Promises (Devon, Nerissa, and Kyan with special guest appearances)

[Devon Sawyer - Council]

Devon and Nerissa - Part One Here| Raffaele and Nerissa - Part Two Here

"Boy, you know there aren't any ships around here going across the seas. At least not for a few months when the trade routes are more active," Bones, the old barkeep at one of the taverns on the dock said to him in his scratchy and broken voice. The man looked ancient and like he was near a skeleton figure, hence the nickname given to him. Devon didn't even know his real name. 

The Rogue dipped his head back and closed his eyes in frustration for a moment, letting out a breath. "I know. Figured I would ask anyway in case you heard something."

"What's got you in such a rush anyway?" The man leaned in a bit closer as he continued wiping the bar  with a rag as not to be heard by the others who were mingling about in his establishment that night. "Your business doesn't take you that far."

"No, this is personal," Devon replied quietly, looking down to the mead in a moment of despair that he'd been gifted by Bones before drinking the nearly full cup down in one go. He shook out his shoulders and let the feeling fade. Failing Nerissa was not an option. They had to find a way. He would find a way.

He slid the empty drink towards Bones for a refill, dumping some coin on the bar top to pay for it as well as the information and storehouse the Rogues got to use here for their newly acquired hauls. Devon leaned on the bar and waited until he felt someone entirely too close for his liking at his back. His hand lowered casually to rest on his thigh, near to the dagger around his waist.

"No need for that," the unfamiliar voice came. It was low and calm, but Devon didn't move his hand. The man put his back against the bar and looked over to him. He had a dark complexion and accent that meant he wasn't from around here. Devon tried to think of who he might be and when he possibly slighted him or whoever he worked for in the past. From his demeanor alone, he knew this person was not going to be easy to take on if it came to it. "We should talk outside."

He raised an eyebrow and scoffed at the request. "No, thanks. I'm enjoying a quiet drink with my friend here," Devon replied, raising the cup up towards Bones who had just placed it down and gave a wary look to the stranger.

"It's about Nerissa." This caught his attention. Devon turned fully to the man now and stood up to face him, his hand gripping on the handle of the dagger. "The fae king has her."

______________________

Never in his life had Devon felt as ill as he did now. The world was a complete blur. All he remembered was walking through the forest and then everything went askew. His head was pounding and his stomach turned. He'd thrown up the contents of his stomach twice and then there was nothing but dry heaving after. He stumbled onward until he could no more finally falling face first into the ground, going in and out of consciousness.

A shadow seemed to wrap him up and it felt like he was flying. Odd thing for a human to be doing. Despite how completely out of it he was, Devon realized it was this Raffaele who was carrying him since he could no longer walk. His mind was too in a fog to even process what was happening, but then there were bright spots of light coming from a massive tree and he was being dumped onto the floor. Or what he thought was a floor. It was more like moss covered grass, soft and cool, which was a slight relief on his dampened skin given how he was feeling.

There were figures around him, but he couldn't quite make them out. One he did recognize, even though his mind was dazed. "Nerissa?" She appeared to be on her knees and bound. Devon pulled himself up slightly, but slipped back to the ground.

"Humans..." A new voice. Condescending and smug. The person was in front of him, pushing his barefoot against his shoulder and knocking him back over with ease. "So weak."

"If you don't give him the wine, he won't last much longer." Raffaele's voice then. Devon felt like he was being stabbed by a thousand needles in his insides. Raffaele had warned him this would be the outcome of entering into the fae kingdom as well as whatever the king wanted to do in the way of torture, but the Rogue didn't care. If the king had Nerissa, it meant her death and maybe now his.

The king, or so he presumed must be the king, stepped away from him and walked back over to Nerissa with a delighted, but unnerving smile. "Tell me everything or you get to watch him die. Painfully."

[Nerissa Ironspring]

✧ Promises ✧

Nerissa wished that she had the items on hand to heal him. As his hand stopped hers, her gaze met his, he seemed to have something to say. Their hands together brought a wave of calm she couldn’t explain fully the effect over her he had. The moment wasn’t going to last though, they were in the home of the Mad King, and he had a talent for ruining such moments. The echoing of the doors bursting open caused Nerissa’s body stiffened. It was like his arrogant aura could smack her in the face from miles away. She shifted slightly letting her pale hazel gaze fall upon the king. Taking him in she wondered if this was his adventuring outfit. How audacious his clothing was, it wasn’t the kind of clothing she would picture him leaving the confines of his home in. On the other hand it was also the most clothes she had ever seen on the King.

Nerissa's gaze lingered from his outfit to Devon’s sword that was in his hand. Giving a sideways look towards Devon, knowing he was too hurt to even try to go for it at that moment. Even now she could feel the concern in his aura for the king to have the sword. As Kyan finger beckoned her, she went to take a step knowing that if she didn’t do as he wanted he would take it out on Devon first just to hurt her. The wind wrapping around her made her feel weightless, and violated all at once. She didn’t fight it as she was placed in front of him. Letting out a grunt as the King pulled her to her feet by her chin the height difference between them was obvious as her neck was craned to look at him.

As Kyan knuckles trailed along her cheeks she blinked, confused by the gentleness of it. She had assumed that the mad king knew nothing of gentleness never having to woo someone into his bed, all she had seen is him make demands and those who followed it willingly. Swallowing hard as his finger padst explored their way down from her cheek to the crest of her neck the flush of embarrassment at his touch made the blush travel where he caressed She felt her body go stiff, as the vines shot out from the tree bending to the kings will to hold his prey in one place while he toyed with its mouse. She didn’t dare look back at Devon. She had to endure to keep Devon safe. This was the thought that played in her mind as she stood there accepting the unwanted affection. She needed to say something though, yet her breathing hitched in her throat as he traveled between her breast where the seed was. Just like that, the horrid empty feeling of walking into the Mother Tree filled her once again. Pulled open for the world to see just how weak the daughter of the great Ironspring's was, the girl who ran instead of giving her life. All the power of The Redwood’s had left was now within the grasp of the mad king.

A wave of weakness fell over Nerissa, it all of a sudden became a chore to stand there. She felt dizzy focusing on the Mad King's eyes in that moment, what secrets did those eyes hold? She wondered as she took a ragged breath in as low as she could. Was that the seed the only thing keeping Nerissa alive? She wondered then as she pressed her hands to her stomach as a way to keep herself focused, her eyes stayed on Kyan as he traveled with that Fae like grace, even though the air in the room was crushing her like rocks slowly being placed on her chest. His words echoed meaninglessly slowly her brain would translate the words while all her focus was on keeping to her feet and not tossing up what remnants remained in her stomach.

As his focus was back on her fully she let out a ragged breath. “If there is a way to save them.” sweat was beginning to bead on her forehead. “Even if it's only for me to end my own life, then I will do it.” She didn’t look at Devon, she didn’t want to see the look on his face. She knew he would do anything to keep that from happening. Yet she would also give her life if it meant he got home safe. “But can you please heal Dev? He will only slow us down if he is like this.” She knew the king could snap his neck then and there and just go about how he wished, she was in no place to ask for such grace, but she had to try.

As the seed was offered back to Nerissa she took it back slowly unsure if this was some kind of test. Yet she know any moments longer apart from the seed she would be on the floor. The black spots had already began floating her her view as her slender fingers wrapped around it. It was like life had been given to her again, the surge of  Redwood Magic filled her spirit once again. She could breathe again, the weight of the air no longer trapping her where she stood.  She tucked the seed back where she kept it hidden in her bosom. Placing her hand over it, her mind swirling with the thoughts that maybe she wasn’t meant to still be alive. Thus she couldn't succumb to that spiral of thoughts as Kyan stalked over to Devon like a cat waiting to strike.

Kyan giving the sword back to Devon caused Nerissa  eyebrows to pull together in confusion, she was sure he would keep it forever, maybe even run it through Nerissa to make a point to Devon later. Yet there it was returned to who it belonged to. This felt like a fever dream all of a sudden. As Kyan moved away Nerissa closed the gap between her and Devon. Her hand came to rest on his arm hoping it would be enough to keep him in place. The moment to attack would not be on his land, around his guards, or if at all. Honestly part of Nerissa believed the Mad king was unmatched when it came to power and skill. He also had a passion for his people he had never seen in anyone but her father and Devon. She just needed to get Devon home safe to his people, to the rogues. Even if she had to spill her blood to do so.

Nerissa gave a nod of her head as she fell into line with the King traveling to the heart of the Mapleshade. Once they came upon the Fae Gate, Nerissa stared at it. She had watched her Father and Mother travel through theirs many times as a child. Yet she felt a sudden wave of worry that she wouldn’t be able to open the gate. She knew she had to move towards it though as Kyan wasn’t one that was going to wait for her to take her time. Taking a deep breath she stood before the massive doorway. Was there even enough magic left in The Redwoods for her to open the gate? She wondered to herself. Speaking in Sylven she raised her hand to the gate way. “Gate of the Fae, Open to me Nerissa of the Ironspring, take me home to The Redwood Forest.” After a moment the magic swirled from the center of where her hand was outwards as the portal opened.

There wasn’t much that could be seen from where she stood as it was dark, if one could put words to the smell of evil it would be what was wafting out of the portal. Swallowing hard, she looked back to see Kyan already a step behind her, Devon on his tail basically as she moved, taking the first step into the darkness beyond. As they entered the room that held the Fae Gate of The Redwood forest, sounds of terror could be heard not far from where they stood. Those were the same sounds her people made when they turned into the horrid creatures she accidently turned them into because of her selfish act.

With a flick of her wrist the candles around the room lit up with soft red light, looking around the room for the moment she could see the piles of black goo, and clothing mixed together from when her people had turned. How it was still goo and not solid as a rock caused more questions than answers at that moment. “I am not sure if there are any inside, so we should probably move as quietly as we can to the library.” She said gently as she started to head towards the stairs that led upwards. Three levels they would need to climb to get to the floor that held her mothers master library filled with all kinds of books, and Fae items.

The answer had to be there, in that room. Deep down Nerissa knew that there was no answer and that she wouldn’t be returning to England with Devon. If there had been an answer her parents would have used it to save her life. She would try to find an answer, she couldn’t give up fully on the thought they would have a life together. Yet she also couldn’t let herself be buried in false hope. A deep growl came from behind them, then again as whatever was making the sound stalked closer. Nerissa started moving quicker up the stairs, trying to be as silent as she could. Not wanting to face whatever family member was stalking them.

As they made it to the third landing, the creature came into view a wrap of black goo shaped like a tiger stalked closer. Eyes glowing red as globs of goo fell to the floor. Panic washed over Nerissa as she reached for the door to the library fumbling with the lock for a moment before pushing it open and pulling Devon inside, Kyan was faster than him and honestly she wasn’t sure if he would try to stop the monster, Kyan seemed like the kind to want to fight something so dark, so evil. She turned around  facing the library as the candles lit up like they always had when someone entered, casting a dull glow over the rows and rows of books covered in dust and time.

A strange sense of nostalgia washed over her as she took a cautious step deeper into the Library.

[Devon Sawyer - Council]

Promises

w/ nerissa Ironspring

• Till the end. •

His hand slipped cautiously around the hilt of the sword as it was being offered back. Devon kept his glare unmoving on the king's when Excalibur's familiar weight lowered to his side again. The anger in him flooded over his skin while he watched the king's amused sneer spread over his face. Then his back was turned and for half a moment he thought of raising Excalibur and taking his chance. Though, what chance did he really have. He knew the king wouldn't go down so easily and he wasn't the type to kill a man, or fae, who wasn't even facing him, even if he was a fucking arse. If by some miracle he did end Kyan right here, there was no chance he and Nerissa were getting out of this wood alive.

"Good boy." 

His jaw worked, clenching so hard to ensure he wouldn't let a flurry of curses and promises of death pour from his mouth. Devon hated that they needed the king. If they were going to find a way to free Nerissa, it would have to be with Kyan's help beyond just getting passage through the fae gate. Her delicate touch on his arm made some of the tension release then. It would do no good to be wound up by the king's goading if they were going to get through this intact. Though, he didn't believe for a moment that Raventhorn was going to be doing this completely out of the goodness in his heart and letting them walk away.

He remained quiet as they followed the king and handful of fae guards throughout the beautifully massive and magical tree. Despite the obvious danger they were in, Devon couldn't help but be in awe still. He felt so small and insignificant in this world of magic. He wondered what the rest of the forest looked like beyond that of this woodland fortress. 

Coming to the fae gate at last, Devon peered into the center of what they were calling this towering stronghold of a dwelling the Mapleshade. It seemed dormant, like a darkened doorway that went nowhere. He watched as the king stepped up just behind where Nerissa stood, nodding to a pale grey fae who stood no higher than his chest. She seemed to float towards him on an imperceptible wind, her short white hair floating behind her along with the muted robes she wore. Devon shifted backwards once her gnarly like hands reached for him, a contrast to her young face.  

"Let her help you, human," drawled the king, not caring to look back to him and keeping his focus ahead at the gate.

Devon straightened and forced himself to relax as she bowed her head slightly to him for allowing her closer. The fae remained silent as she lifted his shirt and touched his skin, her hands warming against him. A dull pain began to race through his bones, but it ebbed a moment later and the discomfort he had as a reminder of the torture he endured was practically gone. "Thank you," he managed to murmur and she only inclined her head once again before taking her position with the other fae beings that lined the room. 

His gaze went back to Nerissa as she spoke a phrase towards that darkness. A moment later and it opened to a place that seemed even more impossibly void of light. Devon instantly noted the smell of rot and death coming from the other side. For whatever reason, this made the king smile. Truly smile. 

The smell had intensified tenfold when they stepped through into the new room and inhuman screams and wailing from creatures he could not identify rang in the distance. Turning, he watched as the gateway closed again and they were on the other side, presumably in the Redwood. Devon's hand rested on top of his sword.

Once Nerissa lit the candles within the space, he let his eyes adjust as best as possible to see the destruction within. He couldn't even see what the room was used for beyond holding the gateway, but the bits of crumbling structure were everywhere. Some pieces large enough to pass his waist. Broken pottery, overturned furniture, torn tapestries, and... bones. 

He followed the fae into the hall which must've been a main passage as it stretched far into the distance of the dark as streams of light trickled in from wherever the sun happened to break through in tiny spurts. Still, it made it impossible to truly see the depth of the space around him. An eeriness crawled along his skin and lifted the hair on his arms and neck. It felt like something or possibly many things were staring back at them from the black. 

The fae king's head tilted as he too stared into the dark. He looked more animal then and Devon wondered if that was some attribute of their kind. At Nerissa's direction, he followed her up the stairs and drew his sword, the king smirking back at the unseen thing in the shadows before following after them.

Devon was realizing how impossible it really was to be as quiet as they were. Fae made no sound when they moved. He on the other hand... Despite how quietly his boots lifted and lowered on the stairs, it still seemed like a beacon to whatever remained roaming in the dark. Nothing moved though as they finally reached the third floor. Or so he too quickly assumed.

A giant cat, but none like he'd ever seen before appeared behind them. It was made of dripping inky muck and its eyes shone a fiery red. Devon instantly felt the sword come alive as the runes began to glow across the metal. The surge of its magic coursed through his body, making his skin tingle. He and Kyan faced the creature while he heard Nerissa fumbling with the lock at his back, the king having that wild look of excitement again. The bastard actually tsked at the thing when it snarled. Devon raised his sword.

Then he was being pulled away. Nerissa ushered him inside of the library with Kyan following, though a look of disappointment seemed to cross his features. It looked like those monsters weren't able to get inside given the door being locked that someone must've thought to do before whatever spell had taken over the Redwood. Lucky for them. He sheathed the sword and watched as the king raised his hands and reinforced the door with branches and vines that broke through the flooring and walls which sealed the things out while also keeping them in. 

"My, my, little wretch. You certainly did a wonder on your own kingdom." Kyan clicked his tongue in mock scolding and turned, giving her a sinister smile as he seemed to glide towards Nerissa. "If I didn't want to see our brothers and sisters brought back to their former selves, I'd open that fucking door and let the evil behind it tear you to bloody ribbons and devour the pieces."

Devon stepped in front of the king's path before he could make it to Nerissa, blocking his view of her. "Don't."

"Boy, do I need to remind you of what happened the last time you did something utterly foolish like coming to my wood to play hero?"

A light tapping noise sounded between them as Devon edged a dagger he'd pulled from seemingly nowhere and braced it at the king's inner thigh, pressing lightly at his pants and right at his balls. "I remember just fine, thanks, but I'm fairly certain even you don't have a kind of magic that'll make these grow back."

The king chuckled darkly, that smile promising violence. He lowered his voice to a whisper between them so Nerissa couldn't hear. "Love isn't going to save her from this fate, you know." Pulling back, Kyan conjured a small flame into his hand and let it drift before him as he began to walk through the darkened library.

Devon kept his gaze forward as Kyan sauntered away, swallowing hard as those words echoed in his mind. He put the dagger back at his belt and walked over to Nerissa. "Are you.. alright?" As much as anyone could be alright given the situation. He buried the need to reach out and touch her and forced his focus out into the enormous library, where tall stacks disappeared into the dark. "Where should we start looking?"

[Nerissa Ironspring]

✧ Promises ✧

Carnage. Her home, her family, engulfed in carnage. It took a moment, a movement away from Nerissa, for the question to form in her mind. "Your sword... Does it often emit that glow?" she pondered aloud, her gaze shifting to a visibly disappointed Kyan. "You can't harm anyone here... They are all my people," she explained, glancing between the men, sensing Kyan's silent accusation without a word spoken. His contemptuous words pierced her, almost making her long to be outside with the enigmatic cat. As she moved to intervene with Devon, she emitted a soft gasp of surprise as he managed to approach dangerously close to the family's prized jewels, sensing a shift in the atmosphere following their exchange.


Curiosity gnawed at her, prompting her to take a step closer, but she watched silently as Kyan walked away, his intentions unclear — whether he was genuinely committed to saving the Redwood Fae or merely relishing the opportunity to torment her and Devon once this ordeal concluded. Her attention was drawn back to Devon as his voice cut through the dimly lit room, her eyes subtly glowing a gentle pale red. "Are you alright?" she inquired, observing his demeanor, which seemed haunted, perhaps overwhelmed by the daunting task of navigating the extensive library. Her gaze drifted upward to the ceiling, where the tale of her ancestors was painted in vivid detail.


"I wish I knew," she sighed, feeling the weight of responsibility settling heavily on her shoulders. With a decisive press of a button along the wall, torches illuminated the space, casting flickering light throughout the room. "Welcome to the renowned Redwood Library, though I'm certain the armory would be far more intriguing," she remarked, a weak attempt at levity escaping her lips.


Memories flooded her mind as she surveyed the surroundings, her gaze drawn to the forbidden books her mother had forbidden her to read, a logical starting point for her exploration and a convenient means of distancing herself from Kyan. "He's toying with you, like a mouse," she muttered as she walked, briefly pausing to admire the fort she had once constructed for reading, its sign still bearing the inscription "No one but Nixie allowed." She couldn't help but acknowledge her own petulance and entitlement in her youth, regretting not spending more time with her family, particularly her mother. "This was the only place where my mother and I spent more than a fleeting moment together. She would easily lose herself in books, ignoring my presence," she reminisced, her gaze lingering on the deep chairs her mother had favored. "She wept when I was born, blaming my father for cursing her with a daughter."


Resuming her journey, she approached a row of leather-bound books adorned with intricate symbols, reaching for the first one in the seemingly endless array. "Part of me wishes to lead you through all the hidden art and poetry I've tucked away in these halls. This is where I spend most of my time, aside from my quarters or training with my father," she explained, flipping through the pages of the Fae-written books, hoping to stumble upon what she sought.


Meanwhile, as Kyan delved deeper into the opposite end of the library, he stumbled upon a section containing relics of past Ironspring leaders and a historical account of the Mother Red Dusk Tree, written in a language unfamiliar to Nerissa. Just as he began to examine the artifacts, a squawking noise emanated from behind what appeared to be office doors, accompanied by the scent of freshly kindled fire.

[Devon Sawyer - Council]

Promises

w/ nerissa Ironspring

• Till the end. •

The Rogue's eyes drifted across the forgotten library as the pale light cast some of the deep shadows into the corners of the massive space. The rows and rows of books, texts, and remnants seemed endless. He had no idea how they could possibly get through it all or even where to begin searching. Still, Devon had the intention of going through every single page within these cursed walls if it meant finding a way to save Nerissa.

Devon scoffed at her observation of the king's words. "Yes, he seems to enjoy reminding me of my weakness being human." His response didn't hide how much he disliked the king. Devon didn't disagree with him however, but it was still a comfort to have Excalibur and maybe up his worth to stand alongside these fae. He didn't miss how the other had relished in having the weapon in his possession, though he wondered how Kyan would even think to use the sword if it could only be wielded by him and his kin.

His attention moved back to Nerissa as she explained more of her backstory. His curiosity of her past had always been gnawing at him, but he respected her privacy just as he had always done with any of the Rogues that came stumbling into their ranks. Just when Devon thought she trusted him enough to let him in, she would pull away and he could see the door of her life close before he was able to finally step through. It hurt, but he never wanted to push for fear she would take off and he'd selfishly lose her forever. 

Though, now that she had let him in, Devon couldn't imagine what she had been keeping from him. All of it was so overwhelming and he hadn't even begun to scratch the surface of her life after saving him in that small village years ago. Hearing how she was so alone despite being a princess of her people and practically surrounded by others constantly, made his chest ache. His arm drifted over the splayed book in her hands as he caught the bottom of it and took it from her grasp. Reaching out, his other hand drifted to cup her jaw, fingers sliding through her warm brown locks. "You will show me. After all... this." Devon edged forward, closing the small bit of space that remained between them and held her gaze steadily. "Show me then. I want to see all of it."    

Meanwhile, Kyan's fingertips drifted along the countless volumes of the library while he walked one of the dozens of aisles. Boring. He hated being in the library of his own kingdom, being trapped in this one, which was in fact much grander, wasn't any more enjoyable. He brought his hand up for inspection and noted the dust collected on his skin, a displeased crease forming on his forehead as he rubbed his coated fingers together. Droplets of water began to take shape as he conjured the element to wash away the grime on his hand. 

He pushed his hair behind his pointed ear and rolled his shoulder in an attempt to calm his annoyance lest he send a fireball down the rows and be done with this place. The small flame he had made before to give himself more light grew at his will then and he noted an aisle with a large tapestry on the adjacent wall. Clearly it was devoted to the current royal family as the line of their kin branched out of the ancestors before them. The king and queen stood stoic and like statues in the weaving, hardly any real emotion on their countenances. Then standing between them like an ornament and nothing more, the familiar face of the princess, but as a youngling. Nerissa looked exactly the same minus the slight fullness of her cheeks when she was a youth. The vacant look in her eyes seemed to press in on him and it would appear even then she knew the weight of her responsibility to her people. There was no joy to be found on her face. Nothing resembling the carefree whimsy of a young faeling. 

The king's head tilted slightly as it tended to do when he was taking something in and puzzling it out. His brow lifted while looking at this young version of the princess he'd been hunting relentlessly. A feeling he didn't like having crept its way over his skin before he shook it off and made a disgusted noise to stop it before it took root. He refused to feel sorry for her. He had made sacrifices too. Done things to keep his kind safe that some would think extreme. He'd do anything, even if it meant giving his life. She should've done the same.   

His eyes moved away from the tattered tapestry and to a podium where a book lay open. It was in an ancient fae tongue that had died out a thousand years ago. Clearly it was important or it wouldn't have been left specifically here, so the king carefully turned the cover over and read the title in the old language. From Dawn to Dusk: Our Beginnings. Kyan rolled his azure hues and turned the first page, skimming the text as the ancient language always used more pretty words than was necessary to get to the fucking point. The deckled pages felt delicate between his fingers, but it was well preserved despite the neglect of the library since the kingdom's current lack of proper library keepers.     

'It began with Gaia.' Goddess, he was going to be here forever. Kyan certainly knew his own kind's creation and that of Thistlemoon before other kingdoms of fae came into being after the war of the gods when some felt the need to venture into the world from their first and mother homeland. He continued on already wanting to rip his eyes out. 'Our brothers and sisters traveled from the safety of Thistlemoon and found new homes within the world. It was there, across a vast ocean, the Redwood was discovered and the Mother Red Dusk Tree, much like the Mapleshade, called to our people.' The king straightened and willed the ball of fire closer to be sure he read every word coming and to keep himself awake until a loud cawing drew his hues up from the pages and narrowing at the back of the library.

The shadows seemed to keep the now visible doors mostly in darkness as Kyan stepped around the small podium and walked towards the sound. He could see movement underneath the door, presumably from the thing that had just squawked its impatience from the other side as well as the flickering of light as if a fire was steadily burning. Interesting. 

He walked backward from the doors, never taking his curious eyes from them until he was leaning up against one of the bookshelves in nonchalance. Cupping his hands around his mouth, he whispered into them for a moment before creating a ball of wind and sending it down the main corridor of the library and back to where he last left his two unlikely traveling companions.

The gust of wind danced down the path it was sent on by the king, traveling quickly on its intended route. The sphere spun in a vortex towards the middle of the room before dissipating outward in a powerful gust, Kyan's words bursting from it loud enough to be heard in the surrounding space. "If you two aren't dead or in a state of fucking, it would behoove you to meet me at the back of library with haste."

[Nerissa Ironspring]

✧ Promises ✧

Nerissa had learned much during her time among humans and other species. For many, there was a certain pleasure in asserting superiority over humans, yet she recognized that beneath the surface, each species bore its own vulnerabilities. Humans outnumbered them for many reasons, and most lived in secrecy among them, "only to hide his obvious insecurities," she mumbled just loud enough for Devon to hear, careful to avoid provoking Kyan brash wrath. Every moment she had kept hidden for fear of being seen as the monster she believed herself to be weighed heavily on her heart. Yet here he was, still by her side, even after learning that she had destroyed her home on a selfish whim to escape. Would he remain with her if she revealed everything?

As the book thudded to the ground, Nerissa couldn’t tear her gaze from Devon when his calloused fingers gently grasped her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. A shiver coursed down her spine as he trailed his fingers through her loose waves, igniting a warmth within her that caused a longing ache. Her hands instinctively found their way to his chest, her heart racing furiously. She would never grow accustomed to the effect he had on her; he had become an integral part of her being, the very reason she would never regret her past selfishness. Meeting him had taught her the true meaning of love.

As her hand boldly slid down his chest to rest on the apex of his hips, she hesitated, unable to voice her fears about keeping his hopes in check just yet. "I will show you then," she finally managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. She arched her neck to gaze up into his determined eyes, a flicker of hope igniting within her that this moment could be the beginning of their life together, in that cottage that had become her home. Rising onto her toes, her nose brushed against his, and all she could think about was the night before, the way his lips had melted against hers. "Devon..." she breathed, the name slipping from her lips like a plea.

In that moment, she felt unburdened by the reality that they were locked away in a place she had once wished would cease to exist. In a strange twist of fate, she had made her home vanish to escape the walls that had trapped her for so long. A single act had ushered in a lifetime of adventure thanks to the day she breathed life into the rogue. If this was to be her final moments, she took solace in the happiness she had found with him. And perhaps, just perhaps, he would carry her in his memory long after she was gone.

Nerissa's body reacted instinctively, no longer stuffing her feelings deep within. She cherished every second with him, savoring each touch and gaze. Yet, just as desire surged, it was abruptly doused by a gust of wind that wrapped around them like a cold embrace. Kyan's arrogant command made her instinctively take a step back, half-expecting him to be watching. Confusion flickered in her mind until she realized he was using the wind to convey his message. A sense of curiosity bubbled within her; she yearned to learn this skill. But he was Kyan, and she was a traitor of their kind. Perhaps in another life, another time, they could have forged a bond—maybe even friendship.

Trailing her fingers down Devons' arm she turned her attention toward the source of the swirling air. Trekking through the Library stirred so many memories that when she spotted Kyan leaning against a bookshelf, relief washed over her taking in his enigmatic expression on his face. "What is it?" she asked, sensing urgency in his demeanor. There was no way he had found the answer already. The acrid stench of burnt parchment wafted through the air, drawing her focus to the large doors ahead. The ominous squawk that followed confirmed her fears. "Oh no?" she screeched, her instincts kicking in as she sprinted toward the doors, adorned with the intricate pattern of the Mother Red Tree which started to glow as she drew closer.

The doors sprang open as she reached them, revealing an office that belonged to a magic enthusiast. Her heart sank as she spotted a frail orange-red bird in a cage next to the desk. The pile of ashes scattered about confirmed her worst fears. Coming to a stop just outside the cage, she whispered, "Oh, Ignatius," as the bird emitted a feeble squawk, its golden eye fluttering closed.

The cage was scarred with talon marks, a testament to the bird's struggles. She wondered how many times Ignatius had died and been reborn. His water and food source had been magically provided, yet the remnants of untouched food indicated he had given up hope long ago. The thought that he had been trapped, unable to fly or experience freedom, weighed heavily on her conscience. It was all her fault.

Holding her breath, she watched as his chest stilled, taking a step back just as the bird burst into flames. The tears she longed to shed evaporated in the heat of the fire, the roar of the flames gradually fading into silence. Moving to the cage, she found it opened with a mere touch, thanks to her Ironspring blood. Ashes shifted, some spilling out, as a tiny bald head emerged, covered in soot. "Welcome back, Iggy," she murmured, lovingly removing the small featherless bird from its cage.

"This is Ignatius—the phoenix. I have no idea which rebirth this is," she explained softly, her heart aching. "My second eldest brother was studying him to understand the rebirthing process." The bird began to sprout fluff before their eyes, a small miracle unfolding. "He believed that if he could get the tree to rebirth itself, it wouldn't require more sacrifices. He feared for his future offspring," she added, her voice trembling as the bird cooed at her, acknowledging her presence. "I'm so sorry you’ve been locked up all this time. Soon you will have your master back, and your full freedom." It was a promise not only to Iggy but to her people; they deserved their lives back, even if it meant sacrificing her own.

The distraction of Ignatius brought forth the pain she had long buried. Guilt clawed at her throat as she turned toward her brother's desk, seeking solace in the familiar surroundings. "All my brothers had their own private studies around the library," she noted, picking up a notebook and glancing over the experiments that had taken place. Each one had failed. The last line was haunting: "I don't think I can save her!"

Part of her had hoped her brother was trying to save her, but his actions had always suggested otherwise. The thought of her betrayal of her family, of her people left her feeling suffocated. Desperate for a distraction, she lashed out instead. "Did you wish to know if we were in a state of fucking so you could watch? Is that what gets you off?" The words tumbled from her lips, shocking even herself. It was a moment of weakness, an attempt to deflect the turmoil swirling inside her.

Her anger, disappointment, and guilt converged, landing squarely on the fae king, even though he could end her life in an instant. "Or were you just wanting to ruin any good times before..." Her eyes locked onto Devon's, and the weight of her unspoken words hung heavily in the air, leaving her mouth dry and her heart racing, unable to finish the thought.