#courtofdreams

“Are you okay?” a concerned voice asked. I looked up at the handsome stranger that had offered me safety and almost melted at the sight of him. He was gorgeous. His hair was so dark it appeared to be the night itself, and it was slightly ruffled – it made him look more human and somehow more stunning. But his eyes, god they were marvellous, they were so blue they turned violet depending on the way they caught the light. I could look into them all day long, there were so many colours and shades that I would never be able to capture them with paint and a paintbrush. I don’t think anyone could paint him, he was otherworldly. His strong jaw and nose looked as if they had been sculpted from the most talented artist. I was stunned, never in my life had I seen someone so handsome…godly even. Even his black hoodie and tight track pants made him appear elegant and refined, how he did it, I didn’t know.  

“Um...yeah, I think so…um,” I said as I looked down at my grazed legs, I swore I saw a bruise beginning to bloom on my left shin.

“Here let me help you up, you can come sit on the couch.” His voice was like midnight and honey as he pulled me up. His firm calloused hands helped pull me up off the ground and I’m not going to lie I became drunk by his very essence I could barely function.

He put his strong, muscled arms around me as he helped me make my way to the couch, limping and looking so far from elegant it was funny, especially when placed next to his god-like presence. His jasmine and citrus and the ocean scent wafted off him, intoxicating me further. He lowered me onto the stylish black leather couch and fetched a blanket from its twin in front of me. It was a midnight blue blanket that was so soft it must have cost a fortune, however looking around the luxurious living room it seemed apparent that he was used to living in opulent rooms. The room was bedecked in all things lavish. The three-piece leather couch I was sitting on was so comfy I could have fallen asleep on it and have been more than comfortable. I’m pretty sure it was more comfortable than my bed at home. Facing me was a floor to roof set of French sliding doors that opened onto a beautiful terrace – over-looking the ocean. I didn’t realise how far I’d run if I was this close to the ocean. The expensive television was hung on the wall and there were numerous photos hung next to it. It was really beautiful, and I was slightly jealous that I could never afford a house like this. Tamlin might be able to pay for something like this and he had offered to buy a house for me, but I didn’t want to be given anything. I wanted to work for it, earn it, even though my current residence was a dump. 

“Thank you,” I said as he sat in front of me, crossing his strong legs. “I’m Feyre by the way.”

“Feyre,” he said, my name rolling off his tongue so elegantly that I blushed. “I’m Rhysand, call me Rhys though, all my friends do,” he said. After a moment of silence, he asked “would you like a cup of tea or something to eat?”

“A cup of tea would be wonderful…um…I hope I’m not bothering you, it’s like three in the morning.”

“No, it’s fine, really. I would rather you be here than on the street with scum like that man, and I was up working anyways so it’s not like you woke me up or anything. My friends all sleep like the dead as well so no worries about waking them up either,” he said with a smirk as he winked at me then wondered off to the surely luxuries kitchen to make me that cup of tea. 

I let out a breath I hadn’t realised I’d been holding and relaxed further into the couch. How did I get myself into this? How am I not dead? How am I so lucky? Those thoughts continued to circulate through my head until a smooth, sensual voice interrupted my thoughts, “would you like any sugar in your tea?”

“Just one sugar would be perfect,” I said, my voice shaky and slightly husky. He came out of the kitchen, holding two steaming mugs and set one out in front of me on the coffee table. I leant forward, suddenly aware of how much this dress revealed. I picked up my tea and lent back into the couch, hoping that if I shrunk back enough I would disappear. I hugged the blanket to me further and sipped on my tea. 

“Is there anything else I could get you? A sweater maybe, you’re shaking.” I was a perfect temperature – if anything slightly warm – but I was shaking from the aftermath of almost being raped. I think I shook my head because he never ended up getting me a sweater. I was really beginning to realise that I could have died, and I began to shrink back inside myself.

“May I ask why a beautiful lady like you was wondering the streets at three AM?” My thoughts withdrew as I focused on his voice.

“Well my boyfriend dragged me out of the house to this amazing party,” I said rolling my eyes, “and then when it got late I wanted to go home, I didn’t really want to go out in the first place. So, my boyfriend drove me home, well almost home. We live on completely different ends of the city. He lives really far south, and I live north, near here I think. Anyways, he couldn’t be bothered dropping me all the way home, he was tired apparently. So, he dropped me half way expecting me to walk the rest of it,” I said, irritated that he had practically left me for dead. I sipped my tea as I saw Rhys’s expression turn to a disgusted cringe as he heard what happened.

“I’m sorry if he I’m over stepping my boundary, but he sounds pretty lousy,” he said. He was right he was pretty lousy, but he said he was trying, but then he left me on the streets at three AM. I was a mix of emotion, not really knowing what I felt, not sure what I was thinking. I was so sick of being confused, I needed sleep. Tiredness began to blur my vision and thoughts.

“Feyre?” Rhys questioned. I realised that I hadn’t responded to his question, a question I hadn’t heard. God I was so exhausted. 

“Um, sorry, I’m just really tired”

“Would you like to stay the night, we have a spare room that you can crash in if you’d like,” he insisted. I was too tired to really think, and the lure of sleep was too strong. My eyes began to drop, nothing could have kept them open at that point.

“Yes please,” I mumbled before collapsing.