Rhysand

He forgot how easy it was to be in his brother's company. It felt strange at times having been away from them for so long but there seemed to be an understanding between them to stick to the lighter topics during the day and wait until the evening for the heavy talks. They've always been like that but it was different now, there was a hesitancy that wasn't there before.

Especially with the way Cassian keeps looking out the window as if he could see all the way to the human female he's pining after.

"Spit it out then." Rhys sighed, rubbing at his forehead. He knew Cassian wouldn't be able to just move on, his brother always had to go through every emotion and ask every question before he would admit defeat or get bored and move on. "It's about Isabella isn't it."

He tried to keep his tone teasing and light but a muscle rippled in Cassian's jaw and his hands flexed in a way that usually meant he couldn't solve a problem so he was going to punch something instead.

"I think she's my mate."

The confession was deafening. 

Rhys felt himself straighten up, Azriel stiffening beside him as Cassian awkwardly looked anywhere but at them. It would make sense, Rhys thought, it would certainly explain Cassian's previously unfounded obsession. For a moment a flicker of jealousy sparks within him before guilt wipes the thought away. Just because he wished to have a mate and family too didn't mean Cassian didn't deserve to have that as well. Except-

"She's married and human Cassian." Azriel's voice was quiet, hesitant and Cas' eyes closed at his words and Rhys' heart broke for him. If Cas was right and Isabella was his mate then at best he would have maybe 70 good years with her, at worst he could do nothing but watch her have a family and life with someone else. "Are you absolutely sure-"

"I'm fucking sure." He snarls, voice thick. "You think I haven't already thought of all the implications."

"I think your judgement might be clouded."

"Azriel." Rhys snapped, surprised by his brother's words, he'd never heard him be so intentionally cruel to one of the family before. Mercifully, Azriel bobbed his head in apology but Cassian waved him off clearly too conflicted with his own life to consider whatever Azriel is currently dealing with.

"Well... fuck." Rhy mumbled.

"Fuck indeed." Cassian all but wailed scrubbing at his face to no doubt hide his watering eyes. Cas had always felt more acutely than the others. "What the hell do I do?"

"Well it's not like it would be the first time she's cheated on her husband." Rhys muttered and Cassian snarled at him before blinking in surprise. Rhys huffed in mock surprise, doing his best to ease the tension. "Well if there was any doubt she was your mate..."

"She doesn't even know what mates are." Cassian's voice was flat and panic flared in Rhys' chest at hos brother's almost defeated look. Sure he had been jealous but for the Mother's sake Cassian deserved a happy ever after more than any of them. He truly was the most honourable and loyal out of them. Rhys sighed, trying not to think about all the complicated bullshit before saying "Then tell her. Explain it to her. We all agreed that she's not happy in her marriage, she might be content - or think she is - but either way she deserves to know that her soul is quite literally bound to another."

"Maybe don't use the word bound." Azriel muttered to Cassian, bumping his knee with his. "Linked, or joined could work. Bound sounds like kidnapping or trapping."

"But what if that's how she sees the bond. There are a lot of fae who struggle with the concept of mates and they've grown up with the idea of it all their lives." Cassian was in panic mode it seemed. The most fearsome, level headed general, renowned throughout Pyrithian was panicking over a girl. Over his mate, Rhys reminded himself and ignored the bitter taste in his mouth at the thought.

"You're panicking." Azriel stated unhelpfully.

"No shit."

"Cassian, stop panicking, there's no need to panic." Rhys stated, trying to be soothing while commanding in an attempt to appeal to the instinct that made him such an effective general. Cassian on the other hand just gaped at his brother's in disbelief. "Stop panicking. Stop panicking. We're talking about my mate, my very human and married mate who has a son. And you want me to stop panicking!"

"Okay so that wasn't my finest idea." Rhys agreed, glancing around the dark sitting room and taking in the human style of furniture and accents, the portraits of the Archerons that noticeably lacked Isabella and occasionally Nesta. "But I don't think she fits in here Cassian. The Human Realm has not been kind to her, nor has her family. You saw how she could see through glamours, how fearless she was and her son is fae. You do have a chance."

"But she is married, and she is happy." Cassian grumbled but the words were spoken as though to convince himself. Rhys looked to Azriel for support, hoping he would have something usual to say or a tidbit of knowledge that would help them. Except his brother had gone silent, a frozen look in his eyes that was only highlighted by the pallor of his skin. Perhaps he wasn't the only one suddenly jealous of Cassian.

"What do you want us to say?" Azriel's words were loud and sudden, causing both Rhys and Cas to pause and look at him in surprise. "Well? We could spend hours telling you about how she's a happily married human with a son. That she has her dream picket fence life and that you would be the villain disrupting it." that doesn't feel very helpful but its not like Rhys has anything else to say so he keeps quiet. "Or we could tell you that she can see through glamours, has a fae son, dated a fae and is unhappily married and therefore you have a chance."

Silence.

Azriel sighs, "The point is we can argue anything you want Cassian but it doesn't change the fact that you've already decided."

"I have."

Azriel gives him that look. The one that screams 'I'm the spymaster, I know everything you do before you do it'.

"Yes, you have. Or did you think that both Isabella and I ignored the little courting gift you presented her with?"

Cassian seemed to stiffen at his mate's name, yet something softened in his eyes. Is that what it's like then... to be mated. To be on edge every time some else mutters their name yet any mention of them brings peace to your soul.

"You think I have a chance." Rhys softens at the vulnerability in his brother's voice even if Azriel's walls seem to grow higher and frostier at the statement.

"I do... but I also think it would be easy for you to screw it up."

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Azriel

He walks around in a daze. Cassian excused himself to take a long flight that they all knew was an excuse to fly over Isabella's house, so Azriel escaped to finish the map before Rhys could corner him.

You were a bit of a dick to them. One of the shadows whispers in his ear as he stalks through the hallways. The other's shush it, mutter either their agreement or disagreement but Azriel pays them no heed.

The stars were so bright tonight, the moon lighting up the tree that Isabella frequented on her nights spent with her sisters. He had seen her out there a few times when they stayed over. She would just stand there, in a pale dress looking like the picture of angelic innocence in the darkness of night.

In half a thought he had winnowed back to the Night Court. Azriel made no effort to hide his footsteps as he prowled through the Hewn City. Every step was like a lightning strike, each pound of his heartbeat echoing like a battle cry. Down and down he went into the deepest pits of Night, where the monsters resided and the prisoners lurked. Each one had tasted his wrath, each hallway knew the cries of his victims and for the first time in avery long time Azriel liked it.

He paused at the carved doors before him, the entrance to his personal dungeons. The carvings mimicked wicked beasts of dragons, serpents and the wolves of old. Each stone creature was enchanted to shift and change between forms, physically guarding the handle despite the various enchantments.

You were wrong. He whispered to the shadows and for the first time in centuries their mutterings died down.

We were not wrong, we're never wrong. You know this, why would-

You were wrong! He roared, the words echoing through the halls are he screamed at the door and even the beasts went still till only the fire drake was bold enough the guard the handle from him.

Isabella is not mine. Azriel whispered and something broke inside of him. She is Cassian's.

She is her own. They snarled back but Azriel ignored them.

And without a moment of hesitation, or a second to allow the shadows to explain, Azriel stepped through those doors and welcomed the screams and cries of insanity to drown out his thoughts. This is I belong, he thought as his blood thrummed and mind stilled, Surrounded by the guilty and insane with their blood coating my hands for all eternity.

A/N: A little bit of dual POV and a glimpse at Azriel's self hatred