A Court of Sunflowers and Stardust

•chapter 15•

"Some obstacles you must face alone."

Without Reasons and Repeated Meetings

~

Despite Kaleb holding my hand throughout the entirety of the meeting, once we all returned back to The House of Wind he went back to ignoring me cold. I don't know why I let it bother me so much but instead of feeling angry it made me feel like shit.

"It went... well." Rhysand said to Mor, Amren, Nesta, Elain and Lucien who were waiting at The House of Wind for us.

Mor rolled her eyes, "so it went terrible?"

"Well, I think Acacia's presence caused a bit of a stir." Feyre admitted and I tried not to blush in embarrassment. "But all in all, nobody ended up trying to rip another's head off."

"I'd say it was a great meeting then." Amren commented, sipping from a mug that held tea.

"Tarquin is going to get his people to try and dissect plants and find out what type of poison it is. The others are just going to try and... figure things out." Cassian informed the others, indicating the other Courts weren't much help.

"The only-" Mor began, throwing her arms up in the air in exasperation but everything went blank.

I felt like everything was honed into me and I straightened, eyes wide. Images passed through my eyes, a blurry picture that was trying to focus. I heard talking from the inner circle but I couldn't move or even respond.

And then I was somewhere else entirely.

I was in a lounge. The furniture was lovely and comfortable, a warm aura surrounding the room. But sat in one of the chairs was Alakai, sipping a cup of green tea. He gave me a wide smile and indicated to another cup that rested on the coffee table.

"Hello, darling, you look lovely in that dress of yours. Please, sit and have some tea with me." His voice was somehow softer, like syrup, as he continued to smile at me genuinely.

A million thoughts were running through my head but I sighed quietly and did what he asked. How I got here, I have no idea, but I may as well make the most out of finding out who he is whilst he summoned me.

"Alakai." I said, sitting on the sofa that almost swallowed me it was that cushiony.

"Hm?" His eyes sparkled in a way that only diamonds did.

"Who are you and why do you keep visiting me?" I asked carefully, trying to remain calm.

His lips twitched in an amused smile and he set down his cup on the table, his every movement ridiculously elegant and graceful. "I'm not an enemy, if that's what you're wondering, my dear. At least not an enemy of yours. Why do I keep visiting you? Well, you'll find out soon enough anyway, but for now let's talk about more important matters."

I nodded, somehow reassured by his words as if he was someone I knew. "Okay."

"I'm aware there's something killing off the Earth, am I right?" He asked and I nodded. "You feel it don't you?"

I didn't know how he knew I did, but that meant he knew of my powers and it made me wary. "Yes."

"Acacia, tell me, is it killing you?" His question seemed to concerned and I blinked.

"Not literally, but it makes me feel ill." I admitted and something like relief flashed over his eyes but it was gone a moment later. "Do you know who poisoned the Earth, Alakai?"

He shook his head, "I wish I knew, but even I can't see whom could possibly be doing this."

Even him? What does that mean? "Alakai, are you a ghost or something?"

He snorted and the sound took me by surprise, it sounded so much like someone's laugh I once knew, but I can't put my finger on it. "Not at all, love. I'm very much alive and well. However I can't visit you at your Court as I fear your friends will disrupt us, so this is the best for our meetings."

It made sense but something was nagging at me in the back of the mind, I just couldn't figure out what.

"I must tell you," he spoke, reaching forward so quickly I didn't have time to react as he clasped my hands in his. They were warm and they felt like home. "If you're ever in trouble, or you need me, just call out with your mind. Scream my name, and I will come, okay Acacia?"

I nodded, even if I didn't know who he was. He hadn't given me a valid reason not to trust him, so I should try and work with what I've got.

"Now I must send you back, stay safe." He caressed my cheek with a hand and then I felt like my body was thrown across the room.

Then I was back in The House of Wind in less than a second. Everyone was staring at me in confusion and concern, but I just took a deep breath as I still felt Alakai's ghost of a touch on my cheek.

"How long was I gone?" I asked and they all frowned further as Cassian spoke.

"Gone? You've just been stood there with a cloudy look in yours eyes for a few minutes, you weren't responding to us." I frowned at that, I was so sure I'd actually felt Alakai. But if he was connecting to me through my mind, it could be all the same.

"What happened?" Feyre asked. "You okay?"

I looked to Kaleb and a mutual understanding passed between us and he knew instantly who I'd seen, however he didn't say anything, he just turned to sit on the couch.

"Yeah, sorry, I zoned out." I lied. I didn't want to tell them of Alakai just yet, not that I didn't trust them, I just didn't trust Alakai.

Everyone looked like they didn't buy it, but they said nothing more as Amren spoke. "I can't find much in The Book of Breathings, so whatever poison it is, it isn't an old one and might not even be that powerful."

Rhys nodded, "perhaps the poison isn't what we should be focusing on. It might be a ploy to get us looking another way as the enemy makes another move."

That seemed to make sense, but that word. Enemy. Something Alakai said replayed in my mind. I'm not an enemy, if that's what you're wondering, my dear. At least not an enemy of yours. What did that even mean? Could it be connected to this poisoning?

Whatever was happening, I felt like I was the only one who could figure it out.