Nyx | Carpe Noctem ✓

Chapter 41: Wings and Parcours

∙ Madis POV ∙

As the days grew warmer and spring slowly started to arrive we found ourselves on the training pitch many times. We often trained for hours, or the others did and I worked on my clothing for Aesa. Then later I would join them, try to run through the parcour to become a Valkyrie or an Illyrian warrior. I would not actually want to become one, but I had fun joining Nyx's cousins and sister. In a few days there would also be another High Lord's meeting which I was actually looking forward to—I was allowed to join!

Most evenings we spent lying in bed, talking until the early morning hours. There was still so much Nyx and I did not know of each other and there was always something new to discover.

"I have a question," I mumbled, brushing my fingers through Nyx's silken waves. He placed a sloppy kiss against my belly before lifting his head.

"That does not surprise me at all," he chuckled, grinning, his fingers drawing small circles on my exposed skin of my lower arm. My eyes made a tiny roll at this comment, and I slightly as the movement of his fingers was tickling me.

"Your father can summon his wings. Your mother can do that, too, but hardly ever wears hers. Why are yours there permanently?"

"Oh gods..." Nyx muttered, burying his face in my belly. I felt him grimace against my skin. Confusion and the need to know the reason coated my insides. I really wanted to know. So I tugged on a few strands of his hair. "What? How is that possible? I am curious."

"You are never not curious..."

Nyx exhaled loudly against my belly. "I was conceived when they both had wings. Mum can shape-shift. Please don't let us go into detail about that. Uncle Cass already felt the need to explain everything very, very detailed to me."

Oh. Oh. But why would the summon their wings in the bedroom? Unless they were—

"They did they do the naughty in the sky? Were you conceived while flying?" My eyes went wide and with a grin I stared at Nyx.

His head snapped up, giving me warning glare while grimacing again. "Thin ice, Madis. Please, don't make pictures pierce my mind. Ugh...please let's talk about everything but that." Throwing my head back, I laughed loudly. "I mean it. But if you think this is so, so funny why not try it while flying?"

In the next moment Nyx hopped to his feet, pulling me after him and pivoted towards the balcony door. Over his shoulder he flashed me a wicked grin while I tried to stop him, pulling on his arm.

"I am just in my nightgown."

"Soon you will be in nothing, darling." A chuckle erupted from him when he let himself fall over the railing pulling me after him. I shrieked and screamed loudly only for him to shoot into the air with me, making a full spin and finally also holding my legs — holding me bridal style.

"I hate you!" I expressed, curling my arms around his neck.

"Nah, you love me."

I had to give him that, holding tightly onto him. Velaris at Day was beautiful, but at night the city was stunning. I beamed, glancing between Nyx and the city.

"It is a bit cold," I whispered when he hugged me tighter.

"Want me to warm you up?" To that I only rolled my eyes, letting him hold me tighter. We flew for a bit, up to the house of wind and back down to the riverside house. Luckily he tried no funny business and so we softly landed on his bed, holding each other tightly before finally drifting off.

When I appeared on the training pitch the next morning my eyes immediately landed on the obstacle course. Eve, Catrin and Balthazar were not in the war camps, still wanted to learn and try to become Illyrian warriors. From what I had gathered, you had to pass this obstacle and with that you would then be allowed to participate in the Blood Rite. I did not care about the Blood Rite, but I also wanted to manage this damn obstacle course. I had tried it basically every day for the past two weeks and slowly got better. Obviously Azriel and Cassian changed it every two days to make it harder for us —this only made me more eager. Waddling over to where Noora already stood, leaning against a beam.

"You look like you are ready face hell once again?" Noora grinned at me.

I chuckled. "How did you do it?"
"With strength and a lot of will-power!"

The corners of my mouth tipped up, but only stayed there for a split second until a loud groan from across the pitch made me turn around.

Cassian and Nyx were both immediately at Rhysand's side, holding up the High Lord who had one knee braced on the ground. He was coughing, his facial expression a grimace.

"What is up with him?" I whispered to Noora, the shock on her face mirroring mine. She shrugged before urging us to go over to them.

"Father said that he thinks uncle Rhys is getting weaker now that Nyx is getting stronger."

A cold shiver ran through my whole body. Nyx and Cassian brought the High Lord over to a chair which Azriel had quickly provided.

We stopped in front of the four males, Nyx's hand tightly wrapped around his father's biceps. I met his gaze only briefly, his eyes glazed and his lips forming a pout.

"What's up, Rhysie? Suddenly getting old?" Cassian chuckled, trying to brighten up the mood but I could hear the bitterness in his voice.

Rhys waved him off and took a sip from the water Azriel had offered him, "Nothing. My knee gave him. Always had been struggling with it. Nothing to worry about."

I could see right through the lie. There was something to worry about and it was not just his knees. I stared at...my father-in-law, his gaze locking with mine. Don't worry and don't look at me like that with so much pain in your expression. It is nothing to worry about, I promise.

"Can I get you anything else, father? More water, something to eat? Mother? Madja?"

Rhys turned towards his son, who still held his arm in a tight grasp. Nyx looked desperate, almost like a young boy again.

"No, nothing. I am fine, Nyx. It is all good. Just my knee."

When Nyx opened his mouth again, Rhys met his gaze and then Nyx slowly dipped his chin.

"I suggest we watch Madis do the obstacle course. I could need the break and I would love to see it. I am sure you can do it today!" Rhys announced, his voice seeming so much brighter all of a sudden. Nyx bowed his head again and for the first time in around five minutes he let go of his father's arm and walked over to me.

"I am pretty sure you can do it, Starlight. Just focus, don't let yourself get distracted."

"If you keep your shirt on nothing will distract me," I snickered.

Nyx wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me his chest. And then he looked at me—just looked. His eyes traveled over my whole face, my chin, my lips, my nose, my eyes—halting briefly, and then his lips brushed my brow. "You are so perfect."

His voice had been barely above a whisper, lips only slightly parted, but his saying drew tears to my eyes. I blinked a few times, got onto my tiptoes and pecked his lips. Then I pushed away, drew in a deep breath, clapped my hands one time and strutted over to Noora.

"I am ready. Let's go!"

I still felt a bit down after what had happened to Rhysand. I had felt Nyx sadness, not exactly sure how I had been able to feel it, but it had broken my heart. But now I needed to focus on the obstacle course. I needed to do it. I wanted to manage it.

And so I did. I closed my eyes against the soft breeze of wind, inhaled deeply and started the obstacle course. It began with some array of footwork, doing a swift run of knee-to-chest steps through a ladder on the ground and then balancing on a suspended beam. Balance was no longer an issue and so I made it through it with quite an ease. Then the logical part started and I hated it. It was some sort of mental testing with puzzles and all kinds of things that required cognitive strength. It was that part where I often left myself get distracted. Whenever I had tried it before memories of the poorhouse and education from the matron had flooded my mind. Not that time! That time I shut my mind off completely. I solely focused on the puzzle and I did it. Lastly, the part I had only made it to one time before, started. It was all about strength and willpower.

"You can do it, Madis!" I heard from somewhere and it was Eve who encouraged me. I was going to do it. I could do it.

And I did it. Sweating and panting heavily I lay on the ground with a big grin on my face. A shadow fell over me and when I blinked my eyes open I saw Nyx smiling at me. "You did it!" he expressed, his hand extended to help me up, his eyes aglow and a grin on his face that truly reached his eyes.