Chapter 1: A Star
Starfall was one of the most special nights for my family, it was an endless night of joy, laughter, and dancing.
Although I didn't much care for dancing, there was rarely a time I could say no to my family, especially after all we'd been through.
I flew through Velaris up to the house of Wind to celebrate.
As soon as I got closer my heart gave an uncomfortable thud as it always did at the thought of seeing Mor, especially ever since she opened to us and shared her deepest secret.
The secret that shattered centuries of wondering "what if" of endless sleepless nights of trying to sense a bond between us.
It was never going to be attainable because she would never truly want or love me.
The relief of that information left me and It was almost instantaneous the knowledge that I wasn't the issue or that I wasn't worth it but because I was worth we both were and because she knew that we both deserved better than a half love story.
When the words came out, she looked at no one else but me, her beautiful eyes full of pain and hope held onto mine and never looked away even when I knew my thundering heart was loud enough for her and for the rest of our family to hear.
I can still picture her face as I walked to her and kneeled, so my face was closer to hers as she sat on the couch.
I looked at her and kissed her so lightly on her lips that we barely touched, and I told her low enough that our family would not be able to hear that I loved her and that I would also love her future partner and that this love we share although not what I longed it to be will always be cherished. She looked at me like she had never seen me before and then smiled her huge, gorgeous smile and we hugged and held on to each other. I pulled away kissed her head and flew off into the city I loved.
That was nearly 10 years ago and shortly after that conversation, Mor brought home Alidae a beautiful seamstress who had just moved to Velaris from the day court. Alidae had beautiful bronze-colored skin that glimmered in the sun. Her hair was down to her waist in waves of deep copper and had the clearest blue eyes, almost like looking at a crystal. She was kind, and soft-spoken almost like Elaine but was fierce and laughed at everything. She was good for Mor, she brought out a light in Mor that we've never seen, and although at times I thought about the future with I had always longed for I know now that it was just a fantasy, not reality, and the main reason was that Alidae was it, she was Mors present and future.
My future is still out there, after seeing my brothers so happy with their mates had been making me long for someone, and for the first time that longing no longer looks like Mor.
As I land, I hear my family, I hear Alidae and Cassian cackling like they've had too much to drink already. I can feel myself smile, and then that smile turns into a full-blown grin when I hear my niece giggling.
I turn to see that Nix has landed behind me and is carrying his baby sister, Melody.
Melody sees me and begins to move so Nix can put her down and she runs to me as fast as she can in her small legs.
It was a surprise when two years ago Feyre was pregnant with her fourth. Especially after how long it took for the third pregnancy to happen. After Nix was born, Layla came along five years later and then Azcer came along thirty years after. Feyre and Rhys had assumed that it was only going to be Nix and Layla for a long time and we're a bit devastated but we're also grateful to have any offspring at all. Many Fae couples never have offspring at all. But then Azcer made his appearance and so we all thought that Feyre and Rhys had completed their family. So, when Melody made her debut, it was nothing short of a surprise.
The best surprise.
Melody jumps into my arms and starts to babble. She can only say certain words and for the most part, we all must guess what she says.
"Az, Fly" Melody says as she points at the sky, her bright smile, and big violet eyes. Melody and Nix are the only ones who got Rhys eyes the other two got Feyres blue ones.
Nix laughs and moves closer to us; he tickles her belly, and she smacks his hand away as she giggles.
"No, Melody. Mama is waiting for us" Nix tells her as he tries to grab her. She holds on to me harder and I smile.
"Later Melly" I whisper in her ear, and she reaches up and kisses my cheek, my shadows drift to her and she laughs at them always trying to catch them but unable to. She is the only one of all my nieces and nephews who went straight to my shadows and wasn't afraid.
Nix shakes his head and mutters something along the lines of sucker, I snicker and begin walking to where everyone is at.
I pat Nix on the back.
"Happy birthday Nix" I tell him as we almost reach our family.
"Thanks, but Don't remind me unc"
"Why, not excited to finally hit triple digits" I smirk at him.
Nix is turning 100 today and has been grumbling about it all year, we keep reminding him that were hundreds of years old and that he will be too one day.
"I can't believe im basically as old as you now, I can officially say that I've been around for a century. It sounds daunting."
I smirk at him "The only daunting thing is you getting another brother or sister who is a hundred years younger than you."
He gapes at me.
"They wouldn't, I'm already 98 years older than Melody" he snaps.
"Eight" Melody yells out, making us chuckle.
"Who knows you might have to find ways to keep your parents apart" I mess with him.
"I need to have a serious conversation with them" he whispers to himself, and I almost laugh out loud until I see everyone standing on a terrace and overlooking the city, waiting for Starfall to begin.
"Mama" Melody yells out once she sees Feyre.
Everyone turns to look at us.
I go to put Melody down, but she doesn't want to, and she holds on to me.
Feyre smiles when she sees that her youngest is going nowhere.
"Az, it looks like you're on Uncle duty tonight" Feyre smirks and looks over at Rhys with a seducing smile."
Before I say anything, Nix decided to have that serious conversation with his parents.
"No, don't look at that dad like that. We need to talk about the activities between you two that keep granting me siblings. I'm almost a century older than Melody as it is".
Nix's voice is so serious that all of us just start laughing, loud booming laughter.
Even Melody laughs. Although she doesn't know what's going on.
Nix's face goes pink but tries to push on. but can since no one stops laughing.
Cassian and Mor laugh so much they start snorting which causes even more laughter to erupt.
Rhys is the first to calm down.
He looks at his son and smiles at him with so much love it is hard to look away.
A father's love was so unfamiliar to me. But I get to see my brother give that love to his children, to love them and take care of them.
It makes up for all those years of darkness.
"Son, I understand how you feel, but a hundred years old isn't that big of an age difference and Unfortunately, I will have as many children as your beautiful mother will give me" he finished quickly with a devilish smirk towards Feyre,
He hugs and kisses her head; she smiles and looks at Nix adoringly.
"If that means she gives me ten more Melody's then we will gladly be overrun by little monsters," he says as he reaches over to tickle Melody's tummy.
She giggles and tries to climb me to get away.
"I don't know about ten" Feyra says smiling at all of us.
"For sure one more though" She smirks looking at all of us and we all freeze for a few seconds before Rhys turns to her and kisses her.
We all erupt and give hugs and congratulations.
Nix doesn't move and covers his face with his hands. He slides them down his face as Feyre walks up to him.
She looks up at him, Nix and Azcer are as tall as my brothers and I. Layla on the other hand is her mother's height and when Melody gets older, she most likely will be too.
"My love you were born on the most beautiful night, a night that our people celebrate and love. You are our dream come to life, when we saw you for the first time our lives were complete" Feyre whispers as she holds his face.
My brothers and family are smiling and listening intently.
"When your brothers and sisters came after, we never thought we would be so lucky to have 3 more miracles, but we realized that the miracles were for you."
Nix scrunches his face at that, not understanding where Feyre was going with this.
"Your father and I, your aunts and uncles won't be here forever, we will be gone one day. When that time comes be it in another hundred years or a thousand you will have your ten siblings with you, to guide and help and to fill those gaps once we are gone".
Rhys ruffles Nix's hair with a huge grin and watery eyes
"It's scary to have people to take care of and love but it is the difference between life and living."
"I suppose ten-night court children will terrify anyone who wants to mess with us". Nix smiles and rubs Feyres belly.
"No one would have messed with Feyre curse breakers four children now imagine ten of them"? Cassian says in a taunting voice breaking the beautiful moment.
Nesta elbows him in the ribs, and he grunts.
"What did I say"!
We all laugh again.
"Speaking of surrounding Nix with too many children, Cas and I are adding to the madness. Madja confirmed this morning that I am growing a tiny Illyrian" Nesta announces as Cassian stands next to her with his arm over her shoulder already looking like a proud father.
I move first and hug my brother, and so does Rhys. We smother Cassian with congratulations and laughter.
This Starfall was turning into the most memorable one we've all shared.