Starlight

18

My door creaks open, I stand facing the window as he enters. That magic still swirling around me, dulled since we last spoke.

"Celesta." Rhys calls, his eyes drifting to the bag ready to be packed sitting atop my bed.

"If you will not bother to find him, then I will go myself." I say, not turning to face him.

"No, I won't let you go alone." I shake my head, he does not move his spot beside the door.

"He would do it for me, you would do it for Feyre. I will not allow you to stop me." I finally meet his eyes, rather than fury festering within them there is only immense sadness.

"I'm sorry, sister." He steps closer to me, sitting on the edge of the bed and taking my hands in his own. "I should not have said to you what I did." He studies my face, reading every emotion that crosses it. "We will get him back, but we will not do that by moving on Hybern's castle once again. The King resurrected him to be a weakness within our court, to send us something with his army that we wouldn't dare harm. To distract you, to divert your power from him." I remain quiet as he speaks. "He will send Vossan in their first attack, and then moment we see him we will take him back. I swear it to you, Celesta. We will bring him back to you." He stands and pulls me into his arms, planting a kiss atop my head.

...

I walk beside Cassian through the halls of House of Wind, he explains in great detail different sword movements that would prioritize protecting of my womb. Before he can finish his last sentence, a breathless Nesta crashes into him. He grab her in his arms, looking in panic at her face.

"Feyre." Is all she says, unable to catch her breath. My magic creeps into Rhysand's mind, grabbing hold of it.

Library, now. It's Feyre.

"Go, find Morrigan. I've already contacted Rhysand." I tell Nesta, she runs without a second thought as the wings explode from my back. Cassian and I are off the ground in a heartbeat, soaring into the library to hear the commotion below. We land with a burst of power at the bottom, Feyre stood before two creatures of Hybern. My magic adjusts my vision in the dark to see the cloud of shadows behind her, the beast that dwells in the bottom of this cave. Talons grow from my hands as I grab the first man by the neck and throw him into the mass of shadows, Cassian follows suit as Rhys lands us.

"Take her and go." The High Lord says, his voice dark with rage. Cassian pulls Feyre into his arms and takes to the sky, leaving only Rhysand and I within the pits. The beast backs away as we approach, seething with hunger as it stares at the awaiting meal. My hands glow as my eyes turn back as night, I press onto each of their foreheads as every bit of information on the king seeps into my mind. They scream in terror as their mind's begin to shatter, as the pain of it courses through their bodies. My hands pull back as the last of it runs dry, the soundless screams frozen on their faces. I nod to Rhysand as his claws grow from his fingers, he rips into them as I stand back to watch.

...

I stand within the council room of House of Wind, my eyes boring into my brother's as his magic seeps into my mind, reading every bit of information I pulled from the ravens. The door slams open, Mor stands in its wake with fear in her eyes.

"They just attacked Adriata, he's sent his armies. The battles only just begun, we can still make it there." She says, Rhysand and I meet eyes and nod without a word. We take to the sky, Mor held tight in Rhysand's arms, as we arrive at the townhouse to see everyone gathered inside.

"Get to the war-camps, rally the army. We leave within the hour." The High Lord says to his commander, he leaves the townhouse and takes to the sky without another word. "The rest of you will ready yourselves. Mor, you will stay with Feyre on the battlefield. Azriel, you're with me on those front lines." My brother looks to me, he makes no effort to tell me to stay behind. "Celesta, you'll sweep through the castle and do what you do best." The High Lord's Assassin, the great Winged Shadow, my power seethes within my skin.

"I will wipe through that castle, I will take out the enemies that remain inside." I say, my eyes pierce into the High Lord's. "But I will join you on that battlefield, I will be the one to take back my mate." Rhys does not take his eyes away from mine.

"I need you to release your power on those boats, only one breath of the beast will reduce them to splinters. It will give us the advantage we may need." I take a step back and bow to him, looking up to him with a bloodthirsty grin.

"As you wish, my High Lord."

...

I watch as the lines of soldiers are readied, their shields held in hand as some take to the sky with massive wings. I close my eyes and breathe deep.

Vossan please.

Nothing but cold silence greets me, my stretch of magic met only by the wall of a spell. Holding him back from me, keeping him from reaching through the bond to me. Anger seethes beneath my skin as I open my eyes once more, the ways I will slaughter the King of Hybern playing over and over again within my mind.