Chapter 22

Welcome Home Daughter

Holly found herself in her father's throne room with Draco holding her arm. Holly ripped her arm free from her brother's grip.

"Well. Well." Holly looked at her father with pure hatred in her eyes. "Look who decided to grace us with her presence."

"By force." Holly about hissed at her father. The King of Hybern tsked as her cousin Dagdan grabbed Holly's arm. Cedric and Ella stood near the throne in shock. Holly gritted her teeth. Cauldron boil her. Draco grabbed her other arm as the King stood up and walked away from the throne. The throne she hated because it was made out of the human slaves that served her father. Holly thanked the mother that Azriel was safe in Velaris as her father grabbed her face by his fingers.

"You have been spoiled and gotten snotty since I sent you to the Night Court. They should of beat you to your senses." The King said. Holly turned her head.

"No father. I found my home there." Holly growled. Pain slammed through her face as her father slapped her.

"Father!" Cedric said.

"You. Stay out of this. Someone needs to learn their lesson." Her father said, turning around and heading to the throne. Holly looked up.

"I hate you." Holly said. Pain radiated through her head as her cousin punched her in the face. Draco hit her on the other side and Holly let darkness take her right before the second hit came.

Holly woke up in a all to familiar room. Her old room. Pain ran through her body as Holly sat up and grabbed her ribs.

"Easy." Ella said, coming over. Carina stood at the foot of the bed, looking like she wanted to cry. "Cedric got you a healer after Draco and Dagdam beat the shit out of you." Holly grabbed the water she held out.

"I'm sorry, Holly. I should of told you before the party." Carina said.

"Don't. It's not your fault." Holly said.

"What about your..." Ella and Carina were the only ones she trusted to tell Azriel was her mate.

"He's safe, but I don't know when I'll see him again." Holly said, looking away. Ella and Carina share looks. Holly gripped her cup. "We are going to have to figure out how to free them and find the Cauldron before my father does." Ella nodded. Holly closed her eyes.

"You sure he's safe?" Carina asked. Holly smiled.

"He is. Rhys made sure of it before his magic was binded." Holly said. Holly handed Ella the cup.

"Now your back, you'll be taking back command?" Ella asked.

"For ours and the ones in other courts now that I'm in charge." Holly said. Ella nodded. "I am still in pain. I'm gonna sleep some more." Ella hugged Holly and Carina walked out.

"Cedric wants to see you when your up for it." Ella said. Holly didn't argue. Ella left. Holly laid down on her bed and looked towards the window. The window was open and a breeze came into the room. Holly felt a tear roll down her check. She curled up in a ball. Her dress was changed into one of her other dresses and it was a bit tight. Holly closed her eyes and let the tears fall. Taken from her home, her friends, and mate. Holly swore she will find a way to save everyone and get back to Velaris. Whatever it took.

Holly woke up in the middle of the night to something wrapping around her wrists. Holly shot out of bed and looked at her wrists. Holly gasped as she realized what it was. Shadows. They were moving up her arms, slowly and caressing. Azriel's shadows. They found her. Tears came back to her eyes. She closed her eyes and found the mating bond blocked. Rhys did the right thing doing it to protect them.

'Az.' Holly thought. He must of sent the shadows out as soon as Rhys let them know what was happening. One rubbed against her check. Holly bit her lip to stop from crying. Holly laid back on the bed as the shadows wrap around her. Ever since becoming Azriel's mate they seemed to like her more then their master. Holly closed her eyes as a tear slips from her face. 'I'm not going to go back to my old self. I'm gonna fight to survive and make sure my father fails.

To Velaris. Mor stood in tears. They were gone. Holly and Rhys both. Cassian sat at the table with his face in his hands. Amren's face was hard to read. But Azriel. He stood on the balcony overlooking Velaris. He hadn't said anything when Rhys talked to them. Pain was evident on his face. A shadow crawls up to his ear. Azriel stiffens.

"What is it, boy?" Amren said.

"My shadows found them." Azriel said, not turning around, but Mor saw his hand tighten on the railing.

"And?" Mor asked.

"Rhys is trapped under the mountain with Amaratha." Azriel said.

"Holly?" Cassian asked. Azriel stayed silent and then turned to look at his friends. Pain and anger was written on his face.

"She's with her father." Azriel growled. Cassian swore as Azriel walked away from the balcony. "They were separated as soon as the High Lords lost their powers."

"I knew something wasn't right." Mor said. Cassian slammed his fists into the table and stood up.

"Her father is going to hurt her more." Amren said.

"Holly is stronger then what she was when we got her. Now she has something to fight for." Mor said, looking at Azriel. "She's got a mate to get back to." Azriel disappeared down the steps. His heart nearly ripped in two. Now he understood why he agreed to stay behind. He might have been tortured or worse. Azriel didn't like waiting around. But he knew she'll find a way to get back to him.

AN: Alright. So this is the last chapter. I'll be posting the sequel shortly. It's called A Court of Shadows and Heartbreak. Till next time.