A Court of Stars and Memories

2. Arrangements

    Rita's was less active than usual by the time they arrived. Lysander and Corbin claimed a corner booth for the group and sat down. A waitress came to take their orders just as Nyx and Venelia seated themselves. Lysander smiled to himself, watching Venelia smack Nyx's arm after he tugged on one of her curls.

    His smile faded when a thought occurred to him. "Did you ever hear back from Tamlin?" Lysander asked.

    Venelia pursed her lips, hurt flashing through her eyes. "No, but I didn't expect I would. Father has made it clear time and again that he's not interested in meeting the Twins."

    "Why do you keep trying?" Corbin asked. "Emrys and Lir have been with you four years already. If Tamlin keeps refusing to meet them, why keep asking?"

    "Because they're my sons and I want my father to acknowledge that."

    The waitress returned and Venelia took the drink she was offered, murmuring her thanks. Corbin opened his mouth, but Nyx shot him a warning look. Corbin wisely heeded it.

    "I'm hoping Father will be more open to the idea after my brother is born," Venelia continued. "I'd like to meet him, and Emrys and Lir will only be six years older than him, so they could be friends when he's older."

    Lysander and Corbin exchanged disbelieving glances, which Venelia ignored. "I'm sure he will be," Lysander agreed presently.

    "Maybe this time he'll understand that it's important for kids to make friends and to know who their family is," Corbin added.

    Venelia nodded and took a few more sips of her drink. She stood suddenly, grabbing Nyx's hand. "Let's dance. I love this song." Nyx smiled and let her lead him onto the dance floor with the other whirling couples.

    "She deserves better than that bastard," Corbin spat.

    "I suppose she's the one thing we can all thank Tamlin for," Lysander pointed out. "But you're right. I'm glad she has Rhys and Feyre now."

    "And your grandmother."

    Lysander nodded with a smile. How the friendship between his reclusive grandmother and Venelia had come about, he wasn't entirely certain. After being freed from his grandfather's manor, Lysander's grandmother had been brought to the Night Court to live.

    She opened a bakery and after Venelia came to the Night Court, she found herself working for the female. Lysander guessed their mutual trust and friendship stemmed from some of their shared experiences. Like his grandmother, Venelia had been cloistered away in a manor in the Spring Court. She was rarely allowed out and hardly interacted with others unless in the presence of her father.

    But unlike his grandmother, who had been assaulted and tortured as well as imprisoned, Venelia was treated like a delicate princess. Venelia's freedom had also come far sooner than his grandmother's, though it had further strained the relationship between her and her father.

    Tamlin had long been rivals with Rhysand and Feyre, so when Venelia and Nyx began to see one another, they were forced to keep their relationship a secret. Lysander himself hadn't known about it until they finally accepted their Mating Bond and Nyx brought Venelia to the Night Court. Trying to explain everything to Tamlin afterwards had been like trying to befriend a rabid beast.

    In the end, Tamlin agreed to let Venelia remain in the Night Court, not that he had much of a choice. But for all his bluster and aggression, Lysander didn't doubt that Tamlin cared for his daughter. He just wasn't adept at showing it.

    He hoped the High Lord's unborn son would fare better than his half-sister. And, he hoped Venelia's expectations of having a relationship with her brother wouldn't be dashed.