Rain comes down heavily in the mortal lands, the pitter-patter hitting the metal roof of the Band of Exiles Manor. Vassa watches as the final winks of the fire go out, tugging her gray night shirt down her chilly legs slightly. Sure, she could put on some sweatpants, but after spending all day as a firebird, she wants to feel as unrestricted as she possibly can, opting to wear only underwear and a shirt when she gets home, unless she has something to attend to as Queen of this mortal district.

The chill of the night starts to get to her and she curses, rubbing her arms and almost wishing she got to keep her fire powers in her mortal form, but no. Going to the kitchen, she rinses out her wine glass and leans against the counter, tears forming in her eyes. She hardly allows herself to cry. She's a queen, and queens don't cry. Even as a few make their way down her tanned face, she still tells herself that.

Straightening her posture, she holds her chin high and walks down the hall toward her small bedroom. Unfortunately, there are no fireplaces to be found in the bedrooms. She doesn't notice that she is actually looking down at the floor as she walks until she collides with a hard body, letting out a very unladylike sound as she seemingly bounces off of it.

Gasping, she looks up at the offender and sneers a bit to cover up the flush of embarrassment on her cheeks. "Jurian, it's impolite to step into the path of a Queen."

Jurian crosses his broad arms and scoffs, only the slightest hint of a smirk beneath his stubble. "I did not step into your path, my Queen, I was here first, and you continued right into me like a brick wall."

Vassa shakes her head, unable to come up with a retort with how tired she's become. Usually, she tries to stay up as long as possible to enjoy being in her own body. "Whatever", she mumbles.

"A Queen, mumbling? Never thought I'd see the day. Or night, I suppose."

She looks up at him wearily and he drops the smart-ass act immediately, noting the sadness in her eyes.

"Vassa, what's wrong? I knew something was wrong. I was going to come check on you. See if you had fallen asleep or...something."

"What would you have done if I had?"

"Carry you to bed, my Queen", he bows, letting a smile show. A smile that he rarely shows anyone. She's flattered every time he trusts her to see it under all his gruffness.

"Jurian..."

"I know. I know that you don't want to get too attached because you're afraid of your curse. I know you feel like if you enjoy your happiness it will be ripped from you. I know that you think the possibility of you dying when this war happens is high."

The tears spring back to her eyes, and she lets them, letting him see the vulnerable side of her. The only one who has, aside from Lucien on a couple of occasions when she late night rambled and drank with them.

"How could you possibly know all of that?"

"Because I feel the same way. Even though it was a long, long time ago, I still remember being tortured...killed, cursed. Spending centuries with Amarantha. I know the fear and the jumpiness that comes with still feeling unsafe. I know what it's like to be cursed, and I can only imagine the things you have to deal with when it comes to Koschei. But right now and every other night, you have me if you need to talk. I'm not much. I'm gruff, rude, brutish, and an all-around asshole. But I'm also here. I have no judgment." He hesitantly reaches up and cups her face, stroking her tears away tenderly with his thumbs.

"Jurian", she whispers, her eyes slipping closed as she leans into his warm and calloused touch.

"Yes, my Queen?"

Her clear ocean-blue eyes stare up at him. "Would you stay with me tonight?"

"I didn't plan on going anywhere."

Vassa huffs out a small breath and takes his right hand, pressing a gentle kiss to his knuckles. "No, I—I meant, if you'd like to...would you share a bed with me, General?"

The usually stoic and rigid General's eyes widen a bit, and his eyes quickly dart from her eyes to her mouth and back to her eyes. "Me? Who am I to be granted that honor, My Queen?"

Vassa's cheeks bloom pink. Their titles are a small song and dance that they do to tease one another, but she quite enjoys hearing her real name from his lips as well. "I was thinking that tonight, if you aren't put off by it, maybe I could simply be Vassa, and you could simply be Jurian. And we could simply be close friends."

Jurian swallows and strokes a strand of her vivid orange-red hair from her face. "I'm not poetic like Lucien but simply put...I'd enjoy that very much", he smiles slightly. "Vassa", he adds for good measure.

"I don't need you to be anything other than who you are", she whispers, gazing up at him. Jurian could nearly swear he sees confident fire and swirling stars in her eyes.

Her own quiet confidence instills some within his own chest, as he slowly drags his thumb across her lower lip.

Letting his hand fall away, he holds his arm out to escort her to her room.

Vassa's gaze flickers with interest and she takes his arm, walking down the remainder of the long hallway to her bedroom. "By the way, Lucien may be poetic, and he's very handsome. But he's not the man I've been dreaming about."

Jurian raises a scarred eyebrow and tilts his head downward to look at her before she pulls her arm from his joined one and pulls the linin bedspread down. "Who, might I ask, would that man be?"

"Well, it would a certain tall, dark, and handsome brute that accompanied to a prestigious coronation about a month or so ago."

She smirks cutely, watching a blush creep only the man's usually pale face. "Against all odds, even time itself, we have ended up, somehow, some way, right here, right now, together. Who would have thought it? You lived thousands of years ago. I grew up seeing portraits of you, the infamous general who fought for the mortals against the fae, knowing his fate would not be kind, knowing death could claim him early. You are strength and courage and history itself, Jurian. As much as you may claim to be astounded by knowing me for being a Queen, I am more astounded that I know you for being the very embodiment of good."

Jurian strides over to the bed and takes her face in his hands once again. She peers up at him from under her long lashes adoringly, and it's enough to drive him half mad. "I'm not all good, Vassa."

The corner of her mouth quirks up playfully. "Maybe it would do me some good, to see just how not good you can be, then. So you can prove me wrong."

Jurian let out a grumbling noise that nearly sounds like a feral growl as he climbs onto her bed, crawling over her until they're nose to nose and she has nowhere else to move except to lie back, staring up at him. Her bright hair sprays around her and her freckles seem to dance when she grins brightly at him.

"Lights on or off, my—Vassa?", he smirks.

Goosebumps erupt on her already chilly arms and she holds his gaze. "On. I enjoy the sight of you", she murmurs seductively. "Plus, I like to stay up to relish in the feeling of my own body before yet another sunrise."

"And quite a body it is", he retorts, his eyes trailing over her. Her gray nightshirt has been hiked up high-thigh as she lay back and he can't help but swallow at the speckle of freckles that spatter them as well, wanting to kiss each and every one.

"You think so?", she breathes, watching his eyes darken as he peers down at her.

"The best I've ever seen", he whispers, his gaze connecting with hers again.

"That's hard to believe, seeing how long you've been...existing", she blushes.

Jurian shakes his head. "It's the truth. I've made many mistakes in my life and said many things that I haven't meant. But this—this I mean with every fiber of me, Vassa. You are the most beautiful woman I've ever met. I was enraptured with you from the moment we first met."

Her lips part as she looks over his features; soft lines from the experiences that have weathered him, scars from battle, and eyes like dark chocolate pools. Despite all of it, he retains his youth and handsomeness. Gruff yes, but it makes him that much more manly; that much more desirable to her. "I believe you", she says softly, lifting her hand to cup his cheek, stroking a bit of the dark scruff on his face. "I want you to know that I feel the same about you. You are so very attractive to me, Jurian."

He kisses her palm and dips his head. "Thank you."

"Kiss me?", she asks. "I can't be the only one who feels this...between us."

Jurian smiles and rolls his eyes, claiming her mouth with his, kissing her with passion. Vassa can't help but gasp at the intensity, before melting into it and sinking her hands into his black hair.

He kisses her, finally unleashing all his feelings for her, brushing his tongue against hers. They both hum a moan and he grips her hip gently before trailing his hand down to a tanned thigh, stroking over the freckles he had seen there as he presses his body closer against hers.

Moments pass and they pull away as little as possible, their lips still brushing as their heavy pants of breath volley between them.

"I want this", she affirms, bright blue looking into dark brown. "More than I've ever wanted anything."

He pants and nuzzles his nose against hers, pressing a sensual kiss to her lips. "As do I. But—"

"No", she whispers. "No doubts, no questioning. It's you, Jurian. I want you, Jurian. You deserve me. I want you."

Jurian shudders and nods, allowing her to help him slip his shirt off. Her eyes shine mischievously as she sucks in a breath.

"I'll never get used to how your muscles have muscles", she murmurs, licking her lips.

He can't help but chuff a laugh and flexes a bit, his male pride blooming in his chest. "Yeah?"

"Oh, fucking hell, yeah."

"Vassa", he murmurs. "You flatter me so." Leaning forward, he presses his lips against hers again, she kisses back eagerly and rubs his chest, hooking her ankles around his legs and yanking him closer on top of her. He groans softly and kisses down her neck, earning a breathy moan from her.

His hands roam on her thighs before wandering up further, pushing her shirt up her waist so he can hold her sides, his calloused hands on her skin. Her breaths come faster as he continues the assault of kisses on her neck, driving her wild when he finds that spot on her neck that makes her make some very unladylike whines as he sucks on it.

"Ju-Juri—ohhh", she moans.

Jurian groans and stops, only to quickly pull her t-shirt over her head, leaving her clad in just her lacy underthings. Intricate lacy underthings—fit for a Queen.

"Oh fuck, Vassa..."

"You like?", she pants and grins.

"Gods yes."

Sitting up slightly, she moves her hair to one side and pushes him back down on the mattress. "My turn", she murmurs in his ear and he groans, a noticeable bulge under his shorts. "Ooh, someone's excited."

"Have you fucking seen yourself? How can I help it?"

Vassa giggles and straddles him, rubbing his chest and torso, tracing her fingers teasingly over his abs. "Have you seen yourself, General?"

"Oops. Jurian", she smirks. "Though I must admit, I'd have no qualms about the General coming out to command me if he chose to."

"You will be the death of me", he growls.

"Oh, I hope not. I'd quite like to keep you", she says flirtatiously, lowering herself over him and kissing his chest, slowly descending down his body, kissing as she goes.

His fingers weave through her hair as she does so and he hums pleasurably, his head tipping back. "Vassa", he says over and over like a prayer.

"Hmm, yes, Juri?"

He grunts and flips them again once she had kissed back up his body. She gasps and giggles, smirking up at him as he returns the favor, kissing her skin as if she's a lifeline, working from her neck down to her collarbone and across the top of her breasts before continuing down her stomach and torso, finally settling himself between her legs as she breathes harder. "Jurian..."

His eyes gleam darkly, and he peppers her thighs in kisses, closer and closer to the apex as she squirms, her arousal growing. "Jurian!"

"Yessss", he drawls, glancing up at her questionably.

"D-Don't stop."

"I didn't plan on it, sweetness."

Her body shudders as the whisper of his breath floats over her skin.

"Tell me what you want, my Queen."

"I want you. On me, near me, in me. All of you, Jurian."

His eyes flick up to hers and he smirks devilishly slowly and tantalizingly kissing along the hem of the lace that adorns her. A small shudder ripples through her as she pants, glancing down to watch him.

She chuckles softly as she tugs his hair, eliciting a grunt from him.

"Eager."

"Very."

"I want you laid bare before me, my Queen."

Vassa chews her lip seductively and sits up slightly, removing her brassiere. Her eyes don't leave his for a second as they blaze with desire.

She watches as his eyes flicker down to her bare breasts and back to her eyes, his tongue darting out to wet his lips.

Running her hands down her arms, she smirks as she squeezes her breasts in her hands, giving him a show. The hair on her arms stand on end with the absolutely hungry way he's leering at her, and she delights in giving him a small show.

"Lay down, General", she murmurs, stepping off of the bed to discard the last bit of fabric on her body as he scoots up and lies his head on the pillow, a dark look on his face.

"It seems we have a problem."

"And what may that be?", he replies, his voice rough with desire.

"Well", she drawls as she climbs back onto the bed. "It seems that I am bare before you, yet I still don't have a full glorious view of your...assets."

Jurian gives her a teasing smirk and hooks his thumbs into his boxers. "I don't want to seem bloated, but I may surprise you."

"Oh, you surprise me every day, Jurian."

Slipping them off, he ditches them with her clothing on the floor and smirks, taking his impressive length in his hand and letting out a rumble as he strokes it slowly.

Leaning over him, she playfully leaning over him, she playfully nips his earlobe. "Fuck", she purrs, stroking his chest. His hands come up to grip her waist and roam over her skin, trailing down to cup her ass as she shudders with his touch.

His touch is like small electrical sizzles, igniting her inner fire as her core throbs with need. "Jurian..."

"Yes, Vassa?", he murmurs.

She lowers her body enough to straddle him, grinding against his hardness as she peers down at him, her breaths quickening as she grips his biceps.

"Oh fuck", he bites out, his head tipping back onto the pillow, a low grown escaping his throat at the feel of their mutual arousal.

That's when she raises herself up and sinks down onto him, her moan drowned out by the crushing kiss he pulls her down to receive as his hips begin to move in time with her own.

.

.

.

"Lucien, wait!", Tamlin exclaims exasperatedly, following him into the foyer.

Lucien had retired to his old bedroom the previous night in silence, either too warn out to continue to rage, or afraid of his own anger, Tamlin wasn't sure. But he knew he probably deserved whatever fire his old friend was about to explode with. Since then he hadn't said a word to him, his deadly silence one of the scariest qualities. Lucien does not get mad easily or often but when he goes utterly silent it builds until he can't contain it.

He stops in his tracks, back turned towards Tamlin still, his shoulders rising and falling as if he is trying to tamp down the fire that threatens to burn through him.

"I know you're angry, and you have every right to be. And my reasoning sounds...sounds controlling or juvenile. But I swear to you, if there had been another way—"

That's what sends the floodgates of hell rushing out of the male with the fiery locks as he spins around to face him, his russet eye now a gleaming orange, flames licking at his insides. He flexes his hands beside his body, crackles of fire on his fingertips.

"The truth!", he shouts and points at him. "The other way was the fucking truth!"

Tamlin swallows. He has only seen Lucien this enraged once in his lifetime, and justly so. But it still creates uneasiness knowing that it was his fault—and Eris's.

"It's a complicated situation, Lucien! You know that! You know who your father is and what he's capable of! This conspiracy, as you like to say, was not only to protect you, but to protect Eris, and me, and Autumn, and Spring as a whole. I know that it seems like we didn't trust you, but believe it or not, this was not just about you!"

"No, see! See, that's my point though!", he wags a finger at Tamlin, a blaze still roaring in his gaze, his hair like floating flames. "It wasn't just about me, and yet I was involved. It was a huge elaborate lie that I believed my entire fucking life. My entire fucking life is one gigantic fucking lie! So no, maybe it's not only me who is affected, but I was the only one of us who didn't know the truth. It's funny, y'know...how you're both seemingly a part of this so-called protection too, and yet, you both knew!", she shouts angrily, his teeth gleaming, the rabid fox coming out to play.

Tamlin growls as his beast shifts under his skin, his claws punching out from his knuckles as he takes a steady breath. "As I said last night—I know you, Lucien. And shockingly enough, Eris knows you. You are fair and valiant and always the one to stand in the middle to promote peace and solutions. And that couldn't happen; not with Beron ruling. You would have tried to be sneaky, and if you knew that Eris had been pretending all these years, none of it would have looked genuine, because you have tells. Whether you want to believe it or not, you have the tells of a good person that any evil person can sniff out. And if you don't get where I'm going with this, just think back to Jesminda. How you thought you were being subtle and sneaky and were winning. But they snuffed you out back then, and they would have again. Then you and Eris would both be dead, your mother would be destroyed, and the future of that Court would never be saved. Your reaction last night, only proved that point that Eris and I both realized, don't you fucking see that!?"

Lucien breathes heavily, his nostrils flaring with rage, his fists engulfed in fire. "Don't you DARE bring her into this. I have made my fair share of mistakes just as much as you have, as Eris has! I may be more civilized than an animalistic beast, but that does not make me weak", he growls, barely holding back.

Tamlin sneers and with his faerie speed is suddenly in Lucien's face. He doesn't falter nor blink as they both silently seethe. Fists of fire and claws of bone drawn like weaponry between them, it's Tamlin that steps away first.

"I don't want to fight you, Lucien. Gods dammit."

"Why? I may be civilized, but I can prove my brute strength if need be, as a nice little reminder. If you play fair, High Lord", he spits.

"I think that last time was enough to leave us both bloodied and bruised. A repeat isn't necessary", he sighs, his claws retracting.

"You treated me like a child. You said we were brothers, but you treated me like I couldn't handle a truth about my own life. About my blood brother. Do you have any idea how fucking furious I am that you and Eris took it upon yourselves to fuck with my life?"

"Yes, I'm getting that."

"It's like I was your first test run before you did it to Feyre."

Tamlin lets out a roar of anger and the beast comes tumbling back, teeth and claws drawn, green eyes glowing.

"Hit a nerve? That's how I feel. This was my life. Not yours. Mine."

"And Eris's. Lucien, you know very well the cause and effect of things. We were trying to spare both of our Courts, as well as you. Not because we wanted to lie to you, but because you're a good male and we didn't want you struck down by him. Maybe you've forgotten the state you were in that day when I tugged you over the border, but I haven't."

"I haven't forgotten one single act of violence I've been faced with, or how many times my life has flashed before my eyes, even if the number count has been lost to me. I've battled alongside you, for you, and because of you at times. And this entire time, you didn't ever trust that I could handle myself."

"Lucien."

"No. We're finished here." His fire snuffs out and he opens the door, stepping out into the sunshine.

"Lucien! You told me last night that you wanted to rush off and talk to Eris about it. That is exactly what we have spent centuries trying to prevent. You know how that works. We both do. Please, for fucks sake...he killed her because you snuck around. Mine killed Nova for sneaking around. In both instances, our brothers got wind of things. History repeats itself harshly and often. Don't let anyone know that you know, especially Eris."

Lucien clenches his jaw and storms out, winnowing away.

.

.

.

He lands in front of the Band of Exiles Manor and lets out a shaking breath. His entire body is rattled and trembling from the intensity of his powers that had raged within him. He despises the fire inside of him because he knows it connects him to Beron and Autumn.

Tossing open the creaky door of the house he immediately covers his nose and groans loudly.

"Cauldron boil me!", he growls. "It reeks of sex in here, what the fuck!"

Jurian comes out of the kitchen in black shorts, all his muscles out for show. Lucien grimaces. "Seriously?"

He smirks and shrugs. "I'm making some eggs. Care for some?"

"I'm assuming she will be flying around half asleep today", he grumbles, collapsing into one of the dining chairs.

"Possibly", he chuckles, cracking a few eggs into the pan.

"So you two finally admitted it then. The tension between you two was so fucking thick it could choke a male."

"Admitted what?"

"Oh, come on. I know you both know you have feelings for one another. You all but admitted that the notion of her dying—"

"Hey!", he barks, a hurt grimace on his face.

"—makes you feral with grief just thinking of it. Case and point. Just admit you love her."

Jurian shifts uncomfortably and pays closer attention to the eggs.

"She feels the same way, I assure you."

"It doesn't bode well for me when I say that."

"Why? Because of Miryam? For fucks sake that was centuries ago. You said you were over it."

"I am over it. But I said it to her and then she came up with the plan that had me seducing Clythia and I was forced to say it to that disgusting monster, and then it didn't even work and I was spelled into a damn ring for another five centuries, so excuse me if those three little words don't come as a good omen to me."

Lucien sighs and runs a hand through his hair. "Right. But you know Vassa is different. Hell, if I can see it, I know you can see it."

"You're telling me it wasn't hard for you to say it to Elain?"

Lucien glances away.

"See? Not fun when it's you under the microscope lens."

"My hesitancy was for a whole different reason, I didn't feel I deserved her."

"And you think I deserve Vassa? A fucking Queen?"

Lucien raises an eyebrow. "Right, so we both have issues."

"Apparently. Anyway, you seem moody, what's your problem?"

"I just found out my whole life is a lie and nothing I've ever held true has been so. So...yet again my life is on a downward spiral, and the only one I can trust is my mate."

"Shit. What...what was it?"

"I can't tell you. But it's for your own good that you don't know. Apparently having the knowledge could kill you, which is why my best friend that's like a brother to me, and my actual fucking blood brother have kept it from me for centuries."

"Fuck...well, whatever it is, I'm sorry. That sucks."

"Yep", he mumbles, popping the 'p'. "Everything could've been different. If I had known, maybe we could've made different choices or alliances...", he groans, realizing that what Tamlin said about him may just be true, but he doesn't want to confront it.

"Regardless they lied and I'm pissed."

"That's a reason", Jurian replies, handing him a plate with eggs.

Lucien looks down at the runny human food and sighs, stabbing it with his fork and eating. Just as disappointing as his life thus far, save Elain. She'll be a good reprieve from all the hurt and anxiousness inside of him.