Dark Secrets (rhysand x reader)

Chapter 1

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Rhysand's POV:

Rhysand stood in the garden of the estate outside of the Night Court. The sun shone golden on the lush green grass, making the world seem more alive than ever before. Taking a deep breath, he looked out at the endless expanse of hills, valleys and mountains. This was his home, his domain—his realm. And yet, as he watched the birds fly past overhead, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.

Y/n's POV:

I slowly opened my eyes, seeing Tamlin standing next to me. "Good morning," he said quietly, his voice betraying none of the emotion he was feeling. "Morning tam". He stared at me studying my face. "What's wrong Tamlin?". He didn't answer and just stood there, taking a seat on my bed. "Tamlin, I know when something is wrong!", Tamlin sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's nothing," he said, even though I knew it was a lie. "Just... I've been thinking about the future." I looked at him, confusion painted on my face. "What do you mean?". He looks down, "I was thinking about us." I looked to him, studying his face, worry plastered all over it. "Us?" Tamlin nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on my face. "Yes. Us."

He paused for a moment before continuing. "I just... I want to make sure we're on the same page, you know? That we're both content with how things are." I smile at him and reach for his hand. "You are an amazing brother Tam." Tamlin's expression softened at that, the tension in the air between them eases. But the unease he felt didn't go away entirely. "Thank you," he said, forcing a smile. "But that's not what I meant." I tilt my head in confusion. "What do you mean then?"

He paused for a moment, struggling to find the right words. "I mean... I love you, y/n," he said slowly. "And I want you to be happy. But lately, I can't help but feel like you're... distant. Like there's something bothering you." I look down, completely understanding what I meant, guilt pouring in. He grabs my hand obviously noticing the mood change. "I feel like there is something missing in my life, maybe a mate, I don't know, but it feels like a piece of my heart is... missing, I just need to find it."

"A mate," he repeated softly, his hands clenching into fists unconsciously. "Tamlin, I met a boy." He stands as the door swings open and our brother's, Alaric and Dorian enter grinning. Alaric grabs my arms, hauling me onto my feet, "a boy huh?, who?" I pull my arms from his grip and Dorian grabs me from behind, "Tell us little sis or we will have to tell Dad". I sigh and notice grins widening on my three brother's faces. "Rhysand..", my brothers smiles fade and Dorian puts me down. "RHYSAND!, Y/N YOU ARE NOT TO SEE HIM, HE IS AN ENEMY TO THIS COURT!"

I sit down cowering from my brother's raised voice. "Please calm down, Rick, it was one time and nothing happened...", Tamlin stands with my other brothers, "don't lie y/n, we can tell when you lie". I stand back up walking to my drawers to pick out some clothes. "Fine! There were sparks!" Anger reappears on their faces. Dorian grabs my shoulder, "What kind of sparks y/n?!". I turn to face my brothers, my eyes watering and my hands shaking. "I don't know what kind?" I breathe out quickly mumbling under my breath "he said he wanted to free me from the reins of spring". Alaric's face goes bright red, his fists clenching, I take a step back.

TW: abuse from family member

He rushes over to me grabbing my neck and tightening his grip. I splutter, gasping for air as my throat closes off. Tamlin grabs Alaric throwing him away and punching him. I gasp for air, tears pouring down my face. Dorian runs over holding me to his chest, "Free you," he repeated, the words making me feel sick to my stomach. "What does that mean? You want to leave Spring?". I shake my head rapidly, "No, of course not!" Tamlin let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, relief washing over him. "Then what?" he asked, his voice softer now. "He probably thinks of this place as some sort of prison", Alaric says while gaining his balance back. Tamlin's face hardened again. "A prison? How dare he." He started pacing the room, his mind racing. "This is my court, my home. How dare he insinuate that it is some sort of prisoner camp." I grab his hand. "Calm, Tamlin, calm down".

Tamlin drew in a deep breath, trying to steady his racing emotions. "I'm calm," he said, his voice tight with suppressed anger. "I just don't understand why you would listen to him. You know the kind of male he is—reckless, arrogant, dangerous. How can you trust anything he says?" I look down, "I don't!". "You are," Dorian shot back, his voice rising. "You're letting him make you doubt everything we've built here. We have given you everything you could ever want, and yet here you are, listening to some silver-tongued bastard who's trying to tear us apart." Tears run faster down my cheeks as I hear my brother's words realising my mistakes. Tamlin continued to pace the room, his frustration growing with each step. "What, Mackenzie? What am I supposed to think when you say things like this? How can I trust you to stand by my side when you're clearly entertaining thoughts of... of him."

"I'm not Tamlin!", He continues to pace while Dorian and Alaric watch the situation play out. "Then what are you doing?" Tamlin snapped, his patience wearing thin. "Why are you even speaking to him, much less considering his words? Do you not realize what he's trying to do?" I look into his eyes, "He said these things, if I believed them I wouldn't be telling you, I would be at the night court", I snap with a raised voice. Alaric's eyes widen in shock at my statement.

(thanks for reading, love you all already)