Nova smirked, watching Hollis pack his bag with five of everything: shirts, socks, underwear, etc. She bit her lip, watching him with a raised brow as he looked over at her.
"What?" He asked with a half-grin.
"You know we're only staying for a night, right?"
It was Adira who had invited them for the weekend, a means to reaffirm their friendship, now that it was officially anything more than that: no more questioning and no more games. While they'd be spending time in the Day Court, not only had Adira said she'd show them the sights, but she'd show them how to find information in the library should they ever need to.
Of course, Helion had given them books to look through, but nothing had yet been found that could confirm or deny that their consummation of their union completed the prophecy. They hadn't noticed any changes; still, it wasn't better, but it wasn't worse. Perhaps the damage had been done, and this was their new normal.
Her mother seemed convinced that, as the deterioration had been in effect for the past ten years, it would take that long to see improvement. A give and take, so to speak. Nova didn't mind that theory. Of course, it would be nice to have instant rectification, but she supposed it would be worth the wait to flourish again one day.
Hollis shrugged and chuckled. "'I thought you said we should always be prepared."
"Yes, you are right," Nova nodded, "You will by far be the most prepared."
"I know you're teasing me right now, but I will take it as a high compliment, and you know what?"
"What?"
"When you drip something down your shirt and have nothing else to put on…"
Nova raised a brow and smiled as he continued, "…I will offer you one of mine. Despite your snark."
Grinning, Nova tilted her head, admiring him for a moment, "Are you ready?" She murmured, resting her chin on her knuckles.
"I am." Hollis smiled, tying off his bag before slinging it over his shoulder. "Did Sara and Cyprus decide to go?"
Nova nodded as she stood, the chair rocking behind her. "My parents are retrieving them now, I think."
With their bags and coats on, they left the cabin to make for the palace, where the others would be waiting to leave. It would be the first time in a couple of weeks since the Rite and the avalanche. While Nova's wounds had healed immediately after touching the stone, Hollis still had difficulty lifting too much with his left arm. She'd found herself picking things up for him instead and had to be reminded that just like her past wounds, he needed to gain his strength back, too. However, it didn't seem to bother Hollis as much as it did when she watched him struggle.
Perhaps she was a bit protective, and maybe now she understood her family a bit better. She'd never really felt protective of someone before. Sure, she never wanted Adira to get hurt, and she'd worried about Peter in the height of a dangerous situation. Still, now she found herself glaring at an end table in case he accidentally bumped his bad arm against it. Feeling the need to lash out at inanimate objects certainly wasn't on her list of expectations when it came to finding her mate.
My mate, she thought as she glanced at him as they entered the palace and gathered in the dining room where the others were just finishing breakfast. Nova stood to the side with Hollis as they cleaned the table; just a clunk, clunk, clunk echoed on the stairs.
Looking over, Nova frowned, confused as Eira dragged a bag, twice her size, down the stairs and into the kitchen. Where she'd found such a bag was baffling in itself. Everyone paused in their cleanup and looked over as she pulled it behind her, walking backwards with little, continual steps until she made it to the pile of luggage.
Everyone exchanged a glance as she opened one of the slots to pull out a little sack of crackers, sat herself on top of her case, fluffed out her frilled blue skirts, and kicked her feet as she ate a cracker. Raising his brows, Hollis glanced at Nova as Eira exclaimed, "I'm ready for the trip!"
Ana came down the stairs as quickly as she could and sighed at the sight of Eira, "You scared me. You cannot leave the room without telling me…" She frowned at the luggage and cringed. "Oh, sweetheart. This isn't what I meant by we would have fun today, too."
The cracker in her mouth fell to the floor as she stared at Ana with confusion, "You said I can go."
Ana pursed her lips and offered an apologetic glance to everyone in the room as she sat on her knees before Eira. "Well, I did say you could pack a bag just as they have, and we can come downstairs and have our fun too…but by that I should have told you we are not going with them, but instead we will have fun here."
Her shoulders sank and her lower lip quivered as tears brimmed in her eyes. "I wanted to go, too."
"Oh, I know. I'm sorry, I should have been clearer. You can't go now, but there might be another time you can. It's quite an honor to travel to another Court, you know. We'll want to make sure we practice being responsible first."
"Responsible doesn't sound like fun."
Ana laughed, "Oh, but it can be. I had an idea that we could pitch a tent in the parlor. It would be an adventure. Have you ever slept in a tent before?"
"No." She said, wiping the snot and tears from her face with her arm.
"There are a lot of things we can do with a tent. Even use shadow puppets."
Eira's jaw dropped, "A puppet that's a shadow?" She squeaked
Ana laughed and nodded, "But if we're going to, we should get started right away so we're ready by the time it's dark. Would you like to say goodbye to everyone before they leave?"
Eira stood up off her bag, shoved another cracker in her mouth, and ran to Hollis and Nova, hugging their legs.
"Eira," Ana frowned. "Don't run with food in your mouth." But she was already back at her luggage. She opened a larger slot and pulled out a little tiara, placed it delicately on her head, zipped it back up, and then started lugging it toward the parlor.
Smiling, Hollis walked toward her, "Would you like some help?"
"Oh, thank you," Eira said, curtseying.
He chuckled as he picked the surprisingly heavy bag to take to the parlor for her, "What did you pack in here?"
"Everything."
"I believe that."
Eira began listing off items as they left the room, most of which were all the colors of nail polish she felt were necessary. As they left, Ana picked up a few pieces of crackers left behind, not wanting to risk bringing her back in here while they were getting ready to go.
"You really are so good with her," Celeste smiled, patting Ana on the arm in passing. "You'll be a wonderful mother someday, I just know it."
Nova watched the smile on Ana's face fall, but she recovered quickly with a polite smile. "Thank you for breakfast, Celeste. It was wonderful," she cleared her throat. "If you'll excuse me." She said before leaving the dining room to join Eira in the parlor, just as Hollis returned.
"Is Ana okay?" He asked quietly. "She looked a little upset."
Nova pursed her lips, "I'm not really sure." She wanted to ask, but she also didn't want to pry. Before she could say much else, her parents walked in with Sara and Cyprus carrying their own bags.
"Is everyone ready?" Her father asked, glanced around, and addressed everyone who would be going, then settled his eyes on his daughter and pointed a finger at her. "I know you have a habit of bringing back living creatures," she grinned in response."Do not bring back a Pegasus?"
"I will not bring back a Pegasus," she held her hand up. "Honest. I'll bring back two." She snickered at his less-than-amused expression as Finch coughed his laugh into his sleeve.
Rhys chuckled, "Have fun, but be safe."
Nova sent a request to her parents, Could you check on Ana?
She met her mother's eyes and saw the subtle nod before she and her companions gathered with the luggage and winnowed to the Day Court. Nova immediately shielded her eyes, blinking rapidly as they adjusted.
"Welcome!" Adira grinned as she approached them, and Nova could only stare. She'd never seen her look so… Rather than slathered in mud and sweat for a day of training, she was adorned in a silky white gown with golden accents that made her dark skin sparkle.
"Whoa…" Adira raised her brows at Nova and grinned, admiring the green Siphons that littered her armor. "I'd heard you'd gained a gem or two. Congratulations." She surveyed the others and smiled. "To all of you. I'm glad you all accepted the invitation. This is a simple pleasure, staying with nothing to do but enjoy yourselves. I'll give you a tour and show you to your rooms for tonight. Just this way."
They followed her, gazing at the architecture and the golden glow that filled them with a new warmth. It wasn't the same as sitting by the fire in the Winter Court or frolicking on the beach in the Summer Court. This was light and airy, bubbling with excitement. Taking Hollis's hand, being gentle not to hurt him, Nova looked up at the glass windows above and smiled. She closed her eyes and let the sun kiss her cheeks.
She'd missed that golden glow.
Traveling through the palace, Adira mentioned a few other places that might prove entertaining to them, such as the libraries.
"What about the Pegesuses?" Hollis asked with interest.
Grinning, she glanced over her shoulder, "I thought you might ask about them. I'll show you once you've settled. I heard you work with war horses?"
"Sparingly," Hollis admitted with a small smile, "most of my work has been for their simple well-being, not so much training."
"Yet admirable. You'll love them, but I'll warn you. They can be cheeky."
A familiar voice sounded, "As someone else I know." Following the sound, they slowed their steps, smiling as Helion approached, holding the arm of a lady with russet eyes and auburn hair: the previous Lady of the Autumn Court was now the High Lady of the Day Court—a somewhat recent change, Nova imagined, with Beron's death, but Hollis couldn't help but wonder if Adira was a product of them. If not, who was her mother?
She smiled in welcome, a sparkle of joy in her eyes as she said in a voice that dripped like honey, "It's wonderful to have guests."
Helion smiled, squeezing her hand on his arm, admiring her. As though the sun itself were speaking, "Adira, I do hope you're being mindful of what's not to be explored."
"Of course, mother," Adira said, with a little less vigor. "I'm just not showing them to their rooms. Come on." And with that, she led on, and they passed by, smiling before ascending the sleek spiral staircases.
Soon, they entered a long hall, but it wasn't as narrow as at the Winter Court; the hall looked more like a ballroom with a row of doors on either side to indicate separate rooms. Judging by the distance between rooms, they appeared to be massive.
"What's not to be explored?" Finch asked curiously.
"The groves are sick with rot," Adira answered with a slight frown. "It's not been spreading lately, but we try to contain it to its own space. Unfortunately, we won't be able to explore the orchards, which is a shame. They were my favorite place as a child. Swinging off limbs and picking apples. Who could have known something so sweet could become so toxic?"
Nova frowned, remembering her stories of planting seeds in the ground in the hopes that they'd grow. She supposed that's what had compelled her to plant the peach seed… Adira had spoken of peach trees before and how she hid the pits everywhere she could because she loved them so much. She'd almost forgotten about that.
"Alright," Adira smiled, "you can pick whatever rooms you'd like, they're all relatively the same, but you're welcome to share. I'll return in a few minutes, and if anyone would like to see the penguins, I can take you to them."
Before they could separate, Nova said, "Thank you for inviting us, Aidra…" She smiled. "I expect we'll have a wonderful time."
Grinning, Adira nodded, "Of course you will. I'm an excellent host." With that, she left as her gown flowed behind her, leaving them to settle their rooms.
"Oh!" Sara grinned. "We could treat it like a sleepover—boys in one room, girls in another."
Nova frowned a little and rubbed the back of her neck, "Like…apart?" She glanced at Hollis, who offered a small smile. He, too, was hesitant. While he didn't want to be away from Nova, he also knew he couldn't dictate what everyone else wanted to.
"Well, they'd be right across the hall," Sara reassured.
Kyra shrugged, "I'm in. I could use a break from all that," she said, disdainfully waving a hand over Kole's stance.
"Really?" Kole smirked. "You're still upset?"
"I will be upset until the end of time. Now go to your room," she pointed at the door across the hall.
Kole grinned, "Okay, fire ant. I'll go. You'll miss me…but not as much as I'll miss you." He said, pushing his lips into a playful pout.
"Aw, cute," Kyra smiled and tilted her head with feigned affection, "You think I won't kick your ass with witnesses."
"Nova would help me. Wouldn't you, Nova?"
"No," Nova replied and pecked Hollis on the cheek, and left to set her bag in the room Sara had chosen, followed by the others. The room, likely identical to the others, was beyond massive. The smooth marble was different than that of the Winter Court; while also refined, it held more traces of glittering gold than silver. It was adorned with elegant tapestries and spread with plush carpets that Nova imagined would feel squishy under bare feet. There was only one bed, though it looked like three beds combined, and she wasn't keen on sleeping in it for the night. She'd rather sprawl on the floor in her own space than share with tangling legs and hair in her face.
Nieve smiled, "I kind of like this. I never really had girlfriends before, so sleepovers weren't an option," she said, setting her bag on the floor near one of the chairs. "My brother and I spend so much time together, we hardly do anything apart."
"Oh, I feel the same." Sara smiled.
"What are you talking about?" Kyra grinned as she sat cross-legged on the floor and leaned back on her palms. "I imagine you and Reign were best friends."
Nieve rolled her eyes, "I don't like using the word bitch, but…"
Leaning forward, Kyra smirked, "Oh, I know, but do you want to hear something that will make you feel better?"
"Always."
"Apparently, after Hollis turned down her advances, she went to Bran. She fucking felt him up."
Nova's jaw dropped as a different kind of heat gathered behind her eyes, but she stayed quiet in her silent rage.
Continuing, Kyra grinned, "Then he hauled her ass to Ansel, told him, and Ansel got ahold of Cassian, who got ahold of Rhysand, and when they walked in, Bran said she looked like she was going to shit herself."
Nova put a hand over her mouth as Sara and Nieve burst into laughter.
From the eruption of giggles, Hollis glanced at the open door to their room, setting his bag against the wall. It had been a while since he and Nova had shared a bed, and the thought of it tonight made him a little antsy. She was right across the hall, and yet he felt so far away from her already. Granted, since they'd returned from their life-threatening adventures, they'd hardly stepped away from each other. Even showering was a joint effort. It was as though one thought the other might disappear if not in their presence. Maybe this would be good for them.
"Alright," Aidra's voice came down the hall, "Anyone want to see a pegesus?"
Hollis and Nova entered the hallway at the same time, smiling as they joined the group. Everyone wanted to go, it seemed.
"They live in the tallest tower," she said, guiding them up another set of stairs that would take them higher.
It was Sara who asked, "Are we able to fly on them?"
Adira nodded, "We can, but not by yourself. If you want to ride, it'll have to be with me or one of the other handlers. It's much like riding a horse, but not the same. Horses don't leave the ground, for one thing. The wind is more brutal than you might think, even on calm days."
The stairs never seemed to stop, and for Sara and Cyprus, it truly was never-ending. Hollis, too, was a bit of breath by the time they reached the tower that housed them. Nova glanced at him. Oh, stop that, she scolded herself. He's fine, and you're not a hen, so stop lying on him like he's a fragile egg.
For having a stable of sorts in the palace, it certainly didn't smell like it. Then again, her mother had told her about the Day Court and its knack for inventions. Maybe that was one of them.
"My father said many were lost during the time of Amarantha's reign," Hollis said.
"There were," Adira nodded, "I wasn't around during that time, but many had been killed in their attempt to escape, but we've come back in our numbers. There are twenty-three now, soon to be twenty-four."
As they entered and the animals were now in full view, Hollis's jaw dropped, "Wow…" He murmured, gazing at them in awe, as did everyone else. They were regal, bobbing their heads and ruffling their feathery wings. Hollis didn't know where to look first as they walked through.
"This is Atta," Adira smiled, approaching a delicately defined mare. With a sleek coat that shimmered in the sunlight, she was a dusty shade of rose gold. "She was a gift on my tenth birthday—the daughter of Meallan. I wouldn't recommend flying her; she can be a bit snippy to strangers."
They followed her further down, where a male with black hair stood, happily snorting as Adira touched his muzzle. "Meallan." She smiled. "My father permitted us to fly him. He'd always been quite wild," she smiled. "Not when I'm around, hm…" She lovingly stroked his muzzle. "Would you like to go first, Hollis?"
Hollis's eyes widened, "Oh…" A sinking, fluttery feeling entered his stomach. He wanted to, oh how he wanted to, but his excitement was also riddled with fear.
"I promise you'll be safe, but you don't have."
Slowly, he looked to Nova, and she smiled encouragingly. He swallowed harshly and nodded, "I'd like to…"
"Brilliant!"
It didn't take long for them to guide Meallan outside on a patio of sorts, and Hollis's eyes widened as Adira swiftly slung herself over his back.
"Where's the saddle?"
"Oh, don't worry. You won't fall."
Hollis stared at her. He could almost guarantee that if anyone were to fall, it would be him.
"It's magic, Hollis," Adira smiled, offering her hand to him, "I won't let you fall."
With one last apprehensive glance at Nova, who smiled tightly, shoulder rigid, he climbed up behind her and settled into the dip of his back. His wings stretched out, and their shade so enveloped Hollis he didn't realize they were nearing the edge of the patio. That was, until they plummeted, and Hollis's breath caught in his throat (along with his scream), leaving his heart behind as the wind rushed past his body and up his hair in a swirling turrent. Yet, despite the sudden drop and swoop upward, he stayed precisely where he sat. As if an invisible force kept its hold, keeping him tethered to Meallan.
Ascending, they moved above the clouds, and Hollis sucked in a breath in the utter calm. There was the sun, casting a golden glow across the cloud crests. It was so quiet.
"This is my favorite part," Adira smiled softly, the rays warming her face despite the chill in the air so high up, "you should see it at sunset when it looks like a sea of pink fire. It feels like another land."
"It's incredible…" Hollis breathed, trying to take it all in, but all too soon they descended and flew toward the patio. Clopping on solid ground, Hollis grinned as he slid off and watched Nova's eyes light up with amusement.
"What?" He asked, tilting his head as she approached him.
"You're looking a little wild," she said, combing her fingers through his thick, lawless hair that wanted to move in all directions. "I like it."
Adira grinned, "Who's next?"
They each took turns falling and rising with Meallan, and Hollis couldn't contain his excitement when Nova returned with a grin. Sara, the most apprehensive, had been the last to return, and she too was glowing with delight.
"It was kind of cold up there," Sara said, shuddering as she hugged her arms.
"Yeah, it gets a bit colder the higher you are, but don't worry. A mud bath will warm you up."
"What exactly do you mean by mud bathing?" Kole asked curiously as he arched a brow. "Do we use soap?"
Adira laughed and nodded, then turned to walk backward. "Yes, but you don't have to. It's part of the spa. You soak in the mud, and it softens your skin. Then you bathe with soap after. You don't have to leave the spa dirty," she smirked at Nieve and winked, "Not if you don't want to."
She turned and continued walking, leaving Nieve to blush up to the tips of her ears.
"But let's save it for last," she said, leading them back down and out of the paddock, "Believe me when I say, it's so nice going to bed right after. It's amazing."
Fingers intertwined, Nova and Hollis took the rear, admiring the palace as they walked. Neither realized they were going to the library until they entered, and they stopped in awe. Nova had been to the library in Velaris, but it didn't compare to this. She had no words for the number of books they'd managed to fit on the shelves on walls as tall as the palace itself.
"Hm," Hollis smiled, "I wouldn't even know where to start in here." It was almost too much- overwhelmingly so. How they kept track of it all was lost on him.
"I was constantly in this room over here," Adira said, walking past rows and rows of tables meant for study, and into the room on the far side.
Inside wasn't what they'd have expected. It looked more like a pile of…well, they weren't sure. It was a bunch of stuff pushed together and piled on top of each other. There was no rhyme or reason to it, but Adira gazed over the vast room of junk as treasure.
"It's my room of failure, and I know that sounds terrible, but to an inventor, failures are just learned mistakes."
"You're an inventor?" Nieve asked with interest.
"Well, not yet," Adira smiled, "I need to invent something first, but one day I will. I had been away from my life here for so long that I forgot how much I enjoy tinkering."
She led them along a path that wound through the items to a little desk littered with springs, screws, and books. Notations on the wall, some on paper, some on the wall itself in bold ink. "One day, I'll be known for my inventions and they'll help not just our people, but everyone."
Nova smiled, looking around at a contraption next to the table's leg that looked a little like…well, a relaxed dick. She raised her brow at it, and Adira laughed.
"Oh, I'm still working on that. It's meant to use sound waves to speak to people from afar, rather than writing letters. I just need to find the right frequency. You can hear their voice and they'll hear yours."
Adira showed them a few other ideas she had, one of which included a system for watering plants in the desert, which she frequented during times of less rainfall. While fascinating, they could have stayed longer, but it was soon time for lunch, and they joined their parents in the dining room, where a spread of fruits and steamed vegetables awaited them. However, it was the flatbread and salad of onions and tomatoes that drew Nova in. Garnished with spices and oils, everything was delicious, but it was apparent they, too, had to ration.
"Have you enjoyed yourselves so far?" Helion asked with a smile, proudly holding his mate's hand above the table.
Hollis smiled, "It's been wonderful. Meallan is magnificent."
Grinning, Helion laughed, "I'm surprised he let you ride him, though Adira does have a way with him that I'll never fully understand." He turned his attention to the Illyrians. "Rhysand says you all achieved the highest order during the Blood Rite. Congratulations."
"The Night Court's future will certainly be in capable hands." Adira's mother said quietly next to them, then glanced at Helion as if in apology, but Helion merely smiled, and she relaxed in her seat.
Kyra smiled, "It was worth the risks. Thank you…" She paused and swallowed, realizing she didn't know her name.
"My new name is Samma." She smiled, and Adira smiled, too.
After lunch, Adira took them on a tour of the indoor gardens where sun drenched the expansive greenhouses. Even from the outside, it looked nearly half the size of the palace. Nova wondered if Elain had ever ventured here just for the gardening.
"We're careful to keep all outside debris from entering," Adira said, entering a closed-off space, ushering everyone inside. "We take precautions to keep the rot away, including cleansing before we enter and after we leave. Don't worry, it's less of a spray and more of a mist. It's been designed to destroy harmful bacteria. We don't know if it will work forever, but it's helped us so far."
Hollis looked up at the circular plates above with little holes poked through them sporadically. "Does using it on the infected groves improve them?"
Shaking her head, she frowned, "We tried, but it seems once it's begun, it can't be stopped. We've been trying to use a similar infusion for ill bodies, but so far it only seems to reduce the risk of spreading it to plants. Not always, though. Every day, I remove the leaves and fruits that look questionable. It's not a sure method, only something we're testing."
Above them, a curling steam released from the holes and filled the space in a dense fog. It felt like nothing as it whisped around them, settling on their skin and clothes before dissipating completely. When they were clear, Adira opened the doors and stepped inside the humid space.
There was more variety of edible plants than Nova had ever seen. Even with not being able to use the groves and orchards beyond, it seemed they were doing well, creating their own supply. Perhaps that was how they'd managed to trade so much with the other courts. They'd given up so much of their own for the sake of others despite losing so much themselves.
"We can't take anything," Adira said as they walked the dirt path, brushing past gigantic, flourishing leaves. "We're keeping track of all input and output so that we can continue to trade."
Hollis pursed his lips and wondered then what they had been doing to give back. Or had they simply been receiving, rather than giving? He glanced at Nova, but she was preoccupied with a collection of trees growing green oranges. She hadn't had a citrus fruit in ages.
"Nova and I have thought about supplying another Court with reindeer milk and cheese."
"Really?" Adira asked with interest.
Hollis nodded, "We've lost a lot of our herd over the year, but we figured the only way to let them grow again is by breeding. With breeding will come extra milk. We have varying supplies, of course, but not oranges or lemons." He remembered just the other day he'd heard his mother mention that she'd missed her spiced lemon tea before bed.
"Reindeer milk is high in protein, isn't it? We have some, but not much here. I'll speak to my father about it. We might be able to make an arrangement."
Hollis smiled and continued their walk, admiring the massive amounts they had, but unlike flying above the clouds, which was rather chilly, it was stifling in the greenhouse. There was a little air movement coming from somewhere, but not enough to make a difference. He pulled his shirt from sweaty skin and cringed.
"I think it's about time for that mud bath." Adira smiled. "Come on, they're not far from here." She said, and they followed her back to the small space that would sterilize them before they entered the grounds again.
Nova liked the mud, but she wasn't so sure about the concept of bathing in it. Sure, she'd said they'd rinse after, but how did the mud not get into certain….orifices?
"Just try not to have sex in the baths," Adira said nonchalantly, as if reading everyone's thoughts, "Trust me. It's not worth the cleanup. Don't ask me how I know that."
Finch snorted, "These baths are…clean, right?"
Laughing, Adira nodded, "They are. It's kind of like a bathtub, only the mud is constantly moving to bring in new. The temperatures in the vat below keep it clean."
Hollis, too, was apprehensive, but he'd also felt that way before riding a pegasus. He could take a mud bath, too.
"I didn't bring a bathing suit." Nieve frowned.
"Oh, don't worry, you won't need one," Adira reassured, to Sara's horror, but continued as if she'd said nothing out of the ordinary. "There are walls that block others from seeing you if that's what you prefer, but most enter the baths nude. You can share or be alone. Whatever you prefer."
Nova glanced at Hollis and smirked. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad; they'd just have to remember to contain themselves.
"Just a warning, if you dunk your head, make sure you close your eyes," Adira added. Rather than entering the palace again, they walked around to a stone path that led to a wooden door, similar to what might be found on a barn.
It was cold when they entered and descended a long flight of multicolored stone stairs. Like little pebbles joined together. The stairs were freezing, but when they entered the main room, made up of the same material, it was hazy and warm. The room was longer than it was wide. To the right was a flat wall of stone, and to the left were individual rectangular cubbies. Each had the same layout—steel bars on all three walls and a circular tub in the center. Inside the tub was filled nearly to the brim with bubbling mud that was the color of sand. It seemed to be a mixture of clay, sand, and water, but viscous enough that it didn't splash on the sides, but oozed.
Each section also had a rectangle cut into the wall, leading to a narrow passage, which was surrounded by the same smooth pebbles, except for the black nozzles scattered across the walls. This section, unlike the others, was the only one with a swinging wooden door.
"What you do is enter through here," Adira said, pointing to the first passageway with nozzels. "You put your clothes on the hook on the end, then stand in front of the jets. They'll spray off any sweat or dirt. After that, you go through the doorway and into the circle of mud. When you're done, go back the way you came and spray off again. Sometimes you have to get a bit creative to get it all out."
Sara frowned and said, "There aren't any doors on the baths?"
Adira nodded, "It wasn't exactly built with modesty in mind, but everyone just keeps their eyes to themselves as they pass by. The mud covered most of you, but if you want, you can wear your underclothes. Just know they'll probably stain."
"I'll do it," Kole smirked at Kyra, "Care to join me?"
Kyra side-eyed him but smiled, "As long as you behave yourself."
Grinning, he offered her his hand, which she took, and they disappeared into the last section. With Finch and Bran spending so much time in the barracks, they found the tasks easy, while Sara joined Nieve, and they both kept their undergarments on. Adira and Cyprus took separate ones to relax in.
That left Hollis and Nova, who walked to an open one and pushed through the pine door. She smirked at him and raised a brow; either no one was speaking, or the enclosed areas were incredibly soundproof.
"What do you think- underwear or no underwear?"
Hollis chewed his lower lip and smiled. "I mean, I do find underwear to be a hindrance."
Grinning, Nova shook her head, "Behave yourself. I don't want to be kicked out of the Day Court."
"I highly doubt we would be, if I'm honest," he smirked, "I have a feeling it's a bit more free spirited around here than back home."
"And by that you mean free-balled."
Hollis snorted and unbuttoned his shirt just as Nova began removing her own armor. It didn't take long for her to undo her ties and strip down to her underwear. Lastly, she pulled her bra off over her head, smirking as Hollis paused to stare.
Shaking her head, she grinned and proceeded to hang her belongings on the hook, very aware of his eyes on her as she stepped in front of the nozzles. She wasn't sure what to expect, but it certainly hadn't been that as a harsh jet sprayed down her entire body. It was cold at first, but soon warmed. Still, she couldn't stand in front of them for long as it pelted her. Stepping to the right, she slicked her hair back and sucked in a breath.
Hollis repeated the process and quickly moved away as what sprayed Nova's chest sprayed him right in the face. He sputtered, quickly leaving its assault as Nova burst into laughter.
"That is not funny." He pushed his mop of hair back, grinning.
"I mean, it's a little funny." She giggled and gasped as he pinched her ass cheek. "You…" She pointed a finger at him as he quickly raised his hands in defense, though his playful grin stayed in place.
"I'm going to get you."
"I look forward to it."
Nova chewed her lip, narrowed her eyes, and entered the room. The steps weren't visible. "Wait a second," she held a hand to him before he could enter. While holding the rail, she touched her left foot into the mud and slowly let it sink, realizing there was only one step that seemed to act as a seat about halfway down. Still holding the rail, she sank further in until her feet touched the ground and she sat on the circular bench beneath.
"Okay, be careful. It's slick."
She watched him get in, making sure he didn't put too much weight on his arm as he entered. But the moment he was sitting diagonally from her, she was able to relax. The mud, surprisingly, came up to just above her chest and just below Hollis's jaw. She was right in the assumption that it would be gooey. It was also nice, much like a warm, smothering hug without the appendages.
Sinking a little lower, she leaned back and smiled. "I kind of like it."
Hollis smiled and lifted his arm above the surface, and pursed his lips at the sight of his coated arm. He'd never been one much for dirt and grime, so this was pushing him a bit out of his comfort zone. Though, the more they stewed, the more relaxed he was able to be. Mainly because with his legs pressed comfortably against Nova's, he didn't feel like he'd drown.
"I kind of want it on my face," Nova said, "But I don't want to dunk my head."
Smiling, Hollis slid closer to her. "Here, I'll paint your face."
Nova laughed, but he was quite serious as he grinned and said, "Hold still. I don't want to get it in your eyes."
Biting back another giggle, Nova nodded compliantly and froze under his touch. He used his coated fingers and carefully applied the mud mixture up to her neck and face. He was deliberate where his fingers swept, no place left untouched. Using his pinky to stroke it down the bridge of her nose, he pulled back and smiled. Her eyes and lips untouched, she had a mask of mud over her entire face.
"Hm, thanks," she smiled. It didn't quite sting, but it tingled as it melted into her pores. "I can do yours." She said, but as Hollis moved a bit closer, his arm slid forward on the seat, and his entire head submerged.
"Oh, shit!" Nova exclaimed and reached in, but he had already emerged looking more like a mud monster than her Hollis.
Covering her hands over her mouth, Nova stared at him with wide eyes, trying not to laugh as he scraped the mud from his eyes and spit it out of his mouth. His snow hair, now brown, stuck to his head.
"Are you okay?" Nova asked, eyes wide as she looked him over.
Spitting out another bit of clay, Hollis slicked his hair back again and grinned, "What? Is there something in my teeth?" He asked and bared them for her to see that his white teeth were now covered in a muddy grit.
Nova burst out laughing, unable to hold it in as he slid closer to her and rested against her side as she let her head settle on top of his head - sopping mud and everything. She wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, basking in the silence and warmth of the mud that soothed their skin. They hardly even noticed as others passed by, clean and dressed in fluffy robes to return to their rooms.
"I think everyone left," Hollis whispered.
Smiling, Nova listened carefully before turning to him, "Well, if that's the case…" She pressed a kiss against his lips, uncaring of the mud they shared as he deepened the kiss, stroking his tongue into her mouth.
"Oh…" They pulled from each other with raised brows at Adira, wrapped in a white robe, and smirked. "Sorry to interrupt. Dinner will be served in the rooms tonight in about half an hour."
Nova bit her lip; she knew Hollis was bright red under the mud that caked him. Nodding, she said, "We'll be right up."
And they were.
After a few more minutes, uninterrupted.
By the time they had washed themselves off with the jet and ambled upstairs with their robes on, clothes tucked under their arms, dinner had been presented on a long table in the center of the hallway. Everyone filled their plates to take to their room to eat, coming back for more if they were still hungry.
Nova, not wanting to stay in the robe, quickly dressed in a t-shirt and shorts and settled herself with a plate of some sort of spiced meat and potatoes on the rug. Half-listening to the conversation the others were having.
Joining them, Adira smiled as she sat next to Nieve.
"Nova?"
She turned to address the voice, "Hm?"
Kyra smirked, raising a brow, "What did you think of the spa?"
"Oh, I liked it." She nodded. Honestly, she'd never felt so refreshed. She could easily find herself lying down on the floor now and falling to sleep, despite Nieve and Sara laughing at something or other.
Stretching, Kyra's wings quivered, then she relaxed with a sigh.
"Is the thing about Wing Span real?" Adira asked and took a bite of buttery, garlic potato. "I heard my father say something about it in passing."
"I think there's some truth to it, but I haven't seen all the appendages to confirm," Kyra said, sucking the honey off her thumb.
"Is that what that means?" Nieve asked, arching a brow as Sara turned to the color of a tomato.
Adira laughed, "Hm, well, I also heard him mention someone named Azriel having the widest span."
Choking on her bite of food, Nova had to cough it back out and chase it with a large gulp of water. "Please," she swallowed again, "Never… say that again."
Kyra fell over, burying her face into the pillow next to her. "That's her uncle."
Hand to her forehead, Adira's eyes widened, "Oh, shit…sorry." She snorted. "Fine, then Finch or Bran? I know they're fucking each other," she waved her hand, "But still."
"First," Kyra defended, lifting her finger, "They're in a committed relationship."
"And second?"
They all waited for Kyra's answer, and she pursed her lips as she said, "Bran."
Hollis raised his brows as laughter erupted from across the hall. He glanced at the others, all eating quietly. "What do you think they're talking about?"
"Hard to say," Kole replied with a nod, taking another bite of his chicken.
It was quiet aside from the giggling across the hall and the scrapes of plates.
Cyprus said, "I found a fish on a hike the other day."
"At a pond?" Finch asked.
"No, just lying there in the middle of the trail."
Bran nodded. "Weird." He said, before they collectively ate another bite, followed by the sounds of chewing.
Dinner turned to dessert, and dessert turned to lights out. Nieve and Sara took the bed while Kyra claimed the rug by the roaring fire. It didn't matter that it was much warmer here; the comfort was nice. Nova and Adira lay down on the center room rug. With a pillow and a single blanket, they curled up, not next to each other, but not far away either.
The sound of snoring came from somewhere, but no matter how long Nova pinched her eyes closed, she couldn't force herself to sleep. She'd been so content after the mud bath, her skin so soft, yet now that it was finally time to rest, she couldn't. Rolling onto her belly, she kicked the blanket off her feet and rested her chin on her arms. She stared at the closed door, knowing Hollis was just right across the hall.
It didn't help. Without his touch, she felt…incomplete.
Glaring at herself, she buried her face in the crook of her arm. How had she gone from 'I don't need anyone' to 'I need him or I might die'? Was that just the mating bond? The prophecy? She wasn't sure.
"Can't sleep?" Adira asked softly in the dark.
Rolling her head to look at her over her bicep, Nova sighed, "Hm, not really."
"Miss him?"
Nova frowned and rolled onto her back, staring up at the space above. "I shouldn't. He's right over there. I've never been so…" She trailed off, cringing at herself.
Moving to rest her cheek on her hand, propped by her elbow, Adira smiled faintly, "So what?"
"Way too needy that I'm annoying."
Adira snorted and shook her head, but Nova glared at her. "It's not funny."
"It kind of is. Because you're not needy, Nova, you're 'in need of'. There's a difference."
Raising her brow, she sighed, "Alright, I'll bite. What do you mean?"
"It's like," she paused to find the right words, "Imagine you wander the desert for days without water. You haven't had a drop to drink. Then suddenly you find an oasis. Would you take a little sip or would you guzzle it?"
Nova frowned, "I fail to see how that has to do with anything."
"You've been in a desert without knowing it, Nova…" Adira frowned. "You may have accepted my touch, but you never accepted my affection. You've wandered all these years through barren lands, deprived of love. You spent your whole life alone in a forest, less than a year with the comforts of your home, and then another ten years in a damp, drizzly camp where you did nothing but work your mind and your body. You've been so thirsty for genuine affection for so long that now that it's at your feet, you're scared to let it go, because what if it disappears?"
Blinking, Nova stared at her.
"I don't find it annoying," Adira smiled gently, "I'm quite jealous of it, actually. If ever in life I find someone, I want them to look at me the way Hollis looks at you."
They were quiet for a long moment, letting the ambient sounds of snores and the fires crackle fill the space. Nova finally voiced the question that had been housed in her mind all day.
She looked at Adira to find her still watching her. "Your mother had to hide you from Beron, didn't she?"
Her smile fell, replaced by the glitter of sadness. "I didn't get to meet her until after Eris killed him."
Swallowing, Nova rolled to her side to face her. "Adira…"
"Beron had, of course, found out about the affair that produced Lucien and forbade her from ever seeing my father again. She listened for a little while. But love like that is too strong," she smiled softly, her throat tight. "When she fell pregnant again, she knew he'd realize it, and if he did…" She sighed. "Her midwife helped her, and they made Beron believe I had been born dead, but my father waited just outside the window on Meallan and took me to the Day Court. Beron was easily enough convinced, after all…my mother's tears were real."
A tear rolled down Nova's cheek.
"My father kept me there in secret. He didn't want any questions raised," she smiled softly. "Isn't it funny? You were a secret, and Hollis was a secret. So many secrets…" She bit her lip and continued. "Eventually, there came a time when I was growing restless. I hated being caged, and my father asked if I'd like to leave for a time to train at Valkyrie Island. He, of course, wanted me to be prepared should Beron ever find me, and I wanted an adventure. So I agreed and…" She smirked. "And I met a deranged girl who threw a fork at someone because they took her cookie."
"Well, it was mine."
They had to stifle their laughter.
When they quieted, Nova released a soft sigh, "I am glad you attended the meeting."
"Me, too."