starfall. [ Rhysand ]

XVIII

velaris.

"Where are you taking me?" With a flick of his fingers, Rhysand opened the curtains. Alexis gasped as she gazed at the city beyond the window. The buildings were characterized by their red and green roofs, white walls, and chimneys. A river, resembling a glistening sapphire, flowed into the sea where sailboats danced on the waves. It was her first time seeing the sea in real life, far more breathtaking than black-and-white images or Feyre's paintings. The waves shimmered in the sun's embrace, softly caressing the rocks. It was magnificent.

"That is the Sidra River," Rhysand explained, noticing the awe in her eyes at the river's unique hue.

Hills adorned in various shades of green encircled the city, while in the distance, tall mountains with sharp peaks were dusted with a delicate layer of snow.

"I-" Alexis struggled to find words to describe the city's beauty. "Where are we? Isn't the Night Court underground?" She had read about it being nicknamed the Court of Nightmares, but this place felt like a dream, not a nightmare.

"This is Velaris. It's a hidden city; few people know about it," Rhysand admitted.

"Why? It's... I can't even describe how beautiful it is."

"That's precisely why. If everyone knew about it, they would come here and bring war, chaos, and suffering. I didn't want that to happen." As he spoke, something within Alexis awakened, and she understood the depth of his sacrifice.

"You played a role Under the Mountain to protect this city and your family?" She sought confirmation, though she already knew the answer. He simply nodded, the pain still fresh. He would do it all over again, but the memories from Under the Mountain still weighed heavily.

Alexis noticed his distress and gently took his cold hand in her warm ones. He looked at her with widened eyes, and his heart warmed as much as his hands did. It wasn't a romantic gesture; Alexis didn't see him that way. She only wanted to offer support and showed great empathy for others' feelings. But he realised he had gained her trust, and that meant everything to him.

"Thank you for being so honest with me. After-" Alexis sighed loudly not wanting to repeat out loud what was haunting her mind "I just want to say I am glad you are not lying to me"

"Come," he gently squeezed her hand in a silent thank-you gesture before reluctantly letting go and guiding her towards the balcony. But his chest felt heavy, because of the secret he was hiding from her and he didn't know he didn't have the guts to tell her "You can get a better view of Velaris from here."

"Velaris," Alexis repeated the name, savoring the sound of it. As Rhysand walked ahead, she found herself glancing at her hand, still tingling from their touch. Shaking her head, she followed him out to the terrace, gripped the railing, closed her eyes, and let the sea breeze wash over her, a wide and content smile on her face.

Rhysand watched her in admiration while she stood with her eyes closed, reveling in her tranquility. He couldn't help but smile, appreciating the peace she exuded after sleepless and tormented nights.

"You know," she giggled like a child discovering new wonders each day, "this is the first time I've ever seen the sea." Her laughter bubbled with the sheer joy of experiencing it in person.

"I can take you there tomorrow if you'd like," he offered, and she nodded vigorously, expressing her gratitude and admiration for the view.