Aelin let her fingers run over the different fabrics.

One tunic snagged her attention, red with gold detailing. She grinned, knowing the exact mask she would be wearing.

So when she swaggered out of the suites, with her golden hair polling to her shoulders, red and gold tunic and black pants. She looked as if born of fire.

As she was.

The doors to the dinning hall flew open, Aelin strutted through them, hips swaying and chin up. The High Lord glared at her, his hands tightening around his silverware. The red head's face tightened and paled. Feyre looked uncomfortable and uneasy, but Aelin saw her eyes-pure delight. But there was another woman at the table.

A blonde with blue robes and silver circlet. The tight frown and hand on her stomach made Aelin want to snarl. She knew plenty of people like this woman, like the snake of a woman Clarisse. But Aelin kept the simpering smile on her face as she took the end seat.

The other head of the table.

Tamlin didn't seem to miss the move. Good.

"Celaena," Feyre seemed to swallow a lump in her throat. The nervous House Wife, trying to play host. "this is Ianthe, and I don't recall you ever being told Lucien's name." So the snake and red head had names. Fine. "Would you like to explain a little about yourself, and then we will do the same?" The message was clear between them, give these fools nothing then meet later on.

"My name is Celaena Sardothien. " She said while eyeing her plate of food. She took careful bites, just to piss him off by implying he had poisoned it.

"Is that all you care to share?" Tamlin growled. His threat was heard, and ignored as Aelin propped her feet up on the edge of the table and tossed a bit of bread into her mouth.

"Yep." She chirped and took a sip of her wine.

"Perhaps if we opened up a little first?" Feyre seemed to plead. "Ianthe is a High Priestess, one of twelve. Lucien here is Second in Command. Together they run the Spring Court. One of Seven courts in all, above the wall at our southern border." Tamlin tensed with every word from the wolf's mouth. Lucien growing steadily paler.

Ianthe wore a bland smile, but one look at her and Aelin knew that the woman thought she was the smartest person alive.

"Fine." Aelin sighed, but the grin slid back into place as she swirled her wine. "I'm from no lands you know of." Lucien took a fairly large swig from his wine, Tamlin's eyes narrowed. "That is all I will say. Rest assured, I have no quarrel with you or your people, I simply wish to look into your libraries." She took another sip.

"If it means you go back to what ever hell realm you came from, by all means." He waved a hand to encompass the Manor. Aelin's answering smile and flicker of power was enough to have the male snarling.

-)(-

Feyre knocked on the woman's door. Replaying the moment of Celaena waltzing into the dinning room over and over in her head, she had to smile.

The woman had looked like a living flame, and the flicker of power from her was enough to think she was. When she had done that, her eyes had glowed like Armen's. The thought alone had Feyre chocking back her feelings of sadness over missing the "Tiny Ancient One", then anger at the people around her for taking Armen away from her.

But when Celaena had mentioned libraries, Feyre knew where she had to send her.

The woman opened the door on Feyre's second knock. Celaena had on a pale pink nightgown, that barely covered all of her curves. And showed exactly how many scars she had.

Feyre gave her a small smile. "I wished to speak with you."

"I'd be delighted." Celaena crooned as she ushered Feyre inside. "If you can, put a shield around this room, my particular skill set doesn't allow for sound proof shields." She went over and sat down on the bed, crossing her legs at the knee and smiling like a snake.

"Already in place." Feyre smiled like the wolf she was, both girls sitting there and grinning. "I came to talk to you about your claim on the libraries."

"What about it?" Celaena flicked her hair over her shoulder, angling her chin.

"I know where you will find the most extensive library on this continent." Feyre smooth out her skirt, frowning at the fabric. "In the Night Court." Her eyes gleamed at the mention of her home.

"From what I gathered, the Night Court is where you're from, but those idiots out there don't like that." She leaned forward. "Why?"

"It is too long of a story to explain right now. Maybe my mate can tell you once you are inside his territory." The edge to her voice said enough about the situation. The girl blinked at the word "mate", like it hurt to even hear. Her voice did not come back for a good few seconds.

"How do I get to the Night Court?" Her throat sounded raw, like a wound had just been opened in the middle of her and she was trying to hide it.

"You'll have to go through many other courts, unless I can get someone to come pick you up." Feyre mumbled, a hand holding her chin. She gave Celaena enough space to pick herself back up. "Unless you can fly or teleport."

Celaena snorted. "Nope." She popped the "P" and smirked. "But I am very fast and very hard to find. Tell me what to do and it will be done." The hard gaze she fixed Feyre with held no room for doubt.

"Okay, here's what you'll need to do."