The Best Present (An ACOTAR fanfiction)

Chapter 32

It had been two days since Mor and Karshia came to us with Catalina. They had stayed at our house for that time. Catalina woke up early this morning, feeling a little groggy, but not dizzy. Her arm still hurt, but the effects of the poison had worn off. Today we were all meeting at the townhouse for a strategy meeting. We had warned all of Velaris, because apparently Mor knew what these creatures were, and she was terrified, but not even Rhys knew what they were. All schools had been closed, and the teachers had returned home. Cassian had gone into the training camps and had brought a few of the best warriors to guard the KidsKare House. We had told all of Velaris to send up a flare with magic if they are attacked, and Azriel's spies were constantly flying over the city, in shifts, and if a flare rose up, they would swoop down to help or notify one of us. Rhys and I ran around, making sure every door and window was locked in our house, and then we took the kids and winnowed away. We arrived in the townhouse living room, where Nesta, Elain, Cassian, Azriel, Amren, Varian, Lucien and Raelia were all stationed. Mor, Karshia, Catalina, and Diana winnowed in a few seconds after us. We started by asking the girls to tell us the details of their battle. They explained what the creatures looked like, and how their weak points were their throats and stomachs. By the end of their tale, I was throughly shocked. These girls had fought well.

"I'm proud of you both," Rhys said going around the table. "I hereby proclaim that you both will be named The Protecters." He said in his High Lord voice. He pressed his hand to the girls' foreheads, and then they both dropped down to one knee, heads bowed, and fist over their hearts. Rhys walked back around the table, and they stood up.

"Mor, could you please explain what these creatures are and how you know them?" Rhys asked, gently, knowing that she'd had a rough couple days. Mor paled a little, and Karshia placed her hand on hers to comfort her.

"They're called Arashaak. When I fought my first war, they were employed in the enemy's army. It was a small squad but they were terrifying. Many of my friends died trying to kill them. I fought as well as I could, trying to save my friends, but I was outnumbered. Until Kallias, a younger one, came to my aid. With him beside me we defeated them all. But I realized something. All of my friends who died could barely even touch the Arashaak. But Kallias and I, we both had High Lord's blood. We were related to a High Lord in some way. And we could defeat them all, but no one else could. So that's partly what shocked me so much. Catalina and Diana are descendants of a High Lord," Mor finished, turning to look at her daughters. Nesta and Elain both audibly gasped, and the rest of us were too busy trying to pick our jaws off the floor. Even Amren was shocked. Rhys pulled himself together first.

"Okay, we can figure out that mystery later, sorry girls, but let's figure out our war plan," Rhys said. The rest of us nodded. "This makes it ultimately more complicated, because I'm pretty sure none of the Illyrian soldiers are related to any High Lords and there are very few of us in this room who are related to High Lords. Who we have right now is Feyre, Varian, Lucien, Mor, Diana, Catalina, and I. I'm not sure if marriage or sisters count." He looked at Nesta, Elain, and Karshia.

What if we fed them our blood? I know it's supposed to be a healing thing, but then they do have High Lord's blood in them. Just a little dose. I said, not wanting to say this aloud and disgust anyone.

That might work. We just have to get them to agree with it. I cleared my throat.

"Okay, please don't be disgusted and just hear me out. What if either Rhysand or I fed each of you who are not related to a High Lord a small dose of our blood. Just a small dose, and then technically, you have a High Lord's blood in you, and you should be able to kill the Arashaak," I said, cautiously. The entire table stared at me.

"It sounds a little gross," Cassian said, shuddering just a little. "But that sounds like the only possible solution right now." The others nodded.

"How long do you think the dose with last?" Karshia asked.

"I'm guessing a week or so. And we can't inject it into your blood because that could be dangerous. Your body could react badly to the difference in blood cells," Amren said, thoughtfully. She would know; this was her forte. Everyone nodded.

"So, we have our plan," Rhys said. "We will feed our blood when they attack. I don't want to have to give you a new dose every week because no one has attacked yet. But for now, this meeting is over. I'm going to take the Brammahs to the library and we're going to figure out which High Lord Catalina and Diana are related to." We picked up our kids. We winnowed to the library with Mor, Karshia, and the girls. We marched in and Rhys approached one of the librarians.

"May we see the family tree please?" Rhys asked. The librarian wordlessly moved to retrieve it. "I figured we could start there, and then look at the other High Lords." The librarian came back with the family tree. This was the one and only family tree that did not removed any of the relatives. Nobody was allowed to remove anything from it, only add. Rhys sat down, and the rest of us surrounded him. He opened the scroll. Astria and Cayden were on there under mine and Rhys' names. Rhys trailed his finger up to his father, and I gasped. His father had a sister.

"Did you know about her?" I asked softly. Rhys shook his head. Under her name, the word 'deceased' was written. This aunt had a daughter. The daughter, with a commoner, had one girl. Diana. Diana gasped. A tear dripped out of her eye.

"I remember now," she whispered softly. "I was six. My parents never came home that night. I left the house the moment the landlord came to reclaim it. I don't know why but I could never remember that night until now." Rhys looked at the family tree again, looking for Catalina. Suddenly he gasped, and moved his hands from the scroll, making it roll shut. He spun around, almost looking like he was going to cry.

"It's you," he whispered softly.

~