A Court of Graves and Flowers

CHAPTER TEN

"I'm pretty sure I'm living the dream of several females in Prythian," Callisto said with a tiny, secret smile. "And maybe a few males."

Azriel shook his head and chuckled at her words. They'd both just woken up, and that familiar, golden sunlight that seemed to fill the Spring Court each morning was pooling in front of the windows. Callisto sat on her side of the bed, twisting her long her in her hands, and Azriel sat and watched her for a few seconds. Despite being trapped in the Spring Court, she looked infinitely better compared to the night that she emerged from the Cauldron.

"When did you develop a sense of humor, Callie?" Azriel quipped, gracefully getting off the bed in that silent manner of his and stretching his wings.

Callie followed suit. The boys had always been frustrated that Callie won when it came to wingspan width, and she could see Azriel eyeing the black wings as she let the glamour keeping them hidden fall away. "I've always been funny, Az," Callie retorted, making him snap his eyes to that familiar smirk lighting up her face. "And don't try to deny it. You always smile when I'm around."

Azriel sighed, unable to argue. She wasn't wrong in her observation, but it was only because he was relaxed around her. They'd known her since she was a baby and watched her grow up, so all three Illyrian males were not only protective of her but also treated her as one of them.

"Haughty, aren't you?"

"Have you met my brother?"

"I always figured it was Cassian rubbing off on you. But you're right. Your genes are clearly the ones to blame."

It was Callisto's turn to chuckle. "When did you develop a sense of humor? Poor Helion looked like he was about to have a heart attack with your witty retort last night."

"I've always been funny," he echoed her earlier words.

Callisto rolled her eyes at that, looping her arm through his as she dragged him to get some breakfast. As they walked to the dining area, she doubted that she would see Tamlin that day. After their encounter the previous night, she wasn't so sure how she felt toward the High Lord. Maybe it was a good thing that they didn't run into each other. She was still tempted to connect her fist with his face, even if it seemed to be the only part of him that wasn't injured.

She wasn't even sure why she'd gone to him, especially with Azriel asleep. She supposed it was too much to expect that he would be grateful. It's not like Callie was exploding with gratefulness. I wanted to thank you for this afternoon. She managed to get three words out before choking on the rest, not exactly comfortable thanking the person that got her and her mother killed. I brought you food ended up being the only explanation she could give him.

You didn't have to do that. Tamlin's reply echoed in her head, clanging around in the gloom of her thoughts like an annoying gong. For some reason, those words had stung her. It basically told her that he didn't want the food she'd brought.

She couldn't help but wonder if he'd eaten it. Couldn't help but wonder if he'd go out this morning, as he did every morning, to do what Azriel revealed last night—to protect his lands despite his weakened state.

Well, she got her answer when they arrived in the dining room.

Callisto and Azriel could only stare in shock at the scene before them.

The long table was filled with empty wine bottles, some from the stores in Velaris that were brought over by Rhysand and some that smelled like fresh berries which hailed from right there in the Spring Court. The wallpaper of beautiful twining flowers that her brother and Helion had repaired now lay in tatters once more, looking as though a giant cat had sharpened its claws against them. Large pieces of wood had been gouged out from the floor, leaving saw dust and shallow divots all around them.