Shadowsinger

Chapter Seventeen-Pink and Frilly

Cassian finds me awake and fully dressed the next morning with food already on the table. I could get used to this house that tends to our every need. "Did you not stay awake long enough the other day?" He teases while plopping unceremoniously beside me and piling food on his plate.

"Hopefully, there will be a day coming where I can sleep until noon peacefully. And without a pig snorting in the other room." I hide my smirk behind a cup of tea when Cassian pauses with a frown.

"My snoring is musical. It's not my fault you don't have an ear for it."

"I doubt anyone other than your mate would find it musical."

"Which is why I'm shocked you're against it."

"We're not together!" I laugh and shake my head. "You lied about that!"

"Still hurts, little sister." He puts a hand over his heart and I laugh again, shoving him which only causes me to rock in my seat. "Seriously though, if you need to talk about something..." He shrugs and my smile sobers a bit.

"What are we going to do if the High Lords don't agree to fight?" I ask and he sighs.

"No matter what they decide, we'll fight. We'll fight until the end and do whatever we can for the innocents caught in between." The general makes an appearance and I nod, ever the soldier. "But they'd be fools not to agree. It would be signing their own death into Hybern's hands. Still, it's important to make a good impression which means we should get back. Rest. Find you something to wear." He sighs and stands, his wings stretching along with his arms. I pop up just after him and walk outside into the morning light barely leaking over the snow-capped mountains.

"So, what's the prize for winning this race?" I ask and his grin is brighter than the rising sun. I'm glad to see it after yesterday.

"Hm. Mor always asks for foot rubs." He offers and I perk up.

"Accepted. What does the loser have to do?" I question while extending my wings and rolling my shoulders to warm myself up. Cassian's brows furrow.

"Giving me foot rubs isn't punishment enough for you?"

"It certainly isn't enough punishment for you when I take pride in keeping my feet smelling nice." Ever since nearly losing my toes, I'd discovered a newfound respect for my feet. "Winner gets foot rubs for a month to be called in at any time. Loser...the loser has to wear one item to the meeting that the winner chooses." A wide grin inches over my face at the shock, then absolutely wicked pleasure that settles onto his face. "And go!" I sweep into the sky and shoot towards Velaris with a few shadows left behind to hold Cassian to the ground. His roaring makes me push harder while I chuckle, but I don't have the lung capacity to waste on laughter.

It takes him minutes to catch up with me, then within the next hour, he's a speck in front of me. My jaw locks at the thought of rubbing his feet and whatever horror he'll make me wear to the meeting. An idea flashes into my mind before I'm diving into a pocket of the world, sliding through shadows, then coming out in the air over Cassian. Before he can look up, I melt into his shadows while barely breathing. I hitch a ride until we're within sight of Velaris and even still, I hold on until we're meters from the border, then fling myself out.

"What—" He barks as I spear across the border with a shout of triumph. "YOU DAMNED CHEATER!" He thunders, but when I look back at him, he has a wide grin on his face.

"We never specified any rules, shaggy." I return and he practically steams before we skid to a stop on the deck of the House of Wind. We shove each other through the door grinning and chuckling. "Hope your hands are ready for a workout." I tease and he groans before wiping sweat off his brow to slather it over my arm. "Ugh!" My arm is raised to slap him when we both feel the slight eddy that whirls in to reveal Rhys touching down on the veranda.