A/N: Hello! It's a brand new story! If you haven't read it, do check out my other multi-chapter fic You Are My Life for this fandom - it has been extremely popular which has blown me away!

This story will be three chapters. They are planned out and just need to be written up so I hope to give one update each week around my other stories.

I have read ACOWAR - demolished it in two nights in fact! It is AMAZING and so emotional. There are NOT any spoilers for ACOWAR in here - this is my own interpretation that I have had hanging around in my mind for a while now and finally have the time to write up.

I hope you enjoy and let me know what you think!

Keep Smiling!

Three months.

Three long months of deliberately crafted webs of lies, of false loyalty and playing the part of the precious, happy lady. It hasn't been easy - the pain of being so far from my family, my mate, being hard to bear at times.

I reign it in during the day, posing at Tamlin's perfect little doll. But at night, I sit on the small balcony in my new room; since Tamlin had trashed my previous room. I throw up a wall of stale Spring air and prevent anyone coming in to bother me, extinguishing the faelights scattered around so I can watch the night sky, the stars twinkling.

However, they offer no comfort here. Watching them simply fills my chest with sorrow and encourages tears to fall which I refuse to wipe away since they are the only true feelings I express here. The constellations only stifle, not soothe. But, it is my only connection to my home.

I wake up in bed after a highly restless night. Nightmares of the mating bond being painfully cleaved in two; no longer feeling my mate alive on the other end and not being there to save him. The only thing that could calm me enough was ensuring that the shields I had placed around my room were strong before conjuring soothing shadows, speckled with stars; imagining Rhys there beside me, holding me and giving me his gentle commands to breathe, to centre myself. I picture his face above mine, his bed tousled hair falling adorably onto his forehead.

Thankfully, mercifully, Tamlin has not pushed me to share his bed. The first two months were surprising, him allowing me the time to adjust. After that, it was easy to enter and manipulate his mind; make him prefer to be alone at night.

I refuse to ever share a bed with someone who is not my family, my mate.

Since there are no meetings today, I decide to remain in bed; feeling the exhaustion in my bones due to the lack of sleep.

It is mid-afternoon when I finally pull myself out of bed. I move over to the vanity and cringe at the sight that greets me in the mirror. There are dark rings beneath my eyes that I scowl at and pray to the Mother that they will disappear soon.

However, the scowl fades at the bruises that decorate my shoulder, collarbone and left cheekbone. Violent outbursts in Tamlin's study, by said tool, resulted in furniture being hurtle in all directions. Needing to conceal the extent of my powers, I've had to take the brunt force of it and slow my healing process considerably.

It's had its benefits though. The sight of the bruises has encouraged many of Tamlin's men to despise him further. They have slowly been slipping out of his grasp - a bonus since Hybern forces are falling thanks to the combined and unified force of the other Courts.

I've been careful within meetings, tracking the progress of the Illyrian forces - knowing in my core that Rhys has been fighting with them. Each victory of their forces has been a relief, assuring me that the time for me to return home is getting closer each time.

I sigh, and look down at the surface of the vanity. There is a scrap piece of paper there, which wasn't there before. My heart skips and I can smell the slight citrus tang that clings to the parchment.

Notes such as this have only occurred in the past few days. Before then, it had been months of sending information and hearing nothing back. Neither of us wanted to risk using the bond - someone could pick up on anything and this would all be wasted. The frequency, however, has increased and Rhys has appeared to be more and more positive.

I pick up the paper and read the familiar, elegant scrawl.

'It is time, my darling. We are so close to victory. Finish this - finish him. It is time to come home. I love you so much.'

For the first time in a very long time, a genuine smile tugs at my lips. I throw the paper into the flames in the fireplace before rushing over to the wardrobe to get changed.

I'm finally going home!

At fucking last...

I curse the puffy peach dress that I change into, how utterly ridiculous I look. Although, it is better than other dresses I have had to wear. The sooner I am home, the sooner I can change into the comfort that the Night Court clothes offer. Since it is good enough, I leave my hair twisted in its braid and just slip my feet into a pair of simple black slippers.

The plan is to just walk out of the bloody house since I have free reign of where I go now, and it is going well - especially since a lot of the guards have gone elsewhere. However, Tamlin appears at the bottom of the stairs as I descend them.

Shit.

"How are you feeling? I haven't seen you." he says.

I paste a smile onto my face, wishing that I could just rip his throat out and walk away.

"I just needed some rest but after being indoors all day, I fancied a walk." I say, adding an airiness to my voice.

"I will accompany you. I haven't spent much time with you alone the past few days. I miss us."

I inwardly snarl and begrudgingly loop my arm through his.

"Of course." I say, sweetly.

He guides us out of the front of the manor and I silently breathe a sigh of relief. Being trapped in those walls will not happen again.

Tamlin tries to guide us to the left, towards the gardens but I stop - forcing him to do the same.

"Is something wrong? Have you forgotten something, or perhaps remembered?" he questions me. He is still bloody probing me for information about the Night Court.

It is now or never. I'm going to enjoy this.

Regardless of what you hear, what you feel, I shout suddenly down the bond. do not come here. Stay safe, my mate.

My shields are thrown up full force as I sharply remove my arm from Tamlin's. I quickly pull myself away, striding confidently towards the gates.

But, of course, it is never that simple. Nor, did I hope it would be.

That would be disappointing.

"Where are you going?" Tamlin asks me, his voice raised.

He grabs my arm, roughly spinning me around to face him.

"I am leaving." I say simply, but firmly. "I am leaving this shithole. I am leaving you."

Tamlin growls and increases his grip on my arm. I keep my gaze fixed to his, unwavering. I am not afraid.

"Unhand me."

"You don't mean your words. You are happy here." Tamlin says, tightening his grip further. "You want to stay here."

"Let. Me. Go." I spit through my gritted teeth.

"Your life is perfect here. Why would you want to leave?"

I laugh highly sarcastically, allowing my hatred in. Tamlin flinches, unprepared for such a reaction.

Good.

He will be doing more than flinching when I am done with him.

I place my left hand upon his, immediately giving my rage free reign to summon flame to my fingertips. Tamlin screams out in pain and fury, cradling his burnt hand against his chest.

"Never has life been perfect here." I say, feeling my anger cresting within me. My hands curl into fists. "I have waited months for the day I could leave this place and that day has finally come."

Tamlin's mouth opens and closes as if he is a fish stranded out of the water.

"W-what? Why?"

I raise my chin defiantly.

"I am done playing your precious little doll for you to fucking parade around like a possession of yours. I have managed to send every single scrap of information to my family to help bring you and Hybern down. You have been wondering why your forces never have the element of surprise, why they are constantly defeated. Well, you are looking at the reason why."

Tamlin shakes his head in denial.

"Remember Ianthe? How she was found dead nearly two months ago? That bitch deserved every drop of pain that I inflicted. I gutted her like a fish in the middle of the woods after going into that disgusting mind of hers to ruin her. She died for everything she put me and my sisters through. I made sure that she could not fuck with me, my mate or my family again."

I take a step backwards, noticing that we have a drawn a crowd around us. This is getting better.

"Have you heard from Lucien since he disappeared two weeks ago?" I taunt, seeing Tamlin's jaw twitch. "Have you been thinking so hard in that little brain of yours about where he has gone?"

Another step backwards. Another twitch of his jaw.

"It is laughable - how easy it was to smuggle him out of Spring and send him to the Night Court."

"He'd be dead if you sent him there."

I shrug a single shoulder flippantly.

"He's slowly earning trust. Considering he was loyal to you for so long, I am positive it will take quite a while, but he is very useful to us." I say, smirking. "He was insistent on repairing our friendship and was desperate to see my sister once again. It will be entertaining to see him trying to get through Nesta.

"Oh, let's not forget how you have steadily been losing your mind and your power! That is my handiwork which I am quite proud of."

Tamlin tries to lunge for me but I throw up a shield between us with extreme ease. He smashes into it face first.

"This is just another cruel trick. A nightmare." Tamlin says, clearly attempting to make sense of all of this.

Poor little Lord.

I take a step forward. My composure is one of utter calm but beneath the surface, my powers are clashing harshly against each other. I can feel the anger, the pain, inside me wanting to leap out and attack until I can no longer see or think straight.

Soon. For now, it can influence my words.

"You are the nightmare, Tamlin. Everyone sees it - I made sure of that. You could not withhold your anger; even on the one you claim to love."

I gesture to the bruises that are on display.

"I apologised for those. I did not ever mean to hurt you. I love you."

My right eyebrow arches.

"That has always been your excuse. That, and 'I did it for you'. But, that has never worked. Many members have left this house, this Court. They're away from this war as I told them where to go - where they are safe. Before Alis left, she orchestrated for many of the servants here to go to Summer with her. Most of the staff you see aren't really here. They are just simple glamours that you are too stupid to realise are there."

Tamlin looks over the manor, confused. Any second now, he will react. My mate deserves the chance to revel in it. I open the slightest sliver in my shield so should he wish to, he can see it through my eyes.

The High Lord of Spring looks back at me. I focus all my attention on him.

"You can't be doing this." he says. "You cannot be doing this to me."

I stand, watching him as countless emotions cross his face.

"No, he is behind this. He is controlling you again! That filthy bastard whore!"

Fire burns bright in my palms and Tamlin takes a slight step back, cowering.

"Say one more negative thing about my mate and you will no longer have a face." I spit out at him, taking a menacing step forwards.

"You betrayed me!" Tamlin roars. I will not back down. "You are mine, Feyre. You. Are. Mine!"

"I belong to no one." I snarl. "I am not a possession!"

"You belong here, with me!"

I take another step forwards, my eyes blazing.

"The only place I belong is in the Night Court, with my family and my mate beside me."

Tamlin laughs, in anger with a variety of other emotions. His talons extract suddenly from his knuckles and all laughter disappears.

He is trying to regain control of this. Not happening, you despicable bastard.

"If that is true Lady of the Night Court," Tamlin says, his voice incredibly mocking. "then where is your army, or your power? Oh! What about your whore and your 'dashing rescue' from this so-called prison?"

Now is the time.

Now.

I smirk and step forwards. I am not afraid of him and I never will be again.

My right arm raises, my mating tattoo clear. Tamlin appears speechless, eyes darting between my arm and my face.

"H-how?"

"I am High Lady of the Night Court and I do not need rescuing. But you do, because this High Lady is out to play."

End note: Please review! :)