Chapter Text
ย ย ย I heard my mother scream when they killed her.
ย ย ย In the cramped confines of the closet where she had concealed me, I clutched my knees to my chest, tears streaming down in silence. Abruptly, the door flung open. My eyes snapped open, dilated by terror.
ย ย ย He loomed above me, a figure of dread, his wings unfurled, his penetrating gaze locking onto mine.
ย ย ย His presence infiltrated my thoughts, and I flinched, stifling the sob in my throat. I was certain of my fate, familiar with the tales of his abilities. He could obliterate my consciousness in the blink of an eye.
ย ย ย There was no reason for him to show mercy. The horror that had befallen his own mother and sister was not lost on me; I had been appalled by what my family did.
ย ย ย I tensed, readying myself for the agony. But instead, I was met with the unexpected gentleness of his voice resounding within my mind.
"Stay hidden until we're gone. Don't make a sound. And keep your mental shields up, for Cauldron's sake."
ย ย ย Jolting awake, my body trembled under the comfort of my pink, silk comforter. My gaze drifted to the large pot of pink roses by my window. I had caused them to wither and die in my panic. I made a silent vow to resurrect them again once my strength returned.
ย ย ย This particular nightmare was familiar, haunting me since the eve of my 19th birthday. It lingered in my mind, an incessant echo of the past.
ย ย ย Tamlin had discovered me hours later, his presence alteredโthe power of the High Lord had passed to him, a silent testament to the demise of our father and brothers.
ย ย ย I harbored no grief for my father or brothers. But the absence of my mother was a void that ached within me each day.
ย ย ย The creak of the door caused my hands to ball into fists, an attempt to quell the tremors that threatened to betray my composure. Alis entered, her presence a small comfort, bearing a tray laden with a steaming cup of tea and a plate of eggs.
"You're up early," she commented, placing the tray on my bed. I nodded my head, taking a sip of the hot tea.
"Nightmares again," I said simply. "You didn't need to bring my breakfast to me. I'm sure Tam will expect me to dine with them this morning."
"He is quite busy," she sighed. "Andras was slaughtered by a mortal girl last night."
ย ย ย My muscles tensed. My gaze locked onto hers, eyes unwavering and fixed.
"He has less than a year left," I recalled. "Do you truly believe she could break the curse in that time?"
"It's possible," Alis said with a sigh. "We shall have to see."
โฏยธ.'*ยจ'*โฟ โฟ*'ยจ*'.ยธโฏ
ย ย I was sitting at my place at the table that night, using my mind and the point of my finger to make a rose blossom from the vase on the table.
ย ย When the door opened, I stood up from my seat, bowing respectfully to Tamlin, who was in his beast form.
ย ย I stared at the mortal girl who followed him.
ย ย She was terribly skinny, her bones jutting out sharply. Her blue eyes were wide with fear and fascination. Her golden brown hair was tangled, but despite that, she was beautiful.
ย ย Tamlin plopped into the chair, the wood groaning, and, in a flash of white light, turned into his Fae form.
ย ย The girl gasped and pushed herself against the paneled wall beside the door, feeling for the molding of the threshold.
"You should eat something," he said to her.
ย ย He filled a glass of wine from an exquisitely cut crystal decanter and drank deeply. As if he needed it. He usually did.
ย ย I didn't say a word as the girl inched toward the door.
"Who are you?" she managed to say, though she was speaking more to Tamlin than me.
"Sit," he said gruffly, waving a broad hand to encompass the table. "Eat." She stared at the food, but did not move. "Unless you'd rather faint?"
"It's not safe for humans," she managed to say.
"The food is fine for you to eat, human," he said to her.
ย ย ย I offered her a tentative grin, carefully serving myself a moderate portion of lamb. It was a deliberate balance, enough to quell my appetite but not so much that it would trigger Tamlin's critical comments about watching what I ate.
"Leave, if you want," he added with a flash of teeth. "I'm not your jailer. The gates are openโyou can live anywhere in Prythian."
ย ย ย She remained motionless, rooted to the spot. I observed her intently, my head cocked slightly as I observed her.
"Fine," he said, the word laced with a growl, and began serving himself.
ย ย ย Upon Lucien's entrance, she almost leapt from her skin in surprise.
"Well?" Lucien said.
ย ย ย He sketched a bow to my brother, then tilted a sort of mocking bow to me. He hadn't seemed to spot the girl yet.
"Well, what?" Tamlin cocked his head, the movement more animal than human.
"Is Andras dead, then?" Lucien asked. Tamlin nodded. "I'm sorry."
"How?" I spoke up, finally daring to say something. They both turned to me sharply.
"An ash arrow," Tamlin explained. "The Treaty's summons led me to the mortal. I gave her safe haven."
"A girlโa mortal girl actually killed Andras," Lucien scoffed. "And the summons found the girl responsible." Tamlin gave a low, bitter laugh and pointed at the girl. "The Treaty's magic brought me right to her doorstep."
"You're joking," Lucien said when he finally spotted the girl. "That scrawny thing brought down Andras with a single ash arrow?"
"She admitted to it," Tamlin said tightly, tracing the rim of his goblet with a finger. A long, lethal claw slid out, scraping against the metal. "She didn't try to deny it."
"Well," Lucien seethed, "now we're stuck with that, thanks to your useless mercy, and you've ruinedโ"
ย ย ย She stepped forward.
"Did you enjoy killing my friend, human?" Lucien said. "Did you hesitate, or was the hatred in your heart riding you too hard to consider sparing him? It must have been so satisfying for a small mortal thing like you to take him down."
ย ย Tamlin said nothing, though I winced at the words. I didn't know Andras well, but he had been kind. Kindness wasn't something I was used to.
"Anyway," Lucien continued. "Perhaps there's a way toโ"
"Lucien," Tamlin said quietly, the name echoing with a hint of a snarl. "Behave."
ย ย ย Lucien went rigid, but he hopped off the edge of the table and bowed deeply to the girl.
"My apologies, lady," he joked. "I'm Lucien. Courtier and emissary. Your eyes are like stars, and your hair like burnished gold."
ย ย It was that flirty tone that used to make me blush, but now just made me roll my eyes.
"Her name is Feyre," Tamlin said.
ย ย ย Feyreโa name that carried a delicate beauty, a name that fit her, even though she was clad in nothing but rags.
"Alis will take you to your room. You could use a bath and fresh clothes," Tamlin said.
ย ย ย With a reassuring grip, Alis took hold of her elbow. Gently guiding her, Alis steered her to her chambers.ย
"That's the hand the Cauldron thought to deal us?" I spoke up, taking a judgmental tone.
"She brought Andras down? We never should have sent him out thereโnone of them should have been out there. It was a fools mission," Lucien growled. "Maybe we should just take a standโmaybe its time to say enough. Dump the girl somewhere, kill her, I don't careโshe's nothing but a burden here. She'd sooner put a knife in your back than talk to youโor any of us."
"Kill her?" I demanded. "Lucien, please. Don't be ridiculous."
"Not until we know for certain that there is no other way will we make a move. And as for the girl, she stays. Unharmed," Tamlin said. "End of discussion. Her life in that hovel was Hell enough."
"Then you've got your work cut out for you, old son," Lucien said. "I'm sure her life will be a fine replacement for Andras'sโmaybe she can even train with the others on the border."
"Stop it, I'm too stressed for this," I spat out.
"What could you possibly have to be stressed about, Mariangela?" Lucien demanded. I glared at him. "You don't do anything."
ย ย That was simply because I wasn't allowed to do anything. But I didn't dare complain about that in front of my older brother.
"Just sit and eat," I pleaded with him, taking his sleeve in my hand and tugging on it. He yanked his arm away, but sat beside me.
ย ย The three of us ate in an awkward silence. I glanced at the two of them, debating whether breaking the silence was wise or not.
"She's very pretty," I observed.
"She was malnourished, dressed in rags, and filthy," Lucien pointed out, wrinkling his nose.
"But there was potential, there," I said with a slight smile. "She had a very pretty face."
"She was tolerable looking," Lucien decided, but then added, "for a mortal." I rolled my green eyes.
"Insufferable fox," I teased.
"Spoiled little flower," he retorted.
ย ย Tamlin's huff of irritation shut us both up. We went back to eating in that awkward silence.