How to Protect the Ones You Love

Rage

Why?
Why did she have to show up here?
I thought I had scared Tamlin enough to send her away. I had scared Tamlin enough to send Tamlin away, the stupid girl came back to save him.
Damn it.
I paced back and forth in front of the fire in my chambers, wearing a track in the ornamental rug.
She walked right into a court filled with creatures that wanted to kill her sooner than give her directions and ruled by Queen strong enough to capture Tamlin, who likes to play games with her prey. Certainly, she wasn't that naive. She couldn't have thought she could walk in with minimal planning, demand to have Tamlin and his court released, and then sing fucking Kumbaya.
I came to a halt in front of the fire and took a deep breath. I couldn't help anyone if I let my fury control me.
Okay. Calm down. I need to think rationally here. How do I fix this huge fucking mess? How did this even happen in the first place?
I stopped mid-stride, my thoughts coming to a rather abrupt realization;
Tamlin. It's all his fucking fault.
If he hadn't brought her here in the first place... If he had whipped her memory before he sent her away...
I was practically snarling.
That bastard never thinks of anyone but himself.
I stalked into the hall, a cold rage setting in my stomach. I walked down several hallways until I reached Lucien's door. I shoved the door open, and before either of them could react, I had Tamlin pinned against the wall.
"How could you drag her into this." I snarled.
Tamlin, the tool, just blinked at me.
"I... I didn't think..." He stammered.
"No. You certainly didn't think. She is a human girl who should not be here, risking her life to save your worthless self."
Tamlin's eyes met mine; the intensity in their vibrant green dissipated the rage clouding my mind. "Let me go, Rhysand."
I took a deep breath and dropped my arm.
Keep calm. Do not show how much you care. Things you care about have a habit of being taken away.
I brushed the invisible dust of the lapels of my black suit jacket and lean against the wall. I took a minute to survey the room. I came here first because I knew that Tamlin's chambers were too close to the Queen's for any scheming sessions, and even though Tamlin was dumb as a doorknob, Lucien was smarter than I would like to give him credit for. The room was as dull as the rest of the mountain; the walls a stone grey, the only light coming from the lit fireplace and the single canopied bed in the middle of the room. The only difference between my room and Lucien's was that the furnishings here were a pale green and a light pink; Spring Court colors, while mine was the dark blue and black of the Night Court.
"Am I interrupting anything important?" I said, keeping my voice steady and playful.
The two males stared at me, confused.
Finally, Tamlin snarled at me. "Get the fuck out of here Rhysand."
I clicked my tongue. "I wouldn't want me to leave if I were you." I purred. "Not after that little stunt that your girlfriend pulled. Especially when I'm the only chance of you getting her out of here alive."
Tamlin and Lucien stared at me, their jaws slack with surprise.
"Why would you help us?" Lucien says apprehensively.
"Because," I said simply "Amarantha has taken too many lives already. I'd rather there be no more unnecessary bloodshed."
The unbelief on the males' faces was priceless
"How do you propose we get her out of here," Lucien said, his voice betraying his hope.
"Just leave it to me. And when you have the opportunity to get her out, get her out." I turned to walk out the door. "Oh, and Lucien, please go see what you can do to heal her in the meantime."
I closed the door behind me. Then the real work began.

... 

 I walked into her chambers, the queen is sitting in a chair before the fire, her elaborate dress traded in for a simple gold robe. I stood up behind her, placing my hands on her shoulders. As I began to massage the knots, I brought my lips to her ear and use my teeth to pull on her earlobe. Underneath the mask I donned before I entered the chambers was a cauldron of boiling rage begging to spill over. "This girl is going to be oh so fun to play with." Amarantha purred, as my mouth moves down her neck. I mumbled my agreement as she turned around in the chair to face me. Her eyes flickered to my lips, and then to lower places on my body. I resisted the urge to flinch that occurs every time she looked at me like that. As she led me to her bed, I reminded myself of why I do this. Their faces flashed across my vision. Mor... Az... Cas... Amren... Mor... Az... Cas... Amren... Before long I allowed my mind to drift into a state of numbness. After Amarantha finished with me and dismisses me to my quarters, The Girl consumed my thoughts. Even asleep, I dreamt of her. I imagined her sitting alone in her cell, her body broken, thinking about Tamlin. And as I lay awake I knew for certain. I will do this for her. I will do whatever it takes to get her out of here, even if she hates me for it later. I am getting myself into deep, deep shit.