𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔

𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙨

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╰┈˚ · ° .  IT TURNED OUT THAT DINNER WAS THE ONLY MEAL where we were invited to attend, which was fine. Three meals a day with Tamlin and Lucien would have been torturous. Definitely blood would've been spilled easily.

While Lucien ranted to Tamlin about some malfunction of the magical, carved eye that indeed allowed him to see, I continued to eat carefree, quickly noticing how Feyre slipped a dining knife in her sleeve.

I had to refrain from chuckling putloud at her actions. It was kind of amusing watching my sister try not to panic and not be discovered by the two High Fae in the room with her sleeve stuffed with the dining knife.

On the other hand, I had noticed something different from Lucian's normal wear. The firelight that made his red hair shine, the colors flickering with every movement he made, but the fire also highlighted his sword, making the jewels in the hilt glint—the ornate blade so unlike the baldric of knives still strapped across Tamlin's chest. And while the sword was embedded with jewels and filigree, it was large enough to be more than decoration. But for sure not comfortable enough to use its full potential.

Lucien paused his talk, turning toward me with a smirk adorning his features that made the scar on his skin even more brutal. "Were you admiring my sword, or just contemplating killing me, Maiven?"

"Both." I answered unbothered, my eyes never glancing off from the weapon strapped to his side. A beautiful sword, sure, but definitely not my first choice weapon.

After that, it was Tamlin that broke the silence. "Feyre likes to hunt." He announced as it was simple, a pastime like painting.

"I don't like to hunt. I hunted out of necessity." Feyra clarified Tamlin's statement. "And how did you know that?" She then questioned the blonde Fae, her forehead furrowed at the insinuation.

Tamlin's stare was bald, assessing. "Why else were you in the woods that day? You had a bow and arrows in your... house. When I saw your father's hands, I knew he wasn't the one using them." He gestured with a pointed look to her scarred, callused hands. Hands that had seen labor in her life. not soft and delicate like the one of our sisters. "You told him about the rations and money from pelts. Faeries might be many things, but we're not stupid. Unless your ridiculous legends claim that about us, too." He then switched his stare to me, trying to find anything in what my expression, or maybe my body language would reveal. Which was exactly nothing, to his misfortune. "You on the other hand, your scars are different from the one Feyre bare. You could hunt too I could guess–"

"I was actually with her that day when she killed the wolf." I cut him off with a teasing wink. It was more to rile him up than anything. As High Fae, a High Lord, I knew he would detest me butting in his reply. So it was just one more reason to do it. I wanted to add how I admired Feyre skinning his friend a couple steps afar with a doe hanging from my back. How impressed I was with her clean kill... but from the warning look that my sister sent me, I knew that it wasn't something that I was going to say. The way Feyre subtly shook her head, having a hard, stern look of reproach in her eyes with disappointment shining in them, definitely made the job of keeping my comments to myself. Sometimes, I think that not Feyre or Nesta ever thought how they somehow resemble each other in some way, because the look that my twin had just gifted me, was so similar to one my oldest sister would certainly do.

"As I was saying," Tamling continued after clearing his throat. His tone was a bit more strained than before, for sure because he tried to control his rising anger. "Maybe not as often as Feyre hunted because you had a job. Merissa said that you are covered in scars, from head to toe. Scars that cannot come from simply hunting. So what I actually want to know is why. Why are you covered in scars? Why were you dressed in that particular way the day I came to you house? And why did you had that amount of weapons on you? Tell us, Maiven. I'm sure that Lucian would love the answer to that too." His voice was different from any tone I had previously heard him using. I didn't expect to not be demanding. It wasn't harsh. For once he actually seemed... intrigued. He wanted to know. Probably it was killing him not knowing.

I widened my smirk, a predatory one that would have made even his shapeshifting creature step back. I looked at the High Faes in front of me. "I will answer that question if... you give me back my weapons."

"Why do you need your weapons? It's safe here. You have no need of them." He said. The word safe passed through his teeth with slight difficulty. A little mishap from his part. So not so safe then, uh?

"First of all, my scars are my own. Lucien, would you like to tell me how you lost your eye?" By the way the fae evaded eye contact I knew the answer. I didn't even let him speak for himself. "Like I thought." then I continued "Second, I want my weapons back because they are mine. Third, how I was dressed is not of your concern. Didn't know you were interested in fashion with all your other duties." I saw how he stiffened at the mention of his duties.

Yes, fucker, I know you are a High Lord.

"We can have a compromise though. I can choose just one weapon, for now." I added the last part letting out a huff of annoyance. Of course I wanted all my weapons back, but what I really wanted was my hunting knife. Its missing presence was almost like a lost limb.

Tamlin clenched his jaw before answering with a firm no. Not even with 'I'll think about it.'

I rolled my eyes at him knowing damn well that I would get them back, one way or another. Even if not by the High lord's hands.

Clearing his throat, it was Lucien who broke the now uncomfortable silence created. "How old are you two, anyway?"

"Nineteen. We obviously are twins." Feyre responded, a small smile blooming on her lips as she gazed towards me.

Lucien tsked. "So young, and so grave. And you are a skilled killer already."

I snorted at that. Oh, you don't even know— I thought

"Who is the oldest?" Tamlin spoke, again curiosity shining in his jade eyes,

"Feyre" I replied with a nonchalant shrug.

"So, is this what you do with your lives? Spare humans from the Treaty and have fine meals?" Feyre gave a pointed glance toward Tamlin's baldric, the warrior's clothes, Lucien's sword...

Lucien smirked. "We also dance with the spirits under the full moon and snatch human babes from their cradles to replace them with changelings—"

"Didn't... " Tamlin interrupted Lucian from going further, his deep voice surprisingly gentle, "Didn't your mother tell you anything about us?"

"Our mother didn't have the time to tell us stories." Feyre revealed. She had died too soon for saying much to us.

Lucien, for once, didn't laugh, not even looking amused.

After a rather stilted pause, Tamlin asked, "How did she die?" When I lifted my brows, he added a bit more softly, "I didn't see signs of an older woman in your house."

"Typhus. When we were eight." Feyre rose from her seat ready to leave the room and the conversation altogether.

"Feyre." Tamlin called making the girl half turn.

Lucien glanced between them, that metal eye roving, but kept silent. Then Tamlin shook his head, the movement more animal than anything, before he murmured, "I'm sorry for your loss."

She turned on her heel and left with a last nod directed at me.

"Not much of a loss if you ask me." I shrugged my shoulders as I sat up from my seat now too.

"Is- is that her that did that to you. Your scars... I mean." Lucien asked almost tentatively as if mentioning them would open one right in front of his eyes.

For a moment my body froze, just a fraction of a second passed unobserved by anyone else. As much as she was not a good mother, she wasn't the one that made them.

"No." I truthfully answered coldly. Not an ounce of emotions in my tone. The way Tamling had struggled to say that here was safe never left my thoughts. "Don't mistake me for my sister, I don't have her heart. So even if you promised that no one would harm us, I promise something to you too. If something happens to my sister, I will make blood rain on your court, High Lord." I said, making sure to look directly at Tamlin as I spoke. "I can promise you that even if I am human, your roses will be watered by blood by the time the sun rises again. Not even the faeries that you glamoured from us will be safe. I will kill each and everyone in my path. And I will shed no tears or second thoughts because of it. " My face was void, resembling the features of a corpse then the one of a human being as I stared at both Fae present before me with the promise of death dancing on my tongue. So much easier than laughing and smiling and smirking. "You want to know who gave me my scars? One of you did. And trust me, he made sure that I knew how to create them too, even to one of you. He made sure I knew that and more." I held my chin high as not an ounce of fear or shame. "I don't need my weapons or any weapon to make death dance across your garden, High Lord. My hands will be enough. I can guarantee you that."

I started to walk out of the room before a thought stopped me in my tracks. Too amusing to not get it through after the long threat that I had just served them.

I pivoted on the heels of my boots, looking directly at the High Lord of the Spring Court, and bowed at the waist with a wide smirk adorning my face.

"High Lord." I said mockingly at the blond-haired fae still sitting at the table, not moving an inch with his Fae grace.

Once again, I turned around now fully walking out of the room towards my own chambers.

The last thing I heard before being out of earshot was the howling laugh coming from Lucien and a groan from the High Lord himself as he cursed his friend.

✎

˗ˏˋ 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 ˊˎ˗

Hello everyone!

Shorter chapter today but I still hope that you enjoyed it.

Maiven is a menace and I Love her.

She doesn't think twice about saying what she wants, that is if Feyre is not looking at her disappointed. That might make her shut up.

Mocking Tamlin will be her hobby.

Anyways, thank you for reading this chapter, I'll see you on Wednesday!

˚ · ° . 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 . ° · ˚

𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲

𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞!

– 𝐋𝐨𝐥𝐚 ☾