#why is feyre actually so dumb

[autotragedycollection2]

You're gonna tell me

You're gonna tell me that the immortal 500+ year old, impossibly sexy with a sensitive side, far High Lord of SPRING

a season in transition, of flowers in bloom, of fertility, a season of inbetweens and ever changing storms

Has never ever, even a tiny little bit, never thought about a man? Tamlin is supposed to be 100% straight, defined only by his rippling abs and utter 'maleness', his dick?

For fucks sake.

These books are hideously and unbearably heterosexual.

And predictable.

[serpentandlily]

Sly Fox, Dumb Bunny - Eris x Reader

Sly Fox, Dumb Bunny V - Eris x Archeron!Reader

Summary: You find yourself ensnared by a sly, cunning fox. A very handsome, irritating one.

Warnings: angst, attempted SA, misogynistic language/beliefs, drugging (if you'd like more in depth warnings, feel free to dm me)

➻❥ Part I ➻❥ Part II ➻❥ Part III ➻❥ Part IV ➻❥ Part V

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Part V

· · ─────── ·♡· ─────── · ·

“One of the stableboys told me he spotted Lady Genevieve and Lord Vaughn sneaking out of the party together last week,” Willow said in a whisper as Ivy gasped in disbelief. 

You glanced up at them from where you were sitting at the table in Eris’s common room, sewing a hole shut on the skirt you had worn out to the woods with him yesterday. Your kiss had gotten…heated and your skirt had caught on a piece of bark on the tree Eris had you pressed against and ripped. Just thinking of it made your cheeks turn pink.

“And that’s scandalous, why?” You asked, raising an eyebrow at your handmaidens. They had insisted they repair your skirt for you but sewing was one of the skills you had actually acquired during your family’s time in poverty. Who else would’ve made sure Feyre’s hunting clothes stayed intact? 

“Well because Lady Genevieve is engaged to his brother, of course!” Ivy exclaimed. 

You opened your mouth to reply but a knock on the door made you pause. The three of you glanced at each other. Eris had mentioned he would be traveling to a nearby town for some business and wouldn���t return until morning. He advised you to stay inside with your handmaidens and take dinner in your room until his return. 

Ivy rose and made her way to the door, pulling it open to reveal one of Eris’s brothers. He placed a pale hand on the doorframe and gave her a charming, but unsettling, grin. His hair was longer than Eris’s, his stature a bit shorter and far bulkier than the refined quality your mate had. 

Ivy curtsied. “Lord Reid, how may I assist you?” 

“I’m here to escort my brother’s mate to dinner,” he purred. “Since he is unable to do so himself.” 

You stood, placing the skirt on the table as you glanced at Willow with uncertainty. Ivy’s pretty face paled. 

“B-but Lord Eris requested that Lady Archeron have dinner in his quarters tonight,” she stuttered out. 

The grin slipped from Reid’s face, a more threatening look taking over. “Are you denying me my request, nymph?”

He spat out the last word like a curse, making you flinch on your friend’s behalf. You had to bite your tongue from saying anything back knowing you’d likely just anger him further.

Ivy bowed her head. “Of course not, my Lord.”

You crossed the room, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder and nudging her back. “Thank you, Ivy, I’ll take it from here.” 

That charming grin was back on Reid’s face as he looked down at you, but the look in his eyes made your legs shake. He held out his elbow like a proper escort and you had no choice but to take it, letting him pull you out of Eris’s chambers.

“Talk back to me again and I’ll have you whipped in the courtyard in front of everyone else,” Reid spat at Ivy. You gave her an alarmed look, but she shook her head at you discreetly—a warning to stay quiet. You bit your lip so hard it almost bled. 

Reid finally began to guide you down the corridor and you tried to keep your breathing under control, not wanting him to know how scared you were. Finnegan had been nothing like this, had not had that cruelty lingering in his eyes. 

“Has Eris returned?” You asked, swallowing harshly. “Is that why my presence is needed at dinner tonight?”

Reid looked down at you with a raised eyebrow, as if daring you to say more. You glanced away, not wanting him to see it as a challenge. You knew how females were regarded here. But you also wanted to know why you were being dragged down to the main dining area. 

“Are you not a part of this family now?” Reid remarked, his tone questioning but the sharpness of his words didn’t escape you. 

“Of course, my Lord,” you breathed, still staring at the floor. He hummed in response and continued to lead you down corridor after corridor until you made it to the formal dining room. 

You glanced up as you entered, taking note of who was present that you knew amongst the sea of strangers. The High Lord and his Lady, of course, as well as Finnegan and Eris’s other brother, Liam. Finn shot Reid a questioning look that went ignored while Liam sat with his eyes kept straight ahead of him. It was remarkable how alike they all looked, though none could match the beauty that Eris possessed. 

The Lady of Autumn, Seraphina, kept her eyes locked on the table—seated next to Beron who sat at the head of the table. Reid escorted you to the seat next to her, pulling out the large wooden chair for you. A feast was laid out on the table before you, empty plates set in front of each seat. A few other Lords and Ladies wandered in, taking seats at the other end of the table. You listened to their idle chit chat, clenching your skirt in your fists. 

“Why have you brought her here?” Finn hissed at Reid as the male took the seat next to him. “Eris is still in Pinecrest.” 

Reid shrugged. “I just wanted to make sure she felt included in our family. Lighten up, little brother.” 

Finn shot him a glare but Beron clanked his fork against his glass, drawing everyone’s attention. You half listened to his small speech, but focused mainly on trying to lessen the pounding of your heart. You felt so out of place, so alone here at this big table. No family. No mate. Just strangers all around you. Strangers with nefarious reputations.

Dinner began once Seraphina plated Beron his food and he took the first bite. It was like a breath of relief was let out amongst the fae at the table, their conversations picking back up. You sipped on your wine, trying not to draw attention to yourself but Reid had other plans, it seemed. 

“Have you lot had the pleasure of meeting Eris’s mate yet?” He asked, leaning back in his chair as he spoke to some Lords and Ladies. “This is her. Little thing, isn’t she? She is sister to the cursebreaker.” 

You felt the gazes of them on you as your cheeks turned pink. One of the ladies looked you up and down with a haughty look that made her face quite unpleasant to look at. 

“Are the rumors true?” She asked, her voice filled with faux innocence. “Were you truly a human before all of this?” 

“Indeed, she was,” Reid answered before you could even open your mouth. 

“How ghastly,” the female sneered, placing a hand to her chest as if she were clutching her pearls. “The Mother must’ve found it within her heart to give out some charity to those lesser the day she mated you with Lord Eris.”

Your face grew hot at her hateful words. You wished the floor would open up and suck you in whole just to get away from this table. But to your surprise, someone came to your defense. 

“Watch how you speak, Genevieve,” Finn spat. “She is soon to take the Vanserra name and if you insult her again, you'll find yourself in the position of all the others who dared to insult our family.” 

By the way Genevieve’s face paled, you could only imagine the punishment those people had faced. But hearing the familiar name caused a smile to blossom on your face. You cleared your throat and sat up. 

“Genevieve, is it?” You asked, blinking at her with wide, innocent eyes. “I’ve heard quite a bit about you, Lady, or rather how much you enjoy parties.” 

Your eyes darted to the male sitting next to her. The male who looked so similar to the one gripping her hand in his. When you looked back at Genevieve, her face had paled even more. Her lips pressed into a thin line and she focused her gaze on her plate before her.

Reid leaned in close to whisper in your ear. “So the kitten has some claws after all.” 

You wanted to roll your eyes but instead, bit your lip again to prevent you from saying something that wouldn’t be taken well. Reid leaned further into your space, causing you to press against the back of your chair with raised eyebrows. He grabbed the dish of potatoes next to you before finally seating himself correctly in his chair.

You frowned when you noticed a second dish of potatoes on his other side, closer to him, but shook it off. He was trying to rattle you—that much was obvious. 

You nibbled on your dinner, not having an appetite while seated around these faeries. You sipped on your wine, cringing a bit as the bitter liquid slid down your throat. The wine in the Night Court was far sweeter than the wine here, it seemed. 

The longer the dinner went on, the hotter the room seemed to be getting. Was it because so many fire wielding fae sat here or was this room just particularly stuffy? You fanned at your face as discreetly as you could. 

Sweat began to dribble down the back of your neck, your skin tingling at the sensation. You clenched your skirt in your fists, shifting uncomfortably in your chair. The Lady of Autumn glanced at you, taking note of your reddening cheeks and behavior.

“Are you alright, dear?” Her voice was soft, quiet, and full of concern. It was the first time you’d heard her speak. 

“It’s just a bit warm in here, isn’t it?” You replied, fanning your face again. Gods, you were so hot. It was unbearable. 

The Lady of Autumn’s nostrils flared and her eyes went wide. She placed the back of her hand against your forehead, making a noise of displeasure before pulling it away. She waved a hand towards the servants who were milling about. Ivy and Willow darted forward from where they stood against the wall behind you. 

“Lady Archeron isn’t feeling well,” she whispered to your handmaidens. “Please escort her back to her chambers for the night.” 

Both of your handmaidens sniffed before their faces paled. Ivy held out a hand to you. “Come, my Lady, let us take you to your room.”

You grabbed her hand like it was a lifeline. You nearly groaned at the feeling of her skin against yours. They ushered you out of the dining hall, hurrying you down the corridor. 

“Something’s wrong,” you moaned, pitifully. Your skin was on fire now. An ache was forming in the lower part of your stomach. Like an unrelenting itch that needed to be scratched. 

“I think someone has slipped you a breeding tonic,” Willow hissed under her breath. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, her eyebrows furrowed.

“A what?!” You exclaimed but Ivy hushed you. You spoke in a whisper, thinking of how they had sniffed you, “How do you know that? Could you smell it in my drink or food?” 

“No, my Lady,” Ivy said, hesitantly. “But your scent…it’s…Well, it’s changed.” 

“My scent? But…oh.” If your face wasn’t already red, you were sure it’d be now. Gods, they could��smell you—your awakening arousal. You were mortified. “But who would do that?” 

“I don’t know.” Willow frowned. “It’s more important we get you to your chambers before any male scents you.” 

“Why? What…what does a breeding tonic do?” 

Your two handmaidens exchanged a look before Ivy answered, “Well, my Lady, it—well it's supposed to make a female more…willing when she’s in her marriage bed.”

Your skin was itching, flushed red from all the heat you felt. You tugged at the collar of your dress. It was agonizing. “How long is this supposed to last?”

“Just a few hours,” Willow said in a soft, comforting tone. “It’s not like most males need any more than a few minutes”

“Willow,” Ivy scolded. “Now is not the time for those kinds of remarks!”

You could hardly pay attention to their conversation, your mouth drying up as the effects of the tonic worsened—causing a violent need to be touched in places you’d never been. “What will happen if a male scents me now?” 

The two girls exchanged another look. “I’m afraid some males in this court have problems with their…restraint, my Lady. And your smell right now is rather enticing, for lack of a better word. It's best not to test them when it comes to these kinds of things.” 

All the color left your face.

Willow let out a noise of distress. “Which is why we should move faster—”

“Well, what do we have here?” The three of you froze in your tracks as you nearly ran into a group of three guards coming around the corner—all dressed in armor with Beron’s seal imprinted on the center of their chests. Fuck, it was a group of the High Lord’s personal guards. “Ah, it's the little bitch mated to our High Lord’s son.” 

Your face turned bright red. 

“Watch your mouth,” Willow snapped.

The guard backhanded her before you could even blink, causing her to crumble to the floor. Ivy gasped and rushed forward, kneeling next to her. Before you could follow her, one of the guards grabbed you by the upper arm, yanking you away from your two handmaidens. 

“What are you doing? Let me go! You can’t just hit—”

“Shut up,” the guard growled in your ear. Your eyes shot to Ivy who was helping Willow off the floor, the other girl holding her reddening cheek. 

“Talk like that to me again and I’ll do worse,” the head guard snarled at Willow. “Now get lost. You’ve been relieved of your duties, ladies. We can escort the girl back to her room.” 

You tried to pull your arm free, your heart pounding in your chest. Willow and Ivy looked inclined to protest, but then they both took a step away, sending you an apologetic look. You knew there was nothing they could do in this situation that didn’t put them in risk but maybe if they left, they could go get help. You tried to convey that message with your eyes and Ivy gave you a small dip of the head, like she understood. 

As the guard began to pull you away from them, she mouthed something to you: ‘The bond.’

Understanding her message, you started to tug on the glowing gold thread in your chest, panicking as you were dragged away. The guards were snickering with each other. “Do you smell that? I think the girls in heat, Captain. Maybe we can take her downstairs for some…fun before anything else.” 

You desperately tried to yank yourself free but the guard’s grip on your arm only tightened to the point of pain. “Let me go, you sick bastards!” 

The guard that had been identified as the Captain chuckled. “Good idea. I think she needs to be taught a lesson on how to properly treat a male, don’t you think?” 

The guards laughed with their agreement and you went feral trying to break away. “If you touch me, I swear to the Gods I’ll tell Eris! He’ll kill you!”

The guards only laughed harder. “Lord Eris won’t believe you over us, girl. Keep screaming though. I do love it when they fight back.” 

You were pulled down a stone stairwell, into a lower level of the Forest House. You screamed and fought against the guards, but with three of them and only one of you…it was hopeless. You tugged and tugged on the mating bond, not really sure how it worked but hoped you had gotten Eris’s attention and that he was on his way back. 

Tears poured down your cheeks and they tossed you in what seemed to be a large storage room. Crates full of goods, barrels of wine, and shelves filled with supplies crowded the room. The Captain slammed the door shut behind him as you were scuttling to stand up. You backed away from them, your eyes darting around for anything you might be able to use as a weapon—not that you had much training.

One of the guards lunged for you and you swiftly kicked him in the groin, sending him to his knees. “You stupid bitch!”

Using the commotion as a distraction, you took off running down the shelves, trying to keep them at a distance. But one of them was much faster, grabbing you by the collar of your dress. You let out a cry as your dress ripped down the back and you fell to your hands and knees, your chin smashing against the floor. You tasted blood in your mouth as the guard grabbed your foot and started to drag you back to him but you quickly flipped onto your back and kicked him right in the nose with your other foot, hearing a satisfying crunch. 

He let out a curse, blood pouring from his nose, and you scrambled to start running away again, holding your tattered dress up. You spotted a door at the end of the room and sprinted towards it, throwing it open and darting through it before slamming it shut behind you. 

You skidded to a stop once you realized the door had only led to a broom closet. Fuck, you had backed yourself into a corner. You covered your mouth with a hand, stifling your sobs as you heard footsteps pounding your way. With nowhere to go, you backed away to the wall, facing the door. You had no option but to try and fight your way out of this. 

The door to the closet slammed open and you squeezed your eyes shut, bracing yourself for the impact of a body against yours. But after a moment of silence passed, you slowly opened your eyes. They widened as they took in the guard standing in the middle of the closet, his eyes darting around the small space, passing over you several times. 

“What the fuck?” he grumbled.

“Stop wasting time,” one of the other guards shouted from outside. “Pull her out of there so we can have our fun.” 

“She’s not…She’s not in here!” 

“What do you mean she’s not in there?” One of the other guards shouldered his way into the closet, pushing the other male out. “What—I saw her run in here! We all did. Where the hell did she go?”

“Does she know how to winnow?”

You stood frozen as the two guards discussed your whereabouts. How could they not see you? You were literally standing right in front of them! You looked down at your body and almost gasped when you didn’t see any part of yourself. What the hell? What….what was happening? You could still feel the ground under your feet, still feel the wall at your back. You tried holding up a hand but nothing—you couldn’t even see your own hand!

“She wouldn’t be able to winnow unless she could break through the wards down here,” the other guard grumbled. “Wards set up by the High Lord, himself. There’s no way a former human could do that.” 

You could feel yourself panicking even more now because what was happening to you?

“What the fuck is going on down here?!”

The voice of your mate caused a sob of relief to leave your mouth and it seemed whatever magic you had been using sputtered out, causing the two guards to whip their heads towards you. You sank to the ground, still clutching your tattered dress, kohl marking the tear tracks down your cheeks. 

“Lord Eris, it’s not what it looks like—”

The Captain let out a spine-chilling scream before a snap was heard and a thump of a body hitting the ground. You pulled your knees to your chest, crying out for Eris. The two guards in the closet with you whirled around as Eris stalked towards them. They held up their palms, beginning to plead, but the feral rage on your mate’s face shut them up. You’d never seen Eris look so unhinged. His normally styled hair was in disarray, his cuffs rolled up to his elbow. 

His heavy boots slammed against the floor until he was right in front of them. Eris’s amber eyes darted to you for a second and flames erupted from the edges of his body. Your eyes widened in shock. His eyes fell back on the guards, his anger causing fire to even dance in his irises. 

“Lord Eris, we can explain!”

“Shut the fuck up,” Eris snarled before two whips made entirely of fire were summoned in his hands. He lashed them at the guards and they latched around their necks before he pulled them to their knees with it. Both of the guards started choking, trying to pull at the whips now strangling them but only burnt their hands to a crisp. 

“Imagine my surprise when I felt my mate’s terror down our bond while in negotiations with the Lords in Pinecrest,” Eris growled, wrapping the whip around his hand and yanking it tighter, forcing the guards’ faces to smash against the floor. “Only to show up and have her two handmaidens tell me three of my father’s guards were dragging her—my mate—down here to force themselves on her. Consider yourselves lucky she’s still sitting here because this death will be a mercy compared to the one I had planned for the three of you.” 

The guards started to screech in agonizing pain. Blood began to bubble out of their ears, eyes and mouth and it took you a second to comprehend that Eris was burning them to death from the inside out, boiling their blood. You whimpered, slapping a hand over your mouth and nose as the smell of burning human flesh spread through the small space. You squeezed your eyes shut at the horror happening before you. 

When the two guards finally slumped all the way to the ground, their eyes cold with death, Eris stepped over them and gently picked you up off the ground, cradling you to his chest. You clutched his shirt in your hands, crying as the adrenaline you had been fighting through wore off. 

“It’s okay, little bunny,” Eris murmured in your ear. “I’ve got you.” 

“I tried…I tried—”

You were sobbing with a flood of emotions. 

“I know, I know,” he hushed you, “you did good, little bunny. You did good holding them off until I got here.”

You were vaguely aware of him carrying you out of the basement and back up the stairs. The gasps of Ivy and Willow met your ears as he emerged with you in his arms.

“Is she okay?” 

“She is now,” Eris replied, his voice still filled with anger. “I’ve got it from here. Thank you, ladies, please retire to your rooms. I’ll make sure you face no repercussions from this.” 

“Take care of her, my Lord,” you heard Willow say before two footsteps started fading away. 

You kept your face buried in your mate’s chest until you were finally back in his chambers. Eris carried you into the bathroom before seating you on the counter. He took your face in his hand, twisting and turning it, examining you for injuries. He grabbed a small towel and wetted it, before beginning to clean the smears of makeup from your face. You sat still for him, still reeling from your shock. 

Eris’s touch was so delicate as he wiped your face, the cold water soothing your hot skin. A few minutes of silence passed as you watched him focus intently on his task, small flames still dancing in his eyes from his anger. 

“You came for me,” you whispered as he dabbed your cheek with the cloth. 

“Of course I did. I always will,” he murmured back. “I’m so sorry I wasn't here, bunny. I’m so sorry it took me so long to come back.” 

You shook your head. “It’s not your fault.”

His jaw ticked and he set the cloth down before placing a hand on your cheek, his thumb rubbing your tears away. “It is. It is my fault you are in this situation. I’m so sorry that the Gods have cursed you with me.”

“Don’t say that.” You nuzzled your head into his hand. You stared up into his eyes, now noticing how dilated his pupils were—the amber color almost gone. His hand that wasn’t on your cheek was gripping the counter so hard, cracks were appearing on its surface. You suddenly remembered what started all of this. The damn breeding tonic someone had slipped you during dinner.

The breeding tonic that still had your skin on fire, still had desire pooling between your legs. And now that Eris was here, standing so close to you…His scent of crackling embers and warm cinnamon enveloped you with his own heat. Your arousal spiked, your eyes dipping to his lips. The need to kiss him, to be touched by him, was barrelling its way through you. 

You lurched forward and smashed your lips against his. Eris sucked in a breath and kissed you back with the same vigor until he came to his senses and pulled away from you, causing you to whine in displeasure. 

“Someone drugged you, bunny,” he grimaced. “I can’t…I won’t take advantage of you while you're still under its effects.” 

“Eris, please,” you begged, clenching your thighs together as the need to be touched grew and grew. “It hurts.” 

A small whine came from the back of his throat and you watched him fight against himself. You grabbed him by the collar and yanked him back down to kiss him again. You sighed as your lips made contact with his and he kissed you back with the same hunger. You wrapped your legs around his waist, pulling him closer until his body was pressed against yours.

Eris’s hardening cock nudged at the place between your thighs that was throbbing with desire and you gasped. With your lips parted, he slipped his tongue in your mouth, groaning at the taste of you, deepening the kiss and utterly consuming you. 

Eris kissed and kissed you—only letting up to trail kisses down your jaw and neck. You tossed your head back with a moan, granting him more access. You needed every inch of skin to be touched by him. By his fingers. By his lips. You ached, feeling terribly empty inside. His hand slipped under your skirt, gripping your thigh. 

But you could tell he was still restraining himself. 

Your own hands fell on his shirt, starting to undo his buttons.“Eris,” you groaned as he sucked on the delicate skin on your neck. “Tell me what to do. I’ve…I’ve never—”

You wished you had kept your mouth shut because Eris stopped for a second, his lips hovering over your skin. "What do you mean, you’ve never, bunny? You've never what? Never had sex?”

You nodded your head, biting your lip. 

“Fuck,” Eris groaned against your neck before sliding his nose up the column of your throat, inhaling deeply. “I’ll make it so good for you, baby. I promise.” 

You whimpered as his words, your fists clenching his shirt. But to your dismay, Eris merely pecked you on the lips before gently taking your hands and slowly ripping them off of him. 

“But not like this, bunny,” he murmured. “Not while you're drugged. Not after what happened today.”

“Eris, please.”

Any embarrassment you might’ve felt for begging simply did not exist when you felt so incredibly heated, needing him so much. Eris let out a long breath and took a step away from you, dodging your arms that tried to pull him back in. 

“Not like this, bunny,” he repeated. “Take a cold bath, okay? It’ll help you feel better. The tonic should wear off soon. I’ll be waiting for you out there.” 

“No, Eris, please—”

But he quickly left the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. You jumped off the counter and tried to open the door, but he must’ve used magic to lock it from the outside. You let out a whine, trying to tug it open to no avail. Your forehead dropped against the wood and you sighed. 

Fine, you’d take a stupid cold bath. 

· · ─────── ·♡· ─────── · ·

You sat in the cold water until your skin pruned and the effects of the tunic left your body. You rose from the bath, wrapping yourself in a towel. You noticed a pile of clothes waiting for you on the counter—a night gown and some underwear. You quickly slipped them on before finally leaving the bathroom. 

You froze in the doorway at the sight of Eris lounging on his bed, shirtless and twirling a dagger in his hand. He looked at you with a smirk and your cheeks turned bright red. Partly because he looked absolutely ravishing laying there with his toned chest and abs on display and partly because you were mortified by your behavior. 

“Don’t look so embarrassed, bunny,” he teased, setting the dagger down on his nightstand and patting the bed next to him. “Come here.” 

You shyly slid on the bed next to him, letting him take you in his arms. You let out a small breath, resting your head on his chest. It felt so right being here, in his embrace. Safe and perfect. Like his arms were the home you’d been looking for all your life. The mating bond sang in your chest. 

“Do you feel better?” 

You nodded, wordlessly. He muttered out a “good” before he started stroking your hair. You closed your eyes and melted into his arms. Tonight had been so scary. You didn’t even want to think about what would have happened to you if Eris hadn’t come in time to stop the guards. 

“I’m going to find out who drugged you,” Eris murmured. “And they’re going to pay for it.” 

“Eris, something…happened when I was down there with those guards,” you whispered, running your finger in swirling patterns on his chest. “When I was in the broom closet, it was like they couldn’t see me. I couldn’t see myself, either. It was like I had gone invisible.”

Eris hummed in thought. “Your sisters got powers from the cauldron, did they not? Did you get the same?” 

“No, I mean, I’ve never been able to do anything other than the basic stuff all High Fae can do,” you answered. “I’ve never shown any other sorts of power. I don’t think the Cauldron gifted me anything like it did with Elain. And I certainly didn’t try to steal from it like Nesta did.” 

“Yesterday, in the forest, you said something about me looking right at you and not seeing you,” Eris brought up. “I disregarded it at the time but…bunny, maybe the Cauldron did gift you something.”

“You think it gifted me something? Like what? The power of invisibility? I’ve never even heard of that!”

You hated that it made sense. Hated that, of course, the sister who had felt left behind, felt stuck in the background, unseen, would be gifted the power of invisibility. 

“Maybe it’s now finally emerging. Do you remember anything from that day?” 

You shook your head. “I remember being tossed into the Cauldron. I remember…I remember how it felt to be torn apart and put back together. But I don’t remember anything after that. I don’t even remember how I got out of the Cauldron or how I got to the Night Court afterwards.” 

“And you’ve never asked your sisters about it?”

“I did ask Feyre once she returned. But she told me I was unconscious when the Cauldron tipped me out and that Mor winnowed all three of us out that day.” 

“You know, after you left the meeting,” Eris remarked,

“Tamlin mentioned that you never came out of the Cauldron.”

“What? But that makes no sense! Why would he say that?” 

“There’s something Rhysand and Feyre are hiding. Wouldn’t be the first time the Night Court kept information from someone—especially Rhysand.”

You placed your chin on his chest, staring up at him with a small glare. “I know you don’t have a great relationship with my family, but my sister would not lie to me.” 

Eris raised an eyebrow, not looking convinced. “Maybe even your sister doesn’t know. Maybe Rhysand is lying to her, too. That kind of power…a lot of people would want to have someone like you in their court, bunny.” 

“He wouldn’t lie. Not to Feyre.”

You couldn’t help but defend your family. Eris seemed to let it go for now, pressing a kiss to your temple. “We’ll figure it out, bunny.” 

You laid your head back down on his chest with a sigh. “Can I ask you something?” 

“Go ahead.” 

“What really happened with Mor that day in the forest, Eris? I need to know. I need to know before…before this can happen. I need to know why my family hates you so much.”

Eris let out a long breath. “I knew this would come up eventually. I’ll tell you, bunny, but you have to understand something. You got a taste of some of the horrors of this court tonight. Things I’ve been trying to put a stop to and change my whole life. But I can only do so much without my father suspecting me of being a traitor. And he’s not above killing any of his own sons.” 

The idea of Beron killing Eris caused both fear and rage to build up inside of you. Your grip on your mate tightened as you frowned. Eris ran his hand up and down your arm in a soothing motion. 

“When my father and Mor’s father forced a marriage alliance on the two of us, it was, in part, a test for me on my father’s behalf. I was young and not as careful as I should’ve been and I think he could see the rebellious attitude in me. I think he thought I’d stop at nothing to somehow make them rescind the alliance proposal.”

“You didn’t want to marry Mor?” 

“Gods, no,” Eris snorted. “And Keir is just as bad as my father. The thought of those two falling into a partnership…Anyways, my father forced me to make a bargain with him. See, he thought I’d fuck it up by trying to bed her before we were properly married. Which, of course, I wouldn’t have. But I played along, not wanting him to think of other things I might do. And he knew my one weakness at the time. My Mother. He made me bargain that I would not lay a single finger on her before we were wed and if I did, he would out my mother for an affair she had and punish her with death.”

You gasped and sat up to look at him. “Eris, that’s awful!” 

“I thought so too,” Eris chuckled, mirthlessly. “So that day Keir dumped Mor in the forest, beaten to near death, I knew if I touched her the bargain would alert my father and though I doubt that would’ve counted in his eyes, he still would’ve taken her and some who knows what. I couldn’t alert anyone about her either because the guards that were with me that day were my father’s personal ones. They watched my every move and reported them back to my father. I had to make a choice, one that haunts me to this day.” 

“The choice to keep your mother safe,” you said. “And to not let your father know that Mor was there, in your court?” 

He nodded his head. “Yes. I lingered in the area long enough to catch sight of that Illyrian brute’s shadows and knew he’d come sniffing around for her. So I made sure the guards were far away so he could slip in and out without them alerting my father.” 

“And all these years,” you said, sadly, “All these years no one knew the truth of why you made that decision. No one except you and your father?” 

“The Night Court’s hasn’t always had an outstanding reputation, bunny,” Eris replied. “I didn’t know if I could trust them. And when I realized they already decided I was as much of a monster as my father, I had little interest in convincing them otherwise.”

“But Eris, you deserve better than that—”

“No, bunny, I don’t,” Eris sighed. “I’ve done a lot of bad things. I can only hope that things might change when my father is no longer on the Autumn throne.” 

You linked your fingers with his, grasping his hand. “As long as it’s you sitting on it, Eris, I think they will. You are not what people think you are. You are not a monster.” 

“I don’t care what everyone thinks. I don’t care if I’m the villain in their stories,” Eris said. “I only care that I’m not the monster in yours.” 

You folded your arms on his chest, plopping your chin on the back of your hands to stare up at him. 

“You’re no monster to me. You’re my sly fox,” you teased. 

Eris gave you his signature fox-like grin that caused butterflies to flutter around in your stomach. Your heart beat to the same rhythm of the mating’s bond soft melody. You could hear his beating too. 

“And you are still my dumb, little bunny.” 

· · ─────── ·♡· ─────── · ·

a/n: I don't normally like making characters virgins but I felt like it fit this character in particular. Hope you liked this part!!

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[cressidagrey]

Lightning in a Bottle - Prologue

Summary: 

Eira Archeron was neither a Valkyrie, nor a Seer, nor the High Lady of the Night Court. She was actually pretty much useless. The only thing she wanted was to be somebody's first choice for once in her life.

Also known as: Azriel's shadows decide that if he doesn't treat his mate right... they'll just do it for him.

Warnings: 

Kinda Elain Bashing?, Low Self Esteem, Mention of Cauldron induced torture...

(super pretty dividers by @tsunami-of-tears)

As far as cauldron-made went…Eira Archeron was pretty much useless. 

She had neither the power of Death nor of Divinity. 

She was neither the prettiest one, that title belonged to Elain…nor the smartest one, which was undoubtedly Nesta. Or the strongest one like Feyre…And if she had tried to hunt like Feyre, it would have been more likely that she would have accidentally killed herself instead of bringing home any meat. 

As a human, she had been limited to cooking and cleaning and laundry, all of it with limited supplies and even more limited experience. She had tried. It had never been enough. 

So maybe it shouldn’t have surprised her that her uselessness continued on even when she was no longer human.

So if she wasn’t beautiful or strong or smart…what was she then? 

The dumb one? 

When the cauldron had burned every bit of humanity out of her…when it had ripped away all her hopes and dreams…when it had been so angry with Nesta after whatever she had done to it that Eira was just…Eira was just an afterthought, something it could hurt in response to her sisters and then leave gasping on that stone floor feeling like she was dying…

She had done her best to accept her lack of humanity afterwards. Nesta had raged…Elain had said nothing, suffering silently in the bed…and Eira…Eira had tried. 

Tried to make it better…tried to make it easier for everybody around her. She had tried. 

She hadn’t wanted to put even more on Feyre’s shoulders, not with the threat of impending war…and so she had done her best to be supportive and make no trouble…be agreeable and quiet and be helpful…

But she couldn’t be helpful. 

She was nothing but a useless appendage. With no powers, no great destiny stretched in front of her…

Not even a limb. Not even a fucking pinky finger. 

More like a skin tag. 

Completely useless. If cut off, it wouldn’t even bother anybody. 

They had made that clear to her over time. 

They had made clear what they thought about her, again and again, and now…now she finally realised it. She was a slow learner…but by the gods, she did learn. 

It started…slow in a sense. Comments, made offhandedly, that probably weren’t meant that way anyway…sometimes said to her face…sometimes overheard. 

“Stop your screeching, girl, I am getting a headache.” Amren. After she had finally…after months felt like singing again as she fixed the hem on one of her sister’s dresses. She had stopped singing then.

Amren had never brought it up again. But then Amren had never been particularly nice to any of them.      

“Don’t come crying to me if she bites off your head. I warned you.” Rhysand had told her drily when she insisted on visiting Nesta at the House of Wind every week after all of that had gone down… 

“Don’t you have anything better to do? Like make another ugly dress?” Seethingly said by Nesta…pitted against the one thing she liked to pretend she was good at…the one thing she could do and make money with…

It cut. Of course, it did. But it wasn’t even the worst thing thrown at her head by Nesta…so why was it the one thing that stayed in her mind? 

“We don’t need Eira. Quite frankly, it’s better if she doesn’t go. Elain is the prettier one, anyway.” Cassian…overheard by Eira before the rest of them had gone off to Hewn City. Eira left behind because…well the contrast of Elain badly dressed was enough, no need for Eira to…be what? A distraction?  

And it was true too. Elain was the prettier twin sister. 

Eira was just…common as muck as her mother had liked to remind her…Nesta was the smart one, the one who would marry a prince…Elain would marry for love and beauty…and Eira…well, she would make a good farmer’s wife as far as her mother was concerned.

Not pretty enough to garner a richer man’s attention…not smart enough to drag herself up the echelons of society on her own…To easily content as far as her mother was concerned. 

“As far as cauldron-made goes, she is pretty much useless.” Morrigan. Said in jest. Eira was quite sure of that…still, it had hurt. Because it was true. She was useless. 

No magic sparking at her fingertips…Using her magic was like pulling teeth…painful and a long process…And it never did what she wanted anyway. 

“Eira, find somewhere else to be. I really have more important things to do,” Feyre had said with a sigh…after she had brought her sister cookies and tea…after she had only tried to get Feyre to take a break from her work. 

Eira hadn’t tried that again either. 

And then the one that clinched it: 

“At least I found two males in my life willing to marry me. The one you have your ridiculous puppy crush on is never even going to look at you!”

Said by Elain…by her twin sister. She was frozen in place, staring at Elain wide-eyed as her sister sneered at her. 

 That was the last drop into an already overflowing bucket. 

Stress. Right? Just stress from wedding planning. Elain would have never said that usually. 

She wouldn’t have…

It was just…it was just stress…Just stress. 

Elain didn’t mean it like that. 

Right?

Elain flounced off…her wedding binder in tow…leaving Eira alone, sitting there, in the dining room, her chest aching. 

Eira was in a trance as she carefully put all the plates into one tidy stack…as she was thankful that it had just been her and Elain, every other person in their family busy with their mates or something else…Feyre and Rhysand gone with Baby Nyx for the evening…Nesta and Cassian off at the House of Wind…who knew what Mor and Amren were up to…

Or even Azriel. 

A sob threatened to take over, as she thought that name. 

She walked up the stairs…to her room…Her room. She locked the door with shaky hands. 

“At least I found two males in my life willing to marry me. The one you have your ridiculous puppy crush on is never even going to look at you!”

She collapsed on her bed, burying her face into her pillow and let the tears stream. 

Ridiculous puppy crush. 

All of that said because she had tried to talk to Elain about her choice of flowers for her wedding. Because lilies wouldn’t be in season when she married Lucien in Day Court in less than 2 months. 

And then Elain responded with that, because Eira clearly wanted to ruin her wedding with that factoid. 

“At least I found two males in my life willing to marry me. The one you have your ridiculous puppy crush on is never even going to look at you!”

The worst part of it was that it was the simple truth. 

Azriel was never going to pay her a second glance. 

He had always been more interested in Elain than Eira…he had on more than one occasion asked Eira questions about her twin sister…had made sure that Elain was comfortable and cared for…and Eira had sufficed as a source of information and nothing else. 

And after Elain and Lucien had become serious…well, Eira ceased to be interesting too. He hadn’t sought her out again. 

If she sat next to him at dinner, he was polite and quiet, bordering on silent. And then she tried to fill the silence and probably only annoyed him in the process. 

He didn’t want her. He never would. 

She starved down the sobs that wracked her body. 

It was probably high time that she accepted that, right?

High time to get over herself. 

High time that she reminded herself that…that she was never going to have him and that staring at him in ill-hidden affection only made everybody else make fun of her and probably made him deeply uncomfortable. 

So maybe it was better that she just…

At least he had never called her useless, she supposed. It could be worse…even when he never would want her. 

She felt the touch on her hand first…soft like velvet…like kitten fur…never warm, never cold. massive and somehow not… definitely not human. 

The shadows. His shadows. 

Sometimes they came to keep her company. At the start, she had thought that maybe he had sent them but nowadays she was quite sure that they had just liked her quiet singing while embroidery one afternoon. So quiet that nobody would hear.  It had taken her months to coax them out of their corners after that. They probably had just taken pity on her. 

Just like they did now. 

“Please don’t,” she choked out. She never wanted him to find out how she was feeling about him…never wanted to feel the pain of him outright turning her down. 

 And if his shadows came to check on her, they would report back in what they saw…and they didn’t need…didn’t need to worry about it. 

They never talked to her. Just sometimes they came and listened to her softly talk to them while she was sewing in the evening, about this and that...

It wasn’t right how she talked to you, the shadows whispered. 

They didn’t talk to her. Never. 

And now they did. 

Hell, even his shadows were feeling sorry for her, weren’t they? 

“Please don’t tell him,” she begged. 

He should know, they disagreed softly. Everybody should know. She should apologise to you. 

And what would that give her? Nothing. More embarrassment because everybody else got to hear all about her fledgling little feelings? Feelings she should bury deep and never examine again? 

“Please,” she begged again and the shadows seemingly surrendered, curling themselves up against her hands so that she could touch them. 

Don’t cry, they soothed her softly. Don’t give her that. 

Elain hadn’t said anything that was untrue. That was the worst part. It was true. And that hurt. 

Is there anything we could do? the shadows asked Eira softly. Anything at all to make this better? 

“No,” she whispered, choking out the words, another sob. Not anymore. There was nothing anybody could do. 

It hurt. It hurt so badly.  Just like the cauldron had.  Then she had wished she would die. 

Now…now she wondered the same once again. Maybe then it would stop feeling like this. 

She cried her eyes out, as the tears kept pouring over her cheeks…as she sobbed until her throat was raw and everything hurt. And finally, she just laid there…the shadows still swirling worriedly around her prone form. 

“Don’t you need to work?” she asked the shadows listlessly, tears tracking over her cheeks. “Don’t you have something more important to do than to try and comfort me?” 

Maybe take care of him?

You are important, the shadows snapped. 

Eira could argue that point. She was useless. So what did it matter? It didn’t. 

She wiped away the tears, but new ones just came pouring over her face and she stopped trying, let them run down her face and wondered how long she could stay in her room and never come out again. 

Would you like something to eat? the shadows tried again. So sweet. Trying to give her something, anything to comfort her. 

“No, thank you,” she whispered. Alone the thought made her want to throw up. 

She didn’t want to eat. 

She didn’t want to get up and talk to anybody. She didn’t want to even look at another person anymore. 

She didn’t…

What would you like then? The shadows tried softly. Would you like to plot revenge? they suggested. 

It was so stupid that she choked out a laugh. 

“For what? Elain saying what everybody else is thinking?” Eira asked, her heart painfully restricting. 

Nobody here actually wanted her around. If she disappeared forever she would do them a favour. Him especially. 

Elain had only said what everybody else was thinking. 

All three of her sisters had found their mates, just not Eira. All three of her sisters had some kind of power…just not her. All three of them had found some kind of place for themselves…and then there was her, living with her youngest sister, half seamstress, half nanny for her child, an unwanted appendage that was taken care of out of some feeling of duty and no other reason.

Elain had just voiced what she was thinking. The truth. 

It had been the truth. Plain and simple. And Eira maybe didn’t like to hear it but it didn’t…it didn’t matter. 

It was the truth. 

Elain had two men willing to marry her and spend the rest of their lives with her…and nobody wanted to spend any time with Eira. A husband wasn’t even something that had ever seemed to be a possibility. 

Even if everybody else is thinking, that doesn’t make it right. The shadows disagreed quietly. Your sister said that to hurt you and not for any other reason. 

“She’s stressed out with wedding planning,” Eira whispered. 

It had just been that. Probably. Maybe. 

That doesn’t make it right, the shadows disagreed again, twirling tighter around her wrist. We could ruin her wedding. Lilies and all, they suggested brightly. 

She shook her head. No. Elain should have the wedding she dreamed of. Eira wasn’t going to ruin it for her. 

“Don’t do that,” she said weakly.

We could at least steal her wedding binder, they told her mulishly, and Eira wondered if they disagreed like that with Azriel too.

Azriel…

What did it say about her that she fell head over heels in love with the first man who treated her with polite indifference? That she was so desperate to be loved that that was all it took? 

Did it matter? 

No. 

Elaine was right. He would never spare her a second glance. He was just as unreachable as any other male.

Nothing was enticing about Eira.  Neither her body, nor her mind, nor her magical power. What could she possibly offerany male? 

All the nightmares she had on a near-daily basis? All the fear and anxiety that swirling around her gut every day? 

She could sew on any buttons he lost along the way, she supposed. That was something.

The knife that plunged into her womb and twisted, took her by surprise. 

It shouldn’t have.  

Of course. 6 months had passed once again. 

“Don’t tell him this either,” she begged in a whimper. This was too embarrassing. He didn’t need to know about her cycle. 

Nobody did. She was the most modest out of all her sisters. The one with the most human ideas of what was considered to be decent, left…the only one who…

The only one left with her maidenhead intact, because everybody else was mated or married or very much in love and it had never mattered in Prythian anyway. 

Just Eira was left. 

Without a mate. Without a husband. 

Without ever having even been kissed. Nearly 26 and that…hadn’t happened for her. 

It probably would never happen anyway. 

Why today of all days? 

Why did her cycle need to torture her today?  How did she deserve this? Why not in a week…Though at least now she had a reason not to leave her bed for a few days.  

She could just stay here. 

Mope in her own Misery and self-pity…wallow in the pain that she knew would come…

Of course, it would. She had always had a horrible time during her cycle even as a human…as a Fae, it had become her very own personal torture. 

Maybe a bath would make you feel better, the shadows suggested softly as she already curled herself together in pain. 

She needed to get up and sort herself out before it got even worse…made sure that she wouldn’t get blood all over the sheets, but she couldn’t…She didn’t want to. 

And a bath…A stab of pure fear.  

“It’s like the cauldron,” Eira whimpered. Just like the cauldron. 

She didn’t bathe…she used buckets of water…even years later…still standing water was not something she could stand. Not without being reminded of her humanity being ripped away and traded for whatever this existence was. 

What if we make sure that it isn’t? the shadows asked her softly. It will be nothing like the cauldron, we promise. 

A bath…a hot bath that would help against the soreness of her muscles…that would maybe ease the cramps…

It did sound nice. So nice. 

So Eira just weakly nodded. 

That seemed to be all the agreement the shadows needed as they whisked her to the bathing chamber, in the blink of an eye.

She watched as they flitted about the room, turning on the water, dotting candles around the room, making it brightly lit with faelight and candlelight both. 

Lots of foam and bubbles appeared in the bathtub as well as numerous concoctions being poured into the water. 

She slowly toed off her shoes and opened the laces of her dress. Eira hesitated and the shadows disappeared, letting her undress in privacy…letting her walk to the bathtub and test the temperature…stare at it for a moment. 

It couldn’t look less like the cauldron if it tried. 

She waited for a stab of fear but nothing came. 

So she slid into it, let the warm water envelope her, the perfect temperature… A few tendrils of shadows came to keep her company, touching her chin so that she tipped her head back and they started to wash her hair for her. 

Eira couldn’t even remember the last time anybody had done that for her. 

And they did that…without even asking…just…just for her. 

“Thank you,” Eira whispered, not daring to close her eyes, but staring at the ceiling. “Are you sure you don’t have anything more important to do?” she asked weakly. “Isn’t your master going to be angry at you?” She didn’t want them to get into any trouble, just because they…they were taking care of her. 

You don’t want Master to find out, so he won’t, they said easily. Would you like some pain potions? 

If they gave them to her, she wouldn’t need to walk downstairs and maybe face her sister or gods forbid, Rhysand…and ask them for Madja. 

Nobody would need to know. She could have her privacy and her dignity left intact. 

“Yes, please,“ she breathed in relief as the shadows poured something or other over her head. One shadow brought her a vial, wrapping around her wrist as she uncorked and downed it. 

A bitter taste but it left her blissedly numb and tired nearly immediately.

“What’s that?” She mumbled as they hushed her, massaging her head.

It tasted differently than whatever Madja usually gave her…telling her that pain and discomfort were normal and that her potions would ease it…It was like pouring a bucket of water over an inferno. 

While this…this was quenching everything. Leaving her numb. 

Just a rather strong pain potion, the shadows promised her. You’ll sleep for a bit…We’ll talk more then.

Sleep… Sleep sounded nice…

She didn’t even think about feeling self-conscious when they pulled her from the water, rinsed her off and wrapped her in warm, fluffy towels. 

They laid out her favourite nightgown so she only needed to pull it on and pull back the sheets of her bed so she could slide beneath it. 

Even a hot water bottle was waiting for her…

Everything so that she would be as comfortable as possible… everything for her.

“Thank you,” she whispered, tears pricking in her eyes as she climbed between her blankets, the shadows fluffing her pillow and pulling the blankets as high as they went. 

It was weird…to have the shadows doting on her, but she couldn’t find it in herself to care. Eira was too selfish to protest this bit of attention…the only positive attention she had in years. 

They promised not to tell, so she wouldn’t either. Not when this was the sweetest thing anybody had ever done for her. 

She fell asleep between one breath and the next, safely and warmly ensconced in her bed. Deep dreamless sleep…When she woke, it must have been the middle of the night…and still, the shadows were there immediately. 

She whimpered at the cramps that were ransacking her body…and the growling of her stomach in hunger. 

She hated these cycles. Hated how weak they left her and how she wanted nothing more than to cease to exist. 

Are you hungry? You’ll need to eat before you can take another pain potion, the shadows told her worriedly. Not a lot, just a little bit, they promised. 

“I don’t want to go down into the kitchen,” she answered weakly, biting her lip. Not that she thought that she could safely traverse the staircase anyway. 

Eira just wanted to stay here…alone. Maybe with the shadows for company, as long as they wanted her…

We’ll get you something. What would you like? They assured her immediately. 

Everything in her body ached for something human, even when she knew that their food would taste like ash for her. She always wanted human things. The things she would never have again.  

“Maybe some soup?” Eira asked finally. “If that’s not too much trouble?” 

Of course not. 

They fluffed her pillows and helped her sit up…and then soup appeared…a bowl filled with clear broth with bits of vegetables and chunks of chicken and noodles…cooked to perfection…better than anything she could have ever produced and by the gods, she had tried…All of it, arranged on a tray, with two slices of perfect crusty bread and another pain potion. 

She took that first, and it made her pleasantly numb and tired…and so she weakly spooned as much soup as she could in her mouth afterwards… mopping up the last of her soup with the bread. 

She finished as much as she could before she was too tired and the shadows tucked her back into bed, curled up on her side…so they could fuss with her hair which was a mess as always. 

She felt like a child being fawned over and she couldn’t help but relax into it…let them do with her whatever they wished if they just kept being so…nice to her. 

Feeling better? they asked softly and she hummed. 

If you could be anything…do anything... what would it be? The shadows wondered quietly. The movements of them were lulling her to some space of safety and warmth and Eira considered the question. 

If she could have anything in the world…what would she want?

A heady question. 

“When I was…young,” she said softly… “I wanted a dashing knight to come rescue me, and whisk me away from that horrible cottage,” she said weakly. “That’s what I wanted since I was old enough to want anything.”

A stupid children’s dream. 

But sadly there were no knights in Prythian and even if there were any, they wouldn’t pick Eira. 

And now? The shadows pushed. 

“Somebody that loves me,”  she admitted quietly. “A husband…children.”

All of that…she wanted all of that. 

And she was never going to have it. 

We could find you a husband, the shadows finally said quietly. If that makes you happy…we could help you.

“Who could possibly want me?” Eira asked, her voice breaking. Who would want her? The answer was easy: Nobody. 

Only because Master is an idiot, doesn’t mean every male is, they told her tartly. 

She wanted to laugh but it ended in a sob. 

“He isn’t an idiot,” Eira disagreed. “He just knows that…I am not good enough for him.”

Not pretty enough, not smart enough…not enough period.

That’s ridiculous, the shadows hissed. 

It wasn’t. 

“He’s in love with my prettier twin sister,” Eira snapped. “I shouldn’t want him anyway. Why should I want to be his second or even third choice?  Maybe for once, I want to be somebody’s first choice! Maybe for once, I want to be treated like I matter! That my feelings matter…that I matter!” It burst out of her. The tears burned in her eyes at that admission. At…how unfair it was. 

What had she done to deserve this? What had she done? 

Eira immediately regretted that outburst though. “I am so sorry,” she blurted out.

They didn’t deserve to be pulled into her feeling unfairly treated. She should stop complaining. It wasn’t going to…

For what? the shadows snorted. You are absolutely right. You deserve to be somebody’s first choice. You deserve to be treated like you matter. 

She didn’t. 

Maybe you should go shopping, the shadows suggested with a sigh. The suggestion was so sudden that she stared at the tendril of shadow still wrapped around her wrist. 

“Why?” she asked with a sigh. 

The Morrigan does that if she feels bad. The shadows told her earnestly. Then she buys shoes and feels better. 

Ah. 

She highly doubted that shoes were going to solve any of her problems. A pretty pair of shoes wasn’t going to make anybody fall in love with her. Or want her. 

“What am I supposed to buy?” She asked quietly. “Just shoes?”

Stuff. The shadows answered easily. Whatever you want. Whatever makes you happy, they assured her. All your sisters have more stuff than you. You make them dresses and other things. But you never make yourself anything, the shadows said quietly. Nobody would say anything if you wanted things that are yours. 

Right. She had never bothered with that. Not after she had lost all her things together with her humanity…there had been some piles of necessities sent to them by Rhysand…and that had been that. 

She had never bothered to get more than that. She still wore those dresses of the very first weeks… and while she had made dresses for all three of her sisters…as human out of necessity, as Fae out of habit…she hadn’t made herself any in years.

Not since becoming Fae. Her new body felt…she hadn’t wanted to look at her new body for long enough to figure out how something should fit onto it. How it had changed….

These godforsaken ears were enough. 

Buy things for yourself. Like a new dress! Or earrings! Diamonds! The shadows suggested. Whatever you find pretty. 

“My ears aren’t pierced,” she said quietly, a yawn taking over her face. 

That brought them up short.

Master bought you pearl earrings, the shadows said suddenly, sounding perplexed. 

He had. Beautiful. Impersonal. Unwearable for her…a far cry from all the little trinkets he had given to Elain…

Still, for months she had stared at them and found them oh so beautiful…safely kept in their box in her drawer at her vanity table. 

Maybe that alone should have told her everything she needed to know about the state of Azriel’s affection for her. 

Namely it was non-existent when the spymaster of the night court didn’t even bother to check if she even wore earrings. 

And the earrings…well…they were only…one thing. Her room at the River Estate that she had been supposed to furnish to her liking…that was another. 

In the end, it had consisted out of her getting a set of the same bedroom furniture as every other guest room and her walls were painted cream like in every other room Feyre hadn’t gotten to yet. It was still as impersonal as it had been when she had moved in. 

She knew that Elain had stuff to litter her bookcases with…gifts from Azriel or Feyre or Lucien, her mate…even Eira had gifted her sister things. 

But all Eira had…were the dresses she had on commission laid out on her desk. Which she would need to return to the shop where she worked as a seamstress at soon enough once she was finished with her alteration on them…and well, that was it. 

No books, because her reading was absolutely atrocious…no little trinkets from any of her sisters…no paintings or art or anything really. 

Just…her sewing and embroidery supplies and that was that…and even these weren’t…held in one of these pretty little wooden sewing boxes on legs that would keep them tidily kept away…

Do you need money? The shadows asked her seriously. 

“What?” Eira asked weakly.

She made some money with her job. Not a lot…but some. All of it carefully stashed away to buy birthday or solstice gifts from…or little trinkets she saw in a shop and thought one of her sisters would like…that Nyx would like. 

Do you need money? They repeated patiently. To buy stuff? For yourself? 

“No, I have money. And I don’t want to owe anybody anything,” she answered quietly, her eyes slowly closing.

 She didn’t want to end like Nesta… were in the end, her habits were used to bludgeon her with…she didn’t…

You wouldn’t. The shadows assured her. We have our own line of credit. 

What? 

“How does that work? Do you have your own bank account?” she asked curiously, and she could nearly feel their amusement. 

We like playing the lottery. Everything we win, we put into Master’s Bank Account, they explained to her earnestly. He never uses it anyway. We could just put our winnings in yours instead. Master wouldn’t care.

It was so ridiculous that she couldn’t help but giggle. 

“Really?” she still asked weakly. 

Really! they assured her seriously. Enough for you to have a shopping spree! We like shiny things, they told her, making her laugh. Master never buys any. We’ll pick up some mail-order catalogues for you and then you can spend tomorrow ordering some things. Maybe some curtains to spruce things up a little. It’s awfully empty in here. 

Still, she couldn’t help but ask. 

“Why are you doing this?” 

Nobody should be treated like you are, they told her fiercely. Nobody should feel like they have no place anywhere.

[acourtofthought]

The issue is not really giving Elain wings since SJM herself allowed Feyre to give herself wings and the mother changed her and Nesta's anatomy. Is it a poorly written storyline? Sure, you can acknowledge the problems with it while also acknowledging that in this world things that are questionable still happen therefore Elain being given wings is along the same vein of what's written in the book.

The bigger question is why was Elain given wings?

Is there any single thing to support her wanting to be an Illyrian female? She's not mated to, in love with (and no, glances and a near hookup do not equate to love), nor married to an Illyrian so.....

Is there anything to suggest she secretly might want to be an Illyrian female but is to scared to ask for it?

Is there anything to suggest she'd ever want to change her body for Az?

Is there anything to suggest there is a need for her to become an Illyrian with wings (the way that makes a tiny bit of sense for Feyre considering she fought beside her Illyrian mate in a war alongside Illyrian warriors and her flying with them is more helpful than not. Elain didn't compete in the Illyrian Rite like Nesta, Gwyn or Emerie. She's not a possible target of the Illyrians anger the way those three might be.

Elain rejected that which makes a warrior in the NC, weapons, Illyrian leathers.

The issue with this is how during Elain Week, e/riels are celebrating a version of Elain that does not exist therefore who are they actually celebrating? Their headcanons of Elain have erased how Sarah wrote Elain and how Sarah spoke about her in interviews.

Can you imagine the riot if Elucien's suggested Elain dip herself back into the Cauldron so she can make herself look different in order to be a better fit for Lucien? I mean, she's already the most beautiful female he'd ever seen so there's nothing to change but if we suggested it? The pitchforks would be out claiming we're changing Elain to suit a man.

Can you imagine the riot if Gwynriels drew Gwyn with Illyrian wings?

They're hypocrites and they know it yet they want to play dumb as to why people are actually upset. They're the ones claiming Gwynriels are "stealing" Elain's body type and plots for Gwyn. They're the ones claiming Elucien's cater Elain's story to Lucien yet they are the one who have created a character during her own damn week who literally does not exist in the ACOTAR world.

[nessiandefenseattorney]

honestly fuck all you anti idiots out there

it’s not even a fucking joke anymore, like why in the name of the father, the son and the holy ghost are all of you so fucking lifeless that the only thing you do is spread hate all over the media surrounding acotar?!

“I aM AnTi RhYs He iS aN AbUsEr”

“I Am aNTi NeStA ShE iS a BiTch AnD sHe ABuSed FeYrE”

“I aM aNtI CaSsiAn hE DiDnt DeFenD HiS mAtE”

“I Am anTI FeyRe ShE bEcaMe RhYs’s BrEeDiNG mAchIN”

“I aM AnTI InNer CiRcLe ThEy aRe HyPoCritS BeCaUse NeStA wASn’T GiVen A cHoIcE iN ThE bEgiNnInG oF AcOsF”

Respectfully Shut. The. Fuck. Up. the only goddamn thing you do is yap and yap nonsense that doesn’t even make sense to those of us with functioning brains. I came on this app to hear wholesome theories about my favorite couple and post my own hc but to my surprise all I found was just hate towards anybody with an opinion.

Why do you think ppl hate the acotar fanbase? let’s work our brains for a second (I know that to you idiot haters that’s a foreign concept) Ohh Ohh! I know! because you all suck! everybody is so fucking caught up in their own little bubble of hate and stupidity that they forgot the entire point of a FANDOM, so let me explain very easily so even you dumb dumb idiots can understand.

A fandom is a community of people who ENJOY a piece of media and they are gathered on a certain platform of social media to discuss and celebrate the thing that they are fans of.

A fandom is NOT supposed to be a place where everyone is shitting on other ppl for which characters they enjoy. A fandom is NOT a place where you have to FEAR to post your headcanons because some asshole out there might send you DEATH THREATS. A fandom is NOT supposed to be a place of toxicity and blind hatred.

A fandom is supposed to be something sacred shared between people who enjoy the same thing, a place where you can express yourself through fanwork dedicated to characters who bring you comfort.

So now that we have established the concept of why we are posting what we post can we start to actually ENJOY acotar and not shit on the series and author we claim to love? because if all you do is spread hate towards the characters that make this series what it is then what is even the point of you being a part of this fanbase?

In conclusion anti fucks please go out of your room for once in your life and touch some grass and maybe who knows you might even make a friend that’s as delusional and insane as you are.

[nestastits]

If you hate Gwyn, give me a legitimate reason why other than her being with Azriel.

I’ve seen people claim she’s evil because she doesn’t wear her invoking stone. Even though there was literally an entire paragraph dedicated to why she feels unworthy of wearing it, but you know reading comprehension is dead for the antis. Plus, Ianthe literally wore one and she’s a rapist, murder, and traitor but Gwyn is more evil than her apparently?

I’ve seen people claim she’s a Lightsinger, something we know very little about and what we do know does not make sense with Gwyn’s history and appearance. Plus Nesta can fight off fae magic, so she would know if she was being lured. And if sjm decided to make Gwyn a Lightsinger, it would only make her better. But she’s not with the information we currently know of Gwyn.

I’ve seen people say she lied about her SA even though we have been told from precious Az and Mor how she was assaulted and by whom. And I can’t even begin to describe how fucked up and horrible you are in the head for even insinuating this.

I’ve seen people say it’s because she’s a child compared to others. But literally all the Archeron sisters are younger than her? Feyre was 19 when she was turned Fae. In acosf Feyre-21/22, Elain-23/24, and Nesta-24/25. Gwyn is 28.

I’ve seen people say she is too happy or excited about things, is that not how yall want Elain to be?

I’ve seen people say she’s a copy of Elain. Which is just pure idiocy. Elain and Gwyn have very different life styles. Elain and Gwyn like very different things. The only thing that makes them similar is their compassion for others.

I’ve seen people say they don’t trust her because Az’s shadows darted out at her breath. Azriel’s shadows were born from his loneliness and seek to protect him. They’ve been shown to love him too. His shadows darted out and danced with Gwyn’s breath, a considerable upgrade and show of affection compared to how they scatter away from other characters. They’ve been seen to hover around both cassian and Rhys, the people az calls his brothers, and Nesta-a friend of Az as seen in hofas. It does not mean anything bad for his shadows to fly around another character, I’d be more worried about them hiding from others.

The largest argument I’ve seen antis say is that they don’t like her because she made a man have a spark in his chest😑. If your ship is endgame, why do you care so much about the man having a spark in his chest for another woman? Unless of course this comes off as a red flag, which you should be hating az for not gwyn. Why do you hate her and make up shit for her to look bad just to bring another character up? If your ship is endgame, you should not be worried about the ONLY ACOTAR CHARACTER that has not done a single questionable thing (emerie too) to be hated for.

The only actual reason I’ve seen people hate her for always has to do with the shipwar, which is dumb as hell. But this also proves Gwyn/Azriel have done something to make you question the safety of your “endgame” ship🤔. Right?

[acotarfrustrations]

Acomaf feyre is turning into something that acotar feyre would absolutely despise and honestly it's so sad the way sjm sniped what SHOULD have been the main character of the series (bcus we all know rhys is the real mc). Like her mind raping tarquin to steal something that she could just ask for when he literally thinks they're friends.

The thing about amren making a meal of any guards that see them steal the book particularly bothers me because this should be the main book where we should see emotional consequences of feyre's actions utm and with andras. Killing an innocent fae for a stupid reason should be SOMETHING SHES VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED TO. ITS WHAT HER WHOLE ACOTAR ARC WAS BASED ON AND HAVING TO GO AGAINST THOSE MORALS DESTROYED HER MIND

NOw all of a sudden it's just another tuesday. Not to mention the things they're doing? WARS HAVE BEEN STARTED FOR LESS. Coming under the guise of diplomacy to a foreign nation to steal their precious artifacts, steal their jewels, and possibly kill their citizens if they see what you're doing??? Why didn't tarquin just kill them?? Those are blatant acts of war

It's so stupid because even Feyre acknowledges that what they're doing is dumb and makes no sense and asks why they can't just ask tarquin for the book. RHYS DOESNT EVEN GIVE AN ANSWER. He's just like "oh well Cresseida told me tarquin is ambitious so, uh, yeah we have to steal the book"

ARE YOU FUCKING STUPID????

It literally feels like rhys only wants to steal it because he's jealous and thinks tarquin wants to fuck feyre so he wants to steal it to not only prove a point but ruin any potential allies that feyre could have outside of IC. Anything to get Feyre dependent on him am I right?

And I feel like this would distress acotar feyre so much because she's not blinded by the rose tinted glasses of rhys' penis and she would be able to clearly see what was going on.

Rhys intentionally waited until feyre was in a very vulnerable state, forced her to come to his house, gave her things he knew she wanted and would benefit him, and uses his mind powers to cater to her every whim and give her what she wants so she can be on his side. Not because he loves her or she's his mate, because it's strategic and there's the added bonus of pissing tamlin off in the beginning. When shit hits the fan for feyre and tamlin, he immediately takes that opportunity to get her to work with him and induct her into the rhys circle jerk cult and now she's thinking like him.

He's so deep in her head that the reader is literally watching sjm change parts of a character's core values to mold her around her love interest and call it empowering feminism, using her trauma and her "darkness" as a justification.

And this "he's not 'dark' enough to be with me" thing particularly bothers me because it's actually a common mindset for traumatized people when it comes to relationships. Thinking that your trauma has ruined you for a healthy relationship and that it's something that you don't deserve so you should actually date evil people because they're the only ones who understand your trauma responses so you won't feel like a burden is a very real mindset and feyre is displaying it to a tee. And Sjm is romanticizing it.

Like yeah rhys might understand her dark side or whatever but that is because he is more evil than her. He sends her to the weaver in what feels like a cruel prank just to go get a ring, he uses her as bait, he shuts her ideas down for no reason, he only tells her what he wants her to know, he grooms her into being a tool for him instead of letting her explore her own personality, and he only shows her around velaris. The only time he takes her somewhere else, he and amren decided to be complete assholes to the summer court and pull a completely unneccesary heist to make feyre feel pressured to join in their schemes and cement this "it's the NC against the world" mentality to isolate her and prevent her from making friends

Like I just imagine book 1 feyre feeling horrified and disgusted at what she becomes and it's honestly so sad. At this point, I honestly only feel sorry for feyre but I think acowar is going to be the breaking point that actually pushes me into hating her. Like at that point, I think she actually becomes one of the IC, mentality actions and all, and idk I just feel so bad.

[youareatragedy]

There's a Feyre stan who's on Acotar Reddit, saying how as the "eldest daughter" Nesta triggers her, because she was mean to baby Feyre and let her hunt womp womp

First off, why do these dumbasses act like Nesta is decades older than Feyre?They BOTH were children when Feyre decided to go hunting and pinning that blame on Nesta is soooo misogynistic.And what do these "triggered" bitches have to say when Feyre makes equally mean comments against Nesta or bitches about her to her new family bribes her into coming to their party while treating her like a nuisance nobody?Or when she abused her position as HL to control her every move and get her to heel by breaking her down in every way in SF, disrespecting her boundaries every now and then...like the list goes on

Or are they admitting, they are actually like her?

Ugh, that post made me want to scream so loud.So much lack of critical thinking abilities showcased in a single post.

I am posting the link to it right here so you can check if you want:

https://www.reddit.com/r/acotar/s/O1NYES1IvC

Nesta antis are fucking stupid and just as awful as their stupid ass fave

Ugh… I seriously can’t with the reasoning of the "letting Feyre hunt" crowd. They’re not defending a child/minor, they just want another child/minor to be in danger instead. Because you’re absolutely correct. Nesta is probably only around 3 years older than Feyre (?). If Feyre starts at 14, what exactly do they expect from Nesta? Should she hunt instead? Are they seriously okay with a 17 year old hunting out there?

I would never say Feyre should hunt back then. No child should be hunting alone, period. Even for adults, I wouldn’t tell them to hunt unless they wanted to and were properly equipped because hunting is dangerous. But what exactly could Nesta have done at that point? She was hungry and desperate too. Feyre CHOSE to hunt out of all the possible jobs, that’s what she decided on. Feyre couldn’t cook, and their father and Elain weren’t able to contribute meaningfully. Nesta was already parentified. If Feyre was the “provider” who do they think was the “homemaker” 🙄?? Unless they want to say homemaker is not important.

They’re purposely being dense to justify their love for Feyre and let’s be honest, Rhys. Nesta was a child too. And they claim Nesta was abusing Feyre? Well guess what? Her antis would love to abuse child Nesta as well. They’re too scared to admit that Feyre was her own person because then they’d have to acknowledge that a lot of Feyre’s dumb and evil decisions were her own decisions. And god forbid they criticize Feyre (Rhys wouldnt like that and they cant disappoint Rhys of course).

It’s so ridiculous. I’m disgusted by the arguments like “Nesta let Feyre hunt” or “she abused Feyre.” You never hear that about Elain because she’s seen as “too delicate” and completely infantilized by them. Criticizing Elain would mean going against Rhys’s approval too. It’s all rooted in misogyny. They just can’t stand someone like Nesta (harsh, stubborn, and “unpleasant”) still being the one to SAVE their favorite characters, even when those characters treated her horribly. That her so called “mean personality” doesn’t make her a villain, no matter how desperately they want it to.

Sisters bickering and being mean to each other is abuse? By that logic, almost every family with sisters would be in and out of court every single day. These antis will never ever EVER want to acknowledge Nesta’s character development until Rhysand explicitly approves it on page.

[elainsgirl]

no cause im tired of everything.

I'm sick of people talking about gwyn like shes the most important character ever. like yall don't actually care about her. they only like her cause shes involved with a batboy which is ridiculous. ("pro gwyneth" like be so fr... we barely know anything about her??? Like I like gwyn but stop making stuff up about her and saying shes saving the world.) that girl didn't show any romantic feelings towards him, so stop forcing it. (not to mention they never talk about emerie... interesting)

why is azriel getting shipped with everyone?? "gwyn is azriel's mate!" "no, its eris" "no, its bryce" "no, its mor" "no, its rhys dead sister" I LAUGH SO HARD AT THESE CAUSE WHERE ARE YOU GETTING THIS FROM???? I bet if azriel breathes next to anyone, they will automatically assume its his mate! leave the guy alone, my gosh.

"his shadows hate elain" just shut up. like fr.

"elain can go to the spring court and be with tamlin while az gets with gwyn and lucien gets with vassa" BAHAHAHAHAH. bro i cant even say anything to this because its ridiculous.

"if az finds his real mate, he will leave elain in a hurry" BRO. why do you guys think this man world revolves around wanting a mate so badly???? yall think so low of him its weird. if he wanted a mate oh so badly... he wouldnt go for elain! get that in your dumb heads!

now with the bonus chapter (elain and az part) im iffy about it. its good at the start but rhys and az argument gave me the ick but I understand what he meant either way. I can see why people didnt like azriel here. but to call him entitled is just WILD! he wasnt wrong questioning the cauldron. like why is he having all these mate behaviors towards elain when she has a mate??? I'd question the cauldron, too. feyre was so real when she said "why not make them mates" because they lowk fit no matter what anyone says.

now this was really irks me. "3 brothers and 3 sisters is so cliche" cliche??? bestie- do you see what we are reading??? the answer to the riddle was "love" out of all things. shut up with that dumb excuse. we have never seen 3 brothers and 3 sisters yet- well I havent. im pretty sure most of you havent either. if you read the BOOKS, you will understand that sjm uses the word 3 a lot. this is just common sense, people love to twist stuff.

Now dont get me wrong, I'll go for elucien or elriel. I dont care. but these gwynriels made me dislike az and gwyn together. like I used to go along with it but now they force it so badly "READ THE BONUS CHAPTER" "DID YOU READ THE BONUS CHAPTER" "maKe suRe yOu rEad iT cArEfuLly" "he chuckled with her" "they glance at eachother" "az and gwyn are going to save the world together" "i hope nesta, emerie, gwyn and az leave and make their own court" < (I fr saw someone say something like this) sister... I literally cringe! just please stop.

btw elriels gwyn isnt evil. stop saying that.

im so sorry for this rant. it just had to be said.

lmfao the need to vent is so real. This fandom TESTS your patience at times.

I think one of my biggest annoyances with Gwynriel is the fact that Gwyn doesn’t even like Azriel that way. Instead of focusing on how far she’s come, her accomplishments etc everything seems to go back to Azriel. If you ever truly look At gwynriel theories and headcanons the focus is always on Az and Gwyn doesn’t have much of a story by herself, she doesn’t lead a story. She is a follower/tag along. I will always say this again and again: If she was that important to the point of having anything to do with the prisons, trove, TT/Gwydion she would have been introduced earlier on in the series. It’s that simple. She has nothing to do w the prison, Koshei or even the daggers/made objects. Everything about gwynriel is forced - from Gwyn and Az having feelings for each other to their plot. Barely anything of that ship makes sense when you truly start to unravel it.

Az is getting shipped with everyone except who he truly wants and thats just comical. I guarantee you, If Az interacted with any other woman - gwynriel shippers would split so fast and some will start shipping him with the new woman.

“His shadows hate elain” … why were they ready to strike Nesta all because she insulted elain? They also speak so can’t they literally just tell Az “hey man, we dont like elain”. Then part of this claim comes from the fact Elain made his shadows skitter which is something Az does himself.

I so want Elain to go to Spring and mention how she finds it stiffling/claustrophobic. Elain going to spring to live there is ignoring everything about her character and only focusing on the fact she likes flowers and by their own logic, Nesta should go to Day and Feyre to a more artistic court.

If Az soley wanted a mate and was so desperate for one - why on earth is he pining for someone WITH A MATE. It literally defeats the purpose of him getting a mate. Also its such a stilt to his character for him to want a mate and then get one. It doesn’t allow character growth and makes the idea of “mates” seem as a prize instead of this romantic connection. If he wanted a mate so badly, this man would be going after women with no mates. Not one that has a mate. The logic behind this arguement is so stupid,

Azriel’s bonus to me parallels Feyre’s whole scene where she questioned the cauldron because of Azriel. It was Sjms way of bringing it back and reminding us of it. Telling us “look! Another character is doubting elucien’s bond! Why is Az questioning the cauldron” etc. The only part of Azriel’s bonus where I got the ick aside from his and gwyns’ awkward conversation- is when he said Lucien doesn’t deserve Elain. I get where that statement was coming from but he isn’t someone to decide who deserves who. This is what doesn’t make sense: antis call Az entitled for simply WONDERING why Elain was given to Lucien, he hs made no move to break elucien up. He hs not forced anything onto Elain. He doesn’t dictate or control her interactions with Lucien, the fact he hadn’t planned a future for them either all show he is far from acting entitled. But eluciens needed a way to make Az seem bad and lucien better hence why latched onto this argument when it doesn’t make sense given what we know about Azriels character, his thoughts, actions and what he said in the bonus.

“3 sisters and 3 brothers is cliche” whilst reading a romantasy series ( a genre filled with repetitive cliches) by an author who claims to be the queen of cliches. Every single fated mates ending up together? Cliche. Omg the trainer and his trainee fell in love? How unique. Its not like that is also a popular trope. I cannot give you any book/s in which 3 sisters end w 3 brothers, I however can pull out multiple books with the fated mates/warriors/trainerxtrainee tropes.

Too bad. Mass loves the IC - There is no reason why Nesta/valkryies and Az would go to another court. Wait - but the night court is Azriels home. Its where he belongs, unlike Elain who has to leave…but now they want Az to leave too? One thing you can trust antis to do is be consistent with their inconsistencies. Honestly, I was open to the idea of gwynriel but genuinely none of their theories or HCs make sense. In a general sense gwynriel is a good ship sure but you can generally ship any two characters together from the series. It doesn’t mean it’s happening & they’ll be endgame.

Gwyn definitely isn’t evil. However I do think she has the potential to become morally grey which im all here for.

[rosanna-writer]

The Great War

Summary: An alternate take on Feyre's first meeting with the Inner Circle, in which she learns that immortals can truly fight about something pointless forever. Warnings: None Word Count: ~1.5k

Happy @officialfeysandweek! My entry for the "eternal" prompt goes out to all my Fahrenheit warriors out there <3

Some text is lifted directly from A Court of Mist and Fury.

You can read it under the cut or Here on AO3.

Rhys sauntered over to the two males standing by the dining room doors. I hesitated. The slightly larger male was leering at me, and I had half a mind to force Rhys to make good on his promise to bring me home as soon as I asked.

I didn't like being looked at like fresh meat.

The male chuckled and said, "Just one question for Feyre. How do you measure the feeling of the air on your skin?"

"Cassian…." Rhys said. An obvious warning.

I blinked, unsure if this was some sort of trick or test or just more faerie bullshit. "Fahrenheit?" I said, hating how uncertain I sounded. But it was what we'd always used in the mortal lands.

Rhys stilled. The two winged males shared a significant look. Perhaps that had been the wrong answer.

The second one studied me, then said, "Interesting. Rhys is the only member of our group who doesn't prefer Celsius. I'm surprised he's finally found another after all these years."

Rhys slid his hands into his pockets. "I don't see why you're so surprised to hear that Feyre darling has the correct opinion about how to best measure temperature."

He sounded pleased, and honestly…he was right, even if I wasn't sure why it mattered. If this were a test, it seemed like I'd passed. Though I couldn't imagine what measures of temperature could possibly have to do with working for Rhysand and stopping Hybern from bringing down the Wall.

I also couldn't help but feel a bit defensive."It's more intuitive. Why would anyone use Celsius if they don't have to?"

Cassian's grin widened until it was nothing short of wolfish. He opened his mouth to say something, but Rhys cut him off and said, "Cassian is the general of my armies, and Azriel is my spymaster. More importantly, we're brothers, at least in the sense that all bastards are brothers of a sort."

Under the Mountain, I'd never considered the possibility that Rhysand might have siblings. Or any family at all actually. He'd made certain no one thought he cared about anything but himself.

Perhaps…perhaps it had been foolish of me not to see the lie for what it was.

Azriel held out a hand for me to shake. I took it, trying not to stare at the brutal scars that covered his skin. Burns, if I had to guess. A large cobalt stone graced the back of each of his gauntlets as well.

"Welcome," he said, voice flat. Not warm, but…not unkind, either.

Cassian's eyes tracked my movement as I shook Azriel's hand then released it. His lips twitched to the side. Now that I knew he was a general, for a moment, I honestly thought he was about to point out something about how the shifting of my feet made me vulnerable to an opponent.

Instead, he said, "I don't see what's so intuitive about a scale where water freezes at thirty-two degrees and boils at two hundred and twelve."

Azriel sighed, tipping his head back and looking skyward as if he were praying for strength. "Cassian also excels at pissing everyone off. Especially amongst our friends. So, as a friend of Rhysand…good luck."

A friend. Not a human-faerie thing or savior of their land. They couldn't know; perhaps Rhys hadn't said—

But Cassian nudged his bastard-brother-whatever out of the way, Azriel’s mighty wings flaring slightly as he balanced himself. Apparently, the discussion of temperature measurement wasn't over quite yet. "A scale that ranges from zero to one hundred is much easier to follow."

"If you're stupid enough to need a dumbed-down scale to measure temperature, then you're beyond help," I snapped, already sick of faerie bullshit.

Cassian tipped back his head and laughed, a full, rich sound that bounced off the ruddy stones of the House. Unsure what to make of it, I looked to Rhys. His gaze met mine, and his violet eyes glimmered with something that might have been pride.

I almost demanded an explanation right then and there, but Mor breezed onto the balcony with, "If Cassian’s howling, I hope it means Feyre told him to shut his fat mouth."

"Actually," Rhys said, "Cassian is howling because Feyre made some incredibly valid points regarding the weaknesses of Celsius as a measurement scale."

"By the Cauldron, are we still going on about this after five centuries? Fahrenheit is useless, Rhys, just give it up," Mor said.

"It's not useless. It's more precise," I said. "The difference between one degree is smaller on the Fahrenheit scale, so you can be more specific and still use whole numbers."

"Exactly," Rhys said. "It's such a relief to finally have someone around who sees reason. Fahrenheit is the superior unit by far."

I'd stepped closer to him without even realizing. How strange, after everything, to be standing at Rhysand's side as if it were exactly where I belonged. United—and over temperature measurement of all things.

Cassian's knees bent, as if he were dropping into a fighting stance. Gods, did they really care enough about temperature measurements for the argument to come to blows?

I wondered what exactly I'd agreed to when I said I'd come to dinner tonight.

But if Mor had noticed Cassian's movement, she was utterly unbothered by it, tossing her long, golden hair over a shoulder. "Both you and Feyre are insane, then. If you really think such an arbitrary—"

"Enough," Azriel said, his voice laced with dangerous quiet. "We have company."

Cassian straightened, and he and Mor allowed themselves to be herded back through the open balcony doors and into the dining room. Both of them pressed their lips together, as if there were more they wanted to say but held back.

Mor patted Azriel on the shoulder as she dodged his outstretched wing. "Relax, Az. We promised Rhys no fighting tonight, even over temperature."

I fell into step with Rhysand as we headed inside. Our eyes met, and his lips twitched into a small, conspiratorial smile meant just for me. Against my better judgment, my stomach flipped, even as I smiled back.

I was in for a whole world of trouble.

There was one last member of Rhysand's Inner Circle waiting for us inside. Even though the short, delicate woman looked like High Fae…as Rhys had warned me, every instinct was roaring to run. To hide.

This, I supposed, was Amren.

"So there are two of you now," she said, and the full weight of her strange silver gaze landed on me.

"Two of us?" I said.

"Two people foolish enough to cling to Fahrenheit, an outdated system based on the temperature of a cow's anus. The girl must be the only other person alive who prefers it; no wonder she's your—"

"Enough," Rhys said, his voice harsher than I'd ever heard it. A command. As one, Cassian, Mor, and Azriel whipped their heads around to stare at him in shock.

Amren's answering smile made me shiver. "Very well, High Lord. I'll let you finish that sentence in your own time."

It was going to be a long dinner.

*I don’t know how long we lay there, lazily touching each other, as if we might indeed have all the time in the world.

***

"I think I fell in love with you," Rhys murmured, stroking a finger down my arm, “the moment I realized you were cleaving those bones to make a trap for the Middengard Wyrm. Or maybe the moment you flipped me off for mocking you. It reminded me so much of Cassian. For the first time in decades, I wanted to laugh."

"You fell in love with me," I said flatly, "then and not when I agreed with you that Fahrenheit is the better way to measure temperature?"

He huffed a laugh. "No, I was already hopelessly in love with you by that dinner. But I think that's when my brothers began to suspect we were mates. Mor and Amren knew, but I don't think they truly understood the depth of our connection until that moment."

"It's just temperature measurement. I don't see why it matters so much," I said, brows furrowing.

"Because for centuries, I was the only one on that side of the argument. And then you arrived and instantly joined the fight, and I felt less alone. Like I didn't have to carry all my burdens myself anymore."

You needed to not be alone…

There had been more truth to what he'd said about the bargain—the bond really—than I'd thought. That I'd needed to not be alone when I'd agreed to it.

My throat went tight as I brushed a lock of raven hair off his forehead. "Neither one of us will ever be alone again, mate," I whispered.

He kissed me with heartbreaking softness—Rhysand had been so rarely afforded opportunities to be gentle. I parted my lips and groaned at the way his tongue slowly caressed mine.

I slid a hand down his shoulder, only to be met with a glob of wet, sticky paint. Gods, we'd made an utter mess of the bed and ourselves, and some of the paint had half-dried, crusting in my hair and on his wings.

Rhys pulled back, meeting my eyes as his expression melted into something positively wicked. "I supposed that means you'll have to bathe with me, then."

I flushed, suddenly warm all over, and before I could scramble off the bed myself, Rhys had scooped me up into his arms. He carried me to the bath, where the cabin's magic had already had the water running.

Together, we slid into the tub, where the spell had heated the water to a perfect one hundred degrees Fahrenheit.

[viajandopelomar]

Hi guys. I received an anonymous message in Portuguese and I answered it in Portuguese as well, but I want to bring it in English so that it reaches more people in the fandom.

Hello BR fan of acotar.I have to say this, Nyx will be lucky (favored by the script) if he becomes someone decent. Both parents are too irresponsible to raise a child, and especially that they both know they're going to war again, so why put a child in a pre-war moment, like imagine the traumas he'll have. If Feyre had died in childbirth and consequently Rysand, Nyx would have been trained as early as possible to take over the kingdom and would have missed out on a good part of his childhood... like Rysand knew the consequences and didn't say anything! The only way Nyx won't turn into a spoiled prince is if other people do the real motherhood and fatherhood with him, because these two don't have the responsibility for that.

I'll let you know that this became something about the night court as a whole while I was writing it .

Yesyes, I agree with everything. I believe that Nyx will be raised to be like his father, since he will need to uphold the whole image that Rhysand also upheld when he inherited from his father. And I don't mean as a "mask", but because that's the system of the Night Court. It's made to be that way and Rhysand has been taught to do everything he does, while claiming it's "for the good of Velaris". It's for the sake of the power of the Grain Lords, those who have come before and those who will come after him.As for their irresponsibility, Feyre was basically coerced into getting pregnant, right? In ACOFAS everything in her mind revolved around "Rhysand is 500 years old and doesn't have an heir.", and how he died and the night court had no one left (she herself assuming that her title is useless). Then she remembers again and again the appearance the carver showed her, and there's even that shopkeeper who lost her partner (who seemed too good, since supposedly partners go mad when they lose the other) and said that in 3 centuries, she hadn't conceived a baby. Everything around Feyre was screaming "Fairies don't get pregnant easily and your husband is half a millennium old!!!!!".

As for her deciding to get pregnant when the war wasn't completely over, she didn't know. Too dumb. You can tell she wasn't even aware of the details of the Illyrian revolt (if she knew anything at all). In ACOWAR, no one mentioned the consequences of the destroyed spring, the opening to summer, how she facilitated Hybern's entry and fucked everything up even more, how she ended up further disuniting the weakened Prythian front by attacking Beron and burning the lady of the fall as well (Azriel also attacked Eris, but that's beside the point at the moment). And to make matters worse, Spring borders human lands, so she opened the way for them to reach humans even faster 🫠. And she has no idea of ANY of this. So yes, she didn't know about the still standing armies of Cesere, Vallahan and Rask (Rask alone being almost the size of the night court ☠️). It seemed to me that she actually forgot about them until Rhysand sent Morrigan to Vallahan in ACOSF. Feyre has been oblivious to big picture information since ACOMAF, when Rhysand only provided information on the things she was supposed to do, like steal from Tarquin and both deal with it as if it were a normal day, after all. He even only told her she had powers after she left the spring. Everything benefits him, nothing for her. But it's all because she doesn't seek it, she only has what he gives her. Feyre doesn't question anything in the night court for someone who left the spring because she was kept in the dark👀. Rhysand knows what to give and say to make her believe that she's not in the same position as before, because he's been in her mind since that time and knows how to act without her feeling threatened, Tamlin wasn't daemati and couldn't even feel her emotions as a partner. She swapped the mansion for the city (in the mansion she went out on horseback and saw villages and saw more of the court than she ever did in the night court, it's worth noting).

Not to say that she doesn't do anything political, there is ONE MENTION in ACOFAS of her receiving letters from the Grain Lords, but we don't even know what it's about. She's so oblivious that she thinks Rhysand is PERFECT because he distributes winter items to people in need in the city (which he himself claims is perfect, and he IS THE SYSTEM), and because he meets citizens at weekly hearings. But these hearings are restricted to Velaris... and the people even ask for burned-out lights to be replaced, while Illyria just wants some recognition and thanks after all they've lost fighting for the people of the Grand Lord's wife. All they got was retaliation, more orphans and widows ☺️.

I think that if Feyre and Rhysand had died, Keir would have been chosen by magic. Apart from being the only man of high lineage, his blood ruled the north before Rhysand's, after all. He probably didn't take over when Rhysand died in the war because of a plot hole, or perhaps because Feyre held Rhysand by the noose (headcanon because it wasn't mentioned). The IC would probably try to raise Nyx in hiding and instill hatred in him so that he would take revenge against Keir, but Keir would never leave them alive. Feyre thinks they're so powerful and untouchable, to the point that she actually finds it absurd that Tamlin ignored them at the meeting. But they were hidden under Amarantha's rule. Even Amren, so they're definitely not as threatening as Feyre makes them out to be. She just idolizes them. And Grand Lords have the voice that makes people bow to them, so... Nyx could hardly do anything against Keir.

Nyx will be just like Rhysand, he has everything he wants, when he wants it. And if he doesn't he'll just pull the strings or let his power come out and put fear into them, unable to possess anyone's trust or even make negotiations. He'll oppress the hollowed-out city because "they're despicable", while all those people are the bedrock of the court. Everyone thought so until the attack on the shining city and Velaris became known. The excavated city probably supplies Velaris, because there's no way that city could do it on its own in the middle of nowhere, basically being a utopia with no one doing anything heavy (a pretty crap utopia because it has the blocks where Nesta lived). The excavated city governs itself and maintains the true power of the night court (they know everything about Prythian, the rumors and news reach there, so I believe that what happens there also reaches beyond the borders. Everyone knows that Feyre is shown half-naked to the court 🙂 ).

I think I've said too much, but that's it.

[fourteentrout]

ACOTAR tag game 💕

thanks for tagging me @mathiwrites ! I don't normally do these even when tagged because i never know who to tag, a lot of times everyone i think of is already tagged LOL, but i figured id start today!

I don't think I've seen one around, and figured this might be fun to do!

Answer the questions below & tag whoever you want, or make it an open tag!!

Who's your favourite ACOTAR character?

My boy tamlin!!

Who's your least favourite character?

Hm....hmmmm...oh Amren for sure.

Say something nice about your least favourite character.

She has a cool character concept and i thought it was really sweet and endearing when she gave feyre the bracelet (necklace?) to help her get through the Prison trip without panicking

Who's your favourite High Lord? (If you picked one for your fav character, then who's your second fav!)

Oooh hm not to be a copycat but I loved tarquin from the moment he was introduced, he was an instant fav and i was kind of sad that he didn't have more involvement later on that didn't have to do with the whole feyre and rhys betraying his trust thing

Favourite MINOR character?

ooh i dont know if this is minor enough but i've come to really like jurian. i didn't really have much of an opinion on him for most of the series and then for some reason in silver flames when he was in it for like 2 seconds i was like wait a minute why haven't i been more into this guy he kinda fucks

Favourite ship? (Crackships included!)

tamsand by far. though azris is becoming a close second.

Favourite court and why?

well i loved the spring court aesthetic from the first book, but at this point in the series I think I'd say maybe actually dawn. it just sounded so pretty, and i think it would be one of the subtler, less overwhelming courts while still being awe-inspiring.

Make up a brand new court RIGHT NOW, NO PREP JUST VIBES.

oh shoot um okay court of clouds?? people who specialize in wind manipulation, likely populated by a race related to the Peregryns or Drakon's race? an actual cloud court like in the sky could be a vibe I think. perhaps it would be more removed from the politics of prythian--they'd still have a High Lord, but maybe it would be more of a military government or something.

What relationship would you have wanted to see more of in the books?

oh wow i mean i am always here for more rhys and tamlin content obviously, but i would have also loved to see more of like stories and stuff about the sentries from the spring court that went over the wall, like Andras. andras and lucien's relationship in particular would be one I would have liked to know more about. I also really want to see Azriel and his mom.

What's your unpopular opinion?

god what ISN'T my unpopular opinion. hm. i think feyre's whole reasoning for wanting a baby out of seemingly nowhere is dumb. like i get it, yolo, life can be cut short, but like i really do not feel like she picked a good time to have a baby, nor do i think she is remotely ready to be a mother. when she realized she wanted kids in acofas, it wasn't a strong enough argument for me to actually like get behind her decision.

What's your favourite headcanon/fan canon?

omg i have so many I literally started a list lol. the first one on it is kind of silly, it's that Helion is actually the faerie romance author sellyn drake that nesta, emerie, and gwyn like

If you were swept away to Prythian, what's ONE thing you would want to do?

go to a festival! not necessarily something as crazy as calanmai, but i would love to go to some sort of celebration. maybe starfall?

If you could have ONE faerie ability seen in the books, which would it be?

shapeshifting without a doubt

thanks again for the tag! ill tag @cheap-spirits @achaotichuman @thedickgraysons @wingsdippedingold @hugevanserrass @lady-of-sevenwaters @the-darkestminds @msbrownwithacrown @tamlinsnailtech and anyone else who wants to contribute!! if were mutuals and i didnt tag u im sorry i tried to think of as many as possible LOL but yeah definitely feel free to contribute if you want to! this was fun

[stargirlfeyre]

Shit that Rhys gets hate for that never happened in the books or that are completely justified.

“Plotting to become High King.” Rhys has never stated that he wants to be High King and he’s actually said multiple times that he has no plans of becoming one. The idea was brought up by Amren and was shut down quickly by him. I don’t get why y’all are hating on him for it when he literally agrees with you?

“Trying to kill Nesta.” Sadly Rhys has never actually tried to kill Nesta. He threatened to (just like she threatened to kill her baby sister) but he has never done it and he even says that he would never hurt anyone Feyre loves. Quick question though. Nesta’s threat towards Feyre is excused with “she was just angry because her boundaries were being pushed” but why is that logic also not applied to Rhys? He was angry because his wife had a miscarriage thrown in her face. Yet these instances aren’t treated the same?

“Threatening to kill Nesta just because she told Feyre the truth.” The reason he threatened her was not simply because she told Feyre. It was because of how she told Feyre. She threw a dead child in her sister’s face (his child along with Feyre’s) and not only that but she blatantly lied to her sister and said everyone was just going to let her die in ignorance while knowing that that wasn’t true. If someone you cared about was told their child was going to die in the same manner that Nesta told Feyre would you be upset?

“Bullying Tamlin.” His bitch ass deserved it. What do you want me to say?

“Bullying Lucien.” He also deserves it. Seriously though what reason would Rhys have to like Lucien? He’s besties with the man who got his mother and sister killed, he’s the man who tried to force his mate back to her abuser, he’s the man who looked at Feyre with disgust for simply being a part of the IC. What reason do these two people have to like one another? Lucien disliking Rhys is fine but Rhys disliking him is bullying? Need I remind y’all that these are both two grown ass men?

“Forcing traumatized Priestess to work for him.” I didn’t even think people were dumb enough to hate on him for this but here we are. The library is not a prison for the priests who live there. It’s a sanctuary where they are taken to heal and they can leave whenever they are ready to. There are even counselors/therapists there to help them.

“Purposely keeping Nesta ignorant about her powers so he can control her.” If I remember correctly it was actually her who chose to refuse to learn about her abilities and it was her who threw a tantrum when they suggested that she starts learning again. The IC never forced Nesta to be powerless or under their control. She willingly refused to learn about her powers.

“Hating Nesta and abusing her because she didn’t bow to him.” I don’t even know how many times it’s said and shown that Rhys doesn’t enforce rank unless he absolutely has to. His own friends talk shit to him but you actually think he disliked Nesta because she did it? Maybe just maybe his dislike for her came from him watching her repeatedly hurt his wife? You can say he was wrong for defending Nesta against Feyre all you want but painting him out to be the bad guy for simply disliking a woman who hurt his wife is insanity.

Bonus: “Brainwashing Nesta to be happy with how everyone treated her.” This argument is just so unserious I don’t even know how to counter it😭.

“Degrading Azriel and forbidding him to see Elain and in the process taking away their choices.” This is just another instance where he was completely justified in his decision. You have to put yourself in his shoes for a second. One, he’s already stressed out because he thinks that his wife, child, and he himself are going to die and the last thing he needs is to be worried about losing an important ally over Elain and Azriel. Two, from his perspective it looks like Azriel just wanted to fuck Elain and he didn’t actually have feelings for her. “Well how could he not know that Azriel likes Elain” because as I stated before throughout Acosf his main priority was Feyre being pregnant and finding a way for her to survive it. Of course he’s not going to notice two people dancing around one another if he’s worried about his wife dying? A lot of you just forget that Rhys is also a High Lord who will put his people above everything (except for Feyre).

Ending it here even though I could go on and on about how delusional a lot of his antis are. This post would just be way too long.

[ninainthetardis]

⚠️⚠️⚠️ HoFaS spoilers ⚠️⚠️⚠️

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Be warned, this is going to be a rant.

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Ok, the HoFaS crossover was supposed to be exciting, but it ended up being another trigger topic for me thanks to the obnoxious N.esta stans who never hold her accountable for her wrong choices and always pick on the characters who stand up to her/call her out on her crap.

The thing is, I didn't even dislike her in this crossover, but I swear the moment her stans open their mouth, I go straight back to hating her. I don't even know how it is possible to be so clouded that they can't see/recognise when she's wrong or the hurt she causes/her actions may cause to other people. How they can always defend her without considering any other perspective/logic and proceed with the slander of any character that does not share her ideas or approve of her actions. Or how they demand respect for her trauma while ignoring/invalidating the one she inflicted to others.

The point in this case is: giving Bryce the mask WAS a dumb, rushed, risky choice. Stop ranting and insulting Rhys for his reaction, he was bloody RIGHT (also, Azriel was on that line too, why isn't he an asshole too?). I thought that immediately, even before reading the bonus chapter. You're even bashing Cassian for not defending her, as if she wasn't gambling with everyone's life because she somewhat liked Bryce and understood her desperate situation. Which could be admirable if it wasn't a lot hypocritical of her, considering that she barely moved a finger to help win their war against Hybern. And about that: isn't it time to wake up? It was Elain to end the King, N/esta just cut his head off once the hard part was done. And on top of that, both her and Cassian would be as good as dead without Elain's intervention. But why am I even bothering to talk about this...

And by the way, to those hating on Cassian, now here's a flash news: you do not have to defend your partner if you think they are wrong. It doesn't mean you don't love them, acting like the significat other is always right is not how support looks like. And N.esta can clearly speak for herself, maybe even too much, and with too much entitlement. You don't want to respond of your actions to Feyre and Rhys? Well, fucking leave the Night Court already! They're its rulers!!!

And Bryce's mom was the other one being totally out of line and acting entitled tbh and quite rude. I mean, you are in another world, in which your daughter made mess after mess, with people you need something from whether you like it or not, people you don't know and you talk that way? Not every bloody Fae is the Autumn King or the Avallen King! Someone really has to tell her AND Bryce, given that she passed that bias toward the entirety of the species to her. Generalisation is always wrong. And also, you know, it's a matter of good manners, and that issue was really none of her goddamn business. She could've spoken on N/esta's behalf using different tones, and it would have been a lot different.

Now, let's get back at the mask thing.

Honestly, I get that I was supposed to root for Bryce in this one, but she made it quite difficult for me when all she did in Prythian was putting that world in a danger she was very aware of. Like freeing an Asteri on Prythian soil, as if Vesperus would ever tell Bryce how to kill her own species. I get she was desperate, but it was just dumb and egoistic of her to do that, to risk to bring the same evil that plagues her world into another one, especially when there was no guarantee (quite the opposite actually) that by doing that she'd get the answers she was looking for.

Bryce had no reason to trust them, and they had no reason to trust her as well. Had Bryce failed, the consequences of giving her the mask would have been catastrophic. And I am not even going to mention Nyx's safety as a reason for Rhys to be pissed at N/esta. Rhysand and Feyre are responsible for the whole Night Court. And in this case, the whole of Prythian, AGAIN. There is a reason if they're the ones in charge, position that actually includes putting your people first and being able to make hard choices, even if they are morally grey choices, to protect their people. N.esta doesn't have such responsibility, and thankfully so because she would be terrible in that position. Moreover, they've just come out of a war, for Rhysand it was the second war he fought and after 50 years of UTM... but of course, why would N.esta care? She was somewhere safe almost the entirety of the time while Feyre - who died to save the very same world N.esta was endangering with her choice - was out fighting for everyone's safety. I am honestly shocked by how people refuse to even consider Rhysand's perspective, at least on this one. As if he knew Bryce and what she was capable of (and as if the whole resolution in CC wasn't due to pure luck, anyway) and have the slightest idea she might succeed. Also, Bryce had 10 other ways to manage the whole situation differently. Had she cooperated a little instead of proving to be a loose cannon, she might have had the chance to actually GET their help without having to take it by stealing and endangering Prythian. Trust goes both ways. They could have found a common ground or made a deal that ensured Prythian's safety and at the same time help Lunathion. Rhys and Feyre are sensitive to people who are suffering and would do something about it. There was no need to endanger Prythian in the process. But 1. They would've stolen the show and 2. Bryce's the one who left Baxian and Fury in Avallen or didn't think of calling Jesiba during the final battle against the Asteri, why would she think that someone as powerful as Rhysand and as knowning as Amren could be helpful anyway 🙄 her "Aelin wanna be" era failed miserably because she actually didn't have the skills, the drive, the strategic thinking and the experience to be like her, despite the efforts. But Bryce is a topic for another day.

This is my tea for today. It's been a year I'm part of this fandom and I've tried so hard not to rant/write about acotar just to avoid the toxic part of this fandom, but hey, patience has its limits, this is still my space and seeing all that "everyone" slander from the pro N.esta for no logical reason really got on my last nerve at this point.

[acourtofthought]

Why are these people so obsessed with connecting Elain to sunshine and the day court when Lucien isn't even connected to the day court yet 😭😭

Mans has no clue his real daddy is helion not Beron. Mans spends his time in the HUMAN LANDS - far away from the day court. He doesn't even cross paths with Helion.

Not to mention - we don't know jack shit about the day court like who is to say she would be happy there?? Like I envision the day court as a desert - by that logic - how tf she gonna garden there anyways???

Elain is not plant. 🪴 stop trying to send her to different courts to be with different men because she likes flowers and asked for sunlight once 😡

Her home is where her family is. Where the people she loves are. Stop treating her like a basil plant!

I've been ignoring anti anons but since you're not technically an anon I'll respond though my guess is you're still acting pathetic and posting under a burner account rather than having the balls to post as your real self.

Feyre once called the Spring Court her home.

Elain once wanted to go home to the human lands.

What makes you think, when the definition of home changed for both Feyre and Elain already, that Elain's true home can't end up being somewhere other the NC?

She didn't want to be in the NC in ACOWAR. She didn't choose the NC as her home. She ended up there by default because she had no choice. She had no choice but to find friends in Feyre's inner circle. Had no choice in males outside her mate aside from the one single guy in Feyre's inner circle.

Elain's experiences after being turned now consist of elderly fae and the people she's met through Feyre. Those are not real choices, are they ? It's choosing from a very small pool of people and you can't cry how she's finally found where she belongs when she's seen the tiniest percentage of what actually exists in her new world. Especially when none of those people encourage her growth and actually try to hold her back from doing more. With family and friends like that why have enemies?

And honestly, don't play dumb. You're the same people claiming Elain will have something to do with the Dusk Court though absolutely nothing supports this whereas Lucien was literally connected to Day in ACOWAR. Just because he doesn't know yet doesn't mean it's not still his birthright 😂. The power still sleeps in him even if it hasn't fully been revealed. Sarah didn't remind us of this secret in ACOFAS if she didn't plan on writing about it when Lucien gets a pov. Also, in case you're forgetting Lucien is now permanently stationed in Spring. It's almost like.. hear me out.... him in the human lands wasn't going to be his forever home but simply Sarah giving him a place to reside temporarily until it was time to continue building his story.

And he has crossed paths with Helion, they were literally at Starfall in SF at the same time. Lucien gives reports to Feyre and Rhys in the NC. Helion is friends with Feyre and Rhys and has visited the NC. It's quite easy for Sarah to stage a little run in. Not to mention Lucien traveled to Day way back when to search for info on how to break the bargain between Rhys and Feyre.

Elain is not a plant but the author told us she needs sunshine, that how she was once so full of light nothing now remains. Then proceeds to reveal Lucien as the heir to Day and later adds on to that how the gates to Elain's mind have sleeping buds. Sleeping buds when she currently resides in the NC. Even later we're told how NC black sucks the life from Elain no matter how much she claimed to be part of the court.

This is the same author who had Feyre paint stars on her drawer for some unknown to her at the time reason. Which led to her finding her home and mate in the NC. This is called a literary device. If you look into them you might enjoy your reading experience a bit more and if you're still struggling to grasp the concept you might be too young for these books.

Also, you realize the Day Court and Spring can still have gardens right? The flowers won't just magically grow on their own without being planted and require zero upkeep? That's like saying Florida has no need for gardeners just because it's warm year round 😂

I actually feel bad for you, how wide a margin you keep missing the mark with.

[areyoudreaminof]

The First Annual Starfall Snipe Hunt. Chapter 2

The kids are BACK! Will they figure out what a snipe is? Or is Uncle Cass just pulling their leg?

Chapter 1 here.

In the dim fae lights, Cricket stared at the ceiling, wondering how she was going to get them out of this one. 

Her book sat absently on her lap as she laid in the large guest bed. Her feet twitched, missing the familiar weight of her hound at her feet. She, Nyx, and her sister had stayed up later than usual, until Aunt Feyre came in to tell them it was bedtime, then Papa a few minutes later to tell them to “go to bed, now.” They hadn’t gotten any further in planning what they were going to do about that snipe hunt. 

If she were home, she’d have gone out onto her balcony, sat in her hammock, and watched the waves lull under the moonlight and look for shooting stars. But her room in Velaris didn’t have a balcony. Though she did open her curtains to watch the blinking lights of the city on the horizon. 

The door creaked, and Cricket shoved her book under her pillow, knowing she had been caught. But it wasn’t Mama or Papa at the door. 

“Cricket?” 

Froggy stood in the dark hallway, whispering with a terrified expression on her face, clutching her raggedy stuffed rabbit. Wordlessly, Cricket pulled back the blankets and shimmied over, as Froggy shut the door and scrambled in. 

Her baby sister snuggled underneath the covers, eyes scanning the room for any unwelcome shadows. Cricket knew she wouldn’t be turning off the fae lights tonight. 

“Do you want me to rub your back?” Cricket asked in a whisper. 

Froggy nodded, turning to her side as Cricket softly rubbed her back, her hand tracing small circles, something Mama had always done to help them sleep when they were scared. 

��Are the snipes really going to eat us?” Froggy said in a hushed voice. 

“No,” Cricket scoffed, “Uncle Rhys and Uncle Cass are just being dumb and trying to scare us. They wouldn’t actually let us get eaten by anything.”  

“Then why are they taking us out hunting?” her little whisper wobbled under her breath as she turned to face Cricket. 

“Because they’re just pulling a prank on us. Snipes probably aren't even real. We can go to the library while Mama and Papa deliver the jams to Aunt Emerie at the shop and then we can ask her and Aunt Mor if they’re even real when they all get back, okay?” 

Froggy snuggled her rabbit closer, twirling the softened ears in her fingers, “But what if they are real?” she asked with the threat of tears looming in her voice.  Cricket threw her arms around her baby sister, “Then Nyxie and me will make sure you’re okay. Then we put hound poop in Uncle Rhys’s cake and scare Uncle Cass even more.” 

“That cake will be smelly,” Froggy feebly giggled. Her eyelids began to flutter closed and a jaw cracking yawn escaped her. 

“I’ll put lots of chocolate in it,” Cricket promised “and we’ll keep the light on tonight.” 

Froggy mumbled a reply before sleep took her, but Cricket strained her ears for any sign of the grown ups downstairs. The din of soft voices and clinking glasses were just audible enough downstairs, but the risk of being spotted if she went to the hallway to spy was too much, since her door nearly faced the landing. 

Are you still awake, she thought, hoping Nyx would be the one to pick it up. 

Yeah, Nyx’s voice entered her head softly. He showed her his perspective, his hands fiddling with one of his building models on his desk. Froggy’s with you?

She’s asleep now but she’s terrified, Cricket let Nyx see Froggy’s sleeping form next to her, clutching her rabbit for dear life. Do we even have a plan?

Poop cake sounds pretty good actually, it might be your best idea so far. From the room next door, Nyx tapped a soft signal to show no one else was listening in. 

Grandfather is bringing Trajan for Starfall, so it should be easy. I say we ask around at the library, play dumb and get back at them on the hunt. 

How? 

I don’t know, but we’d better come up with something fast. 

______________________________________________________

“No, absolutely not. They are children. That is just cruel.” 

Nesta’s eyes were as cold as ice as she started Cassian down across the table. Feyre had her arms crossed and her mouth set in a hard line. Elain’s expression was muted, but Lucien had a shit eating grin plastered on his face. 

“Sweetheart, it’s just a silly tradition. We won’t go far, it’ll be just a fun little scare. We did it in Illyria as boys,” Cassian said slowly. 

“Nyx is eleven and Cricket is ten. Besides, they like the thrill. And let’s not pretend the girls haven’t been riding Pegasus’ and horses since they were infants.” Rhys added, though he would not meet Feyre's eyes. 

“Cricket isn’t ten until after Calanmai, and Froggy is four! A baby!” Nesta hissed as the hairs on Cassian’s neck went up. “And you’re just going to take them out on a goose chase? In the dark?”

Maybe she’s right. Froggy is too young. Cassian sent to Rhys. 

It will be fun. Rhys assured him. They’ll love it. 

“Snipes, huh?” Lucien mused, leaning back in his chair with a thoughtful expression on his face. “We did hunts as children in Autumn. Ours were birds, what are you thinking of making them?”

“Bloodthirsty badgers,” Cassian said as the corners of his lip spread into a smile, “they like eating fae flesh.”

Lucien’s brows shot up and he snorted. “Well, Cricket will get a good scare out of it, and you know how she and Nyx like to plot when they’re together. Better to get ahead. Froggy will be terrified, but she’ll want to be included.” 

"Do you want to be included?" Rhys asked with a smile. 

"No, he does not," Aunt Elain answered, "the girls will never forgive him." 

“Is this revenge for their library prank on Solstice, Cassian?” Nesta snapped, 

“Wha-? No, Nes! We’re just-“ Cassian sputtered with some desperation, but Nesta interrupted him.

“Because let me remind you, that you are a five hundred and forty-eight year old male,” she snarled, “And very soon you’re going-”. 

“That’s enough,” Feyre snapped, cutting Nesta off, “the children are asleep.” 

Rhys smiled wistfully, “No, they’re not. Nyx and Cricket are currently planning their revenge. Something about putting hound shit in my cake.”

Nesta grabbed the last biscuit out of Rhys’ hand, “Anyone who scares children like that deserves to eat shit.” 

“That’s very good, you have to admit,” Lucien murmured with a chuckle, ‘maybe not as good as the tadpoles in the tub.” 

“The townhouse still has a frog infestation from that,” Feyre groaned. “If you’re going to do this, do you need the theatrics?” 

“Where’s the fun with no theatrics, darling? We’re making memories, right Elain?” 

Elain quirked her brow, daintily sipping her tea. “Go ahead and take them on the hunt. But let me warn you, they will get revenge. Not right away, but they will plot and plan and hit you where you least expect it. And you’ll deserve it,” Elain took a small sip, “We won’t punish them either, no matter how much you scream and piss yourself.” 

“I’m quite looking forward to what they come up with.” Rhys grinned. 

___________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Fear gnawed in Froggy’s stomach. She had felt like throwing up all morning. Nightmares plagued her and she woke up before dawn as snipes gnawed on her legs and arms. She was too terrified to get up and use the bathroom and she waited for what felt like hours until Cricket woke up and it was safe to leave. The twins had made waffles with fruit and whipped cream for breakfast and she couldn’t eat any of it, which made her feel terribly guilty. She had clung to Mama and Papa most of the morning, but decided to be brave and go to the library with Nyx and Cricket. But she wasn’t brave as she sat in the big, dark library. She didn’t know what was worse, the fact that she wanted to throw up or cry. 

At the small corner table they had chosen, they had poured over books while Aunt Nesta finished her rounds. Cricket was thumping her head softly on the table, muttering to herself while Nyx was pouring over a massive book. Froggy had chewed off most of her nails as she fought back tears. 

“I can’t find anything in here about snipes,” Nyx hissed as he flipped through the book, “not a single thing!” 

Cricket snatched the brick of a book out of his hands, “Gimme that,” scanning the pages quickly, she took in key words that she repeated; hibernation , cubs .

“Well of course you didn’t find anything, this is a book about bears !” She snapped the book shut in front of Nyx’s nose, who flinched away. 

“I thought they were a type of bear!” Nyx rubbed the tip of his nose as if he’d been attacked. “I was trying to keep our options open.” 

“In what world is a bear and a badger the same thing, you dingus?” Cricket hissed, “Why didn’t you just ask Ananke like I told you?” 

“I did! She just laughed at me and said nothing ever happens on a snipe hunt, and then she kept talking about indexes,” He whined, “ You ask her!” 

Froggy’s vision began to blur as Cricket swatted Nyx on the shoulder, nausea rolled up her throat. “Please stop fighting,” she whispered feebly as she felt herself gag. 

“Uh oh” a voice, Cricket’s, said from somewhere far away. 

As Froggy heaved, Nyx thrust the brass wastebasket in front of her before she vomited. Her sister rubbed her back and pulled back her hair, while Nyx shushed her. Her gagging became sobs as she finished. 

“I don’t want the snipes to eat me,” Froggy howled miserably as her sister wiped her mouth, “I don’t think I’d taste very good!” 

“You’re not going to get eaten,” Nyx said with his breath through his mouth, her throwup had filled up the basket. “I’m going to get Aunt Nesta.” he retracted his wings and held the basket at an arm's length from his face. Tears of shame and embarassment threatened to let loose as Froggy watched her cousin walk away. 

Cricket nudged a cup of water into her hands, “Here, drink this slow.” Froggy hiccupped down the cool water, washing away the burning acid in her throat. “I want Mama,” she begged her sister, even though she knew Mama was with Aunt Feyre down in the city and Papa was at Windhaven with their uncles.  

“She’ll be here soon,” Cricket promised, picking her up. Froggy wrapped her legs and arms around Cricket, who was always brave no matter what was happening. So was Nyx, he was the bravest of all of them. Why did she have to be a dumb baby who was scared of everything? 

“You’re not a dumb baby, Froggy.” she heard Nyx say out loud. Behind him, Aunt Nesta looked worried as she rushed over, reaching her arms out for Froggy, who leapt into them. Aunt Nesta smelled like book pages and cake as she shushed and rocked Froggy. “Let’s go wait for your Mama at the House.” she heard Aunt Nesta say. Suddenly, Froggy couldn’t stop crying into Aunt Nesta’s neck as they left the library. She saw Clotho, clutching her chest as she rose from her desk. 

“I’m so sorry, Clotho, ” Froggy wailed as she reached for the priestesses hand, “I threw up everywhere!” 

Clotho gave her fingers a squeeze as they passed, “It’s okay, Clotho is just worried about you.” Nyx assured her. 

“It’s all cleaned up, you have nothing to be ashamed of.” Aunt Nesta whispered in her ear and kissed her temple as they walked through the halls of the house. Froggy burrowed further into her arms, squeezing her eyes shut as sobs seemed to come pouring out of her chest. She didn’t know how to stop. Every time she took a breath, another wave of crying came. Her eyes hurt, her tummy hurt, and she was so scared . 

A soft whisper and a touch and suddenly, “Come here, my darling.” 

Mama took her gently out of Aunt Nesta’s arms and Froggy allowed herself to open her swollen eyes as Mama took her into a dark, cool room in the House. Mama’s warm arms and smell soothed her, her chest wasn’t so tight anymore but she still couldn’t stop crying. 

“I don’t want to get eaten, but I want to go,” Froggy whimpered. She still felt silly and stupid but the faceless creatures from her nightmares still kept gnawing on her legs every time she closed her eyes. 

“You’re not going to be eaten, you are safe.” Mama kept rocking her, “we don’t have to do anything. Just rest.” Froggy felt sleep creeping up on her and a small tickle in her brain as she rocked dreamlessly with Mama. 

__________________________________________

Nyx furrowed his brow as a dull thump began to pound in his temple, but managed to take all the scary images out of Froggy’s head. Whatever monster she had dreamed up for the snipe was terrifying and Nyx didn’t feel an inkling of guilt about going in her mind. “She’ll be alright, I took the nightmare out, so it won’t scare her anymore.” Cricket shuddered as he showed her the shadow monster. 

“Thank you for doing that, Nyx.” Nyx nodded, still worried about his baby cousin. Mama had flown Aunt Elain up so soon as he began calling for her, he had also told Papa, but he wasn’t sure if he could hear him that far into Illyria. 

“This is ridiculous,” Aunt Nesta snapped, rising up from her chair, “We ought to just tell-” 

Aunt Nesta stopped suddenly, color draining from her face and a green tinge flushing into her cheeks. “Excuse me,” she hurried out the door as Mama followed, leaving Nyx and Cricket alone and utterly confused. 

“Is she throwing up again?” Cricket wrinkled her freckled nose in concentration as she stared at the swinging door. 

“Huh? Throwing up?” 

“She threw up this morning when we came up. Didn’t you notice?” 

Nyx racked his brain, “No? She seemed fine. Just mad at Uncle Cass, but she’s always mad at him.” 

Cricket just huffed dramatically and mumbled to herself. Nyx shrugged, Cricket was always mumbling about something. 

“So, snipes aren’t real,” Nyx announced, “we can all agree on that. Now we just have to figure out what we’re going to do.” 

Cricket flopped back on the sofa, “It’s not going to happen now,” she gestured towards the hall where the whole family had gone off their separate ways, “Not with Froggy having a breakdown.” 

“Ha! If there’s one thing about Papa is that he doesn’t know when to stop, he’s just going to keep going. For the Solstice snowball fight last year, he made a demeted moat for his hideout and Uncle Az and I got trapped.” Nyx flexed his wings, remembering how sharp and heavy the snow was. 

Cricket slid down the sofa even more, laying flat on her back and making her red curls stick up. “It’s spring, so that means all the racoons and badgers have their babies and are coming out of hibernation. We could use that to our advantage. Uncle Cass is terrified of opossums.” Nyx thought for a moment, opossums weren’t too hard to catch and racoons could be lured out with the promise of food. He and Cricket could get a badger out of its den in a pinch if needed. It wasn’t a terrible idea. 

“Okay, so we get an opossum or a raccoon, are we going to hide it and let it loose?” Nyx could wear his bulky sweater to hide the animal, it would be crisp in the mountains anyway.

“You still have the wolf whistle?” Nyx nodded, he had carved the whistle with instructions from High Lord Eris, who used his own to train his smokehounds. Nyx had used it to keep wolves away at camp, but wasn’t sure what that would do. “We can maybe work some foxes up and get them out too. I hate last minute pranks.” she whined as she crossed her arms. 

“I’ll bring the wolf whistle and the owl call I have, we get a raccoon or opossum, let it loose, then make a run for it,” Nyx could see the plan in his mind perfectly, it would need to be done quickly, but it wasn’t impossible. Cricket nodded in agreement, “That could work.” 

“We’re back!” Uncle Cass’s voice boomed through the halls and Nyx and Cricket raced to the balcony as Uncle Cass, Uncle Lucien, and Papa appeared on the veranda. Wordlessly, Cricket led Uncle Lucien to wherever Aunt Elain and Froggy had gone off to, while Nyx was left alone with Papa and Uncle Cass. 

“Where’s your mother?” Papa asked absently as he sauntered towards the dining room. Nyx shrugged, “With Aunt Nesta,” he kept his mouth shut, he knew Aunt Nesta wouldn’t want Papa to know she was sick. 

“Well, we can start lunch without her, ah, there you are Cricket! Time to eat.” Food appeared on the long dining room table as Cricket entered the room alone with a scowl on her face. 

Uncle Cassian flexed his wings as he sat at the table, a plate appearing in front of him. “Where’s Froggy?” he asked as he tucked into his food.

“She’s napping with Mama and Papa,” Cricket snarled, “she’s so scared of your stupid snipe hunt, she didn’t sleep last night and hasn’t eaten all day,” Cricket’s nose crinkled in rage as she stared daggers down at Uncle Cass and Papa.

“Well, now she can stay up later,” Papa replied as he cut into his chicken.

“She threw up in the library because she’s so nervous,” Nyx said accusingly, “and she only stopped crying when Aunt Elain came back up to the House. Mama had to fly her up after I called.”

“Did she now?” Papa said, lifting a brow. “Well, perhaps we’ll just take the two of you.” Next to him, Uncle Cass cleared his throat, Nyx could sense some guilt before Papa barged in and closed his mind off.

“You’re going to regret this.” Cricket said with a wild smile as she batted her lashes. Nyx tried desperately not to laugh.

“Is that a threat, Cricket?” Papa said with a stupid grin on his face. 

“It’s a promise.” Cricket replied sweetly. 

Uncle Cass roared with laughter. Cricket narrowed her eyes as they darted between Papa and Uncle Cass. Uncle Cass’s face was red from laughter and Papa kept chuckling to himself as he ate. 

“So, what’s a snipe then?” she challenged as she elbowed Nyx for backup. He straightened himself,  they wouldn’t get anywhere if he was going to be a scaredy-cat. 

“It’s a small little mammal, a bit like a fox or a badger. They’re nocturnal-“ Uncle Rhys began. 

“Try again. Foxes are completely different from badgers.” Cricket interrupted with pure confidence. Foxes are a completely different subspecies to badgers. She sent over to Nyx. Cricket was something of an animal expert, after all. She had her smokehound, several hamsters, a chinchilla, and an axolotl. 

Papa cleared his throat, “A snipe is a nocturnal mammal that lives up in the mountains. They live in dens in the ground and are quite nasty.” he clarified, looking at Uncle Cass. 

“Snipes are fast and they like to bite. They’ve got night vision, so a snare won’t work. You have to outsmart them to trap them.” Uncle Cass said, folding his big arms across his chest. 

“Okay then,” Nyx challenged, “so how come I never heard of them at the camps?” 

“Because they’re the least of your problems at camp,” Uncle Cass said with a mouth full of potato, “they’re more out toward Ironcrest anyway.” 

Nyx shook his head, it didn’t make a lick of sense and they all knew it. “Fine, we’ll go on your dumb hunt.” 

“That’s the spirit!” Uncle Cass exclaimed, softly punching Nyx on his bicep. Papa picked at his jacket like a rat with a big grin on his face.

Soft murmurs carried down the hallway as Uncle Lucien led Aunt Elain into the dining room, with Froggy clutching her neck. Uncle Cass leapt up, reaching out his arms, “Come here, Cupcake!” Froggy shook her head furiously, hiding her face in Aunt Elain’s neck. Nyx saw a flash of sadness and guilt on Uncle Cass’s face. 

“Froggy is going to sit out the snipe hunt this time,” Aunt Elain said calmly, “She’s going to stay with her aunts and have a night in, if that’s alright.” 

“Of course,” Papa said, “We didn’t mean to upset you, dearest. I hope you’ll accept our apology.” 

“I accept,” Froggy squeaked as she sat down in her spot and began to eat. 

“You don’t have to forgive him, if you don’t want to.” Mama said as she and Aunt Nesta entered the dining room. 

“I agree,” Uncle Lucien said with a snicker as he stole a sausage off of Uncle Cass’s plate, who was too busy looking at Aunt Nesta to notice. As the conversation began to pick up at the table, Nyx caught Cricket’s eyes, alight with fury. 

We’ll get them good, Nyx promised, they won’t know what hit them. 

___________________________________________________

The forest outside of Velaris was cold, even for late spring, Sharp mountain air went through Cricket’s nose with a vengeance. Night Court air always made her breathing weird. 

She and Nyx had worn their wool trousers and boots, and Cricket had managed to sneak a slingshot into her sweater. Nyx had worn his bulkiest sweater, perfect for cradling an animal. Night had fallen a while ago, and she, Nyx, Uncle Rhys, and Uncle Cass had been hiking since dusk. Froggy had been left behind with Mama, Papa, Aunt Feyre, and Aunt Nesta. They were baking cookies and pies and making ice cream. Cricket kicked a pebble along the path, she hoped they saved some for when they got back. 

She could see alright in the dark under the full moon, but Uncle Rhys didn’t want any other light if possible. She had tried to push some rays of daylight out of her hands, but Uncle Rhys stopped her. “We won’t catch any snipes in the sun.” 

I’ll make you suffer in the sun , she thought nastily. 

“Do you hear that?” 

Uncle Cass had brought the group to a stop. They had entered a thicket that sloped down into a small creek. Rushing water and frog song filled the air and an owl hooted somewhere in the distance. She nudged Nyx as she spotted the fallen log slightly off the path, surely it would be home to some creature. Nyx nodded as he spotted the log, making his way softly over while her uncle's backs were turned. 

“I don’t think there’s going to be anything in that log,” Uncle Rhys said without turning his back, “certainly not a raccoon or an opossum.” She could hear Uncle Cass wheezing with laughter. 

“What are you talking about?” Cricket hissed as her heart began to pound, they couldn’t have known. They weren't even at the House when they planned it. 

“I think you know,” Uncle Rhys hummed. 

A loud SNAP sounded from behind them. “What was that?” Nyx asked in a hushed tone. 

The frog song stopped suddenly and harshly, only the rushing creek sounded in Cricket’s ears. The blue moonlight began to soften into a gray fuzz as clouds began to obscure whatever light there was. The cedar and pine trees ahead began to warp and fade into darkness in Cricket’s vision. 

Something smelt off, literally. The pine and mountain juniper on the breeze had been replaced by nothing. Cricket sidled up to Nyx, locking arms. I thought snipes weren’t real she sent to him. 

Well, they seem pretty real now! Nyx sent back. The hairs on the back of Cricket’s neck seemed to rise, one by one. 

They were being watched. 

“Something’s here,” Uncle Cass mumbled, “we can wait it out, or we can fall back and try to catch it.” 

“That sounds like a plan. Maybe we-” with a loud thump Uncle Rhys was knocked down and dragged off towards the creek. 

“RUN!” Uncle Cass shouted.

Cricket didn’t need to be told twice, she sprinted off the path, desperately trying to summon whatever daylight she could. Her hands began to glow faintly, but her heart was thumping and her breath labored, making it difficult to hold light. 

“We’ll fly!” Nyx screamed as he grabbed her waist, falling backward and being swept down the path. Cricket screamed as she reached for Nyx, who she could hear crying. Holding her hands in front of her, she tried to concentrate her power through her fear and sobs. Her fingers gave off a faint glow of light as a clawed hand of shadow and nothing grabbed at her wrist, yanking her down to the forest floor. 

Cricket thrashed and screamed, hitting nothing as the hand dragged her down the path. “Help me! Someone please! NYX!” 

The shadow hand dropped her as she gasped for breath, squeezing her eyes shut as tears escaped. Nyx, she sent out, where are you?

“I-I’m here,” Nyx’s broken sobs came from somewhere on her right, and she began to crawl towards him. She grasped him into a hug, clutching him for dear life as they both began to bawl. “We’re going to DIE,” Cricket wailed helplessly.

"See, Rhys, you always take it too far,” a familiar voice said with frustration, as a lantern of fae light hit their faces. 

Uncle Azriel stood in the soft, golden glow, his shadows peeking curiously over his shoulder. “You said it was just going to be a prank, look at them. They’re terrified.” 

“I don’t know, I thought it was pretty good,” Uncle Cass said, as his big figure moved into view. 

“That’s the whole point, Az,” Uncle Rhys said, “Are you two alright?” 

Cricket wasn’t sure how the rock ended up in her hand until she launched it at Uncle Rhys. “I hate you!” she screamed, pushing herself up and throwing herself towards him. Uncle Az caught her mid air, dodging her kicking legs while she tried to claw the air for leverage. Uncle Rhys just laughed.  

Nyx stood up silently, pushing his father off. His eyes looked haunted, his face drawn. “I’ll fly you home,” Uncle Cass said as Nyx stared off into nothing. Cricket didn’t have time to think as she and Uncle Az launched into the air. 

___________________________________________

“Frosting is better than paint because you can eat it,” Froggy giggled as she scooped a piece of cake into her mouth. 

“I could make a painting of frosting,” Aunt Feyre said with wide eyes. I could do a sugar canvas and use pink and purple frosting.” 

After her nap, she felt much better and less scared. Mama and Papa had made a big dinner and she and her aunts made dessert. Aunt Gwyn had stopped by and the night became even more fun. She had gotten Froggy a little book about birds from Sangravah what had small paper birds fly out if it. She had almost forgotten about the snipes, but she knew now they were pretend. 

“Snipes aren’t real,” Papa had told her, “Uncle Rhys and Uncle Cass just want to play a prank on Nyx and Cricket. They would never, ever hurt you.” He made Froggy promise not to tell them the secret, but Cricket and Nyx ran off to plan that she didn’t have the time to say anything. Uncle Rhys and Uncle Cass said they were sorry for making her scared, though. 

A loud boom of wings sounded overhead, “I think they're back,” Aunt Nesta said. Everyone made their way towards the veranda, the House providing bright, golden light on the balcony. 

“Hi, Uncle Az!” Froggy was delighted to see him with the group outside. She began to skip over to give him a hug, when she noticed everyone else. Twigs and leaves were snarled into Cricket’s hair and mud caked one side of her face. She looked awfully mad. Next to her, Nyx looked pale, his eyes were downcast and his wings tucked in tightly. “What happened?” Froggy whispered. 

“We found the snipe, Cupcake,” Uncle Cass said as he pushed Nyxie along into the family room. He looked like a zombie, as he shuffled his feet. Aunt Feyre grabbed his face, worried. While Mama and Papa had run over to check on Cricket. 

“Is that where you went?” Aunt Gwyn asked as Uncle Az bent down to kiss Froggy. “I didn’t know they’d take it that far.” he mumbled. 

Froggy crept up to Nyx, “Are you okay?” she whispered as she gave him a hug. “I’m okay,” he mumbled. 

“You’re very brave.” she reminded him, kissing his cheek. Nyx stirred as he hugged Froggy back. 

She left Nyx with Aunt Feyre as she went to check on her big sister. She could see tear tracks in the mud that caked Cricket’s face. Mama was picking out leaves and sticks from her hair, while Cricket sat breathing hard. “You’ll be sorry.” she growled. 

“What was that, Cricket?” Uncle Rhys said with a laugh. Aunt Nesta shoved him. 

“You’ll pay for this!” Cricket exploded, shooting up from her chair. She pointed her finger at Uncle Rhys like a dagger, “ I will get you back, Uncle Rhys. You’d better sleep with one eye open!” 

“I look forward to it,” Uncle Rhys said with a bow, Cricket let out a feral scream. 

“You deserve everything that’s coming for you,” Aunt Nesta said as she swiftly left the room, Uncle Cass following her. 

Froggy took her sister by the hand, leading her towards the bathroom. She supposed Cricket would be sleeping with her tonight. 

___________________________________________________

Nyx straightened his deep purple jacket in front of his mirror. After the snipe hunt, he had taken the next day to recover. He was utterly terrified as he was dragged through the forest floor that night, but even he had to admit it was good. Uncle Az using his shadows was something he and Cricket didn’t see coming. Even though they apologized, Nyx knew they had to get Papa and their uncles back, but they agreed to hold off for a bit and to plan more. Maybe they could get Helion or Eris to help. Nyx knew they would without a doubt. 

Instead, he and his cousins spent the next afternoon with Aunt Mor, who took them shopping in the rainbow. “My babies need clothes.” she announced as the tailors took measurements and made them try on outfit after outfit. Nyx chose a deep amethyst suit for himself, with a blue shirt underneath. He could still run around in it, but it made him look grown up. 

He made his way down the hall, knocking on Cricket’s door. “I’ll meet you out there!” he shouted as he went to the large southeast balcony. Aunt Nesta had gotten sick again this morning, but she had asked that Nyx and the girls meet there at dusk. Aunt Nesta sat in a silver and blue dress, Uncle Cass’s arm draped around her. “Are we late?” Cricket huffed as she and Froggy ran up behind Nyx. 

“You’re just in time,” Aunt Nesta rose, holding her arms out as the children ran into them. The girls showed off their new dresses, Cricket in a deep gold, and Froggy in a soft sage green. 

“We’ve asked you here, because we need your help,” Uncle Cass said, “you’re all much better at planning than we are.” The children exchanged confused looks, “Plan for what?” Cricket inquired. 

“We thought we’d ask you to help the house make a bigger balcony for the cousins for next year’s Starfall,” Aunt Nesta said, “we’re going to need it.” 

A small shudder of magic came over the three of them just then, sharp and metallic. Cricket’s nostrils flared for a split second before she began to shriek. “I knew it! I knew it!” She launched herself into Aunt Nesta’s arms as she kept squealing. 

Nyx sniffed, a small scent met his nose, something warm and tiny. Under her dress, Aunt Nesta’s belly was rounded like a small ball.  “You’re having a baby?” He yelled as he jumped up and down. Froggy began to bounce on her small feet. “Oh, a baby!” 

“Do you know what it is yet? Does it have wings? Do you have a name?” questions began to spill out of the children as they jumped with delight, while Aunt Nesta and Uncle Cass just laughed. 

“The baby has wings, though we won’t find out what it is for a few weeks yet, but you’ll be the first to know.” Aunt Nesta promised with a laugh. 

“And you’re the first to know about the baby,” Uncle Cass swung Froggy to his shoulders, “should we go tell everyone else?” 

Nyx and Cricket led the way, Aunt Nesta’s hand in each of theirs as they met everyone else in the family room. His parents and aunts and uncles waited, chatting in their fancy outfits. Nyx’s cheeks hurt from smiling. “Are we late?” Uncle Cass announced as everyone turned and gasped.  

Mama and all of his aunts began to cry when they saw Aunt Nesta, while Uncle Az, with tears in his eyes, embraced Aunt Nesta and Uncle Cass. Papa and Uncle Lucien congratulated them with excitement, while Amren just nodded and said “Finally.” The excitement buzzed in the air as the golden hour illuminated the family room. 

“I think it’s a girl,” Froggy announced, Cricket nodded in agreement, “a little girl with wings!” 

Nyx laughed, “Just my luck, I’ll be surrounded by girls.” but Nyx truly didn’t care. And anyway, he knew more about dealing with girl cousins than he did about boy cousins, not that Froggy and Cricket only played tea parties and dress up. The idea of a cousin being close thrilled him, he could teach her how to fly and they could sneak out and go on late night flights when they got older, he could build her toys and if she wanted to be a Valkyrie, he would train with her. “She's going to fit right in,” Nyx decided, as he took his cousins by the hands, and picked their balcony for Starfall.

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