chapter 3

As the dinner continued, the tension in the room was palpable. Feyre, still adjusting to her new life among the Fae, was seated at the table with the Inner Circle, trying to navigate the strange world around her. The food was delicious, an exotic spread of fruits, meats, and pastries, but Feyre's mind wandered, lost in thoughts of Ruhi.

"So, she's a businesswoman who knows how to fight?! " Cassian asked, his voice laced with curiosity. He couldn't hide his intrigue about the woman Feyre spoke of with such reverence.

"Yes, and she's incredible," Feyre replied, her voice warm with admiration. "She's practically like a mother to me. I let it slip once, and from that day, she let me call her 'Ma.'"

The table grew silent for a moment, the weight of her words hanging in the air. Cassian raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "And the fighting—how does she know how to fight?"

Feyre's lips curled into a slight smile. "Her family was apparently royalty, so they have their own fighting techniques. She taught me those. It's different from what you'd expect, but effective."

Rhysand leaned forward, eyeing the ornament hanging from Feyre's leg. "And the ornament you're wearing? Is that hers?"

Feyre nodded, glancing down at the intricate piece of jewelry—a beautiful anklet with ancient symbols, a treasure passed down through generations. "Yes, it is."

Rhysand's gaze darkened slightly, his violet eyes narrowing with concentration. "It has magic, doesn't it? I can feel the power in it. If you concentrate, you'll feel it too."

Feyre nodded, her tone steady. "Yes, it's something that's been passed down for centuries in her family."

Azriel, who had been unusually quiet, spoke next, his voice soft but piercing. "She gave that to you?"

"Yes," Feyre responded, her expression serious. "She said it was for protection, and she even sent Mrityunjay with me."

Cassian's eyebrows furrowed. "Mrityunjay? What's that?"

Feyre hesitated for a moment before continuing. "It's her horse—her actual horse. He's in the Spring Court right now. I wanted to personally send him away, but... Tamlin just sent Mrityunjay away without telling me what happened."

The room grew quiet as everyone processed her words. Feyre looked down, uncertain, her fingers nervously tracing the edge of her plate. "Can we visit her? I mean, I'm a bit afraid of what she'll think of me now. I said some pretty harsh things before I left."

Rhysand broke the silence, his voice calm and reassuring. "Sure. We can visit tomorrow."

The others exchanged surprised glances. Mor leaned forward, her expression a mixture of curiosity and concern. "Why are you sure, Rhys? What's going on?"

Rhysand gave a small smile, his violet eyes flickering with something unreadable. "We could gather allies. She's a merchant, after all—it could be useful for us."

Azriel, ever the skeptic, narrowed his eyes. "Is that the only reason?"

Rhysand stood, his tall frame exuding authority. "Yes. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some work to do."

Cassian smirked, shaking his head. "Well, that's awkward."

Amren, who had been quiet until now, tilted her head, her piercing silver eyes studying Feyre. "Tell me, child. Is this Ruhi you speak of? Are you sure she's not a Fae? Or perhaps even part Fae?"

Feyre hesitated before responding, her voice filled with uncertainty. "I know she's not human—or at least, not fully."

Cassian's eyes widened in surprise. "What?"

Mor shot Feyre a pointed look. "And you still call her 'Ma'? You're sure about this?"

Feyre bristled but stood her ground. "I will tell you this—she has a temple where she prays to Lord Shiva. I've seen her dance and sing for him, and even I can feel the goosebumps when she does. It's... powerful."

Amren scoffed, unimpressed. "People don't pray to gods like that anymore."

Feyre's tone grew sharper, her voice taking on an almost protective edge. "She is unnaturally beautiful, and very in tune with nature. I've never met anyone like her."

Mor smiled softly, sensing Feyre's genuine affection. "Fine. You're right. We should be prepared for everything when we go there. Rest up, Feyre. It's going to be a long day."

"Thank you," Feyre murmured, standing and walking toward Mor to give her a brief, heartfelt hug before heading to her room.

Azriel was the first to speak again. "I'll go secure the perimeter, as Rhys requested."

---

Meanwhile, in his room at the townhouse, Rhysand stood by the window, staring at the stars as his thoughts turned inward. The weight of the conversation from earlier still pressed heavily on his chest, and his emotions began to stir.

*Mother, I think I've found my mate,* he thought, his heart heavy with a mixture of hope and sorrow. *But I can't be with her? Why? Why must I lose everything?*

His wings, large and bat-like, unfurled involuntarily as the emotions intensified, causing the entire house to shake. Rhys quickly regained control, but the damage had been done. He could feel the energy in the air, still crackling from the emotional release.

His violet eyes gleamed with a deep sadness as he gazed at the stars. *Can't I live with my mate? Am I not allowed to? Will she even like me?*

With a resigned sigh, Rhys turned from the window and went to lie down, the heavy weight of his thoughts settling around him like a suffocating fog. As he closed his eyes, his dreams were filled with the haunting image of heterochromic eyes—eyes he had seen in his dreams since childhood.

For the first time in ages, he allowed himself to feel a spark of hope, though he knew the road ahead would be difficult.

On the other side of Prythian, in the human lands.

Ruhi sat outside her small cabin, perched quietly on the edge of a weathered wooden porch. The night air was crisp and cool, carrying with it the scent of pine and earth. She wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders, her fingers brushing over the delicate charms that hung around her neck—reminders of her sacred connection to Lord Shiva and the family that once anchored her.

She gazed at the stars above, her thoughts drifting. *Ma... Papa... Are you hearing me?*

Ruhi's voice was soft, a whisper carried by the wind, yet it echoed in the quiet of the night. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her heart heavy with longing. She wasn't sure why she was here, so far from her own world.

*I miss everyone... I miss everything,* she thought, her voice a soft murmur. *Most importantly, I miss you, Ma. I want to feel Papa's hand on my head, telling me everything will be fine, like he used to.*

She let out a soft sigh, her eyes closing for a moment as the memories of her parents flooded back. Those days felt so distant now, so far removed from the cold, unyielding present. The feeling of being adrift in a different world was growing unbearable.

As if to console her, a gentle breeze swept through the clearing, brushing past her face like a soft caress. Ruhi smiled faintly, the sensation oddly comforting, like a whisper from her past.

*The night is still beautiful, Ma,* she whispered into the wind, her voice shaky but resolute.

She breathed in deeply, grounding herself in the silence of the night, trying to find some peace in the stillness.

*"मुझे आपकी याद आती है माँ पिताजी,"* she murmured softly in her native tongue, her voice tinged with a deep ache. *(I miss you, Ma, Papa.)*

The breeze seemed to answer her, swirling around her like a warm embrace, though it couldn't take away the loneliness gnawing at her heart. With a final, quiet sigh, Ruhi stood, her body heavy with exhaustion. She had fought for so long—carrying the legacy of her family.

She stepped inside her cabin, the flickering light of a single candle casting long shadows against the walls. As she lay down on her simple bed, her thoughts shifted once more, and the night embraced her in its quiet solace.

Her last waking thought was of violet eyes—eyes that had haunted her dreams for as long as she could remember. Eyes that called to her from across the world, a reminder of something she could not yet understand, but knew she couldn't ignore.

And with that, Ruhi drifted into a deep sleep, her heart heavy with both hope and sorrow, as the winds whispered through the trees outside her window.