cedrian's brow cocks when his brother begins, mind swirling with snarky replies – only he isn't able to offer a single one, for his brother's next question leaves him in a frozen state. it doesn't last long, mere seconds at most before a smile begins to spread across the high lord's lips. "well, i sincerely hope you mean the lady nerina and not another fae you've recently come across." the snark lands, finally, though his tone is warm as a happiness begins to bubble up in the elder brother. ced wanted nothing more than for his siblings to find true happiness, and he knew with alistair that would always rely on finding his mate. rare indeed, but he had hopes for his brother. it seemed those hopes were coming true. ced decides then he won't tell alina either, not yet. he wouldn't want to ruin anything between his brother and mate. his heart knows alina will forgive him, his mind worries she will be cross when she realizes. "i'd been in love before." he doesn't go into detail, alistair was well aware of his late wife. "when i met alina the pull was far greater than any level of attraction i'd ever felt before, and the longer we were together the stronger it became. it was different than simply falling in love, it felt as if the stars lined up to grant me a woman who was so perfectly matched for me that i could simply be with no other." it's almost difficult for ced to talk about it, his late wife was a very healed wound at this point but sometimes he worried if he worded something poorly it would be a slight against the love he had with her and the children they created. while not his mate, they'd had a beautiful relationship. even still, it was nothing compared to what he felt with alina, and sometimes he wondered if the mother knew what she was doing by giving him a wife to tame him, ruin him, and then a mate to build him again. "and eventually there was a pull to her actual being, i could tell where she was or when she entered a room without even looking or relying on any other scent. this only strengthened once when completed the mating ceremony."
"hilarious." because he expected some sort of a smart-ass response from his brother. without a doubt his elder brother had waiting for this day, when alistair would find his mate and fall in love, and ced would have the chance to pull his little brother's leg. "i'm sure if i thought of anyone else that wasn't nerina, either she'd kill me or your mate would." it was new territory for the commander, these emotions, the need to claim another this way, and it wasn't that he avoided entanglements before, it was that he didn't want to settle for just anyone. his brother never settled, he had married the love of his life. still, alistair cannot help but think the mother and fates certainly favored the high lord of day in some form. that after the fates broke his heart, and alistair had watched his brother grieve, those very fates had somehow healed his broken heart by delivering his mate right on a platter for him, albeit decades later. then he supposed, the fates finally blessed the commander, when they led him to meet nerina. he suspects he already knew deep down. still he had to be sure, had to make certain these feelings lined up with what he wanted to be the truth. as ced spoke and explain everything he'd felt, something within alistair shifted, as he thought of exactly what he'd felt when she was near, or whenever his mind wandered over to her. this unexplainable pull that he'd never felt for a woman, it went beyond simple attraction. beyond the initial high of being in love, the lure of being desired by someone you desired that the need itself threaten to dismantle your entire being. "it's surreal to think they are real" he murmured, "surreal to imagine that without even searching and we found ours." it something he had to say aloud as if it would cement it once and for all. alistair couldn't be certain of many things, but he'd always been certain of his elder brother and his wisdom, not without it's cost of course, but when ced spoke with such conviction, it nearly leaves the commander breathless because it was everything he himself couldn't name but somehow everything he felt for his own summer lady. ced had been in love before, even if his late wife hadn't been his mate, so alistair knew that if anyone would know, it would be the high lord. the commander didn't believe for a moment that one love was greater than another, he simply saw it as his brother had been blessed to have two great loves. he was fortunate, because most didn't even get one in their lifetime. "so much so that you're afraid of not being with her?" his gaze moving to his brother again. "i should have put it together sooner, that something like this, could only mean one thing." for alistair, it had been a looming fear : what if the fates conspired to take ner away from him? what would he be without his own mate? it was startling because he'd gone this long without her, and now that he had met her and known her, it was hard to think back how he got on without her. that there was no other for the commander than her. "did it scare you, when you realized all this?" because ced had been adamant of never opening his heart again. a lot of things made sense for himself and why the two couldn't stay from their respective mates. why ced continued to ignore's alistair's warning of being involved with another ruler, and why alistair used excuses of spying to continue to be near nerina. he almost wanted to laugh at himself.
being hauled off to the dragonstone palace had left the lady tyrell in all sorts of moods, and ones she hid well. talia wasn't opposed to stepping out of highgarden and visiting the other regions, in fact, she enjoyed it, particularly the regions that provided scenic views of the sea. dragonstone, however, lacked any novelty for her but it seemed her troubles had only began as her mother hinted as to why they were being invited by the king. the lady, however, chose to ignore it for the time being, because such talks always went on between their families but none came to fruition and she chalked this out as the very same thing. that was until two days later, her mother had all but warned her to be prepared. certainly, there were worse fates than marriage, although the eldest child of highgarden would argue, marriage to a targaryan was not a particularly favorable fate either. her parents had been wise to secure and maintain such a strong friendship with the crown, in times like these, it was hard to argue otherwise. after any talks of betrothal fell through with reena and prince jacaearys, it was only a matter of time they made another attempt and her mother had given talia a forewarning of sorts. no amount of forewarning would ever prepare her, but if she had it her way, she'd ensure it never happened. truly, she was counting on the fact that prince lucerys shared her aversion as the last thing the other would likely want is a wife. they had nothing in common, but perhaps this - neither wished to wed. for the raven-haired prince it was his endless options and for talia, there's only one man she wanted to share her life with but fate had yet to grant her that.
despite her personal distaste for prince lucerys, it couldn't be denied that the man was a striking figure standing apart in the sea of the masses and entirely too difficult to miss. it was always a mix of conflicting emotions that rose within talia each time they crossed paths, and with how tides were turning with their families and the very possibility of their fates may be twined, the unrest inside of her was a persistent gnawing. lucerys also had a habit of irritating her beyond words, with his flirting and arrogant smiles that were annoying all the same. perhaps others found it charming, but talia found them to be contrived and excessive. it was a small gathering that evening, some nobles arriving at the palace, and so far the lady had managed to be free of lucery's presence, no doubt occupied with his endless admirers. at the very least that meant he was occupied and not free to bother talia. perhaps the night wasn't all too foul, and eventually she began to actually enjoy herself, making conversation with a few pleasant individuals who shared her hobbies and her interests. her luck wasn't destined to continue, it seems, when a separation through the masses delivered the onyx-gazed prince before her as she was in his line of sight. he had caught her before she could turn away, and with a inward sigh, she took two step towards him and greeted him with practiced eased. "good evening, prince lucerys. i trust your evening has been pleasant?" her interest wasn't sincere and she was sure he'd know, he might be flighty, but he wasn't no peawit.
when the prince learned that the tyrells were being invited to dragonstone, his first thought was to pay a visit to his mother's home in hightower. how he loathed to admit that a woman could make him turn in the other direction, but the younger lady of tyrell was no ordinary woman - she was the first woman and perhaps only woman he'd truly given his heart to. then, there was his pride wouldn't allow him to do disappear, he was no adolescent anymore, and the painful truth - he did want to see her. why? the gods knew why. they'd arrived two days prior and their paths had not crossed yet, for jace, it had following his normal routines, a refusal to disrupt any of that even for visitors.
he was certainly curious of this sudden invitation extended to the tyrells, but this hadn't pertained to him, but he'd wait till his elder brother, luc, filled him in as their father had pulled the elder prince aside specifically. it was inevitable to completely avoid lady vareena, despite the size of the castle. so, it was shortly after they had concluded dinner, and jace stepped outside in the gardens and found the lady in question. her back was to him, and he resisted the urge to turn back because while the prince was many things, a coward, he wasn't. he ignored the rush of emotions that made itself known as he took a few steps closer before announcing his presence. at the forefront of his many emotions, curiosity and shock remained that she was a mother. her daughter wasn't with her this evening, but the never ending curiosity of who the father was annoying at best. it wasn't his business anyway, and he really shouldn't care. "lady vareena, i wasn't sure i would see you in my home anytime soon. i'm surprised you came." came his greeting as he stopped beside her, and he was fighting, greatly to not look at her as he wanted to, instead staring straight ahead to where she was.
one of his friends had made a joke that daxton would only visit the winter court for love – they had not been wrong. daxton had visited winter as rarely as possible throughout his life, it made sense how he missed it to be the home of his mate. but here she was, putting up with his misery that he'd only endure for her. the amusement lailah took in his displeasure of this weather was something he'd also happily suffer for. in truth, he'd do anything for her – other than perhaps admit that she was his. daxton wasn't afraid to tell her, he knew how much lailah loved him – he just hadn't figured out how yet. the information felt sacred, precious, deserving to be shared in a moment befitting of it. it also felt rude to keep, and a bit of anxiety clawed at his chest in hopes she wouldn't be cross if she realized how long he'd known. there was also the matter of their positions, he knew alina supported him in this endeavor but would her high lady be so gracious ? understand that their love for one another did not erase the loyalty they held to their courts. but where would they land ? he couldn't ask her to leave her position – he couldn't stomach leaving his. more reasons for daxton to keep things bottled up, for now. they'd already been through so much to get to this point, for lailah to unravel his defenses and force him to learn that running wasn't the safest and only option. that allowing someone to know him wasn't a danger. that he could have more in his network that alina alone. and to understand his friendship with his high lady wasn't a threat – it was a benefit. he simply had no regrets now that she'd broken down his walls.
sneaking up on her was impossible, and daxton never really tried. he simply aimed to impress his presence upon her as quickly as possible. the shadows that lingered in the corners were tattle tales, he'd told them so on several occasions. rather than dwell on them, he simply allows his eyes to drink her in, jealous she doesn't require as many layers as he but thankful for it all the same. she's a vision any time he sees her, something about the winter fashions and her natural habitat surpassed the regular beauty she held. " you would not suffer in autumn, it would be the perfect balance for us both. " he argues with a teasing tone. " it's freezing, and i would only suffer for a good reason. " he says with a lazy grin, hoping she doesn't misunderstand the reason in the slightest. his arms band around her the moment she's close enough, both for warmth and the primal desire to hold his mate anytime he could. he needed to tell her, the thought circling in his mind once more but banished when he reminds himself that they have far more to figure out first. daxton forces himself to be more present, rather than worry in front of the creature who will suss it out of him at rapid speed. his gaze remains down upon her face, and he chuckles at the simple kiss to the cheek and demands another upon her lips. his are cold, he's not sure how enjoyable it is for her, but savors the taste of her on his lips as he pulls back once more. " it can be rather nice. " and traveling with her had an allure he'd never held before. " i would desire nothing more than to warm up with the woman i love. " he says easily.
what was the mortal saying she'd heard of in passing? something along the lines of good things and waiting? the shadowsinger didn't entirely believe that sentiment because in her experience everything good she possessed, she had fought to gain. it made her rewards all the more worth it and it was, in many ways no different with daxton. perhaps not intentionally, considering neither were looking to forming attachments with each other in their game of deception, but stars did he make lailah work to earn his heart. then....so had she. when she ignored her puzzling desire for him until she knew he wasn't chasing her for the thrill of carnal pleasures. while the shadowsinger was practical woman in many ways, she never relinquished her faith in a high power. each time she looks to the man she loves, loves more than her own life, in ways that still petrified her to this day, she's reminded a higher power does exist. their great deity never did anything without a reason; the mother had carved a path for both of them, for better or for worse, that led them to this very moment. earning his heart had been her greatest reward, and daxton hadn't disappointed. lailah had infinite patience for daxton, never pushing for more than he was comfortable giving. she only wanted to him know he wasn't alone, that he wouldn't regret letting her in. he wasn't the only one who was scared, he wasn't the only one who ran, that he, too, had to be as exhausted as her. that if he only knew how much he scared her the moment she realized what he could mean to her if she allowed it. she had no control over that either, considering she fell for him anyway knowing there was a chance he could break her heart. still, lailah left this up to fates. as they stood, her peering into his familiar gaze, that while held so much tenderness for her, there also seemed to be an internal battle that wages within in him, that draws her concern. with daxton, she knew that when he's ready he'd speak about it. she suspected a few of which that lingered on her own mind. there was much they had to settle, that eventually they'd want more than a few weeks of time together. would he ask her to remain in summer with him? would lailah disappoint des if she said yes? of course, her high lady knew of her involvement with daxton, but lailah hadn't initiated a thorough conversation, worrying adding something onto her place just months after things finally settled in their realm. she would though soon, and they'd figure this out.
her shadows did tattle on him, whispering his every mutterings that never failed to make her grin. " i am afraid, anything that's not winter is a discomfort of sorts." she's teasing. autumn was nice, and summer was becoming a second home to her. "don't you worry, you ease my discomforts and aches as easily though." a low murmur, the words raw than she would have ever deign to reveal. "my darling spymaster, i would not have you suffer at all. i love that you would without a second thought, any way." she wasn't sure how her words would be received in this moment, given her earlier amusement of this remarks. it wasn't that she took delight in his misery – never. it was that he was so damn adorable like this, she couldn't contain her reactions. lailah had assured him, he did not need to come to winter, they could meet in summer, but it's daxton, and she knew he would not allow that. just like her, there wasn't anything he wouldn't for her, this was one of many things she learns the more time she has with him. daxton was much like a puzzle, and every piece required careful attention. lailah was glad she didn't require so many layers, because even through his numerous ones, she felt his warmth against her, and her body instinctively nestled closer. when his lips demand hers, she smiles against them, wondering if he could hear the intense pounding of her heart at this gesture, before she kisses him tenderly, but no less passionately. they were cool to the touch, and that doesn't bother her at all, too busy drowning in the taste of him. like the sea and the sun – he tastes like paradise. a hand reaches up to cup his cheek when they break the kiss, the pads of her fingers re-learning the angles of his features, the way his flesh feels under hers. "we could visit every court. have you ever been to the other solar courts?" she wished for that, to do so much with him by her side. her heart continued to sing when he once more referred to her as love, she was sure she'd never quite get used to hearing it but if her theory was correct on who daxton was to her, perhaps it made sense. she didn't break contact as she led him towards the heated bath rooms, arms linked, and her fingers twining with his as they walked. "have you been exploring on your own? or would you still be up for a tour tomorrow? i saved my favorite spot to show for my day off..."
nerina had pieced together quite a bit of the day court since her sister decided to entangle herself with the high lord. before she'd even tried to get closer to alistair to learn more, nerina was well aware of the darkness that fell upon their brightest court. she understood loss well, her heart ached for the children of the court that lost their mother and high lady. but her sister seemed to bring a side of the high lord back that none had really seen. nerina had heard plenty of the flirtatious, arrogant man that shared many relations but never his heart – that was hardly the creature her sister had mated. and save what her sister did to him, cedrian brought out a side of alina that nerina had never known. not growing up close had been a detriment to the sisters, bonding over their forced proximity and both better for it. alina fell in love, nerina realized the importance of her siblings in her life, and then eventually also found a man who deserved more than only shreds of herself. alistair had been a means to learn more of the man her sister was in bed with, he turned into more than she could have ever expected. ner had never asked for such a love, the mother sought fit to bless her anyway. she learned more of the wound the loss of day's high lady, how deep it had run and how alistair had been so strong to guide his court through it, to be there for his own family. it made her love him even more, he wasn't simply the arrogant cocky flirt she'd initially assumed him to be. who ever knew she would be here, in the day court alongside her sister and the man she loved. she just knew the fates were laughing, but nerina was too happy for once to care. being with alistair was nothing she ever expected, it was a love she'd never felt on the seas and certainly not something she was ready to accept but happier for it.
exploring the day court as a guest of one of its lords was different than when she ventured into the port cities. nerina used to hate being looked upon as a noble, as a higher being simply by the blood in her veins from the father she hated. now she found she didn't mind it, not when those who looked upon her knew she was here for him. knew he was hers and she was his. possessiveness was a streak she was not a stranger from. who could blame her ? when alistair was on the field, shirt clinging to him and hiding nothing of the form she admired, kissed nearly every space of, muscles flexing as he reminded all who watched that he was no weak lord or commander. her body glides over to his, and when his arms band around her to yank her frame to his sweat soaked chest she only laughs. nerina has never been bothered by such things, but she knew plenty of ladies who would absolutely be screaming at the idea. " you should, you might be surprised at how i fair on the pitch. " teases she. her hands wrap around his neck, fingers lightly scratching against his head. " you have been distracted, i hope, otherwise i'm not doing a good enough job here. " adds the summer lady.
despite his initial wariness of ced's involved with the high lady of summer, it was difficult to deny she had bought a new found happiness in his brother's life. his concerns were warranted before he realized lady alina could be trusted with his brother's heart, and still he was glad to be wrong about her. selfishly, he can't deny that this unexpected turn of events in his high lord's life had also given alistair something equally precious. a woman he hard time imaging his life without now, and it was still a thrilling and equally terrifying thought but if his brother who had loved and lost could take a risk, then alistair could, too. there were no words to describe what the summer sisters had done to their home, brought a newfound light in the day court that had been gone for so long, and alistair clung to it, clung to his own happiness that had been a result of nerina entering his life. when their realm had been thrust into peril for the past year, alistair realized he wouldn't not have made it out unscathed had it not been for her. sometimes, alistair felt nothing at all, and some days he felt everything, but since nerina came into his life and nestled herself into his heart, he could scarcely take a breather from his avalanche of emotions, and it wasn't a bad thing. it was all equal parts of exhilarating, terrifying, and unknowns and every bit he welcomes. before nerina had told him she too loves him, before she declared that she was his as he is her's, a part of him feared he might have felt too much, revealed the depths of his longing for her, that would scare her off, but that fear gradually waned when she spent her every night with him. he would be lying if he said it did appear now as the conversation he had about mates with ced lingered on his mind. yet no power in their realm could convince him nerina wasn't his mate, but how soon was too soon to drop this news on her? would be she be happy hearing that? he had no doubt she loves him, but it was one thing to love someone and another to learn how the cosmos had sealed their fates together for eternity. maybe once it would have frightened the commander, but now this knowledge alleviated his fears.
every part of him relished in that look in her gaze, that familiar warmth settled into his being. oh, he loved her possessiveness, and he wasn't sure if she intended for him to see it but he did and it had his heart thrumming against his ribcage. alistair knew when he was training, most of the women in the palace ceased their tasks and watched him. before his summer lady claimed him, he relished in the attentions of the opposite sex, what man wouldn't? that enjoyment paled in comparison to being admired and desired by the woman he loves, by his mate, and heavens above, it tugged on the most primal sides of him - sides he didn't even he possessed until meeting her. if they weren't out in the open with eyes on them, alistair would have had her pinned to the closest surface and done all sorts of filthy things to her. patience, he tells himself, in about six hours they would be all alone. he was damp with sweat, and he's pleased to find nerina had no issue still pressing all of her feminine softness and curves against his frame, and his arms were like iron holding her to him. it was one of many reasons why she was for him, it seemed nothing bothered when it concerned alistair and it was truly the most humbling and gratifying feeling he's ever had. "i don't think any man has ever said this before to a woman they are so madly in love with, but i can't wait to have you hand my ass to me." it was both serious and teasing, curious to see just how she was on the field. the real challenge would be keeping focused on sparing and not pinning her under him. alistair leaned into her touch, relishing in the sensation of her soft hand trailed over his head. a low chuckle at her words, that elicited from the commander, dipping his nose into her neck and allowing her scent to override his senses. "i think you're doing too well of a job, my brother may have to release me from my position due to outside pressure." this bit is a jest, but alistair could never cease proving himself to those who continued to question his position simply out of spite. he had nothing to prove, of course, but he would be damned if allowed criticism without proper basis. this, outside training was one of his many methods of keeping certain mouths shut. the hand at her waist was idly tracing the perfect shape of her curves, "i was counting every minute until i could find you, and you appeared. i'm all yours for the rest of the week, everything is sorted for now. whatever else remains, can wait, it's not urgent." he assures her, "what did you get up to in the meantime?" alistair pulled back just enough to watch her.
when she first came to prythian, lux imagined this would be what her life looked like – staying in saint's bed even after he went to work for the morning, witnessing the beautiful dawn skies from the many open windows and spaces every room seemed to offer, a domestic sense of peace that came with being loved by the person you loved. when none of that happened it'd been hard to picture her purpose in the land of fae – now that she had it sometimes the former human struggled with it. each day she woke, with or without saint still in the bed served as a constant reminder that she was in the place she hadn't thought she'd be – the place that dreamer of a human thought was meant for her. the pain she endured because of saint wasn't forgotten, but it was forgiven. it pushed her to grow into a different fae than she'd originally been out of the cauldron – a fae that could stand by his side under the gaze of each fae that thought she was unworthy of it. unworthy of him. none would ever know what it took for them to get to this point – but lux had the belief that it may have been needed in order for them to be as strong as they were now. the back and forth they dealt with while prythian was in turmoil hadn't been for the faint of heart either, but lux loved him – she couldn't stop loving him even if she'd wanted to at one point. and in truth it seemed that's what saint needed, to see that despite it all their hearts still dang for one another. the invitation to dawn had been all she'd wanted at one point, pain made her cautious, but her heart won the battle. now she had no regrets, she was trusting the man she loved, the high lord who she knew she could.
lux didn't mind when she got odd looks as she explored the palace, all knew who she was at this point and most left her alone. whispers went ignored, just as they did when she was a human. the redhead could only imagine what they would be if they knew her history, rather than just a fae their high lord had chosen to court. when her eyes finally rested upon saint she didn't waste a moment in scanning each of his features, looking for signs of stress, of exhaustion. instead he just seemed pleased to see her, especially when she stopped beside him and leaned against his desk. lux's eyes stayed on the fae she loved, a slight giggle slipping from her lips at the look he gave her before speaking. " you could have called for me to join you sooner, though i suppose you would not have gotten much work done. " the teasing tone in her voice leaves no question, she'd distract him one way or another. at the mention of his full attention, she leans down, their faces already almost level due to their position but now perfectly so. the timing was pleasing, her smile dissolving into the kiss and her body wishing to do nothing more than to melt into him. " reading in the gardens, the light is perfect there. " she'd always been a sunset kind of girl, but dawn was a particular beauty that she felt changed her mind.
saint hadn't been thinking clearly when he led lux to the cauldron. he had acted on impulse, and pure selfishness. even if he could convince himself that he acted on the belief that they would be able to spend their life together, when he hadn't know he'd be taking his father's life no too long after, he should have known that of all courts, dawn would be the last placing he should be tying her too. it was never the case that he believed lux wouldn't be able to handle herself in his rather unwelcoming court, but it was always the thought that she deserved a life that was far from her human life. it was clear to him she hadn't liked her mortal life, what had made him believe it would be any different in dawn? the only difference would be, she would be with him for love, and not be forced to wed a man should her parents have decided that for her. given his actions in the dusk court, of reaching for her and than yet again, hurting her all over again, saint was proved that he had not shed his impulsiveness. of all the things he wished he could change in his attempts to push her away, even abandoning her in autumn, the one that would never allow him to forgive himself would be how he made her feel as if she was not worthy for him, for their court. he knew his princess wouldn't forget, and nor did he want her ; he wanted her to forget the pain, but not his actions. those two went hand in hand, while she didn't forget, but she forgave him and not a day goes by that he doesn't marvel over that. he doesn't know what he'd done to deserve that, but he'd made sure that he'd earn her forgiveness still. she might have forgiven him, but his amends are far from over. they had eternity together now, and he'd use every day of that to undo all of his unhurt until only the healed scars remained. while it seemed liked an impossible task, his fiery redhead didn't seem to want anything other than him and his love. that she's had always, and though he'd told after that not a day went by that he didn't of her, long and ache for her, and then proceed to loathe his existence for hurting her that way he has, he wondered if she did realize that now ⎯ thought of her every day he rose, every day he went to bed, and every minute in between. he has known, a love like theirs, despite its trials, would not vanish, and he'd known when he could not rid her from his heart why they were tied together since birth ⎯ they were mates. he does wonder how his mate would feel knowing this.
even if the high lord tries, he would never be able to conjuring this feeling ⎯ of what it was like finally having her beside him, in their home. starting his day by seeing her features, and falling asleep beside her, having her delicate frame curl against him as if she cannot find solace elsewhere but in his arms. it was why he took his best friend and commander's advice, not allow the outside noise, the whispers to weigh him down. he owed his mate that much to know she knew her own mind, would not allow anything to doubt her place beside him, not even their own fae. it went without even saying that his future high lady would win over their court soon, and they'd see lux precisely as he sees her. a brilliant mind, iron determination, and a generous heart. dawn fae were hard, but they are not heartless. for saint, lux was his beacon, for their future, and for their court. things would change in dawn for the better, and she would be the one to pave the way. the giggle that's heard from her has his smile stretched ever so slightly, his captivated gaze remains on her, shifting her so she's on the desk before him, and he drawing his chair closer and her knees brushing his chest. a hand resting on the exposed bit of her leg, as he traces idle patterns on the soft flesh. the other cupping her face, "i am afraid not, you are capable of many things, my love, but allowing me to work is not one of them." his blue hues glint as they drink in the sight of her smiling so freely at him, giggling, the woman she was before he'd hurt, shinning once more. "the best way to make the most of my time with you is to do all of my work before you rise." saint was nearly done, he no longer would need to be holed up in his office as he has these months. it had been six months since all the chaos erupted in their realm, but with carden's help, they've all but managed to stabilize their own court once more. he lets the kiss linger for several moments, feeling her gently melt into him. "i thought you might like that garden. there's another stellar view in the northeast wing if you ever wish to change things up. we'll dine there tonight. i know you enjoy sunsets, but i trust you found the charm in sunrises?" his gaze doesn't move from her as he continues, "you're comfortable here? the fae in our court, they're not troubling you are they when you're alone?" he's known that carden keeps her company, looks out for her, when saint himself couldn't.
✦ [ simone ashley, cisfemale, she/her, high fae ] — through the veil of stars, we are pleased to welcome AMARA BAELRIM . the LADY + EMISSARY from the AUTUMN COURT is said to be ARDENT & DYNAMIC amongst their closest friends, but i suppose we will soon learn if they are MATERIALISTIC & OPINIONATED as the whispers promise. we can clearly see their presence is reflected by SPARKS OF FIRE DANCING IN THE AIR, A FIELD OF RED POPPIES, AND NEVER REMAINING IN ONE PLACE FOR TOO LONG.
𝚍𝚛𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚎𝚛
name : amara baelrim
title : lady + emissary of autumn
age : 317
species : high fae
gender, pronouns : cisfemale, she/her
mate : desmera valfaren
orientation: pansexual
affiliation : autumn court
abilities : winnowing, immortality, fire magics, decay magics
weaknesses: the usual for every high fae
𝚋𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍
adopted father : alive
adopted mother : alive
biological mother : unknown
biological father: unknown
siblings : high lord kairos baelrim, 2 younger siblings
...𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢
your were left at the doorstep of the autumn court temple, and you won't know this until years later. your earliest memories consist of being raised ans cherished by the priestesses and her acolytes until they very reluctantly give you over to the lesser noble family, the baelrims who's matriarch seemed taken by you.
the thought of being ripped away the only family you know broke your tender heart, you didn't want to leave the safety and the sanctuary of the temple, of the priestess and her acolytes who adored and loved you as if you were their own. you thought, at that young age you'd follow in their footsteps.
you don't make it easy on your new adoptive family at first, your new parents, who despite your temper and coldness, and your difficult personality as a child, still give you infinite love and patience. eventually they win you over, and you come to learn you love having siblings, a proper family. you finally understand early into your adolescence the high priestess wished for you to have the joy of a family, of siblings - they wanted something better for you. suddenly you can't imagine your life without the baelrims, with your elder brother, kai whom you shared the closest relationship with out of all your siblings.
you grew to be somewhat spoiled, and you thoroughly relished in it, you given whatever you wished but you were also the first one in line in anyone ever dared threatened your family. for a time your life was a rather predictable stream of events, doing as you pleased. until a few years ago your brother was chosen as the new high ruler of autumn with the passing of the former ruler. while it was astounding, deep down you always knew kai was special, and the lands seem to recognize this. you are thrilled for him, delighted that your family was now ruling the lands. even if you worry of what this new climate in this realm will bring as it was thrust into chaos just a year in your brother's rule. you offer to join his circle, should he see it fit, and you find the role of emissary to be as natural as breathing. you vow to do your best in supporting your brother, not that he needs help because autumn couldn't have selected a better ruler than your devoted brother.
you cannot deny you enjoy this life of wealth and luxury, the finer things this new life has give you and your family. you were spoiled as a child, but you never asked for anything more than your parents could give you. you had their love and that was more than you could ever want, but you feel that they certainly deserve the best and fates, as such were finally blessed with this.
as you spent a whole year with the other courts as the realm tackled the sinister deity, you find your life shiting once more when you crossed paths with winter's striking elusive high lady desmera.
the lady of autumn had no proper reason to visit winter other than that she simply could go where she pleased. this is not solely due to her role of emissary but also having a high lord for a brother, and he was a brother who was quite generous, and allowed his siblings every freedom. that was the trouble with amara, she never could sit idle in one place. despite being away from her home for over a year due to them being tossed in different courts of the realm, she found herself returning to winter for numerous reasons. was it wise? perhaps not as she had no business taking such interest in winter's high lady. yet it cannot be denied that from the moment amara laid eyes on the striking lady deserma, she could not take them off of her. the winter lady seem not to refuse her presence, the months they had interacted in gaea, followed by dusk, and summer, the emissary cannot help but wonder if her interest was returned. amara had already made visits to other courts, after their realm was left somewhat shaken following the king's death and the monarchy dissolving and gaea now becoming a ninth court. it was a new era for prythian, and she hopes this means, the stretched silence among all courts, on both sides, would slowly vanish as well.
she had written to desmera every now and then, when they all returned to respective courts, and when those letters did not go unanswered she finally decides to give into her desire to go see her. far too often her mind continues to drift to the high lady. idly wondering if the other thought of amara as she has since they parted ways, and during the those months they were all captive in the whims of a sinister entity, amara could hardly be so bold in her interest. not when des, along with the other high rulers, had far much to battle. there never seemed to be a good time to even attempt to pursue her, and while she lacks no confidence whatsoever, she could not presume to be so bold with a high ruler. desmera was careful, a reserved lady, and with walls as impenetrable as the ice in her court. the last thing the autumnal fae wanted was to give her the wrong impression of herself, or question her interest. a high ruler could never be too careful. she's the same with kai, eying any woman who came near her brother with suspicion ; no court was free of ambitious individuals looking to secure the hand of a high ruler. in the same breath, never did amara imagine she'd find herself so captivated with one herself.
dressed in a winter appropriate attire, the shades of her coat and the dress underneath resembling the auburn leaves of her court, the lady of autumn waits in one of the attending rooms. a staff member informed her their high lady would join amara as soon as she was able. she waits both patiently and eagerly, peeling off her coat as the fire in this room begins to warm her, and idly surveying her appearance once more in one of the reflections. despite the journey, she still had fixed herself before stepping outside of her carriage. not too long after she settles into the lounge room, the sounds of doors opening and very familiar, steady footsteps of the captivating lady of winter greet her, and her heart responds with an unsteady leap. she rises then from her seat, turning to desmera with a charming smile, on the surface, the emissary resembles the image of a graceful lady, but her insides tell a different story. "high lady." now she truly didn't care for such formalities, often finding them tedious and a chore, but there was no doubt this time she offered this with sincerity as she dips into a perfect courtesy before the high lady. "i would offer my apologies for intruding on you so soon, but that would be a lie." des always seemed to respond well with honesty, so the lady continues this path - toeing the line of coyness and honesty. she takes a few steps closer in the other's direction, dark hues very subtly appraising the beautiful woman in her element, and if it was at all possible, des looks far more breathtaking than ever. "i had wondered if i would ever have the honor of seeing the high lady in her glory of winter."
it was almost laughable, how worried he'd been to tell alina the truth. how he'd second guessed what the fates had granted them and worried he was wrong. cedrian's heart had known all along – his mind just needed to catch up with it. with stories of mates being impossible to find, of how they could be born centuries apart and never meet… well, cedrian was fine never finding his. what he hardly expected on top of that was for his brother to find his mate – something that he'd wished for all of his siblings and children but never voiced. now that mate of his brother's was alina's sister, and well, the irony was far more amusing than he cared to admit. cedrian hadn't spoken about it with alistair, he wasn't even sure if his younger sibling realized, but to him it was plain as day. it seemed his worry over being wrong only applied to himself – now he was filled with confidence. perhaps it was due to the journey that he and alina had gone on, the back and forth, the push and pull that they both did to the other based off what they thought they knew. while it had all worked out, he could only imagine how the fates felt as they pulled the strings all along. and when cedrian had realized what they were ? well, then he had to realize that alina would struggle with the idea of them being mates. she was a cautious creature by creation, forged by the force of her father and hardened by her time as high lady. he couldn't fault her for it – he loved her all the same. and so he carried the truth with him, how it ached in his chest to tell her but he knew the time needed to be right. but then the word love left her lips, his heart ached in a way that it never had before. it didn't feel like a betrayal of his time with ellena, her memory, it felt like a revival of himself. alina carved a space in his heart for herself and he knew that's where she was always meant to be. maybe they were high rulers, but the magic of a mate bond superseded anything in their realm. he'd risk anything to keep it, to keep their love, and with luck they'd yet to see a reason to bring that out in him.
so he called her to his court, having admired her own and deciding she needed to see his. the day court welcomed her as he expected, the palace warming to her presence and shimmering like the sun above them. ced expected it to be a difficult adjustment for her – she was unused to the lack of solar movement, but she took to it like a natural. it even further proved that she was always meant to be here. he hums slightly as his lips grace her skin, as the taste of her washes into his mouth and overwhelms his senses. it's an addictive drug, his mate. the way her body reacts never ceases to amaze him and increase his ego, melting in a way that made him wonder if she even noticed. a chuckle slips at her words, and he moves to press his nose to junction of her shoulder and neck and inhale more of her scent. she uses the word that makes his heart sing, the truth there is no hiding. " are you so sure about that, my love ? " he asks with a slight chuckle.
it was knowing that not every individual ever met their mates, kept apart due to the will of fates for a multitude of reasons. she had no such time nor mind to entertain as she had expected to live out of her existence on her own. she never intended to marry nor mate, despite some of her advisors urging her to do so. yet a high lady who was a paranoid and cautious creature was not about to share that power with a stranger. her experience with men had always been one of the two, some desiring her beauty, and others for her powers and their ambition. ced initially had desired her for her beauty, she could hardly blame him when she'd done the same to him. it was easier to give into that desire because he had no ambitions for her. while she hadn't trusted fully him in the beginning, she knew his interest in alina was for her and this stars-defying passion they shared for one another. gradually, it was through her mate she learns, what it felt like to be desired above all else. and then? she learns what it was to be loved unconditionally by another. cedrian had given her the world when he gave her his heart. with it, he's made her realize she was capable of loving another this way. she supposed this is what fates had intended, their mother had intended all along, neither allowed alina to fall in love prior to him as she was to wait for him. loving cedrian was never the question, the question was if she ever deserved him. she doesn't have an answer for this still, but it doesn't matter any more.
so that night when they finally surrendered to one another, and ced had spoke the very term, in his way claiming his mate ever so tenderly, suddenly it all made sense. after months of conflicting emotions, of battling her heart and mind, she finally found clarity. she was certain she had been falling for him, loved him long before he reveals this truth. this single truth only confirm that one way or another, they were going to be bound to each other. he has always been hers, just as she has been his from the moment they met. he is always patient with her, but it did not lessen the ache in her soul that he'd kept this knowledge for them, afraid of her reaction, perhaps. this ache that intensified when she learned he was grappling with guilt of betraying his late wife for wanting alina. they each held their fears. he loved his late wife ( perhaps still does ), thus, she never fathomed he could love alina as well. in the initial stages of their involvement, cedrian didn't speak of lady ellena, but after observing him so closely, it was obvious to her he hadn't been searching for love either nor for his mate. fates were so, so strange in that regard, she found her mate, and then nerina does in her own mate's brother ( alina too suspects ner wasn't aware this yet ).
"he asks if as he does not know." alina suspects he knew her response ; knew that she could not resist when he came so close to her. when she did ever willingly wish to part from him? it had been difficult to do so when they had simply kept things casual, but it become impossible when ced had poured his heart out to her. the low timber of his voice, his melodic chuckle washed over in like a gentle symphony, as his nose continued to graze across her flesh, she drew him closer to her. the hand stroking the name of his neck burrowed further into his hair. alina melts into him, mostly not aware she does so, only that one singular touch or brush of lips sent fire through her veins. ced did know, certain that this bond between the two allowed him a greater clarity to her every emotion that is tied to him. this mating bond that allows alina sensation of the sun nestling into her veins, it's warmth spreading and engulfing her, and her willingly wishing to drown in that endless sea of light. it was...hypnotizing, bewitching, still none of these terms came close to doing justice for it felt like. the very first sensation that enthralled her was hearing his tender voice in her mind, the sounds of those very terms, mate and love floating to her mind from his. it had been frightening all the same, to open her own mind up to him, and yet again her mate eased all of her troubles. it was perhaps the first time ced sees precisely how he ingrained he is ingrained into her very soul, the depths of her longing for him before they'd even allow themselves to surrender their hearts to each other, before alina truly understood this yearning for him. "hm, i suppose you always did enjoy hearing your mate wax poetic of you." it was still astonishing how mate slips from her as natural as breathing. does he realize how difficult it was to think clearly when he so much as touches her? when his very presence clouds her every sense. her heated honey eyes gaze finds his through the mirror. "if you wish to tempt me, then i shall demand that you and i remain in our chambers for today." while they could entirely get away with ignoring the rest of the world for a time, those hours pass by far too quickly for her liking as did their nights - well what could be counted as night in the day court. alina was still attempting to piece together what time of the day and night it was in this court, but certain she was nearly close. the day court is everything he spoke of and more, so when he invited her to visit, alina had been eager to do so. surprisingly she didn't find it so difficult to adjust to constant daylight, she supposed it also helped that his court had welcomed her with ease. “tell me, is my mate allowed such freedoms ?”
siara had her own dark and twisted nature, and while she was not outwardly a romantic, it was of little surprise the mother paired the two of them together. the more she'd learned of kalore save how easy he was to vex had only grown to soften the half illyria's resolve that she would remain alone for the rest of her days. it wasn't a horrible thought, she'd seen how love destroyed people and how even minor attachments could cause great harm. she'd once looked up to her father, after all. the first night that kalore kissed her had set off a chain reaction of something greater – something she still found amusing. siara would have told you she didn't have a mate, would have said she simply enjoyed seeing the commander so annoyed and how easy it was to do, never did she expect that she'd have been so wrong – nor did she admit it readily. and that was yet another reason she and kalore were so perfectly matched, they understood each other on a level that neither expected to find in another. what began as loyalty to the night court high seat quickly shifted to loyalty to her mate and the vision he had for their court – supporting him on his mission to ensure it happened had been as easy as breathing. she could still see the slight surprise on his face when he realized this, as if he thought he darkest depths of him would scare her away. the doubt in her love didn't concern her – in truth, she'd worried the same. yet again, though, they truly were meant for one another. nothing in kalore scared her, nothing in her scared her mate. what she had not expected was for the magic of the land to decide he was so right, well, that he deserved to be upon the seat of magic and power itself. prythian was so old it hardly ever made sense, but the rush of power she felt the moment kalore ascended the throne was awe inspiring. mates could share magic with ease, but in truth, siara left kalore to his own. she'd requested his help in blocking stray thoughts and left it at that. a spymaster should enjoy access to minds – siara felt uncomfortable hearing voices in her head.
and then there was the matter of being a high lady. the priestess said there was a ceremony, but it was nothing other than instrumental. a show for the people. siara never sat well with such things. so she focused on her mate, amused in his new position but completely separating it from herself. as the room clears – which she knew he would do – she remains with a smirk atop her lips. laughter tumbles from her lips when hs speaks, and she offers a slight tilt of her head, " do you not like how i dress, my lord ? " she doesn't use the title much, but saying 'my commander' was hardly proper now. his threat only makes her laugh a bit more, body melting into his when he's before her. she knew he hated that she dressed like this, but kalore also would never fully control her. in truth, siara would make an effort to dress differently in public – their home was simply different. eyes roll, " i would not have been that horrid. " she would have been – he was right. her sigh is heavy as it leaves her lips, " i can only be so patient, my love. " there was also the matter of if she was going to relinquish her position or not. the half fae could hardly lurk in the shadows as easily when her mate was the high lord.
he vividly recalls the moment this shift occurred — this startling realization that perhaps siara would walk beside him on his path. this realization was startling because it had occurred long before they had allowed any sort of intimacy to grace their strange relationship. before kal had given into this maddening, and irrational urge to claim her, and for a time, unwanted emotions she could draw from him so easily. it was a myriad sensations and emotions then he could not place into words, she did not say so, and he's not once intruded her mind until she allowed him, and yet in her every action he felt that she was no longer devoted to the high lord or the seat, she was devoted to him. for a time, he didn't allow himself to ponder on it, to relish in that knowledge lest it be a figment of his imagination. as days turned into months, and her desire to vex him aside and her defiance ( which he long suspects was another method she adopted to further agitate him), she always turned to him. everything siara had gathered in her spying was not offered to their ruler, it was only given to the commander himself. he gradually began to understand why he could not allow himself to want her — he truly feared siara could easily become the one thing he wants above his desire for the night court. he could not allow that, not after the vow he had made his parents, not after devoting his existence to the night court as whole. he had underestimated her ability to accept all the darker sides of him when he learns of her past. while he has never doubted her love for him, he also knew that more often than not, love was never enough to keep two people together. the two had seen all around them, what love meant in the face of greater trials. he can also admit, he had been entirely misguided when it concerned his mate. their mating bond had certainly humbled him, when he felt every bit of her love and devotion for him.
his parents had been mates, and as a young boy he admired the two and thought he'd find his own, but the desire vanished the moment his family was taken from him. if siara already had not rattled his existence with her presence alone, then she had when he came to this realization that he'd finally found his mate. that began a series of endless battles within him, whilst he continued to place his focus anywhere else but upon her. despite realizing that she may have sensed this attraction between them, he knew she trusted him in all areas expect with herself and her heart. he doesn't blame her, she was correct not to trust him at all - kalore could not offer himself to her. at least that's what he believed all this time. some days he actively avoided her when the temptation become too much, didn't linger in her presence when they were alone and other times, he was entirely withdrawn and the cold man he's known to be around everyone. he had been hot and cold with her for years, and a pattern she'd likely picked upon. for once, all the discipline he held seem to vanish in her presence. the first time they had kissed had been his undoing, his suspicions confirmed, and with it that he no longer possessed the strength nor the willpower to stay away from her.
kalore would not deny he had misses being addressed as her commander, and along with, it's variants of endearments that followed. if he was thoroughly honest with himself in the past six months gaining his new title, kal is still attempting to grow used to hearing it as a whole. there was no question the titled belonged to him and was rightfully his, but after decades of working as a commander, it was a surreal term to hear, and it would remain that way for some time. his onyx gaze glints as she spoke, hands reaching to draw her closer, as his fingers brushes along the exposed skin that gown provides. as it always was when his mate is this close to him, his heart once more continues it's natural tune, further intensified when she melts into him. "no. particularly not when you are outside of our private quarters..." his voice a low, coarse sound while a hand rises to grasp her chin gently. although, siara knew that he has never desired to control her in any form, and she did seem to alter her dresses depending on the occasions. this was the only drawback to his rise to power, the time it took away from his mate. certainly, others did not demand his time as often, outside of the nobles and advisors of their court. partially due to the fact that their inner circle were never at ease around the former commander, and now their discomfort seems to amplify. he had skimmed their minds, read their discomfort, but kalore could already punish them for that, not when they remain loyal to him. they reaped the rewards of it certainly, his third in command was now his second in command. "my lord certainly has a new ring to it, doesn't it?" this is spoken against her lips, claiming a tender, but resolute kiss before he drew back to studying her features. he foresees more changes as he knew siara was debating if she wished to relinquish her role as spymaster given her role has all but changed to high lady. "hmm, you are the most stunningly horrid creature i've have ever met. so forgive your mate for his cautiousness." lips curling upward into a smile that was only for her, a firm squeezed given to her waist as he drew her closer if it was all possible. "it's been a devil of a time leaving you so early. i had known it would take a great deal of time to sort this mess, but it's far greater than i imagined. you'll be pleased to know the rest can wait till tomorrow, i merely wanted to have the invitations to the other rulers sent out." kalore had a greater goal in mind, beginning with, fixing hewn city.
siara had questioned the decisions of the former high lord when he continuously ignored the other high rulers, especially when she knew one a bit better than the rest. it meant she didn't gossip about the summer lady – she only informed her high lord of when news reached her that alina and cedrian had actually gone public with their relationship. it could be seen as neglectful of her position, but siara simply didn't find a reason to gossip over the woman who had granted her the ability to blend into society far more than simply hiding. many looked upon the half illyrian with prejudice and disdain, with no desire to help her appear more high fae when she would only ever be half. alina had not done so, she'd given siara the ring as a gift due to the connection they forged. it allowed siara to fully hide her wings, no more simple parlour trick that made them invisible but they truly vanished from her frame. it's why when kalore chooses to invite cedrian to night and that brings alina, the spymaster is actually quite pleased. while still not taking the role of high lady officially, siara is by kal's side when the pair of rulers arrive, a gentle and rare smile on her face as they exchange their hellos before she reaches out a hand to escort alina to one of the many sitting rooms – the two deserved to catch up after all they saw. the question alina begins with only makes her chuckle a bit, " i have yet to allow anyone to call me high lady, but i fear being the mate of the new high lord will only allow me so much more time in that manner. " it made her wonder if alina and cedrian would be taking titles in the other's court. a question for later. " change is never exciting, but i hope the night court flourishes now and can hardly question the magic that chooses what it thinks it things is best. "
elusiveness was not unheard of with the night court, and before the events that followed with the capital, alina too had settled on keeping summer in that manner. it was not that she wishes isolation as legion had maintain in his reign, it was more of preserving the peace her court has finally found under her reign. however, circumstances had called for deviation — as stubborn as alina is, it went without a doubt that every ruler must adapt to the changes in their realm as it came, and it seems that the former ruler of night did not appear to understand or he did not care to. she does idly wonder how his inner circle felt all this time, how the commander turner high lord and siara herself, of their former high lord having no interest nor making an effort after all that they had experienced at the hands of a volatile dark entity. alina had worried for the silence of one court of course for several reasons, that on solar side with a fourth court now in play — how it would affect them all. she worried because one of the solar courts belonged to her mate. the circumstances were still curious as to how soon after the battle all rulers faced in slaying in the young king, the former lord of night departed from their realm. alina has her suspicions of course, one glance at lord kalore was enough to place some pieces together of the man, but it was only a concern if this posed a danger to the rest of their realm or the other solar courts. she held some hope that this new change in power would prove to be a good thing. he still proven himself wiser by sending invitations to his solar neighbors. her reason of coming to night with ced was not only for him, but for siara as well — a woman she genuinely cares for. alina had her answer as siara was by her high lord and mate's side, when the pair greeted their visitors, and siara looks so content. although that term wasn't accurate ; her friend glows.
alina too had her suspicions of her siara's personal relationship with the former commander, which is then confirmed eventually when the younger fae alludes to it as well in their exchanges. now, the summer lady is no expert in matters of the heart, given how long it had taken her to accept her own feelings for ced, but she supposes being in love with one's own made certainly made one attuned to the mates around her. the longer she remains in other's presence, her worries for siara eases as these changes bought a new happiness in the other's life. it was surreal to imagine the summer lady was connected to solar fae, once never imagining she'd be anywhere this side or near them, let alone forging connections with two. ced, of course, was the work of fates pulling their strings on the rulers, and siara perhaps another form of fate. siara had more then proven she could be trusted that, more so, when she kept the knowledge of alina's relationship with ced to herself, until the pair of rulers had gone public. alina also hadn't given much thought of sharing her magic, and while it did wonders and miracles, she would perhaps would always take pride that her magic was able to help this illyrian fae in a way alina was certain could never understand. ner had explained to her how and why illyrians were viewed within the night court and by fae as a whole, a notion that left her somewhat disgusted. were they not all night fae? what made them different then the other fae of their court? just a difference of appearance? was it not an aspect to feel pride that their court held a race of warriors? but fae could be as ignorant as mortals were accused of being.
"i fear you will have no choice in that matter after mating with him entirely." her tone held a note of understanding, "i for one am pleased on your behalf simply because it will keep unfavorable words out of their mouths for you." there was a barest hint of gleam in her honey gaze as it held the other's darker ones. she appreciates the irony in this, very illyrians high fae seemed to looked down upon was now their high lady. not that they would have the opportunity of speaking ill of siara, she suspected their fear of kalore was enough to keep them in line. "your hesitance is understandable, i am not certain one ever fully gets used to be addressed as such. you will in time, i suspect being also the ruler of a beautiful city like velaris." byeond beautiful, this city of dream certainly is. it had taken her some time as well after claiming her own title. it was seeming she was likely about to have two, if she did not already, given how the day court whispers of her, followed ner's consistent cheeky remarks. alina was still attempting to wrap her mind around it when she was alone with her thoughts. "the changes we've had in our realm are enough to dull any enthusiasm." she cannot say she despised them all because of what it had also given her. "magic has its way, and i am inclined to believe it may have finally chosen well for your court. i intend to learn more of your mate for your sake, but given his efforts now, it is a relief that night has a more involved ruler. my younger sister is half of night, while she claims summer as her home, she also worries of night and its fae, perhaps this will ease her worries." she had told ner they would visit night, but alina didn't need to ask to know her sister would not leave her own mate's side yet. alina had also made a note to give some grief to ner for keeping velaris a secret, though of course she'd never hold it against her. "but you are pleased to by his side?"
cedrian had looked upon the transition of power with a curious gaze – but so long as it stayed in the night court the day lord had no concerns. stability was important to a court, he could only hope that this change would offer it finally. while he'd not interacted much with the former high lord, well, that was the problem. prythian would not survive with siloed courts, and after all they faced he expected far more of the night lord to receive nothing at all. letters ignored, requests for meetings denied, and no show of a desire to know your neighbor. ced left it alone, called it a day, and it seems the fates had a very amusing way of laughing at that gesture for the former high lord hardly lasted much longer after that decision was made. curious, though he could imagine what occurred quite easily. again, though, it had nothing to do with cedrian so long as it did not harm his court. besides, how could cedrian judge when he was also sure to be surprising the courts with his decision to formally mate alina. he'd not heard anything poor of the new high lord of night either, only what his spymaster granted him which was not much. it could be concerning, ced didn't find it surprising. and so when the invite came he agreed, not repeating the actions of the former high lord. it turned out that the high lord's mate also had a connection with alina, which left the men to talk amongst themselves. " i'm quite easy to please, wine of any kind so long as you accept i shall always favor that of day. " he says with a light bit of amusement in his tone, attempting to keep the tone of the conversation easy.
as a night fae, kalore himself wasn't keen on mingling with the other courts or allowing any one of them into his beloved velaris, let alone building alliances or friendships. it had not been a necessary path until their realm had been flipped on it's very existence. still, he had advised the former high lord to meet with the other rulers when they were hauled off to the dusk court and a dark entity made itself known by threatening their very livelihood. regardless of what they chose to do, it was far better off knowing the other rulers and establishing some familiarity should the need arise. thus, it was not a decision made lightly ; his mate and he having a lengthy discussion to open velaris to the high rulers and their families. time would time tell what this decision would yield, but then nothing in their realm will be the same after dusk was revealed and the monarchy was dismantled entirely. there was another a far greater reason — to do away with any uncertainty given the sudden death of the former ruler and his own rise to power. he certainly wasn't naive to believe others hadn't formed some suspicions, just like this high lord before him. when siara came to him with the news of summer and day rulers mating, and with it revealing the connection she had made with the summer lady herself, kal prioritized meeting with these rulers first. it is surprising as he, and nor his mate regarded another so highly, so to hear siara do so with another, prompted the high lord to make an genuine effort as well as his curiosity. siara spoke of a favor lady alina had done for her regarding her wings, which had meant enough to his mate to be so fond another fae, he wouldn't have known surely until siara's genuine smile seeing the summer lady seemed to clear much of his wariness. anyone who pleases his mate in this manner, has the likelihood of earning his favor. even if he was still pondering the greater implications of two rulers being mates. did both courts now have two rulers? that was a subject he would have to ease into a bit later.
there was a slight tilt of his head, idly assessing the male before him. kal had at least done his due diligence in learning what he could of the other rulers through siara and his other spies. still, he knew that his invitations wouldn't go unanswered, the other still held some curiosity after their previous ruler of night never made an attempt. there was a faint upward curve from the corners of his lips, "what are we without our pride in the most mundane of things?" kalore mirror the other's tone - about as well as any jest that can be heard from the daemati. he supposed he should be grateful this lord was far more amiable than most would be. "as such, it is my goal that by the time you leave, you will remember the wine of velaris very fondly." the new high lord didn't care either way, but as a host, it was the hope that his guests would have no room to complain on their hospitality nor their offerings. night court hardly ever had visitors, but their pride was not any less of those who stepped foot into their home. hewn city had a terrible reputation, and that was next on kalore's list to reshape. he motions one of his staff, instructing him to bring a specific wine from his own collection, it was when they were alone, did kal continue. "i am pleased you answered my request swiftly, i don't imagine it is easy to be away from your court so soon after everything. i trust your journey was well?"
he'd not gone to gaea expecting to find love, but daxton certainly had no complaints when it brought him the woman he would soon call his mate. it meant visits to winter – a court he had no business in with his climate temperament, but he'd survive anything for her. the winter hot springs were not nearly as fun as the summer pools, but, well, the spymaster made the best of any time he could spend with the woman he loved. which is why when the call came to visit alina in the day court, well, he was thankful for the change in climate as well as the chance to push the two important women in his life together some more. traveling with lailah was always easy, time passing quickly between the two and actually enjoyable. while they could have winowed, daxton was hardly upset at taking horse and carriage. it gave him privacy with the woman he loved before facing the woman who would go from childhood friend to sister in his books. as they slip out of the carriage he helps lailah down before turning alina, a broad smile on his lips. he can tell lailah slips away, allows him to focus on his reunion with his friend. " it's so cold, the hot springs are quite fun though. " he says cheekily as he pulls her into a hug.
once her childhood friend turned brother had expressed a similar emotion of surprise when alina had found herself attached to a man who she'd learn later was her mate, and now it was her turn since learning of his involvement with the winter spymaster. naturally, as she was with her siblings, her rather overprotective nature would also extend towards him. it was perhaps far more worrisome when it was another spymaster orbiting him, despite knowing very well it was difficult for anyone to her own spymaster. it was amusing still, for all the protests he made when she forcefully thrust the role of spymaster upon him, he had turned to be far more skilled in this role. dax was an impeccable scholar, there was no doubt on that, however, he was a far greater shrewd spy. as things began to change for the summer fae since the coronation in gaea, alina knew she'd be delivering another change in his near future. regardless, daxton's happiness would always take priority for the high lady, and if he trusts lailah, she could set ease on her paranoid nature and get to know the woman who captured her best friend's heart. that was always her intention, once things calmed and they were no longer in danger, she would meet with lailah personally. seeing him a month later, alina was delighted beyond what words can express, she did not say so in words often, still daxton knew how missed he has been by her. he has always been her constant companion since they were children - they were never far apart for too long, so this was another adjustment for her. as he always did, when she calls for him, he answers, only this time he arrives with another by his side. the brief look he flashes the winter fae before she slips away, the precise knowing look - it was one alina read well. alina swiftly offered the winter fae a polite smile, making a note to invite her for tea later.
her attention once more fixes upon daxton, honey gaze noting every bit of change in him - all positive. in fact, he has never looked so...freer, and it was a look she understood well because as alina has all of her existence, in many ways, daxton has carried a similar weight to her. a weight that they both finally allow their respective mates to unburden from themselves ( alina did suspect the her friend has found his mate as well.) it was a genuine marvel to see him allow another in, who isn't alina. so, when he draws her in for a hug, she returns it with matching affection. this was one of many things the high lady ever could gather the courage to do - to allow herself such affectionate gestures from her loved ones, and to offer that in return to them tenfold. despite the time she had missed, she still had an eternity to gain all of that back. it was some moments later the pair release one another, and alina responds. "that smile almost fools me into believing you don't mind it there." the words hold a twitch of jest, knowing him, it perhaps had been a greater challenge which involved dressing in endless layers. "hm, perhaps. yet, they do not hold a candle to our pools." she wouldn't be herself if a bit of her pride in their court did not slip through. although her words are intended as insults to the winter court. in their time of being in gaea and the dusk court, she had heart bits of the winter court and it's high lady desmera, as well - she held a great respect for the ruler of winter and her court. "thank you for coming so soon. while i didn't intend to cut your visit short, i suspect you appreciate and are relieved of the change in climate." alina guides him inside the grand palace of aurelium, and towards where he'd be staying within the dragomirs quarters that her mate had prepped once she told him she'd like to invite daxton. remaining true to her promise from the night they exchanged that four letter words with one another, alina had let ced in further into her, sharing all that she withheld from with him once, both the bad and good, speaking of her siblings and the guilt she carried of their past, and without a doubt of daxton, how he may not have been her blood brother, but he was her brother, and her family - he is a dragomir, too. ced being the patient and tender man he is listened, and as open as heart is, opened his home to those alina cherishes. "this new look of happiness becomes you. i am pleased to see your mate is taking good care of you."
carden has no complaints when saint finally decides to stop fighting his happiness. while he still wasn't too sure how the court of dawn would take it, he felt that the former human had hidden her nature enough that the uproar may only simply be due to her seasonal nature rather than the fact she was not born high fae. it was a secret the second in command would be keeping, not his business to share. carden may no longer be the emissary – traveling and gathering, but he still enjoyed being a vault of secrets for his high lord. a man who, as his best friend, carden often felt he had no limits with. he could waltz into the man's room with no cares, and certainly was not thinking about the fact that it was no longer solely saint's. he did, however, know that the lady lux was off in the library – where she often seemed to retreat to when saint was busy. carden made a mental note that he'd need to swing in and check on her – the dawn court could be harsh towards outsiders and the shield saint offered would only extend so far. saint's greeting only causes carden to roll his eyes and chuckle. " she's in the library, and you have yet to ask her to be your mate and high lady. " carden says pointedly as he moves to go sit on one of the lounges as if he does truly own this space.
when all of saint's internal guilt and fears had quelled ( as well as they could but this peace he has made with himself would have to do ), there was still one constant remains at the forefront of his mind. his own court and his fae, and while they were loyal in every form to saint, they had never taken well to those outside of their court. there was no question that lux's identity of former human would remain hidden between three individuals - two of which were in this current room. her time in autumn had certainly allowed her to learn the ways of fae and adapt to the fae of prythian right down to their mannerisms, and any other of her stranger, and endearing traits, he's certain, could be chalked up to lux being a seasonal fae. all fae in general shared a finer list of common shared beliefs, but it was a known fact that solar and seasonal fae still held far differences than similarities. it is unlikely his fae would ever come to conclusion she was a former human. yet that did not quite alleviate his worries. these worries would only be eased when carden is around. though his best friend never quite took well with his best friend's sentiments of expressed gratitude, saint was certain the commander knew of his boundless gratitude for remaining by lux's side when the high lord himself cannot. saint has longed believed that the peregryn's strength always lied in his ability to charm and coax, likely being able to persuade and sometimes deceive another, and those facing him would be none the wiser.
an look of absolute exasperation is offer in turn to carden's quick retort, though the response is not surprising. "that is beside the point." there was another flicker of gratitude for his friend, there were certain things that never had be asked from the other. it was really uncanny, the other male seems to know exactly what saint needed without him ever fully uttering a request. it allowed the high lord to be able to fully focus on his duties knowing lux was in safe hands, and she would not be left to fend for herself in an unknown court. this hit saint a lot harder, because he'd done this very thing when he left in autumn. while he had kept spies on her without her knowing, it didn't excuse his reasons. he draws away from that line of thought, and focuses on the present - one that includes her in their home. "i am waiting for the right time - i want for our court to warm up to her first before i spring the news of her becoming their high lady. she is still new here, getting accustomed to a never changing solar sky, to be comfortable here, learn more of her court and her people before i announce anything." it was simply for her sake he was doing this, if things were simpler for a high lord like him, he'd have taken care of all of it, and not waited a moment to make her officially his in every way. "you understand this more than anyone." carden did, for the very reason the other never uttered a complain on the burden of carrying saint secrets. there was one more he was about to reveal , and this one he ponders on every moment to tell the two individuals who were the most important in his life outside of his siblings, something that could be a burden. then saint thinks, he owed his best friend, and the love of his life this much. he would tell lux later, but he wished for his commander to know the real reason why he hadn't made a move to officially give her the title of high lady of dawn. there was a moment of hesitance before he sits upright, leveling his gaze to his friend's, "what i am about to tell you is the most unfair burden i could lay upon my best friend...and a brother, and if you decide you don't want it, we can have your memory wiped of this knowledge." he would so without a moment of hesitance if that's what his friend wishes. still, saint waits allowing cardy to decide if he still wishes to hear this.
nerina had come to day happily, even if it felt so odd. she had made a promise not to leave the summer court for some time, but she supposed the reason she was leaving was also the reason she didn't wish to leave adriata. the bond she'd forged with alina through all they faced had strengthened the sisters to a place nerina was now quite protective over – what she'd not expected to come of that was also to fall in love with the brother of alina's mate. it was amusing, and all nerina could ever do was hope he did not have a mate of his own as she doubted the fates would ever grant two siblings mates within the same family, much less brothers. but nerina was fine with that, she was simply happy to see her sister shine so brightly. it did need to be noted, however, that while she was enjoying her time in the day court, she hated that it meant alistair had tasks to attend to. understanding duty well – she didn't have to like it. it's why she's thankful when alina finds her, whether her sister has left cedrian or her mate was also pulled away for something didn't matter. it simply mattered that they found one another. " perhaps in time. you are essentially the high lady of two courts now, alina. " she teases lightly, but the smile on her lips is full of happiness for her sister.
the day ner finally returns to summer from her travels is still fresh in her mind. alina's usual irritated mood vanishing instantaneously from the moment she finds her little sister on the doorsteps of their home. nerina was wary gazed then, as her elder sister greets her at threshold, as much as it ached her to see that in look in her sister's gaze, she couldn't even blame her. alina herself had played her part in allowing this distance to grow between them for decades. she hadn't made it easy to allow her siblings near her, due to her own fear and inadequacy when it concerns them. she feared very little, her only fears were tied to her siblings - namely losing them. then, how could you losing something that were never yours to begin with? it was the oldest tale of her life, she excelled in many matters that might have been trivial in the grand scheme of things, but failed at the one thing that mattered to her more than her own life. alina never would have imagined there would come a time where the ties changed for her, for them both. they would forge a deep relationship like this - despite all the chaos that ensued she'd forever remain grateful of what it produced. the bond between her and nerina, a mate, with it, happiness for her siblings and her best friend - alina too began to be certain that nerina and daxton found their own mates. it paved way to a new beginning for them all. ner had kept true to her promise of remaining in summer with her elder sister, it was that very thought she carried with her as they were trapped in the other courts. until they both ended arriving in day, it went without saying that alina would not come here without her sister. the high lady of summer was certain she would never cease marveling at the thought that the pair of sisters fell for a pair of brothers. likewise it was somewhat amusing they both seem unable to resist the day court men - or perhaps the fates themselves planned this from the moment they were born. what were the chances that both brothers were mates of a pair of sisters? alina ceased questioning it. now, she wonders if ner had an inkling of alistair being hers, not that alina could resist asking and she plans to.
"i doubt wild creatures care who i am, but let us hope that my consist presence will work in my favor." they came naturally towards ced, but that isn't surprising because both fae and non-fae naturally gravitated towards his warm and magnetic presence. it had been a sight she hadn't been able to look away from. one afternoon she stepped out to the east side gardens, the very edge that led into a trail mountains, and there stood ced, with a pegasus who simply allows him pets. "as for being a high lady of two courts, i am not certain that is such a thing." her sister's teasing drawing amusement from the elder dragomir but the sentiments were a bit strange. of course, she welcome, loves, the idea of cedrian taking the title of high lord of summer ; in a short time he won over the people of summer. likewise she would take the title of high lady of day if her mate asked her to. "as if one is not enough?" a brow mildly arching, in truth, it wasn't matter of titles of her, nor ced, than it was wishing to be fully accepted by their respective courts. "how are you liking it here?" alina knew this response, but she wishes to hear it from ner, simply because one day she would permanently move here . still, its a thought she doesn't dwell on even if she's beyond happy for her sister finding alistair. this was always a double-edge sword, despite knowing their relationship wouldn't change.
reila was apprehensive at best to the idea that her sister was currently the target of affections from the autumn high lord. a former betrothal, broken for power in a gamble that their mother lost – now the zarathin matriarch had her sights set and while it afforded reila some grey space to breathe, well, she hated that it came at the cost of their mother focusing on solaria more. her baby sister, the eldest zarathin would always be protective. but reila also wished for sol to not feel stifled or overwhelmed, so she worried at a distance, watched and observed from the shadows rather than fill sol's head with her concerns. the smile that grows on her face when she sees her sister is easy – it always was. she vanishes her worries, simply allows herself to be present and happy to be around the other. only, that smile vanishes at the question, and she offers a quick roll of her eyes. " why does he always find me ? i wish for peace, he strolls in as if he owns the place. " not to mention he did – it was his court and palace after all. reila just seemed to spend more time in it than not these days. vexing was the simplest way to put his presence on her life, annoying if you included how much her mother had tried to push him onto reila. failed betrothal arrangements should be enough of an answer but the matriarch of their family did not care in the slightest. " you have me to yourself, i believe he's busy and we're both thankful for it. " offers the older sister as she catches the glint in solaria's eyes and sighs for it.
the younger fae had no doubt her sister had placed two and two together when the invitation arrived— not that sol was ever in the business of hiding anything from her elder sister. truly, nothing can be hidden from her reila's sharp gaze when it concerns her younger sisters. only this time around her sister seemed to take a different approach with her, allowing sol to handle this on her own. perhaps others might seeing it as meddling, not solara, as everything reila has done was always for her sisters benefit. so, there were certain things between the two that didn't need to be said aloud, for that reason, despite reila's silence, the lightsinger knew her sister was apprehensive of kai's consistent presence in spring, likely leaning on dislike of this situation. at the moment, it seemed their mother was too focused on sol these days, in an attempt to gain a proposal from kai. it was not ideal, not when solara genuinely had caught genuine feelings for the autumn lord and fears all the things that could go wrong. yet, at the very least, reila seems to catch a long deserved breather from their mother's constant pestering. sol, hopes for a time, outside of worrying for the blonde, her sister was taking full advantage of this freedom.
a brow arched at rei's, and truly cannot help herself when a soft laugh falls from her lips. "i could think of a reason or two as to why." it was astonishing that reila didn't consider lord aslan might be taking a liking to her, perhaps more. "we're the ones intruding on his home. although he is quite gracious to allow us to remain in his palace, don't you think?" reila knew this of course. the thing is, one could not work so closely with another individual and not learn a few things about them. for a time, she too has misjudged him before knowing him on a bit more humane level, he is a fair ruler, kind to his inner circle and his staff, and while she disliked reila being pressure into marrying any man against her will, sol cannot help but think, lord aslan would not be a terrible option to explore. or perhaps her mind perceives this differently than her sister ― if reila allows herself a chance, perhaps she might find something unexpected with him. would marriage be such an awful thing for the zarathin sisters? for sol, it represented more freedom, away from their mother. as reila confirms they would be have the rest of the day together, her good mood continues to rise. with her hands clasping over rei's, she leads her to the plush seats of the lounge room, all the while catching the other's sigh as the blonde continues to tease her sister, "there must be a proper reason for your aversion to his company. is he ill-behaved towards you?" she highly doubts this, but she was still determined to pick apart her sister's mind and heart. "let us place aside mother's twisted schemes. i feel you should at least discover for yourself what sort of man he is before you decide on any one opinion. you value my opinion, don't you? as someone who's worked with him for sometime - i do not think he as bad as you may believe him to be, reila." her azure gaze remains entirely fixed on her sister.
