Shadows Whisper | | Azriel

59

Rhys couldn't relax. He hadn't been able to sit still in days.

That was what led him to give up on his attempts to do anything but work. Azriel had been working to find answers on who in the Hewn City was involved in keeping Astryn locked away, but he had no luck so far. Rhys didn't think he would either—if anyone was going to get answers, it would probably be Azriel. That was why Rhys led him take charge on it anyway.

Still, though, he couldn't do nothing, so he found himself in the Court of Nightmares, Cassian by his side.

"Strange seeing you here without the spymaster," Keir remarked, sending a distasteful look towards Cassian. "Is he otherwise occupied?"

"I wasn't aware you cared so much about Azriel's whereabouts," Rhys replied dryly, feigning boredom. "I'll be sure to let him know you asked about him."

"I was just curious about what could be more important than accompanying his High Lord on this trip," Keir responded with a dismissive shrug.

"Azriel is with my sister," Rhys told him, watching closely for a reaction.

"Isn't your sister dead?" Keir challenged, and Rhys shrugged in feigned indifference.

"My other sister," he clarified, "haven't you heard the lovely news?"

"There were whispers, but I assumed it was just gossip," Keir lied easily, "it seemed impossible."

"Seems like something you would've known," Rhys hummed, dry and bored. "You do love to pretend this place is your domain. I find it hard to believe you don't know what goes on even in the deepest, darkest caves."

"I cannot be in all places at all times," Keir replied, "wherever your sister has been all this time, it's an unfortunate oversight."

"An unfortunate oversight," Rhys echoed, hate shining in his eyes and a cold grin on his lips, "how about I lock you in faebane chains in a dark cave, starve, and beat you for twenty years and then you can come back to me a little more apologetic?"

"I don't see why I should be apologetic," Keir said, holding Rhys's hateful stare, "I had nothing to do with it. And, honestly, Rhysand, if you're going to be demanding apologies from anyone, it should be your spymaster. How can you trust him with that position if he failed to notice your own sister being held prisoner for twenty years. Or maybe he did know. Him not having any clue seems less likely than him somehow being complicit."

"Your newfound interest in Azriel is so charming," Rhys commented, "maybe I'll tell him you want some one-on-one time and let him show you the part of this court he does reign over. You never have seen the inside of his torture chambers, have you?"

"Have no interest in your shadowsinger," Keir dismissed, "I was only pointing out how odd it is that he, of all people, somehow didn't know.

Rhys was quiet for a moment, watching Keir.

"Azriel has been looking for hard evidence, but you know, I'm not a stickler for that like he is. I could just kill you now based on suspicion alone," Rhys mused, speaking as if he was discussing the weather. "What do you think, Cassian? Should I kill him?"

"I don't see why not," Cassian responded, cold stare fixed on Keir. "Even if he wasn't involved, I don't think anyone would bother mourning him anyway."

"You know, I didn't know it resulted in a child, but I know the female your father fucked behind your mother's back," Keir mentioned, "or, knew, I suppose. She's dead. She did have a brother, though. I wonder if he might know something."

"How interesting," Rhys remarked, "where might I find him?"

"If rumor is correct, he has taken up residence in his sister's old home," Keir informed him, "his name is Vyn. He's quite the vile male, even by my standards."

"Don't think this means you're in the clear," Rhysand said with a smirked, "I still might come back and kill you just for the fun of it."

Rhys sauntered off with Cassian a step behind, though he fell in step with him after they had some distance from Keir.

"If Keir was involved, there were still others too. I don't know how many but Keir couldn't have been the only one," Cassian said, keeping his voice quiet.

"He could have orchestrated it alone with Beron," Rhys muttered, "he's conniving and cruel enough to have done it."

"I have no doubt that he would've been cruel enough to beat her and lock her away," Cassian began, choosing his words carefully, "but there are certain things even Keir wouldn't do to his own blood. There were others involved, outside of your bloodline and, unless her mother's brother is even more vile than Keir, outside of her bloodline too."

Rhys stopped short, jaw clenched.

"She told you they...she said they hurt her in that way?" he asked, barely contained fury in his voice.

"Vaguely," Cassian mumbled, unable to meet Rhys's eyes. "She had a bit to drink and said things she likely wouldn't have mentioned otherwise. Don't tell her I said anything about it."

Rhys nodded and took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

"I agree," he said after a moment, "Keir wouldn't do that to his own blood. I still think he's involved somehow but...he couldn't have been the only one."

He didn't say another word, forcing himself to start walking again.

"Rhys," Cassian said, his voice softer than he ever let it be in this place, "it's not your fault."

"I should have protected her," Rhys snapped, his voice shaking slightly, "she's my sister. I should have kept her safe."

"You didn't even know she existed," Cassian reminded him, eyes darting around to make sure no one was lingering around.

"While on of my sisters was being murdered, my other sister was being born into chains. I failed them both. It doesn't matter if I didn't know. I should have known. I should have kept her safe," Rhys insisted, so much guilt in his voice. He hadn't ever let himself lose it here, but it felt impossible to keep it together. "I failed both of my sisters."

"What happened to them is not on you," Cassian spoke sternly, "you didn't fail them."

"One is dead and the other...I failed both of them. I didn't protect them."