Seven Courts of Love and Magic

Chapter 21

Nyx

I sit leaning against the backboard, in the center of the room. Bita gave us separate chambers and waited for us to go inside before leaving. What I really wanted was to lift Zaria and drag her into the bed I was now sitting alone in, unable to sleep. But instead, we smiled at Bita, thanked her, and went into our respective rooms.

I ignore the thoughts creeping through my mind and look around. Another court and we've somehow managed to spend the night in another lavishly built room. The rooms is simple but extravagant, decked in colors that remind me of sunrise. Along the far wall hangs a dozen gilded birdcages, but they're empty. I frown, wondering where the birds could be.

The windows display the faint clouds, soft over the harsh peaks of the mountains. I close my eyes, thinking of how it might feel to whip my wings through them, soaring and flipping through the sky. I stalk out of bed and toward the window, unhooking the latch and swinging the window wide.

I take a deep breath, letting the cold night air soothe my skin and flow through my lungs. In one fluid motion I flip forward, letting the breeze take me. I fly fast and hard, wishing Atlas was by my side.

I fly above and below the clouds, calling out in joy, twisting my body close to the sides of the mountain. For the first time since I kissed Zaria, I feel truly calm. Then, I'm thinking about her lips, the pressure of her hands on my back, on my side, pushing on my bloody wound. My wings quiver and I falter, falling slightly, but I pull myself back up, forcing my wings to work harder than my thoughts.

I can't let myself think about her, about Prythian, not right now, not in the sky. I fly myself higher, higher, right below where the wind is too harsh for safety. I let it whip sharply against my hair and face, the sensation pulling me back to myself. But then, those green eyes find a way back into my thoughts and the anxiety washes through me. My breaths grow labored and my muscles start to ache.

I think of Prythian—I see my parents smiling at me with undisturbed pride that I don't deserve. I see my father's pale, dying face, his hand reaching out to me, and I barrel to the side, narrowly missing a small peak. Frustrated and upset, I steer myself back towards the palace.

I grunt, pulling my wings in close to fit through the window. Through the dim light of the room I see Zaria, curled in on herself, asleep atop the covers of my bed. The heaviness on my heart lifts slightly as the corners of my mouth rise.

I walk over and quietly lift her, pulling the covers over her short legs. I settle myself beside her and push back a strand of golden hair fallen in her face, slightly damp from her bath. She stirs, opening her eyes and looking right at me. She smiles slowly, asking my softly, "There you are, where were you?"

I brush another piece of her hair aside. "I went flying, to clear my head. Go back to sleep, I didn't mean to wake you."

She curls herself into my side, throwing an arm over my stomach. "Two courts and we've managed to draw the attention of two High Lords. We keep this up and our parents might find out what we're up to." Her tone is cheerful but I detect the concern laced between her words.

I feel every inch of her warmth nestled into my side and the heat growing through me promises to burn me alive. I let my hand fall to her shoulder, lazily rubbing circles with my thumb against her smooth skin. "Can I ask you something?"

She nods her head against my chest. "Yes."

I hesitate before speaking, not sure how she'll react. "Your mother—she's where you get your healing powers from. You never told me she was from the Dawn Court."

"That wasn't a question." I feel her stiffen slightly in my arms and I hold my breath.

I sigh, her words all the answer I need. "You saved me back there." I swallow. "Seriously saved me. I almost died."