Light of the Dawn

11. The Battle begins

Thesan turned slowly, his gaze sharp as it settled on Rhysand. His eyes were cold, unwavering as he took in the blood that stained Rhysand's clothes, the raw pain etched into his face. Then his gaze flickered to his daughter, unconscious in Azriel's arms, her bloodied knuckles a silent testament to her inner turmoil.

"Does someone want to tell me what happened to my daughter?" Thesan's voice was low, dangerous, every word dripping with menace. "Rhysand, if you laid hands on her, you and I will have problems." The threat in his voice was unmistakable, and the aura of fury surrounding him could freeze even the most steadfast of beings.

Rhysand, who had been bracing himself for an eruption, flinched slightly under Thesan's icy glare. His eyes widened in a mix of guilt and fear, and he turned his head away, unable to meet the other High Lord's searing stare.

"No, Thesan, she is okay," Azriel intervened, his voice steady despite the chaos swirling around them. His gaze never left Isarella, who was beginning to stir in his arms.

Isarella blinked, disoriented, as the world around her slowly began to make sense. She gasped as she felt her powers surge through her veins, the magic that had been dormant under the weight of her pain suddenly stirring to life. She glanced up at Azriel, who was watching her with a mixture of concern and sorrow. "Um, hello?" she mumbled, her voice still laced with confusion.

Her eyes scanned the room, and she froze when she saw her father standing nearby, his face filled with worry. Her gaze then flickered to Rhysand, who stood covered in blood, and instantly, her instincts kicked in. The flood of anger that had been building inside her snapped into focus, and her body tensed, ready to strike.

"Let go of me!" she shouted at Azriel, struggling against his hold. Her fists clenched, and her magic flared, the air around them crackling with energy. "Spymaster, if you don't let me go right now, I will hurt you!" She bared her teeth in a snarl, her voice raw with fury.

Azriel's heart shattered as he watched her fight, the devastation in her eyes like a blade to his chest. He could feel the overwhelming pain that radiated off of her, the confusion, the hurt, the betrayal. And worse, he could see her losing herself in it, slipping further into the darkness of her rage. He knew better than anyone the depth of her anguish, but this wasn't the way to deal with it. Still, he couldn't bring himself to hurt her.

"Please, Isarella," he whispered, his voice full of sorrow. "I'm not the enemy."

Rhysand looked to Thesan in panic, but the High Lord of the Dawn Court only glared at him, his expression filled with judgment and fury. Rhysand swallowed hard, the guilt that had been festering in his chest threatening to consume him entirely.

—

Isarella screamed in agony, her hands raised to the sky, and in that instant, her light burst forth like a blinding sun, filling the room with an intense, scorching brilliance. The force of it was so powerful that it sent everyone stumbling back, their eyes burning from the sheer brightness of her power. Azriel, unable to shield himself, was struck by the full force of her light. His vision went completely black, his body going limp as the world around him disappeared.

Isarella, however, wasn't done. She jumped, her body moving with a speed and ferocity that only years of training could provide, her sword already in her hand, aiming straight for Rhysand's chest. But before she could strike, a firm grip grabbed her arm.

"Isarella Dawn! Enough!" Thesan's voice thundered through the chaos, authoritative and commanding.

For the first time, Isarella froze. The tone of her father's voice, so sharp, so full of authority, rooted her to the spot. She trembled under his grip, her sword falling from her hand as she dropped her head, her breath ragged. Regret washed over her in waves, and her body slumped, her fury draining away as she stood beside her father, her hands still shaking.