A Song of Ice & Shadow

Part 12

Feyre bit her lip, placing the letter on the bedside table. "You should eat something." She kept her voice gentle, leaving the food nearby, but Y/n remained silent, her gaze unfocused, lost.

Elain and Feyre took turns bringing food and encouraging Y/n to get out of bed. But Nesta kept her distance, visiting one once since Y/n had woken.

The day Y/n decided to get out of bed was anything but pleasant. She demanded a place of her own, far away from the others, and Feyre agreed. Y/n gave Feyre Truth-Teller to return to Azriel, but Feyre hesitated, hoping that Y/n might be willing to give it back herself- maybe even talk, show some emotion. So Feyre suggested she give it to him directly. Y/n took the blade without a word and left the house.

"Where are you going?" Feyre asked, watching her intently.

"To find a house."

"You're going to walk all the way? I can winnow you to the city."

"I don't want your help." If they thought the Y/n they knew was cold and heartless, they were in for a shock with this new Y/n.

Azriel found her that evening, after Feyre had told him what happened. She was wandering through the city, her gaze blank, unfocused.

"Hey," he greeted softly, but she brushed past him, her attention elsewhere. "Feyre is worried about you. We should head home."

Usually, she'd retort with something like. "That's not my home," or argue with him, but now she remained silent.

Finally, she turned to face him, her icy blue-gray eyes meeting his, and held out Truth-Teller for him to take without a word. As his scarred hand brushed hers, he noticed her fingers were cold as ice.

"You're freezing," he murmured, concern tightening his features. She simply turned and began walking again, but he reached out, gently grasping her wrist and pulling her back around to face him. "Y/n, talk to me. Say something, anything. Just, please, don't-"

"I don't feel cold," she replied, her voice flat, though she didn't pull her hand from his grip as she met his hazel eyes.

"You'll catch a cold if you keep going like this. I'm taking you home," he insisted.

"I want to walk," she said, her tone barely softening. It was the most she'd said to him in days, so he agreed, keeping close to her.

Once they reached the Town House, Y/n informed Feyre she'd found a place. Feyre agreed to let her move in on one condition: Y/n was to stay at the Town House for a week, eat regularly, and only then, once Feyre was satisfied she was alright, could she leave. Y/n said nothing and headed upstairs to her room.

"And we should be able to see you at least once a day," Feyre added as Y/n climbed the stairs.

And so began the week of forced togetherness. Since Feyre didn't specify how many times she'd need to eat, Y/n chose the bare minimum. She would come down once a day, eat either lunch or dinner, and then retreat back to her room without a word.

On the third day, everyone was gathered around the table for dinner when Y/n entered. Since it was the last meal of the day and she hadn't come down for breakfast or lunch, she was compelled to sit with them. To everyone's surprise, she took a seat next to Cassian.

"Missed me? Because I sure missed you," Cassian tried, throwing her a playful grin, but she neither looked at him nor replied. "Come on, Y/n. By now, I would've expected to say something snarky or insulting... nothing?... Does that mean I finally won?" He leaned forward, trying to provoke a reaction, but she just looked at him, expression unreadable.