A Court of Kindness and Love

Chapter Twelve

"I will cry in joy!" I cheered as we landed in front of the town house, finally back home!
"Don't celebrate too soon Darcy, visit to the camps is in a few days," Amren patted my arm and walked right into the town house, followed by the rest of them. Not considering at all that maybe me and Rhys would love to have some time alone when we just came back home. But that would be a lot to ask from her, privacy was something that Amren found foreign when it came to someone else than hers, the others no better than her at all.
'Having the river estate already, we could get lost there and they wouldn't be able to find us.'
Rhys planted another seed of his grand plan to sway me into setting the moving into a new home into motion. I honestly suspect he is already doing more than just talking about the estate, it's just way too convincing for him to speak in this way out of nowhere. He surely has something planned and I can't wait to find out what it will be, because when it comes to Rhys and shadowing for something, it's always worth the wait.
'I think you are right.'
I admitted, laughing as loud clinking of glass echoed from the open doors of our home. So they chose to celebrate our homecoming already, unbelievable.
Rhys wrapped his arms around me and took me into embrace, savouring the few calm moments before we will need to go inside and face the others and their idea of celebrating.
As I hid my face into his warm chest, he hid his face into my hair and both of us shamelessly inhaled the other's scent. This was one of the peaks of the mating bond.
Scent of your mate is really something, it will never occur to you that this will be even a thing, at least it didn't occur to me. But once the bond snaps into place, out of the blue, something alluring finds its way into your nose and travels into your heart, where it plants a seed of calmness. The scent of your mate is the best thing you can smell, it allows you to sense their mood just by it, his natural scent is always coloured by the change in his mood.
If he is calm, the scent is like lazy winds of midnight air, that caress your skin when you are stargazing. If he is happy, his citrusy bequest is more prominent, accompanied by hits of scent of sun kissed garden. When he is horny, the sandalwood part of his natural scent is way more prominent accompanied by cherry blossoms all covered in midnight hue, the combination is one of the tastiest ones. Love has its beautiful scent in Rhys, summer evening air and warmth, just inhaling this one can give me feelings of drug highs. When he is sad, the scent of forest after rain is almost clouding everything else. This scent is one I fear the most, because naturally having your mate sad is nothing you would love to experience.
Right now it was a mixture of calmness and love and I'm sure he could read the same from my own scent. Being in his arms, just existing in peace, it was so beautiful. His hand caressed my back slowly and he was placing a few kisses into my hair where his face was still hiding.
Once we finally accepted that we would need to go and join them, we walked into the living room, where the fireplace was already lit up and around the sofas was spread our family with glasses of something, that was surely Rhys' personal collection of alcohol, freshly fetched from his cellar.
"Finally, come join us!" Cass outright invited us to join them in our own home, in our own living room to drink our own alcohol. Something only Cass can do with such confidence.
"When you are so generously inviting us," Rhys drawled with clear amusement and crashed into his favourite armchair by the fireplace and took me on his lap, placing a kiss on my shoulder out of habit once I seated myself comfortably.
"Ah, don't mention it brother!" Cass' eyes were already shining with the power of alcohol, it made me think how long we were standing outside our doors, just embracing and inhaling the presence of each other.
"I will let you have that cousin, you got better at warding your alcohol cabinet, but those tricks are old news, this specific ward we managed to crack when we were in our two digit age," Mor wiggled with her glass full of red wine and old looking wine bottle was in front of her on table, next one peeking from side of her chair. Her words sent my mate into low laughter that vibrated in his chest.
Thinking about it, they knew each other for so long. I mean, they all are over five hundred years old and they know each other from two digit age. That is impressive. The level of deep understanding must be really something.
I noticed the way they communicate, most of the time only one look can speak for long sentences. They can tell so much from just a simple facial expression, one little crunch or twitch and the other knows what is happening in their head.
It's really something I'm looking forward to learning, being able to read them just as well as they all can. I never had someone close as they are to each other, not even back in camps. The girls I helped never stayed for long enough to form a bond, Veronica, she was probably the first and last person I called friend, but when she left to help build the sanctuary for other girls and progress with our plans, even she got lost from my reach.
"You know I will never make it way too difficult for you guys to steal my liquor, the wards are there just for a good measure," Rhys waved them away and grabbed his own glass to pour himself whiskey, but I reached over and poured the liquor into his glass instead, smiling at him with a warm smile as I did so.
"I think we should write into Spring today, so the things set into motion, we don't have time to waste," Amren broke the friendly poking and jumped right into the business. I would be honestly disappointed if she would do anything else.
"Practical as always Amren," Mor took a large sip from her glass and laid more comfortably into the cushions.
"Someone needs to be," she didn't even bother to shrug as she indirectly called them all impractical.
"I'm a very practical person Amren, did you forget about the time where I managed to fetch the keys to your amartmen from Sindra without even getting wet?" Mor stated and gave her a very important look.
"How can I ever forget? You mention it at every opportunity you get," Amren rolled her eyes and opened the notebook she used for court dealings. If anyone was organised and had all things under perfect control, it was this little ancient one.
"Let's not forget that the fact you didn't get wet was because you pushed me into Sindra to fish out those damn keys," Cassian pointed with his glass at the blonde and gave her an offended look, something was telling me that he didn't forget her yet for her actions.
"That doesn't matter to her argument. It was still a practical solution," Amren dismissed Cass' remark without even raising her eyes from the page she was now writing on and Mor hid her amused smirk behind the wine glass.
"Cass came back home soaked, half frozen and couldn't look at keys for a whole week," Az leaned towards me and whispered this little gossip, making me laugh at the idea of Cassian, a whole ass general, being offended by something so small like keys.
"Alright, let's stop the gossip club for a moment and focus on the matter on our hands," Amren once again put hold on our conversations. "We need to write to Tamlin and start working on getting him to agree for his wife to let us work with her sisters. We don't know when the queens will write back and we better have this settled before they reply, so we don't have empty hands and prolong the debating period for longer than necessary," she said and raised her head finally to look at us, her black hair in wavy bob brushing over her shoulder from that motion.
"It would be better if we leave out any details from the letter. If he gets wind of what we plan, he would not bother and refuse straight away," Rhys nodded and his hand that was wrapped around me was gently stroking my belly as he was speaking. "Let the letter sound vague, no specific details or any mentioning of his wife and her sisters. Just mention there, that we need to talk about important matters that touch even his court and his assistance is needed or something like that, you are better at this than me," his voice was light and his shoulder relaxed as he was speaking. I liked it when he was calm, it let my own heart at ease. Honestly I thought he would find it little difficult to deal with the other High Lord, since he indirectly supported the fifty years of capture the other High Lords were in with his passivity and lack of actions.
But I should know better, if anyone can handle something with a calm and relaxed exterior, it's Rhys. No matter if he is inside in any way affected by the things that are needed to be done, he will just proceed with it and let the negative emotions that go with the theme behind.
It's an admirable skill, one I would love to learn as well, since the title I hold will surely bring alongside with it a lot of potentially sensitive topics and themes, which I will be needed to handle and I don't plan to look like a mess while doing so. I would much prefer to look so effortlessly great like Rhys.
"Sounds good, I will write it and let you read over it, then you will send it, preferably today," Amren was writing quickly down her notes, giving one look to my mate as she set up an ultimatum for the letter to be sent.
Rhys just nodded and let his head fall on my shoulder, where he let it rest. When I turned to look at his handsome face, his eyes were closed and I couldn't help the smile on my lips as I watched him this close. He was otherworldly, it will never stop astonishing me that he is mine.
'Only yours.'
He mused into my mind, sounding greatly pleased with my mind process.
'You do love to be inside my head.'
I raised my hand and started to play with his dark locks, brushing through them with my fingers, my eyes still taking in his content appearance.
'I certainly do, your head is heaven for a male like me. I love all the praises and compliments waiting for me at each corner of your mind. It's my favourite place to be.'
He placed a kiss on my exposed shoulder, a smile now tugging on his lips.
'I thought your favourite place to be was inside me?'
I innocently mused and needed to bite my lips to stop the laughter when his eyes snapped wide open at my words, a predatory grin appearing on his kissable lips.
'When it comes to you Darcy Darling, each part of you is my favourite place, it looks like I can't choose just one, you are just too perfect.'
His words sent blush on my cheeks and he looked mightily pleased with himself with my reaction, because he let his eyes close once again and a very pleased smile now dancing on his lips.
I let my own eyes close and my head rested on Rhys' head. It was nice to be back home, the familiarity of our own house, the scents, the warmth and atmospheres, everything holding the sense of belonging, sense of safety.
Resting like this in our living room, hidden in my mate's arms, no threats or pressing matters to disturb us, our family members safely with us in the room, enjoying themselves over a glass or two. It was those moments that mattered the most, at least for me, the feelings belonging and happiness.
"I think we should go for dinner into the city, we haven't visited Sevenda for a long time," Mor shared her idea, which sounded just amazing.
"That's a good idea, we can celebrate," Rhys mused from our resting place, his words making me open my eyes and look at him, what is there to celebrate? Us coming back home? Thinking about it, that's a pretty good reason for celebration.
"And what will be celebrating Rhysie?" Cass sounded eager, he wouldn't pass any opportunity to enjoy good food and drinks.
"This morning I got informed that the workers started on the River Estate," he informed us, opening his eyes that connected with mine own, mischievous glint shining in them.
I knew he was planning something, but this idea never crossed my mind. He doesn't waste any time it looks like.
"They do?" I asked, fighting with a wide smile from my face, but losing the fight miserably and soon I was grinning like a wildcat with excitement all over my face.
"Hmm," he raised his hand to my face and stroked my cheek with his slender finger, smiling gently. "Why wait? The estate is large and I'm sure this whole mess can settle before it's finished, if not, then the location is strategically located way better than this house," he explained, his levanter eyes still glued on me.
I nodded, leaning down to kiss him. The message from his words was clear. He hoped to have this whole mess dealt with as soon as possible. He hoped that it will be over before the estate is repaired and we will move inside. It was wishful thinking but damn hope was all we could have, this dream to hold upon.
"Oh my! Why didn't you say anything sooner?! I need to start planning all the ideas and designs!" Mor exclaimed and when I raised my face from Rhys to look at her, she looked so excited about her new goal.
"Are you aware that it's their home? Not yours?" Cassian raised his brows at her.
"Of course I'm! But who would I be if I didn't help them? And you need to agree that I have amazing taste," she sent a charming smile his way and then turned towards me and Rhys, looking expectantly at both of us.
"Why are you looking like that?" I asked, not sure what she wanted and my question made Rhys laugh lightly.
"She wants assurance that we will let her help us plan it," he explained, his handsome face turning to face his cousin. "It's up to Darcy, I don't care till you won't overstep the acceptable lines."
"I don't mind, it will be home to you all as well, I think you all have the right to have a say in it," I smiled at each of them.
The estate is large, it will be theirs home as well, that was the reason we even started to talk about moving away from the Town House. I wanted them to have a place with us, to have their own space in our home if they decide to spend some time with us and simply said, they chose to spend their time with us all the time. So it will be nice if they will be able to have their own space to stay instead of having to return half drunk into the bird nest and their other apartments.
"I just love you," Mor squeaked and clapped happily with her hands. It was clear on her face that she was already planning all the ways she would like to decorate the new home.
"It's impossible to not love her," Rhys grinned at her and then turned to me and gave me an adoring look.
'You spoil them all too much.'
His voice in my head was coloured by affection.
'I can't help it, it's my nature, you should know the best, you are at the receiving end of my spoiling all the time.'
It was true, I tended to spoil everyone. Maybe it can be blamed on the fact that I want everyone around me to be happy. Or the way I was raised. Back in my old life, I never had the luxury of spoiling anyone and now that I have the opportunity to do so, I have no self control whatsoever.
"You two get your fingers from our rooms, we will plan them ourselves, right Az?" Cassian went to immediately set up boundaries for the two females, who got a free pass to get involved into setting up the estate.
"I would prefer at least to have a say in what my room will look like," Azriel nodded, a warm smile dancing on his face. Lately, he was more comfortable with letting his emotions be seen.
"Of course, I wanted to decorate it all in pink and white, but I'm sure I can settle on a compromise with your room, maybe levanter and baby pink? I see the main theme in pastel colours for your bedroom Az, what do you think Darcy?" Mor grinned widely at the shadowsinger, whose face almost immediately turned greatly offended by the ideas Mor presented for his room.
"I thought maybe more subtle colours. Sky blue and grass green maybe?" I half answered half giggled, very much aware of the colour scheme Az had in his room in the bird nest, simple and dark, preferably shades of black and grey, where he feels like home, but little teasing never hurt anyone.
"And for Cassian's?" Amren held a serpent-like smile, her canine fangs showing.
"I think Cass will feel the best in your preferred colour scheme Amren, gold and ruby red, preferably wall length mirrors over every wall so he can admire himself on every opportunity," at this point I was openly laughing, because it was impossible to hold back when Cass looked like he doesn't know if to agree or protest and the girls were now laughing loudly at the idea.
"I think you get at least one of them completely right," Rhys said and I swear Cass was fighting his instincts to not jump at him and strangle his brother.
"Don't you worry guys, all of you will decorate your own rooms by yourselves," I promised at last, still in a greatly uplifted spirit.
"Now, you all should go and get prepared for the dinner, we will meet at the place," Rhys helped me to stand up and joined me right after, wrapping his arm back around my waist.
"We just started with the bottles!" Cass exclaimed, looking from the open bottle to us and back.
"You can take them with you," he waved with his free hand and that was the magic word that was needed, because Cassia and Mor's eyes lit up and both of them grabbed the bottles, sharing a look that promised they would go and finish them somewhere else. My bet is a bird nest.
'I kinda pity Az, he won't get any peace with these two drinking up there.'
I said to Rhys and watched the shadowsinger to measure the two of them with resignation in his hazel eyes.
'He won't get any peace even there, believe me, he would prefer to be up there with them instead there.'
He assured me and when he turned his head to look at me, his face was full of dirty promises that made me weak in my knees.
'Yes, you are right.'
I needed to bite my cheek to stop the excited grin from forming, his plans were as always perfect and up to my taste, better than sit there and watch them get drunk, way better.
"See you at seven sharp," Amren packed her notebook and coat, setting the time for us to arrive. She gave me a curt nod with a small smile and left without any care for the alcohol that was being hoarded by the duo eagerly.
"You two come in acceptable state," Rhys instructed Mor and Cass, who both held in their arms the bottles which were moments ago hidden strategically around the places where they were sitting and with large grins left for the doors.
"Don't worry, I will keep an eye on them," Az promised, giving me another warm smile and followed after the two of them.
It didn't even take that much of any effort and they all were gone, leaving the two of us finally alone. It was a nice change, as much as I love the lovely sounds of having our family there with us, I also love the comfortable silence when I'm alone with my mate.
It didn't take more than a few seconds before the doors closed behind them and he crashed his lips on mine, stealing my breath away with the force he was kissing me.
My hands immediately went up to his neck and hair, keeping him close to me. It was so damn long since we were able to enjoy ourselves in the comfort of our own home and I planned to take full advantage of the hours we had before the dinner would take place.
Soon I found myself laying on my back on a sofa with Rhys towering on top of me, balancing his weight on one hand and the other one sneaking under the skirt of my dress, caressing my thigh, brushing and squeezing the skin there.
The sweet scent of arousal filled the air and I moaned at the burning sensation that started to run across my body, feeding the flame of my desire for him with mighty force.
"I want to have you in my mouth," I whispered into the kiss that was claiming my soul.
He disconnected our lips and looked down at me, smug smirk on his lips as he watched me breathe heavily with his eyes now clouded with hue of lust and desire.
"Do you?" He squeezed my ass under the dress, earning himself eager nods from me.
He helped me to stand and he himself very comfortably positioned on the sofa in front of me, placing his hands behind his head, leaving me to do whatever I wanted. I dropped to my knees in front of him and held his intense gaze as I placed my arms on his strong thighs and stroked them up and down a few times, before I let my hands brush across his covered manhood and up to the belt, opening it up.
"Don't let yourselves be interrupted, pretend like I'm not here, I just forgot this little one there," out of nowhere Cassian's damn voice echoed through the room and I froze in my motion. "There it is, I'm out, keep up, bye!" Glass clicked in the air and his steps began to move again and with that, he was gone, sooner before any of us could react or even answer.
I looked back at Rhys, my cheeks now flushed crimson pink at the realisation in what position he saw us, but he looked completely unfazed by it, if anything he was amused.
I decided to let it be a problem of the future and went back to my task, now pretty sure nobody will interrupt us again. I opened his belt and pats, pushing them down as I held his gaze still, licking my lips at the idea that he will soon be in my mouth.
Once his pants were down, I caressed his now exposed thighs again, shuffling closer to him on my knees. With gentle hands, I took his dick into both of my hands and stroked him up and down. Admiring the view in front of me, I got my hunger on extreme levels and without wasting any seconds I bent down and licked his cock from the base to the tip.
I got back a satisfied growl from him, that sent thrilling chills down my spine right into my core, that started to get soaked just by the fact I was able to have him all to myself. My tongue circled around the tip and licked there, before I took him inside my mouth, closing my lips around him and pushing as deep as I could manage while adoring the rest of him with my hands.
"Oh fuck," he growled and threw his head back, his dick twitching from the excitement at my touches.
I took his reaction as motivation and went right to my work. My head was moving up and down as I sucked on his cock and with each rise of my head I swirled my tongue around him, earning grunts and growls from him as praises.
One of my hands moved to his balls and I started to gently knead and stroke them as I still worked on his dick with my lips and tongue. This little motion made him finally moan my name and I felt a hot pulse in my core at the way my name rolled so sinfully from his lips, that it was now parted.
Soon enough his patience ran thin and his hand sneaked into my hair, where he wrapped them firmly around his fingers and as he connected our eyes, he started to dictate the pace of how he was burying himself inside my mouth.
Small tears started to roll from my eyes when he was hitting the far back of my throat and breathing began to be an almost impossible task to do as my saliva found its place almost everywhere.
"You look so fucking beautiful with my cock inside your pretty mouth," he gritted through his teeth and I moaned at his words and opened my mouth even wider to gain him better access for him to fuck my mouth all he wanted.
He took the liberty of fucking my mouth as he wished after I provided him the access. His length was disappearing so deep, that I felt him deep inside my throat. I could feel my wetness travelling across my inner thighs from how much I enjoyed this and if it would be possible I would moan at the sight of him.
He was watching intensely, his eyes now a much darker shade of purple, full of hunger. His mouth was parted, taking shallow breaths as his hips were switching from faster pace to slower, leaving me to take gasps of air there and there.
He came with a loud groan and I swallowed each drop of his load, licking him clean with those always watching eyes on me, admiration in them as he took in each of my greedy strokes of my tongue to not waste even the slightest drop.
"My turn," he grinned with sultry satisfaction all over his face and he bent down and took me into his arms, placing me on the sofa instead of him.
One elegant wave of his hand and my dress was gone, leaving me naked on the sofa while he opened my legs wide apart, his eyes shining with satisfaction when he took in the mess I was for him.
"Oh love, you are soaked," he purred, admiring my core.
I cried out when his fingers brushed over my pussy with a feather-like touch, titling his head.
"Please Rhys," I pleaded, my voice cracking over the need for being finally touched.
He raised his eyes to give me the dirtiest of smiles and brushed his fingers over my folds and that smile only grew in intensity when he spread the pooling wetness and inhaled deeply, groaning deeply.
"That scent of yours, love," his fingers caressed over my entrance and up to my bundle of joy, but never giving the right touch, always changing direction, building the anticipation inside me to impossible highs.
Loud moan left my swollen lips when he finally pushed his finger inside me, his eyes holding mine locked in place as I felt myself clench around his finger and rolled my eyes when he added a second one and the sound of wetness came as an answer to his movements inside me.
I was whirling and shaking under the pressure of building pleasure just from his fingers moving inside me and swear I saw all what was holly to me when he take his fingers out of me, spread me legs even wider apart and dive between my thighs, licking my pussy with long, eager swipe of his tongue and growled at the taste of my arousal.
Loud moans and cries of pleasure filled our living room when he unleashed himself on me and devoured me with the hunger of a starving male. I let my hands travel into his hair and held him down there while I had my head limp behind me, resting on the sofa, my fight to keep my eyes open was long lost.
It didn't take him long to send me over the edge and made me scream his name as I started to see stars on my eyelids and my whole body was being taken over by a supernova eruption, burning each of my nerves with the blissful force of pleasure.
<>
Rhys decided that we will take a walk to the restaurant where others were already waiting for us. It was just lightly after seven so we were not that late. After our little dirty activities we lost track of time and enjoyed ourselves in a long and warm bath, taking a nap after it. Lately it was easy for me to become exhausted even from the smallest of exercises.
I was being assured that it's no big deal when we will arrive later after I started to freak out about being late when we woke up. He stated with all flirtatious laughter that it was his style to be fashionable late.
The twins showed up and even though I was being assured even by them that High Lady can never be late, that others only arrive early, I still ushered them to work quickly and don't bother with unnecessary details on my look. Rhys enjoyed the show from the comfort of our bed, where he lay already dressed and grinned from ear to ear at the scene in front of him.
I ended up dressed in a beautiful dress made from warmer, silver material with a long skirt and half long sleeves, perfect for the more chilled weather that now surrounded Velaris. They put on my black coat that was embroidered with phases of the moon on my shoulder blades and stars were pouring down all the way to the hem of the cloak. It was a piece of art. Even the hem of the hood was embroidered with swirling patterns, accompanied by little stars there and the same pattern was used on the hems of sleeves of the cloak.
Cerridwen curled my hair into soft waves and let them fall freely, not that she didn't had in mind to braid them into something complicated as always, but once I noticed what she started to do I put quickly stop on it, much to loud amusement of my mate and she resigned at any protests and proceeded only with curling them.
Nualla dusted my eyelids with silver dust, covered my lashes in black paste and patted cherry gloss on my lips and with that was finished my makeup, the twins were never fans of anything heavy and I was endlessly thankful for that.
I was endlessly thankful for that gorgeous cloak keeping me warm as we were crossing the roads of Velaris. I was positively sure that soon the first snow would fall, because the clouds looked heavy and temperature started to only drop and drop.
Residents of the city were greeting us with bright and wide smiles, some bowed their heads and kids eagerly waved when they saw us passing by. It was something that I found myself to cherish even more deeply after the visit to Hewn City, where everyone is bitter and pretentious.
As we finally reached the restaurant that was only few steps away from us, Rhys stopped us on the bridge, that held look at the Rainbow and positioned me between the railing and his body, resting his head on top of mine and both of us looked at the beautiful mixture of the colours that mixed with the water of Sindra.
"Did I ever tell you, that this exact place was my sister's favourite place in this city?" He whispered, not daring to speak any louder in fear to disturb the magic of the picture in front of us that surrounded us.
"I wish I could have met her," I confessed, placing one hand over my belly, joining his hand there, where her niece was growing. It's so unfair she can't meet her, witness Rhys becoming father and be proud of him as she would watch him become such a great High Lord over their court.
"She would have loved you. You two would become friends very quickly, she had gold heart just like you do, always shining with her same bright light of hope you shine with, believing that world can become better place with strong enough determination," his voice was clouded with nostalgia and softened by the love he felt for his sister, I turned to look at him and saw a light smile on his face.
"Maybe, very far away from now, when we both will be old and grey, lived our lives fully and honoured memories of the ones we lost, we will meet her and I will befriend her and both of us will gang against you, tease the hell out of you," I smiled warmly at him and caressed his cheek.
"I'm not sure if I'm looking forward to this particular aspect of our reunion with her," his face lit up with a mischievous smile and he leaned down, kissing my lips with a soft kiss. "I love you so fucking much, I don't know how I deserve someone like you but I'm so damn selfish to look into where the Mother slipped and gifted me with actual treasure of hers," his voice was soft as his eyes traveled across my face and the most beautiful smile appeared on his face.
"I think she slipped when she gifted me her greatest achievement of her children as my mate, but I won't alert her, because you are the best thing that ever happened to me and I would never allow to be separated from you, not even by the Mother herself," I whispered and blinked emotional tears away, laughing lightly with wet laughter, this pregnancy was lately showering me with intense mixture of opposite feelings.
He lifted my face up to look at him and captured my lips in another sweet and gentle kiss, stroking my cheek with the hand he used to lift my head up, the other on my waist, keeping me close to his warm body.
Rhys leaned back and we smiled at each other like fools who are drowning in deep, endless waters of love, leaving the pull of that alluring waters to swipe us without any fight. I started to laugh loudly when a piece of fry landed on Rhys' head and when I looked up, I noticed that on the balcony were sitting our family who were now grinning widely and erupted into laughter when Rhys lifted his hand and picked the fry from his hair, looking completely stunned.
"Would you look at the audacity?" He said with disbelief in his voice, looking from the fry used as a weapon to me and back, shaking his head slightly.
"I think we should go or something worse will start to pour from the sky than fries," I giggled and took the violated fry from his hand and started to walk from the bridge.
Rhys quickly woke up from the shock and wrapped his hand back around me and led both of us to the restaurant.
We were greeted by cheerful Sevenda who waved at us with bright smile and Rhys lowered the shield around me for a moment so she can kiss my cheeks, before he raised it back into its original shape and let her kiss his own cheeks in greeting, before she ushered us upstairs and promised to bring our meals to us. That was her thing, you never have to pick your own mean, she chose one for you and let me tell you, it's always a perfect hit into bull eyes on the target of your taste buds.
"Took you long enough, I'm starving!" Cassian greeted us with a bright smile even though he was complaining, but we all know it is half meant.
"Don't throw food on my mate," I threw the fry on his own head, sitting down on the chair now widely grinning Rhys pushed off for me, my action sending waves of laughter across our table.
"What was I supposed to do when you wouldn't move?" He raised his eyebrows at me and picked another fry and placed it into his mouth, so Sevenda took pity on him and brought him at least a snack to munch on.
"Let them enjoy their little moment?" Mor offered a solution, but was greatly amused herself.
"Or mind your business and wait?" Az gave his brother a pointed look as he raised a bottle of juice that was on the table and poured me a glass, earning himself a bright smile as a thank you.
"That would be way too much to ask from him I suppose," Amren looked Cass up and down, pushing his button down as always.
"How did you enjoy yourself today? How was your drinking?" I tried to save the upcoming disaster, turning the conversation away from Cassian and his busybody tendencies.
At my words Az groaned and I turned to look at him, raising my eyebrows at his reaction.
"These two idiots decided to bake a damn bread while they were so drunk, that they saw the ingredients three times inside one," he started to speak, his voice full of despair over the ordeal he was forced to endure and gave a nasty look to the two of them. "The House was dropping one bread after another in an attempt to stop them. There is at least hundred of different takes on bread, including the last two attempts of the house to stop them, breads that looks like the two of them and one burden coal instead of bread, that is the reason why one whole stair smell like burned bread," he gave me look of pain and I fought my amusement at the image of what happened in the bird nest and patted his arm, offering at least a little bit of support.
"You should get drunk as well and join them," Amren looked openly amused and looked with raised eyebrows at Cassian and Mor, who were grinning widely from ear to ear, not looking sorry even in slightest.
"I don't usually drink in the daylight," he reminded her and took a long sip of his glass that had dark liquor inside.
"You meant to tell me that the two of you almost burned down the House of Winds?" Rhys laughed loudly at them.
"It's not like the two of you were any better," Cassian now held a wide smile on his lips and wiggled with his eyebrows. "The moment the doors shut behind us-" he started to speak with a very much satisfied smirk, but was very quickly interrupted by Rhys.
"Don't even go there Cassian, be happy I didn't misted you on the spot for that," he gave him a very unpleasant look and I blushed at the reminder of him walking on us when I was on my knees in front of Rhys.
"Don't be dramatic," Cass waved with his hand and took another fry from his plate, but it turned into a cloud of black, sparkling dust. He took another one, but it had the same fate and every another fry he took ended like a puff of sparkling dust. "Come on! It's not like I knew what I was walking on!" He whined and tried to grab another one, but even that one was misted without any mercy, making us all laugh at his desperate expression.
"You could at least save that remark to yourself," I mumbled, sipping on my juice, still blushing, damn the hormones that went loose.
"It wouldn't be Cassian without a witty remark," Amren gave him a very nasty look and then took out another notebook, one I didn't saw till now.
"What is this one for?" I asked her, faster than Cass could bite back at her.
"Oh, you will like this one," Amren grinned widely as she opened it and turned the notebook for us all to see. "I created planner for the nursery, there you will see all the plans and ideas in one place, I note there ideas which I find good and write down where is the best place to get the things that will be needed, it's handy little thing," she explained, pointing out neatly written notes and little sketches of different takes on the room. It was perfect and I never knew Amren can draw, this female is full of surprises I swear.
"Wow Amren, this is very thoughtful," I smiled at her brightly and even others were stunned by the unexpected surprise.
"I can't stand the thought of letting planning of the nursery go wild and uncontrollable, so this is the best way to prevent it and reach the best results. If any of you will have any idea, suggestion or remark dealing with the planning of nursery, you come to Darcy or to me and it will be written into this planner if it will be agreed on," Amren matter of factly added, closing the planner and handing it to me.
"I have so many ideas! I have a whole sketchbook full of little outfits that will be made by my favourite seamstress, we already agreed on the fabrics! So naturally, there will be a need for a large walk-in closet," Mor immediately started to pour her ideas for the nursery and my brows shot up to the sky as she proceeded with her little speech.
"Mor, don't you think that's a little over the top?" I gently tried to reason with her, because placing a walk-in closet into a room for a baby is a little too much, even for her standards.
"No it's not, write it down on the new page please," Amren handed me pen and my mouth fell open, Mor happily took the pen from her and placed it in front of me on the table, opening the notebook for me and tapping with her finger on the empty page for me to write.
"Right! It will be better than having the closet in the room, this way it will be built into the wall and leave more space for the room to be airy," Mor was nor in her passion and turned to Amren, who looked nowhere better than Mor and when she noticed my frozen state, she just took the planner and started to write the ideas down herself.
'The final word is yours Darcy darling, if you don't like that idea it won't happen.'
Rhys stroked my hair, waking me up from my shocked state and when I turned to face him, he looked way too amused as he watched this mess to unfold.
'I wanted a small room that would be cosy and preferably connected to our bedroom, but I think even you wouldn't have the power to stop these two in their plans.'
I smiled sheepishly at him and he seized the two of them once again before turning his gaze back on me and that amusement fell from his face when he realised that even the two of us are a small force to stop them from forcing this upon us.
The best we can hope for is that we will be able to somehow moderate their plans and keep the damage to minimum.
"You two put that upon yourself when you gave them free rein," Az leaned to the two of us and reminded us of the large mistake my stupidly good heart made.
When the food finally came, we all dived into the delicious meals Sevenda delivered herself and had full mouths to even try and keep up any conversation. It was impossible to talk over the meals from Sevenda, she was a food Goddess incarcerated, there is no other explanation.
The evening went in a light mood and pleasant talks over a wide range of topics. Cass was talking about how much he is excited to start training priestesses that came up with the idea of self defence classes and Cassian with Azriel took it upon themselves to teach them personally. Mor and Amren were deep in discussion about planning the nursery and sharing wild takes on potential designs for the whole estate.
Me and Rhys just joined that or that conversation, sharing our own ideas and thoughts, but mostly stayed silent and enjoyed the family time, taking it all in and watching with fond smiles how lively they started to discuss ideas about Mor designing their room and both of the guys very loudly protested on that.
These kinds of moments make one realise how much we already have, how much we should be grateful for the loving family that pulsed with life and happiness over little arguments over silly things that in the end didn't even matter at all.