Rhysand didn't take Nova to release the squirrel the next morning, the next day…or the day after. When they had only two days left before meeting at the Spring Court again, Feyre finally said something about it over breakfast at the House of Wind.
"We can't wait until the morning of the gathering to have her release him." Feyre frowned as they watched Nova offer spoonfuls of milk to the kit. "She'd be a mess the whole day, and then to take her to a new place with strangers." She shook her head, imagining Nova throwing herself on the ground, sobbing in the middle of Tamlin's dining room.
Feyre had no problem with Nova crying, but the thought of her being emotionally vulnerable in front of the High Lords didn't sit well in her belly.
With a soft sigh, Rhys nodded, "Alright. I'll take her after breakfast."
True to his word, Rhysand walked with Nova down the winding stone stairs and through Velaris. She waved at Peter, who brought the bread out to patrons and continued walking, cuddling her squirrel to her chest.
By the time they were under the tree's shadows, Nova realized this wasn't the average walk through Velaris. She slowly stopped and looked up at Rhys, who offered a soft, sad smile.
"Nova," he kneeled and gently said, "The squirrel is sad."
Frowning, she tilted her head to the side. "Sad?"
With a nod, he touched his furry ear and pointed to the trees. "The squirrel needs to go home."
"Home." Nova nodded, pointing in the direction of the townhouse.
How could he explain to her in a way that she would understand? Contemplating for a moment, he shook his head. "No. The squirrel's home is in the trees."
"The trees?"
"Squirrel's home is in the trees."
Nova slowly looked up at the leaves falling from the branches, leaving the tree more like a skeleton than a home to Nova. Holding the squirrel closer to her chest, her lower lip quivered as she looked up at Rhys with watery eyes.
"Mine squirrel?"
Shaking his head, he gently answered, "No. Not your squirrel." His thumbs wiped away the tears that fell down her cheeks. "Squirrel's are happy in trees."
Nova frowned, her violet eyes searching his. "I happy in trees."
His throat bobbed as he swallowed back the emotion that built in the back of his throat. "You can visit Squirrel, okay?"
"Visit?"
Rhys nodded with a small smile, "Yes. We can walk to the woods and see him." Comprehension did not cross Nova's features, but she looked up at the trees where another squirrel scrambled across the branches, cheeks stuffed full.
Nova let out a long sigh and looked at Rhys. "Happy in trees?"
Rhys was silent for a long moment. Perhaps…she understood more than he thought. He finally nodded, "Yes. He'll be happy in the trees."
With another defeated, resigned sigh, Nova turned and walked to the tree trunk behind her. Putting the squirrel at her neck, she easily climbed to one of the lower branches. Gingerly, she pulled his little body from her neck and set him on the branch. It took a moment for him to sniff the wood and then clamber up the trunk and disappear into the leaves.
Nova swung her legs and looked down at Rhys with a small frown. "Is happy."
He offered his hand to her, and she jumped to the ground to take it. "I know it's sad, but you did what was right. The squirrel can be with his family."
Despite her good deed, Nova hung her head as they walked the path back to Velaris.
With a slight curve of a smile, Rhys said, "I think I have an idea."
The day had come that Nova would be attending a meeting with the High Lords with them. Breakfast in the townhouse was brimming with anxiety from everyone except Nova. She sat with her stuffed squirrel, pretending to feed him peanuts. As it turned out, on their way back to the townhouse, they stopped at the same store where Nova had found her fox. Sure enough, they had a squirrel, and she practiced again how to pay for something she wanted.
Now, she tucked her fox and squirrel into bed at the window seat each night. She ensured they had a pillow and blanket to share before letting Feyre or Rhys (sometimes Cas, Az, or Mor) tuck her in after.
"We can't keep who she is a secret anymore," Rhys sighed, "They're going to watch her. They'll see she isn't capable of complicated decisions."
Feyre swallowed. "If they try to take her…if they try to take Hollis."
"We won't let them," Cassian said, glancing at Azriel. A plan had already been set between The Night and Winter Court. If it seemed they'd risk having their rights to their children taken away, Azriel would take both Nova and Hollis away. Somewhere safe, somewhere the other Courts wouldn't be able to follow.
It wasn't that they didn't want their children in the same room together. They weren't against allowing them to be friends, but the moment Tamlin or anyone else attempted the unthinkable, they had a plan in place.
"They don't have to know about her power or any training she's had," Cassian added. "We can still keep some things in the dark."
"Mine squirrel." Nova hugged her squirrel to her chest.
Feyre smiled, "You can take your squirrel with you today." She hoped it would help keep her at least a little occupied. The last thing they wanted was for Nova to make herself at home.
"It's time to go." Rhys pursed his lips, glancing at his clock. There would be no meal today, only direct conversation.
"Go?" Nova asked, tilting her head and frowning as panic swept through her eyes. "I go?" Her tone was anxious.
Rhys nodded with a smile. "Yes, you get to go too."
With a sigh of relief, she stuffed peanuts into her pocket and lightly patted them as if it would keep them safe.
"This is going to be interesting," Cassian smirked.
Cassian sneezed as they walked the grounds of the Spring Court yet again. Nova, hugging her squirrel to her chest, quickly looked up at him and grabbed his wrist.
"Okay?" She asked, eyes wide.
Cassian smiled and nodded, "I'm okay." Petting his armor lightly before skipping up to walk beside Azriel, taking his scarred hand in hers.
Glancing over at Feyre, Mor forced a tight smile before walking into the dining area. The chairs were all taken except for six of them. Instead of one long rectangle, the table was a massive circle, cleared of any food or decoration.
Nova slowly scanned the room, taking in all the new faces that turned to look at them. All eyes slowly settled on her. She could feel them- their watchful eyes. She carefully inched herself behind Azriel and Mor, peeking at them through the slit of their arms.
Rhysand addressed the table, "Our daughter, Nova…spent most of her life alone in the wilderness. At three years old, she survived a fire that claimed the family meant to care for her during our capture. She is learning how to cope with her new life each day."
Feyre carefully took Nova's hand and guided her to one of the chairs, away from the safety of Azriel's frame. She vigilantly scanned her audience, setting her brow into a rigid scowl as she didn't recognize any of them.
All stared in with slightly wide eyes, even Kallias and Viviane, who stared at her. Hollis, too, couldn't look away from the girl who clutched squirrel to her chest, looking as though she'd take a bite out of any of them.
"Now you know," Rhysand said, settling into a chair, Feyre sat beside him. Then Nova, Az, Mor, and Cas. Smirking, Rhys leaned back a little, "Questions?"
It seemed they'd thrown a curve ball the way they stared with no response. Finally, Thesan asked, "Does she speak?"
Feyre answered, "She's articulate in the way she speaks, but she lacks vocabulary, and," she paused, "Comprehension of language."
Sitting in her seat, Nova wiggled. These seats weren't the same as the Night Court. She wiggled again and grinned when it made a wobbled, squeaking sound. Looking around the table, she took in their faces. Staring at them each in turn, uncaring that they didn't drop their gaze. Then, her sights settled on Kallias.
Nova sucked in an audible gasp as she stared at him, his hair, then Viviane's hair, and then Hollis' hair, who stared at her with wide, pale eyes.
"Is pearl!"
Feyre glanced down at her and followed her gaze. Biting her lips, she turned to Nova and quietly corrected. "Their hair is white. They're not a pearl."
Giving her a side-eyed, skeptical look, Nova shook her head and sighed as if Feyre didn't understand. Seeming to give her mother the benefit of the doubt, she politely corrected. "No. Is pearl."
A small smile quirked Kallias' mouth. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Nova."
Nova looked in the direction of the sound of her name and tilted her head to the side. She started getting off her chair, and Feyre reached behind her. Taking the loop of her pants, she gently pulled her back down.
It seemed the others had finally been able to break from their surprise and looked over at Tamlin, who stared at Nova with a strange intensity. He then smiled. "You know, if she wants to get up. I have no qualms with it. Perhaps she and Hollis can get to know each other-"
Kallias interrupted, his usually resigned voice held a cold edge, "My son will remain at the table."
Nova clutched her squirrel a little tighter to her chest at the tone of his voice, staring around the table skeptically.
"I like your squirrel," Helion said with a slight smirk, though his eyes were playful and held no ill-will.
Immediately defensive, Nova hugged her squirrel tighter. "Is mine. Mine squirrel."
Helion held his hands up in defense. "I'd never dare take it, honest." He grinned, but his tactic to change the subject hadn't worked against Tamlin.
The High Lord of the Spring Court chuckled. "Your daughter won't understand the conversation to be had. Why not let her roam?" He smirked.
Blood boiled to Feyre's cheeks, and she wished she could hide it as well as the others. She stared Tamlin down before a slow, delicate smile graced her lips. "I think I know my daughter better than you do, Tamlin."
Tamlin merely smiled, "I never would have pegged you to be a controlling parent, Feyre."
Flashing a smile laced with venom, Feyre nodded slowly. "Are you permitting Nova to roam your manor? Freely?"
"Well," he shrugged, "I don't know what her life is like in the Night Court, but I assure you she'd be safe here."
Feyre could hear Rhysand's jaw grinding as her wicked smile spread. "If you insist, I will happily…take your invitation."
The Night Court could not fight their knowing smirk as Feyre turned to Nova.
"Nova," she said, immediately grabbing her attention, "Tamlin graciously gave you permission to play."
Nova's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates and beamed with pure delight. "Play?" She asked.
With a nod, Feyre gestured to the door they'd come through. "Go play."
Nova, without hesitation, pushed off the table with her bare feet and launched herself from her chair so fast that it hit the floor with a resounding bang. She took off at a full sprint, out the door and out of sight. A shattering crash from the hallway shortly followed.
Tamlin stared after her with wide, regretful eyes.
Azriel smirked and said, "That sounded expensive."
It seemed Tamlin was trying to speed up the meeting because he tried skipping over his words a little with every new bang or crash they heard from somewhere in the manor. Feyre felt bad releasing their Kraken for the servants' sake, but watching Tamlin wince every time something else shattered was well worth the guilt.
Finally, it was relatively quiet, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh," Cas smirked, "It's when it's quietest you should be most worried."
Tamlin flashed a glare at him. "Most of us have agreed that the prophecy is nothing to be ignored. Is it a terrible situation? Yes, but to risk the lives of all for the sake of two is cowardice and selfish."
Rhysand took a long, careful breath. "We are not asking that you stop the prophecy, if it's real, from being fulfilled," he looked around the table, "We ask that you allow us to coordinate the situation ourselves. We don't deny it would be a mistake to ignore. We want time to allow fate to decide."
"And if famine begins in a year?" Beron asked. "Would you let your people starve for the sake of your daughter? Your daughter, you speak a word or two?" He chuckled darkly and rolled his eyes. "You place too much value on your child."
A low growl rumbled somewhere, but it was uncertain who of the Night Court it was.
"You put too little on yours," Feyre said without restraint.
Beron met her fierce gaze with his own and narrowed his eyes. "You think your daughter is above all the lives of the Courts? Above everything?"
It was a difficult question to answer, but with the gentle caress of Rhysand's hand on the small of her back, she did. "Nova is my everything," she said, "I will put her above myself. Always. Do I understand that she will not be held above all? Yes, but with everything I have, I will fight for her safety and happiness even if I lose all else. I will not allow my daughter to be subjected to a forced bond. If that is what you intend to do," her voice dropped lower into a deadly hiss, "You will have to kill me first."
Thesan, who had been quiet all this time observing, said, "We'll cast a vote if everyone agrees. Majority rules."
All eyes turned to him, nods of approval going around the table.
"We have two options for the sake and continued reign of the Courts. We either place Nova and Hollis together. They live together. They grow together. Away from their homes to establish an intended relationship to be fulfilled when of age, or," he wore a grim expression, "We allow fate the chance to bring them together naturally. With the risk that the prophecy may not be fulfilled in time of The Fall."
Feyre couldn't stop her gaze from drifting to Hollis. Though he tried to hide it, his shoulders slightly trembled.
"Those who believe we should join them now?" Thesan asked, looking around the table.
Rhys' eyes frantically searched the table and watched Beron lift his hand without hesitation. Waiting, heart pounding, Rhys locked eyes with Tamlin, but he did not raise his hand.
Feyre almost released an audible, shaky sigh of relief as Thesan asked, "All in favor of waiting for fate?"
Tears stung Feyre's eyes as almost everyone's hand went up, including, to her surprise…Tamlin. He looked at her now, meeting her eyes as Beron glared at the High Lord of The Spring Court. Beron, it seemed, was the only one to oppose the majority.
Hollis let out the shaky sigh the entire Night Court had been withholding. Out of the corner of their eyes, they could see Kallias and Viviane silently celebrating as she squeezed Hollis' shoulders.
Just then, Nova slid into the dining hall. She was decked out in necklaces, rings, bracelets, and at least three crowns—one around her neck and two on her head. She grinned as she held her arms out to show the jewels that decorated her.
"Beautiful!" She grinned.
The Inner Circle couldn't stop their broad grins, the relief of the situation hitting them. They would get to keep her safe in Velaris- teach her and let her become Hollis' friend on her own accord.
Beron stood, slamming his hands on the table. "You allowing her to be nothing more than an ignorant, illiterate brat will kill us all!"
Azriel and Cassian stood to their feet, shadows already forming as Nova sucked in a gasping breath. She stared at Beron with wide eyes as she leaned back in surprise and said, "Bitch."
Helion burst into howling laughter as everyone else, aside from those in the Night Court who grinned, dropped their jaws in surprise.
"Meeting adjourned." Beron snarled and winnowed out of the Spring Court.
"Is mad?" Nova asked quietly.
Rhys smiled softly and nodded. "Beron is very mad, and you-"
"Is beautiful." She finished for him.
Slow smiles began to spread around the table as they watched the interaction.
Pursing his lips, Rhys nodded. "You are always beautiful. Now, put it back. All of it."
"Is mine."
"No," he said firmly, "Not yours. Put it away and clean up."
"Hmmm," Nova smiled mischievously as she looked to the ceiling. "No clean," she pretended to yawn, "Tired."
Azriel pursed his lips, hiding his smirk as he stood. "You're not tired. Let's go."
Cassian sneezed into his arm, and Nova leaned past Az to look at her uncle Cas wide-eyed. "Okay?"
With a chuckle, he nodded. "I'm okay. Go clean."
With a defeated sigh, Nova tucked her squirrel safely into Rhys' jacket and then turned to look at Helion. "Is mine." She pointed at the squirrel.
"Message received." Helion grinned, watching her leave with Azriel to clean the messes she'd made while exploring.
With Beron gone, the atmosphere seemed lighter. Even Tamlin was more cordial, though Feyre wouldn't look at him as she spoke to Tarquin.
"Nova is welcome anytime at the Summer Court. Though, we don't have many squirrels." He chuckled.
Feyre grinned, "Be careful of that invitation. She'll take all the shells if you let her."
Eventually, Nova returned with Azriel. Wearing only what she'd worn to the Spring Court, she happily hugged her squirrel to her chest. As they were getting ready to leave, each High Lord introduced themselves to Nova individually.
Her natural, innocent charm seemed to have won over a few hearts that day. Soon, Kallias, Viviane, and Hollis stood before them. They were the last in the room. Even Tamlin had vacated.
Viviane smiled down at Nova's curious gaze. "We'll be having a Winter's Ball the night before Solstice," she looked up at Feyre and Rhysand, "All of the Night Court is invited, of course."
Nova stared at Hollis, who was already watching her. Shyly, he said nothing as Nova looked him over. Then she grinned and reached into one of her many pockets; Rhys had given her extras to fit all her treasures. She pulled something from the depths and held it out to Hollis.
Hollis looked down at her clenched fist and quickly up at his father, who smiled encouragingly. With a hesitant hand, Hollis held his hand out. He watched as Nova placed a perfect, shiny sphere in his palm."
"Pearl." Nova grinned. She'd been right; the color of the white pearl was identical to Hollis' hair.
A small smile touched his lips as he shyly said, "Thank you."
"Welcome," Nova said and grinned, "Beautiful."
Then, she turned to Rhys. "Home?"
"Yes," he smiled, "Time to go home."