Wingless Illyrian

Part four

With each passing day, Keena's powers grew stronger, from flowers to vines that would sprout from the marble floors and trip Rhysand whenever she'd see him. Whether this was from Cassian's influence or her own dislike for himself, Rhysand wasn't sure. But he never did anything to discourage her behaviour, only being happy that she had learned some sense of control.

It's wasn't until months had passed and Cassian had to fly to Illyria for a few days that they knew of the havoc she could create.

Cassian was by far her favourite of those who cared for her, if only because he was always at her side.

They were happily sitting in the shade of the house growing small flowers and plants to pick when Rhysand had given the 'order'.

Cassian had tried to say goodbye to her, explain that it would only be a week at most, but for the first time they'd seen, she began to cry. Not completely out of sadness but and that she couldn't go with him. Vines and roots erupted from the ground and wrapped around his ankles, rendering him incapable of moving. They grew around him, holding every part of him except his head and wings. She's been told too many times not to touch the wings. The sky had gone completely dark, the sun covered by dark storm clouds that threatened destructions. Lightning stuck the nearest tree, cracking the trunk into splinters.

"Kee, stop," Cassian growled. He had never raised his voice at her, never using the tone he used to command his soldiers, but it came out now. She looked at him with teary eyes and let the bonds retract into the ground.

Cassian sagged slightly as he drew in breath.

"I'll be back, Keena. Be nice to Rhys and Azriel, no tripping them." She nodded her head as she sadly held her arms out to him.
"No more storms, I want you smiling when I come back." He kissed the top of her head gently before passing her over to Rhys.

Cassian didn't look back as he walked into the house to prepare, he couldn't, not if he did actually want to leave.

He thought of her as he was away that week. Every child he passed in the camps with their mothers, every soldier training in the rings only reminded him of what he'd have to teach her.

They could all feel something coming. It hadn't been near long enough since the last war, not that any amount of time could make it less horrific.

The only time she wasn't in his mind was when he was talking, more like yelling, at the camp lords. He wished that she would never see this side to him, the darker sides of them all. She looked at them with such love that the three Illyrians all wished she could be kept in the light. She was the only innocence in their world, the only person who would only ever see them as good.

He was happy to be returning at the end of the week. Although he was greeted by dark clouds over the city that could only mean one thing. He landed at the door to the townhouse, nearly blowing through the door with the ferocity of his knocks.

A tired Azriel opened the door with Keena in his arms. Up until the moment she saw Cassian she had been mumbling angrily. She nearly jumped out of Azriel's arms as she saw him, her face instantly lightening.

Cassian caught her in his arms, holding her to his chest for a moment. Her small hand fisted in a strap of his leathers.

"I thought you were being good while I was gone, poor Azriel looks like he hasn't slept, and where's the sun, Kee." His voice was so soft, no one would believe this was the Illyrian general tales were told of.

"Sorry Azriel," she mumbled, pronouncing the r's as a 'w' sound. The shadowsinger smiled at her tiredly before disappearing up the stairs, most likely to a bedroom for a well-deserved nap.
"Miss you," she said, clutching his leathers tighter.

"I missed you too, Kee, but sometimes I'm going to have to go away, and when I'm away you can't go burning down the city because you're sad. Okay?" She nodded her head against his chest. He lowered his head, hair falling into his eyes, as he kissed the top of her head.

"Outside?" She nodded as she pulled away.

"Down," she asked. He gently placed her on her feet she grabbed his hand and pulled her to the small garden in the back of the house.

They sat in the grass until the sun set over the city and they were called in for dinner.