ACOTAR ONESHOT ~ Rhysand X Aurelia (Rhysand's Sister)

Betrayal

'I am so, so sorry Aurelia. Please I-'

'Take another step, Rhysand, and I will reduce your entire court to rubble'.

Seeming to head to my warning, Rhysand paused, having the right mind to look afraid.

Steeling himself, Rhysand attempted to make me see reason,

'I did what I was ordered. I did what was necessary. You couldn't be allowed to hold that kind of power, no one can.'

White, ice hot rage filled my veins, began to take over my vision.

Couldn't be allowed? Said fucking who? DECIDES fucking who?

I felt that familiar stir in my body, in my soul. The beckoning of an ancient song, calling me forth, to prove myself. To punish.

The temperature in the room began to plummet, ice forming at my finger tips, snaking up my arms-

'Aurelia' a voice called, 'Don't do this'. 'Please', it begged.

I turned my head toward that voice. Azriel. Azriel, ever the loyal spymaster. Ever the faithful servant. Ever the obedient dog. Hazel eyes met mine and he saw the question in my gaze.

Hesitant eyes pleaded with me to stand down. To accept this betrayal and cower to his High Lord. As he always did, to his every whim and demand. No. I was not his subject, and I would not cower.

I banished the affection in my gaze, banished any memory of falling for him - Azriel would never choose me, I could see that now. Plants in the living room began to wither and ice over, the mountains around Velaris trembled. My rage was tangible, a beast I could not tether. I didn't want to.

My brother had betrayed me, had cut off my powers when I was too young to have fought back. Chained them inside of me, robbing me of my full potential. I could never be more than this, never fulfil what my mother had wanted for me. He had taken away my choice. And for that- for that he had to pay.

'Aurelia', Rhysand called. A warning...no, a threat.

I looked back to him then, really looked at him. I felt nothing but undiluted wrath. He had capped by power as he was favoured by Father; limited my magic so that he could surpass me. He would not overpower me now.

I held out an icy hand,

'I think it's time you showed me the respect I was owed, Rhysand. Don't you?'.

His eyes widened in shock as he felt my magic pouring into him, filling his veins, the very fibre of his being. But he ignored me. That simply would not do.

'I asked you a question, brother,' I taunted. 'Nod your head like a good little High Lord'.

The shock didn't leave his eyes, and filled the gaze of every other soul in the room as he did just that.

But satisfaction failed to reach me, so I pushed further.

'Bend the knee and bow to me'.

The outrage and panic of my brother's inner circle thrashed at the hold I had on them, at the obsidian ice rooting them to the ground, their arms to their side. There was nothing they could do but watch, watch as their 'most powerful High Lord' was forced onto his knees by another.

All but Azriel fought their unyielding restraints. Azriel just watched me, pain and disappointment etched onto his face. I didn't care. He had made his choice, and he had chosen wrong.

Feeling no better for forcing Rhysand's submission, I released them. All of them. And I ran.

They didn't chase me.