Mayre Alexander – I'm so happy you think this is well written! Apologies for the long gap in updates, a lot has been going on recently and I've only just got another one of my stories back on track so it is now this one's turn. However, since it's all fully plotted out now, updates should be a lot quicker to come through!
Thankfully my fears about Helion or his mother being upset were unfounded. Upon seeing me, Helion had made a quick joke that had Rhys rolling his eyes and Cassian growling which made me snort at the surprised look on his face. Clearly he hadn't meant to be upset but still, I loved how he (and often Azriel) seemed to forget they suffered the effects of the echo mating bond. Aurelia (which I learnt was Lucien's mothers name) immediately hugged me, repeatedly thanking me for saving her from Beron. The similarities between her and myself after I had escaped from Tamlin were obvious, and going by the looks on Rhysand, Cassian and Azriel's faces, it wasn't lost on them either.
Eventually we were all sat down, Cassian and Azriel either side of me, Helion and Aurelia opposite on either side of Lucien, both clutching one of his hands. Hand resting on my stomach, I couldn't imagine losing my child and to think of the pain Aurelia must've felt trying to keep him safe from Beron and then in the Spring Court. That's not to mention how awful Helion must've felt, knowing how terribly Beron treated his son and he did nothing, even though at the time he had no idea of their connection.
I smiled slightly at the comforting shadows from Rhys, still draped around me in what I assumed was supposed to be a phantom hug, before asking "What's going to happen now? I can't imagine Beron will let you go that easily and especially not since it's Helion who took you away given your history."
Aurelia glanced at Helion, clearly indicating he should take the lead on this one. Helion sighed, running a tired hand through his hair, a far cry from the usually confident, outspoken high lord. "Then we tell him the truth. Lucien is my son, Beron disowned him so no longer has any claim, and Aurelia chose to stay with me after Lucien took her away from the Autumn Court. I've already sourced a high priest who has divorced her, meaning she has no ties to him anymore as they weren't mates. He'll probably throw a fit, confront us etc but there's little to nothing he can do to take her back, I've made sure she'll never return to that hell hole again."
"I'd say you seem rather overconfident on that front, high lord," a mocking voice sounded from behind us. Rhys went still, eyes focused on something that I knew was probably barely less than a few metres behind me. Cassian immediately curved a wing around me from his seat, blocking me from his view while Azriel's hand slipped around the Truth teller, eyes cold and cursed quietly under his breath. Cassian meanwhile muttered something about increased security my ass and Amren's name, and honestly I decided I didn't want to know. Cassian could deal with an angry Amren if he wanted to. I certainly didn't.
Turning around and ignoring Cassian's glare as I pushed his wing out of my view and faced Beron. Memories from the last time I saw him surfaced and I swallowed. I would not let him try to harm my child again. "As Helion just said," I stated coolly, "you no longer have any ties to Lady Aurelia. Coming here and threatening her will do nothing except upset people and possibly cause another war, this time a needless and unnecessary one."
"No war is ever 'needless and unnecessary' as you say," Beron replied, voice frosty enough I would've thought he'd be from the winter court. "And if my wife chooses to come back, then what will you do then?"
"She'd never!"
Beron snorted. "Your overconfidence is your weakness. You think that just because you've been handing yourself around the high lords that you can do the same to me to get what you want."
I pursed my lips as growls echoed around the room. How lovely. "Charming," I said, voice dry. "If you're done making petty comments would you like to either say something constructive or leave us in peace?"
He strode forward, eyes narrowed and this time I didn't stop Cassian tugging me against him as Rhysand straightened, wings flexing. I knew he was thinking about the last High Lords meeting where he had attacked me. It wouldn't be too far-fetched to think he would make another attempt.
"Listen, I don't know why you seem to think you can call the shots here. You're nothing more than a jumped up human who, as much as you like to ignore it, just slept around to get to the top and nothing will ever change that. You have nothing except your looks and even then you're already losing them," he sneered, eyes flickering to my stomach. "Not to mention how you've baby trapped your mate. Got desperate, have you? Scared now he's bored of you and never at home? Wondering who he's taken home that night? Thinking –"
"Shut up!" Rhysand roared, wings flaring and lights shattering, the warm glow of the room vanishing with a hiss. Stalking over he moved chest to chest with Beron, lips curled back in a snarl. "You have no right to speak that way about myself or my darling mate. Just because you are selfish, narcissistic and immature so can't keep it in your pants but still expect your wife to stay with you – love you – doesn't mean others have the same problem. To me my mate looks more beautiful every day, carrying our child. Giving me the most beautiful gift she can. So I advise you shut your mouth and you leave, before I make you."
His voice was low, deadly. There was no amusement or light in his violet eyes, just a promise. Cassian's hand gripping my hip tightly, just on the verge of pain, I watched Beron spit at Rhysand before stalking off. Just before reaching the door however he turned, tossing a look at Helion and then staring coldly at Aurelia "You have one week to get yourself to my palace. You will be there."
Finality ringing in the air, he finally vanished through the door, leaving behind a shocked silence that oozed around us. Rhysand remained standing, staring in the direction Beron had left. His wings were trembling.
With a few swift parting goodbyes and apologies we waved off, Lucien, alongside Helion and his mother, departed back to the Day court. My heart ached as I watched my mate, pained at how helpless I was. I couldn't even go give him a hug. Bitterness swamped me at the thought, unable to even reach out with shadows like he had with magic to risky for the baby.
Azriel then stood up, shooting me a meaningful look as he moved to Rhysand, speaking softly and leading him back to his previous seat. The shadows blanketing me tightened and sorrow spoke in his gaze as we finally looked at each other again. Waving a dismissive hand to Azriel and Cassian, I turned to focus on my mate. However while Azriel moved to the door, understanding my signal for what it was, Cassian remained seated with me on his lap, wings bracketing me. Irritation flared on Rhysand's face and I gave a squeak as I felt myself scooped up and dumped back into my original seat, Azriel then hauling Cassian up and dragging him to the door, unconcerned with the wriggling, squawking mess of a fae he had in his arms.
Finally left alone (at least in theory, I was positive at least Cassian would remain outside the door though Azriel might too) I shuffled as close as I could to my mate.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, and his broken voice shattered my heart."
"Rhys, darling, you have nothing to be sorry for. None of this is your fault –"
He let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through his tousled hair. "I've been useless to you, haven't protected you at all." He held up his hand to silence my protests so I quietened, letting him speak to try to understand where in Cauldron's name was he coming from. "I know you don't like or really need protection but – but it helps me and I just want to keep you safe. Keep the baby safe. And I've failed. I mean –"
His voice broke off at the sound of shouts and a door slamming. Both jumping to our feet we moved in sync to the door, Rhysand's wing hovering protectively in front of me as he flung open the door. Peering around my eyes widened as instead of a fight with Beron or worse, Tamlin, I saw Cassian and Amren almost nose to nose and on the verge (in Cassian's case) of screeching.
I caught Azriel's eye as we moved into the hall and bit back a grin at the long suffering look he threw me. "What's going on?" I asked, amused at how neither Amren nor Cassian had noticed our presence.
"Cassian had the bright idea of going to shout at Amren about her new security measures –"
"Which are clearly appalling!" Cassian shouted, wings flaring out in his frustration and almost smacking Rhys in the face. I snorted quietly at that, pretending I didn't see the mock pout he sent me.
"Excuse me," Amren said, voice deadly smooth and eyes sharp. I swallowed. Even though it wasn't directed at me, Amren's anger was always a terrifying sight to behold. Not that Cassian seemed to have any compunctions about that at the moment. I had yet to decide whether that impressed me or made me think him as a fool. Currently it was a mixture of both.
"He's right."
I jolted around, staring wide eyed at my mate. There was no way he had decided to back Cassian in this argument. Even if he agreed with Cassian it was well known to be a suicidal idea to take on Amren. "Rhys?" I asked hesitantly, even more confused to see the nod of agreement from Azriel. What was happening?
Rhysand's eyes flicked up from where they had been focused on the floor to stare directly at Amren's furious ones. Face carefully blank he repeated again, "Cassian's right. I've let you be in charge of the security here as well as myself and have been relying on you especially since I have been away and unable to keep it up myself. Yet more people than ever seem to be getting in and threatening my mate, my darling."
Feeling my cheeks heat up and knowing they would be stained with pink I glanced at Amren, curious to see her expression. As expected, she looked apocalyptic with rage.
"Do you think I don't care for Feyre?" she hissed. "That I wish for her and her spawn to die? No one should have been able to get past the security measures." Her face twisted in displeasure. "I – I don't know how they did," she eventually spat out. That statement made us all freeze. Had it been what Cassian clearly had assumed, that Amren was being lax in her measures, they would've been furious but to hear she didn't know how they were getting through, that they shouldn't be able to, was a whole lot more concerning and certainly not the preferable option.
At the sudden quiet reflecting the shock we all felt, Amren gave us a twisted smile completely devoid of joy. "Not so confident and cocky now are we boys?" she purred and swanned off, but her usual grace and poise was off and tone a bit too flat, showcasing just how worrying the situation had become. Taking just one look at my mate and my brother's faces, I straightened, mind made up. Time for an intervention.
