Chapter Text
The air stilled for a second – a split second before it erupted into chaos, Rhysand bounding from his seat and up the stairs, towards the room that housed the injured Azriel and Cassian. Mor was close behind, her blonde hair bouncing as she retreated.
Zhysa also hurried, stood up, her hands supporting the smaller body sleeping on her chest and walked up the stairs. That never-ending tightness that had developed in her chest, loosened slightly as if with Azriel’s consciousness her uneasiness ended.
She pushed the slightly ajar chestnut door open only to see a relieved – but grinning – Rhys and a bleary-eyed faerie. Azriel’s blood infused leather’s had been stripped and Zhysa guessed that they had been thrown out. She assumed that even Nuala and Cerridwen couldn’t fix those forsaken things.
Azriel blinked again and responded to Rhysand in a low-murmuring voice. Zhysa audibly breathed out, her worry completely dissipated. Mor glanced at her and then down at the sleeping youngling.
“Why do you have a child with you?” Mor’s whispered. Her voice for once wasn’t deprecating, simply curious. Zhysa glanced at her, uneasy. She had assumed that Mor would be more friendly since knowing they were blood-related but she wasn’t certain. Honestly, Zhysa would have been disappointed if she lost her edge. Teasing Mor had become a favourite pastime.
“She lost her family. I’m all she has got left.” Zhysa didn’t want to talk anymore. Anything else – anything relating to her family or that attack on Velaris – and she swore she would break down in tears. She could already feel the pressure behind her eyes and tried to think of something unrelated.
Mor just frowned however she nodded, getting the message that Zhysa was all talked out for the day. She focused on the situation and tuned into what the two large males were discussing.
“What happened to Feyre?” If Zhysa thought back now, Azriel was unconscious when they had launched the half-arsed escape plan – there would be no way that he knew what was happening.
Azriel listened, quiet, the shadows around him slowly turned dark and wrapped around him, as if to hide him from this dimension and place him in the next. She couldn’t feel what Azriel could but the suffocating feeling came on suddenly and Zhysa rushed over next to him to put a hand on his shoulder.
Suddenly, his shadows flicker and as if they were never there, they sank into the ground.
“It wasn’t anyone’s fault. Don’t get angry over something no one could prevent.” Zhysa couldn’t understand the expression in his eyes as he turned to her, his gaze never flinching from hers until Mor interrupted.
“Az, you woke up earlier than expected but the healers told me that you should stay here for the next few days. I’m sure that Rhys or … Zhysa will tell you whatever you ask.” Zhysa tensed and stood up, removing her hand from Azriel.
“Great. While you do that, I’m going to put Arisu to bed. I’ll come by later.” Her answer was curt and she swiftly nodded and departed, leaving despondent faeries in her wake.
***
Zhysa had found that raising a child was a lot harder than rearing a teenager.
Not to mention the constant nightmares Arisu had but she also had developed a paranoia that if she left Zhysa for too long, Zhysa would disappear too. She felt for the girl but having a child attached to her for many hours a day was taking a toll.
Zhysa had left the house a few times – mostly just to claim Arisu parents and brother – and give them a funeral they deserved. She cremated the bodies and buried the ashes under a willow tree on the outskirts of Velaris. She also told Arisu about the spot she had buried them and Arisu had wanted to see them a few times.
The best thing Zhysa had seen the past week however was Arisu’s smile.
It was a simple thing, she had received a small dessert and gave Zhysa the largest smile – like she used to – and thanked her. Zhysa had to turn away before she started grinning like a madman.
Another unexpected thing that this week had comprised of was her presence in Azriel’s and Cassian’s sick room. Azriel – for all intents and purposes – was completely healed, however, the healer had endeavoured to keep him in the room for at least another week and in Azriel’s restlessness, Rhys had asked her to keep him – and Cassian – company.
They didn’t have much to talk about, most of the time Zhysa teased him and tried to provoke any reaction. The best she had gotten was a displaced glare and that reaction had made her ridiculously happy.
When she wasn’t teasing him she would talk about small stories of her childhood and Azriel would respond in turn, telling her all about the childhood of Rhys, Cassian and him – and the trouble that they got up to in their later years.
Occasionally, he would just stop talking. Zhysa theorised that he hadn’t talked this much all year –lest to one person – and was pleased when she got a glare in return when she told him. He had defended himself, telling her that he talked plenty. She had just deadpanned him and said that his shadows don’t count.
He pouted and didn’t talk to her for the rest of the night.
And finally, that conversation led to today.
“Apparently, Cassian should be waking up today.” Azriel barely glanced at her and instead spoke to the child sitting at the end of his bed. “Yes, I heard.” He barely paused before talking again.
“Maybe he will be able to talk enough for the rest of us.” Zhysa huffed a laugh and shook her head fondly.
“He cannot take over your talking duties Azriel.” Azriel looked at her with a raised eyebrow and looked away again. “Shame.”
“Hm, yes. I’m sure you would like only to communicate through a variety of many grunts. A low grunt – yes, a high one – n-“She chuckled as Azriel sent her a light glare and then rolled his eyes, correcting the word in the book that Arisu was reading.
Zhysa snapped up her head towards Cassian as she heard an uncomfortable groan. Azriel looked over as well, his body tensed.
Cassian opened his eyes, laying face down on the bed. His visions cleared and the first things he saw was Azriel playing with a child and Zhysa looking at Cassian. The room was mainly white, with small furniture accents and an additional bed.
“Dear fucking Cauldron, how long have I been asleep? I’m sure that you two hadn’t had a kid in that time.”
Zhysa hearing this choked and her ears flushed and Azriel had blanched before looking over to see a very red-eared Zhysa. He chuckled at Cassian and responded.
“Sorry to disappoint but you have only been asleep a week.” Cassian hummed in acceptance, ignoring the irritated female standing near him.
He’s awake. She sent to Rhys even though she was sure he most likely knew already.
Picking up Arisu, she handed her to Cerridwen who was waiting near the door and told her she would come by later. Arisu just looked at her betrayed and started to babble to Cerridwen and then they left the room.
Rhysand came waltzing in through the door.
“I was wondering when you would decide to get up.” Rhysand joked. Cassian just huffed a laugh and then winced with a glance at his healing wings.
“Ah, Madja said that they were salvaged however you will need to spend the next few months building up their strength again,” Zhysa told him.
Cassian glanced at her and frowned. “That’s … unfortunate but I’m glad that they weren’t permanently damaged.” He whispered. Rhysand moved around to the bed and with a hand on Cassian’s lower back and shoulder helped him to sit up.
“Now, tell me what’s happened.”
Everyone looked at each other and frowned.
***
Cassian stared at the bed in apparent shock.
“Okay, so let me get this all right.” He stammered. Cassian’s head snapped up to glance between the three faeries before looking down into his lap again.
“We arrived and in that time the King already knew of our arrival and therefore we were led into a trap. Zhysa was also captured when she tried to save the Archeron sisters and we didn’t know at the time that she was there.” He took another breath.
“The King attacked Azriel and I, him a bolt to the chest and my wings ripped into ribbons. Then the King using the cauldron changed the sisters into faeries. While this was happening Zhysa was summoned and thrown into the room. The King assaulted her mind and discovered she was … related to Rhys and Helion.” He paused before turning to Rhysand and Zhysa.
“You guys are going to explain how the fuck that happened, right?” Zhysa sighed and made an ambiguous gesture with her hand. Cassian seemed to accept that before continuing.
“Then Tamlin – the bastard – tried to come between Rhys and Feyre and break the bond. The King accepted and broke a bond, but not the mating one. That would be almost impossible. Then Feyre pretended to break free of Rhys’s mind control and a lot of commotion ensued until we were able to escape.”
Rhys nodded. “That’s about it.”
“Now our High Lady is gone and none of you are going after her.” Cassian gritted his teeth and sent a seething glare at Rhys. “I would love to know what ridiculous idea you came up with, Rhys,”
“It wasn’t him,” Zhysa interjected. Cassian looked at her confused. Zhysa sighed.
“I told Feyre that it would be the only way to get out of Hybern. She also decided to do this. Now, while she is in the Spring Court she can look to topple the Court from within. Break down Tamlin’s trust with his court, make his citizens doubt his power and finally – break it.” Zhysa traced the edge of the chair and then looked up.
“Now, while Feyre works hard, we can’t sit idle either. We need to start gathering allies. Tamlin has the King and therefore might have some sway over the Queens as well, although that not guaranteed.” Zhysa stated.
“The best plan of action would to get the support of all the other Court Lords. Helion shouldn’t be too hard to sway, considering he’s tolerable of the Night Court and endorses my connections. Dawn should be also not too much of a problem. The Seasonal Courts will be more difficult, obviously, all of them have complications with the Night Court. Winter is full of snobbish superstitious bastards, Summer has been personally affronted by the Night Court with the Book, and the Autumn Court is … well obvious.”
They all nodded along and finally, Rhys started to talk.
“I have only heard once from Feyre since she landed in the Spring Court. She confirmed she was safe and hasn’t encountered any problems yet.” Zhysa breathed in and addresses everyone in the room.
“I know that you are all worried about Feyre. As am I. However, she wants us to prepare. Prepare for war. Prepare and make connections to benefit the fight. This isn’t just a fight between Hybern and ourselves. This is a fight for the future of Prythian.”
***
It had been three months.
Three months of non-stop rehabilitation for Cassian, three months of planning for Amren, Rhysand and Zhysa, three months of Zhysa trying to convince Helion of the impending war and his involvement in it. Helion, surprisingly, had agreed with Zhysa’s proposal but wanted to wait for the summit which would gather the remaining High Lords.
Earlier in the month, information from Zhysa’s animalistic spies and Azriel’s shadows told them that there also had been some unrest in the Spring Court with the arrival of Brannagh and Dagdan. Zhysa was shocked to find that when she checked again, the twins were dead – killed by Feyre – and she was on the run.
She immediately had told Rhysand who had been away from the Court once he realized that his bond had gone dark and she quickly sent out Cassian and Azriel, to someplace in the Winter Court. Mor also went along to winnow them back to Velaris as soon as they found her. Both Amren and Zhysa waited in the townhouse, Zhysa pacing and Amren sitting calmly on a chair in the sitting room.
An hour later, a breeze had overtaken the room and multiple faeries tumbled into the townhouse.
A filthy and snow-covered Feyre stumbled into the townhouse, slightly shivering from the weather in the previous court.
Feyre was turned away from Zhysa and Amren stood to make her way towards them. Zhysa froze as she saw the familiar bright red hair and tanned skin of a particular male. A small snarl rose in her throat, so she turned her head away and focused on the smiling High Lady.
“There are children laughing in the streets.” Lucien stammered.
Amren walked in and Feyre smiled at her as Amren responded to Lucien. Zhysa followed closely behind and walked over to Azriel, standing next to him. Feyre smiled brightly as she spotted Zhysa and ran towards her, spinning slightly as they collided.
“Good to see you too.” Feyre let out a broken cry and dug her face into Zhysa’s shoulder. Lucien looked on in confusion. Finally, Feyre let go after a minute of squeezing the air out of Zhysa.
Lucien asked where this was and Feyre answered for him, reinstating that she was the High Lady of the Night Court.
“Indeed, she is.” This time, Feyre almost collapsed as she heard the voice she had been missing for almost 3 months. Zhysa watched in amusement as her father ran for Feyre, holding her as they sank into the ground. Everyone soon disappeared to the House of Wind when Rhysand growled at them all to leave.
Zhysa left the townhouse and looked at everyone waiting. Cassian had already started flying towards the House of Wind and she laughed internally as Azriel got stuck carrying Lucien up to the House. Releasing her large, non-glamoured Illyrian wings she sped her way towards the House, keeping an eye on Cassian’s newly healed wings.
Arriving at the House of Wind, Zhysa stomped inside, the males following close behind.
She couldn’t believe her luck.
As soon as Lucien entered the doorway, he found himself pushed up against the wall, a hand wrapped around his throat. Zhysa snarled and dug her fingers in tighter as Lucien’s eye narrows at her.
“Wait, Zhysa!” Zhysa ignored Cassian outburst and she reared back as Lucien threw her arm of him. He moved to the right and Zhysa’s sharp eyes watched him as he circled her. Cassian quickly ran in-between them, his head flickering wildly from the left and right. Azriel came up behind her and took a hold of her arms and shoulder.
“Zhysa, why did you attack him?” She just growled and stiffened as Lucien’s eyes lit up in recognition. He just sighed and walked around Cassian.
“It’s a given that she would attack me since I almost gutted her.” Lucien said offhandedly. Zhysa just lunged but she didn’t get very far with the wall of muscle holding her.
“I don’t understand your animosity though, it’s been decades since the little incident.” Lucien looked genuinely confused.
“I don’t care that you stabbed me – it’s more so for the legion of Amarantha’s dogs that came after you told them.” She attempted to lunge again, but Azriel just came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
With a combined effort of Cassian, Azriel and even Mor who had come around in the commotion, they were finally able to wrestle Zhysa into a chair without looking like she would throw the nearest weapon at Lucien’s head.
“Look Zhysa, we all probably have some type of problem with Lucien, I mean look at him,” Cassian commented, with a meaningful look at the glaring red-head. Zhysa also glared at Cassian in his poor attempt at humour.
“You can stab him later I promise but maybe when he’s had some time to rest.” Cassian finished.
Zhysa gripped the sides of the armchair and looked at all of the faeries in the room. Feyre had arrived which meant that the summit of High Lord’s would hopefully be arranged soon. Taking a deep breath, she shoved her volatile magic and emotions back with a wince. The pressure was becoming too much again – 3 months of build-up without any large exports would do that.
She stood.
“It’s fine. I will be with Helion and Arisu for a while. Send a message if you need me.” She walked out of the room and straight towards the large windows of the House of Wind.
She was almost at the window when a rippling of shadow came from her left and a large faerie emerged. She paused and looked at him.
“Do you need me to tell Helion anything?” She questioned, tilting her head at the stoic male. She saw his throat bob and he answered.
“No.” Azriel’s voice reverberated in the open space. “I just came to.. to tell you to say hi to Arisu for me.” Azriel tensed even more as she laughed at his awkwardness.
“Of course, although maybe when I come back with her you could have a toy ready. I’m sure she would appreciate it.” Zhysa looked at the cold male as his eyes softened a little and she received a small discernible nod.
“I’ll see you later, Azriel” She jumped off the House of Wind, not hearing his response.