A Court in Flames

Chapter 34

Lysandra's POV

I had been following Aelin in falcon form. I was making sure my Queen wasn't hurt.

I just stared at Rowan as that woman kissed him and he didn't push him off. I watched as Aelin froze. She just stared before taking a step backwards shaking her head. I could see the tears pouring down her face as she turned and ran. The dust was thrown up by her heels as she sprinted. Somewhere. Anywhere. Away from him.

I shrieked in fury as I followed my Queen and friend from the skies. She had reached an open field and I shifted into a wyvern. I landed in front of her. A question in my eyes. Where?

She let out a choked sob before muttering, "Elentiya. Take me to Elentiya." I dipped my head and she climbed on before I headed to the healer's tent that Mor had brought Elide to.

I took the skies as I saw Rowan emerge from Suria. It was times like these that I wished I had Aelin's powers. Aelin clung to my neck as she sobbed. I didn't blame her. I couldn't. Her mate had gotten her back and he kissed another woman the same damn day.

"I thought he loved me," she sobbed. "He promised me to whatever end." I thought so, too, Aelin. I thought so, too. "It's not fair." I blinked in shock. Aelin who of all people had a right to say those words had never spoken them. "Why can't I have the rest of my life to be happy? Why? I can hardly go a day without something going horribly wrong. First I'm kidnapped and tortured. Then I have a child who gets tortured. And I get sucked through a portal to a different world where it took me almost six years to get back only to find that there's a war raging and my- Rowan hates and has moved on." She didn't speak for a while.

But when she spoke again she said, "You know what, Lys? I don't care. I'll move on and I'll find love again. And I'll take Elentiya to the Night Court and we'll celebrate her birthday there. And when I've got myself together again I'll come back here and I'll be Queen again. But this time by myself and Elentiya will be my heir and we'll be happy together. And you'll visit with Aedion and Rhoe. And Elentiya and Cal and Rhoe will be raised as siblings would be. That's what we'll do." I could see right through the facade she held about falling in love again. We both knew it was a lie and that she would never love someone like she loves Rowan.

I landed and Aelin slid off my back. I shifted so we could speak. She handed me her cloak. 

"Are you okay?" I asked her. She just looked at me with sorrowful eyes. No she was not okay. "I'm sorry, Aelin. I thought he loved you, too."

"Thank you. For bringing me here." I heard the words that she didn't utter. For taking me away. Aelin wiped away the tears in her eyes before looking at the tent and squaring her shoulders. She walked in. Head held high and crown of flames burning in her hair. She tried to pull up her swagger, but it came out as half-hearted.

"Aelin? Are you okay?" I watched as Feyre came and stood in front of her. Aelin's eyes guttered. She quickly covered it up with a fierce fire. She was trying to be strong not for herself, I knew, but for Elentiya. For the daughter who didn't understand love, yet.

"Can Elentiya and I come back with you? To the Night Court?" Her voice was barely a whisper.

"Aelin... I want to come with you," I spoke up. Everyone turned to me.

"What about Aedion and Rhoe?" She asked me.

"They'll be fine without me. I just feel that I should be with my friend during this." Feyre and Mor exchanged glances.

"I don't see why we can't take the three of you. I'm sure Feyre doesn't mind. Do you Feyre?" Mor prodded her.

"It's okay. If you don't want us to come I could always-" Feyre cut me off by putting a hand n my shoulder.

"Of course, the three of you can come back with us. You know you'll always have a place in the Night Court. Plus I'm sure Luna will be happy to meet Elentiya." Feyre smiled at Aelin.

"Please. Luna's sixteen. She's hardly likely to want to be in any of our company," Aelin said with a forced smirk.

"She adores you, Aelin," Mor said.

"Well... I am a badass." Aelin batted her eyelashes. "Anyway..." Aelin drawled turning her attention towards Mor. "I think there's a certain witch lurking around somewhere that Mor wanted to ask you to take back to the Night Court, Feyre." Aelin was cleaning her nails with a knife as she said that and glanced up under lowered lashes. Mor was blushing like crazy. And Feyre was gaping. 

"How did you know?" Mor asked Aelin. Aelin just shrugged.

"I've had enough secrets to know exactly when other's are hiding things. Anyway... You might want to go see her before we leave..." Aelin drawled while glancing back.

"Mommmmm? What just happened?" Elentiya asked as she tugged on Aelin's shirt.

"Oh. Mor's getting her magnificent girlfriend." She said and I watched as Mor and Petrah Blueblood walked in while hugging each other's waists. "And here they are. The amazing couple. Let's go." Feyre shot Aelin a confused glance. "Oh! Wait! I have to say goodbye to Elide and Yrene."

She walked back to the healers. After several minutes a heavily panting Rowan came in. "Lysandra! Thank the Gods! Where's Aelin?"

"None of your God's-damned business!" I shouted back. He looked stunned and so did everyone else.

"It's my Gods-damned business because she's my mate and wife!" He shouted back and I had to cover Elentiya's mouth to stop her and hide her in my cloak from gaining her father's attention.

"Not anymore, you fae bastard!" Aelin shouted. "Now. We're leaving and you are nothing to me! You hear me! Noth-Ing!" She elongated the last word, pronouncing each syllable separately. She barged past him and out of the tents.