For the first time in a very long time Rhysand felt at ease. After fifty years of slavery Under the Mountain, it was utter bliss to be back home. He wasn't sure that his scars from Amarantha would ever erase, and it would definitely take a long time to rebuild his life. Still, Rhys was determined to enjoy every moment with his family-there was no telling what tomorrow will bring. The High Lord of the Night Court was having a rather quiet evening with his Inner Circle. They were lounging at the dining room, having just finished dinner. Amren was taking sips of a dark liquid, giving a menacing smile to Cassian-who was looking at her with a mix of horror and disgust. Mor was laughing at the latter and Azriel was watching the scene before him with a ghost of a smile. Yes, it was paradise being back home.

He glanced out at the floor to the opened window and sighed happily. The night air was pleasant, the night sky magnificent as the moon and stars adorned it. How he had missed his sky, its sheer beauty. Rhysand loved nights like these the most; there was nothing quite so calmly. Which is why when the sky suddenly transformed it surprised them all. It was serene one moment, and then thunder and lightning took over the next. It was as if the heavens had split open and were screaming. It was so abrupt that even their conversation stalled-it was as if the Gods were demonstrating their wrath. Rhysand would not help feeling as if something was coming. A crashing sound echoed through the walls-too heavy to be a fallen object. Being as there was no one else besides his court in the house, Rhysand was instantly on alert. Who would dare trespass into the personal home of the most powerful High Lord in history? No one said anything as they vigilantly made their way to the hallway, Cassian pulled out weapons from his side, trying to assess the level of the threat. Rhysand was more than worried; his personal home in Velaris was protected by magic, and only Mor and himself were even able to winnow in.

The hallway was dark, with very few candles lit, making it difficult to see just what had evoked such noise. Squinting Rhysand finally made out the unmoving shape down the hall, near the foyer. Of all the things their imagination conjured up, it was clear that none of them expected this.

"Holy shit," Cassian said softly, as they slowly advanced towards the curled up person on the floor.

The woman-or girl, as it seemed more fitting- was completely naked. Her face was covered by her luscious honey colored locks, arms loosely warped around her breasts, legs brought close to her chest. She seemed so small and frail, so powerless. Rhysand choked down on his revulsion, biting down on his horror, for the girl was covered in scars. They were very prominent on her golden skin. All across her body were scar tissue, big ones, small ones, thin ones, thick ones. The most prominent ones were three harsh ones that adorned her entire back. It was clear that her injuries had been made over many years, with different weapons and using different methods. The girl had seen hell.

Mor was the first to approach the girl, gently pushing her hair away from her face-a face that was so breathtakingly beautiful. Her dark arched eyebrows and sharp cheekbones gave her an air of mystery. Her dark long eyelashes rested on her cheeks while her small straight nose and those full plumed lips gave her an allure of a goddess. She was without a doubt the most beautiful person Rhysand had ever seen.

No one said anything as Mor touched the girl again, trying to determine if she was conscious or not. "What do you want to do with her?" She asked, turning her eyes to her cousin. Rhysand's heart clenched as he read Mor's face, as he saw her reliving her experience after being dumped by her family with that dreadful note nailed to her naked body.

Rhysand was not sure what to say, not sure what to do. A girl had broken into his home, her body a map of the horrors she had endured. So much for a peaceful night at home.

"I'll carry her," Azriel volunteered before Rhys could answer, surprising them all. He too looked at the girl with a complex look, not pity, but perhaps empathy. Quickly he carelessly ripped off his own shirt and draped it over her, shielding her as he raised her in his arms, snuggling her close to his bare chest. "Get a healer,"

Mor winnowed out of the house without another word, as Azriel winnowed to a bedroom and laid her down on the bed. She was so tiny that Azriel's shirt covered her from the neck to her knees. The Shadowsinger took a seat next to her, pushing her hair behind her ears. Rhysand was in awe; he had never seen his spy look like this before, so warm, so gentle.

"I'll check for other uninvited guests," Rhysand's second claimed before vanishing too.

Azriel's expression suddenly changed as he again peered at the girl's round ears. He turned to his brothers in surprise.

"She's human." He exclaimed, shock coating his words. "How did she break through the barriers?"

"It doesn't seem like she came by choice." Rhysand answered. He was very perplexed indeed. A human, a mere human had broken through the protective wards.

"Who did that to her?" His eyes still glued to the sleeping figure, Cassian asked, just barely over a whisper. No one answered. Rhysand tried to no avail to dig through her mind, but surprisingly, the girl's mind was completely sealed off. How could a mere mundane possibly protect herself from the Fae?

Just then Mor arrived with the healer, who was already in doctor mode. "High Lord," Inclining her head quickly in respect, Alice directly to the figure on the bed. "What happened?"

"I'm not sure,"Rhysand answered back, still mystified. "She appeared out of nowhere."

"I'm going to uncover her…" Almost instantly everyone was exiting the room, the High Lord lingered by the door frame, for some reason not wanting to be apart from her. "Let me know how she is." He said weakly. Just what the hell was his deal?

Forty minutes later Alice came out. Rhysand was leaning against the door restlessly, Mor was lounging on a small divan in the hallway, Amren was still gone. Cassian was keeping himself busy by cleaning his knives and occasionally glancing at Rhys, and Azriel was standing very straight in a corner, having not moved a muscle since he came back from the Human lands twenty minutes ago. Rhysand had sent him to investigate but the spymaster had come back empty handed and more confused.

"She doesn't seem to be in any immediate danger," The healer started, "She has no visible internal or external injuries but she needs rest."

"How is that possible?" Questioned Rhys, more and more confused from the course of events. "She broke through my wards."

The healer looked bewildered herself. "I don't know how, but she is fine."

"And the scars…" Questioned Rhys, unsure of how to finish the question.

"Are mostly old," Answered Alice, knowing what the high lord wanted to know. "They are all healed though."

"How did she get them?"

"If I had to guess, I'd say she was torture over a long period of time," Rhys's breath ceased for a minute. Tortured, a young thing like her. "Judging from the shackles-"

"Shackles?" Interrupted Mor, having not seen any.

"She has scars around both of her wrists which could have only been made by chains." Alice shrugged, "seems like she had worn them for quite some time."

"What happened to her?"

Alice shook her head, "I have no idea, but from the looks of it, most of her past injuries should be fatal for a human."

"So she's fine?" Came from behind. Azriel spoke finally, worrying over the mysterious girl, not wanting to hear anymore of the girl's alleged life, it felt like he was invading her privacy-something very odd for a spymaster.

"Perfectly fine. And strong too, for such a small human."

"When will she wake up?" Mor asked, she was aching to speak to her.

"Tomorrow most likely."

"And her mind-"

"Is completely protected, no one has access to her mind." Alice reassured the High Lord who looked anxious. "If that is all.." Rhys gave a small nod before looking at the closed door again. Only then did he finally realize why the room had looked so familiar; it was none other than Azriel's own bedroom. Something in his chest stirred, looking at the girl he concluded that it was his Fae instincts that made him feel that way towards her-towards any female that was in danger. It was completely normal, it was his nature. Though the way Azriel was acting towards her was abnormal for the Shadowsinger; he did not like people, did not get along with them. Even when he was with his family there was only so much he would show.

"I'll get her something to wear," Informed Mor before she too left them. "I'll fix the wards," Cassian said and left without another word.

Turning around he saw that the healer had already left, leaving only him and his brother.

"I'll sleep in one of the spare rooms," Said Azriel, still crossed arm from his place in the corner. He didn't even look at Rhys as he continued. "That girl… her hands… they look just like mine."

Rhys's heart stopped for a moment, no wonder Azriel had looked at her with such sympathy. Of course-of course Azriel would act that way towards her. Her scarred hands reminded him of his own traumatic childhood.

He was unsettled; if a small girl such as she was able to find Velaris, others would too. And if they did the secret city would now be exposed-his people would be exposed. The thought did not settle well with him. Rhysand needed to find out how a human could have entered Velaris, very much less found it. He turned his head towards his brother and Azriel's face worried him. Rhys felt completely worn out and he knew that his family felt the same. What they all needed was a good rest so they can be clear minded tomorrow.

"Rest." He said, patting Azriel on the back. "We'll get our answers tomorrow."