chapter two

─── starlit dinners

          ℑ think that the only time that I had felt such fear as before I left for the Night Court to become Rhysand's betrothed was when the war began. I had been one of the healers during those years and I had never seen such death and heartbreak before. Sometimes, the thought still kept me up at night, and I couldn't imagine the fear that the soldiers must have felt on the front lines.

"For you," I turned at my father's words, watching as he placed an ornately carved dagger into my hand. "For protection, should you need it. The metal is infused with ash wood."

"Thank you," I muttered, everything suddenly becoming far more real that it had seemed last night. My hands trembled as I slid the dagger into one of the few bags that I had, before passing it to a waiting attendee. 

"You be good, Carasai," My father muttered, resting a hand on my cheek. "You can always come home if things get bad."

Both of us knew that the sentiment was false. In all sense, I now belonged to the Night Court as the betrothed of Rhysand. He owned me now and if I was to run away, he was well in his right to hunt me down and drag me back to the Court of Nightmares.

"Come on, little one," Helion appeared in the doorway, a grin on his face. "Let's get moving."

"Of course," I pressed a kiss to my father's cheek, before hurrying to Helion's side. I knew that if I stayed even a minute longer in the palace, then neither of them would be able to get me to leave.

Helion steered me through the palace, before winnowing us to the Court of Nightmares. Just like a few days earlier, the obsidian throne room was just as cold and dark. Helion and I stood out in our golden jewellery and white clothes, like stars in the night, except I feared that I would fizzle out soon after.

Rhysand and his older sister were there again, each looking just as cold and unforgiving as the first time we met. His father had disappeared somewhere, and I was more than happy without his unforgiving presence around to scare me further.

"I leave my sister in your hands, Rhysand," Helion grinned, though there was an edge to his tone that held a warning. "Take good care of her."

"Of course," Rhysand's voice was deeper than Helion's, power tainting it's edges like blood on a sword. He had a slight accent, but it was barely noticeable except on certain words.

"Maiya," Helion nodded at Rhysand's sister, who cocked an eyebrow. "Always good to see you in such a cheerful mood. My offer still stands. Sister."

Helion pressed a kiss to my head, before winnowing out of there as I was left with the two siblings, silence falling over us. Maiya, his sister, patted Rhysand's shoulder, before turning to sweep out of the room, heels clacking on the floor.

"I'll take you to your room," Rhysand muttered, holding his hand out for me. I placed my hand into his, the warmth wrapping around me and causing me to shiver at the stark contrast from the cold of the room. 

"Thank you," I muttered, as he lead me down dark corridors set on top of cliffs, with open windows that dropped down into nothingness. The stars glimmered, and I wondered if there was every any sun in this place. I'd be finding out soon enough.

"It does get sunny," Rhysand murmured. I froze. "You wanted to know if there was any sun here. There is."

"I didn't say that aloud," I spoke slowly, knowing that I hadn't asked that question aloud. I had read of what this was before, knowing that the phenomenon was only ever seen in the Night Court. "You can read minds."

"Yes." 

This was going to make things weird then.

"It won't," Rhysand shot me a softer look, the ghost of a smile starting to form on his face. I felt slightly better at the sight of it, having feared he'd be as cold as his father. "I'll teach you how to make mental walls, if that would make you feel better. It helps you stop projecting thoughts all over the place."

"That would make me feel so much better," He nodded, a laugh coming from his lips as I smiled at him. Maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't be that bad.

∘☽༓☾∘

That night, as the darkness drew nearer, a knock on my door sounded. Rhysand stood in the entrance way to my new chambers, dressed in a different dark shirt, that clung to his arms and chest like a second skin.

"It's dinner now. I just came to escort you," I took a deep breath, smoothing out the dress that I had changed into. Instead of the bright white dress that had been common in the Day Court, I had located my darkest dress to blend in with the walls and my betrothed's family. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you," He nodded, extending a hand for me to take. "Who will be there tonight?"

"Maiya, my father and mother," Rhysand revealed. I nodded, hoping that his mother was slightly more pleasant than his father. "She is. Don't worry."

I nodded, before we reached another corridor, that lead into a large dining room. Rhysand's father wasn't there yet, only his mother and sister. Maiya was lounging in a chair to her mother's left, a glass of wine in her hands and an unimpressed look on her face. His mother, on the other hand, beamed at me. She swept around the table, pushing Rhysand away from me so that she could pull me into a hug.

"You are just as beautiful as your late mother,"

"Thank you, my Lady," She waved me off.

"None of that. We are family now," I nodded, allowing a small smile to slip past my lips. "Call me Nehir."

"That's touching," Azazel, Rhysand's father appeared, glaring at everyone, before he slumped into a seat. "Sit down."

Rhysand led me to a seat, before we fell into silence as dinner was served.

"When are you going back to the Hewn City?" His father's tone was sharp, the question directed towards Maiya, who was pouring another glass of wine. She looked up, not looking amused, not that I had ever seen her smile. Her eyes, a darker violet than her brother's, narrowed further as she seemed to fight a scowl.

"I was going to stay here for another week, to see my brother married, unless that is forbidden."

"Yes, you have overstayed your welcome." Azazel snapped, as I tried not to turn to Rhysand. Was this a normal family occurrence? What was the Hewn City and why did Maiya have to go back? 

"Azazel," I watched as Maiya's glare darkened, but she didn't do anything, chewing her food and catching eyes with Rhysand. "We have a guest. I'm sure Maiya just wants to help Carasai settle in."

"And fill her brain with ideas of running off to find her mate, more likely."

"You banished me." Maiya seemed to get out through gritted teeth. "You then invited me back to be present whilst you made this deal to sell off your son. Make up your mind."

"Hewn City, then," Azazel glared.

"As his grace commands." Maiya spat, before storming off down the corridor behind her, her heels fading. Rhysand sat next to me, looking down at his plate.

"And when are you back to the war camps in the North?"

"Two weeks," Rhysand replied, his tone quiet. "I was going to take Carasai with me, drop her off in Velaris along the way."

"You'll be married first. A week," Azazel commanded, before downing the wine in his glass. "That will be all."

Rhysand nodded, before holding his hand out for me to take. I furrowed my eyebrows, having barely eaten anything, before allowing him to escort me from the room, an argument starting up behind us.

"I'll get a maid to bring you dinner later," Rhysand nodded at me. "Welcome to the family, I guess."

He dropped me off at the door of my chambers, before rushing back in the other direction in the hopes of finding his sister, leaving me wondering what I had gotten myself into.

∘☽༓☾∘

Hiya,

So, Maiya and her father don't have a great relationship and Rhysand is trying his best to hold his family together and be good to Carasai.

Let me know what you think,

Love Li xx