Tamlin: After the War

Chapter 12

Tamlin felt fear overcome his entire body. Something was wrong. She was in trouble. Tamlin grabbed Rhysand's shoulder, spinning him around to face him and pushing him up against the wall. "Where is she?" Tamlin growled, his claws digging into either side of the wall.

Rhysand released his wings, pushing them away from the wall, releasing Tamlin's claws, "I dont know." He bared his teeth. "But my guess is that Keir collected what is his."

Tamlin transformed into the golden beast and felt the strength of the other five High Lords pulling him back, away from Rhysand's neck. Tamlin fell back into his own skin and winnowed away. Something was wrong.

He landed in the Court of Nightmares outside the palace, the doors of the palace locked, he roared, "Open. Open. Open." He kicked the doors, the metal bowing under his force and reforming instantly, he kicked continuously, screaming, his throat hoarse, "Open."

Lucien appeared next to Tamlin and wordlessly started attacking the door as Tamlin had done. The doors opened and Tamlin ran inside, faced with Keir on his throne, Rhysand on the other with Feyre in his lap. Behind him, his entourage, a mixture of scowls and smirks directed at Tamlin. And then, at Lucien.

"Where is she?" Tamlin growled with what was left of his voice.

"How does it feel to have someone you care for threatened? How does it feel knowing she is a prisoner to a monster?" Rhysand spat.

"I never hurt her, not intentionally."

"I don't care what your intentions were!" Rhysand shouted, "I felt every bit of her fear. Imagine she was your mate. Imagine the shared pain. The shared fear."

"Where is she?" Tamlin asked again, his head spinning slightly.

"Hope you enjoyed the tea." Keir voiced and Tamlin cursed under his breath. "She is where she belongs, in my chambers. My little plaything."

Tamlin launched himself forward at Keir but he was pushed back by a blow to his chest. Eris stood before him. The High Lord of Autumn arrived with Eris at his side. Lucien threw himself in between Tamlin and Eris, releasing his dagger in time to deflect another attack.

Tamlin roared loudly, "Why?" He steadied himself as he felt the effects of the tea, "Why do you want her?"

"I will admit it was all just for a bit of fun, taking back what is mine... But, Lord Tamlin, why are you willing to go to these lengths for a mixed breed, a servant?"

Tamlin transformed into his beast once more. He would rip out Keir's throat. He would rip out all of their throats.

"One more step and I will kill her." Keir said, standing up, Kaira appearing in front of him, pinned against his body, a dagger at her neck. "One more move, Lord, your choice."

Kaira stood quietly, her eyes resigned, glazed over, until they met his own. She writhed in his grip as he slid a hand down from her neck, into her dressing gown. The rage burst out of Tamlin's chest, sending furniture and paintings into a whirlwind around the room. Rhysand winnowed his pregnant mate out of the room and Keir loosened his grip as he shielded himself. Kaira pulled a dagger out from underneath her gown and stabbed it deep into his abdomen. Tamlin pounced but was met with The High Lord of Autumn, Beron who froze in his tracks, as Rhysand appeared, shielding Tamlin from Beron's attack.

Keir pulled the dagger from his abdomen and lifted it as Kaira crawled away, he pinned her to the ground and climbed on top of her. The Morrigan appeared behind Keir, another dagger shoved into his abdomen. Keir turned around and swiped his dagger at his daughter. Tamlin reached Keir and attacked, dragging his claws through Keir, ripping his skin apart, again, again, again, until the body that was left, was unrecognisable.

He stood up, drenched in blood. Lucien at his side. Beron and Eris had fled. Rhysand stood up and faced him. The High Lord of the Spring Court and the High Lord of the Night Court stood face to face, once again, covered in blood as they did when they were boys, unwillingly crowned as High Lords and enemies.

"Let me in." Rhysand whispered, "Please."

Tamlin searched the room for Kaira and found her and The Morrigan staring down at the shreds that were left of Keir.

"Let me in." Rhysand asked again. "Let's end this war between our courts."

Tamlin cracked open his mental shield for just a sliver of Rhysand to slip through. He felt Rhysand's sticky darkness wrap around his mind and lead him into his own.

Tamlin felt every bit of regret the High Lord of the Night Court felt. He felt the rage. The love for Feyre. He felt the same exhaustion he felt. The same fears. Rhysand showed him everything, all within the few minutes they stood in silence.

Rhysand slithered out of his mind and Tamlin found Kaira in his arms, nuzzling her head deep into his chest. Repeating the same thing over and over.

"Someone came. You came."