A Court of Love and Family

Prologue

"How long will you be gone?" Feyre asked, still in her mates arms. The morning sun was illuminating his body.

"Far too long..." Rhys said back into her hair. "Three months..."

"That is far too long..." Feyre whispered against his chest. "Cass and Az are coming with you?"

"Yes... I trust you and Mor to keep Velaris standing. And I need them both on this..."

"And you will be out of reach..."

"Yes..." His arms moved her closer, tightening the grip on her. "I hate this too... But we need to do this..."

"I can follow-"

"No." He interrupted with a short tone. "I believe in your abilities and I know you can protect yourself. But... I am taking Cass and Azriel with me because the information is telling us that the situation is more or less a war zone, and I don't want to take you to a place where we don't know what is waiting."

"I know..." Feyre let out a sigh. "And someone needs to look after Nyx..."

"Speaking of... Where is the little one?" He moved and Feyre followed.

"Sleeping..." She hoped, but Nyx appeared in their room, like they had summoned him by saying his name.

"Mom... Dad..." He said and climbed up in their bed. Rhys moved quickly and soon some simple night clothes appeared on the two mates.

"Yes, little one?" Feyre asked and moved to sit up, Nyx in her knee. The four year old twisted in her arms.

"Do you need to go dad? I want to be in the snowball fight..." He mumbled, Feyre held back a laugh.

"Dad will be home before that." You better be.

"I will be home before that, and you and I... We will win." He took Nyx from her arms. "Be nice to your mom when I am gone, okay?"

"I will..." Nyx put his face against Rhys neck. "Can I have pancakes?"

"Yes... Yes you can." Rhys said back, giving Feyre a smile. I can delay my departure an hour or two.

I hope so, I also want pancakes.

The three of them spent the midday in the kitchen, but in the early afternoon Rhys needed to leave. He held Feyre one last time.

"I will be home before you know it..."

"I hope. Nesta will be moving down here, Gwyn and Emerie too. But I will miss you..."

"Love you Feyre darling. I always will and always have." Rhys left, and Feyre spent the day reading books with Nyx, hearing Nesta and the others train on the roof. Nyx just went on with his day, talking about all and nothing just like any other four year old would. When it was time to put him to bed he hugged her closely, as she tucked him in.

"You smell funny mom." He said and giggled.

"I do?" Feyre said back, not really noticing anything herself. "Guess I need a bath then. See you tomorrow, night night."

"Night night!" Nyx said back and closed his eyes. Feyre waited in the room for a moment before heading to her own room. She took a bath and tried reaching out over the bond to feel Rhys, but he had just passed the invisible line that was the border for their powers, over the waters between Prythian and the continent. She went to sleep, trying to feel the funny smell Nyx had mentioned. Finding nothing.

She didn't leave the house the following days, feeling down with her mate gone. She spent her days playing and reading with Nyx, who once more mentioned the odd smell. A week later she got her answer as Mor entered the room, freezing mid step.