#archeron reader

The younger sibling was stunned by who she was seeing she could not believe it was her older sister the one who sacrificed the most for her family. She had never thought she would see her again

"Oh Feyre" The younger one sobbed rushing to her older sister to hug her "I never thought I would see you again" she sobbed hugging her tightly

"Shhh I am right here little one" Feyre laughed waterly as she hugged back "Though with a few changes"

"What do you mean?" Y/n pushed back to see what her sister was talking about

That's when she saw it

The Fae features on her sister’s face, her sharp long ears and her lifted cheekbones.

“Feyre… what happened?” The younger one asked concerned at what happened to her sister, if she was forcefully changed into a Fae or was it volunteered

“It’s a long story little one.. why don’t we sit down for this?” Feyre smiled gently guiding her sister to sit on the bed as she started her story

“Oh Fey…” the girl sobbed “why would you go into such trouble? Why didn’t you just come back?” the girl heartbroken by her sisters sacrifice to the person she thought loved her and the anger to how her older sister was treated after she gave THAT FAE everything

“Oh little one don’t cry..” the older sister said soothingly “I am alright now some Fae’s helped me get out of the situation and they are here…” Feyre bit her lower lip “Y/n.. we need help with something…”

“I will help!” Y/n exclaimed eagerly wanting to help her older sister who sacrificed everything for their lives, Feyre smiled at her younger sibling’s eagerness to help so she started explaining the entire plan

“Okay… I am okay with this but I don’t think Nesta will agree” Y/n bit her lower lip “She feels guilty for what happened in the past and expresses it differently”

Feyre nodded her head understanding “I know” there was a beat of silence until.. “Do you want to meet them?” she asked suddenly “before we talk to Nesta and Elain do you want to meet them?”

Y/n did not need to be told who they were she knew they were Feyre’s new friends who helped get out of the situation with her ex-fiancé

“Yes I want to meet the people who helped my sister” Y/n squeezed Feyre’s hand reassuringly smiling gently

‘Rhys you guys can come to my sister’s room now’ Feyre instructed

Y/n was baffled when she heard beating of wings as she saw shadows in her balcony 3 men- no Fae’s landing in her balcony, Fae’s who had wings. Y/n squeezed her sister’s hand tightly feeling anxious all of a sudden while Feyre gave her a reassuring smile squeezing her hand back

“Come in” Feyre said as one of the winged Fae knocked on the balcony door

Y/n held her breath as the Fae males entered her room, their imposing figures made her room look smaller than it was

“Y/n these are Rhysand, Cassian and Azriel” her older sister told her pointing at the males “Guys this is my younger sister Y/n”

The biggest guy with the muscles smiled brightly as she looked at him, she felt a little lighter as the big male was welcoming and not the way she had heard about the Fae’s. The one in the middle gave her a nod and a smile his violet eyes observing her as though reading her thoughts. The last one gave her a nod too but what attracted her was the way his shadow moved like they were alive and had their own thoughts

“They do have their own thoughts but Azriel commands them” the violet eyed one, Rhysand explained as he followed her gaze startling her a little

“Oh I didn’t mean to stare” she explained as her face grew warm

“Its fine” Azriel replied gruffly shrugging his shoulders

“Y/n can we meet Nesta and Elain now?” Feyre asked, she knew then that her older sister was nervous to meet the other two older siblings

“Yes! I will call them to the dining room” the younger sibling exclaimed as she hurried out

Feyre bit her lower lip anxiously as she watched her younger sibling go and listened to her footsteps as she went to their older sibling’s rooms to get them to the dining room

“It will all be fine Feyre darling” Rhysand placed a reassuring hand on Feyre’s shoulder, all she could do in return was give a nod

===

Time-skip to dinner

===

The dinner was tense Y/n could hear a pin drop. Nesta and Cassian who started bickering as soon as they met were now quite as per her request. At first they did not comply but then she had to show her teary eyes to her older sister to stop her from retaliating to anything Cassian said

Rhysand had smirked at her when he saw what she did knowing it was an act while Feyre rushed to comfort her younger sibling thinking she was crying. Cassian had shut up immediately after he realised she was teary eyed and muttered something under his breathe something about ‘stupid humans being so sensitive’

Y/n knew how to get her sisters to stop fighting, she had learnt this trick when they were poor. Being miserable didn’t excuse any of her sisters to be horrible to her, she took advantage of this everytime she wanted something or if she wanted to win her sisters trust

She knew all her older sisters held the guilt of sending her to work at the bar. Feyre had tried a lot to make her to stop working at the bar but her work was one of the mainstream income to the house when they were in poverty. Elain had been in denial ‘she’s just going to sing in the bar I am sure she will be alright’ her sweet dear sister didn’t want to accept the reality that they were in poverty and used to act as though everything was fine. Meanwhile her oldest sister, Nesta, had raged told her she was making a mistake but did not want to work because it was beneath her. Y/n did not want Feyre to suffer alone so she took up the job and brought home the money she earned everyday

“Rhysand, Feyre told me you three were brothers but you guys don’t loo-“ Y/n started immediately getting cut off

“We don’t look alike because we are not brothers by blood” Cassian replied as though he was already anticipating her question making her face warm up with embarrassment

“You could have atleast let her finish her sentence, do you Fae’s have a problem with listening?” Nesta glared at Cassian

Cassian was about to retort back but was cut off by Rhysand who looked at Y/n and replied “All bastards are brothers in a sense aren’t they?” he gave her a feline smile

All Y/n could do was nod back to his reply as the mood became even more tense with no one trying to break it this time

===

The Fae’s were ready for departure the winged males were waiting for Feyre as she was telling her goodbye’s to her sisters

“You know you are very obvious” Y/n said approaching the three looking directly at Rhysand as she spoke

“Obvious with what?” Rhysand asked with a raised eyebrow

“With your feelings for my sister” she mirrored his reaction while Cassian and Azriel exchanged amused expressions, Rhysand was dumbfounded by the youngest Archereon’s revelation as he thought of a reply which was cut off “staring at her throughout the dinner and giving her loving reactions doesn’t help your cause if you are ‘trying’ to hide it”

There was a beat of silence as Rhysand asked “will you tell your sister?”

“I am not a snitch… but if she asks I will tell”

Rhysand nodded at that he did not want to bombard Feyre with his feelings while she was still moving on from Tamlin. Remembering his name sent a jolt of fury through Rhysand’s mind as he cooled his expression

“You know I think you will be better than the other guy” she nodded her head as though confirming her thoughts “I am excited to see you both in a relationship brother-in-law” she smiled before turning back and going inside to give her sister one last hug leaving the trio in complete stunned silence

Cassian chuckled "she is my favourite.. of all Feyre’s siblings”

Rhysand smiled at that “I could say the same too then”

Azriel though silent agreed to what they were saying, the youngest sister was a mystery to him but a part of him was attracted to that. He closed his eyes not wanting to think of his attraction to the youngest Archeron sister as he did not want to piss his high lord or Feyre for his attraction

------------

Y/n did not know how it happened or why she was taken, one second she was in her balcony reading a book the next a male… a Fae male had picked her up not in the smooth way but in a rough way where she knew she was in trouble. She could hear her two older siblings screams and the breaking of items. She wanted to help she really did but she couldn’t as she was also struggling in the hands of a males who had his hand on her mouth.

She struggled to break free kicking, biting, screaming but nothing worked the Fae was far far stronger than her. She saw her oldest sister’s face as she screamed her name before everything went black

The first thing she heard when she gained conscious was Feyre screaming her name as everything went black again but this time it felt like she was floating.

She could feel her body change, her whole body was taken out and put back together

She could hear whispers now, a deep hissing sound which shook her to the core

‘Your sister took something from me’ it hissed at her in anger

‘You will pay for it’ there was a pause before she heard another voice a female voice this time

‘You will have not one but two mates who will hate each other that they would rather fight a war against each other than get along, when the bond snaps you will feel their hatred and it will affect you more than you realize’

That was it she didn’t hear anything as she was taken out of whatever she was put in

She felt her body burning as she heard her sisters cries as Nesta held her face asking.. no begging her to respond. She heard Feyre’s voice too, she started hearing a lot of things at once

“No..” she whimpered closing her ears trying to block all the new sounds, trying to protect of what was left of her, she didn’t know what she was protecting herself from but she did not feel safe even when Nesta took her in her arms even though she herself was shaking

‘I am here little one’ she heard Rhysand’s voice in her head ‘sleep now me and your sister will protect you’ she heard before she let herself pass out

Next Chapter>>

There, she thought to herself, finally. The last of Autumn’s yellow roses brightened up her kitchen. The kitchen, she corrected, but it felt like hers now. Elain filled the glass vase with water, a sprinkle of ground eggshells. It had grown late, and she was alone. 

Alone doesn’t feel very good, she pursed her lips. Nuala and Cerridwen were gone on Rhys’s orders. It was something to do with one of the queens. She remembered their visit to the Archeron Manor so long ago. Politeness and good manners hadn’t gotten her very far with them. Power struggles were at play, but Elain didn’t understand them. She had tried listening in, lingering at the edges while Feyre talked with Rhys and Azriel in the early hours of morning. She had nothing better to do after all, not when sleep eluded her. She let it stay blissfully far away, like a cat that had grown tired of playing with a toy. Sleep filled her mind with too many thoughts. Unhelpful thoughts. 

Elain fussed with the flowers, arranging them again and again. If she stayed idle too long, those thoughts would find her, and that couldn’t happen. Not when it scared her sisters so much. She did not remember everything that happened to her, but Feyre often expressed how pleased she was that Elain was better now, healed. Oh Elain… so worried… and Nesta, she was half-mad with fear… do you even remember… the balcony… knives out of the kitchen when Taryn… 

Little snippets. She rearranged the flowers. Perhaps the fuller ones should face the island… Yes, that was where everyone would sit. Once morning came. In nine hours. There would be no one for the next nine hours. She rearranged the flowers as her head began to split. Water, not like the icy chill of the Cauldron. Warm. Laughter. And then a staircase, one with a big looming spiral. Sparks of silver. A storm rolled in. 

She rearranged the flowers. The stems had not been de-thorned. She pushed her finger tips into the sharp little daggers and sighed as a pin-prick of blood welled up. The visions faded out like mist on the horizon. 

As she pressed her fingertip to her lips to suck the blood away, she felt a familiar presence. His shadows were warm, and she felt them brush her arm in greeting. He made sure not to startle her.

“Azriel, you’re up late.”

“I could say the same to you. Shouldn’t you be in bed?”

She smiled and let the flowers fall naturally into the vase. “Oh, I couldn’t sleep…” She brushed her fingers across the soft, butter colored petals. “I wanted to make sure these beauties were saved before the first snows hit Velaris.”

He stepped closer. So close to her. She could feel the willowy pressure of his shadows, slightly warm with his scent. Mmm, something woody. She slowed her breathing, trying not to seem… excited? Interested? It was so much easier to talk to the human boys. They couldn’t hear the fluttering of a heart. 

“Yellow?” he asked, his voice deceptively bored.

“Do you dislike yellow?” She asked. Maybe next time she would plant red.

“No, they’re very nice Elain. The River House always feels more home-like with your touches.”

Something bubbly and warm welled up in her. She didn’t think many people noticed the little changes she made. Feyre had an eye for decorating, sure, but her style was far more moody, regal. Elain preferred the subtle elegance of a brighter palate. It seemed Azriel had noticed. 

“How was training today?” she tried to sound cheerful, but weariness weaved its way through her tone. Cassian hadn’t been by the River House to update Feyre on Nesta’s progress, but Elain assumed there was none to report. Taryn was a bit more unpredictable on where she drew her lines.

His lips titled to the side, hesitant. “Her blade work has gotten stronger, she wields truth teller almost as well as you did-” Elain couldn’t keep the smile from her face. A small one. This was about Taryn, not herself. Azriel went on without noticing. “But when I left her with Tris… I suppose you and Nesta are lucky. Mental shields take a lot of work to employ for those who haven’t had them magically fortified. I wanted to tell you though-”

She turned, her face tipped up to meet his gaze. So close. Azriel paused, taking in a breath, as if he had suddenly realized the proximity between them. 

“I’ll be gone for a few days. Rhys is sending Tristan and I east, to Montesere,” another pause, “Taryn will be accompanying us to speak with their court about preparations for another war.”

“Taryn?” Elain’s brow furrowed. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

Azriel shrugged, but his gaze turned interested, as if he sensed Elain knew something that he didn’t, “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“She dislikes high society. When we were girls there was a lot of… pressure on her and Nesta.” Elain had missed her debut. The year she had come of age was the year they lost their fortune. Sometimes she was jealous of the attention her sisters, mostly Nesta, had garnered for the family. Most of the time, she was thankful that the weight of expectation had avoided her shoulders in those formative years. Nesta was their mother’s little queen. She was the oldest, after all. Taryn had come a few minutes after her. But there was a unique kind of pressure there too, one Taryn could never live up to. If Nesta were to fail at securing an advantageous match, Taryn was essentially the spare heir. She was coached just as rigorously, waiting in the trenches to see if she’d be needed. 

“Feyre seems to think she’ll do well,” Azriel said, bracing his hands on the kitchen counter. His gaze drifted through the window, out, she imagined, toward the House of Wind. 

Elain pursed her lips. It didn’t really matter what she thought, the decisions Feyre made were always final. “I’m sure it will all go as planned.” 

That splitting feeling returned. Now was not the time. She looked around, suddenly antsy. Her trimmed fingernails found their way to the little cut on her finger. It had stopped bleeding after she let go of the thorns. She dug the crescent of her nail into the wound, pressing until the feeling banked into nothing. 

Azriel’s eyes widened. “Elain, I didn’t know you were bleeding.” His nose flared at the sudden tang in the air.

“It’s nothing, the roses got me earlier.”

He took her by the wrist, forcing her to show him the wound. He hummed, reaching for the weapon belt around his hips. There was a small roll of gauze tucked into it, and he unrolled a piece, ripping it off with his teeth.

She didn't realize she was trembling until he gripped her hand again, holding it still as he wrapped it with an almost painful gentleness.

He noticed her trembling. “Are you afraid of blood?”

Her throat tightened. “Yes,” she lied.

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Get out Get out Get out Get out, she screamed at him. Oh he would have it coming to him after this. 

Tristan’s voice, calm and steady despite it being hour three of training, washed across her mind. Every time Taryn thought she had managed to push him out, she would hear his deep, rumbling echo. It was like a riptide, the kind of surge that dragged you back and back, further out to sea no matter how desperately you paddled toward shore.

You need to relax, Taryn. You’re not focused.

She growled, then flinched at the sound of her own voice. She had been forced silent this whole time. She was finally getting somewhere. 

“Get- out,” the words came out choked and garbled, and then she was under again. A man was dancing with her, spinning her around the dance floor. She couldn’t keep up. She tripped, fell past his arms and to the floor. But there was no floor. Only water. Deep and cold, endless water. She reached out for someone, for something, but there was nothing. Her hands were empty… and then they weren’t. There was a knife in her hands. The image of the knife was warbled through the icy water, but the piercing metal was aimed for herself. She forced her eyes further open, fighting the weight of the water. Gone again. The village boys surfaced. Tomas and Isaac, Grayson and Wendell. Wendell, the butcher’s boy… Tomas’s voice echoed in her head. He doesn’t mind a little meat on the bones. She shivered, wrenching her gown closer to her body. It was soaked through with cold. Let me go, she yelled, but no sound came out.

I said focus, Taryn, you were so close. She tried to hold onto the sound, as if those words were a tether that would lead her back out.

Hands were wrenching her away, pulling her from the Cauldron with a roar. Nesta? Her mother looked down at her. Those hands tightened, pulling her away from another failed Gala. You are useless, a burden on your sister, her mother said. Do not speak to her again, I don't want her seen with you.

Let me go, she choked again, swallowing mouthfulls of cold air. She could see Nesta’s small face in the window, watching her as she curled up in the chilly brambles outside. Her body trembled, and she could not tell if it was real or just memory.

The patience and calm in Tristan’s voice was turning sour, I can’t. Not until you can push me out.

He was mad at her. Nesta was mad at her, mad at Taryn for ignoring her all night, her small fists clenched. Her mother was mad at her, angry that she could be so careless as to ruin the future of all of her sisters. She was mad. So mad at herself. And confused. She stared at herself, at her broken body reforged, the white nightgown sticking to every violated inch of her. 

Something fluttered inside her, clicking and whirring like an automaton. Light flared beneath her skin, arcing like lightning through the darkness. She saw threads of shadow, weary now, as if they too wanted to leave this place in her mind. 

Taryn extended her hand. It seemed her body knew what to do, even if her mind did not. The blue of her veins turned fluorescent, glimmering violet as pure power sluggishly swam from her heart to her fingertips. It sparked. It struck. 

She felt a low hiss thunder through her mind, but the voice gritted out, Good, again.

The hollow space between her breasts flickered and surged, churning like a storm. She made herself the eye. That whirling storm grew thick and heavy. Like a shield around her. A shield. She put all her energy into reinforcing it. The Cauldron had boiled when its icy heart was torn out. She pulled clouds from its heat, coiling mist around herself. She felt the shadowy threads again as they brushed up against the raging hurricane inside her, and each time, her lightning found its mark. 

The darkness retreated. Taryn was back in Windhaven, though she had never really left. She felt dizzy. Strong, rough hands gripped her before she hit the forest floor.

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Nesta ate in a silence that Cassian seemed determined to keep breaking.

“I already told you, I will not train in that miserable village.”

She watched him huff a breath, shovel more of the bland porridge into his mouth angrily. He was an animal, and so were all those other Illyrian brutes in Windhaven. Dawn crinkled the clouds, turning them iridescent and rosy. It was too early for this.

“Why can’t you be more like Taryn. Azriel tells me she’s doing well. So well, she’s been promoted,” Cassian said.

“Azriel,” she gritted her teeth, “must be a better teacher.” Not to mention, Taryn didn’t have a hundred pairs of eyes on her, calculating how weak she was at every interval. Nesta chanced another bite. She was starving, but she didn’t want Cassian to know that. 

“There are things, Nes, that you’d learn in lessons with me. You would be a hell of a lot more impressive if you could back all of your threats up.”

Tch- Nes. She eyed her fork, wondering how hard it would be to stab him with it.

“You could do that, too,” he said, reading the direction of her stare. “I could teach you how to turn anything into a weapon. Even a fork.”

She ignored him, taking another delicate bite of the fruit she had been mercifully provided. It made the sloppy porridge bearable. At the height of their poverty, the Archerons hadn’t been able to afford delicacies like strawberries. They couldn’t even afford salt.

Nesta chewed quietly. Suddenly, something clicked in her head. ‘So well, she’s been promoted.’ “What do you mean?” she demanded.

“Huh?” Cassian looked at her funny, and her jaw tightened.

“What do you mean Taryn has ‘been promoted’?” Something clawed at her insides, threatening to escape.

“No one told you? Taryn is going with Az and Tris out to Montesere for the week. Something about needing her as a statement piece for good intentions.”

“Who else would have fucking told me, Cassian. You’re the only one here. Feyre hasn’t visited, Elain-” she swallowed hard. “When does she leave?” This had Rhysand written all over it, and Feyre? Why would she let him put Taryn up to this?

Cassian glanced at the clock. “They left before dawn. It’s a long flight out there, and they’ll need breaks for their wings.”

Nesta tamped down a growl of anger. Why hadn’t Taryn said anything? She could have found Nesta, explained. That anger paused. Nesta still hadn’t spoken to her since… well, since their last fight. The Prison, The Hewn City. Everything the Inner Circle had planned to put Nesta through still pinched at her mind. Silence was not what she owed Taryn, but she couldn’t bring herself to say thank you just yet. The wound still pulsed, bleeding her out each time it reopened with her thoughts. 

“A week,” Nesta asked, drowning out the silent roaring in her mind.

Cassian nodded. He stuck another spoonful of porridge into his mouth, swallowing it down. “Why does it even matter to you, you haven’t been speaking to her.”

Nesta hadn’t realized they noticed. She had only imagined the tension to be between her and her sister. It wasn’t supposed to be a visible rift, only a quiet, temporary thing. “Why didn’t they ask me to do it? I could’ve-”

“Are you fucking kidding Nesta? You haven’t participated in anything we’ve asked of you for months. You won’t even pick up a training sword.” 

Nesta’s eyes narrowed. “Because I shouldn’t have to involve myself in your schemes at all.”

“Well, there’s your answer. No one wants to touch you with a ten foot pole. They trusted Taryn,” he added quietly, under his breath, “for some reason.”

She wanted to yell. She wanted to march upstairs and find Taryn. They could figure something out. She was gone. Nesta was stuck here, with Cassian, without even Azriel as a buffer, useless as he was in her arguments with Cassian. They were long gone. She needed a drink, a fuck, something. What if she got hurt, what if something went wrong? Nesta didn’t trust Tristan, not even Azriel. They were still Rhysand’s court, no matter how much they played nice. Taryn wasn’t cut out for this.

She felt her lungs seize, and she held a breath. The rapid beating of her heart rose with her panic. She needed a distraction. The door to the ten thousand steps was already open, the faelights in the hall dimmed to near darkness. Her boots scuffed on the stones as she approached, glancing behind her to make sure Cassian was staying put. This was her business. 

She began the descent.

I stomp up the stairs, front door slamming behind me. After failing to get to my lost sister yet again, I had gone to the ring. I won, but the bastard had a blade- illegal in these rings- and got me in my bad shoulder, one that’s bothered me for years. The scars across my face itch as the warm air of the house blasts me.

“I’m home!” It’s right around dinner time so I decide to journey into the dining room where I presume my sisters are. I step through the threshold, eyes still down as I slide my jacket off my body, placing it on the wrack, as I do so, rolling my shoulders with a wince, I speak out loud. “Where’s that first aid kit again? This bastard had a knife, got me right in my shoulder.” I pause, “it’s not to deep which is good though. Plus I won.”

I finally turn around.

And what I see

Makes me freeze.

“Feyre.” Her name is a breath on my lips as I step forward once hesitantly before launching into her cautiously opened arms. “Gods I’ve missed you.” I breathe in her sent, tears welling in my eyes as I pull back just far enough to look at her face.

Feyre was always gorgeous, but she’d somehow gotten even more beautiful than I remember. My eyes trail to her ears- pointed, she’s a fae. My hand comes up before I can stop myself, tracing the delicate tips of them, brushing her hair behind them which causes her eyes to close softly. “Beautiful.” It’s then I notice the tensed stance of the male behind her, but I barely register him as I take in my lost sister.

She chuckles, hands unraveling from me as we step back. “I’ve missed you to little sister.” She smiles down at me, her cheeks fuller, skin less pale and freckles popping along her face.

Now. I notice the three males also present, and my eyes fall to the one who seems most on edge with my sister.

“You.” I seethe and not another second passes before I’m on the fae, he’s knocked to the ground and my hand pummels his face. “You did this.” A mother blow to his jaw, “you took her from me.” This time to his cheek. His eye. His jaw again. And then. I feel something soft wrap around my waist, lifting me from him.

I struggle, fighting the entities that carry me, “Get off of me! Let me get-“

“Yn! Yn! Please calm down.” My sisters voice pulls me from my stoop as I’m set down softly. It’s then I realize what had lifted me, they look like shadows, streamers of darkness and for a moment I stare in awe, snapped back to reality by Feyre speaking again. “Yn. This is Rhysand,” she points to the mail, rubbing his jaw, his violet eyes crinkling as he chuckles slightly at me.

“He didn’t take me. He saved me. And he is my mate.”

Mates. I had heard of them, something fae had, like lovers bound by the mother. Still, I glare at the male in question, “How do I know he didn’t tell you to say that?”

He laughs again, “I can show you. If you’re ok with that. Her memories. I am a daemeti.”

Ah yes I’ve read about them, able to get into one’s mind. I look to Feyre skeptically and she nods softly, nothing “it’s ok.”

Finally, I nod, closing my eyes as I feel claws run down my mental walls which I let down.

When my eyes open again, I turn stunned, poor Feyre. She’d been through hell.

And then, “You! She’s been here before! You knew she was alive, what she was doing?!” My finger is pointed at Nesta now.

“You didn’t need to know.”

“Find need to know? Are you fucking stupid?”

“Do not speak to me that way.”

“No you shut the hell up! Get off your high horse! She’s my sister too. Mine! And you let me continue searching for her, listened to my screams at night! And you knew! You knew she was alive, you know what was going on! You are absolutely unbelievable do you know that?”

I turn to Elaine now, anger still bubbling in my veins. “And you too? You dare betray me like this? How dare you, you listened to my nightmares, patched me from the forest and held me as I cried for her! You still hid this! You are a horrible sister! Both of you!”

“Knock it off Yn! You don’t get to speak to us that war!”

“Oh fuck off Nesta.”

A hand on my shoulder and I whirl around. Feyre, gods Feyre. She’s here. She’s alive and she well and she’s- gods I can’t believe I get to see her again. I finally feel the witness dripping down my cheeks as my head falls onto her shoulder, my body shaking.

“It’s ok. Breathe for me.”

—————

After calming down, I apologize to the three males- two of which I somehow hadn’t noticed until recently. The shadows, I notice swirl around the male with blue siphons. Their huge wings nearly bumping the walls, Illyrians, a warrior race like no other.

“I apologize for the stress and scare we’ve caused you. But I’d like to introduce myself properly.” The fae with violet eyes speaks, Rhysand and the one clad in red siphons snorts lowly. “I am Rhysand, high lord of the Night court.”

After shaking his hand with a small bow, still embarrassed for attacking him earlier no matter how many times he assured me it was fine and ‘quite amusing to see a human try taking a fae.’ I turn to the others.

“Cassian. And might I add that I agree with Rhysand. That was quite the show.” He chuckles as I take his hand, bowing slightly.

“I’m Azriel.” Gods his voice is smooth, like whiskey as he speaks. He takes my hand in his glove clad one, kissing the top of it softly.

“Your a shadowsinger correct? I’ve read about your kind before.”

He seems surprised, clearing his throat before speaking, “Yes. My kind are extremely uncommon. I’m the only of our time that we know of.”

“Incredible. So do you control them?”

A soft chuckle, my cheeks turn red as he begins again, a small smile gracing his feature, “not exactly. They speak to me, and I them, they choose to follow me and my command.”

“That’s amazing.”

“And you, your known as the Lord of Bloodshed correct?” A small huff leaves me? “Now where does a male get a name like that?”

This catches him off guard, before I smirk comes across his face, “I am known by many as that. But I’m just cassian to you darling.” A wink, I roll my eyes at his antics as he continues, “And as to where I get that name. I feel as though it’s fairly obvious.”

Rhysand cuts in, “Yn. You had mental walls built, how? How did you know, how did you learn?”

My eyes widen at the question, my hand coming to the back of my neck, “Well I’ve studied fae for many years, and I felt as though it may be useful if your kind did truly exist. Darmetis I mean.”

“Smart girl. I heard from your sister that you loved history, reading.”

“I-I do.” I don’t know why my face is red but it is.

—————

We eventually end up sitting at the table, dinner is served and Azriel is patching up my shoulder. No matter how much I protested, he insisted until I finally gave in.

“There you go. All done.”

“Thank you. Really.”

We all eat in practical silence, the tension in the room high as I still feel Nesta wondering glare scan over my face every now and again.

“So Yn. How’d you get that scar on your face. It looks badass.”

I freeze at the question, a shiver running up my back, I feel Feyre bristle at the question as well, but I clear my throat, speaking quietly. “Well when Tamlin came, I tried attacking him. He batted me to the side like a fly. His claws caught me in the process and they haven’t exactly healed properly.”

The three males grumble, clearly not fans of the beast either.

—————

She had tried hard to open her eyes before but it felt like they were made of metal and wouldn’t open that’s what she felt throughout her entire body, but today she felt like feather. So she tried unlike before her eyes opened slowly, she blinked slowly adjusting her eyes to the moon light, tears ran down her cheek as her eyes adjusted to the surroundings.

She took a deep breath and exhaled

She got up slowly stretching as she did, she felt relaxed so relaxed like someone had massaged her body time and time again till all her stress was gone. She had not felt this way when she was asleep.

She looked around the massive space now, her room, it was so beautiful it was as if this place was plucked out of imagination and made for her. She mentally thanked Rhysand for giving her this room. She noticed a glass of water appear beside her bed

“Wow” she said stunned “magic” her voice horse from not using it

As soon as she said the words magic she felt it in her bones, like magic was beneath her skin. While she was asleep she had learnt how to hone those powers, how? She did not know herself.

==

It had been a few hours since she woke and Y/n was out of her mind bored. She didn’t want to go wake her sisters up because this was the only night since they were peacefully asleep without any nightmares and Y/n did not want to disturb that

She walked to her very very big closet and chose a white dress for herself and decided to go explore this new place. Rhysand had bragged to her on how the crime rate in this city was 0% and she wanted to see it herself. She just hoped she was in Velaris, city of starlight.

She had explored the ‘house of wind’ and was very bored. She knew there was someone in the lower floor because she heard their heartbeat and did not want to intrude

==

You did the most logical thing that came to your mind, you climbed down the 10,000 steps of the house of wind and got to the city

It was mid night so not many people were there except a few people here and there who gave her smiles as though they were welcoming her to the city

Velaris was as beautiful as Rhysand had bragged, no wonder he was so proud of himself. The city was serene, the people were polite what else could this place even need?

You were in the middle of the city when you heard a cry, not of pain but a small child’s cry. So naturally you were drawn to the sound and followed it

“Hey kiddo” you said as you spotted the small boy who was hugging his knees and crying

You crouched down to the boys level “Can you tell me what happened? Why you are here alone?”

The boy looked up sniffling “I fell down” he said showing his scraped knee “I was supposed to go back to my orphanage but I fell and couldn’t go, will you help me fairy?” he asked with big doe eyes

You got flustered by the boy calling you fairy and looking at you with such hope “okay.. but all this Fae thing is really new to me” you told him sweetly almost cooing to the boys cuteness

“You can count on me to teach you” the boy smiled brightly “Ms. William says I am the brightest child in the orphanage” the boys smile turned into a hiss as he tried to get up

“Wait I think I can help” you said gently as you made the boy sit back down “do you know how to use magic?” you asked him as he nodded enthusiastically “can you explain to me how you do it?” you asked

“Ms. Fairy its so easy!!” the boy exclaimed smiling again “you should close your eyes and take a deeeeeeeep breath. Then think of a happy memory, channel on that energy.. you will feel your magic when you do power that magic to wherever you want it to be”

“Okay.. I will do it” you closed your eyes and did what the boy told you

‘Happy memory huh?’ you thought of you and your sisters in the small cottage huddled together though you didn’t have much you had each other. It was the first snow in the cottage and everyone was in a soar mood so you had dragged your sisters to build a snowman. You didn’t have much so all of you huddled together and made a snowman. It wasn’t much but it did give you all the hope that everything could get better one day and that you had each other. It was the first time Elain and Feyre laughed, Nesta had a small smile on her face so everything was as perfect as it could be. It was also the last time all four siblings spent time together without trying to kill each other so it was a very happy memory to you

You could now feel your magic as you directed it to the palm of your hands making your palm glow

The little boy gasped as you placed the hand on his knee healing him in a few seconds “woah that was so cool!” the boy exclaimed “Ms. Fairy you are amazing!” he gushed

“Thank you, kiddo” you said smiling “my name is Y/n actually not Ms. Fairy… why do you even call me that?” you asked curiously

“Because you are sooooo beautiful” the boy exclaimed blushing “my name is Aaron” he said fidgeting with his fingers

“Well then Aaron lead the way I will drop you to your orphanage” you smiled as the boy got up

You didn’t know what your powers were but you took a lucky guess and used it on the boy. You just wanted to help and the Cauldron or whatever that was gave you something you have always wanted. You knew you had more powers but didn’t want to explore it now. ‘The Cauldron gave me my dream because it cursed me what a sick fate’ you thought bitterly

“Ms. Fairy is something wrong?” Aaron asked pouting as he held your hand “you are frowning”

“its nothing kiddo” you said smiling “can I ask you a question Aaron?” you asked gently trying not to pry

“Sure Miss Fairy!” he smiled big basking all your attention as he lead you through the streets

“How come you didn’t heal? Don’t fae’s have incredible sense in healing?”

“Oh…” the boys mood turned down immediately

“You don’t have to tell me” you patted his head

“Its fine Miss Fairy..” the boy thought for a moment before answering “My older brother used to feed me fae bane because he hated me, so until the fae bane is gone, from my body, I will heal slower than others my age”

You didn’t ask why the brother hated him because if he wanted to explain he would without any questions

“How come you trusted a stranger to drop you off?” you asked changing the subject real quick

“The people here help each other a lloootttt so I knew you wouldn’t hurt me” the boy smiled innocently

‘Wow Rhysand was right’ you thought impressed with how trusting the people were here

While going you and the boy talked a lot bonding even. He was a very joyful boy who had such hope to change the world for the better, he was only 5 years old and you couldn’t believe it. When you did reach the orphanage you were met with a man looking worried as soon as he saw Aaron he exhaled in relief as he rushed toward you both

“Oh Aaron! What have I told you about wandering off” the man scolded gently as the boy pouted and went toward him “did you get hurt?” the man asked looking at the dirt on the boys clothes

“Yes, but miss Fairy was there to help me!” Aaron exclaimed pointing at you enthusiastically

The man looked up finally realizing there was another being blushed in embarrassment “oh I am sorry miss I didn’t see you, I hope Aaron wasn’t a bother to you”

You smiled “its fine and no he wasn’t a bother at all. I could talk to him all day if I had the chance” you flicked Aaron’s nose making him giggle

“Well if you like talking to children you can volunteer here” the man said “I am also a volunteer here, my grandma is actually the owner of this place” he said scratching his neck awkwardly

“Oh I would love to” you exclaimed excitedly “Should I visit in the morning? So you can tell me the details?”

“I can tell it to you now!” the man said hurriedly “I just woke up” he stuttered “I mean its 5AM I usually wake up at this time” he said blushing

“oh okay” you said smiling

“My name is Jason by the way” he said as he picked Aaron up “lets go in then” he started leading you into the orphanage while talking about the various initiatives the place has taken to make sure the children there are comfortable

===

You and Jason talked about the orphanage for a few hours, by then the sun had already risen. You did not know how the time passed as Jason introduced you to all the children. You were happy to volunteer, help and most importantly spend time with these kids.

You were playing with the kids when Jason jogged toward you

“Y/n you should meet my grandmother, she is here and would love to meet you!” Jason exclaimed

“Sure Jason, lead the way” you smiled as you followed him to meet his grandmother, you were nervous for sure. You wanted to impress her so much that she would make you a permanent volunteer of the orphanage

“Grandma, I brought the new volunteer as you requested” Jason knocked on the door

You both heard a quick ‘come in’ as you headed inside, Jason’s grandma sat behind a table which was covered in paperwork

“Now who is this new volun….” Her voice trailed off as you both made eye contact “My lady what in the world are you doing here? When did you even wake up?” she asked as she stood up so fast the chair scraped against the floor

“You know who I am?” you asked with wide eyes

“Oh my lady I am Madja the high lords and his inner circles healer. I was your doctor as well, when you were asleep” she began closing the distance between you two “please sit down.. can you tell me when you woke up? How did you end up here? Do you feel any discomfort in your body?” she asked while leading you to the chair

“Umm Madja I woke up last night, I didn’t want to bother my sleeping sisters so I uhhh climbed down the house and found Aaron who was lost, then I helped him get here” you explained nervously “And no I do not have any discomfort in my body”

She took your hand, checking your pulse as she listened to you talk “okay… that’s good” she nodded “very good”

“What is happening?” Jason muttered under his breath and a second later he was under Madja’s glare

“My lady here is one of the high lady’s sisters, the youngest” Madja explained glaring at Jason who was now looking at you with wide eyes

“Wait… the one who was asleep and wasn’t waking up no matter what you did?” he gulped

“Yes Jason, and here you are making her work” Madja almost slared

“Madja I was the one who wanted to work, the children here are so precious” you exclaimed smiling

“I am thankful you feel that way my lady” she smiled back “I hope you did not overexert yourself, you just woke up, I am sure the high lord and the rest of the family were happy when you did”

That’s when it struck to you, they did not know where you were. They didn’t even know you were awake

You gasped standing up “I have to go! They don’t know where I am” you said hurriedly “I will come back tomorrow for my shift, Madja please call me Y/n and Jason can you show me the way to the house of wind? If its not a bother of course?” you smiled nervously

“Of course I will!” he exclaimed as he lead the way, with you hurrying behind him

==

You climbed the 10,000 steps and final reached your floor just to hear yelling and sobbing

“I can’t believe I trusted you morons to protect my sister” Nesta screamed as angry tears fell down her face

“We are trying Nesta! We don’t know where she is” Cassian exclaimed his face red with anger

You could see Feyre crying as she sat on your bed with Rhysand consoling her. Elain was there too but her face was blank as though she had expected this to happen, she stood in the corner and did not move

Azriel was the first to spot you, he was in the far end corridor as though figuring out if he should murder someone. You could see his body relax as he assessed you making sure you did not have a scratch on your body

“What’s happening here?” you asked, your voice cutting the tension as all their heads turned toward you

“Oh Y/n!” Feyre exclaimed in relief as she rushed to your side and hugged you tightly a little too tight for your convenience

“Fey, I love you and all but you are squeezing me too tight” you croaked out, which made her release you immediately

“Thank the mother you are alright” she sighed in relief cupping your face in her hands, like she used to do when you were younger.

You gave her a soft smile “I am perfectly alright” it was nice seeing her, you wanted to ask where she was until today but your words got caught in your throat as your eyes locked onto your oldest sister, whose face clearly showed anger. You couldn’t get a word out of your mouth before she darted forward pushing Feyre aside and slapping you right across the face

“NESTA!!!” You heard Rhysand, Cassian and Feyre yell. Azriel was behind Nesta now, you knew if she tried to hit you again he would block it for you

Nesta ignored them all as she glared at you “WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN!?” she yelled “DO YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED WE- I WAS??” You looked down feeling guilty for not informing any of them you woke up

“I love you too Nes” you smiled “I am fine sister, why don’t we sit down so I can tell you where I was?” you asked placing a hand on her arm, which she shook off immediately and stormed to the nearby chair to sit down

“You okay?” Azriel asked looking at you with concern in his eyes

“Yeah.. this is our sisterly banter, you will get used to it” you brushed him off making him frown

As everyone settled down without another word, you started explaining where you were, when you got up and how you have been. You reassured Rhysand when he asked if you needed a healer, telling him about how you met Madja in the orphanage

“You stupid girl!” Nesta seethed as she glared at you

“I am sorry sister but I didn’t want to wake you up, it sounded like you were having a peaceful night” you said softly

“That does not excuse you to go into town without informing anyone, you should have yelled one of our names as soon as you got up!” Feyre scolded gently as she caressed your hair

“I know I am sorry” you gave them your very famous doe eyes

“Whatever…” Nesta muttered as she looked away

“That was really reckless little one” Rhysand said looking at you “What if you had gotten hurt?”

“I know… but I am alright so stop overthinking this” you insisted

“I still can’t believe you actually climbed up and down the 10,000 steps!” Cassian grinned at you “You know Y/n if you are interested I will train you!”

You raised your eyebrows as you thought for a moment “First off, its not that hard to climb up and down the stairs. Second, I will definitely think about it and let you know!” you smiled making him cheer

“Well since she is back can we eat now??” Cassian almost drooled “Y/n I will make you eat real food! You will be addicted to them right away!!” he exclaimed making you giggle and making Nesta roll her eyes

“Sure Cass! But let me get showered first” You slipped to your room as the others promised they would wait for you in the dining hall

===

After you showered and got dressed you got out of your room and was surprised to see Azriel standing there as though he was waiting for you

“Hey Azriel what are you doing here?” you asked the brooding man “I thought you were with the others”

“I was waiting for you” he replied as though it was the most casual thing in the world

Your cheeks redden “oh you didn’t have to do that..”

“I didn’t want you to go on other side quests while we were waiting” he said making you blush in embarrassment

“I won’t do that again” you managed to mutter out as he huffed making you glance at him, he had a small smile on his face as he looked at you

“Whatever you say Miss Fairy..” he murmured

“Ho-how do you know that?” you stuttered as you hid your face in embarrassment

“I am the spymaster sweetheart nothing gets unnoticed by me” he winked at you

“Why didn’t you tell them anything?” you asked curiously

“You were having a good time after sleeping for so many months so I thought I would let you have this” he said nudging you as he started walking

“That’s really nice of you.. but were you stalking me?” you rushed to follow him

“Stalking is such a filthy word” he smirked “ I was just making sure you were alright”

“Why didn’t you just come to me then?” you asked curiously

He leaned down to your ears, his hot breath on your skin as he whispered “Oh sweetheart I wanted you to find me” he went back up “I am sure you will find me next time” he walked away, into the dining room leaving you flustered

‘Next time….’ You thought ‘There will be a next time!!??’

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You didn’t say anything as you stared at him with raised eyebrows

“I have seen you and Azriel getting…. Close” he bit his lower lip “I am not saying you shouldn’t get close” he quickly said “Y/n Azriel has history with people around you and I don’t want him-  or you to treat each other like rebounds. I know you are capable of protecting your feelings yourself but as your new brother I want to look out for you”

“What history?” you asked, intrigued to know

Rhysand looked like he didn’t want to tell and was uncomfortable talking about this, for Rhysand he half contemplated not to tell you but thought otherwise “Azriel pined after Mor for over 500 years Y/n, I don’t want you to be his rebound, I don’t know whether or not his feelings for Mor are completely gone but his sudden interest towards you makes me worried. He was devoted to loving Mor from the background and now he isn’t like that anymore… he is my brother and I trust him with my life but watching you both dance around each other like that….” He trailed off not finishing his sentence as he shook his head “I don’t want either of you getting hurt, you are my family and it is my duty to protect you”

Looking at him broke your heart, you knew he went through a lot in his 500 years of living and you knew how much he has sacrificed for his family, you didn’t want to pry but you knew he held a lot of weight on his shoulders and Feyre was now here to share his burden with him

That thought made you feel both light and heavy, because your sister and your brother-in-law carry so much and you don’t know how to help them. The one thing you can do is stay out of their way and help them in any manner if help was needed

You smiled at him “Thank you for telling me Rhysand and I do understand where you are coming from, you don’t have to worry me and Az are just friends and if anything does happen between us… we will be responsible for it and I will not break his heart nor will I let him break mine”

Rhysand smiled at that “Feyre told me you were the most responsible one of your siblings even though you are the youngest I didn’t believe her then, but seeing you now, I know for certain she wasn’t wrong”

You giggled at that “thanks Rhys”

That’s when the thought hit you, you could trust Rhysand not that you didn’t trust him before but now you can trust him with your secret

“Ummm…. Rhys…”

He raised an eyebrow noticing the shift in the atmosphere and how fidgety you got now

“I don’t know if Madja already informed you this, I hope she didn’t because I wanted to tell this to you all when I got more comfortable” you were beyond nervous as you fidgeted with the ring on your finger

“Little one is something wrong?” he asked standing up and walking towards you, he knelt in front of you taking your hand in his “you don’t have to be worried about anything, you can trust me” he said gently

“Uhh… I have powers” you managed to mumble out

“What kind?” he asked coaxing you gently

“Healing” you finally said after a beat “Madja has been helping me with it and I have learnt to control it”

“That’s so amazing little one” he smiled making your eyes wide

“You are not mad I didn’t tell you sooner?” you whispered

“Of course not, you have the right to privacy” he said “no matter what happens you will have it” he promised

You smiled at that “thanks brother-in-law” you squeezed his hand as the atmosphere grew back to something lighter

“Anytime little one” he ruffled your hair standing up

“You know I can help you with your paper work” you gestured to the load of papers on his desk “I am the most intelligent of my sisters too!” you bragged smiling

“Of course” he smiled “you can start whenever you want, you know what you can be my assistant!”

“Okay, I will start from tomorrow as I get back from the orphanage” you smiled

“But can I ask where you learnt how to read and write?” he asked cautiously “Feyre couldn’t read and write when she came here, I thought you would be the same…” he explained

“Oh.. ummm” the question got you off guard “well when I worked in the bar when I was little, the owner was very kind, she taught me how to read and write when she learned I couldn’t”

Rhysand gave you a sad smile “Feyre told me you never talk about what happened when you were working. You can always talk to me I will understand the feeling”

You knew briefly of what happened to him in ‘under the mountain’ and you knew he would be the one to understand you more than anyone would ever understand

“I know Rhys, and I will talk when the time is right” you said “I will head out now, I have to catch your general”

You gave him a quick hug before you walked out of his cabin

===

Finding Cassian wasn’t very hard for you, he was where you predicted him to be, the training ring on top of house of wind. He was punching a dummy like his life depended on it

“Did the dummy do something wrong Cass?” you asked slightly amused by his behaviour

Out of the three bat boys, you were the closest to Cassian, he was so brotherly to you that you had formed a connection with him immediately. He was genuine and did not hide anything, even if he did you could figure it out as his emotions are always written all over his face.

You wanted to take him to the orphanage, the kids loved the lord of bloodshed and the spy master of night court. You figured the kids might be hesitant when it comes to the high lord himself, so you wanted to ease them by taking the batboys one by one, though you haven’t mentioned this plan to any of them yet

“Y/n!” Cassian automatically smiled as he turned towards you “what honour did I have to have your gracious presence here, out of all the places”

“Well.. I wanted to ask you a favour” you smiled walking toward him

“Are you going to ask me to help you raid Rhys’s wine cabin? If so then the answer is an yes!” he joked

“We could do that sometime, but I was here to ask if you could train me?” you asked, you knew he was going to say yes, he was the most eager person to train someone

His smile broadened at the question “Yes! Of course I will do it! You didn’t have to ask at all!” he exclaimed excitedly as he gave you a bear hug “I was actually waiting for you to ask me” he admitted “I asked your sister, Nesta I mean if she wanted to train… but you can imagine what could have happened next”

You winced “I am sorry about that” you murmured “I could ask her myself but I don’t want to force her into something she doesn’t want, I want her to adjust her new body in her own terms not in mine or anyone else’s”

Cassian nodded understanding “tomorrow morning before the sun comes up” he says

“Huh?” you ask baffled “I am not waking up that early!” you exclaimed

“Life’s not fair either princess~” Cassian teased making you roll your eyes but you had a smile on your face

“I will meet you at your time Cass” you smiled waving at him before turning around and walking away

As you reached the door you turned around one last time “Cass.. don’t let my sisters words affect you, she is still healing… give her time, she will be the one to come ask for you” you said as you turned around and walked away without waiting for his response

You were on your way to your room when you felt the shadows dancing, one of the shadows even circled your wrist playfully, you giggled at its antics as more of the shadows came forward as you welcomed them. Some were on your arm, some were circling your leg, the shadows were playing with you and you were happy to be welcomed by them

“Are you guys tired of your master?” you asked giggling “is that why you are with me now?”

The shadows danced as they led you towards the cozy sitting room, the fireplace was giving heat to the room. As you scanned the room you saw the shadowsinger sitting by himself reading a book

“I didn’t know you were a reader” you said walking towards him as the shadows dispersed back to their master

“I read when I have the time” he said as he moved back a little giving you space to sit

“I think this one likes me” you smiled showing Azriel the shadow still sticking to you on your arm. His eyes widened at that

“I am sorry” he began

“Don’t take my shadow away shadowsinger!” you exclaimed realizing what he was doing “I am not giving her back to you” you stuck your tongue out at him playfully

“Her?” he managed to ask

“Yes, it is a she. You have a problem with that?” you asked raising your eyebrows

All Azriel could do was shake his head. He was baffled by your actions, intriguing him more and more, the more he found out about you the more he was drawn towards you. It was like you were the sun and he was revolving around you. He had never felt this way before, not towards Mor who he had pined after for centuries. He still couldn’t figure out what he felt for you but he knew you were special

He couldn’t understand why his shadows were attracted to you, they usually run away from a person even though Azriel himself tells them that the other party was good, right now looking at you playing with his shadows he couldn’t help but feel his heart warm at the sight

‘Pretty… pretty…’ his shadows whispered in his ear ‘skin so soft master’ they exclaimed ‘she is not afraid too’ they whispered happily

The whispers made Azriel blush, they were expressing their delight and whispered on how soft your skin was. All Azriel wanted to do was shush them up

“Is something wrong Azriel?” you asked almost worried as he sat so still you thought he was asleep for a second

Azriel was about to answer when Mor and Cassian walked into the room

“We need to talk” Mor said seriously, you got the hint that you weren’t needed here so you slowly crept out “I will talk to you later Y/n” Mor called out as you exited

You wondered what they were talking about, especially after seeing how series Cassian was. All you could do right now was walk to your room sighing

===

In the room after you left

===

“You like women?” Cassian asked shocked at Mor’s revelation

“Yes” she nodded “and I am telling you both this now because I am tired of this push and pull between the three of us. I also do want to apologise, I strung you” she pointed at Azriel “along while keeping Cassian close, I never intended for this to happen. I-I was a coward for doing this because I couldn’t outright reject you Az. I am so sorry… to the both of you” she said as she looked down

The trio sat in silence as the two males soaked in the new information they just received. The boys had never seen Mor with any male before but had seen her flirt with females many times in the 500 years they have known each other

“You found Cassian so repulsive that you got attracted to females huh?” Azriel joked making Mor laugh as the tension in the room eased

“Hey I wasn’t that bad! I mean it was centuries ago but I was still good!” Cassian insisted as he looked at Mor for back up

“Whatever helps you sleep at night big guy” she laughed making Cassian pout

“But the question is why did you suddenly thought of telling us this?” Azriel asked cautiously, not wanting to pry but also curious for the reason

“I needed to get this off my chest” Mor said truthfully “and I am really happy seeing you move on, Y/n… is a lovely female Az. I am sure she will return your feelings”

Azriel blushed at that, he was never the one to show his feelings but Mor finding out about it was no surprise to him. The female was too clever and knew so much about him

“I think she is my mate” Azriel admitted as he looked at their reactions, Cassian jumped from his seat as he rushed towards him and Mor smiled brightly

“Why do you think that brother?” Cassian asked vibrating with excitement

“My shadows are always around her, when she is in a room, one of my shadow is with her right now, clinging to her probably. I feel so drawn towards her, this has never ever happened before. Its like when she is in the room I don’t see anyone else” Azriel answered truthfully

“I am really really happy for you Az” Mor smiled giving him a side hug “we just have to wait till the bond snaps for the both of you”

Azriel nodded giving them both his very rare smile

===

“Why can’t I go to the meeting?” you whined slightly looking at your sister and brother-in-law

Rhys opened his mouth to answer but was cut off by Mor “My father…. He will take one look at you and will decide you belong to his personal collections little one. He is cruel and he will bargain to Rhys about him choosing the man you will marry” she did not elaborate after that

“Why though? Nesta will be in the meeting too, won’t he see her?” you asked partially worried

“You are the most beautiful one, of all your sisters” Amren said her voice shrill as though she was stating facts “only a fool will say otherwise”

You blushed at the unexpected compliment not knowing what to say in return

“I didn’t realize you had a crush on our Y/n, Amren” Cassian snickered

Before Amren could retort back to what Cassian said Rhys cut her off “it is very true Y/n, you are very beautiful” Rhys said “no offense of course” he nodded at Nesta and Feyre, making Nesta roll her eyes and scoff at him while Feyre snuggled into his warmth

You could feel Azriel’s shadow playing at your calf, but when you looked at the shadowsinger he was making sure not to look at you. You could swear you saw his ear turn red at your gaze

The group continued discussing the plans when they went to the infamous court of nightmares. You wanted to help, you wanted to help so desperately and it got you mad that they were not including you in any of their plans. Just because you were the youngest does not mean you couldn’t do anything

You tried to speak up one too many times but were shot down by the glares you received from your older siblings (Nesta and Feyre)

‘Stay after everyone leaves’ you heard your brother-in-law’s voice in your head as you gave him a subtle nod

---

As everyone took their departure you sneaked back in to Rhys’s cabin to ask what he wanted to talk to you about. As you entered you could feel the tension in the room, Azriel was glaring at Rhysand and you knew they were talking to each other in their minds

You cleared your throat to make your presence known “You called?” you tilted your head at Rhys

“Oh yes Y/n” Rhys smiled warmly “I wanted to give you a task when we are in the court of nightmares” he said

“But I thought you I wasn’t supposed to do anything” you said raising your eyebrows

“Well… this is a secret mission” Rhys said making Azriel growl in argument “there will be a special… guest at the court of nightmares, non of the others know he will be there, except me, Az, Amren and Cass. I want you to keep an eye on him”

“Okay…” you said smiling happy that you got to help somehow

“Its not okay!” Azriel glared at Rhys “I am not allowing you to leave her with that scumbag”

“Az I am sure nothing will happen..” you said “Rhys would not tell me to do something if I am not capable of doing it”

“Its not about you being capable or not, its about that scumbag that I am worried about” Az said as soon as you finished the sentence, scared that you might think he doesn’t trust you

“Az, Eris may be many things but I am sure he knows not to attack my family member in my own court” Rhys said calmly

“You can’t trust that!” Azriel exclaimed “You remember what happened to Mor…?”

You knew the story, of how Mor and Eris Vanssera were once engaged and how she slept with Cassian to break the engagement. You knew what state he left her in and all the names he called her. Eris Vanssera the oldest son of Beron and the lady of Autumn, the heir to the Autumn courts throne and the most vicious fox of all his brothers. You had heard about him from Lucien too, your sister, Elain’s mate. He had told you of his cruel family and what he had to do to escape them, the sacrifices he made.

“Az…” You said “I will be fine, I have been in worse situations than this, before it was unwilling but now, I am doing this willingly. You will have to trust me, trust that I am capable of pulling this off”

“I know you can do this but the risk is too high” he mumbled rubbing a hand over his face

“What about this then, I keep one of your shadows with me and if you feel he would harm me you can come to help me?” you asked

Azriel seemed to consider that, after a beat of silence he nodded “Okay, we can do that”

“It is settled then” Rhys smiled “I will also be one call away sister, you call me I will be there in seconds”

You smiled back “I know Rhys, I trust you” you looked at the both of them “both of you”

===

The plan was simple, you were going to be in the Hewn city before anyone else and Rhys would tell the others that you didn’t come say ‘goodbye’ to them because you were still angry at them

Azriel had dropped you off, telling you if the princeling made you uncomfortable in any way you could call him with his shadows. He had hastily kissed your forehead before dashing off, not letting a word come out of your mouth

You waited for Eris while looking around this part of Hewn city, Rhys had warned you not to go anywhere without any of the inner circle members present and now you got to know why. The place was so different from Velaris, it was totally the opposite of it. The air was so stale with so much hatred, it was like this place was built on it

A part of you wondered if there was a way to fix things in this place, if there was then why Rhys hadn’t fixed it

“I never knew Rhysand would leave such a pretty chaperon for me” a voice came from behind you breaking your thoughts

You gasped as you whirled around to look at the red haired male, he was so so different from Lucien. You couldn’t find anything similar to them other than their red head

“Lord Eris” you said as you bowed your head “My name is Y/n, the younge-“

“Younger sister of Feyre Cursebreaker, I know who you are my lady” he said smirking as he looked you up and down as though to judge you “if I knew I would be meeting the prettiest and the most beautiful Archeron sister I would have dressed up more”

“You flatter me lord Eris but you do look adequate for the meeting” you said giving him a quick smile

“Adequate huh?” he raised his eyebrows “you wound me, my lady. Here I thought I was going to be the most handsome male you have ever seen in your life”

“Lord Eris I have seen quite a few more handsome male than you” you smirked

“Who is it? Dare I ask” he was moving closer to you, though the distance between you both reduced it did not bother you. The truth was it actually made you more comfortable in this stale place

“I can think of a few” you said thoughtfully “Cassian is handsome, so is my brother-in-law… oh and Azriel as well”

“So Illyarian brutes are your type my lady?” he said the words with such hatred that you had to step back a little

“Don’t call them that, they are my family” you glared at him

“I have heard a lot of rumors about your ‘family’ my lady, especially that they pass around women to their army as well, is it true?”

He was saying this to get a rise out of you, you knew this and you also knew it was working

“You do not speak of things you don’t know about my lord” you said “I have heard a lot about you too, of what you did to Mor and Lucien’s lover”

“My lady there are two sides to every story, you must know both of those before judging me” he said rubbing a hand over his face

“Tell me” you demanded, you didn’t know why you were even asking him these questions or even entertaining him with small talk for that matter. Rhys had only told you to keep an eye on the princeling not chatter with him about the things which happened way before you were born

“My father… the high lord of autumn had kept me imprisoned and had me bound for a whole week giving me punishments for not telling him about my youngest brothers relationship, I was starved and beaten beyond recognition my lady. Do you want to see the marks my father left me so you can believe me?” he asked almost pleading

You didn’t know why he was even pleading you, why he even bothered to give you an explanation but your heart felt lighter hearing it. You felt it tighten too when you heard he was punished and that the marks were on his body as a punishment

“But I did make sure my brother escaped” he said before you could say anything, as he started removing his jacket

“Lord Eris what are you…” your voice trailed off when you saw the marks on his arm making you gasp, your hands instinctively tracing the scar “does it hurt?” you whispered looking at him

“No my lady, but my father did show what he was going to do if I disobeyed again. He told me this was the price of betraying him and the marks will be a reminder of it, to me and to everyone around me” he adjusted his jacket back as you looked at him worried “don’t look at me like that, my lady. This is a part of life… at least for me it was” he gently traced his fingers on your jawline making you close your eyes, feeling peace in his touch as you leaned closer

“Don’t you touch her with your filthy hands!” another voice shouted as Eris was tackled down, away from you

“Azriel!!” you shouted as you saw the males wrestling each other

In that moment you felt something snap within you

SNAP   SNAP

You felt the golden thread from you to the two Fae males wrestling in front of you. You felt your heart heavy with hatred, not yours but theirs. The hatred they felt for each other. Then you remembered the curse, the curse you were given because Nesta had stolen something from the Cauldron

“Azriel… Eris..” you whispered before everything turned black

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Feyre opened her mouth to argue. This must have been the seventh time today. “I don’t like the sound of this.” 

The morning had been spent in the garden, where Feyre had watched Elain snip the last of autumn’s roses from the ground. She insisted on gardening without her gloves, and all the bloody shards of thorn had made Feyre anxious. Elain wouldn’t be able to handle something like this, not yet. Perhaps not ever. Not to mention, Nesta would explode if she knew Feyre had involved Elain in any more schemes. Ever since she was taken by the Cauldron, Nesta hadn’t been the same. 

It wasn’t as if Nesta was an option, either. She, out of all of them, likely possessed the greatest skill set for this, but Cassian’s updates didn’t seem promising. She was still refusing his training. It would have been nice to have a functioning emissary, but the position seemed to be cursed across courts. At least Taryn could hold a knife.

Rhysand gave Feyre a lazy smile, listening to her inner conflict. “Only one Archeron was ever good for anything…”

Feyre’s eyes narrowed. The cottage- that tiny world now so far away- she had long since put it behind her. After all, who truly could be faulted? They had all made mistakes. Perhaps her own, the utter loss of hope, had been the worst. It seemed Rhysand held far more of a grudge than Feyre herself did. In some ways, it pleased her to know she had such unwavering support. Too often, though, he inserted himself where he didn’t belong. 

“I’m not sure we can trust her,” she said finally. It pained Feyre to say that. After all, Taryn didn’t even know why she couldn’t be trusted. Sometimes, Feyre felt Elain didn’t know either. Like that glamour long ago, the one Tamlin had used to make her sisters believe Feyre was visiting an aunt, a fog had settled over them. It seemed she and Nesta were the sole bearers of the truth. Neither of her sisters really remembered the devastating effects of the Cauldron, beside the power they wielded. Elain’s visions had gone dormant, as did the lifeless pallor of her skin. Taryn seemed sound of mind again, no longer laughing herself sick in the dark. 

Feyre, Nesta too, had spent months living with the ghosts and banshees of her father’s tales. It seemed like a bad idea to involve any of her sisters and risk losing them like that again. 

“If she says anything that she shouldn’t, Tristan can easily wipe it from-“

“Absolutely not,” she ground out, rubbing her temples as Rhysand teased her. She swore that he enjoyed seeing her riled. His answering eye roll was enough to confirm it.

“I’m only kidding, Feyre darling,” he cooed, coming close. He stood behind her, cupping her stomach with an air of pride and satisfaction. Feyre watched Azriel look away, believing the gesture to be simply intimate. 

She stepped forward, putting a being-respectful-to-Azriel amount of distance between her and Rhys. “Do you think she can handle it?” She asked Azriel, “Can you even handle it? Your plate is so full with Briallyn…”

Azriel’s shadows simmered as he considered. “With Tristan and I both there, I don’t think she’ll be in any danger, if that’s what you mean. I can’t say for sure if she’ll be able to come to an agreement with them, but I think Taryn could help us fare better than Tristan and I on our own. Our… skills… are well known. They could see us as a pure threat without her.” 

Rhysand’s eyes narrowed a bit, but he seemed unusually inclined to agree. “She would make for a good distraction, at the very least. Montesere has little experience with daemati. They’ll be less inclined to look towards the shadows, and to protect themselves, with Taryn there.”

“They may still find it a threat.” Feyre countered. “After all, Mor couldn’t get Vallahan to side with us. I don’t mean this offensively Azriel, but neither you nor Tristan are… talkers.” Feyre winced at her own wording. 

As if Rhysand had summoned him, Tristan stepped into the kitchen of the River House, materializing through a whirling tunnel of shadows. Tristan inclined his head to his High Lord and Lady respectfully, and Feyre watched as his shadows melted into Azriel’s for a moment. If she had been human, she wouldn’t have felt it. Her fae body- so sensitive with those seeds of High Lords’ light- felt the gentle hum of static as something that must be strange speech passed between them. A few seconds later and Tristan’s shadows coiled back around his shoulders. 

Azriel cleared his throat, “He thinks that the current unrest makes going alone too complicated. They have too many Bloodhounds, more than anticipated, and it may provoke them to side against us if we’re found uninvited.” Montesere was known for breeding Bloodhounds. It was what had allowed them to hold one of the biggest fae territories besides Prythian.

Rhysand nodded to Tristan, “Good work, Tris.” Tristan gave another simple tip of the chin. Feyre’s own throat tightened as the fae lights glinted against Tristan’s skin, silvering the horrible scar etched across his neck. Rhysand continued, pulling them all together like he always did. “Feyre, would you send correspondence to Montesere? A week’s stay should be long enough to find out where they stand. Azriel, you keep working with Taryn on her defense. Tristan, join them for training and teach Taryn how to use her mental shields. If there have been any changes to Montesere’s court and a daemati walks among them, she’ll need to know how to protect herself.”

Feyre smiled at Rhysand tentatively. He could be brash, sometimes, but he spoke and thought like a leader. Pride swelled in her chest as the shadowsingers dematerialized, off to plan. She wished, for a moment, that this mission was for her and Rhysand, as it used to be. Montesere was supposedly lovely in the autumn and she hadn’t been able to paint a thorough landscape in awhile. Her lessons at the studio were still simple object studies for the beginners. It was better they stay home though, for now. She would only be a hindrance. Feyre could no longer summon her wings, no longer even make it to the bathroom each morning without a wave of sick dragging her down. She only hoped that Taryn would be agreeable to this, and that the Night Court wouldn’t be landing itself in deeper waters.

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There was water down her throat. It leaked from her eyes, leaked past her lips in big, cold mouthfuls. The pressure in her lungs kept her from screaming, unable to expel the fluid. She grappled for walls that didn’t exist, tracing her fingers through endless space. The water had gone still, and for a moment she thought the surface was reachable. There was light, silver and flickering and so bright it must have been day, the world above. She kicked her legs toward it. The water began to heat up around her. No, it was boiling. It was as if something had siphoned out the icy heart of the Cauldron- had stolen it. 

All that was left was heat. She felt her body go numb with it.  She watched the ribbons of her skin peel off in sheets. Her blood evaporated. The last charges of her body, the electrical currents that wired both human brain and heart- she felt herself give them up. But something demanded them back. It remade her, just barely. It jump started her heart, sent a charge into her and brought her back to life. It exhaled one last rage filled breath into her.

She woke up slowly. Long ago, Taryn would have jolted awake, screaming from the night terror. She had spells when she was a kid, horrible fits where she would wake up panting, shaking the frame of that iron bed. It often earned the ire of her sisters.  This morning, something in her brain felt thick. 

Taryn’s room at the House of Wind was pitch dark, but she could see the way dawn crept around the corners of her curtains, just enough to illuminate a shape in the corner. She saw the subtle ruffle of his wings, and knew that he had meant for her to see him. If he hadn’t, well she would have been none the wiser. 

“Tristan,” Taryn grumbled. “What the hell are you doing in my room?”

You had a nightmare. The words echoed in her mind in a surprisingly smooth baritone. Just a week ago she had been living in the Townhouse with Tristan. If she was being honest, she loved having him as a housemate. He was clean, and of course very quiet. He checked on Taryn in his own way. He often drank tea, likely to soothe his throat, and occasionally he would leave a cup out for her. In their time living together, Taryn almost forgot he was one of those- daemati yes, that was the word for it. He had never been inside her head- at least not to her knowledge. She tried not to let her surprise show at the sound of his magic.

“Yeah, I did. But that doesn’t answer my question.” Taryn stood, moving to grab the awful leathers Mor had given her. Tristan watched her push open her curtains. She prepared herself to squint, but it was barely dawn. “Does Azriel need me to train early, or something?”

I’ll be helping to train you today.

She paused. “Okay… that’s still several hours away. Why were you watching me sleep?”

I was not watching you sleep, Taryn. That echoed voice was stern, neutral, but she swore she saw his lips twitch. I was testing your awareness, to see if your subconscious would recognize my influence in your mind.

“So you gave me the nightmare?” She supposed the conversation could be carried internally, but it felt better to say it out loud. Otherwise, they were just standing in a quiet room looking at each other. Not that she minded looking at him. Illyrians had good genes.

He tucked his wings in tightly. You were already having the nightmare when I arrived not long ago. I should have aided you in stopping it, my apologies. 

Taryn narrowed her eyes, attempting to read him. When he didn't blink for several long seconds, she decided he was being sincere. “Well it’s not your fault. No need for apologies.” She stepped behind the changing screen in her room, fixing it so that she wouldn’t be flashing Tristan or all of Velaris as she struggled into the tight leather. Under different circumstances, she might have felt strange about changing with him in the room, but she supposed that if he wanted to know what she looked like naked, he could just peer into her mind somehow and see. He didn’t seem like the type. “So,” she trailed off. “Did I pass your test?”

No. 

He didn’t elaborate any further. She fixed her hair into two thick knots at the base of her head, hoping they’d be secure. From her view of him in the mirror, he looked incredibly stiff. As in more than usual. His nostrils flared, and his wings twitched in discomfort. She noticed the state of his shadows. Like Azriel’s, they were tethered to his consciousness, but also somewhat sentient. His shadows were behaving strangely. Taryn watched each roiling beast go preternaturally still, as if he were calming them by force. “Is everything…okay?” 

Tristan gave her a little nod, pausing for a moment before speaking into her head. They dislike the dawn.

She hadn’t noticed that in Azriel’s shadows, but perhaps Tristan’s were strange. She didn’t press him for more detail. Tristan turned to exit her room, glancing over his shoulder in a way that told her to follow. 

Taryn saw the flicker of blue light from Azriel’s siphons as he adjusted them in the House of Wind’s dining room. Even after living in Prythian for over a year, she was still getting used to the magics they considered to be mundane. Azriel nodded to Tristan, and she watched their thoughts pass between them for a few seconds. Azriel’s jaw tightened, and he sighed. “There is a minor change to our plans today, Taryn.” 

Something giddy welled up in her. Finally she could ditch that stupid wooden blade. As if sensing her excitement, Azriel continued. “You’ll still be practicing your form. We’ll be training all day today instead of our usual two hours.” 

“What? Why?” Taryn demanded, then bit down on her lip. The words had come out rather demanding. Rhysand had made it clear they didn’t owe her any explanations, and she was terrified of pushing them into further silence. Already she was told very little of the Inner Circle’s dealings. It felt as though they didn’t trust her. 

Azriel hesitated. He probably had a pre-approved script to say to her that would ensure she listened. “I’ve been keeping an eye on Queen Briallyn’s territory lately, but after Mor’s attempt to negotiate with Vallahan, Rhys has been worried Rask and Montesere will become trouble as well. He wants us to visit as official emissaries.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you’ll be coming with Tristan and I tomorrow morning.”  

Why me? I don’t- I’m not sure there's much I really bring to the table. 

Your sister believes you to be capable of the work required of a courtier. You and Nesta have refined skills from your youth.

Taryn twisted to look at Tristan, suddenly upset. She opened her mouth to speak, but couldn’t decide what to say. A weak protest would only be ignored, something angry would only prove to them she didn’t want to get better, but she couldn’t just agree. “Why can’t Feyre do it? Or Nesta?”

“Hasn’t Feyre done enough for you?” Azriel said coolly. There was a slight turn of disappointment she read in his eyes, even as he tried to stay apathetic. 

Taryn turned in on herself, her cheeks heating up as her arms folded in defense. “Nesta, then. She was always the one-“

You’ll be accompanying us to Montesere tomorrow. The journey will take us a day by flight. The High King and Queen have agreed to house us for a week’s stay.

Taryn felt Tristan’s voice fill her mind. It brooked no further arguing. Taryn tried not to panic. This wasn’t good. Why would Feyre put her up to this? Taryn was suddenly back there, wearing a thick lilac gown that was much too stiff and itchy. 

She turned about the room with a man at least 15 years older than her. He was rich, someone from across the water. Her mother smiled in the corner, but her eyes were on Nesta, who had captured the attention of a prince. It was their first season as debutantes, and Taryn’s dance card had not yet been filled with names. Only two. Nesta’s rested heavy. Already she had danced with three men, and though Taryn could imagine her feet hurt in those delicate blue slippers, her lips remained pinned in place. They stretched outward, carefully poised like a dead butterfly’s wings. Something a collector would prize beyond measure. 

Taryn faltered, stumbled over the man’s long leather boot. A presence weighed heavy in her mind, shadowy and… curious. He was watching her, she knew it. How did those shields even work? Tristan was watching her fall, watching her mother shove Elain into the wall in her haste to remove Taryn from the ballroom floor. Go away, she tried to say, both to her mother and to Tristan, but she could not alter the memory. She had not had the courage to speak back, not then, and certainly not now. Spineless and good for nothing, complacent.

Taryn, I said put your cloak on. You’ll freeze on the way to Windhaven without it. Azriel’s voice cut through the memory. She pinned her cloak in place around her shoulders and looked up at Tristan. He was avoiding her gaze. He must have been unimpressed by her pathetic display. 

Taryn waited for him to say something, to rescind the order for her to join them in Montesere, but he didn’t. 

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Windhaven was cruelly cold today and Taryn had had enough of it. Using a dagger, even correctly, generated less body heat than she expected. For hours Taryn had trained with Az, up until her body went woozy with hunger. Azriel flew her a short distance to a cabin that once belonged to Rhysand’s mother.

It was actually quite nice. The build was nothing near the House of Wind’s elegance, but it was a house Taryn herself would have liked to live in. Azriel led her to a small table to eat. It was so old and dented that she couldn’t believe it was still standing. Taryn traced her fingers over the gouges in the wood. Azriel smiled a bit as she brushed one that was particularly deep. 

“There’s a story behind that one.”

“Hmm?” She lifted her head to look at him. Two bowls of soup materialized and settled in front of her and Azriel. Only two, hm. Tristan had not yet returned from his business with Cassian and the Illyrian warriors, but she knew he would be back soon. He would be training her mental shields and mentally exhausting her since Azriel was done physically exhausting her. And not in the way she liked. 

“It was a long time ago,” Azriel went on, becoming wistful in a way Taryn didn’t often see from him. The full extent was a mystery to her, but she knew Azriel’s mind was a dark place. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about his wings. “Illyrians start training young, but they don't begin with these.” He gestured to the blue stones set into his armor. His armor was light today, black and scaled for movement rather than damage resistance, but he was never without those siphons. 

“We have to learn to tunnel into our power first, to see how far it goes. It’s a long process, and some Illyrians don’t even survive the journey back up if they spiral too far. Only after that do they give you your siphons.” 

Taryn blinked at the casual way he explained it, as if he had been so desensitized to the death risk that came with just being born Illyrian. The odds were stacked against them from the moment they came out winged, warrior-blooded. She tried to push the thought out of her mind, swallowing mouthfuls of starchy, root-based soup. 

“Cassian and I had just gotten our siphons,” he continued. “Seven of them. It was almost unheard of to earn seven siphons. We were… excited.” Color coated Azriel’s cheeks for a moment, as if he felt embarrassed to be sharing such an immature moment. “Cassian was being a dick. Tristan had made the descent, but had nothing to show for it, not a single echo of power. Cassian teased him for it. He used his brand new siphons to shift his raw energy into a little blast. He had meant to knock Tristan back a bit, but it didn’t quite happen that way.”

Azriel paused for a moment. She could see him picturing it in his mind, turning the image around to see it again. “The energy… Tristan’s body absorbed it. He took in that charge, straight to the chest, and threw it twice as hard back at Cassian.” 

Taryn’s brows lifted in surprise and Azriel smiled, almost laughed as he gestured to that gap in the table. “Cassian smacked right into that table and one of his brand new siphons shattered like glass. You should have seen the Lady of Night’s face. We tried to hide it from her, but Rhysand’s mom had a sixth sense for that kind of thing.” He chuckled, a soft, dry sound. “It all worked out, though. Once we knew how his power worked, Tristan was given his siphons, too. Seven, just in case one of us were to give him everything we had.”

Taryn traced her fingers along the spot again, suddenly admiring the splintered surface. She felt some strange tingle of pride, even though the story had nothing to do with her own accomplishments. She finished her bowl of soup as the door to the cabin blew open, sweeping in a cloud of snow and cold air. 

Tristan slid inside, closing it quickly behind him. His wings held proud despite the frigid air that followed him inside. Taryn watched Azriel’s shadows slip down his shoulders, flowing like water towards Tristan’s as they “spoke.” 

A few moments later, she heard Tristan’s “voice” in her mind as he sat down at the table. A bowl of soup appeared for him far faster than it had for Taryn, as if the cabin was welcoming home an old friend. Taryn supposed it was, these were the now grown children the house had spent centuries taking care of. You have finally started working on offense?

She nodded, then realized Azriel was unable to follow the conversation. “Yes, we started working on offense… and I almost hit Azriel today!” She said, trying to provoke a bit of laughter in the stern faces of the shadowsingers.

Neither laughed. They had gone quiet again, speaking in the margins of the universe, outside her perception. 

Tristan finished his soup quickly. All the Illyrians, except for Rhysand, had a habit of eating each meal as if it would be their last. For them, Taryn thought, it could be. If war began again, with that hag queen or lake monster Koschei, they would be on the front lines. To protect people like her. High fae that were useless, that squandered their magic and strength on a life in the lap of luxury. Teaching Taryn any of this must have been a pain for them. It was time that could be spent preparing.

Tristan stood, nodding to Taryn to follow. She felt his touch on her mind. Where Rhysand’s was talons and feathered claws, his felt light. It was a touch barely there, shadows that slid across her brain, almost gentle. Comforting. Suddenly, those shadows seized. She felt their cobra bodies wrapping around her, squeezing tight. She imagined he could suffocate her if he wanted to.

This is what you can expect if someone like me were to find their way into your mind.

Taryn went bone still. None of her muscles responded to her attempts to move as he held her in a stillness so rigid she could be mistaken for one of the centuries-old pines outside the cabin. Her feet began to move, following him out. Taryn wanted to glance at Azriel, to see what he made of this… torment, but her eyes stared straight ahead. 

Your sisters are lucky, the Cauldron seemed to enforce their mental shields somehow. I imagine it would have done so for you, were it not for Nesta stealing its power.

He sounded bitter, angry. It wasn’t her fault, Taryn wanted to say. She was terrified and angry, she didn’t know what was happening. 

If Tristan heard her, he said nothing about it. She followed him into the cold night. She imagined they would not leave until she was prepared for whatever awaited them in Montesere.

Somehow, Taryn Archeron had slept through the first half of the journey to Montesere. She rolled over, groaning at the cramp in her neck, then at the one in her side. And her calf. Fuck. She lifted her head up, brushing back a messy mop of dark brown curls from her face. It was frizzy with moisture. 

Her head split with a lingering ache from spending last night training with Tristan, trying to force him out of her mind. “Where are we?” she grumbled, not bothering to try to figure that out for herself. The sound of crashing waves hitting a rocky bank filled the air. She saw water much darker than that of the Sidra, and laden with salt.

“This is the edge of the Night Court, east of Ramiel,” Azriel replied, staring out across the vast expanse of sea. “After this, it's all ocean until we reach Montesere.” He tucked away a rations pouch as he spoke.

Taryn had no idea how long the Illyrians had been awake, but they must have eaten without her. Pricks, she thought to herself. At first she hoped Tristan wasn’t listening, but then she hoped he was. It was his fault Taryn hadn’t woken in time for a real breakfast.

Tristan sat upon his bedroll, his shadows twisting in a way that seemed… uncomfortable. They had a body language of their own, much like Azriel’s, but they were difficult for Taryn to read.

“What is Montesere even like?” Taryn asked Azriel, digging around the little pack she had enough sense to bring. There were a few stale dinner rolls tucked between her dresses.

Azriel contemplated the question for a moment. “Wealthy, paranoid. A bad combination.”

Taryn pursed her lips, sitting up fully in her bedroll. She didn’t want to know which of the Shadowsingers had wrangled her into it after their flight. She had bruises on her arms from where Azriel had to grip her, though that seemed par for the course. Asking him to be more gentle would have been asking him to drop her into the Illyrian Mountains from hundreds of feet above the icy peaks. 

Tristan and Azriel looked at each other, sentient shadows drifting down their muscular forms to convene in a billow of black smoke on the rocky ground. It looked like a more difficult way of communicating, compared to just using Tristan’s skills as a Daemati. But what did she know? Maybe their shadows were… friends.

She didn’t bother to ask the two to fill her in. They wouldn’t have told her anything anyways. She busied herself with piling on her flight leathers, dusting off breadcrumbs from her palms. 

The leathers she had received were thick, made to shield the body from wind and cold, or any sort of aerial debris. Cloth packs snapped together as the males accompanying her packed up their poor excuse for a camp. 

Did you get enough to eat? Tristan asked in Taryn’s mind. Taryn watched him carefully tie back his hair into a messy knot at the nape of his neck. His hair was longer than Cassian’s, past his shoulders. She imagined that would be annoying during flight. Taryn should have done the same but… no. It would be fine. She didn’t like to wear her hair up.

Why do you care? You didn't bother to wake me.

Tristan’s eyes flickered, looking surprised for a moment. He was evidently not used to being given a hard time, even if this was quite tame. Taryn hadn’t been this grumpy when they lived together at the Townhouse, though. They had coexisted well before she had been moved to the House of Wind.

Now that Tristan and Azriel were in some way responsible for her, Taryn found herself not wanting to be polite. Compliant maybe, but not polite. This was a scheme, plain and simple. It was a scheme dressed as a genteel visit between friendly kingdoms. The Shadowsingers were bastions of the Night Court, only dressed as her friends- her ‘found family.’ Any politeness that Taryn had been on the receiving end of was all orchestrated for the purpose of her compliance in said schemes.

Tristan’s mouth thinned into a line, and Taryn suddenly realized that she should have been watching her thinking. She gave him an awkward, sheepish smile. 

His teeth gritted together, but he glanced at Azriel, who nodded. “Will you be flying with me again, Taryn? Or would you prefer Tristan to carry you.” 

Taryn worried her lip between her teeth. At least Tristan hadn’t shared her thoughts with Azriel. Thinking about it now, it almost seemed childish. Rhysand had cooked this up, not them, and he was a High Lord, not just her brother-in-law. 

“Tristan,” she mumbled. Then he’d know there were no hard feelings, or at least believe there weren’t. And, perhaps he would be more gentle than Azriel. 

No surprise revealed itself this time as Tristan stepped up behind Taryn and easily lifted her into his arms.

Taryn forced herself to breathe as Tristan pushed off the ground and followed Azriel into the sky at breakneck pace. She could hardly see with the wind stinging her eyes, but a smile touched the corners of both Illyrians’ lips. Evidently, the last stretch of the journey was meant for showing off, and not for preserving stamina. 

Braving a look out across the expanse of clouds, Taryn watched Azriel glide, then tuck his wings in. Her brows furrowed as his body curved down, and then angled for a nosedive. His shadows spiraled around his flying- falling form. That was her warning.

The booming of Tristan’s wings suddenly stopped, and Taryn looked up at him in fear for a brief moment. His eyes never left Azriel as their bodies tilted, her view shifting from the sunny blue horizon, down to pure ocean as he dropped head first toward the churning waves. Taryn shoved her face into Tristan’s chest, her eyes clenched shut against the wind, and in pathetic fear. 

She was screaming now, the only notice being Tristan’s laugh stretching through her mind. She swore she felt his throat- his real out-loud throat- exhale a dry rumble to match. 

He held her tighter. Wind whistled past her ears as Tristan drew them upward quickly, curving his wings to catch the air currents. He had pulled up seconds before they broke the surface of the water. 

Open your eyes.

I don't want to.

You slept through the whole journey here, it would be a shame to miss it.

If I could, I’d pass out again, Taryn grumbled back at him through the blackness of that intangible space between them. She opened her eyes anyway, though, turning her face out from the warm, blissful dark of his chest. 

Water. Inches from her face. Cool, salty mist pelted her skin and clung to her lashes, but she held her eyes open in a tight squint. 

The ocean was lightening as they sailed east, turning from a sullen navy to pure teal. Azriel was beside them, dipping a scarred hand into the glassy sea as he flew. From his hand, water kicked up in a spray of dew, disturbing a shoal of brightly colored fish. Beautiful.

Azriel’s wings caught the sun, which gilded them into a deep purple as light passed through the membrane. He looked like a sun-bathing cat, flattening out the dark, leathery skin of his wings to soak up more warmth. 

At some point, Taryn had stopped screaming, and found herself instead staring at the sight. She brushed the whipping curls from her eyes, wanting a better look at Azriel, but Tristan’s voice slipped back into her thoughts. 

Land, he said. She craned her neck to look outward. Mountains were cresting over the blue curve of the ocean. They were not the snow capped edges of the Night Court. Instead, she saw miles of rolling, green peaks. A coating of grass and trees made the mountains look like living velvet. 

Taryn felt the force of lift tug the Illyrians higher into the sky, back to what she assumed was a proper altitude for flight. Their wings beat harder as they crossed into Montesere’s aerial territory. 

Down below them, villages passed by like ant hills. Colonies of pale stone decorated the busy emerald valleys. Tristan’s wings boomed. So did Azriel’s. And then another pair, and another. 

The air was swarming with echoes, now. Taryn shifted her gaze away from the land below and back into the air space where there were more Illyrians. 

Or- not Illyrians. The fae she saw had tan skin, but more golden and sunny than the Illyrians. Feathered wings, too. They flashed in shades of speckled rust and powder blue above and below her. 

What are they? She didn’t know for sure that Tristan was in her mind, but it felt safe to assume he was.

Kestrels, Tristan answered. 

What’s that?

They are fae, too. Distant cousins of the Peregryns.

Taryn tried to remember learning about other wing-bearing species of fae, but her memories blanked. It didn’t stop her from admiring the sight, though.

As they pressed onward into soft mountains, a landing came into view. A balcony of polished white rock jutted out from the blanched castle of Montesere. 

Azriel’s wings beat back, slowing him as he alighted on the landing. Tristan followed seconds later. Taryn braced herself as Tristan’s boots hit the stone and inertia vibrated through her bones.

Tristan held her for a moment. Are you okay? I apologize for the rough landing.

“No, it's okay,” she murmured as soon as she could trust her voice again. Tristan’s landing had been graceful, it was just a feeling she’d never grow accustomed to. Taryn wondered how Feyre had done it, how she had learned the systems of muscles that supported those powerful wings.  

Tristan set her down gently, and Taryn wondered if his attitude was deliberately soft. He could be making up for the torment he had put her through while they trained her mental shields. It would serve him right to cater to her after that.

From a large, arched doorway, a shining female appeared, flanked by two Kestrel guards. The guards’ feathered wings covered the female’s face, lowering only after she came to a stop. Her skin was white, nearly as white as the castle itself, and it barely covered the mapping of silvery blue veins cording through her. 

“Welcome to Montesere,” she said with a blinding smile. “I do hope the flight wasn’t too taxing.”

“Not at all, your Grace,” Azriel said as he lowered into a bow. The sight was odd, but perhaps that was only because Rhysand did not expect formalities. Staying hidden was only a small portion of spying, after all. Playing nice in plain sight was just as important.

Tristan was bowing as well, and Taryn took the hint, offering a curtsy. She did not like the feeling of submission, her body protesting with waves of memory, but she curved lower anyway. There would be less room for error here than anywhere in the human lands. 

“You, I haven’t met you before,” the female-the Queen- said. Her dress, a shifting white silk, made her look as if she were gliding toward Taryn, but Taryn could hear the click of her dainty heels.

“Taryn Archeron,” she offered, then cursed herself. Taryn was meant to wait until asked, it could be seen as talking out of turn. Years and years she had spent training with her mother, all so that this could come naturally. It hadn’t stuck. Nesta should have been here, she would have excelled.

“I know who you are,” the Queen of Montesere smiled. It unsettled Taryn. The Queen’s face frightened her in a way she couldn’t name. “Cauldron-Touched, the Final Sister.”

Taryn forced her lips into a wobbly smile. “Yes… that is me. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Queen…” she stumbled, realizing she hadn’t bothered to ask her name before arriving.

Ylva, Tristan planted in her mind.

“Queen Ylva,” Taryn amended, covering the pause with a cough. There was debris in her lungs from the flight, yes…

“My Kestrels will show you to your rooms,” Queen Ylva said, turning toward the door. She glided forward, and the Illyrians followed without hesitation. 

Inside the palace, sunlight bounced from surface to surface. The pale stone this castle had been carved from appeared to glow from within. Flecks of quartz glittered in the polished floors, which broke off into three separate wings on this level of the castle. 

“Tristan, Azriel, you’ll be sleeping in the male wing to the left.” She turned around fully, facing the Shadowsingers. “Amari, will you make sure they find their rooms?”

One of the Queen’s two male Kestrel guards stepped forward. His wings were large, just as big as the wings of the Illyrians, but less angular. His spine was feathered down to the base, where a small fan of what must have been ‘tail’ feathers sat. 

The Queen laughed a sudden tinkling sound, like glass pretending to be crystal. “Don’t worry, Taryn, we forgive you for staring.”

A fierce blush rose to her cheeks, hot with shame. Taryn hadn’t meant to stare. It was hard not to look at them, she had never seen such beautiful wings. 

Azriel’s brows shot up at the Queen’s words, but he said nothing. Tristan was expressionless, though, silent as always. His face was cool and indifferent, a look Taryn recognized in Nesta as well. 

As if he hadn’t heard the Queen’s remark, Tristan followed the Kestrel guard down the hall, his shadows utterly still around him. Azriel did not follow. He stood still, fists clenched near his belt.

“Do you require anything else, Shadowsinger?” Queen Ylva asked him, her voice bright and shimmering.

“Only to make sure that the lady is settled into her quarters,” Azriel said, shadows wriggling in discontent. 

The queen pulled out a small whistle from the bust of her dress. She held it to her lips, blowing out a shrill bird call. Near instantly, the landing cracked with the sound of claws and stone. A female Kestrel approached. 

“Nymira, please escort Miss Archeron to the Blue Room.” 

The female nodded. Talons clicked against the floor as she walked. She wore no shoes, only dark teal wrappings to protect her golden calves and heels. 

Taryn followed after the Kestrel, giving Azriel a nervous glance before steeling herself forward. She didn’t like being so far from the Illyrians. This felt purposeful. 

The Kestrel, Nymira, led Taryn to a heavy door. Her door was inlaid with shimmering bands of metal. 

It was a metal that Taryn would never fail to recognize. It was Elain’s engagement ring, the posts of their bed in the old cottage, the tips of a human’s ashwood arrows.

There was iron in these doors. 

But iron didn’t hurt fae. That was only a myth, a small comfort to Taryn and her sisters as children. Until Feyre had been taken, and then their iron did nothing. Taryn had vague memories of the moment, but the glamour that had once clung to her and Elain made it hard to think. Even now.

“This will be your room, Lady.”

“Oh, I’m not a Lady,” Taryn said. It was a funny sentiment. “My sister is, but not me.” Unless maybe she was? If Feyre was High Lady, did that make her sisters plain Ladies? Princesses? Ah, she really should have remembered all of this. 

“Oh,” the Kestrel nodded, not noticing Taryn’s inner turmoil. The unruly coils of sandy blonde hair atop her head bounced with the movement. “My apologies, it won’t happen again.”

Taryn’s brows furrowed, but she didn’t say anything. Perhaps the King and Queen Ylva were very strict with their servants. It didn’t matter. What did matter… “Forgive me for asking, but why is there iron in the door?”

“Hmm?” Nymira tilted her head, surveying the door to the room. The light in the room was dim, absorbed by thick layers of navy blue paint on each wall, but Taryn could still see the metal ribbons glinting. They were completely embedded in the oak. “I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Miss.”

“Right here…” Taryn gave Nymira a strange look and traced a nail over the door. A soft, barely-there tingle traced up her arm. It was brighter in the room suddenly, the door glowing as Taryn touched it. 

“Wha-” Nymira fell silent for a moment.

“See- it’s glowing- the iron,” Taryn said.

“No, Miss, you’re glowing.” 

Taryn’s hands reflexively went to her chest. Beneath the skin, at the center of her ribs, a light pulsed. This was the worst time for her to be having a flare. Last time it happened Taryn had been sent to the House of Wind. “Ah- that’s just- I’m sorry…”

Nymira’s face went dark. “You should be very careful around my Queen.”

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Nesta Archeron stood at the door frame, staring into a pit of swirling, reddish light. Down, the first step. The stairs were a gaping maw opened in challenge. She needed something big enough to swallow her whole. 

Down again, the fifth step.

She didn’t know why the roaring in her head was so loud. The past few days had been good. Nesta had saved Gwyn from a confrontation from Merrill, trained with Cassian enough to blissfully clear the battered soul within her, even ordered new leathers from that Illyrian girl’s- Emerie’s- shop. It was good, quiet. 

Maybe that was the problem itself. Nesta was here training while Taryn was out doing… no one had told her what she was doing. She hadn’t worked up the nerve yet to ask Rhysand. Pathetic. How could Nesta tell herself she was worried for Taryn when she couldn’t bother to step up and ask about her. But that had always been Nesta’s flaw, hadn’t it? She couldn’t step up for anyone. Not Feyre all those years in the cottage. Not Elain, soaked and silent in the Cauldron. Not Taryn. Nesta couldn’t even step up for herself.

Down and down and down. She trained her eyes on the stone walls as she passed by a singed chip in the staircase. Nesta couldn’t control the power inside her, either. Another failure. 

This time, she made it to one hundred and fifty. A coward’s number, but Nesta turned around, trudging her way back up. The way up was always more painful, but the sting brought her blissful silence. 

The House had left her a plate on the desk in her room. Meat and vegetables, hearty and well seasoned as always. A book had been left, too. She picked it up, her cheeks going warm as she noticed the scandalous cover. 

“Thank you,” she murmured. In response, a warm breath blew into her room, heating it without need for a fire. Now that Cassian had moved her training to the House of Wind’s rooftop, she could manage it. Taryn was learning blade work. Nesta could do it, too. Especially if it meant Taryn would not be saddled with any more of the Inner Circle’s horrendous schemes. Montesere was so far, no more than a name on a map to Nesta.

She bit her lip for a moment, then spoke to the House. “Can I ask a favor?”

The sconces of fae light in her room flickered.

“Earlier, you retrieved The Great War for me, for Gwyneth.” Nesta paused, taking a breath. She could be useful, for Taryn’s sake. “Would you find me something on the history of Montesere?”

There was a rustle on her desk. Filling the empty space was a book and a cup of coffee.

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Nymira did not leave Taryn’s side until dinner. 

“Is that all you have?”

“Yes,” Taryn answered, tugging at her collar. It had been foolish not to bring one of her high-necked gowns. The velvet fabric was thick, a dark plum. She prayed to the Mother, the Cauldron, hoping one was listening. Dark fabric would be the best at absorbing her light. 

“Don’t tell me what it is,” Nymira said tightly. “Your power. The less I know, the better.”

Taryn didn’t want to ask why, and she probably didn’t need to either. Surely the Queen had methods of extracting information. Azriel was Rhysand’s method, and sometimes Tristan as well if the audience was particularly strong. From what Feyre had told her, they could be brutal. Terrifying. The thought made Taryn feel comfortable for now, though, safe. But the Shadowsingers were also across the castle.

Nymira picked up a comb with wide teeth, taming Taryn’s curls into a chignon. It hung low on her head, the same way Nesta wore her hair, and the sight of herself suddenly made Taryn feel… weird. Something tightened in her chest, winding and winding until she could hardly breathe. 

‘Go find Lord Prosser, dance with him.’

‘I don’t want to.’

‘Do you want to be comfortable? Or do you want to be out begging like Feyre someday?’ Tears stung her eyes as her mother swept her hair back. ‘He may have had his eye on Nesta, but you’ll do.’ A steady hand fixed her makeup, swiping at her lips until they turned brighter. Red, like her sister’s. 

‘Please, mother…’

“Would it be alright to… to wear it down?” Taryn held her voice on a tight leash. 

Nymira paused her combing. “You want me to start all over?”

“Yes,” she breathed. It would be the worst time to cry, her skin would turn red and puffy…

Nymira gave her an incredulous look, but carefully tugged the pins back out of Taryn’s hair. Curls loosened and fell around her shoulders, and she could breathe again. It was… shameful. Shameful to be so upset by something as simple as her hair. 

The Kestrel lifted a hand and curled her wrist. From the open window in the guest room, a cool, salty breeze leaked in. It wound its way around her hand before dusting Taryn’s hair. Nymira fluffed and scrunched the salt spray into her curls until they appeared fresher. “How’s that?”

Taryn exhaled, calmed herself. “Better.”

Nymira led Taryn down a gracefully curving staircase as soon as they were finished. Taryn watched the female become a guard, straight and stiff. 

She walked ahead, and Taryn tried to focus her mind, to take in everything she could. The biggest exit was the landing, one on every floor for flight access. It was convenient, but the stone mouths were big, gaping in a way that suggested room to aim. If they were pursued, a skilled archer could easily take them down. Taryn had seen the damage a single ash arrow could do at the hand of a human, let alone warrior fae.

Her gaze drifted back in front of her. At the base of Nymira’s spine was a slim scar, silvery against her gold skin. On Amari’s form, there had been a delicate fan of pale blue feathers, the ends of his wings. Nymira’s back and rear were bare of feathers, fitted in tighter clothes than the males. Taryn made note of the exits, and that, too.

The center of the castle opened into a sprawling cavern. Two grey dogs, Bloodhounds, guarded the archway. A long table sat near a hearth, already occupied. Taryn noticed the Illyrians already seated, their backs rigid despite the discomfort of their wings. The chairs had high backs, meaning no winged fae were meant to have an audience here.

Taryn curtseyed low before approaching the table, and Nymira pulled a chair out for her to sit, before disappearing to stand at the entrance. At the head of the table was a man Taryn assumed was the King. He looked… warm. Not like the Queen, with her lifeless looking skin and tight smile. The Queen didn’t look at Taryn. She didn’t really look anywhere actually, only facing her husband. 

“Thank you for joining us,” the King said, his deep voice jovial. 

“I apologize for my tardiness,” Taryn said. Princes and Lords and Dukes… she had danced with them before. Not very well, but Taryn knew what they were like. A King wouldn’t be so much more difficult to read.

“No apology necessary, Lady Archeron. It’s a pleasure to have you here on behalf of the Night Court.”

So Taryn was a Lady then, and Nesta and Elain, too. A headache was already blurring the edges inside her. What a mess she was.

“Tristan and I were just talking…” the King pelted his fist against the table in a booming laugh. “Of course we were not.”

Taryn chuckled dryly. Azriel attempted the laugh as well, but did not sound half as convincing as Taryn. That was saying something, as Taryn was never convincing at all. 

Tristan gave the King of Montesere a bland smile. His shadows twitched before entering strange stillness. 

The King turned his gaze back to Taryn. She did technically have the highest rank among them. His focus would be on her all night. She cleared her throat, racking her brain to find where to start.

“I’m sure you are aware that tensions with the Human Queens are rising. There is question among the fae as well about land divisions.”

The King grunted, but let her continue, unfortunately. Taryn was hoping he would take over the conversation. 

She continued, “We believe war is, again, on its way to the territories. Where will you stand if our fears manifest?”

Taryn tried not to look at the Illyrians like a child seeking approval, but she hazarded a glance at Azriel. His face was stoic, but something like pride glimmered in his eyes. 

“Our neighbours to the east,” the King said. “Rask and Vallahan, have they given you their answers?”

A question with purpose. Taryn knew the neighbouring countries would be in close communication with Montesere. He would have no need to ask that question of her unless he were testing her. 

“You know exactly how Rask and Vallahan feel about the current climate,” she said, cool and slow. Gods, why her.

“What makes you think I’d feel any different?” The King’s voice was smooth. He was enjoying the conversation. He was a cat, playing games to see if she was a mouse or a worthy opponent. 

“That’s why we are here, is it not? To see what it is you’re looking for.”

Azriel winced slightly, and taryn bit her lip. Anxiety wound tight in her chest, and she waited for her magic to stir. It seemed to feed off of the tight pain that came with her panic. Nothing, but the danger still stood. Taryn had slipped up, now the King would be expecting an exchange of something for their support. 

“Is that a bargain you’re offering, Lady Archeron?”

Actually, she had slipped up a lot. A bargain. That was a life or death fulfillment, not an exchange in war times. Beyond that, Taryn wasn’t familiar with bargains. Feyre had been forced into severe ones without her knowledge. Even if it had worked out for her, there was no promise it would go well for Taryn. But to balk in fear of it would only make him more insistent. “That would depend on the conditions.” It seemed like a safe answer. 

The King did not show any measure of surprise, but he was quiet, considering. “My wife and I will discuss this. You’ll have your answer tomorrow night. Until then, please enjoy your stay.”

The King stood, the Queen a few seconds after. A few guards escorted them out of the hall. It wasn’t until then that Taryn noticed they hadn’t even eaten dinner.

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“A bargain Taryn? Are you insane?” Azriel snapped at her.

“I’m sorry, I figured Rhysand would already have prepared for negotiations.”

“Nothing you would know about.”

“And isn’t that just as bad? Why am I even here? I should have been… I don’t know, debriefed?” 

“Rhys didn’t want you to know more information than necessary. Just in case.” Azriel’s eyes darkened, and suddenly, Taryn felt guilty. He would know better than anyone what the price of information was, and how ruthlessly it could be obtained. 

We all need time to cool off, Tristan said, projecting out to them.

“I’m sorry,” Azriel murmured. 

Taryn shrugged, not wanting to accept it. Ever since the intervention with Nesta, they had treated her like an animal in need of controlling. Nesta, too. She had faced the brunt of it. It seemed like they were just trying to keep the sisters active, as if it would prevent collapse. 

Taryn sat down on the cool white marble, dangling her feet above a reflecting pool. It wasn’t late enough yet for her to make her excuses, but soon. 

The guards had informed them they were allowed to roam freely during their stay here, likely so that it seemed as if the King had nothing to hide. It would be hard to find something that wasn’t hidden.

Azriel sat down beside Taryn, and she realized that Tristan had left. It was only the two of them now. His wings drooped, the leathery skin brushing against her back.

“We shouldn’t be so hard on you.”

“No, you shouldn’t,” she snapped. She turned her face away, staring instead at lily pads, carefully cultivated in the shimmering pool. Trellises lined the carved openings into the room, perfuming the airy space with something soft. Morning Glory. Elain had grown the vining plant at the mansion when the Archeron fortune had mysteriously returned. Azriel breathed it in, savoring the scent. “Aren’t you supposed to be spying, doing something useful?”

He tensed a little, but clamped down on whatever he was going to say. 

“Tristan has it covered for tonight.” Silence resumed between them. Taryn wished for pebbles to pluck up and throw. Strangely, Taryn was good at skipping them. It was one of the only things she was good at. Maybe that’s why she had actually been able to grasp the movement of a blade. If the rest of sword work was truly like a dance, though, she would fail eventually.

The pool of water rippled as Taryn leaned over the shallow edge, watching her reflection. The water was still and pale, like the castle, and like the Queen’s lifeless eyes. The Queen was so unlike her husband. Dangerous, but Taryn wasn’t sure if she was the predator to fear, or if it was the King. 

“Have you noticed anything weird about the Queen?” She asked, the words tumbling out

“Hmm? Oh,” Azriel hummed in contemplation. Taryn watched as some of his shadows slid away from him, disappearing into the dark corners of the room. “I can try to find out.”

Taryn chewed her lip in thought. This was odd. The Queen’s eyes didn’t seem to really move. She had faced the King all dinner, but the Illyrians didn’t notice. At least Azriel didn’t. Tristan hadn’t mentioned anything either, though. And there was the door. The door to the Blue Room had iron in it, but why? Nymira hadn’t seen it, couldn’t see it.

“There’s iron in my room,” she said. It was worth bringing up to Azriel. “It’s in the door.”

His brows furrowed. “Strange.”

“Yeah… isn’t that cause for alarm?”

“Iron doesn’t hurt fae.”

“I know that,” she said. Of course she already knew that. “But why would they keep it in the castle?” 

He shrugged and said again, “I can try to find out.”

“You don’t sound like a very good spy.” Frustration crept into her tone, now.

“Part of being a good ‘spy,’” he said slowly, “Is not talking about things in public, where anyone could hear.” 

Taryn turned her head. Nymira was approaching them. She wasn’t trying to be stealthy, it seemed, but Taryn hadn’t noticed the approaching click of the Kestrel’s talons. Taryn touched her pointed ears. It seemed the mental noise in her brain was still stronger than her hearing.

“Lady Archeron,” Nymira said, “Shall I prepare you for bed?”

Azriel stood quickly, offering a hand to help Taryn up. She thought about not taking it, just to spite him, but she was too tired. His grip was firm, but gentle, as he drew her to her feet. “Thanks.” 

“I’ll see you tomorrow morning, Taryn.”

Taryn nodded, then followed Nymira up the stairs and down to the hall where the Blue Room sat. 

Nymira opened the door hesitantly. It seemed she believed Taryn about the iron, even if she couldn’t see the metal for herself. Taryn didn’t think that was a good thing. 

“You kept that power of yours down,” the Kestrel said, guiding Taryn toward a bathing pool beside her quarters. 

“I wish I could say that was me, but it was luck. It comes and goes as it pleases.”

“Without reason?”

“No… it happens mostly when I’m nervous, or thinking too much.”

“Or when you touch an unfamiliar door?”

Taryn smiled, despite herself. “That too.” She let the female take her gown, and she lowered herself into a tub of fragrant water. The rich oils were no doubt expensive, scented with strange flowers she didn’t recognize. “You’re sure you don’t see it? The iron, I mean.”

“I don’t, but I wouldn’t doubt Queen Ylv-” Nymira’s throat locked up, choking off the sentence. 

Taryn sat up in the water. “Are you okay?”

Nymira took a long breath before speaking. “I do not speak ill of my Queen.”

“Okay…” then there were things she would not, or could not, say.

“Breaking my oath would be… regrettable.” 

Taryn nodded, not pushing her further. This wasn’t her job, anyways. She was a decorative headpiece, there to make Azriel and Tristan seem less threatening. She would leave the digging to them.

Nymira brushed Taryn’s curls out, and handed her a plush towel and a spare nightgown. Taryn’s packings were heinously little, consisting of only three dresses of various sophistication. She told Nymira that it was to make flying easier, but the reality was she hadn’t wanted to ask Feyre for new ones. Nobody seemed to notice before.

Nymira folded her dress, readying it for the mades, and Taryn once again noticed the scar on her lower back. Was it appropriate to ask about it? Perhaps it was a painful injury. Curiosity got the better of her. “This might be insensitive of me, but what happened to your back? Were you hurt?”

Nymira turned to face her, looking confused before realization dawned in her eyes, “You mean here?” She traced the scar with a long, sharp claw. Taryn nodded and she went on. “I had my wings clipped a long time ago.”

Taryn cringed. Yes, that had been an insensitive question, but Nymira didn’t seem bothered by it. The practice happened in Illyria too. Though Rhysand and Cassian had tried to stamp it out, there would always be horrible fae among the population. “I thought wing clipping meant you couldn’t fly.”

Nymira nodded. “For some species, yes. Kestrels only clip tail feathers. They… they can get in the way during breeding, so our women lose them young.” Taryn’s stomach tightened at the thought. Nausea welled up in her gut, but she didn’t speak. “We can still fly, but it’s much harder to learn. Our tail feathers help to keep us stable, to turn smoothly in the air and land properly.”

“Is that why you’re… a servant?”

Nymira smiled a little at the question, but did not judge Taryn for her lack of education on the subject. She seemed to understand that Taryn was ill prepared. “I’m primarily a messenger since I can fly better than most of my sisters, but I guess the Queen couldn’t spare a castle servant to take care of you.” 

“The castle servants are above your rank?” How strange.

Nymira nodded, “Many are High Fae, as the King prefers their service.”

“I’m sorry, Nymira.” Taryn’s lip curled in disgust, “that’s…”

“Nym,” she said, “I prefer to be greeted informally.” That conversation seemed to be over, but the Kestrel didn’t seem too bothered. It was something of the past for her. A trauma overcome. Taryn wished she could master the same indifference for her own woes.

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆

For the rest of the night, Taryn refused Nymira’s help with most tasks, only allowing her to take the gown down to be cleaned by a maid.

Night dampened the sky, and Taryn finally decided to rest. She could sleep easily tonight. Tristan and Azriel would be awake, likely surveying the castle.

As she drifted off, Taryn felt Tristan enter her headspace, watching her. It felt comforting almost. A bright, warm light in her mind. 

Warm light- that was new. Rhysand always felt sharp, like talons, and Tristan had always felt soft and shadowy. Taryn reached out with her mind.

Tristan?

The light got hotter, unbearably warm. Boiling. She was boiling inside and it felt like the Cauldron. She felt its heat shredding through her, and the sparks of silver light that followed as Nesta desperately begged for her life. 

The Cauldron’s last spark of magic seeped into her soul, the center of her chest and… 

And everything went dark.