Xander winnowed them onto the top of a tall, rickety staircase - for a moment they stood in silence, hands entwined as Fiona looked around. "Where are we?" she asked. Xander slipped his hand from hers and stepped onto a small landing to their right. "The townhouse." was the most explanation he gave, beckoning her toward a small wooden door. It swung inward to reveal a bedroom - cramped and cluttered with old toys and paintings, but cozy. Quaint.

"You're welcome to stay the night here, if you'd like." He looked a little embarrassed, though Fiona couldn't tell why. The room was bigger than her own at the Forest House. Perhaps some of the dusty children's toys had been his, she wondered, suppressing a thin-lipped smile.

"I'm sorry I can't offer you something more comfortable," he reached a bronze hand to scratch at his neck, the tip of a tattoo peeking out from underneath his shirtsleeve. "But I can promise you there's no safer place."

Fiona smiled her thanks. The red-roofed houses of Velaris surrounded a small garden below, terracotta tiles glowing warmly in the light of the setting sun. She could almost feel the sea breeze kissing her cheeks as it rustled the trees outside, dancing playfully over the rooftops. By the time she'd worked up the courage to ask him, Xander was already watching her, a knowing smile on his lips.

"It is still early." he acknowledged, his eyes twinkling.

Fiona felt her heart swell at the prospect of strolling through the city of starlight once more. "Is that ok? I mean, is it allowed?" she asked. 

Xander blinked. "Of course it's allowed." he said simply. "Besides, you've already seen it."

She couldn't hold back a beaming wide smile. The Prince chuckled quietly, leading the way down a staircase to where voices drifted from below. They walked in step, passing beneath painting after painting along elegant but threadbare carpets. Every space in the house seemed worn, well-loved, and a little cramped, but Fiona loved it, loved the lived-in feeling of the rooms.

Xander paused at the top of a final set of stairs which led to a small hallway. This was where the voices had been coming from, she realised, as her eyes fell upon a cluster of High Fae stood around the door, some with faces she recognised, and some she did not.

"You've become so dull since you had kids." A velvety voice caught Fiona's attention, a voice she'd heard at the palace earlier that day. Her eyebrows raised as the bodies cleared to reveal Zayde, High Lady of the Summer Court, lounging gracefully against a coatrack. She was even more beautiful up close, her dark hair coiled tight against her face, and far more radiant without Summer's crown to distract from those bright blue, almond-shaped eyes. Fiona hadn't realised she was staring until Xander was two steps below her, clearing his throat.

The sound drew the attention of the others, who fell into a hushed quiet as the pair descended. "Fiona." Belladonna pushed her way forward, grinning. "I'm glad to see you here again." Fiona was surprised at the warmth in her eyes, surprised to see that she meant it. "Are you coming out with us?"

Fiona looked to Xander for confirmation. "Don't look at me." He laughed - actually laughed. And the sound suited him, although it seemed strange to her at first. "It's your choice. Though I should warn you," he leaned closer, his breath tickling her neck. "Going drinking with this lot is about as dangerous as those foxes waiting for you at the palace."

Fiona's eyes lit up. "You didn't mention we were drinking."

The room laughed and Bella clapped a hand on her shoulder. "I knew I liked you!"

But Fiona felt a little tremor down her back as Rhysand's firstborn stepped forward. Though she'd seen him at the summit, Nyx was something more wicked to behold up close. If his brother was beautiful, then Nyx was devastating – and from the way he held himself, the tilt of his chin and the arrogant ease with which he moved, it was clear that he knew it.

"Well, little brother," he purred. He leaned down to smile at Fiona, who shrank a little. "What have you brought home?"

Xander's careful smile had disappeared, and it suddenly occurred to her that he might have been ignoring his brother on purpose. "A friend who needed a place to stay," was all he offered.

The family trait of violet eyes somehow looked colder on Nyx's face, as though they were windows to a calculating mind. Every second he wasn't speaking, those eyes seemed to say, was a second he spent plotting. By contrast, Xander's gaze was steady – considered and calm.

Fiona had never been so uncomfortable, even with Donovan only minutes ago. Behind her sat the High Lady of Summer, who, she realised with a sudden start, she hadn't even curtsied to, and in front stood two heirs to the Night Court. The icy tension between the brothers was enough to explain why Xander hadn't yet introduced her, but Fiona's training as an Autumn lady was screaming at the clear breach of etiquette.

"Is it wise to bring your friends into our home, brother?" Nyx cooed, balancing a delicate line between patronising and threatening with terrifying grace. Fiona had gone rigid as those eyes lingered on the sharp turn of her nose, the fiery glow of her hair, analysing her and the threat that she posed. 

To her surprise, Xander did not take the bait. Fiona held her breath as he leaned a muscled arm past Nyx to grab a jacket, not even deigning to glance at his brother. Nyx's eyes burned, simmering at the dismissal.

"Last I checked, our home was in Velaris." Xander shrugged on the jacket with all the nonchalance of a summer breeze. "Since I am Prince of Valeris, I deemed it wise to bring her here."

The room crackled with tension as stormclouds settled over Rhysand's eldest, his shoulders stiffening. Yet Xander was totally undisturbed, the picture of graceful boredom. He moved for the door. Following his lead the others - rather hesitantly - got to their feet, preparing to leave.

"You won't be joining us, Diana?" Zayde spoke in a gracious attempt to recover the mood, looking past the seething Nyx to a small female that Fiona hadn't noticed before. She had short, black hair and a pale countenance. 

Diana glanced worriedly at Rhysand's eldest before shaking her head. "No, thank you Zayde." She gave a nervous smile and reached to grasp Nyx's hand. "I think we'll be heading to bed. We need to put little Wyla to sleep soon anyhow."

"I hope for your sake she sleeps quickly and soundly." Zayde laughed, a deep rich sound that melted the frost between Nyx and Xander. "But your brother will surely come - won't you Gabriel?"

Diana moved aside to reveal a winged male with golden brown hair skulking around in the kitchen. The foyer fell silent as he looked up, a cookie in one hand. Gabriel broke into a sheepish smile, his soft features crinkling with amusement. 

"If you're asking, Zayde, how could I refuse?" He couldn't have been much older than Fiona, though his brown eyes sparkled with boyish charm in the lamplight. The High Lady clapped in delight. 

"Then it's settled." Her smile was blinding in the dim foyer. "Come on, enough dallying. Let's go!"

 Fiona followed on the end of the group, stepping out into the crisp autumn air with a sigh of relief. She took in a lungful of sea breeze and felt her tension melt away as the sounds of Valeris by night welcomed her like a warm embrace.

"So you wormed your way back." Bella chuckled, dropping back from the pack to walk beside her. Fiona watched the streetlights flicker on as the sky darkened to a deep, velvety blue. 

"I couldn't stay away." she answered honestly. The group swerved to take a corner, falling into step together along the pavement. A group of faerie children ran past, chasing each other down the street, their laughter echoing between the tall brick houses. 

A younger fae with Illyrian wings appeared at her side, beaming at her as though he'd found a new plaything. 

"Hi," he grinned. "I'm Tristian. Nice to meet you." Though his eyes were a pale blue and his hair a brassy blonde, there was enough of Xander in his smile that Fiona tried to curtsy while walking. Tristan snorted at the attempt.

"You've gotta stop that." Bella cringed.

"Stop what?" she asked, her cheeks reddening.

"The airs and graces." Tristan beat his wings mightily, skipping off several feet into the air. "We don't really do that here."

"Especially in front of Zayde." Bella cautioned, snapping one of her own wings out to thwack Tristan on the back of his head. He shot her a withering glare and stuck out his tongue. Fiona sniggered. "She comes here to get away from all that."

"She comes here often, then?"

"As often as she can." Bella replied, watching a group of faerie children chase each other down the street. "Her mother lives here. She's sort of like a cousin."

Fiona cocked her head at an angle. "Sort of?"

"We have a weird family." Tristan gave her a wink. Fiona opened her mouth to enquire further, but Bella waved a hand. "Please don't ask. It's a little complicated."

They arrived at a restaurant on the corner of a busy street, the tables set and laid under a canopy of vines and flowers that rustled in the breeze. The owner took one look at the party and waved them straight past the queue forming outside.

"All you need to know is we're all related somehow." Bella told her, sliding into a seat at the end of the table they were led to. 

"Great." Fiona took the space next to her, laughing. "So it's just like home."

The group fell into easy conversation as they dined on spiced cod, fried prawns and all sorts of Velarian cuisine. Even after Fiona had eaten, her stomach continued to pang with longing as she watched a myriad of foreign dishes being served on other tables, the smell of exotic spices and grilling fish making her mouth water all night. Luckily, there was plenty of wine to wash it down. 

Xander wasn't kidding when he'd tried to warn her – though they were having fun, Fiona was ever so slightly terrified at the raucousness and daring of her new companions. Gabriel laughed merrily beside her, entertaining her with childhood stories of his cousins and chatting warmly. However, with each glass Bella became more and more competitive, challenging Tristan and his brother to an arm wrestle every five minutes. Even the High Lady didn't abstain, contorting their drinks into creatures of water and wine that raced down the table and threw themselves all over her friends. 

Every now and again Fiona snuck a glance at Xander, surprised to find a smirking male who laughed deeply and often in his place. Though he wasn't fierce like Bella or childish like Tristan, he joked with and listened to everyone, making his own jabs as and when he pleased. He looked relaxed, a different role entirely from the quiet but dangerous beast he played at court. With a sad smile, Fiona realised it was because he was among his family. What an awkward intrusion he must've found her, breaking into his inner circle to hide from the monsters she had for kin. 

"Oh that's nothing," Bella smirked, breaking out of an engaging story to throw an arm around Fiona, pulling her in. "You should've seen the way this one stared at my wings when we first met."

"I'd never met an Illyrian," Fiona tried not to blush as the attention turned to her. "I used to think you were vicious monsters-"

"And we are." Tristan grinned.

"But your wings are...beautiful." she admitted. "And flying is incredible!"

Bella looked at her in disbelief. "You nearly shat yourself the other day!"

"So?" Fiona laughed. "I didn't say it wasn't also terrifying."

The Illyrians lifted their drinks in approval, all of them beaming. Her eyes fell upon Xander, who was watching her with a twisted smile. Maybe it was the wine, maybe it was because she was letting her guard down for the first time in years, but Fiona dared to look him in the eye as she asked, "Why don't you have any wings?"

Gabriel snorted on his drink and the laughter dried up. The others fell into an uncomfortable silence. Tristan coughed awkwardly and, to her horror, even Bella twitched as the group glanced between Fiona and Xander.

"I'm sorry," she stumbled. "I didn't mean to offend."

Xander shook his head, a deep, dark chuckle rumbling along her bones. "It's no secret." he said. His eyes glowed steadily, reassuring from across the table. "When Nyx was born there were complications - because of his wings. I suppose my parents didn't want to risk the same thing twice." He shrugged. "Though my younger siblings are both winged. I never really asked."

Fiona nodded, wishing he would stop looking at her, wishing for someone to step in and move the conversation away from her blunder. Luckily, Gabriel was quick on the draw.

"Besides," the young fae smiled at her, his expression a little sinister. "He doesn't need them. Xander could take any of us in a fight, with or without a set of wings."

She didn't doubt it, despite Tristan's grumblings to the contrary. After a minute the incident was forgotten, and Fiona sat back, content to listen and ponder on their curious family as the evening wore on. What had life been like for the little boy without wings? How many of his cousins had flown around their childhood home, playing games in the air without him? She realised they may not be so different after all, Xander and her - while her legitimate cousins roamed where they pleased and entertained fantasies of highborn husbands, Fiona the bastard had been denied. Perhaps they were both simply a product of their families. A pair of lonely children who had grown up too fast.

Though Fiona couldn't fathom much sympathy as he drank the night away alongside them. She listened to them tell old jokes, trying to imagine Isolda or Donovan in their places and grimacing at the thought.

Bella, Zayde and the others invited her to some club to carry on the night, but she thanked them and declined. Though her heart longed to dance through the small hours, she knew she'd have to get up early if she wanted to return to the palace unnoticed in the morning. So Xander winnowed her back to the townhouse. 

He said nothing, and she expected nothing of him - when he left to rejoin his kin she happily cocooned herself in the little attic bedroom, falling asleep to the sounds of Velaris revelling in the moonlight.