Isabella

Their first date was not in fact a trip to Velaris but rather Cassian appearing a day or so later with Winter Solstice decorations. Or what he claimed would turn into Christmas decorations once he and Oliver had made them so.

Her heart had burst.

It was the sweetest sight imaginable. Cassian hunched over her kitchen table, carefully weaving different leafy plants into wreaths, her son at his side bundled up in his new blanket. Oliver was watching the winged male with such concentration and determination that she couldn't help but akin him with one of the hunting hounds. Relentless in his hunt for perfection and success.

The previous crafts had been a little more child friendly. The traditional painting of wood carving (that she suspected Cassian had carved himself), baking some kind of winter berry pie (with most of the mixture ending up in her son's mouth or on the floor) and her personal favourite of painting little ceramic decorations to hand from the window frame (there were many pieces of broken pottery on her floor).

In short, her home was a mess, utterly trashed and she couldn't be happier.

Cassian grinned up at her as if catching on to her moment of joy as she watched the pair. It's easier to turn back to making mugs of tea rather than letting Cas see the burning in her cheeks. He knows though, that rough chuckle tells her all she needs to know.

Carefully carrying the two mugs back to the table she grins down at the utter shamble of a mess Ollie has made out of wreath.

"No, Tin- Tiny. tiny" Cassian implores, with a gentle exasperated sigh. "That's clearly not working." He finally states, giving up with the babying and kid gloves. Ollie glares at him, still jamming the small pair of old pliers at the thick branches in his hands. And oh is her son starting to get cranky.

"I think it's someone's bed time." She sings, placing the mugs on the table and that petulant glare whips towards– Isabella pays Cassian no heed. "Come now Ollie, get yourself washed and changed."

It's a new thing apparently, this sudden burst of independence. Isabella wasn't going to stop him but a small part of her hurt at his growing up, at the fact he didn't need her help to get changed into pyjamas anymore. He still needed help getting dressed of course, what with the buckles and buttons that he can just tug out like at night.

"I can't believe you sent him to bed." Cassian grumbled and she stifled her giggles. She watched as Ollie dragged his thick quilt upstairs. His stomping footsteps were loud as he raced through the hallway. From the way Cassian subtly twitched, the tilting of his head, she suspected that he was listening out for him.

"Do you want to deal with a cranky toddler?" Isabella arched a brow in question, relishing in her ability to do so when it was clear that the general could only raise his brows together. "Because I just saved you from yourself."

"But we were having fun." Can he hear himself right now? "You didn't even let him finish the wreath."

"The one he was making?" She countered, smirking at the petulant male. He eventually sighed, conceding, but the smug grin on Cassian's face suggested trouble.

"I think you just wanted to get me alone." Oh she wanted to wipe that smug look off his face. "There's nothing wrong with that of course, I'm quite flattered, but you could've just asked."

"Mm-hmmm." She mockingly agreed, narrowing her eyes as she picked up the broomstick leant against the kitchen wall. "Or perhaps I was looking for an excuse to leave you alone with the tidying up while I get my son ready for bed."

Cassian's dramatic groan had her giggling. He accepted the broomstick and spun in a circle to survey the mess.

"Tiny- eh... we made quite the mess." He mutters and despite the guilty look on his face she could see the warmth in his eyes. Isabella knew that look was reflected in her own. It had been a long time since this house looked like a home. But with the messy table, broken decorations and the laughter that had filled the house she couldn't help but remember her own youth.

Yes. This is what she wanted for her son. This was the life they deserved.

Cassian got stuck in, quickly tidying up the mess so she followed after her son. He was dressed and tucked in by the time she got to his room though Isabella suspected his top was on inside out.

One look at the pleading eyes and pouty lips had her bracing her hands on her hips.

"Just one story." He begged, "Pleeeeease."

"You have already been up far past your bedtime." The mum voice was in full use.

"But that wasn't my fault, Cassian kept me up!" His voice rose a few octave and she fought down her smile, trying to maintain a strict front or else she'll cave. "And Bat-bat and Wisp want a story too."

That was the other new thing to match Oliver's independence. The toy duo was now Bat-bat and Wisp. Which had been hard to explain to Tomas when he asked what the hell was Wisp. Imaginary friend seemed to be an acceptable enough answer but the elder two Mandrays had scoffed.

"Oh so Cassian is one who made a mess and all those beautiful decorations?" She began, already seeing the frustrated look building in Ollie's eyes as he fought the urge to claim said 'beautiful decorations'. "And of course you don't need a bedtime story because I can read one later to Bat-bat and Wisp."

"I-" He pouted, tiredness making him prone to tears.

She sighs, taking pity on the poor boy as she realises this is not the time to be teaching a lesson in taking responsibility and not placing blame on others.

"I think we'll have one story and you can thank Cassian for making decorations and cleaning up the next time you see him." She states and he eagerly nods. "Okay, which book are we having tonight."

"The one about the Witch!" She was genuinely going to strangle the High Lord when she next saw him. It's barely been two days and she feels as though she has read those Fables a hundred times.

"Okay then, just one." Oliver quickly nestles down, tugging the thick quilt up to his shoulders. "There was once a witch who lived far out in the woods in the branches of Oak Tree. Now this was no ordinary home for the witch who lived in an Owl's nest for that's the form she preferred..."

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Cassian

Cassian waited until Isabella was upstairs before using a bit of magic to speed up the cleaning process. He might not have Rhys' ability to just snap his fingers and have the whole place clean but he had learned over time how to best utilise his Siphons. Morphing them into shields and soft breezes that drag the broken shards of clay and fallen twigs into one pile on the floor.

While his magic got to work cleaning up the mess he quickly set about fixing that damn leaky tap. He had been begrudgingly impressed by the system Tomas had set up. A large water vat laid outside, filling up with rain water and capable of being filled by buckets. The pipe work coming in from the side of the wall and leading to the tap suggested the water was moved by gravity.

Assuming that the waste water worked the same way and was taken out of the house by a similar pipe then there should be - Ah hah. He couldn't help but make a little satisfied noise at finally finding the leak. It had been bugging him all night. That constant drip of water taunting him.

One of the joins connecting two pipes had loosened and cracked so he quickly heated up his siphons, welding the metal back together.

Isabella was a smart woman and he had no doubt she would begin to notice the subtle changes in her home. The unbalanced kitchen table that was fixed during their last meeting (Azriel had sanded the legs to the same height while he was upstairs with Isabella), the large draft that came in under the door (He had convinced Rhys to use some kind of magic that raised the stone step high enough to brush the bottom of the wooden door) and now the leaky plumbing.

There was no way she didn't know they had fixed a few things.

Cassian knew he had taken the lead. Rhys had suggested he could fix a few things up for her to satisfy the demands of the mate bond. Of course once the bond was happy that his mate was safe and warm he couldn't help but want to make her comfortable as well. So here he found himself snooping around his mates house looking for anything that needed fixing.

For a moment Cassian let his mind drift. It was easy to imagine this was his life, downstairs pottering about their home while Isabella reads their- Oliver a bedtime story. Her voice was so sweet and angelic that he couldn't help but be lulled by it as well.

"... and as she raced as a fox in the forest, soared as buzzard in the sky and swam as a dolphin in the sea, the little witch couldn't help but wonder which skin was she. Was she a great big bear, lumbering through the forest. Or perhaps a small otter, floating in one of the lakes-"

"What are you doing?" Cassian jerked up right, every instinct in him tenses as he whirled around- knife out - towards the intruder. Azriel took the attack in stride, blocking the blow with a incredulous expression.

"I don't know whether to be insulted that you attacked me," He begins and Cassian sighs, "or concerned that that was your version of protecting your mate."

For a moment all Cassian can see in blinding rage and then he's taking a steadying breath. Doesn't stop him from glaring at Azriel who is content to glare back at him. He must have just come from a mission because his hair is soaked and tousled with a few strands falling over his eyes.

"What are you doing here?" He eventually demands. Azriel huffs, striding over to the kitchen table and claiming one of the mugs of tea. It's only when he slumps into one of the chairs, wings stretching out onto the floor that Cassian tries to trample down his surprise. Azriel rarely shows such emotion and seeing him so... open and casual is quite frankly disturbing.

"I'm here to...." A muscle in his jaw ticks. "Pick you up."

Cassian's brows raise and he's instantly reminded of Isabella and her ability to perfectly arch one eyebrow.

"Pick me up?"

"Don't." Azriel warns but Cassian's lips are already twitching with amusement. "I already feel like a glorified babysitter. Go drop off Cassian at his play date with Oliver, Azriel. Don't forget to pick Cassian up before their- sorry Oliver's- bedtime, Azriel."

"Oh fuck off." Cassian snaps, slumping into the other seat and stealing Isabella's mug. "I was quite content to fly here and back like I told you. I seem to recall you offering to pick me up."

That immovable mask is back in place and Cassian eyes his friend curiously. Something had been off with him lately. Not that Cassian was complaining, Az was finally engaging with his daily stories afterall. Cas knew that he could be annoying, Amren had once compared him to an excitable puppy and he was wildly aware that Azriel gave off dark wolf vibes.

Sometimes he wondered how Azriel put up with him and his constant stream of conversation. Though for the past week or so Azriel seemed to actually have a reaction to the topics he regaled him with. Though Cassian was doing his best not to consider the fact that Az might just be interested in hearing about his progress with Isabella.

They were friends after all, Az and Izzy he means. He had seen them chatting them away on occasion and he knew that Azriel always seemed lighter on the days he took Cassian's place and walked her home from the market.

He had asked Isabella about it once on their walk. Oliver had been content to run ahead of the so he had taken the opportunity to ask after the shadowsinger. She had been amused by his question. Something about spending a couple hundred years together and still asking someone else what they thought about each other,

You can' exactly blame him, Azriel isn't an open book. Though he was certainly more open with Isabella considering she always seemed to know the gossip from Velaris that Cassian mentioned to her.

The pair of them were like a bunch of housewives.

"Rhys wants you to head to Illyria tomorrow." Azriel begins and it feels wrong to discuss work in Isabella's home. "One of the lords is skimming off the top of the pension funds before distributing it."

"Let me guess," He grumbles, already knowing the excuse. "Compensation for losing another fighting man."

Azriel inclines his head in agreement and Cassian scoffs.

"Pathetic." He mumbles. "Utterly pathetic, the lot of them."

Cassian loved his people, he loved the culture they lost and the spirit they had. What he couldn't care less about were these prissy lordlings and their little followers. Illyria had become a place decided by two opposing views; those who wanted to work for change, to make their lives better and more equal; and those who liked the current climate but wanted the chain of a High Lord gone.

Essentially the misogynistic pigs vs the decent people of Illyria.

Logically he knew it was more complicated than that. Mother knew that Isabella's internal battle was testament enough to what the control of a domineering can do. He almost shakes his head at the thought, fighting the instinct to snarl. It was so much worse for the women in Illyria, they had been enslaved to the whims of men for centuries and those mental chains would be hard to break.

"Oh."

His head snapped up in time to see Isabella's surprised expression.

"I didn't know you would be joining us Azriel." He should be stiffening. Cassian knows some instinct should be snarling at that soft smile she gifts Azriel. Except there's nothing ridiculous, no jealousy or need to beat Az into a bloody mess. Admittedly he's a bit disheartened that she wasn't smiling at him like that. Asking after his day and cooing over his- well he's not sure what he has that would equate to Azriel's shadows. "I hope you've been letting these shadows have some time off."

"They're shadows." Cassian stated and flinched at Isabella's harsh glare.

"And they're such good spies and friends." It was disturbing watching a grown woman coo over shadows like they were puppies or babes. Even Azriel looked horrified or maybe scandalised from the blush adorning his sharp cheeks.

When they're quiet for too long Isabella finally looks up. The blush that spreads across her cheeks only serves to tempt Cassian into kissing her.

"What?" She grumbles, clearly embarrassed by their stares and surprise. "They're much more loyal and helpful when you compliment them."

"I'm sure they- wait, what?" He demands, glancing at Azriel who seems to be looking at Cassian's mate with something close to admiration. "What do you mean helpful?"

"Well it's not like Wisp just went back to Azriel." She shrugs and Cassian can feel himself boring a hole into Azriel's head with the force of his glare. "Oliver has taken quite a shine to it. They seem to be best friends."

"They're not toys." Azriel finally grumbles, voice lough and rough in a way that has Cassian;s spine tingling. "Oliver needs to understand-"

"What I understand," Azriel might not cave under Isabella's mum tone but Cassian certainly does, "Is that my son is prone to getting into trouble, running off, getting lost or trying to befriend the wrong people... that–your– shadow has been a tremendous help in keeping him safe."

Oh his mate so knew how to play Azriel like a fiddle.

"Now are you going to argue with me about parenting or tell me about how Morrigan is getting on with seducing my sister?" Isabella arches a brow and Azriel smirks in return.

"What the fuck!" Cassian exclaims.

A/N: Slowly bumping up the word count from approx. 2000 to approx.3000 so chapters may take a little longer to write.