Disclaimer: All but Lyra belong to Sarah J Maas
Azriel gathered Lyra into his arms, still shaking, and spread his wings to launch into the sky. Rhysand had sent an order to meet at the townhouse and Azriel still felt him lingering in his mind, looking over all that had just happened.
She obliterated him. His brother whispered, voice lined with dark satisfaction.
Azriel glanced down at Lyra, her face distant, almost blank and he could already see the signs of her retreating into herself. He squeezed her tighter and she blinked, looking up at him, her eyes dazed.
She did what was right. I'll assure her of that myself. Rhysand growled and Azriel felt his brothers anger, his unending rage at his city being violated once again. Azriel felt it too, hated that those priestesses were now left scared of their own sanctuary, that Lyra had been faced with what she had. That he hadn't been able to protect her.
They will pay. Was the only reply Azriel could manage before Rhysand retreated from his mind.
He landed on the lawn of the townhouse and Mor ran out, eyes wide as she took in his dirt smudged face, smelled the blood on his leathers.
"Azriel-"
"We're fine." Azriel assured her, Lyra still held in his arms. He looked down at her again, that same dazed look on her face as she lay against his chest. Mor took her in, brown eyes filled with worry. Azriel lowered her to the ground gently, his arm still holding firmly around her waist, both because of how unsteady she looked on her feet and because he could not stand to be apart from her yet. She didn't resist the touch, instead leaning into him as though she was too tired to stand on her own. His heart constricted painfully, the guilt and anger still simmering at what had just happened.
"The others are coming now." Mor said, her voice steady, calming as she led them inside. Elain sat on a couch, staring into the distance and steadily ignoring her mate, who stood alert and armed by the window.
Azriel guided Lyra to a sofa, watching as she curled into the side before he took his seat next to her. She looked over at him again, her eyes running over the cut of his leathers on his arm where she had healed him. She reached out, her pale fingers moving over the now repaired skin beneath, her brow furrowed. He felt gooseflesh rise as her fingers skimmed over his bare skin, her fingers cold and still shaking slightly.
"I was so scared about hurting someone but then…" she whispered, her voice hoarse. "The poison is gone too."
"Poison?" Mor asked, slight alarm in her voice as she looked to Azriel.
"Lyra healed it." Azriel said without looking away from her. She stared back, her brow furrowing.
"Healed-" Mor repeated.
"She is both sides of a coin." Elain said softly, turning to look at Lyra, who stared back. Lucien turned at the sound of his mates voice, watching her cautiously as his eye clicked softly. "Creation and destruction."
"What-" Lyra started but the door opened, revealing Cassian, his face dark and clouded. Feyre and Nesta followed, both thankfully unharmed, and at last Rhysand, that blood still caking his hands, splattered along his pants and shirt. Azriel could almost taste his anger in the air, clouding the room.
Lyra still stared at Elain, eyes fixed on the middle Archeron but she had already drifted back, eyes going unfocused before she leaned into Mor and stared into the distance. Azriel laid a hand on Lyra's knee, pulling her attention back before she sighed.
"The priestesses and those in the city will keep quiet about what happened today." Rhysand said, arms crossing as he ran his violet eyes over each of them. "So no one outside this city will know why Amren hunts tonight. We can't afford to let the other High Lords know. It would unnerve them - and destabilize the image we have worked so hard to create."
"Wasn't there another attack before?" Lyra asked, leaning back into the couch, her face tired. "Doesn't that already show vulnerability?"
"That was a surprise attack, that we handled quickly." Cassian answered from where he hovered in the doorway. "Az made the information came out portraying us as victors - able to defeat any challenge Hybern threw at us."
"We did that today." Feyre pointed out, lifting her chin.
"It's different. The first time, we had the element of their surprise to excuse us. This second time… it makes us look unprepared. Vulnerable. We can't risk that getting out before the meeting in 10 days." Rhys explained, jaw clenching. "So for all appearances, we will remain unruffled as we prepare for war."
Azriel saw Lyra shift next to him, her nails digging into her palm as she frowned at the ground. He wasn't sure why the words upset her so much, but he reached out, touching her knee gently again. She glanced at him, seeming to relax under his touch.
"A war where we have no allies beyond Keir, either in Prythian or beyond it." Mor muttered, sagging against the sofa with a frown on her beautiful face.
"The queen might come." Elain piped up and Lyra saw her gaze snap to the middle Archeron sister. He could see her studying her, alert and almost on edge. She was staring not at her face, but over her body, like she was looking past Elain's flesh and somewhere deeper.
"What queen?" Nesta asked, her voice holding more edge then Azriel had ever heard her use against Elain.
"The one who was cursed."
"Cursed by the Cauldron." Feyre explained to her eldest sister, her voice patient even though her face had become tight at Elain's words.
"No. That's not what she means." Lyra whispered, still staring, her white blue eyes seeming to flash. Elain looked up, her eyes focusing as she met Lyra's gaze. "What Queen, Elain?"
Lyra was looking inside Elain, he realized. She was looking at her magic, something about it seeming to click into place.
The Scorpion will sting her and you will lose half your heart.
Elain had known about him. Before the wards had even broken. Before Lyra had even been in danger.
"The queen," Elain continued, her brow furrowing. "With the feathers of flame."
Azriel stared, tilting his head as he looked between Lyra and Elain, the pieces clicking, weaving together almost like his shadows. Lyra could see it, could feel it.
"Does she need-"
"She doesn't need anything." Azriel countered, looking back to Elain, who stared back unflinchingly. "A seer. The Cauldron made you a seer."
"Is that what this is?" Elain breathed, looking between Lyra and Mor.
"I could always see it working, but it felt so different…" Lyra muttered, shaking her head as she looked at whatever she seemed to see beneath Elain's skin. "And then when you looked… I saw it clearly."
Mor's own magic ran over Elain, searching, probing as they all stared and waited. She eventually nodded, looking surprised as she turned back toward Feyre. Lucien sank into a chair, looking torn between relief and worry.
"There is another queen?" Azriel asked, studying her.
She titled her head, seeming to look inward and he saw Lyra watching beside him, almost fascinated by whatever she saw happening in Elain. "Yes." The blonde finally answered, her voice more steady and sure then he had ever heard it.
"The sixth queen," Mor breathed, eyes wide. "The one the golden one said was wasn't ill-"
"She said not to trust the other queens because of it." Feyre finished, realization seeming to dawn on her as she looked to Nesta. "You stole something from the Cauldron, but what if it gave something to Elain?"
"What?" Nesta gasped, looking horrified by the prospect.
"You knew, about the young queen turning into a crone." Azriel continued, his eyes never leaving Elain as she blinked. Seemed to clear herself fully. "The sixth queen is alive?"
"Yes." Elain said simply.
"What sort of curse?" Rhysand asked, those violet eyes calculating.
"They sold her to… to some darkness - to some sorcerer lord. I can never see him. What he is. There is an onyx box that he possesses, more vital than anything… save for them. The girls. He keeps other girls - others so like her - by day she is one form, by night, human again." Elain explained.
"The bird of burning feathers." Feyre whispered, remembering back to weeks before.
"Fire bird by day. Women by night." Rhy repeated, calculating. "So she's held captive by this sorcerer-lord?"
"I don't know." Elain admitted, shaking her head. "I hear her screaming. With rage… utter rage."
"Why was she given to him? Why did the queens turn on her?" Lyra asked.
"That is… it's all mist and shadow."
"Can you sense where she is?" Rhysand asked, letting out a breath.
"There is a lake. Deep in - in the continent, I think." Elain muttered, looking, searching through those visions. "Hidden among mountains and ancient forests. He keeps them all at the lake."
"Other women like her?" Rhys pressed.
"Yes and no. They're feathers are as white as snow. They glide across the water - while she rages through the sky above it."
"What information do we have on the sixth queen?" Mor asked, looking toward Rhysand.
"Little. We know little." Azriel answered, frowning as he thought back to all the reports he had gathered in those months before when they had asked to meet with those wretched queens. "Young, somewhere in her mid-twenties. Scythia lies along the wall, to the east. It's smallest amongst the human queens realms but rich in trade and arms. She goes by Vaasa, but I never got reports of her full name."
"If they took her out like that," Lyra muttered, looking at him. "She must have been some kind of threat. Which could be good for us, right?"
"It could be." Feyre agreed, nodding. "If we can find her, she may be vital in convincing the human forces to fight. And giving us an ally on the continent."
"If we can find her." Cassian argued, wings flaring slightly. "It could take months. Not to mention facing the male who has her could be harder than expected. We can't afford those possible risks. Or the time it would take. We should focus on our meeting with the other High Lords first."
"But we could stand to gain much," Mor pushed, leaning up from the couch. "Perhaps if She has an army-"
"Perhaps she does," Cassian interrupted, crossing his arms. "But if she's cursed, who will lead it? And if her kingdom is so far away… they have to travel the mortal way too. You remember how slowly they moved, how quickly they died-"
"It's worth a try." Mor snapped, her lips pursing.
"You're needed here." Cassian countered and Azriel could not stop his own nod. Mor could handle herself, he knew that but the thought of her going into the human lands by herself…. he did not want to see that happen. "I need you on the battlefield, not traipsing through the continent. The human half of it. If those queens have rallied armies to offer Hybern, they're no doubt standing between you and Queen Vaasa."
"You don't give me orders-" Mor started, eyes flashing defiantly.
"No, but I do. Don't give me that look." Rhys interjected, staring down Mor as she glared. "He's right. We need you here Mor."
"Scythia, I remember them." Mor said, shaking her head. "They're horse people. A mounted cavalry could travel-"
"No." Rhys repeated, his voice giving no room for more conversation.
"Why would Elain be seeing these things if there wasn't a reason?" Lyra interjected, surprising both Rhysand and Azriel. She looked up, meeting Rhysand's uncompromising face. "She was right about all the other things. There has to be a reason."
"Lyra's right." Mor pushed, nodding. "If we don't listen perhaps we deserve to fail."
There was a pause, all of them taking this in, working through how it could be done. Azriels wings shifted, frowning as he tried to think of some spy or ally they could send to find her-
"I'll do it." Lucien said, breaking the silence and his eyes only on his mate, who steadily ignored him. He looked to Rhysand and Feyre then. "I'll go. I'll find the sixth queen."
"What makes you think you could find her?" Rhysand asked, though he wasn't taunting or spiteful. Merely probing, curious.
"This eye." Lucien said, pointing toward the golden device as it whirled. "It can see things others…. can't. Spells, glamours… perhaps it can help me find her. And break her curse." Azriel saw him glance at Elain again, though she continued to ignore him. Azriel almost felt sorry for the male as he swallowed and turned back. "I'm not needed here. I'll fight if you need me to but….I do not belong in the Autumn Court. And I'm willing to bet I'm no longer welcome at ho- the Spring Court. But I cannot sit here and do nothing. Those queens with their armies- there is a threat in that regards too. So use me. Send me. I will find Vassa, see if she can bring help."
"You will be going into the human territory. I can't spare a force to guard you." Rhysand said.
"I don't need one. I travel faster on my own." Lucien said simply, his chin lifting. He seemed to be gaining confidence, spurred by this new mission. "I will find her. And if they're is an army to bring back or at least for some way for her story to sway the human forces… I'll find a way to do that too."
"It will be very dangerous." Mor warned, watching Lucien carefully.
"Good." He grinned, lips turning up into a smile. "It would be boring otherwise."
"I'll load you up some Illyrian steel." Cassian grinned, is eying Lucien with a bit of respect.
Rhysand pushed off the archway, studying Lucien. "I'll winnow you as close as we can get, to wherever you need to begin your journey. Thank you."
Lucien only shrugged, but Feyre watched him, concern shinning in her eyes. Azriel wasn't sure if it was more for her friend or her sister. "Are you sure?" She questioned.
"Yes," Lucien said softly, sneaking one more glance at Elain. "Let me help in what way I can."
"When do you want to leave?"
"Tomorrow." Lucien said, nodding. "I'll prepare for the rest of today and leave after breakfast tomorrow morning. If that works for you?"
"For what you're about to do, Lucien, we'll make it work." Rhys answered, before he looked to Azriel and jerked his chin. Azriel knew what the silent order meant, but he hesitated briefly, looking to where Lyra still sat curled into the couch. She glanced up, frowning at him.
"Your powers aren't back." She argued, eyes drifting to that cut in his leathers, frown deepening.
"I will be quick." He said softly, standing and letting his wings stretch a bit. She still looked worried, her brow furrowed.
"I'll run you up to the house." Cassian interrupted, giving Lyra a grin as she stood too. She let out a sigh, but nodded.
"After go to see if the Illyrians had any attacks as well." Rhysand ordered, looking to Mor as well. "Check Keir too."
Mor looked as though she could care less if her father had suffered, but she nodded and turned to leave.
"Be safe." Lyra said softly to him, that concern still glimmering there. It warmed something deep inside him.
"I will." He assured her, before he headed outside to take to the skies.
The rest of the night seemed to pass in a blur, the shock and fear of everything seeming to wear off all at once on that flight home. She and Cassian flew in mostly silence, the beat of his wings the only sound between them. She was so tired, so exhausted by that point that she could do little more than lay her head against his chest and fight to stay awake.
Cassian remained with her until Azriel had returned, still covered in the dirt and blood from the fight. Cassian had clasped his brothers arm when he had landed, pulling him into what looked to be a bone crushing hug. Azriel returned it, emotions swimming in his hazel eyes before Cassian pulled away and to Lyra's surprise, had gathered her into his arms as well. She found herself melting into his warm arms, fighting to keep the tears from springing to her eyes again as he pressed a kiss to her hair and whispered, "I'm glad you're alright."
She watched him fly away into the night, her arms wrapped around herself.
Azriel had wished her good night, some emotion she couldn't quite understand swimming in his eyes as he stood outside her door. Something about it made her insides churn and her heart flutter, and before she knew what she was doing, she had thrown her arms around him. She pressed herself against his chest, the sound of his heart beating within relieving the last bit of fear she hadn't known she was holding onto. Azriel had wrapped his arm around her in return, holding her just as tight.
"Good night, Az." She whispered when she finally pulled away.
She didn't sleep much, her mind seeming to shift between the image of Azriel crawling toward her and the Scorpion's strangled screams. She gave up sometime just before dawn, instead just stared at the ceiling.
She had killed someone. A vile, awful person but she had still taken his life. Had felt as her power had overtaken his entire body and had obliterated every cell in his body. She hadn't meant to but when he had grabbed her like that, forcing her to look at him…
He grunted, body pressed against hers as he forced his way into her, pain erupting between her legs. She whimpered, tears streaming down her cheeks. His fingers grabbed her chin, shoved her face toward his, those blunt, dirty nails scraping against her skin. "Look at me." He growled, his breathe hot on her neck. "Look at me."
Those memories has come back so suddenly, had filled her with mind numbing panic and she hadn't been able to stop as her power broke free of the cage she had put around it and had been turned against him. She hadn't known what she was doing, couldn't even think straight as she had used her magic against him. She just knew that she couldn't have that happen to her again.
It was that panic that had spurred her up to the training ring that morning, despite how tired and sluggish her body was. Cassian was gone, but she could still work on the forms he had started to show her for hand-to-hand combat as she waited for him to return. She had to do something, anything she could to make sure that she never froze like that again.
She went through her stretches, making sure her body was limber before she moved through her exercises that he had led her through to strengthen her body. Then she went to working through her punches, practicing the way to hold her body, the best stance and her breathing as she went through each hit. She got into such a rhythm it had almost become trancelike before she heard Rhysand's voice.
"You need to keep your left elbow up."
"Jesus!" Lyra started, nearly tripping when she whipped around to find Rhysand leaning against the open doorway of the staircase leading back into the House, no wings and dressed in his usual impeccable black and silver. His lips were turned up into an amused grin at her fear, though she saw the smile didn't reach those violet eyes. He looked exhausted, though whether it was from everything that had happened or the day and night he had spent on the library comforting the priestesses, she didn't know.
"Sorry," he offered when she finally settled and held up his hands. "In my defense I did call your name."
"I didn't hear you." Lyra said, pushing some sweaty hair from her forehead as she went to grab some water.
"Cassian would be proud of how focused you were." Rhysand said, moving toward the training ring.
"And then reprimand me for not being aware." She said, earning a laugh from the High Lord.
"I'll leave that part out." He assured her. He paused, watching her as she swallowed down water greedily, something in his eyes seeming to shutter before he slid his hands into his pockets. "I wanted to thank you for yesterday."
Lyra lowered her glass, staring at the bit of water left as she rocked the glass back and forth. She wasn't sure what to say to that, how to respond to being thanked for killing someone. Rhysand seemed to sense her discomfort and he took a step forward, pulling her attention back to his face. "You protected my people, my city. You protected my brother."
"I just… did what I had to." She murmured, shrugging.
"No, you could have run. Azriel told you too. But you stayed and helped." Rhysand said, those cunning violet eyes soft.
"I couldn't leave him." Lyra admitted quietly and Rhys studied her, his head tilting as he took her in. She felt oddly exposed by the way he was looking at her, like he saw something there that she couldn't figure out.
"I don't know if the Book holds answers on how to get you back to your world or how things will go with this war, Lyra. But I want you to know that you will always have a home in this court." Rhysand said gently, dipping his head to her. "If you wish to stay, I would be very honored to have you remain here with my family. To be a part of it."
Lyra swallowed, her fingers tightening around the glass as she fought the tears that rose at his words. She had never had a family before, not a real one at least. Her father had left before she was even a month old and her mother had viewed her at best as an accessory and at worse a burden. And after leaving her mother, she had been so messed up from what had happened that she had never let anyone get close enough to her to be a friend, let alone her family.
But these people in this foreign world seemed to understand and care for her in a way she had never found in her own world. Just as much she had come to care for them. And taking in Rhysand, the sincerity of his words, she realized how lonely she had become in her own world. She had spent so much time after her abuse trying to forget and destroy herself that she hadn't gotten close to anyone and by the time she had gotten her life back together, it had become such a habit that she hadn't known any other way to live.
Going back home had been an almost automatic thought when she had first been told that there was a possibility of Amren being able to send her back. Of course she would want to go back, she had to go back to finish school, to make something of herself. To prove her mother and the others that had tried to tear her apart wrong. It had been her goal for several years now, the one thing that had kept her going. But Rhysand's offer, they opened up a new path for her. A new possibility.
"Thank you." Lyra whispered, voice rough. She sniffed, trying to compose herself before she looked back up at him. "Thank you, Rhysand."
"Of course." He said, bowing his head to her. "I just wanted to make sure that you knew there was a choice, if you wished to make one."
He left her after that, going back to take Lucien to where he was going to search for the human queen. Lyra sank into the stool near the water, staring as she thought over his words again, as they settled deep within her.
What did it mean if she didn't go back home? If she didn't complete what she had worked so hard for?
Maybe becoming something there didn't have to be the goal and wasn't meant to be where she ended up. She had spent so much time here thinking that it had been random that she of all people had been brought here, but perhaps something else had chosen her, had given her this chance to find herself among these people and in this world. Maybe she was meant to be here, with this family that she had come to care so much for.
Perhaps she would find a new goal. Protecting these people, her new family, that sounded like a good one to her.
Lyra headed back toward her bedroom, those thoughts still churning within her as she sank back into the bed, burrowing beneath the covers. She stared up at the canopy of the bed for a while, sinking into sleep so quickly she didn't even remember when it had happened. This time, no nightmares came. Instead, she dreamed of an open darkness that seemed to stretch into eternity, the only light coming from that familiar shimmering, iridescent cord. It glinted before her, extending out into that blackness and she followed it, just as she had that night in the Cauldron, watching in fascination as it became clearer.
It seemed to solidify the longer she walked, becoming so clear that she dared to run her fingers over it. She stared, entranced by the beauty of it and she swore as she gripped it, she felt something like peace.