Rowan Whitethorn Galathynius continues searching for his wife to free her from her aunt's clutches, but months have passed since she was taken, and things aren't looking promising. Hope is quickly fading, and the Court of Terrasen is beginning to ge...
I almost wanna do that weird, dramatic "recently on ________..." but that just seems stupid. ______________________________
Ianthe ripped away from me, clutching her bleeding head and her neck, gasping. She was already bloody and bruised, though I hadn't knocked her around that much. Yet. Her blue eyes were wide with shock and anger, and I was certain that, if she'd had the ability to use her power here, she would've tried to destroy me by now. In fact, I could bet she had the power, but had never felt the need to try and kill me, so she didn't display it. I knew that High Priestesses were powerful, but how much?
We stood across from one another a moment, watching each other like wild animals on the hunt. Would she have the ability to use her powers, like I did? Azriel and Cassian had been trying, and it was slowly working, though it'd be a while before they had mastered using it here. Lucien was right; the magic was very different, and even I had difficulty using it sometimes.
Ianthe took everything in, thought of everything she'd heard as I was beating her. I knew what she had to be thinking of as her eyes lifted to mine, wide from realization. Aren't you going to stop her? Not Lucien to Tamlin, like it might have been had I stayed with the Spring Court. No, Tamlin had said it to Rhys, as if he were my keeper. She stared for a moment, then said, "You're with them. Did Rhysand put you up to this?" She spat my mate's name like it tasted bad in her mouth. The fury that had been blossoming in my chest unfurled completely at the sound of her voice, then at the disrespect in which she talked of my mate.
"No," I told her quietly. I lunged at her, wishing I had a weapon-- no. I was a weapon. I had never tried to shift my body into anything weapon-like, but the magic surged, more willing than it had ever been so far, and the claws I'd been envisioning formed over my fingers, and moments later, they tore into her skin. Nobody had truly tried to stop me until she let out a cry of pain. But now the other fae that had accompanied Ianthe approached with the intent of separating us. A few quiet words from Rhys had the fae flinching back. I didn't hear what he said over the roaring in my ears, but I heard every word I hissed to Ianthe, clear as crystals. "That was for Rhys." I had not forgotten what she'd tried to do, and I doubted I ever would. Who else had she tried to ruin? Another slash to her face, deep and brutal. "That was for Nesta." Another, just as deep, just as likely to scar. "Elain." Ianthe was so bloody now that she was barely recognizable. It brought a sick satisfaction. I stood up, leaving her bleeding on the ground. I debated walking away then, but she still had many, many people to answer to. I stepped on her forearm, driving my weight into it, and the bone snapped, and the likliness it was a clean break was pretty low. I hoped it'd never heal. I doubt she could hear me above her screaming, but I said quietly, "And that was for me."
I stepped away completely, restraining myself from doing further damage. All around me was a ringing silence, other than Ianthe's sounds of pain. Mor muttered a surprised curse that I barely heard. She deserved worse, and I would've been happy to deliver, but I'd done as much damage as I deserved to give her. Nesta and Elain could finish her off if they so wanted, but it was unfair to get revenge for them. I retreated until I was standing with Rhys again, and he took my hand in his. I didn't have to look at his face to know he felt satisfied with my punishment.
"Do I even want to know what happened?" Rowan's voice sounded tired. I hadn't even realized he had approached until he spoke. I looked up, towards his voice, to see he wasn't the only one there. Lysandra and her friend had disappeared, but Rowan stood in her place with a blonde female next to him. She was pale, as if she hadn't seen the sun in a long time, and... I looked between her and Aedion, blinking rapidly. Her eyes were just like his, and they shared the same hair color. There was no doubt in my mind that she was related to him.
Rhys drawled smoothly from beside me, "Just some internal affairs of ours. Nothing to worry about." His hand tightened around mine. The blonde looked at a bloodied Ianthe trembling on the ground, then back at me. She flicked those strange eyes over all of us, then paused. I followed her gaze to realize she was staring at Lorcan silently.
"If I didn't look at you and think you suffered enough already," she said quietly to him, "I'd rip you apart myself, Lorcan." He stayed silent, staring back at her. There was a fire in her eyes that made me want to step back. She was powerful, and I could feel it. I swallowed. Was this Rowan's mate? The female we were looking for? Her eyes strayed to Essar, and a half-smile graced her lips. "Well, it seems we met again sooner than we expected." Essar returned that half-smile, eyes dancing. Remelle and Benson stayed silent beside her, and I noticed Remelle almost looked angry.
She finished eyeing all of us. "Which one of you is your--"
"Rhysand is the High Lord of the Night Court," Tamlin interrupted. "I'm the High Lord of the Spring Court." Those fiery eyes flicked to his, then away dismissively. Did I dare laugh?
"And Feyre," Rhys added a bit sharply, staring directly at Tamlin, "Is the High Lady of the Night Court, making her equal to us." It was like he was daring Tamlin to disagree with him as he glared at him with cold eyes. It seemed his uneasy alliance with Tamlin had broken. I wasn't surprised. I may not have found the wings Tamlin had taken from Rhys' mother and sister, but that didn't mean he didn't still have them. If I'd been in Rhysand's place, I would've ripped him apart a long time ago. My gaze flicked back to the female in front of us, and I noticed that she was staring at my mate with new interest.
Lucien coughed, looking uncomfortable. "I'm Lucien," he told the female. He angled his head to Tamlin, then Rhys and I. "Tamlin, Rhysand, Feyre." He was trying to break the tension, but I had a feeling that wouldn't be happening for a while. The others introduced themselves quickly, and we were left staring at her, waiting for her own introduction. We already knew who she was-- barely-- but introductions were important.
"My name," she said to us all, "is Aelin Ashryver Galathynius, and I'm the rightful heir to the throne of Terrasen. Now, I suppose you four speak for both Courts?" She looked at me and Rhys, Tamlin and Lucien. We all nodded. She nodded, too. "Then come with us. We have some things to discuss." Both Rowan and Aelin turned, and didn't wait for us to follow.
Ohhh my lord I saw The Last Jedi and OH MY GOD IT WAS AMAZING. I'm mad that Snokes wasn't given a background though.
Also, sorry this is a bit late! I went to bed on the 23rd feeling ill, and the 24th was complete hell. I was so sick that I couldn't get out of bed for hours, and then I couldn't have anything but fruit (I ate a small pear at 2:00, then a tiny can of mandarin orange slices at 9:30. That was it). Today I'm feeling loads better, so woot! "Christmas miracle" and all that!
Bonus thing from two years ago that still makes me laugh:
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