The day of the meeting was upon them. Golden streams of sunlight silhouetted the clouds like the halo of a saint. Forest dew drops sat stagnant and glistening in the light of Dawn. Shaera sighed, letting the cold air fill her lungs. Today was going to be long, eventful, and most likely to end in disaster. Revelations sat in the fogged undergrowth. She had spoken to Rhysand last night when she'd returned from her escapade with Azriel. A newfound burden weighed on her heart.
***
When she returned to the townhouse her brother was sat on the armchair illuminated by the dying fire. Shaera was going to simply continue on her journey to the comforts of her bed, then he called her name. There was no light, no carefree tone to his call, only deep dark thoughts weighing upon his words.

"If we don't win this war Sahriel, if I don't survive-" he turned his gaze to meet her own, violet connecting with violet... he had grown used to calling her Shaera... She didn't understand why Sahriel had been pulled from the dust.

"-know you inherit my power, inherit the responsibility of a High Lord, The Night Court, Velaris" All Shaera could do was stare down at the man who sat shrouded in anxious mysteries induced by the uncertainty of the future

"Promise me you'll look after them... all of them" Shaera's mouth was dry, the heat of the fire grew faint... power fell to the closest blood relation.

"We have an uncle"

"He cannot inherit the power whilst you remain alive, Keir is not my closest relative anymore" A deep sigh fell from her lips as she walked further into the room lowering herself into the chair across from her him

"I cannot do what you do Rhysand, the responsibly, the burden. I was not a kind commander, you can't expect me to rule an entire people"

"You'll have to... Promise me you won't abandon them, abandon this Court" Shaera leant back in the chair her eyes flickering to gaze into the fire. Women don't become High Lords, she would not only have to lead a Court, protect the people she loves, ward off Keir's attempts on her life... and gain the acceptance of the other High Lords. Selfishness kept her alive. The thought of being imprisoned in responsibility to a land she deep down did not feel like she belonged to would kill her. Slowly, painfully

"I promise" the words fell from her mouth barely amounting to a whisper. A sigh of relief left Rhysand, his head fell on the back of the chair,
"Thank you" a warm silence resonated around them both swarmed by the thoughts of the future yet to come
****

Shaera was the next immediate inheritor of Rhysands powers as a High Lord, well not Shaera, Sahriel... It was now a burden she had to bear, their conversation would not stretch beyond the dark early hours of that morning. It helped the siblings had the most guarded minds in all of Prythian. She prayed to all the Gods Rhysand would not fall a victim to this war. Call it Selfishness, childish. She did not want to rule the Night Court... once upon a time the idea of having that much power would have been euphoric, she would've ended Rhysand herself. Now she wanted to sit in a cafe eating pastries, walk down streets not plagued by war, watch the people she'd grown to care for be happy ... and Azriel, they're trying to form a bond amidst destruction. It was hard. Before she had descended back into the clutches of her room, Rhysand gave her one last command.

"Dress as though you second me" it was a simple order... yet one that would shine her under a spotlight in that meeting... so she whispered 'very well, and retreated into the darkness of the townhouse. She did dress as he commanded A long black gown clung to her body until the mid-thigh, where it pooled out around her feet, as though specks of the night sky starlight were woven into the seams. The corseted bodice intricately circled her torso, covering her scarred back, concluding with a sweetheart neckline and off the shoulder sleeves that fell down her arms loosely,  stretching just after the tips of her fingers. It was very tight... she could hardly breathe and the material so effortlessly irritated her wounds. Perfect. Her hair sat around her like a wild dark halo, eyes almost glowing in opposition to the black eyeshadow, Shaera kept her lips bare, afraid if she also darkened her lips she'd look like a demon queen from the depths or Amren, what was the difference. So there she stood, side by side with Azriel waiting on the order for them to depart... Nesta was pleading her case as to why she should be allowed to come... personally Shaera saw no benefit to it, but she was an Archeron and they were stubborn mortals, and stubbornly worse immortals.

"Don't say anything stupid" Azriel mumbled lowly, Shaera turned to look up at the Illyrian her eyebrow raised in question

"I never say anything stupid" She hummed, The Spymaster lowered himself closer to her ear 

"You my dear, are delusional" his breath fanned across the side of her face as his hand rested on the base of her back, his finger trailing until it rested on her hip 

"You'll be delusional in a minute if you don't stop that" Shaera mumbled flickering her gaze to meet her mates, amusement pooled in the Shadowsinger's irises 

"Pray tell me, what will you do if I don't?" Azriel mused. Shaera chuckled a lot more nervously than she had intended to, Rhysand looked over.  A sigh of relief left her lips as he nodded signalling for the two of them to winnow to Dawn Court... well Azriel to winnow them, he still lacked trust in her skills to travel from A to B, mainly due to injury and seemingly his own personal anxieties. The Hazel eyed man looped his arm around her waist this time.They winnowed. The entirety of the balcony was empty... Shaera turned and grinned up at the Illyrian who frowned down at her

"What?" She reached her hand up and secured it around the back of the Spymaster's neck before slamming her lips against his. Azriel responded as soon as he realised what she had just done. He rested his hands on her hips squeezing softly, neither coming up for breath. Shaera's back gently made contact with a marble pillar. Her heart thumped in her chest, She bit Azriel's lip softly, the man groaned. Then she did something to truly piss the man off... she pulled away and slipped from the Spymaster's grasp, returning to their original arrival point, a devilish grin upon her face. 

"You are evil" Azriel sighed before he turned around to look at his mate.

"Wait until I accept the bond and do that" she laughed sending a wink his way, the Illyrian approached her and lifted her chin, Hazel connecting with Violet 

"You're going to accept the bond?" Azriel spoke, something laced within his words. Hope?, Happiness?.

"I mean... I-" Shaera was cut off by the arrival of the rest of the inner Circle. Her cheeks flushed red 

"Interrupting something are we?" Cassian said grinning at the pair stood in close quarters with one another. An amused glint crossed her brother's eyes as he looked at the way his closest friend gazed down at his sister. An attendant draped in gold and ruby appeared in the doorway of the balcony. The man's gaze situated on Rhysand, and only Rhysand, he bowed deeply

"This way, High Lord" the melodic directive slipped from his lips like honey. Shaera gaped at the gorgeous man before her. The rest of the inner circle began to lead from the balcony, all the while Azriel and Shaera slipped to the back

"He's so pretty... If Helion is anything like that man, I don't see how you expect me not to flirt" she hissed pointedly towards Azriel, her mate chuckled beginning to guide her down the halls, following closely behind the rest of the group

"He's worse" he mused 

"Please consider the five-some" the ex-commander sighed rather dreamily 

"Absolutely not" Azriel shut down her dream with two words. Shaera grumbled in protest 

"Three-some?" she sent a devilish look his way

"Shaera." 

"Fine I'll stop" The shadow singer pinched her side, a yelp left her lips. He smirked as the dark-haired woman shoved him softly then flickered her gaze off to the right, What dragged her attention away first was the sky. Enormous clouds drifted across the cobalt sky, their round edges gilded with golden light. Shaera took a deep breath, the dewy freshness of morning lingered in the balmy air. 

"Look to your right" Azriel spoke, so she did, her gaze fell upon an opalescent palace situated above them, reaching towards the sky. Steps, balconies, archways, verandas and bridges linked the towers and domes, in what seemed to be an endless heavenly misted maze. Periwinkle morning glories climbed up pillars and stone, basking in the morning rays.  She caught a glimpse of the verdant countryside rippling away far below, speckled with red-roofed little villages and broad rivers that sparkled as though a thousand diamonds sat within their depths.  Shaera moved her gaze towards the paled roses that encircled the spiralling staircase in which they ascended. Each spiral upwards tendrils of sun slipped through the sparsely covered walls. The group passed an open-air chamber littered with fat, silk pillows and plush carpets the windows were stained in a colourful medley, as lavender poured from urns situated below them.

"This palace is gorgeous..." Shaera whispered more to herself than Azriel 

"Velaris is equally magnificent" he replied gazing at the gurgling fountain below 

"I do suppose you have nice dungeons" she taunted the Illyrian who pinched her waist again. Shaera hissed under her breath 

"What is it with you and pinching me?"  A smirk twitched at the corner of Azriel's mouth, his hazel eyes scanned her face 

"You flush red" he spoke lowly, amusement bubbled in his irises. The dark-haired woman grumbled covering her cheeks with both hands.

They circled the last spiral of steps, which left the last final approach to the meeting room. A bridge connected the tower to the palace interior, its rails drooped with dawn-pale wisteria. Rhysand lingered for a moment his head turning his gaze falling upon her, violet met violet

"Shield them where they cannot shield themselves"  it was an order, Azriel, Cassian and Morrigan had century old, well constructed mental shields... the Archeron's on the other hand. Shaera could easily slip through, it wouldn't take long for a High Lord to do the same.

"Very well"  she nodded softly, a sigh left her brother's lips before he turned and proceeded further across the bridge and into the room that awaited. Shaera didn't know what to expect from the occupants of the room...but she didn't anticipate there to be Peregryn soldiers circled by who she concluded to be Thesan, the High Lord of Dawn Court.... they differed from Illyrians due to the simple fact they had feathers. The way their feathers glistened...

***
"Tell me you like my dress Shae" Amarantha spoke, her voice like shards of glass embedding themselves into Shaera's flesh. A white feathered gown swirled around the red-haired woman, a malice grin seeping across her face.

"It looks like you're wearing Peregryn feathers" she replied dully peeling her gaze to scrape over the bloodied stone walls. Amaranths cackled

"That's because they are-"  Shaera wanted to throw up, instead she sent the woman a disgusted look

"-Next time I'll use Illyrian, their wings will make for a nice corset"
"Do as you wish,  I could not care a less" she droned sending the ruler of the mountain one last warning glance before winnowing from under the mountain and back to Hybern.
***
Deep cushioned oak chairs had been arranged in a large circle in the heart of the room, there were enough chairs for all the High Lords and their delegates. Some of the chairs had been shaped to accommodate wings, which was extremely handy for the Illyrian men of their group. They moved further in, boots clicked against polished marbled floor, sunlight seeped across the expanse through the open archways. The violet-eyed woman settled her gaze upon the space between the circle of chairs, there was notable.... in its place a shallow circular pool carved into the floor itself. Dark waters were laden with pink and gold water lilies, the pads broad and flat. Small fish swam lazily in the depths. Once she figuratively had drank up the magnificent structure, Shaera moved on to the room itself, more wisteria twined about the pillars that flanked the space, tables along the border of the room were filled with vases of wine and coloured peonies. Between the vases sat platters and baskets s of food. Small pastries, cured meats and garlands of fresh fruit beckoned before decanters of refreshments. In her mind's absence, the High Lord of Dawn Court had approached Rhysand and Feyre bidding them some form of welcome... he was taller than she had anticipated, his skin and hair were brown, seemingly kissed with rays of the golden sun. His eyes as warm and brown as freshly rolled fields would occasionally sweep over the Night Court entourage.

"He's what I'd image the sun to look like if it ever took human form" she mused mentally, Azriel hummed 

"I always imaged the sun to be a woman, flowing golden hair and warm brown eyes" he concluded his thoughts by glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

"So Morrigan" she teased effortlessly, The Shadowsinger snapped his gaze away, a small flush dusted his cheeks. If the situation wasn't as delicate as it was, she would've burst out laughing at her mate's embarrassment. It was odd how his attraction to her cousin failed to bother her anymore, she looked upon it with indifference. 

"You torment me" the Spymaster grumbled 

"You enjoy it" she licked her lower lip and winked at the man before turning her attention to the two approaching High Lords. Shaera's eyes first scanned over Kallias the High Lord of Winter Court.... her elaborate painted vision of the man had been rather accurate... white hair, piercing ice-blue eyes... though his cheekbones lacked the dusting of frost or snowflakes, his skin did look glacier, as though ice lurked beneath its depths, the flow of blood and warmth. He wore a royal blue jacket embroidered with silver thread, its collar and sleeves dusted with white rabbit fur. It seemed positively too hot for the outfit, especially as it was paired with an undershirt, trousers and knee-high brown boots... A high pitched squeal cut her analysis short, Shaera snapped her head to the left only to see Morrigan hugging a white-haired woman in a death grip, they were both laughing, crying. As the group conversed among themselves, a mix of tensions and amusements shrouded the air. Shaera moved from Azriel's side much to the Illyrian's dismay and slowly approached the table of pastries... they were magnificent. Shaera delicately picked up the shou cream pastry and shoved the whole thing into her mouth.

"You look oddly like Rhysand" the ex-commander nearly chocked on the bloody shou pastry as she swallowed it,  spun around coming face to  face with the High Lord of Winter Court
Violet met ice blue. 

"Yes, he does happen to be my brother, my Lord" Kallias rose his eyebrow as he peered down at her with intrigue 

"I thought your head and only your head ended up down a river" Shaera kept her face stone against the man's words,

"Well, my head is ever-present as you can see" she smiled softly, the white-haired man hummed 

"Sadly we cannot say the same for your mother" he mused, a dead laugh sounded from her lips, Shaera fixed a now cold gaze on the man, the High Lord of Winter Court matched her with an equal blizzard 

"And may she rest in peace" Shaera's tone was even, calculated, calm. Rhysand appeared at her side his shoulder brushed her own as he stood in front of her slightly

"I see you've met my sister Kallias" 

"So I have Rhysand" Kallias nodded his head once before moving past them both. A freezing hand latched onto her forearm the contact burned, this time blue clashed violently with violet. A force pushed against her shield, a spiral of words whispered on the cusp 

"Where does a dead girl hide for near half a millennia?"

"Far away from a land where Lords are enslaved under a mountain" it was a lie yet his grip loosened as he descended back into the room. 

"It seems we need to work on your people skills" Rhysand hummed clapping his hand on her uninjured shoulder 

"I think my people skills are fantastic" the Illyrian snorted

"Try not to piss off every High Lord before the meeting starts" Shaera grinned sweetly snatching another pastry 

"I'll try brother dearest" The violet-eyed man shook his head and returned to his mate's side. She didn't think about the fact that she has theoretically died and now re-emerged five hundred years later at a meeting to save Prythian. Mildly suspicious to say the least. Shaera stood by the table, observing the three other High Lords present. It was strange, Kallias was a blank canvas, Thesan was in love with his guard. Her eyes settled on the High Lord of Day Court. White fabric draped around his muscular body, and a golden cuff of an upright serpent encircled his bicep. His dark skin seemed to glow in the rays of sun filtering through the archway. A radiant crown of golden spikes glistened atop his sleek onyx hair. She kept her distance and watched Helion jerk his square chin to Rhysand. He was the only High Lord seemingly unbothered by her brother's wings from what she read from everyone else's body language. His amber eyes fell on Feyre

"Does Tamlin know what she is?" The man lowered his tone, now all she could do was watch the words pour from his mouth the sound failing to reach her ears... it was frustrating ... She stepped forward from the table the sun shimmering across her skin. Helion turned, violet connected with Amber, and the High Lord of Day Court smirked at her. Shaera merely blinked in confusion. The dark-haired man swiftly turned his course in her direction, panic. After Kallias the ex-commander didn't particularly want to talk to anyone! She flickered her gaze behind her swiftly fastening her grip around a glass of wine.

"Hello there," a warm deep tone spoke. Shaera took a deep gulp from the embroidered chalice and turned around to face the man. 

"Why did you come over here with that smirk of intention and a new tone to your voice?" an amused look crossed The Highlords irises as he rose a brow 

"People aren't usually so straightforward with their questions, especially when addressing a High Lord" 

"I don't like High Lords, they're either self-entitled and brooding or my brother" she sipped her wine, looking at the man through her lashes. Helion chuckled slightly, Shaera could read the scheme beneath his practised manner she'd done it for 300 years... she had missed reading courtly minds without her powers.

"I quite like you" The violet-eyed woman laughed softly, she could not only feel Rhysand's eyes piercing the back of her skull but now Azriel's.

"What scheme do you want to weave my Lord" the amber-eyed man moved closer 

"What is the Night Court's intentions" his charm slowly diminished with his words 

"They wish to save Prythian from the clutches of Hybern... I'd love to say it was less honourable for dramatised purposes, but sadly it's not" Shaera hummed swirling the liquid in her cup. Helion nodded the corner of his lip twitched 

"And what are the intentions of the most powerful Daemati in the room and the entirety of Prythian" the violet-eyed woman laughed this time, slowly diminishing the sound by bringing the chalice back to her lips.

"I'm simply here for the pastries and the wine" she rose her cup to the man who watched her with a newfound defensiveness. 

"A person who observes the room, rather than fall within its clutches, takes on the position of God" he spoke with a calculated integrity, it challenged even her own... two minds danced in a war of wills. Shaera smirked 

"I know of many Gods, you'll have to be more specific" Helion shook his head 

"You have a smart mind, weaving even smarter words-" he paused for a moment glancing back at his entourage 

"Enjoy the meeting, my dear" he bowed his head to her. Shaera returned the gesture. A High Lord had just bowed his head to her and she was practically cackling inside. Confusion and intrigue seeped from Rhysand's pores. The violet-eyed woman winked in her brother's direction before heading toward their seats

******

Well, Shaera thought the meeting was going fantastic ... she'd pissed off the High Lord of Winter... Shaera didn't really know what had happened with Helion, but it seemed they had come to somewhat of an understanding. "Don't cross me and I won't cross you, I also find you undeniable attractive and it's half the reason why I didn't cut you in half with my hidden knife" They had all seated around the pond, Rhysand in the middle of the group, Feyre to his right, followed by Nesta and Cassian. Shaera sat to Rhysand's left, the ex-commander thought Cassian would've taken that spot but instead, the order went; her, Azriel and then Mor... Her nails tapped the oak armrest of the chair. Azriel placed a tentative hand over her own. Shaera turned her head to look at the Illyrian beside her

"What is the matter?" The sound of his voice was enough to stop her anxious tapping on the other arm, violet moved to meet Hazel, 

"I'm just rhythmically tapping the armrest." She hummed looking off to the door before she met his gaze again

"I think I understand you enough to see past that lie" The Shadowsinger mused, as he drew circles on her hand.

"Why do people have to be late?"

"Who's appearance is making you anxious?" The sound of approaching footsteps caused her to snap her head away from Azriel, resting her gaze on Tarquin the High Lord of Summer Court. A small sigh left her lips. Thank the Gods. The man was stone-faced and ignored the rest of the room, he simply found his seat, sat down and avoided eye contact with every soul present. That was fine, his Court was viciously assaulted by Hybern, Shaera believed he was allowed to be angry, enraged, he was immobilised before the war had even begun. She could imagine how fatigued and alone Tarquin truly was. Beron, his wife and their sons arrived soon after. The boys thought it best to sneer in the Night Courts' direction, the inner circle ignored them, as Eris silenced them. The eldest son settled across from Shaera sending her a grin as he lowered into his seat, the violet-eyed woman rose her brow in reply.

"I missed your gorgeous face" she had to stop herself from snorting in amusement at the man's endless obsession 

"Sadly the notion isn't reciprocated " Shaera replied tapping her nails on the handle of the chair again

"So cold" he tutted leaning back into his cushioned seat 

"So needy" a smirk twitched at the corner of Eris' mouth as he inclined his head. Shaera shook her head softly. The fae man amused her, his switches in personality, the way he played the game. In another life, they would've been friends, but now they are on opposite sides, one court facing another. An understanding did sit between them though, he would follow them into battle no matter what. Thesan cleared his throat, all eyes fell upon the High Lord of Dawn Court. And it begins

"Rhysand, you have called this meeting, Pushed us to gather sooner than we intended. Now would be the time to explain what is so urgent." Thesan's voice was even, controlled in every way possible. 

"Surely, the invading armies landing on our shores explain enough" Rhysand blinked slowly letting his eyes wander to all the High Lords present. Helion sat forward 

"So you have called us to do what, exactly?-" he braced his forearms on his legs

"-raise a unified army?" He scanned the High Lord of the Night Courts' face in 

"Among other things,-" Rhys said mildly. 

"We are weak already, years spent under the mountain, we cannot go to war," Kallias said his voice emotionless 

"So you wish to sit and wait for Hybern to break down your doors, slaughter your people, burn your city to the ground" Rhysand spoke in disbelief, he leant back in his chair 

"We have no clue as to the numbers Hybern has, comparable to our own. How large is their Armada? do they have an aerial force? We would be battling blind" Thesan interjected, he rose valuable points, Rhysand turned and nodded in her direction, she sighed and sat forward slightly.

"Hybern lack an aerial force but they make up for it  with one hundred and four ships in their armada, and forty legions in their infantry."She finished by scanning her eyes across the room. Helion rose an eyebrow and sat forward.

"And what of their offence comparable to their defence" Amber connected with violet, 

"Offence is priority, batter the enemy until they're no longer a threat to your defence-" Shaera went to open her mouth but the High Lord of Day Court cut her off

"Now tell me how do you know such information" the corner of his lip twitched slightly. The ex-commander lounged back into her cushioned chair, 

"I observe" Helion's eye twitched in annoyance, Shaera smirked slightly, as she went back to tapping her fingers rhythmically once more. Rhysand cleared his throat

"Hybern's army is large... but if Prythian stood unified then there is a chance that innocent men, women and children, get to live another day", Thesan nodded in understanding while Kallias scoffed in disbelief. The hair on the back of Shaera's neck stood on end, she clenched her hands, nails digging deeply into her palms. Tamlin

The ex-commander could sense him... 

"Rhysand." She whispered into her brother's mind, the Illyrian turned his head towards his sister. Not even half a second later. Like a crack of lightning in a vicious spring storm, Tamlin winnowed into the meeting room.

————————————-
4512
So Tamlin's arrived
I was gonna put the next bit in this chapter but like...
🙌🏻Suspense 🙌🏻
And it would've been ridiculously long...not that I'm not partial to a 5,000-word chapter here and there😌
I need to finish six of crows and crooked kingdom by the 23 of April, this is very stressful business. But anywho!
Don't forget to vote and comment! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for Reading!!!

Edited 15th May 2022: I have not in-fact finished six of crows or crooked kingdom...