𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝟏𝟕

Arya

     It had been days since Feyre and I were thrown into our prison cells which were across from each other. Amarantha would not give us the satisfaction of sharing the same cell but at least I can still watch Feyre from across.

I can taste the faebane from my food since the first food they gave me. I try not to eat too much but I am not about to die of starvation or be killed at first strike because I'm too weak. Bless Feyre for throwing me some of her stale bread to eat, it would roll on the dirty dungeon floors but it's better than eating food covered in faebane.

This morning we were woken up by the Attors rolling our cell door open and dragging us back to the throne room. I noted the path we took, the exits within the throne room, and the crowd of faeries against the far wall.

I didn't get to observe anymore as Feyre and I were thrown at the foot of the dais. Amarantha sat on her throne with a serpent smile. "Well you both look positively sick," she comments. "Is the food not good enough for you?"

And before I can stop myself, my mouth opened, "You should ask yourself, you're looking skin and bones. Easy to break."

Amarantha answered me with a hard glare for a few minutes, "Anyways," a dismissal. She turns to Feyre, "I couldn't sleep last night, and I realized why this morning." She ran an eye over Feyre, "I don't know your name. If you and I are going to be such close friends for the next three months, I should know your name, shouldn't I?"

When Feyre didn't reply, Amarantha frowned. "Come on, now, pet. You know my name. Isn't it only fair I know yours?"

Silence. That was the response she got from Feyre.

"Rhysand," Amarantha said. My heart stopped beating for a second knowing he was probably interrogated and punished for information regarding how I was still alive. I felt him on the other side of Feyre, too close for even my own liking.

He bowed at the waist before Amarantha asked, "Is this the girl you saw at Tamlin's estate?"

I didn't dare glance at him but the boredom and disdain in his voice made me almost laugh, "I suppose."

"But did you or did you not tell me that girl," Amarantha said, her tone sharpening as she pointed to Clare, "was the one you saw?"

He stuffed his hands into his pockets, "Humans all look alike to me." Amarantha gave him a saccharine smile. "And what about faeries?"

Rhysand bowed again, "Among a sea of mundane faces, yours is a work of art."

And with that, I let out a loud snort which then echoed at the stunned throne room. "Do you have something to say, Arya?"

I let the amusement shine in my eyes for a second, "No. Her Majesty."

She fumes slightly before she demands me, "Her name, Arya!"

"You want to know her name from me? Then you'll have to ask nicely and say pretty please," I muse.

"Don't make me ask again," she seethes. "Rhysand, hold her mind."

Rhysand falters in his step but he comes behind and I fist my hand once I feel his talons against my shield. What Amarantha doesn't know is the fact that my dameati skills are way stronger and stealthy than Rhysand's.

"Her name, Arya?" Amarantha asked again.

Act like you're in pain, Rhy whispered into my head.

I groaned, falling to my knees and closing my eyes shut.

Just pretend, let them believe I'm stronger than you.

I sent a chuckle into his mind, you're enjoying this way too much.

Only because you got past Amren's shields and I could never even come close. He playfully scowled back.

Sucks to be second best, huh? I teased and then I heard a yell.

"Feyre!" she shouted. "My name is Feyre!"

I sagged on the ground as Rhysand left my mind. I willed my body to tremble slightly as Feyre helped me get back on my feet.

"Feyre," Amarantha mused. "An old name, from our earlier dialects. Well, Feyre," she said. "I promised you a riddle."

"Solve this, Feyre, and you and your HIgh Lord, and all of his court, may immediately leave with my blessing. Let's see if you are indeed clever enough to deserve one of our kind."

"There are those who seek me a lifetime but never we meet, and those I kiss but who trample me beneath ungrateful feet.

At times I seem to favor the clever and the fair, But I bless all those who are brave enough to dare.

By large, my ministrations are soft-handed and sweet, but scorned, I become a difficult beast to defeat.

For though each of my strikes lands a powerful blow, when I kill, I do it slow ..."

Love.

A laugh broke out in the crowd and I turned around to narrow my eyes at one of Beron's sons. I should kill them all in their sleep at this point.

"Think on it," Amarantha said in mocking comfort to Feyre. "Oh and Arya? A gift from me is waiting for you in your cell. I hope you enjoy it," she sang along as the Attors dragged us back to the dungeons.

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

I looked around my cell as the Attors shoved me in. "What did she leave for you?" Feyre asked from her cell. "I don't know," I answered as I walked in a circle scanning every inch of my cell.

Not even a second later, I felt it.

Shadow Wraiths.

They were now swarming me, hissing, scratching at my skin, and whispering in my ears.

"Arya!" Feyre yelled worriedly and I crumpled to the ground. "I'm fine, I'm fine. They won't kill me," I try reassuring her.

"Shadows," it yelled. Then it hissed again as their croony fingers grabbed at me, "Shadows like mate."

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•