Light of the Dawn

25. Forever

Azriel and Cassian moved silently down the narrow, dimly lit corridor, their steps echoing off the stone walls. The cell at the end of the passage had rarely been used for serious matters; it was typically reserved for playful pranks or the occasional drunken misstep during celebrations. But tonight, it served a far graver purpose. Inside sat Elain, her delicate frame curled in on itself as she perched on the edge of the cot.

As the sound of approaching footsteps reached her ears, she looked up, her tear-streaked face illuminated by the faint torchlight. Her eyes, red and swollen, met theirs—pleading, desperate.

"So... what's my punishment?" she asked, her voice cracking under the weight of her fear.

Cassian hesitated, glancing at Azriel. The Shadowsinger stood rigid, his entire body taut with fury. His golden-brown eyes burned with unrestrained hatred, a depth of loathing Elain had never seen before. It was a sharp, bitter thing, coiled tight in his gaze, and it made her stomach churn with dread.

Cassian let out a slow, heavy sigh, his wings twitching as if burdened by the weight of what he was about to say. "Now that we've safely recovered Isarella," he began, his tone detached, "you are no longer welcome here. You betrayed not only Azriel and her but your family. Your actions nearly cost us everything."

Elain's lip trembled, her fingers tightening around the iron bars.

"You've been banished from Velaris and the Night Court," Cassian continued, his face unreadable, though his voice carried an edge of finality. "Since we don't trust you to stay away on your own, you will be sent to the Day Court. Permanently. You will remain under Helion's watch, with your mate and his father. And let me make this clear—it will not be a pleasant stay. Helion is Isarella's uncle, and he despises you for what you've done. You will not be allowed to leave the Day Court at any time."

"No," Elain gasped, her voice rising in a panicked wail. "No, no, no! Please! I'm sorry! I don't want to go to Lucien—I can't!" She scrambled to her knees, clutching at the bars with trembling hands as if she could hold onto her life here through sheer force of will. "Please, Azriel—"

Azriel stepped forward, his shadows curling darkly around him. He leaned in close, his voice low and laced with venom. "Do not touch me." His tone was sharp enough to slice through steel, and Elain recoiled as though struck. "This is your bed, Elain," he said, his fury barely contained, "and you will lie in it."

Cassian opened the cell door with a cold efficiency, his movements brisk and calculated. He stepped inside and seized Elain by the arm, his grip firm despite her struggles. She thrashed against him, sobbing uncontrollably, her cries echoing down the corridor as he hauled her out of the cell.

When they emerged into the main hall, two familiar figures stood waiting near the entrance—Nesta and Feyre.

"Nesta, please!" Elain cried, her voice raw as she strained against Cassian's hold. Her desperate gaze flicked to her eldest sister, who stared back with cold, unyielding eyes. "Please don't let them take me there!"

Nesta crossed her arms, her face an unreadable mask of disdain. "You betrayed your family, Elain. You could have gotten Nyx killed." Her voice was sharp, each word deliberate and cutting. "You had Isarella tortured. Do not beg me for mercy when you showed none to those who trusted you."

Feyre's expression was a storm of anger and disbelief. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and she stared at Elain with a look that pierced straight through her. "My son—my child—could have died because of you," she said, her voice trembling with rage. "Take her away."

Nesta and Feyre turned their backs, their footsteps fading into the distance as they left Elain to her fate.

"No! Feyre! Nesta! Please, I'm sorry!" Elain wailed, her voice breaking with every word, but they didn't turn around. Her struggles intensified as Cassian pulled her closer to the doorway, her sobs growing louder. It wasn't until they stepped into the crisp night air and Azriel unfurled his wings that her thrashing slowed, replaced by a chilling resignation.