A Court of Sunflowers and Stardust

•chapter 37•

"Are you worth fighting for... Or is it kinder if I let you go..."

End This

~

Can we talk?

Silence.

I lay in a bed of the guest room, trying to connect with the male I hadn't yet learned to properly love. We hadn't yet been able to be mates, to fall in love the way others do.

He was only a few rooms away from me, yet I hadn't worked up the nerve to try and speak to him face to face. After the careful, calculating planning in the dining room, Feyre had shown me to a guest room, sympathy in her ocean eyes. An hour later, deep into the night, Kaleb had returned home and marched quickly into his bedroom, slamming the door shut behind him with emphasis.

It was morning now, and I hadn't slept at all. I couldn't, my heart was continuously racing, the memory of Kaleb shutting me out completely and walking away from me flashing behind my eyelids when I closed my eyes. It was a long night, and all I could focus on was the steady heartbeat of my mate as he slept soundly in another room.

I jumped slightly as there was a quiet knock at my door, and a gentle voice behind it, "Acacia, The High Lord and Lady would like your presence at The House of Wind. Do you need help dressing?"

Realising it was one of the wraith twins that served in the circle, I relaxed slightly, "no thank you!"

I quickly got ready, throwing my untidy hair up in a high, uneven ponytail, and slipping on some Night Court casual attire. Rushing out of my room, I knew Feyre and Rhysand wanted to see me to discuss the plan more thoroughly.

I paused briefly outside of Kaleb's bedroom door, feeling a familiar tug in my gut of the mating bond as it strengthened due to our presence. I could clearly hear his slow breathing and heartbeat, indicating he was still sleeping and seemingly not invited to The House of Wind.

Completely zoned out, I managed to get caught off guard by a familiar Illyrian. I blinked in surprise, turning to see Azriel's calm features looking down at me, no hint of an expression considering he'd just caught me spying on his nephew.

"Are you ready?" He asked quietly, "do you mind if I'm the one who took you to The House? Feyre said she'd come and get you if you'd prefer."

It took me a moment, remembering only yesterday I'd thrown a shoe at him. Trying not to flush in embarrassment, I nodded and proceeded to follow him out of the house, Kaleb's heartbeat becoming fainter as I left.

~

Landing on the balcony, I quickly moved out of Azriel's arms and made my way inside, the Illyrian following silently behind me. I was greeted by Rhys and Feyre, as well as Mor, whom gave me a reassuring smile just as I'd noticed the other male in the room.

Freezing, my nostrils flared as I spotted Cassian, sat rigid in a single chair in the corner of the room. He stood at my presence, and my back twinged, as if the stark scar recognised who created it.

"You deserve an apology," Cassian pointed out, and I cringed, remembering the look on his face as he went for the killing blow to my brother.

"I'd rather not. Let's discuss a strategy instead, to safely capture my brother. Where's Amren?" I asked, realising a certain jet haired female wasn't present.

Cassian and Feyre shared an amused glance and I raised an eyebrow as Rhys replied, "She's in a mood with all of us today, and chose to take the stairs. She might be a while."

I nodded, too exhausted to even laugh at the predicament. As if that tiredness suddenly awoke, I drowsily moved to take a seat on a comfy chair, leaning my head back as my body sagged.

"-It's going to be easy to lure him out. The hard part will be containing him-" Cassian was speaking, but I hadn't realised they'd even begun a conversation at all.

I sat up, eyes heavy as I examined everybody stood around the table in front of me, seriously discussing the situation at hand. At some point, Amren had entered, a scowl on her beautiful face as she joined in the conversation, her methods much more... painful.

A tingle went down my spine and I sat up, attention going straight to the male who entered in from the balcony, his wings still out and gaze set strong as he strode towards us. He didn't even glance at me, but he glared at his parents with an intensity that made me thankful I wasn't on the receiving end as everyone turned to look at him.

"Why didn't you tell me you're using Acacia as bait to get anti-venom from Alakai?" His voice was rock hard, and I fought a shiver at him saying my name.

Nobody replied, instead Feyre and Rhys exchanged a brief glance that usually meant they were talking through their minds. At the protective, murderous look on Kaleb's face, an inner part of me snapped.

"Are you joking?" I questioned, standing from my chair as my nostrils flared in agitation.

Not even glancing at me when I addressed him, Kaleb simply clenched his fists. Something deep within me opened an eye and a force I'd never felt before began manifesting inside my soul.

"You don't get to decide whether I am or am not bait." My voice wasn't my own, and Kaleb turned to me in slight surprise, along with everyone else.

Blinking, I put a hand to my head in silent shock at my own outburst. The exhaustion must be getting to me, I looked back over at the ones that were stood staring at me. "Sorry, I think- I'm just tired."

Amren's eyes glinted, as if she sensed something deeper than that, "just tired?"

My lip curled back, "yes. Just. Tired."

Kaleb looked as if he was going to speak, but was cut short as Azriel growled slightly underneath his breath, moving towards the balcony at lightening speed, glancing back at Rhysand briefly. "Somebody is outside Velaris's wards, demanding entrance."

"It might be Alakai," Feyre observed, eyes wide in anticipation.

"It's not Alakai. It's a female," Azriel spoke, as if he was getting mental intel from his spies. He turned to me suddenly, "and she wants to speak to Acacia."