#Rhys for court jester

[bonecarversbestie]

I think Lucien could turn out to be an excellent foil for Rhysand.

There are so many parallels between them (I know i'm not the first to point this out):

"The things I love have a tendency to be taken from me" this is a quote from Rhys but definitely applies to Lucien too.

Power hungry/abusive HL father

Loyalty to chosen family

Their love stories start with their mates in love with other people

But despite their similarities, they are very different people. I think they could have a really interesting dynamic of light/dark, warm/cold, day/night balancing each other. And Lucien has traits that highlight some of Rhys's flaws:

He is more open than Rhys who keeps his loyalty and trust only within his inner circle while Lucien likes to travel and make friends and allies wherever he goes.

Lucien tends to see things more objectively, acting in the interest of what is best for everyone rather than just himself or his close family.

They both saw their fathers as HL abuse their power and decided they wanted to be different -- Lucien by renouncing his titles and Rhys by deciding to be a different kind of ruler (this isn't actually a flaw for Rhys, but it's an interesting contrast)

Lucien actually apologizes and makes amends when he realizes he has done something wrong. Whereas Rhys (who has done actual horrible things) justifies all his wrongdoings by saying that it was all part of the act to keep Velaris/Feyre/the IC safe.

Lucien has always faced Rhys without fear. Never backed down or balked at his power. I think it says something about Lucien’s character and maybe his own power. That they might be equals one day.

I don't think Prythian needs a High King but I think Lucien would be a better one than Rhys. Even though Rhys says he doesn't want to be High King I think it is safe to say he/the IC probably think he's the only one qualified. But I'd love to see Lucien step up and be a fair and objective ruler (not to mention Elain as the compassionate and all-seeing High Queen[when she's ready])

[tremsing82]

Lucien Headcanon

This just popped into my head but how amazing would it be if Lucien has secretly been rebuilding Papa Archerons Merchant fleet and trade agreements to give to Elain and maybe even Nesta so they can have a source of income and a sense of financial and adult independence. And it’s under the name E. Archeron. That way the former partners still think they are working with Papa Archeron but now it’s Elain. I also headcanon that Elain and Papa Archeron share the same first name letter E.

I just think this is something Lucien would do. Elain has no source of income and no job within the Night Court or within Rhys Inner Circle. She lives in her sister houses and does mostly housework to keep herself busy and probably to keep herself from feeling like she mooching off her family. Nesta at least works in the library and with training the valkyries and I believe she will be training the future Illyrian valkyries. So she has a job and a source of income either through that job or through her general of a husband, Cassian.

It would just be such a beautiful jester if Lucien helped rebuild her beloved fathers company and then handed it over to her, of course he will be there to consult and advice her but he trusts her and knows she can do this. He knows she can manage this company and make it thrive and succeed.

[unadulteratedkr]

🎵

OMG HIIIIIIIIII hello my beloved friend hi hi hi <3 <3 <3 okay so when I have people send me music note prompts, I like to lean into like songficcy vibes, and then I saw the sketch you sent on discord of Ed and stede where Ed has the braid and is laying on Stede’s chest and Stede’s got Ed’s hand in his and you said it was inspired by some  post princess Ed aftercare

And then inspiration hit me like a TON OF BRICKS because rhys-as-stede gives me SO many Danny Kaye in the Court Jester vibes, and there’s this LOVELY fucking lullaby from the Court Jester and it just fit the vibes of this sketch SO SO SO MUCH

(the lullaby in question):

I really love the image of Stede’s hand wrapped around Ed’s almost like he’s caressing Ed’s wrist which lead to me imagining they’re in bed together after Stede and Ed have done a full, dramatic absconding roleplay complete with ALL THE ROPES because she’s being a full-on brat and she needs her captain to tie her up to keep her from shying away from the pleasure she deserves kind of a thing (I’m thinking maybe Ed and Stede are at the inn, there’s a storm on the horizon, and they decide on letting Ed spend time as a princess to feel some power and also to feel safe to let that power go since storms are full of rough memories for him still), and afterwards Ed’s feeling all floaty after Stede’s let him be a haughty and feisty princess and stede keeps soothing Ed’s wrists from the nice little burn that Ed loves, and this lil scene happens:

-

Ed’s mind is a dreamy haze of safe, warm, home when he finally settles back into his body—the scene's been cleaned up, the ropes have been tidied away, and Ed is tucked under every blanket they’ve stolen from the merchant ships that keep using their beach for a proper careening. The clouds outside still hang heavy with unshed rain, a deep grey ushering in an early evening, but Ed’s heartbeat is steady and soft against his rib-cage, beating out a tempo that twines easily with the peace settling in him like ripples on a mill-pond. Ed closes his eyes, breathes deeply, and lets his body speak to him in tiptoeing waves.

Fuck, Ed fucking resonates with the love of being well-cared for. His wrists sting from the rope burn, but Stede’s already been there with aloe to soothe it away with a gentle cloth.  His face is clean and fresh from a compress Stede always prepares, ready to tend to the fever-hot burn of being a princess from Ed’s skin. The weight of his braid, cool with the fresh coconut oil Stede’s worked into the strands, is enough to pin him to the bed, and there’s only a momentary flicker of disappointment he missed the gentle burn of Stede’s hands in his hair. It’s easily dwarfed by the whine he can feel building in his lungs when he realizes he isn’t plastered against Stede’s warm chest, but before he can part his lips to let it free, Stede is there, sweet and golden like fucking always.

I’m here. You’re safe.

Ed curls in against Stede’s chest, letting out a murmur that sounds something like a laugh when Stede’s chest hair tickles his nose. Stede’s arm wraps around him, and he presses the gentlest of kisses to Ed’s temple, letting out a sigh that gets wrapped up in the wind starting to pick up around the secure walls of their inn. 

“Okay?”

“Mmm.”

Stede giggles, a sweet, wheezing thing that gets caught in the kiss he presses to Ed’s temple. 

“Mmm, indeed. You were so good, princess.”

A delicious shiver makes Ed’s hand on Stede’s chest start to shake, and he can sense more than see Stede shifting, capturing Ed’s hand in his, pressing it protectively to his chest.

“Ah, too much. That’s okay! I’m here, my love. I’m here.”

You’re safe.

Ed lets Stede take the shivers from him, lets his body surrender to the warmth and strength of his boyfriend’s beating heart against his fingertips, and he burrows closer, sighing. His heart might always be full of jagged edges, cracked open on a hidden reef in a shallow tide, but Ed’s never been less afraid of drowning, of feeling the cold hand of the ocean dragging him down to her fathomless depths. He doesn’t need to be afraid with the Gentleman Pirate at the helm navigating them both to a quiet harbor. 

As Ed inches closer and closer to sleep, he feels a gentle vibration against his cheek. Stede is humming, a tuneless lullaby that wanders through melodies with no destination. Ed smiles against Stede’s chest, letting the song Stede hums wash over him, soaking up every note and surrendering to the harmony of his heartbeat keeping time with Stede’s.

“Thank you,” he manages to whisper, and he falls asleep to a kiss against his temple and Stede’s thumb pressed against his pulse point, wrapped in the finest thing he’s ever known.

Safety.

Warmth.

Home.

[acourtofbloodandflame]

Chapter I

“He knew why he’d come here, why he always came here . For all that Amren taunted him about being an Illyrian brute, he knew his own mind, his own heart. Devlon was a fairer camp-lord than most. But for the females who were less fortunate, who were preyed upon or cast out, there was little mercy. So training these women, giving them the resources and confidence to fight back, to look beyond their campfires . . . it was for her. For the mother buried here, perhaps buried nowhere. So it might never happen again. So his people, whom he still loved despite their faults, might one day become something more. Something better.

The unmarked, unknown grave in this pass was his reminder. Cassian stood in silence for long minutes before turning his gaze westward. As if he might see all the way to Velaris.

Rhys wanted him home for the Solstice, and he’d obey.

Even if Nesta-- 

Nesta.

Even in his thoughts, her name clanged through him, hollow and cold. Now wasn’t the time to think of her. Not here.

He very rarely allowed himself to think of her, anyway. It usually  didn’t end well for whoever was in the sparring ring with him.

He wasn’t a fool. Nesta had been human, she’d seen her sister taken and turned fae, she’d been bound and dragged from her home below the wall by fae hands, she’d been cauldron-made against her will. Her hatred of him and his ilk, her fear, her anger, he understood them all. That the rest of the court, her own sisters, even Rhys who had walked with Feyre through her own similar journey, that they all expected her to simply forgive, forget . . . He shook his head. 

He’d obey. He’d go to Solstice and be the jester they expected him to be, but it didn’t change how he felt, did nothing to soothe the unbridled rage he felt on her behalf, did nothing to salve the hurt he felt for her. It had cracked something in him, the unwavering loyalty he’d sworn to his court had begun to falter with Nesta; first with the stories his High Lady had spun of her sisters, and now this. 

“She’ll be there,” Rhys had said, grinding his teeth, “and she’ll be pleasant. She owes Feyre that much.”

Nesta had been prepared to give Feyre, give this court her life, she had tended to his soldiers in the last war. Yet this was the repayment she got? That she owed Feyre her smiles? The mating bond had blinded Rhys. 

Cassian wasn’t afraid of the mating bond he had scented when he’d first met Nesta below the wall.  But this was why he wanted nothing to do with it, a force he didn’t understand, a force he’d seen destroy Rhys’s mother, a force he’d seen destroy Tamlin’s mother, a force now blinding his blood brother distilling his political counsel to his mate’s voice alone. 

Feyre had been hurting, a girl of twenty who knew nothing of Prythian’s history. She had been thrust into the role of High Lady with little understanding of the Night Court territories beyond the glittering parts of Velaris. She knew little of the storm brewing in Illyria, knew little of the wounds that festered in the Hewn City. She was his High Lady and he’d obey but he saw her missteps all too clearly. 

Illyrian camp lords had marked the opulent wealth on display at the riverfront estate when Rhys had summoned them for a meeting, traders who reached Illyria had talked of the riches of Velaris while Illyria lay in destitution. Mor, his High Lady’s right hand woman only deigned to visit the Hewn City when it suited their needs. She let Keir and his ilk rule over the lesser fae who dwelt there. 

Cassian shut his eyes and let out a long frustrated sigh. 

Nesta. She saw it all too. He’d heard it in her cutting words to Feyre, in her dislike of Rhys. He didn’t care if she laughed with his inner circle when those laughs rang so hollow. He didn’t care if she adjusted. He didn’t care about the mating bond. He wanted to be her friend and ally; this female brimming with irrepressible power. Together, he wanted to right the imbalance the last war had left in its wake. 

He had not forgotten, as the others had, that she had taken a stand against the human queens even when fear of their retribution had been sour on her scent. He had not forgotten her words to the High Lords either, the ferocity with which she’d sought to protect her new world and her old. 

He had not forgotten who Nesta was even if she now wanted to. He would keep reaching out. 

[queen-paladin]

1-25 jkjk.

1, 3, 8, 12, 14, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25.

Sorry if that's too many I just love hearing about books!

I love hearing about books too! So no need to apologize!!

One- How many books did you read this year? I read 26 books! Not all were finished, but you know. 21 were completely finished!

Three-What were your top five books of the year?

Henry IV Part One by William Shakespeare, Ahab's Wife or The Star Gazer by Sena Jester Naslund, Claim Your Power by Mastin Kipp, Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, and The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

8. Did you meet any of your reading goals? Which ones?

My goals were 1) to read six books, 2) to Read Sense and Sensibility since I learned Elinor's monologue from the play (the one in context when she confesses that she knew Edward was engaged) and I wanted to learn about her character and situation, and 3) to Begin the A Court of Thorns and Roses Series, all of which I have accomplished!

12. Any books that disappointed you?

It was Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys! Although I LOVE the concept of it being Bertha Mason Rochester's story and exploring the more ableist and racist implications of Jane Eyre and seeing her in a more sympathetic light, it was very, very, hard to read, especially in the middle and latter parts. I hardly knew what was going on. If certain dramatic points weren't so juicy and it wasn't written so beautifully, I would have not finished it. But I...it's just hard to read and get into starting in the middle. Why is almost every Post Colonial Literary work I read so darn hard to read or know what the heck is going on??? Heart of Darkness and Salamin Rushdie I'm looking at you!

14. What books do you want to finish before the year is over?

I want to finish Tyrant by Stephen Greenblatt. It's about how Shakespeare wrote about politics and how his works comment on how tyrants rise to power and keep it and how they can be stopped or ended. It's fascinating and very short and I only have 30-50 pages to go, so it's a realistic finish!

19. Did you use your library?

Hell yes, I did! I spend most of the time and get most of my books from there! And it's where I get my audiobooks via Libby!

22. What’s the longest book you read?

This year? Definitely Ahab's Wife or The Star Gazer (had an audiobook to help me read some of it!). It's worth it though since it's so well-written and interesting!

23. What’s the fastest time it took you to read a book?

It took me about two weeks (I think) to finish the first volume of Lore Olympus!

24. Did you DNF anything? Why?

Yes, I did! Ironic considering my icon is from Crimson Peak as of this posting, but I Didn't finish Guilmero del Toro by Ian Nathan bc I had too many books checked out at once and it was a library book that had reached its due date. The other one was Find A Way by Diana Nyd bc I lost interest in it and got further into other books (and lately I read like 7 books at a time)

25. What reading goals do you have for next year?

I've yet to pick a number, but it might be 12. And I want to finish A Court of Mist and Fury AND go to a bookstore and buy and read Ariadne by Jennifer Saint. I have fallen in love with the myth of Ariadne (and even used it in my fanfic, Stella of Essex, or The Vicar's Wife Betrayed which became a light retelling of the myth. Oops). I read the first chapter and fell in love with it so much that I wanted to buy it and support the author. It is on my Christmas list, so maybe it'll be my gift this year! Who knows

[writingsbychlo]

rhys sees a clown and fucking freaks, court jesters and clowns was one of amarantha’s favourite ways to torture and break him under the mountain because it was constant circus tricks and themed parties she forced him to sit through as clowns danced around him

M wondering...Which phobias would the batbois hav?

Cass is totally scared of spiders

@writingsbychlo said Rhys is scared of clowns and that Az was scared of the dark but now he's scared of being alone (again)

[cantikdaae]

Masquerade Costumes West End 2021-present

Since the West End production opened last year, there have been quite a few changes in the Masquerade costumes. Some bigger than others. This is an overview of all the Masquerade costumes that are currently in use. This masterpost includes pictures of the costumes, names of the costumes, who wears the costume and the name of the actor in brackets.

Note: Not all costumes had pictures so I added some screenshots. They aren’t the clearest but it’s better than nothing:) 

Red Death: worn by The Phantom of the Opera (Killian Donnelly) Star Princess: worn by Christine Daaé (Lucy St. Louis and Holly-Anne Hull) Hussar: worn by Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny (Rhys Whitfield)

Spider Dance: worn by Carlotta Giudicelli (Saori Oda) Death Skull: worn by Monsieur Firmin (Matt Harrop) Skeleton: worn by Monsieur André (Adam Linstead)

Caped: worn by Madame Giry (Francesca Ellis) Sun King: worn by Ubaldo Piangi (Greg Castiglioni) Equestrian: worn by Meg Giry (Ellie Young)

Triangle Girl: worn by female ensemble or swing (Beatrice Penny-Toure) Tin Soldier/Drummer: worn by male ensemble or swing (James Hume) Jester/Rigoletto: worn by male ensemble or swing (James Gant) Monkey Girl: worn by Corps de Ballet or swing (Grace Hume)

Fan Lady: worn by female ensemble (Manon Taris) Frilly Lady: worn by female ensemble (Janet Mooney) 18th Century Lady: worn by female ensemble (Lily de-la-Haye) Gauloise: worn by female ensemble (Emma Harris) Autumn Flame: worn by female ensemble (Anouk van Laake)

Mandarin Man: worn by male ensemble or swing (Jemal Felix) Scary Clown/Whiteface Clown: worn by male ensemble (Simon Whitaker) Wild Boar (variation): worn by male ensemble (Ashley Stillburn) Tweedledum: worn by male ensemble (Tim Morgan) Cloak Man: worn by male ensemble or swing (Edward Court) Executioner: worn by male ensemble (Michael Robert-Lowe)

Goldfish: worn by Corps de Ballet (Yukina Hasebe) Trident: worn by Corps de Ballet (Erin Flaherty) Butterfly: worn by Corps de Ballet or swing (Skye Weiss) Flower: worn by Corps de Ballet (Nikki Skinner) Gypsy: worn by Corps de Ballet (Eilish Harmon-Beglan) Flunky: worn by solo dancer or swing (Leeroy Boone) Man/Woman: worn by solo dancer (Jonathan Milton)

Matador: worn by male swing (Hywel Dowsell) Gibson Girl: worn by female swing (Olivia Holland-Rose) Pirate: worn by male swing (Tim Southgate) BonBon Ribbon/Cartwheel: worn by female swing (Karen Wilkinson) Highlander: worn by male swing (Donald Manual Craig) Green Lady/Cossack: worn by ballet swing (Corina Clark) Hula Girl: worn by ballet swing (Corina Clark & Jasmine Wallis)

[danwhobrowses]

House of the Dragon - Eps 1&2 Thoughts and Review

Fire cannot kill a dragon, and yet we can afford to be burned twice.

In Spite of the bitter taste of Game of Thrones' finale, I like many others have plunged myself into House of the Dragon with tempered expectation of the prequel. Now that the first two episodes are out - and totally not because I forgot to do a standalone one for episode 1 - I'm gonna start giving my blind thoughts on the matter.

To be clear, I'm not super familiar with this story, I know it's covered in a book and other reactors inform me that the book has two unreliable accounts (a Maester and a Court Jester) and this is a 'how it really happened' version for the tv version rather than the book version - so there are some changes and age ups - but otherwise I am blind to the direction it's going, so here's my thoughts on it.

Spoilers for the first two episodes of course, and a bit of Game of Thrones too, give them a watch first if you don't want some plot points ruined for you

So this is a good start, I think I am still a bit hesitant to go fully into it but I am liking what I'm seeing so far.

The first episode was good but I must admit I found myself more unsettled than entertained, purely because of the graphic C-Section scene and the presence of pus, I mean I never wanted to see it with the Jorah greyscale scene and I didn't want it here either, same with the sound of choking babies, it was perhaps too uncomfortable. I think the dragon CGI looked a bit wonky at times, it could be the gold on Syrax is just not great for CGI (I'm sure we all recall The Witcher's golden dragon) or perhaps the smoothness of its scales. I do feel 50/50 on the frequent need to reference Game of Thrones even though it's a prequel, on one hand I get it because it bridges the gap but on the other hand if this show is a prequel by over a century it's a little too on the nose.

Episode 2 was a lot better, but I think it suffered a narrative flaw of 'character a does not talk to character b' when it came to Viscerys announcing his marriage to Alicent, he made no effort to even discuss with Rhaenyra his intent to wed her best friend, which will inevitably start the rift between them showed in the trailers. It also doesn't make Viscerys look any better to go against his better counsel and alienating one of his strongest allies because Laena Velayron is 12, especially when Alicent is apparently around 15. The time jump is a little abrupt, though I feel that we may have more to come.

I will praise heavily the attention to detail when it comes to costuming, something the GoT universe hadn't ever had a problem with thriving on, but I will say that sometimes it does look like the helmets don't fit as well as they should. Then again, this could be an intentional design flaw since this is considered a more peaceful period of Westeros.

I like the characters so far, mostly at the least. So far the star of the show is Matt Smith's Daemon Targaryen, the sociopath prince who has become social media's latest beloved bastard, both cunning and childish he fits a balance of being a villain but also one who still cares about his family. Rhaenyra and Alicent's younger actors have done really well, as has Rhys Ifans' Otto Hightower. Paddy Considine has been really good as the grieving king Viscerys I, completing subverting the descendant of his namesake we're familiar with by appearing at the least as a fair King and a decent person put under a lot of pressure by traditions. Sian Brooke did very well as Queen Aemma, given how she would be the first major casualty of the show, it is a shame we won't get more of her. Episode 2 got to showcase Eve Best's Rhaenys (George making it really easy to second guess every Targaryen's name and spelling) and Steve Toussaint's Corlys a bit more but we still need more of them, same for Graham McTavish's Ser Harrold and Fabien Frankel's Criston Cole, who have simply looked formidable among the crowd. We are yet to have a slew of charismatic characters equal to Tyrion, Tywin, Cersei, Ned, Arya, Bronn, Littlefinger, The Hound and Varys, but we can give it time.

Story-wise, I wish we had more time with Rhaenyra and Alicent before their rift, they established their friendship well but it probably would've hit deeper if we had more time with them, I understand the time jump but we could've had a bit more in between. While I don't think Daemon's a good guy, or that he'd be the worst king (more that he'd be a ruthless one), I do agree with him that the Small Counsel are trying to manipulate Viscerys for their own gains, seen most blatantly by Otto and Corlys throwing their daughters at him. Daemon being rescinded as an heir is grief-driven, especially since we never see him say it, but Daemon's reaction to it as detailed in Episode 2 doesn't do him any favours towards making it seem unfair. Viscerys as I pointed out is a good guy, but he seriously needs to work on his communication, from not telling Aemma his choice to let her die to try and save his son, to not discussing his marriage decisions with anyone or even trying to prepare his daughter for the throne, there is a difference between 'You will learn' and 'Let me teach you'. Alicent seems sweet, for now at least Arya and Daenerys once seemed sweet too, she is in a tough spot that makes me sympathise with her, I don't sympathise with Corlys as much, Viscerys should have married his daughter (or at least sought another way to merge their houses) but his own reaction going straight to Daemon proves that his ambitions are greater than his loyalty.

Of the two episodes I think my favourite scenes so far have been the jousting tournament - both for its visual spectacle but also as a strong introduction to Cole to what I guess will set up a feud between the two - and Viscerys confronting Daemon from Episode 1, and the Dragonstone standoff from Episode 2, not in that order though. The show has promise but since we're still in 'setup' we'll see on the next episode if it can up the ante.

[featherymalignancy]

Like a Lonely House—Deleted Scene

Hello lovelies. So listen, about Like a Lonely House: I am working on it! In fact, I am working on it right now! However, since it’s been a goddamn age since I updated it, I thought I’d share a deleted scene from the current chapter. This is how I intended the chapter to start, but in the end it just didn’t fit and I had to scrap it and start over (now you see why you’re been waiting for 50 years for an update—I’m a mad woman)

I really am dedicated to getting new content for LALH out in the next 7 days, but I hope you enjoy this snippet in the meantime! As for all you eagle-eyed biblical scholars out there, yes, Azriel’s vow is based on Ruth’s vow to Naomi in the Book of Ruth 1:16-17. 

Also if you’d like a refresher on the series, click HERE

LIKE A LONELY HOUSE—CHAPTER V CUT SCENE

Azriel watched as Elain as she continued to place in front of the window in their suite, just as she had been doing for the last hour. 

Part of him wanted to stop her, if only to calm her fretting, but he knew better than to interrupt an Archeron mind at work. 

Finally, she spoke.

“Perhaps it’s a good sign. Perhaps she doesn’t wish to talk about it because she’s actually fond of him and simply isn’t prepared to admit it.”

Azriel considered but didn’t speak. It hadn’t seemed particularly surprising to him that Nesta had left the party without a word the previous evening. She’d always been private and aloof; this sort of behavior was nothing new. 

Besides, if she had despised Adan (as she was want to do with most fae males) she wouldn’t have made any secret about it. 

The way Azriel saw it, the fact she hadn’t stormed out of the castle yet suggested things had actually gone well. The thought made him ache a bit for Cassian, even if this mess was of his brother’s own making.

“What do you think?” Elain asked, drawing him from his reverie. 

He gave a shrug, not foolish enough to voice his concern for Cassian out loud. 

“She’s your sister, cакана. You know her whims better than I would.”

Elain bit her lip and paused before resuming her path, hands clasped behind her back. 

“He seems honorable,” she mused to herself. “And he is tremendously handsome. I can’t imagine that’s escaped her notice.”

“Is he?” Azriel said, picking up the dark tunic lying on the bed and shrugging it on. “I hadn’t noticed.”

Elain turned to give him beatific smile. It was so lovely it made his knees weak, even after all this time. 

“Jealous, husband?” she purred, and he laughed. 

“Should I be?”

“No,” she said, stringing an arm over his shoulders. “The only Macaran I have eyes for is you.”

He gave a low sound of contentment, his hand coming up to brush her belly. She seemed to be growing every day.  

After a minute of contemplation he frowned, letting his hand drop as he glanced back up at her. 

“Forgive me.” He swallowed. “For how I behaved with Lazar.”

“Why are you apologizing?” she said, touching his brow with this tips of her fingers. “He’s the one of behaved badly, not you.”

“I know,” he said. “But I don’t want you to think I see you as my prize to covet and brawl over.”

“I don’t think that,” she said. “Of course I don’t think that. And much as it vexes me to say it, the rebuke had to come from you. Lazar is Illyrian; he would have ignored my censure, and likely continued his pursuit every time your attention was elsewhere.”

Azriel growled his frustration.

“It shouldn’t be like that.”

“I agree,” she said. “But we aren’t going to change all of Illyria’s problems in a day, my love. Besides, the high fae have their problems as well.”

“One good thing if Nesta becomes Şehzana: she will likely banish that swine to patrol on the borderlands.”

“Or make him court jester,” Elain offered, smiling. “Never underestimate my sister’s capacity for cruel and unusual punishment.”

He laughed, smoothing his hand over her belly again. 

“What would I do without you, Elain Archeron?”

She smiled, placing her hand atop his. 

“I have no intention of ever letting you find out.”

“Te sakam,” he said, unable to avoid thinking of Cassian again, of how it would feel if Elain ever chose to leave him. 

“I love you, too. Sekogaš.”

Always.

He took a breath. Hearing her speak Illyrian always soothed something restless and fretful inside him.

“I hope that if Adan does marry Nesta, he is able to make her as happy as you make me.”

“Thank you,” she said, pressing her brow to his. “For caring for her as you do. I know she doesn’t always make it easy—“

"Don't urge me to leave you, or to turn back from you,” he said, quoting the vows he’d made on their wedding day. “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people, your Gods my Gods.”

She tipped her head back to kiss him, and he groaned softly when she sank her teeth in his lower lip in silent request he open for her. 

He did, and her tongue swept in to claim him. He was suddenly aware of her thin nightgown and what he could see of her body beneath, and he felt his own reacting in kind.

He was hard with a single stroke of her fingers to his left wing, and she moaned, rubbing up against him. 

“How long before we’re expected?”

He growled.

“Not long enough for any of the things I want to do to you.”

Perhaps he was a glutton for punishment, but he pulled her hand between his legs even as he said it. 

“Then at least let me satisfy you,” she breathed. “You’ve hardly let me since we found out about the baby.”

“That’s because you deserve to be spoil—“ 

He broke off with a groan when she slipped a hand into his leathers to stoke him, then swore when there was a knock on the door. 

“Az, it’s nearly time. Are you ready?”

Elain snatched her hand back as Rhys banged on the door again.

“In a minute,” Azriel said, pressing his forehead to Elain’s before whispering, “we’ll finish this later.”

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