✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧
We were led to a suite built around a lavish sitting area and private dining room. All of it carved from that sunstone, bedecked in jewel-toned fabrics, broad cushions clumped along the thick carpets, and overlooked by ornate golden cages filled with birds of all shapes and sizes.
"How did Thesan keep Amarantha from trashing this place?" Feyre asked Rhys as we surveyed the sitting room that opened to the hazy sprawl of countryside far, far below.
"Its his private residence." Rhys dismissed his wings and slumped onto a pile of emerald cushions near the darkened fireplace. "He likely shielded it the same way Kallias and I did."
I glanced to Azriel, who was currently leaning against the wall beside the floor-to-ceiling window. Eve was leaning next to him, muttering words I couldn't hear as she stroked his hair, shadows wrapped around the two of them.
Mor was indeed sprawled on a couch—one wary eye on Azriel. Cassian sat beside her, holding her feet in his lap.
I sat down in a chair across from them. Nesta had retired to her own room without a word—and remained there. I couldn't deny my disappointment.
A knock thudded at the door.
"Don't open it," I warned. "Even with the shield, don't open it."
"Wise," Rhys said, prowling to the front door, "but unnecessary."
He opened the door, revealing Helion—alone. A smile of relief spread across my face. Helion braced a hand on the door frame and grinned.
"Howd you convince Thesan to give you the better view?" Helion asked.
"He finds my males to be prettier than yours, I think," Rhys joked.
"I think its a wing fetish."
Rhys laughed and opened the door wider, beckoning him in. "Youve really mastered the swaggering prick performance, by the way. Expertly done," Helion complimented.
Helions robe swayed with his graceful steps, brushing his powerful thighs. He spied Feyre standing by the round table in the center of the foyer and bowed.
"Apologies for the bastard act," he said to her. "Old habits and all."
I got to my feet and went over to the man. He opened his arms and I jumped into them, letting him embrace me.
"How've you been, kid?" he asked me. It didn't matter that I was five centuries old, I would always be a kid to him.
"As good as I can be," I replied as I pulled away.
He ruffled my hair like he used to many centuries ago and I grinned, pushing his hand away from me. I sat back down and he turned to Rhys.
"You were on unnaturally nice behavior today. I was betting Beron would be dead by the end of it—you cant imagine my shock that he walked out alive."
"My mate suggested it would be in our favor to appear as we truly are."
"Well, now I look as bad as Beron," Helion scoffed. He grinned at Azriel. "You handing Eris's ass to him will be my new fantasy at night, by the way."
I rolled my eyes. Azriel didnt so much as bother to look over his shoulder at the High Lord. But Cassian snorted.
"I was wondering when the come-ons would begin," Cassian said with a sigh. Helion sat between him and Mor on the couch.
"Its been what—four centuries now, and you three still havent accepted my offer," Helion said.
"I don't share my mate," Evelina said to him.
"You never know until you try," Helion purred.
Helion had been hounding Cassian, Azriel, Eve, and Mor about a night in bed for centuries. Rhys seemed to be explaining that to Feyre mind to mind, because after a few minutes, the scent of their arousal filled the air.
"Whatever you're saying mind to mind, either share it or go to another room so we dont have to sit here, stewing in your scents," Morrigan spoke up.
I nodded my agreement. Feyre stuck her tongue out. Rhys just laughed and kissed Feyre's neck.
"Apologies for offending your delicate sensibilities, cousin," Rhys joked.
"Are your forces ready?" Cassian asked Helion.
"Yes. Theyll rendezvous with yours in the Myrmidons," he replied.
"Good," Cassian said, rubbing at the arch of Mors foot. "We'll push south from there."
"With the final encampment being where?" Mor asked.
"We join Thesans forces, then eventually make camp along Kalliass southwestern border—near the Summer Court," I said to him. Cassian and I had pulled multiple all nighters coming up with plans.
"You and pretty Tarquin had a moment today," Helion said to Rhys. "Do you truly think he'll join us?"
"If you mean in bed, definitely not," Rhys said with a wry smile as he again sprawled on his spread of cushions. "But if you mean in this war Yes. I believe he means to fight. Beron, on the other hand "
"Hybern is focusing on the South," Helion said. "And regardless of what you think Tamlins up to, the Spring Court is now mostly occupied. Beron has to realize his court will be a battleground if he doesnt join us to push southward—especially if Summer has joined us."
"Will Beron choose to listen to reason, though?" Mor mused.
"He played games in the War and it cost him—dearly. His people still remember those choices—those losses. His own damn wife remembers," Helion sighed. I bit the inside of my lip at his mention of her.
"What do you mean?" Feyre asked.
"Marzia's two older sisters were indeed butchered. Tormented, and then butchered, during the War."
"Hyberns forces had swarmed our lands by that point," Rhys explained.
"Marzia was sent to stay with her sisters, her younger children packed off to other relatives. To spread out the bloodline. Hybern attacked their estate. Her sisters bought her time to run. Not because she was married to Beron, but because they loved each other. Fiercely. She tried to stay, but they convinced her to go. So she did—she ran and ran, but Hyberns beasts were still faster. Stronger. They cornered her at a ravine, where she became trapped atop a ledge, the beasts snapping at her feet."
"You saved her. You found her, didnt you?" Feyre guessed.
"I did."
"What happened?"
"I tore the beasts apart with my bare hands."
"Why?"
"She was still young—though shed been married to that delightful male for decades. Married too young, the marriage arranged when she was twenty."
"So?"
"I heard a rumor once, Helion, that she waited before agreeing to that marriage," Mor spoke. "For a certain someone who had met her by chance at an equinox ball the year before."
"Interesting," Helion said. "I heard her family wanted internal ties to power, and that they didnt give her a choice before they sold her to Beron." I glanced over at Eve, who had hidden her face in her mate's neck once the conversation had shifted.
"Too bad theyre just rumors," Rhys cut in smoothly, "and cant be confirmed by anyone."
"Does Beron know you saved his wife in the War?" Feyre asked.
"Cauldron, no."
"You had—an affair after you rescued her?" Feyre guessed.
"Careful, High Lady. Even the birds report to Thesan here," Helion joked.
"How long did the affair last?" she asked.
"Is that a polite question for a High Lady to be asking?" he joked. "On and off for decades. Until Beron found out. They say the lady was all brightness and smiles before that. And after Beron was through with her. . . you saw what she is."
"What did he do to her?"
"The same things he does now." Helion waved a hand. "Belittle her, leave bruises where no one but him will see them."
"He was that way to her before he found out about the affair," Eve admitted. "It just got worse after. And I left without her. I left her there."
"Starling, don't do that to yourself," Rhys scolded his twin. "She loves you. Under the Mountain, she sought me out and demanded to know where her daughter-in-law was. She was so insistent about your safety, I nearly dropped my mask."
Eve's eyes welled up at the words, causing Azriel to hold her closer, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head.
"If you were her lover, why didnt you stop it?" Feyre asked Helion.
"Beron is a High Lord, and she is his wife, mother of his brood. She chose to stay. Chose. And with the protocols and rules, Lady, you will find that most situations like the one you were in do not end well for those who interfere."
"You barely even looked at her today," Feyre insisted.
"We have more important matters at hand."
"Beron never called you out for it?"
"To publicly do so would be to admit that his possession made a fool of him. So we continue our little dance, these centuries later."
"You High Lords really do love your melodrama, dont you?" Feyre joked.
"In your libraries, have you ever encountered a mention of how the wall might be repaired?" Rhys changed the subject.
Helion began asking why we wanted to know, what Hybern was doing with the Cauldron and Rhys fed him answers, easily and smoothly.
A door opened and shut in the foyer beyond, and I braced myself as Nesta appeared. Helion paused his debating the wall to survey her carefully, as he had done earlier.
"Im—" Helion began to introduce.
"I dont care," Nesta said with a snap of her wrist, striding right past him and up to Feyre's side. "Id like a word. Now."
I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. Feyre left the room with Nesta. Cassian went off with them. When he returned, his face was grave.
"Nesta senses that something is wrong," he announced.
"What?" Rhys demanded.
"She says we need to leave," he explained.
Within moments, Rhys, Cassian, and Azriel had vanished, leaving me, Mor, Eve, and Helion in alert silence.
"You are just as quiet as you were centuries ago," Helion informed me. I sneered at him as Morrigan laughed.
As ridiculous as he was, I had a soft spot in my heart for him. He was the first male to ever show me kindness.
Azriel's father was the most important Lord in Illyria. He saw to all the armies, and therefore was invited to some important meetings with the High Lords and their wives.
Once I started my cycle for the first time, Demitri began dragging me along, declaring I was old enough. He'd put me in revealing dresses and show me off, sitting me on his lap.
Most of the High Lords and their wives just ignored me. I got a few pitying glances from the females. The Lady of Night stood up for me once, but since had just glared at my master and his father.
The only one to be outright cruel to me was Beron. He made a few remarks every now and then that would make me want to disappear. His wife would send me apologetic glances.
When the meeting was over, Demitri went over to his father to talk with him and Beron about the Illyrian warriors helping them with something.
I sat in a chair quietly, not moving as I had been told.
A male with dark skin and hair walked over to me with a smile. Not a leering smile like I was used to, but a kind one.
"Hello, young one," he greeted me. I glanced over to make sure Demitri wasn't watching me.
"Hello," I said very quietly.
"I'm Helion, High Lord of Day," he introduced himself. "What's your name?"
"They don't call me by my name," I admitted, staring at my lap as I fidgeted with the revealing material of my dress.
"I will."
"Astraea," I said the word so quietly, so no one else would hear.
"That's a very pretty name," he smiled, kneeling before me. "How old are you, Astraea?"
"I don't know," I confessed, my cheeks going red. His eyes filled with a bit of sadness.
He glanced at my arm, his brows furrowing as he noticed a nasty bruise on my wrist.
"Oh dear," he fussed. "Let me help you with that." I flinched away as he took my wrist in his hand. "It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you."
I studied him for a second before placing my arm in his open palm. He put his other palm on the bruise. A light shone, and before I knew it, the bruise had healed.
I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face at my fascination.
"Thank you," I whispered, staring in wonder. "That was amazing."
"I brought you something," he said.
I raised a brow. I'd never spoken to him before. He must've seen me at the last meeting and felt bad enough to bring me something.
He dipped his hand into his pocket and placed two small things into my hand. I studied them for a second.
"Is this candy?" I asked, my eyes wide. He nodded with a smile. "I haven't had candy in so long."
"I glamoured it so they won't see," he winked.
I smiled, blinking back grateful tears. No one had ever been so kind to me before.
"Thank you," I whispered.
When the meeting was over, I was thrown back into my cell, the door slamming and locking behind me. I got to my feet.
"Raea!" my brother exclaimed.
"Az," I sighed, going over to him.
I sat on our mattress and he jumped into my lap, immediately leaning into my embrace as I pressed kisses to the top of his head.
"You were gone for so long," he said lowly.
"Lo siento," I apologized. "I didn't have a choice." I never had a choice.
"I already ate dinner," he told me. "But yours is still here." I glanced over to see a plate of mushy food. I cringed, shaking my head.
"I have something special for you," I told him. I handed him a piece of candy.
"What is it?"
"It's food," I answered. "Good food. Just unwrap it."
He had never experienced good food before, let alone candy. My mother and I had a few good meals when I was a child. When we could afford it. I'd had candy once or twice before.
His eyes lit up when he tasted it, making me smile a bit.
"Isn't it good?" I teased. He nodded, finishing it quickly. I ate my own piece, being sure to cherish it.