A Court Of Hate And Passion (ACOTAR Fanfic)

Chapter 4

Tamlin

As soon as I finish writing the seven letters, I send them out, using my magic to transport them to each Court. With a sigh, I push my chair back and make my way out into the hallway, moving towards the kitchen.

I realize that I have no cooks, and no cooking skills. I let out an annoyed breath, running a hand through my gold locks, trying to come up with a way to confront Sharun.

I needed to apologize to her...and I needed food.

With those two goals in mind, I set off towards the stairs, taking them two at a time to reach her faster, my heart beating in my chest. I knocked on her door, pushing down the memories of seeing her in only a towel.

"What?" I hear her snap from the other side of the wood.

She seemed to have regained some of her fire. I let a smile of releif take over my face. She seems to be in better spirits.

"Can...should I come in?"

"I'm...descent...sort of... if that's what you're asking," she muses form the other side.

"That wasn't what I was getting at," I mumble as I push open the door, ready for an attack of some sort.

When I don't get one, I focus on her, dressed in a long blood red silk robe. I meet her eyes to find them blazing with anger and annoyance.

"Do you have any clothes I can wear since you tore up my others?" She asks, causing me to feel bad all over again.

"I'm sorry about earlier. I lost control. Ever since..."

"Yeah, I know, ever since 'Feyre' left, blah, blah, blah. I don't care about her. Do you have any clothes?" She asks, hopefully.

"Um...I may have some of Feyre's..."I say carefully, looking around the room and looking at the dresser.

"I'm not wearing any of her clothes," she snarls, her hands clenching into fists at her side. "I'm in her room, aren't I?" She asks, looking at me with a blank gaze.

I wordlessly nod, watching as an unknown emotion passes through her face. Before I can identify it, she closes her eyes, taking a deep breath.

"There was something else you wanted? No food?"

"Um...yeah... everyone's gone, and I can't cook," I say hopefully, looking at her carefully.

She meets my gaze her face softening as she regards me. She nods her head wordlessly before walking by me and out of the room, dressed in only her robe.

Why won't she wear any of Feyre's clothes?

"Because she's...was your fuck buddy and I guess your l-lover for a while... and they'll have yours' and her scent all over them," she growls, her words bitter as she turns into the kitchen.

I watch her as she moves around the space, looking in cabinets and in pantries. I don't understand why she's getting so worked up over wearing Feyre's clothing. They were just clothes!

I see her glare at me as she pulls down a pot, and I quickly change the topics of my thoughts. Though the turn they take is not much better.

The silk robe she's wearing just accents her red hair and gold eyes, causing her tan skin to glow in the small light coming from the kitchen windows. She may be wearing a concealing robe, but there was nothing modest about her. I have no idea where she even got that thing. Was it in the closet or something? I definitely wasn't Feyre's otherwise she wouldn't be wearing it.

I watched as she moved through the kitchen with expert skills, the silk clinging to her skin, leaving me to wonder what lies beneath. Was she wearing undergarments underneath?

"Yes, Tamlin. Now please, stop thinking about me like that...at least for now," she says, as she starts chopping up vegetables.

I feel my face heat up as I register her words. I scratch the back of my neck, slightly embarrassed that she was able to read my thoughts, especially when they were about her.

"Right...I'll just wait in the dining room," I mumble, turning and walking away, into the hallway.

I take a seat at the small dining table, remembering how I shrunk it down for Feyre, but that was a long, long time ago. I rest my face into the palm of my hands, still not used to the feel of my skin.

The sound of footsteps draws me out of my mini nap causing me to look up and see Sharun expertly carrying two bowls of soup and two plates of meet. I have no idea how she's doing that, but the sight of her brining me food stirs something inside me.

It was like a part to a puzzle was clicking into place, though I don't know what the puzzle is of yet.

She hesitantly places the food down in front of me, locking eyes with me as she sets the table, before moving back to her chair across from me. She continues to stare at me.

With slow movements, I grab my fork and knife and cut a piece of meat off, somehow knowing she wants me to take the first bite. I bring the fork to my mouth and pause, as I feel something switch in me. I stare at her with wide eyes, dropping the fork back onto the table with wide eyes.

I jump to my feet and stumble back, confused and shocked beyond belief. I stare at her, as her expression falls, but continues to watch me.

"You knew," I accuse, not having to voice what I just found out.

"I didn't want to tell you until you realized it yourself. Plus, I didn't want to tell you until you were over losing...Feyre," she practically spits her name.

"You didn't fucking tell me!" I shout, slamming my fist on the table, rattling the dishes and knocking over the glasses.

She shoots up, fire blazing in her eyes as dark power swirls around her. I glare at her over the table, waiting for her response.

"I didn't tell you, because you wouldn't believe me until you were ready. I didn't tell you, because I didn't want to be your mate until you stopped comparing me to Feyre and started attempting to know the real me, instead of jumping to conclusions and thinking I'm some heartless bitch that kills for no reason other than pure joy, because I'm not," she shouts, turning and moving to leave the dining room, but I use my powers and slam the door shut before she can escape.

She turns to glare at me, and I can feel myself shrink back against the pure rage and power in that stare.

"Let me out Tamlin. I'm not some dog you can keep cooped up in here. I'm not like her," she says, dangerously low.

A tone that has me swallowing my fear and Sparks a simmering rage to ignite.

"No! We have to talk about this," I demand, stepping forward.

"I'll be willing to talk, when you are, but I'm not going to sit here and listen to you yell at me for something that isn't my fault. Tamlin, I didn't choose to be your mate, if I had a choice, I wouldn't even want one, but we don't have that luxury, so I suggest you come to terms with it and come find me when you are cooled off," she says sternly, before walking out of the room.

I let out a howl of rage, letting my power slam out of me, splintering the table and smashing it into the nearest wall. I feel myself shift, right in my dining room and I burst out of the doorway, sprinting down the hall and out the front doors.

+++

I stare out over the silver pond, taking in the comforting night silence, allowing them time to think. I over reacted. She was my mate, the person I was destined to be with, so why did I shout and nearly attack her...again.

"It's because you're scared," a husky voice says behind me, causing me to jump to my feet and growl at the intruder.

I find myself facing Rhysand, the High Lord of the Night Court