A Court in Flames

Chapter 41

Aelin's POV

We were sitting in the lounge when Mor and Petrah walked. 

"Is everyone here?" Mor asked as she sat down with Petrah sitting on her left. I nodded. "Good."

There was a moment of silence before she continued, "Petrah and I have an announcement to make." Petrah grabbed her hand. "I'm- She's- We're mates."

"Finally!" I shouted as I shut my book and everyone turned to look at me. "What?"

"You knew?" Mor asked.

"Well, yeah. Haven't any of you met me? I always know what is going on!" I heard Rowan roll his eyes. "That. Was the loudest eye-roll I have ever heard."

"You can't hear someone roll their eyes, Fireheart."

"Oh yeah!? Well, I just heard you roll your eyes!" Elentiya chuckled as she watched us bicker.

"Can we go back to the conversation at hand?" Feyre asked as she stared at me. I waved my hand as if to say go ahead. "Thank you-"

"Wait one second. How long have you known?" Mor demanded.

"A week or so after the two of you met," I said with a shrug. "It's about time that you said something."

"Of course, you knew," Petrah muttered.

"So... We're mates and apparently Aelin knew this already," Mor said with a small smile.

"I did."

"So you two are 100% mates?" Azriel asked.

"100%," Petrah stated. "I had no idea a witch could have a mate. And to think. I never would have known if Aelin hadn't been captured." I barked a laugh.

"At least, one good thing came of my imprisonment!"

"So how long have you preferred females, Mor?" Azriel asked.

"Quite some time, actually. Several centuries or so," she admitted cooly. I sipped my wine while I watched everyone turn into a squabbling mess.

Mor stood up quickly as did Azriel and Cassian. They were snarling at each other. Amren, Petrah and I stood up as well. I didn't quite hear what they had said, but Mor was my first friend here and I would back her up.

Everyone else stood up until it was everyone against Cass and Az with Rhys in the middle shouting at us all. "We are not having a repeat of last time." I smiled. "Personally, I would like to have somewhere to sleep tonight."

When none of us stood down Rhys threw his hands in the air. "Aelin if you sit back down I'll buy you chocolates. Cass, I'll get you a new sword. Amren, I'll get you a new necklace. Feyre, I'll get you some paints. Mor, I'll get you a new dress. Az, you can have my cape that you're always staring at."

The only one who sat down was Cass. "I'll sit down once they apologize for insulting my mate," Mor stated.

"I'm sorry for calling Petrah a self-centred bitch and a whore," Cassian and Az muttered in unison. We all sat down.

"I'll take my chocolates, now," I said and looked at Rhys.

"You didn't sit down right away."

"You never said, right away all you said was if I sat down. Well... I'm sitting down. So where are my chocolates."

"She has a point, Rhys," Feyre muttered.

"You're supposed to be on my side!"

"I want my paints!"

"I suppose I have to get all of those things now, don't I?" We all nodded in agreement and Rhys groaned. "Fine. I'm on it." He walked out of the room.

"So... Rowan, Lys and I have been talking and... We're going home tomorrow."

"Really?" Feyre asked. A sad glint in her eyes.

"I know. But... I've left my kingdom for too long. But... I promise we'll visit and you can, too," I finished and I knew there was a sheen to my eyes as tears built up.

"I'm going to stay here with my mate," Petrah stated. I nodded. I had suspected as much.

"It's too bad that I never got a chance to say goodbye to Fleetfoot," I said with a sigh as I pictured Orynth. She'd been fairly old when I had been kidnapped but still acted as a puppy would.

"Fireheart... Fleetfoot's still alive," Rowan said.

"You're joking. She's like 22!"

"Am I the only one who's confused?" Cass asked.

"Fleetfoot's my dog. I didn't think I would get to say goodbye to her," I said with a small smile.

"She had a pair of puppies, too," Rowan said with a smirk. I squealed.

Suddenly Elentiya spoke up, "We're going home tomorrow? I'm going to see Orynth?" All eyes were on her now.

My face broke into a huge grin, "Yes. You're finally going to see your home. We're going home tomorrow." I looked at the clock on the wall. "I have to go do something." Rowan stood up to follow me but I gave him a look to sit back down. Before nodding my head at Lysandra to follow me.

We left the group to chat. I turned down the hallway to my room.

"Where are we going?" She asked me.

"I have to go pick something up," I stated while I peered down the hallway both ways before opening my door.

"And why did I have to be here? By the way, you still didn't answer my question," she stated.

"Rowan wouldn't've let me leave if I hadn't brought you, territorial fae bastard. And we're going to Terrasen," I said as I drew the wyrdmarks for a portal.

I stepped through and Lys followed close behind.

"Mind guarding it while I go get what I need?

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Elentiya's POV

I stared at the portal. I couldn't help but love the feel of the pine-scented wind on my face.

My mother had turned to the Court of Dreams.

I stepped through the portal and beheld the beauty that my imagination had never even come close to replicating.

I breathed in the beauty. The sun shone down on me and the wind sang as if welcoming home.

Home. Something I had never hoped of having.

A warm hand landed on my shoulder and I turned to see my mother standing beside me a huge smile on her face.

She turned to the portal behind us and waved and called, "We'll see you at Rhy's birthday!" They smiled as the portal closed.

As we walked down the streets of Orynth, my mother pointed out all of her favourite places. I marvelled at the simple orange flowers strung over the streets, the flower boxes in the windows were filled with them, too. The streets were packed full of people and I loved it.

She smiled as we walked up to the gates of the castle, it's golden towers were bright against the bright blue sky.

My mother whispered in my ear as we walked, "Welcome home, Elentiya."