celebrating the uncanon

Finally, Feyre thought when she reached the shipwreck. Then she cursed her own thoughts. Of course the shipwreck was a tragedy but it was also a chance for Feyre. Carefully she swam through the wreck towards the man, putting two fingers on his neck as she felt for the pulse. Alive! Yes, that was a chance for her. Everyone who laughed at her for being young and inexperienced would come crawling to her, apologizing for judging too quickly. Feyre was a defender at heart. A protector. Everything she wanted was to keep peace between the peoples and she would. One way or another, she would. Starting with a mortal. A pirate, from what he looked like. She took his gun and threw it away, that wouldn't be necessary underwater. With a grunt, she heaved the unconscious man towards her. He was way bigger than Feyre, much more muscular and heavier. When she finally had him in the water, carrying him bridal style, someone yelled, "Hey!"

Feyre whirled around, to the sound. Another man stared at her, his purple eyes not leaving her as his hand wandered to his holster. That was definitely a gun in there. Shit, shit, shit. Panic grabbed her as her eyes flicked to the discarded gun she just threw away. He must have looked for the man in Feyre's arms. Maybe he stole from them? Doesn't matter, they can't hurt her human. Feyre shrieked scared when he took the gun and quickly went below the surface, racing away from the shipwreck to the grotto she found earlier that day.

"Hello," a quiet voice sounded beside him, followed by something sharp poking into his side. "Please don't be dead. Sir?" Cassian groaned and swatted whatever poked him away. "Oh, thank the mother of the sea." the same voice breathed. Then something hard slammed into his stomach, "Wake up!"

A groan escaped Cassian again and he opened his eyes, looking at the woman who swam in the pond beside him. No, not a woman. A mermaid. And this wasn't a pond, it was a grotto. "Where am I?" Cassian asked the woman. Her gray-blue eyes followed his movements curiously. She held a stick, probably the one she just poked him with. "Who are you?"

She straightened and pride shone in her eyes as she announced, "I am Feyre Archeron, daughter of the ocean and defender of the northern seas." she nodded at Cassian, holding her stick like a scepter. Cassian pushed himself up, sand clinging everywhere to him. "I found you in a shipwreck and brought you here."

Cassian held his head. Shipwreck? Shit. "My brothers."

Feyre tilted her head, "What about them?"

Cassian stood on shaky legs. "My brothers! They were with me."

Feyre's eyes went wide, "Did one of them have purple eyes?"

Cassian narrowed his eyes. "Yes."

Feyre cringed. "Well, that explains why they were so angry when I saved you."

"WHAT?"

Feyre protectively held her hands in front of her, backing away when Cassian took a step forward as she stammered, "I-I thought he was going to hurt you and I can't– I can't let that happen! I am a protector, Sir! I protect the people and the sea! Im- I didn't know! I promise!" her knuckles turned white around the stick.

"Where am I?" Cassian repeated.

"I brought you to a grotto."

"Oh really?" he asked sarcastically. Feyre didn't seem to hear the sarcasm, though, as she nodded in confirmation. Cassian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "How long was I unconscious?"

"Only about two hours." Feyre said. "I healed your wounds."

"How?"

"I gave some of my blood."

Cassian gagged. "Blood?!"

Feyre rolled her eyes. "Humans are so ungrateful." she sighed. "Whatever, let's go, then. I'll bring you back to your brother."

"How? Do you have a boat?" Cassian asked. Feyre stared at him as if he was insane. "A ship? A sailboat? A sloop? A canoe?" she tilted her head at him, like a confused puppy. "Skiff?"

"No, I don't have a boat. We are swimming, it's not far." she told him. "Come in, it might be a little cold but you'll get used to it."

"Feyre, I can call you that, right?" she nodded. "Okay Feyre, I can't breathe underwater."

Feyre gasped as if she forgot. Her eyes went distant as she absentmindedly caressed her lip with a finger. Then her face lit up and looked at Cassian, "Wait here!"

"It's not like I have a choice." he mumbled but Feyre looked at him expectantly so he sighed and said, "Yes, I'll wait!"

She made some kind of happy noise and then dived into the water, splashing water on Cassian with her tail.

As he waited, he sat down on the edge of the little fond inside the grotto and crossed his legs, wiping water off his face. He had the distinct feeling that Feyre didn't do that out of any evil intent, she really was like that. If Cassian wouldn't be so worried about his brothers, he would find it strangely adorable.

Feyre returned when Cassian watched the water reflecting on the ceiling, still holding her stick in one hand and in the other some green stuff. Seaweed? "Eat that!" she commanded him, pressing the glibbery greens in his hands.

"I'd rather not," he said.

"It's either that or staying here, whatever you prefer." she replied, shrugging. "It's going to give you the ability to breathe underwater for a few hours, long enough to get you back to your brother,...what's your name?"

"Cassian." he replied, frowning at his hand.

"Okay Cass, your choice. Eat it or stay." she waved her stick in front of his face. "What's it gonna be?"

Cassian shook his head, closed his eyes and stuffed the whole thing in its mouth. It tasted as disgusting as it looked, which made him gag but Feyre's hand was at his mouth, "Keep chewing. Yes, good job, chew, chew, chew. Yes. Now swallow. Don't spit it out, swallow. Yes! Good job!" Cassian opened his eyes and looked at her but before he could say anything, she took his hand and pulled him under water. He tried to swim up again, but her grip was too strong. It took him a few seconds of panicking before he realized he could breathe. "You can talk." Feyre told him

"How?" he asked, surprised that he indeed could talk.

She shrugged, "I don't know, I didn't ask." Feyre was now so close to Cassian, that he realized her eyes had different colors. The right one was blue-gray and the left was pink, like the streaks in her brown hair.

"Let's go!" she said, swimming towards a small tunnel. It was hard keeping up with Feyre, even if she already tried to swim slow for him, she was still way faster than him. After a few minutes of struggling and Feyre being way ahead of him, she turned around. "Oh!" she hurried back and extended her hand. Cassian already tired himself out and was grateful for that hand, taking it with a quick thanks.

"So you're a pirate? Together with your brother?" Feyre asked him.

"Brothers," Cassian corrected. "Yes, we are pirates."

"You must have a lot of treasures."

"Thinking of stealing?" Cassian teased.

"No!" Feyre snapped. "Of course not."

"Right, you're just kidnapping poor, unconscious humans. My bad."

"I saved you! How could I know that this was your brother? He tried to kill me!" she said defensively.

"You kidnapped me!"

"I saved you!" she hissed. "I feel like we're going in circles here, Cassie. Another question, does your mother know what you're doing? Do you have a mother?" Cassian was not in the mood to answer this. Fortunately for him, Feyre kept talking, "I don't have a mother."

"You don't?" Cassian asked softly.

"No, when I hatched out of my egg I was all alone. Had to fend for myself my whole life. Many of the ocean folk judge me for being neglected as a merling." she shrugged as if it was nothing.

"You were alone from the time you were a baby? How did you survive?" Cassian asked, realizing too late that it was too rude of a question.

Feyre didn't seem to mind as she replied, "Luck?"

"I'm sorry," Cassian told her and meant it. He knew exactly how it was to survive at a very young age. Living day by day and hoping whatever you would do, it would be enough. He was incredibly fortunate that Rhys's mother had taken him in, taught him the necessities that he didn't have the privilege of learning before. Looking at Feyre, it seemed like she never had that same luck as him, although it did not seem to bother her. He couldn't imagine that she didn't care, he still fought the repercussions these days brought upon his very soul. But when he watched Feyre, she seemed content. Almost happy. Her face lit up when they swam past pretty plants and rocks, she greeted every fish they came upon and for some reason, the stick she held was very dear to her. Cassian felt something akin to admiration for Feyre and dread when she announced, "We're there! That's your shipwreck!" she pointed with her stick. Not dread because he was about to see his brothers, he couldn't wait to see them, but parting from Feyre…Cassian shook his head. Pathetic, he knew her for a few hours and she had kidnapped him. Well, saved. At least that's what she wholeheartedly believed. Her grip on his hand tightened as she swam to the surface.

It took Cassian a moment to be aware of all his surroundings, the change so sudden that he lost any sense of orientation. Then he saw the shipwreck.

"Do you want me to bring you to the shore?" Feyre asked.

Cassian shook his head. "No, it's fine. Well, um, thank you, Feyre. Not for the kidnapping–" she rolled her eyes, "but thanks for bringing me back here. I– I need to go."

She nodded. "If you ever need me on your travels," she extended a hand, holding a shell. "Squeeze this and I will come. It's enchanted."

"Thank you." he took it and put it in his pocket, pressing a quick kiss on her cheek. He didn't look long enough as he already made his way to the shore but he could have sworn she blushed.

"Rhys?" Cassian called out when he hit the beach. "Azriel! Rhys!" he yelled. He knew Rhys was alive. Shit, he should have asked Feyre if he had any injuries. He just– "Azriel!" he panicked. "Rhys!"

And then he heard footsteps. Cassian looked up at a hill, where he met the hazel eyes of his brother. "Az–" Cassian said, relieved, then Rhys showed up. He didn't stop beside Azriel, he raced down the hill and Azriel immediately joined him. Cassian's eyes were still a little wobbly, but he stumped forward, hugging his brothers. "You're alive!" he said.

Rhys opened his mouth to say something but before he could speak, an "Awww" sounded behind them. He grabbed his pistol before Cassian registered what happened.

"You," Rhys growled. Cassian whirled, staring at Feyre. What was she still doing here? Feyre began shrieking like crazy, barely dodging the bullet.

"Stop!" Cassian said, "Stop that! Don't hurt her!"

Rhys eyed him suspiciously, then Feyre yelled out of breath, "That's why I saved him! You're crazy!"

"Saved?!" Rhys asked, enraged, but Cassian grabbed his pistol and motioned for Azriel to put his own away. He didn't but at least he put it down. "You kidnapped my brother!"

"I didn't know he was your brother, you stupid idiot!" Feyre snapped, surprising Cassian. "What would you think if you were me and you'd see me sneaking around with that…gun!"

Rhys growled. "So your best idea is to steal him away?!"

"Do you have any other ideas, genius?" Feyre yelled back, waiting for an answer but nothing came. "See! And I brought him back so you better get off your high seahorse!"

"Enough!" Cassian interrupted. "Feyre thought she was saving me, she made a mistake. She brought me back. I'm fine."

"I really don't know how you can be brothers." Feyre called. "You look nothing alike and Cassian is so much smarter than you."

"Are you having a crush on him?" Rhysand asked her mockingly.

"Of course not!" Feyre answered instantly. Rhys's eyebrows shot up at how fast she answered. "Anyways, where are you traveling now?"

Before they could bicker any farther, Cassian answered, "First we need to find a ship and then somehow find our way back to the north."

"Okay, first of all, if you wander east, you should find a haven with a bunch of ships and trust me, they are very theft friendly. I had a friend once, Enar, but she traded her tail for a nice pair of legs. She borrowed a ship from there and that was the last I have ever seen of her. If you'd ask me, I'd say that was a stupid bargain. I would have located the amulet of the ancient sea queen Oriana, it's enchanted so you can change between sea and land form whenever you want. But no, it was too much work and she was short on time." Cassian couldn't see her but he imagined her rolling her eyes with the tone she was telling her story. "Well, unfortunate for her. And second, I can help you travel home! I know the ocean like I know myself. I know myself very well."

Rhys snorted. "And why would you want to help us?"

"I am Feyre Archeron!" she said. "Daughter of the ocean and the defender of the northern seas. I take my job very seriously, Sir."

"How would you accompany us if you can't change your form?" Azriel spoke for the first time.

"I'd swim! I would always stay near your ship." Feyre said.

Cassian looked at the ocean beyond Feyre, an idea forming in his mind. "Let us think about it, Feyre. I'll call you if we need your help but before you go, can you tell me about that amulet?"

"Oh, I see. You're already planning your next adventure and you're not even home yet." her face lit up. "Okay, come here–"

It was incredibly easy to spot Feyre. She perched on a rock, watching over the waves and absentmindedly twirling her hair around her finger, the other hand holding her stick. Apparently, she was so deep in thought that she didn't even see their ship closing in, until Cassian called out her name.

Her face lit up, a wide smile spreading on her face and she waved at him. "You came back!" she said, as if there was a chance that Cassian wouldn't have come back for her. The blue scales on Feyre's tail shimmered in the sun like a million gemstones.

"And I have something for you." Cassian called. He made a quick job of pulling his shirt off and then jumped into the water.

"Cassian!" Feyre giggled, doing the same. It was a matter of seconds until she was right in front of him. "You look well."

"Oh, I am." he grinned. "Especially now."

"I missed you!" she called out, then immediately shutting her mouth as if she told him a secret he wasn't supposed to know.

"Good, because I missed you too." he said.

"So, I guess your brothers are here, too?" Feyre asked.

"They are." Cassian confirmed.

"Does he still want to kill me?"

Cassian huffed a laugh. "No, I explained the whole situation. He's a bit weary but he understands. He'll warm up to you in no time."

Feyre smiled and looked down, "You said you have something for me?" Cassian's grin turned into a smile and he held up the necklace. Feyre gasped in surprise, "You found it! You– you got the amulet!"

"I did," he confirmed. "And I want you to have it. Feyre Archeron, daughter of the ocean and protector of the northern seas, would you do me the honor and join me and my brothers on future adventures?"

"Yes!" she said. "A thousand times, yes!" she threw her arms around him, and her laugh sounded so happy that it nearly undid Cassian. "Can you put it on me?"

Cassian gestured for her to turn around and she did. "How did you even get it?" she asked as he fumbled with the clasp.

"Oh, you know, I just had to fight a shark and an octopus," he replied.

"Alright, just another Tuesday, then." she giggled.

Feyre turned around but Cassian held her close to him. "Ready to start a future together?"

"With you? Always."

Rhysand

It's been a long day at the Moonstone castle. From daybreak on Rhys had back to back meetings and now he was just tired and wanted to get a snack. Or sleep. Or a bath. He'd decide about the order of these things when he got home. Which would delay even further if the expression on Azriel’s face, who just strode through the big double doors, was any indication.

"Who died?" Rhys asked when Azriel fell into step beside him.

"No one. Yet." Azriel replied, earning a raised brow from Rhysand. "Someone breached the borders. There is no commotion whatsoever, no attempt to cross the castle grounds but someone definitely broke into the realm."

Rhysands stepped slowed as they reached a crossing, one leading to the stairs that led to his bedroom and the other in the direction to the front door. "Where?"

Azriel crossed his arms, "Illyria, near the training grounds. Cassian already holds off anyone who tries to snoop and waits for you."

Rhys nodded at Azriel, who took his cue and vanished into the shadows. He looked at the ceiling and sighed before he winnowed to the training grounds. Stuffing his hands into his pockets, he strolled through the gathered crowd of training Illyrians who parted for Rhys to let him through. With every nearing step, Rhys picked up a whimpering which made him hurry forward. Finally reaching his brother, he saw what this was all about. Cassian crouched beside a female, his face pale as he looked up at Rhys, the female sobbing and whimpering. "Get back to training." he told the crowd. He didn't raise his voice, didn't snap the command but the growl in his voice made it clear that this was a matter he wouldn't argue. This was a command. Fortunately, none of the Illyrians were testy enough to try to argue.

His attention fixed on the trembling female and Cassian again. "Did she say anything?"

His brother shook his head, his hands balling into fists as he looked at the bloody back of the female. She was wearing a dress which seemed like it was white once but it was drenched in blood and her back– Rhys felt the blood draining of his face as he watched the two stumps. There was a pair of wings on her back that were now cut off. Fury hit him so hard that wanted to unleash his power. Whoever did this to her–

"My wings," the female sobbed. "Please, my wings,"

Rhys swallowed, looking back at Cassian. "Get a healer," he told him. "I'll bring her to my mother's house."

Cassian didn't need further instructions as he jumped up. He threw one quick glance their way and then he flew away.

Carefully, Rhys picked the female up. He tried not to touch her wounds but that was nearly impossible as she started thrashing and crying. "Hey, hey," he said in a calming tone. "You need to listen to me, okay? I can help you but you need to listen," her bloody hands grabbed his shirt tightly, but she stopped thrashing. "I can take the pain from you," Rhysand explained, "but you need to allow me to help you. Can I help you?"

"Please," she croaked, nodding before she buried her face into his neck. Rhysand immediately went into her mind, past the fragile shields and took her pain. When she slumped back in his arms, he winnowed into his mother's cottage, where he had spent his whole childhood. He ascended the narrow staircase, opening the door of the bedroom and laid her down on the soft bed, on her stomach. She groaned.

It was barely five minutes later that Azriel brought the Madja, followed by Cassian, who still looked fairly pale.

While Madja worked on the female, Rhys, Azriel and Cassian waited in the sitting room downstairs. Too anxious to sit down, Rhys walked back and forth through the room.

"Did you learn something?" Azriel asked from the nearby chair.

Rhys sighed, "She's Seraphim," he told them. Rhys had already suspected it when he first saw her but when he went into her mind, he was sure.

"An angel? What is an angel doing here?" Cassian asked.

Rhys shrugged. He didn't have a clue about what happened and how she got here and assuming wouldn't get them far. Wordlessly, Cassian gave him a glass of whiskey that Rhys instantly drank.

"Will she be…alright?" Azriel asked.

"She'll live." Rhys replied. Cassian and Azriel exchanged a look, knowing what Rhys didn't have to add. She'll never fly again.

Cassian murmured, "She's going to wish she died today."

Although Cassian was right, Azriel threw him a look and then asked, "Will she stay here?"

"I'm going to move her to the Moonstone Palace when she's stable enough to travel." Rhys answered, ignoring what Azriel really meant, will she stay in this realm?

It's long past midnight when Madja deems it safe enough to relocate the female to the Moonstone Palace. Azriel was already gone on a mission and Cassian had passed out on the couch hours prior. Rhys told Nuala and Cerridwen to change her out of her bloody dress into nightclothes. Madja had told Rhys that she would be passed out for another few hours but Rhys didn't want to risk her to wake up all alone, so he settled in a high backed chair after Nuala and Cerridwen were done and rested there.

Feyre

Feyre awoke in a strange bed. She didn't remember falling asleep and her memories of the previous day were foggy at best. She opened her eyes and lifted her head, staring down at a black satin pillow. That was definitely not her bed. Sighing, she tried rolling onto her side but a pain in her back had her crying out and slumping back, then strong arms eased her back on her stomach. Memories hit her of the day before and her hands shit to her back, only meeting the stumps of her wings. No. Her throat closed up, tears spilling down her face. He took her wings. No, she did. It was her mother's idea for disobedience and of course he listened. Her father didn't have wings but he knew that they were everything to angels. Only a monster would take their wings.

"Hey," a deep voice said softly. "Look at me."

Feyre whipped her head towards the male, from the striking violet eyes, her gaze wandered up to the set of horns on his head. A demon had entrapped her. She started thrashing, getting as much distance between them as possible. Her back screamed in protest. "Shit." the male murmured, glamouring his wings to make him look normal. Normal for a mortal at least and normal for angels, because Feyre was aware every demon had horns.

She wheezed through the pain as she scrambled back on the bed until her hands met nothing and she fell right off the edge of the bed. The demon stepped towards Feyre, she backed into the curtains of the window. "Stop! Don't come closer!" she yelled.

The Demon stopped and held his hands up, "I'm not going to hurt you, I just have questions."

"What questions?" Feyre asked, clenching the hem of her shirt in her fist. She looked down at herself. That wasn't what she wore yesterday, yesterday she had worn a dress and now she was wearing a loose, turquoise pajama.

Before she could ask, he already opened his mouth, "What's your name?"

She blinked in surprise. That's his first question? "Feyre," she answered quietly.

"Okay, Feyre," he said calmly, sitting down on the edge of the bed, "I'm Rhysand but, please, call me Rhys." he waited for an answer so she nodded, then he continued, "I need to know how you came into this realm."

Feyre put a hand over her heart, silently counting to ten to calm herself down. Rhys only stared at her, waiting, but not impatiently. "I tried to, well, after…" she swallowed and pointed to her back, Rhys nodded in understanding. "I don't know how I landed here. I was in pain and I just needed to get away before they started to hunt me and I winnowed. I needed to get somewhere safe but…" she shrugged, pointing around the room. "I got here."

"You are safe." Rhys vowed, genuinely.

Feyre hissed when her back hit the wall. She hadn't realized she backed farther away. "I don't know where to go." she pressed out. "I'm in exile, I can't go back home."

Rhys stood up and crouched down in front of her, but with enough distance that Feyre could run, if she wanted to. His violet eyes stared at her, so intensely that she feared he was looking right into her soul. "You can stay here, Feyre. Either you stay in this room or we'll find another lodging for you, I won't send you away."

"Thank you." she breathed.

Rhys smiled, extending his hand, "How about I'll show you the palace?"

Genuine, he was so damn genuine that it scared Feyre. No one was ever this nice to her, without expecting something in return, even home. She should be scared. Scared of the tall, handsome demon who crouched in front of her. Still, she took his hand. "I'd kill for a walk."

Rhys's eyes shimmered with amusement, "I think you'll get used to this realm fairly quickly."

Feyre was stiff. Every step she took made her back protest but she needed to walk, so she'd endure it. As they walked the beautiful Moonstone halls, two other demons who looked similar to Rhys joined them. They introduced themselves as Cassian and Azriel. Both were dressed in similar attires, black leathers from head to toe adorned with stones, they were called siphons, Azriel told her. His were a cobalt blue and Cassian's shimmered a crimson red. Although Feyre's eyes fixed in their wings. Not at all like her own were. These were leathery, like a bat's wings, with talons at the apex. Cassian caught her gaze, his own filled with pity but then he smirked and cracked a joke about Rhys being a moody bastard. It's true, Rhys's mood seemed a little down since his brothers joined him. When Feyre looked back at them, Rhys's arm around her waist tightened.

He had wrapped his arm around Feyre when she stumbled, stabilizing her. She had insisted on his arm staying there, because she still felt a little weak. It was definitely not to smell his citrus and sea scent.

Feyre had expected a bustling in the halls, full of servants and royals but the only people wandering the halls were them. There was a faint sound of someone making a bed and another person humming a melody. The only sounds they made were the echoing sounds in the black and white tiled floor until they reached a balcony, where a little table stood laden with fruits and tarts and muffins. Feyre's mouth watered at the sight and her stomach grumbling in response. She couldn't remember when she last ate.

Cassian hurried forward, pulling a chair out and gesturing to Feyre to sit down.

"I can do that on my own." she said but sat.

"Oh, I'm sure you can," Cassian said, taking place on his own chair. Beside Feyre sat Azriel, beside that sat Cassian and opposite of her sat Rhys. The other side of the table was pressed against the railing.

Feyre didn't look to the sky, couldn't look at the birds soaring through the sky like she once did. The wound on her back was deeper than what Rhysands healers stitched together. The missing weight of her beautiful, midnight blue wings grew heavier with each breath.

It was Azriel who brought her back from her thoughts, "So, what's your story then?"

Feyre looked at him, really looked at him. And at Cassian. And Rhys. She hadn't paid attention to them before, not like this. Quickly, she realized she wasn't scared of the horns, she was just used to the stories that they told her. But they also told Feyre that angels are there for one another, guiding and helping and being good. It wasn't good to cut one's wings off for disobedience. Not when Feyre did it to help a lost soul. So she pushed these stories away and looked at the three demon brothers in a new light and she found that they were all fairly handsome. And for the first time in her immortal life Feyre let herself want. She wasn't supposed to want when she was back home, she was supposed to do her duty and go on with it.

Shadows curled around Azriel’s ear and his gaze become predatory, Cassian slightly stiffened and Rhys's nostrils flared. When the scent of arousal hit Feyre, she cursed herself. Of course they could smell her arousal as she could smell theirs. So she shook her head, cleared her thoughts and answered Azriel’s question. She told them everything, from her childhood to the present day. She told them about their parents, who were more interested in throwing parties and keeping the image of a happy family than actually caring about their own kids. Feyre told them about her love for art, told them about her sisters, told them about her first lover that she took to spite her parents. She told them about the female her parents wanted her to be and told them about the female she became. She even told them about her job in her realm, guiding lost souls into their final paradise and how she loved her job, despite all the expectations weighing on her shoulders. Feyre told them about her love of flying, how she spent every free minute soaring in the sky, she didn't bother to wipe her tears away. Feyre told them about the system she worked out for their realm, to make oncoming groups of lost souls less chaotic. How her father ignored her idea and her mother told her it wasn't her business to make these decisions. How Feyre thought, if they didn't listen they would see. How her plan had worked out perfectly, but her mother had punished her for disobeying, taking the thing that Feyre lost most in the whole entire universe, and then setting a target on her back. She told them how she had fallen.

They listened through it all, intently. Their gazes not leaving Feyre once, which made her uncomfortable and grateful all at once. She hadn't realized how much she needed to talk about it until she did.

"I'm surprised you didn't finish the job when you found me wounded." Feyre finished her story, taking a long sip of her orange juice.

Rhys had an arm slung over the back of his chair, the older holding a glass with amber liquid. "On the contrary to what the angels say about us, we are not at war with your kind, Feyre. Many of yours who were exiled before now reside in this realm."

Feyre tilted her head, "Isn't this a place for punishment?"

Rhys smiled, "This is a place for justice." he said. Then he exchanged a look with Azriel, who dipped his chin, then Cassian who did the same.

"It's rude to talk about someone when they sit in front of you." Feyre said, mock hurt.

"Excuse us, Feyre darling, but we just agreed we have the perfect job for you." he told her leaning back. "If you decide to stay, we want you to keep guiding lost souls to their place in death, as you already have experience in this. You can start training as soon as you feel fit enough again."

"And," Cassian threw in. "If you want to join our training sessions every morning, you found yourself a teacher."

Feyre's face flushed in embarrassment. "I was never allowed to do such a thing."

"You are now." Cassian grinned so brightly, that Feyre did too. "Azriel is going to show you the realm so you can navigate yourself."

"You mean it?"

All three nodded. Feyre jumped up, throwing her arms around them and smacking kisses on their cheeks. "I could kiss you right now!"

"Who?" Cassian asked.

"You all!" she said, her back hurting but she ignored the pain for that moment. It would be a long road but at least, there was a road.

Feyre began spending time with each of the males, learning more and more about them and finding that she started to care about them, even feeling protective of them. Although they all decided to not talk about that time when a gorgeous demon tried to flirt with Cassian and she growled at them.

Months later, Feyre twirled in front of her mirror, looking at herself in her flimsy nightgown. Her golden-brown hair hanging down her back in soft waves. She still missed her wings terribly, some days so much that she couldn't even get out of bed but she was healing. Slowly but surely, she was healing.

When the knock finally sounded, she squealed in delight. A look out of the window told her that dusk, fortunately, went by pretty fast and now the stars were shining down on Velaris. Smiling brightly, she opened the door to the three males. Rhys was picking lint off his black tunic, Azriel leaned at the wall with crossed arms and Cassian already smiled at her. Their eyes lit up when they looked at her, then filled with hunger when they traveled down. Excellent.

"You requested us?" Cassian asked.

Feyre nodded, swallowing. She could ruin everything right now but she had to shoot her shot. "I…I wanted you to stay the night." She stretched her legs, which exposed more of her skin.

"With who?" Azriel asked, practically growled.

"With you." she said, pointing at him. He smiled faintly, Cassian and Rhys looking vaguely disappointed until Feyre pointed at Cassian, "and you," Then at Rhysand, "and you."

Cassian tilted his head, his dark hair falling over his shoulder. "Like what? You want to take us in shifts?"

Feyre looked up at the ceiling and sighed. "No," she said, "I want to have you all, in my bed, at the same time." the last words she practically purred.

They all exchanged glances again, as they did so often. Feyre had learned in the previous months that this was how they communicated, with Rhys's Daemati gifts.

"Are you sure?" Rhys asked then. Feyre smiled brightly at the implication. They were interested.

"Mhm." she hummed, then purred, "Why choose?" before she pulled them inside.

A blast of her power closed the heavy wood doors, a blast of Rhys's powers put a hard shield around their room.

Elain wandered through the red stone corridors of the House of Wind, quite disoriented. It's been almost two years since she had first resided here, right after she went into the cauldron and Feyre had sacrificed herself to get them out of the throne room, so Mor could bring Nesta and Elain right here. Then Feyre returned weeks later and from there on they moved to the town house. That was the last time Elain was longer than for a few, short visits in the House of Wind, although she didn't really explore the house when she lived there, either. Unfortunately for her because now she couldn't find her sister. "Nesta?" Elain called through the empty corridor, clutching her bloody hand.

Initially, she just wanted to pick up a gardening book from the library but then Elain found a plant that was in desperate need of her help and that turned into hours of gardening until she cut herself. Her Fae healing should have already stopped the bleeding and the blood should have coagulated already but unfortunately that wasn't the case. She didn't know if something was wrong with her or if it was the magic of the house but she didn't think too much about it, she just needed to find her sister or some bandages. "Nesta!" Elain called again, turning around a corner and almost crashing with someone who just walked down the stairs. The stairs. Great, Elain walked in a circle.

"Oh!" a surprised yelp echoed through the halls and Feyre snapped her eyes back to the girl. Her hair was a coppery brown and her wide teal eyes were fixed on Elain. Gwyn, Elain realized. She was Nesta's friend.

"I'm sorry." Elain said quickly. "I'm looking for Nesta, did you see her?" she should have, because Gwyn was wearing her training clothes.

"Nesta just left with Cassian." Gwyn explained, her eyes wandering to Elain’s hand. "Oh gods, are you okay? Of course not, you're bleeding. There's bandages in the bathroom, I'll show you." apparently, the question was written all over Elains face as Gwyn smiled sheepishly and said "I didn't snoop, I cut myself a few weeks ago during training."

Elain nodded at her and Gwyn took it as a gesture for her to lead the way. She followed Nesta's friend to a bathroom that was only a few feet away from the stairwell. Elain sat down on the edge of the bathtub as she was scrambling through a cabinet, making a satisfied sound as she found what she was looking for. Gwyn perched on the edge of the bathtub beside Elain, took a washcloth and held it under water for a few seconds. "May I?" Gwyn asked, pointing at Elain’s hand.

"Of course." Elain said, extending her hand for Gwyn to take. Her hands felt soft as they grabbed Elains calloused ones, because of all the gardening she did. For some reason it made Elain feel self conscious but she tried not to show it.

"This is going to hurt a little." Gwyn said quietly as she cleaned Elain’s hand. She only nodded and watched Gwyn as she cleaned her hand, applied salve and bandaged it. Her hair was bound in a ponytail and a white ribbon was wrapped around her forehead, a similar one that Nesta had braided into her hair sometimes, and she was wearing Illyrian leathers. Her brows were scrunched together as she focused on Elain’s hand. Her hair simmered copper when the sunlight illuminated it. When Gwyn looked up she smiled at Elain but they weren't in the bathroom anymore. They sat on a table in a garden, the garden in the River House, Elain’s flowers in full bloom and Gwyn was laughing about something. A female hand was tucking a flower behind her ear, Elain’s own hand she realized in shock.

"Elain?" Gwyn's soft voice sounded and Elain shook her head, getting rid of the remnants of her vision.

She looked down at her bandaged hand and wriggled her fingers. "It's perfect, thank you." Gwyn smiled brightly. "Did you do that before?"

"Once or twice." Gwyn sighed. "My friend, Lorelei, can be clumsy." she shrugged and stood up, extending her hand to help Elain. She accepted the hand with a smile and they both left the bathroom.

Before they could part ways, Elain blurted "You're working in the library, right?"

"Yes." Gwyn replied. "I do."

"Would you – Would you be able to help me find a book? My sister, Feyre, looks for a specific one."

Gwyn's eyes widened at Feyre's name but she nodded, her smile not leaving her face. "I would be honored to help the High Lady, and you."

Elain smiled in return. "Thank you so much, do you have time tomorrow morning?"

"Tomorrow morning would be perfect!" she said.

"Okay," Elain took a step back. "It was so nice to meet you, Gwyn. I'll see you tomorrow!"

"Goodbye, Elain." Gwyn called after her.

Now Elain only had to think of a book that Feyre would need.

Feyre quickly pulled out her phone to take a picture of her sheep Cottonball because she looked adorable and sent it to her boyfriend. Grabbing her apple juice, she sat down at the dining table and answered a few messages that she didn't have the time to answer yet. She took a sip of her apple juice as she watched the thirty tiktoks and memes that Cassian had sent her over night.

When Rhys finally answered, Feyre smiled down at her phone as she replied.

"You shouldn't text back so quickly, let the punk stew a bit." her father finally said. When Feyre looked up, he was smiling at her, nodding to her phone. She rolled her eyes at the nickname he had for Rhys and said "I'm not taking relationship advice from you, you fucked my mom."

Now it was his time to roll his eyes, "I already told you that it was just one time."

Feyre snorted. "You got her pregnant, too."

"You say that as if it's something bad. I am very happy about your existence." he said, a strand of his blond hair falling in his face as he leaned forward, putting his arms on the table and propping his chin in his hand.

They stared at each other for a moment, Feyre raising a brow in question as a grin spread on her father's pale face. Although it was her who broke the silence first "Dad?"

The amusement on his face faded and was replaced by curiosity as he replied, "Yes, Princess?"

"How did you even meet her?" Feyre asked. "I mean, it could have been anyone, why her?"

Her father chuckled at Feyre's incredulous tone, at the topic they already talked about a handful of times. "I was under the influence, honey. I wasn't known for making the best decisions when I was young."

"No substance in this world could be the cause for this bad of a decision." she murmured.

Her father only laughed as he leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. "Trust me, you're wrong." he said.

Feyre opened her mouth to answer but in that moment the front door opened and Mor yelled "I'm hungry!" she sauntered into the kitchen and looked at Apollion and Feyre. "Oh you're already here." She grabbed a few cookies from the kitchen counter and sat beside Feyre "What are we talking about?"

"My father is telling me how he met my mother." Feyre replied, snatching a cookie and munching on it as Mor straightened.

"Please tell!" she shouted excitedly. Her father sighed in defeat.

"Fine, but there is not much to tell," he said.

Mor shrugged "That's okay."

Feyre continued to chew on her cookie as her father looked out of the window, the sun illuminating his pale face.

"Don't you remember that day?" Mor asked.

"No, I remember that day very well, it was the day of my father's funeral." He told her and Mor choked on her cookie.

"I thought you met Feyre's mother at a party." she turned to Feyre, "You told me he met her at a party."

"He did."

"You went to a party on the day of your father's funeral?" she asked Apollion.

"No." he tsked, watching as Mor relaxed. "I threw a party."

"What?" she asked incredulously.

"You see, my father and I always had a bad relationship. I was in a piss poor mood and it was my last day before traveling back to Romania, so I decided to throw a party." he grinned at Feyre and Mor. "That kind of party my father would have hated."

"Did you take drugs?" Mor asked.

Feyre snorted as her father raised an eyebrow. "I'm supposed to be a role model for my daughter, I'm not answering that," he said. "What I can tell you is that an excessive amount of alcohol was flowing and I admit, I didn't hold back. I remember that Feyre's mother was watching me but it wasn't until a few hours later that she finally dared to approach me,"

"But wasn't she married at that time?" Mor interrupted, her cookie discarded as she intently listened to the story.

"That she was but she wasn't wearing a ring." Apollion chuckled faintly although there was no humor on his face. "I think." he shook his head and continued. "Well, she flirted with me but I wasn't interested and turned her down. Honestly, I thought that was the last of her but she approached again and I turned her down, again. I wasn't in the mood for any flings, I just wanted to forget the shitshow of a day but when she approached me the third time, I was…" he drifted off and looked at Feyre, lost in thought. "I was…drunk enough that I wasn't as opposed to her proposition. And then, well–" he waved his hand at Feyre.

"Then what?" Mor asked.

"Then Feyre was conceived." he replied nonchalantly.

Mor looked at Feyre "Ohh."

"I still don't get how you could choose my mother. Literally everyone else would have been a better choice." Feyre chimed in.

Mor snickered. "You look so disgusted."

"Maybe I wanted to punish myself." her father replied to her, stretching his legs with a groan. "Let's order lunch. Can you get the flyers from the living room, Mor?"

Mor gasped excitedly as she stood up "Yes, I'm starving!" she called as she hurried out.

Apollion smiled and waited until she was out of hearing range until he asked Feyre "Are you okay? I know you don't like talking about your mother."

Feyre shrugged and smiled back. "I'm fine." She told the truth. "I didn't know she was that desperate."

Her father laughed in response and ruffled her hair as Mor's steps closed in again.

"Are you nervous?" Fenrys asked beside Feyre. She could feel his eyes on her but she couldn't see it out of the corner of her eye, both of their hoods in their way.

"A little." Feyre admitted, pressing closer to the rooftop when she saw movement in the building they were watching. Soon, it was time for them to move. "But I'd rather go down swinging than sit on my ass and pity myself."

"That's the spirit." Fenrys replied, pride in his voice, which made Feyre straighten. She hated to admit it but she loved it when Fenrys was proud of her. The thought didn't make her as uncomfortable as it usually would have because she knew Fenrys felt the same when she was proud of him. They both knew but they didn't admit it. "Do you want to go through the plan again?"

Feyre sighed. "Go in, take what won't be missed, don't linger too long, don't play the hero if you get caught and run." The last point was bullshit, of course. She only agreed to it so Fenrys would agree to run if she got caught. She wouldn't run, she'd fight. Either they get out together or they die together.

"Good." Fenrys said. "You're sweeping the rooms for any valuable items while I crack the safe."

"Understood." Feyre nodded as the lights in the house got turned off. They exchanged a look, Fenrys pressed down to the rooftop as Feyre glanced over the edge, watching the man leaving the house, locking the door and then got into his car and left for the night. Feyre nodded, "Let's go."

They made a quick job of climbing down the ladder and keeping in the shadows as they hurried towards the house. Fenrys fumbled with the downstairs window until it clicked open. He climbed inside and then helped Feyre in. They both took their flashlights out, looking around the living room. "I hate this man." Feyre said as she stared at a huge portrait of Hybern. She shook her head.

Fenrys snorted, "He'll get what he deserves. His cronies will, too." he pointed to the stairs. "I'll be in his office. Either take anything incriminating you find or take pictures."

"I will," Feyre promised. She did a quick scan of the downstairs rooms. Living room, kitchen, pantry even the little powder room across the kitchen. She found a small bottle of pills that was almost entirely full. Shrugging, she put in the pocket of her jacket. Not for herself but, as petty as it seems, it would probably inconvenience Hybern when he had need of these. Feyre also sweeped a few small items that looked pretty expensive.Then she quickly went up the stairs, taking two steps at a time.Upstairs consisted of the study where Fenrys tried breaking into the safe, two bathrooms and three bedrooms.Feyre couldn't find anything incriminating in the master bedroom and the attached bathroom. The second bedroom, a guest bedroom, was mostly empty except for generic furniture. The third bedroom was a childrens bedroom, which was weird because Hybern didn't have any children. He had a niece and a nephew but they were both grown up and when they visited, they went to his mansion near the coast. Feyre didn't want to disturb a childrens bedroom but that was probably what Hybern counted on, she realized as she saw the faint imprint on the floor, from where the carpet lay for a long while but it was moved recently. Feyre carefully stepped closer until she stepped on a squeaky floorboard. Instantly, she kneeled down and knocked on the floor until it sounded hollow. It took a few tries but finally she raised the floorboard and looked down. There was a blanket on top, simple but when she picked it up…papers. Holding her breath, she threw the blanket away and took the papers, flipping through pages. Lists, contracts, anything, This is it. This is documentation about endless corruption. Trembling, she stuffed the blanket back, put the floorboard back and hurried to the study, to Fenrys.

“I got it! I got the proof! There aren't any names but we got Hyberns ass, that counts for something, right?” Feyre said, so excited her own heartbeat sped up.

Fenrys grinned at Feyre, a bundle of banknotes in one hand but he raised a file. “I got the names!”

Feyre almost let out a whoop of joy but then she heard a car door from the driveway. She raced to the window, watching Hybern leaving his car in the driveway. The same time she looked at him, he looked up. Right into Feyres eyes. Quickly, she closed the curtain. “Shit!”

“What?” Fenrys asked, finishing to stuff the money into his bag.

“It's Hybern and he saw me.” she hissed. Cursing, Fenrys closed the safe as Feyre opened a window, crawling out. "Come!" she said, taking his hand and pulling him out. The downstairs door banged open, followed by heavy steps that came closer. Fenrys and Feyre crawled over the roof, but when they found a spot where they could climb down, dogs raced into the backyard, barking at them.

“The tree!” Feyre pointed to the left. It was a risky jump but it had to do. Fenrys jumped first, barely making it. She took a deep breath when Hybern reached the window, so Feyre ran and leaped. She slammed into the trunk but Fenrys got a hold of her arm, pulling her up. They didn't talk as they jumped through trees, ran through a stranger's backyard and a few blocks down until they reached their car. They also didn't talk on their drive back, the only sounds were the engine and their breaths. Fenrys took a different route, to make sure they weren't followed.

Fenrys was the first one to break the silence when they reached their crappy apartment and Feyre flopped down on their crappy couch. “We did it.”

Feyre looked back to where Fenrys stood. “He saw me, Fenrys.”

He sighed, sitting down on the coffee table right in front of Feyre, so close that their knees touched. “Look,” he said, opening the bag. It was filled to the brim with banknotes. “We can do what we want with this. We can leave this shitty town, we can start a new life. The life we planned for, Feyre.” he put the bag to the site and gently put his hands on her knees. “We aren’t shackled to this town anymore. We are free.”

Feyre didn't know if it was the words or the day crashing down on her or a mix or if she was just an emotional mess but she broke out in tears. “Free.” she echoed as Fenrys embraced her, confirming it again and again while he soothed Feyre,

“Where do you want to go first?” Fenrys asked. “The whole world is open to us! I’d say we go somewhere tropical.”

Feyre rolled her eyes which made him chuckle. “Come on, you already start drooling when you think about watching me shirtless in the sun, tanning.”

She snorted. “Wow, you looked right through me.”

That made Fenrys laugh out loud. He took her face in her hands and kissed Feyre. “Let’s go, we’re leaving tonight.”

“We’re leaving.” Feyre laughed,

“And we are taking down Hybern and his cronies while we are at it!” Fenrys exclaimed, following Feyre into the bedroom to change and pack their bags, “I told you we could make it.”

“We first need to get to Azriel to spread the word.” Feyre said, “We aren’t free yet.”

“It’s just a matter of reaching the borders.” Fenrys grinned. “And we will reach the borders.”

Feyre smiled, she trusted Fenrys.

They did reach the borders the next morning.

A day later there wasn’t a trace of them but rest assured, they found their paradise.

Elain smoothed her dress, righted the bag on her shoulder, took a deep breath and knocked on the white door of Mor's apartment. It took a few moments until she heard footsteps inside, nearing until she heard a click and Mor opened the door standing right in front of Elain. "You're here!" She chirped, embracing Elain. "Come in, come in." she said, stepping aside. Elain walked past her, grabbing into the white bag that was long on her shoulder and pulling out a bottle of wine. "I stole this from Rhysand’s cellar."

Mor threw her head back and laughed, taking the bottle. "I knew I liked you and this," she clucked her long, red painted nails against the bottle, "this is the proof. Follow me, I'll show you the kitchen!"

Elain followed her, surprised to find the kitchen relatively big and open. Mor immediately got two wine glasses while Elain put down her bag, retrieving the ingredients. "Why are you suddenly so interested in learning to bake?"

Mor stopped for only a second, then she cleared her throat and said, "It's kind of a funny story." she filled their glasses and only continued when she pressed one in Elain’s hand. "I was going home after a night out at Rita's and, you know, I craved cookies. I had to have these cookies but no bakery was open and I didn't have anything at home. I was super drunk but I remember that I thought If I could bake, I could just make them myself. I mean, why not? It won't hurt to learn, right?" she laughed, sounding a little nervous." Well now here we are. You are my savior."

Elain laughed softly, feeling her cheeks heating up. "I guess we shouldn't waste time then and start. I wrote down some easy recipes for you from the recipe book in the river manor."

Mor's face lit up and she opened a cabinet, "What do we need? Bowls?"

"That would be a start." Elain giggled, helping Mor find the utensils they needed. They had to improvise with a few things but nothing dramatic. Mor promised her that she would get the right utensils the next day, winking at Elain, telling her that she would never turn down an opportunity for a shopping spree. As they weighed ingredients and mixed them together, they spilled a few times. Admittedly, most was Elain’s fault because for some reason, she was nervous and Mor's proximity didn't make it easier. The blonde didn't seem to mind tho, not in the slightest if the amusement in her expression was any indication. They both went quiet by the time Elain rolled out the cookie dough. There wasn't anything to explain that Mor couldn't learn from watching, which she did, intently.

"How is Feyre?" they both asked at the same time, then chuckled.

"I thought you just saw her this morning?" Elain said first, taking a glass from Mor's cabinet that she would use as a cookie cutter.

"I did," Mor confirmed. "I was only there for about half an hour before I had to go to a meeting for the palaces, representing Rhys. They all seemed to be good, Feyre and Rhys a bit tired and Nyx was a little grumpy because he was hungry. But overall they seemed good. Happy." Mor sighed. "What about you? You live there."

Elain nodded. "I do but I was out the bigger part of the day, helping some elders to maintain their gardens. When I came back I just quickly got ready and went right here."

Mor nodded, "Alright." she smiled brightly. "What's next? Decorating?"

Elain giggled. "No, you first have to bake the cookies. But you can already preheat the oven while I cut out the cookies." she said, "Or do you want to cut them out?"

"It's fine, I can do the next round." Mor told her as she put down her wineglass and turned to the oven. Together they did a quick job of putting the cookies on a tray. Mor rolled out the rest of the dough and cut out the remaining cookies while Elain put the first batch in the oven. Then they just had to wait and sat down together. "I can't wait to do this with Nyx on Solstice."

Elain took a sip of her wine, then put the glass down on the table in front of her. "Me neither." she sighed, watching Mor.

Mor propped her hand on her fist, watching Elain in return. "I'm really grateful that you're teaching me how to bake."

Elain looked away, "It's nothing." she said, playing with a strand of her golden-brown hair. "It's what friends do."

Mor slightly stiffened beside her, "Yeah, that's what friends do."

Elain straightened. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to assume that we're friends, I just thought–"

Mor's eyes widened and she shook her head, "No, mother above, that's not what I mean. I just– I–" she sighed. "Never mind that but you are my friend. I didn't mean to come off like that."

"Please," Elain said, taking Mor's hand, "Please tell me."

"I– Well," Mor flipped her golden hair behind her shoulder, "I hoped you would see this…as a date."

They stared at each other for a moment, "A date?"

"Yes."

Elain blinked, letting her hands fall into her lap. Her eyes fixed on Mor. "Okay." she said, surprised that she meant it. Elain wanted this to be a date. Yes, this was a date. Elain smiled brightly, "Okay," she echoed.

"Really? Are you sure?" Mor asked.

She laughed. "Yes, yes I mean it. I promise." Elain beamed. "And if we want to keep this date free from any catastrophe, we should look at the cookies."

Mor jumped up, "Shit!"

Elain’s laughter echoed through the apartment.

Feyre drove through the cobblestone streets of the city, waving at the denizens of the city, who waved back at her. Some were admiring her blue corvette, others greeted her with big smiles, she greeted everyone back. When she reached her destination, she took her bag and stepped out of her car, looking around until she found the Café. She smoothed her blue dress and put on the white sunglasses, as it was a very sunny day in Faerieland. Her blue High Heels clicked on the stones beneath her feet, "Emerie!" she called out, waving at her friend.

Emerie looked up from her book, her face lighting up, "Feyre!" she calls back, waving. She ascends the stairs of the Café patio, walking over to the table where her friend sat. "You look stunning!"

"Thank you," she tilted her head, as she looked at her friend. "You look gorgeous."

She did. Emerie was wearing an orange two-piece that hugged her curves beautifully. A golden belt was slung around her waist with matching earrings dangling from her ears. Emerie thanked her, "What have you been up to?"

Feyre's smile wavered only for a second but Emerie noticed, though she didn't ask until the waitress took Feyre's order. "What's wrong?"

Feyre nervously looked around. "Weird things are happening to me lately. I have flat heels, I stumble, I think about death." she leaned closer and whispered, "I burped."

Emerie gasped, "I thought that was only legend! How?"

Feyre shrugged, smiling at the waitress who brought her coffee, thanking her. When she was gone, Feyre whispered, "I felt weird, too."

"Like what?"

"I don't know how to describe it. My eyes were wet and fluid rolled out of them. My doctor didn't see anything out of the ordin-"

"Excuse me, ladies," another person said. They were wearing a black robe that hid their face, inviting themselves on the empty chair.

Emerie looked at Feyre in question, who shrugged. She had no clue who this person was.

"Who are you?" Feyre asked.

"You can call me Suriel," they replied. She couldn't make out their age, their voice sounding young and old all the same. "I overheard your little conversation," Feyre felt embarrassment rising into her cheeks, staining them red. "I'm sorry to interrupt but there is only one way to know what your condition is. You need to go to the real world."

Emerie gasped as Feyre gripped her cup, feeling the blood now draining from her. That must be a mistake. As if Suriel could hear her thoughts, they shook their heads. "That's no mistake, Feyre. I do not make mistakes. Visit the real world and you'll see." without saying goodbye, Suriel stood and walked away.

Emerie shook her head as if she might have imagined it. "What are you going to do?"

Feyre sighed, taking another sip of her coffee.

The next morning she left her house in a better mood. This was a new adventure and it was incredibly exciting, she would find her answers in the real world. She put her luggage in the trunk, keeping her handbag on her passenger seat. She started the motor when Emerie suddenly stood beside her, "I want to come with you!"

"That's so nice but you don't know what's waiting in the real world, Emerie. You should stay in Faerieland."

Emerie shook her head, opened the passenger door, our Feyres bag on the backseat and slid into the seat beside her. "The unknown is why I'm going with you. I can't let you go alone, Feyre. You're my–" she looked sideways at Feyre, "Well, my friend."

"Okay." Feyre said, "I'd love it if you join me." They smiled at each other, then Feyre started the engine and they made their way out of the city, following the street. "Do you know which way it is to the real world?"

"Maybe we should follow the sign that say real world." Emerie suggested.

Feyre giggled, "Sounds like a plan." So they did for almost an hour until she saw something shimmering on the highway. "What is that?"

Emerie leaned forward, tilting her head. "I don't know, maybe it's a rainbow?"

"I don't see a rainbow."

"Maybe we're at the end of the rainbow?"

They were both silent for a few heartbeats, then nodded. "Yes, that must be it."

They didn't discuss it anymore as Feyre stepped on the gas, driving through the shimmering wall. But as they did, the world changed around them. The wheel under Feyre's hand disappeared, the seat beneath her and then the solid ground of her car was gone and she found herself in the air before she slammed on the hard ground.

"Ouch." Feyre hissed, rubbing her back. She looked behind her, where Emerie sat confused. She stood, helping Emerie up and then retrieving her bag that was discarded a few feet away. Her corvette and the rest of her luggage was gone. Emerie and Feyre looked around, they stood in a little alley that led to nowhere. Just a brick wall. But on the other side, there were cars and people.

Emerie linked her arm with Feyres as they stepped forward into the sunny street. This was not Faerieland. The streets were dirtier, everything was so much more chaotic and full and the people wore different clothes. In Faerieland everyone was impeccably dressed but here, they didn't mind what they wore as it seemed. Someone walked into Feyre, making both Feyre and Emerie stumbling to the side. "Walk!" the man scolded, stomping away.

"What is going on with him?" Emerie asked, throwing her dark braid over her shoulder. They linked their arms again and followed the current of people, walking down path by path, past Cafés, Restaurants, some sorts of clubs with big, bright lights until they reached open, black gates. "City Park." Emerie read.

"Maybe they have ducks!" Feyre said. Emeries face lit up, "Lead the way!"

They followed a gravel path that was lined with benches and trees. On one bench sat an older lady, twisting her face, fluid on her face. Feyre gasped excitedly when she realized, "That's what I did! I also had leaking fluid on my face!"

"Should we ask her?" Emerie asked.

Feyre straightened, walking towards the lady. "Excuse me?" She looked up. "What are you doing?"

"What?"

"With your face?"

The lady touched her face, "Do you mean crying?"

Feyre grinned at Emerie, "Yes! I think. Is that why there is water running down your face?"

The lady huffed and walked away, without an answer. Crying. At least Feyre had a name for it now, although she didn't know what it meant. They sat down on the bench where the lady just sat. "I have a term for it now but I still don't know what it means."

Emerie sighed, patting her shoulder as she looked around. "Hey, excuse me!" she said to a man that walked by. He stopped and looked at them, his hazel eyes wandering between the two of the girls. "Can I ask you something?"

"What?" he asked, hiding his hands in the pockets of his jacket. Feyre only got a glimpse of them but she saw the scars.

"What's crying?"

The man looked confused. "Don't you know what crying is?"

"No." They answered in unison.

"Crying is pretty much just shedding tears in response to an emotional state. Or pain." he answered.

"Emotions?"

"Sadness, anger, happiness." he told them.

"Happiness! I know that one." They laughed but the man looked at them as if they had grown two heads.

He looked like he was about to say something when another voice called, "You bastard! I told you to wait!"

"Cassian found your redbull, that's what took so long." another voice sounded.

Two men with a similar skin tone and hair color as the other joined them, smiling brightly. "Hey!" said the one with the shoulder length hair. "You know him?"

"They just had a question." the first answered.

"We have another!" Feyre said as she realized it got darker. "Do you know we can spend the night?"

"We're on our way to our hotel. They should have a free room, you can join us. If you want." the one with the blue eyes said.

Emerie and Feyre looked at each other, then nodded. They followed the three men out of the park, crossing a few streets until they walked into a building that looked like it was so tall that it scratched the sky. They led Feyre and Emerie to a counter, where a lady dressed in black greeted them. Martina, said her nametag. "Hello! We need a room for the night, please." Feyre said.

"Of course." the woman behind the counter said, typing on a keyboard. "There is only one room free at the moment. A suite with a double bed."

"That's fine!" Feyre said.

"That would be 400$ for one night," the woman told them. "We will list other costs, like room service or what you take from the mini fridge in your room from your bill." Feyre nodded as she dug in her handbag to get her money. "How would you like to pay?"

"Cash!" Feyre smiled, extending the blue cash notes from Faerieland.

"Ma'am, is that monopoly money?"

"What is monopoly?" Emerie asked.

The man from before, with the blue eyes, extended a card to the woman. "Put everything on this card." She smiled gratefully and took it.

She then proceeded to tell them their room number but when they reached the elevators, they didn't know how to get to their room. "One last question," Feyre said to the boys behind them.

The one with the shoulder length hair chuckled. "Sure." he said, pressing a button. "I'm Cassian, by the way. These are my brothers Rhys and Azriel."

The former was the one with the striking blue eyes and the letter was the one with the scarred hands. "I'm Feyre." she said.

"I'm Emerie." her friend said.

On their way to the room, they told Feyre and Emerie that they were in town because they were expanding their nightclub. When they asked Emerie and Feyre where they are from, they both answered "Faerieland!" in unison. Silence spread between them as the men exchanged looks.

"Are you two dating?" Cassian asked.

"No!" Feyre blurted, feeling her whole face heating, which seemed to amuse them. "We're– I– We're nor– We're not dating!"

"Alright." Cassian said, raising his hands in defense. As promised they walked them to their room, their key working perfectly.

"Well, if you need a job," Rhys gave Feyre and Emerie both a little card with a name and a number on it. "Just give me a call. And do me a favor, please don't follow three strange men anymore."

Feyre only nodded perplexed as they turned around and left. When they entered the room, and Feyre closed the door behind her, Emerie whirled to Feyre. "Why were you so defensive when they asked if we are dating?"

Feyre blinked in surprise. "I'm sorry." she said quietly as she spied the hurt in Emeries eyes. "I didn't want to hurt you."

"Well, you did." she said, putting her hands on her waist. "Did I misinterpret the signs? Weren't you flirting? Did you miss my flirting?"

"No, you didn't misinterpret anything, I was flirting." Feyre confessed.

"But?"

"But we didn't really move forward in that relationship so I thought you weren't interested." Feyre said, stepping closer.

"Oh Feyre," she breathed. "I was always interested in you, that never changed."

Emerie clutched Feyre's hand as Feyre hopped from foot to foot, clutching her hand back. It took them a while to be able to navigate in this world without looking like complete aliens but when they figured out they wouldn't come far without money, they called Rhys. He stayed true to his word, so that's how Feyre and Emerie ended up in his new club, working as waitresses. It was opening day, the crowd already waiting outside. "I don't know how often I can be with you tonight, but I'll see you after the shift at the latest." Emerie told her as they waited for Rhys to hold his speech before opening the doors.

"Of course," Feyre kissed her girlfriend. "Have fun, I love you."

"I love you, too." she said as Rhys entered the room at last.