A Court of Lightning and Shadows

Twenty-three

Azriel was seated in the living room, a book open in his lap. He had spent the entire afternoon reading, one of his interests which he didn't get to do a lot.

He started to feel really tired a few minutes ago, but he didn't know what caused it, since he had sat down all day.

The front door slammed open and someone yelled his name. Azriel ran out of the room, making his way over to the hall.

He found a soaked Rhys and Briar, Briar unconscious in his arms. His heart sank.

He grabbed her from Rhys's arms and walked back into the sitting room, gently letting her down on the bed.

"What the hell happened?" he yelled to Rhys. His mind was full of rage. His instincts told him to attack Rhys, but that would only make things worse.

"She... we tried something and she used a memory and-.. It wasn't a happy sight." Rhys showed him the memory through his mind.

Briar's eyes were closed, probably thinking of the memory Rhys talked about. The clouds above them started closing and turning darker. It started raining. Hard. Rhys called her name.

She didn't open her eyes. It now started thundering. Flashes of lightning were shooting through the air. A purple light bulb formed around Briar as he saw tears streaming down her face.

The moment Briar opened her eyes, she let out a scream. He could hear the pain and fear in it.

Rhys pulled away and looked into Azriel's eyes. "I saw the memory she was thinking about. I didn't know it was that bad." sadness glistered in Rhys's eyes.

"Her brother used her." he said to Rhys. His nod confirmed his suspicions. "And her father abused her." another nod.

Azriel calmed down a bit. But now that he knew what her father and brother had done to her. He now knew it for sure, and he would let them feel all the fear and pain they had let his mate feel.

"Get Madja." he said. Rhys listened to his order and disappeared in a heartbeat.

Azriel knelt next to the couch and pushed a strand of hair out of her face. Her skin was pale, but less pale than yesterday.

He knew it wasn't Rhys's fault, but he was still angry with him. He pushed her way too far since they had only just gotten to controlling her powers. She was not even close to controlling an entire storm.

Azriel placed a kiss on her forehead, which felt cold. Her entire body felt cold.

Her clothes were still soaked. Azriel knew she needed dry clothes, but he couldn't bring himself to help her change.

Feyre barged into the room, "Rhys told me."

He was happy he didn't need to explain it to her himself.

"Could you put dry clothes on her?" he asked softly.

Feyre gave him a nod. "Let's get her upstairs." 

Azriel carried Briar up to her room, gently putting her on the bed. He left the room shortly after, not wanting to invade Briar's privacy, even though she was unconscious.

After a few minutes, Feyre told him he could enter. The High Lady was seated next to the bed. Azriel sat down next to her and sighed.

"He didn't mean to push her that far." Feyre told him, her hand on his shoulder.

"I know." he looked at his mate. He felt his heart ache at what Rhys had told him. "She's way more broken than we thought." he said. He felt guilty for not finding out earlier and for not being able to give her more support.