A Court of A New Age

• Chapter 2 •

SMASH!

A stretched silence fell over the ball room in The Court of Nightmares, every male and female turning to the source of the loud sound that reverberated throughout the entire room. The source was found, and the next sound that followed after that wasn't pleasant.

Rhysand roared, "CELESTIA!"

•••

"You're overreacting, dad. It's not like I straight up killed someone." Celestia pleaded, looking up at her father who was towering over her.

Rhysand put a hand to his face, steadying his breathing. He ignored the quiet snickers from behind him that his sons were emitting. It was too early in the morning for this, however after Celestia had passed out last night due to the incident, he was unable to scold her there and then.

"Cel. You smashed the chandelier. You could've hurt somebody!" Rhysand raised his voice, arms flailing outwards in frustration.

"But I didn't!" Celestia also flailed her arms in mimicked emphasis. "That's what I call self control."

"You still did it!" Rhys said calmly, glaring at his daughter in exasperation, swiping her hands away.

"Hey, I didn't know the chandelier couldn't hold my weight." She reasoned, crossing her arms as if she was now the parent lecturing the child.

"Why were you even up there?" Her father asked, eyes desperate.

"I may have had too much to drink."

"Celestia, we need a serious talk about this." Rhysand declared, shooting his two sons a glare as they chuckled consistently. "You're going to be future High Lady, you can't behave like this."

She breathed heavily through her nose, "look, dad, I understand that. So let me have some fun and act like a reckless female until then?"

"She has a point, dad." Auden called out, biting into his french toast as he watched the situation unfold.

"It makes us look like fools in front of the other Courts." Ronan backed his father, much to the High Lord's gratitude, "it's one thing if Cel behaves like an idiot in front of us, but in front of the other High Lords and Lady's? It's not ideal."

Luka hummed dramatically, "Ronnie is absolutely right! Come on dad, you can't go soft. Yell at her!"

Ronan growled, "first of all, don't call me that, second of all, act your age."

Celestia gave Luka a filthy look, "shut up, dickface, nobody asked you." She then paused and turned to look at Ronan, "nobody asked you either."

Rhysand groaned as his children began arguing like children, he wanted to rip his hair out. He looked around the room at the four that began consistently bickering, and it suddenly dawned on him that these were his children, all grown up. They were a pain in his backside, and caused more trouble for him than necessary, but it was worth it ten times over. Even if they rowed and fought like no tomorrow, even if his daughter and future High Lady had embarrassed them in front of all seven courts, they were his entire world.

Just then, the core of his worlds appeared, Feyre walked in with two cups of tea in her hands, she smiled at her mate and passed him one. Her blue eyes crinkling, face slightly more aged than when she was first Made, but barely as she still looked young.

"Any progress?" She asked, giving him a half hearted pained look when she noticed all of her kids arguing.

"Feyre darling, please help me out." He begged through clenched teeth, watching as Celestia began frustratedly throttling Luka.

"Kids!" Feyre called out loudly, interrupting their bickering as they turned to their mother, "thank you. Now, Celestia honey, you are to represent our Court whilst in the presence of the other Courts."

Celestia sighed, "mom, I understand that but-"

"Stop being so defiant, sister." Luka drawled, amusement lacing his wicked features.

Celestia snarled, canines on show, "shut the fuck up and mind your own business."

"We don't use that type of language in this house, Cel." Feyre warned, sending her daughter a warning look.

"What the fuck Verena!" A familiar, brute voice called from the kitchen.

Feyre sighed at Cassian's perfect, loud timing.

"If this conversation is over then I'm leaving, me and uncle Cassian have training to be catching up on." Celestia spoke up, shoving Luka out of her way.

"Wait, we're not done here!" Rhysand clarified, eyes hard and unyielding.

Celestia walked over, kissing her father on his cheek with an innocent look. "I'm sorry dad, it won't happen again."

Rhys sighed, conflicted, but easily swayed by his only daughter. "Fine."

Luka scoffed harshly, "fine? Are you not going to ground her? Unbelievable."

"Hey, I'm the adult remember." Rhysand warned his son, who only gave a mock thumbs up in response.

•••

After an afternoon of training and torment from Cassian, Celestia ditched the illyrian warrior to go and join Azriel who had been sat on the balcony the whole time. He'd barely moved, just stared out at Velaris quietly.

"Hey." She greeted, sitting beside him. He looked to her, nodding his head forward in silent greeting. "I can leave you alone if you want?"

He shook his head, breathing in as he continued looking out at the beautiful city. "So, smashing the chandelier?"

She huffed, leaning back on her hands and rolling her eyes. "Don't even say anything. Dad wanted to strangle me this morning because of it, and I haven't stopped hearing Cassian tease me about it all afternoon."

Azriel smiled slightly, his wings flaring as he shifted. "It was quite the show." He hid his smile as she shot him a sharp look.

The quietness that enveloped the pair of them was comfortable, their light breathing the only sound coming from either of them. The steady breeze and calling of birds created a calm atmosphere, making Celestia relax back and lay down on the balcony completely, her legs dangling from the edge.

It was always with Azriel that she felt content and safe. She always felt safe with her family, but it was different with Azriel. It was as if there was something deeper, something that ran along her veins that soothed her senses when she was beside him. They'd always been close, since the fiery girl was young she'd always wanted to be around 'Azzy'.

"What's it like?" She blurted and Azriel turned to look down at her, his hazel orbs darkened as they faced away from the sun rays. "Being my parents' spymaster."

"It's an honour." He replied and she rolled her eyes. "It's difficult but it gives me purpose."

She hummed, soaking in what he said. He gave her a gentle look, one she couldn't describe, as he turned to look back to Velaris. "Is that what you're looking for, Az? A purpose?"

He stayed silent for so long she thought he wouldn't reply, until he softly mumbled, "that's what I've always been looking for."