Part 3: Rebellion

I looked at the half-painted walls in front of me. A shade somewhere between silver and blue with a wooden panel meeting it halfway. The walls of our bedroom. The last room in the house to paint before we could officially move in. Our home.

Azriel walked into the room carrying a tray with tea, bread, butter and cheese. He placed it down on one of the bedside tables currently in the middle of the room, on the wooden floor. The only furniture we had in the room so far. It was mid-Autumn and it had been three months since we'd purchased our home. It had needed a lot of work but the end was now in sight, the other rooms now ready for furnishings.

Nesta had helped pick the furnishings with us, not wanting to dirty her hands with paint like Cassian, Feyre, Rhys and even Mor had done in small shifts. Most of what we had chosen, much to Nesta's disappointment, had been second hand, but we'd not seen the need for such luxuries. Although the bed… yes we'd bought a ridiculously comfy bed.

"You've got a little something on your face," My mate said to me and I wiped at my nose. His grin revealed that it was a trap and I now had paint there, splattered across my freckles.

I gawked at him and approached, his hands raised high as we paced, watching one another. "That was hardly fair," I said and he smiled, amused. I pounced then. He was quick to move, but not quick enough,his shadows giving the game away. I caught his side and knocked him to the ground, wiping my paint-covered hands on his beautiful face whilst we both laughed.

It was easy to forget what had happened months previously in times like this. That the Dusk Court now existed. That I'd leapt in front of a dagger for Azriel. That I was heir to the Autumn Court.

Azriel flipped us over so I laid beneath him. He smiled down at me, wings over us, and gently pressed his lips to mine. I pulled him tighter against me and he let out a moan as I kissed him again, running my paint covered fingers along his back. His hands reached for the leggings I wore and slid them down, along with my lacy knickers. He pushed down his own trousers and undershorts and then he thrusted into me, hard enough for me to see stars. I moved a hand to brush my fingers against his wings and he shuddered at the touch.

"If you get paint on them," he said, his voice shaky, "You're cleaning them."

"Fine with me," I replied casually and I gasped as he sped up, making love to me harder on the floor of our soon-to-be bedroom.

When we reached our climax I moaned as he filled me and he rested his forehead against mine, watching, as we caught our breath.

"You know that's almost every room in the house now," I told him, "And we've not even moved the furniture in yet."

"You'll have to stop being so irresistible," He gave me a feline smile as he rolled off of me, adjusting his clothes once more.

"Az… I've been thinking…" I sorted my own clothes out and sat up on the ground.

"Dangerous."

I swatted him in the arm, "I'm trying to have a serious conversation here."

"Sorry," He reached for one of my hands and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"What if I… stopped taking the tonic?" He blinked in surprise and I panicked, "Sorry … it was a silly thing to suggest I…"

"You… want to stop taking… the tonic?"

"Only if it's okay with you obviously… it's just… well… babies are so rare and hard to conceive anyway and I just thought that way… when it's time, the Mother can bless us." I ran a paint-covered hand through my hair, "And now I'm rambling like a fool. Sorry, I-"

Azriel cut me off with a kiss. A gentle one as he held my face in his hands. "A child would be a gift," He said to me, his eyes watering slightly, "And I'm happy if you are." I nodded and he smiled. "Besides we have this lovely house now so we can have fun making babies without being disturbed." His eyes shone in challenge and he kissed me again, pulling me on top of him.

The door opened downstairs.

"Az? Gwyn?" Cassian called out and I laughed softly, my cheeks flushing red.

Azriel narrowed his eyes, "Remind me to install a better lock."

The Autumn Court's oranges and reds may have spread to the rest of Prythian but they could never be outshone by any other courts at this time of year. The trees seemed to glow in the morning sunlight, like embers of a fire. The fire within my blood seemed to spark in response.

"Gwyn, you're looking well," Eris said in greeting as I curtsied to him in a golden dress I'd taken home with me on my last visit. He held out an arm and I took it, remembering my etiquette training.

"The house looks beautiful," I told him. It did. The Forest House was more like a castle but autumn garlands of leaves, cinnamon sticks and small squashes decorated the doorways ready for the Samhain celebrations in just a few day's time. He led me along the hallway towards the family quarters, Artemis barking as she followed us. She was bigger now, still smaller than the purebreds but definitely closer to fully grown.

Servants and guards stopped to greet me as Miss with a bow or a curtsy and two familiar faces stopped in front of us, one carrying a vase of flowers,the other some blankets.

"You're looking very well, Miss," Rosia said, her eyes looking at the circlet on my head, gifted by Azriel on my birthday, containing my invoking stone.

"How wonderful to have you here again, it's been so long!" Doja added.

I'd had the odd day visit over the summer but now I was staying for four days for the festivities and it seemed they were glad.

"I look forward to spending time with you both again. Breakfast tomorrow?"

"Of course," Doja said with a curtsy.

We continued on to the sitting room, where the previous Lady of the Autumn Court sat, cakes and pots of tea on the table in front of her. She stood as I reached her and she took my hands, squeezing them.

"I'm so glad you're joining us this week, Gwyn," She smiled, "How is your little house doing?"

"It's almost finished," I replied, "Hopefully at the end of the month we can start moving the furniture in."

"I could have organised some tradesmen to help," Eris said from my side.

"Rhysand said the same," I replied, "But then it wouldn't feel like our home. We wanted to earn it."

Rhian smiled in approval, "I like the sound of that." She poured each of us a cup of tea, "Will your friends be joining us this week?"

"For the ball," I confirmed. "There was some…apprehension."

"Understandable considering our history," Rhian nodded. "And your mate?"

"He'll be here in two days, once he's finished a job he's sorting," I replied.

She gave a nod of understanding and looked to her Son then, "And the other High Lords?"

"Have not responded as of yet," Eris stated. "I suppose we are not yet ready to move on."

"It will take time," I told him. "After everything…they're not sure they trust you." I'd heard Rhys say as much when I'd invited them to attend. I knew Mor, Amren and Elain had already declined the invitation and had decided they were staying home with Nyx. Emerie and Nesta had agreed to attend, but only the ball and only to support me, they had said. And where Nesta went … well Cassian had decided he was coming too, for her safety.

"I'd appreciate your help with some final decisions this afternoon," Rhian said to me. "Perhaps tomorrow you'd like to visit the market in the village. It's wonderful at this time of year."

"I will join you," Eris said from my side. "I have not been in years."

My suite was just as I had left it, plus a few extra books that seemed to have appeared on the bookshelves. This time though, I sank down onto the piano stool. Because this time I knew how to play. My hands moved over the keys finding their way. It had been a couple of weeks since I'd last played. Between the house and working in the library and training, I'd been busy.

"Oh, Miss, you've learnt to play," Rosia said, stepping out of the bedroom with a smile. She reached down to pet Artemis, where she lay sprawled out on the dog bed by the lit fireplace.

I paused the music and looked over at her with a smile, "Yes… I'm still a little rusty but I'm certainly getting better."

Doja entered then, placing a tray of tea on the table. She crouched in front of Artemis with a bowl of food and the hound tucked in.

I closed the lid of piano and sat on the sofa, tucking my legs underneath me as my handmaidens sat on the other sofa.

"It's been dull without you here," Doja said. "Other than sewing you and your mate some clothing, we've mostly been working in the gardens and kitchens."

"You've sewn clothes for Azriel?"

I couldn't imagine how he'd feel about that…

"Yes, from some of the best fabrics," Doja smiled and I tried my best to hide my amusement. "We even made sure they'd fit around his wings."

"I'm sure he'll be grateful," I replied.

"The High Lord says you've bought a house together," Rosia said. "What's it like?"

My cheeks blushed a little, "Oh, it's beautiful. Near the ocean and a small patch of woodland, big gardens, very small in comparison to this but it's wonderful!"

"It sounds perfect."

Doja disappeared into the bedroom and came out with a folded quit. I opened it carefully. A blue velvet, almost the colour of the dress I'd worn to the ball months ago, with golden vines and leaves embroidered onto the fabric. It was beautiful.

"For your home," She said.

I squeezed her hand, warmth flowing through me, "Thank you."