𝙳𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚎(𝙰𝙲𝙾𝚃𝙰𝚁)

𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖙𝖜𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖞-𝖙𝖍𝖗𝖊𝖊**

    The others arrived late.

    Everybody took their seats around the reflection pool, Thesan's impeccably mannered attendants brought plates of food and goblets of exotic juices from the tables against the wall. 

"Tarquin is here," Thesan announced an hour later. An uncomfortable silence spread.

"Heard about the blood rubies," Helion smirked at Rhys. "That is a story I want you to tell."

"All in good time," Rhys promised.

      Tarquin cleared the top step into the chamber, Varian and Cresseida flanking him. Varian glanced among the Night Court for someone who was not there, and glowered when he beheld Cassian. Cassian just gave him a cocky grin.

     Tarquin ignored all of them, Rhys's wings included, as he made vague apologies for the tardiness, blaming it on the attack. 

     An attendant whispered to Thesan that Beron and his sons had arrived. The smile instantly vanished from Morrigan's mouth and eyes.

     Evelina shifted uncomfortably, letting Azriel's wing wrap around her. His shadows were busy hiding her cleavage and midriff, as well as tugging down her skirt.

     Astraea was seated between Nesta and Morrigan. She took Morrigan's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, just as Morrigan had done for her when they entered.

     Nesta glanced down at their hands, but her face remained emotionless. She trained her focus back on the scene in front of her.

     The violence simmering the Night Court was enough to boil the pool at their toes as the High Lord of Autumn filed through the archway, his sons in rank behind him, his wife, Marzia, at his side.

     Her russet eyes scanned the room, as if looking for that missing son. They settled instead on Helion, who gave her a mocking incline of his dark head. She quickly averted her gaze. 

     Evelina lifted her head to meet the female's gaze, a sad longing in her eyes. Astraea felt for her sister, knowing how much she cared for the female.

     Marzia had been a second mother to her. Evelina had always felt like she betrayed her by leaving her behind. Marzia gave Evelina a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"It's no surprise that you're tardy, given that your own sons were too slow to catch my mate. I suppose it runs in the family," Rhys mused. 

"Mate—and High Lady," Beron observed.

     Eris's attention shifted to Morrigan, sweeping over her with disdain. Morrigan only stared blankly at him. 

"Rhysand, you have called this meeting. Pushed us to gather sooner than we intended. Now would be the time to explain what is so urgent?" Thesan asked.

"Surely the invading armies landing on our shores explain enough," Rhys said.

"So you have called us to do what, exactly?" Helion challenged. "Raise a unified army?"

"Among other things," Rhys said mildly. "We—"

     But then the door swung open. And Tamlin appeared, smiling like a wolf. Thesan rose, his captain remaining seated beside him—albeit with a hand on his sword. 

"We were not expecting you, Tamlin." Thesan gestured with a slender hand toward his cringing attendants. "Fetch the High Lord a chair."

     Tamlin did not tear his gaze from the High Lord and Lady of Night. His smile turned subdued—yet somehow more unnerving. More vicious.