Azriel groaned as Fallon pulled back, breaking their kiss.

It had been a significant night. He thought she'd somehow found out about the offer of her new position and had decided to meet him because of that.

But as it'd turned out, she'd indeed been in the dark about that. And instead of him surprising her, she'd turned the tables. He'd never expected to share his feelings with her. Azirel had known for some time now that what he felt towards her wasn't just friendship. But he'd been a coward. And yet he still ended up with the girl of his dreams.

She truly was there, in his arms, looking up at him with starry eyes and a bright smile in the darkness. As their lips met the candles around them went out one by one. Vivienne didn't need to focus when she did it, she didn't even as much as blink as the flames died down.

And there they were, figures on a mountain peak, illuminated only by the moonlight. 

"Is it real?" Vivienne leaned her head back to look Azirel in the eye. Under the moonlight, hers were more of a pale green, but nevertheless still burning with her fire behind them.

Azirel's body tensed, but Vivienne only rolled her eyes at him and his quick worrying.

"Is the offer real?" she locked her hand together behind his neck.

"Absolutely," Azriel's body relaxed beside her. "Cassian wants you to over see the Illyrian troops while he reinforces the ground army." When Cassian had suggested this at dinner, Azriel'd immediately backed him up. She was a perfect fit for the position. Rhys had even gone so far to suggest Azirel to take over, but he'd declined immediately. The Camps had never been his home and the Illyrians never his family.

Vivienne's smile grew and Azriel knew she'd accept. But of course everyone'd known she would. That was why he had to get her back to the House of Wind, no matter how much he wanted to stay here with her, possibly forever.

She was dancing around the peak to celebrate, her hair floating on the light breeze and Azriel noted how the yellow dress exposed her shoulders and how he wanted to kiss her there, to feel her soft skin against his own. He shook his head lightly as if to force himself to focus back on the task. Bringing her to the house.

"Are you done with your celebration?" he mused at her flushed cheeks.

"Why?" she bit her lower lip as lust coloured her eyes, "Have any better plans?"

Azriel's eyes widened at her suggestion and she winked at him, knowing she managed to surprise him. He found that it'd become the source of her pure happiness - to see his stern features surprised. And he's also realised that he didn't mind his mask breaking in front of her.

He was about to tell her that they were needed at the House of Wind, but then changed his mind. Two could play this game, he thought as he matched the fire in her eyes.

"Follow me and find out yourself," he winked before shooting into the air towards the house leaving Vivienne with an amused grin. He was getting better at this game.

---

Vivienne had to give it to Azriel. He knew how to get her attention. She spread her wings after looking over the mountain out to the sea with the moon's reflection bathing in it. Home.

She saw Azriel land on the balcony of the House of Wind and she joined him a second later. The inside was dark and unusually quiet as Azriel opened the door for her to enter a strong hand finding his way to her lower back. She mused at his sudden show of affection and felt her heart bloomed like a flower blossom.

Vivienne stalked by, but not before Azriel planted a quick kiss on her neck. Just enough to now send a different kind of a shiver down her body, just enough for the need to kiss him back to return.

The living room really was too quiet and Vivienne was about to ask Azriel where everyone was when the lights suddenly turned on.

"Congratulations!" yelled a unison of voices, making Vivienne jump back directly into Azriel's chest. His breath warmed her neck as he leaned closer and whispered into her ear, "You deserve it."

There wasn't time to reply since Mor's hands were already around her back, squeeing her hard.

Everyone was here; Feyre, Amren and even Varian, Amren's date, and Nesta.

She'd been looking forward to meeting her ever since she'd heard how she'd managed to put Cassian into place. A kindred spirit, indeed.

"All this for me?" Vivienne couldn't hide the wide smile spread on her lips as a glass of champagne found its way into her hands.

"Of course," Feyre chirped from behind Vivienne. She was dressed in a stunning black dress that showed off her tattoos, which she now showed off proudly.

But Vivienne's eyes narrowed, "How did you know I'd accept?"

Mor only smiled back, "Was there even a possibility of you declining?"

Mor got Vivienne there. There was no way she'd say no to this opportunity. Now she only had to find Cassian to hear the terms.

While Vivienne scanned the room for the Commander, her eyes landed on Azriel, who was talking to Rhys, his posture incredibly relaxed.

"We're taking about that later," Mor hooked her arm into Vivienne's while both of their gazes were on Azriel who smiled at Vivienne before returning to his conversation.

"About what?" Vivienne's voice sold her out, not sounding oblivious at all and Mor tried hard to stop her lips from forming into a victorious smile for figuring it out.

Vivienne let Mor lead her to their friends after stealing another glance at her Illyrian.

Her Illyrian, Vivienne smiled at her thought.

---

Since they'd already eaten dinner, this celebration was focused more on the drinks. And Vivienne could hardly believe how decadent they tasted.

As Mor had explained to her, the wine came from Cretea, where she and Feyre had spent a few weeks. And as it turned out, not in search of a present for Rhys, but a present for Vivienne and decorations for this party.

They'd done an amazing job. Vivienne could finally take in every detail once they were seated on the sofa.

The living room was full of golden balloons, a bar full of drinks and tables full of desserts. It was around the time that Vivienne finally got to speak to Cassian that the other guests had begun to arrive. Some were people Vivienne knew from running into them in the streets or looking around their shops, but there were also some she didn't know. But that was perfectly okay, because she was absolutely in the mood to make some new friends.

"Enjoying the party?" Cassian's lively voice cooed from behind Vivienne. He looked very handsome in his golden shirt and black trousers.

"Immensely," she smiled back. But before Vivienne could open her mouth and ask him about the offer, Cassian raised his hand and stopped her.

"We'll deal with it tomorrow," he lightly squeezed her shoulder, "take the night to celebrate." Vivienne wasn't sure whether there was a slight tone of teasing to his voice as he stepped away, bringing Nesta into Vivienne's view.

Cassian's partner smiled tightly at Vivienne as she offered her hand to Vivienne, "Nice to finally meet you."

"Likewise," Vivienne's gaze followed Cassian as he found his way through the room to where Rhys and Azirel were standing, "I'm very happy for you two," Vivienne said when she saw Nesta looking in the same direction.

Nesta's  eyes flickered with amusement, "I hear you were the first one to keep him in check."

"And I thankfully don't have to deal with him anymore," Vivienne said not too quietly with the wine blurring her senses a bit and heard Cassian's yell from across the room.

"Rude!" Cassian's voice boomed to where they were standing. 

"So sensitive," Vivienne shook her head as Nesta snickered next to her.

---

The night truly was all that Vivienne could have imagined and more. 

At midnight Mor and Feyre gave her the present they'd brought all the way from Cretea. A pair of twin blades with blue flames engraved on the handle.

Vivienne had been so touched a tear escaped her eye as she beamed at her friends - her family.

After Mor had the blades safely put in Vivienne's room, she joined her friend who had just emptied her another glass of wine.

"This stuff is amazing," Vivienne said, feeling the wine's effects already. Had the room shined this brightly all evening?

"And ... you've had enough," Mor took Vivienne's empty glass out of her hands.

Vivienne had let her because she knew her limits quite well. One time she'd gone to a bar near the Sidra - the river that flew through Velaris - with Mor and Cassian and they'd drunk so much they hadn't reached the house until early morning. She had thrown up as soon as she'd entered her room and Vivienne wasn't looking to repeat the horrible experience.

"Thank you again," Vivienne said after she drank the water Mor had pushed into her free hand.

"It was no problem," Mor slung her arm over Vivienne's shoulder.

But Vivienne hadn't meant it only for the gift. She meant it for everything they'd done, the help, the care, the love. And as if Mor'd known that she nodded and tightened her grip on Vivienne's hand.

"Wait a second, did you actually buy a present for Rhys in Cretea?" the thought had suddenly swished through Vivienne's mind.

Mor raised her eyebrows, but then realised they'd told Vivienne that to conceal her gift. "Yeah, he was jumping up and down when Feyre gave him a new book."

Vivienne snorted, not at the gift Rhys'd got, but at the seriousness of Mor's tone when she'd delivered the line. The two of them had still been doubling over in laughter even as the crowd began leaving, inviting a new day.

---

Strong, warm hands curled around Vivienne's waist and back and she was suddenly lifted into the air. She groaned at the cold curling around her warm body, after the blanket had fallen off her as she was lifted from the sofa. By the returned grunt coming from it, Vivienne realised Mor and she had fallen asleep in the living room.

But she was frankly too exhausted to demand the person to put her down, to even open her eyes. Rather, she took in what she could. The strong chest she'd leaned her head on and the smell, oh, the scent.

She nuzzled her head into the man who smelled like a warm sea breeze and an icy storm at the same time. The man who smelled like comfort. Azriel.

Vivienne decided to enjoy this moment instead of spoiling it with talking. She just let go and took in the feeling of complete safety and comfort. Azriel paused for a second, swiftly opening the door to her room and Vivienne opened her eyes slightly, wanting to see his face before she fell asleep again.

Her arm curled up to cup his cheek as he carried her inside her room.

Azriel laid her into her bed as if she weighed no more than a feather. And in this moment she actually felt light. Like she had nowhere to go but up.

He gently brushed her hair from her face and Vivienne's eyes fluttered open. She knew she probably looked crazy, smiling up at him, but she couldn't help it.

"Everything okay?" Azriel asked her, giving her one of his breathtakingly beautiful smiles.

"I'm just happy," Vivienne tilted her head to take in the handsome man leaning over her and savoured the moment his lips brushed hers.

The kiss was broken apart too fast, but Azriel'd noticed her eyes closing and breathing deepening. His hand brushed her hair once more before he stepped away, only to be pulled back when her hand found his.

"Stay," Vivienne whispered, half asleep already.

Azriel tensed a little. This was not him. He wouldn't just spend a night in a woman's bed.

He took one more look at Vivienne, the way her hair fell all over the pillow and remembered the first day he'd met her. The tough, stunning warrior.

She pulled on his arm again and this time he didn't fight it. 

Azriel stepped to the other side of the bed and climbed in. Even the sheets smelled like her. The sweet, subtle smell of flowers.

Vivienne snuggled closer to him, her hand sprawled across his torso and her head on his chest. It didn't take long before he heard her calm breath and felt the slow rise of her chest.

He, too, couldn't help the invitation of sleep taking over him. He only looked at the woman in his arms as he held her close and let the dreams take him away.

And he knew exactly what Vivienne'd meant when she had said she was happy. Because in this moment he finally remembered what that felt like.