It took no more than a week for Rhys to recover, mostly from the blood loss and the concussion. The stitches on his neck still needed time but Thesan himself had taken a moment to assure Rhys and Feyre there would be little scarring to mar Rhys' beautiful looks. It had given Feyre a laugh that she had desperately needed.
Rhys had only stayed in the hospital for one more day after waking up, to make sure he could manage on his own, before he was sent home. And while he loved his brothers, he seriously could not wait for the moment they moved back out of his house to their own respective places.
Azriel had taken up residence in the living room while Cassian had taken Feyre's old room. The bed was too short which had him complaining constantly. Azriel, however, didn't complain once about the couch that he slept on when he did sleep.
And because they were his brothers, he felt more than obligated to spend the week with them, reassuring them he was indeed alive and remembering his father's advice. But he truly just wanted a few days alone with Feyre to hold her while they watched a movie or read. He wanted to assure her the way she needed, which was being as close as possible to him. He had tried once, to let her cuddle up to him while he watched a movie with his brothers, but Cassian had started to make gagging noises that had eventually driven Feyre to another chair.
Feyre was oddly quiet, her fire muted, and he understood. It had been traumatic for her. He hadn't truly had a chance for it to be traumatic to him. It had happened so fast. But for Feyre, she had been begging his body to live for nearly an entire day. She had been covered in his blood. She had lost him and had regained him.
Mor came over nightly to spend time with her favorite cousin, she claimed. He reminded her often he was her only cousin. But she also spent a good amount of time with Feyre trying to talk out wedding plans. Feyre obliged her but wasn't nearly as forthcoming as she had been in the car right before everything.
At their Saturday family dinner, Rhys finally revealed his plans to everyone to make their association with Velaris public. Not only that, but also to open it up for businesses to apply to be under their protection. He directed most of his plans to Feyre, who only nodded along. It would affect her the most. Instead of scouting businesses and artists, she would likely be meeting with them in her office in a steady stream if it created the sort of buzz everyone else believed it might.
They spent most of dinner coming up with criteria and limits until Mor claimed she was exhausted and Amren was already heading for the door. When Cassian got up to take care of the dishes, Rhys made a point to take Feyre's hands and pulled her up from the table. She followed wordlessly as Azriel made his way to the kitchen.
The climbed up to the third floor and then up to the rooftop garden where he had an iron table and chairs, and remnants of the drinks his brothers had had last night after he and Feyre had gone to bed. He sat in one of the chairs and pulled Feyre onto his lap, letting her cuddle in until her head was resting on his shoulder and her hand was over his heart.
"This is truly dependent on you, Darling," he broke the silence after only a few minutes.
"It will make things busier, but I think it needs to be done. We can't find everyone that needs help scouting here and there, and not everyone needs or wants help. This way people know they can come to us," Feyre replied. "Are you ready to open yourself up like this?"
"I think so. It will be a necessary change to show the world we aren't what we pretend to be. Make my family's company a positive change in the world," he stroked her hair. "And if you ever grant me the blessing of children, they won't have to grow up playing this game."
He had never asked her about children, if she wanted them or not. Given her not so wonderful childhood, he wasn't sure if she actually wanted children. They used contraceptive tonics to keep their activities from producing children but that wasn't uncommon for unmarried couples and they had never truly discussed it. It was just something both of them did.
"As the wife of some big important CEO with a legacy in a big company, isn't giving you a child required?" Feyre asked softly.
"No. Your body is your own, Feyre. If you don't want to have a child, that's fine. I am happy just to have you forever," he squeezed her tighter to himself.
"Do you want children?" Feyre asked him, her eyes turning up to see his face.
"I would be honored if you ever wanted to give me a child, Feyre," he assured her. "But if you don't want to, I can make due with Cassian."
Below them, three stories below them in the courtyard garden, they both heard Cassian growl out a curse on both of them. Feyre burst out laughing immediately and Rhys couldn't help but follow suit. He hadn't known his brother, or more likely brothers, were eavesdropping from below but it had worked well in his favor.
"I don't feel like I've gotten enough time with just you," Rhys commented as they both turned their eyes up to the stars above them.
"So you want to hold off on children," Feyre replied.
"That's not what I meant," he sighed. He hadn't even drawn the connection between the two conversations until she had made it for him. "I meant, with Cass and Az here all week and Mor dropping in, I haven't had enough time to just sit and be with you. Maybe another vacation is in order."
"We haven't even gone back to work from the last one," she let out a soft laugh. "And we should get these changes off the ground. Make your dreams come true."
"You are my dream come true," Rhys breathed out. A dream he hadn't even been aware he had. Some long-lost wish on the stars above him.
"To the dreams that are answered," Feyre murmured, snuggling in closer to his chest.
"And the stars who listen," Rhys concluded, folding his arms around her tighter.
Rhys would have been content to fall asleep in the chair on the roof that night as Feyre had already fallen asleep cuddled into his lap, but Cassian seemed unable to allow them any more peace as he burst onto the roof and startled Feyre wide awake in his reminder that Rhys should be resting properly in a bed. He was followed by a very apologetic Azriel.
"We should go to bed," Feyre sighed and detangled herself from him.
He followed after her plotting terrible ways to wake Cassian up in the morning. Inside the privacy of the bedroom and behind a locked door, Rhys pulled Feyre back to him to strip the clothes from her body. They hadn't been sleeping unclothed since his brothers had come to stay, but it was their problem not his or Feyre's if they walked into his bedroom to see them unclothed. She was happy to assist him in undressing as well until every last article of clothing was on the floor in a heap in front of the door.
"Another week and then we won't pull stitches on accident," he whispered. "But I can do this." He slipped his hand down between her legs. "It's been too long since I last heard you moaning out my name."
"Are you trying to drive Cassian and Azriel out?" She whimpered as she opened more fully to him.
"Mostly just Cassian," Rhys admitted. "Az has been fine." He started to suck on the pulse point on her neck. "Tomorrow morning I'm going to put that stuffed Bryaxis in the shower for him."
Feyre barked out a laugh followed by an exceptionally loud moan when he pressed down on just the right spot. Her moans only got louder as he worked her up to the point where she would shatter. He would have given anything to be inside of her while she went over the edge, but it would have to wait. He kissed her softly as she came down and began to stroke her body in the way that usually lulled her to sleep.
When she was out, he heard the quietest knock on the door. He didn't even bother hiding his nudity or that certain parts of him were still very aroused as he went to open the door. Cassian stood on the other side silently wrestling with Azriel. It appeared Azriel had been holding him back from the door by the hold Cassian was trying to escape.
"Feyre needs her rest. I'd prefer you not wake her up with another loud intrusion," he spoke quietly and both of his brothers stopped to look at him. He saw Cassian take in his nudity and quickly advert his gaze.
"Did you pull any stitches?" Cassian whisper demanded.
"I believe the ruling was I was not to engage in sex, not that I couldn't use my right hand," Rhys raised an eyebrow at his brother.
"There is no way you can get her to make all of that noise with one hand," Cassian's jaw was slack.
"Just because you need a number of toys and tricks to get your dates to want to come back doesn't mean Rhys does," Feyre called out from the bed. "Now, get out or I'll start going into detail about exactly how skilled my husband-to-be is."
Rhys watched Cassian glance between a well covered Feyre and himself before Azriel pulled him away. There was a moment, before they went down the hall again, Rhys believed Cassian might actually ask for those details as he seemed to be in complete disbelief. He'd gladly tell Cassian exactly how to please a female if only to scandalize him a little more. But for now, he closed the door and turned back to Feyre, marveling in the fact she had used the word husband.
On Sunday morning Rhys woke well before Feyre for once. He slipped from the bed while she cuddled further into the pillows, left her a note, and slipped from the house. He had somehow made it past a sleeping Cassian and he thought he might get all the way to his car but Azriel was already there, leaning against the hood of his sports car with his quiet smile.
"Where are we going?" He asked. Rhys only grinned and shook his head. He hadn't tried to sneak out the past week because he couldn't just leave Feyre when she was vulnerable, but he also knew his brothers were difficult to escape. Cassian could be bypassed if he was asleep, but Azriel… the man had to have informants in the shadows for how he was always prepared and ready to go.
"I thought I'd get Feyre some flowers and bring back breakfast," Rhys explained.
"Any particular flower shop?" Azriel raised an eyebrow likely already knowing what Rhys had in mind. A small flower shop in the southern area of Prythian, owned by Feyre's own sister.
Azriel took the driver's seat before Rhys could try and he resigned himself to the passenger's seat. At least Azriel was the perfect company for this. He was quiet and wouldn't intervene unless necessary. Cassian and Mor would likely attack the poor girl, physically. Amren would just glare her down like she might eat her.
It took nearly twenty minutes to reach the shop and Rhys was aware immediately at how it stood out like a gem amongst the chain stores all around it. Azriel followed him inside as he walked past a counter of chocolates, past various potted, green house plants for sale, and past the cooler of various flowers and premade bouquets to the counter where Feyre's pretty blonde sister sat by herself.
"How can I help you?" She asked, looking up at him. He immediately noted the less than half hearted attempt at a smile, the slightly glazed look in her eye that looked far too much like how Feyre had been the last week, and the way she held herself rigid as if she might crumple to the ground if she didn't.
"I'm looking for Elain Archeron, is that you?" He asked knowing full well he was correct.
"Please, I can get the money. Just give me a few days," Elain pleaded, her voice breaking.
"Money?" Rhys looked to Azriel who shrugged. Apparently, he didn't have the information on this one either. A rare occurance. "I was looking to order a bouquet for delivery, and to speak with you."
"Oh," she breathed out. "I'm sorry. Let me just get my book."
"Is everything alright?" Rhys asked, feeling some need to protect her despite what she had done to Feyre. He recalled Feyre's words about her sisters. Nesta was the cold heartless one. Elain was just one of those people that made you want to keep her safe from the horrors of the world because she saw so much good in it.
"I'm sorry. My fiancée- my ex-fiancee, somehow put all of the bills in my name for the wedding we were supposed to have in a few weeks. I'm trying to keep up with the payments but it's been a struggle." Elain twisted a ring on her finger as the words sunk into Rhys' mind. Her wonderful fiancée she was utterly in love with and had been gushing over a wedding with, had dumped her and left her with the bill.
"Why would he leave such a beautiful lady?" Rhys asked.
"He said I lied to him. That I withheld that my sister, my youngest sister was dating some 'half breed mongrel', whatever that means. It would look bad for his father," tears started to form in her eyes. "I haven't even seen my sister since our father died." Elain shook her head.
"I'm sorry," Rhys pressed a hand to his heart and meant it. He was the reason her marriage had fallen through but perhaps that wasn't a horrible thing if something that simple had ruined everything.
"Why are you sorry? It's not you're fault. If anything, Nesta, my older sister, said it's my younger sister's fault for disgracing herself with some poor foreigner lowlife." Elain lifted a heavy book onto the counter and started to open it.
"Perhaps I should explain why I am sorry," Rhys felt his own cheeks burning more with rage than shame at what had been said about Feyre. "I'm looking for a very large and expensive bouquet for my fiancée. Her name is Feyre Archeron and I'm the half-breed mongrel that gave your now ex a shitty excuse to hurt you." Rhys waited for a moment. A long moment. And then Elain's hands came up to cover her mouth as the words fully sank in.
"Oh!" Was the only thing to escape her mouth for a long minute and then she blushed deeply. "I can't give a discount because it's my sister," came the quiet response.
"Mr. Rhysand Nox is not looking for a discount. He came here looking for a bouquet for his soon-to-be wife," Azriel stepped in. Rhys and Azriel both watched Elain's eyes go wide once more before Rhys took the book from Elain and flipped to the most expensive section. "There, that one." Azriel pointed to one full of dark but vibrant purples and blues. "She'd probably want to paint it."
"You're right," Rhys smiled. "And perhaps that will save me from the berating I'll get for buying them for her." He turned to Elain and took a pen and paper from in front of her. "This is the address of where they should be delivered. I'd like them there by 9 AM. We're going to have a long day and it will be nice to give her something to smile at. Someone at the front desk will have security escort your delivery person to the executive floor to have them delivered."
Rhys looked around once more at the small shop. It was cozy, homey, and bore the simple name Elain's on a sign behind the counter that matched the one outside. Feyre was correct, it was the kind of shop Velaris would protect.
"I suppose I shouldn't come home empty handed today. Can you make me up something beautiful to bring her? No red and no roses," Rhys pressed. "We can wait." Elain simply nodded.
It only took a few minutes and the arrangement was beautifully done. Elain was truly talented. As talented as Feyre was with a pen or paintbrush.
"The full cost for the delivery tomorrow and this bouquet is two hundred and three marks," Elain told him, a bit of skepticism in her voice. But it disappeared when his charge card when through.
"Perhaps I should set up weekly deliveries. Let her always have something beautiful in her office," Rhys stopped to pick up a business card. "Is that possible, Ms. Archeron?"
"Yes," she breathed out.
"Then let's do that. I don't care what you send so long as it's beautiful, has few to no roses, and avoids red," Rhys smiled. "I want it similar in price to the one I'm having delivered tomorrow."
"She's going to kill you," Azriel laughed as they aimed for the door.
"She hasn't called me 'Prick' in at least a week. I'm starting to miss it," Rhys chuckled back. "And this gives her something to complain about that isn't my recent accident or the amount of work I'm about to drop on her after the press conference tomorrow. Now let's go find breakfast."