𝙳𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚎(𝙰𝙲𝙾𝚃𝙰𝚁)

𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖞-𝖋𝖎𝖛𝖊

      Saphira spent a lot of time sleeping. I wondered how long she'd been on the run. I doubted she'd been able to sleep at all in the cold.

      She was still fast asleep by two in the morning the next day. I went into the fourth room in the town house, finding my brothers and Eve in there.

      Cassian dumped his leather bag on the narrow bed against the wall, the contents rattling.

"You brought weapons to Solstice?" Evelina asked, raising a brow as she leaned against Azriel.

      Cassian shrugged and plopped onto a bed that was far too small for him.

"Some might be gifts," he pointed out.

"And the rest?" Rhys wondered.

       Cassian took off his shoes and leaned against the headboard, folding his arms behind his head as his wings draped to the floor.

"The females bring their jewelry. I bring my weapons," he said.

"That's offensive," I informed him, Eve nodding her agreement. Cassian offered me a wicked grin in response.

       Eve let out an annoyed sigh, staring at the small bed beside Cassian's, which she and Azriel would be sleeping in tonight.

"Ive never stayed in this room," Eve grumbled. "That bed isn't big enough for the two of us."

"Thats because we have been shoved to the bottom of the ladder," Cassian answered, his wings draping over the bed and to the wooden floor. "Astraea and Saphira get the good bedroom, Elain and Mor are in the other, and so we get this one."

"Better than the attic," Rhys offered.

"Barely," Eve scoffed.

"Poor Lucien," Cassian grinned.

"If Lucien shows up," Rhys corrected.

"My money's on yes," Cassian said. "Want to make a wager?"

"No," Azriel said, arms wrapping around his wife from behind her. She was still pouting at the small bed.

"No?" Cassian demanded, sitting up.

"Would you want people betting on you?" Evelina challenged, raising a brow.

"You assholes bet on me all the time. I remember the last one you did--you and Mor, making wagers about whether my wings would heal," Cassian recalled.

"That's awful!" I scolded.

       I was . . . gone for the healing of Cassian's wings, so I'd never known that. Rhys snorted.

"Will Nesta stay here if she comes?" I wondered.

       Rhys cleared his throat, not answering my question. Instead, he changed the subject.

"Our meeting with the commanders went as well as could be expected. Devlon actually had a schedule drawn up for the girls training, whenever this oncoming storm blows out. I dont think it was for show," Rhys said.

"I'd still be surprised if they remember once the storm clears," Azriel said.

"When I trained them, it was obvious it's been a while," I sighed. "And so many of them were clipped, which affected their agility."

"Anything new about the grumbling in the camps?" Cassian asked.

"Little to add to what you already know," my brother said. "But they sensed that its growing. The best time to assess is after Solstice, when theyve all returned home. See who spreads the discord then. If its grown while they were all celebrating together or snowed in with this storm."