Chapter 5

I did not sleep last night, tossing and turning all night, pacing my room. Not even reading was enough of a distraction. I put the final stitching in the corset and slipped the switch blades inside. They fit snug, but accessible from under the bust.

I watched the sun rise as I tried it on and tightened it down. I had placed them behind the boning on the sides. I practiced pulling them out a few times. I would need to loosen it, or strip it off, but I had a start.

Alis dressed me for breakfast. All the while I had no words to say.

Breakfast was quite, I found peace in it. No talking meant no questions to answer. I knew they were coming. But which ones? What would he question? Was he even thinking about it? I kept the thought of bubbles and a random song in the back of my head.

Best safe than sorry in times of swirling thoughts.

I don't think Tamlin cared enough to pry. Rhys, oh, he would.

"I wanted to take you somewhere today."

"Is it a grave?" The words came out before I could stop my dark humor. That was not Thadius, so who was speaking up today?

"No, it's a glen. Its…"

"I was kidding, relax." I pushed a strawberry off the plate. Red stained the white napkin underneath. Like the blood that had stained parts of the nightgown last night. "I'm sorry." I pushed the plate away, and when I looked up, a man with long golden hair stood between the two, but they did not react.

He nodded his head as he grinned ear to ear. The lack of sleep was getting to me. He clicked his tongue, snapping his fingers as he disappeared. A hand waved in front of where he stood, I blinked.

Blood dripped from Tamlin's head, out his nose, and his ears. Various cuts along his face and even his hands. Blood soaked his clothes like they had last night. His eyes sunk, falling into empty sockets.

I tore my eyes away, but looking at Lucian was no better. He was covered in the same Blood. I closed my eyes, something dropped on my face. I wiped it, blood. The room was dripping in blood, it was pooling on the floor as it ran down the side and dropped like a light rain. My breath hitched, my heart running.

"Feyre…"

I flicked the plate as I stood. It crashed to the ground, broken pieces flying everywhere. "Stop calling me that. I hate it, I hate being here. Everything is so nice when it just words on a page, but staring at it, being in that moment." I panted.

The shock on their now clean faces as this woman who had been docile this whole time, was now suddenly flying into a rage. I pulled back, sitting. "I'm sorry. Because it's not even your fault." I looked at the empty spot my plate once sat. The little stain was not as red as I had once seen it.

I was already losing my mind, and at this rate, that mountain would destroy me.

"Fe-" Lucian coughed in his hand. "My lady. Did you sleep at all last night."

Ignoring Lucian, I spoke, head still down. "We can go. To the Glen, that is if you still wish too."

With that, Lucian left the table. Then Tamlin guided me out, three horses were ready in front of the manor. Lucian was already mounted atop his as he waited for Tamlin and I.

"Tamlin, I've never been on a horse before."

"You'll be fine, the horses are tame and know to follow the leader."

That was partially encouraging. I looked the white horse in the eyes. "Don't kill me."

Tamlin hoisted me up on the horse, how was I to ride in a dress like this. I shook my head; this will be a long trip. My horse followed behind Tamlin, and Lucian behind me. The whole time I was fighting the urge to keep my eyes open.

As we rode along, I closed my eyes. I was wrong about not riding a horse. The fatigue in my mind was keeping it under that veil. That's what I called it. Because until it was lifted, I could not see, I was not a loud to lift and gaze the fruit it bore unless it gave me the permission.

The open area was lined with thick towering trees. The branches reaching over us with a spot in the center letting light through. Grass covered the ground like a beautiful, lush carpet. The middle had a small slope, hardly a hill.

Lucian dismounted, carrying things to the center of that slope and splayed a blanket out. My head tilted as I watched a picnic unfold, that's not so bad. Like a mini date,

"Feyre."

I gazed at Lucian, that blanket looked so comfortable. I could lay there and maybe sleep. Wine? That would defiantly put me to sleep.

"My lady."

I blinked. "I'm sorry." Tamlin had his hands out, I placed mine on his shoulders as he held me by the waist Setting me on my feet.

"You're fine. What do you think?"

"It's beautiful, like a peaceful place to retreat to."

His mouth tugged to the side. "I'm glad you feel so, I used to come here all the time as a boy."

Lucian sat on the blanket and uncorked that wine bottle, taking swig. I wanted that, I wanted to nap right on that blanket. I plopped down next to Lucian, hand extended.

"May I have some."

He looked too Tamlin before handing the bottle to me. "Be careful Fairy-."

I took three gulps before he took the bottle back. "Fairy wine is stronger and tastes better, I know." I spoke as I wiped my mouth. Landing backwards, looking though the sun kissed leaves as the colors shifted under the light breeze, I giggled. The wine flooded my thoughts.

"Deep In the meadow, hidden far away." I raised my hand, watching the flickers of light dance on my fingers. "A stroke of leaves and sun beam rays. Forgets your woes, and let those troubles lay."

"You sang a similar tune last night." Tamlin sat next to me, not a choice as I had taken the entire middle all spread out.

I pulled my hand back. "Because it was the second half. It's just a song that I heard once, but it stuck with me. I think I could picture a mother singing it to a child to get them to sleep with out a fuss or… like last night…" I swallowed hard, moving my thoughts. "It's so pretty, it's looks like little green lanterns all dancing at once. Do you see?"

Tamlin laid himself beside me. "Hmm, I think I can picture it."

Time to get comfortable and just sleep. "Can you feel it?" I raised a hand, "Pretend its reachable just for a moment."

He copied me, raising the hand closest to me. I wasted not a second. Scooting in putting a hand on his firm chest the muscles more prominent through his loose shirt. "Feyre?"

My eyes closed and I did not fight them to stay open. "I couldn't sleep, I closed my eyes, and that poor fairy was all I saw. I paced, tried to read… My wings. That's all that rang in my ears- Just hold me, that's all I need right now."

His arm wrapped around my waist. "Is this alright."

I put a leg over his leg. "Perfect." I let out a final soft yawn.

The streets were bustling with people, conversations about plans and business all around. A young girl next to me smiled as she pressed the crosswalk signal. Her mouth was moving but I could not hear her words.

We walked for a good bit, and I felt happy. Felt like I had everything I ever wanted. We had become the only two walking after a sort time. Her face paled as she looked behind me. I turned, a man with a black mask on was pointing a gun at us.

Our hands up and he took our purses. She yelled something and flipped him off. He turned, gun pointing at her.

"Anna!" I shoved myself in front of her as two shots fired off. I felt the pain in my chest, I couldn't breathe. Yet, I was okay with it. Dying again in the place of someone I cared deeply for.

I lurched forward, gasping for air. An arm held me close. "Easy."

I felt my chest, I was alive. I was not hurt. I looked around frantically. I was sitting on a horse, and with… I peeked up. My face felt warm, my a heart pounded. When had we left, why not wake me?

"Who's Anna?"

"A girl. I don't know who she is. Just a dream."

Lucian eyes me curiously, from behind. Sitting here was surprisingly comfortable. I laid on him to avert the questioning gaze of Lucian. Anna and Amaranth could be considered close in name.

We had made it home; and he escorted me to my room. Tamlin received a report and had to leave. Lucian waited for him to go before his eyes narrowed, he nodded to my room.

"You have a writing lesson." Door closed; he spoke. "Who is Anna?"

"I thought you might ask."

I explained the dream and what happened. "When I say I wish I knew, I meant literally."

"What's a gun?"

"You would ask that. It's like having a sling shot, but it shoots metal bullets at speeds faster than... I suppose Tamlin could run in his beast form. Really fast, we will go with that." I took the time to explain in detail how it worked. He blinked like I was crazy and left the room.

I laid down and fell asleep. Not waking for anything.