Cassian
The Safe House
The Summer Court
Sometime in the early moments of dawn, when the first creeping tendrils of sunlight began to stretch out from below the horizon, Cassian had fallen asleep. He knew this because one moment he was watching the gray morning light begin to stream in through the bedroom window and chase away last night's shadows. The next moment he had jerked awake in surprise, banging his head against the wall as he fought off the sweater that had landed squarely on his face.
"Mother's tits." Cassian cursed as he dragged the sweater off of his face. He looked to Nesta, who was slowly lowering her arm after throwing the garment on him.
"You were snoring." She said by way of explanation.
Cassian threw her a look to let her know how much he believed that particular excuse and threw his legs over the side of the bed. He couldn't have drifted off for very long; the morning sun still hadn't fully risen above the horizon. He stood and carefully stretched out his wings. They had a tendency to ache before a storm and if the throbbing was any kind of indication, they were in for a doozy. He then rolled his shoulders and twisted his spine, relishing the feelings of joints popping under his ministrations.
"Rough night?" Nesta asked from her spot on the floor.
"Not the most comfortable of beds." He told her with a slight shrug.
"Maybe you slept poorly because you're elderly? You're pushing, what, six hundred years now?"
Cauldron boil him. Nesta had woken up in a mood and he was here for it.
"I'm barely a day over five hundred and forty. I'm hardly an old male." He chided as he stretched his arms over his head, being sure to flex his abdominal muscles just so. That'd show her just how youthful he was. "I need to take a piss."
Nesta made a face and turned away. He chuckled as made his way to the bathroom to relieve himself. Afterwards, Cassian popped into the kitchen and set the kettle to boil. He placed two mugs on the counter, and then pulled out crackers and a wedge of cheese and for breakfast. Cassian filled a teapot with the boiled water and set it down to steep, before making his way back to release his prisoner.
"Ready to rise and meet the day, Sweetheart?" Cassian asked her in a chipper tone that was sure to enrage her. She refused to rise to his bait and merely stretched out her shackled hand expectantly. He grabbed the key from his trouser pocket and crouched down to release her. Nesta pulled away as soon as the cuff popped loose, rubbing her wrist.
"Can I trust you to use the facilities without making a break for it?"
She looked offended by the question, as if she didn't pull that exact stunt last night. He merely arched a brow at her.
"Yes." She hissed as she rose to her feet, checking her hip against his shoulder as she stormed past him.
He grinned as he threw out a hand to steady himself. Cassian really loved it when she was in these moods. That probably meant there was something fundamentally wrong with him, but he couldn't find it within himself to care. He puttered outside of the bathroom until the door opened. Nesta stopped abruptly when she realized he had been standing outside waiting for her. He'd been pretending to refold the towels in the linen closet.
"Hungry?" He asked with an innocent expression.
Nesta merely sneered as she marched past him. Cassian followed at a safe distance, watching her pert ass as she made her way towards the kitchen. Mother above, he was thankful of her water-winnowing abilities, if only for the clothing requirements that came with it. Nesta in a gown was a vision, but Nesta in tight little trousers was truly a sight to behold. He subtlety adjusted his cock as he took his seat across from her. Cassian snagged a handful of crackers and leaned back in his seat, watching as she poured herself a cup of mint tea.
"So," he chimed in brightly, "feel like explaining what you were doing up in the palace?"
Nesta frowned at him over her steaming mug.
"Can't I enjoy my tea first? It's like you're purposely trying to ruin my appetite." She muttered darkly.
He sliced off a piece of cheese and took a bite.
"I'm going to get it out of you eventually, so you might as well start talking." He paused to give her a chance to speak. When Nesta refused to say anything, he continued. "I know it has something to do with the Mortal Queens. No, don't try to deny it. I know they've been on your tail for years now. Their lackeys always turn up after you've been spotted."
"You can't expect me to take the blame for that. I'm not responsible for their coming and goings." Nesta sniffed.
"I know you're not in league with them, stop deflecting. All I'm saying is that I know you haven't spent the last three years running because you felt like a change of scenery. You're running, and just not from me." Cassian eyed her as she paled slightly, and he knew he was on the right track. "The Mortal Queens have been tracking you since you left Velaris, probably even before that. I think you've been running primarily from them. And I think you've been avoiding your sisters because you're trying to manage it all on your own."
Nesta fiddled with the mug of tea, unwilling to meet Cassian's gaze, and he knew without a doubt that his long held theory was correct. This beautiful, terrifying female hid behind a cold veneer, but Cassian saw always through her façade. Nesta had a history of putting her sister's safety before her own. He could see that, even if his own High Lord would not.
"Is this something your Spymaster told you?" Nesta asked quietly.
"Azriel has helped keep track of your never-ending tour of Prythian, yes. But he's been primarily tracing any leads to the Mortal Queens. You and the Queen's minions intersect a shocking high amount of times, too much to be discounted.
"And I know you, Nesta. You have no issue offering yourself up as a sacrifice if it meant sparing your sisters. You did it multiple times during the war with Hybern. It didn't take a great leap of logic to realize you're doing the same thing now."
Nesta lifted her eyes to meet his own and he was taken aback by the pure hostility in them.
"You have me figured out, do you? You think you can throw me in chains and assume I will automatically forgive you just because you know me? " Nesta asked derisively. "You have all the answers when it comes to me. Why should I bother saying another word since you know me so well? What does it even matter?"
Something in him snapped at that.
"I want to hear it out of your mouth because I've spent the last three fucking years chasing after you. You're running because you're afraid. I want to know why. I didn't want to chain you up like a criminal, but I was out of options. You have no idea what it's been like to sit on the sidelines, watching you run for your life. You don't know how helpless it feels. I couldn't walk away without one honest conversation beforehand." He took a deep breath, trying to push down his frustrations. This was not the way to reach her. "And I meant what I said last night; if you want to walk away – truly walk away – then I will honour your decision. But give me one fair chance to help you first. Work with me in good faith. Please."
Nesta blinked at him, then dropped her eyes to the cup in tea that sat untouched before her. He could practically see her turning over his words. Give me one chance, please, he thought desperately. To be so close to Nesta but unable to help… it was killing him.
"Let's just say that it's true. That I'm… staying away… for my sister's sake. Why should I go back now? Don't you remember that I was banished?" She asked in a more restrained voice.
"I remember that you went on a year-long bender in order to forget the war. Feyre sent you away because she was scared. She thought you were killing yourself and was desperate to reach you in any way possible. But I know for a fact that she wants you home now. Besides, you'll be safer with the backing of an entire Court at your defense"
Nesta looked like she was about to say something, then frowned and looked away. Cassian tried a different approach.
"Wouldn't you like to see your sisters again? Feyre is due to give birth in a matter of weeks. And Elain is married to Azriel now. The wedding was just after winter solstice. I'm sure seeing you again would be the best wedding gift." That was only a half-truth. While Azriel adored his young wife, he was pained that Elain refused to speak of her missing sister. Nesta's disappearance was the one sore spot in their marriage, but now wasn't the best time to be pointing that out.
Nesta sighed and took a piece of cheese, inspecting it before popping it in her mouth.
"I would think my continued absence is the best gift I could give my sisters. They've flourished without me, and I've done all right on my own." She told him coolly.
"This doesn't have to be a fight. Your sisters want you home. You don't need to keep punishing them for past mistakes."
Nesta's nostrils flared in anger.
"That's bullshit. I was the one thing holding Feyre back from her perfect life, so I left. I did everyone a favour and walked out the door and never looked back once. She should have celebrated the fact I was gone, that I was no longer around to embarrass her. But now that I'm better, now that I no longer need to drink to keep the Gods-damned nightmares at bay, I'm suddenly good enough for her? I'm finally worthy of her previous Inner Circle?" Nesta sneered.
"Nesta, stop." Cassian pleaded. "That's not true. You must realize that none of that is true. Your sisters love you. Feyre asked me to bring you home the moment she realized you left"
"So Feyre sent her favourite lapdog out to hunt me down. Is that why you refuse to let me go? Doesn't the Commander General of the Night Court armies have a better use of his time?" Nesta asked in a mocking tone, voice breaking at the end.
Does Nesta think I'm here by the command of my High Lady? He raked a hand through his hair in frustration. None of this was going down like he imagined. He didn't want to fight with her. Not now.
"Feyre doesn't know I'm here." Cassian explained. "And I no longer command the Night Court's armies."
Her head jerked back in surprise. Whatever she had expected Cassian to say, it was certainly not that. He reached out across the table and took her small hand in his own, lacing their fingers together.
"I officially stepped away from the army over two years ago. Rhysand said he would hold the position for me and I'm welcome back the second I'm ready. But I walked away a long time ago."
"Why would you do that?" She protested weakly.
"Don't you know the answer to that already? This is much more important. You're more important than all of that."
Nesta's already pale face blanched even further. Was she shocked that he addressed the connection between them? She must have at least suspected they were mates, right? Still, she was upset by their argument and frightened by his statement. That wouldn't do. Cassian changed the direction of their conversation, not wanting to scare her further away.
"Your sister doesn't know that I'm in Summer. I'm here of my own volition. The Mortal Queens have specifically targeted you and I don't want you to face this alone." He squeezed her hand, wishing she could hear the sincerity in his voice. "I hope you'll accept my help. I want you to accept my help."
Nesta nodded and withdrew her hand, wrapping it around the steaming cup of tea. She brought the mug to her nose and breathed in the minty scent. It was a delaying tactic but Cassian was okay with that. He'd searched for her for years. He'd happily give her anything to spend more time in her presence. Nesta placed her mug back down and met his eyes, the resolve clear on her face.
"If I accept your help, will you promise me that you'll do things my way? That means no running back to Velaris or the Night Court. I don't want my sisters to get involved. Not with this."
She willing to negotiate. His spirits soared.
"I will do everything in my power to keep you safe from the Mortal Queens. But it's foolish to immediately reject any help from the Night Court…"
"This is non-negotiable." Nesta cut him off. "No Feyre. No Elain. I will not drag them into my fight with the Queens. I will not risk my sister's lives. On this I will not yield."
Gods-dammit. Cassian didn't like that at all. It was foolish to immediately disregard any support the Night Court could provide. Their resources were almost immeasurable but it was clear Nesta was unwilling to budge. It was a bad hand, but he didn't have another one to play.
"Fine, I won't willingly involve them at present." He agreed, a muscle in his eye twitching. "But you must understand that Feyre is already aware of the threat that the Mortal Queens pose. All of the High Lords know. Surely you realize that's the reason behind the High Lord's Summit?"
"I know the Queens pose a threat to all of Prythian." She acknowledged. "I'm just asking to remain separate from my sisters at this time. I don't want them hurt trying to protect me."
Cassian and closed his eyes and sighed.
"We'll stay away. If that's what it takes to make you agree, we'll stay away. But if it's too much, if it becomes clear that we can't do this on our own, then we need to consider other alternatives." He opened up his eyes to look at her. "I won't let you sacrifice yourself if there is another option."
Nesta was silent for a moment as she considered his words. Finally, she nodded her head in agreement.
"Alright, I can accept those terms. For now, we will do this together." Nesta agreed and his heart soared at her admission. Thank the Cauldron.
"No more running from me then? No more secrets? We're in this together now. You won't face this on your own anymore." He clarified.
Nesta frowned at that.
"I wasn't alone to begin with. Not really." She took in his quizzical expression and sighed. "Look, there are some things that I need to share with you. But this arrangement is all very… fresh. I've made friends along the way and they've helped me out on more than one occasion. I will explain what I know about the Queens, but I'm not going to betray the confidence of my friends. Not without discussing it with them first."
He thought briefly about arguing then decided against it. He shouldn't push her too fast, too soon. Nesta could hold her secrets for now. Cassian would uncover them eventually. He decided to switch to a safer topic.
"You don't have to talk about them now, I'll wait until you're more comfortable. Why don't we start with water winnowing? Will you explain that to me?"
Nesta cocked her head at his question.
"It's not winnowing. I don't know how to do that." She told him, brows furrowing.
"But you've always disappeared in water. Isn't that the same thing?"
Nesta was about to respond when a siren started to blare in the distance. Cassian's gaze was immediately drawn to the kitchen window as he tried to determine the source of the sudden commotion. The siren sounded like it was coming from the direction of the Bay. He momentarily froze as realization came crashing in.
"What can that be?" Nesta asked as she started to rise.
Cassian was at her side in a heartbeat, guiding her away from the window with a finger against her lips, urging her to remain silent. He would assess the situation as soon as Nesta was safe. He pressed Nesta against the side of the panty, out of sight from the window.
"Stay here, love." He whispered in a low voice against her ear.
Nesta's eyes were wide as she nodded, hands clasped together in fright. Cassian moved to the side of the window and carefully peered out, keeping his moments slow in order to avoid detection from outside threats. Both the sky and ground were clear. He pulled down the shade, blocking the kitchen from prying eyes.
Cassian silently cursed himself when he realized his weapons were back in the bedroom. He was unarmed and underdressed, completely unprepared for whatever threat was presenting. He motioned for Nesta to remain in place. She frowned but nodded her head in obedience and Cassian shot down the hall back towards the bedroom.
He ignored his fighting leathers completely, not wanting to waste precious minutes dressing. Cassian secured his Siphons, and then retrieved his twin blades and long sword from the bedside table, choosing to leave the rest of his weapons behind. He strapped the sword in its customary position down his back before stuffing his feet in his boots and lacing them up. Lastly he grabbed Nesta's soft leather shoes that were sitting abandoned against the wall, likely kicked off sometime overnight. It was important to protect their feet in case they needed to run.
He returned to the kitchen, bending down in front of Nesta to help her slip on her shoes. She was pale with alarm, twisting her hands with nervous energy.
"What's going on?" She whispered frantically.
He stood to brush a lock of hair behind her ear, resting his hand on the side of her neck. He leaned into her until there was only a hair's breadth of space between them.
"Those sirens are part of the city's defense system. They tell citizens to seek immediate shelter. It may not be an attack. Multiple things can trigger it, like a weather event…"
"But it's not the rainy season here." Nesta finished for him.
He nodded his head agreement, and then pressed the heavy handle of an Illyrian blade into her palm. Its twin remained secured in the sheath at his hip. Nesta peered down in confusion, her eyes widening in shock when she recognized the weapon in hand.
"Cassian, what's this?"
"We're leaving. I need to know you're armed in case we're separated." He told her as he guided her towards the doorway. "I don't know what we're facing out there but stay close, stay quiet, and don't be afraid to use the knife."
Nesta somehow paled even further but tilted her head in acknowledgement. He took her hand and led her down the hallway, pausing before the exit. He scanned the outside perimeter through the glass door. Everything was clear. He turned back towards his mate.
"Do you see that tree to the west of the building?" He asked as he pointed towards the target. It was the same place he had hidden during her failed escape attempt. "When I open the door you're going to run over there. Stay low."
He scanned their surroundings one last time, taking an extra moment to check for hidden threats among the rooftops. Once he was satisfied that it was safe to exit, he pushed the door open and gestured for Nesta to go. The blair of the sirens were even louder outside. She gave him one last look then sprinted to the tree. Cassian closely followed behind, keeping his senses open for any signs of threat. The immediate surrounds were clear, but he could make out the distant shouts of men and the occasional sound of steel against steel.
"Where are the city guards?" Nesta asked when he reached her side, having to raise her voice to be heard over the sirens. He frowned as he glanced towards the Bay. He could see groups fighting towards the waterfront.
"They're likely staying close to the palace." Cassian told her grimly. Even without the need to protect their High Lord, the island was more heavily populated. There wouldn't be enough guards to go around, so they'd focus their resources on defending the city. Anyone in the outlying settlements would be on their own for the time being. "If we're lucky the fighting will stay concentrated on the Island."
Thunder rolled overheard. It was minutes away from storming. It wasn't ideal to fly in a lighting storm but it was the quickest way out of Adriata. Nesta frowned up at him
"Aren't we going to help them?"
"We aren't doing anything. I'm not properly outfitted and you're not trained." He motioned for Nesta to return his blade. "We're going to fly out of here, away from the fighting. We can't offer much help and I'm not going to put you at risk."
Nesta leaned back and kept the blade at her side. It looked like she was about to put up an argument. Gods-dammit. They really didn't have time for this. Adriata already had increased protection thanks to the heightened security for the royal Summit, not to mention the High Lords themselves. There was little they could offer in comparison. Cassian reached out and grabbed Nesta around the waist, pulling her into him. He'd fly her out of here and deal with the fallout once she was safe.
That was his intention, but the next sound froze him in place and changed everything. A low, screeching roar emerged from over the Bay. Whatever made that sound was big. He instinctually pressed Nesta against the tree trunk, mindful of her blade, and covered her body with his own. He leaned out, searching for the source of the roar. His blood turned cold when he spotted the creature in question.
In the far off distance, making lazy circles above the bay, was an honest-to-Gods wyvern. He hadn't seen one since he was a boy, when a lone wyvern had taken to picking off Illyrains who wandered too far from his camp. Multiple squadrons of soldiers had been sent to hunt down the threat and an entire year passed before they managed to trap and kill it.
Even from their distance Cassian could tell the creature was massive, at least fifty feet long from nose to tail. It's body was the colour of steel, it's wings nearly the same red of his Siphons. The creature roared again as it continued to circle the water.
There was no way to safely fly out. Wyverns were fast on and Cassian would be slowed down carrying Nesta. To make a terrible situation worse, the winds started to pick up, sending dead foliage swirling around them. Cassian blinked as a piece of debris blew into his eye.
"Fuck." He swore.
Nesta peered around the tree, eyes locking on the leviathan. She jerked back in horror and Cassian could practically taste the fear that radiated off of her.
"They found me." She breathed, half to herself.
What?
"Who found you?" He demanded.
"The Queen's dogs. I know they've been scrying for me, but I thought I'd have more time…"
"Who's been scrying for you?"
Nesta looked up into his eyes, throat bobbing.
"The witches. The witches that work for the Mortal Queens. They've hunted for me in the past, and now they're here." She said with a jerk of her head towards the Wyvern. "They've found me."
Nesta
Outside of Cassian's safe house
The Summer Court
The shock of seeing the Wyvern snapped Nesta out of her stupor, igniting a call to action in her veins. She couldn't allow herself to fall under the witch's clutches, not again. She knew with absolute certainty that the head of the coven rode the wyvern. Mother above, Nesta thought she'd have more time before the witches came for her. She'd been in Adriata just under one full day. They had never found her this quickly in the past.
Cassian, who was still pressing her into the tree, startled at Nesta's confession. He looked like he was seriously considering tossing her over his shoulder and making a break for it, but that would only draw the wyvern's attention. It was still over the bay, but in a matter of minutes the witch would narrow in on her location.
"Whatever you're thinking about doing, don't." she warned him. "You can't fly us out of here, not without it seeing you."
"I know." He told her and shuddered slightly.
Nesta was curious about his knowledge of wyvern, but all of that would have to wait. She would ask him later, hopefully when they were thousands of kilometers away. Lightning streaked across the sky and the first heavy drops of rain began to fall.
"They have my blood, so it's only a matter of minutes before they figure out my location."
That pulled Cassian out of his reverie.
"They have your blood? How did they manage that?" He asked her, aghast.
"It's a long story for another time. I need you to focus, are there any pools around here? Fountains? Anything similar?"
"Not in the immediate vicinity." Cassian had to raise his voice to be heard over the rising winds. "I picked the apartment furthest away from water features."
Fuck. Of course he did. Nesta pressed her lips together as considered her options. It was probably best to make a run for it. The witches had a singular goal: to capture Nesta for the Mortal Queens. They weren't here for a direct attack on the city, but they'd have no issues killing innocent fae during their hunt. The sooner Nesta left the Summer Court, the sooner the witches would return to whatever hell they crawled out of, leaving Adriata to heal in private. Regardless of what happened next, Nesta needed to leave the Summer Court.
"We need to head towards the bay and hope we get lucky." Nesta shouted to Cassian over the raging winds.
"I'll get you down to the water and hold them off. They won't get their hands on you." Cassian vowed.
The rain began to freely fall, signaling the arrival of the thunderstorm. Cassian ran his up hand from her waist until it rested on the side of her face, brushing a drop of rain off of her brow. He was looking as if memorizing every line of her face. She didn't like what that implied. Nesta placed her free hand over his, stilling the movement.
"I told you we were in this together. It wasn't a lie. Just get us both to a water source and I will do the rest."
He nodded solemnly, and refocused his attention on the scene down by the bay. Cassian took a step back and withdrew the long sword, his gaze firmly locked on the battle before them. The sounds of distant fighting seemed to be growing over the mounting storm. Were they getting closer? Nesta adjusted the heavy weight of the Illyrian blade in her palm, telling herself she would attack anyone who got past Cassian's defenses. She didn't trust her control of magic enough to use on a populated city street. Nesta was fearful of hitting an innocent bystander.
"We're in this together." Cassian promised with a crooked grin. "It's almost two miles to the water. We're going to hurry, but try to conserve your energy for when we need it. Stay low, and don't let anyone touch you. Ready, Sweetheart?"
Nesta nodded and stepped beside him, prepared to follow his lead. Cassian hefted his long sword in a defensive position and gestured for her to follow. They hustled along the city streets, sticking close to buildings and storefronts, trying to remain a small target to anyone above. The passed the occasional fae running in the opposite direction, escaping the fighting on the shoreline, but the streets remained relatively clear. Thunder crashed overheard and the skies finally opened up in a heavy deluge.
Shielding her eyes from the rain, Nesta kept a close watch on the wyvern that continued to circle over the bay. She'd assume it would have drifted closer to them by now. Perhaps the witch wasn't able to determine her precise location, or maybe they were waiting for Nesta to come to them. Either way, Nesta took no comfort that its flight path remained unchanged. The rain had stalled their progress a little as it was difficult to make good time in a rainstorm. They were about halfway when Cassian directed Nesta to take cover under an awning.
"It looks like there is fighting five blocks ahead." He yelled over the thunder and rain. "We should head east for a few blocks, to see if we can bypass it. Let's rest here a minute to catch our breath."
She was pretty sure the break was solely for her benefit but Nesta was quick to agree as she shivered in the freezing rain. The downpour had plastered her hair and clothing against her body, The icy wind cut right through her. Though he was still bare-chested with the rain gleaming off his Illyrian tattoos, Cassian looked impervious to the cold. Maybe growing up in the Illyrian mountains made him unfazed by the conditions. He kept his attention locked on the fighting ahead of them and stayed in front of her, shielding her from sight. Nesta gave herself another thirty seconds before signaling her willingness to move on.
Cassian glanced over her as he moved them east through the intersection.
"Will you be able to winnow in the cold?"
"It's not winnowing." she reminded him. "And we'll only be in the cold for a moment. I"ll take us somewhere warm."
"Going to take me on vacation, Sweetheart?" He asked over his shoulder with a smile in his voice.
Cassian's demeanor changed as soon as he saw the expression on her face. He spun to face the new threat before them.
There, in the middle of the street, stood a solitary woman.
"Hello, Nesta." Crooned the witch in a lyrical voice. "We've been looking for you."
Cassian reacted immediately, his muscles tensing as he took a defensive position in front of Nesta. The shriveled woman was around fifty human years of age. Her clothes themself were peasant garb; a simple tunic over breeches. Her white hair was long and unbraided, the wind blowing her wet locks away from her gaunt face. Atop her head sat a headdress of sun bleached bones, adorned with teeth and laced together with black ribbons. Nesta wasn't sure if the bones were human or animal and wasn't particularly interested in finding out. Apart from her morbid headdress, there was nothing about this woman to suggest that she was anything other than human. Nesta knew better.
This woman was a witch.
Nesta cast a quick glance at the Wyvern, which remained in flight above the bay. Nesta was certain that the lead witch commanded the wyvern. She'd never come face to face with this particular witch before. Still, she knew not to underestimate the creature before them.
"Let us pass, woman. And I'll let you walk away with your head." Cassian warned in a low voice.
The witch grinned.
"Have you stooped to needing the protection of a male, Nesta?" She asked in that strange musical voice, disregarding Cassian completely. "I must admit, that disappoints me"
He shifted his weight as he hefted his sword, focused intently on the threat before them. He was waiting for his chance to strike, unwilling to risk a direct assault on a witch with unknown powers. Nesta may not be an expert on the dark magic, but she knew this woman was still mortal. She would die from a blade as easily as any human. The real question was what damage could her spells weave before Cassian could land a killing blow.
Nesta took three steps to her right. Cassian, who must have felt the movement rather than seen it, also stepped to the right.
"I require no male for protection." Nesta told her coldly as she took another soft step to her right.
The witch tilted her head as she considered Nesta's words.
"Does he not belong to you then?" She asked as she gave Cassian a lingering glance. "Perhaps I'll keep him to warm my bed. After I present you to the Mortal Queens."
"You're not my type, hag" he sneered.
Nesta took another half step, edging away from Cassian's side.
The witch finally turned her attention to the seething Illryrian. She smiled at him, her teeth yellowed and broken, and tilted her head at Cassian. The bones dangling from her headdress clattered together in the wind, creating an almost musical sound. Nesta shuddered.
"What you want, boy, is of no concern to me. It would take no effort to enchant and bend you to my will. You would believe my lips would taste of the sweetest honey, and die begging for more."
Cassian tensed up and Nesta knew intrinsically that he was preparing to strike out. Fear shot through Nesta's veins. What if the witch got to him first? Nesta took a final step away from Cassian's side and snapped out her hand, flinging the Illyrian blade towards the nameless woman. Nesta's aim was true, the blade slicing into her abdominal. The witch fell to her knees and began to screech, both of hands clutching her stomach as a red stain blossomed out on her tunic. Cassain wasted no time as strode over to the witches side. He brought down his sword on her neck, cleaving her head from her body.
"Cauldron boil me." Gasped Nesta, bringing her hand to cover her mouth.
She hit her. She actually hit her. Nesta didn't practise with blades nearly as often as she should. Throwing the knife was an entirely desperate act. Nesta hoped to distract the witch at best, granting Cassian a few precious seconds of distraction so he could make his move. It was more luck than anything that the knife stuck true. Cassian toed the head for a moment. Then, content that the woman was no longer a threat, he leaned back and delivered a powerful kick. The head went flying down the street, bouncing a few times before rolling to a stop, leaving a trail of blood in its wake. Nesta's stomach heaved at the sight.
"Are you okay?" He asked in a low voice.
Nesta tore her gaze away from the decapitated head to meet his stare. He'd lost his hair tie at some point of their flight, his long hair hung in loose waves, framing his face. He bent down and pulled his blade from the corpse's torso, wiping the blood on the dead woman's tunic, before resheathing it as his side. Cassian surveyed her as he returned to her side, missing nothing.
"Are you okay?" he prodded again.
She dropped the hand from her mouth and nodded her head, not quite trusting herself to talk. Cassian frowned and placed his larger hand on the nape of her neck.
"I need you to hold it together a few more minutes, okay? We don't know how much time we have before her friend's come looking for her".
That comment stuck home. The witch was most certainly not alone. Perhaps they were discovered as a fluke, but the witches's sisters were sure to follow shortly. It was pure luck that they killed her so quickly. The others wouldn't be careless. Nesta squared her shoulders and took a deep breath, settling herself.
"We have to get out of here, right now." she breathed.
A muscle in Cassian's jaw twitched and he slid his arms down between her shoulders, turning them to face the bay. The wyvern was closer to the palace now, screeching as it swooped down. Were the High Lords mounting an attack on the wyvern? It may give them the edge they need to fly down to the bay.
"How long would it take you to fly us down?" She asked, her voice almost drowned out by the thunder rolling overhead.
"A minute, two minutes top. Are you willing to risk it?"
"I don't think we have a choice." Nesta told him as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"If you're looking for an opportunity to get back in my arms," Cassian said as scooped her up, "next time, Sweetheart, just ask."
Before Nesta could begin to think of a retort Cassian had launched them off the ground and shot towards the bay. Her stomach somersaulted as he plunged forward at a much faster speed than the previous night's flight. Her hair whipped around her face, stinging her, but she forced her eyes open. Cassian stayed low along the roofs of the buildings, which blurred together as they raced on by.
"What happens when we reach the water?" Cassian yelled in her ear, struggling to be heard above the roaring wind.
"Just dive. You don't need to go too deep." She called back, blinking rainwater out of her eyes.
They were almost above the bay when the wyvern's head pulled up and turned to face their direction. She knows we're here, Nesta thought in a panic. Sure enough, it broke away from the island and started to head right for them.
"Hold on!" Cassian screamed.
They were one hundred meters away, ninety, eightly, seventy...
The wyvern, or it's rider, must have realized Cassian was going to reach the water first. The massive creature doubled down, launching towards them in a desperate attempt to cut off their escape. Heart in her throat, Nesta squeezed Cassian and tried to swallow down her scream, terrified she would distract him. Just when she was certain they wyvern had them, Cassian yanked in his wings and twisted their bodies until they were plumitting downwards towards the bay. Nesta drew in half a breath before they plunged in the frigid water. The dive wasn't clean, they hit the surface at an awkward angle and pain laced down the side of her body. Still, she managed to hold on as they were swept away by the current. Cassian clung to her with one hand while his other circled wildly, instinctively trying to push them towards the surface.
Nesta tightened her grip and wrapped her legs around his waist. She closed her eyes and stretched out, feeling the magic rush through her veins. Nesta gathered her power, conjuring every trace that she could find, and encased them with her magic. Once she had called in everything to her, Nesta opened her eyes and pushed it out. Her magic exploded and her field of vision was bathed in silver. The current abruptly changed direction and Nesta was ripped out of Cassian's arms.
Panicking, she looked around as the brackish, mukey bay transformed into a crystal clear water. Nesta peered up and could see rays of sun streaming down from a cloudless sky. She gave two quick kicks and broke the surface of the water. Drawing a clean breath, she circled her arms to keep afloat while she searched for Cassian. He was still underwater, about three meters away. Nesta dived back under and swam to him, folded an arm around his torso, and kicked back towards the surface.
Cassian coughed wildly as he clung to Nesta. She half dragged him over to the side of the pool, placing his arm on the deck for support.
"We're safe. You're safe." She assured him as she circled his back.
He coughed one last time then laid his head on the side of the pool, cracking open one eye to stare at her.
"Let's never do that again, okay?" He told her in a horse voice.
Nesta laughed despite herself and pushed herself out of the pool. She stayed on the side of the deck to help pull the waterlogged Illyrian onto dry land. He collapsed on his back and threw an arm over his face to shade his eyes from the sun, his legs still dangling in the water. He groaned slightly and Nesta bit back a smile.
"I thought that was your idea of a good time?" She asked, the side of her mouth twitching up.
"Sweetheart, if you thought that was fun, you're going to be blown away but the things I'm going to show you." He told her.
He sighed and dropped his hands to his side, pushing up until he was propped up beside her. He frowned as he looked around at their new surroundings. The pool was in the middle of an intricate garden, surrounded by low lying shrubbery that would eventually lead towards a hedge maze on the southern end of the property. A large private estate sat to the distant north. Cassian blinked as he stared at the home, it was as if he somewhat recognized their location but couldn't quite place it. She bit her lip, nervously wondering if he was about to put things together on his own. Before Nesta had a chance to start explaining the situation, their attention was drawn to the sound of footsteps coming up from behind. They both twisted around to meet their new companion, and Cassian's mouth dropped open.
"Oh, child." Bemoaned Helion, High Lord of the Day Court, "What trouble did you get yourself into this time?"