"We live in cities you'll never see on screen.
Not very pretty but we sure know how to run things.
Livin' in the ruins of the palace within my dreams.
And you know, we're on each other's team."

Team - Lorde

Winter Court/Autumn Court Border, Prythian

On the outskirts of the warded boundary line separating the Winter and Autumn courts, Cassian and Azriel landed with reverberating thuds, making the snow on the branches surrounding them shake loose from their impacts. The full, luminous moon above them cast a silvery glow along the snow-covered landscape, bright and stark against the cold and dark forest. Cassian and Azriel felt a strange familiarity within the woods, a call back to the environment and conditions of the Illyrian mountains they grew up in.

Their wings folded tightly inward as they began their trek towards the Autumn border, the heavy snowfall diminishing as they neared closer to the divide. Azriel's shadows spread before them, skirting through the mud and snow piles, spinning around the barren trees, searching for possible threats and information to carry back. Cassian's head was on a swivel, trained eyes scanning the forest intently as his siphons gleamed in the darkness. He stood tall and unyielding, even as the harsh wind of the Winter Court attempted to pierce his leathers and throw him off balance. Azriel's hand was inches from Truth-Teller, the blade secured to his thigh as they weaved through the fallen trees and bare bushes like phantoms.

Ahead. Eris. Ahead.

Azriel's shadows whispered to him, and he tapped Cassian on the arm to alert him silently. They both came to a halt, still within the Winter border and assessed their surroundings. The bare, snowy branches of the Winter Court gradually faded into an Autumn forest ahead; trees retained their colorful leaves, the heavy snow receded into a minimal dusting over thick mud, and the intensity of the biting wind decreased to a zephyr. Only the quiet creaking of branches holding the weight of snow emitted from the woods around them, signaling they were still very much alone.

Azriel could see the Autumn border ahead, but Eris would not be directly on the borderline waiting. He would be tucked away well within his Court's boundaries and, subsequently, his father's jurisdiction. Azriel and Cassian shared a look of knowing, double-checking their protections and grabbing their weapons from their holsters. Together, they continued forward, timing their steps to minimize the sound of approach.

Once they crossed into Autumn, Azriel felt the air change as they slipped through the invisible barrier. The scent of water-logged tree trunks and decaying leaves met his nose, the wildlife living within the woods alerting one another to a new arrival in the lands. Azriel knew there were far worse beings hiding in these woods than mere foxes and wolves; apex predators lurked in that darkness that could tear someone apart and transform into a thing of nightmares.

He was one of them.

"I was expecting one of Rhysand's winged guard dogs, but I didn't think I would require both."

Cassian turned to see Eris leaning against the tree to their left, a lazy smirk plastered upon his face. Azriel had known he was there, having seen the slight disturbance of the leaves in the mud, but Azriel gave Eris no indication that he even heard what the son of Autumn had said.

"I'm honored." Eris continued as he pushed himself off the tree, brushing his hand down his midnight blue coat sleeve. "I even half expected to see my brother. Tell me, how is Lucien doing these days?"

"I would have figured you'd have seen him when he visited your mother," Cassian replied, willingly offering the information. This was a strategic play to minimize their time spent within the borders of this gods' forsaken Court.

Eris hummed, "He came to see mother, not me." He took a few steps closer to the Illyrian warriors, gloved hands in his pockets and standing proud as he continued, his voice firm and unrelenting. "Let's cut to the chase; you know what or who breached Autumn's borders. Under Prythian law, I have the right to gather all information about it and open an investigation. Under Autumn Court jurisdiction, this matter falls to the General of the Autumn Court forces. It allows for any measures to secure the border and the safety of Autumn's people by any means necessary. As it is clear that Lucien, your emissary, was last seen in these woods when the breach happened, it only solidifies that the Night Court is involved."

Cassian reached inside his leathers, holding a black envelope with a silver wax seal toward Eris. Handing over the carefully crafted information, an evasive truth disguised as a detailed explanation, was the easy part. "Rhysand sends his regards."

Eris took the envelope, breaking the seal to read the contents immediately. His facial expression never faltered as he read the letter from Rhysand. Instead, he folded it and put it inside his coat pocket. While his face remained impassive, his eyes burned with carefully controlled anger. "You expect me to believe that a human female had simply wandered her way through the woods of the human lands, bypassed into the Spring Court without being noticed by that beastly idiot, and ended up here? Slipping past the Forest House, my father's elite guards, and myself? How daft do you think I am?"

Azriel wanted to tell him exactly what he thought of Eris, and by the expression on Cassian's face, he felt the same way. However, Azriel's face remained cold and indifferent, his shadows nearly concealing him entirely from sight. Neither Cassian nor Azriel offered to answer Eris's questions.

Eris scoffed at them, "We are in the business of helping each other. I help you, you help me."

"What makes you think we need your help?" Cassian asked, crossing his arms across his chest. This meeting had already exceeded his personal time restriction.

Eris gave him a serpentine-like smile, the fire within him shining in his amber eyes. "Because I know more than you think I do. I request that you follow me. I have something to show you."

Azriel finally said, "Tell us what it is before we blindly get led into Autumn." Something was beginning to sour in his stomach.

"You will see when we get there. It's quite a long walk, and we have much to discuss until then."

"Give us an approximate location, and we will meet there. The less time we spend in your presence, the better." For you was the unspoken addition, Azriel had wanted to say.

"Six miles from the Forest House, southwest." Eris disappeared without so much as a sound.

Azriel turned his attention to Cassian, who was already looking at him. "This feels like a trap," he said.

Azriel nodded in agreement but grabbed Cassian's arm anyway. "Be ready."

The black cloud formed around them, growing thicker and larger until an onyx wall of shadows completely surrounded them. They appeared on the other side within moments, the shadows dissipating back into a soft mist-like form around Azriel. Eris was waiting exactly where he said he would be, hands still in his pockets. He led them silently through the forest, the overgrowth of vegetation thickening the closer they got to the Forest House. Azriel knew they were too close for comfort near Beron's palace; his guards wouldn't be too far from where they were wandering. His shadows dispersed everywhere to note where the guards were stationed throughout the woods.

They walked for another quarter mile before Eris stopped, holding his hand up to a halt. He turned towards them for a moment before stepping aside, motioning to the forest floor behind him, "This is where the human came through," He turned his head, and just over his right shoulder, Cassian and Azriel could see the impact site where Sam landed in Prythian. "You can tell Rhysand that his fabrication of events is not appreciated."

Surprisingly, the earth had a rather large indention, and mud splashed and piled up in odd areas. Leaves and brush were disturbed around the muddied puddle, and the thick, wet earth was a pungent assault on their senses. Cassian could see Azriel's shadows zipping around the large area, collecting as much information left behind as possible.

Azriel studied the surroundings, marking the footprints in the ground that matched Sam's boots. Suddenly, Cassian and Azriel were hanging by a thread within the bargain. They knew they would have to give Eris information regarding Sam, but Eris had already gathered more information than they had intended to share. Rhysand's message was a clear indication of attempted deception. A sinking feeling began to descend in Azriel's stomach.

"So now that we have determined that the breach was caused by her, can you tell me where she came from?"

Azriel continued to look at the impact site, amazed that Sam hadn't had more injuries than a couple of cuts and bruises she had walked away with. With an impact zone that is extensive and brutal, a human should have broken a few bones at the least. "We're not sure."

"Bullshit. I'm sure she's told you exactly where she came from."

"She has told us nothing." Cassian tried...and failed. Even as he said it, he knew it was thinly veiled.

"Lie to me again; I will burn you where you stand and send your ashes back to your mate in a wooden box." Eris spat, his eyes nearly glowing with anger and the fire pulsating beneath his skin. "I do not appreciate being left in the dark when the entire situation clearly began in my Court. Now, tell me where she is from."

Cassian sighed heavily, hoping the bargain tattoo didn't strike him dead as he opened his mouth. "She's from another planet; she called it Earth. We don't know where it is, how she got here, or any other answers to your questions. I assure you, we have those same questions."

"Then I would like to meet her myself and determine if she is a threat to my Court," Eris demanded, crossing his arms over his chest. "At the very least."

"She's human," Azriel replied; his hazel eyes were hard and cold as he stared at the eldest Vanserra offspring. The last thing he wanted was Eris within a foot of Sam's presence.

"Feyre was human once, too, and look at what she was able to accomplish under the mountain. Never underestimate a human female." Eris remained firm in his stance, even with the two Illyrian warriors sizing him up and crowding him. He was a force to be reckoned with in his own right, standing proud as the General of the Autumn Court forces.

Fast. She landed hard. Unconscious.

She was too close to the Forest House.

She moved north for hours and made it seven miles.

Traced to a tree. She slept on a branch.

Fear. She was terrified.

Lucien. Smoke hounds.

"At what point did you send the smokehounds after her?" Azriel asked; his shadows continued to whisper bits of information to him. Seven miles north from their location, Sam had strapped herself to a tree to sleep and presumably met Lucien around the area.

Eris didn't so much as blink. "I didn't send them after her; I sent them after Lucien to see where he would go. I sent guards after her."

Cassian whipped his head towards Eris, his wings twitching, anger pulsing through his body. "You sent guards after her?"

Eris rolled his eyes, dropping his arms. "Please. Tell me that you wouldn't do the same? If the only information you had was a trespasser roaming within the lands, you would have also sent soldiers out to investigate. Don't paint me out to be a villain because I followed protocol." He sneered at Cassian, disdain dripping from his words like venom. "Not like they caught up to her in time."

"Trust me, we don't have to paint you that way. You do a great job of it yourself." Cassian quipped, looking at the forest floor with a thoughtful expression.

Eris bared his teeth, "They would have taken her into custody an-"

"And then tortured her for information. She couldn't even speak our language, Eris; imagine what Beron would have done to her." Azriel snarled at him, his shadows growing thicker around him in response to his agitation.

"Oh, so my guards would have simply done what you do? Hilarious, really, that it's okay when you do it but vile and wrong when other courts do the same thing. Save your heroic defense for someone who can't see through you, Shadowsinger." Eris spat at him, his eyes flashing like a roaring fire.

Azriel held onto his temper with every ounce of willpower he had left. Eris knew what buttons to press and how hard to get a reaction; he was a professional at being an asshole, and even centuries later, Azriel still wanted to rip his throat out with his teeth.

Cassian, who was teetering on the edge of throwing the mission to the wind and pummeling Eris into the mud, ran a hand down his face as he took a deep breath. "Beyond what we have already shared, we have no further information. If you do not have any information to give us, whether it is the current situation or not, then we will be on our way."

"I already told you what I wanted. I would like to meet her." The smirk on Eris' face was vicious. "Samantha."

Azriel's shadows rose like serpents, peering over his shoulders like vipers ready to strike. Deadly suspicion bubbled within him, his skin itching at the need to tear Eris to pieces. "We never told you her name."

"No, but you did just confirm it." Eris smirked, opening his pristine jacket to pull an object out from within his inside pocket. "My smoke hounds found this, just over there."

In his hand was a small, palm-sized folded leather wallet. Eris opened it and pulled out what looked like a white card: "Samantha Grace Damato. Female. Date of birth is December 8, 1994, from a place called Savannah, Georgia. This also has an image of her. Does she look familiar?"

In Eris's hand was a hard white card with the words 'Drivers License' printed at the top, a picture of Sam smiling on the left, and her details printed along the right. The black wallet was caked in dried mud but had clearly been wiped off to the best of Eris' ability. Azriel's face was frozen in a cold rage, and Cassian stood still like a statue. Eris did, indeed, know more than they were willing to share.

Eris' serpentine grin stretched across his face. "Checkmate."

Azriel's shadows snatched the card and wallet from Eris' hand before he could react, vanishing from sight. He could only imagine what Rhysand would say at this gloriously failed mission. Eris would have to be read in; it was unavoidable.

Eris could only grin at having one-upped the Night Court, "I will meet her; perhaps I could be of some assistance."

"How?" Cassian snapped back at him. He didn't need to be agreeable or happy about Eris' involvement. He was even less thrilled that Eris would be around his mate and Mor again.

"I have information regarding the movements of the units recently dispatched by Vallahan," Eris offered as he buffed his nails against the lapel of his coat.

"According to our sources, that is all hearsay," Azriel dismissed, listening more to what his shadows were whispering to him than to what Eris was saying. Azriel trusted his sources more than he trusted Eris, after all.

"You are not the only spy in this country or this world. I also have eyes and ears in other parts of this world and have good authority to say there is growing tension within Rask and Vallahan, enough that they sent small scouting units from their shores a few days ago."

"And did your informants disclose why?" Cassian asked, watching Azriel's shadows momentarily before turning to Eris.

"Let me see," Eris made a show of tapping his finger to his chin in contemplation. "What recent events could have caused curiosity in Prythian? I wonder what-"

Cassian rolled his eyes, "Okay, we get it. Sam's appearance. Why would they be interested in her?"

"They don't know it was her, now do they? Given what information your High Lord is keeping close to his chest, all they know and what the rest of the High Lords know is that a tremble was felt. They are looking for the reason. Clearly, it was strong enough to draw attention from the Continent."

"I understand, but why would they waste resources sending units out on a blind mission? It doesn't make sense."

"It's not a blind mission," Azriel finally said with a sigh. He had been staring at the impact site, and the small crater in the Earth seemed to gloat at him. They know exactly where it came from."

Eris stood up straighter, his eyes narrowing. "And how would you know that?"

Azriel's hand hovered above the indention, this black mist swirling around his hand. "It has a magical signature. I can feel it." Cassian held his hand above the hole in the ground as well, shaking his hand as he felt the prickling of the magic brush against his skin. "The rift created the magical signature; it's like a beacon, vibrating along the ward lines."

"So they are coming to Autumn," Eris's hand trembled with suppressed rage. He closed his fist and then stretched his fingers out, tiny sparks flying from his fingers. "I believe I require Rhysand's daemati skills."

"Rhys. This turned into a bigger issue than we planned."

"What do you mean?"

Cassian allowed Rhys to peer into his head to access what he was currently seeing. Cassian could almost feel Rhys's frustration and dread.

"Report immediately to the River House."

"And Eris?"

"...We will prepare for his arrival. Bring him here, not to the Court of Nightmares. We, at least, need to prevent Keir from being aware."

"Understood."

-x-

Velaris, Night Court, Prythian

A few short blocks from the townhouse, Sam and Lucien found themselves in the Palace of Hoof and Leaf, an incredible outdoor market filled with meats, livestock, baked goods, and spices. The scent in the air was mouthwatering, so many spices mingling together that Sam had trouble pinpointing exactly what she was smelling. Sam could retain her barrings between the Sidra located to the east and the Palace market to the west, knowing that Lucien wouldn't let her get lost in Velaris.

While being surrounded by a multitude of scents and sounds was overwhelming in its own right, Sam was not prepared to see all the different kinds of faeries within the Night Court. She tried to control her staring, attempting to be as respectful as possible, but when a blue-scaled faerie walked by her wearing nothing at all, she felt her fear spike. Even as the blue-scaled faerie nodded to her and Lucien in greeting, Sam had half-hidden herself behind Lucien in fright. Lucien, bless him, had pulled her aside into a nearby alley to allow her to collect herself, her heart beating a frantic tattoo against the inside of her rib cage as faeries of all different species roamed around the city.

"They won't hurt you, Sam. They are just as curious of you as you are of them." Lucien assured her calmly, rubbing her upper arm and back in reassurance.

Sam, whose eyes were as wide as saucers and face as white as a sheet of paper, took more than a handful of deep breaths, allowing the fresh oxygen to chase her terror out of her bloodstream. Her skin was prickling from her excessive heavy breathing, and her vision was beginning to blue around the edges. "I know, I am so sorry. I..I just...I wasn't expectin' that. A part of me just expects to see other humans or fae that look like the ones I've met already or who look kinda like me or somethin'. I didn't – oh god."

"You don't have to explain; I understand, " he replied, stepping back to give her some space and looking up and down the alley to assure her they were still alone. "In your world, does everyone look like you?"

Sam shook her head, taking another deep breath, trying to mentally talk herself out of her growing panic attack. She closed her eyes and straightened her spine. "No," She leaned back against the solid wall of a shop, the sun catching the adjacent rooftop's chimney and carving out a column of shade over her. "No, we are a wide variety of people and come in various combinations of shape, size, and color. We're all different."

"The same as it is here in Prythian. You are different to them as they are to you," Lucien explained; his voice was comforting, a steady baritone that Sam focused on while she fought to get her breathing under control. She slowly opened her eyes as he continued, "We are just like the people of your world; some of us have wings or horns, some of us have scales, fur, or various colored skin; we may even bleed different colors, but we are all just trying to make a better life for ourselves, for our families. Most of us aren't bad; we have a few, but we try, and I think that's what matters. That's what you have to remember."

Sam watched Lucien as he spoke, his passion for the people of Velaris, of Prythian, touching a part of her heart that had long gone quiet. In more ways than one, he was right; they were just like Sam and the people of her world. Different races and religions, various physical characteristics, different backgrounds, and upbringings, but all just trying. Trying to make a life and make a difference somehow despite everything stacked against them. They try to write the story of their lives and give it a happy ending or just a good ending to a decent life that is well lived.

Sam frowned down at the ground of the alleyway, her shame and embarrassment getting the best of her. She licked her bottom lip, sucking them inward before looking up at Lucien, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend anyone. I didn't mean to panic; I just...I just didn't know what to do."

Lucien studied her, "You don't have to apologize, Sam." He gave her a half smile, taking a step closer. "This-" He motioned to Velaris. "It's all new to you. But hey, look at me," He tapped a finger under her chin, causing her to look up at him. His amber and golden eyes were soft as he looked at her, and Sam could see the magical traces of his mechanical eye in the gold. "You are welcomed here in Velaris, in Prythian; these faes, Lesser or not, High Fae or not, accept you because the Court of Dreams is for exactly that, dreamers. We believe in co-existence; many fae here have or know someone who has fought in the Hybern wars on the side of mortals. They fought for you before they even knew you."

Sam turned her head at the mouth of the alley, watching the fae stroll by, eating baked goods and sipping from steaming cups. Couples pointing items out in shop windows, children racing past playing with fake swords made of soft fabrics, and their parents pulling up the rear with smiles on their green faces, no worry about their children getting taken off the streets or ran over by a speeding car.

Regret still turned in her heart, feeling like she had offended the fae without ever saying a word. Her hiding behind Lucien had hurt their feelings, and they felt judged in a place that celebrated the opposite. On Earth, differences were not celebrated in "normal society." In fact, they were frowned upon and sometimes punished. If someone did not conform, if they were 'different,' they were hated or feared and sometimes, in extreme cases, harmed or killed.

Here, differences were accepted, and it tugged on Sam's heart to realize just how far Earth had fallen. This foreign world, while not advanced in technology or in ways of that nature, was more advanced in acceptance and tolerance than her home planet. Sam hoped she lived long enough to see her world evolve.

"Come on, let's go find what you're looking for. I'll explain the lead-up to the Wars along the way." Lucien guided her from the alleyway and back into the market area, where vendors were still in high spirits, even if the regret chewed at her with every fae she passed.

As they walked along the vendor's tents, Sam resisted the urge to fall back into memories of her home. Lucien explained, in basic terms, the reasoning behind both Hybern wars, focusing mainly on the more recent one. Sam could tell that there would be multiple versions of the story depending on who she asked and that he was skipping over some details. Not that she minded; she was sure she would hear the full story at some point, but getting an idea of why this country had just recovered from a war was a good start. America was always involved in some foreign war at home, but the idea and the effects were not lost on her. She had been blessed, though, not having to live in an actual war zone where bombs were falling from the sky, and the air raid sirens would wake the population up at night to take cover.

She was told about The Wall collapsing, how it was still shattered, and the human lands were still easily accessible through the Spring Court. He talked about a female named Amarantha and the destruction she caused across the lands for nearly 50 years. She learned of another High Lord, Tamlin, who now patrolled the Spring Court in a beast form but was once his best friend and how he and Tamlin were the first fae males to meet Feyre. He explained how and why Feyre had purposefully led the Court to its downfall. She heard about Lucien's role at the beginning of the war, how he chose Feyre and helped her escape the Spring Court, and how he chose his mate, her sister, over his lifelong friendship with Tamlin.

He continued divulging what Cassian and Azriel's roles were while they purchased some hamburger meat from a vendor with giant horns emerging from his head. Sam smiled at him, though a little forced, and thanked him, taking the bag of meat from him. The horned fae bowed his head to her and smiled back as they turned to continue walking. He explained how the High Lords, Rhysand included, were trapped Under the Mountain. He would bounce back and forth throughout his explanation to relay more information to her, knowing it was a lot to take in and understand when hearing it secondhand.

"So, that's how you met your mate, Elain?" Sam asked as they weaved through the crowded market. She sipped a delicious lavender and lemon tea from a cup that a stall worker had all but thrust into her hands, welcoming her to Velaris.

Lucien dodged around a group of fae who looked more human, and Sam, unintentionally, felt more at ease as they passed them, "As she came out of the Cauldron, the bond snapped."

"And? What's she like?" Sam prodded as they stopped in front of an herb and spice stall. Sam began picking through, smelling, and examining the small pouches they offered.

Lucien picked up a satchel of spices, sniffing it and putting it back down with a disgusted look. "She's kind, soft-spoken, thoughtful, creative, and likes to garden." He mindlessly rubbed the fabric of another satchel as he thought about Elain. "She's a seer...when inside the Cauldron...when she was being Made, she was granted a gift."

"So she can see the future?" Sam asked, stopping to stare at him. If there was a seer within the family, this might make her life a little easier. Elain could point her in the right direction as to what to research about to find her way home.

"Yes and no," He replied, slightly shrugging his shoulder. "It comes in riddles, really. Elain can't always make them out, and we can't usually figure them out; they don't tend to make sense, really, until afterward. She wishes she didn't have the gift."

Sam watched as his face turned into longing, and her heart broke for him. "She hasn't accepted the bond, has she?" Lucien was silent, but he shook his head. Sam nodded at the response, turning her attention back to the spices. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I'm giving her time and space. She…didn't ask for this, and….I won't force her to," Lucien answered quietly. Sam could see just how torn he was about it. It was killing him, and he was allowing it; he was allowing his heart to break and would continue to do so until she either accepted or didn't.

"What happens if someone doesn't accept the bond?" Sam whispered, watching his face intensely and carefully, almost fearing the answer.

"The bond will still pull, but it would feel...different," he began, and with every word he continued to speak, his shoulder tensed. "But with the rejected bond, the male would likely be so emotionally unstable that he would lose his mind. For the female, it would be less severe but still distressing."

"Oh Lucien…"

"Don't." Lucien snapped, looking up at her. For a split second, Sam felt fear rush through her bloodstream. "Don't pity me; I don't need it. If that is what she wants, I will go through whatever I must."

Sam's brows shot up at the anger in his face; she finally saw another side of him, the fiery side that calls from the Autumn Court. "Okay." She held her hands up, the bag of meat hitting her forearm. "Wasn't my intention to offend you, I just didn't know." She had wanted to snap back at him, meet his anger with anger, but it wasn't called for; this was a sensitive topic they had wandered into, and she hadn't realized just how sensitive it was, how distraught it was making Lucien.

Lucien took a deep breath, uncurling the fist around the satchel of spices he had been holding. "I apologize, Sam, I...I-"

"I know," She replied, touching his shoulder. "I know. You're fine. I won't bring it up again."

He sighed and looked up at the sky, searching for something before looking back at her. "No, that's...I don't want you to think you can't talk to me. I don't want you to feel bad for asking questions."

Sam nodded, gathering her herbs and spices in a pile. "Thank you, Lucien." She offered him a small smile. Besides, I doubt this will be the first time you snap at me. I'm quite hardheaded."

Lucien snorted, paid the vendor for the herbs and spices she had picked out, and took the bag to carry them. "That is already something I realized; there is no need to drive the point home."

Sam grinned, looping her arm through his as they walked down through the market some more. "Tell me about your home. You're from Autumn Court?"

Lucien nodded, "I was born in the Autumn Court, yes. It's where I learned to fish, hunt, and survive on my own, but I defected to Spring when…" He sighed and shook his head as if he was erasing the memories image. "My father killed the female I was in love with and - "

Sam abruptly stopped, forcing Lucien to stop beside her. "Are you fuckin' serious?"

Lucien looked highly uncomfortable. He kept glancing around the market at all the passing fae, and Sam felt horrible, again, for asking about his life. "It's...a long story. I have a complicated upbringing, but...I will tell you if you wish to know."

Sam studied his face; his uncomfortable expression and tense body language dissuaded her from further prying. "We can save it for later...God, no offense, but...fuck me, you've been through the wringer, haven't you?"

Lucien bristled at her wording, his face turning a hue of pink that clashed horribly with his hair. "I-I...Sam,"

Sam let out a short laugh, her stomach twisting painfully, "Not literally!" As she laughed, tension seemed to release its hold on Lucien's tight muscles. "It's an expression! What I mean is...damn, you've been through it." She had a vague memory of Azriel nearly reacting in the same way, making her laugh some more. "I'm sorry."

"What are you making?" Lucien asked quickly to change the subject off of him. "We've been wandering for a few hours, but you haven't told me what you plan on making."

Sam shifted on her feet, smiling up at him, almost embarrassed. "I wanted to thank ya'll for being so nice to me and offerin' to help me get back home. I mean, I don't know you well enough, and it's not like I have any money to buy ya'll somethin', so I was going to make dinner…a meal from my world that I love. It's called a cheeseburger, and I'mma make it with a side of onion rings."

"A cheeseburger?"

"A cheeseburger," Sam said again, and she began to guide him toward the baked goods section of the market with a smile. "I noticed ya'll either eat big slabs of meat or peck like a bird on charcuterie boards, and after I drank the hangover cure Azriel gave me, I couldn't stop thinkin' about home food; I just really, really wanted a greasy burger. So, I figured I would make dinner as a thank you. It's not a fancy meal; it's kinda messy, but it is an American classic."

"Well, Cassian and Azriel might not be back before dinner, but when they return, they'll have to debrief Rhysand and Feyre." Lucien slid his arm from hers as they neared the bread stand, numerous loaves of different varieties displayed on the table before them. "So it'll likely just be you and I."

"What's happening?" Sam felt a sting of anxiety race through her as they weighed their options of buns, rolls, and loaves. She shifted the bag of meat to her other hand to lean closer to the overflowing tables.

"I'm not sure, but I don't think it's anything to be concerned with just yet," Lucien replied, waving a dismissive hand. It was an answer but not an answer that told Sam that it may have something in connection with her, but how much. Lucien wasn't sure if he even knew anything at all. She didn't push the issue, so I'm sure she would find out later. However, it didn't stop the anxiety threatening to spread throughout her body.

As Sam was perusing the vendor stalls for the kind of bun she was looking for, she couldn't help but wonder how Cassian and Azriel were fairing wherever they were. She knew the basic outlines of their jobs within the Night Court; their titles alone sent her imagination into overdrive, but she had grown attached quickly to them. Lucien had saved her and brought her to safety, only to continue to give a damn about her. Cass treated her like the big brother she never wanted but was so glad she had, even though he hardly knew her, and Azriel spent time getting to know her, listening to her as she rambled on about her life and taking an interest in her world.

Saying goodbye would already be challenging.

A fleeting thought passed through her. Should she be making connections and bonds to the fae here? Shouldn't she try to distance herself? Creating friendships with people she would have to leave would be painful, and she hated a goodbye. Sam frowned as the memory of her mother's funeral filtered through her mind. The most painful memory she could remember, the most permanent goodbye, and how her life had changed after she passed...Sam felt torn about her impending permanent goodbye to this land. To these people.

"Anything I can help you with?" A soft feminine voice asked from in front of her.

"I'll need four of those hard buns, please." Sam pointed to the golden brown rolls neatly stacked in a pile. Being around the numerous types of baked goods, the aroma of yeast and sweet-smelling loaves of bread, and the bustling of the city market filled Sam with a sense of peace, holding her comfortably in the warm embrace of her comfort zone and away from the dark depths of her memories.

"Of course, anything else? I made this cinnamon bread just this morning; it felt like the time of year to start baking comfort goods." The female was beautiful; nearly everyone was there, and Sam was beginning to notice. She had tan, unblemished skin, eyes a piercing but warm shade of golden brown, and more prominent pointed ears than any other fae Sam had seen. Based on what Lucien had told her, she determined that the female in front of her was of the Lesser fae but didn't know much past that.

Sam smiled at the female as she held out a loaf of cinnamon bread towards her. She inhaled deeply, cinnamon and nutmeg tingling her nose and filling her with warmth. "I bake a pumpkin bread with cinnamon and chocolate around this time of year. Warm it up and pair it with a cuppa coffee? Chef's kiss." Sam replied and motioned to the specialty loaf still in her hands. "I'll take that too. What else ya got?"

The female's eyes lit up and brought her to the side table, happiness beaming from her face. It made Sam feel good to make a stranger happy. "Well, we got a new shipment of pistachio nuts from the Day Court, so I made pistachio muffins with a crumble topping over here. My first attempt at it, so don't judge me too hard." She offered one of the muffins to Sam, who gratefully accepted it and tore a piece of the top off.

The flavor was unreal, better than what she had on her planet, and Sam's eyes nearly rolled into the back of her head. The nutty, floral flavor of the toasted pistachio mingling with the sweetness of the brown sugar topping delighted Sam's taste buds. "Oh, girl, you did that." Sam praised after swallowing her bite. "Oh, you did that! I love the subtle hint of orange zest; it's a lovely aftertaste that pairs well with the pistachio."

The female vendor's smile lit up brighter than Sam thought possible; the grin was infectious. "I was worried it would be too much!"

Sam shook her head, waving it off. "No, it's perfect; it's just enough. Whenever I work with pistachios, I try to add cardamom where I can because it helps balance the sweetness and citrus; it kinda has the same effect as the orange zest but brings a more spicy and warm element to baked goods like this. You should totally try it; see how it works out for ya."

Sam watched as she pulled out a notepad and wrote 'cardamom' down, and it filled her with a sense of pride. She loved cooking and baking; she made it her job after ditching retail, and any chance to learn more about the art or share her knowledge made Sam feel good about herself.

"And over here, I made some orange and cranberry bread. I know it sounds strange-"

"It doesn't; the flavor pallets line up; they would complement each other."

Sam ended up trying the orange and cranberry bread, maple pecan cookies, and what Sam knows to be an apple fritter. Everything was delectable. None of the spices or flavors were overpowering or underwhelming; they were all perfectly balanced and delicious. They talked about each recipe, trading hints, and secret ingredients, and Sam became intrigued to learn more about Prythian's cooking and baking techniques. Sam was going to have a field day cooking and baking herself while she was here.

"I'm Carys."

"I'm Sam. It's nice to meet you, " she said, holding out her hand to shake. This is my friend Lucien." Lucien offered a slight bow to Carys, who blushed at his attention. Sam smirked at Lucien, nudging him as Carys turned away to bag up the pastries and bread Sam had picked out. "Turn off the charm, Luce. You're making her flustered."

Lucien quirked an eyebrow, "Luce?"

Sam shrugged, grabbing the bag from Carys while Lucien paid for her. "It sounded better in my head, really." She turned to Carys, thanking her. "I'll make something for you soon, and if I can't get it to you, I'll send Lucien instead. You'll love it, and I can write down the recipe for you if you would like."

"I would love that! I hope to see you soon, Sam!"

Sam waved goodbye and headed back down the cobblestone streets towards the townhouse with Lucien. She carried the meat and baked goods while Lucien carried the spices, herbs, and produce they had gotten earlier. She already missed shopping carts and cars.

"Seems like you may have made a new friend," Lucien noted, guiding her away from the males unloading a ship that had just docked along the side of the Sidra. Pallets and barrels were being passed around and offloaded for a large stretch of the river, not too unlike Savannah...again.

Sam switched the bags to her other hand as Lucien went to grab them to carry for her. "Nah, I got it, thanks though. I mean, I don't know if I made a friend yet, ya know? We just talked about food." She shrugged in response, briefly looking down at the cobblestones to see where she was stepping.

Lucien studied her momentarily, "In Prythian, in this world, food offered by a female is a big deal." Sam looked at him as they walked. "If a female has a mate or it is known that there is a bond between two people when the female offers food to the male, it means she has accepted the mating bond. I'm sure the same is likely if both parties are of the same sex."

"But...she's neither my mate nor you, so I don't think I count. I mean, would it even be possible for me? I'm not from here." Sam laughed, stepping onto the sidewalk after leaving the city market.

"Faes can have human mates; it is known to have happened, but it is rare. The bond would be...suppressed, I guess you could say. You would feel a pull but not as strongly as you would if you were fae yourself." Lucien explained patiently. "You not being from this world, well, that's something that hasn't been explained, so you're on your own on that one."

Sam laughed softly, "Definitely one of a kind, I suppose." She looked up at the sky, slowly stopping in the middle of the sidewalk. Above her, the early evening sky began to turn a soft pink and brilliant light blue, the merging colors swirling above her and stealing her attention. "Cooking….baking...it's a love language for me. It's how I show my love and appreciation to people I care about. I was never good at talkin' about my feelings, so...being here, talkin' to you and Cassian, Azriel and Feyre, even Rhys, it's...it's all so new, and I feel some typa way about it. It's a weird feeling to be so open and vulnerable with near strangers, but...ya'll have done so much for me already. More than I could have ever expected or asked for, even more than I deserve, and I am so unbelievably grateful and thankful for you, Lucien."

Lucien stood quietly beside her as she spoke, soaking up her words and watching the sky with her.

Sam looked at him briefly before looking at the glistening water of the Sidra, the surface of the water reflecting the sky above it. "I don't know why I am here, I don't know how I got here, but I am so blessed to have been able to see this." She motioned to Velaris; the stunning city sparkled and shined in a way that made the wonder rush back into her. Velaris seemed to be showing off for her at her praise. "To be given a chance to be here, meet ya'll, to meet you. I will never be able to say it enough, but Lucien, thank you for saving my life and helping me...for continuing to help me."

"There's no need to thank me, Sam, " he replied softly. He was also watching the river, his expression distant, his mind elsewhere.

Sam's face softened at the look. She was content to stand beside him in silence for a few minutes. She watched the ripples of the water distort the reflection of the colorful sky, and the soft slaps of the waves hitting against the stones created a momentary space of serenity.

Sam turned back to Lucien, touching his arm to bring him back to the present. "Then I will cook to show you how thankful I am for you. Plus, you ain't lived unless you've had a burger." Sam looped her arm around his, and they returned to the townhouse in quiet companionship.

While Lucien went to freshen up in his rooms, Sam made her way to the kitchen. She gathered everything she would need, setting it out around her. Finding pans and knives was a scavenger hunt, and attempting to work the stove was a learning lesson, fiddling with knobs and smacking the appliance in the end. It decided to turn on after that. Sam wondered if the townhouse had its own magic and decided to take pity on her.

While the house was quiet, she washed her hands and prepped the onions, tomatoes, lettuce, and pickles. She also gathered the hamburger meat and seasoned it. Sam could hardly wait for everything to finish, excited to be making her favorite meal for Lucien, who was slowly becoming a great friend to her.

As she began heating up the oil for the onion rings, she let her thoughts filter through her mind as she moved from dredging them to frying them. She felt the need to do something normal; her routine had been upended, and despite the shooting lesson with Cassian and Azriel, her late-night conversations, and going into Velaris with Lucien, she still felt massively out of place. Another thought plaguing her was that she wasn't researching to find a way back home. She hadn't even started, and her mind went blank when she tried.

Was time the same here as it was on Earth? Was it different?

Did Melissa think something horrible happened to her? Had Josh filed the missing persons yet?

Why was she here? What is the purpose of ripping her from her world and throwing her into this one?

"You've been adjusting; give yourself some credit. You don't always have to be on 'go.'"

Sam sighed as she flipped onion rings over in the hot oil, her self-pep talk twisting her gut painfully. Even though she knew she was doing the best she could at the pace that was set, she still felt like she could be doing more. She should have written down what she could remember in that notebook instead of snapping it closed and talking to Azriel instead. She wanted to go home; she needed to go home. She didn't belong here!

"Stop being so hard on yourself, Sam." Her eyes snapped up to see Lucien leaning against the door frame, watching as she removed the onion rings from the oil and set them on the paper towel. "You're in your head too much, and stop whatever you're thinking about. You won't convince that other voice of anything, so don't try to. Don't listen to it."

Sam felt a wave of emotion overtake her. "How do you know that? How could you tell?"

Lucien gave her a small, sad smile. "Well, not only is the entire conversation playing on your face, but it's expressions that I have seen in the mirror, and it's a losing battle."

Sam began making the burgers and toasting the buns, letting a moment of silence pass. "How do I get them to stop? The thoughts?"

"Sometimes you can't. Sometimes, you have no choice but to let them pass. But if those voices tell you that you can't do it or you're not doing enough...it's coming from a place of fear and anger."

Sam nodded, keeping her eyes on the burgers as they cooked. Lucien went to the fridge and grabbed an opened bottle of chilled wine. Pouring two glasses, he handed one to Sam, who took it and looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "You sure this is a good idea?"

Lucien snorted, leaning against the countertop near her. "You have adult supervision tonight."

"Azriel was with me that night."

"He's not always considered 'adult supervision,'" Lucien grumbled, sipping from his glass. "Besides, we're drinking from an already opened bottle, and I won't open another one."

Sam snickered, plating the burgers once they were done and the cheese melted. She layered the lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles. She made her burger with mayo and ketchup and Lucien's with mayo, ketchup, and mustard. She plated the onion rings and motioned to the table. "Alright, are you ready for a life-changing moment?"

Lucien eyed the burger and onion rings, looking a little apprehensive. "That looks huge."

"It's American, baby. It ain't going to look healthy, but it will be delicious."

She set his plate in front of his spot as he pulled her chair out for her. She thanked him, and they sat down across from each other. Sam was a bundle of nerves as she watched Lucien pick up the burger. She grinned while he took a bite, and an involuntary moan left his throat.

Sam's grin could not be contained, stretching so large that her cheeks hurt. "Oh yeah, that's it."

"By the Mother," Lucien praised, finishing chewing his bite and looking at her with wide eyes. "You made more, right?"

Sam laughed loudly, and it felt like all her earlier thoughts and questions were being chased away by it.

They spent a few hours sitting at the table, eating the burger and onion rings Sam made, picking at the numerous baked goods bought from the market, and sipping faerie wine. They talked into the early night hours, laughing and cracking jokes, sharing stories of their harsh and beautiful lives.

Goodbye was going to hurt.