p class="MsoNormal"Aurora pressed her lips together in attempt to smother the yawn that had been trying to force its way out of her body. It was the fault of that dreaded High Lord of Night. Mira had once told Aurora that yawning was contagious, a fact she wished she would have remembered prior to looking at Amarantha's favorite pet. Rhysand stood beside the red witch, and as the rather un-eventful Small Court was being held, continued to outwardly yawn and show his distaste for the opinions of his fellow high lords. Now, his nonchalance was forcing Aurora to fight her natural instincts so that she was not on the receiving end of another one of Amarantha's special sessions./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanCasting a glance at her sister, to try and redirect her body's instinct, Aurora found her sister equally unimpressed with todays court. While Amarantha used this time to punish lesser fae from the courts before their high lords, this time was often utilized in a boring- but productive- manner. Aurora had not expected these closed-door sessions to be a time where Amarantha would inquire about politics and resources in the courts above the mountain. Though, it should not have surprised her. Amarantha did consider herself to be the Queen of Prythian, and that would require a working knowledge of the politics within her domain. Often limited to the intentions of high fae families, the most productive resources, and spreading her reign, the court sessions tended to err on the side of boring. However, Aurora would make no utterance of her belief, if only to keep from becoming the entertainment./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanToday's agenda had taken a particularly dull turn when a high fae of a distant relation to the Day High Lord expressed his need for an heir. At first, the news seemed intriguing to the young heiress. However, Helion was quick to state that his claim as high fae was week and that there was no need for an heir in a line so weak./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWhile it seemed the end of the topic, Amarantha's eyes had lit up at the conversation. She loved to think that she was knowledgeable in many things, and began to make suggestions for "acceptable breeding females" for the male, regardless of the Day Lord's opinion. Aurora was beginning to tire of the back-and-forth, as were many others, until she heard a familiar name slip between the blood red lips of the false queen./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I know it is a bit outside your status, but considering her lineage is tainted, what of Mira?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAurora cast a glance at her sister, then her father. Thesan looked none to pleased about the suggestion, or the comment of their lineage, but he did not utter a rebuttal./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Though tainted, the Dawn females should be gifted to heirs with an immediate claim. There are many male heirs to the courts and not many females remaining with prestige to be their partners," Helion stated as he cast a cursory glance at the Dawn trio that sat utterly silent./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Tainted half-fae females hold as much value as common fae," Beron was quick to disagree. "The girls only value would be in relation to Dawn or if they had strong magic." His dark eyes glared at the girls as his face lowered into scowl. "Being under the mountain, who knows if the girls even have a drop of their father's power, or if they are common like their mother. It is a waste to marry them to a high lord or their heir." Beron's statement was emphasized by a strong clasp on the shoulder to the son that sat nearest to him. Aiden smirked while casting a predatory gaze at the twins./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well, your son's thoughts say that he finds their… embeauty/em… enough of a reason to marry them. Even if he only has them one night, and kills them the next day," Rhysand's bland tone cut through the tension that had been rising in the room. Aurora watched as his statement resonated with the Autumn son, his face becoming as red as his hair, while his expression dropped to one of casual indifference. Compared to the normal self-sanctifying smirks that Aiden wore, the indifferent mask spoke louder than any confirmation of the statement ever could./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanBeron angrily cut a glance at his son, before returning the gaze to Rhysand./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The females are temptresses, and much to young to use that to their benefit. They bare no other purpose," he stated with finality./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Much to young? I don't know Beron… All I see is potential."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRhysand turned his gaze back towards the twins at the exclamation. Aurora could not help but feel trapped by the smoldering look in his violet-blue eyes. It was obvious that the High Lord was manipulating the emotions of the court for his entertainment, but some dark part of Aurora craved the attention. After so long hiding in the shadows, the acknowledgement from the High Lord caused the darkest of her desires to arise./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAurora and Mira were far from faeling. Well past the age of twenty, the two females would have been considered young, but desirable, above the mountain. Below the mountain, however, they were kept locked away from most of their lives. The only touch the two had ever known was that of Amarantha's torture, or the healing hands of their family. Aurora had found herself curious about other fae. She watched the things that those in the court subjected themselves to every evening. She smelt the air as fear changed to something else, something that Mira told her was lust. While she should have been disgusted at the implication of the High Lord's words, Aurora was not. She had long wondered how the touch of the High Lord would feel, for it must be amazing if it keeps Amarantha at bay. While she felt some pull to the dark lord, she knew that it was just a fantasy that she had entertained. Being the pet of a High Lord would surely be much different than being his lover or partner./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well, we could always give one to you, Rhysand," Amarantha purred. "If only to play with for a while." Her intentions, while sounding lustful, defiantly held a darker undertone./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAurora could not help but wonder if the High Lord of Night found the same things "entertaining" as the red witch. She felt her wings unconsciously sharpen at the thought. Amarantha's fun involved knives, whips, blood, and dismemberment. If the Night lord brought that into the lover's chambers than that is a place where no fae would wish to be, despite his handsome looks./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""But would the other not get jealous, seems that it should be both or none."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"Aurora felt Mira shift closer to their father at the statement. Aurora knew what Mira's thoughts about the dark lord were. It did not matter that Mira had explicitly ranted to her sister about her distrust in the Night Lord previously, for she could see her distaste on full display for the court. While a master of her mask for physical pain, her younger sister still struggled to remain indifferent where Aurora was concerned. The idea that the two would be shared by the High Lord, was enough to let the brief crack through. Aurora wanted to groan when she saw the cat-like smile on Amarantha's face, knowing that she had seen the crack too./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Perhaps once Tamil returns to me I will let you have the girls. You will need someone to occupy your time, once I have to split my own," she stated with a saccharine smile, her clawed hands caressing his cheek. "Until I decide, the girls will spend their time with me or with no one."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"Aurora felt Mira's wings sharpen at the statement, but she did her best to let her own relax. If Amarantha wanted the twins, then she would have them. However, her will-they won't-they act seemed to be her favorite mental game with Mira, at present time. It began as subtle hints in council, but the offhanded comments about the presence of Aurora and Mira in a sexual fashion had been increasing. Every week, another subtle hint was dropped by a high lord or fae, and every week Rhysand hinted at interest to Amarantha. Every week, the teasing continued, and every week the matter was left open. Until the day that Aurora was summoned to the demon's room, she would not allow herself to worry. As she had previously told her sister, if Amarantha wants them then she is going to get them. Until then, they continue their lives as best as they can./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"Aurora glanced at the fae that started this whole discussion, and found that he was looking at the twins with a frown openly marring his features. Not just the Day fae, but many other males from various courts were looking at them as if Amarantha had just said that they could not play with their favorite toy./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"The small court continued, but Aurora's thoughts stayed on the most recent threat. Tuning out all other politics, she focused her gaze on the Night court lord. His piercing gaze was already on her, the ever-present subtle smirk on his lips. With a wink, he opened his mouth and let out the most dramatic yawn that Aurora had seen from him yet./p
div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"Unaware of the game that the dark lord was beginning to play with the golden kissed girl, or the dangerous look directed at her twin from elsewhere in the room./p
/div
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanCasting a glance at her sister, to try and redirect her body's instinct, Aurora found her sister equally unimpressed with todays court. While Amarantha used this time to punish lesser fae from the courts before their high lords, this time was often utilized in a boring- but productive- manner. Aurora had not expected these closed-door sessions to be a time where Amarantha would inquire about politics and resources in the courts above the mountain. Though, it should not have surprised her. Amarantha did consider herself to be the Queen of Prythian, and that would require a working knowledge of the politics within her domain. Often limited to the intentions of high fae families, the most productive resources, and spreading her reign, the court sessions tended to err on the side of boring. However, Aurora would make no utterance of her belief, if only to keep from becoming the entertainment./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanToday's agenda had taken a particularly dull turn when a high fae of a distant relation to the Day High Lord expressed his need for an heir. At first, the news seemed intriguing to the young heiress. However, Helion was quick to state that his claim as high fae was week and that there was no need for an heir in a line so weak./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanWhile it seemed the end of the topic, Amarantha's eyes had lit up at the conversation. She loved to think that she was knowledgeable in many things, and began to make suggestions for "acceptable breeding females" for the male, regardless of the Day Lord's opinion. Aurora was beginning to tire of the back-and-forth, as were many others, until she heard a familiar name slip between the blood red lips of the false queen./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"I know it is a bit outside your status, but considering her lineage is tainted, what of Mira?"/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAurora cast a glance at her sister, then her father. Thesan looked none to pleased about the suggestion, or the comment of their lineage, but he did not utter a rebuttal./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Though tainted, the Dawn females should be gifted to heirs with an immediate claim. There are many male heirs to the courts and not many females remaining with prestige to be their partners," Helion stated as he cast a cursory glance at the Dawn trio that sat utterly silent./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Tainted half-fae females hold as much value as common fae," Beron was quick to disagree. "The girls only value would be in relation to Dawn or if they had strong magic." His dark eyes glared at the girls as his face lowered into scowl. "Being under the mountain, who knows if the girls even have a drop of their father's power, or if they are common like their mother. It is a waste to marry them to a high lord or their heir." Beron's statement was emphasized by a strong clasp on the shoulder to the son that sat nearest to him. Aiden smirked while casting a predatory gaze at the twins./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well, your son's thoughts say that he finds their… embeauty/em… enough of a reason to marry them. Even if he only has them one night, and kills them the next day," Rhysand's bland tone cut through the tension that had been rising in the room. Aurora watched as his statement resonated with the Autumn son, his face becoming as red as his hair, while his expression dropped to one of casual indifference. Compared to the normal self-sanctifying smirks that Aiden wore, the indifferent mask spoke louder than any confirmation of the statement ever could./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanBeron angrily cut a glance at his son, before returning the gaze to Rhysand./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"The females are temptresses, and much to young to use that to their benefit. They bare no other purpose," he stated with finality./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Much to young? I don't know Beron… All I see is potential."/p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanRhysand turned his gaze back towards the twins at the exclamation. Aurora could not help but feel trapped by the smoldering look in his violet-blue eyes. It was obvious that the High Lord was manipulating the emotions of the court for his entertainment, but some dark part of Aurora craved the attention. After so long hiding in the shadows, the acknowledgement from the High Lord caused the darkest of her desires to arise./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /spanAurora and Mira were far from faeling. Well past the age of twenty, the two females would have been considered young, but desirable, above the mountain. Below the mountain, however, they were kept locked away from most of their lives. The only touch the two had ever known was that of Amarantha's torture, or the healing hands of their family. Aurora had found herself curious about other fae. She watched the things that those in the court subjected themselves to every evening. She smelt the air as fear changed to something else, something that Mira told her was lust. While she should have been disgusted at the implication of the High Lord's words, Aurora was not. She had long wondered how the touch of the High Lord would feel, for it must be amazing if it keeps Amarantha at bay. While she felt some pull to the dark lord, she knew that it was just a fantasy that she had entertained. Being the pet of a High Lord would surely be much different than being his lover or partner./p
p class="MsoNormal"span style="mso-tab-count: 1;" /span"Well, we could always give one to you, Rhysand," Amarantha purred. "If only to play with for a while." Her intentions, while sounding lustful, defiantly held a darker undertone./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanAurora could not help but wonder if the High Lord of Night found the same things "entertaining" as the red witch. She felt her wings unconsciously sharpen at the thought. Amarantha's fun involved knives, whips, blood, and dismemberment. If the Night lord brought that into the lover's chambers than that is a place where no fae would wish to be, despite his handsome looks./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""But would the other not get jealous, seems that it should be both or none."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"Aurora felt Mira shift closer to their father at the statement. Aurora knew what Mira's thoughts about the dark lord were. It did not matter that Mira had explicitly ranted to her sister about her distrust in the Night Lord previously, for she could see her distaste on full display for the court. While a master of her mask for physical pain, her younger sister still struggled to remain indifferent where Aurora was concerned. The idea that the two would be shared by the High Lord, was enough to let the brief crack through. Aurora wanted to groan when she saw the cat-like smile on Amarantha's face, knowing that she had seen the crack too./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;""Perhaps once Tamil returns to me I will let you have the girls. You will need someone to occupy your time, once I have to split my own," she stated with a saccharine smile, her clawed hands caressing his cheek. "Until I decide, the girls will spend their time with me or with no one."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"Aurora felt Mira's wings sharpen at the statement, but she did her best to let her own relax. If Amarantha wanted the twins, then she would have them. However, her will-they won't-they act seemed to be her favorite mental game with Mira, at present time. It began as subtle hints in council, but the offhanded comments about the presence of Aurora and Mira in a sexual fashion had been increasing. Every week, another subtle hint was dropped by a high lord or fae, and every week Rhysand hinted at interest to Amarantha. Every week, the teasing continued, and every week the matter was left open. Until the day that Aurora was summoned to the demon's room, she would not allow herself to worry. As she had previously told her sister, if Amarantha wants them then she is going to get them. Until then, they continue their lives as best as they can./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"Aurora glanced at the fae that started this whole discussion, and found that he was looking at the twins with a frown openly marring his features. Not just the Day fae, but many other males from various courts were looking at them as if Amarantha had just said that they could not play with their favorite toy./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"The small court continued, but Aurora's thoughts stayed on the most recent threat. Tuning out all other politics, she focused her gaze on the Night court lord. His piercing gaze was already on her, the ever-present subtle smirk on his lips. With a wink, he opened his mouth and let out the most dramatic yawn that Aurora had seen from him yet./p
div style="mso-element: para-border-div; border: none; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; padding: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"Unaware of the game that the dark lord was beginning to play with the golden kissed girl, or the dangerous look directed at her twin from elsewhere in the room./p
/div