Nyx | Carpe Noctem ✓

Bonus I

∙ Nyx POV ∙

The big oak door opened with a load groan, birds tweeting happily behind our backs when Madis and I strolled into the big entrance hall, our hands entangled, the skirt of her dress gliding over the floor. She looked like a queen, powerful and strong, beautiful and elegant, smart and intelligent. And she was my queen, my High Lady. My mate. 

I glanced at Madis when she stopped for a moment. Coming back here was always a little nerve-wrecking. A lot of things had changed, but technically that was the place where we had met for the second time in out lives. It was the High Lord's meeting where I first had seen her after she had saved my life. I still remembered those days vividly – the first time my eyes fell on her. Even back then she had been the most beautiful female in this world and nothing had changed until that day. She was the most beautiful and would forever be, only that she was no mine. And she would also forever be mine. 

"Are you alright?" I asked in a calm voice and tugged her to me. Madis glimpsed up at me with her stunning eyes and gave her head a little shake. "No, just had a nostalgic moment." Then she smiled, leaned closer and kissed my chest. "Are you ready, my High Lord?"

I had to grin, my skin warming and kissed the top of her had, my hand squeezing hers. "I am. I am very ready, my High Lady." Madis' smile turned even brighter and she drew in a deep inhale. Then we set out for the big dining room and ran into Andras and Dalia on our way in. 

The new High Lord and Lady of the Spring Court. It wasn't long after my father handed his powers down to me that Tamlin did the same. 

"How is High Lord business going?" Andras smirked at me, but I could see in his eyes how sleep-deprived he looked, so all his amusement about me looking exhausted was just blatant cockiness. He was a fool, but he was also one of my best friends so he would be forgiven for the stupid smirk.

"Alright," I answered and shrugged my shoulders. It was then that a high-pitched squeal sounded from next to me in the next moment Madis dashed past me and Andras and got scooped up into Dalia's arms who squealed just as loudly as my mate did. The cheered and embraced each other tightly, grinning when they parted. "I missed you so much, Dalia!" Madis cheered and let her arms brush up and down my cousin's arms.
"Oh and I missed you like hell, Madis!" Dalia grinned from one ear to the other. They immediately started chatting about only the Gods knew what, loudly giggling and squealing from time to time. 

And so did Andras and I, without the giggling and cheering, we just talked...like normal people.

"Your father?" I asked and Andras dipped his chin. "He is alright, I guess. He is old and mostly he spends his time with mother. They take many walks in the forest or on the large meadows. Yours?"

"Similar, he seems weak and tired most days, but he still tries to be supportive and often goes to the art studio with my mother." I smiled a little. Father was alright, he could be better but for his age and the lack of powers due to handing them down to me he a was truly alright, doing well.

The room in front of us filled with more people and it was when we realised that we were the last outside that Andras said, or rather drawled, "Ladies?"

Madis and Dalia only reluctantly stopped talking and parted so we could enter the big dining hall, all eyes on us. 

I kept Madis close to me, my hand on the small of her back. A few of the mortal majors were present, Aesa and Geavin and all the other High Lords and Ladies. Lucien smiled and inclined his head at us when we walked in and Andras and Dalia chose the seats next to Elain. And so the meeting started, and even despite his age Kjardan was the first to speak up. His voice was croaky and horse, but he still managed to insult the fae and say that we have no idea of what we are doing.