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Nesta
“These may be the best things ever,” Gwyn said, holding up a thin elastic band with her fingers before stretching it out and looping it through her long auburn hair to secure it in a high ponytail.
“Wait until you try this,” Nesta replied while adjusting the straps on her underwire bra. “All my breast wraps are going in the trash immediately.”
“Oh I’ve got way more goodies for you both,” Bryce said, coming out of her closet with an armful of clothes. Bryce was wearing an oversized t-shirt with a pink unicorn painted on the front and pink knit shorts that barely peaked out under the tee. Her wine-red hair was twisted back with a big plastic claw clip.
“Bryce, you are really too generous.”
“Don’t worry about it, it’s the least I can do in the name of Midgardian goodwill. Plus, I’ve always wanted sisters to share with. Now try these on.”
This was not the first time that Nesta had experienced the goodwill of Bryce and her friends or encountered the overwhelming wonder that was Crescent City. It’s been more than a year since she had first come across Bryce in the Night Court, and only several months since Nesta found out that the Cauldron, in fact, had not taken back all its gifts to her, and that she, too, could walk through worlds.
This was Nesta’s third trip to Midgard, under the guise of reconnaissance for the Night Court, but to her, it was becoming a welcome respite from the on-going threats in Prythian and never-ending family dramatics. This trip Nesta was able to bring Cassian, Azriel, and even Gwyn.
They crossed to Midgard dressed in their fighting leathers with small packs containing essentials, which included casual day dresses for Nesta and Gwyn. The dresses, which were normal Prythian attire, seemed like a good idea at the time, something that Nesta and Gwyn could wear to blend into the crowd in Lunathion.
Except that Bryce took one look at them in their squared-necked, ankle-length gowns and about died laughing.
And thus they decided to stay in at Bryce’s apartment while Hunt showed Cassian and Azriel the Comitium and the Aux. Bryce had offered kindly, “We can try on a bunch of clothes, plus I figure you would be interested in quiet night – I know it must be a lot to be here, you must be tired.”
Nesta looked to Gwyn and they both tried not to smile. Bryce had been so good to let them stay at her apartment for safety and privacy, while she, Hunt and Syrinx temporarily relocated to Ruhn and Lidia’s townhouse.
It had been exhausting to use the Trove to bring herself and her friends across worlds, but that wasn’t the reason Nesta was tired. Neither she nor Gwyn wanted to admit to Bryce that the reason they were bleary-eyed was because they were up almost the entire previous night watching back-to-back … to-back-to-back episodes of Fangs and Bangs on her television.
“Try these too. These are technically clothes you work out in, but they’re comfy, so everyone just wears them all the time and look like they work out. Plus, it’s just us girls anyways.” Bryce handed Nesta a bundle, then another one to Gwyn.
“Thank you so much! But uh, where is the rest of it?” Gwyn held up a pair of light purple biker shorts, looking at them skeptically.
“These are beautiful, Bryce,” Nesta seconded, holding a strappy red sports bra against her chest. “I uh – just don’t think these are going to quite fit …”
“Oh gods, these will stretch,” Bryce responded, grabbing Gwyn’s shorts and pulling the fabric wide. “And they will suck you in and you’re going to look snatched.”
“Well, you’ve already changed my life once today,” Nesta said, pointing to her bra. “So I guess I’m going to trust that looking ‘snatched’ will be a good thing.”
Gwyn didn’t look completely convinced yet, but she took back her shorts from Bryce and bounded to the bathroom to change.
Bryce grabbed her phone and pressed a few buttons on the screen while Nesta took off her bra and tried to wrangle the sports bra over her head. A little black cylinder sitting on Bryce’s dresser suddenly lit up and sounds of modern music came out of it.
“That is so much better than a symphonia. You guys have everything here,” Nesta gushed, finally having figured out her sports bra and now removing her leather pants so she could try the leggings.
“We really take most of it for granted,” Bryce said with a shrug. She slipped her feet into fuzzy pink slippers. “And I think a lot of times all this stuff also overcomplicates things.”
“I wouldn’t think –” Nesta was interrupted by a squeal from the bathroom. Gwyn ran out, holding a glittery purple horse figurine, eyes bright.
“What is this?!”
“Fuck, Gwyn, you scared the Hel out of us!” Bryce shouted back with a laugh, dropping the fuzzy slipper she was holding up like a weapon. “That is Jelly Jubilee and she is my prized unicorn-pegasus from the Starlight Fancy collection.”
“I didn’t understand any of that, but this is gorgeous!”
“Speaking of gorgeous, Gwyn, you look like a smoke show in that!” Bryce looked appreciatively at the tall Valkyrie clad in lavender biker shorts and a matching sports bra. The clothes fit her like a second skin and played off her fair freckled complexion and auburn hair.
Gwyn’s cheeks flamed and she crossed her arms over her chest. “I – I don’t feel like I am wearing anything. Do you guys really go outside like this?”
“Absolutely. Don’t you feel like you could fight without limits in that outfit?”
“I feel like I would be fighting naked in this outfit,” Nesta interjected, staring at herself in Bryce’s full-length mirror. She was wearing a red sports bra with multiple straps that crisscrossed over her back. To pair with that, Nesta also had on sleek black leggings that had sheer mesh cutouts along the sides. She had to admit, she looked good – the outfit only enhanced all the fine muscle she had put on over the last two years in training – but she also felt completely and utterly exposed.
“And I think we’re going to freeze wearing just this.” Gwyn set Jelly Jubilee down on Bryce’s dresser reluctantly.
Bryce grabbed some thick socks and sweatshirts. “Put these on over your outfits. This is the epitome of casual Lunathion girlie at-home wear. We’ll pick some more outfits for outside later, but you’d fit right in now.”
Nesta put on an oversized faded black hoodie that had “Crescent City Auxiliary” embroidered on the front. Gwyn donned a light gray “CCU” one with the hem cut off. Bryce ended up putting on a hoodie that had “Hottest Bachelors of Crescent City Voting Committee” imprinted on the back.
“Are these yours? They seem a little big.”
“Technically they belong to the boys but they leave them here all the time, so I consider them mine now,” Bryce grinned.
“Adding this to my list of things I love about Midgard,” Gwyn grinned.
“Are you ladies hungry yet? I can order us some pizza!”
Nesta looked to Bryce excitedly. “That sounds great! What is pizza?”
“Pizza is only the most delicious food group known to any world. It’s bread, it’s melty cheese, it’s all the good in the world baked into a flat disk,” Bryce closed her eyes dreamily with a wide, tongue-out grin. She grabbed her phone and started typing. “And the best part is that someone will bring it to you.”
“Sounds divine. How long will it take?”
“Hm, probably 30-45 minutes.”
“Well then that gives us some time to discuss this …” Nesta reached into her pack and pulled out a copy of Lady Dawn’s Peregrine Lover, the latest book by Sellyn Drake.
Bryce grabbed the book and started flipping through it as she headed to the living room. “Is this what you like to read?”
“It’s what Nesta likes to read,” Gwyn volunteered, following.
Nesta’s silver-blue eyes flared briefly as she threw Gwyn a look. “Don’t act all prim and proper, who picked out that last book with the reverse harem?”
“It was for research purposes!”
Bryce’s eyes were wide with amusement as she scanned the pages. She plopped down onto her couch. “This is some prime historical High Fae romantasy shit right here.”
Nesta tried to snatch her book back.
“Oh, this part about the peregrine general’s wings, I can attest this is true. Hunt’s very sensitive there.”
“Quinlan, if you don’t give me my book back, I will take you back under the Prison and keep you there.”
“Fucking harsh, Archeron,” Bryce replied in mock offense, closing and handing her back the book. “Here, you were the one who brought this smut out for ‘discussion’ purposes.”
“We discuss it academically.”
At that comment, Gwyn snorted. “I’m all about the grammar and historical accuracy, that’s for sure.”
“Gwyn’s actually the worst,” Nesta chuckled, shooting her a vicious grin. Gwyn settled in the armchair and responded with a vulgar gesture.
“Alright, alright, tell me all about Lady Dawn’s lover … ‘academically,’” Bryce relinquished, leaning back on her couch.
After twenty minutes of very serious discussion over the peregrine general’s romantic prowess, the pizza delivery finally arrived. Bryce walked over to her glass dining table carrying four large flat boxes. Nesta and Gwyn quickly followed behind her, drawn by the delicious smells.
“I ordered a bit of everything so you can try different kinds – veggie’s my fave.”
Gwyn opened one of the boxes and followed Bryce’s lead to pull loose one of the cheesy triangle slices. Her eyes went wide when she took a bite. “OK, this is the best thing ever about your world.”
Nesta just moaned loudly with closed eyes as she chewed.
They ate in amenable silence, Nesta and Gwyn consumed with the act of eating as much delicious hot pizza as they could. Nesta gave in after two and half pieces, though she was fairly impressed when Gwyn finished close to four.
After they cleaned the table, Bryce made them each a hot mug of tea and they settled back into the living room. Bryce tapped her painted nails against her mug and looked to Nesta.
“Alright, now that everyone’s fed, it’s juicy talk time. So, Archeron, how’s mated life? Things still spicy? Are your rooms warded for sound?”
“Not enough,” Gwyn mumbled into her mug.
Nesta looked over at Gwyn. “You’ve never said anything about it before.”
“I’m polite. Plus, sometimes you two don’t make it to your rooms.”
“Ohhhh, you and Cassian are spicy, huh?” Bryce looked to Nesta with high amusement.
Another mumbled, “More like insatiable.”
“Gwyn!”
Gwyn just rolled her eyes at Nesta and smirked. Nesta glared back, but could not be really upset with her chosen sister. She’ll just pay Gwyn’s mouth back in kind during training.
To Bryce: “Cassian and I are fine. Mated life is good.” To Gwyn: “In the future, we will show better restraint in shared spaces.”
“Cassian and Azriel’s wings – they’re very different from what we see here. Most of our winged warriors are Malakim, Angels,” Bryce mused. “Are they sensitive?”
“Illyrian wings?”
“Yeah, they look … velvety.”
Nesta shifted on the couch, reaching to set down her mug on the coffee table. “They are … soft.” She then grabbed her mug back and took a sip. “And sensitive.”
“Explain, Archeron.”
“They’re just – it’s intimate to touch an Illyrian’s wings.”
Bryce shifted closer to Nesta. “Do you mean they get off on it?”
“I mean –”
“Burning fucking Solas, I fucking knew it!”
Gwyn had one hand up rubbing her temples while Nesta shifted again in her seat, feeling her face start to flame. “Cauldron, Bryce, are you using interrogation tactics on me?”
Gwyn put her hand down. “She’s just incurably nosy.”
“That sounds familiar,” Bryce retorted. “And no, this is just info-sharing.”
“Look, Cassian and I are – very well suited. In many ways. Mating bond or not.”
“Bedroom jokes aside – I don’t know your mate that well yet, but I can tell that you care strongly for each other.”
“I can be difficult to like, much less love –” Nesta and Gwyn shared a soft look “– but he sees me better than most can.”
Nesta left her sentiment about Cassian at that. They were well suited. Mates. Like calls to like. Her relationship with Cassian had always involved a lot of pushing each other and they were both well adept to do that, most times to their benefit, sometimes to their detriment. And after the events that occurred after Bryce’s unceremonious arrival to Prythian over a year ago, there had been an awful lot of pushing.
While Nesta would never purposefully challenge Cassian’s resolute loyalty to his family, she could not help but to wonder that if it ever came down to it, whether their bond – whether she – would mean more to him than his loyalty to any court or High Lord. Some deep-down part of her feared the answer.
But Nesta could also not forget that when she was at her personal deepest lowest, Cassian was the one person who showed up every single day and literally banged down her door until she let him in.
She never realized how much work being in love could be.
But these were thoughts meant for another day. Nesta inhaled deeply, buried them down deep, and turned back Bryce with a smile. “What about you and Hunt? Are you going to finally have a ceremony?”
“I think under Fae law we’re technically already married, but we’ve never officially announced it or celebrated it,” Bryce shrugged, brushing a strand of loose hair behind her arched ear. “And after everything we’ve been through – I’m just so grateful he’s still in my life sometimes.”
Nesta felt her heart squeeze.
“You found your way back to each other, like you were meant to,” Gwyn responded gently.
“Spoken like a true priestess.”
“I’m just a romantic at heart. And I have faith.”
“Well, what about you then? Do you have a mate, Gwyn?” Gwyn didn’t respond to that, opting to take a sip of her tea. “A partner or spouse?”
“No.”
Bryce sighed. “You guys are awfully tight-lipped about your relationship statuses.”
“I’m not trying to hide anything, I just have nothing to share,” Gwyn shrugged.
“There isn’t anyone that peaks your interest?”
Nesta stayed silent, though she kept an eye on Gwyn for any signs of discomfort. Gwyn’s story was her own to share to whomever and whenever she was ready. Though Nesta would never admit it in front of Bryce or to Gwyn, she was curious herself.
Gwyn had made great personal strides in the last two years, from leaving the Library to moving into the House of Wind, going on missions to far off lands as a Valkyrie, discovering and mastering her magic, and even opening herself to the potential of a partner.
Granted the only males that Nesta has seen Gwyn be really comfortable around were still few and far between – Azriel, Cassian, Rhysand – but she had witnessed Gwyn on more than one recent occasion blushing furiously in the presence of a handsome, attentive male, and sometimes even carrying on easy, dare-she-say, flirty, banter with some of them.
If Gwyn was interested in pursuing any particular male though, she kept that to herself. Nesta – and Emerie … and Cassian … and even Feyre – had their suspicions though. There was one person that Gwyn spent more time with than anyone else, and one did not need to be the Spymaster of the Night Court to figure it out.
Bryce pushed on, “Because if not, I have some friends …”
“Not everyone is interested in having a partner, you know,” Nesta interjected, feeling protective of her chosen sister.
“How about Azriel, is he seeing anyone?”
“What does he have to do with this?” Gwyn didn’t look up from her mug, but her response was quick.
“Well, you’re unattached, you live together and train together, and you’re both not unattractive …” Bryce left her sentence unfinished as she looked over to Nesta and raised her eyebrows in question.
Nesta just shrugged.
The front door opened then and a large dark shadow fell over the living room … a dark shadow in the form of three imposing winged warriors that filled the entryway with their return from the Aux. Hunt was dressed casually with his trademark backwards sunball cap, but Cassian and Azriel wore their fighting leathers.
“Ladies,” Hunt said in greeting as he walked right in and paused over Bryce, leaning over to plant a soft kiss on her lips. “Sweetheart.”
Cassian and Azriel followed behind but paused partway into the living room before they started looking around suspiciously, then at each other. Nesta knew immediately what caught them off guard and shared a smirk with Gwyn. Oh, they were going to have fun with this.
Cassian stalked over to Nesta and sniffed around her. “Nes … why do you smell like a strange male?”
Nesta waved him off, looking purposefully bored. “Oh, are you referring to the hoodies? They’re not from ‘strange’ males. This one’s Ruhn’s … I think Bryce’s got Declan’s on … and I assume the CCU one is Ithan’s.”
Azriel looked to Gwyn. “And you are wearing Ithan’s clothes because …”
“It’s fine!” Bryce chimed in. “There’s nothing comfier than a someone else’s hoodie … especially a borrowed one.”
“I think your brother has been looking for his for several months,” Hunt smiled.
“It’s a permanent loan.”
“Why don’t you just wear your own mate’s clothes then?” Cassian asked.
Bryce pointed to Hunt’s wings. “Too breezy.”
Cassian turned back to Nesta. “And what else are you – or aren’t you – wearing?”
“You mean this?” Nesta stood and gestured to herself. While Cassian was still trying to understand the cutouts on the leggings she was wearing, Nesta started to pull the black hoodie up over her head to reveal her red sports bra.
It happened so quickly. Cassian practically threw himself over Bryce’s pristine white couch to wrap himself around this mate. Nesta tried to break off Cassian’s embrace, arms entangled in her hoodie.
“Mother’s tits, what are you doing, you brute?!”
Gwyn hadn’t even gotten off the couch. Before she could even lift up a knee in her lavender biker shorts set with the cutoff CCU hoodie, a blanket of shadows descended on her, effectively covering her.
“For gods’ sake, what are you doing,” Cassian hissed in her ear, to Nesta’s amusement.
Hunt snorted from the side. Bryce was smirking widely. “We were having a girls’ night – and they’re in normal casual girlie Midgardian fashion. Chill out.”
“I – I’m sorry, Nes,” Cassian turned to his mate and pulled her closer, murmuring into her golden-brown hair. “You caught me off-guard. You look …”
“I know.”
“Later,” Cassian growled lowly in her ear, sending chills down Nesta’s spine.
“We good now?” Bryce asked loudly. “You boys promise to behave around these ladies?”
“Self-restraint was never my strong suit, especially not around my mate,” Cassian answered with a smirk.
Azriel hadn’t said a word and Nesta didn’t fail to notice that he purposely kept his gaze away from her and Gwyn. Especially Gwyn. His shadows had finally settled back over his wings but even they couldn’t hide the flush of pink on his face as Azriel tried very hard not to look when Gwyn got off the couch and walked to the kitchen in those lavender shorts that did nothing to hide her shape. Nesta fought to hide her own smirk of satisfaction.
“Since you’re all back, I think we should head out,” Bryce looked to Hunt and he nodded. “There’s leftover pizza if you gentlemen are hungry –”
“Though not much,” Nesta muttered. Gwyn glared at her from the kitchen.
“– and I know you must all still be tired.”
Nesta disentangled herself from Cassian and went over to give Bryce a hug. “Thank you again for letting us stay at your place. We’re so sorry to inconvenience you.”
“It’s nothing, really – Lidia’s boys love Syrinx and they have a killer guest suite.” Bryce went to grab a bright pink pair of sneakers and started putting them on.
Hunt asked Bryce, “Are you coming with me or taking the scooter?”
Cassian looked from Bryce to Hunt. “Does Hunt not just fly you everywhere?”
“I can, but she’s way too independent for that,” Hunt responded with a shrug. “Plus, she’s a shitty passenger. Chatty.”
“You wish I would fly with you more,” Bryce retorted, nose scrunching. She finished tying her laces and went to give Gwyn a hug too. “But I don’t need to because I’ve got a scooter and I’ll show you guys tomorrow. You wouldn’t have to fly with these aphaholes ever again.”
“We’re still holding out for our pegasuses, but a scooter might suffice in the meantime,” Gwyn grinned.
“You all better rest up, because tomorrow, we’re going to have a big night. Big. Huge. We’re going to go clubbing – it’ll blow your minds!”