A Love From A Different World

Chapter 93

Hello everyone. There was a slight error in which I accidently repeated the chapter! In addition I wanted to apologize for being late- life got a little hectic. Anyway, here's this week's chapter. I hope you all enjoy it. Share, comment, vote, and as always happy reading. 

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Aelin was exhausted beyond belief. She had spent all evening deciphering the Book of Breathing in Amren's apartment across town.

Auntie Amren, as she started calling her. It drove Amren crazy, which only pleased Aelin more and more.

It was strangely wholesome, spending the afternoon with her, pouring over that book. They were an odd duo, that was for sure, but there definitely something comforting in Amren. In knowing that though she was a literal goddess and very distant aunt, that she too was far from home.

So, the princess left her apartment after endless hours of labouring over the book, pouring over every single code, desperately hoping to find the answers they sought. Or perhaps the answer the Amren sought out. Because as much as she told herself she wanted to go home, her treacherous heart said otherwise. But Aelin paid it no mind.

So instead, she returned to the manor with the intention of going to bed, only to be stopped short when she noted the cadre all gathered in the living room. And every single one was looking at her intently.

"Intervention?" She questioned.

"What?"

"Is this an intervention?"

"It's nothing like that," Mor responded from the sofa. Despite her seemingly relaxed pose, her body looked tense. "Where's Amren?"

With caution, the assassin took a step. "Still going over the Book." Aelin looked around the room and finally stopped at Rhysand. "What is this?"

He was standing, leaning on the mantle, a hard look in his violet eyes. "We need your help." Rhysand gritted out with notable effort and without much ceremony.

Now, this was interesting, though not surprising.

No longer feeling threatened, Aelin relaxed. She made her way to the divan and plopped down. "You, the all-powerful-high lord, need help from me?"

His lips hardened into a straight line. "Yes."

Aelin put her legs up on the coffee table in front of her and observed the male with squinted eyes. "Don't you still hate me?"

Rhysand furrowed his eyes in confusion. "I don't hate you."

"Really?" The assassin mused. "But your behaviour towards me has been nothing but cold. Not to mention that you tried to kill me. And I do not forgive easily."

She watched as Rhysand recalled those moments after they'd discovered her burning.

"That was different-"

"Oh?" Aelin crooned, enjoying the look of annoyance on the High Lord's face. "Then I suppose that's alright."

To his credit, he took the mocking in strides. "Seeing as we are allies now-"

"Are we? That's news to me." Feigning confusion, Aelin pursed her lips. "Do all allies try to kill each other or am I just special?"

She could tell that the male was starting to lose his cool. The thought pleased her more than it should have.

"We made a deal-"

"Indeed, we made a bargain. To be business partners. I already fulfilled my obligations, I owe you nothing. You on the other hand..."

As a matter of fact, Aelin had acted as the ambassador that Rhysand wanted. Noted, it hadn't moved the queens at all, but she completed her part of the bargain. Rhysand, however, did not.

"What do you want?" he finally said.

"I don't want anything. I can ask you for anything, and you'll have to give it to me. Which means that you have nothing more to bargain with."

"You're right. I have nothing more to offer you. I have nothing of value to give. We are at war, and we are losing. Hybern is strong, he has control of the Cauldron. The chaos and destruction he could cause to us- you saw it. He slaughtered my city, killed my people. And he will do it again. He will not cease until someone stops him. And I refuse to stand back while it happens. It is not just the faes at risk here, it is the humans as well. I know you care nothing for us, for Prythian, but I am asking you-" His voice rose louder, and the cracked with raw emotion. "I am begging you to help us fight him, to risk yourself, for nothing in return but the satisfaction that you stopped a genocide."

When he stopped, the room stilled. The quiet was almost deafening as his heart-wrenching speech hung in the air. After a few moments, Aelin sat up on the divan and locked eyes with Rhysand.

"That was beautifully said, truly." The purple of his eyes were so vivid, almost violent as they bore deeply into her own. "But you're right. I don't care. Especially if there's nothing in it for me."