Hey everyone, hoped you enjoyed the first chapter...I'm just going to carry straight on.

Kida's POV

The dress that between myself, Neuala and my mother had chosen was beautiful. That couldn't be argued with in anyway shape or form. It was such a light blue that it was almost white. The colour reminded me of a star...A small scoff escaped my lips. We all knew why that was. Being from the night court, looking like the light of the sky was almost a joke. But it was beautiful. So who cared.

The dress was off the shoulder, but sleeves started on my arms in line with the cut of the dress across my breasts. Small shining gems gleamed in the soft light of my bedroom, cascading down the dress and pooling around my feet. The dress was easy to move in, thank the cauldron, considering I needed to dance tonight.

The thought made me shudder. This was the kind of thing I wasn't particularly good at. The 'formal' bits. My older sister, Tawny, was the better daughter at this kind of thing. But then she was more confident, ready to take on her duties as a Fae Lords daughter. And I was more than happy to sit back and let her.

My mother had pinned small matching gem stones into my hair, but left it down and curling. I always loved my hair. It was a rich chocolate colour. Darker than Feyres and Tawnys, but lighter than Rhys's and Nyxs. It shined with a red tint in the sun, and sometimes a cold blonde glow in the moon. My eyes were the same colbolt and violet colour as my fathers. Which people always said made me look unique. Stunning but definitely noticeable. There was no mistaking who I was.

Taking a deep breath, I turned from my mirror to face the bedroom room. The voices from downstairs had certainly grown now into an unmistakable chorus of people. Many of them. Today was a big day I supposed. Or at least it was in the traditional sense for Prythian. When a child of one of the high lords came of age, people celebrated. It was time for them to start their official duties. But it also meant that I was now on the market...any high lord that potentially wanted stronger ties with my family could try and use me as a way in.

I knew my father was too smart for that to happen and he would certainly never sell me off, but the thought still made me uneasy. Taking a deep and finale breathe, I walked towards my bedroom door.

*.*.*.*

The Fae lights in the crystal chandeliers glowed like the cresent moon. They were spectacular. My eyes trained on them as I entered the formal ball room of the House of Wind, right atop the stairs. Now in full view of every eye in the room. The music had stumbled to a slower, quieter song. A few small gasps errupted at the first sight of me, as I lowered my gaze from the ceiling to below me.

Standing tall, I observed...and was being observed.

Tarquin, the High Lord of Summer court, and his cousins Cresseida and Varian stood near the bottom of the stairs. Tarquin smiled warmly at me, encouraging me to start walking as he gazed up at me. Things before my birth had been rocky between the Summer and the Night courts. Or so I had been told, but as far as I was aware since being alive, things had been great. Probably due to the fact Amren, the high fae-not high fae door mouse lion was now married to the Prince of Summer, Varian. They split their time between the courts and so the communication and trust grew.

I took one step down. My eyes moved on. Winter court were here, bedecked in whites and blues almost the same colour as mine. Kallias smiled at me and bowed his head. His wife and mate, Viviane grinning broadly and proudly. Mor often visited with her old friend and from time to time, I would accompany her. Viviane had always made sure to make me feel welcome and spend time teaching me how to make snowflakes and ice with my magic. I didn't have the heart to tell her I'd mastered that particular gift when I had been only a toddler.

Day court were here, stood proudly next to my family. Helion, his breath-taking smile lighting the room. It almost over took my own entrance. Almost. After the wars 30 years ago, Helion had become closer and closer with my family. He had told the world it was because he fancied my Mother. But everyone knew that was a lie. Rhys would not have left him standing had that been the case. In fact, I kind of suspected him of not only fancying my mother, but also my father, my uncles and aunties.

I took another step down the stairs. Slowly, so slowly. Unlike my heart which was hammering in my chest. My family stood, tears lined my mothers eyes. And was that tears in my fathers as well? Surely not.

Another step. My gaze swept past them to my brother and sister. Nyx was smiling me and giving me encouragement and confidence. Tawny bit her lip, stifling a giggle. She knew how much I hated these things and an answering smile tugged the corner of my mouth. Elaine and Nesta, Mor and Amren all stood next to them, watching me, unblinking. Elaine sobbing quietly. Nesta madly proud as always. She was one of my favourite people in this world. And then Uncle Cassian and Uncle Azriel stood, taking me in but also the room. Always the protective alphaholes.

Another step. I was half way now, thank god. Only a few more to go. I have this.

My eyes travelled to the right of the room. My insides warmed a little as a familiar ginger haired male smiled at me. Both pride and love on his face. My best friend in the world, Lucien. He'd made it. I smiled broadly at him and took another step. With Lucien here, everything was easier. I could be calmer. I knew nothing would happen...not just physically, but Lucien always understood when I had told him how I felt slightly out of step from this world. But I wasn't prepared for his brother...Eris to be stood next to him.

My eyes drifted to his and my world faltered. His gaze snapped to mine, and he stumbled. I froze. His amber eyes burned into me, enlarging as he took me in. Our breathing stopped. Both of us. At the exact same moment. The world went quiet. The music no longer played. The fae lights up above me, went out. All I could see was him. He took a step towards me, only for his brother to put an arm out and stop him. Now was not the time for him to come over.

Oh Mother...He was...that had been...My mind began to swim as I turned and faced the centre of the room. Eris Vanserra. It couldn't be. How could...My eyes snapped to my fathers and his trailed from Eris's to my own. Confusion and tension now swarming his face. I couldn't move. Couldn't breath. I was going to vomit. Going to pass out. I didn't know which one.

A warm hand wrapped around my elbow and a breath tickled my ear.

"Come on, lets get you down these steps." Lucien whispered on my skin. I began moving with his strength comforting me. We walked down the rest of the stairs arm in arm. Moving through the room, stopping to be admired and congratulated. The room was filled with people, so many people. But I could feel his eyes. Feel them tracking my every movement. He made no attempt to come to me. Out of shock, out of respect or out of fear of my family I had no idea.

"Kida!" Viviane called for me across the room. I spun and saw her pushing her way through the crowds to me. So I followed suit. Gently moving people aside with a smile, I raced for the comforting female. We clashed into each others arms and she enveloped me. Could she tell something was off? I felt like my anxiety was radiating from me. As if I'd just grown another arm, out the centre of my forehead.

"Congratulations." She exclaimed holding me out at arms length to admire my gown, and hair. "You look absolutely breath-taking."

"Just like a child of star light." Kallious said as he emerged from behind his mate. He smiled and ducked to kiss me on a cheek. "Well done Kida. You were amazing." I let out a shaky breath.

"I thought the stairs were going to swallow me whole. I couldn't stop shaking." I laughed a little and looked towards my father who was looking over at...Eris. I quickly averted my eyes back to my friends.

"You couldn't tell." Viviane reassured me. Although, I wasn't entirely sure if she was lying to make me feel better about myself. Either way the gesture was needed and settled the nerves in my stomach a little. The band cranked the music back up a little and we all started to make small talk.

*.*.*.*

" I always hated these kind of things as well." Lucien told me as we stood at the drinks table, laden with wines, juices and waters from across the entire continent. I took a small glass and filled it with wine, handing it to my friend and then doing the same for myself.

"That's a lie." I laugh. "You became an emissary. You must have liked these a small bit." I looked around the room, keeping my traiteurs eyes away from the one spot I knew they wanted to wander. Lucien chuckled a little and took a sip of wine. Lucien's eyes narrowed a little as he realised where my eyes were skipping over. I wasn't sure what that look meant though. Why was he upset by that?

"Well yes. But I meant back at my home court, when I was young." My head tipped as I surveyed my friends scarred face. The one physical reminder of his past. Every time I saw the scaring, my heart broke a little. For the young boy that no-one tried to save.

"Really? Why?"

"Because...I was the youngest. I knew what people thought of me. I knew that they knew I was useless and weak. And to be paraded around in front of everyone...everyone who also thought that. It was just embarrassing." I blinked at him, sorrow filling his face. "Not that you're any of those things...just because you're youngest, I mean. You are strong and beautiful and..." I placed my hand on Luciens arm.

"Lucien, calm...before you give yourself a headache. I knew what you meant." I laughed a long throaty chuckle. Lucien was kind of lucky in a way. He got out. I wasn't sure of every detail on how but he did. He survived and grew and made himself invaluable. I couldn't even picture my life without him.

He gave me a wicked grin before a large arm fell over my shoulders. A smacking great kiss wettened my cheek.

"Well...if our little Kida hasn't gone and grown up." Cassian removed his arm and turned me to face him. Looking me up and down. "Wow Kida, you look..." Words failed on his lips as he swallowed. Cassian had never been great at the whole compliments thing. I'd heard from Auntie Nesta more than once how Cassian's gentleman manners could used some work.

"Thanks Uncle Cass. It's very..."

"Beautiful." My Auntie spoke for me. It was...but it wasn't very me. Nesta walked up beside her mate and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. "You are beautiful." She said. My auntie was always very abrupt, some might say rude, but she wasn't to me. To me, she was soft, and loving. It was weird to see how she was with me when she was so different with everyone else.

I blushed. "Thank you." I kissed her cheek. That tug in my stomach lurched and I looked over my Aunties shoulder to see the back of my Fathers head walking in the direction of Lucien's brother. He was glaring at him earlier. What was happening?

"What is going on?" I glanced to Cassian. The shutters in his eyes clamped down. A sure sign something was happening and they didn't want me knowing about it.

"Absolutely nothing." Cassian said in a tight voice. His lying voice. Still to this day, my family believed I didn't know their tell-tale signs of deception.

"You're lying. Tell me the truth." My eyes pierced into his. A small swallow. That's all I needed. Confirmation. I strode past Cassian and Nesta, even with them trying to change my mind. Lucien called my name, but I ignored him marching over to where my Dad was now stood. His back ridged.

He straightened as he felt my hand brush against his back.

"Daddy..." Rhys refused to turn. So I moved. Stepping around him. Coming face to face with the eldest son of the Autumn court. Our eyes connected and that tug in my stomach changed. It burned with a comforting fire.

"It's you." Eris breathed.