I looked for them at the next party. They arrived about half way through but didn't approach me. I swear I could feel eyes on me but every time I glanced their way they were never looking at me. Regardless I couldn't help it, I watched them. I tracked Azriel in particular. I often lost sight of him in the shadows, but my constantly sweeping gaze eventually found him again. I never saw him look my way, but I had the oddest feeling that he knew I was watching him. They stayed for a few hours and then left, never once coming near me.
This happened again and again over the next few weeks. I continued to be dressed in scraps of gauze and paraded in front of what seemed to be every male in Prythian. The trio would arrive at some time in the night, stay a few hours, making their way around the hall, never approaching, and then leave. I couldn't fathom why they kept coming. They never seemed to mingle, eat or dance. They just moved around the room, somehow always staying far from me as I watched them, and then they left.
Tonight there are more of them. My uncle has kept me isolated in this palace so I don't know much about the other courts or high lords, but I felt fairly confident in who these extras might be. The new male wore black embroidered with silver. The female could only be Feyre Cursebreaker, High Lady of the Night Court. That made the male beside her Rhysand, High Lord of the Night Court. They joined the trio tonight. They even approached my uncle for introductions it seemed. That's what they were doing when my uncle called me to him. I made my way across the hall toward them all and stopped a few feet from the dais on which they stood. The males all looked on passively as I approached, but I could see fire in the eyes of Feyre and the Morrigan. There was anger there, deep and burning, as they looked upon me. My uncle didn't seem to notice as he started speaking.
"Here she is! My prize" he practically gloated. It gave him a sick sense of pleasure to abuse me this way. "This is my Fairyn, our little day flower. Fairyn dear, come closer! Bow lower silly girl, you stand before the High Lord and Lady of the Night Court! And these are their companions; Mor, Azriel, and Cassian." He listed their names as he gestured. I bowed to each of them, keeping my eyes downcast. So that was the last males name.
"She would do nicely for my purposes" Rhysand said as though he were continuing a conversation. Cauldron save me, was the High Lord of the Night Court actually trying to purchase me?!
I kept my face as blank as I could but some panic must have leaked into my expression. The Morrigan, or Mor as my uncle called her, was looking at me out of the corner of her eye but I couldn't read the expression there. I must have been wrong about them. My instinct had told me they were outraged at my situation. The one called Azriel had been polite and even seemed concerned.
How wrong I was!
Once they learned I was for sale they must have been moving to take me, not to save me. These fae were going to purchase me for whatever dark purpose their high lord had in mind. At least most of the males who had expressed interest did so in the context of me becoming their wife, the Lady of their courts. But the High Lord of the Night Court already had a High Lady, what purpose could Rhysand have? My stomach dropped and my hands began shaking. This was it. My personal nightmare was coming true. He was going to purchase himself a powerful breeding mare for his court. I turned away as casually as I could, clenching my teeth against the panic rising up inside of me.
Rhysand continued; "As you know, my Shadowsinger is one of the most powerful Illyrians in history, but he's still only an Illyrian." At this, Rhysand looked over at his High Lady, Feyre, and smirked. She looked back at him with bored eyes and a small smile on her red mouth. I was shocked to hear this view of lesser fae from another high lord. I had heard my uncles opinion on lesser fae many times before. He thought they were worthless, less than common dogs. His prejudice was famous in his court. It seemed Rhysand shared his feelings.
"She'll be a positive addition to Azriel's bloodline. It's about time we introduce new blood to the Illyrian animals. What better way than with a day flower for a wife?"
I had only managed a few steps away when his words sank in and I froze. Azriel? The beautiful dark haired male I couldn't stop watching? They wanted to purchase me… for Azriel?