Starlight

17

The cold air of the Winter Court dances across my skin as we are escorted into the palace, servants glancing to us as we pace. I hold Rhysand's arm linked in mine as we venture through the halls, knowing Kallias waits within the walls of the council room. One of the servants pulls open the door for us, the High Lord waits within beside his advisors.

"High Lord, Princess, welcome." He says, offering us a tense smile.

"Kallias, I'm glad you agreed to meet with me." Rhys says, the mask of the High Lord covers his face. I stare at the white haired man with fierce eyes, not a single emotion plays across my face.

"Celesta, I have heard of the tragic news. I do not know whether to offer my condolences on the loss of your mate, or my congratulations on the new life which grows within you." Kallias tells me, my eyes flash at the mention of Vossan. I feel Rhysand's body tense, the drag of a talon ripples across my mental shield.

"Either will suffice." I say, my voice cold as the winds of his court. Silence hangs within the room, each of us don't dare to make a move.

"I would like to begin our meeting." Rhys finally says, pulling out the chair beside his own for me. I lower myself into it and cross my legs, sitting with perfect posture and a raised chin as the council begins.

...

Cassian stands before me, holding a gleaming sword in his hands. Training leathers hug my body, stretched against the bump forming on my stomach. Nesta sits within a chair closer to the balconies, watching me carefully.

"I want you to aim for my stomach." I say, shock flashes across Cassian's face.

"Celesta-" He starts, I cut him off before the words can leave his mouth.

"In these past months, I have sat idly by as the rest of you fought against Hybern. I have let myself settle, let myself forget the power I possess within me. I am the High Lord's assassin, I am his Shadow, I am the only one in Prythian that can rival his power, that can come close to the magic he controls. I will not let these courts forget who I am. Who made them fear what lurks in the shadows of the bed chamber's in their grand castles, all because of the babe that grows in my stomach, that I could protect even as I draw blood from our enemies." I tell him, the voice of the Night Court's princess returning to me. I see the smirk that builds on Nesta's face, the approval painted upon it.

"That's the Celesta I've been searching for." Cassian says with a grin before quickly swinging his sword at me. I block it with little effort, the heavy metal of his blade stopping inches from the growing womb. We dance around one another, not a single blow coming close to the child within me. He does not hold back as he moves to attack me, my defenses come just as quick.

Magic explodes within me, Cassian stops his sword midswing as my own clatters from my hand. I place a hand to my head and stumble, Cassian catches me in his arms with worry slick across his face. Nesta inches closer, watching me carefully.

"Celesta, what is it?" Cassian says, not moving his eyes from my own.

What is this?

That voice, that sound I've longed for in these past weeks, fills my mind once more. The place where our bond once stood is warm within me, filling the void that once replaced it.

Vossan?

There's a silence, nothing trickles through the bond.

Who are you?

Before I can answer, the powerful magic of the King of Hybern slams down between us, creating an impenetrable wall.

"Celesta." Cassian calls again, I meet his eyes while mine remain wide as the moon, my skin pale as the stars.

"It's Hybern, he just resurrected Vossan." I tell him, terror coating my voice. "He's put some sort of spell over him, he does not remember who I am." Cassian places a hand on my face as tears well in my eyes.

"We'll find Rhys, we'll call a court meeting. We will get him back, Celesta. I swear it to you." He takes a step back, wings flaring out, as he takes to the sky to find our High Lord. Nesta takes my hands in her own, her eyes piercing into mine.

"You are powerful, Celesta. You will break that spell when you find him. If you can't, you'll find someone who will." She says, I slowly begin to nod as she pulls me into her arms.

...

"You're sure of it?" Rhys says, the joy of Feyre's arrival back home cut short by the news. I look at him in shock, pain rising in my chest. The rest of the court tenses, no one utters a word as I stare back at my brother.

"Why would I lie to you about this, Rhysand?" I say, he shakes his head.

"I'm not saying that you're lying, I just know there's a lot of emotions flowing through you after his death. I don't want to let false hope settle on top of that." I stand as my wings flow from my back, flaring out as I look down at him.

"False hope? You call the return of my mating bond false hope? His voice so clear in my mind, the tug on our bond felt once again?" He doesn't look away from my gaze, I feel Feyre's eyes weighing on me.

"I will not risk your life or any of ours for something that could be a trap set by the king." Fury burns within me, my eyes turning dark as night as I stare back at him.

"But if it was Feyre, if there was a chance at getting your mate back, you would take it in a second." Rhysand finally stands, his own wings stretched to their full wingspan as he stands inches away from me.

"Don't." His voice is dark, the room rumbles as our power swirls within it. The two most powerful forces in Prythian, this entire city could crumble if our magic should move against one another.

"You may be this court's High Lord, but you are my brother. But I suppose titles come before that, if it means leaving my mate behind for the sake of your own safety. For the sake of your mate's safety." The anger in my voice is replaced by pain as the last words spill from my lips, I watch his eyes falter only slightly.

A hand rests on my chest, another lands on Rhysand's as Amren steps between us. A brave woman, placing herself trapped within such immense power.

"Enough." Her voice booms, authority hangs on every word. "We will find Vossan." Amren's eyes boar into mine before turning to face the High Lord. "When the time is right, we will find him." I clench my jaw and meet my brother's eyes once more before throwing my magic at him. He crashes into the wall behind him as I walk out the door of the townhouse, slamming it shut behind me.