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thevixenfanfiction · 6 years

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Chapter Thirteen

I’m getting closer to part two...and the part where I run out of chapters because I’m a lazy writer. And a shoutout to @court-0f-dreamers for reading my hideous unfinished chapter before it was ready to be seen!! LOL Slinking in a hole, friend....

Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve

Summary: This story follows the path of someone who turns pity into malice and revenge into a lifestyle. Someone who doesn’t believe in love’s power and strays from what little good she has in her heart. Myriad is a fae with the rare ability to leech magic from other face, leaving them husks of their former selves. Myriad worked for and was Amarantha’s secret pet, spy and lover. After the Queen’s death, Myriad leaves to live in solace. On her journey, she’s captured by Hybern and set with a task to complete. Penetrate the workings of the Nightcourt and report to the King. During this time she falls in with the Inner Circle by a chance meeting with a male from her past. She must then gain their trust, in turn, discovering things about herself in the process, fighting the unbreakable command the King of Hybern gave her. (This follows the ending of A Court of Thorns and Roses thru to the end of the series. Slow burn Azriel/Myriad) (Roughly inspired by Disney’s Maleficent.)

For a moment I thought I was dead.

Then came the cold.

Every inch of my body was so cold. I was shaking with it.

That was when I realized I wasn’t dead. After all, was death really that cold? I would have rather taken death then to stand another minute of the burning cold.

I woke up. I was covered in blankets and beside one of the largest fires I had ever seen in a fireplace. Every nerve in my body burned with cold as another warm blanket was placed over me, adding to the heat that just wasn’t able to seep into my bones.

“Good, you’re awake. Stupid girl.”

I groaned in reply.

A face came into view and I recognized Madja, the healer who had saved my life before.

“What possessed you to jump after Azriel? You could have both been killed. In fact, you almost were if Cassian hadn’t gotten to you in time. Stupid girl.”

“Cassian...how?”

I tried to sit up but Madja shoved my back down by my shoulder. I let her.

“Azriel sent him a message, which he got, barely in time to pull you from the water. You both were half drowned and frozen.”

“Azriel,” I asked. “Is Azriel alright? He was stabbed. He’s alright isn’t he?” Madja’s face softened and she reached out to push my curls from my face and feel my forehead.

“Whatever you did for him saved him. Those witch spells you wrote over him almost repelled my magic,” she said lowly. “But you kept him alive.” “I hadn’t meant to.” Madja nodded and smiled kindly. “I know. He’s alive, and dont worry he has suffered much worse in the past, believe me, child.”

I closed my eyes and pulled the blankets under my chin. At least Azriel was alright. I touched the bond, nestled in my chest, and it felt quiet. Not as if Azriel wasn’t there, but rather that he was safe and wasn’t in any pain.

Madja brushed my hair back again and I heard her sigh.

“Go back to sleep, Rhysand will want to talk to you when you’re rested,” she said gently. I snorted in answer. “Who’s idea was that? Yours?” Majda tucked my blankets up and stood. “Yes. Now go to sleep.”

*** *** ***

I woke to the distinct feeling that I was being watched.

My blankets fell off me as I sat up and looked around. The only sound I heard was the soft crackle as the fire died in the fireplace and the creaks and groans of Madja’s house.

I saw nothing and I smelled nothing, but the sense of being watched was still there.

“Who’s there? Rhysand?” I pushed my blankets off and stood, turning around fully.

I started when Rhysand materialized from the shadows and stepped forward.

“The sleeping beauty wakes at last. Three days is a little dramatic for an ice bath,” Rhys said as he lazily waved his hand and the fire came back to life.

“Get comfortable. I want to chat.”

The highlord’s voice boded no argument so I sat down on the couch and watched as the Rhysand took a seat closest to the fire in a plush armchair.

“What do you want to talk about so badly that you have to wake me in the middle of the night?”

Rhysand settled his chin on two fingers and watched me, his violet eyes holding mine for what seemed like ages.

“You’re a more accomplished witch than you let on,” he said quietly. “Azriel told me everything. About Asta and about what happened in the Winter court. Don’t worry, I’m not angry with him for taking you. I am curious however. You have an aunt, who has been living under Kallias’s nose for Cauldron knows how long and we’ve only just found out. This could be trouble.”

“Already is,” I replied. I pulled my knees up under my chin and watched Rhysand. He had stopped looking at me and he seemed enraptured by the fire. The yellow light made his whole face gleam wickedly, reminding me of the monster I had come to know Under the Mountain.

“If you’re thinking she might side with Hybern,” I said, quietly. “I don’t think she will. She didn't...I think she has only her own interests in mind. Taking a side with Hybern, or anyone, isn’t on her agenda.” Rhysand looked back at me and this time I met his stare, once again wondering if he was looking through my head.

He was silent for a long while and I almost thought our conversation was over when the Highlord spoke again.

“Amren tells me you have been to the Human Queens’ court.”

I nodded, warily. This was the second time the human Queens were brought up.

“Yes. Why?” Rhysand ran a hand through his dark hair and sat back in his chair. His face looked lined, like he had a weight on his body that he’d been holding up for long time.

“I need your help. You know what we retrieved from the Summer Court,” he asked. I nodded and Rhysand continued. “The Queens have the other half of the Book of Breathings, as part of the peace treaty between our people. We need to get that other half and in order to do that, we need to gain their trust.” I snorted and raised my eyebrows.

“Kind of hard to do when our entire race enslaved the humans hundreds of years ago. That, and you’re the Highlord of the Court of Nightmares, which makes you nearly impossible to trust.”

Rhysand’s lips turned up in one of his smirks.

“I know. That’s why I’m going to show them Velaris.”

I sat up straight and stared at Rhysand, thinking he had to have gone mad.

“What?!”

“You heard me,” Rhysand replied, crossing his leg over his knee. I let my feet slip off the couch and I stood up.

“Have you gone mad, Rhysand?! You have no idea who they could sell Velaris out to! They are selfish, greedy humans. You are better off just killing them outright and stealing this book.” Rhysand nodded and waved a hand lazily.

“Cassian already brought that up. It would take too much time; time we don’t have,” he said quietly. “Besides, electing a better monarch in such a short amount of time is nearly impossible.” I narrowed my eyes and began to pace. “You don’t have to set up the damn humans’ kingdom for them. Let them figure it out. They are not our problem. We’d all be better off with those vipers dead anyway.” “Feyre doesn’t think so. If you remember, Myriad,” Rhysand drawled. “She was once human. Her sisters are human. The destruction of the human realm is not what she wants, nor what I want either. It’s not beneficial to our cause.”

I turned around and looked Rhysand in the eyes.

“Then let me steal it. I’ve been there before,” I said. “I can find it.”

Rhysand raised his eyebrows and looked at me differently now. He still wore his infernal smirk, but his eyes seemed to be reading me in a way he’d never looked at me before.

“Why don’t you want me to show Velaris to the Queens?” he asked. His voice was barely above a whisper.

I pressed my lips together and fell silent. It was only after a few minutes of silence that I gathered my thoughts to speak the truth.

“Because Velaris...Velaris is good. It’s the only place on this damned earth that Hybern and Amarantha couldn’t touch. The people here are good, genuinely good. They don’t need to be dragged into this so some self righteous humans can be satisfied that you’re not the monsters you claim to be.”

My voice got thick and I swallowed a few times past the knot in my throat.

“Let the world keep seeing you as Amarantha’s whore. If that is what the price is to keep these people, your city safe, then you bloody well should do it. This place is their home.”

I thought of little Theo and Claudius with their music shop. I thought of the Rainbow, full of laughter, color, life and art. These people didn't need the war that Rhysand said was coming. Maybe it was selfish, but Velaris didn't need to be stained. Not by the likes of Hybern or the Human Queens.

“Velaris is home to so many good people,” I finally whispered. “My home.”

I heard Rhysand get up and he leaned against the fireplace.

“Because it’s what you would do?”

I looked up at Rhysand and scowled, drawing my eyebrows together.

“That’s exactly what I would do,” I replied coldly. “Because when you show an ounce of compassion, you show weakness. All those you love are hurt because you care about them. And maybe that makes me the greater monster, but I’d rather die a thousand deaths, or serve a thousand times for a thousand Amaranthas than have those I love hurt. Either that, or you don’t love at all.”

Rhysand watched me with his old eyes, his mouth no longer smirking. If I didn't know better, I would have thought I’d seen pity.

“And who are you protecting behind your mask?”

“That’s none of your business.”

Rhysand shifted and he stuck his hands in his pockets.

“I have a few good guesses, but I’ll save them for later.”

He sighed and rolled his well muscled shoulders, looking me over from head to toe.

“We leave for the Court of Nightmares to get the Veritas from Keir, Mor’s father.”

I rolled my eyes and rested my elbow on the mantle.

“I know who Keir is,” I snorted. Rhysand gave me a smooth smile.

“Good. Then I want you to come with us, you can go with Azriel to find the Veritas. Azriel tells me you have some witch tricks up your sleeves. Use them, you’ll need them.”

“And why should I go with you?” Rhysand simply shrugged.

“Because if you can pass this little test, than I will let you go to the human realm and see if you can find the Book.”

I tilted my head to the side and frowned.

“But you said--”

“I know. Let’s just say I always have a backup plan and you happen to be my backup plan.”

I knew why Rhysand had said the things he said. I fell victim to his manipulation again. Only this time, he knew why I’d go to find the book. I cursed myself for being so open.

“Fine. I’ll go,” I spat. “But don’t think for one second that it’s because of you and your damn war.”

Rhysand gave me a feline smile and he pointed to the couch where a folded pile of Illyrian fighting leathers laid. Next to it, was a bandolier of throwing knives and two good sized fighting knives.

“Compliments of Azriel,” Rhysand said innocently. “How he even knew your size is a marvel to me.”

“Fuck off.”

Rhysand’s laugh rang in my now red ears and I turned where he couldn’t see me. Still though, the thought of Azriel finding me the leathers made me uneasy. I hoped after what happened in the Winter court, he’d have gone back to pining after Mor and leave me alone.

“We leave tomorrow. You’ll fly in with Cassian and Az.”

Rhysand gave me one more look over before he mockingly nodded his head to me.

“See you there.”

Tagging: @court-0f-dreamers @eternally-reading @mikaylamee

#acotar #acowar #acomaf #sarah j maas #fanfiction

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