A Court of Rising Starlight

Chapter XXX

"So that's the big secret?" I hear my mate ask. My sister had just entered the room and blushed immediately. "You and Dimitri. I suppose you two would get along well."

"Oh, shut up."

"Hey, I stayed quiet about you sneaking out. You have no right to deny me the privilege of teasing you."

"Derek, leave her alone," I say. "She may deserve it but I'm sure she'll hear enough at the camps. I on the other hand, as your sister by birth should still get to say a few things. Az told us you gave quite the reveal at the camp."

"It's not like it was anything scandalous," she defends herself.

I smirk. "Are we talking in public or private?"

"I hate you," she grumbles. "Both of you."

"No you don't," Derek says, approaching her casually. "You love us." He hugs her tightly, kissing her hair.

She rolls her eyes, clearly not willing to return the gesture. "Just because I'm happy you're not dead doesn't mean-"

"Well isn't that just adorable?" Mor's light voice floats through the room as she and Nicole enter it.

"See," Derek begins, "Lily says she hates Acacia and me, so I'm just going to stay here until she says she actually loves us."

I choke back a laugh as she looks my way for help. "Call off your oaf of a mate, please."

I couldn't help but smile. "You heard his terms. He can be unnaturally patient as well."

She huffs. "I'll love you both, you insufferable ass."

"Was that so hard?" he asks.

"I'm going to train," she grumbles, bumping shoulders with him on her way. Well, more like a shoulder to his arm but... "and you are a cruel sister."

"Love you too, Lils."
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Anonymous POV:

"You're right Nimue. It is time I go. And you should come with me."

"Don't you think they might-"

"You're my wife. We will go together."

"It's not like we've never met-"

"I need you at my side to convince Acacia not to do what she will try to do."

"I would love to see Mor and Az."

I had heard a rumor that the wards against winnowing were gone so I brought us straight to the House of Wind. Taking a deep breath I walk in. Laughter comes from the main living area and I follow it, squeezing my wife's hand.

"You know I'm right, Lily."

That was Az's voice. Conversation halted, telling me they had sensed our presence. We round the corner and the male I had recognized stood immediately. "How the hell are you alive?"

I see movement from the other side of the room and Mor flings herself into my arms. "Cauldron, Kai. How?" she repeats her husband's question.

"I'd like to ask you six the same question," I laugh. There was no denying I had Mom's features and gifts. The girls were another story. I knew they identically took after our father with black hair and violet eyes. But now that they had grown and matured they were both even more stunning than either of our parents. "But one story at a time."

"Oh, Nimue," she gushes, resting a hand on my wife's stomach. "Do you know?"

"A little girl," she answers proudly. "Xiomara."

"It must be handy, being a seer."

"It's a shame I didn't see much in way of the war. I wish I could have helped that way, but I couldn't see a thing."

"He's dead. We got the ending we needed," she replied simply. "I'm sure the rest of you would like introductions." She looked to the twins first. "Acacia, Lily, this is your brother and his wife, Nimue."

Acacia looked shocked. "You were in the woods that night," she recalls, standing from her seat on the couch. "I don't see you in my nightmares but I remember now. You were there. Kier didn't find someone to heal Lily. You did."

I raise my brows, more than surprised that she remembered. "I was on my way to see you all, Nimue unable to attend. I still came to celebrate. I hadn't seen you since your birth and thought it was time I did. I arrived just when he pushed you to Nesta's side. In the chaos I made it my job to try and keep track of you two. I had to let you go to make sure I could heal Lily soon enough."

"If you were there how did I end up with Kier?" Lily asks.

"I healed you but was shot in the process. I couldn't winnow us out and knew you were too important for them to kill or do any true harm too. I've always hated myself for leaving you but I had no choice."

"So where have you been?" Acacia demands. "When the others find out that you're alive-"

"My brother-in-law will vouch in you favor and I've heard you're already close enough with the Autumn High Lord. You'll be fine."

"Clearly you didn't hear just how thrilled the rest of them were, having to put their faith in a teenage girl." She turns to Nimue. "I'm guessing the only reason your brother was the first to side with me was due to our relationship."

"He genuinely believed in you, Acacia." She takes a small step forward. "I hope you aren't doubting your position because of this. Kai and myself have no desire to take any sort of leadership position."

"From what I've seen and heard you've been doing quite well as High Lady," I tell her.

She suddenly whirls on Mor and Az. "Again? Really? Did you not feel any guilt erasing Lily from my mind? How could you not tell either of us that we had an older brother?"

I thought she would have lashed out sooner. We all wait for a response from the eldest couple in the room. "We knew you'd start asking questions and doubting your authority," Az tells her. "Kai made it clear he wouldn't take your father's place when he and Nimue were married."

I see the youngest male lean back on the couch, watching his mate's exchange with his parents. I could see she was easy to irritate but also quick to assess and forgive. "Is there anyone or any other secret you would like to uncover?" she grits out. Her eyes were already softening.

"No," Az shakes his head. "Nothing else."