#eventual neris it's just evil rhys to start lol

[andrigyn]

A Swing in The Dark (Rewrite) Snippet

Ok so I’m posting this snippet to let everyone know that I am actually doing a rewrite lol <3

In Nesta’s former life as a human girl, she took advantage of every opportunity that being the daughter of a wealthy merchant afforded her. Invitations to lavish parties arrived by mail and ended up in a stack atop her mother’s desk, awaiting judgment. She took a keen interest in the social life of her first daughter, and began the search for her perfect match early. Before she fell ill, she knew best when it came to the who, what, and where of courting. To entertain too many suitors would have been disastrous for the family’s reputation, and the eldest child had the greatest duty towards protecting that reputation. Nesta’s time on the scene as a single lady would have also paved the way for Elain and Feyre, had things gone differently. 

Nesta never fussed much over the specifics, choosing instead to surrender to her mother’s well laid plans. But following the inner circle’s direction required an unnatural kind of submission. By their own design, she wasn’t a full member of their court. She was sometimes included in a half-assed way, if only to appease Feyre. Rhysand gritted his teeth and barely tolerated the eldest sister’s presence, which is why she was shocked to hear that the High Lord wished to meet with her. 

Cassian let her know over breakfast that morning training would have to be canceled so that she could go meet with Rhysand and Feyre in the river house. The male didn’t have an answer when she prodded him for more of an explanation. Azriel looked as puzzled as Nesta was, but if he was equally as curious to know what was going on, he didn’t utter a word about it. So after the trio finished eating, Cassian flew her down to the river house and led her through the winding corridors. 

“Well, here it is.” Cassian gestured to a dark wooden door. 

“If he plans on sending me back to the human lands after all, promise you’ll remember me fondly,” Nesta said. She twisted the brass knob and slipped inside before Cassian had a chance to respond, closing the door behind her. 

The room was quite large for a study, as was the desk that sat in its center. Light poured in through the tall windows to illuminate the space. Its walls were painted a shade of blue that resembled the night sky, but not much of the wall was visible behind the numerous paintings and bookshelves. She thought it looked awfully cluttered. Most unsettling of all was Rhysand seated there, with his gaze fixed on her. Those violet eyes were uncanny. Some may have thought them beautiful, but to Nesta it served as a reminder of how inhuman he was. 

“Sit,” he said. 

“Where is my sister? I thought she would be here.” 

“She is occupied. Some of us have responsibilities outside of playing soldier all day. Now, sit.” He waved his hand in front of the seat again, so she obliged. 

“I pretend to be a soldier, Feyre pretends to be a ruler. Have you decided yet which role Elain shall play?” 

“Keep my mate’s name out of your mouth. She and Elain are free to live as they please. You, however, haven’t earned that privilege. But that isn’t why I’ve called you here today.” 

“Get on with it then, what do you want from me?” Nesta asked. Her arms were crossed and she was making every effort to avoid eye contact with the male in front of her. She knew of his ability to shatter minds. That thought inspired a healthy level of fear, and suddenly the cluttered space started to feel more than just annoying. It was suffocating. 

“Eris Vanserra came to me, asking for help to kill his father so that he becomes High Lord. Our assassin cannot be just anybody, we must send someone who Beron wouldn’t perceive as a threat, someone he would allow to stay in his court,” Rhysand drawled, “Ideally a female who would travel to Autumn under the pretense of an engagement.”

“Why should I help you? I don’t care about your petty alliances.” 

Rhysand hunched over the desk and leaned in closer towards Nesta. She decided to meet his gaze, not wanting to appear as though she was backing down. 

This was a ridiculous plan that she wanted no part in. 

“Because someone must, Nesta. If you refuse, then my only other option is to send Elain, and do what should have been done a long time ago and banish you to the human lands.” 

Asshole. She wanted to punch that smug look right off of his face. She wanted to dangle him out of that window until he begged for mercy. The way he thought it appropriate to use Elain as a bargaining chip threatened to make her lose her cool. Everything that she gleaned about the Autumn Court indicated that it was a treacherous place, somewhere that was somehow more undeserving of her sister’s warmth and kindness than Velaris. 

“That will not be necessary. I will go, and once I return I want my freedom.”

Rhysand scoffed. “You’re in no position to make demands. Be grateful I don’t shatter your mind and tell your sisters that you ran away.” 

“Does Cassian know?” Nesta asked. 

“Of course he does.” His curt reply cut like a knife. Nesta considered briefly what it meant that Cassian knew of this plan, and chose not to warn her. She wasn’t sure why she expected his loyalty. It was naive of her, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. How meaningful could the handful of nights they shared together be to a male who was over five hundred years old? 

“Tell me what your plan is exactly, then,” Nesta said. 

“We will hold a ball in the Hewn City in a few days time, where the engagement will be announced. After that you’ll go to Autumn, and follow Eris’s orders,” Rhysand explained. Nesta only nodded in reply. 

“I am beyond grateful you’ve given me so much useful information, I’d hate to go into such a dangerous mission blindly,” she said flippantly.