Shadows Whisper | | Azriel

13

Arriving at the Autumn Court was nothing short of terrifying.

She was stripped naked and thrown in a bath where she was viciously scrubbed to the point that her skin was red and sore. She was put in new clothes afterwards, Autumn Court clothes. To top it all off, a thick collar that reeked off faebane was latched around her neck, and matching faebane infused "bracelets" that looked like cuffs with no chain were around her wrists.

She was then dragged to the throne room and tossed carelessly at Beron's feet. The servant who dragged her in advised her against standing up from where she has been thrown on the floor.

"Kneel," the servant hissed out the order, "show some respect."

Hesitantly, Astryn adjusted her aching body so that she knelt in front of the High Lord of the Autumn Court.

"You look so much better out of the Night Court filth," Beron complimented with a grin, "my son will be so happy to see you after you and I have our little talk. There are some rules we have to go over."

Astryn stayed quiet. She knew this game. He'd pause and wait for her to speak without permission, and then she'd be punished for it.

"You've improved so much," he remarked, "I guess our little lessons in the past did do you some good. We have the same rules here. You do not speak unless spoken to. You do not talk back. You do what you're told, when you're told. And a top priority is getting you healthy again. You can't have a child until your body is healthy enough to make it through a pregnancy. It would be such an absolute waste if you died."

Astryn's eyes left Beron then, and she stared at the floor instead so she didn't have to see how satisfied he looked with all this.

"One more thing," Beron said as he stood from his throne. "Clear the room," he ordered his guards and servants, "I need to speak with my daughter-in-law in private."

They all filtered out of the room and Beron approached her, towering over where she was knelt on the floor.

"You handed yourself over to save the shadowsinger," Beron reminded her, and she tried hard not to think about Azriel with those arrows through him. "Why? You may speak."

"He's my friend," she answered, her voice so quiet, "I didn't want him to die."

"It's more than that," Beron scoffed, "you knew him for, what, a day? Make me understand."

"I dreamed about him for years," she confessed, not having it in herself to look at Beron when she said it. He reached out and tilted her head up to force her to look at him, and he was furious. His palm flew out and met her face in a harsh slap.

"Never tell anyone that," he instructed, gripping her jaw so tightly she knew it would bruise. "Tell me you understand."

"I understand," she said urgently, wanting nothing more than for him to stop touching her. "I understand. I won't tell anyone."

"Don't ever speak of him at all," Beron ordered, his mind racing. This could ruin everything if Rhysand and his Inner Circle knew. "Did you tell anyone else?"

"No," she lied, not wanting to tell him she told the shadows. What would he do if he knew she could communicate with the shadows? They had hidden themselves since she was brought here, but she knew they were still lurking and she didn't want Beron to know that she had some sort of connection with them.

"Good," he replied with a nod, "did the shadowsinger mention ever dreaming of you?"

"No," she repeated, and this time it was true. Azriel didn't tell her and she doubted he even knew. His dreams of her were always in such darkness he couldn't even really see her. She hoped he didn't realize, because this seemed like it might get significantly worse for him if he knew. What if Beron tried to have him killed over it?

Beron watched her closely for a moment, thinking about all the things that could go wrong here.

Across all courts, a mating bond took priority over any simple marriage. If Azriel knew Astryn was his mate, he could come take her and would be considered justified in doing it.

He'd just have to find a way to get Astryn to reject Azriel without even realizing what she was doing. It would probably drive the shadowsinger to madness, but that would be the perfect excuse to kill him. He set that thought aside, deciding to figure it out later.

"Not all of my sons are home," Beron changed the subject, "but your husband and a couple of his brothers are here as well as my wife. It's time for you to meet the family. Try not to look so miserable when you meet them."

Astryn was silent as she followed Beron through the hallways. They made it to the dining room and it was much different than the room at the House of Wind. Even though that room had been massive too, it wasn't so cold and terrifying.

There were four sons in the room, and the mother. The mother had misery hiding behind her lovely eyes, but she faked a pleasant smile. At her side was a small boy who had russet eyes that matched hers and red hair that resembled his brothers. He was young, he couldn't have been more than five years old. At the mother's other side was who appeared to be the eldest son, his amber eyes burning into the faebane collar around her neck. He looked like he was simmering in quite resentment. Next to him was another male with red hair and amber eyes. This one stared at her with a wicked smirk and she felt terribly small under his gaze. He looked like he would eat her alive. By his side was another brother, the same red hair and amber eyes. He looked at her with a burning desire that made her wish she was dead.

"My wife, Lady of the Autumn Court," Beron introduced, "our eldest son, Eris. Second eldest, Vance. And your husband, Killan. Oh, and the baby. Lucien."

He spoke the boy's name with malice and hardly even glanced in his direction. After finishing the introductions, he gave Astryn a small wave indicating she should say something.

"It's an honor to meet you all," Astryn spoke politely and meekly, bowing her head respectfully. "Thank you for welcoming me into your home."

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, dear," the Lady said kindly, and there was an undertone of sympathy. "I'm so happy to have you here."

"Let's sit and have dinner," Beron spoke up, "after dinner, Killan can show you around if he'd like."

"There's nothing she needs to see," Killan scoffed as he took her by the arm and pulled her to their seats. He sat on her right side, and she could only think about how grateful she was that she wouldn't be sitting next to Beron. Beron took the spot at the head of the table.

"Charming as ever, brother," Eris muttered, rolling his eyes as he occupied the seat to Astryn's left.

"Why would I need to charm her? She's already my wife," Killan said with a smirk, his hand resting on her thigh. "It's not like I have to waste any time winning her affection."

Beron rolled his eyes at his sons and waved his hand. Food appeared on the table at the wave. Astryn's plate was different from everyone else's and it reeked of faebane. She hesitated to even touch it, but Killan leaned in close and whispered in her ear.

"Eat, sweetheart," he cooed, "you won't like what happens if you don't."

Astryn didn't need any elaboration on the threat.