I'd seen nothing more beautiful. Hybern was ten years behind us and Velaris was slowly returning to its former glory. Tonight celebrated all of that. Tonight was victory and strength. Tonight was joy and laughter. Tonight was a tribute to the dreamers, as each year before it had been.
But most importantly, tonight was a cheer to family. To the freedom to raise one. I smiled as I looked out to where the Valkyrie squad stood, healthy and bright smiles on their face as they danced together. The fae light flickering over the crowd revealed pure adoration in a certain general's eyes. To think of how he and Nesta started out. A raging flame foraged to a precious bond so like the one I carried with Rhys.
A thought for a thought, Feyre darling?
I was just thinking of you, actually.
My love, you're always thinking of me. That answer doesn't count.
I smiled, leaning against the balcony as my son swept past, Mor stooped down to "dance" with him. I'm thinking of us, Rhys. All of us. What we've become. What we've earned.
We've healed.
Yes. How long before the world turns dark again, Rhys? Part of me is thinking we've all been wearing rose-tinted glasses, missing something across the sea or planted among our neighbors.
It took a moment for him to answer. Then, The courts will always be full of foxes and wolves, but for now, Feyre, war is in the far far distance. For now we can relax and enjoy another Starfall together.
And when he finally appeared among our family and friends it did a little something to my heart. Though his full mental focus was on me, his eyes were cast down to the pink bundle in his arms. Nyx skidded to a halt, finally giving Mor's back a break as he raced to his father, his attention locked on his infant sister.
Ruffling Nyx's hair, Rhys guided the excitable child to a chair, lowering our sleeping daughter to his waiting hands. He trailed a finger down her nose as he often saw me do, pure awe in his eyes.
Roxanna had done it to all of them. The last time this family had seen a baby girl was when Rhys' sister was born. She hardly ever went down in her bassinet with so many arms to hold her. Aunts to spoil her senseless, uncles to be overprotective pains. And then there was her father and brother.
I knew losing his mother and sister had left an empty spot inside Rhys. Having a little girl of our own was starting to patch that up. I smiled as our eyes met across the moving crowd. Amren walked up then, saying something to Rhys. Though I was terrible at lip reading and I wasn't currently reaching for that mental bridge, the fact my mate began crossing the crowd to reach me told me we had a babysitter for a few minutes.
He offered a hand. "A dance, my lady?"
Setting my hand in his, I stepped out onto the floor. "I thought you'd never ask."
And as soul after soul shot across the night sky I held my mate close. "I haven't seen so many crossing in centuries. I had feared one day they'd vanish entirely. And then I recalled what my mother told me as a boy." I cocked my head. "I was no bigger than Nyx, I think. She told me one Starfall, as the numbers dwindled, 'Have no fear, Rhys. So long as there are dreamers left in this cruel world, so too will there be soaring souls to feed their hope. Our hope.'"
I stretched up on my toes, kissing away the tear that had escaped him. "She'd be proud of you Rhys. For staying a dreamer."
"Yeah. Yeah, I think she would." He pressed a kiss right over the stone of my wedding band. "Here's to us, Feyre."
