𝙳𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚎(𝙰𝙲𝙾𝚃𝙰𝚁)

𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖙𝖜𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖞 𝖋𝖎𝖛𝖊**

"Hey, kid," Rhys greeted as he stepped into the library where I was reading.

"I'm older than you," I grumbled, not looking up from my book. I had to admit, I was drunk. I had just about finished an entire bottle of wine.

"Yes, but I am your High Lord," he gloated.

"I'm very sorry, High Lord," I mocked, glancing up to roll my eyes at him. "But you treated me like shit for the longest time, so I don't think I have to respect you."

"When are you going to let that go?" he demanded.

"Possibly never," I joked.

     He sat by my side, grabbing my book from me. I glared, trying to take it from him, but he held it out of my reach.

"Are you feeling better?" he wondered, finally placing the book down on the coffee table next to the nearly empty bottle of wine. I leaned back on the couch and wrapped my arms around myself.

"I look at myself and I don't even recognize my body," I admitted. He nodded, wrapping an arm around me. I leaned into his embrace.

"I know, Raea," he said quietly. I knew that he understood. "But he's dead. You know that."

"He is," I mumbled. "But I still feel their hands on me, and I want them off." He furrowed his eyebrows, turning to me in concern.

"Them?" he demanded.

     I pursed my lips, not sure if I'd even be able to say it out loud. I rested my head against his shoulder.

"There was more than just him," I whispered. "Twice, he let his friends. . . Never mind, I'd rather not talk about it."

"Show me," he said, his voice laced with anger.

"What?"

"Show me their faces," he repeated, pulling back to look at me, fire in his eyes. "And I will hunt each one of them down. I swear, Astraea."

"You don't have to do that--"

"Yes, I do!" he insisted. "It's my fault you were there. I should've done something. I should've found you sooner. I should've--"

"Do not blame yourself," I begged him. "Please. It's not your fault."

"Show me, Raea," he pleaded. "I need to see their faces."

     I stared at him, noticing the rage in his eyes. I stared at my lap and took a deep breath. I pursed my lips, glancing up and taking his hand.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

     Everyone flew to Amren's loft. I winnowed with Eve and Azriel, feeling more than just a bit of envy for my friends that flew. 

     Amren was flipping through the book while I sat with Eve and Az, watching her. Evelina was not hiding her boredom well.

     When Cassian, Rhys, Mor, and Feyre entered, Evelina sighed in relief. I rolled my eyes.

"You should kill Beron and his sons and set up the handsome one as High Lord of Autumn, self-imposed exile or no. It will make life easier," Amren said. I chuckled at the idea of Lucien as a High Lord.

"You really should kill Beron," Eve mumbled, leaning her head on Azriel's shoulder. I pursed my lips, knowing the amount of pain she suffered at his hands as his daughter-in-law.

"I'll take that into consideration," Rhys said, striding toward her while Feyre remained with us at the table.

"Who else thinks its a terrible idea to leave the three of them up at the House of Wind?" Feyre demanded.