A Court of Lost Stars

Feyre sighed as they winnowed into the townhouse. Yes, a sigh of satisfaction, but also of pure joy knowing Nova would be there. It still seemed like a fever dream, yet it was their reality.

A wonderful reality.

Feyre stopped mid-step, arm hooked through Rhys' arm, arching a brow at the sight before them. The sitting area had been converted into, well…she couldn't tell. The furniture, blankets, and pillows were stacked with chaotic precision.

Popping his head from one side of the structure, Cassian said, "We made a fort."

Nova, who was in the center of it, pushed her head through a couple of couch cushions and…grinned. It was the first smile Feyre had ever seen her wear, and it was one of pure delight as she looked up at them.

Grinning back, Feyre moved forward. "Well, may we enter?"

Nova ducked back under the cushions, disappearing through the fabric. 

With a chuckle, Rhys squeezed Feyre's elbow. "I think that's a yes." He matched her smile and together they crawled through the dining chairs and into the tented area. It was filled with more pillows and blankets, with Cassian and Azriel leaning against the more solid sides as Nova commanded the center space.

"She noticed you were gone immediately after you left," Azriel said softly, glancing over at them, "she looked for both of you."

Nova had…missed them. A wave of new heat touched behind Feyre's eyes as she smiled, sitting down in the crouched space next to Rhys.

"And you need a new chess board," Cas chimed in, "or really, new pieces. I tried to show her the game, but she took the pieces and hid them. I honestly have no idea where they are."

Feyre smiled and shook her head with fond affection.

"Oh, Nova." She murmured. 

Nova looked over at her and grinned, then looked back down at the paper she was working on. It seemed they'd traded for a different activity in place of the chess game. She had papers strewn all across the floor of the fort. In her tightly fisted grasp, she was scribbling across the pages in complete wonder when the scrape of the pencil left marks.

Some papers had only a couple of scribbles and were thrown aside, while others covered the entire page. None, however, formed an actual picture of anything.

"When will she be ready to see the city?" Feyre asked, looking up at Rhys, watching Nova with a soft, proud smile.

Cassian answered, "Next week, there will be a party in the streets—a celebration for coming out of hiding."

"Will that be too much for her?" Feyre frowned.

"We won't know unless we try," Rhys nodded, "we need to offer her these moments. Worst case, she can't handle being around that many people, and we take her home."

Taking a deep breath, Feyre nodded. A lot could happen in a week; maybe by then, Nova would be itching to leave the house anyway.