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MORRIGAN
She couldn't lie. For centuries now, she had been known as Truthteller, a female of remarkable gifts that allowed her to be transparent and honest. Now, a glaring truth shone above her, and she could not deny it.
If the mate bond between Azriel and Marzia had not snapped yet, it was sure to happen at any given time. Based on what her eyes had seen, they were already beginning to feel each other.
Deep down, it made her happy to see that Az had found someone that could love him in the way that he deserved.
He was her brother, but he loved her - and she didn't love him in the same way.
Having Marzia near him, someone who could be his possible mate, was something of great benefit for her. Feyre's words, however, about Azriel wanting her approval, still haunted her.
She didn't want to interfere, because if she did, and the bond never snapped, Azriel would be heartbroken from both sides.
She turned over on her big bed in her estate, staring at the ceiling. She had seen something, felt something, that she knew she could not understand yet.
It was very similar to how Rhys had looked at Feyre while she was still in the Spring Court - longing, and love.
◇◇◇
Upon returning to Velaris, Morrigan had made up her mind. She would, at Feyre's insistence and her own choice, be spending time getting to know Marzia.
The Riverfront house was bustling with activity when she arrived. The males were preparing to spend some time with the Illyrian clans in the mountains, while the females stayed behind to deal with the diplomatic aspects of keeping the peace. In the middle of the chaos, she saw Marzia, and took her chance.
"Care for a walk?" She asked.
Marzia's face fell a little, but she nodded. The confusion on her brow was evident, but she followed her along to one of the many balconies overlooking the Sidra. There, Morrigan steadied herself before the spoke.
"I know we haven't talked a lot, but-"
"Azriel talked a lot about you, back when I met him," Marzia said, interrupting her. "He said that he loved you, and Cassian punched him in the gut for it."
Mor let out a laugh, imagining the absurdity of the scene that the younger female described. "That does sound like them," she agreed.
"Do you love him back?" Marzia asked.
"I do, but in the same way that Cassian loves him - like a brother."
Something in Marzia's posture was stiff upon hearing those words, but she still nodded softly.
"Does he know that now?"
Morrigan shook her head. "No, I haven't told him."
Both females regarded each other for a few minutes, before Marzia sighed and sat down in one of the outdoor chairs of the balcony. The breeze was growing cooler as the days passed, now nearing the middle of the season. Mor took a seat across from her, willing to listen to whatever the small female had to say.
"When I met Azriel," Marzia said. "I knew that his heart belonged to someone else. I even knew that it was you, for who wouldn't love The Morrigan... However, I also wanted him - I was young and I was stupid and I was reckless, but Mother above, how I wanted him.
"It wasn't long before everyone realized that I was staring, and that my stares were all but innocent. I began to take any opportunities that I had to be near him, and he rejected them all... Then, there was the other thing."
"What thing?" Mor asked.
"My Aunt was a Seer... and she told me that the shadows would always keep me safe. I told a friend, and she told Cassian..."
"And Cassian, of course, told Azriel."
Marzia nodded, wringing her hands together.
"Azriel was quieter than usual, but my stares were returned. And the shadows began to keep me safe, everywhere I looked. Even then, I knew that I had to leave before the others tried to clip my wings. When he left, I'd be vulnerable."
"No more shadows to protect you," Mor said, nodding.
Marzia sighed, looking up towards the sky. "If I was going to lose my maidenhead with someone, it had to be him. I didn't trust anyone else to do it. He was the only male in that camp that didn't see me as a place to spend one night and then forget."
Somewhere deep down, Morrigan understood. She had been in a similar position, but she had chosen Cassian instead. They both offered them something different, something that wouldn't make them regret their decision in the long run.
"Did he know?" Morrigan asked. "Did you tell Azriel that he was your first?"
"Do you think he would have touched me if he knew?"
Mor nodded, biting her lip. "Of course, he wouldn't."
"I had to trick him, show up naked in his tent, pray to the gods that he wouldn't realize... and I fooled him for a bit, or at least he let me believe that."
"What did he do when he realized?"
"Followed after me. I had already left, but he flew around until he found me, and asked me to stay."
"But you didn't."
"I couldn't... It wouldn't be fair to him. I needed to grow up, to see the world, and then, maybe, come back."
Letting out a sigh, Mor placed one of her hands over Marzia's knee. "He told you that he would wait for you, didn't he?"
"Yes, of course. But I didn't believe him."
"You unwillingly connected yourself to him," Mor said. "When you went to his tent and willingly let him take your maidenhead."
"I know that now. I thought he just felt guilty."
Finally, with her heart on her sleeve, Morrigan asked the question that had been gnawing at the back of her mind since she had first seen her. "Are you and Az mated?"
Marzia let out a soft nervous laugh. "No, we aren't. But there is a strong chance we might be, eventually. My aunt told me so, when she said that shadows would protect me."
"Does he know this?"
"Yes," Marzia said, nodding.
Mor leaned back on her chair slightly. This changed things. If Marzia and Azriel were mates but their bond had yet to snap, there was a chance that he would reject her based on whether he thought he had a chance with her. She couldn't rob him of that.
"I will speak with Az," she said. "He deserves to be happy, and I can't give him that. But you can."
"None of us know that for sure."
In a quick move, Mor leaned forward, taking Marzia's hands. "I've known Azriel for many years. I know about his past and I know about his dreams, but I also know about you in the same way that you knew about me."
Marzia stared at her, dumbfounded.
"I can assume that Cassian had something to do with how we both found out," Mor continued. "Because we both know that Azriel wouldn't share such private information. But the truth remains - he cares for you, truly and deeply. If he didn't, he wouldn't have risked bringing you here so you could heal."
"Do you really think so?"
"Beyond a doubt. Cauldron, he lets you inside of his room. That, by itself, should be proof enough that he trusts you and enjoys your company."
Marzia nodded, but the shadow of doubt still clouded her gaze.
"He must feel it too," Mor whispered. "That connection between the two of you. And if I can push him in that direction a bit further, I will gladly do so."
◇◇◇
It wouldn't be until a few days later that Morrigan found the chance to sit down and speak with Azriel. Something was always happening. In the meantime, however, she had gotten to know Marzia a bit better, finding her to be a very clever female, knowledgeable about many things, kind and yet wild. It was evident why Azriel was often after her, offering his company.
Finally, one evening, while Cassian and Marzia were chatting by one of the bay windows in the big living room, she grabbed Azriel by the elbow and took him outside. She didn't miss the shiver that ran through his body at her touch, or how he turned around to look at Marzia before they walked into the starry night.
"I see the way you look at her," she said.
"Mmm," he grunted, sipping from his glass of liqueur.
"You know, I've been talking to her in the last few days."
His eyebrows quirked at that, but he remained silent.
"She is quite nice," she said. "She told me about the mountains and about her travels, even her time in the human lands."
"Marzia told you about all of that?"
"She did, yes."
"She must like you."
"Don't get jealous, Az," she teased. "She likes you, too."
He grunted softly, nodding. She didn't miss the tiny grin that showed at the corner of his lips.
"I want you to know, Azriel, that if you want to be with her, you can."
He turned to look at her, bewildered. His eyes were troubled, confused, but his mouth was closed in a tight line.
"I know what you feel about me," she continued, to his astonishment. "But I can't give you what you want. I don't love you in the way that you would like, Az. And I know that this makes you unhappy. Marzia, however, can offer you the happiness that I can't. Besides, she told me about her aunt-"
"The Seer," he said, speaking up. "I know what she said."
"Then, what are you waiting for? You both care about each other..."
She let her words hang in the air for a few more seconds. She wanted to give him time to think and mull over her words. As he took another sip from his glass, she stepped away from him little by little, giving him some space as he grew surrounded by his shadows.
"Morrigan," he said. "Thank you."
She smiled, knowing that her work was done. There was nothing left to add. She only hoped that it would be enough to give her friend some needed happiness.