Chapter 12

Feyre

Cold hands touched the cuts on my back, I flinched, gasping and swiveling my body around. "Calm down. I'm healing your wounds," a soothing voice said, "Please stay on your stomach."

I looked behind me as Madja applied a paste onto my shoulder blades, "What is there to report?"

She tutted, "Most of your wounds won't leave any permanent mark, however they will be there for a week or two."

I breathed a sigh of relief before I realized her words had a deeper impact, "Most?"

"The burn on your back is going to leave a scar," she added more paste, "I'm sorry Feyre."

We sat there in silence for a second as my lip started trembling. I didn't trust myself to speak so I just nodded my head. Madja softly tapped my shoulder, "You'll be going to the town house tomorrow after I'm finished with you," I shut my eyes and tried to steady my shaky breathing, "Mmhmm."

Rhysand

I sat with Madga as she healed and bandaged my back. She tightly pulled the bandages around my torso, "Are the gashes going to leave any permanent scars?"

She kept focused on what she was doing as she replied, "I don't know. Since I got to them so late they might. There is some scar tissue but I don't know if it will develop. I've healed enough so it won't be an open wound anymore though," she pulled, "It's going to ache like hell for a while though."

I nodded slowly trying again to feel down the bond to Feyre, but I couldn't feel her yet, "Is she ok?"

"As ok as she can be."

I pressed my lips together before looking out the window.

vVv

I stopped in front of the door to the town house, looking at the ornate carvings on the door frame. Feyre was in there. My stomach clenched at the thought, why was I so nervous? I shook my head and grabbed the doorknob. I took one last deep breath before I opened it and walked in. Everything inside was how it was just a week ago, I frowned.

I walked into the sitting room. Feyre sat on the couch, staring at a point on the floor with a distant look in her eye. Her scent surrounded me, and I breathed it in, savoring it. Her nose twitched and she looked up.

Our eyes met. She was instantly on her feet as I rushed towards her, arms out. We embraced, sinking to our knees and holding each other on the plush carpet. Tears were running down both of our faces as we ran our hands over each other's arms, not quite believing.

Feyre leaned up and kissed me. Fireworks popped throughout my body and I moaned,

melting into her. She pulled back, her blue-gray eyes running over my face. "My love. My mate." I murmured.

We stared at each other, drinking in each other's presence, 'Mother above… I missed you so much.'

'Hmm,' I buzzed, pressing my forehead against hers before I picked her up and made my way towards the couch. My muscles pulled uncomfortably as I sat and leaned back again, keeping my eyes on hers. I ran my hands over her hip, it brushed bandage. I raised an eyebrow, "What's this?"

Her eyes broke from mine as she opened her mouth, but she couldn't seem to find the words, "I don't want to talk about it right now."

I growled softly, but let it be. We would have time to talk about everything, now wasn't the time. I breathed in her scent again, content to be with her.

My thoughts drifted to my wings as I ran lazy circles up and down her arm. I still couldn't fathom how I would live without my wings. I rolled my shoulder, aching to feel the wind on my face again, to have an outlet for everything that's happened the last week.

Raw emotion blasted through me as Feyre's mental shields fell down fully. Her desire to see the family again, to see Nyx filled me, overwhelmed me. I groaned and looked at her sleeping form, silently sending a message to Azriel and Cassian.

vVv

I sat at the kitchen table, waiting for Cassian and Azriel to arrive. After a couple of minutes I heard their thundering before hitting the ground. I got up and strode to the door, hearing Cassian congratulate Nyx on flying here all by himself, and opened it as Nyx finished giving a high five to Azriel. My heart swelled at the sight of him. "Daddy!"

He ran towards me as I dropped to a knee before embracing me, "Oooo, I've missed you."

He pulled back and looked at me, wide eyed, "Really? I missed you too!"

I smiled as he continued babbling on. He looked again at me, more seriously, "Dad… I'm hungry."

Laughing, I nodded, picking him up and walking into the house before putting him on the counter and making a sandwich; Azriel and Cassian sat down at the table, waiting. I gave him his sandwich before he ran off into the garden.

I sat down, looking at my brothers. Cassian immediately started talking, "Rhys I'm sorry. I didn't realize you guys were in danger…. Jurian sent a letter saying you would be staying longer and I was oblivious to anything until Lucien came and…" he trailed off as he clenched his jaw.

My mouth dropped a little but before I could say something Azriel murmured, "I should have looked into the letter more."

My nostrils flared, "It wasn't either of your faults."

We sat in silence for a minute. The weight of everything settled around us as we sat. Azriel glanced at the bandages peeking out from the hem of my shirt, "Did he really do it?"

I looked down, my throat tightening before nodding. His posture slumped, "Shit Rhys… Shit."

Cassian growled, "He'll pay for it. I swear-"

"Rhys, what can we do for you? Losing one's wings… I wouldn't even wish it on my worst enemy…"

I bit my lip as my gaze skipped out towards the garden, "Nothing. I need to be strong for Feyre right now. That's my only concern."

"But what about you? This… this isn't something you could just 'be strong' about, and Feyre knows it's important to you. And I bet it's important to her."

"I know that," I snapped, "but you guys don't know what she went through in there," I ran a hand through my hair, "I'm sorry. We'll deal with it after we help Feyre."

Cassian's eyes were etched with concern, "But Rhys…" my look silenced him.

Nyx ran in and put his plate in the sink before running up to me, "Is Mommy here?

I glanced at the others before looking back at Nyx, "Mmhmm she's sleeping. Do you wanna wake her up?"

He nodded and took my head before leading me to the living room. When he saw Feyre he let go and ran towards her. I leaned against the doorframe and slipped my hands into my pockets, brushing an affectionate stroke on her mind as Nyx woke her.

Nyx tapped her again before she opened her eyes, surprise filling them. Without saying anything she pulled Nyx close to her and squeezed tightly as if he would disappear. She pulled back and looked him over, telling him something I couldn't hear, and hugged him again.

Cassian put a hand on my shoulder and leaned into my ear, "We're going to host a welcome home party for you guys on Friday. At the River House."

I went to object but he interrupted me, "You both need it. I'll see you before then," with another pat on my shoulder before turning away.

I looked back towards Feyre as she talked with Nyx, her smile wide and unyielding, but I could still see the haunted look in her eyes. I frowned, trying to think of a way I could help my mate.