A Court of Starfall & Deception - An ACOMAF Rewrite

Chapter 12

The next morning, Tamlin was waiting in the shade of the gnarled, mighty oak tree in the garden.

The murderous expression that twisted his face was directed solely at Rhys. Yet there was nothing amused in Rhys's smile as he stepped back from me – only a cold, cunning predator gazing out.

Tamlin growled at me, "Get inside."

I looked between the two High Lords. And seeing that fury in Tamlin's face... I knew there would be no conversations or compromises. That hope from last night guttered out of me in an instant.

Rhys just said to me, "Fight it."

And then he was gone.

"I'm fine," I said to Tamlin, as his shoulders slumped, his head bowing.

"I will find a way to end this," he swore. And I knew, looking at him then, that he'd do anything to achieve it. He was too dogmatic, too consumed with his idea that I was his. His mate, his bride - the Saviors of Prythian. How could there be any end to the story if it didn't end with us together? Having another male, his enemy, have any claim to me was an insult he couldn't - wouldn't stand for.

I saw it all and more as he demanded I walk through every detail I had learned at Rhys's home. Wanted to know every conversation, however brief.

But this time I refused.

Tried to reason with him, to explain, to talk.

"If war is coming, maybe we'd be better served trying to mend things." I offered instead. We hadn't spoken of that subject since the last time Rhys had returned me, when he'd questioned me as he was trying to question me now.

"I'll start mending things the day he releases you from your bargain."

"Maybe he's keeping the bargain so that you'll attempt to listen to him." I snapped.

"Feyre," he said, reaching for me, but I stepped out of range. "Is it not enough for you to recover in peace? You earned that for yourself. You earned it." I opened my mouth to respond but he plowed onwards. "I couldn't save you before. I couldn't protect you from them. And when you said that, about... about me drowning you -" He took a steadying breath. "This isn't the time for this conversation."

It was never the time for this conversation, or that conversation. But I didn't say it. I didn't have the energy to say it, and all the words dried up and blew away as I looked in his eyes and saw a single word reflecting in them - Protect, protect, protect.

He was as bad as a feral dog. And he would never believe me - never hear the words. Not until he was convinced I wasn't his to possess. Once he knew, knew for sure, surely he'd let this go. Think past his obsessive need for control. Maybe...

"Get inside," he repeated, softer this time but no less a command from my High Lord. One I'd have to obey.

I stormed into the manor, ignoring Lucien, ignoring the guards and servants, ignoring everyone as I marched into my room and slammed the door so hard I thought the doorframe would crack.

It was stupid to think the three weeks apart would have helped Tamlin. Foolish to think he'd have spent the time reflecting on what had caused me to leave, caused such a horrible rift between us.

I couldn't have prepared myself for what was waiting for me that night.

And whatever light I'd managed to find in my three weeks in the Night Court was snuffed out in an instant, replaced with a heavy, empty silence. 

A silence I had gotten in exchange for a promise.

But the sentries were back in full force the next morning.