Wind Wielder

Chapter 9 - The Meeting

The meeting was in Summer Court. For which Zara was grateful, because there was a deep chill in her bones that she could not shake. An exhaustion that the cold chill of Winter or Autumn court simply would exacerbate. The city of Adriata was under construction, deeply impacted by the attacks only one month prior. Even as they appeared outside the halls of what must have been their official meeting space, Zara felt cold in the hot summer air. Keeping her eyes open was almost more work than it was worth.

Rhys was a calm presence next to her, tall and sturdy. He gazed down at Zara, steadying her with his hand on her arm when she wavered. Zara thought about those on the other side of the door, the seven powers that would greet her and interrogate her and inspect her and hold her accountable for her actions on the battlefield. For the secrets kept.

Zara could hear what they were saying even now in the winds. They informed her of the grumpy moods they were all in, eager to go home and stop wasting time with this pointless bickering, the debates and discussions of treaty rules that got them nowhere. Zara did not want that anger turned on her.

Rhys removed his hand on Zara's arm and walked towards the doors. The room was spinning, and she found herself feeling not ready at all.

Zara extended a hand and clasped it tight around his bicep, halting him. "Remember how you took away Claire Beddors pain Under the Mountain?"

Zara felt the shields around them go up immediately at the sensitive switch in topic. Rhys raised a single dark immaculate brow, "Yes?"

"I want you to do that for me." Zara stated.

The High Lord turned to face her completely now. "You realize in order for me to do that I would need to be completely inside your mind."

"I do. And I don't care."

"Zara." Rhys said, lips pulling downwards. "You have clearly indicated before that you do not want me anywhere near your head. Are you sure?"

"I no longer have any secrets I care enough about to hide." Zara snapped, and she hated the way his eyes seemed to fill with pity. Zara looked away, unwilling to meet his gaze. He nodded his head slowly.

"Alright." Rhys agreed, and then his claws were in her brain. It was an odd feeling, knowing her entire life was literally being held in the hands of another. Although his physical hands remained at his sides, his mental claws cradled her mind in his hands, slowly peeking one finger into her mind and pressing ever so slightly on a piece of it. The ringing in Zara's ears faded and the deep whole body ache numbed until there was only the slightest ghost of what pain remained.

Zara sighed, visibly relaxing her tense body. She looked at him and knew he could see every piece of her if he wished, knew he was likely rifling through her memories this instant.

Zara snorted. Bitterness and vulnerability were a hot acidic burn in her chest. "It seems you got what you wanted after all." Zara mused, moving to step past him and towards the doors.

"Zara," He began, catching up to her, but Zara had already slammed open both doors. Ripped off the bandaid.

All conversation in the room halted, and suddenly many pairs of eyes were on Zara Aphelion. All seven High Lords were sitting around a long, ornate war table. It was long and slender, and the long sides were directly in front of the doors Zara had just slammed open, Rhys at her side as if he were the one to plan the dramatic entrance. Tamlin, all alone, had been the one speaking. And by the look on Feyre Cursebreakers face it had been absolutely bullshit.

"You." Helion whispered, hands moving to clench the arms of his chair. His entourage around him readied their weapons, and shields locked up around every other entourage in the room. Zara felt almost flattered they feared her powers so much, if only they knew how wrecked she was right now.