A Court of Shadows and Rage (Azriel x OC)

Shattered

A/N: Listen to the song - it's Brinna and Azriel's theme. "Bend your chest open so I can reach your heart. I need to get inside or I'll start a war... Let me see the dark sides as well as the bright, I'm gonna love you inside out." Anyways enjoy!

TRIGGER WARNING: S/A depiction, as well as abuse. 

Brinna had fallen asleep on those steps, only to wake up in a comfy bed. Blinking eyes open, it was muted day, curtains drawn and there were quiet whispers around her.

Wings were spread wide and defensively in front of her, as if an Illyrian were sitting at the edge of the bed to cover her from intruders.

"What do you propose we do then?" A voice whispered harshly.

The winged male didn't reply, didn't move a muscle. Like a silent guard, keeping watch over a sleeping beauty. A true fairytale - except, fairytales didn't contain princesses who'd bled on a table and begged to be mutilated. 

"You cannot sit by and do nothing," the other voice growled, still quiet, but somehow angrier, darker than before. "Cassian told me you haven't moved, haven't eaten. It's been two days. If anything, she needs to be woken so she can eat - so you can eat." 

A light growl, shadows swarming the room and then, a voice like smoke. 

"I will not let her be alone for another moment."

There was a hefty sigh from the room's other occupant as he shifted and sat. 

"She won't be." 

Brinna dozed off again, heaviness sinking her deep into the mattress and even further into nightmares. 

*****

"You will never be a warrior. Females aren't meant for it. You can barely control yourself even now."

Startling awake, Brinna clutched at the sheets and someone shook her arm and begged for her to open her eyes. Until a jolt within those steel traps around her very mind suddenly snapped open and a voice reverberated in her head. 

It's not real. You need to open your eyes.

She did, reeling back in shock and slamming her head into the headboard as violet eyes that chilled her to the bone stared back at her. Her High Lord had been the one to stop her nightmare, jolt her out of that tent, off that damned table, and he'd gone into her mind. 

Brinna's heart stopped as she lurked even further away from him.

"What did you see?" she practically begged, tear pricked the corner of her eyes. 

Rhysand swallowed tightly, straightening slowly, wings nowhere to be seen. He stepped back, a near attempt to make himself smaller as he didn't dare look away from her for a moment. His hands were outstretched, like she was a small kitten who'd gotten tangled up in the sheets and would suffocate herself at any moment.

"Brinna," he whispered. "Did that happen to you? Did Maddox..." He couldn't bring himself to speak the words of what he'd seen in her head, nearly sick that something so vile had happened in his territory, by one under his command. 

He had failed her. 

She couldn't speak, something ingrained in her suddenly burst forward. 

"I asked for them to be cut. I asked - I begged-"

Rhysand clenched his fists, lowering them to his side and closing his eyes for a long time, cursing beneath his breath. This wasn't just manipulation. This was years of abuse, coping mechanisms and issues far beyond what he'd anticipated. But what he'd seen - what she'd shown him.