The Shadows Have No Face || 𝐀𝐂𝐎𝐓𝐀𝐑

The Gift of My Heart

The Winter Solstice came faster than I expected. The days leading to it were solely spent on preparations for the gathering. There would be a gift exchange, and then a dinner. Nesta had warned that the night usually ended by the time the sun rose.

I didn't trust what I was wearing. Not at all.

The more I looked at myself in the mirror, the more I wanted to just quit and stay in bed all night. Nesta sent it up to my room earlier in the morning. I told her I didn't need a new outfit for the party. But she was almost as insistent as Mor.

The dress itself was beautiful. A deep, almost wine colored velvet that was thick and warm. It was almost off-the-shoulder, with puffy sleeves that ended just above the wrists.

The empire waistline made me look surprisingly taller, and the hem was embroidered with golden detailing. It looked something like vines. The glamor barely hid the intense sunburned scars along my shoulders, and I worried it would somehow fail at hiding them.

My hair was braided into a high bun, letting a few strands of curled brown hair loose. I wore a pair of pearl earrings and a matching bracelet—and nothing else. I didn't want to stand out with glitter and jewels. The dress was already bordering on too much.

I wrapped myself in a black shawl and put on some borrowed flats from Mor, who shared the same shoe size as I—thank the Mother for that. My hand hovered over the doorknob. Anxiety rose within me.

Did I want to do this? Did I want to spend this day distracted? I thought for a moment what she would've wanted, and turned the handle. I walked out into the living room where Mor was waiting, wearing a knit red dress and black tights.

"Well, don't you look lovely," she commented.

I brushed invisible dust from the skirt. "Do you think it's too much?"

"No, of course not," she replied. "I wouldn't be surprised if Feyre dressed up like an ice diamond... or something around that area."

I picked up my various gift bags and made sure the fragile ones weren't banging into things. Mor grabbed her presents and extended a hand to me, which I took.

Within a blink, we were standing just outside the townhouse.

The snow fell in thick flakes outside, and I could hear the distant sound of children playing. Warm light spilled from the windows, and the smoke from the chimney wafted down to us. Something about the smell of firewood made my heart melt a little.

Inside, the house was decorated bright and colorful for the Solstice. Candles decorated the dining table, and the lights were dimmed to a warm, soft brightness. The smell of food wafted in the air around us.

Everyone was here, crowded in the living room. Presents surrounded the coffee table and piled next to couches. Glasses of wine and whiskey scattered around the board of cheeses and meats.

Feyre squealed her joy at seeing our arrival. She stood and walked over to us; her dress sparkling like a million jewels. Mor was right. She gave Mor and me big hugs, helping bring in the gifts we brought. I took the shawl off and hung it with the coats, and brushed off the flakes that stuck to the dress.

Amren didn't even acknowledge I was there. Her gaze focused on Nyx, who was organizing all of his presents from biggest to smallest. Every seat was taken except two, one next to the ancient one, and one next to the shadowsinger. I sat next to the Illyrian, now wanting to endure the wrath of Amren.

Cassian watched the entire interaction play out, amusement playing on his face. I felt the eyes of the Spymaster on me, so close that I couldn't avoid the feeling it left on my skin. Prickling needles wherever he looked.