#starlight (oc)

[shonee]

whatever you do, steer clear of the purple...

[lisicaiksiksiks]

[romirola]

Hello my friend! For the one-shots request, please choose whichever of these you find most inspiring, but if you're not feeling either, no worries!

1. “ i’m promising you all of eternity. ” with Avior/Starlight (and while I would adore it if it was my version of Starlight, Estelle, that is nowhere near required, please don't think you have to)

or

2. "is that my shirt?" with Milo and Sweetheart

No pressure if you're not feeling either of these! I just love to see your creativity!

Thank you! You're amazing!

~Star(lit)🌟

Thank YOU, @starlitangels! You’re amazing, and that’s why I was so happy that you trusted me with your Estelle to write this piece! 

Rating: G; WC: ~1.4K ; Prompts: Avior/Estelle (female!Starlight OC) “I’m promising you all of eternity.”

Read this oneshot on AO3!

[starlitangels]

To Steer By

Hiii... I was writer's blocked on this one for A While™. But I bring to you, the next chapter! And, uh... I'm sorry for the cliffhanger... 2.4k words

Ch 1, Ch 2, Ch 3, Ch 4, Ch 5, Ch 6, Ch 7

—

Chapter 8 - Arrival in Aria

—

Moments after Estelle collapsed, her eyes were opening again. Avior was just grateful he caught her before she hit the ground. “Estelle?” He cupped her face. “Are you alright?”

She scrunched her eyebrows. “How long was I out?”

“Not long. Few moments.”

“Oh good. That didn’t feel like enough magic to warrant another all-day blackout,” she mumbled, regaining control of her muscles. “But… I do need to sit down.”

“Let’s get you back in the carriage and we’ll be on our way. We’re only going to travel a bit longer to find someplace to rest for the night anyway,” Avior said. He scooped her knees up and took her back to the carriage, where Vindemiator had convinced Caelum to go back to the driver’s bench of the darker carriage.

The inside of the white carriage had two benches, one facing the direction of travel, and one facing the other way. Avior laid Estelle on the former and took the latter for himself. He felt Vega get back in his position and heard the snap of reins encouraging the horses to go.

The carriage lurched and off they went.

Estelle didn’t bother to try to sit up. Just lounged across the bench, pinching the bridge of her nose. Avior watched over her intently.

“That was incredible,” he said.

She peeked one eye open and looked at him. “You lit a candle from a distance with the snap of your fingers. You’ve got power yourself.”

“Mm. Nothing like yours. I’m half-demon. My powers tend to be… fiery. Destructive and dangerous. I can do other things but it’s difficult. Yours… it was… that was… pure. Radiant, even.”

She snickered. “You should see my brother’s,” she said. “I’m nothing compared to him.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

She shuffled so she was on her side, facing him. “You met Morgan. My brother. He’s the Crown Prince. He’s the one who got the lion’s share of the magic. He’s the one who can see the future, not me. I can use the positioning of the stars, sun, and moon to make a few guesses and predictions, but Morgan is far more accurate.”

“But can he make that swarm of falling stars?”

She smiled. “He could make a bigger one. He actually is the one who taught me how.”

Avior hummed in thought. The carriage hit a dip in the road and bounced. Estelle winced but otherwise didn’t react.

He stuck his head out the window. “Vega? Are we stopping soon?”

“As soon as we find a defensible position to make camp,” Vega replied.

“Hm… well… hurry up.”

“Yes, sire.”

—

Vindemiator kicked his ankles up onto Scorpius’ lap. Who, for his part, didn’t bother to push them off. “See, the problem,” Vin said, “is Avi’s wife has white hair and I don’t know how to work with that.” He glanced over at where Avior had Estelle curled up on his lap. She was asleep and Avior was quietly speaking with Vega. “Like. All of us except Caelum have dark hair. I can make anything to work with dark hair. But I don’t know how to make anything for hair that pale. Like. With dark hair a red outfit pops and is sexy. But white hair? Which is the pop? What do I do with it?”

“Vin, you know you’re not actually the royal tailor right?” Scorpius asked. “Like. You know you outrank the royal tailor by a lot. Right?” He snickered. “Besides. The king will probably hire a female seamstress from Castle Town specifically for Estelle’s wardrobe when she needs anything.”

Vin scoffed. “Rude.”

“All I’m saying is she’s brought her entire wardrobe with her. She’s not going to need anything new for a while.”

Vindemiator stared at Scorpius, disbelief painted all over his face. “Are you implying she’s not going to have an entirely new gown made for her coronation? Which, by the way, is in two weeks?”

“No one in Aria will know that the gown she wears isn’t brand-new.”

“They’ll have a decent guess if it’s got Star Kingdom written all over it. She needs something that shows she’s our queen. Something that feels Arian.”

Scorpius rolled his eyes. “Whatever,” he muttered.

Vindemiator pulled out his little book where he liked to sketch out design ideas. Caelum shuffled where he was asleep on his bedroll beside Vindemiator. Caelum’s hair had once been blond. But the transformation had turned his hair a soft, pale pink. Vindemiator could work with pink. It was the white he wasn’t solid on.

White just stood out so much. If he wanted to do a pop of color, the white would still outshine it. But a white gown—in Vin’s opinion—was too much of the same color. He needed something to complement the white. Her wedding gown had been even paler than sky blue. Which had been… nice. He supposed. He didn’t work with pastel shades for anyone other than his brother. Maybe he’d have to learn.

Across the small campsite, Estelle was asleep on Avior’s lap in the dimmest light of the campfire. Vindemiator narrowed his eyes at her and glanced down at his book.

He sketched the basic profile of a grand gown, and in the corner wrote, Dark Red? Black? Maybe one of those would work. She’d probably prefer a pastel, considering everything he’d seen of her wardrobe. But a deep, dark shade would be more Arian.

He brought his legs off Scorpius’ lap and bent his knees up as a firmer surface to draw on, adding details to the gown and material considerations. Satin and silk were nice but she needed something richer for a coronation. Velvet and taffeta were added to his list of notes. He didn’t care that he wasn’t the actual royal tailor. He liked the work and he liked the artistic expression.

Vindemiator kept designing long after everyone else had drifted off—barring Vega, who’d elected to keep first watch.

—

“Caelum?” Vindemiator asked his brother as the party finally crossed into the Arian castle keep’s walls. “Why don’t you show Avior’s new wife around the castle? Give her a grand tour?”

Caelum perked up. “Okay!”

Avior gave Vindemiator a confused look. Vin just shrugged.

Caelum scampered over to Estelle. “Can I show you around?” He bounced a little on his feet.

“Of course,” Estelle replied.

Caelum tried so hard to be proper. He offered her his elbow and tried to be dignified. But the second they reached one of the doors, he grabbed her wrist to point out something and went back to bouncing.

“Why Caelum?” Avior asked.

“He’ll show her all the best parts of the castle and make it easier for her to remember how to get around. And I wanted to talk to you,” Vindemiator replied.

What few members of the guard had been rebuilt were helping to unpack the supplies from the journey. Avior nodded away from the group and led Vin after him to somewhere more private. “What’s on your mind?”

Vin opened and closed his mouth a few times. “Your wife is going to need an attendant,” he said. “I… I was thinking that… my partner might be interested. I haven’t asked, but I know they were wanting to try something new. Their current job hasn’t been fulfilling for them. They need more interaction with people, not just being alone.”

Avior nodded. “Go ahead and ask them. If they’re interested we’ll get them started. See if it works for them.”

“Thank you.”

“Of course.”

Before Avior could move to leave, Vin stepped into his path. “There’s one more thing,” he said. Avior paused and gestured for him to go on. “We’ve, uh… we’ve been like this… for a month, Avi.”

“Was the attack a month ago already?” Avior muttered, sounding tired.

“Yeah. Uh… it’s been long enough that… that I… I don’t really feel like Vindemiator, anymore.”

Avior’s head tilted slightly to one side. “Alright…”

“I’ve been thinking about this a lot. Would… would it be okay if you all call me Gavin, instead?”

“Of course. If that’s what would make you the most comfortable.”

“I think it would. Caelum can still call me Vin, but, uh, I think I’d prefer it if the rest of you call me Gav if you’re going to shorten it.”

“That’s something we can do. Would you like to tell the others or do you want me to?”

“Normally I would. But you’re the king now. I think they’ll listen to you better.”

Avior couldn’t help but chuckle. “I think you put too much stock in their respect for me, but I’ll talk to them anyway and make sure they respect your decision. I’m sure they will, but I’ll talk to them.”

“Thank you, my king.” Gavin bowed slightly.

“My honor,” Avior replied.

They shook hands while Gavin rolled his eyes at the formality of it all and Avior smiled.

—

Estelle listened to Caelum raptly. He was excitable and young and sweet—but he also knew the castle and explained it and its layout simply. His rambles tended to wander aimlessly, but always snapped back to the subject of the castle when something of note was in their path. He also kept his directions simple.

“Oh, oh!” Caelum whispered, bouncing on the balls of his feet. “This door is one of the offshoots of the kitchen.” He gave her the youthful version of a sly smile—the smile of kids sharing secrets. “This one is the one where they make the cookies.”

Estelle twisted her head to face him properly and dropped her mouth open. “Is that right?” she asked conspiratorially.

Caelum nodded. “Don’t tell the baker I told you.”

“No, of course not.”

Down the corridor, she noticed when Caelum clammed up. It was the first time it had happened—it’d be hard not to notice. He slowed his pace and looked at where several planks of wood had been propped up over a hole in the stone wall out to the courtyard, trying to block the draft. He stared at the hole, brows tilting, lower lip sliding out, eyes watering. Estelle squeezed his hand where he’d been holding onto hers.

“Hey,” she asked softly. “What’s wrong?”

He whimpered slightly, shaking his head.

Estelle gathered him to her, resting his head on her chest and putting her chin on the back of his head. “It’s okay, little guy,” she said, rocking back and forth. “Whatever it is, it’s okay.”

He shook his head, horns nearly getting caught in her dress’ bodice. “That—that’s where the demon broke through the wall,” he managed to say. “The… the one that hurt Vin. The one that did this to us.” He grabbed his horns and pulled on them. Almost like he was trying to pull them off his head entirely. Estelle grabbed his hands and eased them away.

“Hey,” she entreated softly. “None of that. I know you must miss who you were. How you looked. But you’re okay. You’re alive, your brother’s alive. Neither of you were seriously hurt. And you’re different now but you’re still you. Having a little bit of demon blood in your veins doesn’t stop you from being the sweetest kid I’ve ever met.” She raked her fingers through his soft pink curls. “Don’t let something you had no control over get you down when you and your brother are stronger because of what happened to you.”

He sniffled and wrapped his arms around her in a hug. “I-I-I’ll try.”

“Trying is all you need, buddy.”

“Cae? What’s wrong?” a familiar voice demanded. Estelle turned to see Avior and Caelum’s brother picking up their pace at the end of the hallway. Jogging over.

Vin took Caelum from Estelle’s embrace and into his own. He glanced at the hole in the wall. Understanding dawned in his eyes. He glanced at Avior. “I’m gonna take him back to his room,” he said. Avior nodded.

Once the brothers were around the corner, Avior offered his elbow to his wife. “May I finish his tour?”

“Of course,” Estelle replied, taking his arm.

“Caelum is young. He’s had the hardest time… adjusting to all of the recent changes.”

“I guessed as much. At least he has his brother.” She sighed. “What’s his full first name again?”

“Growing up, the name he was given was Vindemiator. But he’s asked that we call him Gavin now.”

“Oh thank the stars. I have a good memory but I couldn’t get that name. Gavin I can remember easy.”

Avior smiled.

The tour of the castle continued for a bit, and Avior paused on the third floor. “Wh…” He licked his lips and sighed. “Where would you rather sleep?”

“Pardon?”

“Do you wish to join me in my chambers, or would you rather maintain your own?”

“Oh. I… I admit, I hadn’t really thought about it.” She reached up with her free hand and fidgeted with the ends of her hair. “Is whatever I decide now… permanent?”

“It doesn’t have to be if you don’t want it to be.” He pushed open a door and led her in. “These are my chambers. They were my father’s.” With his free hand, he gestured around. “As you can see, plenty big enough for the both of us to maintain our own space when we want.” He cleared his throat. “Unless you’d rather have several more tons of stone between you and I when you want space.”

“Um… how about…” On the one hand, she was well aware that she barely knew him. They’d been around each other constantly for a week, but was that enough? It would probably be kinder to both of them if they maintained their own space until they were comfortable enough with one another to share living quarters.

On the other hand… the thought of sharing space and seeing him at his most vulnerable, comfortable, and casual bore a deep appeal.

“Let’s try together at first,” she said. “If we feel like we need more space until we know each other better, I’ll be fine with that.”

Avior nodded. “Then that’s what we’ll do.”

—

Tag list: @pinksparkl

[galaxyvoided]

starting to already make new refs of a few of my OC's for Artfight later this year.

anyways look at Starlight!!

[viviraeva]

He who touched the stars.

the prophecy that awaits the Monterrey Family.

" he who held the knowledge

he who carries the guilt

held in future family image

until the last divine wilt

beware of the stars and the moons

of the love their children can feel

utter the death full of crones

death lingers upon our wheel

a child of land with the surname of the mountain king

shall be the next to touch the stars

alongside the father of light from the arcana. "

This scripture could be found in either Akkadian and Ch'olti'. It is an unknown piece of modern empowered history that daemonkind helped put humanity back together after the Sovereigns fell. The ancient civilizations were connected via the spell song and were able to gain their own independence in revealing their own history before daemonkind made their way to Elegy.

In the years to come when civilizations were formed, the scripture was first discovered in Babylon in 504 BC. It was analyzed by the wisest elders and taken apart line by line to try and find it's meaning. When the Babylonian Empire fell, the scripture was lost in the destruction.

When the Mayan Empire arose nearly 800 years later, the scripture was unknowingly found a second time in the Ch'olti language. Again, it was analyzed time and time again by the empire's wisest elders and researchers. No one could figure out what the scripture was foreshadowing. It terrified them all.

Fast forward to the fall of the Mayan Empire.

There was a man by the name of Chaac who studied the stars at the time. He prayed to them, worshipped them, and devoted himself whole-heartedly to them. During his prayers, an inchoate daemon by the name of Pleione came across his loving spell-song. They fell in love and spent hours in each other's embrace and began to forget about their responsibilities. In a fit of rage, both humanity and daemonkind forbid them from seeing each other. Devastated, Pleione was unraveled by the grief of their love and of their own. In their last moments, they rifted to Chaac, vowing to protect him and his family from beyond.

In the days before the prolonged fall of the empire, a devastated Chaac came across a lost fragment of Sovereign will. The fragment ushered him closer, promising him the chance to see his daemon lover one last time. He was trapped in a cave and possessed by the Sovereign will in which the exact scripture was pressed with charcoal onto his back. An opening formed in the cave and was shot to the stars. The last the man heard was the words, "The message is set," in his native tongue.

He was sent back to a nearby village as his home fell.

Years passes and the many generations of Chaac to come would be burdened with the knowledge of this scripture. Although lost to legend upon the modern times, many of the empowered descendants were severely cautious near anything related to magic. Their family hid from the Department of Magical Novices after its formation in the 1700s through 1800s. It wasn't until the 1900s when a young girl from the family married a man with the last name, Monterrey. The family was prepared for doom as they remembered the line, "a child of land with the surname of the mountain king." Ever since, the family waited in fear for the scripture to finally come true.

In the 1910's, the family was found in their hideout sector by the American-Continental Sector of D.U.M.P. and was taken into custody. Since then, the Department has kept a close eye on the family, awaiting the rest of the prophecy to come true.

[loumageofficial]

She's here in Tumblr and Instagram not much of adding any picture of my art but I'll send more

[blazingsun-481-insta]

Space x plants ☘️🌌

[captainzigo]

when your powerful sorceress friend doesn’t understand ethics

[cingulomana]

the girls i love them

[nonomives]

Aight im out of my art block--

Anyways-- for my fellow pinoy wally enjoyers out there, well, enjoy :DD

Also some extras

[shonee]

two more aliens I made for a friend’s SLB fic series, Suma & Brix!

Suma is a Delvret - as a species adept at digging, Delvrets spend much of their time beneath their planets surface in a veritable city of tunnels. They have a natural eye for structure, so many Delvrets make a living off-planet as architects and engineers. Delvrets have an acute sense of hearing, which they use to communicate miles apart from each other in the tunnels they dig. They mostly walk upright, but their fastest form of locomotion is running on all fours. Their carapace is a handy protective shell against any stray falling rocks, or any attacks in a pinch. This shell continuously grows and forms new layers like a tree trunk, and although it naturally wears down while a Delvret digs, those who perform less manual labor than others keep theirs at a manageable length by routinely scratching their backs against special-made scratching posts.

Brix is a Bombaroon - Bombaroons live very short lives, around a third of the lifespan of a human’s - 35 years or so, with the oldest living Bombaroon recorded at 51 years. Bombaroons are somewhat looked down upon due to their short lives and even shorter stature, but they are well-organized and clever. One of their primary forms of communication is a complex, dance-like sign language that can be interpreted over great distances. Their planet’s primary export is agriculture, as with their natural ability to pollinate they have an innate sort of green thumb. Their antennae are very sensitive, and can be used to detect minute changes in wind, temperature, humidity, pheromones, carbon dioxide, and even gravity. Their stinger contains a neurotoxin that can paralyze the average human for a minute - often ineffective against other alien species, but more than enough for defense on their home planet.

[lisicaiksiksiks]

[bksocrazy]

starlight and trixie kinsonas ! both up for offer on my toyhouse

[starlitangels]

"Child... of Land... you... are needed..."

Yes that's an Imperium quote but it's what I thought worked best for this piece

A little visual representation of how I think it'll look when Starlight merges with the Meridian

I did not freehand the Sovereign hands. Those are traces from vector images. However Starlight's and Avior's entire bodies were all 100% me!

Shoutout to @zozo-01 for basically yelling encouragement at me when I was feeling burned out on this one

Also, I wasn't going to put Avior's horns on because I never draw Avior with horns because I figure his are never visible because Starlight mistook him for a Dreamwalker which means he's probably visually human for the most part but I thought exposure to the Meridian would let them be out

[bxlladxnnabxtch]

Desertion & Destruction

Rhysand x Reader

❀​🇲​​🇦​​🇸​​🇹​​🇪​​🇷​​🇱​​🇮​​🇸​​🇹​❀

Summary: Rhysand discovering you had left didn't go as gracefully as anyone expected.

Read Pt. 1 of Desertion & Destruction - HERE

Read Pt. 5 - HERE

Warnings: Blood, Yelling, Violence, Angst.

By the time Rhys had realized you’d left the Night Court, you were already over the border.

And Feyre stood, stunned and faintly terrified over the chaos that ensued.

“WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN SHES GONE?” Rhys was livid, indescribably so. His instincts were clawing at him, screaming at him to go after you. He could barely think through the chorus in his head yelling at him that you had left, you were gone. The logical, High Lord thinking part of himself said that he couldn’t do anything, couldn’t go after you. You were over the border, out of his court, and with tensions as high as they already were, he couldn’t risk walking into another court. They would take it as an unspoken declaration of war, especially considering he sent no correspondence beforehand- and that he was so close to Amarantha Under the Mountain. He was stuck.

A cornered animal is almost as dangerous as a wounded one.

Unfortunately for Azriel, Rhys was both.

“She left yesterday and headed straight for the border.” Azriel spoke matter-of-factly, as if he was giving a mundane report to his High Lord about observations he had made while out on a mission. He didn’t owe anything to Rhys, not after the way he had treated you. Right now, he was his brother, first and foremost, High Lord status be damned.

“And you helped her?” Rhys asked incredulously, a scowl upturning his features that had Azriel’s feet spreading, back straightening. Cassian tensed from beside them, noting the warrior stance Azriel had casually slipped into. He became mildly concerned about where this conversation was headed, and if the streets outside the townhouse would survive Azriel and Rhys duking it out in the middle of the entryway.

“What would you rather have me do? Leave her to rot like you did?” Azriel hissed through his teeth, shadows stirring from their dormancy. Rhys bristled, a flash of unrestrained power flared through his violet irises, lighting them up and making them shine with an iridescent hue. The ground rumbled beneath them, the movement causing Cassian to tense, shooting a concerned look at Azriel.

“Easy.” He warned, the tension becoming thicker with each passing second. He could tell Rhys was getting too riled up, his rage combined with his instincts roaring at him to go after you and his power that was no doubt bucking against its restraints, this could turn deadly real fast- too fast. Morrigan stepped in front of Feyre the slightest bit, watching the conversation pan out. Despite how heated it was getting, she seemed content to let them sort it out amongst themselves, although that didn’t stop her from urging Feyre to get behind her should things go south.

Azriel’s siphons blazed a bright sapphire.

He continued, “Turn my affections on to another fae?” He asked, waving his hand toward Feyre in a gesture that told the group he didn’t care much for her. Rhys’ figure grew taunt, like a spring that was wrung tight, ready to launch at a moment’s notice “Plaster posters around when she slips your leash?”

Cassian barely had time to blink before Rhys had Azriel up against the wall. The house shook from the impact, pictures falling off the wall and smashing on the ground as a yelp sounded from behind Cassian. Whether it was from Feyre or Morrigan, he didn’t know- didn’t turn around to find out. Rhys seethed, his forearm against the shadowsingers throat as he bared his teeth. “Don’t talk about my mate.”

Azriel wondered at what point his loyalty had turned over to you. Him and his brothers had grown up together. They had fought countless battles- killed thousands, and saved each other more times than they could count. But still, staring at Rhys as he was pinned to the wall, his High Lords arm digging into his neck as he felt a tremor shake the house under his barely restrained power- he knew he’d gone wrong somewhere.

Cassian jumped in, tearing Rhys off of Azriel as the High Lord struggled to push through him. Azriel ignored Cassian’s attempt to break it up, despite the shout of warning Cassian had shot at him. Azriel stepped forward, inches away from Rhys’ face as he snarled “You abandoned her just like you did Under the Mountain.”

Rhys had plowed through Cassian and was on Azriel in a second. Cassian barely had time to react as he stumbled back, attempting to regain his balance. Mor immediately turned around, ushering a panic-stricken Feyre up the stairs of the townhouse as Rhys and his spymaster threw each other to the ground.

The first punch landed directly in the center of Azriel’s face, making him recoil slightly before sending Rhys into a side table in the entrance to the foyer. Only a grunt left him, barely an acknowledgement of the wood that had slammed into his side before they lurched at each other again.

They scuffled on the ground for a moment, Rhys crawling on top of Azriel as the spymaster attempted to shift his weight, aiming to flip him over. His attempts ultimately failed as he was slugged again, his head being sent careening, cracking against the hardwood floors. He felt it collide, the blinding pain that shot through his head and down his spine, throbbing in his temples. He grit his teeth, his siphons fluttering, the light flickering until it came to a head.

A blast of blue light collided into Rhys, sending him into the wall behind him. A crack formed in the drywall as he hit, the sound audible in the once chaotic room that now sat still. A groan sounded from Rhys as he slumped down the wall, the pain no doubt incapacitating him for the time being.

Before one of them could regain their bearings and go at it again, his shadows swarmed him in a frenzy. It was almost as if they were panicked, the way they zipped around him. He felt the warm blood leak from his nose as he heard the first whisper. A murmur, almost like a graze as it spoke, mutterings of your journey, a fall, a broken wing.

Fuck.

Azriel hadn’t even given half a thought to the mating bond before he and Rhys went at it- of how it would affect you. Though before he could scramble to his feet and rush to you, a voice sounded from behind him.

“Cauldron boil me, what happened in here?”

His head rang, and a jolt of pain zapped through him as he looked up to find Amren staring directly at him, Mor at her side as she looked between him and Rhys. He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping to will away the headache that began to set in from the blow to the head. “Words were exchanged.” Azriel gritted out, ignoring Cassian as he arched a brow in slight amusement. Mor let out a whistle as she surveyed the foyer, the broken table, dented floorboards, and the pictures that lay shattered on the floor.

“No shit, I was wondering which ones had you willing to blow the entirety of Velaris apart.” Amren said, not sounding too enthused at the state of the room. She sent a pointed looked to the crack in the wall, the drywall caving in slightly and exposing the stunts underneath. Azriel rubbed his temples as he sat up on his knees, one hand coming to brace himself on the hardwood. “The ones that told Rhys he’s been a shit mate.” Azriel quipped, a layer of frustration edging his tone as he couldn’t stop the headache from raging on. “Ah.” Amren tutted, dark hair swaying with her steps as she walked up to the High Lord. “Get up.”

Rhys blinked blearily, eyebrows furrowing in confusion as Amren’s eyes shone with a flicker of that foreign power. It had appeared Rhys had his fill of fighting for the day, and rose to his feet without complaint, only a muffled groan of pain leaving him as he heaved himself up the wall.

Amren snapped her fingers toward Mor, nodding her head towards Rhys as she helped him steady himself. Mor seemed to understand as she let out an annoyed sigh, making her way over to the two as Rhys braced himself on the wall. Mor clicked her tongue as she gave Rhys a once over, but spared the ladder any further comments as she grabbed hold of him and Amren. The trio disappeared in a plume of black smoke, leaving Cassian and Azriel in the decimated foyer.

Cassian let out a snort, his steps avoiding the dents along the scuffed floor as Azriel grimaced weakly. Cassian held out a hand in expectation, waiting a beat before Azriel took it and he hauled him up. Azriel stumbled, tripping over his own footing as he struggled to keep upright. Cassian tsked. “Last time you had a concussion was 120 years ago.” Azriel shot him a glare, flinching when he felt another jolt of pain throb through his temples. He ignored Cassian’s comment, instead gesturing to the vacant space where Rhys once stood. “Where’d they go?”

“The House.” Cassian said, watching Azriel as he made his way towards the townhouse steps. “Figured you two needed a little time apart.” Azriel huffed a laugh as he sat down onto the steps rather ungracefully. A small grin tugged at Cassian’s lips as he watched his brother fumble. “And I take it Amren’s appearance was also your idea?” Azriel asked rhetorically.

Azriel never intended for this to get out of hand. A would’ve been quiet conversation had turned into a shitshow, and he didn’t know whether to feel bad or justified that the family seemed to have been picking sides. “It’s not my fault she’s the only one who can seem to get you two off of each other.” Cassian chuckled at his own joke, the laugh ringing out through the silent house. Cassian knew Feyre was upstairs and had probably heard everything that had gone down, but part of him was glad she wasn’t there to see the brunt of it.  A hell of a first impression she got.

Cassian’s smirk fell at Azriel’s lack of response. He noted the way he stared at the ground, watching the blood from his nose drip and splatter on the floorboards, staining the wood. “You care for her don’t you.” Azriel seemed to snap out of his reverie at the mention of you, his eyes glancing off to the side as he huffed incredulously. “I care about all of you.”

Cassian pursed his lips, surveying the bloodied spymaster. He sighed, looking down at the ground as he shook his head knowingly. “You know that’s not what I meant.” His tone had gone soft, Azriel gritted his teeth. He didn’t bother to respond to the remark, instead slumping against his hand that had come to cradle his head.

Cassian laid a hand on his shoulder, giving him a pat of goodwill. “Keep me updated.” He said gently, before strolling past him and up the stairs.