Cassian's POV
I was pacing outside of Briar's room, she had lived in before; it had been a couple of days since we found her with Feyre and Lucien. She still hadn't woken up. '' Stop,'' Mor said, ''she'll be fine''. ''You do not know that; we should have gotten to them earlier,'' I said seriously, frustrated. These past few days, Azriel had gotten quieter than usual, he did his tasks, but something wasn't right. ''NO'' Bri shrieked, ''N-N-Noo''. It was all she did, no, these past days she was shouting en whimpering but never more than. Mor and I shot each other a look of concern; Madja was with her but still. I began pacing again when Lucien approached. ''How is she?'' he asked.
''Madja hasn't come out yet; she hasn't woken,'' Mor began. But then Madja walked out, ''Actually, she has…'' She woke! I thought, pushing past Madja. ''She isn't awake now, you big brute,'' Mor exclaimed. ''I need to speak to the rest of the inner circle,'' Madja said. I nodded, not taking my eyes of the tiny bundle on the bed. For Madja's examination, she had been laid on her belly, but even now, she was curling upon herself; she was barely visible under the blankets. Bri whimpered again, eyes closed and face screwed into a look of terror. ''Cassian, come on, she won't leave,'' Mor said sadly. She pulled me with her to one of the sitting rooms where Lucien, Rhys and Feyre were already sitting. ''Where's Az'' Mor asked, taking a seat on one of the couches. Rhys nodded to the other door through which Azriel just walked in, taking his place by the window. He was almost engulfed into his shadows; I had never seen them so still as if they had ceased moving altogether.
Madja stood in the middle of the room, wiping some of the salves she used on Briar of her hands and arms. ''She's in a bad state, as I said a few days ago; the wounds will heal and will leave minimal scarring,'' Madja began. I breathe a sigh of relief; it was a small thing, but any good news was something. I risked a look at Azriel, but his face betrayed nothing; we knew he blamed himself; he has since the moment she got taken. They had been furious at Rhys when he revealed Feyre was his high lady, and she was just taken from them. But Rhys' hadn't been able to fulfil his promise to Bri, capture was her biggest fear,
but she did it knowingly. ''But …'' Rhys asked, knowing there was more, or else Madja wouldn't have called us all in. ''it's the mental scars I'm worried about; I'm a healer of the body, not of the mind, and I don't have the expertise to see the extend but it isn't good'' Madja began, ''if she stays in this state of mind I fear she won't wake at all''. I cursed below my breath; I had heard of this, seen it happen even 500 years ago. Warriors that came back from the war, especially those captured. Some recovered, but most died even after all the rest. I shoot a look at Rhys and Mor, both also knew of this, and it was shown in their faces. ''So you're saying that she might never wake'' Feyre asked. Madja nodded, confirming the statement, ''Physically she should be doing better than she is, her fae blood should have taken over the faebane has been flushed out'' ''But it's not taking over, is it?'' Az's voice sounded. Madja shook her head; she looked at Rhys. He nodded, ''thank you, Madja''. As Madja left the room, Feyre stood and walked to Azriel. ''I'm sorry, Az, I should have gotten her out sooner; I'm so sorry,'' She said to him.
Az shook his head, we all knew it wasn't her fault, and Azriel wouldn't let her think that way. ''It's not your fault,'' He said, pushing off the wall. And walking out of the room without as much of a look. Rhys pulled a hand through his hair as Feyre walked back to sit back and lean against him. ''We can't just let this happen,'' I said, my frustration coming to the surface. ''I won't just sit back and watch Bri waste away; there must be something we can do''. "Can't you enter her mind?'' Lucien asked. ''No, it would do more damage, I'm afraid,'' Rhys said. ''Her mind is so fragile that even a small look could break it beyond repair,'' Feyre said. I was pacing again, trying to get the frustration out. ''Go punch a wall, Cas,'' Rhys said, ''Before you break something in here''. ''There has to be something'' I all but yelled at them. She's like my sister. I can't watch her die. Rhys answered my thoughts aloud, ''Cassian, I know that you don't think I haven't been thinking about it any moment I get''. ''What about Az? What will happen if she doesn't make it? She is his'' ''Cass'' Rhys said, cutting me off ''She'll be fine, she has to be''. ''You can't know that'' I shouted, ''my friend, my sister is dying, and it's all'' ''No'' Mor finally snapped. ''it's no one fault but Hybern,'' She said. ''Mor is right; we need to focus; tomorrow Cassian and Feyre will go to the prison,'' Rhys said, getting up from his seat. I stormed off to the training ring; I needed to get rid of the frustration before I could even think of getting ready for the prison.
Later that night, I walked towards Briar's room. Nuala was standing outside the room. ''Ssh'' She pointed to her lips, indicating I shouldn't say anything. ''Bri, please come back to me, please'' Az's voice rang softly yet broken. ''he's been in there for the past hour or so,'' Nuala answered. He was on his knees next to her bed, holding her hand. ''n-n-no'' she whimpered, ''not the ''. Before she shrieked. ''shhh, you're safe,'' Az whispered, trying to calm her down. She just struggled more, scooting away from him as if she was dreaming that Az was doing those things to her. ''Bri, please' Az pleased. I wanted to stay, to help, yet I couldn't see them like this, so broken. If she doesn't get out of the darkness soon, she won't at all rang through my head.