Battle Scars

Ties that bind us

Eve sat on the couch, a glass of green mojito in her hand. It had been a long day of practice and her outburst the previous day had not helped. She hummed to herself when Cassian entered, gave her glass one look and joined her on the couch, taking up half of the space.

"Long day?" Eve asked him. He sighed, "yours?" She sighed back. 

"Feyre and I seem to be making good progress- unlike my training." 

"It takes time," Cassian said, and she hummed in agreement. "Has Nesta started talking to you again?" Eve shook her head, "not that much. There is only the small talk when we are training or having dinner. Other times either she is busy or holed up or I am."

Cassian nodded, "how is everything between you and Az?" Eve' lips twitched. "So many questions," she mused and he chuckled a bit. 

"Distraction of sorts," and Eve understood just what he wanted a distraction from- not that she thought divulging in her love life would help him keep his thought at bay. "It is going good," she exhaled, "really good." Cassian grinned, "for all your talks, I have never seen much of it," and Eve smiled, "we are a bit low on PDA... unlike some people." And Cassian scowled, "there isn't any upcoming prospects of that for me." Eve sighed. "She will come around, I can bet on that," and Cass went silent.

A flap of wings was heard and Eve was instantly on her feet, moving toward the balcony where she broke into a grin. Az was early. He landed beside her, a small smile already playing on his face as his shadows went and started exploring the surroundings again, no longer confined. "Finished early?" she asked and he nodded, "I had a great incentive," he mummered making a blush appear on her cheek.

Cassian cleared his throat and only then did Az sigh and deign his brother some attention. When they both looked at him, Cassian grinned, "well go on then, kiss," he gestured at the two. Eve sighed; exasperated and made her way back to the couch. Az stood there for a second, watching her go, before joining her on the couch after swiftly kissing her cheek, making her more flushed. Az rarely let himself show in front of everyone. 

Cassian looked at the interaction and shrugged, "I'll take it," and sat on the chair now that the couch seat was taken.

"So, what did you find?" Cassian asked him. "Another folklore," he replied. "A continuation of the one Eve told us; I have already told Rhys," meaning, Rhys had either told him to keep it on the down low or that he could share it with specific people. "Koschei cannot be killed by conventional means targeting his body. His soul is hidden separate from his body inside a needle, which is in an egg, which is in a duck, which is in a hare, which is in an iron chest, which is buried under a green oak tree, which is on the island supposedly. As long as his soul is safe, he cannot die."

"Well damn," Cassian muttered. "That sounds like the ultimate vault and I can bet my life, he has tricks scattered all over it," she said and Az hummed in agreement. "But we do know a possible way now," Az said and Eve let the hope spread in her bones.

***********

Eve waited for Feyre to come down. She was at the riverfront house and very eager to begin their work to make the defence classes a success. Feyre too seemed excited to help- as if even the life of a High Lady had become a bit of a standstill for the moment. She wondered on this when Feyre had told her she was about free almost all the time- Rhys insisting she took a break for a few months.

"Today, lets finalise the financial aspect.. though I am not sure of how much help I will be," Feyre smiled sheepishly as she came down. Eve waved her off, "leave that up to me then. Just keep me company today," and she nodded. They decided to go to Feyre' art studio where the High Lady could multitask.