Starlight

19

I stand looking over the battlefield as Rhysand begins our initial attack. Shadows spill from my body as I drift my gaze to the castle, a legion of enemy soldiers burst through the front door. I look to Mor, then meet Feyre's eyes.

"I will take the second floor, you will take the third. They likely will not breach past the fourth, the wealthy will have barricaded well." I say, pausing a moment. "When you pass through the second floor, do not be afraid." I winnow without another word, landing at the far end of the palace's second floor. The soldiers do not have time to see me before the entire floor is shrouded in darkness and I become a creature of the night. A predator hiding within the shadows, ready to rip their throats from their neck.

My steps are silent as I drift across the floor, resting my blade on the first soldier's neck and slicing it open. My shadows slide from my sides and wrap around the neck's of the next two soldiers. Their spines crack as they crumble to the floor, the other soldiers unable to see them fall. Only hear their screams of terror, then horrifying silence. I move to the next three with unnerving calm, spinning with ease between them. They all fall with blood gushing from their necks. I pull away the darkness as I approach the final two, allowing fear to course through their bodies as they spot their fellow men lying dead on the floor.

"The Shadow." One says, horror slick in his voice. Without a single movement, they both reduce to red mist and splintered bones. Primal rage courses through me, pure instinct replaces any through in my mind as Feyre and Mor arrive to pass through the second floor. I watch them carefully, Mor does not meet my eyes as Feyre looks to me in shock.

"Keep moving." Mor says, pushing Feyre back to the stares without a glance back.

I need the Winged Shadow, sister.

My gaze drifts through the large open balcony, I carry myself to it and spot the unending fleet of boats sat across the waves. I close my eyes and allow the magic to consume me, my body stretching and changing as the fire breathing beast takes over, leaving my Fae body hidden deep below. I perch on the edge of the balcony, my huge talons digging into the marble, and stretch out my wings with a devastating roar. I take to the sky, gliding to the edge of the red stained ocean.

Now, Celesta.

Heat grows beneath my scales, my mouth tastes of smoke as the flames explode from me, reducing the ships below to fire and ash. I hear their screams of terror as they jump overboard, their friends reduced to nothing behind them. I fly above them, releasing the power of the sun onto their wooden boats, until they all sit in splintered piles. I land atop the shore as the ground rumbles below me, Rhysand beside me as the beast fades away. I stand panting, struggling to catch my breath as I cough the last of the smoke from my lungs.

"No time to rest, let's go." He says, I pull two daggers from my waist and move into the fray. My blade finds flesh over and over, leaving a path of blood and death in my wake. My eyes drift across the battlefield, searching and searching, until they find their mark. Our eyes meet at the same moment, the bond between us still cold.

He begins to walk toward me, sword held tight in his grasp, and does not pause as he swings his sword at me. I allow my movements to only be defensive, I will not lay a scratch on the man I love. The man who's name is screamed to me from the stars every night, who's voice drifts across the sea and who's laugh comes with every breath of wind.

"I will not hurt you, my moon." I say as he pushes me back, my blades blocking against his metal sword as I continue to step away from him.

"Then you will die." Vossan says, his voice not his own. His strikes suddenly become faster, he lays a closed first across my face and I fall to the ground, quickly rolling over when he rips me off the ground and to my feet. He pulls me against him, blade held to my throat, as I stare with eyes full of terror at my brother.

"Don't kill him, please." I beg, Rhysand looks at me with pain in his eyes. Cassian and Azriel land on Vossan's other sides, I feel his head move back and forth as he takes in his options. I sense the magic building before the snap comes, the rush of power that courses over my body. Vossan shoves me to my knees, I look up with blood spilling down my face at the King of Hybern, lounging atop his throne. Vossan locks glowing blue chains to my wrists, holding them together and subduing any of my magic.

"Princess, I was wondering when I would see you again." Hybern says, leaning forward to look at me. Vossan pulls the hood from my head and moves to take his place at the bottom of the dias, I meet his empty eyes with mine full of pain. Hybern stands from his throne, walking down to take my chin in his hand. "You are my guest, your highness. Wouldn't want to lock that growing life within a cell. Get her cleaned up, we have appearances to uphold her."

Two pairs of hands grab hold of my arms, I meet Vossan's eyes one last time before they pull me to my feet and drag me to whatever horrors I should succumb to next.