Thrones of Fire and Darkness

Chapter Seven

I know, I know. It was a long wait, but some action is going to start up soon! Also, guys, thank you SO MUCH for over 130 views! I never thought this was going to get that much, so thank you, readers!

 Once we reached the townhouse, Mor and I went our seperate ways, to shower and check on the rest. I head to my bedroom to see Rhys sprawled on the bed, still sleeping. I laugh softly, then move to wake him up. "Rhys, darling." He groans and turns over, his wings splayed out behind him. "Wake up," I murmur. "We have important things to discuss with our family." He opens one violet eye, then two. "Fine," he purrs, his voice fogged from sleep. "But you're making it up to me later." My face heated, but I raised an eyebrow at him. "Beron. Tamlin. High Lord meeting. Strange black jewelry." He groaned again. "Mood killer."

A few minutes later, we were both properly dressed and making our way downstairs. Azriel nodded to us as we came down, and Elain waved. "Is Nesta coming?" I asked her, and she shrugged. "She said she would, but honestly, I don't know."

Mor smiled at me as she came out of the kitchen with a platter. She was still wearing the same clothes as before, but her golden hair is damp. "Is Cassian up yet?" she asked, and I shrugged. She rolled her eyes as she set the platter down on the table and marched past us, hollering, "CASS! YOU SAID FIVE MORE MINUTES, NOT FIFTY!"

I joined my mate in laughing quietly, and after a few minutes, we heard two sets of footsteps on the stairs. Cassian is still grumbling something at Mor, who waves his whining off with a scoff. "Illyrian baby. You can sleep later." We all sat down in the living area, waiting as yet another set of delicate footsteps sound in the hall above us. I looked at Rhys, wide-eyed. She's staying here?! He looked as flabbergasted as I felt. Why was Nesta staying here, of all places? She hated us. Hated the very thought of being part of this court.

I snuck a glance at Cassian, who looked tense and rigid, so at odds with the relaxed, even vulgar male he'd been seconds before. Nesta had that effect on him. Her footsteps echoed in my ears, each one a pound on a war drum. I straightened, inwardly sighing. This meeting was going to be a massacre if those two didn't keep their mouths shut. Rhys, sensing my discomfort, took my hand and squeezed once. Mor shot Cassian a quelling look, and he seemed to relax. But I could still see the tension in his shoulders, the cold look in his eyes. Whatever had happened between them after Solstice... it had left unspeakable feelings between them, and I hadn't yet determined if they were bad or good. Trying to cheer me up, Rhys and I conversed quickly through the bond. Where did you go this morning? he asked. I hummed a little, shifting on the couch. Out. I couldn't tell him about Mor and her potential lover. His huffed response came back a few seconds later. Cruel, beautiful female. A few more minutes of unbearable tension.

And then Nesta was in front of us. It seemed as if I hadn't seen my sister in... ages. Whatever progress we had began during the War had seemingly dissipated overnight. She would not speak to me, or look at me, much less exchange pleasantries. But I still didn't expect the harsh lines of her face, the blistering coldness in her blue-gray eyes, the unfeeling words. "The shadowsinger said that you called a meeting." Her hard gaze swept over each of us, assessing us in turn. "I did not know that you would invite me." That gaze passed over me, then my mate. Dismissing us. She barely glanced at Azriel, avoided Cassian altogether, but when her gaze fell on Mor, something changed. Something in her eyes softened, almost imperceptably. But Nesta didn't know about Mor's past. Mor never really liked her enough to share her story, and the way my sister acted, I didn't blame her. So what was going on?

A rare moment of peace, and then Amren had to ruin it.

My attention snapped to the door as a short, shadowy figure appeared in the murky glass. "Open up, you idiots." I sighed and stood, making my way around the couch and towards the conveniently locked door. I jerked it open to reveal a narrow-eyed Amren holding a container or two of reddish-brown liquid. I held in a gag as I stepped aside, letting her enter. Her nostrils flared, and I knew she had scented Nesta. If she was surprised, she didn't show it.