tagging: @runesandfaes @acourtofredqueens @havilliardandgalathynius @fiery-feyre @starzablaze @tog-trash @evyfox @highlordkaz @ame233 @high-lady-of-rochambeau @musicmaam @empress-ofbloodshed @rkjar1646 @literarynonsense *please send me an ask if you would like to be tagged in future chapters* 

a huge thank you to my love @runesandfaes for editing ❤

Masterlist

Chapter One

Rean

A cool breeze off the Sidra stings my cheeks as I soar over the city. This is what I live for–moments where there is nothing but me and the sky and the cold air. The sun is beginning to rise over the water, chasing away the last of the stars and casting the world in an orange glow. This may not be the Dawn Court, but the sunrise is as beautiful as ever. Lights flicker on throughout Velaris, its people wake with the sun. At least, the people who live their lives during the day, rather than those who sleep while the sun is up to better enjoy the magnificent nights of my Court. I know my time of freedom is running out, and I take one last deep breath before turning back home to meet my parents. I may be their son, but no one leaves the High Lord and Lady of the Night Court waiting.

---

I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the hallway mirror as I walk through the House of Wind to the dining room for breakfast. My black hair is windblown and wild, my cheeks red from the biting cold. There will be no dodging their questions today. It’s too obvious that I’ve been out flying. Mom and Dad  are already at the table when I enter the room, filling their plates with fruit and pastries. They exchange a glance with each other when they notice my state, no doubt having one of their silent bond-conversations.

“Have a nice flight, Rean?” Dad asks with a knowing smile.

“What? I wasn’t–” I stop trying to hide the fact that I took a morning flight when he levels me with a look that tells me there’s no use lying. “It was fine.” I scoop some melon on to my plate and stab a piece with my fork.

“Just fine?” Mom prods, “Did you go anywhere in particular?”

It’s not that I’m embarrassed of my flight, that would be ridiculous. It would be more embarrassing if I didn’t fly. And it’s not that I hate my parents. I love them, I really do. I just want to keep this one part of my life to myself. The sky’s the one place where I can be alone without watchful eyes and prodding questions. As much as I would prefer not to, I answer my mother’s question. “I just flew around a bit. Down by the Sidra to watch the sunrise.”

Corin, my twin, and this morning, my saving grace, saunters into the room, rubbing sleep from his eyes. He is definitely not the type to take a morning flight to watch the sunrise.

“Leave my poor brother alone, Mom,” he says, taking his seat across from me. I pass him the pot of coffee and mouth ‘thank-you’. “Anyway,” he continues, “shouldn’t you two be preparing for the party tonight?”

“Yes, we probably should,” Dad glances at the clock on the wall and stands up from his chair. High Lady Feyre stands up from her own and places her napkin on the table.

“Rean, don’t forget the desserts,” she reminds me, “and Corin, make sure the musicians are set up. And I mean really make sure. We don’t want a repeat of what happened last year, do we?”

“We’ve been over this, it wasn’t my fault,” Corin insists, “and besides, the musicians arrived eventually.”

Mom chuckles under her breath and shakes her head. “Happy Starfall,” she calls back to us as she and Dad leave.

“Always a pleasure with them.” My comment makes Corin roll his eyes, but he smiles. I know I won’t get much conversation out of him until he wakes up fully. Probably sometime around noon, knowing him. We may look alike, but it’s little things like sleeping habits that couldn’t be more different between us.

Finished with my breakfast, I say goodbye to my brother and head into the streets of Velaris to find desserts for the party. I had heard about a bakery that the people of Velaris are saying makes the best cakes in the city, and that’s what I’m going to find now. For the second time this morning, I take to the skies.

---

I find the bakery easily enough. It’s on the bottom floor of a charming little brick building on one of the busier streets. The outside brick is painted with an intricate swirling design in black paint that reminds me of a traditional Illyrian tattoo, much like the one that swirls across my chest. The front wall facing the street has a large window that allows people on the street to see inside the bakery and the display case inside. Even from outside I can smell the delicious aroma of vanilla and sugar, and it’s enough to set my mouth watering. I step up to the door and push on it, but it doesn’t open. Confused, I knock. After a moment, a female opens the door.

“I’m sorry, sir, but we’re–” she cuts herself off and her eyes widen, no doubt as she recognizes who I am. “Prince Rean, I’m sorry. Please, come in.” She steps to the side and holds the door open for me.

“No, I’m sorry, I should have known you wouldn’t be open yet. It’s still early. I can come back later–”

“Don’t be silly,” she gestures for me to come inside. Sighing, I step into the bakery.

It’s warm inside, especially compared to the chilled wind outside. The walls are painted with more of that design from the outer brick, but the background of the black swirls here is a vibrant pink. Mirrors and decorative frames are spaced along the walls, all in gold and silver. The entire room gives a feeling of warmth and luxury, filled with overstuffed chairs and tables for two. The most amazing though is the display case, despite it being only half full. The single tier cakes inside are intricate and colourful, topped with chocolate curls and pieces of fruit, curds and glazes. “These are… incredible,” I remark, nodding to the cakes on display. I turn to the female in time to see a grin spread across her face and red bloom on her cheeks.

“Thank you,” she says as she nervously tucks a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. When her smile fades I find myself wanting desperately for her to smile again, and the feeling catches me off guard. She produces a small notebook and a pen from the pocket of her apron and makes her way to the other side of the counter. “What can I get for you, Prince Rean?”

“Well,” I explain, “tonight, as you probably know, is Starfall.” She nods with a chuckle and I go on, “I have been put in charge of getting desserts for tonight’s party, and word on the street is you make the best cakes in the city. So I need all the cakes you have available today.”

“All of them?” she asks with raised eyebrows, “That’s about thirty cakes.”

“Perfect.”

“And they’re not all ready yet. It will take me about another hour to finish cutting and decorating them all, so you can leave and come back in a little while if you would like. Of course you could also just wait here, I can get you a drink and a slice.”

Really, I should leave and come back. But I find myself drawn to the bakery, to the young woman and her smile. “I can just wait here, if it’s no trouble.”

She smiles again and my heart lights up at the sight. “No trouble at all. I’ll just be back in the kitchen, if you want to take a seat.” She gestures to the lines of tables and turns toward the kitchen doors at the back of the bakery.

I feel my heart drop at the thought of her leaving, and I speak before I can stop myself. “I can keep you company.” I feel the heat rise on my cheeks. Corin was always better than me at flirtation… or whatever this is. All I know is that I want to spend more time with her, and if that means embarrassing myself and coming off as a fool, so be it.

She stops, seemingly surprised by my offer. The moments feel like hundreds of years as my heart pounds in my chest. Have I overstepped? Have I scared her off? I wish I could be more like Corin. He can speak to people as easily as I can push them away.

“Alright,” she smiles. I smile back and let out a breath. She turns back to the kitchen and I follow her in, thanking the cauldron for my small victory.

In the kitchen, the female–I should really ask for her name– sets to work on the cakes. Small, deft hands make quick work of shaving chocolate and slicing lemons and chopping fruit. She darts about the kitchen as I make myself comfortable leaning against one of the worktables. The silence that settles is comfortable, but I break it anyway.

“Do you have a name?” I ask, and instantly curse myself. Very smooth, Rean.

I at least win a smile for my embarrassment.

“I do,” she chuckles, not looking up from the cake she is icing on a turntable. Good, she can’t see how red my face is. “It’s Milena. Or Mila, by my family.”

“That’s a very beautiful name.” Almost as beautiful as the girl it belongs to. I drum my fingers absently on the table. She really is beautiful. Her blonde hair is braided back into a bun, but strands have come loose and hang free, framing her face in gold. Her green eyes are the colour of summer grass, and are warm and bright. They’re the kind of eyes I feel can see right into my soul, and they probably do. I don’t shy away from them, though, like I would with most people. I feel like I want her to see into my soul. Why am I so drawn to her?

“I can see you staring, Prince Rean.” That means she can also now see my face go as red as the strawberries she’s slicing. “I’m kidding, it’s okay. You’re probably just wondering how a girl from the Spring Court came to be working in Velaris, right?”

“You’re from the Spring Court?” I ask, then realizing I’ve blown my only chance of an excuse for my staring. I silently curse myself again.

“My parents were. They came here when my mother found out she was pregnant with me and opened up this bakery to make a living. They’re usually here too, but we expected today to be less busy because of the festivities tonight. So it’s just me today. And you.” Milena looks up at me and smiles. “I really am grateful for your company. It gets boring sometimes so I’m glad for the conversation, even if it means I have you stare at me the whole time.” The last part was said jokingly, but I can’t help but feel embarrassed again.

“What did your parents do in Spring?”

“They both worked at High Lord Tamlin’s manor. I’m not sure exactly why they wanted to leave, but I’m glad to live in Night instead of Spring.”

We fall back into another comfortable silence, and this time, I let it last. The rest of the time passes quickly, and before I know it, she is finished with my cakes and packing them into boxes tied with gold ribbon. With a snap of my fingers, the finished boxes vanish, sent up to the House of Wind. There is no more reason for me to be here, but I don’t want to leave. There is one way I can see her again, I just have to ask her. As I’m about to leave, I scrounge up what’s left of my courage and do it.

“Will you come to the House of Wind for Starfall tonight?”

She seems genuinely surprised, and takes a moment to find her words.

“I… well,” those piercing eyes find mine. “Alright.”

I smile so wide that my cheeks hurt. “I’ll see you there.”

I step out of the bakery and breathe in the fresh, cool air. That went well, I think.