A Court of Wind and Song (Bonus Version)

The Red Star

In the Middle of 76: Reunion

Rhysand

Starfall had always been my favorite holiday. I supposed that it was fitting, the most important holiday to the Night Court would be my favorite.

The last before the war, that pivotal moment between Feyre and I, had all but cemented it as my favorite. The next, right after the war ended, when my sister had seen it for the first time in 500 years, had put the nail in the coffin. She had stood next to me on this very balcony, a shimmering gown twinkling under the stars, smiling as they shined down at their ruler. The Mother of Stars, the Queen of Light, but she had simply just looked like my sister to me.

It wasn't common these days, to look at Leur and see the little girl who used to follow me everywhere. We had both grown up, had survived loss and war and the ravages of a long life, we became rulers of our respective territories burdened with responsibility and power. But every once in a while, there would be a glimpse of it. Little moments when she laughed as she flew, when she looked up at me with wide eyes, when she stood behind Azriel and peeked out behind his shoulder. Just flashes of what used to be, and a bittersweet feeling in my chest at the sight of her all grown up.

And when I looked over at her and saw her watching the stars cross the sky, I had seen my little sister. That childhood magic of Starfall, something I had lost long ago, returned in the wonder on her face. Perhaps I would ask Feyre to paint it for me one day, so I would never forget it.

It would have been nice, to look at that painting right now. I should have been happy, standing in secluded silence with my mate on my arm. I should have been enjoying the night with my family. But all I could think about was the death looming behind me and the fact that my sister was not here.

"Rhys." Feyre whispered softly, a hand rubbing circles between my wings. It was my only comfort, my only tether to something good.

"I miss her." I answered, barely even thinking, "I'm so tired of missing her."

"Azriel has barely been home in weeks. He will find a way." She comforted, "She's not gone, Rhys."

"I know." I answered, "I'm just..." I shook my head, turning to face my mate, "I swore that I would protect her, that I would never be without her again. Not just for her, but for myself. And if my mother were here-"

Feyre cut me off, "If your mother were here she would be proud of the person and brother you have become, Rhys."

"How can you know?" I pressed my head into her neck, soothing myself with her scent.

"Because I know you, I know Leur, I know Cassian and Azriel. Someone who raised people like you would not blame you for something you can't control."

"I just have this feeling." I frowned, my voice a dull whisper, "Like something is about to happen."

"Something is about to happen, Rhys." She laughed, "They're turning out the lights. You can feel the stars coming."

That wasn't it.

This feeling, it was familiar.

Like dread in the pit of my stomach, like every molecule in my body was on the edge of something I could not see. And when the stars began their crossing, filling up the night sky with streaks of multicolored light, it only intensified. Something was pulling on me, on my blood, on my heart beating in my chest. As if there was a pin in my heart, biting in pain with every thump.

And then I felt it, a shift in the air, in the sky above. I could feel something... as if the sky had ripped open into some pathway beyond my comprehension. Something that did not belong here.