A Court of Sunflowers and Stardust

•chapter 33•

"I'll smile for you, if it means we can pretend the reality of this world isn't terrifying."

Never Ending

~

"Anything?" Kaleb questioned, his legs bouncing in anticipation as Azriel landed on the balcony of the House of Wind.

"Just outside the Night Court borders, there was a house explosion, but there was no bomb material," Azriel looked at Rhysand for a second, whom of which Kaleb was still not talking to. "My spies stated that it seemed like the plants around the house ripped it to shreds."

Kaleb froze, "its her. That's Acacia's doing."

"I agree. That might be where Alakai was hiding her and she managed to escape." Feyre spoke, sitting beside Mor who was listening intently, glancing at her nephew uncertainly as he refused to acknowledge his parents.

"Have you heard from her?" Cassian asked Kaleb, who shook his head scornfully.

His mind had gone silent, the bond that linked them was still shimmering within him, but it was so quiet. He felt lonely, in a way that he had never felt before. As if a piece of his soul was missing and fragmented.

"She doesn't want to be found." Kaleb said, not meeting anyone's eye, "she'll hide her tracks well, especially after that explosion."

"Azriel is good at finding people that don't want to be found." Rhysand spoke, as if to reassure his son, but Kaleb stood and walked off, not wanting to stay in a room with his family for a minute longer at their scheming to use his mate as a pawn.

~

A gentle tug on my mating bond awoke me with a gasp, sitting straight as my eyes adjusted. I froze then, realising I was in a bedroom, and lay on a very soft bed that seemed to nearly swallow me whole.

I scanned the room, it was light with bright furniture and tapestries hanging on the wall, along with a massive open window opposite the bed I was laying in. It revealed a beautiful city, with sunlight streaming; it was a beautiful day, the most beautiful I think I've ever seen.

I heard the doorknob turn, and I flopped myself back into a laying position, closing my eyes and steadying my breathing in a way that looked like I was asleep.

I tried calming to rapid heartbeat as the door was pushed open, a scent drifting in, familiar yet I was unable to pin point it exactly. I could tell it was male, at least.

He neared my bed, and I flexed my fingers underneath the blanket when I was sure he was close enough. Once I sensed him reach the side of my bed, I pounced.

Eyes flying open, I sprang myself up and threw my body on top of the male, knocking him to the floor with a quiet noise of surprise. My hand was around his throat before I could register who it was, but once I got a look at the tan skin- the beautiful face- the elegant body.

I gasped, jumping up in an instant as The High Lord of Day looked at me with raised eyebrows as he stood himself up, wiping his lovely tunic with his hands.

"High Lord," I gulped, bowing, "I'm- I'm sorry."

He grinned slightly, "don't be sorry. You're name is Acacia, am I correct?"

I nodded quickly, looking down at my clothing and thanking the Cauldron that I was fully clothed in my outfit I last remember wearing.

"You're Tamlin's daughter." He pointed out and I froze, looking up at his painfully handsome face.

"You haven't alerted him that I'm here, have you?" I questioned as politely as I could, clenching and unclenching my hands.

He grinned again, "why should I? Last I was aware you was taking up residence in The Night Court. And no- I haven't told Rhysand you're here yet either, although I'd hate to keep secrets, you see. So would you mind telling me why my patrols found you at my border, unconscious, inside a cocoon of branches?"

I pursed my lips slightly, my last memory seeing Alakai in the midst of that explosion I'd caused. But as I stood and looked at Helion, he looked so similar to a familiar red-head that the winds had told me about when I first saw the High Lord.

"I got into a situation," I muttered, realising that the other Courts didn't know that my brother was in fact the male that was destroying the world.

Not knowing how The High Lord was going to react to that information, I decided to keep it to myself as I shifted on my feet, glancing up at his face which seemed unreadable.

"I can see that, do I contact-" he began, but cut himself off as his nostrils flared and he fully took my scent in.

I pressed myself up against the bed behind me as realisation seemed to form in his eyes, along with slight amusement. "You're Kaleb's mate?"

I nodded slowly, "I am. But I'm not going back to The Night Court, not yet, I have something to do. I think-"

I remembered something then. Helion- High Lord of Day- Helion Spell Cleaver. He was clever, he had extensive knowledge on certain subjects, and libraries full of facts on this world.

He could be of use.

"Let's make a deal." I suddenly blurted, aware that his could be a very bad idea. If word got out about Alakai being my brother, and the end of the world was his doing, I could be taken hostage, I could be used as a pawn. Or I could be killed out of spite.

His eyes flashed and a lions grin spread across his entire face, lighting up his beautiful features. "I'm listening."