A Court of Wind and Shadows

Chapter 11

Two months later.....

Groaning, I heaved myself up from the bed, clutching at my stomach as rose up on unsteady feet.

By the mother I was a mess.

The cool air of the morning caressed my face, and I breathed it in as I walked into the bathroom.

Splashing cold water onto my face, I sighed at the icy feel of it, letting it cool my warm face.

This gods-damned pregnancy was running me ragged.

Why the hell did it have to hurt this much?

I stretched the muscles in my back, wincing as the sore parts of my body stretched along with them.

Walking outside the town house, I gazed out at Velaris. 

The feeling of life crackled on my tongue, so soon after the war.

It had just been over a year since Hybern, and the integration of human into Prythian has been slow.

Many Fae willingly went along with the idea, if only because it wasn't a huge price to pay to avoid more war.

But some reacted negatively, killing the humans in the area.

Though, the humans in Velaris mixed well with the faeries, enough so that at first glance, you couldn't tell the difference between the two's interactions.

There was laughter in the streets, and children chased each other joyfully. The peals of joy rang like bells, and Fae and humans alike walked the streets, smiles alighting their faces.

I smiled at the sight Rainbow, taking in the beautiful pieces of art.

Painting, it had been so long since I felt up to it.

Maybe I should paint something.

Soon, I told myself. Later.

The colors on the canvases jumped out to me, and a small grin appeared on my face as I saw a painting of the city itself.

This was my home, my future.

And I would do anything to protect that.

The river peacefully flowed by my side as I walked across the bridge, back to the town house.

I wished that I could fly one more time, just to feel the wind on my face, but it was too unsafe currently.

With Rhys maybe, but not alone.

Rhysand.

He had been off to another one of his myriad of meetings, and wouldn't be home for a long time.

Honestly it had been a huge struggle to get him to go, he had not wanted to leave me behind in Velaris alone, as Cassian and Az were at the Illyrian war camps, and Amren and Mor were taking care of business in the Hewn City.

I missed him though, but I had to make him go, if only to keep the peace.

Sighing, I walked back inside the house, gazing up at the blue sky.

I opened the door and stopped in my tracks as I saw who was inside, waiting for me.

~

Rhysand grinned up at me as I launched myself at him.

"You're home," I gasped into his shoulder as I embraced him tightly, not wanting to let go.

Rhys smiled down at me, smoothing down my hair with one of his hands, "Hello Feyre darling," he purred, "I didn't know that you missed me this much, perhaps I should go away for long periods of time more often,"