Nyx | Carpe Noctem ✓

Chapter 1: The Heir to the Night Court

∙ Nyx POV ∙

"Don't fall back, lazy ass. By now even your sister is faster than you."

I let my wings flap harder against the rising wind, the thin membrane aching due to the cool air. I had no idea why and when my cousin had gotten so well at flying, but I knew that I was not going to let her win. I had my ego and I would protect it.

I threw another glance over my shoulder, Eve was still there—still safe, happily flapping her wings behind her back while grinning at me. I could let my little sister out of my eyes for a second and challenge Noora. We would see who the lazy ass was.

"Quite pathetic, I must say, for the High Lord's son. The Illyrian baby cannot even keep up with a female," Noora cooed, roaring a laugh, a vicious, shit-eating grin plastered on her face. She swirled under me, her wings spreading wide around her shoulders and winked. I had just wanted to flip her my middle finger when a talon scraped against my mental shields. Finding myself unable to do anything else, I opened my senses.

Get home now, Nyx!
Not now, father!
No—

I pushed my father out of my head, slammed my mental shields up and flapped my wings again. Harder and trying to go faster. The tip of my nose tingled as the cool air hit my face over and over again. The bastard should shut up now. Not a fine moment — calling my father a bastard— but I was sick of his constant reprimanding. And his constant monitoring and mother-henning. I was old enough and had no interest in politics or education in terms of the High Lord business.

Finally I could show Noora a vulgar gesture before dashing forward, through the tree tops and over the mountains. I was now faster than her, slowly turning around and showing her my middle finger again. As if she would win. Against me? No way.

"Who is the lazy ass now?" I howled, smirking at my cousin, before looking downwards and letting my gaze run over my home.

Velaris. The City of Starlight.

The most beautiful place in all of Prythian. There was only a handful of people left in the streets. Other than that the city was covered in darkness and starlight.

Noora dashed past me, her wings slightly brushing against mine, turning one time around herself, before storming towards the ground. The harsh wind whipped against my wings and with one hand I moved a few strands of hair out of my face.

"Still you, cousin!" she hollered, when I slammed down on the ground, Noora already walking towards the entrance of our house, saying her hips and grinning at me over her shoulder.

"Oh, screw you. You know I did not have so much time to practice in the last weeks," I grumbled.

"Yeah, sleeping around with random females and drinking liquor until you pass out is definitely more important than training and flying." She laughed loudly before pushing the door open and getting inside. Before I could protest a loud shriek from above me made me spin around.

Eve was dashing towards the ground with full speed. She had lost control over her wings and I immediately shot up into the air again, towards her.

"Nyyyyyyx!" she screamed loudly, but within the next second I got hold of her, grabbing her tightly when she wrapped her thin arms around my neck. She shuddered and I could feel her heart beat like crazy.

"I got you. I got you. Don't worry," I mumbled, placing a kiss to the crown of her head while slowly flying us towards the ground. Her chest was heaving rapidly and she shuddered. "Eve, don't worry. I got you. You are safe," I told her again while I slowly landed us both on the ground, her not yet letting go of me yet.