Shadows Whisper | | Azriel

18

Eris didn't know how Killan had found out that he was lying about needing to take Astryn for measurements for a gown, but he found out terribly quickly.

Eris didn't even have Astryn for half an hour before Killan came storming down the hall. He grabbed Astryn by the arm, a painfully tight grip as he yanked her away from his brother.

"Liar," Killan hissed at Eris, "stay away from my wife, you conniving asshole. She is not yours."

"Be careful about the bruising, brother," Eris tsk'ed, feigning amusement. He'd never admit how much he genuinely hated seeing this, how it reminded him of his parents when things first got bad—before Beron learned to be more private about the ways he hurt his wife. Eris wasn't a very kind or caring male, but he loved his mother dearly. His mother was perhaps the only person in the world he loved and seeing this reflection of what she was put through pained him. He hadn't ever been able to help his mother, and it seemed his attempt to help Astryn—albeit for significantly more selfish reasons—would be futile as well. His mother and her struggles were half the reason he wanted to steal his father's throne. With Beron dead and Eris on the throne of the Autumn Court, he could ensure no one ever harmed his mother again.

"The bruises can be glamoured away just like the fucking collar," Killan growled ferociously, looking at Eris like he wanted him dead. Without another word, Killan whirled around and forced Astryn to stumble after him.

Eris knew he was close to losing his shot at an alliance with the Night Court. He couldn't save Astryn from Killan's anger and jealousy. If he tried, he knew his brother wouldn't hesitate to kill him. And he couldn't risk that. He had to stay alive. None of his brothers would ever fight for their mother the way he would. This would cost him the alliance he sought, but if he had to give it up to stay alive, he'd do it. So, he stood back and watched Killan drag Astryn off to their room knowing full well that Killan wasn't skilled at knowing when to stop before things went too far, knowing Astryn might not make it out of this one alive. He watched as Astryn looked back at him with confusion and desperation and betrayal.

Eris felt an unexpected wave of guilt. Astryn knew he was helping her for selfish reasons, but he was still her only ally here and he was letting her get hauled away by his brute of a brother for a beating. It wasn't often that Eris felt shame, but at that moment, guilt and shame were the only things he felt.

His body seemed to have a mind of its own, his legs carried him in the same direction Killan had taken Astryn. He stopped outside of their shut and locked bedroom door. He sat on the floor like his youngest brother had done that morning, and he listened. He didn't do anything to help, didn't burn the door down and storm in and kill his brother. He sat and he listened to the beating so he would at least know if Astryn lived or died.

He could hear his brother screaming at Astryn, accusing her of being a whore. There was more yelling from Killan, but he focused more on Astryn's sobbing. He had too many reasons not to risk storming into that room and ripping his brother to shreds, so he didn't do it. And a little part of him hated himself for it.

It ended eventually, and he was honestly shocked that Astryn was still alive at the end of it. Her breaths rattled and her cries were soft and quiet, but she lived. Eris stood then, readying himself to go off somewhere else, but he heard footsteps.

Killan left the room after the beating, and he smirked when he saw his brother.

"You might want to take her to see a healer, if you care so much, brother," Killan sneered, and Eris couldn't help but stare at the blood on him. His brother had beaten his own wife so brutally that he was covered in her blood. Eris decided that when he stole the throne from his father, Killan would die too. He didn't plan to kill all of his brothers if he didn't have to. They would only have to die if they fought him. Except Killan. Killan would die even if he willingly knelt at the throne when Eris took it. He would die.

Eris went into the room hesitantly, the stench of blood entirely overwhelming. Astryn was laid out on the floor and was nearly unrecognizable. One of her eyes was completely swollen shut, and the other could open only slightly. Nearly every inch of her skin was bruised and battered and bloody.

"It's just me," Eris told her, knowing she couldn't see him clearly. "Try to relax. I'm going to take you to a healer." He paused, feeling a little too open. "Your brother might just kill me for not stopping this," he added on, "if Killan just cost me that alliance, I'll be so terribly disappointed."

"Rhysand wo—won't kill you," Astryn rasped out the words painfully while he lifted her up off the floor gently.

"Oh? Will it be the shadowsinger that ends my life then?" he joked bitterly as he carried her.

"I...I won't let him," she muttered, her eye drifting shut. "You, and...and your mother, and th—the little one. You're all three safe."

"I let him beat you," Eris pointed out, as if either of them needed the reminder.

Astryn didn't respond to that, and Eris realizes quickly that she didn't respond because she couldn't. She was unconscious.

He cursed under his breath and walked a little faster. He made it to the infirmary and the healers looked alarmed just at the sight of Astryn.

"Fix her," Eris instructed coldly, "or her brother will kill us all."