A Court of Fire and Starlight (ACOTAR Fan Fiction)

Expensive Firewood

ASTRA

Astra hadn't managed much sleep. It was partly due to the fact that the room was much colder than usual since she extinguished the fire she normally kept burning overnight until the summer months. What had really prevented a peaceful rest was her parents' shouting match that shook the house. It was a small miracle none of the chandeliers came crashing down.

It seemed like they had made the decision to not interfere with her bargain, but as the night wore on, her father had repeatedly tried to convince her mother that they were making a mistake.

At first, he had loudly pleaded with his mate to see if they could ask Elain to try and peer into the future for any signs of danger in Autumn. His idea had been venomously shot down due to the potential risks it could have on her pregnancy.

He'd then taken a more direct route of suggesting they find protection spells for Astra and kill Eris in an attempt to void the bargain. The High Lady's shout of ABOSULETY NOT rattled the glass windows around midnight It was too dangerous – the outcome was too uncertain, she had argued.

Fully awake then, Astra overheard a reasonable rebuttal from her mother that outlined the need for unity if another war was brewing. Executing a High Lord could shift the balance, make them look power-hungry, and create distrust amongst the other leaders when they very well might need their support soon.

Her mother's final point was that they couldn't keep Astra here forever. The High Lady gently reminded her mate that she had been the same age when she first came to Prythian.

His roar of, I WATCHED YOU DIE AT NINETEEN, was so loud that it might have cracked the foundation of the house. Silence had followed, finally allowing Astra to fall into a fitful sleep.

Her parents had cornered her at breakfast the following morning.

As she was drinking tea and eating jam-covered toast they informed her that she would go to Autumn to fulfill her bargain with Eris. They said it as if all of Velaris hadn't heard their argument last night.

Astra had to stop herself from rolling her eyes. She did not need their permission, nor was it relevant. There was no choice – she'd acted alone and struck a deal with the High Lord of Autumn.

Astra's father had said very little during the whole conversation, choosing to brood as darkness surrounded him.

It might be safer than the Night Court for the time being, her mother had said. They were of the opinion that the warning from the star-spirit should be taken seriously.

Her father was caught up on part of the first line she'd relayed – wary of war and devastation coming to their shores. The safest assumption, he had concluded, was to prepare for a potential attack along the far-reaching sea border of the Night Court since the spirit had spoken directly to Astra and could have been speaking very literally about her home becoming a battlefield.

Cassian had been sent early in the morning to begin rallying the Illyrian legions, who were to be stationed along the large coastline.

Her mother seemed to think that Astra had been directly told that she needed to be outside of the borders of Velaris – beyond the City of Starlight. Astra was inclined to agree with her.

The Inner Circle would investigate the warning and prepare for the eventuality of another war. Heroes – they were already feared and legendary for their valiant feats in the past. Astra supposed this would be no different. They'd find an edge over the unknown enemy and stay several steps ahead of the other courts, involving them only if the need were dire.