A Court of Curse and Roses; acotar

𝕸𝖊𝖗𝖈𝖎𝖑𝖊𝖘𝖘

The war begins sluggishly, under a merciless sun.

We travel across rolling hills and lush forests. Around glistening lakes and meadows of bright flowers. Trudging behind our horses follows Hybern's army. They trample and crush the beauty of the Spring Court beneath their feet.

In my heavy armour, I try to sit still atop my horse. I keep my long wings tucked into my sides and my face a mask of calm.

Tamlin insisted earlier that we ride at the front of the army. Saving me from the ravenous, evil stares and snarls of Hybern's beasts. Yet, it hasn't stopped the occasional beast from dallying beside us, scrutinising us with dark eyes. Tamlin gives the beasts warning snarls and they slink back into rank.

It has taken all my courage to keep my eyes forward. To not grimace at the beasts; monsters with spiked wings, salivating fangs, and claws so long they leave gashes in the grass. Each beast of Hybern's army makes my skin crawl.

And Jurian, the human general that rides beside Tamlin, not only makes my skin crawl but makes my entire body squirm in contempt. Every few seconds, I can feel his dark eyes on me. When I turn to glare, he only smirks at me, flicking up his eyebrows suggestively.

I'm stretching out my wings when I feel his eyes on me again. I begin to snarl when I stop and realise he is looking past me, his dark eyebrows drawn together in anger. Tamlin also pauses, his handsome face dropping its mask of calm to show a flash of pure rage.

I frown and turn my head.

A dozen sweet little brick homes sit demolished. The homes sit in ruin, reduced to piles of crushed bricks and withered wood. A fire rages in one of the homes. It emits a stench so foul I have to cover my nose.

What is that horrible smell?

"Burning flesh,"

I turn and look at Jurian, who now trots his black horse beside me.

His eyes are unreadable as he nods toward the fire, "The smell - it's burning flesh,"

I turn and look for Tamlin. My eyes meet his but he looks away, his horse continues onward. But, not all Hybern's army follow him. A dozen turn their attention toward the fire. Howling in delight, the beasts clamber toward the blaze, cheering about an early feast.

"And there they go," Jurian mutters with a sigh.

I watch in horror as the sound of breaking bones echoes across the meadow. A beast holds up a charred leg in victory before tearing into it. Fae - the beasts are eating the fae of the Spring Court, Tamlin's people.

The shock on my face must be obvious as Jurian looks at me with disdain.

"The Spring Court has suffered more than most," Jurian says. He trots his horse over to Tamlin. The pair exchange a look before continuing onward, out of the flower meadow.

I glance back at the fire, at the beasts that continue to ravish on the dead, before following after Tamlin and Jurian.

***

We stop at the edge of a thick forest, an hour from the Summer Court boundary. The trees provide a dense cover for our final rest before Hybern unleashes war upon Adriata. The fae and beasts retire in tents or by fires, restless and thrilled for the bloodshed they will deliver tomorrow morning. They sharpen swords, check arrows, and brag about who they want to slaughter first - high fae or lesser fae? Whose blood will be the sweetest to feast upon? They can not decide.

I stumble away from the campsite. I can not bear any more talk of bloodshed. I cower behind a tree and vomit up the contents of the dinner Tamlin had forced me to eat. Head spinning, I curl into a ball on the forest floor. I watch the flickering of stars through the trees until exhaustion begins to pull me under.

I am too tired to open my eyes as a pair of hands lift me up and hold me against their warm body. The person mumbles something as they brush my hair back out of my face. They begin to walk. I hear the crunching of leaves and watch through tired eyes as the person brings me back to the campsite. It is now eerily quiet. The person takes me into a tent. My mind is foggy with exhaustion but I try to fight it as I hear voices speak.

"I found her on the edge of the campsite, sleeping on the forest floor," the cold voice says angrily. They clutch me closer to their body. It is Jurian.

"She's freezing and incoherent," he snarls, "You need to take better care of your mate Tamlin,"

I am gently placed on a bed and warmth trickles through my body as a blanket is pulled over me.

"Oh fuck off Jurian," Tamlin hisses.

Sleep pulls me under before I hear Jurians reply.

***

The next day, we ride onward.

This morning, the sun hammers down on us harder. It is a warning from the Summer Court, a threat Tamlin does not heed. And so, we ride on until we reach the border, a straight line of towering, evergreen trees. Nothing can stop Hybern's army as they shoulder their way through the branches, out onto a wide field of green grass.

I hear the chatter and bustle of a city - Adriata - and realise we are one hill away from the Summer Courts busiest city. I look toward where Tamlin stands, speaking to Hybern's army. I pray to the cauldron that his warning was received.

As if he can sense me staring, Tamlin meets my gaze. I look away.

"How does it feel to be mated to the moodiest bachelor in all Prythian?"

I turn and glare at Jurian. He stands with his hands on his hips beside me, a sly smirk on his face. From my hiding spot by the horses and wagons full of weapons, we both watch as Tamlin snarls at soldiers. He tells them to get in line and draw their weapons.

"Is he a beast in bed as well?" Jurian whispers.

I turn toward him. My wings go up and taut. It is a habit I have gandered over the last few days whenever I have gotten angry.

I spit, "How can you joke in a time like this? Innocent fae are about to be slaughtered at the hands of your King,"

Jurian smirks at me. He moves closer until we are inches apart. "He is not my King, Persephone. And thanks to your High Lord's warning, more Hybern blood will be spilt today than of the innocent,"

He raises an eyebrow and I step back in shock, "You knew of the letter?"

Jurian leans against a tree and winks, "I know a lot about a lot of things, sweet seraphim,"

I snarl and begin to turn away in disgust when the general coughs, a command for attention.

I turn back toward him. He still leans against the tree but he now twirls a dagger between his long, scarred fingers. His lips incline as he says, "Want a word from the wise and ancient, young girl?"

"Amuse me," I snap.

Jurian doesn't take his eyes off his dagger as he speaks.

"Not everyone is fighting for the same team, Persephone. The true enemy is always closer than you think."

Before I have time to ask him what his riddle means, I hear footsteps approaching.

I turn. Tamlin strides toward me, his face grim.

He extends an arm to me. "We need to leave. Now. The attack is about to begin,"

"We are not staying?" I ask in surprise.

Tamlin glances back at the army, who snarls and readies themselves to go over the hill, with a look of hatred and anger.

"No." He spits.

I walk over to Tamlin and wrap my arm around his. The army lets out a roar so loud I shudder against Tamlin's grip. They launch themselves over the hill toward Adriata. Both beasts and fae howling and screaming in the glee of the war.

"Jurian?" Tamlin growls, extending his other arm out.

Jurian tucks away his dagger, turns away from the army with a sigh and grips Tamlin's other arm.

"Where are we going?" I ask.

Tamlin looks down at me, his green eyes alight with anger and sadness.

"Home." He says and we winnow away as the first scream of war sounds.