"What?" Azriel asked. Estrella sighed before pointed to each individual person. "My mom, sister, and my nephew. Don't know who the guy is. Now, how long have I been gone?" She asked them before they got a word out. When no one replied, she pulled back her shoulders, making her wings fold in tightly and vanish. She still was not used to them in regards of weight and her entire back would hurt for days. Now she done it to appear more human besides her pointed ears and average body. "Mom, look at me. How long?" She asked. It was her sister who replied "Been gone for six months. We was at your funeral and everything."
"Six months?" She asked then looked at her mother who said in her normal snobbish tone. "The amount of money we poured into trying to find you and that man you followed like a mange ridden mutt, detectives was exhausted try-" Her mother's expression was of anger and shock when her daughter interrupted her. "I've been here on Prythian for a little over a year now. So it's not like what I expected then with time," Estrella said then ignored her mom about interrupting someone. "We must leave. Tamlin will not like us milling about here," Nyx said. "Oh we are close to the walls' borders, he'll get word of this in weeks time," Azriel said then stepped forward.
Big mistake for all eyes was on him in a second before chaos rained. Her mom started to fix her frizzled hair and arched her back to appear skinnier and show off her breasts. Her sister did the same but since she had her son in her lap, all she could do was do a little shimmy that made the man beside her start on how she was a slut. That caused the two woman to argue and Estrella pinched the middle of her nose and growl. This wasn't her normal growls that Nyx heard often but the beasts. This made the three shut up and look around as her nephew started to cry.
"Please shut that thing up!" The man said in frustration then when he was about to stand, he quickly sat when a Estrella's dagger was aimed at him. "Don't you fucking dare call my nephew that!" She then addressed her family. "Everyone here is taken so don't front your deflated milk makers at them trying to score. There's plenty of single or even married fae men who will gladly use you and leave you in the gutter if he is feeling generous to let you keep your pathetic lives. Here, you are nothing but flesh holes to them. Abide to my families rules and you'll get to see Jayden for another day."
"Family? We are yo-" "You stopped when you shunned me," Estrella snapped her at her mom. She figured the man was one of her sisters many boyfriends so she was more focused on Jayden at this point. If what they said was true, it would put her nephew around two years and a few months old. The poor boy was in brown overalls and a white shirt with a smiling sun on the front with what looked like brand new shoes and socks. His mixed complexion was a danger zone since they was out in the open and there was no sunblock.
"Let's get them in a cooler area and in a orderly fashion, get some answers," Azriel said then without a word after Nyx's "Fine", winnowed the mom to the house. Cassian did the rest and when it was Estrella's turn, she halted Nyx. "Knowing them...They are going to say some things about me that all happened in the past. Do not take it to heart, my love" He gave her a tiny nod as he closed the gap between them to hold then winnowed them to one of the houses that now served as a meeting place.
The rise of voices made her bury her face into his neck and snarled. The screaming cries of her nephew was the loudest and mostly everyone in the Inner Circle was around for she spotted Amren who was in her line of vision. Nyx's arms still was around her when she turned to face the crowd and then inhaled to sigh. Her sister was still holding onto Jayden and the poor boy was clinging onto her as he cried. "He's worse than when Nyx was denied another ten minutes past his bedtime to be awake," Amren said.
The man was now pressing his chest and on his toes either trying to kiss Azriel or have a staring eye contest. Either way, Azriel pushed the man back with one hand with a bored expression on his face. The man fell onto his back and then got up as he repeated "What?" Her mom and sister just stared wide eyed at everyone before her mom settled her sights on the man who was now back on the floor. "Shut up, Dylan. You are whiter than snow white." Estrella was amused, seeing how Azriel was clearly getting pissed but held his own. Rhysand's deep blue-violet eyes shined with laughter as he stared at the small group of humans then asked "What shall we do with them?"
"Leave them in the hands of the Kirin," Estrella said to which her sister stared at her with an expression that told everyone she wasn't believing what she was seeing or hearing. Course, Jayden and seeing her sister, grounded her even if it was blade of grass that connected her to the thought it was real. "A what?!" "A creature that's like a deer with with one horn and have a tail of an ox," Estrella explained. Kirin was rather gentle and one of the most purest of creatures that she read once in the old world but stretched the truth and sprinkled a lie. "They love the flesh of humans and rather strip thin strips of skin to nibble on." Her sisters expression left her in silent laughter that Nyx felt and he smiled against the back of her shoulder.
"You dare leave us with fake ass beasts?" Dylan asked then went towards her as if he could do the same thing he was trying to do with Azriel. "Who do you think you are anyway?" Nyx's protective arms tightened around Estrella as she tilted her chin back and glared at the man. For the man's sake or to push him away, she'll never know for she snapped out with an authoritative tone. "I am the mate of Nyx. Making me the promised to the title of High Princess of the Night Court whenever he thinks to propose. I suggest for all of you to calm down so Rhysand can determine your fate. Introductions are in order anyway."
Everyone in the Inner Court felt the promised power she had and even Feyre's brows was raised, impressed. Dylan backed up then fixed himself a seat to sit on the couch. "This my mother, Chloe. My sister Skye and her son, Jaylen. I think Dylan is her boyfriend, correct?" She said with a head tilt to the right before she introduced the Inner Circle. When that was done, she added, "Piss off Amren and even the giving her everything in the staffordshire hoard won't please her" Elain asked what the hoard was and Estrella replied "It was one of the biggest hoard of gold and silver metalworks in the world. Well my old world. Jewels, armor, weapons, and trinkets was estimated around.. mmm.. Almost four million I think." It was Amren who stifled a laugh knowing that she had diamond the size of her thumbnail that cost more than that.
"We can give them one of the townhouses near the docks," Feyre said then Skye blurted that the sea salt was to harsh on her skin. Plus, Jayden loved the water and would probably get eaten by a mermaid or something. "I mean we have mer folk in the water but not what you are thinking,"Cassian said to himself. Estrella fell into listening mode as Nyx gently rocked her to and fro. The action was soothing and she found that she was holding onto his waist and squeezing the flesh every so often.
Her mom at the end just wanted to end the simulation and go home while Skye stared at every male that was around her as Jayden was now exploring the living room under the watchful eyes of Nesta and Mor. Azriel sidestepped away from the toddler whenever he gotten to close, making him more aloof than ever. Dylan was quiet up until it was settled that they would all be in a townhouse in the city until further notice.
"So are you going to close the hole?" He asked. "What hole?" Several voices asked. When he told the story of how he could see a force field of sorts that stretched as far as he could see with a hole inside it, he could see the place where they was at before something pulled them to Pythian. He even explained that everything was also fuzzy yet saw people in uniform blocking off the hole on the other side. "Issue for another day," Estrella said.
"It was something out of that one movie. Alien bugs and shit attacking that store and eating people," he said then pointed at Estrella that called out the name of the movie. "I loved the book better though. Far sadder since the father did end himself at the end and not lived in the movie." "What's a movie?" Feyre asked. "Erm.. It's like a play," Estrella said, "Only you can rewatch it over and over whenever you want. Besides the chest kissing bump thing, Dylan, your alright but don't push it." He pressed his lips together before he shrugged.
While the townhouse was being bought and having some furniture inside it for her family and Dylan, Estrella wanted some tea. It was when Skye decided to help her oldest sister was when Nyx and the rest of them gotten a rather funny argument. "Which one of you was going to tell me that tea tastes different if you put it in hot water?" Skye asked, "I put it in cold water. I thought for like ten years that people just put it in hot water to speed up the tea-ification process than put it in the fridge. Didn't realize the-"
"You don't have the patience to heat water for three minutes?" Estrella's shrill voice made Nyx stifle a laugh. "Why are putting it on the stove to boil it? Do you think i have the patience to boil water on the stove?" Skye yelled back. "It takes less than a minute!" Estrella yelled. "Is you're stovetop powered by the fucking sun?!" Skye asked then added. "How long does it take you to boil a cup of water on the stove?!"
Chloe got up from the couch and tried to help her daughters by saying. "Just stick the mug on top of the stove on medium heat and it boils in like two minutes. Less than that is you use a saucepan" There was silence before Estrella's half cry and laughter made even Amren smile. "You're putting the whole mug on the stove? On medium heat? This stove is NOT enchanted! It's a regular stove! I'm going to make some chai and you two need to shut up!" "I love chai tea," Skye said then Estrella yelled "Chai means tea! Would I ask you you for some coffee coffee and some of the cream cream?!"
It was Cassian who yelled towards the kitchen. "Do none of you own a fucking kettle?!" That earned everyone a world class of a mother and two daughter argument before two screams of terror was heard. It was Estrella that walked out into the living room with her wings shimmering in anger. "I can't with them right now!" Nyx gave her a look that screamed that he was scared or rather not want to open his mouth. He didn't have too when she straddled his lap and pressed her face into his neck. "No tea for me," She talked into his neck, thus made him hug her.
It was when Chloe came back into the living room and saw them, he asked "So any funny stories about my hazelnut?" Estrella tensed before she leaned back to say "No!" but Chloe was already talking. "Yall have chocolate milk right? Course you do. Well I was baby sittin for this neighbor's little boy. Well he and her both had a cup. He finished his milk but Estrella was takin' her sweet ass time with hers. Anyway, next thing I know, they was fighting and carrying on with milk all over my goddamn kitchen."
Skye seemed to appear out of nowhere with how fast she ran and slapped Chloe on her shoulder "Or how i would make her push me everywhere in that tiny ass toy car?" Estrella exhaled out her nose before sweetly saying "Oh! The one that you got stuck inside because your freakishly long legs and farting that can be heard for miles was twisted like pretzel? Yes, and i also remember that you threw a fucking CHAIR at me for no reason." Chloe put her hands over her face when her daughters started bickering, their voices raising by every other word before Estrella turned around and spewed the most tiniest flameout of her mouth.
Nyx was impressed by how fluid she turned in his lap and wondered why he wasn't hit with a leg. Other thoughts filled his mind which Estrella had gotten a now mind full of new positions. The flame, however, was the cause of it or the argument she was having but now everyone was amazed or staring at the puff of smoke that was now rising. "H-How did you..Mom. She's a flamethrower!" Chloe peaked out from her fingers and asked "What?" While the others grew puzzled over words they never heard before, It was Skye who pointed to the smoke.
"I'm a shapeshifter. I can change into this fire breathing dr-That's not-Nnn..No!" Estrella said and leaned back against Nyx and changed the subject. It was a bad idea. "So tell me about your new boyfriend. This one a keeper?" Skye gave a half shrug "Not really. It seems you have all this eye candy and your new body is clearly not from you dieting. You been in those bed sheets with Mr. Hunky over there." She pointed to Azriel before giving him a finger wave. Estrella gave her sister a face of disgust and said, "Okay, ew. He's going to be my uncle in law one day. In fact, nearly all of the fae you just saw are taken or part of Nyx's family. I told you this. If you want some fae ass, go find one in the taverns."
"What about that one your sitting like he's your property?" Skye asked then made kissy faces. "There's a little thing called 'fated mates'. It's like a swan or penguin relationship," Estrella said with a hint of pride in her voice. Nyx decided to add to the flame and said with a smile "I'm not her property but we fuck on it." The open mouth expression on her face was priceless as her sister was taken aback.
Their mother on the other hand was shaking her head. "I do not want to hear my own daughters have a 'Who has the bigger dick' contest." All was quiet before Rhysand entered the house and said "Well the house is set up. Your all to be expected to work in two months. I'm generous but after Nesta ran up the bill one time, i'm not going to offer money all care free like. Two months gives you plenty of time to settle in, and I smell tea." He and Estrella went into the kitchen to get tea when Chloe said "Wooo! Give me a piece of that." Nyx looked at her and said "That's my father and word of advice, we fae don't do the nasty family thing okay?"
Later when she was painting on a canvas in the spare room of their house, Nyx knocked on the door's frame and asked "You haven't seen the performance actors yet. Want to watch them?" She turned just enough to face him before she gently waved her still wet paintbrush. "Another time maybe? Plus, I got my fill watching you out in the rain earlier." She said with a smile.
The clouds had rolled in around dinner and had not stopped raining since. It did feel good to smell the strong aroma of petrichor and feel the misty splash of the raindrops hit her skin when she was on the porch. He however acted like a water starved flower and stood out in the yard. He was naked, saved by a towel around his waist and his hair damp and messy from drying it afterwards. "I don't think it would ease anytime soon," She said.
She sat the brush down and fully turned. "Mmm. Know what?" she asked and when she hurried to run off to go downstairs, he followed. Doors opened to slam close and her hollering outside made him laugh. Now on the porch, he watched as she was pushing back her hair and letting the rain fall upon her. Her dress was discarded on the bench that rested on the porch so he had a good view of her backside. Quickly, the dress was paired with his towel and he joined her who was now stomping her feet to make tiny splashes. "I have an idea," She said then blushed "Well two." When she told him about her plans, he agreed. Plan one, they both took to the skies and made their own thunder.
Plan two was a little more time consuming since they was now slightly responsible for her family. Chloe found a tavern who was short staffed and decided to work in the daylight hours. Skye, since she was a nanny, offered her services to the street they was living on and found herself tending to seven children around the age of one to five. Dylan got hired as a fisherman and quickly learned that all newcomers had to start out as a cabin boy. All assets of money was strange to them so she was in charge of being their own personal bank. Poor Jayden was feeling unwanted so Estrella, Nesta, and even Feyre babysat while Skye worked. Cassian stood away from the gushing females right until he was offered to train newcomers to which he winnowed out.
Since their devices did not work, Estrella burned the phones, earbuds, and whatever else that ran on old world electric. At first, her family and Dylan was pissed about not having their faces glued to the screens but quickly learned that Velarias had plenty to do. When Chloe asked what was Hewn City, Estrella gave a history lesson. While The Court of Nightmares was for the Night Court High Fae Lord and Lady, it was the reputation of what the night court was supposed to be under the eyes of everyone else.
Cruel, murderous, and cold Fae that looked at all the other courts as Lesser. That was not the case for Velarias was far from it and even Dylan wanted to stay in the gay neighborhood. "It's not gay. I mean well it's called the rainbo-Your living in the artists neighborhood. This is not Earth, okay. We Fae express ourselves. Who cares of a buff straight man that works out in the ocean comes home to be loved on by his family. It's cute and always wanted to see Nyx in a dress." Her reply as Nyx dry laughing and a straight up "Not in public"
"We also have a huge surprise coming up. It'll be on Feyre's birthday and during dinner. Don't worry, we even set up the food to fit the theme and everything," She said with a little bit of a bounce in her posture. "Just need to match the music to the rest of the surprise and we are set to go!" Even though the planning was hard to set up and push through, she somehow made it happen. Everyone watched as Estrella grew from a timid and reclusive girl into a strong, confident Fae. Nyx still got flashes of her past whenever she was drained or one of her moods that she didn't want anything but to be alone. He helped her and she gave it in return.
How he came home after a long day and she would massage his aching muscles. How she listened to him even though she had no idea most of the things he was talking about. Sure, the city had taxes but it was nothing major. Plus, Rhysand was on the task of the more serious things while Nyx was slowly getting into as to what made a city run. By the Cauldron, even Estrella said some things that was out of the box and crazy but Rhysand and the Inner Circle agreed to it.
Days turned into weeks and she found herself in her second winter. The big surprise for Feyre was ready as it would ever be and the background performers was amped up. Rehearsals was done in private and when it was time for the grand performance, the two leads ate spoiled food and gotten sick. Since Nyx basically knew every line as well as Estrella, they filled in the roles. The only issue was the costumes but the house provided outfits that made Estrella let out her creepy, evil chuckle.
All throughout Feyre's birthday, she kept to herself and developed a new habit by bouncing her leg while she sat. "Nervous?" Nyx asked and it took her a second to realize that his mouth wasn't moving. She must had an expression for he took a glance at her while he drank then focused back on his mother who was now laughing at Mor's gift. "Shields are open enough to let me slither in. Must be something big."
Truth was, her shields was like clenching teeth together and after awhile, they hurt. Letting it fall once and awhile eased her headaches and it strengthened the use on how she could raise and lower them. Since everyone was occupied but him for he kept stealing stares at her, she gave him a smile. "Nervous and excited," She thought back. "I hope it goes well."
When it was time for her gift to set in place, everyone gathered at the amphitheater that had small tables placed among the bleachers. To Estrella, she called them in ground steps and then had a full blown conversation on how certain words meant the same thing to a fae or two. For example, they had shell macaroni but they called it conchiglie which made her angry for the poor shopkeeper kept 'correcting' her. In the end, however, she got her pasta shells and had to do breathing exercises.
When everyone was in place and ready to go, Nyx nodded towards the orchestra. Another word that she let it slide for she knew that 'orchestra' and 'band' was the same thing. There was an underground changing room where everyone got ready for the next act or waited for their turn to jump onto stage so Estrella and Nyx hurried to change into their outfits. She was thankful that the girls and boys had their own area to change and found that it also had a bathroom. Since Estrella was part of the orchestra, she got ready first and stood at the steps that lead on stage. When it was her que to join in on the slow built up of music, she put her violin under her chin and started to play.
Since there was no electric violin, she had to improvise and explain to the house on a good alternative. The more she talked to herself over the past week, Nyx was sure she lost her mind. The houses he grew up in only aided in things like clothing and food but this one clearly liked making Estrella happy. When she was satisfied and thanked the interior, it felt like he himself felt the house feel lighter and more open. Now hearing the cords that came from her violin, he now understood what the small box device was for that she had on the back of her dress.
As the music and dancers played throughout the hour long scene, the waiters stood nearby until they placed down the food themed around that particular event. The play itself was a tale of Beauty and the Beast that was mixed with Romeo and Juliet. There was also some elements of Alice in Wonderland for the main actress found herself in the enchanted forest and creatures talked about the beast being rather kind and gentle. Course, by how crazy and mad some creatures she encountered were, she went back to the castle and faked falling in love. As the play progressed, it was unclear if she actually fallen for the beast or not.
There was some bread and water to symbolize the first night at the castle. A grand meal was next for when she found the grand dining hall and found a hot meal waiting for her. Cakes and other desserts as well as drinks was offered and Amren found that she was enjoying the event. Near the end, a drink that had edible glitter that symbolized the poison was the last do be placed on the table. And that was when the lead woman plucked the petals of the rose one by one to speed up the beasts curse as when Mor screamed out "Fuck you, bitch!"
Another twist was that this enchantress that was disguised as one of the castles help had put a spell on the main lead and ordered her around like a puppet. The beast killed the enchantress and in doing so, lifted the spell before he died saying that he loved her. Seeing her beloved, she drank the poison herself and replied that she too loved him before meeting him in the afterlife. The rose, still glowing with one final petal intact dropped, the curse of the beast also lifted, turning him into the once handsome prince. When the final note, the play ended. Dead silence filled the air until Nyx's amused voice spoke up from the darkness. "Here I awoke to find her hand on my one eyed mon-Ow! Let go! Lights!"
Faelights illuminated the entire amphitheater and Nyx was busy trying to toss Estrella off him. With his wrists in her hands, they rolled a few times, now laughing with a mix of growls. Now with her under him, she stopped wiggling when he kissed her. "Stop that," She said to which he kissed her cheek then proceeded to kiss her other cheek and forehead as she giggled. They faintly heard their family applaud during their little scuffle and that was fine with them.
The next few weeks afterwards, she and Skye had plenty to talk about as Jayden played with bubbles that had tiny versions of rabbits and other critters inside them. course, Estrella had to reassure her sister that they was fake and harmless. Jayden grew to like the whimsical aspects of Prythian while Skye liked shopping. Their mother enjoyed drinking after her shift and Estrella had to talk to the tavern to only let her mother drink the non spiritral drinks. Dylan had gotten comfortable with a random fae and Skye found them together in their bed. He said it was the best for he didn't want a mother and moved in with the woman to only found out that her husband was also one of his co-workers. When he begged Skye to take him back, she slammed the door.
The portal that he told them only grew worrisome for humans camped near the rift and gotten attacked by the creatures during the night. This caused more humans to flow into Prythian and all of the High Lords was going to hold a meeting. Azriel and a few others had reported about the strange objects they carried or brung into the lands and Estrella's drawings confirmed what they saw.
Machine guns, regular guns of every make and model, tanks, and vehicles was only the few things she informed them. One shot of the guns meant instant death or wounded. "It's like being hit with an arrow but only the pointed tip is used," She said. "Its mainly metal or like iron or copper. We could do a peace treaty and if they won't accept it then.." She shrugged. The meeting was held a few days after the word spread that Chloe was demanding to go back with Skye and Jayden. Dylan was at a crossroads but decided to stay for he said that the past would surely catch up with him. No one dared to question him further when he basically walked away and ignored everyone.
The meeting was held at the same spot that she and Bryce had encountered nearly a year ago. Only this time, the vines and plant life was gone, making the pillars and glass baren of all life. She had no idea on what everyone's names where for she was mainly focused on Nyx and Rhysand. Both was dressed similar in black and dark crimson while she wore a dress. If she would call it that for it felt like a huge black scarf that had split in the middle. A thin silver chain was around her waist and the excess chain dangled down to her upper left thigh and at the end was a flat charm of the moon. Black fabric covered her breasts and she wore bottoms that she called a thong. Nyx saw her with only the thong as she got ready and growled in need, making them last to the meeting.
As to uphold the Night Court she sat proudly on his lap as he drew lazy circles and patterings on her exposed flesh. As his hand gradually lowered to then rest against the oh so thin fabric of her thong, she pressed herself against his thigh and let out an frustrated exhale out her nose that got the attention of several High Lords and one Lady. It was a perfect timing but also an oblivious one for when she was asked on what to do about the situation, she felt her cheeks flush hot. "Why are the young ones here again? I can smell them from over here," A High Lord said. She didn't know his name but the way he was dressed, she guessed Dawn Court.
"Then quit sniffing our way," She said coldly before she straightened. Whatever she did, it made Nyx let out a noise that was a high pitched "ooh!". She ignored it, faking that she didn't care for his well being but a slow foot rub along the area between his calf muscle and ankle made him squeeze her side. "These humans have weapons that will kill you in one hit if they get the mark correctly. There's no avoiding them unless you can winnow as fast as you can enter. Slow down time or even freeze it for a few seconds would greatly impact the chance of survival. Or if you can melt carbon steel and other alloys, that would help tremendously. We do NOT want to start a war with them. Just stop them enough to let me talk to the leader," she said.
"No," Nyx said then got his answer when she twisted to give him an intense stare. "I'm from that world. I know how they think. Attack first and ask questions later unless I can convince them that Prythian is not a threat." She turned around when someone said "I thought Nesta was-" Estrella snapped out with a tone that made almost all the High Lords startle. "She's not here and don't have the rule over the other world like I do. I can assure you that if you attack, you'll be dead faster than-" She snapped her fingers to show them how fast death can approach. "Let me do my plan first. If they won't leave, then I hand the matters over to you guys."
"How many humans are there in your world?" A Lady asked. When Estrella said that it was well over in the millions in just one continent alone and there was seven, the Lady and a few others exchanged looks. "Er well one is just ice and just populated by flightless birds and other life forms. I mean there are people living there but it's like for research on how the they live," she explained. "Most are harmless but the ones coming out from the rift are sol-warriors." After a few hours on debating, they all agreed to let Estrella make the first contact. Nyx was the only one that raised his hand in the voting that she would not go and was calmed by gentle head massages.
Back home, she took off everything and actually hissed at the thong when she threw it on the floor. "I never want to have a thin piece of fabric wedged between my ass again." The topic of her attire still didn't change his mind so she undressed him herself and simply snuggled against him on the couch. "I'll be fine, my love," She soothed. His worried expression almost made her tear up as he asked "And if not? I have not even asked your hand in marriage yet. If you..." She kissed the thought away then kissed a trail down to the nape of his neck where she pressed her forehead against. "I'll burn them," She thought.