A Court of Lichen and Twilight / An ACOTAR Fanfiction

Chapter Eleven: The Tea

I almost sobbed at the sight of him. My court's strongest and closest ally. I anxiously anticipated another winged man popping in behind him but it appeared that he had left a certain general at home today. No matter. Once he entered, he'd surely see me here in the dining room. All I'd have to do is tell him who I was, explain, and I'd be winnowed to sure safety in the Night Court until a legion of Illyrians could follow me home to reclaim it. The perfect escape route.

A whistling kettle below crept through the floorboards in a muffled sound. Instantly, it was turned off when the piercing sound was the only thing to be heard in the room. It even overpowered the chirping starlings and finches that hopped from tree to tree outside the open window. At the sight of Rhys, however, the birds stopped peeping entirely.

I had yelled his name at the top of my lungs. He had to have heard me. He casually paced to the front door and out of the viewpoint of my window's position. Moments passed without anything as I believe he might as well have been taking the sight of the gashes that marred the front door in as I had. He probably marveled at the unkempt roses that used to cover this place in a stunning display of pink.

A simple knock on the door vibrated through the whole house. I felt it in my heartbeat. The power that was withdrawn just behind the strong grip Rhysand kept on it made me absolutely excited. It was him alright from just feeling the power hit the property in the first place.

"Rhys! Come in!" I called again at the top of my voice. I didn't care what Tamlin thought. The High Lord of the Night Court was my safest way home. I did everything in my power to remain as coherent as I could right now as I viciously fought back the fever taking over me. It was getting worse and worse by the minute.

Suddenly, Tamlin's scent blew back from the hallway to greet me. Sure enough, I could hear his footsteps on the marble leading towards the front door I had tried to rush out of days ago.

And he answered the stupid door. The sound was low and quiet as it swung, but I heard him open the latch from within Rosehall to Rhysand. Not a servant of a phantom wind of power he could have used - just his broken self. A High Lord never stooped to open and greet his own guest. What was he doing?

Then again, who else was there to receive a guest in the house? The dust bunnies or the broken coat rack?

"Lucien claimed you would come," Tamlin sneered. Viciously and utterly spat at Rhys from the door. Indeed, the emissary had wholeheartedly said that my friend would come to the court eventually. I never understood what he meant by it completely, though. My chest tightened as I awaited Rhys to speak.

He retorted in an insult about Lucien's 'mate' being a seer. Lucien had a mate? I had heard through the grapevine, aka a combination of Mor's gossip and Nila's nosiness, that the sly, handsome red haired son of the Autumn Court had once had a lover that his own family tore apart right in front of him for the low status of her birth. In fact, the VanSerra's had a knack for butchering women who they saw as impure. My sister was also amongst the list, but fortunately had fared on the same side as Mor. Eris was to blame for the majority of the rejections.

A lover, yes, I knew Lucien had. But a mate? And a rarity of a seer at that?

How did Rhysand of all people, know that information?

They scrapped for a few minutes and the High Lord of the Night Court pushed his presence upon Tamlin until he worked his way into the manor. They stepped my direction and I leapt for joy as my savior dressed in the darkest black, tailor suit swaggered down the hallway.

"Rhysand! It's me! I'm in the dining room!" I yelled, trying to push up out of my seat. I got an inch hovering before magical hands pushed my body back down onto the hard wood of the chair. Invisible restraints slithered along my feet and anchored them to the front legs of the chair as well. The metallic tang of the used magic glided overhead.