RHYSAND
I met up with Mor and Amren in my private residence above the Night Court, feeling relieved that Feyre now had an ally with her in that atrocious court. I hadn't yet told her but I was getting worried about her being so close to Tamlin as Calanmai had actually passed that night we spent in the cabin. I would tell her as soon as she woke up, I hated keeping secrets from her. Tamlin would have gone through the rite without Feyre, which pleased me when I thought about it.
"How's Nesta and Elain?" I asked Amren as soon as I arrived.
"Nesta's still furious and taking it out in the cabin, while Elain is making more and more of those flowers spring up around the cabin," She said, grimacing.
I winced at the thought of Nesta destroying the cabin and possibly also destroying parts of Feyre's painting in the midst of it all. Another thing I would have to warn Feyre about, and also to inform her that Elain had started sprouting plants from her fingertips all around her. "What about Cassian and Azriel?"
Mor spoke up. "Azriel's getting better. The wound's mostly healed now and he's almost back to normal. He's keeping Cassian company in the House of Wind, who's… a bit worse for wear."
We were all silent at that. An Illyrian losing his wings meant shame and depression, and most would rather die than face the world without their wings. We still had hope that his wings would grow back but the healers had told us if that were to happen, it wouldn't occur until a long while later.
"I'll go check up on him later," I said quietly.
They both nodded and looked at each other once with looks that definitely were not meant for me. "What?" I demanded.
They both turned back to me and it was Mor who answered me. "Are… you okay? What with Feyre taken from you and your mate bond fresh, you're not… feral?" She asked hesitantly.
I turned so my back faced them, and it took a while for me to answer. And when I did, I told them the truth and what I truly felt. "Of course it affects me. It drives me crazy to think that she's in our enemy's courts, living a life that she doesn't want. But remember that she is my and yours and the court's High Lady, and this is her sacrifice for us to live. So can I be feral about her trying to protect her court? It makes me love her even more if that makes any sense."
I felt a shadow behind me, and it was Mor once more who placed her hand on my shoulder and gently turned me back around to face her. "We know," She said, turning back to Amren who gave her a nod, and then turning back, "We know," She repeated, "And we will get her back. I promise."
I nodded and spread my wings behind me. "I'm going to head to Velaris now. No progress with the book yet?"
Amren shook her head.
"Okay then. Well, I'll see you tomorrow I guess," and with that, I flew away.
The night air was cool on my skin, and the weather was great today. Unfortunately, all I could think about was how Feyre would have loved it, how her hands would have felt encircling my neck while I carried her, and how beautiful she would have looked with her hair whipping around by the wind. How she would have loved the casual little responses I would whisper into her ear about lacy little underthings or wingspans, and how her pulse would have fluttered beneath my kisses.
I landed at the House of Wind and folded my wings in so they lied on my inner shoulder blades. Walking in, I could already feel the pain and destruction. Listening, I could hear ceramic and glass being broken and shadows trying to soothe something. I walked down the hallways and went into Cassian's room.
It was like an explosion had occurred in there. Or a natural disaster, whichever one caused more devastation. Azriel was in there, which explained the shadows. Cassian was growling on the floor, his wings, Cauldron his wings, didn't look any different than the last time. He saw me and groaned.
"By the Cauldron, can't any of you just leave me alone?" He growled.
"Cassian. You shouldn't be hurting yourself over this." I said, crossing my arms.
"You're one to talk. You've never felt this way before, have you? Your wings, torn apart from you. Well, once almost, but still no. You still have your wings. I don't, Rhys. And I'm so fucked up I feel like I would rather die a thousand times than be in this position right now," He spat out.
I turned to look at Azriel for confirmation and he gave me a nod, shadows dispersing.
"What-"Cassian looked up at me.
"I'm really sorry for this," I said, and then rendered him unconscious.
Azriel caught him before he fell to the floor and both of us placed him on the bed. A wave of my hand cleaned the room. I turned to Azriel.
"He's going to be pissed when he wakes up," I muttered.
"Not if you bring Nesta along with you the next time you come for a visit," He said.
I shouldn't be surprised, he was my spymaster, and a good one at that. "All it would take to calm him down would be her saying his name a couple times and we wouldn't have to worry anymore," I told him.
He agreed with me.
"I should have told him before I put him to sleep," I sighed.
"He would have laughed at you and gone straight back to grovelling on the floor," He told me.
It was Feyre's blood that had healed my wings and wounds when we had been ambushed that morning after the night in the inn. Three mouthfuls, which was what she had told me. Maybe it would work for Cassian's wings, but right now she wasn't here for that. And the small primal part of me that was still fresh from the mate bond instinctively wanted to fight against it but I had to push it down for my brother's sake.
We both walked out of Cassian's room, deciding to leave the door slightly ajar so we could hear when he woke up.
"Are you feeling better?" I asked him.
"Much," He replied, rolling back his shoulders. "Of course, flying still stings the wound a bit but it should be a day or two before everything returns to normal."
We talked for a while after that, about how the rest were faring and how things were back in the Night Court and here in Velaris. I wanted to give Azriel more time to rest so I left after a while, promising to bring Nesta the next time I came if she wanted to.
The next morning, I awoke to Feyre's voice.
Awake, Rhys?
Thanks for the wake-up call.
I could feel her smile.
I need to tell you something.
What is it?
I took a deep breath and told her everything, about my suspicions of Tamlin and Ianthe, about Nesta, Elain, Cassian, and Azriel.
Why Ianthe? Of all the two faced bitches in the world, she had to be the maiden.
I winced at the increment of betrayal she felt.
Other than yourself in the Spring Court, Ianthe would have been another powerful fae, her being a High Priestess. It would only make sense if she was chosen as the maiden to perform the rite with Tamlin, and she would definitely make sure she would be chosen as the maiden to increase the amount of power she had.
That would explain why Tamlin was so agitated when he found out that Ianthe had left the Spring Court, with part of the power being taken with her. I thought it was because he wouldn't have the change to exact his punishment on her but his anger seemed too much, too powerful for something like that.
I felt her pause.
Nesta and Cassian… do you think they're mates?
I contemplated it.
They could be. Nesta's good at hiding her emotions and Cassian is denying it like there's no tomorrow but I'm pretty sure they're both attracted to each other.
If she hears you say that, Cassian won't be the only one who gets kneed in the balls by her.
I laughed.
You have such a wicked mouth, Feyre.
I can show you what else I can use that wicked mouth for when I get back to you.
I could feel the desire rolling off in waves from the both of us, but we could do nothing other than lust for each other until we had each other in our arms again. I left for the cabin, hoping against hope that Nesta hadn't destroyed any of Feyre's paintings. I wouldn't mind if she drew a moustache or two on Cassian though.
I took note of the flowers that had sprung up around the house, roses and violets. Walking into the house, I saw that there were more roses and violets everywhere, around every nook and cranny, sprouting up under the floorboards, around cracks in the cupboards and walls. The whole cabin smelled like the goddamned Spring Court, and my nose crinkled at the fact that where Feyre and I had mated had been turned into a replica of the place she thought was a prison.
Elain walked into the living room and was startled a little by my presence.
"Rhysand-I didn't realize you were visiting," She stuttered.
Nesta followed close behind her and frowned when she saw I was there.
"I thought the whole point of this cabin doing things for you was that there would be no need for anyone to check up on us or do anything for us," Nesta muttered.
"Well Nesta, someone has to make frequent visits to make sure you don't destroy everything in here, especially Feyre's paintings," I purred.
"I wouldn't destroy Feyre's paintings. Maybe draw a few things on Cassian but that's all." She snapped.
I smiled to myself. Of course, those predictions had to be correct. By the Cauldron, when she found out they were mates… I had a feeling she could be the more possessive one and snarl at any females who stared too long in Cassian's direction, or at his right, or at his left.
"Speaking of Cassian, we might just need you to calm him down in the House of Wind. I'm pretty sure you've been noted of what happens when Illyrians lose their wings."
"Mor told me something about that. And if Cassian seriously can't control himself after losing his wings, how could I have expected him to protect me and my sister?" She spat out.
A cold rage simmered in me at how she dared talked about my brother, but I diluted it to a tiny stream. This was Feyre's sister after all, and possibly the person my brother loved, who she was now insulting.
"Be reminded, Nesta, that him losing his wings was to protect his brother, Azriel. He didn't do it in vain. He did it to protect someone he loved. He may not have been able to keep his promise to you but I can assure you he will never break it ever again, but you may not have the chance to see that if he doesn't calm down and not act like he could break and die anytime soon," I said coldly.
She was silent, and I felt both pleased and guilty about the flash of realization and pain for Cas in her eyes, at what he had gone through to protect someone close to him.
"And what of Feyre? Isn't she in the court with that High Fae who trapped her in his home?" Elain asked quietly.
I rolled back my shoulders. "We will get her back. But right now she's stuck there and we have no choice but to wait for the right time to strike."
"Wait? Couldn't you, I don't know, storm in into the Court and get her back?" Nesta asked promptly.
"That would be an act of war, entering other lands without the High Lord's permission," I replied.
"And is that not what you want? A war? Will there be no wars this time around, High Lord, because I'm pretty sure that is what is required right now, at this moment." Nesta said.
"We are starting a war against the King of Hybern, not between all of the Courts. To defeat the King, we have to get most of the Courts on our side, although I'm pretty sure the Spring Court has already most likely allied with him," I explained.
"Then would that not support you entering the Spring Court's lands to get your mate back?"
Elain spoke up, "And what of my mate, Nesta?"
Nesta flinched at that, but Elain continued. "What of my mate in the Spring Court? Do you wish to kill him in the midst of getting Feyre back?"
Nesta turned to her sister. "You will not be mated to that red haired prick, Elain."
My lips turned up at the sound of that nickname.
"He is a beast like the rest of them." She snarled.
"Them? Are we not them now too, Nesta? Fae?" Elain asked her.
Nesta flinched once more at the mention of them as fae. I felt that it was high time I left, and for them to continue their banter alone.
"Although your conversation is rather intriguing, ladies, I'll be leaving right now. Nesta, can I count on you to be waiting for me tomorrow so I can bring you to Cassian to try to calm him down? Or do you wish to stay here and reject everything related to the Fae world that comes your way?" I asked her, a challenge behind those words.
She glared at me, and like I expected, did not back down. "I suppose we would need him if we want to win this war. I'll be waiting for you here, all right."
I nodded and left them.
