Hey guys, I'm back! Tried to have less time in between updates and I think I succeeded haha. Hope you enjoy the new chapter and please feel free to review, I will reply!
Unfortunately I did not have my intervention. Minutes after I had gathered the inner circle together (somehow persuading Amren to join and not slowly throttle Cassian to death) we received an emergency summons to a sudden high lords meeting. Already high tensions in the room now skyrocketed, the unexpected news shaking everyone. Not to mention the all too clear memories of the events from the last meeting only mere months ago. And with Rhys still ill, he wasn't cleared to come. No one was happy.
I exchanged a look with Mor who gave me an unusually serious nod in return. I knew there would be no hope in parting with Azriel or Cassian for this meeting and leaving Amren to tend to Rhys would only end in a long, drawn out, painful death for him. So yeah, Mor it was. Slipping off the sofa to my feet, I felt my lips twitch at the immediate movement from Rhys, Cassian and Azriel, the latter two moving to flank me. Rhys meanwhile remained where he was, hands clenching as he restrained himself from following.
"We'll head back to the cabin now," Mor spoke quietly, a quick glance at her cousin revealing the nerves at poking a sleeping bear. Assuming correctly, Rhys's head snapped to her direction, ire flashing in his eyes. At Mor's nod I gratefully took the distraction to flee, tossing on a rather fancy cloak to disguise the simple dress and stole the nearest crown on my dresser before grasping onto Cassian and Azriel to winnow. I felt the dark grasp at me and a fuzziness settle in my head just as a clanging roar of Feyre echoed around my head. Then there was quiet.
Head thumping I gave a groan. Raising my head groggily I blinked slowly, my thoughts taking a few minutes to get with the action and supply a memory of my surroundings. The Dawn palace. Specifically the room I stayed in with Rhysand the last time we were here. Taking note of a sleeping Cassian next to me, I noted Azriel's absence when a soft voice broke in "Feyre?"
"Vivian!" Joy bubbled in me at the sight of my friend. She grasped my hand in hers, squeezing it with a thankful expression on her face.
"I was so worried; you can't do that to me!"
I laughed, shaking my head. "This happens whenever I winnow now, even if someone else does it for me. My body can't handle the strain."
Her white brows furrowed as she eyed me sternly, "Then why come at all? Surely Rhysand should've come alone, or at least at all." Her scowl deepened at that and I winced. Of course, she didn't know he was ill and it did admittedly look bad that I was here alone when vulnerable. Mentally weighing my options, I decided Vivian was safe to tell, and depending on what the summit was about and the comments others made I may bring it up but would prefer to keep it on the down low.
"Rhys, he's – he's ill. He couldn't come. Hence," I waved a hand to Cassian. "Not that him sleeping will protect me that much but the thought is there."
Vivian laughed as I grinned but swiftly became more sombre as she focused back on the first part of my statement. "He's ill? Is he – will he…"
"He'll be fine, Madja's making sure of it," I reassured her, ignoring the hard knot that settled into my stomach at the thought of losing him. Going on without him, going on with this without him. It was unimaginable.
"Is Mor with him?"
I nodded, "She was the only one who could manage him and not need to be at the meeting. Or in Amren's case, kill him with some convoluted excuse boiling down to 'it essentially cured him anyway' or something."
Vivian smirked. "Honestly though, can you imagine Amren trying to care for someone who's sick?" She shook her head as if trying to get rid of the thought. "Anyway, Azriel is scoping everything out, see if he can work out why we're here."
"We still don't know?"
"Nope, only that Beron hasn't arrived yet. Eris is here though which makes it even more suspicious considering Beron was apparently seen by Helion around an hour ago."
I hummed in acknowledgement, frowning. "Something's happened, something big."
"The king, do you think –?"
"No, no," I shook my head firmly. That was over with, done. "Something else."
She nodded, opening her mouth to ask something when she faulted, head tilted. An apology flittered over her face and she hurried out her goodbyes, nothing more than a swift explanation of a rather insistent Kallias calling down the bond. I waved her away and watched her leave flutter out the door, wishing for a minute that one day I could be that graceful, my thoughts flittered to my bond with Rhysand. It was silent, an empty chasm between is. Blocked.
Making my way to the erected shields on his side, I pressed a hand against it. Behind them I could feel hurt and pain roiling around alongside the remaining nausea of his illness.
Rhys?
For a terrifying moment there was nothing but the echo of my own voice, my heart flooding with sorrow and loneliness. He had to forgive me for this, one of us had to go and there was no way it could be him. It was the only thing to be done. Not that it hadn't been hard, the knowledge of winnowing overwhelming and draining me causing anxiety that I could feel from Azriel and Cassian as well as my mate.
Feyre!
Relief smashed through me as his urgent voice stumbled through. Rhys. I'm alright I promise.
You left. You – you –
Cassian's with me now and Azriel scouting the place out now. I've already spoken with Vivian but she doesn't know why or who has summoned us here either, only that everyone but Beron is here so it may be to do with what happened earlier.
I could feel the mass of emotions tumble around Rhysand's mind as he took in that information.
I'm still unhappy that you left, he eventually began quietly. I understand why, and that you had to, but I still hate it. I know you can protect yourself but with all that's happened it hurts. It hurts to be away from you. From the baby.
I know. I wish you were here too. Biting my lip I curled around him as best I could when not next to him, flooding the bond with memories of the solstice and pride and painting and hugs. Of love.
A tear welled up at the response I received, hands shaking as warmth engulfed me. The ache in my chest magnified, the emptiness of my other half missing multiplying by the second. I wished him a swift goodbye before he could sense my turbulent emotions in an attempt to prevent him feeling even worse about how his illness affected me. Closing the bond I moved to sit up only to feel a hand grab my hip. Cassian.
"Decided to get up now?" I asked, amused. Cassian responded with a sheepish grin and a shrug, swinging his legs over the side of the bed.
"Has Azriel come back?"
I shook my head. "Haven't seen him but according to Vivian he's still having a poke around so," I shrugged. I didn't have a clue what was going on any more than he did though by his face it clearly bothered him a lot more than me. At this point I had just learnt to go with the flow and that I'd never have any idea of what was going to happen in this crazy world.
Then Azriel burst into the room.
Cassian was in front of me in an instant, sword drawn before recognising him and lowering his weapons (but not putting them away, I noticed with a wry glance). Raising an eyebrow at Azriel I hoped he'd just spit it out, it couldn't be that bad after all.
"Eris has overthrown Beron and taken position as the High Lord of the Autumn Court."
A clatter rang out in the silence as Cassian dropped his sword. I gaped at Azriel. Cauldron above that was not what I was expecting him to say. "What?" I winced at the shrill tone in my voice but damn, this was not on the list of reasons I thought the meeting was called.
"He's overthrown Beron," Azriel repeated, his usually blank or sullen face instead looking stunned. "None of his brothers challenged him either. No one did."
"Did anyone else know?" I asked urgently. Eris was an ally of ours but I still didn't trust him fully, even if a lot of what he had done was a front.
"No one has a clue, I only found out because I overheard his guard talking to him. The meeting will be after lunch so we still have some time to find out more as Tarquin can't join until then."
I nodded mechanically, waving the boys off to go find out as much information as they wished. Then after a few minutes of waiting I peaked outside the door to find to my relief an empty corridor. Feeling mildly pathetic at my actions but even more bored sick of having a guard I padded down the hallway and over to where I was sure the Autumn court was housed. If I bumped into Azriel and Cassian now… I knew it would get back to Rhysand in about five seconds flat as after all, Eris was an ally, not a friend.
"High Lady of the Night Court," a dry voice came from behind me. Spinning around I tried to disguise my flinch as I faced Eris. I was just a vulnerable as I was last time I faced him on the ice, that time due to fae bane and this time due to pregnancy. I prayed I was right about my judgement since he'd become an ally of ours.
"I was wondering if we could talk?"
Inwardly praising myself for how calm and steady my voice was I let Eris lead me into his room. More understandingly than I expected he made sure I was nearest to the door and nowhere near the bed. He was giving me the option of an out if I needed one. He was offering an olive branch by giving me an escape route. More settled by this revelation I took my seat, unsure how to start. Was there any way to ask politely why you overthrew your dad? Is he dead?
When he smirked at me I swiftly realised he knew exactly why I was here. Leaning back I tilted my chin up challengingly, raising an eyebrow. I was not the one being questioned here.
He lounged back as we remained in a staring contest, only broken by him chuckling. Hands up he surrendered but thankfully remained amused. I wanted to push him, yes, but not to murder.
"I made it clear that when we became allies I would require your support when I removed my father. Don't tell me you're getting cold feet now?"
Pursing my lips at his twisted smile I replied coolly, "At the rate I'm going I have as many issues with your father as you did. I have no issue with him being dead. My question is why was there no challenge from your brothers? What made you decide to do it now? Why did you do it without alerting your allies? Or is there something going on that we're not aware of, that you don't want us aware of?"
There was a pause where Eris just looked at me consideringly. Eventually he started to speak. "Most of my allies despise my father and hate me. They may not have a problem with Beron being removed but they would likely have a problem with me replacing him. As to why my brothers won't challenge me? They know I have more support. Beron groomed me to take over, I could take them easily," his voice was placid. Unbothered. I couldn't help but admire his quiet confidence, so different to all the boasting Tamlin did. It reminded me slightly of Azriel, not that I'd ever tell him that.
"Yet you called a summit."
"Customary to do so once a new High Lord ascends," Eris responded with a shrug. "I've got it all sorted out anyway, I'm not stupid enough to call a meeting minutes after I take the throne."
I frowned, confused. Hesitantly I said, "I think I must have misunderstood you so just to clarify, when did you overthrow Beron?"
"A few days ago."
"So, he's not dead?"
"Nope, like the coward he is he fled before I could get him. Currently he's just exiled and will be arrested on sight if he tries to re-enter the court. Why? You have a problem with that?" His demeanour had the same disinterested attitude but there was a crease in his brows that implied he had picked up on my uncomfortableness.
"Just curious," I said lightly, shrugging "since Beron was in the night court a few hours ago threatening your mother because she left him for Helion."
By the stunned look on Eris's face, I immediately knew he had no involvement in that. That was comforting at least.
"He went after mother?" His voice had deepened slightly, taking on a more threatening quality. I knew from Lucien that he hadn't been the only one who had been protective of the sweet, gentle woman.
"She's protected in the Day court with her mate Helion and Lucien. My sister Elain is with them as well." I attempted to appease him and while he leaned back into the sofa I could see his fists were still clenched. "You can always talk to Helion after the meeting, I'm sure he wouldn't begrudge you that."
I jumped as the door slammed open, Eris on his feet in a second reaching for a weapon. Turning around I let out a breathy laugh in relief as I recognised Cassian, Azriel entering mere seconds behind them with weapons in hand.
"Feyre, get behind me," Cassian demanded as he headed to Eris. Ignoring him I instead grabbed his arm and tugged him back.
"We were just talking, I'm in no danger I promise." In my head I amended my statement slightly as Eris was a dangerous man but… he had proved more trustworthy than Tamlin, making sure I had an escape route at all times and I couldn't help but at least feel this was a more trustworthy fae than most if this was how he handled my trauma.
Due to Cassian gaping at me in outrage and Azriel's stillness I gave them both pleading looks as I dragged them out. I was so dead for this. Tossing Eris an apologetic look over my shoulder he responded with a weak smirk, face still pale and heading down to the Day court quarters the minute we were heading around the corner.
Biting my lip I prayed they hadn't noticed me trying not to smile, knowing it would only piss them off further. With one on either side I felt mildly like a criminal as they marched me back to my rooms. By the time we were inside I was preparing for them to read me my rights or whatever. I quickly pinched some skin on my wrist before I started to giggle. This was so weird. I was literally the High Lady and yet I felt like I was about to be told off like a child.
Sitting on my bed I kept my eyes on the floor as Cassian began to pace, arms waving. "Do you know how worried we were? We went off for a bit, couldn't find anything as Eris was in his room so headed back here to find the bed made and the room empty. Helion hadn't seen you, Vivian hadn't since she left the room earlier and it wasn't until Thesan said he had seen you where Eris was that we had any idea where you were."
"Am I not allowed to find out what happened as well?"
I knew I was being petty but I couldn't stop it. Frustration suddenly rose at all the mollycoddling and something in me snapped.
"Not by yourself with a male that's done horrific things to people we care about and could have helped his father break into our home. Not when your psycho ex who tried to kidnap you earlier is wandering around." Azriel replied, voice cool.
Guilt swirled into the pool of frustration and I dug my nails into my palms to keep my mouth shut. They were just scared for me. Logically, I knew that. But my brain liked to dance its way back over to when Tamlin had kept me inside for my protection, surrounded by guards. Squeezing my eyes shut for a second I held back a sudden well of tears. I was not going to cry, not when I had no reason to, not when it would make everything worse.
Unfortunately I had forgotten that while I had closed off my mating bond with Rhys for the meeting, I hadn't shielded strong enough against the echo mating bonds with Azriel and Cassian. And so when I crumpled, they could both feel it as well. Guilt slammed into me through the bonds with both taking a seat beside me and at the overwhelming emotions from them I couldn't handle it anymore. Burying my head in my hands I burst into tears.
"Oh Feyre, don't cry!" Cassian cried, frantically wiping away my tears while Azriel silently tugged me into a side hug, helping shield my mind for me and bat off the smatterings of emotions that swam from all areas of the palace. Trying to stifle my sobs but merely succeeding in giving myself the hiccups I curled into Azriel, focusing on his warmth to drive away the eerie coldness of the Spring court from my mind. I hated that I still thought of him. That I was still so scared to be locked up even by those I trusted most.
"I'm sorry," I choked up. "I – I'm fine I promise. It's just –"
"You know we'd never lock you up," Azriel said quietly, voice even but a deeper undertone to it. I didn't have the willpower to try and decipher its meaning.
"Fuck, Feyre, I'm so sorry," Cassian apologised, lips downturned as he gazed at me guiltily. "We were just worried about you, we'd never lock you up I promise. Just, maybe next time tell us if you want to see our arch nemesis? Please?"
I let out a wet laugh, sniffing. "He's our ally –"
"And I still don't trust him as far as I can throw this lump here," Cassian said, shoving Azriel with a small smirk. His shoulders relaxed at the small laugh I let out, my humour returning his more chilled state of being. Azriel merely sighed, too used to Cassian's joke to even bother faking amusement anymore.
I elbowed Cassian as discreetly as I could. Now was not the time to have another pissing contest with Tamlin. Giving a nod back to Tarquin and a soft smile to Aurelia I settled in my seat, Azriel watching my every move like a hawk. There was no point telling him I wasn't about to keel over unless something happened, he would keep doing in anyway. Boys, I thought, rolling my eyes.
I watched gleefully as Eris made his announcement, amused at the shockwaves the revelation sent through the room. No one had seen it coming.
"What about Beron?" Helion eventually managed to ask once the clamour had calmed down a little.
Eris shrugged, lounging back and looking like he couldn't care less. From what I knew of him, I doubted he did. "The coward fled, will be arrested on sight if he ever tries to come back. Feel free if you see him to send him over here, we have… unfinished business, shall we say." He gave us all a sharp grin, winking at me when I caught his eye. I rolled my eyes in response and ignored his smirk.
Sitting back slightly and letting the others do the talking, my curiosity having been previously satisfied and with more information than he would let on to the others no doubt, my eyes drifted over to Tamlin. He was frowning, that much was unsurprising since I hadn't thought he'd be thrilled due to his relationship with Eris (contentious at best), but what unnerved me was how his stare than shifted to me. Surely he didn't think I had something to do with the coup?
Knotting my fingers together I refocused on Thesan instead, trying to put Tamlin out of my mind. No good could come from that male, I had at least learnt that much by now. Still, I couldn't quite shake off the feeling his gaze gave me, feeling the weight on my back as I left the room.
Everything would be fine, I insisted to myself. Everything would be okay; I would make sure of it.
