The Spymaster's Assassin (An ACoTaR Fanfic)

Chapter 31

When I got to the dungeons, I was suddenly nervous. What was I going to say to him? I didn't want to say anything to him. I didn't even want to see him.

He haunted my dreams for fifty years, and almost killed Azriel. I almost feared what I'd find left of him.

I almost puked when I saw him. Azriel had shredded his wings.

But what unsettled me even more was the fact that he sat cross-legged on the floor, grinning at me with a crazed expression.

"Hello, Adrianna, darling. I wondered when I'd see you again. Have you come to kill me?"

I stared at him in disgust. "Perhaps, Haven, you should address me as Your Highness. After all, you were supposed to bring me back to my father, is that correct?"

Haven's smile faded and his face went pale. "You know." He said plainly.

"I do. That also means you have to obey what I say. Does it not?" 

He clenched his jaw. "In all technicality, yes, but we aren't in Hybern."

I chuckled darkly. "No, no we are not, Haven. But we could be. And then my father could learn all about your treachery. You'd die a lot slower there."

Haven's face went even paler, if at all possible. "What do you want with me, Adrianna? Be plain with me."

I sat down on the stone floor, unfurling my wings behind me. "I find this whole situation quite ironic, you know. Twenty-five years ago, it was me without use of my wings, and me at the mercy of you. I was tied to you and trapped in that mansion. Now...we have changed roles. And the biggest similarity, only one of us was in love, then and now."

He scowled. "You think I didn't love you? To grow to care for you? I wanted you, Adrianna. Sure, my motive in the beginning was to marry you just to take you back to Hybern, but you have to understand or at least see that I fell in love with you. You weren't the only one. That fell."

I drew a dagger from my belt. "If love equates to lust in your eyes, Haven. You were kind, yes, but you only wanted me in your bed for sex. I knew you did, even if you said you didn't. That's the only thing I was to you- a bed warmer." I clenched my jaw. "It's ironic, really. Your death was what spurred me on in the Arena. My focus to find my revenge some day. Azriel pulled me from my darkness, but my motive was avenging you. And the first thing Rhys did was give me the opportunity to find and kill the men who were there that night that kidnapped me and killed you. But everything was a lie. I hardly remember that night. It's all mostly a blur now. I was hoping you could explain to me why those men were there."

Haven clenched his jaw, not denying any of my accusations, and I waited for him to speak. His wings sagged to the floor.

"They hadn't been there more than ten minutes when you appeared." He finally mumbled.

"Their names?" I asked stiffly.

"Gallahad and Lance were definitely two. I had the unfortunate deal of having them to come to me. Apparently they were sent by Ravenna to get me to finish the plan, but they went against her wishes when they kidnapped you and brought you to Amarantha instead. While you were unconscious, Lucien of Spring Court came to bargain for you. He was sent away with arrows being shot at him, if I remembered correctly. But, I needed to make it seem like these men were there to kill and rob, perhaps murder me. So, they drove a sword through my shoulder into the wall for the added evidence that I was murdered. The next day, I was given a letter that I was to be banished and must leave immediately by the High Lord. You were long gone by then."

I clenched my jaw. "Perhaps you'd like to know that Gallahad and Lance both had unfortunate endings at my hand. I'm considering getting the same permission for you. It would be a mercy compared to what my mate wants to do to you. But I see he gave you punishment enough."