There were no more words after that . Only the two of them, standing on the riverbank under the sun, letting its warmth seep through their bones.
Nesta pulled away whispering.
"I love you," and it was all Cassian needed before he was kissing her again. The force of it is more powerful and enduring than the caldron itself. Nesta felt the soft swish of air and added warmth as his wings swept around her encircling her as she broke from his kiss to rest her ear over his thunderous beating heart, the heart he would have stabbed to prevent her pain as a tear rolled down her cheek but it didn't get far before she felt the brush of his calloused hand sweeping it away looking up into his eye his hand still holding her cheek, his eyes understood the thoughts swirling around her at that moment. She closed her eyes in a moment of mind stilling and he softly kissed the crown of her head, never letting go just accepting her need for stillness.
The stillness grew between them, both savored and healing beside the River letting everything unspoken flow between them for a time. Neither of them were startled when Elain walked beside them. Cassian withdrew his wings from around her sweeping them back behind him tightly.
"Emmerie and Gwyn both are ready to go home after … after everything that's happened. They don't want to leave without telling you. " she said looking at Nesta.
Nesta felt Cassian weight brace almost fully into her.
"Emmerie and gwyn…." Cassian's voice was barely a whisper before he turned from elain back to Nesta. " I … didn't see them… I can smell their blood on you… the pass…" he choked out marveling at her before pride swelled in him and his smile beamed across his face just for her as he realized everything.
"They are in the library." Elain added and turned headed back to the house.
Cassian's wings wrapped once again around Nesta. He looked deep into her eyes.
"Nesta… for centuries I've tried…" he stumbled out. "I never even let myself dream…that…" Nesta understood something he never talked about before in his words. Like some long festering wound on his soul had just healed. He kissed her forehead with so much force she thought it might forever have an indentation of his lips.
" They decided they are not going to be called carynthian, they want to remain Valkyrie." Nesta said. Cassian's deep laugh rumbled in his chest shaking her with it and his forehead pressed into hers.
"Of course they do, it's not enough for them to just change the entire history of the rite they want to also laugh in the face of every Illyrian male who dreams of making it to the mountain.." He said as his smiled beamed and he moved to take her hand in his as they Walked back to the house just behind Elaine.
They were both sitting in the library each having found a book to read though neither looked thoroughly interested in what they read. Nesta sat with them but Cassian stood at their backs in the doorway and looked intently at Emmeries back as her wings were draped over the specially made chair as everything in this home was made to accommodate wings.
"Emmerie…" Cassian spoke softly and hitched before he cleared his throat with a cough and being again. "Emmerie… have you seen your wings?"
Emmerie looked over her shoulder at him.
"What ?" She asked Cassian … just as Azriel and Mor walked in.
"Stand up and try to spread your wings." Cassian said with enough plea in his voice she obeyed even if her face spoke to her confusion at his request. Both her wings spread out… mighty and strong . Not any trace of the long scars. She snapped her wings back in so fast she lost her balance but Mor caught her before she could hit the floor looking deep into her eyes.
"I think when the stone's power healed your wounds from the rite it healed your wings too" Cassian said looking into her stunned face as she still braced herself in Mor's arms. Emmerie took a bit to process what Cassian had just told her.
"Do you think I can learn to fly again?" She asked softly with a glow in her eyes no one had ever seen before.
"Azriel, taught Ferye to fly when she learned how to make wings with her powers. Cassians has worked with injured wings both himself and with other soldiers , either of which can easily teach you." Mor said not moving her eyes off Emmerie. Emmerie looked at both males who both nonded.
"Ladies, Elaine let us know you both wish to go home, but I wanted you to know you're both welcome to stay here. There are guest rooms here for as long as you would like." Mor said to both women.
" Thank you." Gwyn said stepping forward " but I'm sure Merrill had loads of work for me to get caught up on waiting for me at the library after a week away " she finished .
" I want to get back to my store too. " Emmerie added.
"Gwyn, the wards around the house prevent direct winnowing inside. I can slow our descent but it can be jarring without wings… it would be a smoother landing with Az or Cass " letting Gwyn choose if she felt more comfortable with the drop or with Help from either male.
She looked at Az and he offered her a small nod and unfolded his arms.
"Azriel, can fly me. Thank you Morrigan. "
" It's just Mor. Emmerie I'll be happy winnow you home." Both women moved to give Nesta a group hug. Before exiting the house.
A short while later Cassian shut the bedroom door behind them. He moved to her as she stood in the middle of what she guessed was his room in the house and ran his hands along her arms slowly. Looking deep in her eyes and pulled her into the bathroom. He turned on the hot water all the way, letting it fill the large enough for two bathtub.
He wordlessly began to take off her stolen clothes letting them pile on the floor when he had fully removed all the filthy leathers the tub was full and he lifted her and put her inside the tub. As soon as the hot water hit her skin she felt her muscles give way and leaned her head back on to the edge of the tub closing her eyes while the heat relaxed her weary muscles. Till that moment she had ignored how much her body ached from the battles at the rite. Soon She felt strong legs and arms pushing her forward as Cassian joined her in the tub. She laid her head down on his bare tattooed chest and noted his wings dropping over the side of the tub. His hands started roaming her skin as the clean and refreshing scent of rosemary filled her nostrils… he was washing her skin she realized , she fully collapsed into him tears hit her eyes as sobs hit her body… Cassian soothed her as everything she went though in the rite poured out of her as he washed it all away from her skin healing her with his gentle touch. None of the truths about the events of the rite hurt him… he had told her once no matter what she needed to throw at him he was strong enough to take it and he was. He soothed her till she stopped crying … all the heat was lost in the bath when He got up lifting her with him. He set her on her feet and handed her a towel and he toweled off himself and then took a third towel from the rack and toweled off her hair, but she took the towel from him to finish drying it herself.
After a few minutes he stood beside her and took the towel from her hands and tossed it on the floor and ran his fingers through her hair… lingering and curling the ends. Nests noticed his eyes were tracing over her bare skin, his look wasn't hungry or devouring , it was a gentle look, assessing.
"Nesta…" he caged her in his arms… his chest booming with deep shuddering breaths skin to skin…Nesta had leaned since solstice that cassian's favorite way to talk was skin to skin not just love making but open communication. Outwardly he was all swagger, brashness and jokes…but like this he was kind, open and even a bit sensitive but right now his eyes showed vulnerability . " I have never been so scared in my whole life… never. I know I hurt you…" Nesta put a finger to his lips and he kissed the pad of it with a small tear falling down his face.
"Braylin… Cassian… Braylin did those things. I saw you fighting the crown in your eyes the whole time. Felt you begging me to do anything to stop you. You are good Cassian." Nesta told him.
" I would have died before I ever hurt you. Nesta… I love you." He said looking deeply into her eyes.
" your mine ." Nesta breathed in the shell of his ear. "You're my mate Cassian." And he unleashed a torrent of claiming kisses all over Nesta's body. He pushed her into the bedroom and then onto the bed and braced himself on his forearm above her his palm gently cupped her face.
"Your mine Nesta." He kisses her again passionately he moved in slowly claiming with every inch. When he was seated to the hilt.
"I love you Nesta." He claimed her and like on solstice night gold thread spoiled around them.
Nesta saw the gold glittering around his wings as Cassian filled her and kissed and licked her neck. Nesta reached around and ran her fingers up the curve of his wing. They had been together like this many times, but his Wings were special, she felt unworthy to touch his wings before …. She remembered them shredded and he still tried to crawl to her at Hybern…she pushed the thought back… she ran her hand along them again with claiming touch… she felt him slow his rhythm and his head slightly tilted back. She brushed the curve again … before when she had fleetingly brushed them he would tighten them to his back… but now he let them flare out wide exposing the thin membrane. Red and gold light filtered through them from the dyeing sun outside the windows. Her fingers softly glided down the membrane, she could feel the scars. His body had quite a few but his wings had been shredded. He pumped harder, spurring on her climax as her hand moved down his wing he spilled into her, his wings expanding fully behind him before he rolled off her. He clutched her to his chest under his wing as it settled over her like a blanket. Cassian's softly kisses her cheek.
"I love you. My beautiful, brave, Valkyrie, mate." As he held her. She felt sleep claiming her as she laid in the blanket of his wing for a long while just embracing the mix of strong tendons and velvety membrane. Softly rubbing both in soothing lines.
"Will You teach Emmerie to fly again." Nesta asked him softly. Not sure if he had fallen asleep.
" yes, it may be difficult at first but her wings looked brand new, unlike mine that were rebuilt but madja's healing magic." He said…just out of sleep's grasp.
"Nesta, when we do our mating ceremony , we can be declared husband and wife too. We are mates, but if you prefer to be my wife…" she kissed his lips and smiled while holding his face .
"I would like that very much." She kisses him again and snuggled into him more and they both fell asleep.