As the hours turned to days and the days turn to weeks, the old Selene had vanished. It wasn't that living at the Night Court became easier – it just changed her. She had grown closer to both Leon and her husband, making it easier to mold into their world. She learned that she wasn't good at blatantly trusting the people around her, but she also learned how to voice her opinion without causing conflict. Leon had, to say the least, became friends with her and her relationship with Tobias had almost, just almost, grown intimate. She began to learn that Tobias was right – he was not a good man, but he certainly wasn't a bad one. He was hard to read initially, but she found that he had a thousand faces if she looked hard enough. They had many things in common, such as their love for the outdoors and their liking to read. When she stopped during their hiking trails she would always pick out herbs in habit, and he never said a word about it. He had a sense of humor, she found, though sometimes it was hard to detect. After watching a performance in the local village, he typically had the same opinions as she did and he had a habit of watching her reactions even in the simplest of situations. And when the sunlight dimmed and Leon excused himself awkwardly, Tobias and her discovered themselves in more than just an emotional manner. No sex, of course, but intimate all the same.

"Selene, darling," a voice rang one morning. She was dressed comfortably – a light gown that flowed to her ankles, and slippers with no heels. Half of her flowing, blonde hair was pulling back and the rest of it was in curls. She walked through the doorway, which had been left open from the night before, and went to the railing that looked over the story below them. Tobias looked up at her, his face blank. Though he was under her, she felt like he was still toppling over her, as if his power could reach to the skies.

"I'm almost ready," she said, "I promise." And she was almost ready. In her hand she had a small pack – a few dresses, toiletries, basic necessities. There was even a book sneaked in there in case she got bored. Quickly, as Tobias's eyes watched her, she hurried down to the floor he was on.

"You're only taking an eon," he drawled, beckoning her as he directed her to another staircase – the staircase that would lead them to the main entrance far quicker than the staircase she originally went down. He had easily snagged the bag from her hand, though she had told him many times before that she, a female Illyarian, was perfectly capable of holding onto her own luggage. Nonetheless, he still insisted on doing so.

"Can you even tell me where we're going?" Selene said, rushing out the front door. "Tobias, I-" And then her pace slowed. In front of them were two large carriages hooked together, with the first carriage already open for them to hop into.

"We're going to the place I was raised," Tobias said, throwing the luggage into the second carriage – which was loaded with many different packs already. He opened the door for the first carriage, beckoning her in. "My home town." She stepped into the carriage, clearly confused as she sat down across from her husband.

"Okay, okay," she breathed. "But why don't we just winnow there now and our luggage can arrive later? Why are we taking a carriage for Cauldron's sake?" And then, as if the Cauldron had heard her question, the door of the carriage swung open.

"Because you're taking a cripple and cripples don't exactly winnow that well," Leon said suddenly. He slid into the carriage, sitting next to Tobias. Her eyebrows knitted down.

"But you never come," she said aloud. He gave her a thin-lipped smile as the carriage jolted forward.

"There are some people that owe me money," he explained. "Plus, there are a few girls that I wouldn't mind goin-running into." Even Tobias snickered at this. She turned towards him, her eyebrows knitted down.

"And 'home town'? Are you telling me you weren't raised here?" Here as in the magnificent, village-sized castle that she still had a hard time believing was actually real. Leon huffed, leaning his elbow on the side of the carriage.

"Trust me, it was better off that we were raised far away," Leon muttered. Tobias, by the look on his face, clearly agreed.

"We lived here off and on," Tobias grumbled. "I guess we just…were more useful elsewhere." And she knew that right now, that was all she was going to learn about the situation. Though she was more curious, Tobias and Leon were very quiet about their early life. Neither of them, for whatever reason, had ever talked about their childhood and whenever she asked, they quickly deflected her questions. But she remembered the flashes that she had seen on their wedding night – the merciless, terrifying anger that she had seen in Tobias when he was a teenager. She didn't doubt that it must have been bad.

"Talking about shitty people, this envelope is for you," Leon said, holding out an envelope. Selene coiled up, looking at the crisp, white envelope. Tobias's nostrils flared at it. She looked between them.

"What is it?" She asked, not daring to reach for it.

"An envelope," Leon repeated slowly, clipping each word slowly. "For you. Presumably from your village." She looked at Tobias.

"I know what it is, but what's in it?" She asked the both of them. "Surely at least one of you have already read it." This made Tobias smirk.

"This isn't the Spring Court, beautiful," Tobias said. "We aren't afraid of mail." She rolled her eyes, taking the envelope finally.

"It's just been…so long since I've left."

Six weeks to be exact. Six whole weeks, and not a single word. It wasn't sadness that burrowed in her stomach though – she never expected them to speak to her ever again. After the days went by, and all she recalled was the anger that filled their eyes, she stopped thinking about them entirely. She almost forgot they even existed. There was nothing that pulled her to the envelope, not a single thing. Instead, it was dread. Why write her now? Why wait so long, so many weeks, to speak to her? If it was about a family death, there would be no reason to message her because she had most likely been disowned. She wouldn't be surprised if it was Petyr, demanding payment for the death of his son, though Petyr was too much of a coward to demand something from a High Lord. And what if it was her parents, simply telling her that she was a disgrace?

"You don't have to open it," Tobias drawled. She didn't. She could simply refuse to open it and they would never know.

"What if they want me back?" She heard herself say, her voice quivering. "What if they're willing to-to make a deal with you just so they can cut off my-" He grabbed her arm suddenly, stopping her words jerkily. She looked up into his dark eyes. And they were not merciful.

"I was honest when I told you that I would burn the whole damn place down," He told her, his eyes not falling from her gaze. "I'll protect you with my life, Selene. And that includes your wings." And with that, the words of the most powerful man on the map, she realized she had to open it. She couldn't be who she was, the wife of a dangerous High Lord, and be afraid of a stupid letter. They couldn't touch her, and they needed to know that.

She tore it open, breathing in one deep breath before she read it. Even though they pretended not to, Tobias and Leon hovered over her to read as well.

Dear Selene,

Since your departure to service yourself to the High Lord of Night,

"Service yourself? That's how they speak of our Lady?!" Leon growled. Selene, on the other hand, continued reading.

we believed that it was appropriate to update you on your standings in our village. While you and the High Lord of Night are always welcome to visit, all of you belongings and inheritance, including your dowry, has been transferred to your eldest sister.

"Wow, if I had only known you had a dowry, I would've jumped at the opportunity," Tobias said flatly. She looked up at him, blinking for a moment, until she realized he was joking and gave a small smile.

We would also like to remind you that if you were ever to be given back to our village, you will be held at trial for disobeying our sacred laws. Aside from that, we would like to formally congratulate you and your marriage to the High Lord. We would also like to bring to your attention that, due to your sudden possession of our lands, we have added numerous laws since your departure. For one, we have agreed that any woman who commits adultery with a married man will be punished by the family of the man she is committing adultery with. Secondly, any woman who still possesses her wings by the time she is thirteen, whether her womanhood has begun or not, will have her wings cut off. Thirdly, we would like to remind you that though you have legal rights to own or restrict our land appointed by the High Lord, a woman does not have the power to change or fight against our laws due to our cultural bounds.

Sincerely,

Petyr Pramytha

Selene was dangerously quiet. Even Leon didn't say anything after she finished the letter. Tobias waited. She didn't know if he was plotting in his head or if he was giving her the time to think – to digest.

"Selene," he started to say softly but before he could finish the sentence, she took the letter and ripped. She ripped it into tiny, tiny pieces, letting it fall to the bottom of the carriage and not stopping until it was mere shreds. If she had been given the letter two months prior, she would've cried. She would've rushed over there and begged. She would've pleaded and gone on her knees. But she was the Lady of the Night Court and she didn't go on her knees for anybody.

"I'll do something about it, Selene. I'll send over troops – fuck, I'll go over there myself and deal with Petyr. I won't tolerate this treachery." She looked up at Tobias. The anger in his eyes were gone. Instead, there was desperation. Sympathy. Maybe he was testing her heart, maybe he was pitying her for their actions. The letter was clearly a retaliation for humiliating them and, thankfully, he knew the toll it took on her.

"No," she said firmly, "These are just words. They-he isn't actually going to do it." But deep down, she wasn't sure. Petyr was smarter than to challenge the High Lord but what about the Lady of the Night Court? He treated females like they were a completely different species. In his mind, there was quite a difference. And she knew that he saw her defiance as a call for war.

~*~ discidium ~*~

When they got to the town, only a few hours later, the letter had disappeared from the conversation. Majority of the ride was spent with Leon making inappropriate jokes and Tobias snarling dark insults. Selene was quiet, trying her best not to think of her former village. She tried not to think of her family and what they said, or didn't say, about her. She tried not to think of the drunken men sneering later, jeering about how long the High Lord will keep her in his bed before she gets replaced. And she surely didn't try thinking about her wings and how Petyr would chop them off as soon as he had the opportunity.

No, she tried not to think about any of those things at all.

"Don't look too excited, Selene," Leon said sarcastically. She looked over at him, blinking. And then she finally looked at their surroundings. If she wasn't in such a sour mood, she would have been marveled. There was a range of cottages, mixed between different shops and pubs. Each doorstep was a large blue lantern that gave out blue halos. To her, it looked at what a village should look like. Homey, beautiful. With cobblestoned streets and the sky that bounced off the various carriages parked along the street. Its architecture romanticized the village-life by making it vibrant with life and light. But because of those things, because she knew better about what a common village really was, she wasn't impressed. Instead, it angered her.

"Yeah, it's great," she said coolly, causing Leon to blink rapidly. As she stepped out of the carriage, grabbing onto the nearest hand that would help her down the carriage, though she certainly didn't need it.

"Did I say something?" Leon said behind her. He muttered to someone else, "I told you she was too perfect. What if she turns into a troll or something at night and you'll never know because she refuses to-" Selene swerved around sharply, catching Leon leaning towards Tobias. Tobias's face was blank, though she could he had been snickering. Leon shrunk back, slowly leaning away.

"I think you actually managed to piss her off," Tobias said in awe, blinking as he turned back to Leon, "I thought you'd never be able to do it."

"It didn't work when I pushed her down the stairs. Purposely."

"And that one time when you intentionally ripped the hem her favorite dress because you wanted to see how useful it would be to give to one of your mistresses."

"Oi! Or that one time I caused her horse to throw her five feet into the air and land in an ant pile!"

"Wait, you fucking didthat on purpose?"

"If only we had known it would only take a long carriage ride to get perfect-never-unhappy Lady Selene to get mad," Leon chortled on, "Oh, look, Tobias. It's the cobblestone. Remember? The one that you used to measure your pe-" Before he could finish his sentence, she rose her foot and slammed it down to the ground so hard that the helpers around her shuddered back. Tobias blinked, his eyes wide for just a moment.

"Did you just-" Leon was trying to hide his snicker, but clearly failed as his words stopped and he covered his mouth quickly. Tobias's face, still clear from emotion, masked his obvious amusement, and he asked, "Did you just stomp at us? Stomp? Like a-"

"Three year old?" Leon said, choking back on laughter. Her eyes nailed onto her husband coldly.

"I did just stomp at you, Tobias. Because if I could do anything more," she glanced around them, taking notice of the many people on the street. Out of courtesy, majority of the commoners were pretending to be elsewhere but she knew, if she did anything more than stomp, it would cause commotion. "Then all these poor people would watch you fall on your royal ass and the two more powerful men in this goddamn world will be on their knees due to a small, angry Illyrian girl. Do you want that?" Leon's mouth formed a nice circle and Tobias had lost the joking persona and instead looked cold as ice. He pointed his chin up.

"You would not-I would not have…" And then Tobias was looking her over, his eyebrows furrowing down as if he didn't even know what he was registering. But then his eyes flickered and a victorious smile stretched across his face. "Oh, look, we have friends." Serene turned her body, a snarl on her lips, but when she saw what was in front of her, her entire face dropped.

"Oh, hello." About six or seven girls stood in front of her in a tight line, smiling brightly. They were, to say the least, extremely attractive. Some had thick curls that bounced to their chest, others had straight hair that swept their face perfectly. They were all wearing a buttoned up, white fur coat. Despite their physical differences, they all appeared identical for a reason Selene couldn't detect. They barely even looked human. They were so glittered up, smiling the identical flawless smile, that they reminded Selene of dolls. Porcelain, perfect dolls.

"Tobias," she whispered desperately between the fake smile she reflected back to the girls, "Why are all these girls smiling at me?" She felt Tobias's firm hand curve over her shoulder blade. There was no sympathy when he touched her – it was like he was throwing her to the wolves.

"Why, because they like you, Selene," Tobias said, the humor leaking into his voice. But then Leon said at the same time, "And they like the idea of being in your bed, if you know what I mean." Her mouth went ajar as she swiveled towards Leon. Tobias had a small smirk but Leon – he was actually laughing.

"They want to slee-"

"We would like to congratulate you," one said. She turned to the line again, looking at the one in the middle – the blonde one who had spoken. Normally Selene would automatically accept their congratulations but Leon's words stayed with her.

"My name is Ella," the girl next to her said, a dark brunette. "We heard you were lacking a lady in waiting. We all-" She looked at the girls around her, and they all giggled in unison. "Would be honored to serve you." Selene's large eyes looked at Tobias for an explanation.

"Ladies in waiting…they…" Tobias was struggling to not laugh. "They are supposed to be the Lady's closest friends. You know, be there for casual things since it's difficult for a High Lord's wife to have every day friends. They do luncheons, getting their Lady prepared for the day, writing letters in her name, bathing her, meeting dietary needs, preparing for marital activities."

"And fucking the High Lord," Leon muttered. Selene's eyes went wide and Tobias gave him a pointed look.

"It's…infamous for them to bed the High Lord when the Lady cannot, despite how classless it may appear," Tobias said carefully, though his tone was dry with disinterest.

"And did Father take advantage out of that," Leon grumbled.

"I don't want that," Selene objected fast. "I don't want someone to clothe me and bathe me and treat me like some sort of…some sort of…" She looked at the girls and despite her voice being plenty audible, none of their smile's had moved. "some sort of doll."

"I wouldn't write them off," Tobias said evenly, one of his eyebrows up, "they can be quite amusing. I mean, of course not for my needs, but being a Lady can be quite a bore according to my mother. Go on, pick one if you'd like." And once again, she looked around at the girls. Though none of them had twitched, they looked like they were going to explode in excitement. They were all around her age, seemed to be at least nice, but what for? What do they get out of helping her? Wealth? A husband? Though Selene was a complete advocate for women, she did not want fake friends. She did not want to have people prepare her baths, laughing at her bad jokes, pretending that they liked her when really it was for materialistic ends.

"No," Selene said sharply, not even watching as all the girls' smiles dropped. "I want to go elsewhere."

~*~ discidium ~*~

Leon wasn't joking when he said that he had things to do. Right after Selene had dismissed herself from the girls, he ran off without a word. Selene glanced up at her husband, expecting to meet his glance, but his eyes were elsewhere. He was analyzing everything – every brick on every house, every child running around, and every couple who were holding hands.

"What are you looking for?" Selene finally said softly. He didn't answer her at first, was only silent as he looked around. And even when he did respond, he didn't look down to meet eyes.

"You're asking the wrong questions, Selene. What would be merciful, what would be unlethal, what would be easy," he said in a low voice. "The question is why. Who." And just like that, he was staring at a silhouette from across the cobbled street. The shadow was approaching them slowly and with the daylight beginning to disappear, it wasn't until he was five feet away did Selene glimpse his face.

"High Lord," a voice cracked. Tobias took a rapid step towards him. The man was clearly familiar because Tobias flashed a smile immediately – but not the friendly kind. The other man, tall and thick like an ox, stood with his hands behind his back. Selene noticed how the man looked her up and down curiously, and she could feel her cheeks heat up when he took notice of the wings tightly folded to her back, but he said nothing as he looked back at the High Lord.

"Let's skip formalities, Warren," Tobias replied dryly. "Tell me, when you started child slavery did you tell yourself you were saving them or were you honest that it was all economics?" Something twitched on Warren's face, just a flicker.

"I didn't think you cared about my-"

"Slavery makes my kingdom look vulnerable," Tobias growled. "Beron and his brothers are laughing at us."

"And when did Beron's family become important? He's not even High Lord yet. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if a tree fell on him and he didn't make it through the week," Warren said with a laugh. But Tobias did not laugh. His nose was flared, his shoulders pushed back tightly.

"When I decided that I was going to take over this globe, Warren." Warren didn't register his words at first, and neither did Selene. Take over the globe? Conquer everything? Have one large kingdom? Selene could only watch as she saw Warren's once tense face look overwhelmed with confliction.

"T-take over the globe? My lord, that is-"

"Do you not think I can do it?" Tobias said rapidly, taking a step with his hands tucked into his pockets. And though Warren was taller, maybe even bigger, he shrunk back. "What are you saying, Warren? Are you calling me weak?" Warren's eyes widened.

"No, High Lord," Warren said, and Selene was marveled about how fast Tobias could make a militaristic leader beg. "I just-"

"I don't think anyone here would disagree," Tobias interrupted. He swung his head towards Selene. "Do you disagree, my love? No, of course you don't disagree because everybody in this town, including my wife who has been here for a total of fifteen minutes, can tell that I'm absolutely terrifying, Warren." Warren's surprised look had vanished and he was still as stone.

"What about," he said slowly, glancing around quickly, "Velaris? I thought that was our project. That was everything – for generations. That is what this village is modeled after, what our dreams are supposed to-"

"And what if we can make everything Velaris, Warren?" Tobias asked. Selene's eyebrows knitted down. Velaris? She had never heard of it. Or at least, Tobias had never brought it up.

"Of course that's an ideal approach but, High Lord…"

"Did you know that there's a man in another lands called King Hybern, Warren?" The look on Warren's face flushed.

"I have heard of the name," he said slowly. Tobias paced around him in a circle, like a predator hunting for food.

"A dunce, he is. Laughable, to say the least," Tobias said, giving a little scoff. "I'm sure you have heard of his preaches, his worthless babbling. But, he does have a point." Warren wasn't registering it. No, he wasn't registering it at all.

"That we should scavenge every mortal in the world and enslave them?"

"No, that the Cauldron made us for a reason. Sure, yes, that simple King may think that reason is to conquer mortals, but I believe that the Cauldron created us to be ruled by one High Lord, not many. That the reason Cauldron exists, and why we have reproduced for so long, is because its whole purpose was to make the ultimate Lord. Me." There was a silence. A cold, cruel silence. And while Tobias was expecting a rapid answer, Selene didn't blame Warren for hesitating.

"I'll release the slaves immediately," he said, his eyes wide. Her High Lord smiled at him, showing his sharp teeth.

"Goodnight then, Warren. I'll contact you soon," Tobias said. Selene, as Tobias looked back at her, had a thousand questions on her lips. Taking over? Hybern? Velaris? But she couldn't find the will to open her mouth. So she let Tobias grab her small hand into his giant calloused hands.

"Come on, let's find Leon so that we can leave before day break," Tobias said.

~*~ Discidium ~*~

They found Leon at a pub. When they walked inside, still overcome with silence, they spotted Leon at the bar. He was swinging his jug of mead around, talking loudly amongst the crowd. A small smile appeared on Tobias's face.

"And now I see why he was okay with not being High Lord," Selene said. Tobias looked at her, confusion filling his eyes.

"What does that mean?" He said, leading her to a table. She would've stopped the conversation if not for the lack of attention. Nobody acknowledged them when they walked in, as if the pub itself was a safe bubble where Leon and Tobias were nothing more than regular fae.

"He likes this," she pointed out. "Laughing, being one of them. He doesn't want to stand out. He'd be perfectly fine with his title ripped away from him and just living like a normal fae." Tobias laughed at this, sipping on his mead as he shook his head.

"I'm not sure if he'd be okay with his entire title being ripped away from him," Tobias countered. "But you're right, I don't think he'd enjoy the sacrifices. I think he likes the freedom." Selene was looking over him now, looking at everything Tobias was. Cold, stiff. But with values, values she didn't quite understand.

"Was it a hard fight?" She said, her voice soft. "Becoming High Lord? Did he even try to fight you?" His smile has dropped, a flicker of sadness. He looked away for a moment, starring at the mead.

"He fought at first," he said. "Once my father died, and he felt nothing happen, he felt nothing…shifting. So he tried. But I had him pinned to a wall with a knife at his throat before he could ever take a second breath."

"And you would've done it? Kill him, that is?" Selene asked carefully. He swallowed and paused for a moment, as if for once Tobias was struggling to keep his sins inside him.

"I felt the shift," he replied. "I felt it. It was like the Cauldron chose me before I could even decide. It didn't matter if Leon was alive – the Cauldron didn't care. So, yes, I would have if he didn't back down. But the moment the knife was at his neck, and he knew I had the capability to do it, he begged me. He promised to the Cauldron he'd never fight me, never fight for the crown. So I spared him and he became my Emissary."

"And your future children, then?" She asked. "They'll be different now that you have become a High Lord like no other. Doesn't that bother you that now the laws of nature has been turned, that your future children may not be heirs? Or that now your heir cannot be predicted by strength? They'll be different."

"Heirs," he repeated, laughing, as if the word itself was absolutely absurd. She was beginning to become immune to his chilling laughter, his mockery. But with every laugh, more curiosity spun in her stomach.

"Heirs make you weak," he told her, each word clipped sharply. "Lords obsess over having heirs, even to the extent of executing their wives if they do not conceive fast enough, but heirs are simply vulnerabilities. You don't need heirs if your land is strong. We, I, am immortal. Relying on a child that results in your death makes you a target." She scooted closer to him, her head cocked to the side.

"And so that's it? You'll just never have children?" It didn't come off angry. Personally, she didn't care if she had children. She was neutral about it. She had compassion for children, yes, but the thought of it still made her ill. But the information was vital because, if he didn't have children, what else was her purpose in his court?

"Maybe one day," he said, taking a deep breath. "But not like how I was made. I was utilized by my father, trained from birth to compete for High Lord. It ruined what should've been his first priority." She nodded slowly, digesting his words.

"But your land is strong," she said, countering him. "He didn't ruin it." But then the Tobias's eyes flashed darkly. She saw something in them - maybe, for just a second, the reason he was so angry.

"You think when I say first priority that I mean his land - The Night Court," Tobias said, "But that shouldn't have been his first priority."

"What should have been his first priority then? You say having heirs were unimportant and that his land, what he breathed for, wasn't supposed to be his first priority. Then what is a High Lord's first priority?" His eyes widened, growing closer to her. His hand, rough from scars and calluses from years of fighting, stroked her soft cheek. He gave her a slight smile, a smile that didn't comfort her.

"That's not of your worries," he told her. "Do not worry about that, beautiful Selene." Selene's mouth was open, an objection on her lips, but then someone slung an arm over her neck and she inhaled an overload of what smelled like mead. She looked up and saw Leon hanging over her. She mustered a smile.

"Having fun then, Leon?" She asked. He smiled back.

"Oh, I haven't even gotten started," he said. "We-"

"Are leaving before starlight ends," Tobias finished coolly. "I know we were meant to spend a few days here but it's time to leave." Even Selene's face dropped when he said that.

"But Tobes, we just got here. Look at the alcohol, the ladies – oh, sorry, Selene. But really, we just arrived in this godsend of a town. What about all the luggage we brought?" Leon said, nearly drooling. Tobias put down his drink and stood up.

"I came here to talk to Warren and that was it," Tobias said. "And if I stay here, he'll think too much about his agreement to free the children. Plus, I'd rather not have to find a place to stay the night. Now, come on." Despite Leon's objections, Tobias led the way out of the pub and they traveled underneath the colorful stars. It was more than once that Selene had to stop Leon from hitting the glowing lanterns that shined at each doorstep.

"Don't bother," Tobias said, his voice slightly agitated. "Let him run into them. It's not like he has many brain cells left anyways." And though she scowled, he took her hand lovingly as Leon began to sing amongst the street. Many people were still out, snickering at him as they passed by.

"Wait," Leon said suddenly, stopping outside a pub. He was looking at it longingly. Tobias took a step towards him with a snarl.

"Leon, I know you are piss-head drunk, but there is no way in hell that you are going back to a damn pub-"

"Rosalie," Leon said softly. Both Selene and Tobias looked at what Leon was staring at and she could feel Tobias tense when he saw it. When she caught what they were looking at, confusion swept over her.

"That's Rosalie," she whispered. Rosalie. It was hard to depict her at first because the pub was overflowing with people but sure enough Rosalie was in there, trying rigorously to seduce older men. She was wearing a red, glittery piece of cloth that only covered her boobs and a see-through skirt that had long slits at the sides. Golden ringlets ran up and down her arms and Selene had forgotten how luscious her red curls were. She was giving a lap dance to a drunken man. All the other men around him were laughing hysterically, despite her stunning beauty, and she acted completely oblivious to it.

"Why is she here?" Selene asked. Leon winced at the sight, as if seeing her here was just as painful for him to witness as it was for Selene to register the scene.

"This is where she lives," Tobias replied. "This is where we met her." Selene's mouth went slightly ajar.

"You knew her before you became High Lord?" She blurted. "But, I always assumed she was professionally taught to be your mistress. I always thought it was, well, her career. Not to be working as some whore at a pub." It wasn't entirely farfetched – many people would scout Illyarian villages for beautiful girls in order to teach them how to seduce and become mistresses to higher fae.

"Rosalie was more than just a piece of candy – though she did act like it when she walked around naked," Leon said, snorting. "She was a friend, Selene. We've known her since we were children. She had lived with us, laughed with us. She is no longer needed in the court, and it was far past her time to leave, but do not disregard her as something bad. Everything she is, she is for a reason." Tobias watched her carefully, trying to find a reaction on her face. Her eyebrows knitted down curiously, but again Rosalie's previous relation to her new family didn't bother her. If anything, it only made her turn towards Tobias.

"Why did you cast her out then?" She asked him, remembering his abrupt fit he had the day Selene arrived at his estate. He shrugged dismissively, rolling his eyes.

"As Leon said, she should've left way before I dismissed her," he agreed. "She was close to us both but if she wasn't a mistress, what would be her position at my court? What would be my excuse to keep her? Because she's my friend?" Selene's crystal-like eyes followed his gaze, watching the young girl. The last time she had seen her, she was infuriated. She felt like it should be Rosalie in her place, not her. But now that she looked at her now, falling on drunken men's laps, holding a too-tight smile on her face, Selene saw how Rosalie wasn't made to be a Lady. Even if she stopped being flirtatious and left her mistress days behind her, Selene saw the scars on her body, the natural sex appeal that would cause her to be disrespected.

"We should probably go," Tobias said, clearing his throat. But just as they began to walk away from the pub, Selene caught Rosalie's eye. Rosalie's smile dropped for just a moment and her body froze, but not even a second later Rosalie had turned away and was back to touching her client. As if she had never even locked eyes with her.

~*~ discidium ~*~

The carriages weren't far off, but the walk seemed unbearable. Though it wasn't snowing when they left the pub, snowflakes started to stir in the air as they walked across the town. Both of the boys had the appropriate clothes but Selene's dress, thin and flimsy, she might as well have been naked.

"I told you to wear comfortable clothes," Tobias scowled, wrapping his arms around her as she shivered.

"I thought you meant flexible clothes," she said, swinging her head towards him. "You never told me it would snow-"

"It's the Night Court. It always snows at night," Tobias said, shaking his head at her as if she had lost her mind. "You lived in a village, Selene. You should know this."

"You told me to wear comfortable clothes!" Selene repeated. "Plus, my village is far more north."

"We are still in the Night Court!" Tobias exclaimed. "Anyways, does it really matter? Look, we are almost to the carriages, Selene." Selene rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Well maybe next time, tell me to pack a damn blank-"

"Oh my Cauldron," Leon interrupted, stopping behind them. Both Tobias and Selene swung around. Behind them, not too far off, a figure was running towards them. As she got closer, Selene depicted who it was.

It was Rosalie, with the clothes she was still wearing on but a dark red, velvet blanket wrapped around her. She wasn't even wearing shoes. Leon's face looked stricken but Tobias – he was slightly pulling Selene away.

"It's nice to see you, Rosalie, but we best be going," Tobias said coolly. Leon, on the other hand, was frozen. Tobias, growling, took a step towards Leon and grabbed the back of his shirt, making him blink. He looked at Tobias and then back at Rosalie. Slowly, he began walking backwards as well.

"You're here, you're both really here," Rosalie's voice broke, tears forming in her eyes. Tobias looked away coldly and Leon winced.

"We just came to…do some errands," Leon said dismissively. "We weren't meant to stay long."

"Come have a drink with me," Rosalie said. There was desperation in her voice. "I never thought I'd see you again. You both look good – not that I expected any less. And…you, you look beautiful." It took a moment for Selene to register that Rosalie was talking to her. She blinked at her rapidly before responding. She escaped from Tobias's grip and took a step towards her.

"Oh, well, thank you. That's-" Tobias yanking at her hand, making her trip back. The carriage was waiting but Rosalie, bundled tightly in her velvet red blanket, was still walking towards them. The boys were doing their best to make distance between them and Rosalie.

"Don't you want to know how I've been?" Rosalie said. "It's been good here. I can show you around! It hasn't changed much, Manny still works the bar and Patricia…" But they weren't listening. Instead they were hustling towards the carriages.

"Tobias," Selene hissed, her eyes unable to look away from Rosalie. She looked like she was breaking, slowly breaking. And yet, Tobias wouldn't even listen.

"Get in," Tobias demanded, opening the door to the carriage roughly. Selene looked at him tightly.

"We can't just-"

"I'm not going to say it again, Selene," Tobias spat. "Get in." Was this what his guilt was like? Did it come out in anger? Ferociousness? Selene went in obediently, trying to pretend she hadn't heard Tobias's demanding tone. But her eyes were still latched onto the beautiful redhead. Tobias scooted in beside her, pushing her further into the carriage as if doing so would break her attention from Rosalie. But she hovered over him, watching the pitiful girl from the window.

"Leon," Rosalie said, begging now. Leon didn't turn to look at her. Instead, he continued into the carriage, not a single emotion on his face. Neither of the boys, as they sat down, looked outside the carriage but Selene couldn't tear her eyes away. Rosalie, wrapped in her blanket tightly, looked so tiny. So vulnerable. Like her.

"Wait!" Selene screeched as the cart began to move. It stopped jerkily. Tobias upper lip curled up in surprise and Leon shook his head at her fast, his eyes wide. But she was not the girl that she was when she first walked into the castle – not now, not ever. She sat up straighter, leaning towards Tobias.

"I want her," she said. Tobias snorted at her.

"And what would we do with her, Selene?" Tobias said, laughing coldly. "Keep her for charity?" Leon's jumped to both of them fast, as if he knew how badly this could end if she lost the argument.

"You offered me a lady in waiting, yes?" She asked. Tobias squinted at her.

"You want my old whore to be your lady in waiting?" He repeated mockingly, cruelty lurking in his words. She nodded.

"Yes, I do," she said. "I want her now." Tobias's sneer didn't twitch as he looked at her, his tight glare not dropping.

"Fine, then," he said flatly. "Rosalie, get in here." At first Rosalie's solemn face contorted, her mouth slightly ajar.

"What?" Rosalie breathed. Tobias turned towards her, his eyes far from friendly.

"Apparently, my wife wants you to be a lady in waiting," Tobias growled, not without shooting Selene a look. Selene smiled at him in return. "So get in the damn carriage behind us. And Leon-" Leon sighed exaggeratedly. "Go to the other carriage with her. And no, I don't care how much luggage there is."

~*~ discidium ~*~

Wow, that was a long chapter. It's been a while since I've posted on here, so I thought to update one of my stories! Please review and tell me if you'd like to read more! It's summer so I'll probably update fairly fast if you give me the motivation. Also, I'd highly recommend some of my other stories if you like my writing. My more popular fanfics that have to do with ACOTAR is A Mate's Sin (A "what if" story if Rhys had taken at the end of the first book), A Crisp of Spring (a post-acowar story about Tamlin rebuilding his lands with the unexpected Jurian at his side), and a Wind of Whisps and Shadows (a post-acowar centering around Azriel and his estranged biological brother). AGAIN, PLS REVIEW (also I made a bajillion mistakes in here because I'm too lazy to edit so please forgive me)