𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐌 𝐎𝐅 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓.
chapter thirteen; Back To Spring
"But I can be your sister, Feyre. So you may have them in both lands."

NIXIE WAS A poorly masked monster. She was arriving with the other guests, as if she were a normal noblewoman, traveling to the High Lord's home for his perfect Spring wedding to the perfect savior of all of Pyrthian.

  But Nixie wasn't like the other guests. And they reminded her of this.

  Glares and sneers pelted off of her blue cloak, so dark it almost appeared glittering black even in the bright afternoon sun.

  It had been her weak attempt at hiding her identity, at least until she reached the woman who had invited her.

  Cassian had reminded her moments before she departed that her wings would tell a story everyone would know, and these were not a thing that could, or should, be hidden by any amount of fabric.

  She hadn't felt like this in years, she remembered.

  Sure, Nixie had been a piece in Amarantha's collection-- entertainment, the monster of Night Court, but this was different.

  And it hurt.

  More than it had before she was shoved Under The Mountain, more than it ever had.

  It hurt.

  "Nixie!"

  The woman felt her shoulders release tension she held unknowingly at Feyre's voice.

  Mere seconds after she had passed the threshold into that familiar home, the mortal-turned-fae was embracing her.

  "Feyre," Nixie breathed out in greeting, bringing her arms around the girl in a tight hug, "It is so good to see you again."

  And even though it was, Nixie could tell as she pulled out of the embrace, that something was wrong.

  Something in Feyre's heart, in her eyes, was all wrong.

  But Nixie hardly had time to think about this as she noticed a man approach them.

  Her posture went rigid, face growing cold as she watched his eyes focus on the bandaged wings hanging from her spine. As if they were a thing for him to gawk it, to pity; Nixie wanted to remind him she could tear him apart with or without those Illyrian wings, and the only reason she wouldn't was because of the woman at his side.

  But she settled for a rigid greeting.

  "Tamlin."

  "Nixie."

  Feyre's eyes danced between the two, the tension nearly suffocating her.

  "I brought you a gift," Nixie said, tearing her eyes away from Tamlin's before she ripped the man apart for daring to breathe, "Excuse us, Tamlin."

  Feyre allowed Nixie to interlink their arms, the woman leading Feyre through the maze of fae mingling quickly.

  "You did not have to bring me anything, Nixie," Feyre finally spoke, "I. . . hardly thought you would come."

  "I hardly did," Nixie admitted, pushing open doors that lead to the gardens outside, "I do not have the best relationship with the people of. . . this Court. I'm surprised you convinced him to allow me here."

  Feyre watched Nixie inhale the Spring breeze deeply, sighing out at the sun.

  She knew this much, at least. Tamlin had not been shy in sharing what Nixie had done, in an attempt to sway her from sending an invitation.

  It had been a battle, for days, between the soon-to-be-wed couple. Yelling and arguing, pleading and begging, they had gone back and forth so much that Feyre hardly had the strength to keep pushing.

  And yet, the letter had gone out.

  "I know I did not have to get you anything, Feyre," Nixie almost whispered, turning to the woman, "But you are my friend."

  Friend.

  The way she said it, Feyre thought, felt like far more than a simple word.

  Nixie smiled small, reaching into the pocket of her cloak, producing a small box.

  "It's not a very traditional wedding gift," Nixie admitted, passing the gift to Feyre, "But, it seemed fitting."

  Feyre pulled the golden string carefully, pulling off the deep blue top to reveal a simple necklace.

  A golden chain, thin but glittering, holding a single charm, a crescent moon.

  No jewels, no crystal or gemstone.

  Simple, beautiful, shining.

  "It's. . . gorgeous."

  "I do not know if we will see one another soon, if ever," Nixie said with a sad smile, "I wanted you to remember that you will always have a friend in the Night Court."

  Feyre smiled softly, inspecting the necklace once again, before looking back up at the woman.

  "How are you?"

  Feyre knew, firsthand, how foolish the question was.

  That Nixie was probably unwell, just as she was, that being free did not mean they were truly free, and it was likely Nixie was having as much, if not more, trouble than Feyre was.

  "Recovering, slowly," Nixie said honestly, "It's. . . strange."

  "It is."

  "Even now, I'm standing in a Court I've hated for more than half of my life," Nixie almost laughed, "But all I can think about is how beautiful the sun is."

  Feyre smiled small for a moment.

  "You must miss the warmth, being in the Night Court."

  Nixie's lips curled into a knowing smile, shaking her head at Feyre's puzzled expression.

  "You still have much to learn," Was all Nixie said.

  Feyre's brows knitted as Nixie's posture straightened, her lazy smile fading into a tight line.

  "Is something the matter--?"

  "Did you inform your. . . Priestess I was to attend, Feyre?"

  Feyre's eyes darted around the courtyard until they landed on Ianthe, who was busy mingling with the many nobles milling around.

  "Yes," Feyre breathed out, "She advised me not to."

  "Breaking the rules, are we, Cursebreaker?" Nixie questioned, "Is she involved in the wedding?"

  "She's organized it," Feyre nodded tiredly, "And will be the officiant."

  Nixie sucked her teeth, nodding once with finality.

  "Well, if you'd like to spend time with your. . . betrothed. . . before tomorrow, I suppose I can settle in."

  "Here, let me show you where you'll be staying," Feyre said quickly-- too quickly.

   Feyre realized she was all too eager to stay at Nixie's side, even in a court that was to be her home. She couldn't understand why-- why she felt so drawn to the woman she barely knew, the one her husband-to-be said was a monster.

  Why she felt safer with Nixie than she did with Tamlin.

  But Nixie just smiled, and agreed, following Feyre's quick, quiet, footsteps, and let out a soft laugh as Alis attempted to assist Feyre-- and the woman refused.

  Feyre led Nixie to a room much smaller than her own-- four walls, a grand bed, and an armoire were all that filled it. Alis had set out a new vase of bright roses, but this was the sole decoration.

  It almost mirrored a prison cell.

  "Thank you," Nixie said as she entered the room, "For inviting me, Feyre."

  "You are my only guest," Feyre attempted to joke before the realization consumed her.

  "I'm honored," Nixie said in a softer tone, sitting on the side of the neatly made bed, "I know it must be difficult. If you have family left in the mortal lands. . ."

  "I do. A father, and two sisters. . ." Feyre said quietly. "Do you have family, Nixie?"

  A soft smile graced her harsh features.

  "I do," Nixie said, "I have my mother and father. . . two brothers. . . and two sisters. . . and another. More complicated person."

  "Wow."

  "They're quite a lot to deal with, truly," Nixie sighed, "My brothers are always out of control. . . one sister is doting, the other I fight with often. . . the last is someone I cherish. Perhaps that is a story I will share another time. . . but I know in the end, the five of them are always by my side."

  Feyre frowned at that. Small enough to be missed by anyone who wasn't paying attention.

  "I know it's not quite the same," Nixie said quietly, resting a hand on top of Feyre's, "But I can be your sister, Feyre. So you may have them in both lands."

  Feyre just nodded, without a single word.

  "Would you like to stay in my room, Nixie?"

  "Do you not share one with Tamlin?"

  "Not tonight."

  "My, my," Nixie sighed, standing, "How different our courts truly are."

  Feyre let out a laugh, inquiring further as Nixie hooked their arms together. As they made their way through the busy home, Nixie explained to Feyre how. . . passionate Illyrians could truly be.

  Feyre was beet red and laughing loudly as they arrived at her room.

  They settled down quickly, both women more tired than they knew, and as Feyre's eyes fluttered closed, she realized Nixie was the first person who had made her truly laugh since they had escaped from Under the Mountain.

( AUTHOR'S NOTE.)
Wow I missed this book
and Nixie so much