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‘Azriel. My study. Now.’
Azriel stilled as the pain shot through him. He had been on an assignment when his body started to ache and he sent his shadows ahead of him to check on Elain as he raced back to Velaris. He knew it was her. He prayed it was not the babe and some other pain. Some other injury that could be healed, but left her in pain. The tone in Rhys’ message told him that there was another problem in the Night Court, he’d order him to Elain if he knew of a problem with her.
‘Lainey’s in pain, Rhys. I need to get to her.’
‘Feyre miscarried this morning.’
He flew harder and prayed it was just an intense emotional pain that hurdled down his bond. Feyre’s pregnancy was known, but their own was hidden. He wanted to explain to Rhys why he needed to see Elain first, but that would mean revealing a secret that he had promised her he would keep. He hoped he was wrong. He hoped that all he felt was grief, but with every moment that his shadows did not return to him, his stomach sank. They should have returned by now, should have given him some news. The only reason they wouldn’t was if Elain needed them more. Their loyalty to him was nothing in comparison to what they also felt for her.
Elain pressed a hand to her back, the pain flaring again, her exhaustion from today settled into her. She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes- Feyre’s grief rolling through her body. She knew the grief of losing a babe all too well and as more of Azriel’s shadows came to her and stayed, she knew that he must know what had happened. That he was close enough for Rhys to delve into his mind and tell him to fly home. Even with their own history, they were still critical pillars of the Night Court and Azriel would know why he was needed here.
“Lainey…you- did you cut your leg?” Cassian’s innocent question clanged through the room and sucked the air from her lungs. She took a step to the side and looked down- the puddle of blood was too much to be a coincidence. Her knees gave out as he dove for her, catching her before she hit the ground. Pain now tore through her body and she felt what she had ignored since the wee hours of the morning- her own womb tightening in a steady cadence. Pre-term labor- again. “Nes!”
She tried to shake her head. Feyre needed their attention. Feyre needed their help. Feyre had never experienced this loss. She knew what to do, she knew what was coming. She just needed her mate. He promised she would never walk this path alone again and she needed him now.
“I’m okay, Cass. I’m okay. I just…I just need Az–” a groan of pain tore out of her and he cradled her to his chest, rocking her. Soothing her as best he could as she heard her sister approach and she tried to camouflage the pain. She tried to hide it away as today just being too much, but Nesta’s keen eyes settled on her skirts and pain flashed over her face. “Please Cass, just get me to Az. I need Az.”
“We will, Lainey. We will. Nes, try to intercept him when he gets here. Rhys ordered him to meet him in the study. I’m going to get you settled and send Cerridwen or Nuala for Madja. I will not leave you until he’s here. You will not be alone.”
She managed to nod as the pain rolled through her again, her fingernails finding purchase in Cassian’s skin. Tears streamed down her cheeks and sobs burned in her chest. Little shadow wrapped around her and she wished for oblivion, she wished for the pain to overtake her. Instead, she felt more blood trickle down her legs and she fought down her own scream of anguish. Azriel would come for her, he was already on his way.
Cassian placed her on a bed and then walked away. She pushed herself up to her elbows, sliding her legs off the bed. No. Cassian could not leave her, not now. A bark of a command came from the other side of the door and then he strode back into the room. He climbed into the bed behind her and gently rested her body against him as violent tremors shook her. Hormones. Her hormones were flooding her as the pain overwhelmed her.
“How far along are you, Lainey?”
“Six…a little over six months.”
Her teeth chattered as Cassian wrapped his arms around her tightly and she sank into his warmth. It was freezing in the River House- a manifestation of Feyre and Rhys’ grief. She felt him nod and looked up to see the raw pain on his face as well. She ran one of his hands over her now obviously round stomach as she let the magic fade. Words failed Cassian and he just held and rocked her as they waited. Madja or Azriel. And she prayed the next fae to open that door would be her mate.
“I don’t want to bury another baby, Cass. Az…Az deserves someone who isn’t broken- who can give him babies. Why…why…”
“Shhhh. Don’t say that- you are not broken. And he’s on his way. Az is on his way, Lainey. He will not break his promise to you today.”
Azriel stalked through the halls of the River House- aimed for Rhys’ study as he rubbed his chest. Lainey was in pain, so much pain, and he felt that it had to be more than grief, but none of his shadows had returned. With that- he had to notify Rhys that he had arrived and then go find his mate. He hated this for his High Lady, but she was not his to comfort and hold.
He came to a halt as he saw Nesta pacing in front of the study door. Her spine ramrod stiff as she held her skirts in fists, grief and worry rolled off of her. As she spun to face him, her face fell, but she moved towards him with a purpose in her stride. His heart shattered, but he held himself together as he fell into step next to her. No words were needed, only a terse nod of her head that what he thought was the truth.
“When did it start?”
“We didn’t realize until an hour ago. Madja just arrived. I know Rhys ordered you to him, but Cass and I will deal with that demand.”
“We were so close. Three months and…”
“I’ll give you five minutes to lose it and then she needs you, Azriel.”
She wrapped her arms around him as he let out the bellow of pain that had built all day. The walls shook and he tried to reign in his powers, his emotions- but it was all too much. His beautiful, compassionate, lovely mate did not deserve to lose another babe. Did not deserve to go through another labor that would only result in the pain of loss. He felt Rhys’ presence behind him and pulled away from Nesta, his brother wore an expression he knew all too well. Another set of arms caught him as his legs gave way and Rhys clutched him tight. He pushed his thoughts into Rhys’ mind and he only nodded. Neither of them could speak- their throats too tight with their own pain and their mates that were coming apart at the seams.
“I didn’t know.”
“We chose to hide it. She wanted to be sure…we thought that this time…I…I have to go to her.”
“Understood.”
Rhys steadied him on his feet and he let out one more scream before he pushed the pain down. He would grieve later. Right now, he needed to get to his mate and help ease her pain. First the physical and then the emotional. He forced one foot in front of the other as he followed Nesta towards the far wing of the house. He could do this again. He could hold her and be the rock she needed even as he was just as fractured inside.
Nesta stopped at the door and he heard the sobs and barely contained screams. Cassian’s attempts to soothe her calmed his heart. She had not been alone, even if he was not there, his brother refused to leave her. He placed a hand on the door knob and forced his features to be concerned, but neutral. If she saw any pain in his body- it would ruin her even further. He could not do that. He swung the door open and took a step into the room as his entire being wished she did not have to survive this again.
“Az…Azriel. You’re here. You came.”
“Always Lainey, always.”
Rois, daughter of Elain and Azriel
Born Sleeping
Loved by the family that wanted you more than anything else