starfall. [ Rhysand ]

XVII

alexis.

Several days had passed since Alexis had woken up from her two-day convalescence. After being trapped in Hybern for a week, it was no surprise that she was struggling. She had yet to confide in anyone, with only Nuala and Cerridwen, her handmaids, as her companions.

When Alexis first encountered the twin handmaids, she reacted with shock, thrashing and screaming. Her initial impression was that Hybern had taken her back to his castle, but Nuala and Cerridwen managed to calm her down.

"We work for Rhsyand" they had said "you are safe now" Alexis had already heard their voices, they sounded familiar to her and she was correct.

"Y-you were Under the Mountain" that was a statement Alexis had said as she recalled that while she was too weak to completely wake up after Tamlin had wounded her, it had been two blurry figures bandaging her. They worked for Rhysand and that meant it had been him to order them to heal her. She had no idea how to process what she had discovered.

The handmaids had been incredibly kind to Alexis. They took her to her private bathing rooms, attached to her bedroom, and took meticulous care of her. They scrubbed her body clean, washed her hair multiple times, brushed it to restore its shine and softness, and even applied a minty paste to her teeth, making them shine white. All the while, they tried to distract Alexis, who was only just realizing the dire state she had been in.

As they tended to her, Nuala and Cerridwen shared stories about their origins as half High Fae and half Shadow Wraith, explaining their ability to turn into shadows and move undetected. Alexis was captivated by their tales and kept asking questions. They also found common ground in their love of cooking and promised to bake something together. These handmaids were a breath of fresh air, providing the companionship and care that Alexis desperately needed. However, when they left, the nightmares began to haunt her once more.

Without any distractions, Alexis was plagued by her thoughts. Every time she closed her eyes to sleep, she was tormented by visions of the Cauldron, bubbling menacingly and hungry for her powers. The king of Hybern was as vicious as the Cauldron itself, desiring to destroy mankind piece by piece. Alexis couldn't help but feel a wave of nausea, and she retched many times.
The windowless room didn't help her situation. Although it was an improvement compared to her previous sleeping conditions, she still detested the lack of windows. Rhysand had intended to protect her from being overwhelmed, but perhaps he had made an error in judgment.

Rhysand felt her torment through their bond and was miserable that he couldn't do more to alleviate her suffering. He hesitated to visit her because of her strained trust, knowing that she might become more frightened if he appeared suddenly.

"Give her time," Mor had advised him. But even Mor could hear Alexis's horrific screams at night. The mystery of how she had been taken between the Autumn and the Winter Court remained unsolved, and Rhysand refused to invade her thoughts, considering the trauma she had endured under Amarantha's Daematis.

"Lord Rhysand," a High Fae's voice interrupted his thoughts as he turned toward the entrance of his living room. "Alexis asked for you." This unexpected request surprised him. He had assumed that he would be the one to visit her sooner rather than later and that he might have been potentially hit by a pillow or a lamp by doing so.

"Am I a prisoner?" was the first question she asked as he entered the room and saw her. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing a black robe. Though she appeared to be improving, her prominent eye bags signaled a lack of sleep and red nose indicated recent tears.