A Court of Three Stars

33: Sunsets

House of Song, Velaris, Prythian

Leur

There were no words in my head.

I wanted to say something—anything. React. Get angry, accept it, cry.

Fuck, crying would be better than this.

This was shock. It had to be.

Maybe I was getting cocky, or maybe- no, clearly - I had severely underestimated the Princes of Hel.

Was I losing it? First the Viper Queen, then Aidas, and now this shit?

How the hell didn't I see this?

"You're surprised," Aidas said, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. He lounged in his chair like he belonged there, as if this room—this house—were his. "Honestly, I find it shocking that you didn't realize sooner—"

"Stop talking. Now," Azriel hissed, stepping forward. His shadows had gone razor-sharp around him, writhing in tight, angry coils. I could hear their whispers, faintly, but I wasn't listening.

I wasn't even really thinking. Just staring.

"Does this form not please you, my Queen?" Bryaxis tilted his head, his voice as smooth and dark as velvet. "Do you prefer—"

"You too," Azriel snapped, his tone cutting through Bryaxis's words like a blade.

They both listened.

They listened.

Why were the Princes of Hel taking our orders? Why were creatures of chaos and ruin, the motherfucking masters of suffering, obeying our commands as if they were law?

Bryaxis was the Prince of the Abyss, which made sense. That made so much sense, why the fuck had I not figured that out?

My gaze scanned him, taking in the form he wore now. He looked nothing like the shapeless, shadowed figure I had once known. Not even like the massive beast I'd known. This being was sharp angles and cutting beauty, too perfect, too other to even be fae.

Bryaxis, the creature who had been a comforting nightmare in the House of Wind. Bryaxis, who had fought with us in the final battle against Hybern. Bryaxis, who had walked with me through the Blood Rite.

That Bryaxis had lied to me. That Bryaxis had been part of some plot—this fucking plot—all along.

My shadows twisted over my hands, restless and sharp, uneasy in his presence.

No—not uneasy with Bryaxis.

His shadows. His shadows were doing the same.

All of a sudden, so sudden that I nearly collapsed with it, I could think again. I could see clearly, could hear. Bryaxis's shadows were on edge, Azriel's were darting around too fast to be normal, even a glance back at Ruhn showed the few wisps he'd regained in his time here swirling anxiously against the tattooed skin of his neck.

Wrong. The melody of the shadows came muted, like something muffled beneath a thousand layers. Straining and far away. Something—

"What the fuck?" I muttered under my breath, the words meant for no one.

My eyes shot to Azriel. "Did you hear that?"

His shadows writhed violently, but Azriel didn't move. I could feel his focus, hear the echos of his commands.

What is it? His voice was clearer than anything else, Information. Now.

Fire. The shadows hissed, a broken whisper shoving its way through my mind. Attacking the- get to... now.