A Court of Fire and Sun

chapter 13

**Esther**

"Oh, hello, cousin. It's so lovely to see you here." Eris grinned.

I backed up, bumping into Azriel who was now behind me. Helion let out a low growl. "Shut the fuck up, Eris." He put his hands on my shoulders; probably to keep me grounded.

"Wh-why is he here? Why are you here with him?" My question was directed toward Helion, not caring that my tone held accusation. A thought twisted in my gut. What if all this had been a cruel prank? I had thought it before but what if it was true? No. Helion couldn't fake a mating bond.

Rhysand stood from the table and approached me, taking my hand, leading me to his seat he had previously been occupying. "Eris has been causing trouble. This was a middle ground for he and Helion to meet."

Nesta gave me a unknowing expression before looking away, her hand gripping Cassian's. I looked to Helion. His expression was soft; he was sorry. "I want to know what's going on. But, that's not why I'm here. And I'm sure what I have to say is more important than anything he could ever offer," I held Eris' stare.

Fire danced in his eyes and he nodded. "Feel free to share, cousin." His voice was full of venom. I had to be nice. All he had to do was tell Beron where I was. Surely Beron was bored of searching for me now. Maybe he actually didn't have anything to hold over me anymore.

I held back a wince. I hated that. He was nothing to me, none of them were. "Not with you." I looked between Rhys and Helion. "We need to go."

"Cassian. Will you and Nesta fly Meallan back to day court?" Helion asked standing. He reached out his hand and I grabbed it.

Rhys stood with us and with a loud crack we folded into time and space. When we appeared back into the day court Helion pulled me into him and I let out a soft cry. It took all of my willpower to hold myself together in front of Eris. "Why?"

"Late, Esther. Later." It wasn't the answer I wanted but I knew Helion meant it.

I pulled away and wiped my eyes. You're okay. You are okay. "Come on, one of the acolytes found something weird in the library."

The three of us walked in silence to edge of the tree lines. I led them to the building and the door opened. I approached the stairs, looking around for Lyland. I didn't see her anywhere, maybe she had wondered off to find other mysterious doors.

I pointed at the backwards print on the stairs and Helion's gaze lifted to me. "A misprint?"

"No, it's a door," Rhysand said, bending down to press a hand to it. Dark magic flared. Shadows escaped from Rhysand's hand and slithered up every stair and wrapped itself around the railing. My eyes grew wide. When he pulled his hand away there was a large weird circle-like mark with other circles inside of it. It almost looked like an eye. I gasped. Helion stepped in front of me.

"What is that?" Helion asked Rhysand.

Rhys took a step back, "Something far older than us."

"But the library-" I started but stopped. "The libraries are the oldest in Prythian, aren't they? So... They've been here longer-"

"Than we can date back," Helion finished,

Rhys sighed. "I need Amren. I'll be back with her. I don't recognize this. She's older than any of us. Hopefully she can give some insight. You said an acolyte found this? Which?"

I looked around, searching for her. "Lyland."

Rhys eyebrows scrunched together. "We don't have an acolyte named Lyland."

I tilted my head in confusion. "She said her name was Lyland. She had an accent I didn't quiet recognize. Black curly hair, pale as white skin and deep green eyes."