A Court of Blood and Desire

Chapter 3

Elysandra POV

The War: 1 year, 5 months ago

"They're almost here."

Indeed they were. I stood at the top of the hill, next to the King of Hybern and the Cauldron, watching the advancing army. We all knew who was going to win. Behind me, a row of commanders stood, watching over our extensive army.

But unlike the rest of the commanders who were wearing their grey uniforms, I was wearing my Illyrian leathers. A pain to find, but I'd done it. The perfect spy, the one that nobody would suspect until it was too late. We would know their every move before they had started playing. No matter which side I was on, I felt like a traitor wearing them.

A united army. Summer, Winter, Dawn, Day and Night. I'd spied Autumn and Spring marching far off on my scouting trip and the human army miles away at sea- facts that I didn't bother mentioning to the King.  Just like I'd forgotten to mention the feybane cure. And the true extent of the High Lady's powers. And the glamours they casted around their army. It was truly a wonder that nobody hadn't questioned my loyalty. Especially when I let the Spymaster's shadows slithers right though the camp. And when I gave Tamlin the correct information. And when he had mysteriously known exactly where to find the Seer and the Spymaster that night. Letting both sides start to internally collapse while I stood and watch was too much fun. Everyone was too busy doubting their allies to recognise the person pulling the strings.

I scanned the trees, looking for faeries I had once called my friends, my family. Imagined their faces when they saw what I had become. I wasn't that scared little girl anymore, the one that had crawled to that Dawn Court campsite begging them to take her in, the one who was so broken and needed to find a minuscule purpose in life. That girl was long gone. I may not hate humans, but picking the right side of the war would keep me alive.

They believed in saving the humans, Hybern believed in turning them all back into slaves and I... well I believed in myself. And choosing the path that doesn't involve leaping in front of the Cauldron in a doomed battle. They wouldn't survive this slaughter. And they had to know it. Had to know that even with their cute little united army, they didn't have a chance. The power of friendship won't save you from being gutted.

I had heard the whispers for weeks now, who would slay a High Lord, who would capture and kill the Archeron sisters, who would bring home a pair of Illyrian wings to hang on the mantle. But there was only one male I wanted the wings of, the one last piece of proof that I was worth something, that I had finally bested him at a game he didn't know he was playing. My blades glimmered in the sun. I would rip them off slowly, would whisper in his ear about who I was and why I was doing it. But I would let him live, feel the pain of wanting to fly but not be able to. A little bit of payback for centuries of suffering.

I had always been a little bit petty.

I didn't care who would be killed; I had no friends to cry over. My blade was my friend and my siphons were my family. Trusting people only led to betrayal and hurt. It was better to be alone. Because the only person who you could always count on to be there was yourself. And the people who realised this will be the ones walking away alive.

I was a warrior, the devil incarnate, and I did not need friends.

"Beautiful," the King murmured, dragging his hand over the top of one of my wings. I fought my disgust down, shoving it far away enough that he couldn't smell it. Playing the loyal servant to the King was only part of my plan. He was an odious man, and had deluded himself into thinking I was willing to become his newest lover. After Amarantha, I had zero interest in fucking anymore Hybern commanders. I'd had many fantasies of ripping those hands off, breaking every bone in every finger. They were what kept me going."You are a magnificent creature, aren't you?"