A Court of Wings and Teeth

Chapter 2: Lord of Night

Nyx POV:

"Do I have to go to this?" I asked, leaning against the doorway of the house. This celebration was being hosted by Helion the lord of the Day court and his daughter. Apparently, the rest of the courts would bring their children and that meant me. My father turned to look back at me from his spot on the grass outside. 

"Unfortunately Nyx, the answer to that is yes, your mom wouldn't let us skip this," he said looking over my shoulder into the house. "I mean the stars in my sky, the very air I breathe commands us to go and we shall do whatever she commands" he quickly said. 

"That's more like it" mom said as she came up to my side. "It'll be a good thing having some positive interactions with the other courts", she emphasized positive and looked at my dad.

 "Who, me?" his face transformed into a mask of innocence. "No the only interactions I've had with them are all great". He was famously not great at diplomacy. "I remember a certain someone gaining her fair share of blood rubies, Feyre darling" he teased. 

"I'm sure you've collected far more in your time, old man" she shot back quickly. He grinned at her and she relented into a smile of her own.

 "Can you do this on your own time, I don't need to be around for this, have fun without me" I waved as I headed back inside. I was stopped in my tracks as he winnowed in front of me. 

"Come on, we can race there if you like" he countered raising an eyebrow. He knew I loved flying, and the threat of competition. I shuffled my wings in response. It felt like forever since we last went out for a race. The rulers of the Night Court were constantly busy. Addressing issues in this court and the Court of Nightmares took up most of their days and the few they had were spent primarily with each other. That was fine with me, I enjoyed spending my time training with Azriel in stealth or Cassian with swordplay. 

"So, what do you say? First to the Day Court wins?" he asked. 

I looked over at my mother, she shrugged, "it's up to you". 

I turned back and matched his violet stare with one of my own. "You're on". His eyes narrowed as he took my hand and mother's in his own. He winnowed us up to the House of Wind and released our hands. He stepped to the edge of the balcony and lithely jumped on the railing. His wings unfurled in a burst of shadow. I stepped forward and followed him onto the railing a few feet away and opened up my wings to their full wingspan. We both crouched down, and I inhaled deeply. 

"I'll count you down and winnow to the Day Court to determine who wins" Feyre declared. "3" she began, my father and I both rolled our shoulders in preparation. "2" she continued, we met each other's stare and he grinned at me. "Play fair Rhys" she cautioned him before ending our torment. "1!" she yelled as we launched forward and fell into a free fall. I turned to look up as I fell and saw my mother leap after us and winnow with a flourish. 

"She never fails to take my breath away," my father said while laughing. 

I closed my eyes for a brief moment as I fell. The air blew around me and I felt complete exhilaration. My blood sang as the adrenaline coursed through me. I opened my eyes and snapped my wings open, interrupting the glorious free fall. I caught an updraft and followed it into the sky. It was going to take a while, but if I kept my pace constant and conserved my energy I could make it. A sharp gust of wing pushed past me from my right side as my father sped ahead. 

"You'll have to be faster than that to beat me" he yelled. I growled and pushed forward. As we passed the last of the mountain range the sweeping lands of the Day Court rolled out in front of us. As the last of nights shadows fell behind us, the light of day rolled out to greet us. 

I saw mother waiting on one of the balconies of the Day Court palace overlooking the land. We were both not slowing down as we sped closer. I extended my hand hoping to touch the balcony first. We were neck and neck until the final wing beat as he careened past me to land on the balcony touching down with practiced grace. Frustrated I dove and came to a sliding stop onto the balcony. 

"Rhys is the winner" Feyre declared. 

I smacked my hand on the sleek marble and pulled myself out of a crouch. "Come on" he said sauntering over to me, slapping a hand on my back. 

"Time to get ready" he said as he headed into the palace. I looked down at mother as she came up next to me. Her blue-grey eyes were kind as they met mine. 

"You'll beat him soon, I'm sure of it". 

"He couldn't let me win for once?" I asked as we walked through the balcony doors. 

"No, he's pretty determined on pushing you until you win on your own, you have to earn it" she replied simply. "In your rooms, I've put out some clothes you should put on, after a bath maybe" she continued before pointing down the hallway to another door. "That's yours for the time we're here, come back when you're ready" she said before closing the door behind me. 

I walked down the hall and slipped into the room. The room was as grandiose as the rest of the Day Court. A large resplendent bed dominated the middle of the room. Across from it was a fireplace with a few chairs including a rather plush-looking gold armchair in front of it. I found my clothes and select personal belongings stored neatly in the closet. I slipped off my dust and sweat-covered clothes and tossed them in the basket. I cleaned myself in the attached marble bathroom and quickly shaved. Staring into the mirror, I met my own violet stare. "This will be over soon" I muttered before dressing and stepping out of my room. I knocked on my parent's door to tell them I was ready to meet the High Lords and Ladies of the courts. And their heirs.