The Court of Torture and Love: A Rhysand Fan Fiction

Chapter Nineteen: Rhysand

"Hey," Amren says as she enters the room. "Do you know where Lilith went?"

I look up from the map. "No. Last I saw she was leaving... She was going to her room," I say. "Why?"

"I don't know..." Amren trails off, looking over her shoulder. Licking her lips, she shuts the door. "I got a weird feeling a few minutes ago." She looks at Cassian, then Azriel." The border is secure, right?"

"I haven't gotten any indication otherwise," Azriel says.

"Plus, no screams," Cassian adds. I can tell he's trying to make a joke but it doesn't work.

"What's going on, Amren," I say, narrowing my eyes at her.

"I... I don't know," she says, shaking her head. "Like I said, I had a weird feeling. I could have sworn I felt Lilith in a bedroom, but the door was locked and she didn't answer. But, the weirdest part is that I could have sworn there was someone else in the room with her."

"What room?" I asked, straightening.

"It was one of the random rooms down the hall."

"Show me," I demand, already making my way to the door. I don't know why, but something is wrong. I can feel it.

Amren leads me through the halls, stopping in front of a door. I knock, then try the handle. No answer. Locked.

"Stand back," I say, looking for Amren to get back. Cassian and Azriel come into the hall just as I kick the door down.

The room is empty, everything looking untouched. I walk inside, looking around. One of the windows is open, cool winter air blowing in.

"It's the middle of the day. Nothing would have happened," Cassian says behind me.

"No, something's not right," Amren says, brushing past me. "I can smell blood."

Azriel doesn't say anything, walking into the room and looking around. I walk to the window, looking out of it.

"Guys," Amren says. I look back at her to see she's kneeling on the ground. She runs her fingers over the wood, bringing them up. Blood. It's on her fingertips. She looks at me, worry clouding her eyes. Bringing her fingers to her mouth, she licks the blood. "It's hers. It's Lilith's," she says, standing.

"She drank something," Azriel says, bending down. He grabs something from under the vanity, tossing it to me. "A potion, I'd guess."

I catch the vial, looking at it. It's empty.

"Go check the rest of the house," I order the others. They leave the room,  all of them running in different directions.

I run to the window again, looking out. Fuck!

***

Ten minutes later, I'm in the armory,  up. Cassian and Azriel come in, followed by Amren.

"Where are you going?" Amren asks.

"Hybern."

"You have no way of knowing if she's there," she reasons. "All we know is that she was taken."

"This has her father written all over," I growl.

"It makes sense," Azriel says, sliding daggers into his armor. "Lilith is the Queen on the chessboard. And the King wants his Queen protected and under his control."

"Whatever," Cas says, taking a sword and strapping it to his back. "I say this is as good a time as any to kill the King."

"We need to think this through!" Amren says, jumping in front of the door to stop any of us from leaving. "Just... Stop. Think for one minute, Rhys."

"I don't need to think, I need to go get Lilith," I snap.

"You don't know how their guards move yet. Azriel's barely had a day to monitor them. If you go now, you go in blind. Instead of saving her, you could get her and yourselves killed. Is that what you want?"

"I..." I look down at her, my jaw clenched.

"I know you want to save her," she whispers, slowly taking the knives from my armor. "But now is not the time. Let Azriel do his rounds. Give it a few days. He won't kill her, not yet. She's bait for you. Make a plan. Take your time and think things through. Please."

"You better be right, Amren, or so help me-"

"I'm right," she insists. "Make a plan. We will get her back."

"We better," I repeat.