A Court of Wings and Teeth

Chapter 7: Lay of the Land

Nyx POV:

Why am I doing this? I should be continuing my search for clues about these trials. I needed an advantage. But, when I heard Aston speaking with Celeste a few moments ago, a surge of jealousy shot through me. I had caught her looking at me after her father's announcements. Her amber eyes were wide, doe-like. I wondered if she knew how alluring she was. I reasoned that getting to know the layout of the Day Court could only help my cause. "Great, lead the way" I said gesturing to the hall. She nodded and took the lead, walking swiftly down the hall. I sped up to fall in step with her. "Where to first?" I ask playfully.  She pauses and I can see her considering her options. 

"I can show you the baths," she said. I raised an eyebrow, "you might find it a place to relax after these trials" she explained. We turned a corner and she opened a large bronze door. I almost gasped aloud, the room was enormous with a great golden statue of a seated tiger in its center. Out of its mouth, a waterfall spewed out into a pool below. Smaller pools lined either side and lounging chairs were spotted throughout. 

"This is where you come to bathe?" I ask, trying to keep my shock to a minimum. 

"My father had it built when he became High Lord, and he built it in his style," she said gesturing to the massive rubies the tiger had for eyes. "There are separate rooms for males and females but most congregate together in this main room" she continued. 

My gaze drifted around the room, large golden columns, kept the glass dome ceiling aloft. As I looked up to the windows above, warm sunlight streamed in; I wondered how beautiful it would be in here during the night when the stars were out. 

"Next stop?" she asks, turning to face me. I met her warm amber gaze and nodded. 

She led me out of the room and down the hall. Her hands were clasped demurely in front of her, her high necked dress added to the part she was playing. Obedient daughter of the High Lord of Day. I wondered if she ever misbehaved. We walked silently until we came to our next stop, she pushed open two golden doors. We walked into a massive circular room with rows and rows of bookshelves. 

"My aunt Nesta would love it in here" I murmured, walking through the aisles, my fingertips lightly tracing book spines. "There must be books of all kinds in here"

"Mostly spell books, but you can find books on any subject in here" she said, meeting my eyes through a bookshelf. 

"Do you come here a lot?" I ask swinging around the end of the aisle to face her. 

"Yes, my father is known as Spell-Cleaver, and I seemed to have inherited some of that power" she answered, her eyes drawing up to my face. "I also like to make things" she slipped under the arm I had placed on the aisle and wandered over to a nearby desk. Walking up behind her I noticed sketches and schematics. 

My eyebrows knitted together, "what are these?". 

"Diagrams" she answered cooly. 

"I figured that much, but what are they for?" I pressed. 

"A few are for toys, some are for additions to the palace and some are used for medical purposes" she said re-organizing them. She pulled out one and handed it to me. 

I examined the paper she handed me, "this looks like an eye?". 

She nodded, "it is, Nuan gave it to me when she was visiting from the Dawn Court. Does it look familiar?". 

I paused, and then loosed a breath "Lucien's?". 

She nodded, "my father thought it would be good practice for me to combine inventing with healing spells". 

Wonder was not enough of a word to describe how I felt in the moment. I tried to keep my face neutral as I returned the page to her. She added the page to the pile and set it neatly on the desk. I imagined her here, working late at night with her golden hair unbound, maybe a pen buried in her locks. A quick thought wormed its way into my mind of meeting her here at night, lifting her onto the desk, and kissing her. She would lean back and my lips could brush the sweet curve of her neck as she whispered my name. 

My hands would run down her body, tracing every curve as one slips its way under... "I only have time for one more stop, as I do actually have to get ready," she said, interrupting my thoughts. I snap out of my fantasies and nod. We head towards one of the balconies, a large mirror to the one I touched down earlier in the day. She leaned over the edge of the balcony and breathed deeply. I joined her, our arms almost touching as we gazed out over the Day Court lands, the mountains of the Night Court border looming in the distance. "I come out here sometimes to think, you have no idea how overwhelming this court is". 

I thought of the rambunctious inner circle of the Night Court and the madness of the Court of Nightmares, "I probably understand better than you think". 

"I keep forgetting that everyone here is from a different court, it seems so strange none of us had met until now," she said. Continuing on, "and the first time we do meet, they want us to fight each other? It seems a strange way of meeting our future allies". 

I nod "strange indeed, but I'm sure they have a plan".  A strand of hair came loose from her crown and fluttered gently in the wind. I reached over and paused "may I?". She looked at my hand and after a heartbeat, she nodded slowly. I gently tuck the hair back behind her ear, my fingers lingering on the spot where her ear meets her neck. We both look at each other for a moment longer before she pulls back. 

"I really must go now," she said suddenly. 

I nod "of course". Truth be told I was disappointed, but I need to find out more about these trials. I shouldn't be spending this much time with her. She turned and began walking away. "I'll see you tonight" I call out after her. She looked over her shoulder at me and nodded. I watch her disappear around the corner before turning to gaze over the balcony again.