A Court of Love and Devotion

IV

CATRIN

She knew the room and also didn't. Her hazel eyes fluttered open and were met with Madja, towering over her body.

Catrin blinked once. Twice.

A chair creaked beside her and a second later, Nyx and Aria were above her as well.

"How are you feeling?" Nyx asked, voice shaking with worry.

"Like I was attacked by a sea of monsters," Catrin rasped out. Nyx chuckled but Aria didn't. "You're going to break a tooth if you keep clenching your jaw like this," Catrin threw at her.

No eye-rolling. No sighing or shaking her head. Aria was angry.

Enraged.

Catrin sat up with difficulty. Nyx helped her and placed a pillow behind her back. She tried to look around the room but her neck hurt.

"So we made it back home?" she asked.

"Home?" The familiar voice of Amren drew her attention. Madja took it as her cue to leave.

Catrin looked at her family, searched for the people who were missing. No sign of her brother or mother. Her father looked at her with an indifferent coldness that had always been reserved for his enemies.

Nyx bent down to whisper to her. "We went through the portal, Cat. We're in..." He gave her a pointed look, one she understood with horror. They were in the past.

"Now that your friend is awake, perhaps you can provide us with an explanation," her no-yet-father said flatly.

Catrin couldn't help her grimace.

Nyx straightened and cleared his throat. "Well, it's going to sound crazy..." He looked hesitant. Like he was trying to choose his words carefully. But that story sounded crazy no matter what words he used.

Aria grunted with impatience. "We're from the future. Monsters from the Middle created a portal to go back to the past. We tried to stop them but we were outnumbered and got through. There's a threat outside your walls and it's about time you stop looking at us like enemies," Aria threw at them. "We are part of the Night Court, but in the future."

The Inner Circle looked at one another confused. Only Feyre's eyes remained on Nyx. She closed the distance between them. "Look at me," she said. Her hands went to his cheek and she lowered his head to face hers. Her eyes inspected his features. His hair, his pointed ears, his eyes, his mouth... her mouth.

They rounded as realization struck. She looked at her mate, at the uncanny resemblance between the two males. Rhysand seemed to understand as well and smiled. He approached and marveled at Nyx. "You're my son," he murmured in awe.

Nyx only nodded before falling into his parent's arms.

***

NYX

Nyx had seen Catrin squeeze Aria's hand in warning. His cousin looked about to explode any second. Right, her mother was still out there. Still in danger.

"This house looks emptier than when I left it," Nyx chuckled as he took it in.

"Well, we only moved in a couple months ago," Feyre explained.

The door opened and Elain walked in carrying a tray. She smiled and brought it to Catrin who rounded her eyes at the female. "I thought you might need to regain your strength."

Catrin only looked at her warily. Aria elbowed her slightly and Catrin nodded to Elain in thanks, but she didn't touch the food.

Elain's relationship with Azriel and Gwyn was... tense. They avoided each other as much as possible, though it was understandable. The female had made herself an obstacle between Azriel and his mate, among other things... but she was still his aunt.