Bloom and Destruction (ACOTAR - Elain + Azriel)

Chatper 17

Azriel

I walk out of my bedroom, rubbing my eyes. I make my way to the kitchen and furrow my eyebrows to see it empty. I glance out the windows to the small backyard. Empty. I walk back to the bathroom. Empty. "Elain?" I finally call out. I look in the guest bedroom. "Elain!" I shout louder. Nothing.

I open the mind link between myself and Rhysand. "Is Elain at the River house?" I try to keep calm. She's probably spending time with her sisters and nephew.

"No," Rhys' voice echos in my head. "Is something wrong?"

"She told me to go bathe while she made breakfast, she's not here," I reply. My heart rate picks up at the anticipation for his reply.

"I am going to winnow Nesta and Amren into town to look at her favorite stores, then I'll be there. Feyre will be there before I will."

I pace back and forth near the front door. Feyre doesn't knock before she enters, making me release a deep sigh. "I'm sorry," I whisper as her gaze connects with mine.

    "No need to be sorry," she places a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sure she's just out and about, she probably went to the store to make you something special for breakfast."

    Rhys appears behind her, the black smoke circling behind him as he stalks towards us. "Cassian is at the River house, Mor is waiting at the House of Wind, just in case she went looking for Feyre or Nesta," he informs me. "Nuala said that Elain told her last night she'd be by to see Nyx today so she and Nyx are in the garden in case she is looking for Nyx."

    I nod, swallowing hard. "This is why I don't sleep, Rhys. This is why I couldn't sleep," I mumble.

    The High Lord opens his mouth to reply when Cassian bursts in the front door, his face red with anger. Lucien steps in behind him. My brother pushes Lucien towards us. "I know where she is," he says solemnly.

    I look at the male expectantly. "Well?" I snap. "Out with it."

    Lucien looks at Feyre, then to Rhys before his gaze comes back to me. "She's at the Spring Court," he says slowly, "as a hostage."

     "Get the Illyrian's ready," I say to Cassian. He nods before stepping out of the door and shooting to the sky. I storm to my bedroom and rip off my casual clothes.  Rhys and Feyre stand behind me as I begin dressing in my war leathers. "I don't care what you say, I'm going to get her and I don't give a single fuck about what it will take."

    Rhys turns to Feyre. "I love you, Feyre. I tried so hard to restore peace among Prythian. But he has taken this too far. This is war." Rhys backs me up.

    I turn to look at them both. Feyre's eyes slide to me, then back to Rhys. "Agreed," she whispers before snapping her fingers and dressing both her and Rhysand for battle.

I push past them and back to the living room. Lucien sits on the couch, chewing on his nails. "Feyre?" I call behind me. She snaps her fingers to dress Lucien in battle gear. "Let's go," I growl, swinging open the door and storming out.

I shoot to the sky, Rhys and Feyre following close behind me. Lucien grabs onto Rhys uncomfortably, making Feyre chuckle. I turn back to look at the sky ahead. I flap my wings faster and faster.

    I land in front of the manor, shattering the stones beneath my feet. I growl as I push into the house. Rhysand climbs the stairs after me. "Where is she?" I grab the first servant I see by the neck. "Where did Tamlin take her?"

   "I-I-I don't know what you're talking about!" He shrieks, "our master has not returned."

    "Where did he go?" Rhys remains calm as I squeeze the faerie's neck harder.

     "He said he has business to tend to. N-Near the boarders."

     I drop the pathetic fae and turn to Feyre and Lucien. "You stay here. Send word if he returns-"

    "Wait," Feyre whispers before sniffing at the air. "He's here."

    I push past her to see Tamlin climbing the steps, wiping blood from his face. "Where is she?" I scream as I tackle him down the steps. He lands on his back at the bottom with me on top of him. I pull my fist up and let it slam down onto his face. "Where," punch, "the fuck," punch, "is," punch, "she," punch.

    He spits his blood into my face. An evil grin spread across his mouth, his teeth stained with blood. "You'll never know," he taunts.

    Rhys stalks to my side. "I will liquify your mind right here, right now," he threatens calmly. "Where is Elain?"

    "You'll never know," he repeats.

    Just as my fist collides with his jaw again, the thunderous sound of hundreds of wings rains overhead. I smile down at him. "You'll wish you told us soon," I chuckle.

    Feyre and Lucien stand in the doorway, watching. Rhys pulls me off of Tamlin as the Illyrian army surrounds us. "We can make this easy, Chief," Cassian pulls Tamlin off the ground. "Or you can get what's been coming to you for quite some time now."

    Tamlin's eyes rise to Feyre. "Feyre," he calls out. "Feyre," he draws out the last syllable in her name for a long moment. She rolls her eyes, making her way down the steps. "If you think long and hard, you may know where she is. But I will not tell you," he chuckles.

    I land another blow, this time to his stomach. He wheezes as Cassian pulls him upright. I watch in awe as Rhys takes a swing before grabbing his head and ultimately entering his mind. I watch my High Lord intently, trying to gather bit of information from his eyes. Lucien falls into place next to Tamlin.

    "Don't get yourself killed, Tam. Just tell them," he pleads to a former friend.

    I snarl as Rhysand releases Tamlin from his grasp, panting. "She," he breathes heavily. "She's here. That's all I can see," he pants, grabbing at his chest.

    Cassian drops Tamlin to the ground. "Spread out and find her!" He orders.

    I watch as the men disperse. Some flying off, some storming into the manor, all pledging their allegiance to find my mate.