Stay - Pt. 8

Elain is awake, and says a few things that concern Nesta.

Warnings: None. | Word Count: 1,253 | Nessian Masterlist

Previous Part|Stay Masterlist|Read on AO3

a/n: Shorter update for you all, but hope you enjoy! It’s short because I’m sticking with the one pov per part thing, and I want to do breakfast in Cassian’s.

“You were out last night. Again.”

The soft voice was distant and flat in a way it never used to be.

Nesta finished pinning up her typical, braided coronet and turned to see Elain sitting up in her bed.

“I awoke in the middle of the night,” she explained. “My dreams enjoy doing that to me these days. When I did, you weren’t in your bed.”

Nesta sighed and sat on her own bed, facing Elain. “I’m sorry if I worried you. I’ve been helping the healers.”

“Past midnight?”

“Sometimes.” Elain gave her a knowing look that was so classic Elain, Nesta couldn’t help but smile slightly before admitting, “But not last night. No. I was…with a friend.”

“Oh,” Elain sighed, nodding. “That’s good. Cling to your friends, Nesta. With their support, you’ll grow wings.”

Easy come, easy go. Nesta knew she was supposed to heed these comments from her sister. That they were some form of prophecy. But she missed the old Elain. The one who smiled and entertained, who liked meeting new people, who found enjoyment in every aspect of life. This Elain just felt like a shell of her old self, not changed just…emptied.

“Right…” Nesta stood, looking at herself in the small mirror provided over the basin. “Will you join me for breakfast?”

It was almost a full minute before Elain replied with an airy, “No.”

Of course not. She never joined for meals. But the fruit basket was less full than it had been the day before. So at least she’s been eating. And the bread and cheese Nesta brought back the night before was gone as well.

“Nesta.” She paused, fastening her hook as she started back out the tent. “You belong here, you know. More than me, even more than Feyre, I think. I’m glad you’re finding the comfort you never found back home. No matter who it’s with.”

Her feet quickened, but everything else in Nesta seemed to freeze over. As soon as she was out of the tent and far enough from her sister, she sank down onto a log.

Elain’s words were ringing through her like a gong, and Nesta couldn’t handle it.

What did that even mean? That she ‘belongs’ here? In this wicked, cruel, magical land. With creatures that would hunt her as much as any human. And Fae who…actually cared? Who wanted to help the humans, to keep them safe. Or, at least, were willing to do so since they needed to keep their own land safe as well.

But, no. Maybe that was true for some, but not all of them. Nesta knew, some of the Fae here truly did want to ensure humans were safe, even if they didn’t think about helping those living in squalor. She couldn’t blame them, really. That wasn’t their responsibility. And it was an easy thing to forget about, especially when dealing with problems closer to home.

Still, that didn’t mean Nesta belonged here. That she’d found comfort in this strange world. What a ridiculous notion.

Though, she had found some comfort, hadn’t she? She’d slept well these past two nights. The best she’d slept since Hybern. And she couldn’t blame the cot. Not when she’d been sleeping on the most plush beds she’d ever felt up in the Night Court.

There was only one other possibility.

No.

That couldn’t be it. That wouldn’t be it. She was just swept up in the war, and those earnest eyes, and the romance of it all. Nesta had certainly at least once read a book about a nurse and a warrior during a war, how they found love in a battle camp. Clearly she was letting the fantasy of her novels take hold of her life.

Well, no more. This wasn’t a book. She wasn’t in some carefully thought out plot that had a guaranteed happy ending. No, this story would likely end in tragedy or heartbreak, because that’s how real life always ended.

At least, that’s how it ended for her.

She could fix it, though. Stop getting swept away. Take back control and force some distance. Give herself a chance to think clearly, rationally. To step away from the danger that was Cassian.

It shouldn’t be too difficult. Right?

Quickly, Nesta made her way to the area where she’d had breakfast the day before. She’d find Cassian and Kastas, excuse herself, and be on her way to help the healers, away from Cassian. Simple.

The morning sun was just becoming visible over the mountain peaks, the sky painted in pinks and oranges no person could reproduce. A few warriors were appearing from their tents as Nesta walked, but most seemed to still be resting, possibly in need of a brighter sky to pull them from their sleep.

“Nesta!” The familiar voice called her name as soon as he was in her eye line. His dark hair was half pulled up in a messy bun, the rest falling in loose waves around his shoulders. She tried to keep her breath from hitching, but it was pointless. It was always pointless when it came to Cassian.

She walked toward him, noticing Kastas across the fire and giving the older male a kind smile.

“Mikrívasí, how are you this morning?” Kastas asked softly, stirring the eggs he was cooking.

Cassian scooted over on the log, but Nesta remained standing as she answered, “I’m well. I’m looking for Althea.”

“Surely you can have breakfast with us, first. I’m making bacon.”

Kastas’s hazy eyes were wide and pleading. Nesta wanted to say yes, but a quick glance at the other gaze around the fire reminded her why she needed to take a step back. It was too damn entrancing for her own good. “I don’t think so. We don’t know when we’ll need to move, so we have to make sure everyone is healthy and ready.”

Kastas scoffed, “Don’t be silly, mikrívasí. We’re Illyrians. Far tougher than we likely appear to you, I promise.”

“I’m sure you are, but I am here first and foremost to help, so I-”

“Althea!” Kastas called, waving to someone behind Nesta. She turned around to see the head healer walking toward them, her black hair braided back in a fierce hairstyle that was as fitting for a warrior as a healer.

The female offered a greeting nod to Kastas, saying, “Good morning.”

“Surely you can spare this lovely female for breakfast before you work her to the bone today,” Kastas requested. “She needs a proper meal in the morning.”

“Oh, of course, Nesta,” Althea breathed, giving Nesta a kind smile that sent her stomach plummeting. “In fact, I was just coming to find you and let you know that you can take the day off. There’s not much else to do, most of the warriors just need rest. So take it easy. You’ve earned the day.”

Nesta was certain she’d seen Cassian flash the same mischievous smile Kastas was now wearing as Althea said a quick goodbye. “Well, there we have it. Sit, mikrívasí. I wish to learn more about you.”

Schooling her features, Nesta took the seat beside Cassian, ignoring the questioning look he was giving her. She couldn’t risk meeting his gaze and giving him that access. He always read her so well, and if he knew what she was thinking, he’d find a way to charm her out of it. And she’d let him.

Damn her, but Nesta would let him in far too easily for her own good.

a/n: Do you see what I did with Elain? She’s not necessarily talking about Cassian…she’s a Seer, who knows how far ahead she can see. lol

@live-the-fangirl-life@generalnesta@secretlovelybeauty@nestaisgod@julemmaes@boredserpent@autumnbabylon@lady-winter-sunrise@moodymelanist@sv0430@nesquik-arccheron@gwynrielsupremacy@katekatpattywack@moonstoneriver77@deedz-thrillerkilller16@swankii-art-teacher@lemonade-coolattas@emily-gsh@my-fan-side@champanheandluxxury@sayosdreams@simpingfornestaarcheron@perseusannabeth@clemidansleschoux@meher-sumedha@labetenoir@vinylcryes@shinya-hiiragi@starryblueskies7@the-key-to-me-myself-and-i@a-court-of-milkandhoney@pintas3107@embersofwildfire@cannellefawn@superspiritfestival@aks18@thewayshedreamed@lunabean@xstarlightsupremex