Starlight

6

I sit on the balcony of the House of Wind, the breeze gently blows through my midnight hair. My wings lay bandaged behind me, still aching with a throbbing pain. No magic courses through my body, the faebane covered each arrow inside my wings, it may take days for it to return. On my skin hangs the clothes Vossan brought me, a loose fitting black gown made of silk, my feet bare against the cold, marble floor.

"Celesta." Rhysand's voice comes from behind me, I do not turn to look at him as he walks to me. He pulls another chair closer to me and sits, gently taking his hand in mine. "They say you'll be able to fly again, once you're healed." He offers me a small attempt at a smile, I meet his eyes as only pain fills my face. "I'm sorry, sister."

"It is not your fault, Rhys. I should have never flown so close." I say, a single tear slipping down my cheek. He slowly wipes it away, laying his touch against my cheek. "I told them nothing, I promise." He shakes his head and looks at me with fierce eyes.

"I don't care if you told them everything, I will not let Tamlin take the last of my family from me." Rage flashes in his eyes, I cover his hand with mine to steady him.

"I am right here, brother, I will be going no where." He nods and leans forward, pressing his forehead to mine. My body is void of the usual magic that swirls between our touch, magic that mirrors one another. He sighs against that lost feeling and stands, not letting go of my hands.

"The healers say your magic will return in four days, until then I don't want you leaving Velaris, and Vossan will stay glued to your side. I will not risk him taking you again while you heal." He looks down at me again. "I love you, sister."

"I love you Rhys." He gently lets go out of my hand and walks to the door, stopping to whisper to Vossan who stands in the doorway. They both glance to me and Rhys quickly shakes his head before walking away. Vossan comes to kneel before me, resting his cheek against my knee. "What is it?" The contempt in his eyes is clear to me, even with our bond silenced.

"Rhys doesn't want to put more weight on you while you heal." Vossan says, I shake my head.

"Tell me." He studies my shallow eyes once more before letting out a breath.

"Hybern is searching for the Cauldron in hopes of resurrecting Jurian." My eyes widen as I take in the new information. "He plans to make a bargain with him that ends in Miryam in return."

"But Jurian believes Miryam is dead, he told me so himself. Why would he take that bargain?" My face slick with confusion as I look to him.

"If the Cauldron can resurrect Jurian, it can bring back Miryam. And when they find out through the Cauldron she's not dead, they will no doubt craft a new bargain with a promise to find her." I squeeze Vossan's hands as my brain scrambles to find answers.

"Amren and I are Rhysand's advisors, he cannot hide information like this from me." Vossan nods and looks up to me.

"He holds good intentions, you know he does. He wishes for you to heal, for your mind to be focused on solely that." I nod and drift my eyes out to the open sky, wishing I could soar high into them. "Rhys and Feyre are headed to the Bone Carver now, he hopes the Carver will know the Cauldron's location."

"He will never speak to Rhysand." Vossan nods in agreement.

"But he may speak to Feyre."

...

Rhysand sits across from me at the table, recalling the events of the Bone Carver to me as Vossan keeps a steady hand on the back of my chair.

"I want you to wait for me to journey to the mortal lands." I say, Rhys stares back at me.

"Celesta-" He starts but I interrupt his words.

"I will not sit here while all of you risk your lives. You will wait for me or I will tear this place to shreds while you're gone." I rise to my feet, my wings flared as I stare down at him. I can feel Feyre's eyes on me, the shock painting her face. The High Lord of the Night Court may stand before me, but he is my brother before all those titles, and I will not allow him to go without me. The air in the room goes still, waiting for one of us to react first. Rhys stares back at me for a few moments before slowly nodding.

"Alright. We will wait, I promise." I feel Vossan's hand touch the small of my back, a gentle pull back to reality as I relax my wings.

"Thank you." I softly say before leaving the room.

"She's been full of rage since the loss of her magic." I hear Vossan whisper to Rhys.

"I know, this is what I fear."

...

The horrors of tonight's nightmare wake me with a jolt, her face swapping in and out with Tamlin's as she drags that awful knife across my body. Vossan is awake in a heartbeat, forcing my fear filled eyes to meet his own. The sobs rack through my body and he pulls me against him, soothing me back to even breaths.

"I'm sorry I wake you so much." I whisper, my voice shaking. He tenses against my body, pulling back to look at my eyes.

"Don't ever apologize to me for any of it. I will face every horror that remains from that retched place right beside you, I do not care if it keeps me awake all hours of the night just to fight the nightmares away from you." He tells me, I pull his lips to mine as my tears spill onto his own cheeks.