Chapter Text
Standing on a terrace and looking at the bustling city beneath me, I was again wondering how it was possible for me to be in the most important place for Rhysand and Feyre. The place that was hidden for so many years under his spell and later withstood the attack of Hybern’s army. The place that was a refuge and then home for lots of fairies who lived there in peace and prosperity.
Inhaling deeply, I smelt the salty and lemony breeze that was now moving my hair. God, I was so freaking happy I could be here and see it all. To witness the beauty of the city and its people. Fairies, I reminded myself and suddenly started feeling cold as the wind blew again. Well, my clothes weren’t the perfect outfit for an evening during early spring, as I asked my little kidnapper about the season, so I took a step back and wrapped my arms around me, trying to get warm.
I didn’t want to get inside yet, though I knew I would have to do it eventually. The Night Court fairies invited me to my first family dinner at the House of Wind, and I wasn’t going to miss it for the world. It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance and I was more than eager to take it.
Some of them had already been in the dining room, some were yet to come. Cassian and his family were talking with the twins and Meleri, who decided to spend the rest of the day with me in the House. Actually, she was the one to suggest a dinner together, so I wouldn’t have to move back and forth between the residence and the House. At the mere thought of it, I got slightly sick.
Unexpectedly, I heard the sound of wings. Looking up, I spotted Rian who landed gracefully next to me. As soon as his feet touched the ground, the wings disappeared.
“Don’t tell me that you’ve been waiting for me this whole time?” he said with a smile, approaching me. He had a nice midnight blue tunic with silver embroidery around the neck and edges of the long sleeves. “I’m truly flattered, lovely Alexandra.”
Slightly chilled, I replied, “You wish.”
“So, what are you doing here?” He gave me a quick look. “You seem rather cold in these clothes of yours.”
I pointed down. “I’m looking at your city. It’s really wonderful from up here.” Then, I glanced at him and added, “I’m still wearing these clothes of mine because I didn’t have the time and means to change. You can’t really expect me to go up and down like crazy just to get changed.”
“Why not? You can always close your eyes and pretend you’re doing something else.” Rian leant against the railing and rested his forearms on the reddish stone in front of him. “You know, Velaris does look better when you’re flying above it.”
I gave him a look. “Don’t even think about it.”
He laughed quietly. “Easy. I’m not as hot-headed as Conri is. Surely, I’m not going to carry you away into the night. Unless you ask me to.”
I frowned. “Not in a million years.”
We both got quiet, watching the City of Starlight beneath us.
“Where’s the Rainbow?” I asked, taking a step towards the stone railing. Without the sun, I didn’t see much, but maybe given the right directions I would be able to spot something. “Will I be able to see it?”
Silently, he got so close to me that I felt the warmth of his body from behind me. “See that tall building with a golden top?” he asked, his breath caressing my ear. “That’s my favourite theatre in the Rainbow. I believe there’s a play going on. If you were a fairy, you could hear the faint sound of music coming from there.”
I swallowed. “But I’m not a fairy, so I don’t hear it.”
“Too bad.” Rian drew away from me, and I felt chilly again. “I bet that if you were one, you wouldn’t be so afraid of flying.”
Turning around, I fixed my eyes on the handsome muppet. “Bullshit. Being someone else wouldn’t change my fear of heights. With my luck, being a fairy would probably intensify it like a million times.” Sighing, I turned back to the railing and placed both hands on the stone. “Since you’re still here,” I said, my eyes set upon the city, “you can tell me where the famous Palaces are. Even though it’s pitch dark out there.”
Again, he leant against the railing, but this time with his back facing the city. “Tell you what. In two days’ time, after our guests–”
Glancing at him, I broke in, “What guests?”
“–return home, we can visit the famous Palaces.” He smiled. “You’ll see tomorrow.”
Frowning, I turned towards him. “Come on. Tell me, Rian. I don’t think I could wait that long.” I flashed him a smile. “What guests were you talking about? Do I know them?”
“You tell me. You seem to be familiar with everyone in Prythian,” he replied, his face blank.
I lowered my head. “That’s not true.”
“And here I was thinking that you knew everything about us,” the handsome muppet went on, his voice quiet. “That you learnt every little secret about our Court. But now you’re telling me that’s not true.”
Slightly annoyed, I drew away from the railing and headed towards the dining room. On my way, I murmured, “Sure. Do you want to know one of those secrets? I know that you were conceived in a cabin.”
“What?”
I froze.
Fuck. He heard it, I thought.
“What cabin?” Rian asked, standing behind me.
For a moment, I didn’t say anything. But eventually, I turned around and replied, “I don’t know what you mean.”
“You do.”
I averted my eyes. “I didn’t say cabin. I said… dragon.”
“You didn’t.” Rian crossed his arms. “You asked if I wanted to know one of those secrets, and then you said something about conceiving someone in a cabin. And you can conceive a baby–”
He raised his eyebrows as if he realised what he had just repeated.
“Did you read a story about my parents who were making love in a cabin?” he asked.
“No.”
But he kept staring.
Blushing, I looked away. “Maybe.”
We both got quiet.
Suddenly, the handsome muppet snorted. So, I shily looked up, and saw that a sly smile started to spread across his face. “Did you like it?” he whispered, leaning in close.
“It’s none of your business,” I said, feeling rather hot on the cheeks.
“Admit it. You liked it.”
I started backing away. “Stop it, Rian.”
“What a filthy mind you must have, lovely Alexandra,” he said with amusement, “to enjoy such stories.” He regarded me carefully, and then went on, “What else did you read? Other steamy pieces? Tell me, honey, what else did you read?”
He took a step forward.
“Nothing else,” I replied, still backing away.
“Lair. I can hear your heart and it’s racing.”
“No, it’s not,” I protested. “It’s just your imagination, Tinkerbell.”
“Oh, you have no idea what’s happening in my head right now,” he whispered.
Crossing my arms, I lifted my chin.
“That’s the last thing I want to know,” I said. And then, I quickly twisted around, opened one of the glass doors and fled into the dining room.
With a racing heart, I looked around the room. I realised that everyone but me and Rian had already been there. And surprisingly, all of them were dressed up. Except me.
Cerys was the first person to notice me.
Sitting on one of the chairs, she looked over her shoulder and asked, “What happened?” Coming closer, I saw that she was wearing a long green dress with gold embroidery on her skirt. “Whom did you run away from?”
Stopping next to her, I replied, “No one?”
Behind my back though, I heard the sound of opening and then closing the door, so the handsome muppet came too.
Cerys frowned, glancing at the door. “Rian? You ran away from him?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.” I shook my head and quickly sat beside her. “Why would I do that?”
Someone took a seat on my right. When I turned my head, I saw none other than Rian.
Oh, no.
“Exactly,” he said, flashing me a broad smile. “Why would Lexi run away from me?”
Inhaling deeply, I had to keep myself from changing places. The last thing I needed right now was a shitload of unnecessary comments on that.
“What are you two up to?” Ciaran asked, sitting in front of his brother.
I noticed that Meleri chose a chair next to him. When our eyes met, she gave me a sweet smile.
The handsome muppet frowned. “What do you mean?”
“First, you two disappeared on the balcony,” Rhysand replied, taking a seat at the head of the table. I spotted that Cassian sat at the opposite end. “Then, Alexandra rushed into the dining room and you followed her. A bit suspicious, don’t you think?”
Rian snorted. “Father, please.”
“Don’t tell me that you wanted to repeat my performance.” Conri laughed quietly.
“Heavens no!” I exclaimed, giving him a look.
Having poured Nesta some wine, Cassian asked, “What performance?”
“Our only son,” she said, lifting the almost full glass, “took the liberty to personally escort Lexi to the House. Knowing that she’s afraid of heights and flying in general.”
Cassian nodded. “Ah. So I did hear someone scream. It wasn’t the wind after all.”
Rian shrugged.
“I’ve heard that today’s breakfast was quite eventful as well,” Ciaran added and took a sip from his glass. “It’s a shame that I didn’t eat with you.” He flashed me a smile.
“What happened?” Nesta asked.
“Nothing much,” I answered quickly.
Cerys laughed. “Nothing much?” she repeated. Then, she looked at the rest of her family and said, “Lexi told Rian that he didn’t have a cock, and he got angry.”
“Can you blame me?” the handsome muppet chimed in, playing with the napkin. “I have a reputation to live up to, and I can’t let anyone question my abilities.”
Some of the fairies chuckled.
“He provoked me,” I murmured, fixing my eyes on the plate in front of me.
“He likes provoking everyone,” Feyre said, so I glanced at her. She was holding hands with Rhysand as she went on, “One time, he came back home with a black eye that wasn’t healed yet. I wonder whom he provoked back then.”
Conri shook his head. “It wasn’t me, Auntie.”
“Mother, it was almost ninety years ago.” Rian sighed. “Why do you remember such trivial matters?”
“You do realise,” I broke in, “that there are things you can’t simply erase from your memory, do you?”
Rian gave me a look. “Unless you have abilities like me.”
“Which don’t work on me, mate.”
He clenched his jaw.
“Don’t call me that,” he said quietly.
I frowned. “Call you what?”
“You know perfectly well.” Not looking at me, he took a sip.
“Can you be more specific?” I insisted.
In a swift movement, he faced me. “So let me make it clear,” he said coldly. “I don’t wish to be called ‘mate’ by you as you are not my mate and never will be. I’ve never seen you as my potential partner or love interest, regardless of what Bryaxis might have said and promised my sister. This, by the way, was very foolish of her.” He glanced at Meleri and then fixed his eyes on me. “In any case, lovely Alexandra, be so kind and don’t ever call me ‘mate.’ All right?”
Feeling really ashamed and hot on my cheeks, I replied, “Okay. I’m sorry. It’s just a way of saying ‘man’ or ‘bro’ in the UK. It doesn’t mean anything offensive.”
“And?” Rian was still looking at me expectantly.
I sighed. “Fine. I’ll never call you ‘mate’ again.”
“Promise?” he asked and extended his hand.
“Rian, don’t,” Rhysand warned. But his eldest son just ignored him; he didn’t even glance at his dad as he was staring at me with his right hand outstretched.
I furrowed my brows. “What’s going on?”
“Do you promise, Alexandra,” Rian repeated loudly and glanced at his hand, “to never call me ‘mate’ again?” He fixed his stare on me.
I wanted to get over it, so rolling my eyes, I took his hand and answered, “Yes, I promise.”
“Excellent.” Rian grinned, still holding my hand.
The air between us stirred and I smelt something metallic. Looking around, I quickly let go of his him and began searching for the source of that smell. Not finding it, I set my eyes on him again and I felt a cold shudder that gave me goose bumps all over my body. Belatedly, I had come to realise what all of that meant.
“Oh, no,” I said and felt that blood drained from my face.
Rian gave me a seductive smile. “Oh, yes.”
I had just made a deal with the devil.