at heart?" You mean sexist with fragile af egos??? God no.) And it completely ignores the fact that Nesta's greatest tool is her words. Keep in mind Nesta was initially meant to be Lucien's mate. Lucien is very good with courtly stuff. I genuinely think Lucien and Eris are the only males in this series who could handle Nesta, because they grew up in the Autumn Court (which Nesta was practically made for, are you kidding me?) and are both incredibly witty. I've seen countless people compare Elain to Elide, but I honestly felt like Nesta was an upgraded form of Elide (Elain is more like Yrene). Both women are compared to witches several times in their respective series (hmmm I wonder why), are very cunning, are masters of intimidation, got men on their knees, have a casual grace about them, and have a ruthless streak. Don't believe Elide does? Ok, read how she spoke to Lorcan in EoS and KoA. Read the scene where she kills those ilken, and is proud of herself for it (Elain deflected her kill of the king of Hybern to Nesta). She let Vernon suffer, and Vernon had also said "Ruthless. The witch-blood ran true after all." And she, too, was angry at herself for feeling helpless many times, just like Nesta. Once she got so angry she observed Lorcan catching fish and eventually copied him and caught one herself. But Elide didn't become a warrior. She didn't do anything she didn't want to do. She wasn't watered down to fit anybody. She's the Lady of Perranth, as she should be. She was born to rule. As was Nesta. Nesta is 100% High Lady material. She should NOT be deferring to that idiot Cassian, or that ass Rhysand.

#the valkyries #pro nesta archeron #nesta archeron #pro nesta #nesta stan #nesta x lucien #neris #pro eris vanserra #pro lucien vanserra #anti cassian #anti rhysand #anti inner circle #elide lochan #yrene towers #lorcan salvaterre #lady of perranth #high lady nesta #autumn court males have fire in their veins and f*ck like it too

[maximotts]

𝔰𝔴𝔬𝔯𝔫 𝔡𝔲𝔱𝔶 ☾ 𝔳𝔞𝔩𝔨𝔶𝔯𝔦𝔢

pairing ❦ king!Valkyrie x female handmaiden!reader

summary ❦ one kiss and you were hers. Now in New Asgard, you owed your King a great deal for your brand new life; thankfully, you adored every way she found to show your appreciation

warnings ❦ smut, 18+ only content; strap-ons, pillow humping, innocence kink, degradation but not intense, face fucking, humiliation if you squint, submission, name calling but reader knows Val cares about her

words ❦ 1.9k

a/n ❦ @crescent-witch requested a Val fic, I wanted to write a Val fic, now king Val is finally here! Mildly debating turning this into a series of things because just.. yeaaah King Valkyrie

kinktober masterlist.

This song and dance though, this show of power in her possessive grip about your waist contradicting the gentle way she looked at you — a prize instead of property— it only made you fall harder. If you were to crash and burn, you had a gut feeling she’d catch you.

How would you feel about a job reassignment, precious? 

New Asgard lived up to its name; obviously in origins, but for you it was all new shops, views, and people. One person in particular was the reason you’d wound up here, plucked from your lavish home in Omnipotence City under Zeus’ court, whisked away the instant her warrior blood stained lips met the back of your hand. Being smitten was alright, she wasn’t your first crush; it was when she returned despite the banishment she’d surely been dealt that your heart began to flare. 

She’d beckoned you over from her place in the shadows with one commanding finger, shrouded figure somehow invisible to everyone but you, her target. You remembered the multitude of questions that’d bounced around your skull, wanting to ask who she was just to hide the reality that as soon as some maid uttered her name you’d poured through every bit of information you could get your hands on, trying to uncover the secrets of this alluring Valkyrie. It didn’t matter, she’d shushed you with that same finger now against your lips, every thought you’d hoarded for weeks since your first encounter thrown out the window. She tugged you those last few inches closer, fully engulfed in her dark hiding spot and overwhelmed with just how solid her body felt against your own, toned arm keeping your front tight against her chest.

There was no doubt in your mind she could’ve taken you at will, snatched you while you passed and rode off on her Pegasus without having to bat one seductive eye; it’d happened before to women around here. This song and dance though, this show of power in her possessive grip about your waist contradicting the gentle way she looked at you — a prize instead of property— it only made you fall harder. If you were to crash and burn, you had a gut feeling she’d catch you.

How would you feel about a job reassignment, precious? 

Now you were her… something. You’d heard whispers of ‘King’s Consort’ but never asked. She called, you came; you wished for anything, she provided; it was nameless, but you had no complaints. Your king went above and beyond, far more attentive than any person you’d experienced in your young life… so you had no qualms doing whatever she asked.

Valkyrie was a busy woman, always going from one meeting to another, leaving her exhausted many nights when she finally joined you in her chambers. Occasionally it made you sad, bored without her presence, and as much as she’d teased you about it in your short time with her, she hated seeing you pout. Today she’d put her events on hold, promising to spend the entire day with you— she’d neglected to mention she still had a mountain of paperwork to work through. 

It would’ve upset you had she not summoned you to her desk after an hour, thumbs rubbing into your soft hips while she playfully nibbled at your belly through your thin dress. If she kept up, your knees would buckle and she knew that; it wouldn’t be the first time she’d held your entire weight effortlessly. “Sit with me, buttercup. I want something pretty to look at.” 

So melted by her smooth words, you didn’t realize where Val placed you until you were craning your neck upwards, sat between her legs on a thick cushion she’d clearly already anticipated using. Confusion rose as she stroked your cheeks, her smug grin only serving to trouble you further. “I don’t want to sit down here. It’s cold…”

“But you look perfect down there, just right,” If you wanted to pout, you couldn’t, her thumb swiping over your lips before pressing past them like it belonged there the whole time. The other fingers weren’t a necessity, you’d been dutifully keeping your mouth open, but they held you in place while her free hand set about inspecting your mouth, running along your teeth and inside your cheeks, Val’s smile ever wider. “I know just what I want to try putting in that darling mouth of yours.” 

You didn’t have time to ask before she was pulling away, wet fingers unbuckling her pants and revealing her tucked away strap. Like clockwork your mouth watered, all too familiar with the pleasures that toy brought. You moved to stand, but she forced you down by your shoulders, meeting the pillow again with a dull oof. “But-”

Val shot you a warning look before you could complete your whiny sentence, an expression you’d learned to heed well. “All I need you to do is open wide. Not to speak, but to listen.” 

You nodded eagerly, never having had such a thing, but willing to try if only to please your new king. Her chair pushed forward, crowding you until your view was only her clothed legs and the intimidating length in front, her hand finding the back of your head before you could move away. 

Taking it was a slow process because Val made it one, reminding you the whole time she could shove it to the back of your throat as easy as one thrust of her hips, but she never did. She was steady, unwavering as she made you take the whole thing despite how you balled your fists atop your thighs, whimpering whenever you were worried you’d choke. 

You didn’t and for that, she was proud. Inch by inch, your anxieties melted away, slowly but surely entranced by the slight weight on your tongue. You startled only because you could feel Val pulling back and, unready to give up your newfound ease, you let out a somewhat pitiful whine. 

“Oh you like having a mouthful of my cock, sweetheart?” Given the same enthusiastic agreement, Val pushed back in, faster this time, but you didn’t complain. She really shouldn’t have waited so long to do this. “Think you can sit there and look pretty while I fuck your face?” 

The question burned your cheeks, her hips already sliding back and forth before you had a chance to answer. It was yes, of course, but she couldn’t find it in her to wait. Not when you were moaning around her strap each time you took her in. “Just like that, you’re doing so well..”

Being mindless was easier than you’d imagined, letting your thoughts drift while your lover used your mouth for her filthy choice of distraction from work. Besides, it was hard to focus on much else past imagining Val fucking you like this elsewhere hopefully soon. The telltale tug in your lower belly had been there since she first called you over, tightening steadily as she fawned over you, coaxed you into whatever this was now. You were always like this, helplessly aroused by not only your submission, but how well it was received— and Val was always so very vocal in her approval.

“I wish you could see how gorgeous you look right now. So willing to let me do whatever I want… my perfect angel, all for me, isn’t that right?” Again with those words, striking you in your vulnerable state and making you squirm. She didn’t say a thing about it until your eyes began to close, mind wandering selfishly and depriving her of your attention. “Ah ah, eyes on me, sweet thing.” 

She tugged at your hair and you groaned, eyes shooting open as she forced you forward. Your shift for balance was frantic, hands flat in front of your bent legs as Val held you in place. It was just a little awkward so you moved your hips and— there it was. That one bit of friction you’d been needing for so long. You pushed against the cushion experimentally, testing your accidental discovery. The fabric was rough on your bare sex, having forgone undergarments when you’d heard Valkyrie intended on spending the day with you, but you liked it. You’d heard of using pillows before, a few of your friends whispering the act to one another like a sacred secret, but you’d never tried… now you cursed your past self for denying you so long. 

You moved in time with Val’s hips as much as you could, the fist in your hair still unrelenting in its grip. It was intoxicating, the combination of the desperation with which you rut against the object between your legs and the quick pace of her strap fucking your now aching jaw. You felt used and filthy, like a wanton whore who’d accept any treatment… and you adored every second of it.

“You’re getting off on having my cock down your throat? I bet if I lifted your skirt I’d see you absolutely drenching that poor pillow. Naughty girl,” Her teasing was punctuated with harsh thrusts, making you choke where you’d been so calm earlier, now your short breaths wouldn’t allow it. Your legs spread further, sinking down until the pressure on your clit was almost too much to bear, but the ache ever spreading through your core far outweighed the strain of your thighs. “I knew I’d picked the right one, you look so soft and shy, but you’re really just a depraved little thing.”

Protesting was useless, cries muffled by her intrusion and the frantic jerk of your hips giving you away. Tears welled in the corners of your eyes as you struggled keeping up with her pace as well as your own, muscles tired and heavy as your orgasm teased its arrival, but your lover was unwilling to give you any reprieve. “This dalliance was supposed to be for my benefit, a quick distraction from work, but… you make such an ethereal sight, I could have you like this all day.” 

The mere thought was enough to do you in, your beloved king using you as she pleased, uncaring how tired you were or how many times you came from humping a silly pillow, as long as she could watch your demeaning display— you couldn’t dismiss your needs a second longer.

You were so close, legs clamping around the cushion, shaky hands reaching to brace themselves on firmly planted calves, air caught in your throat threatening to suffocate, when you were ripped away. In your shock, you barely registered your back hitting the thick rug behind you, but when Val’s tongue filled the emptiness your mouth suffered from, you melted into her effortlessly. “I was being good! I wanted to cum…” 

It took the older woman a while to understand what you’d said, deeply occupied with covering your caged in, prone form with as many marks your skin could handle. In her defense, making out your voice was infinitely harder amidst the meek whimpers and pleas you uttered. When she did find it in her to separate from where you lay, you caught sight of her blown pupils and disheveled trousers, possessive hands roaming and groping whatever parts of you they could reach, and prayed to the gods to grant you the willpower to survive her when she’d become this ravenous.

“My sweet, darling little buttercup…you were so much more than good, I want to thank you,” she moved forward just to watch her strap slide through your swollen cunt, hips rising to meet her and unabashed in how exposed it left you. The time for work was done; it’d be a miracle if she let you up from the floor before the sun set. “If you need my cock so badly, well, I’m nothing if not a gracious king.”

#valkyrie x reader #king valkyrie #valkyrie x fem!reader #valkyrie marvel #valkyrie fic #valkyrie smut #marvel imagine #marvel fic #motts writes. #maximotts

[profound-imagination]

Rose Gardens - Part 4 - Eris Vanserra

A/N: I'm SO sorry for how long this took to get out! I had a little break from writing! This will be the final part so I hope you enjoy! ❤️

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

W/C: 3.1K

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Mor had helped you pack some of your things and had winnowed you when you asked her. Her spine stiffened at the location you'd told her but she agreed none the less. You let her hug you goodbye and shouldered your pack.

Nervously shifting from foot to foot while you waited for the door to open you'd started to wonder if this was a bad idea. Before you had a chance to talk yourself out of what you were doing, maybe the ultimate betrayal to your friends. The door opened. "Hello, old friend." You met the eyes looking down at you. "Tamlin." You squeaked his name before the tears filled your eyes again and he pulled you into his broad chest.

"It took you longer to get here than I expected." He remarked as he made you both tea. "Apologies I don't have anyone to help with things, Feyre saw to that." His chest rumbled as he said her name. "You've been expecting me?" You questioned. "Lucien told me what happened." You raised an eyebrow. "Lucien? How does Lucien know?" Tamlin shrugged. "It's Lucien, he knows everything."

You took a sip of your tea. "I'm sorry, Tam. For what Feyre did. I never agreed with it." He sighed. "It's done now, there are bigger issues." You nodded. "Tamlin, you need to be on the right side of this war, and I'm worried that you aren't." He seemed lost in thought for a moment before he finally said. "When the time comes, Y/N, you and I will fight together, on the right side of the war." You weren't overly sure what he meant but you didn't push him.

You'd somewhat settled into life in the Spring Court. Tamlin kept you away from anything Hybern related. "They don't need to know you're here." He'd said. He spent the hours before dawn training with you and then you'd clean up the manor the best you could. Feyre really had left this Court a worse place than she'd found it a year ago. It was mid afternoon when Tamlin returned, earlier than usual with Lucien on his heels. You grinned and threw yourself at him. "You're entirely too nosy, Lucien Vanserra!" You laughed into his neck. "My job is information." He quipped back as his arms tightened around you. It was then the scent hit you. The one that you'd know anywhere and you stiffened. Burnt sugar, He let you go. "Eris sent me, he…I…we have a plan." You started wringing your hands nervously. "How…how is he?" Lucien gave you a gentle smile. "He's…he's Eris. He's tense and snappy. He's worried about you, but he hates that he's worried about you. He denies any feelings for you despite nearly burning down a forest when I told him you'd left the Night Court and I didn't know where you were." Your eyes watered. "I betrayed him." Lucien shook his head. "No, you didn't. I don't believe you were using him, I know you and so does he, but he'd rather believe it than admit he has a weakness." Tamlin cleared his throat. "What's this plan, Lucien?"

It was three days later that the estate received word to go to the frontlines. You were to lead those still loyal to Tamlin through the forest. He would slip away from Hybern and meet you there to take his army into battle. No matter how small it was. Lucien would be joining from the sea with reinforcements of his own.

The Spring Court warriors were nervous, most of them untested and had never seen battle. You were nervous. You'd been alive during the first war but you weren't there on the field, not like Rhys, Cassian, Azriel and Mor had been. Not like Eris had been. Your heart squeezed as you thought of him. You stood in silence, hidden in the trees and by the various spells you'd placed over them. You'd used a lot of power already, placing protection spells on the warriors that allowed you too. The ones too young to remember the wrath of witches. Too young to remember them being burnt and exiled from Prythian.

You could hear the sound of a battle raging not so far away and the warriors were getting restless. Tamlin came through the trees already in his beast form and the warriors formed their lines and went still. "Ready?" His deep voice rumbled and you gave him a stiff nod. "Who's out there?" You asked. "Every court but Spring and Autumn. Maybe Lucien was wrong, maybe Eris isn't coming." You shook your head. "He'll be here. He'll fight for what's right." Tamlin lowered his big head in a nod. The gasp from his warriors was audible as he lowered himself in front of you, allowing you to climb onto his back. "Advance." He commanded his army and you advanced towards the battle.

Blood and bodies were everywhere. The sound of the injured was playing like a chorus to the god of death. You looked to the skies, for Azriel at the thought. Siphons of all colors flashed before your eyes. Tamlin's roar shook across the battlefield. You had one hand holding onto the fur of his neck to keep you steady, the other was throwing disarming spells and hexes at the enemy.

At some point you'd been knocked off of Tamlin's back. Your body was sore, wounds bleeding but you fought still. Hand to hand now, your power almost depleted. The lines were failing. You could imagine Cassian screaming at the Illyrians to reform. Rhys taking over control of the Darkbringers and screaming at them to do the same.

The world stopped suddenly, there was Eris. He'd come. Legions of warriors dressed in autumn colours and their beautiful armour, crafted from the strongest metals and twisted into maple leaves and branches.

You spotted him atop his prize mare. A beautiful white horse. Flanked by his shadow hounds, all twelve of them looking to their master for instruction. The sun was glinting off of his golden helmet, steam rippled off of his bare arms. He was every bit of a general that Cassian was, leading his army into battle.

Eris raised his arm, sword in hand and brought it down with a battle cry you could hear across the bloodied field. Three hounds broke away from him immediately and found their way to you, protecting, defending without question.

The world started again as one of the hounds took out an approaching Hybern soldier and Rhys was suddenly at your back. Fighting with you. "Everyone is fine." He told you. You nodded at him. Having trained with Rhys, Cassian and Azriel for longer than you'd care to remember you and Rhys moved perfectly in sync.

Rhysand took a sharp intake of breath behind you and you spun to look at him and followed his eyeline. Your stomach churned and your heart sank as you watched an arc of ash spears sail towards Eris. You threw your hands up knock them off course with your magic but it was gone, exhausted. There was nothing you could do except watch in horror as one found home in his shoulder with such force it knocked him off of his horse, planting him to the ground. Screaming filled your ears as another found home in his leg keeping him pinned. Rhys face appeared in your field of vision and you realised it was you that had been screaming.

Rhys searched your eyes, his power caressing your mind to figure out your next move. You were vaguely aware of Feyre joining the two of you and you steeled yourself for what you were about to do. "I'm sorry." You breathed out as you took the sword from Rhys hand and turned away from them and began fighting your way towards Eris.

Your stomach churned when you were close enough to see the damage, and the third spear that had gone through his stomach. His breathing was wet and labored and you could feel his pain burning through your veins. You screamed again, one full of pain and fury as your legs could no longer support your weight. His head turned slowly at the sound and his arm, the one that wasn't pinned stretched towards you, his lips mouthed your name. "Eris!" His name left your mouth in a cry as an ash arrow hit you in the ribs, he flinched, as if he could feel your pain more than his own and you crawled. Through blood, gore and mud you crawled towards the male you loved, the one who had become your confidant, your friend, your mate.

He didn't meet your eyes when you arrived at his side, instead they were frenzied, unfocused. That's when you saw the Hybern commander advancing on the two of you. This was it, you were going to die, Eris was going to die. You took his face in your blood covered hands, smearing it on his beautiful face as you made him look at you. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for this." He didn't have time to consider your words and you didn't hesitate as you pulled the spears out of his skin one by one, his howls of pain you swore you'd never forget. It was the sound that would be played over and over to torment you in Hel. You looked again at the commander, you had very little time left, minutes if that so you took his face in your hands again and covered his body with yours. "I'm sorry," You murmured again, "I'm sorry we didn't have time, I'll find you again," You heard the unmistakable sound of a sword cutting through the air but you didn't take your eyes off of your mate. "I'll find you again in the next life, and I'll tell you everything, I'll earn your forgiveness and maybe then, maybe one day, I'll be worthy enough to be your mate." You heard the sword again, cutting through air on a downward swing and Eris didn't stop you as you placed a kiss on his lips.

The ground shuddered and steel hit steel. "You do not sacrifice yourself, you do not yield!" Cassian. The general made short work of the commander as you came back to the battle and pulled yourself off of Eris. They were all there, Rhysand, Azriel, Nesta and Feyre, Morrigan, all of them fighting for you.

Eris groaned and you could feel that bond in your chest getting weaker and weaker. "Rhys!" He was by your side in an instant. "Please don't let him die!" Your hands grabbed the collar of his armour. "Please Rhys, I'll do anything, I'll swear it to you, I'll make a deal, I'll never see him again, please don't let him die!" Rhys took your hands and pulled them away from his collar and looked to Feyre who hesitated. You looked at your friends, the battle over, and you stood, walked to Azriel and removed Truth Teller from his thigh. "If he dies, I die." Azriel exploded, shadows skittering towards you. "I will not live in a world where he isn't, I will live without him but I will not go on if he's dead."

You could feel Cassian behind you as you sank to your knees again next to Eris. "No," He croaked, blood running down his chin. "You do not die because I do." You looked at Rhys again. "Remember how it felt when Feyre died?" You looked at her, "Remember how you felt when Rhys died? Please don't make me experience that! He's my mate." They froze. "He's my mate, he's my mate, he's my mate." You repeated over and over again, getting louder each time until everything went dark.

You awoke with a start. You were in a tent, away from the battlefield that now only held the dead. You struggled to sit up. "Take it easy, Feyre put you down, you were hysterical." Rhysand. You took a breath. "Is he? Is Eris?" Rhys cleared his throat. "He's alive. He's in the tent next door." You sat up with Rhys supporting you. "Thank you." You mumbled quietly as you sipped on the water he offered you. "So, mates huh?" He questioned and you nodded. "Not that it matters, I made a promise to you and I'll keep it, but yes, he's my mate." Rhys seemed to consider your words. "Do you love him?" You answered without hesitation. "Yes, Rhys if I'd had the power I'd have swapped places with him on the field, we both know I'm capable of a spell like that, he needs to live." He nodded. "And he will, thanks to Feyre." He paused. "You can go and see him, before Azriel takes you home, say goodbye Y/N."

You took several deep breaths before entering his tent. You could smell his blood still, the look on his face when Rhys exposed you as a witch, how he reached for you, how he told you that you couldn't die with him. He was pale, even his freckles had lost colour, constellations you'd once likened them too and now it was like they'd extinguished. You took in his sleeping form and knelt next to his cot. Taking his hand in yours. Everything in you was screaming to heal him but you wanted that to be a choice he made. Tears slid down your face as you lifted his hand to your lips and placed a gentle kiss there.

"They told me I had to say goodbye, maybe it's best you're asleep for this, I'm not sure how you'd look at me, my heart thinks you'll look at me like you did as we sat under that oak tree at the harvest festival. My brain thinks you'll look at me like you did when Rhys told you I'm a witch. Truth is I don't really care how you look at me, either way you make me feel more seen than I ever have. Maybe that's a mate thing I don't know, I'll have to ask Rhysand if we ever forgive each other. There's a lot I've got to tell you Eris but I fear it's too late, I swore twice to keep you alive and I'll never regret that, if I have to live without you, without my mate then I'll deal with it, but you need to live, you need to carry on and become the male I know you're going to be and the one I know you already are, the one you don't show anyone. Rhys told you the truth, when he told you I was a witch, that I loved him once and that his power made mine stronger. Well, I thought I loved him, I was convinced that was what I felt for him all those years when he was under the mountain but then he came back and I met this cocky fire lordling who made me question everything, made me feel like I'd never felt before. You know your laugh is the best sound I've ever heard, I don't know if you meant to project it into my head that first day but I heard it and I knew I'd never be the same. I was never using you Eris, not once. If I had to choose between you and my power, it would be you, everytime."

The flaps of the tent opening pulled you away from your speech. Az gave you a small smile and you knew your time was up. You nodded at him and he stepped back out. "I have to go, my time is up. I'll miss you, everyday. I love you. If you need me, I'll break every oath I've ever made to come to you, even if it kills me." You kissed his forehead, then both of his eyelids, finally you placed the gentlest of kisses on his mouth and walked out to meet Azriel.

You sighed, smoothing down the skirts of your gown. Mor had frowned when you emerged from your rooms to go to The Court of Nightmares in a velvet forest green gown, not exactly Hewn City appropriate, the very one Eris had sent you all those months ago. Had it really been that long? Months? Your heart clenched thinking about him. Your friends had long since given up trying to make you feel better about the situation or urging you to move on. There was no moving on from Eris.

You stood between Cassian and Azriel at the foot of the Dias. The High Lord and Lady had announced their pregnancy and the smell hit you, the scent hit you. Burnt Sugar, Cinnamon and Firewood. Your spine stiffened, Azriel stiffened, Cassian stiffened. Eris didn't even look at the three of you as he approached Rhysand and Feyre.

Nesta. They'd offered Nesta to dance with him. God they looked like perfection dancing together. Feyre had blindsided you again when she announced Nesta would dance with him. You weren't sure if you were holding Cassian back or if he was holding you back. Azriel was holding back at his laughter.

It was Cassian who finally broke. Sweeping Nesta away from Eris. You hid a small smile as you watched them, he'd been practicing just for her. Rhys' power caressing your mind pulled your attention back to the Dias and the conversation he was having with Eris.

"I don't want the swords, I want her." Rhys raised an eyebrow. Your heart cracked. Nesta. He wanted Nesta. "You want Nesta Archerons hand in marriage in exchange for your alliance?" Rhys questioned. Eris rolled his eyes. "Don't play with me Rhysand, you know who I'm talking about. Wed her to me, I want Y/N." You took a step forward to throw yourself at Eris, to join in with the plea but Azriel's hand closed around your wrist stopped you. "Let him do this by himself." He murmured to you. "I'll swear my allegiance to you Rhysand, Autumn's armies are yours, Hel, I'll even give you my crown." Rhys stood and cracked his fingers. "I don't need your crown, Eris." He took two steps down the Dias towards him. "But if she'll have you, you have my blessing, I owe her this and I've been unfair to her." Azriel let go of your wrist and you ran.

"I'll have you!" Eris turned just in time to catch you as you threw yourself at him. "Of course I'll have you!" He grinned at you and planted a kiss on your lips as you slid down his body. Breaking the kiss he said "I always knew you'd look like a dream in Autumn Court Green."

#acotar #acomaf #acosf #acowar #a court of mist and fury #a court of silver flames #a court of wings and ruin #acofas #a court of thorns and roses #a court of frost and starlight #eris vanserra x reader #eris vanserra #eris acotar #eris x reader

[throneofsapphics]

forbidden fruit

Manon x f!Reader

Summary: Day 8, “If I see you again, you’re dead.” with Manon

Warnings: mentions of sex, nudity, suggestiveness 

A/N: this isn't very angsty honestly

angst/kinktober masterlist

Manon had uttered the words years and years ago. Long enough she forgot them. You fled upon seeing her, and soon as your eyes met. It triggered some predatory instinct in her, that desire to hunt and chase. So, she took off after you. Enemy? If so, she would find out. The hunt thrilled her, it had been so long since she had the chance to do something like this. 

Manon stalked you through the city streets, you were quick on your feet and switching through them rapidly. Any human would have trouble tracking you like this, maybe most immortals - even with your Fae swiftness and speed. But, her senses were honed over the years. 

When she caught up to you, you were almost at the entrance to an alley. Perfect. 

-

One hand pinned you to the wall, iron nails digging into your throat. There was no recognition in the witch’s eyes, and maybe that was a good thing. You had changed some over the years, growing into your features as an immortal. You knew running was a bad idea, it would trigger some kind of instinct in her, but your instincts took over, screaming danger. 

“Why did you run?” Her nails dug in further with each word. 

“You don’t remember?” You raised one brow. She blinked once and tilted her head, as if she was studying you from a different angle. A hint of curiosity flickered through her vision. Was it good or bad she didn’t remember you? Your ego took a small hit, but if she doesn’t remember you - she can’t break her promise. Then again, you did just give yourself away. 

Why the hell had you fallen in bed with a witch? Maybe it was some desire to live life on the edge, to court with danger. You had expected to die at the end of it, based on the hungry look on your face. She seemed to be debating killing you as well. When you disentangled yourself from her, heading right for the bathing room, clothes clutched in one hand, she chuckled at your naked form. You turned to face her. Normally people don’t laugh after seeing you naked. 

“I’ll let you live.” Her words were laced with amusement. “If I see you again, you’re dead.” You took one moment to study her body, the scar flecked pale skin, muscled thighs, firm breasts that felt incredible under your fingers, the moon-white hair and gold-burnt eyes. 

“Understood,” you said, your voice tight. You locked the bathroom door behind you, changing as quickly as possible and leaving through the window. You wouldn’t give her a chance to change her mind. 

The witch removed her hand with an edged chuckle, iron nails snapping back in. The same laugh as before. “I’ll break that promise.” She took a step back. You had heard she’s the Crochan Queen now, reuniting her people. You’d returned to fight in Orynth, and left as soon as possible, taking every effort to avoid any witches. 

The way she studied you made you feel just like that night, when she’d approached you. 

“I didn’t think Witches were known for their mercy.” Why the hell did you say that? Playing with danger. Again. The only reasonable answer is you lost your mind. “Do you want me to kill you?” 

For Gods sake, it was an honest question. She actually met it. 

“No, I don’t.” You said carefully and studied her every movement. Every inch the warrior and Queen. Terrifying and beautiful at the same time, like a forbidden fruit. That’s exactly what had drawn you in last time. Later on, you learned exactly who she is and couldn’t decide if you were horrified or proud of what you’d done. 

“Maybe I’ll need a bribe.” You swallowed harshly as she took a step towards you again. “I remember how sweet you were, how sweet your fear tasted.” Gods, you already putty in her hands - just with those words. If she wants a bribe, you’ll give her one. Maybe something in you is broken, if you like chasing danger this much, if you let your sense of self preservation droop this low. But, she was so gods-damned beautiful, every inch of her designed to ensnare people, to draw them into her web. And like any other fool, you fell for it. Again. 

You traced your finger across her jawline. “What kind of bribe?”

#throne of glass imagine #throne of glass x reader #october prompts? #I don't know what I'm doing anymore #manon blackbeak x reader #manon blackbeak x y/n

[theostrophywife]

Can I request an Az X Reader? Some random court attacks the Night Court and the IC is just fighting against the intruders, and after the fight Az says the whole "who did this to you?" 🥹 🛐

who did this to you?

author's note: i love this concept! you know i had to make it enemies to lovers with a little sprinkle of scarlet witch aesthetic for good measure.

“How much longer is this going to take?” Azriel asked.

“Do you have something better to do?” you scoffed. 

You frowned as you hovered beside the shadowsinger and sent a pulse of your power through the protective barrier surrounding Velaris. The thread of scarlet magic crackled around the invisible force field, prodding and testing for weak spots. Earlier that night, you’d woken up from a dream that someone was attempting to invade the city you called home. Anyone else would have just written it off as a nightmare if it weren’t for the fact that your dreams often came true. 

You informed the High Lord right away and he rallied the rest of the inner circle back at the River House. Rhys and Cassian were currently patrolling the eastern side of the city while Feyre and Mor flanked the western side. Amren, Nesta, and the Valkyries were stationed at each quarter of the palaces, leaving only Azriel to accompany you to the edge of the Sidra. 

Needless to say, the shadowsinger wasn’t exactly thrilled to be woken up in the middle of the night and even less so when Rhys tasked him with accompanying you to the barrier. To be fair, you weren’t all that enthralled with the idea either. You’d much rather have Cassian or Feyre or literally anyone else in the inner circle join you, but your magic combined with Azriel’s shadows would be able to cover more of the barrier than any other pair. The shadowsinger knew this fact perfectly well, but he still acted like it was a huge inconvenience to be out here with you. 

Since Rhysand welcomed you into the fold, Azriel has always had a problem with you. In the beginning, you tried your best to befriend him, but you couldn't seem to break through his icy exterior no matter how hard you tried. Eventually, you just told yourself to ignore the loaded stares and heavy sighs your presence seemed to coax out of the Illyrian warrior. Not everyone was going to like you and you'd accepted Azriel's aversion towards you, but it was still highly irritating given the fact that you hadn’t done anything to earn such a reaction.

“Do you even know what we’re supposed to be looking for?” Azriel states condescendingly while his shadows swarmed the invisible wall. 

You spun mid-air, hands hovering by your hips to keep you airborne. On any other day, you would have let his attitude roll right off your shoulders, but enough was enough. You were equally as displeased with the current arrangement and highly stressed from the possible threat, but you weren't taking it out on Azriel.

“What is your problem with me?”

Azriel’s wings flared behind him as he turned to face you. “I never said I had a problem with you.” 

“You don’t have to say it when it’s written all over your face.” Something unreadable flashed through his hazel eyes. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. You sighed. “Forget it. This isn’t the time to discuss this anyways. Just do me a favor and let me know if your shadows find anything. A gap, a hole, any indication that the barrier has been compromised.”

The shadowsinger nodded as you floated further down the barrier. Scarlet wisps of your power returned to your fingertips, unable to find anything during the initial search. The feeling of dread that washed over you in the midst of your dream was so raw and visceral that you kept on prodding despite the fact that nothing seemed to be amiss. To your right, Azriel pushed at the shimmering barrier with brute force. 

Out of the corner of your eye, you spotted it. A metallic pin no bigger than a needle protruding from a nearly nonexistent gap in the wall. As the shadowsinger moved closer to it, you screamed. 

"Azriel!"

Hurtling through the sky, you shot straight into Azriel and sent the both of you careening through the clear skies. A second later, a deafening explosion lit up the horizon while dark wings shielded you from the blast. To your surprise, the Illyrian warrior grasped you in his arms protectively and held on tightly while shards of metal rained down from the sky. Your gazes met for a brief second before your ears started ringing. 

His mouth was moving, but you couldn't make out what he was saying. You shook your head, gesturing to your ears to indicate that you couldn't hear.

Azriel swiped his thumb against your ear and blanched when his fingertips came back covered in blood. The world seemed to tip on its own axis as you wiped away the blood running down your cheek. A tinny sound echoed within you before Rhysand’s voice crackled through your consciousness. 

“What the hell was that?” asked the High Lord. 

You blinked and saw Rhys hovering over you with Cassian at his side. The Sidra glittered to your right as Azriel set you down. You hadn’t even realized that he’d flown you to safer ground. The shock of the explosion was still rippling through your senses. 

“Are either of you hurt?” Cassian prompted with concern. 

“No, she caught it just in time. Practically tackled me out of harm’s way. I’m fine, but her ear is bleeding pretty badly. Must have ruptured it from the blast,” Azriel murmured as he wiped at your ear with a small cloth. 

You swatted his hand away. “I’m fine. It’ll heal. I need to close the gap before anyone gets through.” 

Just then, a whizzing sound scraped through the air. You looked up and found a horde of harpies charging at the barrier. Each hybrid that flew by was more terrifying than the last. The top half of each creature was partially human save for the feathered wings protruding from their backs, but the lower half was purely vulture. They clawed at the entrance with their sharp talons and every slice rippled through the protective magic surrounding Velaris. 

“Like hell you’re going up there,” Azriel said. 

You pulled yourself to standing and glared at him. “It’s my job to make sure the gate is secure. Besides, you’re going to need my help against the harpies. I'm the only one who has experience fighting their kind. They're nasty creatures, but they can be killed."

The shadowsinger stubbornly turned towards Rhysand who gave his brother a pointed look. “She’s right, Az. We need her skills on the battlefield.” 

Azriel didn’t look pleased, but merely nodded. He barely gave you a second glance before saying, “You’re with me then. We’ll take the eastern side.” 

He shot into the sky and you soon followed after. A blanket of your magic projected over the both of you as you and Azriel broke through the barrier. The harpies hissed as you shot through the air, sending blasts of your power to knock them back.

Azriel stalked for their first line of defense with lethal speed while you summoned a sword in your hand. As you glided through the sky, you cut down harpy after harpy with acute precision. One of them darted towards you at breakneck speed, but you pivoted and buried your blade into its back. 

Blood as dark as night splattered all over your dark hooded cloak, but you paid no mind to it as you continued to fight. The harpies may have brute force on their side, but you were quick and lithe, cutting through the monstrous creatures like ribbons of flesh. You led the harpies to an open field just outside the protective barrier, luring them into an environment that was more advantageous for your style of combat. 

Azriel landed right beside you and a knowing look passed between you, warrior to warrior. The shadowsinger flipped Truth-teller in his hand while you conjured two short swords in your hands. Back to back, you continued to battle against the would-be invaders. 

As another harpy fell to your feet, a High Fae male stepped out of the shadows. The cruel smile and sharp features sent a shiver down your spine. Like a demon out of hell, the male's black eyes haunted you. Before you stood Anthrin - the only living kin of the King of Hybern.

Anthrin's cold, empty gaze survey you with disgust. “The Darkstar,” he says with a sneer. “I have heard of your immense power and yet you waste it by protecting the weak. Is this what Prythian has reduced you to, witch?”

“Anthrin,” you say with venom laced in your voice. “What do you want?” 

Even across the seas, everyone knew of the cruel, sadistic male. The ruthless prince who once enslaved and hunted humans for sport. It was fair to say that Dagdan and Brannagh took after their horrid father. 

Anthrin smiled, but the action didn’t meet his eyes. His stare was hollow and vacant, void of any emotion. “Justice. Vengeance. Retribution,” his expressionless gaze sent a shiver down your spine. “I want Rhysand’s whore to pay for butchering my children.” 

Your grip tightened around the hilt of your weapons. “My High Lady did the entire realm a favor by ending your abominable son and daughter. They got what they deserved.” 

The look Anthrin gave you was one of pure malice. “So will you and your beloved city, witch.”

The male charged at you with a broadsword in hand. You blocked the blow with an upward swing of your blade and slid to your knees across the hard ground. Dirt scraped against your leathers as Anthrin spun to dart towards you again, but you were too fast. 

The heavy onyx cloak tied around your neck fell to the jagged terrain as you went on the offensive. You charged at him with careful, calculated strikes that push him further and further away from the barrier. He met your blows with equal force. Anthrin’s sword required a two-handed grip, but the male was strong and relentless. 

The dance between you was one of pure strategy. Anthrin was both bigger and stronger, but the more energy he expended, the slower his movements were. You made sure to use that to your advantage. The short swords you wielded came down on him blow after blow and the male struggled to shield himself from your attacks. 

You withheld one of them and sent a blast of your power to his side and Anthrin staggered as it hit his right leg. 

“You little bitch,” he spat, clutching at the singed fabric of his trousers. 

Anthrin lurched toward you, his sword singing against yours as magic met steel. A jolt went through your arm as the force of the blow pushed you back. The vile male took the opportunity to yank you by the wrist, pulling you down to the ground and driving his knee against your ribs. 

With the air knocked out of you, a trickle of blood splattered in the ground while you spit out the metallic taste coating your tongue. You clutched your side, growling in anger as your eyes glowed with scarlet magic. Anthrin had the good sense to appear terrified, retreating back to where the rest of the harpies were gathered. 

Azriel looked up as you hovered above them, his dagger driving into the side of one of your enemies without even looking in its direction. He broke off into a sprint before launching himself into the skies. 

“Need a lift?” He asked, gesturing down to where Anthrin was reconvening with his creatures. 

You nodded and Azriel grabbed both of your hands, dangling you in mid-air while he flew at breakneck speed. He swung you underneath him and sent you careening through the horizon as you rained hellfire down on Anthrin and his troops. 

You flew alongside Azriel as the harpies began to attack from above. The leader of the pack dove straight for your direction and you braced yourself to block the sharp talons from scraping through you, but a dark shadow struck the harpy before it could reach you. 

“Don’t fucking touch her.” Azriel growled as he rammed into the creature. 

You staggered back in surprise, but quickly regained your bearings to focus on the incoming group. Magic surged through your hands as you summoned a crimson wave of your killing power over the creatures. 

One by one, they dropped like flies until the High Fae male was the only one remaining. Azriel tossed you to the ground and you quickly rolled through the air, swinging your blade down before Anthrin could even blink. The scarlet sword pierced right through him and he fell with a loud thud at your feet. 

At the fall of their master, the harpies dispersed and began fleeing in fear. Azriel took off to the skies and eliminated the last of the stragglers while you flew up to the barrier and repaired the hole that the invaders left. 

You ran a hand through the force field and scarlet magic rippled through you in waves as your power knit together the hole that was blown through the wall. In the distance, you could see Rhys and Cas flying towards you. Fuzzy white noise rang in your ears while you kept your eyes on the horizon. 

Just as the barrier locked in place, you felt the sky shift beneath your feet as though the world was spinning off its axis. With your power drained, you wobbled backwards and careened through the clouds. As your eyes fluttered closed, you could hear a familiar voice screaming your name over and over again. 

The voice didn’t belong to the High Lord or the General. Instead, it was the Azriel’s pleads cutting through the air. The raw desperation was unlike anything you’ve ever heard out of the shadowsinger. 

Before you could plummet into the Sidra, strong arms wrapped around your back and legs, carrying you to safety. 

“It’s alright,” Azriel murmured softly. “I’ve got you.”

The last thing you remembered before blacking out was the sunrise painting his eyes golden while he looked down at you. 

You weren’t sure how much time had passed since the battle at the Sidra, but it was dark when you finally woke up. The large glass windows at the House of Wind reflected the starry skies outside as you craned your neck to see. A dull ache throbbed at the back of your head, which always occurred when you’d expended too much of your power in a short amount of time. 

You blinked as a shadow curled through your wrist, its cool touch snaking through your limbs with careful assessment. It seemed satisfied with whatever it found as it traveled across the room. Perched on a velvet reading chair, Azriel rubbed his eyes and perked up as his shadow returned to him. He listened for its report before turning his gaze back to you. 

“You’re awake.” 

You grimaced, fully feeling the aftermath of the battle in your battered body. “How long have I been out?” 

“Two days.” 

From the looks of it, Azriel had been sleeping in that chair for just as long. His clothes were rumpled and his hair was sticking up in a dozen different directions as though he’d been tossing and turning in the tiny chair.

You slowly sat upright, wincing as the action placed weight on your aching ribs. Azriel was beside you in a flash, carefully guiding you to lean back on the pillows for support. The shadowsinger scanned your face and perched himself on the mattress. 

“You scared the hell out of me,” he says softly. “You shouldn’t have used up all of your power like that.” 

You frowned, crossing your arms. “I was only doing my job.” 

Azriel leveled a stubborn gaze at you. “Not at the expense of your own well-being. Madja said that if you expended any more magic, you would’ve run yourself dry.” 

“I’m fine,” you respond with resolution. 

To ensure the shadowsinger, you leaned forward to sit up on your own, but your own stubbornness backfired as pain shot up through your side. 

Azriel gripped your arm gently. “What’s wrong?” 

Instinctively, your hand ran along your ribs and you winced at even the slightest touch. The shadowsinger wrapped his fingers around your wrist and set it on his lap. 

“May I? I need to see if Madja needs to look at you again.” 

You nod silently. With careful consideration, Azriel lifted up the hem of your shirt. The Illyrian warrior sucked in a sharp intake of breath as he beheld the large purple bruise covering the majority of your side. With heat blazing in those hazel eyes of his, the rage within him was barely contained as he gritted his teeth. 

“Who did this to you?” His voice was calm and deathly silent, but the lethal promise of his wrath carried in every word. 

The reaction was entirely perplexing. Azriel had never shown care towards you, but then you remembered the flash of anger on his face while he growled at the harpy for trying to attack you. You weren't sure what to make of it. Surely, there was a perfect explanation for his odd behavior. Perhaps he was just angry that you’d let an enemy get close enough to hurt you. 

“It doesn’t matter,” you say, shying away from his touch. 

Azriel refused to break eye contact. “It does matter,” he says gruffly. “It matters to me.” 

You frowned. “Go on then, tell me how careless I was to allow Anthrin to inflict such damage. I’m sure you’re dying to tell me how insufficient my skills are.” 

Azriel’s gaze softened. “Is that what you think I’m angry about?” 

“What else would it be?” 

The shadowsinger furrowed his brows. “That piece of shit is the last thing I care about. I’d rip him to shreds if you hadn’t already done it yourself,” he took a deep breath to calm himself. “I’m angry because I wasn’t able to protect you. I’m angry because you give and you give without any consideration to how it may affect you.” 

“Why do you care?” 

Azriel chuckled, his humorless laugh bouncing off the walls. “Haven’t you figured it out yet, sweetheart?”

He moved closer and you felt yourself drawn to him, mesmerized by the ardorous look on his face. Azriel rarely showed any emotion, so to see him overcome with such fervent passion was a brand new experience.

“Are you that entirely blind to how I feel about you?” 

You swallowed thickly. “I - I don’t understand. You can’t even stand to be around me. I thought you hated me.” 

Azriel grazed your cheek with his fingertips. “I have never hated you. I only hated myself for not having the courage to tell you how I felt.” 

Your voice is barely a whisper as you gaze into his eyes. “How do you feel, Azriel?” 

The shadowsinger grabs your hand and places it over his chest. You could feel his heart beating erratically underneath your palm. “I feel like I’ve lived nearly five centuries just waiting for you. It’s almost as though I’ve been holding my breath until the moment you came into my life and showed me what it’s like to have the wind knocked out of my lungs.”

Your chest tightened at his words. You were all too familiar with that feeling because you felt it every time he looked at you. At first, you thought it was just pure loathing, but you knew that if you truly hated Azriel, you wouldn't be this affected by his presence or care whether or not he liked you. The feelings you had for the shadowsinger were complicated, but they were definitely strong. The verdict was still out on whether they were good or bad. 

They always said that there was a fine line between love and hate. As you met Azriel's gaze, you couldn't differentiate which side you were teetering towards.

“When you fell, every opportunity I had to tell you the truth flashed before my eyes. In all honesty, it was easier to let you believe that I despised you than open myself up to the possibility of rejection. But then, you were unconscious for nearly two days and the thought of losing you killed me. I don’t care about rejection anymore. You can say that you’d never reciprocate my feelings towards you and I’d respect that, but I am done holding it in.” 

He stood, putting space between you. “I am sorry for how I’ve treated you. For pushing you away when you made every effort to be my friend.” Regret flashed through his features and your chest tightened. “I have always known that I wanted to be more than that to you. Maybe I didn’t go about it in the best way, but there it is.” 

For the first time since you met him, Azriel looked uneasy. The cool demeanor slipped away and you saw nothing but sincerity in his eyes. He lowered his gaze, slowly backing away from the bed. 

“I understand if you need time to process all of it. I know you’re recovering, but I promised myself that I’d tell you the minute you woke up.” He shifted his weight to one foot with uncertainty. “I can go if you wish.”

Azriel turned, but you caught him by the wrist. His gaze dipped down to your hand and you noticed the way he clocked the lack of hesitation in your grip as you slipped your delicate fingers through his scarred ones. 

“Stay.” 

The word stretched between you. Azriel softened, linking his fingers in yours as you scooted over to make room for him on the bed. He leaned against the headboard and you turned, slightly grimacing from the movement. Azriel instantly wrapped his arm around your waist to support you. 

“Can we start over?” you asked softly. “I’d like to get to know you, Azriel. The real you. Starting tonight.” 

There was so much hope swimming in his eyes that your heart fluttered at the sight. 

“I think I’d really like that,” he whispers tenderly. 

#i am...hurt? #oh to be enemies to lovers with az #anyways hope yall enjoy #azriel #azriel fic #acotar #azriel shadowsinger #azriel acotar #azriel x reader #azriel x you #acomaf #acosf #azriel fluff #azriel drabble #masterlist #jess writes