starfall. [ Rhysand ]

XXV

Rhysand spent the entire day with the town council before returning home. In the living room, everyone gathered except for Alexis, the short and sweet ray of sunshine he longed to see. Although, perhaps, little Star was a more suited nickname for her. Despite missing her, he cherished being around his friends who felt like family, and all of that was thanks to Alexis. However, she was absent, and through their bond, he couldn't sense her anywhere in the house.

"Where is Alexis?"

"What happened to 'Hi, how are you?'" Cassian sighed dramatically while Amren snickered in silence.

"Oh who's going to tell him?"

"I will." Mor intervened standing up from the sofa. She approached Rhysand, placing a hand on his shoulder teasingly "Alexis has been invited to a baking course every Monday at the Antique Bakery." Despite the incomprehensible smirks still very apparent on their faces, Rhysand sighed in relief.

"What's wrong with that?" He was delighted that Alexis found a passion to invest her time in, a welcome distraction from the looming threat of Hybern. However, that was going to make much harder declining the food she offered him. It weighed on him the fact he couldn't tell her why. She obviously had understood by now that something was something was wrong as he kept refusing the meals she prepared. It really seemed the did not wish to eat her food, although it was the thing Rhysand dreamt the most.

"Did I mention Jeremiah has a huge crush on her?" Mor continued as laughter erupted, and even Azriel seemed to find amusement in the situation.

"That's cool." Rhysand nonchalantly shrugged, masking any surprise. If Alexis wanted to explore something with Jeremiah, he wouldn't stand in her way. Despite his feelings for her, and the fact that she was everything to him, he recognised sadly he was nobody to her.

"You better make your first move, cousin. That sweet girl will have admirers left and right." Mor teased. She wanted to add that she herself would have dated her but perhaps it was not the time to make that kind of joke.

"How can she not fall for this charm?" Rhysand scoffed playfully pointing at himself. His attempt at a handsome smile was met with eye rolls. If they had to fill a jar with coins for every time his ego surfaced, it would be full by sunrise.

"Ow." Azriel's paper ball hit Rhysand's forehead. Perhaps, he thought, he deserved it for his antics.

Not long after, Alexis returned, winnowing onto the terrace to gaze at the stars. Clad in a long-sleeved dress with a high neckline, she embraced the sea breeze, leaning on the terrace rail. Rhysand liked that attire on her, it suited her enhancing her small and toned figure. Lately, he was relieved to notice that her face was ridden of the sick pallor and eyebags it once had. Thanks to Cassian's trainings, she had grown muscles and finally she wasn't skin and bones anymore as she enjoyed eating to his relief.

"Like the view?"

"Not falling for that again," she retorted, spotting Rhysand by the open door window, a certain gaze in his eyes. She dismissed the idea of admiration, uncertain of interpreting people's expressions, considering that only very recently she had discovered that winking can be used for very different contexts.

"How was your baking lesson?" Alexis' eyes sparkled with joy and excitement.

"Amazing! I learned the secrets to rising bread correctly and how to ice a cake! Jeremiah's a great teacher. He stayed by my side constantly to make sure I grasped everything," she shared.