A Court of Surprises and Twists

Chapter 12

They left me as I shifted back to myself and pulled one some casual clothes.

"I'm going to Amren's see you all later!" I called out into the house.

"Bye Ava!" Feyre called back as I walked out.

I tried to remember the way to the place that does the blood Amren likes.

I happened upon it by accident, the female was out front and called out my name, stopping my aimless wondering.

"Sevenda! I'm glad you recognised me because I have been wondering for half an hour trying to find this place," I sighed.

"Need more blood, Ava?" She asked smiling.

"Yes please, I've learnt that Amren is in a better mood when she has eaten," I replied with a grin.

"I can imagine, lucky for you I have a fresh batch of lambs blood for you, I spiced it already so it's ready for her," she told me, smiling at me.

"You are a life saver Sevenda!" I exclaimed as she showed me the barrel of blood.

"I try my best," she laughed.

"Put it on my tab, ok?" I asked and she dipped her chin, I knew she wouldn't.

As I began carrying it to Amren's apartment I realised I would never make it, I didn't have the strength.

I sighed to myself then pictured angel wings on my back, from the looks I was receiving I knew it worked.

With a deep breath I spread them and took off, flying very shakily to Amren's apartment, practically crashing outside.

"Ava!" Amren yelled form inside.

I winced and walked in.

"What are you doing?" She asked, glaring at me.

"I got you a whole barrel of blood but realised it was too heavy to carry here so I tried to fly," I admitted, looking down.

"All is forgiven," she chirped, taking the barrel from me.

I went and sat at the table, picking up my notebook with the first three quarters of translations.

"I can finish it today if I stay till dinner," I said, not looking up.

"I can winnow you back after," Amren replied.

I got to work translating the last bit of the book, it was annoyingly harder than the rest of the book with more complex phrases, but I eventually got it all done.

"If you take the notebook and this black book back to the town house with you then will you write out the whole book out in here over the next few days?" She asked.

"I can yes, I'll lay it out properly as well," I told her, she gave me a tight smile before sticking to her word and winnowing me back.

The next few days I spent writing out the entire Book of Breathings into a black hard back book that magically shortened once I had finished.

I smiled at it; glad I had been helpful. I took it to Amren who looked delighted with it before telling me I could focus on shifting now.

I went to the forest every day to train in shifting, turning into the various animals I saw around. Rhys, being the paranoid and overprotective male he is, asks me how I am every hour.

I was doing the same today, until I heard a growl behind me.

I turned and saw Tamlin's beast stood in the tree line.

"Tamlin?" I questioned.

He shifted and stalked towards me. I wasn't as scared as I would have once been. Along with shifting I have been training with Cass.

"You can wield the book of breathings, you are a threat to Hybern," he told me.

"Yeah, I can't wield the book," I told him.

"You do speak our language." He snapped.

"I speak seven languages, your point?" I asked.

"Not now, we haven't the time, Hybern wants me to kill you but, contrary to popular belief, I do have morals, I don't want to kill a child, and your death would hurt Feyre, I don't want that, so I will give you a choice." He explained.

"This feels oddly familiar," I muttered.

"Either I kill you like Hybern wants, or I put you to sleep until the war is over," he said, eyes turning soft.

"I'm getting very strong Snow White vibes," I muttered.

"What?" he asked, pure confusion on his face.

"Never mind, and putting me to sleep would entail?" I asked.

"You would literally just sleep until the war is over, you wouldn't need food or water, you won't waste away, you will go to sleep like you would at night and wake like you would in the morning," he told me.

"Ok, and how will I wake if you die in the war?" I asked.

"If I die the spell will be broken, but the only other way is if I undo the spell," he told me.

"How do I know that you won't just keep me asleep to spite my family?" I asked, eyes narrowed.

"I swear on my life and crown that I will wake you as soon as the war is over," he told me, spilling his blood.

"Ok, put me to sleep, but maybe explain to one of them what is going on with a note," I told him, he nodded.

"Lie down," he instructed.

I did and took a couple of deep breaths, hoping this didn't hurt my family too much.

I felt exhaustion settled on me and I closed my eyes, letting the spell take hold.