Tethered to the Starlight: A Court of War and Starlight

Chapter 9: Rhys

Ianthe's face dropped in agony at first sight of blood. She fell to her knees and wept, her wails reaching an extremely high octave.

I looked at her with a smug look drawn across my face. "I warned you. My mate for your son, and you chose wrong." She lifted her head slowly, another tear falling to the floor. Her piercing blue eyes bore into mine with a ferocity I had seen many times before. Before I could react, she lunged at me, hands outstretched waiting for contact with my flesh. Unfortunately for her, she left her mental shields wide open during the emotional ordeal and I snaked my way in.

Her lunge was stopped short and she collapsed, writhing in pain. I moved to stand over her. Feyre looked at me with both fear and anger.

I'm sorry, my eyes said. She simply looked away.

Between her spasms, Ianthe spat, "You are no better than Amarantha. You will always just be her whore!" I bent down to take my chin in my hands, and I tilted her head so she met my gaze.

"Now listen here and listen good, I am not her whore. The difference between Amaranth and I is the fact that I will spare your worthless life and your son's."

Snapping my fingers, I released the hold on her mind. She sat up and blinked in confusion, when she found her son no longer lying on the ground and covered in blood. "But how?"

"A glamour," Feyre said with a gasp. "He put a glamour on your son."

If I hadn't been mistaken, I saw Ianthe shed a tear and extend her arms to her son who ran into them. She stroked his hair affectionately and planted small, feathery kisses on his forehead. "It's ok Raylen, Mommy is here now." He nested further into her shoulder using his stubby little year old legs. Picking him up, she turned to me. "Consider this neutral territory Rhysand. Man for man. Our advances will continue to ensue."

Feyre rushed to my side before Ianthe could do any more harm to her. She bent down to my ear and her warm breath tickled my neck. "Shall we show her?" Taking her hand in mine, I kissed it and patted it for good measure.

"Not yet my love, not yet." Ianthe turned to leave Rita's with Raylen in tow and I grasped onto her mind. I sent fragments of mismatched information all of which coaxed her to forget. I removed any traces of Feyre from her mind and replaced them with images of Raylen playing in an open meadow with her following closely behind. I allowed her to keep traces of Hybern and the Spring Court only so she and Raylen would have somewhere to flee to.

When the wrought iron door finally clicked shut, Feyre and I both heaved a sigh of relief.

I turned to her and took her face in my hands. "My mate," I purred. "Are you hurt? Did they touch you?" She simply shook her head and tears welled up in her eyes.

Wiping away at her wet face, she gave a shy smile. "I'm perfect." She touched her stomach. "We're perfect."

I fell to my knees in awe and lifted her shirt. There, on her abdomen, a small but noticeable bump was beginning to form. The bump glowed a vibrant cobalt with a slight twinkling. She chuckled, "that's new!"

I the swirling colors; enamored with the intricate patterns flowing within my mate. "Well, she is a Night Court baby after all. She knows who are Mommy and Daddy are."

She smiled and ran her fingers through my hair. "I think the glow shows her emotions. Anytime I thought of you, she'd give off a blue or red like. And anytime I was content, the bump glowed gold. But, I think this one means love."

Standing up, I put her shirt back down. Locking my eyes with hers, I melted. Pulling her into a hug, the bond radiated strength and love. "I love you." The statement came out as a mumble and I couldn't help the tears that flowed freely.

Feyre broke from the hug and looked at me from beneath her lashes. Using her thumb, she wiped any tears from my face. "I love you too," she said with a smile. And she continued to smile through the kiss. She crashed her lips onto mine, and enveloped me in beautiful darkness. Several moans escaped her mouth as I lifted her onto one of the table, pushing aside any stray dishes.

Her eyes became glossy with desire, an expression I dreamt about since our last encounter. She fumbled with the hem of my shirt but didn't hesitate to lift it over my head. She blushed slightly and traced a finger up my bare skin.

Following the inky swirls of black on my skin, she sighed at curve. "Beautiful," She said through the bond. Her words alone may be enough to toss me over the edge.

"My turn," I smirked. Tamlin or Ianthe had her stuffed into a frothy pink dress, her corset drawn as tight as possible. Placing my hands on the back of the dress, I pulled and a glorious ripping echoed throughout the room. Her delicious breasts were displayed and I moved to kiss each one. She moaned slightly and threw her head back in pleasure. My hand encased her waist, ensnaring her in my grasp.

"Mine," I huffed in between kisses. She leaned into my touch, her long brassy hair tickling my face.

Her back became ramrod straight for a moment and I looked up in confusion. "The baby," she giggled, her cheeks becoming rosy. The bump was swirling with a noxious green, an obvious sign of disgust.

I raised my hands in surrender. "Ok, ok. Daddy, will stop touching Mommy!" Feyre shook her head and clicked her tongue, mocking me. Despite the comedy value in the whole situation the bump returned to its glorious night sky pattern.

She gave me her tattooed hand and I happily obliged. "We should probably get back anyway. Mor and Azriel are waiting." She nodded and allowed me to pull her down from the table, my desire still lingering.

Her naked body screamed for my touch, but I fought my instincts and grabbed a set of Illyrian fighting leathers that I had been hiding behind the lunch counter. Snatching them away she beamed, "God, It feels like forever since I've worn these." I couldn't agree more, those leathers signified more than the oncoming war. They signaled her home, her comfort only found within the Night Court.

She sighed in content as the tight fabric slid over her slight frame. They still fit perfectly, even though the top clung slightly to the growing child within her. "War looks good on us, huh baby?" She asked the bump.

I couldn't agree more.