Starlight

15

The gates of Hybern come into view, the terror in me building as we grow closer and closer. I close my eyes and shove it deep inside me, burying it far below, and focus solely on the way the wind flows against my wings. Vossan and Azriel glide across the ocean below us, the smoke of their shadows trailing across the sea. Cassian flies to my right, his face stone hard and concentrated as he holds Feyre in his arms.

"Quickly." Mor says as we land, Vossan appears beside me with a hand placed upon my back. Azriel slips inside first, returning with his knife slick with blood. The next few hallways are the same, Cassian and Azriel approaching the corners first, often coming back with blood coating their blades.

We turn the final corner and face its immense power, the black Cauldron that sits upon a grand pedestal. I marvel at the magic that spills from it, circling us as we enter the room.

"Now, Feyre." I say, she rushes to the Cauldron as we all turn to carefully watch the doors. After moments of complete silence, the room void of powerful magic, I glance over my shoulder as she kneels before it. In horror I watch as she places the two books beside each other, and I'm thrown back into the vision I had not long ago. Two ancient powers weaving back together, becoming one force too powerful to contain. "No!" The room explodes with magic, suffocating us as we stand before her. Rhysand appears in the room a heartbeat after, catching Feyre in his arms as the guards quickly close in.

"He knew you'd come." Says a voice behind me, one I heard so many centuries ago. I turn to face Jurian, hatred pouring from my eyes. "Grab them." Vossan quickly reaches for me, only to be ripped from my grasp as we're dragged to the grand throne room. As I'm thrown to my knees, I look up to see the sneering face of the King of Hybern. He stares down at us for a moment, a cruel smirk tugging at his lips.

"It seems as though I have upheld my end of the bargains." He says, beckoning to the shadows that surround him. From his right slinks Tamlin and Lucien, the High Lord's eyes do not move from Feyre. On the left walks the remaining mortal queens, their sharp eyes boring into ours. "Now it's time to uphold yours." His eyes settle on Tamlin.

"We will, we will allow you to bring your forces into the Spring Court." Tamlin says, his gaze like stone upon his former lover.

"Bastard!" Feyre says, launching to her feet only to be quickly brought back to her knees. A deep, threatening snarl leaves Rhysand's throat.

"Show us it can be done, that it is safe." The elder mortal queen says, staring within the Cauldron that has now settled into the throne room. Golden liquid settled within a sea of black, my eyes widen in realization. Vossan and I meet eyes, he struggles against the guards to reach for me. A tear slips down my face as I watch him, finally ripping my eyes from his to look at the King.

"I will, you will have your proof." The kings, motioning his hand to his guards. From the doorway beside us, I watch in horror as two guards drag in Nesta and Elain, fear slick across both their faces. "But before we begin, a price must be paid. Punishment for sneaking into my castle, disturbing what does not belong to you." The guard to his right hands him a long spear as he studies my family, his eyes landing on each one of us.

"This was not part of the bargain." Tamlin says, stepping forward. The king shoots him a terrifying glare.

"You will have your bride, High Lord, what I do beyond that does not concern you." The king says, directing his focus back to us. He pulls his arm back and launches it, sends it flying toward us. At first, it looks as though it comes soaring toward me. That the sharp tip will rip through my skin and protrude from the other side. I close my eyes and wait for the searing pain to come.

But it doesn't, it's blade rips through something far worse. I slowly turn my head to see it tear through my lover, rip through the heart that has belonged to my own for so many centuries. I watch his eyes glaze over, the beautiful stars within them slowly winking out. I feel as he desperately grabs for our bond, my own magic trying in vain to hold onto him, as the feeling slips away. I watch his body slump as our connection goes cold, the other side hollow and empty, and he falls to the side.

"No." I whisper, my voice cracking and breaking as I begin to crawl toward him. To my surprise, the king allows me to grab at his body, to pull his lifeless skin into my lap. I take his face into my hands, those beautiful eyes that once belonged to me, and place one last gentle kiss on his lips. His hands hang limp beside him, I find myself hoping that they will suddenly lift to hold my body against his own.

What happens after this, I do not know. The world around me begins to blur, the noise drowning out as I press my forehead to his cold, cold skin. I sit like this for hours, minutes, lifetimes before I feel Rhysand's warm hand on my back to winnow us home.

We appear in the foyer of the townhouse, Vossan's lifeless body still held in my arms, and the entire room hangs in silence. I feel every eye upon me, waiting for my emotions to finally break through. I do not lift my head from his, feeling the hollow cold that replaces beautiful warmth. I slowly pull back, using my magic to create a pillow of silk to rest his head on, and stand.

I do not look at the others as I walk with unnerving calm to the garden outside, my hands folded in front of me as the flowers come into view.

"Celesta-" I hear Rhysand call, moving to take a step toward me, before Mor places a hand on his shoulder.

"Let her go." She whispers, I continue to walk
to the back of the garden, to where the flowers of midnight black Vossan once planted for me sit. I lower myself to my knees before them, holding a soft petal between gentle fingers. I feel the ward I placed around myself begin to crack, the wall holding everything in finally beginning to crumble.

A blast of magic more powerful than any I have ever felt explodes from me, followed by a scream that shakes the city.