A Court of Heritance and Destiny

Chapter 10 Ikarad

Midnight came closer and the chatter had started to die down, Etera had excused herself and left an hour ago. Both to Ikarads relief and worry. She had been able to eat during dinner, but he had noticed how she struggled the last hour before leaving. No one else seemed to notice, mostly due to the focus resting on what was going on in a different room.

Mor, Nesta, Gwyn and Amren saw in one corner playing cards, Orion had switched places with Cassian, and was now taking time to eat. Azriel was out shouting the area and Nyx... Ikarad looked for his brother, and came up empty.

He found him on the same balcony from the dinner a few weeks back, leaning on the railing as the stars came alive above them.

"Feeling alright?" Ikarad asked, seeing how Nyx let out a deep breath.

"No..." Nyx turned around. "I can't describe it, but something will go to hell... I can feel it." Ikarad tried to find the feeling, but his mind only wandered over to his sleeping mate.

"Don't you think mom and dad have projected their anxieties onto us?" He asked.

"No... Or..." Nyx shook his head. "I try to relax, but I can't... It feels like we are missing something, something huge..."

"Like what? Dad and you have placed wards around the house, Orion, Azriel, Cassian and me on guard duty, the most powerful group of warriors ever lived is inside this house. Only a mad male would try to do something."

"For some reason, that is not comforting." Nyx dragged his hands over his face. "How is Etera?"

"Tired..." Ikarad bit his tongue. "You know that she is the only one in this family who actually sleeps."

"Yea... yea..." Nyx looked back out over the city. "I keep thinking that I will lose the mark of being the true heir." He then said,

"What do you mean?"

"That the magic will leave me and choose this one instead, and a part of me wants that, to not feel the burden of the court anymore."

"Don't think like that." Ikarad placed a hand on his brother's arm. "Things will turn out fine." As he said the words, Azriel landed, his dark features said nothing about his flight. And then.

A loud cheer came from inside. The tree of them walked back in, only to see Rhys standing there with a proud look on his face.

"You have a little sister!" He called out, earning a mix of even more cheering and some moans of displeasure after the bet. "Everyone is healthy." The words had so many meanings at that moment.

"I will tell Etera." Ikarad said and walked away, leaving his father to celebrate with the rest for a moment.

His old room was on the second floor, just a few doors away from his parents room. His mother had painted the night sky on the ceiling, and even after so many years he always loved coming back there for a quick rest. Now his mate layed there on the bed, a thin blanket over her body and an arm flung over her face.

"Love?" Ikarad squatted down, gently moving her shoulder. "I have a sister." He smiled when she opened an eye. But it quickly faded from his face as he took in her face. Pale... and her forehead blank of sweat. "Etera?" He asked, placing his hand on her face.

"Congratulations." She whispered back, before closing her eyes, her face twisted as if she was in pain.

"What is going on?" He asked, taking her hand in his. "Shall I call Madja?"

"Just a cramp..." She said, but her features did not match. "Go down there and celebrate with them, I will come when it has passed..."

"No." Ikarad held on to her hand. "I am not leaving. You are more important right now." A stone formed in his stomach.