Shadows Whisper | | Azriel

57

The tension was high in the Court of Nightmares.
It always was when sneaking outsiders in.

Beron hadn't come here since Azriel and Cassian invaded his Court, killed his son, and brought Astryn back to the Night Court. He knew Rhysand and his Inner Circle would be on high alert. Coming here was a risk, but his contacts wouldn't let up—they got into this mess together and had to figure out how to get out of it together.

Beron sat at the head of the table, observing the others who sat with him. At the opposite end of the table sat Keir, expression giving away nothing as he stared down the High Lord. On each side of the table were two more people. To Beron's left was the one guard he had brought along. All three other seats were occupied by citizens of the Night Court.

"Rumor has it," Keir started off, his voice cold and indifferent, "you fled the moment you got word that the shadowsinger and the general were in your Court."

"The bond drives makes insane," Beron scoffed, rolling his eyes at the insult, "I saw no reason to stick around and let that bastard kill me."

"But you had no problem allowing him to kill your son," Keir pointed out, lips curled up into a cruel smile.

"I have other sons," Beron replied with a dismissive shrug, "there is a reason I chose Killan instead of my eldest son to marry her. He was more disposable."

Keir let out an amused exhale before taking a long drink from his glass of water.

"Can we get to the point?" Beron requested, rolling his eyes.

"I spoke to my contacts elsewhere in the Night Court," Keir began, careful not to reveal too much. It irritated Beron to no end that Keir never dared to inform him about what secrets the Night Court god beyond the Hewn City. "Cassian has a loud mouth when he's drinking. Astryn accepted the mate bond."

"What a waste," Beron muttered, shaking his head. "I suppose that means there'll be no way around you having another impure creature on your throne."

"There's still a chance," Keir responded, eyes shining.

"Explain," Beron requested, eyebrow raised.

It was then that one of the others finally spoke up. Seated to Keir's right was Astryn's maternal uncle, Vyn, a cruel male with ice blue eyes and silver hair.

"Astryn specifically told her bastard mate to spare your eldest son when he went on his killing spree. It's unclear why, but she wanted Eris left alive," Vyn informed him, "one would think that implies some degree of trust. If Eris showed up here, injured...she showed him mercy once before. Who's to say she wouldn't spare him once again?"

"You want to use Eris as a way in," Beron concluded, letting out a bark of laughter. "That won't work. Rhysand would never allow him in, not after what happened with my daughter. He would draw the line there, even if Astryn begged him to allow Eris in. I have a far better idea."

"I'm on the edge of my seat," Vyn drawled sarcastically.

"My youngest son," Beron said, his smile wicked, "she bonded with him, and Rhysand, for all his pretend cruelty, would never turn away a child in need of shelter and safety."

"And what good could the child do us once he's inside? He's just as likely to become part of their little family and never return to you," Keir scoffed, rolling his eyes.

"It's not hard to scare a child into obedience," Beron responded coldly, "he could lure Astryn out. And his control over his fire is still minimal. When he starts to burn, he can't control it. He could easily accidentally kill her mate if the bastard startled him. And Rhysand—no one in his Inner Circle—would seek vengeance against a scared child."