Cassian x reader who had a bad past, and CANNOT sleep anywhere except for her bed moves into house of wind and can't adjust so she's having sleepless nights, somehow falls asleep on Cassian's shoulder after dinner in front of EVERYONE
You haven't gotten a wink of sleep in six days, so it's really no surprise that you pass out, but everyone else cluelessly quiets their chatter the second your head slumps onto Cassian's shoulder.
"Oh-" The general glances down from where he'd been reaching for the dish of potatoes, sure to displace you if he moves another inch, "Uh- Azriel? Can you pass me the potatoes?"
Azriel does so wordlessly, and one of the man's shadows coils up your torso, running laps around you until it can prod carefully at your face.
Azriel calls it back to his hand, and whatever it whispers to him has the shadowsinger's brows furrowing.
"She's exhausted." He says, and Cassian's wings tense briefly behind him, pulled tighter in towards his spine, "Let her rest, Cassian."
"I'm going to." He grunts, near-affronted that his brother seems to think he was going to shove you off and into Feyre on your opposite side, "What's the deal, she stays up all night reading or something?"
"Sometimes." Feyre admits, but her voice isn't teasing or light. It's subdued, something that drains Cassian's usual playful energy and leaves him with a sick feeling inside, "She reads because she can't sleep, though. She doesn't lose sleep over reading."
"She has nightmares, Cassian." Rhysand hums, staccato and terse, and Cassian is really starting to resent that his brothers treat him like an untrained animal- he wasn't going to pry, thank you very much!
Though, he would have spent quite a lot of time worrying over the possibilities if Rhys hadn't told him. And knowing you struggle with night terrors- maybe even like the ones he faces himself, endears him to the way your face is smushed up against his bicep. He's extra careful not to jostle you now, and he begins eating with his non-dominant hand, sacrificing only one stray spinach leaf to his lap in the endeavor.
"It's just really hard for her to sleep anywhere but home." Elain comments, and no one wants to note the way she says home like she's not there now. It's a stark reminder that the House of Wind might be Feyre's home, but her sisters are still adjusting. And Cassian reckons you might have a lot more adjusting to do, if you can't even sleep on the massive mattress laden in silken sheets Rhysand surely paid an arm and a leg for.
But- if his arm works, it works. And he finishes his meal with only a bit of a struggle, a few meager carrots left on his plate that he wasn't able to scoop up with his mismatched coordination. Everyone begins clearing plates, and Azriel seems to be the only one who remembers you've been passed out on Cassian's side throughout the entire meal.
He lingers as everyone moves into the sitting room for wine and gossip, his shadows rushing to blanket you in their cool solitude. You shift, humming in your sleep as they fit themselves to your form, calming you with their wispy presence.
"They'll block out noise." Azriel hums, his eyes oozing with seldom-seen sympathy from the terrifying shadowsinger. Cassian knows it's because all three of you lie awake sleepless each night, and he briefly entertains the idea of a midnight book club for all of the House's miserable inhabitants. For now, though, he'll let you sleep- he'll wake you to discuss some of the finer details when Azriel's shadows let your head up off of his shoulder.
"I don't want to wake her," Cassian murmurs, "But she can't be comfortable."
"She's comfortable enough." Azriel shakes his head once, "Don't break the spell. She might be able to sleep in a bed later, or on the couch, or whatever works. But she's sleeping now, so don't ruin it."
"She's lucky I've been stakeout trained," Cassian gripes, but the ire in his tone is forced, and he feels the chair beneath his ass magically sprout a cushion that settles the dull ache he's beginning to feel down south, "She's going to have the worst neck pain of her life tomorrow."
Your chair promptly grows a cushion too, against the back of your head to cradle your bent neck. It's not perfect, but it's the best the House can do, and Cassian settles in for a long night of staring at the silverware.
"I'll bring you a book," Azriel smirks, eyeing the way the House clearly wants you to sleep after so long watching you lie awake, "Just promise you'll mind your wings. She doesn't need a claw to the eyeball."
"Will do," Cassian ruffles the appendages, keeping their sharpened tips far away from your snoozing form. Another glance down at you reveals your soft breaths fanning the shadows away, and it's comforting to watch them billow back and forth; they'll always protect you, and your chest will always be rising and falling. Cassian feels some of that tightness in his own chest ease, and he glances softly up at Azriel, keeping his voice just above a whisper in order to be heard but to not disturb you, "Az? Bring me a few books - she's long overdue."
Oneshot Rhysands sister is off limits, but as we're meeting the Prince of Winter, I snap.
words 5.4k (I just can't write short stuff)
an It's finally here! Thank you for your patience and welcome to this oneshot you voted for here You vote I write. Be prepared for some character decribtions (White wings, lilac eyes etc). Let me know if you're kicking your feet, too. Happy reading <3
CASSIAN
Her smell still lingered in the air and mingled with the crackling fire — Poppies in full blossom and the sweetness of caramel. The spot on my cheek where she just kissed me good night burned like a branding. Still there, still hot. The gaping empty doorway she just exited stared back at me.
Then, Rhys' voice sliced though my enthralled thoughts. "Prythian to Cassian!" Rhys waved a hand in front of my face.
"What?"
"You're quiet tonight. How're you doing while I was gone?" Rhys swirled the wine in his glass. He and his mate were visiting the solar courts, tightening bonds with the other High Lords, shaking hands to knot down trader promises.
I suppressed the grumble that build deep inside of my throat. "I'm fine." I murmured, eyes fixated on the empty glass in my hand, wishing there was still liquor to drown my thoughts in to... to think of anything but her. But the house never refilled it as if it wanted me to bath in my silent sorrow, mutely chuckling at me.
"Are you?" He asked. "I've heard from the wraith's that you've been … distracted. Is there a female from Illyria or the city? A waitress from Rita's or a shopkeepers daughter who keeps you up late? I must say I lost track at some point."
I wanted to punch that smug smile from his perfect straight teeth. My blood roared. Every female I'd touched in more than the last decade had been a desperate, failing attempt to erase Rhys' little sister from my memory. But things had changed long before that. It was the gala of her eighteenth birthday. I was struck when the doors opened and she walked through the mass of Fae. Her pearly white wings unfurled like a blossom on the first morning of summer. Glowing and blinding with that beautiful dress she wore, so in contrast with her lilac irises. When her eyes met mine, she stopped being the annoying brat and became the only female I would truly want. Ever.
My eyes stayed glued to my hands. Calloused and rough. Dirty by the blood I shed. By the people I've killed. Never good enough to hold hers. Delicate and bright and too innocent for someone like me. "Drop it, Rhys." I snapped. "It's nothing of your business." My answer was short. Harsh. And utterly too mean for a brother that just returned after weeks of not seeing each other. I cursed myself for being so hostile.
He just raised an eyebrow and exchanged looks with Az. Like his spymaster could give him any answer. The slight blew of his huff to ease his mind caught in the loose strands of my hair. Then, he tried to change the subject. "What about YN?"
My mind ran a thousand miles and my head spun to his. Did he know that I liked his little sister more than I should? That I couldn't concentrate for a second when she was in the room?
"What about her?" I asked, a little too agitated.
His brows furrowed like it was obvious what he meant. "How was she while I was gone? Did you look after her?"
I had to control the roll of my eyes. "Of course I looked after her. She’s your sister, Rhys. I’d die before I let anything happen to her," I grunted, finally tearing my deadly stare away from him. Az met my glare and I knew what he thought of.
It was a night a long time ago. I found her while she cried over the breakup with some fuckboy she dated. That asshole betrayed her with another female. I stayed with her until she fell asleep from exhaustion. Then I found fuckboy and punched him right across the face before I flew back to the House of Wind. When I rounded the corner to the corridor of my room, Az stood there. Arms crossed and his shadows whispering something in his ear. It took him one glance to put two and two together — her dried tears on my chest and my split knuckles. All he asked was, "How long?" A simple question. How long did my heart yearn for her? How long have I been punching the douchbags she dated after they betrayed her?
Forever.
I didn't answer Az and pushed past him as he said. "I won't tell Rhys. But you should tell her."
His words never ceased echoing in my mind since then. Just as they are now. How am I supposed to tell YN that I am in love with her when I know that she's off limits. Rhys told me years ago what kind of male he wanted for his beloved sister — strong, kind and good hearted, a constant and from a good background. Proud and equable. Someone who wouldn't tarnish her in any way. In other words: Someone who isn't me. I'm hot tempered, I punch first and ask questions later. I have enough issues from my upbringing to give everyone a piece and remain the prince of bastards. The battles I fought in still gave me nightmares most nights and left me contemplating if I was the real monster in the story.
I exhaled deeply to make my heart stop racing. "She's been doing fine. She hasn't been out much. She's been sticking to training with me but liked to cook or read or soaking in her tub for hours every night, as usual."
I stood. Done with this evening.
"Wait." Rhys said as I was already across the room, my empty glass abandoned on the cushions.
Sighing, I turned around to face him, my shoulders tired of keeping it together tonight.
"I need you to do something for me." His velvet voice slithered to me with mischief.
He let the seconds tick by as if he was amused with himself. Prick.
"YN will be leaving tomorrow for Winter."
There it was again — my heart racing at the thought of her being out of my reach. Out of my protection.
"I wand you to go with her."
YN
I hated Winter.
Not because of the cold. I never minded that. I've been to Illyria more times than I could count. I embraced the glittering snow and incessant winds howling against the windows. Even their harsh tone was something I became fond of. Clear command and actions. No formal yapping and exchanging pleasantries. I've always wondered how Rhysie abode those boring things it all.
It was the Winter's friendliness… as if not the tiniest cloud could sully their sunny nature.
Urgh. I. hated. Winter.
At least Cassian was coming with me.
Cassian.
Shit, I had to get myself together. He'd spot my heart rate instantly and ask if I was okay and order me to let him handle Winter. The general never knew that it was because of him that my hands got clammy and my ears hot as hel. Thankfully, I was able to veil myself, so he wouldn't notice the scent between my legs every time I saw him.
"Ready to go?" Mor asked, leaning in the doorway, absently picking at something invisible on her fingernails.
I looked myself over in the mirror one last time. My cloak hung flawlessly from my shoulders, my hands straightening it again and again like a cat licking its fur to perfection before wandering around to frantically find a mate. The invisible crown speckled with glittering stars on my head illuminated me, like it did my mother once a long time ago. My dress was the same sheer colour as my wings, almost translucent, shining as if the diamonds of the deepest mountains were sparkling for the first time after a thousand of years in the dark. I pushed the one strand of my hair that always pointed in the wrong direction out of my face.
Before my eyes could meet my mirror ones, they connected with orbs of hazel. Green and steel and warm brown. Staring directly at me like a lighting struck. A statue of will and power, hiding a softness he showed so rarely. When did Cassian slip in unnoticed?
"Yes." I breathed. And I wasn't sure if I was talking to Mor or to him.
"The Star of the North!"
The daydream, of that one thing I could never have that occupied my mind ran out quickly like the last kernel of sand out of an hourglass.
The name that was given to me on the day of my birth rang from deep inside of me. The Star of the North. White wings, glass like skin and shining like all of the stars and the moon combined.
Vivane stretched out her arms as she walked towards me cheerily, a wide smile on her face like she was greeting a friend she hasn't seen in ages. Her bone crushing hug warm as if trying to melt the ice of the mountain caps. My eyes drifted over her shoulder — to Kallias in the background, standing proudly before his icicle Throne, stoic as ever but kindness written all over his face.
I hugged her back. Once out of her squeeze, I bowed to her and her mate. "Your majesties, the years have been but a shadow compared to the light of your presence. My heart rejoices to see you—and your court of eternal Winter."
Then, Kallias voice rang from the columns of polished ice, his frown thawing into one of his rare smiles. "The Winter Court is made all the brighter by your arrival, Princess of the Night Court." He bowed his head in greeting. "Your words are as kind as they are welcome. Peace is finally with us and it is an honor to share it with you, not only as our allies of the night court, but as friends. Your grace, YN. And General Cassian."
The walls of my veil thickened on its own. Kallias' words were kind and welcoming. But hearing him addressing Cassian as the general didn't feel enough. He was so much more. The one that flew in the center of the first lines at battle against our enemies. Who was ready to give his life for the weakest. The one who poured all his power into his siphons till exhaustion. The lord who cherished his court to shed all blood of its opponents. The one who smiled during dark times. The one who's able to make me laugh at all times, who was there when no one else was. Who checked on me and took me on long walks through Velaris. The one who surprised me with flowers from Illyria one random morning. The one who sat next to me silently while reading for hours. He was always more than just the general.
"My steward will escort you to your rooms, so that you may refresh yourselves. Rest well. We shall celebrate this evening properly at the banquet this evening." Kallias said as a thin male with pale skin bowed deeply before leading the way.
"This collar is diving me crazy!" Cassian roared angrily from the mirror on the other side of the room of our shared suite. His face was red and I've never seen the crease between his brows so deep.
"Here," I cooed. "Let me."
I stepped between his angry image and his broad form, shielding him from his disheveled doppelganger, reaching up to help him with the tie and collar. His ceremonial armor was buttoned the wrong way and the silk of the sling around his neck was inside out. My arms went numb from holding them up so long to get him sorted. His warm gaze was burning and my skin rippled with kisses of lightning as he traced my every move. Hair combed back so meticulously like he just shed out of his skin — his broad shoulders could've shield me from the light of the sun — form so strong and impressive my knees nearly gave in.
And then, there was his smell. Snow chilled winds mixed with crackling embers of a pine tree. I could've get lost right then and there. If he'd asked me to skip today and fly out of the palace to catch a basket of the necessities and watch the sunset while picnicking, I'd say yes right away and forget everything else. Forget that Rhysand wants me to marry someone of name, a male of steady discipline and someone who knows the value of a true home. Someone whose strength is matched only by his patience. Urgh. That sounded so boring. He wanted a stiff and formal courtier for me, or a noble who follows every rule. Maybe a lonely scholar or a traveling diplomat or a gentle soft-spoken lord. If I'd saw such a male I'd instantly turn by back and let Cassian carry me to wherever.
"Everything okay?" His soothing voice was laced with concern as he noticed that I halted my movements absentmindedly and stared at the space where his heart pounded in his chest.
"Y-yes." I answered, my lips thinned at the lie and I took a step back from him. I took him in, he looked spectacular in his suit. My hand plucked a single hair of mine from his chest like it had no right to be there. "Perfect." I murmured and gave him a soft smile, hoping that didn't notice that I meant him, but his dressing.
CASSIAN
Her nails left marks on my arm even through my armor. The grip of her hand on my arm felt like her hanging on a lifeline. Like she was clinging to me for dear life. Like she tried to escape this situation of a stormy sea and let me pull her into safety. Like she wanted to be anywhere else but here.
I considered pulling her against my chest, spreading my wings and get her out of here. But I had to stay strong. Be her anchor. Even if her nervousness drifted through her thick shield and left goosebumps all over my body. I straightened my back and sucked my wings in neatly.
The steps felt heavier every time we set a foot forward, to the dais the new prince of Winter stood on. Athila.
This was the night the High Lord Kallias and his mate Vivane presented him to the world. They kept him a secret for centuries and decided that now, weeks after the wars was the right time to introduce him as their heir. As the new light, leading their court into a new era.
A quiet voice inside my head nagged and left me with knots in my stomach. They're putting Athila on a silver platter. For her.
Was this Rhysand's plan all along? Sending her off, presenting YN to him as a potential wife, as a prize to win, as a gift, of something he could give away like a handshake in thanks after their aid in war. To bestow her to anyone who could be of use to him in a couple of years? He wouldn't be cruel like that, would he?
I'm detecting her every move. But YN put on her facade, veiling herself with the same grace Rhysand did when he met other High Lords. Maybe I misinterpreted the signs. Maybe she was so on edge because she felt attracted to him. Her fidgety fingers on my collar and her eyes never truly meeting mine. Was it because she was excited to meet him?
Athila bowed smoothly and extended his slim hand towards her, asking her for the first dance.
No one but me noticed that the smile she wore was a nervous one as her hand reluctantly slid from my arm and into his palm. The music of Winter was like the land itself…crisp, elegant, and chillingly formal. The clank of her heels against the sheer floor were like drums that accompanied me to the scaffold. His hands on her delicate body — the sling around my neck. Him whispering something inaudible into her ears — the floor giving way. Her smiling and laughing at him — the oxygen drifting out of my lungs. The glittering of her eyes and the redness of her cheeks — my death.
The prince of Winter was everything I wasn't.
The air in my lungs caught as my blood boiled while my hackles rose, wings twitching noticeably. My shoulders tensed and I had to refrain from reaching for the hidden dagger I bore, just in case. Fury dropped in my stomach as the faintest scent of her smell drifted from sweet to something that was never there before. Dread, agitation or elation… I couldn't place it.
The second the song died with the violins of the background I stepped forward. Slow enough not to stir any compunction, fast enough to catch her from his last twirl. Viviane took over and was dancing with him now. I caught YN. She was in my arms. Mine for the moment. Her hands were cold as if the prince's cool and polite touch froze her to the core. I let my calloused hands slide around her, radiating heat through my grip to warm her up. My hear jumped as she leand in closer.
Other couples joined the dance until we drifted through a sea of skirts of tull and tunics of silk. She seemed so small against me, almost fragile, clinging to me again. We didnt speak. We just moved. My hands a heavy, grounding weight on her waist, the other crushing hers a little too tightly. Then, a soft stroke on my mind asked for permission to enter. I let her in and her divine voice slipped into my thoughts.
"I know you hate it when I do that, I'm sorry." I once told her that I hated it when her or her brother did that mind-talking thing. As if it would harm them to do it aloud. Since then, she only did it in an emergency.
"Are you okay?"
"Now, I am." She smiled at me. It was so different from the one she gave Athila.
A low growl rumbled in my chest.
“You look like you’re heading to the chopping block, not a celebration,” she said softly.
My wings flared slightly. “Hard not to, considering I just watched you dance with the 'Perfect Prince.' I assume Rhys is already picking out the celebratory wine for the engagement?”
She looked up at me, eyes wide. “You think so too? That Rhys sent me here to... to trade me for an alliance?”
My jaw tightened so hard I almost cracked a bone. “I know he's been writing letters with Kallias. Athila is high-born, powerful, and looks like he was carved out of a diamond. He’s exactly the kind of male a High Lord picks for a sister he wants to keep safe and settled.”
“I felt like a statue in his arms, Cass,” she whispered inside of my head. “He was perfectly kind, and I felt absolutely nothing but terror. If Rhysand expects me to stay here... if he expects me to be a Winter Court prize...”
The air around me seemed to drop ten degrees. Not from Winters magic, but from the suffocating siphon fueled rage.
“He won’t,” I growled back into her head. “I don’t care what Rhysand has promised or what Kallias expects. You aren’t a chess piece, and you sure as hell aren’t staying in this frozen wasteland unless you want to be here.”
“And if Rhys insists?” Her voice broke.
I pulled her an inch closer, drowning in her in my fragrance to calm her down. “Then I’ll pick you up and fly until my wings give out. I’ll start a war with the Winter Court myself before I let them lock you in a palace made of ice.”
Her breath hitched as she looked at me with raw intensity. I didn't say it with the protective instinct of a commander. It was with the desperate, burning hunger of a male who couldn't bear the thought of her belonging to someone else. Her hammering heart made me look down at her again.
“You’d really risk Rhys’ wrath for me?”
My face softened, just a speck, the fury turning into something achingly tender. I leaned down, my lips brushing the shell of her ear. “Sweetheart, I’d risk the wrath of the Mother herself for you. Besides,” I added with my signature smirk tugging at the corners of my mouth, “have you seen the way Athila dances? The male has the rhythm of a foal on a frozen pond. I could never let you marry him. I do have a reputation to uphold! Having a brother-in-law who trips over his own feet would be a stain on my record.”
Her tension faltered through her little laugh. Bright. Genuine. She buried her face in my shoulder to hide her grin. "He wasn't that bad."
"Right. He was catastrophic," I countered before spinning her as the tempo increased. Her skin has warmed under my hand on the small of her back, my thumb grazing over the soft fabric. “If you’re going to be bored to death by a male, it should at least be one who knows how to lead on a dance floor.”
She looked up at me with doe eyes through her lashes. "Is that so?" A tease through and through.
"Absolutely," I murmured back to her voice inside my head. My gaze dropped to her lips for a heartbeat too long to be just platonic. "I'll be at your side at all times tonight. If Athila tried to hand you a ring, we're hitting the sky before he's on his knees."
YN
Dinner felt less like a feast and more like an interrogation under a frozen magnifying glass. Athila sat directly across from me, his slicked back silver hair shimmering under the light of the countless chandeliers. Mr. too perfect. Every time he spoke, his voice sounded like wind chimes, elegant and hollow. Probably the reason his parents kept him secret all these years. I felt his gaze sliding over my skin. Heavy and expectant, like he was already mentally placing me on a pedestal in his collected gallery of beautiful things. My hands were clammy and bile rose in my throat.
Cassian was silent next to me. But under the cool exterior simmered a volcano. He didn't touch his food, just shredded bread into tiny pieces. His knuckles drained of color as he gripped his wine glass. If he wore his siphons, they'd glow in a menacing red, tainting a hue of blood over the pristine table cloth. His shoulders were tight but broader than everyone elses, even if he was dressed in solid black, so at odds with my attire — glittering and white. If he'd spread his dark wings, we'd look like the night sky speckled with a thousand stars.
"The Night Court is known for its mysteries," Athila said, uncoiling me from my daydream as he leaned forward to lock eyes with me. "Bur surely, a star as bright as you, Princess, deserves a sky that doesn't hide her in the dark. Winter would make you dazzle. The snow would reflect your light, not swallow it." His wink gave me goosebumps and my shoulders itched, wings wanting to flare in discomfort.
To Hel with those attacks wrapped in pleasantries. "I quite like the darkness, Prince Athila. It provides…privacy." I quipped back. Maybe I overstepped. I glances over the unoccupied chair across from them, it seemed his parents didn't listen to our conversation.
"Privacy is for those with things to hide," Athila countered with a sharp and playful smile. He reached across the slim table, his fingers grazing the back of my hand. It was like being peth with an icicle. "A female like you should be displayed, for everyone to see. Let me show you the gardens after this. The frost-roses are in bloom and they'd look heavenly against your hair."
My toe nails rolled and my shield slipped for a moment, just slightly. The glass in Cassian's hand creaked terrifyingly. I had to come up with something or else he'll strangle the Prince here and how. "I—I'm afraid I've caught a chill," I blurted out as I retracted my hand out of his touch. "The travel must have caught up with me." A bad lie. He probably knows that we've been winnowed in. I didn't dare to look at him one more time and I turned to the High Lord and his Lady. "If you'll excuse me, I think I need some air."
I bowed my head and didn't wait for an answer, standing up sp fast my chair nearly toppled. Cassian was on his feet before I could even take a step. His form was a towering shield between me and the Winter Prince. "I'll escort her," Cassian grunted lowly, his voice vibrating with a territorial edge.
He opened his wings just a tad behind us, putting his membrane screen between us and the banquet hall as he led me out. His hand was firm on my back as he met my pace. We didn't stop at the guest suites. We kept walking until we reached one of the secluded balconies, overlooking the frozen wastes. A biting wind whipped my hair across my face.
Cassian closed the door behind us for some concealment. "A chill?" He burst out, spinning me around to face him. "You were lying though your teeth!" His wild eyes met mine. "You hated the way he looked at you. I saw it... felt it."
"Of course I hated it!" I whined back. The frustration of the last few hours boiling over. "He was looking at me like I'm relic at an auction, knowing he'd pay every price. Like I was something Rhysand had already sold to him!"
"And what are we gonna do now, huh?" His eyes scanned my face. "Go back there and do like nothing happened? You think I can sit there any second longer while some iced-over princeling touches you?" Cassian's wings flared wide in anger. He stepped into my space, his chest heaving, nearly touching mine. "I can't do it, YN. I can't watch you go to him. I can't watch you go to anyone."
Something inside of me broke. "Then do something about it!" I cried, my voice shattering. I shoved his chest, palms hitting the warm metal of his dress armor. "Stop being the loyal general for one second and do something!" He stood his ground as I shoved him again weakly. "Do you know what it's like? Watching you walk out of Rita's with some other female and sit there like it's not torturing me? Do you know what it's like to know that the only male I've ever wanted thinks I'm just his High Lord's little sister? To soak in the tub every day for hours just to replace the warmth of your good night hug? To wash away the images of you with another female?"
Cassian froze all over. His hazel eyes searching mine. Like they were bleeding with decades of suppressed longing. "You…you want me?"
"I have always wanted you, you idiot Illyrian brute," I whispered, tears stinging my eyes as my hands slipped from his chest. "It’s always been you. Always." There it was. Raw and exposed. Everything I held in for so long poured out of a well I kept under control until now.
A low and primal growl rumbled from his deep inside his chest. Before I could breathe, his hands were in my hair, tilting my head back. "To Hel with the rules," he rasped against my lips. "To hel with Rhys."
Then his lips were on mine. Not soft. Nothing about him was. It was a collision. Tasting like the free wind and burning like liquor to a sore throat. It was fire melting ice. And for the first time in my life, the stars in my blood felt like they were finally aligned. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him impossibly closer, opening my mouth with the need to welcome the heat of him.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
The sound sliced through the cold winds around us. We sprang apart. Gasping and his taste on my tongue. Standing in the shadows of the doorway was Rhysand. His violet eyes shimmering under his frowned brows as he stepped towards us.
"Rhysie!" I squeaked, my voice rough and my face turning a shade of red that would have put a sunset to shame. "I…we…it's not what it looks like! We were just-" I stammered but Cassian cut me off.
"Actually, it's exactly what it looks like," he said, stepping in front of me. His jaw was set in that lethal line I knew so well. "Rhysand, I don’t care what you planned. I don't care about Athila or the Winter Court alliance. You can strip me of my rank, you can banish me to the edge of the world, but I am not giving her up. You can't marry her off and expect me to just stand there. I won't do it."
All I could do was staring at Cassian's back as my heart soared from his words. Silence stretched and I braced for Rhysand's legendary temper. A storm brewing before the stroke hitting. I could feel his intense stare on us — his power rolling off of him in dark waves. Is he- is he going to mist Cassian?
A low chuckle escaped Rhysand's throat, building until he was leaning against the archway, laughing hysterically. I peered around Cassian's wing, watching Rhysand's shoulders begin to shake while laughing. "Is he having a breakdown?" I whispered.
Cassian's arm slung around me protectively. "I— I don't know." He frowned but never took his eyes off his High Lord.
"Finally!" Rhysand gasped, wiping a tear from his eye. "Cauldron, I thought I was going to have to actually marry you off to that boring block of ice just to get a reaction out of you, Cassian."
Cassian blinked, his aggression faltering into confusion. "What?" His grip around me loosened. Rhysand straightened his tunic, a smug, triumphant grin spreading across his face. "I've been setting you two up for years. The training sessions? The 'accidental' solo missions? Leaving Cassian as your guard whenever I was gone? Sending you to Winter together? I even told Azriel to drop hints, but he said you were both too 'stubbornly miserable' to take the bait."
My hand found Cassian's. "You... you wanted this?" I asked, breathless.
"YN, you're my sister. I want you to be happy." He said softly, his playful voice genuine. "I always wanted someone like Cass for you. The strongest male of them all to keep you safe. He has a good heart, he's compassionate, not only to our people, but foremost you. I wanted you with someone who would burn the world down for you. And I knew that person was the bastard who’s been punching your boyfriends since you were eighteen."
Cass punched my boyfriends? I never allowed myself to dream of him stepping up for me in that way. He was untamed and stubborn and…mine.
He stepped forward, clapping a hand on Cassian’s stunned shoulder. "I'm happy for you both. Truly. But Cassian? If you ever make her cry, I won't need a Winter's alliance to deal with you."
Rhysand winked at me, turned on his heel, and started whistling as he walked toward the ballroom. The empty chair in front of Kallias and Vivane was his.
"Now, hurry up and fix your hair," he called back over his shoulder to usher us with him. "We have a dinner to finish, and I believe Athila still thinks he has a chance. I’d love to see the look on his face when you walk back in there holding hands."
I looked at Cass, who was still staring down the doorway with wide eyes. A slow and wicked grin spreading across his face. Without a warning, he picked me up in his arms and kissed me again before setting me down again. "You heard our High Lord," he murmured, reaching out to tuck a stray hair behind my ear. "Let's go ruin the Prince's night."
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Summary: You’d retreated to the library’s depths, determined to heal from your past and ignore a certain Night Court general. But Cassian was relentless, determined to get to know the woman who made the golden tether in his heart flutter.
T/W: Talks of past trauma
A/N: Sorry the summary is bad; I swear the actual fic is good haha. I haven't posted in a little while so here's a Cassian fic while I work on the second part of the hunter and the hunted!
Masterlist
Sometimes you feel like you were born with your lips sewn shut.
You had never learned how to speak for yourself or call someone out when they were being rude. You were born with a rock in your throat - a weight on your vocal cords.
Silent as you were, you fell into the role of priestess easier than most. Having been rescued by the High Lord of the Night Court, who promised you safety and warmth over two months ago, you fit in more than some who have spent years hidden away in the library. But you liked being invisible, lost in the shelves of the books, blending into the stone walls.
Perhaps that’s why Cassian irks you so much.
You can’t blend into the bland walls when he makes your cheeks heat such a vibrant pink, and you can’t lose yourself on the shelves when he’s tracking every step of your feet. He makes you feel more visible than you’ve ever felt before, unable to hide from his loudness and ever-perceptive eyes.
𓌜 - 𓌜 - 𓌜 - 𓌜
If Cassian had to explain why he was so infatuated with you, he would say it was your silence. Though some find it unnerving and uncomfortable, you speak a thousand times more with your silence than you do with your words. The narrowing of your eyes, the scrunch of your nose, and the tilt of your lips are keys into your mind, and he’s determined to decode every one.
Every Monday afternoon, like now, he enters the library and begins to scour the shelves, unfocused eyes reading the spines of the books. He rounds each shelf, eyes piercing the air until they land on you.
Your delicate hands gently dust a shelf with quiet concentration and sophisticated grace. Your shiny hair shields your face, hiding the delicate slope of your nose, the plush of your lips and your naturally long lashes. He wants nothing more than to brush your hair away, twirling it between his fingers while his eyes memorise each freckle and scar that contributes to your timeless beauty.
He’s learnt from past mistakes of making you flinch that he needs to make his presence known, so, purposely making his steps against the wooden floor louder, he begins to walk over to you. A pause in your movements gives way to your awareness of his presence, though you don’t look away from the books in front of you.
“Good afternoon,” Cassian whispers. If his family could see him - eyes softer than clouds, voice quiet, and body gentle - they would have believed you bewitched him. It was well known that he wasn’t a gentle or quiet male, but he was willing to be one for you.
You finally turn to face him, gaze meeting his from under your lashess. “Hello,” You whisper through barely parted lips, chin tilted up the smallest bit. Cassian can’t help but let his eyes drop, swearing you're secretly muttering a spell that has his heart beating wildly in his chest.
“Lunch?” He grins, showcasing his pearly whites and unknowingly stealing your breath. You look from him to the books in your hand, whenhe moves an inch closer, your eyes snapping to him immediately. “The books will be here when you get back. I, however, have to go to some Illyrian camps tomorrow and I won’t see you for a few days.”
You bite your lip in contemplation. “Oh.” Gently placing the books on the shelf, your free hands move to fidget with your clothing, unable to be held still. Your voice is barely above a whisper, “I just haven’t…Been outside since I’ve gotten here. I would like to keep it that way for a while longer.”
His heart warms at your sincere admission, grateful that you trust him enough to be honest. “I figured you’d say that,” He slowly begins to walk away, and you follow, “Which is why I organised a lunch here. Hungry?”
Your voice is louder. “Starved.”
𓌜 - 𓌜 - 𓌜 - 𓌜
Though Cassian is a sweet male with a heart of gold and bravery carved into his bones, you don’t believe his actions - bringing you lunch, and coming to see you almost every day - are built from genuine feelings. While that might sound stupid to some, your brain can see the logic in it.
Because, here’s the thing: A month ago, the general strolled into the library looking for a book. And a month ago, the mating bond snapped.
The moment was burned into your brain, replaying the moment he whispered the word ‘mate’ like it was his holy grail - like you were the sun when he was the midnight sky. He hadn’t done anything odd after the bond snapped, just came by the library more often, eyes seeking yours, lips carrying the conversation when you fall short.
And yes, he was lovely and gentlemanly, sweet and sincere, but how were you supposed to believe that he wanted you when you were raised to believe that you could never be wanted?
He could bring you flowers, and you would think his feelings ingenuine. He could be coated in the blood of the ones who have hurt you, and you would still believe his mind was clouded by the prospect of having a mate.
In other words; you were waiting for the shoe to drop.
In doing that, you’ve had to build the strongest of stone walls around your fragile heart; already so broken and worn. You knew being hurt by someone who tried to care would hurt more than the scars on your skin. But you’re not a warrior, just a girl, and every time he does something nice like makes you lunch and helps you clean as he talks, shatters one of the meticulously placed stones around your heart.
“Are you alright?” A warm, honeyed voice reaches your ears and you blink, the sight of a cheese and fruit platter splayed out in front of you returning. You flush at having been caught in your thoughts. “Yes. Sorry.” He pulls out a chair for you and you sit, the warmth of his body causing you to tense. He’s gone from behind you in seconds, pulling out a chair in front of you. “You’re okay,” His eyes twinkle in the candlelight, “I hope you like cheese, cake and fruit. Bit of a weird pairing, I know, but I didn’t know what you liked.”
You feel another stone brick around your heart shatter and crumble. “Thank you. I love all of those things.” You smile lightly, “Especially cake.” At your words, he passes you a slice of one of your favourite flavours with a grin. “Who doesn’t like cake?”
You smile, not knowing what to say and instead choosing to shove a forkful of the Godly food into your mouth. He’s undeterred by your silence. “Was your day good?”
“Yeah. I’ve just been putting away some books.” You clear your throat, a rock lodged in your throat. “How was yours?”
He brightens at your question. “It was good! I had training with Azriel this morning but, if I’m honest, all I could think about was you.” At your silence and flushed cheeks, he shuffles nervously in his seat. “I have something for you,” he admits, picking up the object by his chair.
Though he smiles confidently, his posture straight, there's no way to hide the shaking of his hands as he passes you the object. Slowly, as if a stray cat, you take it from his outstretched hands, fingers lightly grazing his own.
“Is this…” You trail off, a light gasp escaping your parted lips. You're lost for words, heart beating miles per minute. Because, in your slightly sweaty hands is a book you’ve wanted for as long as you can remember. When you first met Cassian, you made a passing comment about being disappointed that the library didn’t own the book you wanted.
He hunted the book down and got it for you.
A child-like joy possesses your body, a Cheshire grin painting your face, bones thrumming with the urge to stand up and pull Cassian into a hug. The urge wins, and you're rounding the table to throw your arms around his neck before your mind catches up with your body.
He’s hugging you back almost immediately, standing up to hug you properly with his arms fully wrapped around your figure and pulling him closer. You’re smiling into his neck, brain fogged by the excitement of the gift. But your mind is quick to remind you of where and who you were.
You were not a female that males wanted. You were broken and shattered, running from the horrors of your past. You were constrained in the walls of the library, too afraid to leave, too broken to heal. Cassian might think he wants you, but who wants a fractured female?
But…He got you a book. The book. The book you mentioned once but he remembered because he knew that it meant something to you.
No.
He’s doing it because you’re his mate. Not because he cares.
But what if he does want you? What if he cares?
The thought brings goosebumps up your arms, fear swallowing your heart. The thought of him liking you is just as scary as him not liking you.
You step back and smile awkwardly. “Thank you. I really appreciate it.” His smile wavers slightly, noting the shift in thoughts though he doesn’t seem angry, just confused. He looks into your eyes, searching for an answer to his question.
The question remaining unanswered, he sits back down, and you do the same. An awkward silence follows, and you shove food into your mouth with an awkward glance at your lap. Cassia’s lips tilt as if trying to push away a smile. “I’ll, uh, have to go soon. But I’ll come see you as soon as I’m back.”
You deflate slightly despite yourself - unsure if it was out of relief or disappointment. “Don’t wait for me.” He stands up, hand moving to touch you before he hesitates, squeezing his hand into a tight fist at his side. His eyes narrow at your words. “Be safe.” His grin is kind. “Goodbye.”
“Bye,” you whisper.
𓌜 - 𓌜 - 𓌜 - 𓌜
Though you had built strong walls against your heart, you hadn’t realised how many had crumbled until Cassian had left. You had an ache in your heart, a strong pull on your heartstrings every time you thought of his smile. His eyes. Just him.
As much as you hated to admit it, you were moping. You were quieter than usual, which was saying something - and it seemed your lips had forgotten how to smile. You spent your days alone in the library, putting away books and then hiding away in your room.
He had punctured your heart with the arrow of affection, and you didn’t know how to pull it out. Even If you cut it or yanked it, you would still bleed the ache of unrequited love. You had bled so many times before, and you were unsure if your mind could take another jab.
Lost in the despair of your mind, you failed to notice the High Lady walk into the library, bathing in an air of confidence that glows her skin and brightens her smile. “Good morning,” She grins, leaning against the shelf you were currently dusting, eyes glinting with curiosity and mischief.
You jump, dropping your cloth on the floor as you stare at your High Lady with wide eyes. Not knowing what to do as you haven’t met her before, you cast your eyes to the floor and mutter out a quiet ‘hello.’ She laughs quietly and you look up. “You’re Cassian's mate.”
You’re unable to look her in the eyes. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
“He hasn’t talked much about you. I think he wants to keep you to himself,” She laughs, eyes sparkling with joy and humble power. “Good thing he’s away so we can finally get to know each other. The market’s on, it’s girls' day, and everyone else is busy, care to join me?”
You take a moment to process her invite, blankly staring at her as she continues to smile, lips tilted in an awe-like fashion. “Um…” You fail to find nicer words for ‘I would rather set my skin on fire because the thought of leaving this library is more painful than charred skin.’
You don’t have to find the words because Feyre seems to read your mind. “I know it’s scary,” Her eyes soften with understanding, “but you’re safe here. Nothing from your past can reach you here. So join me,” she sticks out her arm, palm invitingly upturned. “We’ll have a girls' day and if you decide you hate me I’ll take you back. Deal?”
You look at her hand and the cloth on the floor, lip chewed in thought. Your words lower to a whisper, “Deal.”
𓌜 - 𓌜 - 𓌜 - 𓌜
Though you’ve been alive for hundreds of years, you’ve never had a ‘girls' day.’ It was as scary as you imagined. Feyre had practically dragged you out of the library with excited words, talking about going shopping and getting food. You had nodded along, zoning out as your fear of the outside world grew with each step you took towards the door.
But you had done it, and now you stand in the warmth of the sun, skin painted in its golden rays, bones shaking with nerves. Feyre hadn’t let you stumble or shake, her hand in yours as she pointed out the infamous spots of Velaris. Each place seemed to have its own story, its own memory of the Inner Circle, and you can’t help but smile as Feyre retells each one.
“Cassian once got kicked out of that place,” She points to a store at the end of the street, “He was too loud. And he accidentally broke three wine glasses. Rhysand and I had to reimburse them…Haven’t been back since.” You can’t help but laugh at her storytelling, imagining the kind General getting kicked out.
“That sounds like him,” You attempt to converse, huffing a laugh. Feyre giggles, linking your arms and dragging you to a stall that sells jewellery. “I find it adorable that you’re so quiet- so different from Cassian y’know? He must need some silence since the rest of his life is so loud.”
You’re lost for words, unable to muster a response. Feyre is too distracted by the jewellery to note your awkwardness. “Look how gorgeous this is!” She brings the necklace closer, “It matches your eyes. Here, this is my gift for you since you let me drag you out today.” You protest too late, Feyre already buying the necklace and turning you so she can place it around your neck.
“Thank you,” You stutter out. She winks and guides you to a table. You nervously look around, something lodged in your throat. Fear still grips you tightly, a slight shake of your hands that you’re unable to stop. Feyre’s knowing and gentle eyes encourage you to try and push that fear away.
“You’re awfully pretty,” Feyre states, her bright smile revealing a row of straight teeth. “I can see why Cassian likes you.” A warm blush heats your cheeks, your mind short-circuiting. “He only likes me because I’m his mate,” You say, mostly to yourself. Your doubtful mind forces you to remember the real reason he’s stayed. You may be doubtful and insecure, but you’ve never been delusional.
Feyre snorts, looking at you incredulously. “Cassian likes you because you bring peace in a world that’s always at war for him..”
“I’m too quiet,” You repeat the words you’ve been told many times before.
“Sometimes silence can say more than words.”
You nod absent mindlessly, looking around the bustling market. You’ve constantly been belittled and undermined for your silence; Feyre telling you something different is unnerving.
A child screams. A group of males laugh. A female markets her store. Everything is…loud. You fiddle with your hair. “Can we go back? Please?”
Her eyes soften with understanding. “Of course.” You hurriedly stumble out of your chair, the heat of the sun suddenly too hot on your skin. You crave the cool air of the library, the feeling of leather under your fingertips and the smell of worn books in your nose. You crave home.
𓌜 - 𓌜 - 𓌜 - 𓌜
Cassian keeps to his promise and visits you as soon as he returns, the morning sun barely rises above the horizon before his loud steps echo in the quiet library.
You were shelving a book on a corner shelf, mindlessly doing work to pass the time when the familiar soft scuff of boots on wood entered your ears. Your heart skips a beat, warmth trailing down your spine and leaving goosebumps in its wake.
Your movements pause, the beating of your heart loud in your ears. You quickly turn around, your back pressed against the shelf behind you. His rugged face graces your vision, the visible scruff of his beard and his gentle eyes fighting the barricades of your heart with quick and confident movements.
“Hey,” he grins, voice raw and tired from yelling instructions all week. You smile shyly back. “Hi.”
He doesn’t say anything, instead looking at you like you hung the moon. You shy away from his gaze, hating yourself for believing there was something akin to love in his eyes. “How was your trip?”
He steps closer. “It was fine. Some Illyrians just don’t listen, though. Good thing I know how to punch,” He winks, voice tilted in a joking matter. “I hear you had a fun week. Feyre told me you went out. That’s great! I’m proud of you.”
Your lungs forget how to work, his words snatching the air from your lungs and leaving you breathless. “You’re…Proud of me?” He nods enthusiastically. “Of course I am. I can’t imagine how scary that would’ve been-”
“-Please don’t.” You cut him off, voice shaky and cracking with emotion. You’ve been told many things before; that you’re unwanted, a waste of time and a bore. But no one has ever said they were proud of you before.
His voice is quiet. “Don’t what?”
You gesture between your bodiesyou too, looking into his eyes, tears unwillingly falling down your cheeks. “Do this. Act like you want this. Cassian, you don’t want me. You know that. You’re hurting me, please just stop.”
He steps closer, eyebrows furrowed in concern. “I’ve never been a good actor. And I would never lie to you.” His hesitant fingers reach to tilt your chin, forcing you to look him in the eyes. “Why do you think I don’t want you? You’re everything to me - you’re perfect.”
You bite back a sob, eyelashes fluttering closed against your cheeks. “I’m not perfect. I’m broken. I can’t even leave these four walls for more than an hour without getting scared and wanting to go back. You only want the idea of me. Or maybe just the bond. I’m not…Someone you choose. I’m not strong or loud or brave, I’m not the one for you.”
You push against his chest and he steps back, giving you space. “I can’t be your mate, Cassian.”
A long silence follows. You try to breathe through the shame.
Though you just refused the bond, Cassian remains confident, though his eyes have lost the familiar spark of joy, replaced with the strange softness of concern. His shaky hands move to hold your jaw. You're too starved for the feeling of his touch to push him away.
His voice shakes. “You could be my mortal enemy but I would still feel weak in the knees when you smile. You could threaten my life, and my heart would still skip a beat at the fact you think of me.” His thumb brushes the fragile skin of your cheek, capturing your breath in words of truth.
He steps closer towards your shaking frame. “I don’t want you because you’re my mate, I want you because I am not myself without you.”
His forehead rests against yours. Your breath hitches.
“You’re the reason for my smile and laughter. The reason for the lightness of my heart. You’re my mate. My light. My love. Mine.”
A sob passes your lips, eyes squeezing shut. The heat of his body warms your skin and you’re frozen in place. “I’m so scared,” You whisper, the final stone crumbling against your fragile heart. Cassian nods, his shaking hands brushing your hair back from your face.
His lips brush your hairline. He leaves a gentle kiss. “I know, my love, so am I. But I would rather battle my fears instead of letting you go. I know you want this too. I can see it in your eyes.” His eyes are pleading, begging you. “Please. Please give us a chance. I can’t erase your pain but I can hold you when you cry, listen when you’re scared. Just please.”
Your hands raise, gently grazing the sharpness of his jaw. “You promise you want me?”
“I want you more than I’ve wanted anything before.” His words slip from his lips like honey, melting your heart and soothing your worries.
You’re silent, pressing your forehead hard against his, tears dampening his skin. “Mine?” You finally ask, a shy smile tilting your lips, nudging your nose against his.
Cassian’s hands tremble. “Yours,” he whispers. “Always.”
Summary: Just Cass worshiping his gorgeous, gorgeous mate.
Word Count: 2.7k
Warnings: Pretty much pwp. Adult Content, 18+, minors dni. 🫶🏻
You can hear him, scent him, from down the hall.
He approaches your shared bedroom with firm, purposed footsteps. His shoes slam against the wooden floor with every great stride he takes. He’s not graceful like some males are. There’s a raw ruggedness to every movement; the swirling storm of somebody who will never be light nor lithe on their feet. But the charged, almost frantic energy with which he does everything is, undeniably, one of your favourite things about him.
The door bursts open, and Cassian enters.
He’s flushed and sweaty like he always is after training, strands of hair hanging down from where they’ve ripped free from the knot at the nape of his neck. He brushes them back with a large, callused hand, and takes in the sight of you sprawled on your bed, an open book perched on your lap.
He’s always a little wild and frenetic, an animal that can’t be tamed, but this morning — this morning, it seems…extreme. A fire burns in his hazel eyes, and he licks his lips and rolls his shoulders as though there’s too much tension in them.
“How was training?” You ask casually, thumbing through your book.
“Fuck training.” Is all Cassian offers, and then he’s clambering onto the bed and folding his body over yours. “C’mere.”
He dips his head, clearly intent on capturing you in a kiss. But before it can land, your palm is in his face, pushing him away.
“Take your shoes off before you get on the bed, Cass.” You complain. “You’re all sweaty, too.”
A wicked grin tugs his lips up. He kicks his shoes off without sparing them a glance, and then he’s prowling back towards you. “You love it.”
Before you can respond, his mouth is slanting over yours in a deep kiss. His tongue immediately probes your mouth, and a deep groan rumbles in his chest.
“I couldn’t concentrate.” He huffs onto your mouth, hands moving up to your breasts. He gives a gentle squeeze. “I kept thinking about these.”
Immediately, your back arches into the touch. You tug your mouth off of his and cup his face, forcing him to look at you. “I’m not sure that’s part of the regime.”
“No it absolutely is not. But it still didn’t stop me thinking of them. Of everything I had waiting for me back here. This,” he moves down, pressing a kiss to the soft, pudgy flesh of your belly, “Mother above, I love this. And these,” his palms slip under your thighs, “I could spend all fucking day kissing these.”
He loves your thighs — has a real fascination with them. He loves touching them, stroking them, kissing them. Loves slotting himself between them. And fuck, he loves — is obsessed, even — with watching the way they rub together through your breeches while you walk. The way fabric hugs them and outlines their shape. The silvery stretch marks that create patterns in your skin and — rather conveniently — draw a path that snake up right to the creases between your legs. Yeah — he really, really loves those.
“I can’t imagine Azriel was all too impressed with your distraction.” You smile down at your mate, raking your fingers through his hair.
He growls softly, gently nips the flesh of one thigh, exposed beneath the shirt that you shucked on to lounge in — Cassian’s shirt. “I don’t want to hear another male’s name on those pretty lips right now.” He murmurs. “Only mine.”
“Jealous, jealous male.”
“Always.” His fingers are finding their way under the shirt, and he’s tugging it up, exposing more of you as you allow him to peel it from your skin. He chucks it behind him without giving it another thought, and then his eyes are devouring you.
Naked, now, except for your undergarments, Cassian can see everything from your full breasts to your soft tummy to your chubby thighs, and every dip, swell and crevice in between.
It’s taken you a while to make peace with the fact that you do not have the figure of the other females in Rhysand’s Inner Circle — and to realise that that is in no way a bad thing. That having a different body to them doesn’t mean having a lesser body than them. That yours is just as beautiful as theirs are — in a different way.
And having Cassian, the brilliant Illyrian general, worship you from head to toe every. single. day, most certainly helps.
Such heat flares in his gaze, now, as he drinks you in, that it’s almost too much to watch.
“You’re unreal,” he pants, despite no real exertion — yet. “I am so not worthy of you.”
“You’re more than worthy—”
“You’re a goddess. An actual fucking goddess.”
His mouth meets yours again, but it isn’t staying there long. He slots himself between those thighs he loves so much, his fingers biting into the generous flesh as he kisses his way along your jaw and down your neck, over your chest, down to the swells of your breasts. His tongue immediately flicks over one of your nipples, and you sigh at the sensation.
“I’ve never needed anyone or anything like I need you.” His mouth closes over your breast, a harsh suck puckering the flesh. “All,” he moves to the other breast, “the damn,” another suck, “time.”
“Cass,” you breathe, pleasure rolling down your spine. You need…something, anything — him.
“On it, sweetheart.” He says, and his kisses continue downwards.
They pepper your stomach, your hips, your pelvis. And his hands roam your body as they do, grasping at anywhere he can touch. He’s utterly obsessed with you, and he groans and ruts against the bed as he inhales slowly, breathes in your scent.
“You ready for me?” He grazes his teeth against your hip, dipping his fingers just past the waistband of your underwear. “My filthy mate. I can smell how ready you are.”
“Yes,” you sink back into the pillows, “please, Cass.”
“You never have to ask twice.”
He’s yanking your underwear down, and the stronger your scent becomes, the less he’s able to tamp down on those carnal noises that sound almost like animalistic snarls. He kisses one thigh, the other, and then tugs your legs apart with a hiss through his teeth.
“This is what I was thinking about during training.” He eyes your sex hungrily. “Getting between these incredible thighs. I couldn’t stop myself, and everyone knew it.”
“So get between them, General.” You drag a hand down your body, stopping between your legs. Your fingers mop up the wetness gathered there, swirling around your clit. The action dangles in front of Cassian like a toy. “Look how wet I am for you.”
The poor male is damn near salivating, his eyes almost rolling into the back of his head. He growls, moving your hand out of the way, and he can no longer stop himself from lowering his head to that sweet, dripping pussy he’s spent all morning fantasising about.
He licks right up the centre of you, tongue diving between your folds. At the first lick, you give over to the pleasure, the moans, pressing your hand to the back of Cassian’s head.
“Taste so good, my girl,” his tongue flicks your clit, “all this for me?”
“All of it, Cass. Always.”
“Yeah? You going to come for me?”
“Yes.” A moan escapes you as you tug at the strands of his hair. “Gods, yes.”
“That’s my girl.”
Your head falls back as he simultaneously sucks at your clit and flicks it with his tongue, and you feel fingers sinking between your folds. The sensations Cassian manages to wring from you never lessen in their impact. There’s something about having this brilliant male kneel between your legs and paint you with stunning pleasure. He calls you a goddess, and he treats you like one.
“Fuck,” you breathe, canting your hips up in time with the strokes of his tongue. “Cass…I want you inside me.”
“I want you to come for me first.” Without warning, he pushes a finger into you, and you moan. “You can do that for me, can’t you?”
“Gods—yes,” you’re rocking against his hand, gasping as he adds a second finger. His lips smile against you.
“Go ahead — fuck my fingers and take what you need. Come for me, my girl.”
The two of you work together, him thrusting his fingers and continuing the strokes at your clit, and you taking it all so, so well. And you can tell he loves every moment of your pleasure — the way it builds up in your bones, your veins, and readies itself to implode.
And then your mate curls his fingers deep inside you, and it does exactly that. Release bursts through you at an unstoppable force. The impact of it surges to every corner of your body and has you shaking, gasping, screaming.
Cassian moans as if the climax is his own. He drinks and drinks and drinks, not letting a drop of you go to waste. He takes the clenching of your walls around his fingers and the harsh tugs of his hair. Takes it all, happily.
You’re not sure how long your head is spinning for, but you’re eventually coming down, just in time to see Cassian press a kiss to your belly. You tug his hair again and breathe, “Want you, Cass.”
“My beautiful,” he kisses your belly again, “beautiful mate.” As he pulls back, his hands drag down your thighs. “My goddess.”
He jumps up from the bed, and never have you seen him rid himself of clothes so quickly. Clothed, Cassian is stunning. Naked, he’s breathtaking.
Your eyes study him in utter awe, and you wonder — not for the first time — what you did so right in a previous life to have Cassian as your mate in this one. Every inch of him is firm and honed. Tan skin nicked with scars; bold, beautiful wings; rippling muscles and sharp edges. And his cock—
His cock has you swallowing.
It stands to attention, hard and proud and leaking at the head. Cassian wraps his hand around it and pumps a few times, his eyes still intensely on you. He grits his teeth.
“When you look at me like that,” he says, “you make me feel like a god.”
“You are.” Your chest rises and falls heavily. And you mean it — to you, he is. A god and goddess together.
Stark heat crosses his face, and he jerks his chin in signal. “Come here. I want you on top.”
He’s told you time and time again that having you on top of him is like having his prayers answered. Feeling you rocking on him, riding him, your thighs at his sides…a feeling like nothing else in the world. And you’re more than happy to oblige.
So you’re swapping positions. He’s sprawling back on the bed, wings beneath him, and you hover above him. You’re eager to feel him inside you, but you stop short at the weighty gaze that follows your every move.
You do not balk from it, though. This confidence is a stark difference from the early days of yours and Cassian’s sex life, when you’d do everything to avoid him staring at you for too long, when you’d insist on fucking in the dark. Cassian watches you approach like you’re the last meal he’ll ever get to have. He looks…lost for words.
You reach down, cupping his face between your palms. “You’ll give me an ego.”
“You should have an ego.” He turns his head, kissing your hand. “Fuck me, you’re exquisite.”
With a smile, you’re dipping down and slanting your mouth over his. And as Cassian kisses you back, he takes your hands, gently, slowly pulling you down, until you’re straddling him.
“Did you think about this during training, too?” Your voice shakes as the head of his cock brushes your entrance. “Being inside me? Having me ride you?”
Cassian kisses you so deeply, it leaves you breathless. A loud, wet kiss with his lips moulded to yours, his tongue and your tongue dancing. He pulls away only to tell you, “I think about being inside you, and having you ride me, all the fucking time.”
You smile, reaching behind you to palm at his cock. And a soft groan breaks from him as you pump his length gently. He sinks his teeth into his lower lip, moving his hand down to grab your thighs.
“Put me inside you,” he shudders, his callused thumbs sweeping your skin. “Need to feel your cunt around me.”
You can’t wait any longer, either. You steady his cock at the base, and the second it’s brushing through your soaked folds, you’re both moaning.
And even louder, still, as you sink so, so slowly onto him.
The more his cock slides into you, the harder Cassian grips onto your thighs. He grits his teeth, watching closely as you pause, allow yourself to adjust to his size, and sink down to the hilt.
“Fuck, you feel so good.” His hands smooth upwards, skating over your hips and round to grab at your generous ass. He squeezes, and then he’s lifting you, and you’re moving on his cock.
You could do this forever — have his long, thick length sliding in and out of you. In seconds, you’re slick enough, drenching him enough, to bounce on his length. You roll your hips, bracing your hands on the headboard and throwing your head back at the pleasure that skitters through you. Cassian leans down, sucking one of your nipples into his mouth.
“So full,” you whine, grinding against him faster.
“Yeah?” He breathes. “My cock fills you up nice and good, doesn’t it? I know exactly what this pretty cunt needs.” He lifts you up by your ass, growling, “You want it hard, my goddess?”
“Fuck, Cass, yes.”
“You gonna scream for me? Make sure those lot training on the roof know that I rushed away to fuck my mate like she needed me to?”
“Yes—gods.”
“Scream for me, then.” He grips you hard, and he gives you no choice but to scream.
He slams up into you, again and again, the angle so desperate and deep that your control utterly slips. You can’t pull it back. You can’t grab the upper hand and pin him down to ride him — and you don’t want to. Not as he hits a spot so deep inside you that another climax knocks the breath out of you, and you’re screaming, moaning, clawing.
A deep, smug chuckle breaks through the haze of your orgasm, but Cassian doesn’t falter once. His brow furrows more and more with every thrust. He’s holding you closer to him, burying his face into your neck, and you know he’s not going to last much longer.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” he curses, bracing himself, “how do you feel better and better every damn time?”
“Because I’m yours,” you pant, and Cass chokes on a groan, “and you are mine.”
“Always.” His mouth finds yours in a deep, unforgiving kiss, and he doesn’t pull away as his body begins to tremble beneath you, his thrusts faltering and becoming sloppy.
He slumps down, lying your body flush against his, and just like that, he’s on the home stretch.
“Give it to me, Cass,” you watch the pinched pleasure on his face, “I want you to spill inside me.”
Your mate throws his head back, a shout escaping him. His hips still as you feel the explosion of his orgasm deep inside you, painting your walls with his come. Spurt after spurt, it feels never ending, and Cassian groans gutturally through it all. He well and truly fills you up.
He stays inside you for a while after — while you catch your breaths. But when you’ve both calmed a little, he’s pulling back to meet your gaze, and a dazed laugh leaves him. “Fuck, that was good.” He breathes.
“Mmhm.” You smirk, leaning in to kiss him. “Better than your fantasising?”
“My fantasies can be pretty elaborate, but even this brain couldn’t conjure up anything as brilliant as you.” He kisses you back, his hand gently patting your ass. “My delicious little mate.”
You can only smile against his lips. And you’d be content to stay here all day, wrapped up in him, his mouth on yours. But you grin and snake your arms around his neck. “Cass?”
“Yes, my love?”
“You really need a bath.”
He jumps up without a word, your combined wetness spilling down those thighs he loves so much, as he carries you with him to the bathroom.
Plot: Cassian and you have a talk about kids after Nyx comes around and he now wants to do everything he can to make his own.
Warnings: cream pie, sex, p in v, breeding, marking etc, 18+ Minors DNI
You’d been Cassian’s mate for just over 100 years. You were born Illyrian but never inside a camp. You were hidden by your mother and father and older brother as they didn’t agree with the way females were treated.
Your dad has always worshiped the ground your mother had walked on. And your brother looked up to her as a strong resilient woman considering all she had endured.
Your brother became incredibly protective of you and would keep you a massive secret. Whenever he made you squeal with laughter he was quick to get you to quieten down with laughs of his own. And whenever you needed new clothes he made them from his old ones learning to sew so that they weren’t incredibly baggy on you, even though he would make a terrible seamstress you loved the thought behind it.
As you’d got older and were in your 50th year you snuck out and roamed the area only to bump into Azriel who was terribly confused at the young Illyrian woman roaming the cliffs looking awestruck at the sights.
He’d attempted to talk to you but your brother had intervened.
“Stay away Shadowsinger” he demanded and you look over to your brother in shock hoping to have got back to the house by the time he was back from training. He must have been early.
“I said stay back” he grunts seeing Azriel take a hesitating step forward.
“Why did you leave the house you know you aren’t supposed to!” He says to you a frown had formed on his face and you became increasingly disappointed in yourself.
Then a second large Illyrian joined, and your brother seemed to recognise him.
“General” he greeted, moving you softly behind him.
“What do we have here?” He asks gesturing back to you, he couldn’t really see you but could tell you were Illyrian from the large untouched wings on your back.
“Nothing, please leave us. I need to get her home” he says, and for some reason you decide to peek over your tall brothers shoulder.
A gasp had come from both you and the giant of a man who had landed not even seconds before. You had felt a tug in your heart one that you couldn’t decipher.
“M- you’re my mate!” Cassian says taking a step closer.
“Not a chance” you brother grits, his sword coming down.
“She’s my mate NOT yours” you’d remembered Cassian bellowing and you’d shrank back from the tone and sheer force of his voice.
“Not but she’s my sister. And until I know your intentions with her, she remains under my protection. I don’t care if I have to fight the both of you…” your brother argued, he was probably up there with Azriel and Cassian when it came to strength having multiple Siphons of his own in a beautiful orange colour, but that didn’t mean he’d be able to take on two of the most notable Night Court Personnel.
After that came Cassian major grovelling, you’d found him sweet and charming and even your brother seemed to loosen up to him after a few short weeks.
Cassian introduced you to Rhysand and his Inner Circle before explaining to you what mates are. You were utterly confused having never had this conversation at home. Your mother had said something about her and your dad being made for each other but at your young age it hadn’t even made sense and you’d stopped asking as you’d got older and more bored with the idea.
Then came your acceptance and the mating bond.
Then the frenzy which was the longest month of your life and the most exhausting.
Now here you were many years later with the rest of your now family having their own mates. Rhysand had found Feyre, and Nesta had found her mate in Eris Vanserra while Elain before expressing something for the Shadowsinger gave into the mate bond between her and the other Vanserra brother while Az progressed on with his feelings for Gwyn.
You and Cassian had done almost everything in the years you’d been together and you felt like it was time for a new challenge.
“Do you want kids?” You asked Cassian as you were sat on the sofa with your legs across his while he was reading a book Rhysand had suggested to him about the Art of War.
“Scuse me?” He asks looking up through his reading glasses at you that made him look delicious in a sexy sort of way that had you clenching your thighs.
“I was just thinking… and it’s the same old same old. I want a new challenge and all the babysitting I’ve done with Nyx just got me thinking …” you suggest with a sigh already regretting bringing this up and potentially ruining a perfectly good evening.
He places the book down and takes his glasses off before looking at you with a serious expression that you didn’t see often on his face.
“Are you serious” he asks, pulling you onto his lap as he caresses your back.
“More serious than that BlackBerry Pie” you offer and his eyes widen. You’d gone on a rampage over that pie nearly killing Nesta and Rhysand.
“Oh fuck come here baby” he says pulling you up onto him so your straddling across his lap, looking down at him.
“You want this too?” You ask happily looking at him in shock.
“Absolutely, I’ve been so good and careful when it comes to releasing. Now i can stuff you as full as I deem necessary until your full of my seed and bred nice and full of our future child” he admits and you don’t even hesitate to pull him into a passionate kiss.
Within seconds it’s like the frenzy all over again. Clothes are being torn and chucked in various different directions landing on the floor in crumpled piles until you’re both naked and ready.
Your hand it’s about to find his length and give it a testing pull when he flips the two of you round so your the one laying on the sofa on your back whilst he remains kneeling above you.
“No time for that I need to be inside you now” he demands and you nod, spreading your legs a little wider showing him that you were ready for that.
He groaned at the sight of your glistening entrance, wet and entirely ready for him.
He doesn’t waste any time holding his cock before entrance lightly teasing your clit by tapping it before pushing the tip in.
“Cas” you moan gripping onto his large biceps raising your hips to move him a little deeper but it seems like he’s the one holding himself back, the feeling too much and too soon for him that he just might cum now if you move an inch more.
“Please Cass I need it” you moan and with that he slams into you giving you no time to adjust to his girth as he continues his fast and deep thrusts that have your whole body jolting as he jack hammers into you.
He takes one of your legs in his hand helping you move it up into a better angle on his shoulder and the moan that comes out of you from this angle has him leaning into your neck kissing and biting across it as though marking his territory.
“Fuck we’re gonna make them perfect” he says as his thrusts become faster and more passionate as he thinks about the purpose behind you guys doing this. You weren’t just making love anymore you were also creating life and that was fascinating to Cassian.
“Please please please cum on my cock” he begs as his thrusts start to become sloppy and with that begging tone to his voice the quick building tension in your lower belly snaps with a blinding white release making you squeeze your eyes shut. He soon joins you after 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 last big thrusts before he buries himself inside you to the hilt his warm cum entering your body. You thought it could possibly be going straight into your womb with how deep inside you he was.
He was so deep that you could see and feel him in your stomach, a noticeable bulge in your lower belly as proof.
Just as you start to pull away Cassian tuts pulling you back towards him a frown on his face.
“You don’t think we’re done do you? I’m gonna stuff you full until I’m convinced it’s taken. It’s harder for fae so we’ll be here all night” he grins wickedly before folding you in half so your knees were touching your boobs as he spread you open into a mating press.
“Fuck Cassian, please” you moan looking up at him with those needy pleading eyes he loved so much.
“Anything for you darling. Anything” and before you could say anything a night on pair to the one of your frenzy started between your and Cassian and you couldn’t be happier in the positions he put you in.
Summary: An anxious Cassian meets your daughter for the first time.
Warnings: Fluffy goodness
Notes: For the ultimate Cassian girly @sarawritestories
"Hi, I'm Cassian. It's nice to meet you!"
The Illyrian General smiled crookedly as he spoke, clammy hands trembling around the flowers trapped within his steel-like grip.
"Fuck . . . fuck . . . Come on Cas, you can do better than that."
Slowly unfurling his wings, Cassian lightly shook them in the hope of brushing away his steadily growing nerves.
"Breathe Cas, breathe" the male exhaled deeply, rolling back his tense shoulders before locking his determined eyes onto the closed door in front of him, "Hi, I'm Cassian! I've heard so much about you!"
A groan of frustration tore from Cassian's lips, shoulders slumping in dejection as he miserably dropped the flowers to his side.
Cassian had seen his fair share of carnage, having stared death in the face a plethora of times and still lived to tell the tale. Yet no battle, nor life-threatening experience, could have prepared him for the terror he felt in this moment.
The great Lord of Bloodshed riddled with fear at the prospect of meeting your sweet little girl, so only for her not to like him.
It was almost laughable, thinking back to how confident he was when you had first brought up the topic of him meeting your daughter. Cassian recalled flashing you a toothy grin, eyes bright and laugh carefree as he promised you that all children loved him. He was, after all, Nyx's favourite uncle.
Yet now, standing before the door to your home, Cassian wondered if he would ever find the courage to enter. Every possibility as to how this introduction could go wrong festered in the male's worrisome mind, until his poisonous thoughts left his wings twitching with the desire to fly away and hide from his fears.
But Cassian couldn't bring himself to flee, not if it meant losing you.
So here he stood, the icy winter air uncomfortably nipping at his wind-kissed cheeks, rehearsing exactly what it was he would say to your daughter when he first met her. Seeking to gain back some control in the face of his uncertain future.
Adamant that he would not be the one to ruin the one good thing in his life, Cassian drew in a long shaky breath before trying again, "Hi sweetheart, I'm so glad I get to finally meet you."
"Right back at you gorgeous"
If the sight of the Illyrian General practicing a mental script to recite to your five year old daughter didn't bring you to the brink of laughter, seeing the way he startled at your sudden appearance did.
Cassian stumbling backwards as you pulled open your door to great him, cheeks flushing a deep rouge as though you had just caught him in a compromising position.
It was only once your laughter had subsided, and the low grumblings of embarrassment from the male's lips had ceased, were you then able to greet him. Your warm lips coming to meet his own frozen ones in a soft kiss, the action working to further deepen Cassian's flustered blush.
An impatient shout from inside pulled you from your kiss, a light chuckle leaving both of your lips as you quickly glance inside to where your daughter was waiting, "She's been talking about this all day you know? I've never brought anyone home to meet her before, she's really excited."
Your gaze falls to Cassian who was drawing in deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself. Concern pooling in your eyes as you watched how his lips were stretched into an anxious smile which failed to meet his eyes.
"Hey, there's nothing to worry about," you reassured your partner, moving a soothing hand to rest against his cheek, "she'll love you just as much as I do."
Appreciation swam in Cassian's eyes, a soundless thank you falling from his lips before he raised a bouquet for you to take. Or rather two bouquets.
"For you and Evelyn" he nervously mumbled, awkwardly shuffling his feet as he waited for you to take the flowers, "I wanted to get her something nice but . . . I'm not actually sure what five year old's like."
"They're beautiful Cas" you spoke, tears of joy lined your eyes at the male's generosity as you placed a gentle kiss onto his cheek in thanks.
"Are you ready?" you asked whilst stepping aside, making space for Cassian to squeeze himself through your doorway, the male having to curl his wings in tightly in order to fit through the smaller entrance.
"Come on, bat boy. It's time for you to meet your new best friend."
Placing the flowers down onto a nearby console, you led Cassian through your home, softly calling out to Evelyn as you approached the room she was playing in, "Evie, there's someone here to see you."
The sound of tiny feet padding across the floor followed your words, Cassian curiously moving his gaze to the entrance of the room as he waited for your daughter to emerge.
Only his eyes didn't quite catch her face as the small girl barrelled right into the skirt of your dress, shyly hiding within the flowing material of your skirt. "Come on Eves" you encouraged warmly, a tender hand coming to rest against her back, "Aren't you going to say hello?"
A little head tentatively peered over the fabric of your dress, Evelyn's eyes widening as she took in Cassian's wings which imposingly filled the space of your corridor. The nervous girl squeaked a small hello in the General's direction before moving to hide behind the safety of your body once more.
Worried that his wings were too intimidating, Cassian drew them in tightly, bending his knees in order to lower himself to Evelyn's level before greeting the shy girl, "Hi Evie, I'm Cassian." The male allowed a bright smile to cross his face as he watched your daughter's curious eyes peer over the skirt of your dress at his introduction, "Your mum has told me everything about you."
Wanting to aid Cassian who was growing increasingly panicked at the prospect of having to break the ice with your timid daughter, you bent down to speak to her, "How about we go into the room so you can show Cassian your toys hmm?" With a sheepish nod, Evelyn takes your hand, hesitantly moving out from behind your skirt in order to lead you into the living room.
Cassian followed suit, standing from his crouch before moving to the door, only to be unpleasantly surprised upon discovering he was unable to fit through the small wooden frame. His large wings blocking him from entering the room.
Curling them in tighter, the male tried again, attempting to walk into the room once more only to be stopped by the thud of his wings against either side of the doorframe. Just as a frustrated curse was about to tumble from Cassian's lips, a melodic laugh pulled him from his anger.
And Cassian could have sworn it was the sweetest sound he had ever heard.
There stood Evelyn, in the middle of your living room, clutching her stomach as she laughed to her hearts content at Cassian's unfortunate situation.
It was impossible for him to be angry, Cassian's brows unfurrowing at the beautiful sound of her laughter, a deep chuckle of his own breaking from his mouth as he watched the young girl giggle. Love already growing in his eyes as Cassian wished to bottle the sound of her joy.
"Evie," you started in-between your cackling, "Why don't you help poor Cas get in?"
It took all his effort for Cassian not to melt when Evelyn padded over to him, cheeks still rosy from her laughter, and held out a tiny hand for him to take.
Making sure to move his wings into a position that would enable him to enter the room, Cassian took Evelyn's hand which was dwarfed by his own, allowing the girl to pull him into the room.
"My hero" Cassian sweetly grinned, crouching down to place a delicate kiss onto the back of your daughter's hand, "Either I'm going to need some smaller wings or your mum's going to have to get a bigger door."
Another round of giggles fell from Evelyn's lips at his words, her little hand still tucked into Cassian's palm, the girl shaking her head as she quietly spoke, "I like your wings just the way they are."
"Thank you" Cassian replied with a smile, cheeks dusting with a pink blush at her sweet compliment. "I like your dress" he replied, coming to lightly poke Evelyn's button nose which earned him an excitable squeal from the girl before her face adorably scrunched into a picture of curiosity.
"Can . . . can I touch them?" Evelyn shyly asked. Her question being met with sounds of protest from you, knowing just how sensitive Illyrian wings can be. Yet Cassian's answer surprised you, the male telling the girl yes without even an ounce of hesitation.
"Here" he softly spoke, taking Evelyn's hand which was still wrapped in his own and moving it towards a spot on his wing he knew wasn't as sensitive as the others.
Not wanting Cassian to feel obliged to do this just to keep your daughter happy you protested once more, "Cas you don't have to-"
"I don't mind sweetheart"
And as Evelyn's hand came to lightly press against the membrane of his wing, Cassian couldn't stop the spark of joy he felt at seeing the young girl smile. Knowing in his heart that despite this being their first introduction, the General would do anything and everything within his power to ensure your daughter's happiness.
It took everything in you not to cry at the sight of Cassian sating your daughter's curiosity. At the dazzling smile which was painted across his face as he looked at Evelyn with such love. A type of love you had only hoped she would one day get to experience, the love that only a father could provide.
“Can I mama? Can I please?” Evelyn’s begging voice broke you from your thoughts.
“Can you what sorry sweetheart?” You ask, wondering exactly what it was that left your daughter so eager for an answer.
“Can we go flying? Please, please, pleaseeee.”
Cassian grinned at you wickedly from behind where Evelyn was stood, shrugging his shoulders as he mimicked your daughter’s pleading tone, “Please mama, we promise we’ll be good!”
As you flatly stared between Cassian’s smirking face and Evelyn’s equally mischievous smile you silently cursed yourself, scoffing in disbelief at the fact Cassian had known your daughter for under an hour and had already pulled her into his troublesome ways.
Praying to the mother for the strength you are going to need for the restless days ahead.
It had been an evening to remember for Evelyn, Cassian having been more than willing to occupy her until the late hours of the night. Bed-time forgotten as the two of them played and played until Evelyn was no longer able to keep her eyes open no matter how hard she tried.
Your daughter sprawled across yours and Cassian’s lap as the three of you cuddled on the sofa. It didn’t take much longer for you to follow suit and join Evelyn in her dreaming, eyes drifting closed as Cassian’s warmth pulled you into an inviting slumber.
Cassian was more than content to sit and watch the two of you sleep, lip curling at the soft snores which escaped from Evelyn’s mouth.
And as Cassian lay there with the two of you safely tucked within the sanctuary of his arms, he wondered if this was what he had been missing all of his life. For being here, surrounded by the small family you had built for yourself, Cassian could have sworn that his heart had grown two sizes bigger.
So as he stayed awake, scared of missing out on a single moment, Cassian whispered into the silence of the night. A hushed prayer for whoever was listening.
“Thank you” a soft smile graced his lips, “For bringing me my beautiful girls.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes: Ahhhh I love them so much 🥹
If you want to see any more of them and have an ideas for what it is you want please do feel free to send in some requests because I totally wouldn’t mind writing more about this little family 🥹
Written for my 2k followers celebration! Requested by @writeroutoftime! Thanks for the request Rita! This was seriously fun to write. Hope you like it!
Fandom: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Prompt: "I've waited for this."
Summary: Cassian's finally been un-banned from the Summer Court, which means it's time to celebrate with his mate and his friends.
Word Count: 1,739
Category: Fluff, Humor
Putting work into an AI program without permission is illegal. You do not have my permission. Do not do it.
I stood next to my mate, Cassian, the fearsome general of the Night Court's armies as he surveyed the scene before us with his hands on his hips. He took a long, deep breath in, then let it out slowly.
"...I've waited for this," he said. "For a long, long time now."
From Cassian's other side, I heard the High Lord of Summer let out a heavy sigh.
"Just don't make me regret this, please."
Cassian grinned, and I saw a cloud lower over Tarquin's expression.
"Don't worry. I won't."
With that, before anybody else could get another word out or otherwise change their mind, Cassian swept me into his arms and launched us both into the bright skies of the Summer Court.
I laughed, holding Cassian tight, his grin and joy contagious as the wind whipped around us both. After getting to the other side of the war with Hybern, we'd finally had time to do other things, like reestablish relationships with allies. And, for Cassian, part of that reestablished relationship with Summer included Tarquin officially lifting his ban on Cassian, as a sign of good faith and appreciation for all Cassian had contributed during the war.
Of course, neither of us had wasted any time talking to Tarquin and organizing a beach day with the rest of our friends to celebrate.
"This place already looks amazing," he said, leaning in to speak close to my ear as we swept across the land. I could see the shining coastline stretching out from here, with a small cluster of our friends already gathered and waiting for us. I squeezed Cassian's shoulder a little tigheter.
"Just you wait. You're going to love it here. And it has nowhere near as much pollen as Spring."
Cassian grinned, then carefully swept the two of us lower and lower, until we were able to touch down on the beach. Cassian immediately kicked off his shoes, wiggling his feet into the sand and throwing his head back with a sigh.
"Ah. It's been too long since I got to do this here," he said. I just smiled as I watched him.
He'd landed us just on the edge of the section of beach our friends had set up on. Since none of them had been banned from Summer, they'd all opted to come here early and set up a celebration for Cassian, while I'd gone with him to get his official pardon from Tarquin. As soon as Cassian looked in their direction, Mor put up a hand and waved us both over.
"Come on, you two!" she called. "We've been waiting for you all morning!"
Cassian wasted no time taking my hand and pulling me with him to our friends. Azriel sat on a lawn chair under an umbrella, a book in his hand, looking less than thrilled to be here. Mor, Rhys, and Feyre kneeled around a sand castle that looked remarkably like Tarquin's palace. And of course, slightly off to one side, Amren and Varian shared an armchair, Amren sitting between Varian's legs and leaning back against his chest with an almost feline smile on her face.
"What took you so long?" asked Rhys as we at last reached the group. "Did Tarquin suddenly have second thoughts?"
"I wouldn't blame him if he did," Azriel muttered, almost too quietly to be heard over the waves. Cassian just shot a scowl in his brother's direction, then flung an arm around my shoulders and pulled me to his side as he answered Rhys.
"It's been so long since I saw this place, I wanted to fly the long way with my mate to take it all in. Can you blame me?"
Rhys just snorted in response, and Cassian turned to address Varian.
"Are you here to spy on me? Make sure I don't do anything worth getting banned again?"
Varian just gave a noncommittal shrug, keeping his face carefully blank.
"I'm here to spend time with Amren."
Cassian grinned, this one with a feral edge to it, especially as his canines flashed in the bright sun.
"I'm sure that's at least part of the truth," he said. The corner of Varian's mouth twitched into a tiny smile as Cassian put his hands on his hips and addressed our group more broadly.
"Well! Thank you, everyone, for coming to celebrate my return to Summer!"
"We already had this planned!" Mor called, picked up a handful of sand and tossing it in Cassian's direction. "We'd still be here even if Tarquin hadn't unbanished you."
Cassian completely ignored Mor, his grin never faltering for a moment.
"As the honoree of the day," he said, emphasizing his words despite not looking directly at Mor. "It's my pleasure to officially say: Let's get this party started!"
I let up a whoop, and Feyre joined me. Rhysand clapped, a grin on his own face, and Mor had a smile, too, even as she shook her head. After everything we'd been dealing with lately, I truly couldn't think of anything I wanted more than a celebratory beach day. I got the feeling my friends agreed.
"Come on, Cass," I said, taking a half-step away from my mate and grabbing his hand. "Last one in the water buys the next round at Rita's!"
Cassian made it easy made it easy to pull him after me, the two of us racing for the shoreline. I thought I heard Mor swear before following after us, but no matter what, I knew I didn't need to worry about racing Cassian. We'd definitely be able to beat at least one of our friends to the water, so the first round at Rita's would be on one of them.
Cass and I hit the surf at the same time, then kept our momentum going as we barreled forward as fast as possible into deeper water. Once we got far enough, I plunged in head-first, coming up with a giant smile and a laugh. Cassian's wings made swimming a little harder for him, but through sheer determination and a little creativity, he made it work.
Mor, Feyre, and Rhys joined us not long after. Az seemed content to study his book on the beach, and Amren seemed to feel the same about laying with Varian, which meant the next Rita's tab would be on one of them. The five of us in the water had the time of our lives, splashing and diving and competing until we couldn't anymore. We eventually ended up just floating together in the waves, letting them buoy us in and out of range to the shore as we let the sun warm our faces.
Under the water, Cassian's hand found mine. I glanced over at him, but found his eyes still closed, face pointed towards the sky, even as he twined his hand with mine. I smiled and gave his hand a little squeeze.
"This might be paradise," Cassian mumbled after a moment. He spoke quietly enough, and with enough background noise, that I didn't think our friends could hear him. I pulled him a little closer to me through the water and he sighed. "I can't believe I spent so long banned from a place like this."
I couldn't help a little snort. "I can't believe you blew up a building the last time you were here."
Cassian sighed, then let go of my hand to wrap his arm around my waist, instead. He pulled me to him, and we floated like that, side by side in the sparkling ocean of the Summer Court.
"...I thought we agreed we weren't going to bring that up."
I grinned, even though I knew Cassian wouldn't see it.
"I agreed not to bring it up in front of Tarquin. That's a very different promise than not bringing it up at all."
Cassian let out a long, heavy sigh. Then, a split second later, his arm tightened around me and dragged me under the water. He let go almost immediately, but not before he'd dunked me and completely ruined my peace and relaxation.
"Cassian!" I shouted, coming up spluttering. When I got the salt water out of my eyes, I found him grinning at me. I narrowed my eyes at him, then let an absolutely feral grin stretch across my own face.
"Oh no," came Mor's voice from my right. Cassian and I both ignored her, our eyes staying locked on each other. "I was relaxed you two-"
"Just don't do anything to get yourselves banned from Summer again," Rhysand broke in, before Mor could finish her insult. In sync, Cassian and I's grins widened. There was a reason we were mates, after all.
To the side of us, I could hear Mor, Rhys, and Feyre moving out of the water, all three of them muttering and shaking their heads. I gave it maybe ten minutes before they decided to return and join the fray, once they saw that Cassian and I weren't in range of any buildings to destroy.
In the meantime, it'd just be the two of us. Magic would be fair game, as would recruiting allies once our friends decided to join the fun, although just because we could didn't mean anyone actually would join up with either of us. I used all of my strength to muster as big of a wave as possible and sent it at Cassian, and barely a moment after it hit him, he rushed me.
The two of us laughed, flinging water at each other, Cassian trying to sweep me into his arms and into the sky just to drop me back into the waves while I tried to wrap him up and drag him under. We'd had half of a nice, relaxing beach day. It only felt right for the other half of it to be spent on a water fight.
We stayed out in the water until sunset, when hunger brought us back to the beach for a campfire. The water fight hadn't had a winner, unless you counted the fact that we'd all enjoyed ourselves immensely, which I knew Rhys and Azriel would've hated to hear me say. Still, I couldn't help feeling like I'd won the lottery as I settled in on the sand next to my mate, surrounded by our wonderful friends just sitting, laughing, and talking around the campfire as the sun sank into the ocean behind us.
Now that Cassian had been unbanned and we finally had some breathing room from everything with Hybern, I planned to come back here with Cass as often as Tarquin would let us.
