Daylight

Chapter 1

The first time it happened, Lucien had no idea.

He had just returned to Velaris and insisted immediately after his arrival that he would find his own place in the city, not wanting to be a burden. Though he wouldn't admit it aloud, he was also anxious about living under the same roof as Elain... given that he hardly knew her and did not want her to feel any sort of pressure or obligation to him. But it had been Rhys, not Feyre, who'd insisted he was welcome to stay as long as he liked.

"Are you sure?" Lucien had asked.

"Listen," Rhys said good-naturedly, "the first time you showed up here, I wasn't thrilled about it. It was... unexpected, I'll admit. Though I tried to give you every courtesy I'd expect the other courts to give me if I was in a tight spot," he explained. "But you helped us in our most desperate hour. You put the needs of Prythian and its people above any personal issues. You'll always have friends in the Night Court. And you are welcome to stay under our roof as long as you want."

"You're sure?" Lucien asked again.

"Well, ideally, you won't be under this particular roof forever," Rhys replied with a slight smirk. "But Velaris can be your home... if you want it to be."

Lucien's throat bobbed. Home. That word was foreign to him now. He'd already been an outcast and fugitive from his own court for over two centuries. And now, he severely doubted he would ever be able to return to the Spring Court—at least, not while Tamlin remained High Lord. Though he still felt like an outsider in the Night Court, he couldn't deny that the city's lights and laughter were welcoming. Sometimes, he still couldn't believe a place like Velaris existed in Prythian. But he was grateful for it.

Feyre stepped closer and offered to take his rucksack from him. He shrugged it off his shoulder into the crook of his elbow but didn't hand the bag to her.

"I'd like you to stay," she said gently. "But I don't want you to feel like we're forcing you. It's your choice."

Choice. Ultimately, Lucien knew that was what made Feyre want to stay in the Night Court, at least initially. Rhysand always gave her a choice—whether or not to train with her powers, whether or not to return to the Spring Court... Meanwhile, Tamlin had literally locked her inside the house after refusing to consider what she wanted.

Lucien met her gaze. He still couldn't believe she was the same person as that fragile timid mortal who'd saved all of Prythian. She was so vibrant, so full of life here. And happy. Above all things, Feyre was happy. He offered her a small smile of his own and set his bag at the foot of the staircase.

"I swear, I'll start looking for my own place as soon as I can," Lucien promised.

Feyre beamed at him. "You can have the same room as before. We didn't really change it at all, so you should be comfortable there."

Lucien raised an eyebrow at her. "You knew I'd be coming back?"

"Well, we—"

Rhys nudged his hip into hers. His expression never changed but Lucien was willing to bet he was communicating with her through their mating bond.

"I mean, I hoped you would," Feyre said quickly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

Despite Feyre's words, Lucien wasn't willing to give in to the hope that Elain had actually wanted him to come back. Still, the air in the sitting room seemed to grow thicker as Lucien's eyes drifted toward the top of the stairs.

"You look tired," she continued, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Lucien nodded in agreement. He was tired. He felt like he hadn't stopped moving since long before the battle with Hybern's army.