Battle Scars

Trapped

No more vacations outside Night Court, Eve decided, at least for a while. She didn't care for those splitting headaches when she became utterly helpless to anything but the pain. Az had taken them back to Velaris after the incident, furious at himself. They had landed right in front of the riverfront house where both the rulers were waiting, grim and tired.

Eve had stumbled from Azriel's grasp and right toward Rhys. "He was wrong, right? He can't do that, Death lord or not." She needed one answer- the answer that no one could give her. For it was Koschei they were dealing with, and no one could anticipate him.

It was a week since that incident and Eve couldn't stop thinking of what he had offered her. she wasn't stupid, she knew that even if she gave herself to him, reincarnated Mike- gods, that sounded so wrong- wouldn't be the same. And there was no guarantee that Koschei would let Mike go free or that he wouldn't kill her after and then attack Prythian. She had reassured Azriel and Rhys and Amren of the same but all were still wary. She couldn't entirely blame them; she thought as she put on the pendant.

Stepping back, she assessed herself in front of the mirror. She looked good. "Ready?" came a voice from the other side of the door. "Just a minute," she replied, hurrying to grab her rings. It was Nesta and Cassian's ornate mating ceremony. Half of Velaris had been invited, Eve believed. She had looked through the seating charts and Gods, she didn't know how Rhys had done all this without getting a migraine. Or rather how Cassian and Nesta had found the patience to let Rhys plan the entire thing without fainting or firing him in the process.

When she was satisfied with how she looked, she opened the door to her male looking as if he was in a trance. He blinked. "Wow." Eve looked down, hiding her blush. "Shall we?" she asked, smirking. He nodded, still trying to find his words that had escaped him since seeing her in that green green dress. "Nesta is waiting for you," he said finally. She nodded. Nesta had been all over the place. Eve had spent the entire night before calming and soothing her down. She had only left to get ready once Gwyn and Emerie had come. Gwyn wouldn't be attending the actual ceremony, unfortunately, not that Eve blamed her. It only made her even more hateful towards the males that had hurt her friend.

"You clean up fine, Spymaster," she whispered to him. He gave her one of those rare, self-satisfied yet abashed smiles. He was a study in contrast at times. "I would hope so. Rhysand wouldn't leave me alone until he was satisfied with my dressing skills." Eve laughed, "how long did he have you model for him?" Azriel's face contorted in pain, "too long," he replied making her laugh again. They stopped near Nesta's room. "My escort duties end here," he informed her. She patted his arm, "you made a nice arm-candy." His eyes twinkled, "I assure you; I make an excellent arm-candy. Delicious even." Her eyes went wide at the insinuation in his words.

Yet, before either could say anything else, the door to Nesta's room opened. A frazzled Emerie' head popped out. "Finally! Stop flirting," she said before all but snatching her in. "Nesta's hair is not hair-Ing," Emerie said once Eve got a bit accustomed to the sudden change in her surroundings. Eve blinked, "what?" Emerie only aggressively pointed at Nesta who looked on the verge of a breakdown even as Gwyn danced around her, hands full with brushes, spray and clips.

Eve' eyes widened. She had only been gone for an hour! "How on Earth did you manage to make your hair look like a nest in one hour?!" Nesta let out a sound that suspiciously sounded like a wail. "Maybe this is a sign," she said. Eve clamped down the laughter that was beginning to come up- if only someone saw the feared Lady Death, ever-poised and cunning Archeron now. Swallowing her laugh down, she said, "oh, how I wish I could take a picture of this moment." Nesta glared at her before hissing, "you are supposed to help me, you absolute useless piece of-" "OK!" Gwyn said, "obviously tensions are running high. Why don't we all take in a deep breath." Gwyn did exactly what she said- it seemed she needed that more than anyone else. Behind her Emerie snorted, "yeah, no shit. The ceremony is only an hour away."