A Court of Smoke and Shadows (An ACOTAR sequel fanfic)

Chapter 38 - Undercover

She plummeted down, arms and legs flailing, with a scream caught in her throat before she remembered she had wings. They unfurled like sails in the wind and slowed her descent into what, she couldn't see. Darkness stretched for miles around her as she steadily flapped her snowy wings. She summoned a ball of flame within her palm and that did nothing to help either. She could see all of herself, but beyond that there was nothing.

"It's not that type of darkness here my star." A heartwrenching familiar voice sounded and Rhiannon cried out.

"Papa?" She called.

Surely enough her father's broad form slowly revealed itself, shimmering stars and darkness intertwined before he stood solidly before her.

"You can stop flapping." He pointed out with a warm smile. Rhiannon catapulted towards him, arms outstretched, only to pass right through him.

She spun around, confused. He remained where he was, sadness coating his features despite the twinkle that still shone in his violet eyes.

"Are you in my mind?" She asked softly.

Rhysand shook his head, "Not quite. We can't remain here long. His wards are strong. Are you alright?"

Rhiannon swiped a tear from her eye, "Hanging in there."

"Has he done anything to you?" Rhysand asked, warning edging his voice.

"No," She shuddered, "Not yet. Where are you?" She reached out to his arm, frowning when her hand pass through his bicep. She needed one of his chest cracking hugs.

"Not sure. Wherever it is, I'm not awake as such, and it's heavily spelled with wards and magic."

"But you can do this?"

"Your brother is heir to a power much stronger than he realises." Rhysand sighed whimsically.

"Like he needs anything more to inflate his ego." Rhiannon's lips twitched with the urge to smile.

Her father frowned, "He's been through alot more than you think."

Rhiannon bit her bottom lip, "Unfortunately we have other more pressing issues at the moment than Gabe's ego. Was it you with the hissing voices and shadows?"

Rhysand arched a brow, "No...Azriel?"

Rhiannon shrugged, hope emerging within her like the first rays of dawn, "I think so if it wasn't you. They led me to him."

Rhysand's eyes widened, "You found him?"

"Yeah, in a cave. Hidden tunnels are not my thing for sure. The shadows guided me."

Her father appraised her with an unreadable look in his eyes.

"What?" she crossed her arms and her wings flapped under his scrutiny.

Rhysand stroked his chin, "Seems like your mate is more powerful than we both though." He said with a wink.

Rhiannon rolled her eyes to counter the warm blush that rose to her cheeks at his comment. "He's somehow been able to find me with his shadows. We haven't been able to communicate yet so I assume the spell that has him frozen is the cause. Any ideas?"

"Hmm," Rhysand started to pace, his hands clasped behind him. "The spell was surely cast by this monster -"

"Draconis." Rhiannon spat out. "That manipulative, conniving, arrogant son of a-"

Her father cleared his throat pointedly and she shut up. "As I was saying," he continued, "It was cast by him, only he or another more powerful can undo it. Unfortunate that Amren is as incapacitated as the rest of us." He sighed, "I'm sorry dear daughter of mine for allowing this to happen."