Wind Wielder

Chapter 22 - Family Dinners

When Rhys and Zara arrived in front of the Townhouse that night, Zara had the distinct feeling she was going to war.

Of course, that wasn't true. She had already been to war. It sucked.

War wasn't entering the steps of a well loved Townhouse like she was now, in a formidable dress of terracotta and gold, Rhys at her back. But that was just the problem. This place, this home, it was well loved.

And Zara Aphelion was intruding on the family dinner of the inner circle of the Night Court.

For her, that felt like she was inherently crossing all kinds of boundaries, that clearly Feyre and Rhys did not see, or did not care enough about if they were inviting her and then carrying her into their home.

Upon entering the Townhouse for dinner, Zara was struck with the mouthwatering scent of butter mashed potatoes, chicken, and some roasted vegetables for supper. A classic, domestic meal.

A family meal.

The next thing Zara noticed was the bellowing deep laughter of Cassian from the sitting room, brought on from Azriel's quiet taunts, who sat across from his brother with a quiet smirk. Despite being in the townhouse before, Zara paused once she entered the entranceway. Rhys stepped out from behind her, moving to the whiskey decanter on the fine stand in the corner of the room that Cassian and Azriel had already helped themselves to.

The former turned his dark eyes towards Zara. "Evening Zappy, have fun training with Rhys?"

Zara rolled her eyes at the insufferable title, resisting the urge to cross her arms. "I think it's safe to say I've officially become a master at glamors."

Cassian raised a brow. "I thought you were supposed to be working on making sparks."

Making sparks? Making sparks?! Killing a third of a fucking army with a treacherous uncontrollable surge of power was not making sparks.

Instead of showing her displeasure, Zara merely smirked as if unbothered and willed lightning to appear at her hands. Cassian jumped in surprise and Azriel damn near leapt from the couch.

Zara grinned, and the lightning soon morphed into fire, which then morphed into a dagger. And just for good measure, she turned her hair bright red and straight. "I can make sparks, and fire, and whatever else you'd like me to. I'm very multi-talented that way."

Azriel scowled as he sat back down in his seat. She could have sworn she had seen what looked like relief on his face, before he realized it was a glamor. "It's good talent for a spy, at least."

"Shall I glamor all your favorite deserts onto the dinner table tonight Azriel, and see which one you drool over most?" Zara purred, though there was resentment laced with every syllable.

Rhys came back into the room, a feline grin on his face as he offered Zara a glass of wine which she graciously accepted. "Is that what Az has you trying to discover? He never did tell me what he was going to get you to spy for."

"Even I don't know his favorite dessert." Cassian grumbled.

Azriel shrugged good naturedly. "Had to make sure it was something she couldn't go ask the cheaters for."

"I'm not a cheat," Cassian protested.

"But you're not above a good bribe either," Zara muttered below her breath. Cassian and Rhys shot her an incredulous look, and she felt the tips of her ears turn pink as she realized they had heard her. "The winds thought it wise to mention you used to accept bribes playing one of the camp's school games when you were young and in Illyria. They told me when I asked them about you upon first meeting you." She explained, albeit a bit sheepishly.