A Court of Love and Devotion - Novellas

Blood of my Blood

Nesta awoke before the sun. She twisted and turned in bed for half an hour before deciding to get up and get dressed. Cassian was still sound asleep when she came out of the bathroom.

Her mate had gone home in the middle of the night from Illyria. There was trouble up north, like always, and he'd worked hard for days to maintain the peace.

So she bent over him and placed a featherlight kiss on his temple before quietly walking out of the room. She left a note for Cassian on the dining table and headed straight to the staircase. The one she'd taken months to conquer. She'd hated them at first, now the stairs felt familiar. Like an old friend. Like home.

The sun rose slowly in the sky as she made her descent to Velaris. There was a light, pleasant breeze on this beautiful summer morning. One Nesta made the most of before the sun hit its peak and the wave of heat came to ruin everything.

Nesta had slept in the snow during that trying week in the Blood Rite and she had promised herself to never complain about the heat again. She wasn't doing good on that promise.

The heat made training unbearable. Her clothes stuck to her body uncomfortably, making her want to stay naked for the whole day.

Cassian hadn't minded that idea. There had been a mischievous look in his eye when he told her as much.

She wore a light lavender gauze dress, the fabric breathable enough for the season. The sun was fully up when her foot touched the last step leading to Velaris.

She walked to the River House, taking her time. Observing the people slowly filling up the streets. Merchants opening up their stores. Parents accompanying their children to school. People eating breakfast on their balconies before heading to work.

Nesta watched it all and felt...peaceful. She'd been feeling that a lot lately and she was almost sad to reach the river house.

Elain was already in the kitchen with Nuala and Cerridwen, preparing breakfast. Her sister smiled brightly at her, and Nesta returned it with one smile of her own.

"Good morning," Elain chirped. "What are you doing here?"

"I woke up early and decided that I would come here and have breakfast with my sisters."

"You're early, breakfast is in an hour."

"I know," Nesta simply answered. "Is Feyre awake?"

"Not yet. Although I'm sure she will be soon. Nyx should wake up anytime now and scream for his mother."

And that wouldn't do. Nesta wanted her youngest sister to rest so she climbed the stairs to the nursery and opened the door quietly.

Nyx was sat on his bed, a pale blue pacifier in his mouth. His eyes twinkled as he looked up at his aunt.

"Good morning, little bat," Nesta murmured as she approached the crib and pulled him up in her arms. "Did you sleep well?" She asked, as if he could answer, before she kissed his warm forehead.

The babe laid his head in the crook of her neck and Nesta's heart swelled in her chest. "Let's get you ready for the day."

Nesta drew the curtains back to let the light in before setting Nyx down on his changing table. She changed his diaper and cleaned him up before picking out his outfit : a pair of baby blue pants and a beige shirt she worked around the small wings.

She wrote a quick note to her sister and slipped it under her door before heading down the stairs once more.

Nyx is on a walk with his favorite aunt. We'll be back for breakfast.