FPOV

I was in the darkness, and it was peaceful.

I felt as though I was curled up within my own body, hidden within my frame. I knew that this couldn't be the afterlife because I could still hear what was happening around me. Still, I felt miles away – as if I was at the bottom of a lake and I only heard sounds as they floated through the water. The hum of voices rose and fell and I heard one sound ring out clearly above the others – an earth shattering, anguished roar.

I mused on what the sound could be – I could only faintly remember what had happened before I was plunged into this darkness. The depths beckoned to me, like calling to like – I had been birthed from the never ending dark and one day, I would return to it. And now, it was so close – I knew that, with a single thought, I could step over that eternal, ancient line.

Not yet, a voice – my voice – whispered.

Not yet.

LPOV

All hell had broken lose at my cry.

Sentries and guards had come shouting and crashing through the underbrush, followed closely by the frantic pounding of the beast's footsteps. It had taken the frantic crowd just seconds to reach me and Feyre.

And then, silence.

Silence as they beheld the Lady of Spring sprawled upon the forest floor, one arm flung out from her body with a single, empty glass vial still clutched in her fist.

The same fist stained with black swirls and symbols known to every High Fae and Lesser Faerie in these lands – belonging to the Night Court.

In the deathly silence, the sound of Tam's approach was jarringly loud. The assembled fae seemed to freeze, their faces going ashen as they realised what was sure to follow.

Tamlin crashed through the trees, his green eyes full of fury as he scanned the clearing – and his eyes fell on Feyre, prostrate upon the ground. He stilled, and I could sense him taking in the details the others had already gauged – the lack of a heartbeat and the absence of breath. In a sharp flash of light, the beast disappeared and was replaced by the High Lord – still staring dumbly, as if time had yet to catch up to him. My heart was pounding violently in my chest – now began a truly dangerous game

Slowly, cautiously, he took a step forwards. Another. And then he must have seen the empty capsule in her hand.

Tamlin stumbled the final distance before slamming to his knees before her. Fragile – that's how she looked right now, I realised. Vulnerable and breakable – or broken, I supposed.

He reached for her, clumsily brushing her hair from her face before cradling it in his hands.

The look on his face struck me like a stone. I had seen this before, Under the Mountain; I had felt it myself, kneeling on a marble floor in the Autumn Court. Helplessness and despair and pure agony as you realised that you were not enough to save the one you loved.

And this time, I had done that to Tam. Maybe that made me no better than my brothers.

As the High Lord tipped back his head and howled at the sky, I wondered if I hadn't made a dangerous mistake.

A.N. Sorry for the POV headers - it changed in this chapter and I needed to keep them distinct. Enjoy!