The Whispers of Shadows - A&A One Shots

brother and sister

The Hewn City was alive as ever. Music roared, drinks were spilled, shoes wore down to the soles with dancing. Aurora watched Nesta twirl and laugh with Elain, somehow the only true joy found in the Court of Nightmares. They always seemed to find a way to lighten the hollows of this mountain.

Aurora shifted on her feet, the tall heels making her legs ache. She had been stationed by Nyx during his performance again; his angelic voice carrying through the room to encourage the guests to dance. Her eyes shifted over each person. Rhys had gotten word from Azriel's spies that rebels had found 'sanctuary' in the Hewn City yet still chose to claim threats upon the High family.

She let out a sigh and stole a glance at Azriel, who was in his usual place beside Mor and the thrones. Her brows furrowed as she realized he was talking to Eris, his face in that still calm that radiated his rage. Aurora straightened, turning to look at Nyx. He held a lyre, belting out a tune with a few other musicians. The heir had returned from his stay at the Illyrian camps just the week before and somehow looked much older than those months ago.

When Aurora looked back to Azriel, Eris was now walking toward her. She clenched her jaw and met her mate's eyes, who gave a slight nod and motioned toward Cassian. The general was parting through the crowd toward her.

"Aurora, I'd like to have a word with you in one of the conversation rooms," Eris spoke as he neared her. Aurora opened her mouth to respond, but Cassian arrived just before she could.

"Is he bothering you?" Cass asked, stretching out his wings and looking down at Eris, who was only a few inches shorter.

"No. He needs to speak with me, could you take over my place while we're gone?" Aurora asked, laying a hand on Cassian's shoulder in a subtle way of letting him know she's fine. Cassian gave a small nod and placed himself against the wall, eyes still set on Eris. Her brother held out his elbow, Aurora slipping her hand through and allowing him to lead her.

They had begun to smother the tension between them after Eris had accepted that Aurora had no plans to interrupt his succession to being High Lord of the Autumn Court, yet she still had reservations about him. He wasn't entirely cruel, but Aurora was still weary. She met Azriel's eyes again just before she and Eris slipped into one of the conversation rooms in the alcoves.

"What do you need to speak with me about?" Aurora asked, pulling her arm from his and placing herself on the settee against the stone wall. Eris sat a glass of wine on the table in front of her, one she didn't know he had grabbed, and sat himself in the opposite settee. He crossed his ankle over his knee and Aurora didn't ignore the way his eyes slid over the exposed scars on her thigh and shoulder. For the first time in a while, she cursed herself for dressing in such a provocative way at the Court.

"That," he began, motioning a hand toward her thigh, "That is what I want to speak about. I sent you there, Aurora. I put you into that situation that left you scarred, mentally and physically."

She shifted in her seat uncomfortably and sipped on the wine. It would show weakness to divert her gaze, so Aurora kept her eyes on his, ignoring the twisting in her gut. It had been so long since that night in this very mountain that Tamlin stole her away for weeks.

"You did."

He sucked in a breath and ran ringed fingers through his growing hair, leaning back in the chair. "I know that I have been the source of a lot of your trauma, and for that, I'm sorry. I don't know why it took me so long to figure this out, but Aurora, you're still my sister. Maybe it was in my blind fight for power, but I allowed that to happen. I knew what he had planned for you."

"Why are you bringing this up tonight? Why now, Eris?" Aurora asked as she crossed her arm over her chest as she drank. Shivers ripped up her spine, urging her to leave this room and find the comforting hold of her mate, but tonight she was a warrior.