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#Nesta Acheron fanfic
viradeity · 1 year
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wingspan
summary: The Inner Circle ladies have a much needed night out, talk about wingspan ensues.
oh yeah requests are open!
azriel x reader
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A/N: I had a lot of fun with this one. This was based off a popular Tik Tok sound going around now. Also, I am currently drinking Arizona while writing this, I realize I love Arizona just as much as I love Azriel.
THIS IS SUPER SHORT, I JUST NEED TO POST SOMETHING.
Warnings: Extremely Suggestive.
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You sighed against the loveseat you were sitting in, swirling around your wine in its glass. The girls have decided it was time for a night out. Honestly, you couldn't pass up the chance to hang with them.
The night was perfect, starting with you guys going for dinner, then doing a little shopping. Now, you were having a chat over drinks. You were completely lost in thought until someone called your attention.
"Y/n?" Elain asked.
"Yeah?" you replied, words not coming to you as fast doing to being a little tipsy.
"We were wondering um..." Elain seemed to blush and not continue.
Thankfully, Nesta finished, "We were wondering if Azriel has the biggest wingspan, for real."
The rest only looked at you with a look that screamed, "give us the details"
You laughed and took one big swing of your drink, "He might not look like he gets bitches, but honey that dick was 11 inches!"
When you finished, the girls jaws literally fell to the floor. Mor was the first to speak.
"I am actually crying for your cervix."
To this, Amren thoughtfully replied with, "In all my years of knowing him.....holy fucking shit."
Feyre just laughed, "Well- he's 100% the biggest, no question there."
Nesta looked at you thoughtfully and said, "I gotta say, I am pretty jealous, not even Cass could compare."
Elain had a face that said "what in Mother's name-"
When you got home, you saw Az. Rhys, and Cassian having a talk on the couch, they all looked up at you all as you came in.
"Hey love, how was your night?" Azriel asked.
"It was good, we talked about stuff."
"LIke what?"
"Wingspan." you deadpanned.
To this, the three batboys sighed, and brought out the measuring tape.
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shi-daisy · 2 months
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My dear goldfish brain forgot to post this before but were correcting. Here's the beautiful cover for A Court of Blaze & Sorrow I commissioned from @ginger-snap-talkin-nonsense
Thank you so much dude, I'm still in awe of how pretty it looks! Everyone go appreciate ginger, they're awesome and an absolute delight to work with!
Also go read the fic because I crave kudos and comments thank you and good night! ♥
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The stars that missed The Sun
Nyx x Reader
Warning- arrange marriage, cute stuff.
A/N- Hey guys I'm sorry this took so long I had to rewrite this a few times. I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter but I hope you guys like this
Part one, Part two
Chapter three
Over the last few weeks, Nyx has been amazing, kind, and patient. I couldn’t even repay him in a hundred years. So then, what are we waiting for? Every night I would go to my bed, and he would go to his. There was something in me that I couldn’t quite place, something that always found its way back, that feeling of not knowing if he was even interested in me at all, and maybe he wasn't. Maybe he was only interested in this marriage to be a friendship, and when the time came, I would give him heirs. Would he have a mistress to satisfy him, and would I have mine? I couldn’t get a read on him or his feelings. I couldn't even understand what I felt, but the thought of Nyx having a mistress made me nauseous and unsettled.
Nyx’s family had their monthly dinner tonight. All of us gathered at the river house. I was getting out of the tub and into my bedroom to get ready for the evening, where I saw a dress laid out for me with a note.
Since you loved Abrail’s dresses so much, I had her make you more. I thought this one would be perfect for dinner. -Nyx,
I smiled. I put my dress and jewelry on and couldn’t wait to show him; I didn’t think to knock on his door, so I walked right in.
“This dress is-” I hadn’t even made it through the door frame. I stopped every thought because of the sight in front of me. He had just gotten out of the bath with only his underwear on. He was in the middle of putting his pants on. I watched as he slipped them on and bottomed them. My eyes made their way up from his torso to his tattooed chest and, finally, met his eyes and smile that held too much amusement.
“It’s not polite to stare, you know,” he said as he pulled his shirt over his head and found his jacket.
“I… I… I just wanted to say thank you,” I stumbled over the words.
“For the dress or the sneak peek,” he smirked at me.
“We are going to be late,” I tried to change the subject. But, instead, he raised an eyebrow, and I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to school my face into something neutral.
He had finished putting his shoes on and walking up to me as if sizing me up for a fight. He leaned against the doorframe a mere inch away from me.
“Don’t look at me like that firefly” he leaned in close as if to kiss me.
“Like what?” my voice barely came out as a whisper.
“As if you want me” He knew the effect he was having on me, and he didn’t care; I didn’t care all I knew was that I became all too aware of my body. I stayed silent.
“Well, do you?” he asked, still close to me.
“Do I what?” I wasn’t even sure I was speaking.
“Want me?” he said. I wanted to lean in and kiss those lips once again to taste them. His lips brushed past mine, just a small graze.
“But you’re right, we will be late” he changed his tone and smiled in my direction, moving around me to leave his room. I stood there in shock, not knowing what to do.
- - - - - - – - - - - - - -
We had winnowed into his parent’s home. I moved from his arms. After what happened to be that close to him wouldn’t be a good idea, especially with his parents in the other room. I looked around the foyer that we had landed in. I hadn’t been to his parent’s home before. The front entrance opens to a grand hall with winding staircases to the upper levels of the house. Everything was so beautiful in the way it was decorated. A family portrait of everyone hung there. My brother was even in it, and then another of just the High lord, High lady, and their kids, but there were small paintings in frames on the entry table. One stuck out to me, though. It was a baby boy sitting on a deep blue blanket with a head raven black hair and blue eyes with the chunkiest of smiles that was nothing but gums.
“Is this you?” I asked Nyx. as I picked up the photo to take a better look.
“You were so chunky. Oh my gods, look at those rolls,” I gleamed as he chuckled beside me.
“He was the greediest of my children, which would explain those cheeks,” The voice came from behind me. I turned to see High lady Feyre and High lord Rhysand approaching us.
“I’m afraid not much has changed. You should see how much he eats for breakfast alone,” I joke. He smiled down at me, pulling me to his side. Rhysand had looked at me with a puzzled look, then back at his son, who only nodded—nodded at what? Were they having a conversion within their minds? Feyre looked at Rhysand once again. Her eyes widened, but she composed herself as if trying not to give away her excitement. I looked up at Nyx. to see if I could read his face but nothing.
“Are we going to eat or what? I’m starving over here” Cassian entered and broke up whatever was happening. Feyre chuckled, and Rhysand shook his head.
“I would hurry. Morrigan has already started on the wine.”Amren made her way over and looked me up and down. I didn’t flinch under her gaze as she looked back at Nyx and me.
“Well, come along between Cassian and Mor. If we don’t hurry, there won’t be any food or wine left for the rest of us.” Rhysand led us into the dining room; I sat across from Nyx on the couches, who gave me a flirtatious smirk. My thoughts drifted, and I thought about his lips again and the sight of his body and what I wanted to do with it. I shift in my seat carefully and calm my body in this room full of fae before they catch wind of desire through my smell and thoughts.
Don’t worry, firefly. Only I can hear your naughty thoughts. I made sure of it. He was having a conversation with Nesta, who was next to him. While I was still standing by the window. You couldn’t even tell that he was in my mind. I felt the heat rise in my cheeks, but I wouldn’t let him see that I was affected by him again, so I kept my tone as unbothered as possible.
That is the first time tonight that you have been a gentleman.
You are right that I was rude to leave things like I’m sorry earlier. How would you like me to make it up to you?
A smile made its way to my lips as the perfect opportunity came.
I can think of a few ways. So that’s what I did; I imagined me and Nyx intertwined with nothing between us, his lips on my skin trailing kisses down my neck to my breasts as he moved lower and lower.
That’s cruel of you, firefly. His tone in my mind grew dark. I was pleased with myself, smiling as I picked up and drank from my glass. Nyx’s presence left my mind. That’s when his siblings and cousins came in.
“There’s my new sister,” A girl with blonde hair and Violet eyes embraced me in a soul-crushing hug.
“You’re about to break your new sister Astrid,” another girl said; she had dark brown hair and steel blue eyes.
“Welcome to the Family. I know we haven’t spoken since the wedding, but a certain future high lord has had all of us running ragged with missions since then,” Astrid, Nyx’s sister, spoke while she held annoyance in her tone. Nyx paid her no mind but gave her a simple hand wave.
“I’m sure you remember Lyra,” she gestures to the beautiful woman beside her. She towered over me, and though she looked intimidating, she waved me a friendly smile, making her look even more attractive. I had to remind myself that I am a married woman now.
“Yes, of course. It’s good to see you again.”
“Likewise,” Lyra said to me as she nodded. She looked so much like her mother. It was scary.
“Where are the rest of you?” Feyre asked.
“They’re coming, mother; you know you can’t trust those boys to be on time for anything” Astrid looped her arm in mine and closed her hand around my fingers. Not long after, the rest of the inner circle children, along with Azriel, Gwyn, Luicen, and Elain, showed up.
“Great, now that everyone is here, we can finally eat,” Rhysand said, and we all made our way to our seats and began to eat. Conversation flowed throughout dinner. Whenever I tried to speak to Lucien, he would brush off what I asked or not answer. It started to get to me that I was trying so hard to talk to him, and he couldn’t even bother.
“Your dress looks lovely dear. Where did you get it from?” The question had come from Elain, and it had taken me aback only because her mate, my brother, had seemed determined to avoid me for the evening.
“Oh, there is a shop by the bridge. The owner Abrail makes amazing dresses. I can take you there one day if you're not busy?” I said to her,
“Elain always has time to shop,” Nesta teased jokingly with her sister. It reminded me of how I was with mine. A homesick feeling washed over me, causing me to grow distant. My family, I had almost forgotten how much I missed them and my home. My early morning rides on my pegasus, my sisters at dinner, and my father. How could I have forgotten them? How could I have forgotten my oldest sister, who was no longer here? I’m enjoying the life she would have had with Nyx. I must have been quiet for too long because when I looked up, I saw Nyx looking at me with worry.
Are you alright? I didn’t answer him though
“Sorry, would you all excuse me” I stood up and left before anyone had the chance, To say anything.
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arinbelle · 1 year
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A Court of Witches and Warriors
A/N: I know it’s been a year since I updated this fic. I am so very aware. 🤦🏽‍♀️ 
~*~
Chapter 20
Cassian awoke to darkness. 
At first, he was sure he was back in his home. In Windhaven. Instinct had him reaching to his right, feeling for Nesta's warm body that always seemed to mold into his side as the night wore on. But Nesta was not there.
Nothing was there. And upon further inspection, Cassian realized nothing was there at all.
He breathed out sharply, panic slicing through him suddenly at the eerie nothingness he was in.
The sound echoed around him, as if he was underwater in some cave, bouncing around aimlessly until finally fading into more silence. Something was wrong. He needed to think. Where was he? And how had he gotten to where this was?
The forest. Martaxes. Nesta.
“Nesta!”
But there was no response save for the echo back of his own voice.
Bits and pieces of disjointed memories came back to him slowly. All the while, the inky blackness around him didn't dissipate once. He flung himself though it in the lapses between his memory, when no new visions of what had happened in those woods would enter his mind. It was always the same end result. Cassian would try to fly, try to jump, try to walk, but he always ended up on some flat, soft surface that he could only assume was a bed. He couldn't see much to verify it himself, although strangely enough, he could see his own hands. His body. 
Cassian startled as he looked down at his torso again, taking in the newly formed gashes that slithered over his stomach, scraping over his chest, healed but barely. Strangely, mangled as they looked, he did not feel pain.
Something from long ago he'd heard in his lessons popped up suddenly in his mind. A tutor that had gone over the various monsters in Prythian. It had been Rhys' father's decision to have them all educated on the topic, as the Illyrian camps only gave battle training and weaponry for Fae counterparts. Not their hidden monsters. The lecture had droned on for so long that Cassian had given up on paying attention and instead had gotten into a spitball contest with Rhys. Az, ever the faithful student, was the only one who had glared at their antics and tried his best to absorb all the tedious knowledge they were being given. Until the spitball landed on the teacher's face and Cassian had been given three sharp lashes on his knuckles for the infraction. His next monotone paragraph had etched itself into Cassian's memory, with the sting of the whip still smarting on his hands.
"The martax has potent venom in its bite- remember that. It renders its prey weak and motionless, and the paralysis eventually chokes off their ability to breathe. Their heart to pump. The only saving grace is that the prey do not feel pain when bitten or clawed. It is a steady but painless death, with the prey often times comatose while they are eaten or slowly dying."
Everything began clicking back together again, as if someone had fixed up the jigsaw puzzle in his head on the last few days and suddenly Cassian could think again.
"I'm dying," Cassian breathed out, realizing the horrible truth as he looked at the bite bark accompanying the slashes on his torso.
"Indeed you are."
Cassian jumped at the voice, somehow everywhere and nowhere around him. He still couldn't see anything. 
Cassian instinctively flared out his wings and called his power up to his hands. It rumbled as it awoke, and Cassian felt the charge of the Killing Power push through him, revitalizing every fiber of his being in a way that the past hours aimless rest hadn't done. But for all its bravado, nothing surged to his fingertips, his feet, his wings...nothing.
"That won't work here." The voice was back.
Cassian tried to figure out the source, but once again, his search proved futile.
"If you wish to see me, you need only ask." It was a voice that reminded him of Amren, young and yet ancient enough for Cassian to know this was no ordinary being. No Fae, no human, or a monster. It was something Otherwordly and now that she'd made it clear how to see her, Cassian wasn't sure he wanted to.
"Fine. Where am I?"
For a moment there was only silence. And then, Cassian heard a whoosh of air behind him, and could see light emanating from there too, drawing flickering shapes in front of him and expanding his shadow onto the ground. Cassian was careful when he turned, but he did turn, and he did look, bizarre as it all was.
She looked younger than he had expected. An angular, olive skinned face, one of beauty, was framed by dark curls and a thrumming energy of changing colors.  And yet...something in her was off, utterly wrong. As he stared at her longer, he realized that her teal eyes held too much weight, too much age, for her face to look so youthful.
"I am older than you'll ever be able to guess child. I suggest you worry about more pressing matters." Her voice felt both like relief and worry, like a nightingale's cry and nails on a stone wall. Right and wrong mixed into a spellbinding mix that had Cassian rearing a few steps back. The woman...thing had a black robe wrapped all around her, cinched tight at the waist with a strange, shimmering belt that reminded Cassian of a snake. 
Was it actually a snake? Cassian swore he saw something like moving scales, but then he'd blinked and it had passed.
Cassian's mouth had dried out as realization struck that no matter how much she may almost look like a woman or a female, she was neither. There was more to her and her strange presence that had Cassian asking, "Who are you?"
She cocked her head and serpentine smile wreaked onto her face, and even though he'd been alive for more than five centuries, had seen and ended all sorts of monsters in the world, it sent shivers down Cassian's back.
"Scared already?," she mocked with chilling amusement. "You won't fare well with that attitude. Especially not in this world."
Cassian steadied his mind, "What world would that be? Who are you? What are you?”
She flashed her teeth again and Cassian realized he may have asked the wrong question. "You know where you are. At least some sense of it. Don't expect me to comfort you from the truth we both know. As for me, I'm known as many things. By many names. We don't have time to sort through all of them."
"Are you Fae?," Cassian ventured to ask. He knew she wasn't, but he needed to know what was churning behind her eyes, because it sure as hell wasn't the same immortality that ran through him.
"No." A moment of fitful silence went by so she added, musing as she did, "I did have a hand in creating them though, so I suppose I could be considered a mother to your race." 
If she'd created them, had been alive long enough to have helped bring forth the Fae, she had to be a deity of some sort. Some type of Goddess though he wouldn't know since she refused to tell him her name. Horror sluiced through him at the thought of being toe to toe with an unknown immortal, possibly another Death god like the one they'd tried to keep imprisoned in Velaris.
She began walking towards him, and Cassian's battle training had him planting his feet in a fighting stance, ready for her to attack. Even though she was a goddess and Cassian would likely die for real from the fight, he stood strong. All for nothing, because she breezed right past him and into a blazing white circle that had opened up in the middle of the dark nothing around them.
Cassian gaped at the blinding circle for only a moment.
"Well, are you coming or not? I could leave you there to rot, but if you're wise, you'll follow me Cassian." Her voice came from beyond the white circle, a portal no doubt leading to somewhere away from the stygian contraption of wherever he was.
Cassian didn't like the sound of his name on her tongue but he followed dutifully, the portal sucking him in the rest of the way when he was near touching it. It turned his stomach inside out, almost like Winnowing with Rhys but worse, and soon enough he found himself lying facedown in the grass, all the breath completely knocked out of him. 
When he looked up, a pair of shiny boots were pointed towards him. Cassian got up, groaning as pain spiked in random parts of his body, and the portal's journey took its physical toll. She waited patiently for him as he caught his breath and then straightened up, only raising an eyebrow at him in an amused way.
When she turned and began walking away, Cassian heaved himself to keep up. 
"It seems the poison has taken quite a toll on you. I would think a centuries old Commander of the supposedly best army in Prythian could handle a small bit of portal travel." She smirked at him as he caught up to her, looking him up and down before turning straight again. "Guess not."
Cassian wanted to argue it but deep down he could feel his strength had waned considerably. How long did he have? He hadn't even been able to say goodbye to Nesta.
Nesta. His fierce and loyal Nesta, who had returned for him even though she shouldn't have. He had no idea how she was faring? If she was also hurt like him...or worse.
"Nesta is fine." She stopped, peering at him carefully. "Well, she's alive. She's not at all fine."
"Why?," Cassian demanded, a sick feeling of dread sluicing through him for what Nesta may have suffered. The Mother did not react to his brusque change in tone.
"She weeps at your bedside everyday. Asking for you to wake up. Come back to her. Foolish girl wants time. Some sort of promise you made her?" 
The goddess said it like a question but there was something wrong in her tone. As if she too knew the weight of those very words and just how deep those wounds ran between him and Nesta.
I will find you in the next world - the next life. And we will have that time. I promise.
Cassian's words came roaring back to him and his world began splintering. He needed to get back to her. Needed to -
"No!" Cassian's head whipped towards her. "There'll be none of that here. I don't have time for you to lose resolve already. We don't have long. Come with me." She began walking away, at a far brisker pace than Cassian thought was possible, and he struggled to keep up, panting every so often.
"What is this place? Where were we just before?"
She didn't reply right away. Cassian wanted to rip his hair out. He needed to leave, if he could, and somehow find a way to speak to Nesta. If he didn't live, at least speak to her one last time and tell her everything she meant to him. 
"You're dying," she finally stated, halting suddenly and leaving Cassian scrambling.
Cassian had been on the brink of Death many times, had been brought back many times as well. It shouldn't have felt like such a slap in the face when he heard the damning words, but it did. Shuttered his eyes and made his too weak heartbeat pound just a bit faster.
"You were in a waiting place earlier." The dark place that he'd woken up to. She nodded as if to confirm his thoughts. "All the souls that are caught between the two worlds are stuck there, in their own version of it, until someone can bring them over to the other side."
"And that someone is you," Cassian stated, not a question but to confirm.
She blinked at him before slowly replying. "No...it's usually not. There is another here who tends to lost souls." Another God or Goddess no doubt. Cassian still couldn't believe that he was speaking to an actual deity at the moment. "Well," she started again, as if sensing the direction of his thoughts. "There are many of us here in the Afterlife that aid in bringing the dead to their final resting place. Usually the Goddess who runs this place is the one to do it. Especially if the soul is...important." Cassian didn't like how she said it, as if there was something off about him that needed to be studied. 
"Where are they then?," Cassian demanded. 
She tutted at him not answering. Instead she waved her arms and Cassian felt a hook under his navel, jerking him. He yelled out at the foreign and unpleasant sensation. Except when it really began to feel unbearable, it was over, and Cassian was no longer in a field. Instead, they had arrived someplace underground, a cavern of some sort, and the only source of light was a glaring white sphere in the center of the room. As it moved inside itself and the opalescent substance of whatever it was twirled, the goddess walked up behind him, placing a hand on his shoulder. 
"I am usually not the one who deals with lost souls or the ones who need helping crossing. I do deal with ghosts and souls and ghouls and all other manner of dark creature, whether by death or by their own choice. But I heard of your arrival and wanted to see you."
Cassian's mouth went dry. "Why?" What could she possibly want with him? What interest could he serve for her?
"It isn't you," she assured him calmly. "It's your mate."
"You know Nesta?" Cassian turned his head to look at her.
A sly smile overtook her face. "I figured you wouldn't know," she mused aloud, tapping her lips with her fingers. "But I thought she would eventually tell you..."
The woman trailed off and Cassian resisted the urge to demand her to finish what she was saying. She didn't and Cassian couldn't help but let out a growl of frustration.
"Keep those noises to yourself boy," she admonished sharply, and Cassian somehow found himself shirking back. It had been a long time since someone had scared him enough to do that. Sure Nesta had always had her moments where she'd unnerved him. Set him off. But he'd never been afraid of her. Never.
This woman though, with her cruel stare and serpentine smile, scared the hell out of him.
"Yes I know Nesta," she finally spoke. "I met her briefly. Once, long ago I suppose. Or not long at all. Time is so very different for me than you Fae."
"I don't understand," Cassian admitted reluctantly. She'd spoken in riddles from the moment he'd met her but the lack of clarity in her eyes, the haze that seemed to cloud them suddenly left him feeling unsteady.
She nodded after a moment. Cassian unintentionally found himself walking backwards as she moved towards him. But she ended up moving past him yet again, stopping some distance away and throwing her hand out into the air. The air seemed to ripple where her fingers hovered, and suddenly colors began moving, shapes began forming and before he knew it, a scene he'd been on the other side of began playing in front of him.
Nesta lay over him, scratched up, blood leaking from her mouth where Hybern had struck her. He'd never paid much attention to how he had looked that day, more focused on getting Nesta to safety, making sure she survived even if he didn't. 
It was a wretched sight, Hybern advancing on them, Nesta sobbing, clinging desperately at Cassian's leathers to get up. And then she said the words that had seared into Cassian's mind from the moment she'd uttered them.
"I can't. I can’t.”
Not "won't." 
Can't. Could not.
She refused to leave him. Cassian had known in that moment, as he'd pressed his lips to hers, in what he was sure was going to be their last moments, that she was his, and he had always been hers.
Cassian had not seen Elain from where he’d been, with Nesta’s face and chest covering him. But he’d heard the sound of the blade singing through the air before it hit its target. Had heard Hybern choke .
To see it from this new perspective was jarring. Delicate Elain who felt faint and awkward around blood and gore, sweet Elain who blushed at the crude jokes he and Rhys made around Feyre, had slayed a king for her sister. 
“I was here for this,” he bit out as he watched Nesta begin twisting the blade, severing Hybern’s head off. Every bit the warrior queen he’d thought her to be from the first time they’d met. 
He saw the goddess smirk. “You were here for this part boy, but I promise you the rest will be quite a surprise.”
Elain had begun screaming over her father’s corpse and Nesta would soon be pulled from her bloodletting stupor to comfort her sister. He remembered it clear as day because all he had wanted to do was for her to come to him instead. For him to hold her and breathe in her scent to know she was real. But Nesta did not.
Nesta walked over to where Cassian was still laying, all bent bones and broken wings, and fell to her knees beside him. Laid a hand on his shoulder and shook it.
No.
That wasn’t right. She was shaking all of him.
“Cassian,” she called out, shaking him again. Elain’s sobs quieted as she looked over.
“Cassian…,” Nesta tried again, panic overtaking her lovely face. “Cassian wake up. Cassian. Wake. Up.”
But to his horror, he had stopped moving.
“No,” he breathed out. “That’s not possible. That’s not what happened.”
Because he had been there. Nesta had held Elain besides their father while she’d wept and wept and wept. Cassian had lain there grateful to be alive, praying that no new foes emerged while Nesta and Elain had sat there undefended. Soon enough, Mor had come looking for him and with Azriel’s help, they’d hauled him away. He’d tried to catch Nesta’s eye as he had been taken away, all for nothing. She’d avoided him in those first moments of victory, and that distance had only widened in the year to come.
But that was no longer happening. There was no Mor. No Azriel. Instead, Nesta was shaking Cassian, calling his name over and over asking him to wake up.
But he didn’t. And if he looked closer, he could see his own chest, and how obvious it was that it was no longer rising or falling. He could see his eyes had shut and his wings had tucked inwards, not even twitching here and there.
“I died.” He spoke the heavy truth, poisonous as it was to spit out.
“Indeed you did,” the snakelike female confirmed. “Tragedy too since you would have survived had Hybern not broken so many bones.”
He’d broken scores of bones in his life. It had never brought him to the brink of death, let alone fully crossed him over its threshold.
“He broke all your ribs, and one of them pierced your heart. It was internal bleeding along with all the other bleeds you had already suffered that I believe did you in.”
Cassian could only nod in horror as he watched Nesta start to sob. To scream. For help. For someone, anyone, to help them.
Elain watched transfixed in horror, sitting beside her father’s corpse as Nesta sat beside a corpse of her own.
Cassian had no idea what was going on, how he could watch his own death unravel only to be alive in the future that was today.
Nesta had laid her head down on his chest, sobbing softly, murmuring something.
“What is she saying?,” he demanded hollowly.
The goddess didn’t respond, only pressing a hand to his lower back, pushing him forward. Suddenly Cassian was no longer looking at the memory, he was in it. The smell of death and war loomed over him and the battlefield thrummed beneath his feet as he got closer to Nesta. He looked over at Elain, panicked, sure that she would go mad if she saw two Cassians in front of her.
“They cannot see us,” the goddess assured him from behind.
So Cassian took another step closer. Closer. Closer. Until he heard the words falling from Nesta’s mouth.
“Please, please, please, please, please, please,please, please.”
She whispered it brokenly, over and over and over again, all to no avail.
“She sat there like that for an hour,” he heard the goddess say. “You were going to cross over very soon with the one who takes souls over. But he saw your mate sitting there over your body, pleading for so long, so eventually I was called over.” She walked over until Cassian could feel the Otherwordly power emanating from her and into him. “I almost left her there. Almost. But as it was pointed out to me by my…colleague, she was no ordinary grieving girl.”
Cassian wanted to say that Nesta had never been just ordinary but he bit his tongue.
Nesta was still pleading. Sobbing, begging and pleading her woe. 
“Please.”
Please , she had just begged to Hybern just moments ago. Please , to spare her at father. Please , to let them go. And here she was again, doing it for Cassian. 
He recognized the blinding white light of the goddess before Nesta even noticed it. As a duplicate of the female beside him walked onto the battlefield and surveyed the scene before her. It was Elain’s gasp that had Nesta lifting her head from Cassian’s prone chest to look at her.
“Well, you certainly have raised quite a storm haven’t you Nesta Archeron?”
Nesta didn’t respond, only narrowing her eyes with contempt. Cassian laughed. The goddess from his time glared at him but Cassian couldn't’ help the small smile he kept on his face. That was his Nesta, even in the face of calamity.
“You need to let him go.”
“No.” Cassian could feel the ancient Fae command in her tone. Could practically feel Nesta resonating with ire and power as she staked her claim.
“You were not allowed to steal from the Cauldron for this girl. Not this. Anything but this.”
Cassian didn’t understand so he looked to the goddess at his right to explain.
The only answer to his question was another question.
“What is her power, Cassian?”
Cassian snorted. “Hell if anyone knows. She’s damn good at making a fire. Still shitty as hell with water, but she can pull it off. Not too great with potions, terrifyingly good with spells.”
He was graced with a withering smile that sobered him up. “I don’t know honestly. None of us do. We, well I, figured out that she’s a witch. You know witches control the elements.”
“Yes,” she affirmed, nodding, “but she is a witch by nature. She was turned Fae by the Cauldron, which created an immortal from the very fabric of her being. Who she was to her core. So she is a witch simply because she was made Fae, and those powers are what all witches have. But she stole from the Cauldron as well. What did she take, Cassian?”
Cassian shook his head. “I don’t know. She won’t say. Her power from the Cauldron is like fire but cold, almost like ice. None of us can figure out what it means.”
“Then look closer.”
So he did.
The goddess from then surveyed Nesta with a serpentine smile. “You cannot hold him here. That is not what you are meant to do. You are breaking the very laws of the world to do it.”
Holding him here. She was holding him back. From what?
Nesta growled. “I don’t want the Cauldron’s power to be your puppet. I already told you that once before.”
“And I told you that is not how our world works. You cannot take from us and pay no price. And there is always a price girl. You know this.” Then, the goddess’s face softened considerably, in a way he didn’t know was possible. “I cannot let you keep him in your world. He is dead. He cannot be tethered here anymore. Your powers will drain if you push this any longer.”
“Gods above,” he breathed out.
She was stopping him from crossing over to death. Nesta’s power…was Death. 
The goddess only nodded at him once before she turned away to stare at her counterpart ahead of them. 
Nesta visibly struggled, something like panic and agony slicing through her lovely features as she grappled with what she’d just been told. And then, as if ice melting on a spring day, the anger dissipated from her face. All that was left was hollow sorrow.
“Please. I will give anything.”
“No,” Cassian shouted out. He felt nauseous as he watched on. Knew that no good could come of this.
“What is he worth Nesta Archeron?”
Not even a moment’s worth of hesitation before Nesta was already answering. 
“He is everything.”
“So he is,” the goddess had declared with a knowing smile.
And then Cassian suddenly lost all sense of sound. He saw Nesta speak to the goddess, saw them nod at each other as some sort of agreement was sparked, all mute to him. He saw a curling mark appear on Nesta’s wrist, black as night at first form, only to glow brighter and brighter until it burned silver and then turned to nothing at all. Hidden away from the naked eye, but the bargain would remain. The goddess disappeared, and time seemed to move backwards around.
Nesta was again besides Elain, Cassian was suddenly jerking awake, no looming death for him anymore. But this time he saw the change in Nesta. Saw how she snuck glances over to Cassian as he lay there in the memory he had originally had of himself. And it became clear to him that whatever had transpired that day between Nesta and the goddess, was only privy to the two. Cassian and Elain had no recollection of it and he likely never would have had he not been shown what he had just now.
Cassian was suddenly terrified as he was ripped away from the scene before him. Terrified as the world fell away from him until he was again in that bright, clear, open field with the goddess beside him. Terrified as he wondered, what had Nesta given in exchange for his life. 
~*~
Taglist: @simpingfornestaarcheron @endlessdaydream @sleeping-and-books @purpleglitterypinecone   @sv0430   @gwynberdara @karmasworlds @bookstantrash   @duskandstarlight  @d0riansgray @perseusannabeth @vasudharaghavan   @sayosdreams   @arielle-reads   @theoverlyenthusiasticwriter  @nahthanks  @oversizedbats  @swankii-art-teacher  @inardour  @rowaelinismyotp  @starryblueskies7   @vidalinav @nessiantrash   @imagine-me @vanzetanze @moodymelanist @wishfulimaginings @amaranthas-whore @generalnesta @mis-lil-red  @booksstorm @loosingdreams @champanheandluxxury  @18moneytoad @tinasbookishlife @cookiemonsterwholovesbooks @nesquik-arccheron  @readingwitches  @that-golden-lyre  @awesomelena555 @wannawriteyouabook @story-scribbler @readingismyonlyhobby @lady-winter-sunrise
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elizastormborn · 1 year
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Coming Soon: In a World on Fire
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Working on a new project because my brain doesn’t know when to stop even when I have other things to be finishing. (p.s. This moodboard is one of my favourite that I’ve made. Mostly because I’m glutton for anything with autumnal tones.)
Full summary and details to come. For now though: - Nesta secrets away to Autumn - Eris is mama’s boy - LOA is a goddess  - Beron is a pr**k, but a complex one  - We meet more of the Vanserra’s and the extended family - Found family 2.0  - Unlocking secrets of the Autumn Court - So much angst/hurt/comfort (because I apparently don’t know how to do anything else)
☾ ☼ ☽ ∙ ☾ ☼ ☽ ∙ ☾ ☼ ☽ 
Fandoms: ACOTAR Relationships: Nesta x Eris  Rating: Mature* Release Date: Late January 2023 (tentatively)
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ladybambivamp · 1 year
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Sorry I am a sucker for Nessian, but can I get a head cannon of how Cassian and the IC would react if Nesta just couldn’t take it anymore and just ran away to the summer court? Like maybe she found a job in a book store or something and just lives a quaint life? Thank you!
-🖤anon
after a few weeks of training with cassian, nesta was simply fed up. she couldn't take the feeling of being the center of attention in a negative way. her sister and that high lord and everyone else in the inner circle seemed to be out to get her. well, at least that's how it felt lately.
"i wish everyone would just stay the hell away from me and out of my business." nesta grumbled to cassian. cassian could only empathize with nesta. after spending time with the female, he started to understand her more and more every day.
...
a few weeks had gone by and nesta had her plan laid out perfectly. she would sneak out in the middle of the night and run away to the summer court. after many letters sent back and forth between her and tarquin, the high lord of the summer court. she was finally ready to get away. she had a perfect job lined up for her. she would work in one of the bookstores and live in a small home by the water thanks to the charming lord tarquin's help.
tonight was the night that nesta would be free.
the morning after cassian went to check on nesta in her room. she was late to training and it was odd of her since she had been doing so well. the tall male opened up the door to nesta's room.
she was gone. panic immediately took over cassian and he searched everywhere for her, trying to scent her.
rhysand? he said in his mind to his high lord. i need you in nesta's room now.
a few moments passed and feyre and rhysand entered the room.
"what's the matter?" rhysand asked, a very pregnant feyre standing by his side.
"shes gone i dont know where she went! she was late to training today and i can't find her anywhere." cassian said loud enough for everyone to hear. the rest of the inner circle filled the room with curiosity on their faces.
"look" feyre said. pointing to nesta's nightstand. a note had been left atop it. cassian felt silly for missing such a detail.
"i have decided that it was time for me to go. i am safe in the summer court and have found me a job and somewhere to stay. im sorry for leaving without a word but, ths is what is best for me and everyone. else." feyre read the note out loud for everyone to hear.
"we need to find her." rhysand said, the rest of the inner circle nodded their heads in agreement. cassian second guessed that. maybe it was best to leave nesta on her own until she was ready to come back.
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feyreswh0ree · 2 years
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Friendly reminder
That Azriel's only argument to be with elain was that his 2 brothers are with Elain's sisters. So no, it’s gwynriel for me, sorry not sorry. I'm open to other opinions and discussions, but that was really his only argument and I'm glad Rhys forbade him to have something with elain
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msfeyredarling · 2 years
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hello hello, I don’t think I’ve ever said this but if you have prompt ideas, send them my way. I’ll gladly write them :)
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your-high-lady · 5 years
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Realisation
Summary: This story is about Feyre. She has a couple of small dreams she wants to achieve but turns out it isn’t as easy as she imagined it would. Trust me, the story is better than the summary. Modern AU. Feysand.
Chapter 1  Chapter 2   Chapter 3   Chapter 4  Chapter 5   Chapter 6
AN: A short one today, but I hope a good one. I love this chapter and can't wait for your reactions.
Disclaimer: I shouldn't need to say this anymore, but I don't own any of this except for the plot. All credit goes to the spectacular Sarah J Mass, a legend.
Rhys's POV
I groaned as I lifted my arms and slowly let them come down, only to push them back up. I could see Cassian and Azriel in my peripheral vision talking, though Cassian's attention was divided because he was also making sure I didn't end up killing myself with the barbell which was weighing 70kg at the moment. Azriel was slightly breathless because he had just done what I was doing now. Cassian, though he was next, didn't seem nervous in the least.
I had two more reps left when I heard Cassian speak my name. In a grumbling voice, I got out the words: "What are you saying about me?" And then finally I was done. With one last and loud groan, I lifted my arms and moved the barbells so that they were resting in their places. After a couple deep breaths, I pulled myself up, only to find both of them staring at me. I took a swig from my water bottle and as I was wiping the sweat from my forehead, I snapped "what" at them. Azriel just slowly shook his head, and carefully said, 'You've been very quiet lately." I stared at him before turning my head to look at Cassian, my face expression turning sour. "We both think something's on your mind, and we want to know what it is." He said, lifting his chin a little. I sighed, turning my head away from both of them before saying, "she's beautiful, don't you think?"
"Who? Rachel?" Cassian smirked, naming a random girl in one of our classes, who, frankly, was not very pretty at all in her short skirts and shorts and strapless shirts, which lingered dangerously close to the line of the dress code but remained on the right side which meant the school couldn't tell her off for it. Every other day she would come up to me and talk seductively, in an attempt to invite me to her bed.
"Don't be stupid." I snapped, getting up so that Cassian could take my spot. "I'm meant Feyre. Mor's friend."
"Ahh. So that's, she's, what's on your mind. She's pretty I guess." Azriel said as Cassian changed the settings of the squat rack so that they were personalised to him.
"I think she's very pretty," And before they could say anything I walked away from them.
As I ran on the treadmill, I thought about Cassian and Azriel's words. Was it really that obvious? Has she affected me that much in just one meeting?
Even on Monday, in Business, I hadn't been able to take my eyes off her, even though the whole room was filled with women just as pretty as her. But no. No one was as pretty as her, even Rachel in her makeup and slutty clothes.
Feyre didn't need any of that to make her beautiful. She had a glow to her face that no one I'd ever met had. Even her.
And whether she knew it or not, I'd see her pupils widen the slightest bit. Now, it wasn't unusual for that to happen. Majority of the women I met, their pupils dilated with arousal until they got to know me—my arrogance and mysterious nature. I didn't care. I knew I was eye candy too many women, and I was happy to be. But anything bigger than that, I wouldn't do it. Not after her. I won't go through that again.
Pushing a couple buttons I pushed himself even harder on the treadmill so that I could drive the thoughts of her out.
And underneath all those layers of resistance and thoughts, was the desire for Saturday to be here.
Feyre's POV
"Class dismissed!" I got up and packed my bag, thinking about Saturday. It was Thursday today, meaning only two days left until Mor and I went mini golfing with Rhys and his friends. I shivered at the thought. Shaking my head I took a deep breath and decided to go to the library to do my art homework. It was pretty easy so it shouldn't take me too long.
Oh boy, was I wrong.
At the library, as I took my diary and pencils out, I thought about Miss Berger's instructions. They were pretty basic: Close your eyes. Take seven to ten deep breaths, and as you do that, push out all sounds and thoughts out of your mind and just relax. And then draw.
So that's what I did.
And then, without opening my eyes, I drew the first that came to my mind.
And then I was done. I opened my eyes. And gasped.
"Fuck."
AN: I'm sorry, I had to. I just had too. But anyways. Do you like it? What about Rhys's POV. Was that a surprise? Do you like his thoughts? And what do you think Feyre drew? Tell me everything.
And as always, thank you so much for reading. You make my day XOXO
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flowerflamestars · 5 years
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hey!! i just binge-read your entire ivy moon fanfic and i'm crying bc like it's so good!! so my question is: will we get to see the bat boys and lucien meeting gwyn? and feyre and rhys doing some kind of insane first dance shit? and oberon getting into a "friendly" fistfight w lucien at a dhampir's wedding? i think u can probably tell by now i rly want to read the wedding scene. will u be writing it or will i be forced to write a fanfic of a fanfic? thanks, have a great day!!
Oh my god, thank you!!
Okay- from the top: Lucien has already met grandpapa Gywnn, he started dating Elain when they were both teenagers! He and Oberon get in insane, escalating prank wars that end in brawls, which Nesta perennially blames on the fact they’re both dryads and tend toward mischief.
80% chance of an epilogue at the moment!
Rhys & Feyre not only have an absurd bollywood fusion first dance- but they get married on the winter solstice, in a bubble of magic, in the Acherons snowy woods. The entire wedding is asked to wear white, Elain puts truth potion in the cake, and Nesta, Cassian, and Azriel merrily talk shit the entire time. 
Amren disappears with one of Gywnns hunters for the night, the one he pulled from Atlantis :)
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ourbooksuniverse · 6 years
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Pocket Sized Mate
<<< Prologue | Nessian | Elucien | Feysand | Epilogue | Extra  >>>
Epilogue:
It had been a week since ladies night and Amren was pretty sure that if she went back to her apartment there wouldn’t be any angry males waiting for her. Not that she was particularly impressed by the males in question. It was just that they could be annoying with their talking about how she hurt their feelings and following her around telling her she couldn’t shrink people just because she was annoyed. She had heard it all before, and she would hear it all again until they learned not to call her little Amren.
Convinced that the males wouldn’t bother her, she opened the door to her apartment and to surprised there were three fae waiting for her. Sitting on her leather couch were the Acheron sisters.
Looking at the sisters - Elain nervous, Nesta calm and Feyre amused - Amren said “Get out of my house, I don’t need you to ruin my good mood.” She wasn’t kidding, Varian had put her in a very good mood the past week, and every minute these children were in her presence she felt the effect Varian had on her disappear.
“We need to talk” Feyre said to her.
“We would like to have a few more of those cookies” Elain said so softly it was almost a whisper.
She hadn’t seen that one coming; the people she used the cookies on usually didn’t come back asking for more.  The only exception to that rule had been Azriel, who as a good little spymaster tried to figure out where she kept them so he could destroy them. The busybody had even sent the twins to shadow her. But after a few months he had given up, or had pretended to give up, she knew the shadow bat still followed her around sometimes to see what she was hiding.
“And why would I give you more cookies?” Amren asked the sisters.
“Because” Nesta said “ we would like to use them on our mates”  
“If you think Cassian and Rhysand will willingly eat one of those cookies you are wrong”. She told the viper. “I have shrunk them enough the past couple of centuries that they don’t trust any food I offer them.”
“They wouldn’t trust any cookie you offer them, but they would if we offered it to them” Elain said. Why everyone thought she was the innocent one was a mystery to her, the girl had a sparkle in her eyes that promist mischief.  
She raised an eyebrow “Why would you want to shrink your mates down?”
“We want to have a little fun with them” Feyre answered her.
“Well in that case no. I don’t trust any of you to not be conspiring with your mates” She told them.
They all looked at her with big puppy eyes and little pouting lips, like three little puppies left out in the rain, but Amren wasn’t a dog person.
“Now get out, Varian will be here in a few minutes” she told them as she started to unbutton her tunic.
“Please Amren, we only - ” Feyre started, but shut her mouth when she noticed that Amren was getting naked.
“If you don’t leave before Varian is here, you are going to see some things you might not want to.”
“Ooh mothers tits” Nesta swore, “You could have just said that you and Varian had planes, you didn’t need to show us your boobs.”
“We’re leaving, but don’t think this conversation is over” Feyre said as she dragged her sisters through the door and out of the apartment.
Shuckeling to herself, Amren thought that is has been a while that she shrunk the males of this court. And how funny the little Illyrians where when put in a cage. But she would think about it later, because right now she heard Varian enter her apartment.  
That was it my dears,
I might one day write more pocket sized mates, but for now this is the end. I hope you liked the story. :)
Tagging:  @thenerdyfangirl @bookaholic1012@howtotameyourillyrian@rkjar1646 @kybaeza@fangirlreadingmachine@urbisie@thereitisthatfamousscowl @atya-malik133@amazinginglyawesomeperson@feysandismylife@nightcourtstarlight@jurafinhaa @akcrion  @photofeesh@stars-wholisten@watermilanfish @didita99 @astareye @leulivy @suriel-sipping-tea@musicmaam @districtsimonlewis @salt-n-burn-em-all @tntwme @fanfic-masterpost-site
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viradeity · 1 year
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Goddamn Azriel Shadowsinger.
summary: Just another night of Azriel being hot.
azriel x reader
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A/N: Azriel coming in hot.
anon: I'm asking this through DM's, but we need Azriel just being Azriel in a fic!
WARNING: suggestive
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Walking up the stairs and into the town house, you leaned more into your mate, his arm around your waist. You looked up at him, he smirked down at you.
"Like what you see?" he asked. You scoffed.
"You know I do."
He leaned down to give you a quick peck on the lips. You let the kiss last a little longer, because you cherished these precious moments with him. Not to mention, he was a great kisser. After breaking away, he opened the door, and you were quickly greeted by the sounds of chatter, of the weekly dinner party.
Making your way into the dining room, everyone was already there. You spot your brother, "Hi Rhyssie!" you laugh out. Then, you turn your attention to your favorite sister-in-law, Feyre.
"Hi Y/n," she says, and brings you into a hug.
After your little greeting, you say hi to everyone at the table. Then, you sit besides Azriel, who's currently having a chat with Cassian. You were honestly tired from your mission the other day with Azriel, so you weren't paying that much attention, until your favorite food came out.
You looked up at Rhysand with a shocked face. You knew him and Feyre always planned out the meals at the dinners.
"What? he asked, "Consider it a gift for doing well on your mission."
Deciding not to stall any longer, you dug in. Suddenly, you felt a tug on the bond. Woah, woah, not even you eat me up that fast.
You then had a huge coughing fit, "Azriel!" you said hitting him lightly.
He just looked at you, "Sorry, angel."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------After dinner, everyone was perched around in the sitting room. You were falling asleep on Azriel's shoulder as he was engaged in a conversation.
Sleep engulfed you, just after you felt Azriel give you a kiss on your head and whisper, "Goodnight, angel."
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shi-daisy · 5 months
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Chapter 13 and 14 have me reeling omg ma'am! 😭 The fluff 💗 the twists😱 the smut 🥵 We been blessed! I love how Tamlin is finally getting his healing arc/found family/Lucien romance because the way you write our boy is so cuteeeee!!! The flashbacks were adorable, Lucien is so handsome and adorable and I need both of them to be happy and cherished forever. Goodbye SJM canon this is what's canon for me now!
Few questions tho, given that you've named all the other 'nameless' characters like the Vanserra family, Tamlin's family, and other secondary characters is there are a reason why you haven't named Rhysand's family? Like is it because you're looking for a fitting name or a story reason?
Also, given that the new Dusk Court is seemingly a mix of Greece and Japan do you have headcannons for the other courts? What would Spring, Autumn or Winter be?
Finally I can't wait to see more of the Njght Court rebellion. After the whole Dusk reveal I'm excited to see their reactions and maybe backstory, and them with the Valkyries because Gwyn and Lunara would be such a cute friendship. Also Grim is best boy I love this man he's had one scene and now I need a prequel we stan himbo dad warrior in this house! He's what Cassian should've been!
Speaking of, Nesta needs to come back and read everyone for filth! Book 2 might be all about her but she so fun to read here too, especially as Tam's sister (they'd be cute as a ship too but platonic siblings Nestlin is life)
Anyway so sorry for the long message, I love your fic and I'm cheering you on! 💗
Aaaaaaaaa!!!! Anon c'mere and let me hug you! You're so sweet! Thank you so much!!! 🥰🥰🥰 it's been a joy to write this fic and while I already loved Tamlin and Lucien both as individuals and as a ship before, thanks to the fic they've gone up to otp status in my heart. I'm so excited to keep bringing you my boys and their adventures be it sweet and fluffy or high stakes.
Okay so to answer your questions, the reason I haven't named Rhysand's family (or the other bat boys family) is less interesting that twist a or story and has more to do with spite. I am spiteful AF when it comes to the page hogging bats and I refuse to give them any once of development or thought other than antagosnist. So I have zero intention of naming any of those characters because I know SJM would grant them names before the Acheron parents or the Vanserras or any other more important character. So no, I'm just a petty spiteful slug in that case. Sorry to disappoint.
Glad to hear you cought the Greece/Japan mix invented for Dusk. Given that Night seems to be based on Greece along with Middle East at least from what little world building we were shown I thought it would be cool to have them have Greek influence due to Night's colonization but also retain the Japanese inspired culture and aesthetic that was theirs before their fall. I have some ideas for the other courts but these are just headcanons.
Spring- Scottland, France
Summer- Kingdom of Hawaii, Polynesian, Caribbean
Autumn- Spain, Ireland
Winter- Russia, Norway, Korea
Day- Madagascar, Kenya, Roman Empire
Dawn- India, China, Vietnam
Dusk- Japan, Greece, England (Gothic period)
Night- Greece, Middle East
You shall get more Night Court rebellion content soon, I love this group and trust me you haven't met them all yet, lots of peeps want Rhys gone. Gwyn and Lunara will be good pals don't you worry, priestess stick together and I really want more Gwyn she is a delight. Seriously considering a prequel with them at some point.
Funny you mention Grim, he's the favorite so far out of the Rebellion oc's and while I love this precious edgy himbo he is not of my creation @maplesamurai made him as an NPC for one of our D&D campaigns and I've been obsessed with him since then (that version of him and of D&D Lunara are also a couple, mates in every universe baby!) So thank him for the best boy and best himbo. Cassian's got nothing on the best dilf!
Nesta too will get more page time, I'm just keeping from adding too much before her own book, while her healing is mostly happening offscreen and she will be stable by the time of book 2 girlie will have stuff to deal with later that I need to put off for now, but do expect her to get a good moment along with the rest of the squad. Also yes platonic Nestlin for life! They'd be an awesome ship, but as siblings they're a winning combo. Eris look out Nesta now has an older brother to keep an eye on ya once you're official!
Don't ever worry about long questions anon, I live for comments and asks and any attention so I'm absolutely delighted that you sent me this and so grateful you love my silly fix it fic! Thanks so much and I hope I've answered your question! 💙
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The Star that missed The Sun
Nyx x Reader
Warning- arrange marriage, cute stuff.
A/N-Hello everyone, I have had this idea stuck in my head ever since I read something on here that gave me this idea, and it hasn't left me alone since then, so I finally just put it in writing, tell me if you guys want a part to cause after I wrote this I just started to get this whole story line going.
Word count- 2.3k
​​The pulling and tugging of my hair, my face, and my body as various different hand maidans helped me get ready for my wedding. Though it wasn't meant to be mine. After my sister passed, we had no way to bridge the day court and the night court.
Our fathers had long since been friends but wanted to secure our futures from the unknown threats that may be on the horizon. One maiden had pulled my curls just a little too hard.
"Okay, okay, that is enough. I think I need a moment," I said to them, but they looked at each other for a moment. "Please go, all of you," I said, my voice a little more firm this time. When everyone had left, I took deep breaths to slow my pounding heart. The door opened again.
"Please, I just need a moment," I said
"I just wanted to see you once more before You walk down the aisle" I turned to the voice from the door.
"Father," High lord Heilon stood proud in my dressing room. I ran into his arms.
"Are you okay, my little sunspot?" he chuckled into my curly hair. I sniffled
"Yes, of course, it's just my wedding day, you know," my voice wavered.
"And you're scared?" he asked me. I could never hide anything from him.
"Father, the night court, I have heard…rumors about their cruelty" I pulled myself from his arms.
"Do you think I would ever let you be put in harm's way" he held such a soft tone.
"No, of course not. However, I have never met him, and after today I will have to spend the rest of my life with him, and I was not his first choice" I moved from my father's arms. He sighed, and we both moved to sit on the ottoman in my bridal sweet.
"You know I didn't know much about your mother when we married."
"And look at what happened." I held my breath, not meaning for that to come out as it did.
"I have three beautiful daughters," he told me lightly.
"She left to go explore the world and be on her own and stuck you with the three of us," I said
"And raising you girls was the best thing I have done."
"Even me? Your most troubled" I let out a soft chuckle as a tear passed my face. He whipped it gently with a smile as bright as the sun.
"Essentially you, my little sunspot."
There was a knock at the door, and a handmaiden entered.
"My lady, everyone is ready" I looked up at my father like a fawn, but I nodded. My father offered me his arm, and I took it, giving him my best smile.
We walked down the hall to the big doors, and they opened themselves slowly, revealing white Wisteria hanging from the trees that were in the garden; white linen lined the seating, and white petals fell as I walked down the aisle, watching familiar and some not so familiar faces smiling and A priestess with red hair and teal eyes waiting at the end with my future husband.
I reached the end, and it was time for my father to let me go, but I wasn't ready yet. He Gave me a weak smile, a tear brimming in his eye. I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"I love you, Papa," I whispered in his ear.
"I love you too, Sunspot," He said back. I was sure that those tears had escaped. When I pulled away. He gave me a smile and helped me up to the altar. There was a hand stretched out to me. I looked up and was caught in his blue eyes before I remembered to take his hand. The priestess began the ceremony, and I looked at his chin to look like I was looking at him. I could not afford to get lost in his eyes again, but I felt them on me, and with his smile, I dared to look at them. I saw nothing but admiration. The priestess had said my name.
"I'm sorry, what?" I said to her as I came back to my senses. I heard small chuckles come from the crowd. My cheeks heated with embarrassment. She repeated herself, and it was our turn to repeat her.
"By Sun, Moon, and stars in front of all of these witnesses and the mother herself, I take you to be my Husband" the priestess had wrapped a rope around my forearm around my hand.
"By Sun, Moon, and stars in front of all of these witnesses and the mother herself, I take you to be my wife," Nyx had said back to me.
"Then I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
The kiss was our first one. He leaned in and placed the most tender of kisses on my lips. It wasn't a kiss you would exchange with someone you didn't know. He kissed me like he didn't want to overwhelm me but also like he had been waiting for this moment his whole life. He kissed me like I was a dream that had been answered. When He pulled away, I was still in a daze, so much so that I almost missed the sound of clapping and cheering. He only smiled and offered me his arms. I took it, and we walked back down the aisle. The flower petals that flowed down this time were. A combination of our colors that signify the unification of our courts.
The reception was lively from both courts, everyone dancing and drinking like they have been doing this for centuries, and they probably have. I was so much younger than everyone here. I felt so out of place. I know that Nyx wanted to be there and join his friends and family in the celebration, but he stayed next to me. I silently hoped that this wouldn't be the basis of our marriage. Me holding him back, or him feeling obligated to stay with me not because he wanted to but because it was his duty.
"You should join them if you would like," I told him. I believe this was the first thing I had said to him, at least outside my vows.
"Do you dance, My lady?" He asked, his voice soft.
"Not if you value the ability to use your feet" The remark slipped out. Though I thought he wouldn't like the sass, would we have our inside joke laugh about nothing, tease and poke fun at one another? Instead, Nyx laughed something so relaxedly.
"I think my feet can handle the bruising" he stood and held out his hand, and I took it. Then, as if he could read my anxious thoughts, he put his arm around my waist and led me to the middle of the dance floor. Held one hand and put the other on my back. The first step was just a little off.
"Ooof, I'm sorry; maybe this was a bad idea," I said, getting ready to pull away, but he grounded me in place.
"Don't worry, it's okay, just relax, let me lead, just follow," he said. This time I let go and let him lead me to the sound of the music. This was the first time I had the courage honestly look at him. His black leather wings were strong enough to carry him in the air, his broad shoulders the way he towered over me, and his devastatingly good looks. He was the most beautiful male I had ever seen.
My dancing could have been better, it wasn't perfect, not by any standard, but I was doing it. I was so focused on Nyx and dancing with him to the best of my ability that I hadn't seen the people who cleared the dance floor to honor this being the first time we danced together. I was so excited at the dance I stepped forward and stepped on his toes. No one noticed, though. Instead, he smiled down at me.
"I see what you mean," he whispered in my ear. Then, he pulled away to spin me slowly and carried me through the rest of the dance…
The night began to whine down, and people began to leave. Fear crept into the pit of my stomach. It was our wedding night, and things would be expected of us. This wouldn't be my first time, but something about being married to him makes this feel so much more important.
"Are we leaving right now, my lord?" I asked him.
"Yes, we are, and if you would like, you can address me by my name."
"Right, I'm sorry, Nyx" I paused for a moment before I continued. "You may also address me by mine unless you prefer to call me My lady."
"Cauldron, no, it would be the waist of a beautiful name."
We said our goodbyes. I hugged my father goodbye. He looked to the corner where my half-brother stood with a longing look of regret while he and his mate chatted. I watched the whole night as my father and brother avoided each other, but it's always been this way since I was born, the two of them never being able to be around each other before harsh words are exchanged. I hope that with my new position in the court, he frequents, we can finally have a relationship and maybe extend it to our father. After my father left, he made his way over.
"Hello dear, You look stunning. It's nice to finally meet you. I'm Elaine Nyx's aunt" She embarrassed me with a hug. Stepping away to take a good look at me.
"Sister," Lucien gave me a nod.
"Brother, it's good to see you."
"I suppose congratulations are in order, sister; looks like I have to share the night court with you as well," he said sarcastically with a hint of disdain on his face before giving a quick smile and hurrying along with Elaine. I looked over to Nyx. His eyes are studying me with concern. But I waved it off and continued to say goodbye to our guests.
"Are you ready to go?" Nyx turned to me. I took his hand, and we winnowed into the foyer of his home. I looked around at the cozy setting around us. We landed in a sitting room with a black marble fireplace and worn comfortable chairs with bookshelves built into every wall. I felt the urge to explore it.
"This is my family's townhouse where we will be living, at least for now," he said. I felt calm anxiety wash over me. He led me up the broad oak stairs and approached an ivory door. When we entered the room, it faced a garden in the back of the house that, in the center, had a fountain. The room was white gold and ivory. It looked like Day court, from the gold fabric that lined the soft pillows on my bed and the lounge chair to the ivory comforts and blanket vines hung from the canopy above the bed. It looked like home.
"I had it designed after your court. If you don't like it, feel free to change it," he said
"This is my room?" I asked to take a step into the room.
"Yes, of course, my room is right across the hall in case you need anything." he stepped away. I followed him into his room. The ceiling was the night sky painted with black satin sheets and dark oak wood furniture. He turned to me, looking slightly confused.
"Would you like a drink?" he walked to the corner of his room where he had a small bar cart next to a desk full of papers.
"Yes, a double, please," I said to him as he poured the two glasses giving me the one with the most alcohol. I took the whole shot in one big gulp, scrunching my face, and the burning whisky went down my throat. He chuckled
"Well, I can say that I am impressed," he said as he chuckled. I smiled weakly as I set the glass down. Raising my trembling hands to undo my dress. He approached me, closing his hands around mine, stopping me from undoing my dress.
"I'm sorry. Did you want to do this part?" I asked him though my voice didn't sound as confident as I wanted it to.
"I wasn't expecting us to… we don't have to do this, you know, not if you don't want to" he looked at me more worried than anything.
"But we are husband and wife."
"And you are also trembling" I looked down at his hands still closed around mine.
"Am I not… Do I not appeal to you? I understand if I don't, my father he sometimes-"
"No, No, I enjoy females trust me" he chuckled at my confession, which made my cheek heat.
"Oh," I looked down ashamed, thinking it must be me.
"It's not you either. I would never share your bed against your will."
"But other people will think-"
"I won't take you to bed…not unless you ask for me" He paused before he said the last part smiling at me.
"Thank you" There are many good males, but there are just as many that aren't, and Nyx was a good one. Do you think I would ever let you be put in harm's way? I understood now that my father trusted High lord Rhysand and his family more than I thought. He knew that I would never be in harm's way here.
"I think maybe tomorrow we can get to know each other better. Would you like to join me for breakfast in the morning?" he asked.
"That would be lovely."
"I should get some sleep. I have a long day ahead of me" I gave a slight nod,
"Goodnight, Nyx"
"Goodnight, starshine" I headed to my room and looked around again at my new surroundings.
My room
My home
My Court.
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writevswrong · 7 years
Text
FANFIC * NESSIAN * PART FIFTEEN
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Nessian Part Fifteen by L.J. LaFleur
 Nesta:
Vibrant blue chains glimmered around my wrists, searing into my dirty skin. “Where are we going?” I said through clenched teeth. The blood beneath my skin felt cold—sharp, like shards of ice pulsing through me.
“The throne room or the great hall—your preference, really.” Eris didn’t hold onto the chains, instead he stood beside me with a firm hand around my elbow.
“Why?”
The corner of his lips twitched, his uneasy smile vanished. “My father would like an audience with you.”
I stopped, yanking my arm out of his grasp, “Eris, I am not a fool.”
“You’re certainly acting as such,” he snapped, looking in both directions of the hall. Eris grabbed my arm, pulling me forward.
“Excuse me?” I seethed with narrowed eyes, jerking out of his grip once again.  
“You were a fool to leave Velaris. A fool to think that you could survive on your own against creatures that have roamed these lands hundreds—some, thousands--of years.” Eris spat at me. “You were protected and you left.”
Heat moved across my cheeks.
Glaring, Eris’ voice lowered, “a foolish girl with cauldron magic and a sharp tongue.”
I charged forward but he winnowed just out of reach. The restraints glowed brighter as I fought to break them with magic, with fire. Nothing.
“Point proven,” he laughed hoarsely, reappearing several feet down the hall. Eris crossed his arms, muscles stretching the sleeves of his brown jacket. “You’re wrapped in faebane chains, you will not break free of them. Save your gods-damn energy for another fight.”
“Prick.”
“Witch.”
With that lovely exchange, we continued walking down a long corridor made of bath stone and jeweled leaves. Carnelian, ruby and golden topaz…all jewels carved into falling leaves that tricked down the warm stone walls. It was absolutely mesmerizing, I had a hard time not being distracted by such beauty.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see Eris observing me. His amber eyes shining as he carefully watched me. My attention slid to the iron and glass windows, they were too small, too thin to slip through. Not to mention we were probably too high up to jump from.
The intricate filigree carpet ended just before a set of massive copper doors. Etched with their family tree, names of hundreds of Vanserras; they were soon to run out of room. Near the bottom, I saw Lucien’s name was nearly scratched out. Only the L and N remained below Beron’s name.  
Copper doors opened, unveiling an even grander room. At the far end, a large dais carved out of mammoth-sized trees. Leaves stuck in a constant state of autumn, floated above them. The rest of them including the floor and second level were in the same bath stone as the hallway.
Goblets of raging fire lined the pathway to the farthest end. To where Beron and his wife sat patiently. Tapestries of their family history hung on the walls between copper and gold sconces. Majority of the tapestries were bloody battles, ending with heads on spikes or burning bodies. The bile in my stomach rose.  
I hesitated moving forward; the room was full of nobility in the front—closest to the aisle. Their individual servants lining the back walls. And guards dressed in burnt orange and red, the Autumn Court colors, stood at every access way. More guards stood on the second level, overlooking the entire throne room—camouflaging into the autumn leaves effortlessly.
Eris’ dark chuckle shook me out of my awe-struck stare. “Did you think we lived like heathens?”
It took me a moment to register that he was speaking to me. “No,” I drawled, stealing a look at him before returning my attention to the grand chandelier of golden antlers and hanging gemstones. “More like hungry rats beneath the surface,” I sarcastically replied.
“You must be thinking of the Court of Nightmares.” He guided me forward, “we live in luxury, in a constant state of beauty.”
“While your servants remain hungry?” I scanned their gaunt frames, their hardened faces. Some looking far worse than others. He was right, though. Every royal, every High Fae was drenched in wealth. Yet the farther you looked, towards the back walls—those tattered and dirty clothing, the abuse clearly painted on their skin. It was disgusting.  
Eris followed my gaze, “every court needs to undergo changes,” he replied solemnly.
I was gawked at by some, laughed at by others. A performer for their entertainment.
“And are you the catalyst for these changes?” I asked quietly, glancing back and forth. There were no exits, no easy escapes. Fucking trapped from every end.  
He shook his head, red locks curling slightly upward as they hit his shoulders. “No, you are.”
I stayed silent as we neared the dais. Beron sat stone faced, but his eyes brewed something wicked. His wife sat emotionless, scanning every detail of me then glanced to Eris and back to me again.
“Do not provoke, do not falter,” Eris began, his voice calm yet demanding. “Answer only when commanded and for cauldron’s sake, don’t…” he couldn’t finish speaking as the room silenced at our approach.
“Nesta Acheron, Cauldron Thief and King Slayer.” Beron paused, a shrill smile spreading across his thin lips. “Ah, and let’s not forget Emissary to the Night Court.”
“Beautiful, isn’t she father?” Eris snickered, his demeanor changing entirely.
Pig.  
The middle brother, the one with the abundant of freckles and scars stepped forward—circling me. “Far more beautiful than any maiden I’ve seen.”
A flicker of fire flashed in his eyes. Of want and greed, molding together to form a disgusting taste in my mouth.
Tomas…he reminded me so much of him. I guess all cruel men blend into one another in time.
“Aedin,” their mother warned, her voice even and regal--one that took decades to learn, I’m sure.
My eyes flashed to her then back to Eris. He was dangerous, a man of many masks. A monster in wolf’s clothing, yet there was something off. Eris reeked of danger, of smoke and ash, but his eyes held something I couldn’t place.
A rising smirk appeared on Eris’ lips, flames dancing along his fingertips—taunting me.  
The youngest brother remained quiet, watching as he looked between his mother and siblings. I studied them individually, calculating their weaknesses and strengths.
Aedin licked his lower lip, enclosing the space between us. “I never had my taste of a Night Court woman.” His rough hands clasped onto my shoulders.
Images of Tomas holding me down flashed in my mind. A flicker of fear nearly crossing my face.  
“You never will,” I sneered, thrusting my knee into his package.
Letting go instantly, a loud grunt left his brutal lips as he bent down. “You’ll pay for that,” Aedin snarled, ready to lunge forward.  
“A fearsome thing, is she not brother?” Eris interjected, stepping between us. His finger gently gliding down my bruised cheek, an apology flickering in his eyes.
I moved away from his touch, nostrils flaring with uncontrolled anger. “What do you want with me,” I growled, staring Beron down.
Beron’s face as still as stone, “I want to offer you sanctuary. After all, you are a runaway.”
“Is that what you call trespassing on Night Court lands and kidnapping?”
Eris wrapped his hand around my bicep, a warning—maybe?
“She’s filled with more fight than I expected,” the youngest brother finally spoke. A hideous smile forming on his pale face. He would burn beneath a ray of sun.  
“Egan…” Beron warned.
“My apologies, father,” he bowed his head—his tormenting smile disappearing from view.  
Beron continued, “…perhaps you will cease insults to your High Lord when—“
“You are not my high lord.”
Eris’ tightened his hand around my arm, a motion to shut up. But I wouldn’t.
“That’s right. Amarantha’s whore is your high lord,” he snickered, the rest of his court laughed, following his lead.
My face softened in reproach, “yet he’s still far more accomplished and powerful than you.”
His squeeze tightened until I nearly yelped. I peeked at Eris, his face and chest still—waiting.
Beron’s humorless laughter broke the excruciating silence. “If you ever want to step foot outside of your cage again, I suggest you show respect.”
Eris squeezed my arm so tight, I forgot to breathe. Prick.  
My menacing tone crumbled, “I’m sorry,” I said through gritted teeth. Eris released the pressure, my jaw slacked. “How can I be of service to such an esteemed High Lord?”
“Better,” Beron smiled deviously. “If you wish to stay--to live, then I want information on the Night Court. More specifically, where that bastard hid the cauldron.”
“No.” I replied flatly, my raging pulse increased in speed.  
Beron’s face shifted, the wickedness in his eyes poured out of him. “No?” His gruff voice went slightly higher in question.
The room filtered with murmurs.
I felt my knees quake, my heart stutter.
Do not provoke, do not falter, his words sung in the back of my head.
“I’ve never been privy to that information,” I replied honestly.
“Shameful,” Beron shook his head in disappointment, “an absolute shame.”
“The High Lady might know,” Aedin teased, fully recovered from the jarring knee thrust.
My eyes shot to Aedin, “leave her out of this,” I snarled—shaking the leaves above us and silencing the whispering onlookers.
“Weakness is a terrible thing…” Egan mumbled.  
“Eris?” Beron didn’t look away from me, the corner of his lips curling ever so slightly upwards.
“Yes, father?”
“Do you have eyes on Feyre?”
“Always.”
“Kill her.”
Eris nodded, a sickening grin spreading on his lips.
“No,” I pulled against the chains, my elbow lifting—smacking Eris straight in the nose. He released me as I stormed forward, staring at Beron’s throat. I would rip it out, with my hands or teeth—whichever part of me reached him first.
Egan slammed his fist into my stomach, stopping me halfway up the dais. I dropped, eyes clamped shut, teeth cutting into my lip from the impact.
Beron stood from his throne, looking down his nose at my limp body. “You may have slayed a king who played with spells, but you are no match for those who play with fire.”
“Watch me,” I breathed, glaring up at him. Metallic liquid drained into my mouth, a river—a reminder that blood would be spilt one way or another.
Eris lifted me to my feet, his eyes scanning over me—catching on the blood that smeared across my lips.
“Beron, the girl knows nothing. Release her or we will face grave repercussions,” their mother spoke just loud enough for us to hear.
He shifted in his seat, glowering at his wife, “watch your tongue.”  
Eris’ released his hand, flames flickering on his calloused fingertips as he solely focused on his mother.
The lady of autumn bowed her head, adjusting the neckline of her gown downwards.  
My eyes narrowed at Beron, “hitting women--an unarmed one at that. How noble of you.”
The flames disappeared, Eris’ hand gently gripped my arm again. Heat from his hand flooding into my icy skin.
Beron’s anger flashed towards me, “you have yet to agree to release information. Do you really want to endure the torture our court specializes in?”
“Do your worst,” I muttered, talons threatened to poke through my skin. But they couldn’t; it was a reminder that I had little power when wrapped in faebane.  
Beron sat back in his padded chair, caressing the wooden arms. He stared at each of his sons before looking back at me. “A walk of shame to start then.”
The brothers simpered, except for one. Eris held me firmly, pulling me slightly into him.
“I’d like the honors,” Aedin gave me a once over.
“A walk of shame?” I interrupted, I needed to buy more time. I needed a way out. I could feel my racing pulse against Eris’ palm, thumping loudly into his skin.
“Through the entire Autumn Court; our cities and fields. To give everyone a taste of an Archeron. Once you’re done here, I’ll take you to the other courts…I’m sure they wouldn’t mind seeing a creature as beautiful as you.”
My eyes shifted to the crowd, some of them looked horrified but others—they looked hungry. Ragged breathing, heart rate increasing. The blue chains lit the room as I tried to break free. I couldn’t get free.
The younger brothers enclosed on me, like we were in the Night Court woods again.
“If I may,” Eris stood in front of me, blocking me from his family. His eyes observing my growing fear. “I’ve been waiting to get my hands on this one for months.” His knuckle lifted my chin as he inspected me, “after all, I am the eldest.” Eris turned his head, waiting for his father’s approval.
Beron nodded, his hands clasping together as the entire court stared at me but their mother. The lady of autumn, staring in the distance of a far-off memory.
“Once you’re done, take her to see Ferron. I believe they need an introduction.”
Eris nodded before turning back to face me. His voice so low I could barely hear him, “don’t cry, don’t flinch.”
His hands tore at my shirt, the ripping noise filling the silent hall. It took everything within me not to cry. After revealing my breasts, he moved lower—tearing apart my trousers. As the clothes fell off me, they were incinerated by Beron; with a lift of his finger.
Eris pulled at the laces of my leather boots, stomach lurching at the thought of losing them.
“Not those…” I could barely speak. My voice shaking him to a stop. “Please,” I swallowed hard, to abruptly stop the sob that was building in my chest.
I peered down at him, an amber bead dripped onto the sparkling Illyrian “I” on the tongue of my left boot. I would not give these up. It was the last…the last item I had of him.
No other tears fell as I became bare in front of the entire throne room.
Eris pulled off the boots Cassian had given me, brushing the droplet that burned down my boot. He held them tightly—protecting them. Eris stood up, blocking me to his brothers and father.
I trembled so furiously I could barely control my lips. “I’ll kill him,” I whispered.
“There’s a line,” Eris replied quietly, a growl rumbling within him. He tilted his head back, speaking louder for his family and court to hear, “would you mind if I take her to Ferron once I’m done with her, father?”
“Calling dibs already? We haven’t even had a chance to see her.” Egan whined.
Beron kissed his wife’s petite hand before answering, “after she completes her walk through the great hall. Maybe then her memory will conjure the required information.”
Eris’ amber eyes bored into mine, observing the fear—the pain. He hesitated in stepping away, not daring to look below my chin.
“I’ll survive,” I said under my breath—between clenched teeth. “Then I’ll burn this court to ashes.” I turned around, holding my head high and walked. One step in front of the other, I didn’t hurry my pace nor did I delay it any further.
I was a queen missing her crown, a Gryphon missing her wings and I would bow down to no one.
I heard everything from laughter to roars and lewd language. This was supposed to hurt me, to rock me to my core.
Eris stayed beside me, blocking half the crowd from seeing me. I didn’t dare look at him, I focused on the tapestry above the giant copper doors.
In fear, in faith; we ignite. In blood, in body; we burn. To earth’s end, to the next world’s call; ashes will fall.
The faebane chains prevented me from turning, from the beast that wanted to shred Beron and his sick family to ribbons. They grew brighter the more I fought, the more I tried.
“How long?” I asked Eris, my guttural voice even and cold.
Eris scanned the room, memorizing the faces of this court. Of who laughed, gawked and hounded me. “Until you tell him what he wants to know.”
“I won’t,” I said bitterly.
“Is there anything you can tell them?”
“I won’t.”
We stayed silent for the remainder of my walk to the dungeon. I didn’t bother saying anything to Eris as he winnowed away. Sinking to my knees, to the dirty cell floor—I cried.
I cried for my rash decision to leave Velaris, I cried for harming my family in more ways than one, I cried as the ancient burn seeped into my ashen skin--but most of all--I cried for myself. For the disgust that I couldn’t get rid of by washing.
The harder and faster my tears raced out, the more distracted I became by the torch flames. They grew--higher and higher until they lit the entire cell. Spitting embers onto the wet stone floor, they danced around me until the water smothered them whole.
I laid below the rising flames, letting the warmth curl around me. My hair sunk into the receding puddles, cold hands instinctively rubbing up and down my arms as I held myself. Hopeless, like I had been that night in the woods hunting down my sister.
My sisters…an ache thundered in my chest. A frail voice, my voice, began to sing…
A star will fall
A cradle will rock
In there lies
A baby so soft
The lump in my throat tightened, amber tears pouring out of me but I continued...
Her eyes, they sparkle
A rare beauty to behold
With crimson cheeks
And an old, wise soul
Feyre, darling
You light the sky in gold
Feyre, darling
You have a fortune untold
But I promise you this
You will get to grow old
I promise you this
You will never be alone
My hands shook as memories pushed and prodded their way in.
And if I fail
God strike me down
Take my heart, my soul
Remove my crown
My sobs became more apparent, atrocious sounds flooding out of me as I thought of every failure, of every mistake I had ever made. Weight crashing onto my chest until I laid on my back, unable to breathe. “I’m sorry,” I whispered to her, to them, “I’m sorry.”
The flames diminished, letting me fall into a pit of darkness. I rolled back over into fetal position to keep the rising chill away.
Something tickled my cheek, a soft touch…a strand of hair? My eyes fluttered open to a dark figure in my cell—a finger sliding down my cheek.
The fire grew, lighting the cell whole.
Aedin.
His bulky body crouched down beside me, a disgusting smile brushing his lips. A low chuckle escaping his chest.
I tried to push away, to run but I only hit the wall.
“There’s nowhere to run,” he seethed, grabbing me by my throat.
I tried to scream but no noise escaped me. I couldn’t breathe.
“Unspoiled,” Aedin breathed me in, a disturbing grin expanding, “my favorite.”      
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Cassian:
Crimson stained my armor, siphons and sword. Specks of blood across my helmet and face. The scent of death settled on the open field; faces of fallen soldiers burned in my mind. I’ve remembered every death, every killing blow for the past five hundred years.
I would never forget the moment a soul left its body.
“HOLD THE LINES!” I bellowed to the Illyrian soldiers beside me. They were exhausted, drained of color and spirit but still pressing forward.
I should have seen it—Hybern wanted us to be passed our limits. He wanted us tired and weary for an easy extermination. I should have fucking known but I was too distracted.
Grunts, screams, clanking metal and crashing magic—normal sounds for a battlefield. Fighting was different in the air though; your wings are easily targeted—all they need are poison-tipped arrows and it can send us spiraling to the Earth’s floor.
One by one, my soldiers started dropping from the sky. We needed help, we needed more warriors—we needed more time. Scarlet sweat dripped down my body, I charged forward, towards commanders and generals. Those trained just as thoroughly as me. I would tear them down, shred them into pieces. The end of a soul, the end of a life I knew nothing about—I would mourn them later.
I plunged my sword into one commander, his neck spraying blood as I yanked out the blade. Another and another, I would take them down—they needed me, my soldiers needed a break—a moment to breathe before the next wave of monsters plummeted into our lines.
“CASSIAN.”
Through metal and agonizing screams that echoed around me--I heard her voice. A warning cry that stopped my raging pulse.  
I scanned through hundreds--thousands of soldiers, sinking from our line for a better view.
Where was she??
“CASSIAN!” She roared again, striking me with as much force as a bolt of lightning.
I spotted her launching to her feet—trying to reach me.
Nesta…
Wings reacting before my mind did, I pierced through the sky—red siphons flaring brighter.
She fell to the ground, jerking and moaning as her body reacted to whatever pain and invisible damage that was being inflicted.
The ground trembled, soldiers from both sides momentarily distracted.
I didn’t stop. How could I? When all I could see was Nesta lying on the ground—fingers digging into the muddy field as she writhed in pain. I stared into her gray-blue eyes, the elevated fear of someone who had never witnessed bloodshed.
I’m coming for you.
Halfway, I was almost there. My breathing heavy, my heart galloping. I wouldn’t fail her again.
The blast—the fucking penetrating force of the cauldron demolished my troops. Thousands…thousands of Illyrians. Of my soldiers. Gone.
The searing heat pushed against me, my ears ringing as I screamed in pain—in fury.
Ashes. Millions of particles blanketing our foot soldiers. My soldiers. My responsibility.
Illyrians and Peregryns struggled to form a line. Scattered from the blast, from the shock and confusion of a weapon so powerful. A damn cauldron that was able to wipe out hundreds within a second.
Nesta, Nesta, Nesta…Her name chanted in my ear, a reminder of who could be next.
I couldn’t let her be next.
Nesta looked upwards, her eyes brimming with tears as she searched for me.
She knew…she knew…  
I slammed into the ground so hard it shook the surrounding soldiers to their bones. Nesta pushed her forehead into the bloody grass.
“What is it, what—“
Her knuckles turned white, a shudder rolling through her stiff body. Nesta’s raspy voice, barely above a whisper, “it’s gone quiet again.”
I gripped her shoulders tightly, she was real.
Barely breathing but alive.
Every line, every flash of emotion—I studied. Agonizing pain, guilt, terror and…
“Get back in line. The soldiers need you,” Rhys ordered from behind me.
I looked away from Nesta, unveiling my teeth to Rhys, “what the hell can we do against that?” Rage, devastation, sorrow--didn’t begin to cover what flowed through me.
“I’m going in,” Azriel interrupted—his eyes lingering on Elain for only a moment. A silent goodbye, possibly. Or a reminder that she held Truth Teller, that she was safe with his obsidian blade.
Nesta’s hand slid to my forearm, a gentle squeeze that distracted me from my brother’s arguing. I glimpsed at her, expecting to see bile spew from her mouth.
My jaw fell, then quickly closed. Unable to speak a coherent sentence at this point. I scanned over her again—her lips quivering, eyes widening. I covered her green-stained hand with mine, my throat tightening with a paralyzing fear I had only felt once before.  
That fucking cauldron.
Pain throbbed through me, sharp and burning—I woke up. My eyelids dragged open, heavy with exhaustion.
Rhys and Feyre were embracing in the corner, their faces paled with worry. Azriel stood at the edge of my bed, a tendril of darkness coiling around Elain’s pinky. She stood beside him, her expression soft as she glanced up at the Shadowsinger. And Mor, with tear-stained cheeks, sat beside me.
“Where is she?” I rasped, unable to move at first.
The room stayed quiet.
Flashes of her screaming, of her body going stiff with fear. “Where is she?”
“We found her pack, in the south—by the Borderlands training camp,” Azriel reported.
“And?”
Amren stormed into the room, her silver eyes flashing to mine, “her scent vanished—she was winnowed out.”
I sat up, wincing as the pain flooded my wings.
“Cassian, please…” Mor gripped my arm.
I pulled my bandaged arm away, “take me there,” ignoring Mor’s plea.
Rhys stepped forward, out of the shadows, “you shouldn’t be walking, flying—moving. You need to rest.”
“I don’t give a damn.” I fought, “take me there. I can help.”
Feyre smiled, frail and unlike her, “we’ll take you—but…I beg you, I need you to sleep, to heal.” She paused, trying to read the emotions crossing my face, ones only Nesta could read. “We’ll find her, I promise. But I can’t have our finest warrior bed ridden the rest of his life.”
“Nesta wouldn’t want that,” Elain added softly.  
I nodded in agreement, unable to speak.  
Azriel shifted in the shadows, standing beside me, “crippled in love.”
“Burned in rejection,” I muttered.
Azriel’s laugh filtered through the silence, “asshole.” He lifted me up to my feet with the help of Rhys.
I winced from the movement but it didn’t matter. I didn’t give a damn.
“Thank you…” I whispered to them as we faded into the shadows.
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In case you missed the previous parts...
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
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elizastormborn · 1 year
Text
In a World on Fire - Snippet 
“I suspect Eris would build you a library just as large as this if you simply asked.”
The blush Nesta fought to hide was still visible even as she buried her face in Cian’s fur.
“Grander too,” she couldn’t help but gently tease. “He may already have to the plans sequestered away somewhere.”
Nesta scoffed. “He’d regret it the instant he had to help me carry all the books I’d want to fill such a place with.”
Her eyes dropped to the ball of dark grey fur. With a knowing smile, she said, “Somehow I doubt that.”
☾ ☼ ☽ ∙ ☾ ☼ ☽ ∙ ☾ ☼ ☽
Fandoms: ACOTAR Relationships: Nesta x Eris Rating: Mature* Release Date: Late January 2023 (tentatively)
It’s been a while since I posted about this (Holidays and all that) so I thought I’d share this tiny snippet the mean time. I’m still optimistically hopeful for a late January release date. 
The summary is still to come. (Ao3s character limit for summaries is killing me slowly here). 
Ps. Feel free to ask any questions, I’ll respond as best as I can. I’m still new to this fandom so I feel like I’m flying a little blind right now. 
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