Shaera thought the meeting would have been concluded with a sworn allegiance of sorts... she was wrong. Hours passed, bickering commenced endlessly... no lord willing to talk numbers with the presence of the High Lord of Spring. Hybern was concise, sharpened to clasp the kill. This, this was a mess. Different people, different pasts, feelings, and grudges, thrown into chaos as a means to cure a war. They were all going to die. Dread welled in the base of her gut.

The sun slipped through the sky welcoming the burnt glow of the evening, Thesan pushed back his chair. Shaera jolted and sat up, her eyes flickered around the space, the movement had pulled her back from the depth of her mind

"You are all welcome to stay the night and resume this discussion in the morning—unless you wish to return to your own homes for the evening."

"Thank the Gods" the word fell past her tongue before her mind had a chance to catch up.

"My thoughts exactly" Helion mused, his white teeth glistened in the warmth of the setting sun, Amber eyes ablaze in a burning glory. Many occupants of the room stood from their chairs, attendants led the courts from the room and towards their designated suites. Tamlin was escorted away first,  a trembling attendant and Thesan himself in his wake. He had chosen not to attack Rhys or Feyre or any member of the Night Court during the debate, though he made it quite clear that he did not wish to acknowledge either the High Lord or Lady.  Shaera wasn't spared the glares of death-filled threats. He did not utter a word. Tarquin followed out soon after, then Helion who sent the ex-commander a rather obvious grin, kindness, no, flirtatious, definitely.
Only Kallias's party and the Night Court remained. Rhysand rose from his seat, before dragging a hand through his hair.

"That went well. It would seem none of us won our bet about who'd fight first." The rest of the occupants lulled in subtle amusement
Azriel stared at the floor, stone-faced. Shaera pushed herself from the chair, her legs and shoulders aching in protest.

"Come" she whispered through his mind, hazel met Violet, the Shadowsinger gazed at her as though she was the key to his peace, mercy, salvation. Shaera held her hand out to him, he moved across the room, the rough scarred edges of his hands slipped into hers.

"I'll find the room" the dark-haired woman murmured to the rest of the Nigh Court, Cassian nodded, his eyes still carved from that warm caring glint. As she met eyes with Feyre and Rhysand, they allowed something else to stir within their irises for the first time... something different, a new light. Shaera's black dress swirled and crashed around her feet, a violent tornado or night and shadow. Azriel walked alongside her powerful strides, they moved in sync, her heels offering the satisfying "CLICK" against the polished marbled floor.

"Do you know where you're going?" Azriel's voice was strained, his face a picture of stoic concealment

"Of course" she replied, her eyes flickering over to him for a moment.

"Do I ask how?" Shaera's lip twitched in amusement, the tension in her shoulders releasing slightly. Thesan's mind was an easy maze, a childish amusement.

"I think you already know" a low hum of acknowledgement sounded from deep within his chest

"That I do" he replied, his hazel eyes still glistened with the reminiscence of his remorse, yet ease intertwined within that poison.

A warm glow kissed the walls of the sunstone halls, fireflies danced around the darkened space beyond, Shaera sighed, the air was warm, sweet with honeysuckle, Azriel's hand was scorching in hers, his palm perfectly melding with her own. The silence was peace. The ex-commander revelled in it, the tranquillity of simple existence.  

"Answer me this.-" The Shadowsinger spoke softly, his gaze settling ahead of them, Shaera hummed in acknowledgement violet gaze still dancing over the scenery.

"What is Tamlin to you?" she peeled her gaze from the setting, settling her gaze on the side of his face as they walked

" Everything I said in that room...everything that conspired between us was nothing. An order". a sigh fell from the Illyrian's lips, relief. There was nothing but truth that revelled and festered in those words. Yet her mind wained to the king... a mere second. She followed that order for him. Every order, every act, every monstrosity. For him. Shaera hated him, a monster in fae form. He deserved to die.  She blinked and cleared her throat. They turned the corner, an oaken door carved into sunstone sat at the end of the hall. The room. 

"Here it is" the ex-commander smiled softly as Azriel, She pushed the door, it was polished and heavy, the handle, warm and gold in her grasp. It opened to reveal a lavish sitting area and private dining room. All of it carved from  Sunstone, bedecked in jewel-toned fabrics, broad cushions clumped and thick rugs, overlooked by ornate golden cages filled with birds of all shapes and sizes. Shaera scrunched her nose...Why birds? They all sat perched, some still, others cooing, the rest preening their feathers. The dark-haired woman moved further into the space, her fingers running softly over the glazed surface of the table. Azriel lingered by the door

"Eris deserved it-" She spoke softly, not yet turning to face Azriel

"-Every one of your blows was justice"

"It doesn't make it right."  The Illyrian spoke coldly, moving further into the room his leathered wings caressed softly by the setting sun.

"What he did to Morrigan was not right" Shaera turned around, violet met Hazel. Azriel faltered for a second, his shoulders tensing.

"-Call it want you want Azriel. regret, revenge... retribution, don't dwell on it any longer than you have to" The Illyrian simple watched her, his eyes unreadable, face neutral. Violet eyes cascaded over his features, reading for anything, yet a blank canvas sat before her. Shaera's brows furrowed.

"What did I do to deserve you?" His voice murmured in the mind, disbelieving and gentle. She failed to inhale, Her heart thumped harder... Shaera didn't expect him to say that. Her gaze softened as a soft smile pulled at the edges of her lips, the air stilled, a thousand thoughts, feelings, and words conspired in those moments. His hand raised, the scarred ridges caressed the side of her cheek, she leant into the touch. Warm. Shaera's eyes closed, tranquillity spiralled across her skin, sweet pine engulfed her senses. Then Azriel's breath fanned her face, he was waiting for her to pull away, reject him once more. They'd kissed twice, the lustrous memory still carved its way across her lips... bitter and forbidden. The Illyrian's mouth brushed her own. Temptation. Desire. Shaera's breath shuddered from her, violet eyes peeling open to gaze up at the dark-haired man.

"After this war...-" the words were whispered tendrils, ashen in the air

"-After it all...-" Violet danced with Hazel, a brewing promise curled within the seams of the gaze.

"- When the world is cured, and Hybern is nothing but decaying stone on a forgotten land. I can do this" Azriel's thumb glided over her cheekbone, his eyes en-traced in her features. 

"I'll wait for you" His forehead rested against her own, the warmth of his breath continued to fan her face. 

The sound of an abundance of distant footsteps approaching,  Shaera let her hand slip into the one at Azriel's side, a mere moment, a brush of skin on skin, then she pulled away, departing towards the large circular table situated off centred in the room.

The door burst open. Mor went straight to the sofa flopping back against the plush cushions, her eyes closing in relief. Nesta went straight to a bedroom, claiming it as her own. Cassian swaggered into the room and sat by Morrigan's feet his head lulled against the back of the chair. Rhys and Feyre were so obviously in a mental conversation of their own. Rhys slouched on the Shea's Lounge. Shaera snagged a rather lush red apple from the fruit bowl placed in abundance atop the carved furniture. Azriel had moved to a window, his shoulders were still tense, yet his face didn't have the same anger and frustration melding across his features.

The dark-haired woman bit into the apple, the sweetness lapped over her tongue in waves. She sighed

"So... I guess you and Feyre have something to bond over now?" Cassian stretched lifting his head, grinning in her direction. She stared blankly in his direction, Azriel back leant against the wall his gaze glazed as it settled upon Cassian

"Hilarious"  Shaera replied, her tone blunt and endearing, she pulled one of the dining chairs out with a load lengthy, extremely unnecessary scrape across the stone. She sat, sights still set threatening upon the Illyrian massaging her cousin's feet.

"I am, aren't I?" He grinned, and the ex-commander chuckled dryly, she took another bite from the apple, twisting it around in her palm.

"Why didn't you share that small slither of information, Shaera?" Violet met Violet, Rhysand's head cocked to the side, curious and predatory.

"It wasn't important" the dark-haired woman arched her brow,  the High Lord of the Night Court sat up, rolling his shoulders

"I can't have people using information against us"

"I was the commander of Hybern, Rhysand or have you forgotten-" she leant forward slightly, staring down her elder brother

" Perhaps you should worry about that slither of information rather than who I've invited to my bed"  Shaera gritted her teeth into a tight grin, her words foaming with venom

Rhysand exhaled glaring harshly in his sister's direction. The ex-commander sat forward slightly licking his lips

"or perhaps, you'd like me to provide a list of all my bedmates... would that bring you solace brother"  Brother came out slightly more hissed than she'd intended... she wasn't sorry about it per-say. Yet it was quite unsettling how emotionless her tone could go. shocked her even.

"Shaera" Azriel's voice murmured in warning through her skull, her gaze flickered to him for a mere moment, Rhysand's brows furrowed, his hand clenched against the shea's lounge. Violet flickered briefly to the Shadowsinger

"Please...-" Mor sat up onto her elbows, her blonde strands peeled away from the pillow

"-if you want to fight again do it elsewhere, I can't handle...this-" she made a general gesture between the siblings before flopping back down against the pillow. 

"again?" Feyre's eyes moved between them 

"You were in Spring Court, Azriel just 'kidnapped' Shaera...It was great" Cassian mused propping his hands behind his head

"I'm glad you found amusement in it, from what I recall I had my wrist snapped in half" Mor hummed her eyes fluttering closed with that statement.

"I would not lose again" Shaera huffed, she took another bite from the fruit before launching it across the room into a small cylinder vase, dusted with gold. Rhysand snorted, the tension eased. Amusement swirled within both of the sibling's eyes. Everyone else seemed equally puzzled by the duo. Feyre stood, her heels clicks echoed as she made her way towards the bedrooms, her dress panels sparkling a glorious blue sheen.

A pretentious rhythmic knock sounded at the door.  The Archeron halted. The dark-haired woman couldn't quite pinpoint who the hell was behind the oaken door, they were misted. A loud groan rippled around the room, the blonde fae woman planted her hands over her face,

"Don't open it,-" Mor warned from her spot on the couch. she peeked through a gap in her fingers at Rhysand

"-Even with the shield, don't open it." Rhys uncoiled to his feet. Shaera blinked from her spot in slight bewilderment

"Wise,-" he said, moving away from Feyre's side and towards the entrance

"-but unnecessary."He opened the door, revealing Helion—alone. Shaera struggled to conceal her confusion. Helion braced a hand on the door frame and grinned. 

"How'd you convince Thesan to give you the better view?" The grin melded to a smirk as his gaze peeled over the occupants of the room.

"He finds my males to be prettier than yours, I think." Rhysand hummed, the amusement still swirled in his irises

"I think it's a wing fetish."

Rhys laughed and opened the door wider, beckoning him in. 

"You've mastered the swaggering prick performance, by the way. Expertly done."Helion's robe swayed with his graceful steps, brushing his powerful thighs. He spied Feyre standing by the round table in the centre of the foyer and bowed. Deeply.

"Apologies for the bastard act," he said hummed swaggering further into the room. Morrigan sunk lower into the cushions

 "Old habits and all." He winked in Shaera's direction, he halted and turned to Rhys, a soft frown decorating his brown. She scrunched her nose.

"You were on unnaturally nice behaviour today. I was betting Beron would be dead by the end of it—you can't imagine my shock that he walked out alive." She watched the exchange... her spot was comforting. Out of conversation starters, yet close enough to read the expressions of all those within the room

 "My mate suggested it would be in our favour to appear as we truly are." The High Lord of Night let his sights settle upon his mate for a moment.

"Well, now I look as bad as Beron." Helion huffed, swaggering over to one of the other sofas, he lowered himself down grinning at Azriel. 

"You handing Eris's ass to him will be my new fantasy at night, by the way." his Amber gazed settled upon Azriel,  Shaera hummed in agreement, Shadowsinger rose his brow in her direction, Shaera shrugged.

"The man tells no lies" She spoke softly into his mind, the corner of the Illyrian's lip twitched slightly. Cassian snorted.

 "I was wondering when the come-ons would begin."Helion got himself comfortable on the sofa across from Cassian and Mor. He'd ditched that radiant crown somewhere but kept that gold armband of the upright serpent. 

"It's been what—four centuries now, and you three still haven't accepted my offer."Mor lolled her head to the side. emerging from the cushions

"I don't like to share, unfortunately." her tone was blunt, brown eyes vacant as she watched the High Lord of Summer

"You never know until you try," Helion purred. Shaera slowly turned to Azriel, her eyebrow arched in suggestion.

"Azriel. Darling, I believe we need to have a discussion about good and bad choices."

"Darling?" he cocked his brow in question

"Yes Darling... see that...-" She gestured towards the direction of Helion, Cassian and Mor with her head

"that is a good choice... though if I am joining I would have to exclude Mor... I know don't be too devastated, I just don't fancy my cousin" Azriel licked his lips, his arms crossed over his chest as his gaze moved to rest on Cassian

"I can quite easily invite Cassian to join us if you ever do decide to find your way into my bed, Darling-" Azriel curled the last word, The way it flooded her head, Shaera's face flushed. Her face hadn't flushed like that in over 300 years.

"Though I would prefer to have you to myself before we invite anyone else" Whatever saliva she had in her mouth, she choked on it. A bellowing cough sounded from her mouth. All eyes fell on her. She cleared her throat, straightening in the chair again.

"Sorry, I am well... all is well, please... proceed" Cassian cocked his brow, hazel eyes filtering between both herself and Azriel, they settled on Shaera a question melding its way across his features

"Mind your business" she murmured into the base of his mind, crossing one leg over the other, leaning back against the dining chair, Cassian pulled a face in her direction... rather indescribable... a sneer of annoyance laced with humour? Cassian turned his head to level with Helion.

 "Are your forces ready?"Helion's amusement faded—reshaping into that hard, calculating exterior. 

"Yes. They'll rendezvous with yours in the Myrmidons."The mountain range we shared at our border. He'd refused to divulge such information earlier. 

"Good, We'll push south from there," Cassian said, rubbing at the arch of Mor's foot.  South? Shaera racked her brain, a mere moment passed before the metaphoric cobwebs seemed to cascade away from her mind. South was clever. yet they'd have to cross the sea. Would the king think to scatter the naval forces... would she of scattered the naval forces? Brain fuzz.

"With the final encampment being where?" Mor asked, withdrawing her foot from Cassian's hands and tucking both feet beneath her. Helion traced the curve of her bare leg, his amber eyes glazed as he met hers. Mor didn't baulk from the heated look. Her once dulled relaxation simmered away beneath the Morrigan she knew.

"We join Thesan's forces, then eventually make camp along Kallias's southwestern border—near the Summer Court."Helion drew his gaze from Mor long enough to ask Rhys, 

"You and pretty Tarquin had a moment today. Do you truly think he'll join us?"

 "If you mean in bed, definitely not,-" Rhys said with a wry smile as he again sprawled on his spread of cushions. 

"-But if you mean in this war ... Yes. I believe he means to fight. Beron, on the other hand ..."

 "Hybern is focusing on the South," Helion said. Shaera tilted her head. Something felt wrong. The king was not stupid... she was not stupid. There was a puzzle piece missing

"And regardless of what you think Tamlin's up to, the Spring Court is now mostly occupied. Beron has to realise his court will be a battleground if he doesn't join us to push southward—especially if Summer has joined us." Hybern would not go for Autumn. She had never intended to invade Autumn, Beron was too easy, a threat perhaps, but minimal in the wake of High Lords such as Rhysand. Helion and Tarquin. Kallias and Thesan from her observations were still too cautious to be placed with the trio. Her observations and knowledge did not find its place within the conversation. Helion tapped a finger against the carved arm of his couch. 

"He played games in the War and it cost him—dearly. His people still remember those choices—those losses. His own damn wife remembers."Helion had looked at the Lady of Autumn repeatedly during the meeting. Shaera squinted 

"What do you mean?" Feyre spoke evenly, Mor shook her head—not at what The High Lady had said, but at whatever had occurred. Helion folded an ankle over a knee. 

"The Lady of the Autumn Court's two older sisters were indeed ...-" He searched for a word.

 "-Butchered. Tormented, and then butchered, during the War."  Amber eyes grew distant, unfocused, as though distant recollections swarmed his mind. Shaera held her features as though they were carved from the very Sunstone that made up the vast entirety of the kingdom's walls

 "Hybern's forces had swarmed our lands by that point," Rhys murmured softly. Violet met Violet briefly, Helion's jaw clenched. 

"The Lady of the Autumn Court was sent to stay with her sisters, her younger children packed off to other relatives. To spread out the bloodline.-" He dragged a hand through his sable hair.

 "-Hybern attacked their estate. Her sisters bought her time to run. Not because she was married to Beron, but because they loved each other. Fiercely. She tried to stay but they convinced her to go. So she did—she ran and ran, but Hybern's beasts were still faster. Stronger. They cornered her at a ravine, where she became trapped atop a ledge, the beasts snapping at her feet." The opposing side... she'd never allowed that empathy to equate to anything more than distant echoes and fevered nightmares. Shaera's throat was dry. He didn't speak for a long moment. Too many details. He knew so many details.

"You saved her. You found her, didn't you?" Feyre breathed, a coronet of light seemed to flicker over that thick black hair. 

"I did."There was enough weight, anger, and something else in those two words, Shaera couldn't quite place it. As though deep down she knew, as though the answer was already there.

 "What happened?" The Archeron asked, Helion didn't break the woman's stare. 

"I tore the beasts apart with my bare hands." Feyre shuddered, Shaera parted her lips, the question weighting in her mind

"Why?" She spoke softly,  Helion didn't so much as shift in his chair, yet the intensity of his Amber gaze... he was mourning.

 "She was still young—though she'd been married to that delightful male for nearly two decades. Married too young, the marriage arranged when she was twenty."The words were clipped. 

 "So?" Shaera cocked her head, a dangerous, taunting question. And how his eyes burned at that, flaring bright as the sun. Mor shifted slightly

"I heard a rumour once, Helion, that she waited before agreeing to that marriage. For a certain someone who had met her by chance at an equinox ball the year before."  The fire banked to embers and Helion threw a half-smile in Mor's direction. 

"Interesting. I heard her family wanted internal ties to power, and that they didn't give her a choice before they sold her to Beron."  and there it was. Shaera was growing slow in her observations. Helion and the Lady of Autumn. Mor's nostrils flared. Cassian ran a hand down the back of her hair. Azriel's wings curled tighter in the corner of Shaera's eyes

"Too bad they're just rumours, and can't be confirmed by anyone." Rhys cut in smoothly,  Helion merely toyed with the gold cuff on his sculpted arm, twisting the serpent to the centre of his bicep. Feyre frowned

"Does Beron know you saved his wife in the War? He hadn't mentioned anything during the meeting" The Archeron was cautious in her questions. Helion let out a dark laugh.

 "Cauldron, no." The High Lord of Day scoffed. Pain. It pained him

"You had—an affair after you rescued her?"  Nope. Shaera was wrong. feyre was quite blunt at times. The amusement only grew, and Helion pushed a finger against his lips in mock warning. 

"Careful, High Lady. Even the birds report to Thesan here." Shaera scoped the birdcages once more. go figure. a small amused smirk twitched at the corner of her lips

"How long did the affair last?" The ex-commander arched a brow in Feyre's direction in utter bewilderment... the confidence. Helion snorted.

 "Is that a polite question for a High Lady to be asking?"  Helion shrugged, his tongue running over his top teeth before his lips pursed. He exhaled

 "On and off for decades. Until Beron found out. They say the lady was all brightness and smiles before that. And after Beron was through with her ... You saw what she is."

 "What did he do to her?" Shaera spoke evenly, intrigue echoed in every word. The High Lord of Day held her gaze.

"The same things he does now. Belittle her, leave bruises where no one but him will see them."Helion waved a hand. Feyre's teeth gritted. 

 "If you were her lover, why didn't you stop it?" That was the Archeron again.. the bluntness of her questions was so... bold. A dark fury that rippled across Helion's face. Shaera watched on in a combination of both intrigue and amusement

 "Beron is a High Lord, and she is his wife, mother of his brood. She chose to stay. Chose. And with the protocols and rules, Lady, you will find that most situations like the one you were in do not end well for those who interfere." The middle Archeron levelled his gaze

"You barely even looked at her today." 

"We have more important matters at hand."

 "Beron never called you out for it?" 

"To publicly do so would be to admit that his possession made a fool of him. So we continue our little dance, these centuries later." The High lady lounged back into the chair, a smile painted her lips, not quite reaching her eyes.

 "You High Lords really do love your melodrama, don't you?"Helion's smile mirrored the lacklustre visage.  Rhysand sighed

 "In your libraries, have you ever encountered a mention of how the wall might be repaired?"Helion began asking why we wanted to know, what Hybern was doing with the Cauldron ... and Rhys fed him answers, easily and smoothly. The two sibling's must-have acquired said skill from either one of their parents. Unlike herself, Rhysand probably knew exactly which one. The room fell into a mellowed drone, yet something conspired. High Lord and High Lady, murmured secrets through the stagnant air. Shaera pressed. softly, evenly. Cautiously to ensure her elder brother's mind didn't sense her presence.

Murmurs 

Whispers

"Helion is Lucien's father." With that sentence she parted from Feyre's mind,  recoiling like a serpent stilled and curled in defence. The secrets that spelled and festered within the courts ran deep. Hate, Love, vengeance.  Would the courts in any case be able to stand as one against Hybern, and the Cauldron? A chill ran up Shaera's spine, she shuddered.  Nesta's door slammed open, rather aggressively.

"I don't think we were introduced properly earlier," he crooned to Nesta.

 "I'm—" 

"I don't care,-" The words died on his tongue as those words passed Nesta's lips with a snap of her wrist, she strode right past him and up to Feyre's side

 "-I'd like a word-," she said. 

"-Now."Cassian was biting his knuckle to keep from laughing—at the utter surprise and shock on Helion's face. It wasn't every day, Feyre sent a semi-apologetic look in the direction of the High Lord of Day. The sisters left the room. A coldness spiralled its way over her flesh again, not a coldness found within winters, this was a hollowed emptiness, the type only in the depths of grief. Shaera hadn't noticed Cassian leave the room. A hand brushed gently over the exposed skin on her forearm, Violet met hazel, a soft lazed smile dusted her lips, the corner of Azriel's mouth twitch slightly

"I will return later" His voice was deep and warm, she sighed

"Don't do anything too dramatic whilst i'm not in your presence, I'd quite like to witness it" The Shadow singer chuckled quietly before the warmth of his scarred hand departed from her shoulder. Bile rose in the back of her throat. Shaera felt off, Something was off, the world was stilled. Something was very wrong. The violet-eyed woman remained glued in her chair, everything sounded underwater,  time passed. Conversations crafted in the space around. Dinner, drinks, conversation... it whelmed and ebbed around her, laughter. Murmurs sounded to her right. a hand clasped her shoulder, a jolt of reality. Azriel didn't return that evening. 

"At least try to look like you're enjoying yourself" Violet met with the familiar brown of her cousin, the blonde fae woman had her brow arched in her direction

"mmm," Shaera hummed reaching for her glass of red wine she swirled it in front of Mor mockingly before letting the mellowed fruitiness lap over her tongue. Morrigan didn't attempt to speak to her again. In fact, with the first few individuals departing from the table Shaera revelled in it as her queue to leave. 

She flicked off her heels, leaving them idle in the corner of the sunstone corridor, the night air was cool, inviting. Peaceful. The voices from earlier echoed in her memory, carving monstrous destructions in her mind, digging deeper torments piece by piece. She found a bed, she proceeded to claim it as her own. Her head hit the pillow, silence echoed and screamed in the back of her skull. The ceiling was nice... golden tendrils of stained glass and metal twisted their way into a chandelier of sorts, the sheer curtains softly brushed the stone floor. Shaera's dress still clung to her and idled balance between annoyance and comfort. 

At some point, she fell into the abyss. Darkness, peace 

-----

Waves crashed, thundering against the distant coast. Gulls swarmed and squawked ahead, black curls, whispered and flowed with the wild winds. Salt kissed her lips,  the metallic stench of blood welled in the base of her nose. Shaera blinked, letting the scenery distil over her flesh. Deep thick blood dripped from her fingertips, rhythmic. deafening.

The King

he stood before her clad in branded irons, a jewelled sword sat fastened upon his belt, a simple crown metallic and bland grazed his brow. She watched him, violet orbs cascading over his features.

"Do you fear me Shaera?-" his voice deep, solemn...wounded.

"-do you stare across this sodden sea and curse my name into oblivion?" the ex-commander tilted her head, sights assessing the 'villain' before her. Her lips parted to speak. His darkened eyes connected with her own. The words died on her tongue, decayed and mourned.

"You are my last raven..." Cautious steps in her direction. A deer, wounded, scared. His black glove slipped from his grasp, silken hand reaching for her

"I need you" Shaera recoiled back, blackness rippled and pulsed at the edges of her irises. There was such a raw intensity in her anger. how dare he.

"Everything, since I left, has happened due to your own accord" She spat, disbelief coursed its way through her body

"Every command, every battle, every loss... You let them die. Dagdan, Brannagh, Attan, Kenzin. Their names should be your curse to bear.", Shaera's voice cracked. Pure rage, her hands shook as she extended a single finger in his direction

"I close my eyes and see them all...Do not come to me-" she jabbed her finger towards her chest, blood coating the black dress still clothing her body

"Acting as a deer wounded from the hunt! This blood. this blood you so quickly paint upon my hands-" Darkening eyes stilled upon the crimson coating.

" -This damnation, this sin is as much yours as it is mine." The king's hand latched around her wrist.

"See this through, see our empire rise to rule Prythian."

"This is not our empire anymore, you have tainted it, burned and turned it ashen, dark" Her sights fastened to the stone kingdom laid on the lands above. His other hand rested upon her cheek. Black met black.

"Be my queen" his words were soft, pleading. Vulnerable

"My queen" Darkened eyes scanned his face. no lies. Shaera blinked up at him, a silence spelled between the ex-lovers. His head lowered, lips brushing against her own. A soft kiss.

The king's eyes lilted behind her. a mere fraction of a second. but enough. she chuckled lowly, pulling away her tongue running over her teeth.

"Surely you don't think this little trick would work" the fae man watched her, the hold on her wrist tightened.

"-I know you, you forgot... I. Know. You" His hand slipped from her cheek, eyes hardening. He moved away, nails peeling from her flesh, an evilness surged around him once more, such an aura of darkness that Shaera felt part suffocated beneath it.

The king gestured to her wrist, deep black veins spiralled from the wound, death pooled at her fingertips. She stared him down. Pain started to pulse a giddiness misted her mind

"There's the King I know" she mused, with those final words Shaera fell to the stone

------

Shaera flung herself from the bed, a dream... a nightmare... the sun was barely peeking over the horizon, birds sang outside, a soft glow rippled its way over the room. The dark-haired woman groaned, her head throbbing against her skull, she stretched her limbs, her back clicked. There was a clamminess across her skin, yet she felt cold. Feet hit stone, Sunstone was warm... all the time... Peculiar. Shaera padded over to the bathroom, ensuite to the bedroom, the dress fell from her body. There was no blood, no veins. A sighed relief sounded as the dark-haired woman moved over to the bathtub situated towards the back wall. Already filled with warm water, salts and... petals? That's nice and entirely unexpected, to say the least. The warm water engulfed her. soothing, calming everything she could've ever wanted in that moment and more. Shaera simply laid until the water went cold, the petals curled and the oiled scents faded, pondering the dream over and over and over. She clothed herself in black leathered trousers and a white shirt, boots half strapped, hair curly and damp. Shaera moved out of the bedroom snagging an apple, this one green and lush, a soft yawn fell past her lips. Everyone was situated around the dining table snacking away on breakfast foods, with the exception of Rhysand

"I see you enjoyed the biggest bed Dawn court had to offer" Cassian called from the dining table, he was again wearing his Illyrian armour,  everyone was clad in fancier outfits that yesterday the dark-haired woman arched a brow... it was indeed quite a large bed. Her mouth formed into an 'O' 

"It was quite a wonderful bed"  she grinned sheepishly in Cassian's direction, the hazel-eyed man grumbled under his breath turning away from her serving himself from the platters of fruits and pastries, frowning at the lack of meat. Rhysand swaggered in from the door beside her room, hair still damp from his bath, he grinned.  Eyes meeting with her's for a brief moment before they fell upon the last honey and almond covered pastry. Shaera followed his gaze, There was stillness between the two. 

"Don't" she hissed, eyes narrowing

"I think I will" The High lord smirked. They both darted, Shaera launched the apple at her brother, the fruit thudded against the back of his head. A string of curses fell past his lips as she dashed past him, launching herself over the sofa and to the table. The soft crust of the puff pastry was pure satisfaction in her grasp.

"Bitch" He whispered as he accepted his defeat and pulled a chair out beside his mate.

"You two make no sense...one moment you're going to kill each other the next racing over a pastry" Cassian's head fell into his hands as his fingers massaged his temple.  Shaera just grinned taking a nice long bite into the sweet treat. 

"You're surprised?" Morrigan frowned in confusion. Shaera flopped into a chair beside Azriel, amusement swam in his eyes as he watched her. She took another bite.

"Ready for another day full of arguing and plotting?" Cassian asked out of nowhere, Mor and Feyre grumbled. Idle chatter scattered the room, arguments and revealed secrets dwindled in the wake of the task to come. 

"Where were you?" a murmured question, confusion and desperation.

"Last night Rhysand ensured I was preoccupied, I'm sorry I didn't return" Shaera hummed in acknowledgement, he was Spymaster, of course, she was being stupid. A childish despair welled in her gut.

***

The court of Night returned to that chamber atop the palace. Allying was the main priority. The sun was lesser today, a strange greyness edged the room. Flowers less vibrant, the air staler. The first thing she noticed occupants wise was Helion who was so obviously back to his edged, swaggering aloofness, lounging in his chair they entered that lovely chamber atop one of the palace's many gilded towers. He gave Mor an extra glance, lips curving in sensual amusement. He was resplendent today in robes of cobalt edged in gold that offset his gleaming brown skin, golden sandals upon his feet. Azriel's shadow welded around his feet, the fleeting tendrils brushed Shaera's bare neck, she swatted him. The shadow singer let out a breathy chuckle.

Everyone took their seats, every few seconds she'd feel a shadow caress her skin. Azriel found the ordeal amusing, the reclusion witnessed yesterday far forgotten.

The room began to still. Tamlin arrived last, raking his gaze over the room. she felt his eyes linger for a moment, Shaera stared him down, challenging him to utter a single word in her direction. The Lord of spring turned to his seat. Helion didn't wait for Thesan to beckon and begin.

"I thoroughly reviewed the charts and figures you've compiled, Tamlin." He merely crossed an ankle over a knee.

"And?" Tamlin bit out. Shaera massaged her temples

"And...if you can rally your forces quickly, you and Tarquin might be able to hold the front line long enough for those of us above the Middle to bring the larger hosts."

"It's not that easy,-" Tamlin said through his teeth.

"-I have a third of them left...After Feyre destroyed their faith in me." The green-eyed fae hissed. Shaera shuddered, her hands clammed up. she squeezed her palms, shaking off the feeling of unease forged from the dream. More arguments festered around the room, it was boring and childish and simple getting old. The heat had spread across the back. Her heart rate was off. A shadow brushed the nape of her neck, Shaera huffed, she turned to Azriel. 

"Azriel.." then the world went silent... no thought, whispers, murmurs, every tendril she'd spread within each mind recoiled within her once more... she couldn't hear anything.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Nesta let out a breathy, sharp noise and surged from her chair.  Feyre lunged for her, the eldest Archeron clutched a hand to her chest. Another step would have taken her stumbling into the reflection pool,  Mor sprang forward, gripping her. Shaera pushed herself up from the chair. A hand planted on her shoulder. Azriel. She knew he was trying to speak to her, as they would do often. She couldn't hear him, her mind was blank... Darkness rippled and ebbed at the edges of her irises. Shaera turned. as soon as she set her gaze upon the Illyrian she let the fear flood her features. 

"I don't under-" The words died on her tongue, a metallic-ness filled her throat, in the place of sound, blood pooled over her lips. Agony spiralled from her wrist. The ex-commander bit her tongue. The Illyrian's eyes widened.

 "What's happened?" the blonde fae demanded, holding the woman upright as her face contorted in what looked to be—pain. Confusion and pain. Sweat beaded on Nesta's brow, though her face went deathly pale. Azriel clasped his scarred hand softly around her sleeve, blood seeped across the fabric. Deep red, dark red. It wasn't there... It hadn't been there.

 "Something ..." The word was cut off by a low groan. She sagged, Mor, caught her fully, scanning Nesta's face.  Cassian was instantly there, his hand at her back, teeth bared at the invisible threat. Rhysand was to Shaera's side, brows frowned as he scanned her face. A thousand words spiralled between them in a matter of moments. 

 "Nesta," Feyre whispered, reaching for her. Nesta seized—then twisted past Cassian to empty her stomach into the reflection pool. The Shadowsinger moved her sleeve up ever so slightly blackened veins spiralled up her arm, the deep indentation of nails carved into her flesh, Rhysand eyes assessed her arm, the pain lulled to an idle pulse... Gods... Nesta twisted, emptying her stomach into the reflection pool. A weakness crippled its way through her bones.

"Poison?" Kallias asked, pushing Viviane behind him. She merely stepped around his arm. Tamlin remained seated his jaw a hard line, monitoring the room.   Thesan strode towards Nesta, grim and focused. Helion moved past the Archeron, tilting his head in the ex-commander's direction.  Thesan, glowing gold and rosy, laid a hand on Nesta's arm. Healing.  

"Nothing," they said together. Nesta rested her head against Mor's shoulder, her breathing ragged. 

Helion held his hand in her direction, power flickered around him like blindingly bright fireflies. They hovered towards Shaera,  barely caressing her skin before the lights hissed and fizzled out, falling to the stone-like ashen clumps. The High Lord of Day looked bewildered to the ground. Azriel's face was moulded into a vision of despair. His arm looped around her waist, taking the weight off her

 "Something is wrong," Nesta managed to wheeze out. Then she stilled, Her eyes stoned as they rested on Shaera.

"What did you do?!" The eyes of the room rested on her. Shaera froze in her spot. Their eyes followed down to her arm. The veins, the sweat, the blood coating her lip, the writhing expression 

"You and the King...-" disbelief clouded her expression

She'd dealt with the king's words in her dreams many times, they had been harmless, empty threats and vicious lies. Violet connected with Hazel. She wanted to explain everything. What she thought was a dream. reality, the death, the cauldron. A laugh of defeated disbelief fell from her lips, Azriel held her tighter as the room bubbled and wreathed with rage. The Lords didn't favour the fact she had been paired in one sentence with the king of Hybern. The unreeling was halted, a shuddering rippled over the earth, Through air and stone and green, growing things. As if some great god blew a breath across the land. The impact came. It slammed members of the court across the room, propelling them into furniture and stone.  Azriel turned to shield her. Yet the power washed over them, specifically Shaera, warm, though a soft summer breeze simply caressed their skin.

"What is this?" Rhysand's voice pierced her skull the first time he'd ever entered her mind without her allowance. Violet met violet, her brother shielded Feyre with his body. Shaera clutched her throbbing wrist, she stared him down as the wind curled and thrashed around the room. As the sweat dripped down her brow, she shook her head, eyes pleading.

"The wall" It was a whisper, the words fell to the ravenous power. The High Lord of Nights' eyes widened

"Get to Velaris, now" A shuddered breath spelled from her lips. Azriel's wings curled around her, furling her into a leathery blackness 

 They winnowed.

**************************************

6720

I LIVE. hehe. Well, it seems my readers have grown since errr...November 17th... my bad. 

Thank you all for putting up with my immaculate updating schedule. 0.0

Happy reading. I'll update again soon (Or will I, dun dun dun)

Edited 15th May 2022: 3:09, there were 249 Grammar mistakes... When the number calculated a part of me died.