Scorpions From The Past

Scorpions from the past

Unexpected / Azriel X Reader

Summary: Since Azriel has known you he has always had the impression that you were the kindest, most innocent person out there. Until there is a conspiracy.

Warnings: reader is attacked, this is my first fic, english is not my first language

If you have constructive criticism please let me know, I’m always trying to get better

Azriel had been training with Cassian when the bond suddenly exploded with emotion so strong he actually lost his footing as they drove their blades against each other. It took him a dizzy heartbeat to sort your message from the blind panic. Help me Help me Help me. He didn’t even hear the teasing words his brother threw at him before he pushed up and launched into the sky. His hand clenched around the trainings swords hilt. Something scared you and he had promised to keep you safe. Wind whipped past him as he dove for the direction the bond frantically tugged him in. Until he found you he could do nothing but pray. Please wait for me. Please be safe. Let it be something stupid, mother let it be a spider. Don’t be hurt. I don’t know what to do without you.

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You however, had been browsing through some of the stores in Velaris, searching for the perfect dress you could wear to the next family gathering when you first noticed the same male following you out of the store he had conveniently followed you into twenty minutes earlier. Heart slamming against your ribs you tried to rationalize that yes, people are allowed to use the same stores as you at the same time and be done at the same time and walk uncomfortably close to you and now his hands are on you and-

He’s dragging you into the alley between a shop and a florist, one hand over your lower face, the other keeping you pressed against him. Your muscles lock up, you can’t breathe, your going to die and Azriel is going to find your corpse. The disorienting sensation of winnowing pulls you from your train of thoughts. You two appear in the woods, pine trees all you can see, then you’re gone again.

He can’t winnow far.

But the fact that he is taking you out of Velaris tells you that he is not just some opportunist. Not someone trying to rob you or rape you or kill you. There’s more.

“If I’d known you were so easy to take I wouldn’t have bothered to watch you for so long. Your shadowsinger is going to give us exactly what we want to get you back.” he seems chatty, sounds like the guy from next door. Your easy abduction must’ve put him in a good mood.

Us. There are people waiting for me to be brought to him. They want to use me against my mate.

You decide then and there that you would not arrive at the final destination with this male. As soon as you feel dirt beneath your feet you take action. With your back pressed against his chest you manage to blindly scratch at his face. By chance you drive your finger into his eye and he rears back away from you yelping. You don’t think you will ever get the sensation of eyeball under your fingernails out of your mind but at least you can gasp for air now. One look around tells you that you are still in the pine tree forest but next to a river this time. It might be the sidra.

Azriel is pleading with you to tell him where you are through the bond but you really can’t focus on him right now. The male has red hair that contrasts horribly with the bloody tears streaming down his face. You can make out only that his eyes are dark but with the way he’s squinting at you you can’t be sure. His hand reaches for the nasty looking knife strapped to his thigh, the other pulls a hand full of what you guess is fae bane from a pouch. But now that you know what you’re working with your head starts to clear. Your power is a bit dusty as it raises to your command but as soon as the male lunges at you he is suspended into the air and thrown right into the river.

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It’s not a spider. Instead he has to listen to some florist about how you had been dragged an alley and disappeared. Cassian did most of the question asking as he himself was too busy trying to locate you with the string binding you together. You weren’t answering his frantic questions with anything else but the urgent message find me.

The male that dared to touch you would find him a very unforgiving individual with loads of knowledge on how to make people suffer. Never had he been so intent on finding and carving up a being he’d never seen before. But first he’d have to find you. And if there was a single scratch on your body he would find new ways to bring hell onto the offender.

“This is useless, we’re just loosing time.” he ground out and rushed off before Cassian could comment on the fact that he was still shirtless and only with his training sword. But in the end he just shrugged at the florist and flew after his brother. Rhys fell into beat with them soon after, tossing Azriel truth-teller and his siphons. He didn’t ask questions, Cassian must’ve filled him in already. Never had Azriel been so grateful for his brothers support. That they were willing to fly blindly into battle with him and not even ask questions about it-

His heart lurched and he forgot to beat his wings for a second when something unfamiliar thrummed through the bond. Fear and pain and something else. He strained to fly faster until he was well ahead of his brothers. They had left Velaris behind and reached the pine trees, the way there were heading now would lead them back to the sidra.

He was so blinded by the need to be by your side, check you over for any injuries, drag you back to where it was safe and take revenge that he never noticed how your end of the bond went quieter.

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He landed hard by the river, almost diving in immediately for the figure thrashing below the surface. Only to whip around at your call. You were seated beneath a huge pine tree, one hand stretched out towards him, the other pressing fabric onto your thigh. The scent of your blood overrides his senses and he actually growls when his brothers land. He’s by your side before he really notices himself moving, hands tilting your head, inspecting the pine needles in your messed up hair, the bruises down your neck and finally catching on the blood seeping through the blue fabric your clutching in your left hand. The roaring in his ears drowned out the splashing water behind him. Hurt but safe.

The other hand is still extended to him and he tries to take it, assuming that you want to be comforted. But you jerk it upwards and someone coughing and spluttering erupts behind him. Immediately he has truth-teller in his hands and whirls around, wings flaring to shield you. His shadows shroud him in death shooting towards the threat. But he is met with a male struggling in the air, spiting river water and begging for it to stop.

“He was just telling me about how hewanted to take me to his companions and force you to be their informant to get to Rhysand. The others are waiting for us to show up further down the river. He said there’s supposed to be about ten but he isn’t sure if Suela could come because her brother is sick and she needed to take care of him.” you sound shockingly composed and the three illyrians are stunned as you step out from behind Azriel.

“What-”

“How-”

You merely direct the sobbing male in front of Cassian with your power, letting him fall to his knees as soon as you release him. Cassian doesn’t even have to bother tying him up. Your attacker is a pathetic, shaking heap at your friend’s feet and you can’t help but smirk. You meet Rhysands stare for a second but whatever he thinks about you actions goes unsaid.

Letting your power subside you feel the adrenaline leave you as well. Finally you turn to your mate and fall into his arms. Desperately he presses you against him, feeling you shake and fighting the urge to winnow you back into your house right then and there. Instead he looks at Rhysand, who has managed to slip his highlord mask on, assessing the back of your head as if you just became very interesting.

“I’ll take her home. Get the others to my dungeon, I want to have some fun with them.” he growls his command but the high lord doesn’t say anything, fully understanding the need for violence after your mate was attacked.

Azriel levels one look at the male on the floor that has him press against Cassians legs for refuge. “We are going to have a thorough conversation later.” he conveyed bloody murder with every word but you knew the male would not find death in a long while. You didn’t have it in you to feel sorry for him.

“Let’s go home, Az.” he hum into his chest where you buried your face. You could only guess that he immediately came from training to find you and hadn’t bothered to put a shirt on but you certainly weren’t complaining.

He picks you up and you are winnowing. Instead of the disorienting feeling you are greeted by his shadows curling and twisting around you. For a second you are free falling above Velaris then his wings catch the current and you smoothly begin to ascend.

“Thank you for finding me.” he clutched you tighter to his chest. You can feel his heart beating furiously. The bond is tight with emotions.

“I thought I was going to loose you. Never ignore me again please.”

“I’m sorry but I had to focus on not being stabbed or dragged to his friends.”

“Well how did that work out?” he huffed but you both knew that he was just shaken to the bone. Loosing you might very well be his death sentence.

“Perfectly fine thank you.”

“But he did stab you”

“Just a little bit, Az can we argue tomorrow? After this I really just want to take a bath and cuddle with my mate.” you looked up at him with big eyes and his heart melted. He would never let you go again. From now on you would have to watch him train and wait with the shopping until he could accompany you.

(You knew what he was thinking but as you had decided that the arguing would come tomorrow you didn’t bring it up yet)