A VOW OF STARS ---- [ACOTAR]

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CHAPTER TWENTY

feels like we had matching wounds

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There was no one at the lobby that morning, when Elayla slipped downstairs in desperate need for coffee, the flames were still cracking in the fireplace, the birds chirped outside as the sun peeked up from the pink horizon.

It's been ages since she had witnessed a sunrise as beautiful as that one, actually, she never had the will to enjoy sunrises, since her first thing to do in the morning was start training with Azriel and Cassian.

Sitting on the couch, hot steam flew from her mug as she stared at the small portraits hanging on the walls of the living room, not as official and divine looking like the ones of her father with his parents and sister, back in the house of wind, but ones with the silly moments and special occasions. 

She could recognize the one Rhysand made the day she lost her first tooth, or the one they got the first time she managed to fly, they were all treasured memories of a childhood that ended drastically.

Sometimes, Elayla wondered how beautiful would've it been to grow up with him around, she wondered if it would've made her turn into a better female. Those thoughts were not really rare for her, haunting her in the middle of the night when everyone was sound asleep.

"Screw that," She muttered to herself, standing up to move the frame so it would face the wall instead. 

The happiness in that frame suffocated her, it choked her and burned her alive. Why couldn't she be happy again? Why couldn't she just snap out of it?

Someone stepped down the stairs, and Elayla's violet eyes snapped from the pictures to the source of the sound, "Just because you won't let me in your present doesn't mean you can take me out of your past." Rhysand spoke from the stairs, and Layla's shoulders tensed.

"Good morning." She managed to greet quietly, trying not to fold under the weight of her guilt. "Coffee?"

He stared at her for what felt like an eternity, and she felt her bitterness shrink under his gaze. She wanted to forgive, Gods knew how much she did, but there they were.

"I'd love that, thank you." He finally replied, his voice quiet as if his voice could spook her away. 

She handed him a mug, "You're sure it's not poisoned?" He asked, and Elayla couldn't tell if he was joking or not.

"i'm many things, but I wouldn't murder..." Her voice trailed down. "I wouldn't murder my father."

She could hate him, could curse him, but at the end of the day he was her Baba, the man who literally was half of her. The word tasted strange in her mouth. He was her father, her only blood-related family, and yet she still couldn't believe that he would stay, that for some reason, he was back once and for all. 

He clenched his jaw slightly and nodded. "I know, Sweetheart." He muttered quietly.

The door opened before she could say anything, Azriel, Cassian and Mor appeared at the doorstep. "You still aren't ready?" Morrigan frowned.

"Feyre haven't woken up yet." Rhysand shrugged. "And you might as well be the one who breaks the news to her."

"Always leaving the dirty business to me." The blonde rolled her eyes at her cousin, "I'll see you boys later."

"Well, look who's got colour back into her cheeks." Cassian finally noticed Elyayla, his lips tugging up in a smie.

"Morning, Cass." She smiled slightly.

"Your clothes aren't warm enough for the flight." Azriel remarked, giving Elayla a pointed look.

"I'm not wearing Illyrian leathers for a visit to the mortals." She retorted, letting out a deep sigh. 

Rhysand watched the interaction, holding himself from saying something he'd regret. His brothers managed to do their best in raising Elayla while he was absent, but that didn't make him stop that envy that blossomed at the thought that they knew his own daughter better than he did.

For now, he swallowed it, because he wanted a second chance at being her father. No, he needed that second chance, maybe it was selfish, but he needed the confirmation that he wasn't completely like his father.