The next morning the Night Court's rulers still hadn't heard from the Summer Court, so the High Lord decided that this was a perfect time to contact Feyre and Nala's sisters by showing up unannounced.

While Mor kept Feyre company in her room as the newly made Fae found clothes to wear on the days adventure, Nala was in her own room across the house. She was clad in a pair of high waisted, formfitting combat leather pants with a matching tight leather crop top that showed of her arms and the slight orange tint in her veins as she already had her fire magic running. On her hips were a harness strapped tightly with her favorite dagger Cleaver on her right thigh as well as two smaller Illyrian daggers strapped to her left thigh. Around her neck was a bronze necklace with a smoked crystal in the center. The necklace was short and placed itself just at her collarbone. A gift from Amren to remind the shorter girl that she always had a home in Velaris, a home with her. Her feet were placed in a pair of over the knees leather boots with 10 cm heels that gave the girl some height. Her hair she wore braided back to keep it out of her face and displaying her ears. Her black cloak over her arm as she left the room with every click of her heels bouncing along the walls. Walking down to the foyer she only saw Cassian, Azriel and Rhys.

"Well would you look at that!" Cassian smirked at her. "Who are you planning on killing on this little adventure to the human lands?" He teased, referring to the three knives on her harness.

Nala smirked at the Illyrian male, ignoring Azriel glaring at his brother. She had tried to ignore him since Cassian had made comments about how they weren't able to not touch each other. "If you aren't careful, then you." She winked. Rhys grinned at the offended look on Cassian's face and placed his arm over the short female's shoulders.

"I like this one," he grinned, making Nala smile. Rhys was a steady pillar in her life. A brother she had never had. A platonic protector. Feyre walked down the stairs and Rhys removed his arm from around Nala to greet her. And Azriel silently moved closer to the shorter Archeron. Needed to be close to her to smooth the burning longing he felt.

"I'm flying with Azriel." Feyre said, bringing everyone's attention to her and Nala had to bite her teeth together, so she didn't snarl at her older sister. One look at Feyre's feelings and Nala knew that Feyre feared her own feelings towards the High Lord. She was just trying to put some distance between the two and Nala could understand that. Cassian and Rhys however looked at the older Archeron sister like she had announced that she was going to take a stroll through Velaris naked.

Azriel, feeling the acceptance from Nala though their bond only bowed his head and said: "Of course." And that was the end of that.

Rhys winnowed Cassian and Nala fist, the two of them were to fly first. He went back after Azriel and Feyre when Cassian and Nala were in the air.

"Are you going to tell me what is between you and my brother?" Cassian said as they flew, the wall nearing steadily.

"Nothing" she answered, never looking at the male next to her. They were far apart but thanks to their fae hearing was able to talk. Nala kept her focus on the fog they were flying closer and closer to. She was looking for the opening.

"That is a lie" he called back but Nala saw no need to answer him, she had no way of convincing him, because he was right. So instead, she gave a harsh flap with her wings, overtook Cassian, and flew though the rip first.

"How did you know where the rip was?" Cassian asked when he once more was at her side.

"You can't see it?" She asked, confusion in her tone as she finally turned to look at him. Only to see the confusion on his face as well. He shook his head. Nala saw the look in his eyes, they had to talk about it when they got to the ground. With a nod, Nala showed the way to her family's estate. The group landed in the forest not far from the front door.

"It's best if me and Nala talk to them alone first." Feyre said as she stepped out of Azriel's arms. Rhys nodded even though he wanted to be by her side.

"We will be in the shadows, ready if you need us" he reassured them both. "You need to hide your wings" he then said to Nala, making her look over her shoulder to the massive black, feathered wings. She had forgotten that they would be an issue here. They seemed so natural to her now. Taking a deep breath, she focused her magic onto her wings and slowly pushed them in. When she opened her eyes again her back felt naked and defenseless. Azriel felt her discomfort and placed his cloak around her, developing her in his scent and warmth.

"I'm ready." She told Feyre, pulling her hood up over her head, hiding her ears and the orange tint of her veins along her now bare back.

Rhys winnowed them to the front door before hiding in the shadows with Azriel and Cassian. Feyre took a deep breath and then rang the bell. The two stood in the cold listening to the sonorous sound from the bell at the house's front door. The house that once had been theirs but now felt so strange to Nala.

The door opened with little to no sound and in front of them stood a chubby housekeeper with a happy face, she was just starring at the sisters. Mrs. Laurent Nala's shadows whispered. They were mostly hiding by Azriel's cloak but a few curled around her ears and her hands that were buried underneath the large cloak. "What can I help you..." she stopped as she stared at Feyre's face, Nala was much more hidden by her hood then her sister. But Feyre's covered the most important; the crown and her ears, but that glow, the supernatural stillness... Mrs. Laurent only opened the door ajar.

"I came to visit my family." Feyre got out. Her voice forced.

"Your... Your father is away, business, but your sisters..." She didn't move a centimeter. Nala however let out a relived breath, knowing that her 'father' wasn't home took a huge weight of her shoulders.

Mrs. Laurent looked behind the sisters. No wagon, no horses. No footprint in the snow. Nala cursed herself for not thinking about that. The Housekeeper paled, she looked ready to shut the door in their faces.

"Mrs. Laurent?" Nala felt Feyre tenseness go away, Elain's voice sounded like it always had. The sweetness, her youthfulness, the kindness, untouched by Prythian, not knowing what her younger sisters had done on the other side of the wall.

Feyre took a step backwards and Nala was right there with her. They would rob Elain of her life if they stayed.

Elain's face turned up over Mrs. Laurent's shoulder. Beautiful. She had always been the beautiful sister. Mild and graceful like a summer morning.

Elain's golden-brown hair was pulled up in a loose updo, her pale skin was smooth, and her cheeks red. Her eyes that looked like melted chocolate became wide when it accrued to her who was in front of her.

The tears made their appearance and ran down her sweet cheeks silently.

Mrs. Laurent didn't move a centimeter. She would shut the door in their face if either of the sisters made a wrong move. Even before Nala had run away the chubby woman had given her the side-eye. Now she was right-out glaring at the youngest Archeron.

Elain placed her hand before her mouth with her thin hand, she was shivering, and a sob escaped her.

"Elain," Feyre said hoarsely.

Steps on the stairs behind them were heard

"Mrs. Laurent, make a pot of tea and serve it in the sitting room."

The housekeeper turned and looked up towards the stairs, she then looked at Elain and then towards Feyre and Nala.

Two ghosts in the snow.

She glared at the two, a glared that promised death if they harmed their sisters. She then walked back into the house, leaving the two youngest Archeron sisters with a crying Elain.

Feyre took a step in the house, just one step over the threshold, Nala in her shadow, and looked up the stairs.

There stood Nesta with one hand resting on the railing. She stared at the two like they were ghosts. 

***

The house was beautiful, but Nala wanted nothing more than be back in Velaris. Be back in the townhouse or the House of Winds.

The 4 sisters were sitting in the sitting room, the two faes with the hoods up, Feyre had her finger out towards the fire, but Nala kept hers under Azriel's cloak. She didn't want her sisters to see the shadows swirling around.

Nesta and Elain sat close together on the small sofa in front of Feyre and Nala, looking at them, waiting. Their focus more so on Feyre than Nala. Like always.

"Where is dad?" Feyre asked, not looking at Nala, knowing what the man had done to the youngest.

"In Neva," Nesta said. . "He is trading with some merchants who come from the other side. And then he must attend a summit on a threat that is bigger than the wall. A threat that I think you may have come back to warn us about."

There was no relief, no loving words – never from her. Nesta was as cold as Nala was dark. Which was a lot.

Elain took a cup of tea. "No matter why you are here Feyre, Nala, then we are happy to see you. Alive. After Nala ran, we thought you were..."

Feyre ripped her hood off, before Elain was able to finish her sentence.

The teacup clinked in the saucer when she caught sight of her ears, her long slender hands - her face is so unmistakably resembling a High Fae's.

"I was dead. Dead, and then I was reborn – Made," Feyre said. Her voice shaking a bit, but not enough for human ears to hear. Just enough for Nala to hear it though along with the stream of uneasy and fear she felt from her older sister.

Taking a deep breath, Nala too took of her hood, letting her sisters see her true self. See her fae heritage, her amber eyes no longer dull but alive with fire and her ears pointed, her hands swimming in shadows.

Elain placed her clinking cup on the table between them. The amber-yellow tea ran over the edge of the cup and landed in the saucer.

Nesta moved, placed himself - very discreetly - between the youngest sisters and Elain.

Feyre held her gaze. "You must listen to what I have to say."

They both sat with wide eyes. But they listened.

Feyre told her and Nala's story. In as many details as she could, talked about the time she spent Under the Mountain. About the trails. About Amarantha. She told them about her death. Her rebirth.

She explained that in the past few months, despise the peace it had been harder. She told how Nala had found her and how Nala was half fae from birth. Both Nesta and Elain looked at their youngest sister different after that. With a deep hate that had never been there before and a fear she didn't want to see in her sisters' eyes.

Feyre did it short. But explained what they needed to know. What had to happen here, what she needed the house for, what they all had to do, and what she needed from them.

And when she was done, they still sat with wide eyes. Silent.

It was Elain who said something first. "You ... You want another High Fae to come ... here. And ... and our queens."

Feyre nodded slowly.

"Find another place," Nesta said.

Feyre looked at her, praying, prepared for a quarrel. Nala's eyes grew cold despite the flames in them.

"Find another place," she repeated, ranking her back. "I do not want them here in my house. Nor near Elain."

"Please, Nesta," Feyre sighed. "I have nowhere else to go. Everywhere else I would be hunted, skinned alive ..."

"And what about us? What do you think will happen to us when people find out we're fae-lovers? Then we're no better than the Children of the Blessed. Any kind of status, influence – long gone. And Elain's wedding ... "

"I don't give a shit about all that crap!" Nala interrupted; her patience long gone. "We're facing a fucking war and you worry about a fucking wedding ?!" She asked, the flames in her eyes so violent that Elain hid behind Nesta. "If we cannot use this fucking shitty house to meet with The Queens then we have lost and Hybern has won! Then the humans are well on their way back to becoming slaves and all that blood will be on your hands, Nesta!" Nala's hands were now also in flames, her shadows growing violent as she stared down at her eldest sister. Feyre put a hand over Nala's burning wrist and with a glance made her sit down again. Nala had not even noticed that she had gotten up or that her flames had burned Azriel's cloak away, revealing her orange veins.

"Careful" a shadow whispered in her ear, one of Azriel's shadows. She could feel it twisting on her neck and down her body, avoiding her breasts by a millimeter.

"Wedding?" Feyre asked, bringing the attention back to her while Nala used Azriel's shadow to anchor herself and relax.

Elain was pale as she looked down at the ring.

"In 5 months. She's going to marry a good owner's son. His father has dedicated his life to putting down your kind when you cross the wall," Nesta said.

Your kind.

That was all the oldest Archeron sister saw when she looked at her younger sisters. Some creatures. Not her sisters.

"So, there can be no question of holding meetings here let alone letting High Fae into our house," Nesta continued, without showing how much Nala scared her.

"Does that also apply to Nala and me?" said Feyre quietly.

Nesta's silence was answer enough.

"Nesta," said Elain.

Slowly the oldest turned and looked at her.

Elain wringed her hands. "Nesta, if ... if we do not help Feyre and Nala, there will not be a wedding, Nala is right. Neither Lord Nolan's defense nor his men can save me from ... them." Nesta did not show any emotions. "We keep it a secret - we're sending the servants away. Now that spring is on its way, they'll only be happy to go home for a walk. And if Feyre needs to come and go to the meeting, they'll send a message first, and then we make sure to send everyone away. We've come up with something, so it's necessary for them to go on holiday. Dad is still there until the summer. No one will discover anything. " She put a hand on Nesta's knee. Nesta's purple dress almost swallowed Elain's ivory white hand. "Feyre and Nala gave and gave - for years. Let's help them now. Help ... others."

Feyre felt a lump in her throat, her eyes felt burning. While Nala was still trying to curb her furious temperament. If Nesta said no one more time, Nala was not sure she would be able to control herself and just hoped that her and Azriel's shadows could hold the explosion inside.

Nesta looked at the ring on Elain's finger, which Elain caressed, yes almost rocked it. Elain had become a grown woman. She dared to put something at stake.

Feyre met Nesta's gaze. Her hand still held Nala's wrist. "There is no other solution."

Nesta lifted her chin a little. "We'll send the servants on vacation tomorrow."

"Today." Nala said, her voice was hoarse and sounded animalistic as her eyes locked on Nesta. "We cannot afford to waste any more time. Send them on vacation today!" she snarled.

"I'll go do it," Elain said, more than ready to get away from Nala. The youngest have always been scary when she was angry, but this was a whole new level of anger for Nala. Elain took a deep breath and straightened her back. Like a graceful fallow deer, she slipped out of the sitting room without waiting for anyone's answer.

"Is he a good man - the landlord's son - the one she is to marry?" asked Feyre when Elain was out of earshot. Unlike Nala, Feyre still wanted to have a sisterly relationship with Elain and Nesta. Nala gave up on it many years ago.

"She thinks so. She loves him the way she is."

"And what do you think?"

Nesta's eyes - Feyre's eyes, their mother's eyes - met Feyre's. "His father has built a stone wall around their estate that is so high that not even the trees are taller. I think it looks like a prison." Nala snorted. In her optics, this house was just as much a prison.

"Did you tell her that?"

"No. The son, Graysen, is good enough. He's as in love with her as she is with him. It's the danger I do not like. He only sees the money she brings to their estate - to his crusade against the fae. But the man is old. He will hopefully die soon.

"We must hope so."

"Your High Lord ... you've been through all this," she said, pointing to Feyre's ear and body, "... and yet it did not end well. Why not?"

Feyre became heavy around the heart and Nala's anger grew greater. She snarled at the thought of Spring's High Lord. "Him the landlord built a wall to keep the fae out. My High Lord would keep me in a cage."

"Why? He let you go back to us then."

"He wanted to protect me, take care of me ..." Nala growled, her anger only held back by Azriel through the bond between them. "... and I think what happened to him, to us, Under the Mountain, ruined him. The urge to take care of me overshadowed everything ... even my health and my emotions. I think he tried to come but he could not. It controlled him. "

"And now you live in another kingdom? With Nala?" Nesta asked without looking at the youngest sister.

"Yes. Do you want to meet them?"