starfall. [ Rhysand ]

IX

the legend.

That night had been far from restful for any of them.
Lucien and Tamlin had confined themselves in the library, locked in heated discussions since then.

The moon hung in the sky, casting its silvery glow beyond the window where Kiara stood looking out. Amidst the chilling silence of the manor, she still caught fragments of Lucien's and Tamlin's voices echoing from a distance. While she couldn't make out their words, she assumed it revolved around her and Feyre's safety.
Rhysand's ominous words before he left made her feel that he might divulge to the seemingly dangerous Amarantha information about her and Feyre. It made Kiara ponder why having two humans at Tamlin's court seemed so problematic.

One thing was clear: Tamlin and Lucien were keeping something crucial from her and the High Lord of the Night Court had been right. However, she could not understand why Rhsyand attempted to help her and pretended to care about her safety, and then he barged into the manor and threatened them.
He truly was a mistery.

Her mind was a whirlwind; attempts to cook, solitary training sessions, and reading were all unsuccessful distractions. What amused her was that she couldn't even fully process the recent events because her queries outnumbered the answers.
The enigmatic Amarantha seemed to wield substantial influence, given her frequent mentions. Furthermore, was their safety genuinely compromised? Kiara was consumed by thoughts of what would have transpired if they had sent Feyre back to the human realm.

But what destiny awaited Kiara herself?

Lucien and Tamlin had been embroiled in this debate for hours.
Initially, the topic was Feyre. The High Lord had chosen to return her to the human realm.
His love for her was so profound that he would have let her got to spare her from the clutches of Amarantha. The sooner, the better even; he intended to send her back in two days.

Lucien couldn't hide his fury at this decision. Feyre appeared to care deeply for Tamlin, therefore he believed there was still time for her to confess her love to him. But this discussion was a topic Tamlin avoided, fearing that revisiting it would lead him to reconsider.
The decision was driven by Feyre's safety, and that thought alone sustained him.
Lucien ceased his protests when he noticed Tamlin's ragged breath and tearful eyes.

"What about her?" Lucien's reference was crystal clear, prompting Tamlin to sigh deeply, lost in contemplation.

"We'll hide her in the human realm." Lucien was about to protest when Tamlin raised a finger, signaling him to let him finish. "Think about it, Lucien. We've made no progress. Amarantha will arrive soon, and if Kiara falls into her hands..." Tamlin couldn't bear to even think about it, fearing the catastrophic repercussions.

"I've noticed glimpses of her powers in her eyes sometimes. I can sense it lurking within her" Lucien attempted to sway him. He could accept prioritising Feyre's wellbeing but he was determined to persuade him to let Kiara stay a little longer.

"We've exhausted all possibilities, Lucien! What else can we do?" Exhaustion etched Tamlin's features as he ran his hands through his hair in despair. Hours of arguing with Lucien had taken their toll. The sky had transformed into a canvas of dark blue, the moon casting its glow on the night.

Lucien let out a sigh and settled into an armchair, surveying the books and parchments strewn across the table, everything he could find related to Fallen Stars.