The days were going by too quickly for Fenrys' liking. They were drawing close to two months before Rayan and Eliora's deadline, and still, Nascha refused to become the Lady of Arcelia. Fenrys wasn't sure what they were going to do when the six months were up. It was clear that neither side would yield, but the last thing anyone wanted was war.

    Except for the Revolutionists, of course. Aedion and Ren's plan was being implemented. So far, two attacks had been thwarted, but Fenrys was certain there were more to come. If the reports from Dorian and the King and Queen of Eyllwe were to be believed, tensions were rising there as well. No reports had come from Melisande, Fenharrow, the Deserted Lands, the Frozen Wastes, or the Western Wastes.

    The only word from the Witch Kingdom was that any Revolutionists who dared challenge Manon Crochan would have their throats torn out. There were rumors that Manon and Dorian were considering forming a stronger alliance, in case the threat from the Revolutionists grew larger. Fenrys had to wonder if that meant the two were considering marriage. Uniting their kingdoms would increase their strength and deter the Revolutionists from attacking them head on.

    No reports had arrived from Wendlyn or the Southern Continent. Aelin hoped that meant the Revolutionists were keeping their movement contained to Erilea. Fenrys shared her belief, and would continue to do so until they were proven wrong.

    He leaned against the rails of a training ring, loosing a heavy breath. Nascha, Aeron, and a few others in their group were sparring in one ring, while the younger novices sparred in another. Elgan was overseeing Nascha and Aeron's ring. Vaughan was working with the younger novices.

    Fenrys caught sight of Aeron's half sister, Luciana, amongst the group. She seemed to be struggling to pick up the simple hand to hand moves Vaughan was running the group through. Fenrys had noticed Kyllian's disapproving gaze on her a few times when he made his rounds, but luckily, it was too early for them to decide to send her away. She still had time to work out the moves for herself and earn her place in the Bane.

    Fenrys drew his attention away from the golden eyed female and back to Nascha. She was sweating profusely, and seemed to be favoring her left leg. The afternoon heat was likely affecting it once more. Fenrys felt a rush of guilt, recalling that the injury had been his doing.

    "You can't come and stand here all the time just to make sure no one looks at her wrong," Aedion grumbled as he joined Fenrys.

    "That's not why I'm here," he retorted. Although, he had to admit that he did slightly bare his teeth whenever a male studied her for too long.

    "Then why are you here? You know what her schedule is. She won't be ready to leave for another few hours."

    "Vaughan said her magic is flaring up again. Someone has to be here to keep an eye on her." Aedion began to reply. "Someone who is familiar with her and her magic," Fenrys added. "Someone who will recognize if she's struggling to hold it back and needs to release it. With Vaughan busy, the task is left to me."

    Aedion rolled his eyes, but offered no further protest. "This seems to be happening more often than it was," he said. "Do you think she's going to Settle soon?"

    "She's worried about it."

    "Maybe it would be best to keep her away from the camp until her magic is under control again. If she is going to Settle, I don't want her here when it happens. It's too dangerous, both for her, and for everyone here."

    "You know as well as I do that she has no control over when she Settles."

    "I know. That's why I said it might be safer to keep her away for now." Aedion watched Nascha intently. "Kyllian and Elgan agree with me."

    "You've already spoken to them about it?"

    "Yes."

    "What about Vaughan? He's the one who's been overseeing her magic lessons. Have you asked him what he thinks?"

    "Asked me what I think about what?" Vaughan asked, appearing behind Fenrys.

    "Aedion wants me to keep Nascha away from the camp until her magic is under control again, just in case she's going to Settle. Apparently, Kyllian and Elgan agree with him."

    Vaughan's obsidian gaze swiftly sought out Nascha. She had backed away from Aeron and was drawing deep breaths. All of her weight was on her right leg while she caught her breath. Starlight danced at her fingertips. Vaughan frowned, a look of concern crossing his features.

    "Aedion might be right," he sighed. "There's no guarantee that she will Settle, but maybe some time off will be good for her. She has been putting a lot of strain on her leg lately, and that hasn't helped with the pressure from her magic."

    Aedion gave Fenrys a pointed look. "Fine," he muttered. "I'll talk to her about it."

    "Good." Aedion walked off without another word.

    Fenrys growled at his back. Vaughan touched his shoulder gently. "He's just trying to make sure Nascha and everyone in the camp will be safe."

    "He could be less of a prick while doing so."

    "I don't think he was being a prick. I think you're a little sensitive when it comes to how people talk about her."

    "You're on thin ice, Vaughan," Fenrys said with a wry laugh.

    "See what I mean?"

    "I..." Fenrys gripped the railing tightly, then relaxed his hands. "I can't help it."

    "I know. I think you should talk to her about why you can't help it. If the two of you acknowledge what's really going on, you might be able to ease up a little." Fenrys didn't reply. "Why are you hesitating?"

    "I'm not."

    Vaughan raised his eyebrows. "Yes, you are. Why? Are you afraid of accepting the truth? Maeve is gone. Nothing will happen to you because of it. Nothing will happen to Nascha either." Still, Fenrys remained silent. "Are you just not ready to move on from Seraphina?"

    "I moved on from her years ago."

    "Maybe physically, but not mentally."

    "Have you moved on from my brother?" Fenrys snapped.

    Vaughan stiffened. "No, I haven't."

    "Maybe you should do that before you start lecturing me about moving on."

    "There's a difference, Fenrys. I don't have anyone to move on to. Nascha is standing right in front of you. You've given yourself to her, but have you really given yourself to her? Have you told her the truth? Have you..."

    "No," Fenrys hissed. "I haven't, because if I do, I'm worried that our Court will try to use our bond to force her into becoming the Lady of Arcelia. I will not be used against someone again, especially not her."

    "Aelin's Court is made up of your friends. I don't think they'd use you against each other like that."

    "Not even if it was the only way to stop a war?"

    "Every single one of us has been used in some way or another. Every single one of us has vowed never to be used, or to use someone else, ever again," Vaughan replied. "And if you accept this and someone tries, know that I will have your back, Brother. Hers too." Fenrys gave a slow nod, but that was the only response he offered.

◦ ~ ❘ ☼ ❘ ~ ◦

    Nascha sat with a groan. Her entire leg was aching, not just the lower half like usual. Fenrys knelt in front of her and took her boot off before rolling up her pant leg. "Does this hurt?" He asked, feeling around her scars.

    "A little." Nascha bit back a hiss of pain. "The heat has been making it ache."

    "I have a salve that might make it feel a little better." He rose and kissed her forehead before leaving the bedroom.

    Nascha peeled off her sweaty shirt with a sigh of relief. The air in the cabin was significantly cooler than the air outside, and already, she was starting to feel better. She'd had a headache besides the pain in her leg and the rising pressure within her chest. It continued to push against that strange tether that had awoken.

    Nascha touched it tentatively. She wasn't even sure how she could, when it wasn't a physical thing that she could see or feel. It was just...there, glowing faintly, with Fenrys at the other end. She had no idea what it was.

    Fenrys returned with a somewhat confused look on his face. He knelt once more and pried the lid off a small tin. He scooped a heady lotion onto his fingers and began to work it into the scarred muscle of her leg. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes as his fingers carefully massaged the ache from her leg.

    She felt his gaze shift to her face. "Aedion, Elgan, Kyllian, and Vaughan think it might be good if you stayed home until your magic smooths out again. Aedion is worried that you might hurt yourself and others if you suddenly begin to Settle while you're there."

    Nascha opened her eyes. "And Vaughan agreed with them?" He nodded and quickly explained a conversation he'd had with Vaughan and Aedion while she trained. "I see." Her shoulders slumped as she sighed. "I suppose I don't really have a choice, if Aedion, Kyllian, and Elgan have agreed that they don't want me there."

    "It's not that. They just..."

    "No, it's precisely that. They haven't wanted me there since the first day I arrived," Nascha replied, unable to keep the hurt from her voice. "No one in this rutting kingdom wants me here, and if they didn't need me to achieve something, I wouldn't be here!"

    Fenrys wiped his hands off on his pants. "I want you here."

    "You didn't at first."

    "But I do now." He rose, bracing his hands on the arms of her chair as he leaned towards her. "Or have you forgotten everything I told you?"

    Nascha's heartbeat quickened. "I haven't, but you could remind me anyway."

    "I want you here." He pressed a kiss to her neck. "With me." His lips traced her jaw. "I love you." Fenrys drew her lips to his. She cupped his face in her hands and he slid one of his own to the back of her neck.

    "What will we do if I do Settle?" She whispered. Fenrys shifted his kisses to the corners of her mouth, then her throat. "I don't know what to do or expect."

    "We'll take it one step at a time. I'll be right there with you, Sweetheart." He kissed a line down her stomach.

    "You'll be there because you have to be," she replied. Her skin tingled at his touch.

    "I'll be there because I want to be. I want to care for you, in any way you need or desire." Fenrys paused as he reached the waistband of her pants. Nascha threaded her fingers through his hair. He rested his hands on her thighs, looking up at her. "May I?"

    "Yes," Nascha breathed.

    Fenrys chuckled to himself as he undid the laces and pulled her pants and underwear down. "I said you wouldn't want to tell me no."

    "You were right." Nascha half closed her eyes as Fenrys drew her legs over his shoulders.

    "That's a rare admittance," he said. Fenrys dragged his tongue over her and Nascha squirmed with a soft whimper. "I'd like to hear you say it again."

    "You heard it once. If you want to hear it again, you have to earn it." Nascha tugged at his hair as his tongue slipped inside her. Heat pooled in her stomach at the scrape of his canines.

    "Yes, your Ladyship," he laughed, pressing a kiss to the spot where his tongue had been.

    They both fell silent as Fenrys turned his attention wholly on her. Nascha couldn't stop her hips from rolling as Fenrys' tongue worked between her legs. His hands kept her in place, and his touch was like a fiery brand. One she wanted to feel everywhere. She moaned, her hands still fisted in his hair. Fenrys kept going, each stroke coaxing a louder cry from her lips.

    His aroused scent mingled with hers and Nascha almost couldn't wait for it to be her turn to please him. She was already planning how she was going to do so. Pleasure sent those plans tumbling out of sight as Fenrys eased her closer, moving with more purpose. She tightened her legs around his shoulders and briefly, Fenrys lifted his head to kiss her inner thigh.

    "Fenrys!" Nascha gasped, aching pleasure sweeping through her.

    "Whatever you need and more," he said against her. Her chest heaved with ragged breaths. "Tell me, Stardust. What do you need?"

    "You," Nascha managed to say.

    Instantly, Fenrys stood and lifted her. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he sat down in her vacated seat. Already, her hands were working on the laces of his pants. She moved them aside and grabbed him roughly, guiding him to where she wanted him.

    Fenrys groaned at her touch and hauled his mouth to hers in a claiming kiss as she settled onto him. He thrust into her with hard, even strokes. "Fenrys!" Nascha moaned.

    He kissed her again. "I love you." Fenrys buried his face in her neck and began to kiss her repeatedly. "Fuck, Sweetheart. I love you."

    Nascha gripped his hair with one hand and clutched at his shoulder with the other. She leaned her head back with a breathless moan as another wave of pleasure crashed over her. Fenrys held her close, his groans rattling through her skull. Nascha moaned as she climaxed. Fenrys continued to drive himself deep inside her, eliciting louder moans from her with every thrust.

She fell into him when her climax was past, trembling weakly. Fenrys slowed, then pulled out with a husky sigh. Nascha smoothed hair back from his forehead and kissed his temple, then his cheek, and finally his lips. She touched that glowing tether as she kissed him, and Fenrys held her closer still.