"Where you off to Ms Archeron? Trying to avoid training?"
Cassian smirked at me at the dining table as I strode past, biting into an apple. Azriel chuckled, sitting next to him, sipping his coffee.
"I'm getting a run in before your torture." I rolled my eyes at him, laughing.
He winked at me as I left.
The early morning air was cool and crisp. I listened to the pine trees rustling in the breeze as I jogged, focussing on the therapeutic thud of my feet in rhythm. I had a lot of energy for some reason today and savoured each muscle contraction of my legs.
Rhys was currently away with Mor and Amren, strengthening relationships with the other courts. I was glad to spend some time alone, although Cassian and Azriel always hovered a bit more when Rhys wasn't around. Petty Illyrians.
I let my mind wander as I ran deeper through the woods. I unzipped my jacket to allow the cool air to graze my sweating skin.
It appeared out of nowhere, my guard down.
With a jolt of pain on my stomach and a flutter of wings, the Attor swooped. I fired an icy blast at it on instinct, sending it hurtling through the snow.
"You." I spat, my words full of hate. It looked at me with fear as I pooled magic in my hands, ready to unleash. And then it was gone.
I collected myself, looking down at my shirt. A deep scratch across my entire stomach marked, although it didn't bleed too much. I quickly zipped my jacket up, ignoring the sting. It would be healed by the end of the day.
I'd have to keep it from the overprotecting Illyrians. The Attor, I could handle. Likely disgruntled since the fall of Hybern to us.
I had had worse. I shuddered at those memories.
Jogging back, I ignored the sting on my stomach, sweat running into the scratch.
I greeted Cassian for sparring training as we did most mornings, grateful I had picked a black jacket, lest there be any dried blood seep through.
He shot a few normal jokes and trained me with strategy as per normal. Azriel hovered in the background, watching us.
As we continued our usual training resume, after an hour, my head pounded with each punch into Cassian's open hands. A throbbing headache. Just what I needed.
I wouldn't be one to whine though. Not after all my family had faced.
"You're slow today. Focus. Disarm me again." Cassian demanded.
I lunged all my effort at him, failing for the third time as he moved too quick.
"At least let me win one."
I huffed in frustration.
Azriel chuckled from across the room, shadows dancing around his shoulders.
"Less complaining, more sparring." Cassian lifted his open hands, signally another round.
My knees shook with relief once Cassian signalled the end of the session, sweat dripping from my forehead. I felt incredibly fatigued, my muscles aching like I had completed a marathon. I skulled some water, wincing at the throb of my head.
Cold wind burned against my warm cheeks, the sweat making me shiver violently.
"Elbow up." Cassian tapped my face as I dropped my guard again. It was taking every ounce of focus just to keep my arm muscles up. I felt exhausted, maybe I was getting sick. Did fae even get sick?
I huffed at him, hitting his hands again.
"You feeling okay?" Cassian pried, his voice concerned.
I moved my head in a prideful nod.
"Yes. Fine."
"Is that why you're punching so soft today?" It wasn't a taunt but an observation.
"Just tired." I said, not a lie. He didn't push more than that.
I finished up with him shortly after, joining Azriel.
Azriel was quiet as we walked to our usual practice spot, and I felt his swirling shadows analysing me more than normal.
Concern lingering through his neutral gaze as he had me work on wing coordination on the ground. Goosebumps prickled in my skin and I shivered with the blistering wind.
The exertion was draining me.
"Now try and coordinate the two movements together. Up and out."
I nodded, my muscles throbbing at the movement. My wings snapped in against my lethargy, my feet stumbling forward for balance.
Strong hands gripped my under arms, steadying my balance for the third time.
"Try again." Azriel instructed, cool shadows relieving my sweating forehead.
I nodded, avoiding his gaze.
My muscles shook with exertion as I opened and closed my wings again. My stomach twisted in nausea.
I felt his eyes on me as I completed another set of 10 wing lifts. I hated the scrutiny. Weakness was not a virtue. Especially not to the sight of Illyrians.
Azriel's bronze skin shone in the sunlight, his arms crossed.
"Good." He encouraged, signally a break.
I leaned on my knees, gasping for my breath back, swallowing down the nausea.
My head swirled with dizziness. I blinked a few times, willing it away.
"Are you okay?" He said softly. I looked up at his hazel eyes, still leaning on my knees.
"Yes fine."
My knee gave way slightly as I stood back up straight.
Azriel gripped my arm firmly.
"Feyre." He said firmly, his eyes scanning my face.
"I'm fine. Just annoyed I'm not in the air yet." He read through my attempt at deflection easily.
He observed my shaking muscles and exhausted eyes before speaking.
"You're sick."
"I'm fin-"
"We've done for the day." He interrupted, his eyes still suspicious.
Protective Illyrians.
My legs shook with fatigue. Training was always hard but my muscles never shook or hurt this much. Every contraction of each step was painful.
Azriel turned back and eyed my slower steps which I pretended to ignore noticing.
Heading to the house, i trudged upstairs. The warm water in the shower made the long scratch in my stomach sting and the water droplets hitting my skin hurt my throbbing muscles. I felt like I could collapse.
The warm water triggered intense nausea.
I leaned forward and vomited, leaning a hand on the glass for support. I brushed my teeth and got dressed.
Dizziness swum in my head. I didn't have time for this. I was supposed to prep for a visit to the Court of Nightmares shortly.
I sighed, wincing at the pain again.
I drank a cup of tea outside on the balcony, hoping the cool air would relieve some of the intense nausea. I recoiled at the smell of lunch as it wafted outside , grateful for the breeze on my face.
Cassian walked up next to me, leaning on the balcony railing.
"You look pale." His brow furrowed.
"Geez you know how to compliment a woman, Cass?" I joked back to him, still leaning heavily on the railing. I really didn't give him the credit he deserved for reading peoples emotions and states. He hadn't missed my fatigue, my low energy and general unwell nature this morning.
He shot me a small restrained smile, catching my forced light tone.
"You're sick." He jutted his chin inside, signally to rest.
I smiled warmly at him.
"I'm fine, really." I winked at him.
"Is that why you hurled your guts up in the shower?" His tone had no humour, filled with concern.
My mouth dropped open. Illyrians and their ridiculous observations. My cheeks flushed, thinking they must have heard me.
"What time are we leaving for the Court of Nightmares?" I changed the topic, lifting my chin in defiance.
Cassian sighed, exasperated.
"Early tomorrow just after dawn."
He crossed his arms.
"Now, go sit inside and rest."He ordered.
I tried to soldier on, but i found myself sitting on my bed which suddenly turned into awaking an hour later.
I couldn't believe how much worse I felt. My stomach knotted, my headache worse and every muscle feeling as though I'd been in battle.
I dragged my legs down stairs, hoping to keep up facades for dinner.
I listened out for the others and could hear only silence. I leaned heavy on the stair railing, navigating each step slowly. Three steps and I had to lean on the railing, catching my breath, heart pounding. What was wrong with me?
I gripped the banister again tightly with two hands, shaking at the exertion. A cool breeze feeling tickled my fingers. Not a breeze. A shadow.
I looked up.
Azriel stood motionless, watching me at the base of the stairs, concern all over his face.
I gasped softly as we made eye contact.
How long had he been standing there?
"Feyre, what's wrong?" Worry filled his expression and he was suddenly at my side. He gripped my left elbow for support.
"Oh, um, nothing. I'm just sore from training." I pushed myself down the stairs, stumbling once as he tightened his grip on my elbow.
"You need to work on your lying." He reprimanded, his tone displeased.
He helped me down the stairs. As we stood on the ground floor, I smile gratefully at him. I stepped to the right.
"I know somethings wrong." Azriel blocked my path, his expression accusing.
I just stared back without words. I really didn't want to include them in this. It was just a flu.
I gripped his arm warmly.
"Thank you Az. But I'm fine. Just some cold." I reassured him but his expression didn't relax.
He frowned as I passed him.
As I entered the dining room, he was already chatting low with Cassian, both of their worried eyes snapping to mine as I entered. They stopped talking.
"Wow, really subtle." I chastised.
Cassian smiled.
"Should we get Madja?" Cassian asked me as I sat down. The smell of the food made my stomach turn.
I would not be eating tonight.
I shook my head, too tired to argue.
Azriel sat opposite Cassian, glancing at me as they both ate.
"Stubborn." Cassian muttered, sipping his wine.
I sat with my arms crossed, my ears ringing with dizziness.
I sipped a glass of water, willing the nausea to go. Even breathing was becoming tiring. Maybe I did need to see Madja.
I listened to the Illyrians mutter in quiet conversation but I knew they were watching my every move.
After dinner, against their insistence, I helped clear the table. As I stood alone in the kitchen, the room swam. Everything hurt. My chest burned with congestion.
Something was wrong.
I willed a brave face and entered back to the sitting room.
Cassian sat by the fire across the room, Azriel on the opposite side, leaning against the wall.
"Feyre, your lips are blue." Azriel said, his eyes piercing mine.
"I'm just cold." I brushed him off.
My vision danced with spots as I willed them away, blinking hard. I felt Azriel's shadows brush past my back as I walked past him, heading towards Cassian by the fire.
I could feel the Illyrians communicating with piercing gazes over my shoulder.
A strange noise sounded and I realised it was rasping coming from my lungs.
I stared at Cassian as my only focus, worry turning to shock.
"Cass." Azriel raised his voice in alarm. I couldn't work out what for, until I realised my balance was off, and I was falling.
"Hey hey, Feyre, Feyre." Cassian lunged a step to me, strong hands gripped my arms, holding me upright, trying to get me to focus on him. My dizziness was too strong as his worried eyes swam in my vision.
I felt Azriel's steps approach instantly from behind me.
"I'll get Madja."
Cassian pulled me upright.
"Feyre, tell me what's wrong." I blinked hard, looking him in the eyes.
A shadow pulled my shirt up.
Azriel gasped softly in shock as he observed my exposed scratch from the Attor in the firelight.
"Shit. What the fuck-" Cassian said in shock, Azriel's eyes wide with fear.
"She's poisoned. I'll get Madja." He disappeared into thin air.
"Cass-" I muttered, seconds before my vision turned dark, the last thing being the strong arms that pulled me into a carry.
I heard voices. A woman's.
"She should have had this salve on early. An Attors nails are high infection risk. That's why it's not healed yet."
Then Azriel's voice. "She must have got hurt this morning, that's why she was unwell at training." His voice sounded as though he was angry at himself.
I opened my eyes, vertigo swimming my head.
Cassian and Azriel stood over me, muscles tense, expressions serious.
Madja sat by my stomach, my shirt pulled up to expose the whole scratch.
"Feyre." Cassian held my forehead in relief, Azriel's shoulders relaxing slightly.
"Hold her hands, General. This will hurt." Madja instructed.
Cassian's eyes pained.
I frowned in confusion. A cool paste was applied to my stomach and a recoiled as it burned.
"Arg!" I darted to grip Madjas hands but Cassian was faster, gripping both of my hands in one of his. He looked at me with apologetic hazel eyes.
The pain passed quickly.
"See, just a scratch." I muttered, trying to lighten the mood. His gaze was piercing.
"You were attacked by the Attor. Why did you keep this from us?" He reprimanded, his voice tense.
Azriel walked over the back of the couch, leaning over me, hovering as Madja worked.
"Didn't want to worry you." I glanced at them both.
"You scared the hell out of us, Feyre." Azriel said, his eyes wide with worry. He wasn't normally so emotive.
Emotion bubbled in my throat.
"I'm sorry."
He reached out and stroked my hand reassuringly.
"Let her rest. Argue later." Madja said. The two Illyrians, Azriel thanking the healer and leading her out. Cassian sighed a worried breath and sat across from me in the chair, watching me intently.
He lifted his chin at me, his eyes softening.
"Sleep."
And I did.