Deep red stains littered the stone floor, pillars splattered with remains of lives ended in the wake of anger. The king lazed on his throne of bone, a coin slipping through the crevices of his paled, thin fingers. A drone lulled through the walls, like an ever announced omnipotent presence. Two stone coffins laid to the left, wreathed in asphodel. The white petals browned with withering. Drips echoed through the vast grey space, a rhythmic ensemble, the likeness drawn to the beat of a heart. In the king's other hand sat two raven heads, eyes white in death, decay already fastening the creature's flesh. The man hummed a soft tune as he gazed towards the coffins. The two small heads slipped from his palm, rolling across the stone floors, a single red Anemone weaved its way through the cracks.

Rain hammered beyond the walls.

****

Sun shone beyond the walls, silence ricocheted around the room, Shaera kept her face hard as stone, reinforcing the shield around the inner court's minds, Rhysand placed a physical barrier of sorts. Gleaming green eyes scraped from the High Lord of the Night Court to Feyre. Shaera prayed they'd stop there; begged for them to stop there. Beggars can't be choosers. Green clashed with Violet, malice simmered beneath the surface as his lips pulled into a broad smile, teeth gleaming white as crow picked bones.

"We were not expecting you, Tamlin-" Thesan's voice sliced through the air like a knife to butter 

"- Fetch the Highlord a chair" The High Lord of Spring Court, kept his gaze fixated on Shaera for a moment longer, the woman still as death beneath it, she felt like she was going to crumble within her skin, despairing as the prospect that the blonde-haired fae had decided to attend the meeting at all... Yet centuries of serving Hybern did not build her to crumble under a man's fury.

"I will admit Tamlin, that I'm surprised to see you here, rumour claims your allegiance now lies elsewhere" Beron mused, Tamlin flickered his gaze past the man dismissively and settled onto Feyre. A servant placed a chair between one of Eris' younger brothers and a member of Helion's entourage, neither looking happy about the new individual beside them, yet none proved stupid enough to recoil away as Tamlin walked over and seated himself between them. Helion waved his scar-flecked hand 

"Let's get on with it then" his cold tone commanded the room. Anxiety clawed at the very pit of her stomach, like a rabid animal trapped in a snare. Shaera's mouth was dry, the thought of the man sent recollections of the past cascading over her skin,  his touch, his scent,  his lips. Even in her recollections, the ex-commander could not help but flicker her eyes over the Feyre... the poor girl.

"It would seem congratulations are in order" Tamlin's tone was flat 

"We can discuss the matter at hand later" Rhysand spoke evenly turning his head to get the approval of the room 

"Oh please, don't stop on my account" the High Lord of Spring taunted sitting back in his chair. The light in Rhy's eyes diminished as though a thief had stolen the stars from the night sky, he slipped his hand from Feyre's knee,  too reclining back into his chair tracing an idle circle on the armrest.

"I'm not in the business of discussing our plans with enemies" her brother replied bluntly, in the corner of her eye she saw Helion grin,

"No-" Tamlin hummed as he leant forward resting his elbows on his knees 

"-you're just in the business of fucking them and housing them in your Court" green eyes scraped from Feyre then to her. The members of the inner circle were as still as death. Shaera could practically feel the rage thumping down the mating bond. Rhysand chuckled 

"Seems a far less destructive alternative to war" he shrugged a soft smile lingering on his lips 

"And yet here you are, having started it in the first place" Rhys blink was the only sign of confusion he let off. Shaera was mildly confused... suppose if they did not come to Hybern that day, events would have panned out extremely differently... well at least for herself... but Tamlin still sold out Prythian and then there's the fact Hybern had been planning this onslaught for over a century... A claw slid from Tamlin's knuckle, many of the occupants frozen, Kallias' hand drifted to the arm of his mate's chair, preparing to throw himself between the raging fae to save his wife. Tamlin dragged it down the arm of the chair. Shaera clenched her teeth, she kept the shield around the inner circle strong... that was her one job,

"If you hadn't stolen my bride away in the night, Rhysand I would not have been forced to take such drastic measures to get her back"

"The sun was shining when I left you" Feyre retorted, Tamlin moved his eyes to meet his ex-lover briefly before he snorted and turned away. There was not one instance where this ended well, or Shaera left the room with her honour and secrets intact. She knew it by the way Tamlin would let his eyes fall on her every now and then, a caution, he was telling her to count down the time she had left to sit there with some self-respect.

"Why are you here Tamlin?" Kallias' bitter cold tone questioned the blond fae

"I bartered access to my lands to get back the woman I love from the sadists who plays with minds as if they are toys. I meant to fight Hybern- find a way around the bargain I made with the king once she was back."  He paused, his lip curled in disgust 

"-Only Rhysand and his cabal had turned her into one of them. And she delighted in ripping open my territory for Hyben to invade. All for a petty grudge, either her own or her... masters'"

"You don't get to rewrite the narrative, you don't get to spin this to your advantage" Feyre stepped in again, cutting off Tamlin's boundless warped perception of what happened. Tamlin turned his head toward Rhysand, a malic grin licking his lips 

"When you fuck her, have you ever noticed the little noise she makes before she climaxes?" His voice was harboured with hate, Beron beamed in sick delight. A deep frown creased along Shaera's brow...

"What about you Shae?" The ex-commander snapped her eyes up to meet Tamlin's... the air exhaled from her lungs ... The High Lords moved their eyes between the blonde fae and the dark-haired woman sitting across from him. 

"What about me Tamlin?" She kept her voice even, melodic as the words slipped from her tongue.

"Has anyone else had the pleasure to fuck you yet?-" Shaera blinked, Rage beat harder down the mating bond, She saw Azriel stiffen slightly in his chair.

"-I mean it'd be a shame for such skills to go to waste" he sighed wistfully, amusement seeped from his pores, black pooled on the outer reaches of her irises, she simply blinked. Stillness settled in her bones. Rhysand shifted ever so slightly, violet met violet.

"Is it true?" Shaera ignored the question turning back to the onslaught before her.

"Still so quiet and obedient" The corner of her lip twitched, violet was engulfed by darkness. Helion sat up straighter, his eyes filled with intrigue 

"The fact you believe our physical affairs stretched beyond anything more than an order, goes to show the full extent of your delusions" Fire scalded and blazed between them, Tamlin's teeth gritted as he stared her down,

"My delusions-" he chuckled dryly his claw scraping along the oak armrest again

"Who's name did you moan as I fucked you? Who's name did I moan?" a laugh fell from her lips, 

"And what secrets did you whisper to me beneath the starless sky?-" Green eyes finally widened in full realisation. Shaera grinned leaning further into the chair, arms positioned on both rests. 

"-And as I recall after the second night you were more than content to moan mine" Tamlin snarled 

"Careful now Shae, You know what measures I am willing to take to ensure I get what I want"

"And what is it that you want Tamlin? A woman who would rather rip apart your court than spend another moment in your company?" 

"Let's start with putting your head on a spike, then I'll deal with my fiancée after that" he mused his eyes dancing between the women on either side of Rhysand.

"Be careful how you speak about my High Lady and my mate" Azriel's voice was as cold as death, yet nothing but burning hot rage bubbled in his Hazel eyes. 

"Don't feel ashamed, I do not view you any less than before" His voice murmured in her mind. The breath that exhaled from her nose held a surplus of relief, it was clear the attention was ripped from her, She did not fail to notice the surprise that flashed in Tamlin's eyes, it vanished as quick as it came, swallowed by pure fury, he snapped his head back to Feyre.

"It was not enough to sit by my side was it-" a hateful smile curled onto the man's lips 

"You once asked me if you'd be my High Lady, and when I said no-" he laughed lowly 

"-Perhaps I underestimated you. Why serve in my court, when you could rule in his!" Tamlin then turned to face the other High Lords and their retinues

"They peddle tales of defending our land and peace. And yet she came to my lands,  laid them bare to Hybern, she took my High Priestess and warped her mind—after she shattered her bones for spite." His nostrils flared.

"-And if you're asking yourself what happened to that human girl who went Under the Mountain to save us... Look to the male sitting beside her. Ask what he stands to gain—what they stand to gain from this war or lack of it. Would we fight Hybern only to find ourselves with a Queen and King of Prythian? She's proved her ambition— and you saw how he was more than happy to serve Amarantha to remain unscathed" Of course, the weasel had to bring Amarantha into it, bring up the monstrous acts that occurred within the mountain. Events that played out left many regretting their past actions, both Shaera and Rhysand included. Many fell weak in the face of Amarantha's reign, and none in the room weren't an example of such action. Rhys let out a darkening chuckle

"Well played Tamlin. You're learning" Tamlin snarled at the condescending nature of the comment he flickered his eyes towards Kallias 

"You asked why I'm here? I might ask the same of you-" Tamlin jerked his chin at the High Lord of winter, then to his wife

"-You mean to tell me that after Under the Mountain, you can stomach working with him?" The green-eyed fae pointed his finger at her brother, Gods the battle of wits and words... she did miss it, missed the way the occupants of the room grappled for power, missed the adrenaline rush from rendering minds inferior. A dullset ache settled in her skull as her shield remained secured around the Inner Circle. Kallias stilled, the silvery glow that seemed to encircle him dimmed

"We came here to decide that for ourselves" even his mate seemed to dampen slightly. Silence stilled. She was lost, in many a situation, Shaera would simply slip into their minds, find an answer. Yet the growing strain of the constant shield rendered her as clueless as the rest of the room. 

"I had no involvement in that. None" Rhysand spoke lowly his voice soft, barely a whisper. Kallias's eyes flared, a blue flame licked the edges of his iris 

"You stood beside her throne while the order was given" The High Lord of Winter hissed his hands gripping the rests on the seat 

"I tried to stop it" 

"Tell that to the parents of the two dozen youngling she butchered" Shaera went as still as death... the children... it was to keep the rebellion to a gurgled nothingness,  Winter Court had been growing loud with tales of freedom... she had been called in to sweep the dust under the carpet when faced with a presentation of the past it was only then she was able to see the monster she had been... 

"There is not one day that passes where I don't remember it" Kallias sat back eyes trained on the Inner circle 

"Remembering... does not bring them back, they're parents childless, not even a body to mourn... a grave to visit"  Rhysand's shoulders slumped slightly, defeat pooled in the air around him...Shaera watched, her tongue dry... Viviane cleared her throat, an idle attempt to dispel the growing tensions, she glanced between Feyre and Rhysand

"I was not present Under the Mountain, but I would here High Lord, how you tried to — stop her" Pain tightened across her face,

"Finally Speechless, Rhysand?" Beron mused...Shaera wanted to creep into his mind, tormented the wisped tendrils of his forgotten sorrows.

"I believe you" Feyre murmured in reassurance 

"Says the woman who gave an innocent girl's name in her stead — for Amarantha to butcher as well" Beron Countered, a smug amusement lulled across his features. 

"Perhaps we should pick apart your past Beron?" Shaera brushed tentatively at the edges of the man's mind... the act itself strained her beyond belief, a fact he did not have to know.

"- I'm sure I can find far more grotesque acts quite easily." The High Lord of Autumn clenched his hands into fists, she could feel Tamlin's gaze piercing into her skull

"Shaera...-" Rhy's voice echoed around the room, Violet met Violet, she nodded sinking lazily back into her cushioned seat.

"-Under the Mountain-" he paused, expression sombre, regret seeped from his very pores

"When your people rebelled, she was furious...wanted you dead Kallias-" Viviane's snow complexion paled

"- I convinced her it would serve little purpose" her brother kept his sights firmly set on the High Lord of winter, begging, trying to make him understand.

"Who knew the cock could be so persuasive" Beron opened his mouth again, Helion watched her, Tamlin watched her, it felt like the whole room was waiting for her reaction. 

"Shaera" Rhysand partly pleaded. Hot breath fell from her lips 

"Don't react" Azriel's voice murmured through the space between them, melodic and sweet like sap. A warmth crawled up her spine. Her frown softened slightly.

"She backed off the idea of killing you, your rebels were dead- I convinced her it was enough. I thought it was the end of it-" his breath hitched for a mere moment

"-I only found out when you did. I think she used my defence of you as a warning sign— she didn't tell me any of it, she kept me... confined. I tried to break into their minds... the soldiers she sent, but the dampener on my power was too strong for me to hold them— then it was already done... she sent a Daemati with them-" her exhale shallowed, whispers of breath fell past her lips...

"I think she wanted you to suspect me. To keep us from ever allying against her." Amber merged with Violet across the room, Helion's lip twitched into a soft smirk, the High Lord of Day was no fool, puzzle pieces were cascading into place, like rain against the earth. He was sourcing the route of her very existence. She ripped the minds of those children apart, shielding herself from the spying eyes of the soldiers, merging into nothingness, unfurling innocence. Rhysand didn't see. How could he? The cauldron had sourced the flowing of her blood, the air in which she exhaled. A drug that thumped power in an ensemble of chaos and death

"Where did she confine you?" Viviane's voice was delicate in her question, cautious. 

"Her bedroom" The answer was blunt. Truthful. Rage rippled around the occupants of the Night Court. 

"Stories and words-" Tamlin said, lounging in his chair.

"-is there any proof"

"Proof!?" Cassian snarled, half rising in his seat, wings flaring 

"No" Rhysand cut in, Mor blocked Cassian's descent upon the High Lord of Spring 

"-But I swear it upon my mate's life" her brother's hands softly grasped Feyre's. They were clammy. Kallias hummed, whatever he saw within Rhysands face, altered his concerns, he turned his attention to Tamlin

"Why are you here, Tamlin?" Ice Blue eyes watched vacantly, the muscle in Tamlin's jaw clenched 

"I am here to help you fight against Hybern" 

"Bullshit" Cassian muttered, the blonde fae glowered in his direction, the Illyrian folded his wings and smirked  

"You will forgive us-" Thesan interrupted carefully 

"-We are doubtful and hesitant to share our plans" The room whispered in agreement

"Even when I have information on Hybern's movements"  Shaera snapped her gaze to the green-eyed fae. Whispers silenced. Eyes around the pool glistened with curiosity. He was the last person in contact with the king, the last person in Hybern. Tamlin smiled 

"Why do you think I invited them to my house? Into my lands-?"  his sight set upon Feyre

"-I once told you I would fight against Tyranny, against that sort of, evil-" green flickered to Violet for a moment, 

"-did you think you were enough to turn me from that?-" his teeth glistened in the light, a death promise sat upon his lips

"-It was so easy for you to call me a monster, despite all I did for you, for your family"  Nesta's face held what could be interpreted as dismissive displeasure. 

"You witnessed all he did Under the Mountain, and still you spread your legs for him. Fitting I suppose, he whored himself for Amarantha for decades, why shouldn't you be his whore in return?" Feyre's breath hitched, a laugh fell from Shaera's lips, 

"You truly are pathetic Tamlin-" green clashed with Violet, 

"-she doesn't want you, for all-our sake, keep your weeping behind closed doors, some of us wish to discuss war"  the wood cracked under his grip, the sound ripped through the silence.

"Should we discuss who you whored yourself to for over a century?" The High Lord of Spring hissed through her mind. The dark-haired woman went to retort, yet the words sat like oleander on her tongue, sharp and bitter. He knew... Shaera thought that the truth had died with the last of the Ravens. Yet as she stared into Tamlin's eyes, he confirmed what she feared. Helion cleared his throat.

"I agree with the pretty one -" he paused casting a small glance in her direction

"-You're beginning to become tedious Tamlin-" the High Lord of day sighed, propping his head against his palm

"-take your lover's spat elsewhere and lest the rest of us talk about war"  

"You'd be all too happy for war, considering how well you made it out the last one" 

"No one says war can't be lucrative" Helion countered his amber gaze glistened with amusement, like a parent humouring childish antics. Tamlin curled his lip in a silent snarl. The meeting was going nowhere, Hybern's drums of war called upon the horizon, they beat stronger and loader each day, if an allegiance wasn't somewhat salvaged between the Courts, Prythian would fall.

"Enough-" Kallias said, 

"-We have our opinions on how the conflict with Hybern should be dealt with-" his glacial eyes hardened as he watched the blonde-haired fae

"-are you here as an ally of Hybern or Prythian?" Tamlin's mocking, hate-driven glean melded and faded into granite resolve 

"I stand against Hybern" 

"Prove it" Helion goaded, Tamlin lifted his hand, sheets of precise, pristine papers appeared on the small cherry wood table beside his chair 

"Charts of armies, ammunition, caches of fae bane... everything carefully gleaned these few months" Rhysand turned to look at her, the message was clear, who could confirm the solidity of the plans but her? 

"Noble as it sounds, who is to say the information is correct, or that you aren't Hybern's agent, trying to mislead us" the High Lord of Day rose valid concerns, many heads nodded in agreement, 

"Who is to say Rhysand and his cronies are not agents of Hybern, all of this ruse to get you to yield without realising it" 

"You can't be serious" Nesta murmured in disbelief, Mor rose her brow in astonishment at the claims. 

"If we need to ally against Hybern-" Thesan spoke evenly 

"-you are doing a good job of convincing us not to band together, Tamlin" 

"I am simply warning you that they might present the guise of honesty and friendship, but the fact remains that he warmed Amarantha's bed for fifty years, then only worked against her when it seemed the tide was turning. I'm warning you that while he claims his city was attacked by Hybern, they made off remarkably well— as if they were anticipating it. Don't think he wouldn't sacrifice a few buildings and lesser faeries to lure you into an alliance, into thinking you had a common enemy, why is it that only the Night Court got word about the attack on Adriata, why were they the only ones to arrive in time to play saviour?" He paused, Varian sat forward 

"they received word-" he cut in staring down the green-eyed man

"- because I warned them" Tarquin whipped his head to his cousin, brows high in disbelief 

"Perhaps you're working with them too" Tamlin conspired, 

"-You are next in line after all" Varian bared his teeth, he was swirling ridiculous tales, Shaera sighed, her tongue ran across the rouge of her lips, her head was continuously throbbing now.

"You're insane, do you hear what you're saying?" Feyre exhaled, her finger pointed to Nesta, the entirety of her hand shook with rage

"Hybern turned my sisters into fae— after your bitch of a priestess sold them out!"

"Perhaps Ianthe's mind was already in Shaera's thrall. What a shame it is to remain young and beautiful forever, you're a good actress Feyre—I'm sure the trait runs in the family" sitting around that table... giving the order to retrieve the Archeron sisters... regret curdled in the base of her gut. Nesta let out a low laugh, 

"If you want someone to blame for all of this, perhaps you should look in the mirror"
Tamlin snarled, Cassian tensed 

"Watch it" Illyrian snarled back, his wings flaring.

"Perhaps we should turn out sights to the one who spun this web-" her stomach dropped, his last stretch to grasp power 

"-Shaera"

"I had no hand in your choices" 

"No, you simply carried them out like the obedient bitch you are" Azriel tensed, her hand glided briefly across his hand, 

"Yes your bride was retrieved, But I'm not at fault because she didn't want to stay" 

"What do you want Tamlin?-" Feyre sighed, her hand clasped harder onto Rhysand's

"An apology, for me to crawl back into your bed and play nice, little wife?"

"Why should I want spoiled goods returned to me?" Violet met Violet. Rhysand's gaze hardened. a dreaded sigh exhaled through her nose she was so tired 

"The moment you let him fuck you like a—" Shaera's head throbbed to the beat of her heart. Fatigue swept like a crippling plague through her bones. Words failed to fall from Tamlin's mouth. His fangs frozen in a half extension, the disdain, amusement and boredom, in the room converged to fear. Black spots flickered across her sights. Tamlin was indeed a High Lord, as powerful as any of them. 

"Does it feel familiar?-" she murmured, Violet glistened with tendrils of darkness

"-Being completely and utterly powerless"  The occupants of the room had forgotten. They had withered with age, entangled with fear.  For they did not remember. The Night court was never held highest simply using the shoulders of one man. They had been reminded that true power also relied on the will of a woman.

*****
4159
Hehe,
I come bearing gifts... ✨new chapter.✨
Many months later.
I finished my responsibilities, then errr, relaxed. For ages. Read Shadow and Bone, watched Shadow and bone ... wrote six, 4000-word chapters to a shadow and bone fanfic... which is out now... forgive me.
I believe last time there were like 9,000 readers... so that was a while ago... welcome new readers! 0.0 ANYWAYS
hope you enjoy
I PROMISE I WON'T BE GONE AS LONG AGAIN!
The new chapter is next week!
Don't forget to vote and comment ❤️✌🏻👁👄👁

Edited 15th May 2022: At 1:40 am, I do believe the above statement was a small lie, I am unsure hehe