Take Time To Realize (Part 1 Of 2)

NEW ‘DOCTOR STRANGE’ POSTERS RELEASED!

Omg so beautiful

For you and your internet friends! 💙

Feel free to send these to them but please do not repost

Diners and Dates

Bucky x reader

Imagine request: I hope this doesn’t seem like a bother, buuuut, can you do a light fluff between Bucky and the reader where the reader is a waitress at a diner Steve is a regular at, and he brings Bucky to try it out . And have Bucky slip slightly back into his lady’s man persona and take the reader on a date eventually where the light fluff happens, please. I really like your blog by the way!

Warnings: None.

Note: THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL STORY. I LOVE IT. Thank you for this request. Thank you for being you. Also, we stopped at a port with wifi, turns out I can submit some imagines now! I got inspired by a part of the movie ‘Elf’ for this.

“Hey Steve! Table for 1?” You asked, picking up a menu. But you already knew what Steve wanted; A cheeseburger with no tomato, french fries with mustard, a pickle, and a surprise shake. He never knew what shake he wanted, so he made you pick which one.

“Well, actually I need a table for 2, Ma’am.” Steve replied.

“Steve, I’ve told you millions of times, call me Y/N,” you playfully punched his shoulder. “So who’s the lucky girl?”

Keep reading

Tom is here!!!!! - BAFTA TV Awards 2016

Spoilers for Stange New Worlds S02E01

I'm just wondering about Pike's reaction when someone told him what happend. You basically take 3 day's off to do some important shit and your crew steals your ship, (tbh he is probably not surprised about it) your first officer almost starts a war with Klingons (this seems to be a family trait for them), gets drunk, hires new chief science officer and hangover calls Admiral April in the meantime two of your subordinates who are essential personel take some green drug juice and almost freeze to death in space escaping Klingons and it's only on day one. I haven't written fanfiction since High school especially in English because it's not my first language but for this I may try 😅

My silver lining (Steve Rogers x Reader)

Anonymous requested:

Hey! I love your blog! Can you maybe do a steve x reader based on the song my silver lining from first aid kit? maybe were she just had enough and want to see other things or something like that? thank you so much ♥

Words: 755

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader

Warnings: There’s not much angst here, there’s nothing to worry about, really.

Author notes: (Y/N) is your name, (Y/L/N) is your last name. Here is the song, I know I didn’t put the lyrics to it, but I couldn’t put the plot into them, so I just wrote something. Sorry for taking so long, I was really clueless on how to write it. @ilovebeingjoyful loves Steve so I’m tagging her :)

“Steve, baby…” You said with a guilty look in your face “I may have done the most reckless thing in the world…” You bit your lower lip while you kept your hands behind you because you had something to hide. “Man, this was not my idea” Sam defended himself with his hands up to his chest “She thought of it all along… but I may have taken her to the place” “Please don’t tell me you got a tattoo” Steve actually looked like an old dad reading that newspaper on the couch “(Y/N), don’t tell me you got a tattoo” “I guess I’m gonna leave you two alone” Sam kissed your temple and hurried to get out.   Steve had been your boyfriend for a while now; it wasn’t that long of a while but you still felt like it was forever. You loved him, you really did, but he was just so boring it killed you. You were not the adventurous type either, but you loved to go out and do some new things. Fortunately, Steve had the most outrageous group of friends that loved to do crazy shit.   This time it was Sam Wilson’s turn to join you in one of the craziness of yours. From the first time you met each other, you became really close; he was like a brother to you because he loved to do unplanned stuff and he could hear you out whenever you had those moments in which Steve could not get any more boring.   “(Y/N) (Y/L/N) what did you get?” Steve folded the paper and left it next to him. “Runes” You said, proudly showing your sore wrists that just had their share of ink. “And they mean?” He rose his blonde eyebrows. “This one is protection” You showed your right one and he examined it very closely; he was only missing the glass to look like a dad “And this one is movement” You showed him, trying to give him the hints “Sammy also got a tattoo, so we kinda had besties tattoos” “I mean, they look pretty but…” “It was either this or my constellation on my back” You pointed out “But you said it looked pretty to it doesn’t matter” You smiled widely and walked to the bedroom.   The next few days, between taking care of your new tattoos and going out with the female Avengers, you decided to give Steve the talk. You couldn’t bear the boredom of our life anymore. You needed to explore the world, and not be locked up in your apartment because he was afraid of you getting hurt or something of the sort.   You had packed your stuff already and left the bags on the living room. You had called Sam earlier that day of your farewell so he could pick you up and accept you back in his place (you two lived together before you went to live with Steve). You drank at least three cups of coffee before Steve arrived and the caffeine was getting into your system, but when he finally appeared through the door and saw the bags, he asked for an explanation immediately.   “Steve, I’m gonna leave you” You said bluntly; it was not the way you wanted to break down things to him “I can’t do this anymore… I feel like I’m stuck here with you” Your caffeine façade slowly started to disappear “I… I love you so much, but I can’t bear that the only thing that we do is cuddle and have sex. We don’t even try new stuff at sex! I have asked you a hundred times to dress up or getting tied up or whatever but you keep saying no” You bit your lip “I can’t live like this…” “You’re leaving me because I’m boring?” He asked, still not really getting the idea. “I’m leaving you because I’m bored… I can’t believe that to do something fun and different I had to go to a shooting range with Natasha and Maria… Steve, I do love you because you are great… But this is unbearable” He sighed, knowing that you were right and he hadn’t done anything to keep the fire alive “I’ll be with Sam just so you know… Think about it and think if you don’t want to lose me” You leaned forward to kiss his lips one last time. It broke your heart to do it, but eventually it’ll be for the best to see if Steve was actually willing to change his ways for you.

Raindrops ||Steve Rogers/Reader||

Summary: Steve is in love with you. Always was. But he keeps avoiding you for weeks. Will it be too late for him to tell you?

Genre:Angst

Fandom: Captain America, Marvel

Disclaimer: This is an oneshot(maybe)

A/N: Is it called self-harm when you’re writing Stories that make you cry for hours?

_____________________________________

Steve wasn’t an open character when it came to love. Someone else would make it obvious by looking at this one person for hours smiling but Steve didn’t. Steve was hopelessly in love. Only Natasha knew what was happening with him. She knew men. But Steve’s situation was unnatural. He didn’t looked at the one he loved with blushes or cute smiles. He was just leaving the room without saying anything. He walked away. Natasha of course didn’t tell anything. Steve wasn’t trying to make a move. He was scared and lost. Afraid that he might end up hurting you.

Steve saw you walking in to the room and made his way out, but you cut him by grabbing his arm. He stopped studying your face. Trying to memorize everything about you. He could draw you later or sleep and dream about you.

“Why are you avoiding me?” He didn’t speak. He left.He walked away. You stood to the room alone looking at the wall. You didn’t realize the tears falling down your face. “Steve!” You shout waiting for his reply. “Steve! Come over here!” He just stood in the living room in the couch of the famous Avengers Tower watching the news. Today the news were talking again about the refugees in the Mediterranean Sea. Small, innocent kids and their parents losing their homes everyday cause of the war. Some of them losing family members, even themselves. “Steve we need to talk.” He walked away.

****

“Y/n Y/l/n, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff and Tony Stark. Please get ready for your mission. Five minutes.” The director of s.h.i.e.l.d spoke.

“Steve. Can we talk?” He just looked at you and then continued looking at his clock.

“Four minutes y/l/n.” You locked eyes and raised an eyebrow.

“That’s the longest talk we had in weeks.” Silence. “Did I do something wrong?” You asked and he shook his head. “Just say something to me! We haven’t talk in weeks and all you do is pretend that everything’s ok!” He walked away. You sighed and looked down shaking your head.

****

“Just talk to her. Avoiding her for weeks doesn’t make things worse.” Natasha told to her blond friend. “Do it before it’s too late. Do it before you regret why you didn’t.”

“You don’t understand. Everything I touch gets hurted. I don’t want to hurt her. If I just enter her life like that I will ruin it.” The redhead woman gave him a sad smile.

“Steve I’m sure, you’ll make your both lives better. Can’t you see? You’re in love with each other.” He nodded. His blue eyes looking at you now.

“I will do it after the mission. I promise.”

****

You ran to the field avoiding the bullets flying through you. You had a mission and you needed to finish it. Even though that meant getting injured. The three of the hostages you needed to save were now dead. You couldn’t risk another one to get killed of. Eleven. You heard from your comm and lost it. Eleven people got killed. Eleven people you couldn’t save. So concerned to the mission. So concerned about other people’s lives.You fell to the ground holding your wound. The world and the noise were becoming a faded picture in your ear. The only thing you felt was pain. The only thing you could hear was a scream. Raindrops were falling to your body.

*****

“Hey Y/N. I just want to tell you that I love you. I always did. But I never got the chance to tell you. Forgive me about everything I did. Alright darling?” Steve stood above your grave, the raindrops mixed with his own tears. “I should have told you.” Now he stood in one knee holding a ring, placing it next to the flowers he brought you earlier. “I love you.. Why did you leave me? Why did you not stay here with me? I need you y/n.” He realized that time passed. “Goodbye my lover”.

You didn’t expect it, it just sort of happened. Your period was late for a whole month before you knew. Two pregnancy tests just confirmed it. You weren’t ready and you weren’t experienced but you sure were excited. A whole new world just opened up in front of you. You just needed to tell Bucky about it. You sat there in your room, alone…how were you going to tell him? You suddenly felt morning sickness kicked in and you felt like you will vomit. You took a deep breath trying to control yourself but it wasn’t working. You went to the bathroom trying to calm yourself down and luckily you didn’t vomit all over your clothes. You washed your face and looked at yourself in the mirror. You couldn’t believe it this was happening. It’s too early. The tears were now rolling down your cheeks. You haven’t realized Bucky had already come to the room.

“Hey (Y/N)?”

“Yeah?”

“You okay there doll?”

“Not really.”

“Can I come in?”

“Yeah.”

He opened the door and found you crying on the bathroom floor, head down between your knees, in your pajamas.

“What’s wrong?” He sat next to you.

“If I tell you will you stay?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because it’s too early.”

“Too early for what, doll?”

“For a kid.” You said. Bucky’s jaw dropped. “I’m pregnant James.”

“Wha-wha….what?”

“Yeah I know.” He immediately wrapped his hands around your small frame pulling you closer to him. You were a little shocked by his reaction.

“I will stay.” He whispered into your ear.

“What?”

“I will stay no matter what happens, okay? It’s early for us and it will be stressful but we can do it.”

“You really think so? I thought you will freak out and leave me.”

“I love you way too much to leave you (Y/N). Even if I wanted to everyone in the team would probably kick my ass for being a coward. Plus I have always wanted to be a dad.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. After Hydra I thought it was over for me…”

“Never say never…clearly.” You smiled.

“I love you doll.”

“I love you too.”

“Does anyone else know?” He asked.

“Just you.”

“Do you want to tell everyone at dinner?”

“Sure. I think only Wanda knows though.”

“How so?”

“She tends to sense when something is off.”You said resting your head on his metal arm. It was surprisingly comfortable and you were happy.

Good Enough - Steve Rogers

N/A: I hope that you’re feeling better now! And if you don’t you can talk with me if you’d like! 

(Masterlist)

Nearly six months of relationship, six months of new feelings and situations, six months being Captain America’s girlfriend. You were really happy alongside Steve Rogers, in fact, you’ve never been so happy before. Steve was really a good man, even with his flaws, everything made him the hero he was. Everything about him remembered how he was special … and how you were so simple. While Steve was born to greatness, to make a difference and participate in the important role of saving the innocent… You felt you were just a worker ant inside the huge anthill. You had no super powers, you had no super intelligence or was a spy or former assassin. You weren’t an important political office nor was a famous celebrity. You were just you.

You sighed heavily, looking to the clock hanging on the wall of the bakery where you worked, it was almost 7 pm and your second shift would soon end. And you would have to go home and face those blue eyes. It had been a month since you started working the two shifts at the bakery, including asking for your boss to help you with the excuse that it was necessary that the submanager had to be all the time in the store. It was a pathetic excuse, but at least there you felt you belonged somewhere. The store returned to fill with new customers as it was getting late, making your mind stay again busy with work and away from your inner problems. You moved from one side to the other, taking orders from everyone and asking for new products to the front of the store until Camille - one of the attendants and your greatest confidant - came to where you were in the store background with a worried expression.

“He’s here, (Y/N).” she whispered, while she adjusted your hair automatically. “And he looks concerned.”

You took a deep breath, straightening your shoulders before forcing a relaxed smile and march to where Steve was standing at the counter. By spending more time away working, you could better hide your emotions, but you felt guilty because Steve didn’t deserve it. He had no fault to be what he was and that you couldn’t reach the same level as him. You leaned on the counter to stretch and reach the face of the super soldier kissing his cheek and making him smile.

“Hey, soldier.”

“Doll, I was worried… Will you take a lot to go home?“ Steve put a hand to your face, stroking your cheek and then placing one of your strands hair behind your ear.

“Huh, sorry, I completely lost the time… I’ll go home soon.“ you smiled weak and Steve just nodded.

“I need to go on a meeting at Stark right now, but when you get home you send me a message?” he leaned over and kissed your forehead, you nodded silently and gave a brief ‘see you’ watching him leave the store.

You needed to leave.

Once you got inside the apartment you shared with Steve, you went straight toward the closet, grabbing your bag and throwing your things in it and then close it. You’ve thought about taking a shower and change your uniform for a warmer clothes, but afraid that Steve could get home you just picked up your bag and left. After locking the apartment, you picked up a paper and wrote a direct explanation before passing the key and the paper under the door. While you walked away from the building, you didn’t know if it was the crying or the cold that was making you shiver.

“(Y/N), I’m home!” 

Steve hummed when entering the dark apartment, finding it strange to have no answer, he turned on the light and closed the door. He sought you throughout the apartment, calling out your name and felling his chest tighten even more. It was then that he noticed the key and paper near the door, walking with long strides and ducking to get, Steve felt his body freeze when he read the message.

‘You deserve someone better. I’m sorry, but it’s better this way.’

Steve didn’t think twice, rising quickly and opening the door, he ran toward the street. It was cold and snowing, you couldn’t have gone far if you were walking. He walked for 20 minutes. For 20 minutes, he wondered what he had done wrong and blamed himself for not having noticed that you were unhappy. But he loved you and he would do anything to fix what he had done wrong, he would do anything to make you happy again. Then he saw you lying in the street banks, near the bus stop, your suitcase on the floor and snow beginning to cover you. Steve ran toward you, horrified watching the scene before him. He gently took you in his arms and then easily held your bag, walking back to the apartment in silence. The super soldier held you tight against him, trying to warm your delicate body. You didn’t move because of the cold and it worried him. He didn’t want to lose you for something like this. He wouldn’t stand. While you were unconscious, Steve took off your wet clothes and gave you a hot bath, then he dressed you with his warm clothes and laid you in bed with some quilt layers to keep you warm. He made sure to pack your stuff back in the closet before lying down at your side and snuggle you against him. Steve just fell asleep when he felt that your body was already in a safe temperature and that you were sleeping due to exhaustion.

“(Y/N)? Honey? Darling? Baby? Doll?” Steve whispered in his ear, trying to wake you gently, still feeling his heart tighten worriedly, but then sighing relieved to see you open your eyes lazily.

“W-what? Steve?” you asked sleepily for a second holding your breath and automatically trying to get away from him, but Steve held you in his arms preventing you from leaving.

“Don’t… (Y/N), look, I’m sorry. I know it’s my fault, but-”

“No, Stevie, you are perfect! The problem is… I’m not good enough… You need someone to pitch to live in your world… you … I-I …” you didn’t know what to say, feeling your eyes fill with tears, you choked slightly trying to hold back a sob. Steve watched you painfully, hugging you tighter and allowing you to hide your face in his chest.

“So this is the problem? (Y/N)… You’re everything to me… You’re what brings me down to earth. You’re what makes me sober amidst all the craziness that’s my life. Remember when we first met? You saw me as Steve, you saw me just like another man trying to flirt with you and you said no… And slapped me! At that moment I was sure that you were the woman of my life." he murmured, stroking your hair and your  back in an attempt to calm your crying and end your insecurities. If he had known before, if he had noticed… You’d never fell those things. Steve sealed the top of your head and sighed. "I love you, (Y/N). And when I say this, I mean it.”

“Are you sure?” you whispered, raising your face to look at Steve, your eyes looking for him to try to see any hint of regret, but you just found love and care. “I don’t have super powers nor am hyper intelligent, or rich or anything…”

“Hey, I love you because you’re just you.” Steve smiled tenderly, stroking your face with one hand and briefly kissed your lips, pulling out a small smile from you. “And that’s good enough for me.”

The Lie of Windhaven | Azriel x reader [Part 2]

The Lie of Windhaven [Masterlist] here!

Summary: Azriel has dragged her into a mess she now has to do her best to survive. People show their true colours, and others drop a name.

A/N: I did iiiit!! And we can all thank @bellaskhakhiskirt for the extra encouragement that had me finish this tonight haha. Thank you guys so so much for all your sweet comments on part 1!! I got a bit overwhelmed replying to everything, so just know that I read them all (sometimes multiple times a day) and they make me so happy! 🥹🫶

Word count: 4222

Warnings: language, canon typical violence and ✨misogyny✨, brief description of SA and physical abuse

-

Previously:

“I have the right to demand her hand,” Azriel said, and her brows twitched closer together at his choice of words.

“I beg your pardon?”

The right?

Devlon swivelled around, furious that Azriel hadn’t yet dropped the discussion.

Elas scoffed. “Oh yeah? And what right is that?”

Azriel’s eyes met hers then, and the determination she saw reflected within them had her heart drop to her stomach. She knew in that moment what he was planning to do, the lies he planned to weave.

“No,” she breathed again just as Azriel opened his mouth to doom them both.

“She’s my mate.”

And just like that, every head within hearing distance turned to look at her.

-

A beat of silence.

“No,” Devlon declared. “Absolutely not.”

Azriel held her gaze for a moment longer, as though willing her to play along, but she felt her insides boil with anger as he turned back to look at Devlon, his expression as collected as ever.

“Are you questioning the Cauldron?”

She knew what he was doing. The mating bond was held above all else—untouchable by any rules or previous alliances. If Azriel officially claimed her as his mate, no other male in the camp would dare touch her, and no engagement, betrothal or marriage would stand.

A fine plan in theory, only there was one problem.

It was a lie.

And to impersonate a mating bond …

Devlon had killed for far less.

The warlord’s attention still lay on her and she could see every last bit of his hatred burn bright as day in the black pits of his eyes.

“There’s no way she’s your mate,” Elas said, a deep crease between his brows as he, too, continued to look at her as though the answer would be found on her face. “She would not have accepted my proposal if she was.”

“She did not know,” Azriel said. “The bond only snapped in place for me when I saw her in the dining hall last night. It caught me off guard.”

“She cannot possibly be your mate,” Devlon said, his voice low and menacing, his eyes boring into hers.

“She is standing right here.”

Silence fell at her words. Silence so all-consuming, one could have heard a twig snap in the forest bordering on the camp’s north side.

Y/N regretted her words almost instantly, the look in Devlon’s eyes cold enough to kill, but part of her eased when she felt a presence in her back, tall enough to cast a long shadow. She didn’t need to turn around to know that it was Cassian. She could tell from Azriel’s lack of a reaction.

She hadn’t even noticed him rounding the courtyard from where he’d stood on the opposite end, but she was thankful for his presence, shielding her not only from some of the stares but also from Devlon’s immediate wrath.

“You want to be part of this conversation?” Devlon growled through barely parted teeth. “Fine. Be part of it. Come here, now.”

She did her best to maintain the slippery grip on her composure as she bridged the last remaining steps setting her apart from the three men. Cassian remained where he was, and she felt the distance grow like she was swimming further away from a safe shore and straight into shark infested waters.

Devlon never took his eyes off her, and when she stood close enough to their little group, she felt like she was shrinking beneath his calculating gaze.

“Did you know of this supposed bond?”

Her teeth clenched briefly, and in her mind, she cursed Azriel for dragging her—dragging them both into this situation.

“No, my lord.”

“And you accepted Elas’ proposal earlier today?”

“Yes, my lord.”

He hummed. “And this new … revelation,” he stated with a quick glance at Azriel. “You do not share the shadowsinger’s sentiments? You do not feel a mating bond?”

Her mouth clapped shut. What was she supposed to say to that? Of course she didn’t feel a bond. She didn’t feel it because it did not exist, but admitting to it would cost Azriel big time.

They wouldn’t kill him—he was too precious for that—but they’d punish him by punishing everyone he loved. And they’d start with Cassian.

He was powerful too, sure—powerful enough to receive seven Siphons of his own. But they didn’t adorn his armour yet, and he was neither a shadowsinger nor a future High Lord, which left him unprotected amongst his brothers.

“As of right now,” she began, her eyes flickering to Azriel for only a second. “No, my lord.”

“It did not yet snap in place for her,” Azriel said, and for the first time, a note of tension crept into his words. “Which means she cannot yet feel it. Surely, you’re aware of the technicalities, Devlon?”

“Don’t condescend to me, boy,” Devlon snapped. “I will have you whipped no matter how many shadows you wield.”

Silence settled once again, and after a long, tense pause, Devlon straightened his back, crossing his arms behind it.

“I want proof.”

Azriel remained quiet.

It was Elas who spoke next.

“You cannot mean to entertain this nonsense, my lord,” he said, his voice hard as he stared Azriel down. “She has agreed to marry me. I have her friends to bear witness.”

“Be that as it may, another has laid claim to her,” Devlon said, his mouth twisted as though every word tasted bitter on his tongue. “The mating bond must be honoured, no matter how … unfortunate a match. You will wait to wed her until I have something to either prove or disprove the existence of this bond.”

“What do you mean, proof?” Y/N said, hesitance in her words. “How would one go about proving a mating bond?”

The smile Devlon gave was cruel, and before she knew it, his hand had shot forward to wrap tightly around her arm, dragging her close enough for his breath to hit her face with the words he spoke next.

“It would do you good to remember your place, girl. You address me properly or I will have you stripped bare for a good lashing,” he growled low enough for his words to hum through her very bones. “Proof means proof. If this godsforsaken bond was real, you’d know how to prove it. For starters, our dear shadowsinger over here would feel everything you felt.” His eyes flickered to Azriel, though his grip remained bruising on her arm. “Perhaps we should test the theory right now?”

A blade flashed in his hand—one she hadn’t noticed him draw from the sheath by his hip.

A muscle in Azriel’s jaw ticked. “Cutting her will prove nothing.”

“Maybe not,” Devlon said, straightening where he stood, though his hand remained where it was. “But slitting her throat will do wonders to rid us of this little disturbance.”

“I leave for three days, and you start threatening to slit people’s throats, Devlon?” a new voice drawled, sounding almost bored.

Y/N’s eyes flickered to the side, and a wave of relief crashed over her at the sight of Rhysand standing next to Cassian. If there was one person who’d manage to get them all out of this unscathed, it was Rhys.

His wings were out, hands buried in the pockets of his pants, head tilted as he took in the scene before him. “I take it your news have not been received well, Azriel?”

The relief she felt dropped to her stomach like a stone.

Azriel remained silent, his attention resting on her.

“You knew of this?” Devlon’s eyes were ablaze as he stared at Rhys.

“Well, of course,” Rhysand said, sighing softly through his nose. “What part of ‘I can see into people’s minds’ has you baffled?”

A quiet snort sounded from the remaining crowd of onlookers, and Devlon’s face twisted with rage.

“I’m warning you now, boy,” he growled. “You might be the High Lord’s son, but he’s given me permission to treat you as I would any other soldier, so you watch your—”

“Fascinating,” Rhys drawled, picking a piece of lint from the cuff of his leathers. “But be that as it may, I can attest to the validity of this bond.”

She would throttle him.

Her eyes flickered back to Azriel and the calm gaze he kept on her.

She would throttle them both.

There was not the slightest hint of a doubt that somehow Azriel had managed to get Rhys on board with this moronic plan. Which meant that not only had he endangered her, but he’d also endangered his friends. Because if Rhys knew, she was willing to bet what little money she had that Cassian knew as well.

“He’s the shadowsinger’s friend,” Elas spat, features taut. “Of course he would say that.”

Devlon finally let go of her arm, though it was only so he could lift his hand to pinch the bridge of his nose.

“I want you all out of my sight.” He growled.

“But, my lord, I—”

“Now,” Devlon snapped, shooting Elas a look that had his mouth clap shut at once. “You will not wed her until I say so. I require proof I can trust.”

It was Azriel who spoke next. “And what would adequate proof entail if the word of a daemati does not suffice?”

Devlon looked at him for a long while then. As though contemplating whether to cut out his tongue for daring to speak.

“I shall have a high priestess give her assessment.”

Once again, the blood ran cold in her veins.

No one in the entirety of Prythian knew bonds quite as well as the priestesses did. They would be able to sniff out a lie from a mile away.

“I will send for one first thing tomorrow morning and until she arrives, neither one of you is to wed this one.” His mouth twisted with distaste as he threw her a last withering look before turning to address every Illyrian within earshot. “Now, if I have to repeat myself one more time, I will have you all running lapses until the sun rises tomorrow morning. Get out of my sight!”

Y/N had just turned to catch the wide eyes of Lissa and Malina, her heart pounding, when another hand found her arm. This time, however, it was with the gentle grip of long fingers curling around the back of her elbow.

“Come with me, sweetheart,” Cassian muttered in her ear, and before she knew it, her feet were rushing to catch up with his long strides as he headed straight for the hut at the edge of the camp she knew belonged to Rhysand’s mother.

-

Her eyes were ablaze as Azriel stepped through the door of the hut, her fists clenched by her sides. Cassian stood at the small kitchen counter, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression grim.

Her mouth opened and Azriel knew what to expect.

“How dare you,” she breathed, and his jaw clenched at her tone. “How dare you ruin this for me. He was my one choice, Azriel. My one option.”

“He was not—”

“He was!” she snapped, her voice gaining in volume, her brows pinched in rage. “And even if he wasn’t, he was who I chose. You took away my choice and in doing so you practically guaranteed my death. I never would have thought you to be so cruel.”

“Cruel?” Azriel gaped at her. “I am doing this to help you.”

“I never asked you to!” Her voice began to wobble now, her eyes growing glassy, though her cheeks remained dry. “In fact, I explicitly recall telling you that we were over.”

“So you expected me to sit back and watch him turn you into an empty shell? A womb to be filled?” Azriel’s voice was of calm disbelief, his mask carefully locked in place to hide the burning anger that threatened to swallow him whole.

“Well, now you get to watch Devlon slit my throat once the priestess tells him that this bond is a load of bullshit, so thank you for that.” She laughed without an ounce of joy. “I hope you’re happy with that outcome.”

“He won’t kill you.”

“He will. In case you didn’t notice, he almost killed me today.”

“I won’t let that happen.”

“You are not my knight in shining armour just because I let you fuck me a couple times, Azriel,” she spat, the fury now bright as day in the depths of her eyes, and Azriel swallowed at the impact of her words.

Silence settled—silence thick enough it threatened to drown him—and as he stared at her, he could see it all. He saw the deeply rooted fear in her eyes, the anger he’d caused, the desperation in the face of a bleak future, and he took a step back.

“I know,” he spoke quietly.

“Do you?” She stared at him. “Because I don’t think you do, or you wouldn’t have gone and invented a fucking mating bond.”

When Azriel remained quiet, she rubbed angrily at the tear that had escaped her left eye to trail down her cheek at last.

“I need to go,” she muttered, walking around him in an arch as big as the room allowed to head for the door. “I need to speak to Elas. I need to apologise.”

Every part of him screamed to stop her from leaving. He didn’t want her anywhere near Elas and his rage, but he’d done enough for one day. She wouldn’t allow him to touch her right now, wouldn’t listen to his requests, and so he stepped aside and suppressed a flinch as the door fell closed behind her.

A few silent moments ticked by, and when Cassian spoke, his words rang loudly through the silent hut, though his tone was uncommonly gentle.

“Did you think this through, brother?”

A joyless smile twisted the corners of Azriel’s lips. “What do you think?”

-

“Elas, please,” she said, rushing to catch up with the Illyrian’s long strides as he headed for the hut he shared with three other warriors. “I swear I didn’t know Azriel was going to do that. I don’t know what’s gotten into him, I—”

The Illyrian scoffed. “A mating bond, apparently.”

“I didn’t know,” she repeated and hated the way her voice sounded as she did so. No part of her wanted to beg Elas for forgiveness when it was Azriel who’d dragged her into this mess.

She stumbled to a halt when Elas swung around, his eyes ablaze as he loomed over her.

“You didn’t know? Interesting,” he drawled in a tone so unmatching of the fury in his face. “But you are aware that you’ve been fucking him, yes?”

“I—” she broke off, her brows twitching closer together. “We had a … fling, yes. But it was over before I accepted your proposal.”

He stared at her, unblinking, and when her skin began to crawl, she curled her hands into fist by her sides, willing herself not to cower.

“I didn’t think it would matter,” she said matter-of-factly.

“It’s obvious that you didn’t think.” His voice dropped to a hum now, his upper lip curling in distaste. “Don’t assume for one second that I would have asked for your hand if I’d known that—”

“That what?” she hissed, her teeth clenched as she took a step closer, her anger getting the better of her. “That I have a sex life? May I ask how many people you’ve slept with, Elas?”

He moved before she could react, and his knuckles where sharp as he slapped her across the face with the back of his hand.

She gasped with the impact, her head swivelling to the side, her feet stumbling where she stood, the world around her suddenly swaying. He was on her then, gripping her jaw, forcing her to meet his gaze before she could even think to collect herself, and her hand instinctively shot up to wrap around his wrist for stability. 

His nose was mere inches from hers, his next words a quiet hiss.

“That I’d be marrying a whore.” She felt his breath on her face, her jaw aching beneath the hard grip of his hand. But she held his gaze with quiet defiance. “I allowed you to keep your wings intact because I thought you knew where your priorities lie. I thought we had an agreement. We could have been good together. We could have been content.”

He took a deep breath through his nose and for a brief moment, she wondered whether he could smell the fear she so desperately tried to suppress.

“I shall still wed you once this nonsense is dealt with, but do not expect a marriage from me. You’ll do for carrying my offspring, but I have no desire to give a good life to another’s fuck toy.”

She felt her throat clog up, doing everything to will back the tears that threatened to shoot to her eyes.

“I was wrong about you,” she ground out through clenched teeth. “You’re just like the others. And I’d rather die than marry you.”

Elas hummed, and when the corners of his lips curled into a little smirk, her heart sank further.

“I’m guessing your chances of dying are pretty good once Devlon has proof that this bond is a scam—which we both know it is,” he said, the words almost sensual as they rolled off his tongue. “But either way, I staked my claim. I have your word, and I have witnesses to prove it. So in the unlikely event of your survival, you shall belong to me.” Lifting the hand he didn’t keep wrapped around her aching jaw, he brushed a strand of hair from her face, the gesture almost gentle. “And what fun I’ll have humiliating you as you have humiliated me.”

His eyes moved to her lips then and she could feel her bottom lip begin to wobble with the harshness of his words and the future they promised.

She noted the way he exhaled through his nose in a quiet scoff, and next thing she knew, horror coursed through her veins as he lowered his mouth to hers.

His fingers pressed deep into her skin, his grip crushing on the bones of her jaw, preventing her from backing away. And when his mouth covered hers and he pried her lips open for his tongue to lick deep into her mouth, she gave a choked sob.

She pulled on his wrist, her hands hitting his shoulders in an attempt to shove him off her, but she was too weak. She was powerless, as she’d never been allowed to train. And suddenly she realised why Illyrian males were so keen on keeping their women defenceless.

There was nothing gentle in Elas’ kiss; none of the passion she’d felt heating her blood whenever Azriel had kissed her. Elas was demanding—harsh in the way he claimed her mouth and unrelenting in his hold on her jaw.

He tilted her head back, forcing himself closer to her and his tongue deeper into her mouth. His teeth scraped harshly against her lips, and when he finally pulled back, she felt the sting of split skin.

The breath was tearing in and out of her lungs now, and immediately, she clenched her teeth hard enough to hear her jaw give a crunching groan.

Elas hummed again, tilting his head with an eyebrow raised in mockery. “Yes, you’ll certainly do.”

When he finally, finally let go of her, it was with a shove that had her falter where she stood.

Her eyes were burning now. But she wouldn’t cry. Not here, not in front of him.

Elas turned around, and as he headed towards his hut, he threw snide words over his shoulder.

“It’ll be interesting to find out what it is that has the shadowsinger so wrapped up that he’ll risk losing his life over a cunt.”

She stared after him, unable to move as she let his words sink in.

It was ironic, really. In his attempt to spare her from a future he thought as bad as it would get, Azriel had only managed to guarantee her a fate much worse.

It dawned on her then. That she’d spent the rest of her life in agony. She’d spent the rest of her immortal existence utterly miserable. At Elas’ mercy—assaulted, disrespected, alone. All he’d done just then had been a glimpse into the future that awaited her.

A sob tore through her—one she could neither stop nor muffle—and just when she was about to crumble entirely right then and there in the middle of the camp, gentle hands found her arm.

“Not here,” Malina spoke quietly. “Don’t let them see.”

A gentle tug on her arm had Y/N stumble along her friend’s side, until a familiar, dusty scent filled her nostrils.

The supply hut.

Perfect.

Her eyes flickered to the table she’d sat on last night and suddenly she felt the urge to laugh in the face of all the things that had gone wrong in less than twenty-four hours. It would have been hysterical, had it not been so … final.

It was Lissa who brushed loose hair from her face. Her big, round eyes were filled with concern, and at the wetness on her cheeks, Y/N realised that she hadn’t been laughing after all.

“He’s going to make my life a living hell,” she heard herself say, her voice hoarse, her tone dull. Despite the tears streaming down her face, she felt numb. Like her mind had been disconnected from her body.

“We saw,” Lissa spoke quietly, brushing her fingers through her friend’s hair in a soothing manner. “I never would have thought him to be so … vicious.”

Y/N scoffed weakly. Because hadn’t she known him to be a vicious fighter? She realised then that it had been naïve of her to assume he’d be any different when it came to his wife.

“You won’t end up with him,” Malina stated, and she sounded almost sure enough to be convincing. Almost.

“Please stop,” Y/N spoke softly. “I can’t take this irrational confidence from you too. It is futile.”

“Only if your bond to Azriel can be disproven, and the Cauldron never miss—”

“The bond does not exist.” A wave of exhaustion crashed into her as she lowered herself to the edge of the wooden table, lifting her palms to press the heels of her hands over her eyes. Her head was throbbing. She wanted to lie down. “Azriel made it up.”

Silence fell over the dusty little cabin. And it seemed to stretch on forever.

She didn’t want to lift her head, didn’t want to see the horror on her friends’ faces as they realised the true extent of her predicament.

“We’ll have to fake it, then.”

To everyone’s surprise, it was Lissa who’d spoken the words.

“You cannot fake a mating bond,” Y/N muttered.

“Oh, sure you can,” Malina said, and when Y/N lifted her gaze, she shrugged. “Or Azriel would not have attempted it. He’s smart, darling. Smarter than all of us. And he’s obviously trying to help you, so I’d suggest you follow his lead.”

“He went behind my back,” Y/N said, her forehead creasing. “And he ruined every plan I made for myself. For my life.”

“You despised those plans.”

“That doesn’t matter, he—”

“It does matter.” Malina sighed as she propped a hand on her hip. “Look, I get where you’re coming from. But I’m thinking you need to consider your current situation and set your priorities accordingly.”

Y/N lifted a brow. “What?”

“What I’m saying is you need to focus on getting through this first. You can be angry with Azriel later. What’s done is done. There’s no going back so you might as well go with it to try and save yourself instead of wasting time on holding a pointless grudge.”

“She’s right,” Lissa said tentatively, smoothing a warm palm down the length of Y/N’s back as she sank to the table next to her. “She could have said it a little nicer, but she’s right.”

Malina snorted.

“And besides, you only need to convince one person, how hard can that be?” Malina waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. “I’ve always been convinced the priestesses fake it anyway.”

“There are only twelve, right?” Lissa asked.

“Yes, and Devlon sent for one he can trust to be impartial.” Malina scoffed. “You can say what you want about him but when it comes to the mating bond, he really doesn’t fuck around. He’ll have her flown in and all.”

That caught Y/N’s attention. Having a priestess flown in meant that she was too far to winnow.

“She doesn’t reside in the Night Court?.”

Malina tilted her head, a glint in her eyes. “You’re trying to steal his prized shadowsinger, of course he’s going to get someone that couldn’t have been bribed by Azriel or his brothers.”

Y/N lifted a brow at her friend. “You heard him say all that?”

“Oh, yeah,” Malina said, and a smirk stretched over her face. “You’d be surprised what they let you hear when they think you’re of next to no use to anyone.”

Y/N sighed through her nose and let her face sink back into her open palms, wincing at the tenderness of her jaw. She could feel the slight swelling of her cheekbone, a smudge of blood landing on her hand where she held it pressed to her lip.

Lissa’s interest seemed piqued at Malina’s words. “I thought most of the priestesses lived in the Night Court,” she said, curiosity in her tone. “Where is he flying her in from?”

“I forgot.” Malina waved her hand again. “Some super spiritual priestess temple. I heard him say that she’s their newest member. Ianthe, I think her name was.”

-

Taglist Part I:

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