A Court of Love and Devotion - Novellas

Why Is It Always You Three?

"At this point, I think it's trouble that's looking for me and not the other way around," Aria said with a grimace.

Nyx scowled at her. "Sure. Keep telling yourself that."

"Instead of pointing the finger," Catrin urged them. "Maybe we should run?"

It seemed like a good idea, only the three of them found themselves stuck on the spot as the three-headed hydra awoke, slowly rising higher and higher and higher until its heads nearly touched the ceiling of the deep cave the trio had wandered in.

"Look," Aria chuckled humorlessly. "It's got three heads." Her face was pale as she looked at the monster.

"Yes, one for each of us," Catrin gulped loudly.

The beast showed its teeth, all of its teeth, and prepared to plunge its enormous heads toward the stupid teenagers.

They screamed before their legs finally worked again. Flying wouldn't exactly help in that cave, it would only bring them closer to the scaled heads of the hydra. But they only realized that after batting their wings like some primal, stupid, Illyrian instinct.

In trying to get away from the sharp fangs of the creature, Aria was shoved into the wall so hard, the cave shook. The stone wall cracked and rubble fell, blocking the way the teenagers had come from.

Aria gasped, her eyes rounded. A way out. She had to find a way out. Had to find a way to kill that thing.

"Seriously, Aria," Nyx yelled.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that," she replied loudly as she flew back to the ground and ran.

The only thing Aria knew about the hydra was that if you cut one of its heads, another one grew back. But she had no idea how to kill that thing.

Why did she always do this? Why did she always let her curiosity get the best of her?

She'd been the one to suggest exploring that deep cave. She'd dragged her cousins down with her. She'd seen the sleeping form, not knowing what it was and decided to take a closer look. She'd stomped her foot on what she believed was a giant rock until that giant rock moved — slithered until three sets of eyes opened.

She was going to die here. Worse, she was dragging her cousins down with her.

"Call your father," Catrin screamed at Nyx as she ran the other way, trying to distract the hydra as her cousin looked for a way out.

"I'm trying," Nyx screamed back. "I don't know if he can hear."

Right, in this cave, underground, Rhysand might never be able to reach them.

The hydra turned, making the ground shake some more. Aria used the momentum to get to the exit and pushed the stones away to create another way out. But as she looked back she saw the beast had Catrin trapped in a corner.

"I don't want to die like this," Catrin whined. "Please, don't take too long to chew me." She closed her eyes and waited for the blow when Aria was shoved to the side as the tunnel behind her was opened by something.

No. Someone.

Uncle Azriel flew faster than ever before and punched the hydra's head away from his daughter. Aunt Gwyn was right behind him, sword drawn. He severed one head, she burned the bruise with her Autumn Court fire. Cauterizing the cut before it could grow another head.

Aria blinked and the rest of her family was there too, working in unison. Uncle Rhys chopped the middle head, and Aunt Feyre burned it.

The beats roared in pain and rage and tried to take a bite of Aria's father with its remaining head. That was too easy for the General who ducked and used the momentum to chop the last head off. Aria's mother summoned her silver flames and sealed the wound forever.

The beast's body toppled over and fell with a loud thump.

The three cousins were laying on the floor, in shock.

"I hate you," Nyx panted to the female on his right.

Aria turned apologetic eyes to him. "Understandable," she said. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest.

Angry steps reached them. Uncle Azriel grabbed his daughter from under her arms and lifted her back on her feet. Uncle Rhys offered his hand to his son. But as Aria saw her own parents approach, she rose by herself with a grunt.

"Why is it that everytime something happens," Feyre crossed her arms and scowled at them. "It is always you three?"

Nyx and Catrin looked down. Their faces paler than ever after having the fear of their lives. Because of her.

Aria stepped forward. "It was my fault, Aunt Feyre. I'm the one who wanted to explore and the one who woke the hydra by mistake."

"Of course," Nesta huffed humorlessly. She shook her head at her daughter and was about to scold her when Catrin stepped forward as well.

"But we followed willingly. Aria can't be the only one to take the blame."

"Indeed," Nyx added. "And I'm the eldest. I should have stopped it."

The parents looked at each other, clearly having a conversation mind to mind.

"For the next week," Feyre said. "You three will be housebound."

"After school, you will be cleaning the Pegasi stables under the groom's watch. Then you'll be heading straight home," Aunt Gwyn added.

Nesta turned her face to her niece and nephew. "Aria will not be allowed to leave Velaris for the next month. Depending on her behavior, her father and I will reevaluate those rules after that time period."

The three cousins nodded glumly and left with their parents. They were winnowed back to Velaris as soon as they made it out of the cave. The cousins bid each other goodbye and Aria whispered "I'm sorry" to both of them as they parted.

"I'm sorry, Aunt Nesta. I'm trying really hard to keep her out of trouble," Nyx said to his aunt before he kissed her cheek.

Nesta sighed, "There's no one in the world strong enough to do that, I'm afraid."

Aria flew close to the parents. The three of them landed on the balcony where Emerie was looking after Elia, Hazel and Sage.

All three of her sisters ran to Aria, inspecting her from head to toe. Even four-year-old Sage who was already too wise for her own age.

Aria didn't talk to them, or looked at them for that matter.

"Go get cleaned up," her father ordered her. "You're covered in dust."

Aria promptly obeyed without another word. Aunt Emerie squeezed her shoulder as she walked past her.

Aria didn't leave her room until it was time for dinner. Hazel made conversation with Sage, filling the silence. Elia kept one hand on her older sister's in comfort. But the young female barely touched her food, her stomach was still in knots after what happened. She could feel her parent's eyes on her, and when they asked their daughters to get to bed, Aria stayed at the table, waiting for her scolding.

"Do you realize the enormity of what you've done?" Her mother asked in a deadly quiet.

"Yes," Aria rasped before she cleared her throat. "I apologize. I put Nyx and Catrin in danger because of my stupid curiosity and I'm sorry."

"You put yourself in danger, Aria," her mother said pointedly. "You could have died."

It was the shake in her mother's voice that had Aria look up. It was the red around her blue-gray eyes from the fear that had her gut twisting once more. Nesta sat closer to her daughter until their shoulders touched.

"After your week of cleaning the stables, you will be going to the library after school," Nesta told her. "You will be researching monsters and how to kill them. I know I cannot protect you forever but I can make sure you'll be prepared should something like this happen again."

"I'll wake you up at 5 tomorrow morning," her father said. His eyes were just as worried as his mate's. "We'll have one on one training for an hour until everyone else arrives. I know that Rhys and Azriel will do the same with Nyx and Catrin."

Aria nodded. Her mother kissed her temple before everyone rose from their chairs. Cassian opened his arms and Aria, surprisingly, didn't hesitate as she laid her head on his chest and let him hold her tightly.