The Illyrian Warrior

Chapter Twenty

It was Winter Solstice. Davina had spent most of last night rushing around the different quarters of the city trying to find gifts for everyone. Once she had a gift for everyone in the Inner Circle, she trudged home, arms full of stuff. When she had finally reached her apartment and dumped all the gifts on the counter, she allowed the tears to fall. No matter how many stores she went into, her mind wouldn't stop replaying her sister's death and the blood that had sprayed everywhere.

Davina's fingers shook as she tried to pour herself a glass of water, her eyes were foggy, her thoughts too loud. But she couldn't stop crying, once she had allowed herself to open that vault inside her, everything wouldn't stop gushing out. Wren was dead, her father was dead, and she suddenly had these powers that she never had before. Davina continued to cry as she ran a bath. She inspected herself in the mirror, rotating to view the scars on her back. Weak, perhaps her father had been right to label her that, she couldn't save Wren. The universe seemed to laugh in her face as she got the powers she needed after Wren died. The word was branded onto her back, faint, but still there.

Davina was grateful she had Azriel, Cassian and the others to help her get through this. She wouldn't know what to do without them.

Now, Davina was getting ready for the Winter Solstice party at Rhysand's. Her eyes were still puffy from all the crying and if she thought about Wren for too long she would almost certainly start again. Davina smoothed out her dress, another halter neck to hide her scars. It was black and form fitting, Davina was beginning to like the dresses that showed off her curves, especially when Azriel looked at her like she was to be devoured. Davina had wrapped all the presents and stuffed them into a large bag. Cassian would be here soon to fly them there.

Davina finished touching up her makeup, hoping to disguise some of the sadness with pretty eyeliner, then made her way out to the kitchen. However, it wasn't Cassian who stood in the kitchen, hands clasped behind their back.

"Rhysand?"

He smiled, "sorry, I know you were expecting Cassian".

Davina waved a dismissive hand, "don't apologise, I have been meaning to thank you for saving me".

"There is no need. You work for me now, which means you're apart of the Inner Circle", then Rhys pulled out a pile of documents from whatever pocket realm they were in.

"It will be official once you've signed these", he said placing them on her counter.

Davina stood mouth agape. From what she understood, Rhys never liked her, at least not enough to welcome her to the Inner Circle.

"I don't deserve this", she said solemnly.

"Nonsense", Rhys said gently, "everyone in my Inner Circle is expected to show the determination and strength that you've shown from day one".

Davina felt happy tears welling in her eyes.

"Thank you", she said breathlessly, "thank you so much Rhysand".

"You can call me Rhys now", he said as he withdrew a pen from his coat pocket.

Davina clasped the pen in her hand, shaking from excitement and fear. She could finally help the women like her and Wren who wanted to get away but couldn't. She couldn't save Wren but perhaps she could save thousands of other women just like her.

"I promise you're not signing your life away", Rhys joked, "the pay is good. You could find a better place than this".

Davina smiled, grateful for his jokes. Then she signed it. One smooth stroke of the pen and she was officially working for Rhysand and officially apart of the Inner Circle.