A Court of Lost Stars-Chapter 17: It Came Upon a Midnight Snow

It was the Eve of Solstice, and everyone in Velaris was preparing for the Winter Court's Ball. The shops had ultimately been cleared out by patrons- not that it mattered much in the eyes of Nova. She never stepped foot into another boutique. When they'd tried again the evening before, she vehemently covered her ears, shook her head, and said, "Loud."

"I suppose she'll be more comfortable than all the rest of us." Mor smiled fondly, glancing at Nova from the mirror she stood before.

Nova, sprawled on the bed on her belly with her feet kicking the air, held her fox and squirrel as she turned over the leaves of one of her books. Her mother, Mor, Amren, Nesta, and Elain were all moving about the room, readying for the ball.

"Ana really isn't going?" Elain asked as she dusted a bit of rouge to her already flawless complexion.

Feyre shook her head with a slight frown. "She said she had already made prior arrangements to spend the Solstice with Edith."

"How kind." Nesta rolled her eyes, marking her lips a deep crimson.

"I thought so, too." Feyre bit back, not so much as glancing at her sister. Though she had a sneaking suspicion, Ana had other reasons for not attending, and for that, Feyre wouldn't hold it against her. To be kept secret for so long, only to be brought into the light for everyone to see.

It would be jarring. Much like...

Looking over at Nova, she watched her turn another page and frowned. Everyone in the Winter Court would see her for the first time tonight, and the realization twisted Feyre's stomach. With a soft squeeze of her arm, Feyre looked over at Mor and met her smile with her tight-lipped one.

"It'll be okay," Mor said gently, and Feyre nodded, letting out a soft breath before Mor continued, "Let's get into our dresses."

Stepping behind the privacy screen in the room's corner, Feyre dropped her clothes and let Mor help her into her gold gown. The length flowed past her feet like champagne bubbles and glittered in the dimmed sunlight. Feyre emerged from behind the screen and heard a gasp. She looked up with raised brows at Nova, staring at her with wide, wonderstruck eyes.

Feyre couldn't stop a grin from forming. "Do you like it?"

In a quick movement, Nova clambered off the bed and skipped to her mother's side. She touched the sheer, sparkling lace that hung elegantly from the top of the skirt.

"Is beautiful..." Nova murmured before she turned to look around the room, watching everyone putting on their gowns. Mor was in a silky red flowy dress, Elain was a soft blush of pink, Amren wore a sophisticated black piece, and Nesta adorned her body with icy silver. Looking back at her mother, Nova frowned and then looked down at her body and the lack of lace and glitter before softly whispering, "I is not beautiful."

It was as though every heart in the room shattered at once as they stared at her. Even Nesta's brow furrowed as she glanced at Feyre in surprise.

Feyre moved her head lower and placed her hands on her shoulders. "You are beautiful, Nova. You are welcome to wear a dress, but you are gorgeous with or without one."

After a long silence, Nova asked, "I wear a dress?"

"Of course, you can," Feyre said gently, "It's okay to wear things you find to be beautiful, but those things don't define beauty. Your heart is beautiful."

"Mine heart?" Nova asked, tilting her head.

Feyre nodded and placed a hand over Nova's chest. "Yes. You," she pointed at her heart, "Are beautiful."

"I is beautiful?"

"Yes."

It seemed to take her a moment, and Feyre wasn't entirely sure if she understood her, but maybe that was a conversation they'd have to have often to ensure it sank in.

"Dress?" Nova asked, tilting her head.

Feyre asked gently, "Would you like to wear a dress to the ball?"

Nova thought momentarily, looked down at her mother's dress, and nodded. "Yes."

Lifting her head, Feyre met Mor's eyes. "You mentioned you bought a dress for her? Did you bring it with you?"

Smiling, Mor nodded. "I may have put it in her closet shortly after I bought it." She bit her lip and quickly left to retrieve the gown from Nova's closet.

Elain's voice asked, "Nova, do you want to curl your hair?" Nova glanced at her, tilting her head in confusion as she watched Elain bounce her silky curls over her shoulders. With a smile, Elain patted the chair in front of the mirror. "I can help you."

She hesitated for only a moment before inching her way to the chair and sat down. The brush Elain picked up was familiar; her mother brushed her hair every evening, so she didn't fidget as she slid it through her silky raven hair. Relaxing against the chair back, Nova watched her aunt gather strands and wrap them evenly around a hot rod.

"It's hot," Elain said. "It'll burn if you touch it."

Nova didn't hear a word as she watched the hair fall from the rod in a twisting curl. Soon, her once pin-straight hair that reached her lower back hung in delicate spirals. As Elain carefully combed through the curls to relax them, Nova reached for the lipstick Nesta had been using. She was about to run it across her eyebrows as Mor stepped in and hung a black bag on the back of the door before closing it.

"Wait, Nova!" Mor said with a smile. "I have another idea for this dress if you don't mind." She took the lipstick from her and set it back on the vanity before selecting various products, which she used sparingly. After swiping a mixture of gray and dusty purple across her eyelids, she dragged a glittery white line along her lashline and brought life to her lashes. Baby pink and a dusting of silver glitter colored her cheeks and the bridge of her nose- the highlighting color shifted from silver to lavender when the light source moved. Mor smiled as she dragged the last bit of soft pink lipstick across her full lips and finished with a clear shimmery gloss that looked like snowflakes in a tube.

"Finished," Mor said happily, stepping aside to let Nova look in the mirror.

Nova jumped and quickly looked around before letting her gaze linger on her reflection again. She stared silently for a long moment before sliding off the chair to look closer. She knew she was staring at herself, yet the recognition wasn't quite there.

"Do you like it?" Feyre asked gently.

Nova grinned at her mother and nodded before focusing on the sound of a zipper. Her mouth fell open as Mor pulled out a long, flowy dress. Curiously, Nova moved toward it. The gown was a shade of periwinkle and leaned closer to purple than blue, which would bring out the violet in Nova's eyes. While underneath was a shade darker and silky, the lace overtop was lighter, bringing out a design resembling falling snow.

"Would you like to wear it?" Mor asked with a smile, and Nova nodded eagerly. She let them help her undress before allowing it over the top of her head and fit nicely in her waist. The bodice, encrusted with silver jewels, held a triangular shape that led down to the skirts. With no corset to tighten, it was a perfect fit.

Looking in the long-length mirror, Nova smiled at herself. For the first time, she looked like someone who hadn't spent their childhood living in trees and eating raw fish from the river. Even the tips of her ears shimmered from the iridescent powder Mor had adorned her with.

Nova flapped her arms a little, watching the sheer glittered fabric sway. She spun, and the skirts fluffed out, revealing more layers of hidden lace, before turning to look at her mother with a proud grin.

"Oh, Nova." Feyre smiled with red-rimmed eyes. "You are gorgeous."

Nova giggled and looked down at the flat lilac slippers Mor set down in front of her. She slipped them on, happily not wearing the dreaded socks, then embraced a spray of sweet-smelling flowers that Elain offered to Mor.

"One last thing." Feyre smiled as she crossed the room and placed her crown on her head on a shelf above. It was a formal event, after all. Turning to a dresser, she pulled one of the drawers and withdrew a crown of diamond-encrusted silver. A pattern of swirls led to the middle, where a crescent moon rested in a smile.

A single, shimmering star sat in its center.

Feyre turned and closed the distance between herself and her daughter. Smiling, she placed the tiara atop Nova's head and pressed a gentle kiss against her forehead. Squeezing her hands, she admired the light behind Nova's eyes and asked, "Are you ready?"

Nova nodded, and they all descended the stairs. Chuckling and chatting, the boys stood just away from the stairs. Snickering at each other for something Cassian said, they all looked up with the expectation of Nova trying to slide barefoot down the banister again, but their grins disappeared when Nova appeared at the top of the stairs.

Rhysand's heart stopped.

Grinning, Nova walked down the steps with more grace than they'd ever seen. She stopped before the four of them, still dumb-founded, and spun. Sending refractions of light across the room.

Heat gathered behind Rhys' eyes as he slowly moved forward. Taking her hand in his, he grinned through a quivering jaw. "You are the most beautiful star to exist."

Nova giggled and grinned up at him. "Mine heart is beautiful."

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Rhys smiled. "Yes, it is." He glanced up as Feyre descended and stood beside Nova, stroking careful fingers through her curls and smiling. "And you," Rhys bit his lip as his eyes grazed over his mate with a sly smirk, "Hm..." The words wouldn't seem to form, forcing a blush to crawl across Feyre's cheeks.

"Behave." She smiled, though she basked in the attention.

Rhys only smirked as he turned to look at everyone to ensure they were ready before together, they winnowed to the Winter Court.

Feyre couldn't avert her gaze from Rhys, who wore a deliciously black suit with silver accents that complimented the sparkling snow around them. Glancing over, he smirked as a black gem from his crown winked in the torchlight they passed.

Nova walked between them along the path leading from the icy front gates.

"Nova," Feyre said gently as they neared the entrance, "No playing here."

Frowning, Nova looked off into the distance and stared at the long expanse of untouched snow. She could imagine herself rolling through it, fluffing the powder into her hands, and tossing it up to create her own flurry. Glancing behind her, she watched the rest of her family walking, some holding hands and some not. Nova glanced out into the vastness and sighed. She'd be caught instantly, but what lay beyond it?

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Her attention was immediately drawn away to the sound of clip-clopping hooves on cobblestones. Horses white as snow pulled collections of white and gold carriages from a separate path.

Feyre smiled and said, "They really meant what they said about giving the Night Court transport."

"Wow..." Nova started trying to walk toward the horses.

A firm hand gripped her shoulder. "Not yet, Nova," Rhys smiled softly, "We can look at the horses later."

"Horses?" she asked, looking up at him.

Rhys nodded with a smile just as they entered the warmth and cheer of the palace. Everything was decorated with wreaths and holly. Splashes of red, gold, and silver were seen in every direction—this was only the entrance. Polite servants guided them down the main hall and into the ballroom, which dripped in icy crystals from the ceiling. The rich wood floors were glossy and reflective of the lights above.

Tilting her head back, Nova gasped softly and wondered if she could somehow climb to take one of the shiny things. The floor was cleared away, leaving plenty of room for dancing, while tables of food were settled against the walls. From sweet to savory, there seemed to be nothing amiss. They even had...Nova's eyes widened as she stared at the warm, sticky buns on one of the tables across the room.

A few people were already here, mingling as a string quartet played in the corner. Even many of the Illyrains from the Windhaven camp were already in attendance. It was probably the nicest they'd ever dressed, but had they been given reason to? To be given an invitation from another court, to be shown kindness and inclusion led to a contagious spread of happiness.

Among the Illyrian Warriors was Ansel, the new Commander. He seemed to have a watchful eye on all the others, likely ready to take anyone away who even had the notion of misbehaving.

Kyra waved from across the room, and Nova grinned. She immediately left her parents and skipped over to her friends, who had also received invitations. Nova spun in her dress with a happy giggle, eager to show them.

They stared at her with wide eyes and slow-spreading grins.

"Wow..." Finch started with raised brows. "You look..."

Peter finished with a crimson blush. "Beautiful..."

And it was true: Nova looked every bit as gorgeous as her parents, and within the glow of the firelit ballroom, she was plain ethereal.

Kyra smiled; the champagne silk of her gown brought out the darkness of her skin, but it was only now that Nova noticed the scars that laced her left shoulder. Nova smiled, comforted by the markings she was used to seeing with her uncle Azriel.

Glancing at Sara, she looked much like Elain. No, she looked just like Elain. They wore the exact same dress. However, that didn't seem to be a problem as Peter, Cyrus, and Finch wore identical black and white suits.

Kallias smiled as he and Viviane approached the Night Court, Hollis between them. "We're delighted you could make it," Viviane said, taking Feyre's hands in her gloved ones and squeezing. "This is a night of fun and inclusion without discussions of the future."

Smiling, Feyre nodded. "That sounds wonderful." She followed their searching eyes and smiled. "Nova is just over there." She gestured to where she stood with her group of friends from Velaris.

Hollis turned his head with his parents, and his eyes widened. Certainly, that couldn't be the same girl who demolished the Spring Court's mansion. He blinked, suddenly frozen in his spot, as if ice grew over his feet and grounded him where he stood.

Pursing his lips, Rhysand cleared his throat. "I'm sure she'd be pleased to see you, Hollis." He smiled softly, though it felt as though he'd been pierced through the chest. Nova, his Nova...was dressed for her first ball, and while he knew this was part of her growing up, he wasn't quite ready to watch her dance with someone.

To watch her grow romantic feelings toward anyone.

Feyre smiled and squeezed Rhys' hand as they watched Hollis look uncertainly at his parents. With their slight nod of approval, he swallowed and walked toward the group who laughed at something he'd missed the punchline to. All eyes of the Night Court were on Hollis, but with a wave of Feyre's hand, they dispersed to mingle across the dancefloor. Azriel, though, kept a discreet, watchful eye.

Titling her head, Nova watched Finch look up above her shoulder at someone, and she turned to see what he was looking at. In a maroon suit and tie, Hollis smiled sheepishly at the group. He didn't need glitter to make his features seem to sparkle.

Nova's smile stretched into a grin. "Pearl."

Smiling, Hollis pursed his lips and carefully corrected, "Hollis."

"Hollis, " she repeated and then looked over at her friends, who seemed to stiffen in their stances. Nova didn't notice as she realized Hollis' attire differed from the others. She reached forward and touched his shoulder, the velvet tickling her fingertips. Smooth, yes, but not the same.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Hollis opened his mouth to speak, but Peter's voice came through before he did.

"Nova..." Peter smiled hopefully. "Do you want to dance?"

Smiling, Nova put her hands behind her back and rested them against the tail of her skirt. "Hm, no." She said happily and skipped away to admire the heart.

Finch snickered. "Ouch."

The words Hollis had been about to utter had been stolen right off his tongue, and now was not the time to reask the same question. He tore his eyes away from Nova, who seemed to stare in wonder at the intricate carvings on the fireplace and found himself caught under Kyra's severe stare.

"They won't tell us," she said, voice even, "But we know something's up, and I'll only say it once...don't ever...hurt her."

Hollis was silent, staring at them in return, but how could he blame them? They didn't know what was going on, didn't know anything about the prophecy. If anything, it relieved him to know Nova had friends who would say something like that, least of all to the prince of the Winter Court.

Two bodies approached Hollis from behind, their white brows set into scowls. Pursing his lips, a light sweat chilled the back of Hollis' neck. He didn't even have to turn to know who was there. "These are my friends, Nieve and Kole." While not precisely the same, the twins looked eerily similar, but their matching, angry expressions made them look so much alike.

Cyrus and Finch crossed their arms, Finch's wings ruffling a little.

"Is everything alright?" Feyre asked as she and Rhys approached, Kallias and Viviane next to them.

Kyra pursed her lips into a thin line under Feyre's knowing gaze.

"There are no enemies here," Rhys said, his voice warm but firm, "And we all treat each other with respect and kindness."

"Yes..." Kyra finally said and glanced at Hollis, who tried to offer a friendly smile. After a pregnant pause, Kyra finally returned it. "Yeah, alright."

Nieve and Kole didn't seem to miss the look from their High Lord before giving a solemn nod of understanding.

"Enjoy the ball." Feyre smiled, and a moment later, she and Rhys walked to the edge of a growing circle around the center of the ballroom.

Just as everyone settled in position, Kallias led Viviane with a bright smile into the circle's center. He spun his wife gracefully. Her full, sparkling white ball gown glimmered with every move she made.

Kallias spoke in a silky voice, "Thank you all for joining us tonight. We hope you have a wonderful and very happy Solstice celebration of unity and peace among the Winter and Night Court." With that, the violin and cello began again, and Kallias pulled Viviane to him with a snowy smile and started the first dance of the evening. A moment later, members of the Winter Court joined their leaders on the dance floor, smiling as they twirled with their partners.

Rhys offered his hand to Feyre with a crooked, dashing smile and bowed. "May I have this dance, my High Lady?" He glanced up through his lashes deviously.

Feyre giggled and took his hand. "I would be honored." She laughed as he spun her and pulled her to him quickly, their arms tangled around her waist, before he pressed a soft kiss against her neck.

Curiously, Nova inched closer to the dance floor and watched her parents. Her eyes drifted to Cassian and Nesta, seeing her sheepish smile as he looked down at her like the stars that shine. Drifting further, she watched Lucien spin Elain in a twirl of frilling skirts and giggles. Even Mor and Azriel smiled at each other as they danced, shaking their heads, dimples in place. Settling her eyes on Amren, she saw her in the corner, drinking a flute of something sparkly as she talked to a woman with sparkly freckles and curled white hair.

Nova continued to watch their skirts spin out, then looked down at her own dress. She wanted to do the same as they did. Just as she was about to step forward, she felt someone step up beside her. She glanced over and smiled at the sight of Hollis, watching her nervously.

It was his last chance, he thought as he smiled shyly at Nova. Just ask, he scolded himself before finally summoning the courage to ask. "W-would...you like to dance?"

Nova looked out at the dance floor and smiled before slowly gliding a sideways gaze at him. Mischief lit her eyes as she turned her head and leaned forward. Hollis' eyes widened, swallowing harshly as he stared back, his heart pounding.

Her voice was a whisper. "No." Then, with a grin, she took to the dance floor.

Alone.

The ceiling above released magical flurries of snow that evaporated just before they could reach the heads of the dancers below. Nova, unabashedly, twirled with only herself under the sparkling crystals and falling snow.

Peter stepped forward beside Hollis and sighed softly, "Let me guess. She said no?"

Hollis was quiet for a long moment before a small smile graced his lips, and he nodded, "She said no."

Lifting her face, Nova closed her eyes and basked in the beauty of it all as a clock somewhere in the palace chimed a distant melody of bells.

Feyre, flushed and smiling, left the dance floor with Rhys for a drink. The last they saw Nova, she was dancing in the center of the ballroom under the falling snow, having the time of her life. Swallowing a mouthful of ice water, Feyre shivered and looked around.

"Where's Nova?" She asked with a slight frown, and Rhys immediately looked at the dance floor. They couldn't see her purple skirts twirling through the bodies. Dread washed over Feyre as she frantically looked toward the doors leading through the palace. "Oh, Rhys, she can't be exploring here..."

Just as they were about to inform Kallias they may need to check their home and possibly search for a path of damage, Cassian approached with a chuckle. "Don't worry, we just watched her crew head out to the stables. Hollis was with them."

Feyre sighed with relief. There was much less to worry about if she was with her friends.

"Shouldn't you tell the Peter boy not to get his hopes up?" Nesta asked with an arched brow.

Frowning, Feyre shook her head. "There's no talk about the future tonight, remember?"

With a roll of her eyes, Nesta sighed. "Just seems a bit cruel."

"Are you about to talk about what's cruel?" Rhys asked, his voice a deadly purr.

"Enough," Feyre frowned, "Both of you."

Taking his hand, she practically dragged him to the dessert table and sighed. "Don't let her get under your skin. Not here. You can bitch at each other when we get back," she paused and added, "After Nova's asleep."

"Hm," Rhys smirked and snaked an arm around her waist, "After Nova's asleep, I'm going to take you away, and you and I are going to celebrate." He pressed a soft kiss against the space behind her ear. "Happy Birthday, Feyre darling."

Blinking, Feyre looked up at him, and a slow smile stretched her lips. "I suppose it is after midnight, isn't it."

"I'm sorry for making you so distraught, least of all on your birthday. Let me make it up to you." He grinned devilishly as his thumb stroked deep circles against the sequins on her hip.

Feyre couldn't help but smile. "I suppose I can let you try..." She said, accepting his soft, smiling kiss with a laugh.

"Are you sure we're allowed out here?" Cyrus asked with a slight frown as they entered the long wooden stables. From end to end, it had to be almost half a mile long.

Hollis nodded in response, smiling as he watched Nova gaze up at the first stall with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. "As long as we don't spook them. I can show you mine. She's very tame."

"You have your own?" Sara asked with a grin. They followed him quickly, but Sara's eyes did not leave his profile.

Finch clenched his fists and curled his lips. In an annoyed growl, he said, "Maybe we should go back."

"Not a chance." Kyra smiled as they approached the stall Hollis stopped at.

Nova skipped toward them and looked up at the silver two-toned horse with speckles of charcoal gray across his otherwise immaculate coat.

Smiling, Kyra offered her hand to the mare and smiled as her lips tickled her palm in search of a treat.

"Here," Hollis smiled and gave Kyra a chunk of icy carrot from one of the pails, "She loves carrots."

"She's gorgeous," Sara said with a grin, still staring at Hollis, "What's her name?"

Pink colored his pale cheeks as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Uhm...Winter."

Smirking, Finch eyed him. "How creative."

Hollis shrugged with a light chuckle. "I was five," still blushing, he looked over to look at Nova, "What do you think-" But she wasn't there. He frowned and turned in a circle, eyes wide as he watched continue further down the dirt-padded walkway.

"Oh no..."

"It's fine," Peter frowned, "We'll just go get her."

Hollis wasn't listening as he took off after her at a full sprint. "Nova!" He called out. The horses further down were more aggressive than the others- they had more empty rooms and stalls between them to avoid injuries, but anyone who entered the occupied stalls never left unscathed.

Nova paused in her skips, looked at Hollis, and grinned before dashing forward again. "Race!" She giggled just as a stallion to her right lurched its head out toward her and tried to snatch her arm as she ran by. Skidding to a stop, Nova gasped and looked up at the chestnut-colored horse that whinnied, eyes rolling over in a way that showed the whites of their eyes. She stepped back as the horse tried to snap at her again with blunt but powerful teeth.

Slowly, Nova lowered herself to the ground and stared at the horse that stomped and snorted.

"Nova," Hollis said, out of breath, trying to stick to the far left of the walkway so the horse couldn't reach him either. "Come on, he's too dangerous to be around."

Spittle sprayed as he reared back again and stomped the ground.

"Nova, let's go..."

"No." Was her response. She didn't look at Hollis- didn't move to get up. Uncaring of her friends slowly making their way toward her or the dirt that gathered on her dress. "I stay." She said before finally looking up at Hollis. "Sit."

Hollis blinked and, surprised by his own actions, actually sat down on the dirty ground. He made a face, looking at the muck that gathered on his velvety pants.

Peter frowned and flinched when the horse reared its head again. "Nova-" He started.

"Quiet," she cut him off, "Sit."

They all sat down in the frozen muck, one by one, and shivered. They were watching Nova; there was a moment of confusion and uncertainty, but soon, by no will of their own, their aching, racing hearts began to ease in their chests. Sara tried to cover a yawn and blinked her eyes a few times.

"Does anyone else suddenly feel really tired?" Finch asked with a frown, looking at his fingers. "I swear I only snuck one glass of the good stuff."

Hollis swallowed. "I feel it, too." His eyes drifted to Nova, who gazed up at the stallion with soft yet unyielding eyes. It was the strangest thing he'd ever seen. The most brutal and dangerous horse in their stables now stood quietly, his eyes in a lazy haze. It was like Hollis could hear his heartbeat slow; the sounds were dimmed, and the lights weren't as bright.

Kyra spoke softly. "She's previously controlled the sounds, sights, and scent around us. She made a hungry wolf think we weren't even there. I guess she can control other parts of the body, too. Our hearts..."

"Our minds?" Finch asked with a slight, almost scared frown.

Slowly, Nova stood to her feet and approached the beast before her. She carefully stroked its silky muzzle before gently whispering, "Safe."

"Nova!"

Looking over the sound of her mother calling her, she smiled. Pressing a gentle kiss against the stallion's muzzle, she backed away before walking back toward the palace with her friends. Peter offered her his hand, but Nova giggled and shook her head before taking off again through the stables.

Peter grinned and shook his head with a fond sigh. "One of these days, she'll hold my hand."

Snorting, Finch shook his head as he leaned forward and said in his ear, "Not if you have competition." He glanced over his shoulder at Hollis, who was too far back to hear them, as Sara jabbered to him about how lovely the Winter Court was.

Finch rolled his eyes and grumbled as they exited the stables, but just before they could part ways, Kyla grabbed his arm and snicked, "Green isn't a good color on you." She said with a wink and walked away, but it was Cyrus' protective glare sent Finch quickly back to the palace.

With a grin, Nova jumped before her parents and their hosts and grinned as her curls bounded. "Horse."

Vivane smiled. "We're glad you liked the stables," she glanced down at her dirt-streaked dress, "It seems it was an... immersive experience."

Biting her lip, Feyre nodded. "Hm, we just won't show, Aunt Mor. Come on, time to go home." She said that as Hollis approached, Sara was finally going away with Cyrus, and as much as he wanted to entertain her, he couldn't stop thinking about the ability Nova had shown.

"Is something wrong?" Kallias asked with a furrowed brow.

All eyes turned to Hollis, who pursed his lips with a small smile. "Yes, I just..." He looked over at Nova and then at his father. "Nova calmed the new stallion."

Kallias' brows rose in surprise. "She calmed him?"

But Viviane frowned. "Hollis, you know you're not to go to the back of the stables. Any of you could have gotten hurt. Are you alright?"

"I'm so sorry," Feyre said quickly, "Nova... gets ahead of herself." She cast a disappointed gaze on her daughter, but Nova only smiled.

"Is safe." She said with a nod.

"Nova," Rhys began, "Can control the senses of people around her. We've never seen her use it unless she needs to," he added quickly, "And I've never seen her use it with an animal."

"Well..." Feyre pursed her lips. "The squirrel?"

"Squirrel?" Nova asked and looked around her feet.

Rhys chuckled and shook his head at Nova. "If it's okay that I ask, how did she calm the stallion?"He addressed Hollis.

Mualing over his answer, he nodded. "She sat down and told us to sit and be quiet. It was like everyone's hearts slowed down. We all became tired, as did the horses in the other stables. I wouldn't be surprised if they're all asleep now."

Nova smiled up at them and repeated, "Is safe."

Feyre collapsed into bed with a sigh as she curled into the soft pillows. The night had been fantastic, aside from Nova causing a bit of a scare with the horses, but otherwise, it went seamlessly. Already bathed and dry, Feyre peeked over her arm at Rhys, who stood still, fully clothed, at the edge of the bed.

Having already ensured Nova was clean and in bed fast asleep, Rhysand locked their doors and soundproofed their walls. A wicked glint glittered in his eyes as he crawled across the bedspread and sat on his knees.

"Hm, I bought you a birthday present," he said, gliding his fingers lightly up and down the back of her thighs, narrowly avoiding the section between.

Feyre's toes curled as a sweet heat coiled in her lower belly. "Did you?"

"I did." He said with a sly smirk as he carefully rolled her over so that she rested on her back. Rhys gazed down at her, clenching his jaw as hunger set in. He grazed a thumb over her left peaked nipple, watching his mate's eyes roll back in her head and her chest arch into his touch with a soft, sensual moan.

"Are you my present?" Feyre asked, looking up with a hopeful smile.

"In a way..." He smirked and rolled off the bed to open the side table drawer. With a slow, devious grin, and crawled back onto the bed and held out a collection of golden-handled paintbrushes. "They're enchanted to make your paintings glow. The stars, the moon, the sun. Anything you can think of."

Sitting up, Feyre gazed at the collection in awe, "Oh...Rhys, thank you, you didn't have-" She paused, glancing up with a small, sheepish smile, "Thank you." Looking back down at the collection, she tilted her head. There was one unlike the others."What does this one do?" She asked, pointing to the obsidian-handled brush with a tapered head.

Rhys bit his lip and smirked. "That one is for me.

Arching a brow, Feyre smiled as Rhys set her new collection aside but kept the one. He slid it into his back pocket before his hand stroked up her belly and pressed against her chest to lie down.

"Relax, my darling Feyre. Let me take care of you."

Whirls of butterflies fought against her ribcage as Rhys sat himself at the end of the bed and took her feet into his lap. The moment his knuckle kneaded into the ball of her foot, Feyre melted into the mattress. Each foot, each toe, and each ankle was given divine attention before Rhys moved to her calves and knees.

Feyre wasn't sure how much time had passed, but his hands worked their way up her front. Her breasts, her arms, and hands. When he massaged her last finger, he pressed a kiss against her forehead and whispered, "Turn over."

Doing so without hesitation, she let out a breathy moan as her neck and shoulders were relieved of the tension she'd been carrying for weeks. Hell, probably years. Rhys continued the same process, this time kneading down her body and focusing on the areas that held the tightest knots.

By the time she was rotated again, Feyre was half asleep. She thought nothing of the way Rhys slowly pulled her knees apart and began massaging deeply across her pelvis and along her inner thighs. Feyre sucked in a soft gasp as he feathered his fingers along the crease of her thighs, but the moment massaging hands swirled through her heated arousal, she lifted her waist off the bed.

The amount of relaxation Feyre met while he massaged every inch of her body had put her in an almost catatonic state, unaware of anything else but the touch of him against her skin. Now, everything between her legs was so sensitive she could hardly stand it.

With a low chuckle in his throat, Rhys watched Feyre melt over and over. He watched how every touch brought her closer to a need she didn't know she had. Removing the paintbrush from his back pocket, he ensured it was still soft and unfrayed before gently gliding the bristles along her crease.

"Hhha...." Feyre gasped, lifting her hips in response, but her eyes were still closed in a state of relaxation.

Rhys pressed a soft kiss against her hip bone before lazily dragging the paintbrush across her hot-to-the-touch skin. He relished every whiney noise that escaped her but didn't stop. Not even as she said, "It's too sensitive...I can't..."

"You can." He smiled against her skin before using his left hand to spread through her soaked folds, revealing her throbbing clit that rested inside, desperate for attention. It had bulged twice its size, making it easy for Rhys to swirl the tip of the brush against it gently.

"RHYS!" Feyre gasped and tried to jut her hips, but she couldn't move under his restrictive arm.

Smiling, completely unbothered, Rhys continued slow, agonizing circles around and across the sensitive nub. Pulling the brush away for only a moment, he leaned down and blew a gentle stream of air against her clit.

"HHHHaaaa," Feyre's breathy moan came out in a desperate whisper as she clutched the comforter in tight fists as the light lick of the brush bristles took over. Unable to move, she was only able to take the slow torture of Rhysand tormenting her most sensitive spot. Gritting her teeth, Feyre tried to search for her orgasm that was so close to cresting over the hill.

"Almost..." She gasped softly, but Rhys refused to add more pressure than he already was. It was the slowest uphill climb Feyre had ever faced, and by the time her climax was in reach, she was covered in a thin sheet of sweat.

"Hm," Rhys chuckled as he watched her brows furrow with need, "Would you like to come, darling?"

Feyre gasped. "Yes!"

In an instant, Rhys replaced the bristles with his tongue and sucked her as though she were the sweetest candy. Feyre's orgasm crashed through her, sending her in a tumult of wave after wrecking wave of pleasure. The release vibrated through every inch of her body, her soul included.

Lying back, her clit still twitching, Feyre sucked in a warm breath as her body became one with the bed. She couldn't tell what was up or down, only that she was floating on a cloud she didn't know existed.

Rhys pressed a trail of kisses up her body and to her ear, where he whispered, "Happy Birthday."

It was the last thing she heard before sleep claimed her.

The warm, familiar scent of bacon permeated the air and woke Nova. Blinking, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes and grinned. With a growling belly, she quickly rolled out of bed and skidded to her closet. Yanking it open, she grabbed a green and yellow polka-dot shirt, a pair of blue pants, and purple socks. One red, one green. Satisfied with herself in the mirror, she bounded down the stairs, hoping for bacon and the opportunity to steal sips of someone's coffee whenever their backs might be turned.

"Good morning, Nova." Feyre smiled from where she sat at the table, looking more relaxed than she had in weeks.

Everyone was there, Nova realized and grinned as she settled herself next to Rhys. She reached for a toast slice and happily bit into it.

With a chuckle, Rhys kissed the top of her head. "Happy Solstice, Nova."

"Ball?" She asked, looking up at him.

He shook his head. "There is no ball tonight, but we will still have fun. During the Solstice, people exchange gifts, and we'll play games."

Cas smirked. "Nova can be on our team." He wagged a brow at Nesta and clapped Azriel on the shoulder, who shook his head with a grin.

This year, the annual snowball fight would not be the three of them, and strangely, they were okay with that. The idea of Nova laughing and grinning while getting to throw snowballs superseded any tradition they could have carried.

Soon after breakfast, everyone settled in the sitting room, and Nova took her comfortable spot on the carpet in front of the fireplace. She nestled against the warm brick, more than happy to trace the patterns on the rug like she did the first time she laid on it.

"Nova," Feyre smiled as she kneeled on the carpet beside her, "This is your first Solstice. We...wish we could have celebrated all of them with you, but..." She swallowed, trying to keep the heat from her eyes, "But we get to celebrate this one now, and everyone brought a gift."

Tilting her head, Nova stared at her before tracing the designs on the rug again, humming to herself.

Rhys chuckled, and everyone smiled, watching her with humor in their eyes. Any other kid would have been excited about getting a gift, but Nova was far too busy collecting lint from the rug's fibers. "I think we just need to show her."

"I'll go first," Cassian said with a guilty grin, "With the hope you don't kill me." He held a short but narrow box on his lip, and Feyre arched an eyebrow at him. To which he smiled sheepishly. "You can decide when she can use it, but...Nova, come look."

Curiously, Nova stood, skipped to Cassian, and looked down at the box in his hands.

"Open it," he encouraged with a grin.

With a careful hand, Nova took hold of the top of the box and lifted it. Her eyes widened at the shiny dagger that glinted back at her. "Oo..." She murmured and reached to pick it up, but Cassian quickly helped her so she didn't accidentally hurt herself. It was so shiny that Nova could see the reflection of her eyes in the blade.

"It's for you." Cassian smiled.

"Mine?" Nova asked with wide eyes that lit with a smile when he nodded.

Carefully placing the dagger back, Cassian closed the box and handed it to her to hold. She immediately carried it back to Feyre to show her, and though she was worried Nova would be a little too excited to play with it, she couldn't help but share her excitement.

"Nova," Azriel said with a small smile. She looked up from the box with a grin as he walked to her and kneeled. His box was small and square, but Nova grinned, slowly realizing she was allowed to open these boxes to find a treasure inside. When she pulled off the top, inside revealed a golden chain. "It's a compass," he said and tapped the face of it, "I'll teach you how to use it, so you'll never be lost."

Grinning, Nova hugged the compass and carefully stuffed it into her pocket. The gifts didn't stop there. Nesta offered Nova another picture book about a girl who liked to climb trees. It was as if it had been explicitly made for Nova...perhaps it had, Feyre thought.

Mor held out a large box, grinning from ear to ear as Nova unwrapped a beautiful black gown ruffled with layers of lace. Golden constellations streaked the bodice, turning the dress into a night sky.

"Wow..." Nova murmured in a whisper of wonder.

Amren offered Nova an amethyst in the shape of a half-oval. Nova gasped as she peered inside, looking at the shiny crystals from different angles. A rare, warm smile curved Amren's lips.

Next, Elain offered Nova a leather-bound journal. "You can draw or write in it when you learn how. Anything you want." Elain smiled as Nova hugged the journal and breathed in the scent of the leather, cuddling it as if it held the world between its pages.

With a tight-lipped smile, in the hope that she would like it, Lucien offered Nova a knitted fox. After much deliberation, and the terrible outcome of the first obstacle course mayhem, he decidedly gave it to her for Solstice. He smiled sheepishly at Feyre, who grinned as Nova pulled the fox to her chest to hug with her journal.

"Nova," Feyre smiled and reached behind one of the couches. Pulling out a canvas, she turned it around to show the piece she'd been working on since the celebration of returning to Velaris.

In it, Nova and Rhys were cuddled together before a blazing fire while under a brilliant fireworks show. The colors reflected in Nova's eyes as she tilted her head back in awe. Rhys grinned at the sky, an arm securely wrapped around her shoulders. It was one of Feyre's fondest memories, one she wasn't willing to ever risk forgetting.

Nova immediately crawled closer, her eyes wide as she stared at the face. Her face. "Me?" Nova asked, pointing at the girl and looking at her mother.

Feyre nodded with a grin. "That's you." The fireworks that danced in her eyes that night were nothing compared to the light that always seemed to sparkle there.

Grinning, Nova touched the painting with a soft sigh. The memory of that night came back to her. She was warm against her parents' embrace, looking up as colors streaked the sky, surrounded by her family. "Safe," she whispered.

Unwilling to take her attention away from the painting too quickly, Rhys waited to pull out another box. Nova looked over with raised brows; this was a bigger box. Curiously, Nova inched forward and knocked on it as if it might respond.

Rhys laughed and encouraged, "Open it," he chuckled, "This one is from both of us."

With caution, Nova opened the lid and peaked over the edge. Everything in her arms dropped at once as she gasped. Reaching in, she wrapped her hand around the neck of a lute and pulled it from the box. It looked almost identical to Edith's instrument, the wood grain a darker shade.

"Mine?" Nova looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

Rhys grinned and nodded. "Yours."

She hugged the neck with a grin and fondly settled it into her lap, lightly petting the strings.

"I think she likes it." Feyre grinned and giggled."I can't wait to see her open the last one tomorrow."

Rhys laughed. "We may never get her attention again."

As Nova plucked the delicate strings of her new lute, everyone else began exchanging gifts with each other. It wasn't until Nova noticed her father give her mother a bracelet that Nova frowned. She looked around at their smiling faces, and her brow furrowed as unease settled in her chest.

"Nova, are you alright?" Mor asked gently, but Nova had already set her lute down with careful hands and took off across the room and up the stairs.

Rhys frowned. "What happened?" He looked around and shook his head. He spotted the dagger box on the floor. She hadn't cut herself. Before he could stand, Nova returned with her arms filled and a grin. She quickly stepped through the maze of legs and presents and set her unique treasures on the rug before the fire.

"Oh, Nova..." Feyre smiled softly. "You've been collecting those for a long time..."

Before Feyre could stop her, Nova was already bringing one special treasure to each of her family. She handed Cassian a marble with a red swirl inside that perfectly matched his Siphon, and he grinned in return.

To Azriel, she handed him a starfish she'd found one day at the beach with him. She'd refused to let him see it when she'd found it, afraid he'd steal it from her, and now gave it willingly.

Next, she handed Nesta a piece of paper with two distinct scribbles. She looked her in the eyes and, with complete seriousness, pointed at the drawing and said, "Careful." Nesta bit her lip, trying and failing to hide her smile.

She gave Mor a shiny gold coin she'd stolen from Cassian's pocket one day while he napped on the couch. Then, she walked to Elain and offered her a handful of acorns while giving Lucien a black seashell she'd found and obsessively carried for days. She gave Amren an enormous shark tooth, which she took with real fascination.

Turning to her, her mother and father gave each a chess piece—a black knight for her father and a white knight for her mother. "Horse," Nova said, "Keep safe."

Grinning, Rhys held it to his chest. "With all my heart. Thank you."

Feyre smiled and reached forward, squeezing her hand. "Happy Solstice, Nova."

With a giggle and a grin, Nova quickly returned to her lute and carefully stroked the strings, finally able to relax. However, that didn't last very long, as Cassian suddenly said.

"Who's up for a snowball fight?"

"Nova! Duck!" Mor shouted as Nova quickly looked around for the signs of something waddling by, but instead of hearing quack, a snowball nearly pelted her. Mor grabbed her by the arm and pulled her down with the makeshift wall their team had built. Mor, Nova, Cas, Nesta, and Lucien hid behind the snow and ice.

"Why am I doing this!" Nesta shouted as another ball slammed against the tree just to their right.

Cas grinned over at her. "Because you love me!"

Glaring at him, she said, "I hardly see how that matters."

Laughing, he peeked over the edge as he narrowly missed another ball of ice to the face. "Dammit, Rhys!" Cas shouted, followed by a chorus of cackling from their High Lord.

They'd been playing a solid half hour, and there were still no real winners. Either a team would have to forfeit, or they'd need to come to draw.

"Do you surrender!?" Feyre called from their side.

"Never!" Cas hollered back and threw a snowball over without looking. "Okay, Nova, here's a new plan..." He looked past Lucien and frowned. "Where'd she go?" He whispered.

Cheeks bitten red from the cold, Nova grinned as she tunneled her way not over but under the build of snow. She dug and crawled, following the sounds and scent of her parents, who she knew to be hiding on the other side of the wall. She now understood the objective: cover them with as much snow as possible. And after being hit in the face with a ball of snow, she was more determined than ever.

Nova continued her tunnel until she was well past the other team; only then did she carefully emerge. Eyes searching overtop the snow, she watched their backs as they peered over the wall they'd built. Elain kept up their ammunition while the others threw with lethal accuracy. Keeping her movements soundless, Nova slowly climbed the trees that rested above them. It was a slow approach. They might not be able to hear her, but she didn't want them to catch her movement too early. Then, when she was positioned just above them, she grinned.

"GO NOVA!" Cas bellowed, grinning up at the trees.

Rhys, Feyre, Amren, Elain, and Azriel slowly looked up at the trees with wide eyes, just in time for Nova to shake the heavy snow-covered branches and send the heaping piles on top of them.

Elain covered her face as the others fell to their sides with deep laughter, accepting their defeat as Nova, quite literally, buried them.

Cold and dripping, everyone stepped into the warm relief of the townhouse, their bodies raked with shudders. Before long, they were all changed into dry clothes and sitting snugly in the main sitting area with mugs of steaming hot chocolate to warm their chilled noses.

Cas smiled as he admired the shriveled tree Nova decorated. "I think that's the best tree I've ever seen." He said to no one in particular with his arm wrapped around Nesta's waist, who was half asleep against his chest.

"What are these?" Feyre asked as she came down the stairs and to the coffee table. She kneeled. "They're addressed to Nova."

Az nodded, his eyes half-hooded. "Hm, the brown box Bran gave to me to give to Nova. I don't know about the other two."

"This one is from Peter." Mor gestured to the white paper bag. "He brought it over this morning while Nova was asleep."

Feyre picked up the other, a flat white box with a red ribbon. "Oh," she said as Rhys sat on the couch adjacent to her, "It says it's from the Winter Court. Nova," Feyre softly called her over from the fire she was snuggled up against, "You have more gifts." She smiled sleepily and crawled; she didn't have the energy to walk.

"This is from Peter." She said, handing her the bag.

"Peter," Nova said with a happy smile and peered inside. She giggled with a grin and looked up at her curious mother before reaching in. She pulled out a sticky bun dressed in honey.

Mor grinned. "Your favorite."

Taking a bite of the bun, Nova picked up the brown box and shook it. Whatever was inside rattled and thunked. Shoving the rest of the bun in her mouth, she used both hands to pry open the lid, and when she did, it was lucky she'd already swallowed, or she would have choked. Reaching in, she pulled out a bronze key. The same key she'd desperately climbed and fought for, and here it was in her hand.

Cassian sat up a little with a raised brow and chuckled. "Well, I'll be damned..." He sat back a little. "I'd wondered where that key had gone to. I'm not kidding when I say he spent days trying to climb that pole. I thought he just gave up."

Exchanging a glance, Rhys and Feyre pursed their lips. "Hm," Feyre murmured, "It seems you have many admirers, Nova."

"Can you blame them?" Mor asked gently as Nova hugged the key to her chest with a sigh of satisfaction.

Feyre smiled fondly, "No. I suppose I can't." She offered Nova the last box. "The tag says from Kallias, Viviane, and Hollis."

"Hollis...Pearl?" Nova asked with a smile. She took the box while keeping her key nestled in the crook of her arm and opened the lid to reveal...her jaw dropped at seeing an exquisite necklace cut from fine diamonds. The crystals dripped with snowflakes in their center, creating almost a waterfall-like appearance or melting ice. Nova whispered, "Beautiful..."

Feyre blinked in surprise. "Oh, it is..." The piece even had Amren's interest as her brow quirked up, leaning over to get a better look. Feyre smiled softly, "Let's put this in a safe place." She said and carefully took the box to store with Nova's starlight tiara.

Smiling, Rhys watched his daughter for a long moment before he finally asked, "Nova. Would you like to send them anything in return? You don't have to, but you may if you like."

With a grin, Nova quickly disappeared to her room with a fresh burst of energy. She opened the seat to her window and dug through the contents until she found what she sought. In quick succession, she closed the bench and raced down the stairs. Kneeling in the same place as before, she placed a smooth, round stone on the table and said, "Hollis." Then a swirled snail shell and said, "Bran." And, finally, a small handful of dried bluebell flowers.

Feyre tilted her head and smiled. "Nova, did you take those from the Spring Court?"

Giving a mischievous smile, she didn't quite meet her gaze.

"Hmm," Rhys chuckled. "Let's write your name so they know who it's from..."

"As if they wouldn't guess," Nesta said, half-asleep.

Rolling his eyes, Rhys still smiled as he took a page of paper from her new journal and ripped it into three pieces. Then, giving her a quill, he guided her hand to write her name three times, once on each slip of paper. It was scratchy, and the lines were waved, but at least they would know they were from her. Rhys held the paper in his hand and put the stone on top before it disappeared before their eyes. He did the same with the snail shell and then the flowers.

When everything was sent, Nova grinned and, still holding her key, crawled back to her lute by the fire. She lay down with its' body resting on her stomach. They may have expected her to try to play something, but they never would have thought the sound from the lute would be from Nova's fingers.

She moved along the instrument effortlessly, fingers crawling up the neck while her thumb was against the strings. She positioned her hands as Edith did while she ate sugar berries. The song played out—a soft tune written for the Solstice. Nova had memorized her finger movements that day and now played it with only a mistake or two.

Peacefully listening to the soft, fading lull of the tune, Nova fell asleep just as midnight tolled, and silent snow fell over Velaris.