Chapter 35
Briars POV
I kept drifting in and out of consciousness, or so I thought. I was hanging from my wrists in the middle of one of the usual torture rooms the king loved. Screams were echoing off the walls, as I smelt blood and … a furnace maybe. ''Well let's see what to do with you today'' the torturer said, creeping up to me from the shadows. I didn't hear a door open or the unmistakable crack of winnowing into the room. No, a shadowsinger, how come Hybern has a Shadowsinger. No No No. This isn't right, my mind screamed at me. ''Look at me'' his cold voice demanded, his hands yanking on my chin roughly. His hands rough, as if heavily scarred. ''Look at me'' he demanded again. My eyes met his hazel eyes. I had to hold back a gasp, Azriel. ''Pathetic'' He said as he noticed my recoil from him, ''I know just what to do''. He took out truth-teller, I was shaking, closing my eyes in terror. ''No, eyes, Open'' Azriel demanded as he began to take my body apart. My shoulders popped out of their sockets due to the strain of hanging by them. He knew exactly where and how deep to cut, taking his time making me feel as much pain and fear as possible. When he finally stopped, he circled me, whispering and yelling at me. How worthless I was, how he didn't want to be my mate, how he was going to reject me. His voice was joined by the inner circle and my captains, all of them yelling at me.
''We have to wake her'' someone yelled, it sounded drowned out. ''Rhys, wake her up'' The same voice yelled before I lost consciousness.
Cassian's POV.
The moment we winnowed into the foyer of the town house, I put Feyre down. Taking up my position near the window crossing my arms. Lucien was still holding Briar protectively, I did not dare to make her afraid that I might break her. Azriel stayed next to Feyre as she explained to Lucien where he was. Amren commented on her wounds as she studied our High lady. My eyes once again locked onto Briar, she looked worse than that first time all those months ago. ''Indeed she is'' Rhys drawled from behind Feyre, all of us smiled as they had their reunion. As they collapsed onto their knees, Amren and mor shared a look, nodding to Az and me to go to the house of the wind. Az and I winnowed together, as mor, Lucien, Amren s and Bri in Lucien's arms did as well.
''Give her to me'' Azriel finally said, his cold rage barely suppressed as he stalked up to Lucien. Lucien walked back as Mor put a hand on Azriel's shoulder. "What did you do to her'' Azriel demanded.'' Nothing I swear'' Lucien said. ''Amren go get Madja'' Mor said, approaching Lucien. ''Lucien we need to take her, we need to know what is wrong, to heal her'' Mor said. Lucien nodded and as Mor took her from his arms. Almost tossing her in the air, she was so light. I stepped forward to take her to the room next door. Azriel just stood there frozen, as I slowly laid her down on the couch. Shit she is light, did they even feed her at all. The moment I went to stand by the window, Azriel knelt down next to her. Sitting so still as if he was a stone statue, his rage visible in only in his fists. ''Az'' I said, ''she's strong, she'll be fine''. Trying to convince him just as much as myself. It was then that Madja stormed in, making all of us leave the room. Az and I tried to argue, wanting to stay near her. It was then she started thrashing around, whimpering in pain. Some of the numerous wounds on her body opened up. "Bri'' Az choked out, his eyes widening at the sight of her. Before he could lunge at her, to let his protectiveness take over, I gripped his shoulders pulling him back. Mor shot forward from her place near Lucien, closing the door before Azriel could run in. ''Az'' Mor said almost commanding, ''you need to calm down''. His eyes were unfocussed and his shadows were going haywire, it took a lot from me to keep him away from the doors. ''Az'' Mor said again this time catching his attention. He sunk to the floor, his wings slumping. I have never seen him this broken, not even when we were kids at the camps. ''She's going to be okay Azriel'' Amren said before she walked away. ''What happened'' Azriel asked, his eyes on the floor, his shadows cloaking him. If he wasn't sitting in the middle of the hallway we would probably miss him. Mor and I looked at Lucien waiting for an explanation.
''She was kept in a dungeon back'' Lucien began and after a long silence said ''Home''. He sounded hesitant saying it, knowing that it would probably never be home to him again. ''Dagdan and Brannagh took her with them when they came to the spring court, I don't know what happened to her before'' he explained, ''as much as we tried to keep them occupied they still went to her, twice a day if they could''. Azriel was shaking a bit. ''Ahh'' a scream rang through the house, ''No, please don't''. Azriel jumped up calling at ''Briar''. He almost barged through the door right then and there. ''Az stop'' I said taking a hold of him once again. ''NO'' he bellowed, ''You don't know what she's going through what she went through''. His voice broke ever so slightly but both me and Mor caught it. We exchanged worried glances in all the years we have known him we have never seen him this distraught. Yes we have seen his rage after Eris but never this broken. ''And you do'' Lucien all but sneered, ''she called for you, all of you. Oh, of course you do you're the spymaster you must also do all the torturing'' Azriel lunged at him but at the same time Briar called out in pain again freezing him to his place. ''Mor'' I said. She nodded and went to Lucien pulling him away to one of the guest rooms in a separate wing to Feyre's sisters. I went to sit in the windowsill not leaving my brother in this time.
A/N I hope this has fixed some of the issues with the text, also I am going to try and update more often as we go into 2021, as much as work allows me to.
