𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕(𝙰𝙲𝙾𝚃𝙰𝚁)

𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 𝔣𝔬𝔯𝔱𝔶-𝔫𝔦𝔫𝔢

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

When I arrived back at the House of Wind, lugging three bags with me, I went straight to my bedroom.

I decided that avoiding questions from my family was the best way to go. I wasn't looking forward to explaining that I had met with Eris Vanserra on the border of the Autumn Court. I did not need that lecture at the moment.

I would bring the twins' their bags later, but for now, I would keep them propped against the deep blue walls of my room. The stars my mother had painted on them were still a vibrant white, enchanted to glow when the lights were off.

It didn't feel like my room. Not truly. It was my childhood room. The violet sheets the ones I was tucked into by my mother as a little girl, the lavender canopy the one that made me feel like a true princess when I was young.

Being in my old room was bittersweet. A sweet nostalgic feeling crept over me, but trumping it was a sad, deep longing. It only reminded me of better times. When I was a spoiled child who had never suffered a day in her life. When my mother was alive. And when I still believed that my father loved me.

No, I much preferred Azriel's bedroom to mine. Even if it didn't have any windows. When we got a place of our own, I would insist on windows in our bedroom. Maybe even a skylight so we could stare at the stars as we drifted off.

I sat on my old bed, dragging my bag onto it with me. As I carefully untied it, a soft smile formed on my lips. The bag must've been enchanted, because the portrait inside was much too big to fit.

I pulled the portrait from the bag, smiling at the large, framed painting. Me with the children. Just the three of us. I was standing behind them, a smile on my face. It was painted before Elio had managed to destroy the last ounce of joy in me.

The children were around ten, standing in front of me, one of my hands on each of their shoulders. They were smiling, too. Once they got older, smiles were rare from them.

Diana and I were wearing matching dresses, ones I'd had made for us specifically. I'd tried to get them done in Night Court colors, but Beron had put a stop to that the second he got wind of it. So we were in silk gowns of deep maroon, black lace adorning them. Gideon wore a suit of the same colors.

I decided I would hang it in the foyer of whatever home Azriel and I moved into together. I would get one done of Azriel and me for the sitting room. Maybe the twins could join us in that one, but only if they were comfortable with it.

Beneath the portrait rested the dress I had worn to my 26th birthday celebration. Deep red, and velvet. Short sleeves with wide shoulder lines, and a ruby broach meeting in the middle of the neckline. Roses and pearls adorned the short sleeves.

I felt something tugging my hair, and I whirled around, only to realize it was one of Az's shadows. Isra. I sighed, giving her a look.

"Is he looking for me?" I asked her.

She soared up as confirmation, then whirled in a circle around my head. I chuckled, rolling my eyes.

"Come on, then," I decided, getting to my feet. "Take me to him."

She shot forward, and I had to urge her to slow down. She led me down the halls until we arrived at my mate's bedroom.

"Isra was growing impatient," I teased as I entered the room.

He was standing by the bed, shedding all the hidden weapons from his leathers. It was amazing to me the places he managed to hide them. It wasn't like his leathers were bulky in any way.