#luxmaeastra

[siderealxmelody]

There were holidays from school, moments when she was able to return home and get her feet back upon the soil of Allsbrook. It was when she felt she was able to let her guard down when she was able to take a breath and be herself. Not the studious little student, or the little miss perfect the other students had dubbed her.

Rosalie sighed as she flopped onto the couch across from her brother, surprised he hadn't taken this moment to sneak out to see his beloved. There again, she was thankful he was in. Rallen was too young to really talk to, and she didn't want to add to anything their parents were already dealing with.

"Ren, do you think we are...wrong?" She couldn't think of the right word. The first word that came to mind was defective, but she didn't like thinking of herself as broken.

"What do you mean?"

She looked at him, seeing the small frown on his face. She rubbed at her eyes as she sat forward. "We aren't like Papa, we aren't like Mama. We are of two worlds. We weren't raised like Wyverns, but they expect us to be like them. I met a male at school the over week, he was talking about mating and hoards."

Renley shifted in his seat, moving closer. She shook her head, giving him a worn smile. "I know what it means, but I told him that I didn't know him. Then it was like..." She clicked her fingers, the flames in the nearby fireplace simmered.

Renley's brows shot up.

"You set him on fire? Please say you set him on fire. When Lorisa and I found each other I was pretty pushy for it but then she didn't - I don't know how to explain without it saying she trusted me?"

He brightened and stood.

"You want to ask her? We can see her?"

[siderealxmelody]

------

Manon stepped through the portal, her breath catching as Ctimene turned to her from the horizon. She could feel her sisters step through with her.

Their mates circled high above. Abraxos landing on the outcrop above them, his claws digging into the rocks. He growled at her, Ctimene didn't turn.

"Hello Manon. You have my neice."

"Do we? There are many who would wish to possess one of your blood Ctimene."

Ctimene stepped closer, hands behind her back, her skirts swishing on the ground.

"It is your clan my blood keeps circling so it is your clan I assume my neice has been taken to. Has she?"

Manon dipped her head in acknowledgment.

"She has. And what will you be giving to get her?"

Ctimene slipped a vial of blood from her dress and turned to hold out to her. Abraxos grouped low again, Manon rolled her eyes and nodded to Iskra.

She didn't want to deal with his whining when they got back to the keep. Iskra snickered, uncorking the vial and tipping it back. She felt it down her throat though, the tingle of magic - of Primal magic.

Manon's eyes dilated, Petra stepped closer, her hands clenching at her sides.

"What is this?"

"A female we don't need. Her for my neice."

Manon, cut at her palm, holding it out.

"Done."

Ctimene cut at her palm with the antham around her neck.

"Aelwyn first."

"Bring us this girl and we will do the trade."

"Deal."

Ctimene braced herself, feeling that touch, that magic swirl through her as Manon took her hand. She inhaled, focusing on her breathing, on the cold of the cliff they stood on.

It wouldn't do to do anything else. She wouldn't go back, she'd told Manon what she'd told Drakon - she would choose her family above all else.

Every time.

She couldn't afford to be distracted from that.

A fact she was sure Abraxos was aware of us as his tail lashed against the cliff side.

------

"Remis have you sorted the issue of Deim?"

Remis shoulders relaxed, thrilled to see her.

"We have, locked her on the holy isle. She will remain there while we deal with the rebels -"

"She is an asset father! She would help us win a war -"

"Be quiet Luther. She is a determient to -"

"Luther yes? Tell me of the Deim you know."

She touched his wrist, tugging him away from his father. His eyes focusing on her, the touch brief, but enough for him to speak of the female he loved, who he worshipped.

Remis watched, agitated. Ctimene sent away, promising to fix this mess. She turned to Remis who glared now.

How quickly male's ego make them fickle.

"It isn't up to me Ctimene. If they are mates then the fates will set them through -"

"They aren't. His fate is tied to another, one he's already met. He's just in denial. But keeping her on that island is a stop gap solution."

He titled his head, brown eyes gleaming.

"You have a better one?"

She smiled softly.

"Yes. Bring Luther, he must see the agony she will bring."

------

Luther struggled again and again against the Gaurds. Deim coughing blood, the Wyrdstone arrow on her shoulder stopping her healing, the Flameroot down her throat keeping her magic dormant.

Ctimene ignored her cursing, her pleas for calm. There was no time for such things, the rebels would be crushed.

"Luther are you really willing to die for her?"

"Yes! Haven't you been listening! Yes I -"

He stopped as her gaurds brought another. Deim watched in confusion, Ctimene wanted her to be awake for this.

To understand no one was coming to save her.

"Luther? Deim? What's -"

The blade went to her throat, Luther as predicted jerked on the Gaurds hold. Ctimene looked to Remis and gestured to Chamriane.

"The mate."

Charmaine glared at her.

"You think my life matters? She will bring about change. I've lost too many of my family to violence - she will bring good -"

She hissed as the knife dug deeper. Ctimene stepped before Luther, watching the agony wash through him.

As his soul began to crack.

She didn't acknowledge at how her magic purred at it. Old habits died hard and she'd bene itching for this for centuries.

It always so easy.

"Well? Deim or Charmaine?"

"I wiill not choose -"

"Then you will loose both."

He watched her turn, gesturing to her gaurds who began to paint the symbols. Manon would enjoy having a second meal anyway.

Charmaine's family was collateral - Adrian may have an issue with it, Ivan too. But Adrian was Broken, and Ivan was barely a sentient thing.

They opinions didn't matter now.

The Goblins appeared along the railings, reaching for them both. Luther jerked, Charmaine shook her head.

"Do not save me. Fight for -"

They took her and Luther screamed. She nodded to the gaurds who held him - watching as they slammed their sword into their temple.

"Will the kill her?"

"She will be returned to Luther, they won't kill her. But they will Break her Remis. There must be consequences for refusing Imperial Blood."

Remis looked away, closing his eyes as if in prayer. But none of the old gods would have answered him - dead and gone.

Manon let Aelwyn go along the deck, reaching from Deim who screamed and screamed. Manon fed her something, making her be quiet.

Manon looked to Ctimene.

"We will return the other soon."

Ctimene twisted, missing the arrow at the last second. Above the cove they stood in stood the rebels, Auralie readying another arrow.

"Give me my daughter."

She glared at her brother, grabbing him by the collar to shake him.

"Do not cry wolf when you are whole Sebastian. Our mother doesn't need to deal with your whining."

Sebastian wrenched away, glaring at her.

"You slapped me!"

"You deserved it."

Ctimene sighed and turned to the wyrdgate.

"You know when Telemachus and I were growing up they'd put unruly children outside when they became too much."

Sebastian rubbed at his cheek, still feeling the sting of her hand.

"How unfortunate I was raised with our loving parents and am now grown."

Ctimene didn't respond and tisked turning to look at him.

"The Lesser Fae are vultures, picking off anything for scraps. Aelwyn is probably caught and would be dead."

Sebastian rubbed at his temples, trying to calm his panic. It could have been his sons, could have been his granddaughters.

"Would be? You're saying she's alive?"

"If they found her a mate."

Sebastian froze, looking to Ctimene. He prayed Sarai wasn't hearing this.

"Those are only two options? How do we find her? How do we win against them?"

The changeling they'd sent through was dead, their collar disabled, the signal scrambled.

They were smart things clearly.

Ctimene stared at the inactive portal, her hands behind her back.

"They'd survive overwhelming force - they had underground fortresses back then. Sending in hordes of ground troops won't work either - they'd be overwhelmed and torn apart...we bargained with them. Getting weapons and minerals in exchange for prisoners."

Sebastian closed his eyes and slowly opened them. She was their moral compass, if she had someone -

"Do you have someone in mind?"

"Many, the rebel leaders would work, that upstart Wendlyn Queen would too. She's powerful - they'd take her happily."

Sebastian swallowed, his gut churning. What was life for another? What was hers against all the others?

They didn't desvere the luxury of choice.

Yesenia hadn't been given that, Adrian hadn't stopped in the long months since.

He wondered if anyone had made him eat and sleep today.

Maybe he should tell the healers to mix sedatives in his food - he needed to rest.

"I can't sanction that Mene..if they fould out -"

"So I'll do it, no one suspects I have much of a mind or magic anyways. We'll start with Deim. Has she been mated by Luther yet?"

"No. I - I don't think they'll work."

Ctimene nodded, turning to brush past him. There was a coldness, a detachment to many lives she'd be sacrificing for Aelwyn.

But his niece was worth it.

He just needed to ignore his own squinishness. It was an evil, depraved act.

"And Sebastian?"

He turned to look at her, feeling the heavy weight of the signet ring and invisible crown he wore.

She stood on the rocky outcrop, the wind tugging at her dress. Her eyes blazed so much like Unir's, like their father's.

"I'll tell you when it's been done, don't trouble yourself about it."

//👀//

—————

That was the difference between her and their brothers, she would even say her sisters and their brothers as well. There was a weight of understanding the dirt you had to wade through to get what you needed. In this world females could not be seen as weak willed, or if they were they needed to know how to play the game.

Silba had been exemplary in that way, she proved she was not a force to be reckoned with and took her kingdom. Such an act had been in her favour, she had found her mate and from that her life had bloomed.

Sarai was much subtler, though she felt in the future she would see her growth now she had her balance which was her mate, her family.

It was one of the reasons why she was willing to risk everything for her niece, why she was doing this even if Sebastian was against it because of his court.

Ctimene stared as her plan was unfolding, the offer was sent and she hoped for her niece’s sake they would take the bait.

[twistedtangledfate]

@luxmaeastra continued from here

Feyre smiled, the smile almost feline, like the cat that got the cream so as to speak. She loved it when Rhysand was so open and honest with her, when he didn’t hide himself or his reactions and she loved when she was able to make him shudder and moan and even curse, all for pleasure. There was something so exhilarating about it and as he arched his back, she hummed in contentment; pleased. 

“Why don’t you take a look?” She replied, her voice soft and enticing. “I believe it involves some little lacy underthings.” She added after the kiss was broken. She could spend hours and hours just kissing him and touching him with no regard for the world around them. She had fought for that joy, that pleasure, they both had. 

She followed him, squeezing his hand as he led her into the dining room. The sight of the dishes arrayed across the table made her mouth water. Food had quickly become one of Feyre’s favourite things since she had arrived in Prythian, leftover perhaps from the deprivation she had experienced for so many years across the wall. 

[girlsofthedcu]

@luxmaeastra​ || Continued from [x]

A game? No. Nothing about the situation between them (at least from Juliet’s side) was a game. She loved Sara -- wholly and fully. Would do anything for her. Even die and/or kill for her. Hers was an all consuming love. An all or nothing kind of deal born from the obsessive personality disorder she inherited from her mother.

It sometimes worried her father. Her siblings. How deep and fast she fell for her best friend. But she couldn’t help it. She loved Sara. To her, she was utter perfection. 

“Today? No.” She smiled, leaning forward to kiss her. “I was thinking...what do you say to dinner on the waterfront tonight? We could try that new restaurant you’ve been wanting to go to.”

[siderealxmelody]

Her heart raced as her fingers gripping a hold of the front of his shirt, her mind was spiralling as the memories and thoughts continued to hit her without regard to what she wanted. The panic that followed through her, the heartache her body felt. It was like bits and pieces of what had happened was missing, as if flashes of what had happened came and went without reason.

She could hear Helion yelling, she could hear her brother screaming at someone. The gentle hand of another touched her arm, a female presence which was not blood was nearby. Was that Helion’s-? Any sensible thought was gone as she froze, her body tensed as she bit her lip to keep herself from screaming. She wasn’t in pain though? No, she was, just not physically.

Her clothes were wet, had she been outside?

————————

“We can hunt him down Thesan, we can drag him back here to answer for what he has done?” Endymion stood at the end of the hallway with her. He remembered the sound of Thesan’s screams when they had come across her twin, when they found her wandering in the rain. He was not surprised how quickly Harrow had jumped to action, tearing into the direction she had come from as if he needed to rid the world of some monster.

Thesan had confessed to him as Helion, Amaya and Nephelle had arrived on the scene that Sarai had been meeting with a male, a male who had been courting her and promised her so many things. He vaguely remembered the change in her over the last little while, though he had not been paying attention solely for the fact his focus had been on her sister.

His hand reached out and touched her lower back, he knew how close this family was, he knew damn well if one of their own was hurt in anyway they’d close ranks. “You don’t think he was sent here to do this, to break her? Why would they do something like this? Your father and mother had always been good and just rulers.”

[ Trying to find that in to explore the Sarai things. ]

Armand took the money, counting it out. He nodded at the order from his handler to remain low profile, to stick to the outskirt inns.

He set his bag down, the runes etching on the wood to keep it safe. It would trigger if someone tried to take it.

His hands were shaking, his entire body was burning up. He squeezed his eyes shut, his nails digging into the wood. He needed to breathe through this, this high pitched whine needed to stop. He'd told his Handler of it but they hadn't worried - "A simple symptom of High Life Armand. I wouldn't think much of it."

So why couldn't he breathe? Why couldn't he get her out of his head? Why -

His nails were bloody and raw. He curled on the ground, trying to make the whine stop. He barley noticed the person in front of him. Barely heard him being followed. It was finesube they'd stop the whining, his Handler wouldn't save him for this. He'd done his duty and like all of them he supposed he'd been put out to pasture.

--------

Helion stared down at the kid, guant, runes were carved into his skin. A Thrall, a - he moved, gently moving his ear to find the numbers tattooed on his skin.

A Child of the Prisons, a Foundling. He probably only knew his name. He thought of Nephelle, the tattoo behind her ear.

The way she'd never believed him and he'd proven her right. Till he'd stopped being an idiot. But with their bond he could hear the song, crystal clear like a silver bell.

Harrow stepped forward the blade at his side gleaming. Helion barred his teeth, moving between them.

"We give him once chance Harrow. We don't kill people who don't understand -"

"He broke her Helion! How is that fair? Why should he get another chance to -"

"I know you love my sister..I know you're only doing this because you don't like seeing her hurt...but if I know anything about the Foundlings. He grew up with nothing and no teaching on our customs. We should give him one chance...and if he doesn't pass we can torture him till he is a helpless shell."

--------

Armand curled in a corner, his teeth barred. His claws dragging through the wood. He didn't know these people and that whining wouldn't stop. He barely glanced at the female who put some food down for him.

But her Soul Song was beautiful and bright. It reminded him of home, twisting corridors and walls of iron and ash. He turned to her, gripping her wrist.

"Is this the Handler? Did they - did I fail?"

Nephelle fought to control her tears, her rage at seeing it happen again. She'd been just as terrified, and when Helion had walked -

She swallowed and shook her head.

"This isn't them. This is - you're safe little brother. Your safe. Do you remember the girl? She - you did a good job in breaking her. She didn't last long after you were done. We are Tuning you before your next assignment."

She watched him deflate, watched his eyes shut and those nails dig into his skin. No Foundling would show this much emotion in front of another family or not. But he was too far gone to care, his magic was burning him up. Did he even know how to weild it? Was he still on those suppressants to keep it dormant? She wondered if he had the same lesson on Falconry she had a child.

She still remembered raising that baby chick, teaching it to fly. Watching it soar and learning to mimic it. She remembered how it's heart had beat wildly as she'd been asked to kill it with her hands and teeth. To swallow its still beating heart -

"Nothing lasts. You are not a person, you are a tool. Tools feel nothing, weapons feel nothing."

She slipped out of the room, greatful when Helion simply held her. Her eyes shut, focusing on his scent on his low voice in her ear. Counting every one of those whispers that swirled in her ears.

"Do you think this is Drakon's family? His father was furious when I left Helion. I -"

She exhaled and looked back to the door. Her fingers gripping his shirt.

"He's so broken, a discarded puppet that doesn't understand what's happening. He recognized my Soul-Song so we must have crossed paths or come from the same wing....why are you smiling?!"

"Becuase I've been trying to figure out who this male was for two weeks. I was trying to understand what Sarai saw in him but now....she wanted to help him right? That must have been how it started and it evolved from there."

He looked back to her, his eyes so soft for her..

"I know he isn't you. I know he may be beyond saving. But I refuse to go back to the person I was in that war Nephelle. I hated that version of myself where no one and nothing mattered. My parents would want me to try, to help him as much as I can. Even if he and Sarai don't work...she is strong..she will come back, she has to. I accept no other words. She will come back and he will be free of them."

--------

Harrow watched, he always watched. Watched Sarai blossom into something even the Sun hid it's light from. He watched her fall for another, someone she didn't know. Someone he never met and who she was ready to Fade for.

Did no one else see what he did? Did no one else understand what was happening? If they were tied - if this was the life she was destined for...

Better she die, better she find peace. Some people just felt too much to exist in this world. He looked down at the Creature. His pale blue eyes milky from whatever things his Handlers did.

He knelt before him, satisfaction curling through him as he flinched away. He must still hear the music the Prison had touched him with. His father had been a Warden in those streets, his mother one of the Handlers. He'd rejected that till now, till he could see it all slip away.

He told himself he wasn't doing this because he loved her. He told himself that he wasn't owed her love or attention.

But he wanted those things and maybe he was being selfish sending them both to The Otherworld like this. But she was too broken to be fixed and this Thing didn't deserve to breathe the same air as her.

He held the drink up to its lips.

"Drink. You'll find peace now."

[luxmaeastra]

It was a blur, everything seemed to happen in an instant. The moment she struggled to find a ember of her light and it was like darkness snuffed it out, as if the darkness clouded her vision. Was this not familiar? Was darkness not an old friend that she had danced with throughout her life? There was a comfort to it, a familiarity.

Yet, something else called her home. Someone else called her, the spark of light started small and grew brighter by the second. Alina jerked away upon the bed, her eyes darted around as she tried to get sense on what was going on. Her throat felt so sore, her hand rose as she flinched feeling a stinging bruising sensation under her skin.

He was there. It was at that moment she noticed him, Ivan, seemed to be watching over her. The sparring ring, she remembered the hands around her throat and the panic she had felt. She was in the infirmary then, he must have brought her here.

“Thank you Ivan,” her voice sounded so weak and hoarse. “What happened after—?” After she lost consciousness, after everything went dark.

Ivan looked on at Alina she wasn't summoning, just in the sparring ring with Botkin and this monstrous corporalnik. He didn't know who the other male was, but he couldn't have been older than sixteen, or perhaps seventeen? Definitely a private and not an officer. Ivan had always been a poor judge at age. They were well into their twenties now, Ivan now nearly thirty and Alina in her mid-twenties. How had this child gotten the upper hand on Alina Starkov?

Ivan is looking down into the fighting pit, and Ivan climbs in when the big guy takes Alina by the throat. Botkin is yelling for him to stop, but the big bastard won't let go. Ivan flood's the kid's heart with blood, bursting it and the big, now dead corporalnik lays forgotten as Ivan rushes to Alina. He hadn't known he cared. But he did.

Botkin was upset about powers being used on the mat, but... what did it matter really? Ivan helps her up, she'd been knocked unconscious by the other heartrender's blows. "She'll be out of sparring for a week--if she ever comes back." Ivan grumbles at botkin while carrying Alina away to the infirmary.

a starter for @luxmaeastra

[oftomorrow]

@luxmaeastra​ ( continued )

�� please tell me you have a plan. ’

"What, you don't have any faith in my cooking?" Lois teased. She was going to ensure this evening went off without a hitch, after all it wasn't that she hadn't cooked before. "I mean if you want to ensure that I don't burn anything, I wouldn't mind having some help in the kitchen."

“I have complete and absolute faith in you, always.” Clark came up behind her and gently kissed the top of her head. “I’m just curious to see what your plans for this super special date are.”

[forcechoosen]

@luxmaeastra​     Interest Checker       Sith Warrior Storyline

     “ The Empire is supposed to serve its citizens. We carved out the Unknown Regions and now officer's like that joker are an embarrassment.” 

[ofblackskies]

- - - - - REMUS

     Marlene had found herself in the boy’s dormitory earlier. She had been bugging Sirius until the prat had just left her to her own devices. So, she figured, if Black trusted her so much as to be alone in his dorm, she might as well make him regret it, right? That was why she was currently spelling the curtains of his four poster bed to drop glitter onto him the moment he drew them closed at bed time. It was childish, but oh it would be so sweet. Glitter was so hard to get out of things after all. She just hadn’t expected Remus to show up before she was finished.

     With her standing square in the middle of Sirius’ bed, her wand raised up, Marlene shot Remus the most innocent look she could muster. “He asked for it!” She said quickly. // @luxmaeastra​

[siderealxmelody]

Sending her away for her education had been one of the hardest choices she had seen her parents make, it meant she was away from home and away from their protection. They had already been through so much; they had already lost their home and been forced back to a place which had been where her mother was raised. Sending her to the school had been a decision that was not taken lightly, especially with the consideration of the wyvern blood that ran through her veins.

Cowering wasn’t an option though; she couldn’t hide away her entire life.  She needed to go into the world, she needed to harness her magic and grow. Even if she missed Renley’s moody morning grunts as he was made to socialize instead of sneaking off with his girl, or when Rallen would declare cheerfully what her adventure of the way would be.

Rose neared a group of her friends; her she shifted her bag over her shoulder as she smiled. She hadn’t noticed one of the males in her group take notice of her bag, more importantly, what was in it.

“What’s this?” He pulled the book from her bag. The leather-bound cover was clearly old, the spine creases from the countless times that she had read – as well as her mother and aunt. It had been one of a few that her grandmother had saved from being burned, it was one of the few things she cherished as it had been her gateway to learning about her magic. Her powers. Her strength.

The fire within her roared to life as she tried to push down the panic, watching as he flipped through the pages carelessly. No, lashing out would do nothing to aid her. “Give it back, it’s old!” She said firmly as she held out her hand.

“Isbeth, oh! Is this your crazy great-aunt that got killed’s spell book?” She felt her jaws tightened. She would not bed, she would lower herself to them.

“She wasn’t crazy, now give me back the book.”

“Or what, what will you –“

Killian watched the squabble a few yards away. His mother wanted him here, wanted him safe in this gilded cage. What was wrong with staying in Lemuria with the rest of their family? Why did he have to come here leaving behind his siblings and father?

She was distracted and the Headmaster was still prattling on. She wanted him to hide, he was never good at such a thing.

When he was done, they'd be on their knees begginh him to come to their little school. He moved across the lawn, fingers twitching to wake the earth.

He stumbled hearing Isbeth's name. Could it be the same? The one that had freed his ancestors, that had gifted her library to them.

He stepped toward them sweeping his leg under the male's feet. He caught the book and pressed his boot against his neck. He smiled down at him as he cracked his neck.

"Or worse people will come and not ask politely."

He held the book out to her, up close he had been right. The threads hadn't lied and he slid his eyes to the rest of the children beginning to cry and scream.

"Anyone else want to take something from her?"

They didn't respond running to the Headmaster. Killian turned back to her, his eyes bright.

"So what do you collect little one? Books? Bones? I can call a special fungus that eats the flesh alive. I can give you all these bones if you want....I didn't know Isbeth had any other books, I thought my family had them."

He tilted his head stepping toward her and kicking the corpse away.

"Who are you?"

The earth whispered at him warnings and worries. He turned back to the Headmaster and winked to her.

"Your secret is safe with me."

He wouldn't hide, he wouldn't give these soft weak hearted things that satisfaction. He would blade so bring they'd worship him again.

[siderealxmelody]

The music filled the air, coming from the ballroom above. The light slipped from the windows as the couple stumbled towards the small cove by the waters edge, his hands roaming her body as he felt the buzz of alcohol in his system. A beautiful partner of a beautiful night, a rare flower from another kingdom coming to visit. His hand ran through her beautiful blonde strands, his lips eagerly finding her own.

His breath hitched suddenly, a warmth began to grow in his chest. Her golden eyes filled with amusement met his as she pulled away from the kiss, the quiet sound of metal slipping free and the blood dripping to the floor as she stepped back. Her hand reached up as she brushed the magic from her appearance, her fingers adjusting the necklace which was a gift from a witch to aid her in her job.

“You-“

“You really should keep your hands to yourself,” she amused as she took off her white glove and wiped the blade upon it. “You have angered enough people with your wandering hands.” Celaena turned and looked towards the nearby balcony, she was sure no one would find him until late in the next evening. They’d be nursing their hangovers from the little additive she added to the drinks.

Her attention turned back to her target, she adjusted the collar of his shirt as she gave him a smile. He was fading, his life was fleeting and she was enjoying the fact she would be the last thing he saw. “Let Autumn’s fires burn you forever so your soul is not able to unite with Mother.”

———————

Celaena sighed as she knelt by the base of the tree, shoving the fine dress into the bag. It had been a few hours since she had killed her target, a few hours since she left the kingdom and gone to where she had stashed her belongings. She needed to move on before word got out about his death, before anyone started asking too many questions and looked in the right places.

Tossing her bag over her shoulder she turned, pausing suddenly. There was noise, rustling within the bushes. Someone was there, someone had followed her this far without detection. She lowered a hand to her side, her fingers shifting into position. As much as she preferred a blade, she was not against using her own fire to burn them alive.

“Come out and show yourself.”

The heist had been risky but it had been a fun idea. To play with them, get to know what it was like to use them and take everything from them.

But they were growing weak, tired. They may not be Asteri or Valg but they had their own ways to feed and sustain themselves. They tired quickly though.

Draven curled around her soul. Hisssing and furious, not at the targeting - but at how he failed. Even if she assured him he hadn't it would fall on deaf ears.

She couldn't change his mind, but she supposed their little fantasy needed to end sometime.

"Where is his body Calaena?"

[siderealxmelody]

A noise roused her from her sleep, the camp was dimly lit by the fire they have made in the evening, the night sky dark with clouds. It had been a few weeks since her wedding day, since she had joined the group and understood the task of their journey. A task to break two curses, a-.

Elinor’s head snapped in the direction of snapping twigs, watching the tail of one of the giant black wolves disappear into the nearby bushes. A sound of a horse echoed around her, causing her body to still before she gathered her courage. She needed to go, she needed to see.

Following the path of the wolf she went, keeping herself low in the bushes so no one could see her. There, across the clearing, stood something that made her blood run cold. She had only ever heard about them in stories, ghost stories to scare them when they were young. The ethereal beings stood in a group, a mixture of creatures - some clearing alive, others…The Wild Hunt.

A shadow moved across the clearing, a shadow soon illuminated by the moon that peeked through the cloud cover. She couldn’t mistake the raven hair, or the violet eyes as she looked over her shoulder. Raelyn. Elinor was about to speak out, alert her new friend of the danger when a hand went over her mouth.

“Shhh. Don’t say anything.” Fergus’s whispered in her ear. Her eyes were wide, fixed upon the scene as finally her new friend met up with a male on one of the horses. A tall male with handsome features, until he turned to look in the other direction - a wound exposing the bone of his cheek caused her stomach to roll.

When Fergus finally removed his hand she looked at him. “But that’s the Wild Hunt, they’ll kill her!” She hissed. Did he really not like her anymore? Was he that possessive of her? Was he-…Why was he smiling?

“I maybe the Captain of her family’s guard, but there is always something that is fully her’s,” he explained before he pointed back to the scene, Raelyn laughing with the male as Fenrir came close and brushed up against her. “Someone leads the Wild Hunt, they have often visited our home and most disappear on those days. I’ve met them, the male she is talking to is Holt.”

——————

As they spoke Raelyn summoned the horn, shaking her head at Holt.

“Don’t worry, if we find out any information to help you, we will send word with one of our hounds,” Holt responded with a smile. “Though, I believe his grandmother’s curse maybe the easiest. If the curse on your family was until her mate was avenged, I would say your mating would be the greatest act of vengeance. Can’t chase away a banished family when your grandfather’s own blood is mated to it.”

She gave a slight smile as she turned the horn over in her hand, nodding slightly before she looked back towards the camp. “We still have a long way before that will be possible, but I will enjoy our time trying to get there.”

“Maybe when that happens you can bring him along for a hunt!”

Laughter echoed from her as she shook her head. “I’ll tell Grandpa Lumas you said hi, I feel he misses his days in the hunt.”

“He is always welcome to join.”

“Don’t tempt him, Grandma Silba will be upset.” She rose the horn to her lips, sounding it for all those within the area to see. The horses of the hunt began to shift with excitement, those in the hunt yelled before the Wild Hunt began took off. Gathering the souls and lives of those they past, some joining their ranks and some…Well that was the purpose of the Wild Hunt.

Hoot looked up, stilling at the thing that would through the trees. He forced his hand tis ray slack on his reigns, he felt the awareness ripple through him. The wyvern watched them all, and slipped deeper in the shadows.

Holt still tried to track it. The Wyvern was making it easy for him. It shifted appearing as a male in the higher tree tops.

The eyes were bright, evoking rolling thunder clouds. He wouldn't be surprised if lightning slammed down.

The wyvern finally looked to Raelyn, giving her a crooked smile. Holt wouldn't know it was a show, that he wasn't the cocky male they thought him to be. Nazarius hated meeting Wild Hunts. He'd avoided them mostly, but then - well he knew some took contracts.

"Friends of yours Raelyn?"

[siderealxmelody]

@luxmaeastra - Eris look at your mate!! ❤️‍🔥🤩💖

@starlsssankt - Pretty Elain!!! 😍🤩

Anna Vasileff in custom Paolo Sebastian

[siderealxmelody]

“Hold still or you’ll lose your other eye!” The low hiss came, the lights flickered within the room of the old keep house. A safe house for them to met in, a safe place where they could both trade information that no many knew about. Only those they could trust knew, only those who needed to know knew.

Celaena wiped the blood from his skin, tending to the slowly mending wounds. She had warned him to stop, she had told him to pull back and wait for her. This attack had been a warning, a warning that led to the loss of her brother’s eye. He was so quiet, he didn’t even snipe back at her as his own failure weighed upon him.

A spy that got caught, a spy that that had been reckless and ensnared in the trap. Lucien let out a low groan of pain as he pulled back, his hand raising up to cover his face as he stared at his twin. “Enough Laena.”

“I told you not to call me that Luci. We will get you fixed, if we cannot repair we can adapt. ” She dropped the rag into the bowl before she moved towards the nearby window. The shadows curled around outside, the forms of guests. “We have visitors…”

Nen slipped into the room slowing as he took in the two of them. He tilted his head, continuing to munch on his candy.

"You don't have an eye. Is that new or did you always have a horrible scar there?"

Lucian scowled at him, even as he winced a the pain. He didn't understand why his sisters was friends with this odd, little, thing.

"Why are you even here? How did you find us?"

How had he? Was he trialing them? Was he working for -

Nen shrugged and jumped onto the windowsill. His hand cutting on the shards of glass there. He hissed shaking his hand out trying to dislodge it. But Lucien wasn't watching that. He was watching as the blood touched the dead plant a few feet away. Drops, it had been a few drops and slowly - slowly that plant regrew as new.

Nen didn't notice, or didn't comnent. Too busy pulling glass from his palm. His voice was casual as he spoke to Calaena. As if this wasn't something to be shocked by.

"Dorian and Chaol were being irritating. So I thought I'd find you. How did he loose the eye? Was it -"

Cennan finally looked up, something in him freezing. He pushed past it, ignored it.

"Why are you both looking at me like that?"

[siderealxmelody]

The waters cascaded down the rocks, spraying the cooling mist at the bottom as it flowed away from the pool and deeper into the forests. The waterfalls had become their place, somewhere which was private and where they had often fled to. Walking out into this wilds of the duchy had become their tradition, one she understood the more she had began to learn his own secrets.

Yet it seemed there were more she didn’t know. Had she been cruel and acted oblivious to what he wanted? Had she pushed him aside thinking she knew what was right? She hated the lack of bond from not yet completing their Mating Ceremony, she hated not feeling him. She also refused to use her own Daemintri powers on him.

Raelyn secured her horse, moving across the wildflowers that filled the area. She quietly sat down upon the ground by his feet, her eyes looking up at him before she leaned to rest against his side. She picked at some of the flowers and began to wove them together, her fingers needing something to do.

“Speak to me, I misread something didn’t I?”

"How will we make it not Hewn? How will we - how will I keep them from destroying everything your family has built?"

He turned to look down at her his fingers twitching.

"They - I've been to places where Changelings rule Raelyn. It's not - it's not even violence. It's a completely different set of expectations and rules. The City of Ghezen is - it's legendary in the Isle of Heart. It's brutal, fae and witches are kept enslaved and -"

He exhaled and looked back to her. His eyes dark.

"I liked it when I was there. It - it was feeling. There's a council but it doesn't enforce much beyond general disputes. The - it was freeing Raelyn. But I don't - I don't want you to love like that. After I ran it was nice. It was nice to throw myself into that and only worry about myself for a few years. To get that out of my system. But the - that isn't a life for children, for softness. Changelings take and take and will burn this place to the ground. I want to bring some of my kin here but I don't - I don't trust them. I don't trust me to be the same person I am with you. I don't want to be like them. I haven't gone to the Citadels have you heard of them? Achlys started them. A place to be trained and commune. I've met some of those who flunked out. They're - they're broken but fiercly loyal to those who protected them. I can't - my kind isn't soft and gentle. They'll never respect the vision you want."

He turned back to the waterfall, hearing the absence of Eshkar's family now. This close to one of their burrow entrances. He felt for him even if Eshkar would have clawed at his eyes if he said anything about it.

"We aren't the same. You mourn an idealized version of your family. I mourn the monsters they made me into what I am. We are not the same Fergus."

"I don't know why you keep insisting on indulging the Changelings. They - you're strong but it's a different type of strength then just power and violence. Asteri never understood that. It's a code, a loyalty to the family above everything else. Sounds good in theory but I've seen them leave their children or mates to die for their family. I don't want that stain here. I thought I could help them, I thought I could find those who were shunted and make something different. You saw how that went. Eshkar is happy to stay for Eldora but he will neber bow to me or you. He's an Heir it's -"

He pinched the bridge of his nose closing his eyes.

"I don't see a way for a world where Changelings and everyone else gets along. Even if it's something I dream about."

[siderealxmelody]

X.

Medved rolled his eyes. He looked to Eshkar and rose an eyebrow.

"How did your family die? I can't hear them now."

"Death's Muse killed them. I finished Ronin off."

Medved hummed and frowned at Fergus.

"Is he always like this?"

Eshkar stiffened and glared at him.

"No."

Medved looked to Eshkar and then Fergus.

"Ronin did me a favor with a hunt. You're welcome in his place, and Fergus is as well if he can pull himself together."

Eshkar could feel Eldora at the edge of the property. He hoped she would cross that line, that they could finish what they started.

She turned away walking back into the house. Eshkar let a breath and exhaled.

Medved watched him and didn't blink as he barred his teeth. Fergus finally calmed down and brushed his tears away. He gripped Raelyn's hand and nodded at Medved.

"I - it's an honor to meet a King like you Medved."

Medved only hummed and looked to the duchy.

"So are we all -"

"Ronin is dead?"

Medved turned to see Saoirse appear next to him. He cursed reaching for his sister.

"Saorise -"

"How did he die Eshkar? Why can't I hear him?"

Eshkar raised his spear at her throat. He glared at her.

"I don't know who the fuck you are. I don't know what relationship you think you have -"

"I think you're smart enough to guess by my questions Eshkar."

"But he deserved it and I would finish him off every fucking time."

Saorise snarled and lunged for him. They twisted through the foliage. Medved didn't look surprised, he took the opportunity to ran his fingers over the back of Mishkia's hand.

He quirked an eyebrow at her.

Are you okay Mishkia? Do you want me to kill anyone with you?

Not for her, he wasn't someone who took another's opportunity to right their wrongs for them.

Eshkar screamed as Saorise snapped his spear. He reached for it again, his blood healing the wood. He thrust it agaisnt the underside of her neck. Hard enough for blood to spill.

"Who are you to him?"

"He was my mate! Who killed him!?"

Eshkar got to his feet and Fergus let go of Raelyn's hand now they the danger was passed. Would she get used to that? Would she understand weakness and misplaced care were not undersrood?

"Death's Muse. She's protected by Raffiel."

Medved finally spoke up making the two of them look to him. Medved pointed to the Duchy.

"You're welcome to try to kill her Saiorse. After all her death would be a benefit for all of us wouldn't it Eshkar?"

@luxmaeastra