Icy wind screamed around my ears as we raced through the darkening sky. We were flying towards the Sidra with the speed of a hurricane. I was terrified. Bundled in Cassian's arms like a frightened baby, I could barely keep my eyes open as my hair whipped my face and tore at my skin. Looking down, I saw the streets of the city that they called Velaris. Cobbled pavements wove an intricate web around collections of beautiful buildings. Each one was different, from the colourful shop fronts to the towering houses with twisting spires: differences aside, they all seemed to belong. Round lights twinkled in every glass-paned window scattering bursts of light to illuminate the dusky night. Music thrummed through the city like a heartbeat making it appear alive. In a way I guess it was. Smells of stardust and bubbling twilight drifted up from the network of alleyways far beneath my feet. This was a city of dreams and it was worth protecting.

A piercing shriek reminded me of what the city needed protecting from. Through its heart wound a long river of midnight, and in that river stirred a creature of nightmares.

At first all I could see was a mass of gaping darkness. It rose from the river before a bolt of night sent it reeling back into the depths. The river seemed to try and restrain it but it broke free and rose again; that was when I saw how horrifying it really was. Crafted from night terrors, it was raw horror and radiated death. Its face, twisted in torment, was covered in tooth like eruptions and wrangled strands of black hair. Larger than any creature that walked the earth, it roared with a guttural force that shook the foundations of the dreaming city. Screams flew into the air and I saw people running from the river- or towards it. There were people down there throwing rocks, chairs and anything else they could find at the monster that threatened their home. The thrown articles had no effect on the beast as they bounced off its thick, lumpy hide however it was a valiant effort that warmed my aching chest. Could this be to do with me?

In the midst of the fray I could see my new friends hurling pure power at the creature. Feyre and Rhysand were just wisps of darkness, sending spears of magic into the water and probably controlling the river itself. They were the only ones managing to keep it at bay. A blonde flash that was Mor was dodging between the frightened people getting them away from the danger as fast as she could. I couldn't see the small one, Amren.

With a thud, Cassian landed on the roof of a townhouse close enough to the scene that we could help if need be. I squirmed out of his arms and ran to the edge of the roof to watch. The stench of rotting flesh burnt my throat.

I gagged. "Ugh...What the heck is that smell?"

I heard his footsteps come over to join me and him mutter under his breath, "Cauldron save us."

"Is there anything I could do to help?" I asked. I couldn't just stay here and watch that creature destroy this place. Even though I had only been here a few hours I sort of loved it. The untouched city wasn't threatened by any impending doom like drought or pollution and there was even magic woven into every street, every shop. Was it bad that I kind of wanted to stay, at least for a little while? Pushing those thoughts aside I returned my attention back to Mr Scary Jelly Face, aka death reincarnate. A puckered stub of what could be an arm smashed down onto the street, shattering tables outside a riverside cafe and sending shards of splintered wood flying off in every direction. Helplessness coursed through my body as people screamed and ran. I turned to Cassian. I might feel helpless but pure rage rippled from him. His hazel eyes bore fury I'd never seen before, and if it was directed at me I probably would've died right there and then. This thing was destroying his home, I had no idea what that was like nor did I want to.

"The best thing for you," he said firmly but not harshly, "is to stay put."

"What about you?"

"I'll do what I have to." Was his reply.

"A tad dramatic, don't you think."

He looked at me dead in the eye. "This isn't the time for jokes."

Why did I even say that? It was a serious situation but I couldn't help it. "Sorry." I mumbled, shoving my hands into the deep pockets of my borrowed coat.

"Nerves." He muttered, more to himself than me. "Nerves turn people into little assholes who think they're so funny." He winked at me but grimaced as we heard another shriek from the monster.

"This isn't the time for jokes." I merely replied, flashing him a pained grin. That was when a roaring flame of utter pain thrust its hot poker into my head. A crimson haze lined my vision and noise started to blur as though I was under water. I gripped the stone ledge of the townhouse roof and tried to breathe as bursts of white obscured my sight.

"Lexis? Lexis!" Cassian grabbed me as my knees began to shake. "Lexis, talk to me."

All of a sudden, the city seemed to grow dark; like it was being washed by ink. I stared at the creature intently (ignoring the blinding pain) as it seemed to struggle against a force that was pushing it down back into the Sidra. It fought and writhed and screamed but the force kept pushing. Darkness gathered around it keeping it put and pushing it under the water. After what felt like eternity, it was gone and there was not even a ripple on the river. With a disorientating pop, my ears felt as though a great pressure had been lifted from inside my head. Relief flooded through my veins, the pain was gone. I brought my hand to my face to find them wet with tears; I hastily brushed them away. All energy was drained from me and even that small movement made my body ache. What the hell was that about?

Cassian stared at me, wide eyed. "Do we need to get you to a healer?"

"No I...I don't think so." My mouth felt numb and I'm sure my words were slurred. With great effort I moved to look at the river again. No trace of the creature in the now almost pitch water. Night was falling, fast.

"What was that?" Cassian ventured after a short pause. His eyes, still fixed on me, were full of concern.

"The monster or my little episode? Either way I was hoping someone would tell me." I stifled a yawn. Jeez, I was exhausted.

"Still a little twat it seems." He smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. He shifted his gaze back to the Sidra. "It just vanished."

"Probably your all-knowing friends. They have superpowers right? I bet-" Before I could finish my witty remark my knees gave out and I fell unceremoniously to the rooftop floor. Cassian, still staring at the river, moved too late to catch me.

"Tired? We'd best get you back before they realise we're gone or else I'll be done for reckless behaviour." He moved to pick me up but I scooted away. Or tried to scoot, it was more of a graceless roll.

"Of course I'm goddamn tired but we can't leave. What if it comes back?" I protested folding my increasingly achy arms.

"If it comes back," He said scooping me up and ignoring me trying to wriggle away, "what are you going to do about it? It's night and it's cold and you're tired. We need to get you in bed."

"You sound like my mum." I grumbled meekly as we took off. Air whirled around me and I found that I could no longer keep my eyes open.

...

I dreamed of nothing but my sleep was filled with an aching sadness; like loss I couldn't quite place. I was quite content to keep sleeping but annoyingly loud voices woke me. I peeped through one eye.

"You did what now?" Rhysand asked running a dirty hand through sweat glistened hair. His face was calm though his eyes glinted dangerously. "I told you to keep her safe Cassian."

I squeezed my eyes shut and kept my breathing steady. I was too tired for this.

"She was." Cassian replied smoothly. I was, embarrassingly, still in his arms. I risked another peep. Rhysand faced us in the living room; it looked as though he had caught us sneaking back in. "You had it under control, besides we don't have time to argue now. People need help."

"Under control? I have no idea what that thing was or where it came from. Even the combined power of me and Feyre could barely keep it back. It attacked my city and I couldn't even kill it, it just vanished." Despair cracked in his voice.

Cold dread filled me. Cassian asked the question I desperately wanted to, "So that power pushing it away... it wasn't you?"

"It wasn't me, it wasn't Feyre. I don't know where it came from."

"We need to talk." Cassian, not so subtly, nodded his head down at me. What?

Rhysand let out a breath. We were in deep shit.

"We will talk in the morning." He said stiffly. Uh oh. "Take Lexis upstairs, Nuala and Cerridwen will assist her. Then head to the Sidra, you can help there." Rhysand paused. "Cass...that was some stupid, reckless shit. I would ask what you were thinking, but I don't think you were thinking at all. She's a sixteen year old human, and ugh... go."

For once there was no smartass reply and I found myself being carried up the stairs. My body hit the soft bed and I curled myself tight into a ball. Hands made of vapour wrapped me in blankets before leaving me to my dreams.