Chapter 3
*Nesta*
Prythian.
Never in my life had I thought I'd step foot in the land of the Fey. Yet here I was, safe, comfortable. I could almost imagine myself being... happy here.
If I could be happy after everything that had happened. I could still hear the crack of my father's neck as Hybern snapped it, still see the light fade in his eyes behind my own. I sighed.
But my sister had survived. She still burned bright, even after all that she'd been through. What I didn't protect her from. I'd never admit it aloud, but that was one of my biggest regrets. Not protecting Feyre. I'd been jealous of her because she'd looked so much like our mother, whom I'd loved dearly. I'd taken out my rage on her. And I wasn't proud of it. I should have been the one who'd protected them. Instead, Feyre had protected us.
I pushed those thoughts out of my mind and focused solely on fastening up some bunting. Between me, Amren and Mor, I don't know how Elain had managed to bake the cake. We'd been arguing most of the morning, swapping each other's decorations for our own and nearly clawing each others eyes out in the process. But it had been fun, and I was glad to spend time with them. I wasn't alone any more, and I was happy.
I gave out a shriek of surprise as heaps of neatly wrapped presents appeared on the table in front of me. And just to the left of them was a hideously wrapped...
Illyrian.
"Cassian?"
"Help me out?" He asked, eyres peeking out of the gaps between the tinsel strips. "Rhys did it."
"Then he probably had a good reason for doing so." I crossed my arms and took a step back. "Convince me why I should free you."
"Wicked thing," he smirked, and my toes curled inside my slippers. Yes, I was still in my nightgown. "Come here, and I'll convince you."
"Not a chance."
Cassian smiled suddenly.
"Psst. Nesta."
"What! I'm not going near you, Cassian."
He lifted his head from the floor.
"I'm not Cassian. I'm your consciousness.!
I stared at him, confused.
"Cassian is hot." Cassian looked at me hopefully.
I groaned. I was subjected to this most days but could still not stop it from irritating me. I strode up to him and ripped the tinsel from him. He stood up and smirked.
"Did it work this time?"
"No." I noticed then how close I was to him and tried to take a step back. I stumbled over a piece of stupid tinsel...
Cassian's arms were around me in a second, supporting me and crushing me to his chest and the next thing I knew, his lips slanted down on mine.
The kiss was sweet and soft and long. My arms automatically twined around his neck and I pressed myself closer to him. I was gasping for breath when we separated and I pushed back a bit. I knew my face was bright red. I stared at him. His pupils were dilated and he was breathing deeply.
"Well this changes things." I said with a smirk.
He answered me with a kiss that swept the world away.