*Nyx*

The Hewn City was not safe for anyone. There was no one we could trust to heal the girl who wouldn't go and report it to someone below us. So we winnowed back to the river house in Velaris where Majda was called.

Mor had turned pale at the sight of the young woman bleeding in Father's arms. She quickly turned and ushered Cynthia and Laila upstairs to their rooms for the afternoon.

Father placed the woman on the bed in the guest room. She didn't even utter a moan as she was laid down on her stomach, the rest of her skimpy dress ripped off her back. The wounds were deep and nasty, some looking infected. She was shown no mercy.

Majda arrived moments later and shooed us all out of the room. All except Mother, who continues to sit by the woman's bedside. Out of all the people, Mother should be the one with her.

I know of her past in the mortal world. How she was tortured, killed, and revived as fae. No one has tried to hide that past. If anyone can understand the woman it is Mother.

Once outside, Father turns to me, "You do not tell anyone, especially your sisters about what happened," he said in a stern voice. "I will speak to them later."

I only give a nod, afraid to speak. Never once have I see Father use his powers like that before. It was a terrifying sight, one I care not to see again.

Several hours go by and Madja finally walks out of the room, her clothes stained with blood. "She'll live. Though, because she's mortal, it will take her quite some time to heal properly," she said.

"Thank you," Father said as he stepped towards the healer.

"Contact me when she wakes. Only then will I be able to properly give her medicines that will help with the pain."

"Of course. Please, clean up here before you head out."

The old healer nods and leaves with Father to clean herself. The door was cracked open and I glance inside.

Mother sits by the girl's bed, watching her carefully.

"I thought all of this was past us," she said quietly. "It was bad enough with just me. Then my sisters. Now, history is repeating itself."

History. The war between the fae and humans. Many don't remember anymore, though many still live who fought in that war over six hundred years ago.

"We can't allow this to happen to anyone else. No one deserves this fate."

"What are you going to do once she is well enough to move," I ask, stepping into the room fully.

"I don't know. Whatever she wishes."

The girl stirs for a moment before settling back down.

"You should go get some rest. It's been a long day."

I nod, though my body far from tired. I carefully click the door shut and walk outside to the garden. Releasing my wings I take off, pushing up from the ground and soaring high above Velaris. I need to clear my head.

A mortal girl, abducted from her home, abused by Kier and his men. None of it sits well with me. In fact, most of it makes me want to vomit. I continue to fly, trying not to think of the girl unconscious at home. The horrors she experienced. The fate that awaits Kier. If she were fae it would only take a matter of days for her to fully heal. But she is human. Who knows how long these wounds will take, if they will even heal properly.

It's dark before I land back at home. The table set for dinner, and my sisters finally released from their rooms. Father sat at the head of the table, Janus on his lap, his chubby fingers trying to grab the silverware from the table.

He was a surprise to all of us. Born nearly a year ago, he's already becoming active. He inherited Father's purple eyes, but his dark hair was beginning to lighten, it will probably be the shade of Mother's before long. Everyone loves him. Even Cynthia has warmed up to him.

Speaking of, Cynthia sat a chair away from Father on the opposite side of the table, despite the fact Mother would not be at dinner. She still has to keep some sort of order. Her golden brown hair was tied back from her face, and her blue eyes were downcast as she looked at something beneath the table.

"Why won't Mother be joining us?" Laila asks, looking between me and Father.

Nobody has told them anything yet.

"She is busy tonight. If you need her you'll just have to let me know," Father said as he tried to contain Janus's squirming before finally standing and placing him in his chair next to the table. He fussed for only a moment before Father put a small plate of mashed potatoes in front of him.

Aunt Elain and the shadow twins came out of the kitchen with the rest of dinner. Slowly, everyone began to trickle into the Dinning Room, taking their seats before dishing out their food.

Talk was limited and quiet aside from Janus who was babbling away. Suddenly, Father stood from the table, his chair screeching on the floor. He glanced around the room before quickly leaving the room.

Cynthia muttered something under her breath about how Father didn't care for family dinners, while the rest of us looked at each other. Either the woman was awake, or something had gone terribly wrong.