Feyre heard nothing but her heart pounding like thunder in her ears as they hurtled through time and space through the forest, appearing on the other side moments later.
They arrived right next to Nova, who lay in a heap as her blood soaked into the mossy ground. Clamped around her right thigh was a gnarly trap Feyre recognized as commonly used for bears. Its dagger-like teeth were embedded so deeply in her thigh that if she looked at the right angle, she could see Nova's bone.
Instinctively, Feyre lurched forward to pry the trap off, but Rhys pulled her back as Nova thrashed. Her nearly bare body was in a state of panic as she cried out.
"We need to make sure we don't make it worse. We'll need to be able to take care of her injury properly…"
Everyone exchanged a look as Nova dug her fingers into the earth, clawing it in clumps as blood pumped profusely down her leg. She continued to writhe, and it became clear what had to be done.
Feyre nodded in silent understanding. She took hold of the chain connected to the trap while Rhys wrapped his arms around Nova's torso, pinning her arms to her sides.
Her screaming changed its tone from agony to terror.
Az wrapped a secure arm around Mor's side, and in the next instant, they were all laid out in the center room of the townhouse, Nova thrashing and wailing amongst them.
"Easy, easy."
Rhys locked his arms around her to keep her upper body still, but as he did she slammed her head back against his mouth. As his lower lip bled, he continued to soothe her. He rocked her gently even as she desperately strained against his hold.
Nova's face was flushed a deep red.
"Cassian, hold her legs. Feyre, Mor. Get that fucking thing off her."
Rhys' voice was calm, but it was for Nova's sake and her sake alone.
He breathed in sharply as Nova lunged for his arm, her teeth sinking deeply into his forearm. She either didn't notice or didn't care that blood gushed between her straight, now stained red teeth.
Everyone jumped to work.
While Cas held her legs, with some difficulty, as his first attempt resulted in her foot catching his jaw, Feyra and Mor worked to release the contraption from her with as little damage to the area as possible.
Rhysand continued to gently rock, holding her in a firm hug as Azriel leaned down in front of Nova. Her eyes flashed up at him and snarled before tightening her bite on Rhys' arm.
Still, Az calmly ghosted his fingers up and along her jaw. Finding the joint where her jaw met her skull, he began gently massaging the area. Slowly, Nova lost the ability to control the clenched muscles, and the grip of her bite loosened enough that Rhys could pull his arm free.
In its place, Azriel offered a warm, wet washcloth to her mouth. She promptly bit down and chewed vigorously as Mor and Feyre finally managed to pry the metal from her leg.
"Welcome home?" Amren asked, standing studiously to the side with a glass of blood at her lips.
Feyre looked up, swiping the sweat that clung to her face.
"Yeah, thanks for the assistance."
She gave a shrug and looked down at Nova, who, while still in Rhys' embrace, had gone still. Her head sagged a little, but she still chewed the washcloth.
"It'll need to be cleaned," Feyre murmured and glanced at Rhys and she...smiled. She couldn't help it; he was holding their daughter despite the circumstances. She was here, in Velaris, and he held her in an embrace they'd dreamt of for fifteen years.
As inappropriate as it was to smile, she just couldn't stop herself.
Rhys couldn't seem to stop himself either as he continued rocking from side to side. Something he would have done to soothe her as an infant.
Nova wasn't an infant, though, and they'd have to remember that.
Glancing down at the mutilated area, she watched her leg shake violently. If she was no longer screaming- was she in shock?
Mor draped a blanket over her body above her legs, where her cloak was riding a little too high for comfort.
"I'll call for Madja." Amren nodded, setting her now empty glass down.
"What?" Rhys looked up, and they all stared at her in confusion.
Amren smirked and walked out the door.