𝙳𝚊𝚛𝚔 𝙿𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚜𝚎(𝙰𝙲𝙾𝚃𝙰𝚁)

𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖙𝖜𝖊𝖓𝖙𝖞-𝖋𝖔𝖚𝖗

     Tamlin's eyes were green flame, golden light flickering around him as his magic sought to wrest free from Rhysand's control. As he tried and tried to speak.

"If you want proof that we are not scheming with Hybern," Rhysand said, "consider the fact that it would be far less time-consuming to slice into your minds and make you do my bidding." 

     Only Beron was stupid enough to scoff. Eris was just angling his body in his chair, blocking the path to his mother.

"Yet here I am," Rhysand went on. "Here we all are."

"Despite Varian's unsanctioned warning," Tarquin began, a glare at his cousin, "You were the only ones who came to help. The only ones. And yet you asked for nothing in return. Why?"

"Isn't that what friends do?" Rhys asked softly.

"I rescind the blood rubies. Let there be no debts between us," Tarquin decided. 

"Don't expect Amren to return hers," Cassian muttered. "She's grown attached to it."

     Varian smiled a bit. But Rhys turned to Tamlin. "I believe you. That you will fight for Prythian." Kallias didn't appear so convinced. Neither did Helion.

     Rhys loosened his grasp on Tamlin's voice, who snarled. But Tamlin made no move to attack, to even speak.

"War is upon us," Rhysand declared. "I have no interest in wasting energy arguing amongst ourselves."

"You may be inclined to believe him, Rhysand, but as someone who shares a border with his court, I am not so easily swayed," Beron said. "Perhaps my errant son can clarify. Pray, where is he?"

"Helping to guard our city," Feyre said.

      Eris snorted and surveyed Nesta, who stared back at him with steel in her face. "Pity you didn't bring the other sister. I hear our little brother's mate is quite the beauty."

"You still certainly like to hear yourself talk, Eris," Morrigan said. "Good to know some things don't change over the centuries."

"Good to know that after five hundred years, you still dress like a slut."

      One moment, Azriel was seated. The next, he'd blasted through Eris's shield with a flare of blue light and tackled him backward, wood shattering beneath them. Evelina shrieked, being thrown toward Cassian, who caught her. 

"Shit," Cassian spat, and was instantly there—And met a wall of blue.

     Azriel had sealed them in, and as his scarred hands wrapped around Eris's throat, Rhys said, "Enough."

     Azriel squeezed, Eris thrashing beneath him. No physical brawling—there had been a rule against that, but Azriel, with whatever power those shadows gave him.

"Enough, Azriel," Rhys ordered.

     Perhaps those shadows that now slid and eddied around the shadowsinger hid him from the wrath of the binding magic. 

    Azriel dug his knee—and all his weight—into Eris's gut. He was silent, utterly silent as he ripped the air from Eris's body. Over and over, Beron's flames struck the blue shield, but the fire skittered off and fizzled out on the water. Any that escaped were torn to shreds by shadows.

"Talk to him, 'Raea!" Cassian snapped.

"Why should I?" Astraea demanded.

     Mor was squeezing my hand so tightly, her breathing was unsteady, and her eyes were on the floor. Astraea wasn't particularly upset with Azriel for his reaction.